::Happiness runs in a circular motion::

There are some things in life that just make me happy.
Here are two things that have brought smiles to my face today:


This video:

Reason #216 that I love Asians

and

These thank you notes.







I know everyone is blogging about them right now...
but I am just going to join the trend...
these thank you notes are clever, fun, and take the words right out of my mouth.
Check em out here.

Tri Training: Week 14

The triathlon is only 14 weeks away. When I first started planning on doing this thing it seemed so far away yet it starting to feel like its going to be here before I know it. This week I finally finished school so I decided it was time to get serious about training.

The swimming: Going fine. I feel pretty confident about the swim already. I just need to continue to build up a little more endurance.

The running: I haven't run since Ragnar. I am a little nervous to run because I know that its going to be hard. But this week is the week that I am going to really try to spend some quality time with my ipod and my asics running around Newport Beach.

The biking: Well, the good news is that I am learning to really love the bike. The bad news is that I am still not very good at it. This week I went on my first 50 mile bike ride. The wind was blowing super hard... both directions. When I got done with bike ride I thought to myself- there is NO way that I could get off this bike and go run a 1/2 marathon.

That is when the reality of this race kind of sunk in. The past few races that I have done I ended up not really training for them and they all turned out fine. I have a feeling that this one is going to be different. Training is not just encouraged but is necessary. So with all this information. I have come to the conclusion that either one of the two following options will happen.

1. I will get in really good shape.
2. I won't do the race.

Weddings in Boston are also the best. Both Favorites.

So I left Hawaii Thursday night on a red eye flight. Just to get on another red eye flight to Boston in order to see the every so lovely Laura Slowey get married.

I have always had a deep love and fascination with Boston ever since Joey from Dawson's creek went to college there. I love the buildings, the history, the river, and just the pristigious yet un pretentious feeling that abides there.

Unfortunately, my camera was dead from all the traveling and so the first day there I was unable to take any pictures. But simple put... we ate our way through bean town. I may have come home 5 pound heavier but it was worth it.

Sunday (the actual day of the wedding) we started the day off by attending the singles ward there in cambridge. There Chapel had caught on fire about a year ago and so they have been attending church across the street at an Episcopal Church. It was pretty awesome to attend fast and testimony meeting with a huge cross and stained glass behind each of the speakers.

lAfter church we headed to the subway that we took in order to get to the bus that was going to take us to Plymouth where the wedding was being held. On our way to the subway we came across a May Day street fair. My favorite part was this display of chalk art.
I was amazed at what someone can do with chalk!!





After running through the city in 80+ degree weather and grabbing a couple of delicious crepes. We finally made it to the bus that was taking the wedding guest out to the wedding site.

Here are some pictures from the wedding by the photographer. Which BTW I thought did a fabulous job... and I'm not just saying that. I don't even know the guy. For more pictures of the beautiful bride and groom check out his website.

The Bride and Groom couldn't be more in love and I am so happy for them.
Congratulations Laura and Ray!

Okay. Now back to me. :)

The wedding took place in Plymouth, MA. Which hopefully most of you know is here the pilgrams (not Christopher Columbus) landed (docked? I don't know what to say here).
So after the ceremony we had about an hour to kill before the reception began so ME and I began to explore a bit. Upon exploring we realized that we were supper close to the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing that I had just come from the middle of the pacific I felt a moral obligation to try to find a way to get to the shore line. We tromped around a bit and right when we were about to give up we noticed that our bus driver was just sitting in the bus by himself. So... after a little small talk we simply asked if he wouldn't mind taking us to the ocean and to see the ever-so-famous plymouth rock.
To our delight he agreed.

Once at Plymouth rock we found that there was also a replica of the Mayflower. Miss ME"I have a masters degree in American History" Clayton was experiencing historical euphoria.

I on the other hand have always had a "thing" for Indians.
(anyone that ran Ragnar with me would understand... imagine 12 super hot guys running in nothing but feathers, face paint, and loin clothes... now you know what I am talking about.)

After our pilgrimage to the Mayflower we headed back to the reception where we cut a rug with a handful of Newport Beach's finest firefighters.

Surpise birthdays in hawaii are the best

Wow! Where does the time go?
It time to do a little catch up.
In April the Fam
(minus Jason who is busy trying to make money to support his soon to be born little girl)
decided to surprise good ole Pauly Wally in Hawaii to Celebrate his 60th birthday. He thought he was just going to have a nice quiet vaca with mi mum but to his surprise we were all at the airport to greet him when he arrived.

The week was spent:

Celebrating his birth

Hanging with these toe-heads

Hanging out at some of my favorite places in the whole world

Spending time with this lovely lady

Paddle boarding, surfing kayaking, snorkeling, jumping off rocks, hikes etc

Horseback riding with the cousins
Enjoying mother nature
I heart Hawaii.
But even more so I heart my Papa and am so grateful that he was born!
I love ya Dad!

I want to ride my bicycle

So lately I've been really into riding my bike.
I wish so bad that I had a job where I could ride my bike to work.
Cause I would.



After viewing this clip I think I should move to the Netherlands.

The secret

I have a few quotes that are hanging up in my cube (more like walled desk) that I have had up since I started working here... 5 years ago.

So needless to say I have kind of stopped paying attention to them.

So today when I was staring into space instead of working or studying I read this one.

I forgot how much I really like it and I realized what "The Secret" is.

Its faith.

"Faith is like spiritual oxygen.

As we allow faith to freely flow within us, it awakens and enlivens our spiritual senses.

It breathes life into our very souls.

As faith flows, we become sensitively attuned to the whisperings of the Spirit.

Our minds are enlightened, our spiritual pulse quickens, our hearts are touched.

Faith fuels hope.

Our perspective changes; our vision becomes clearer.

We begin to look for the best, not the worst, in life and in others.

We gain a deeper sense of life's purpose and meaning.

Despair gives way to joy."

I sure wish i had come up with this idea before "The Secret" people did. Then I would be probably lounging by a pool with pockets full of benjamins instead of sitting in my walled desk. :)

Saying Farewell to Fat: Ragnar Style

As you know... I like to do races. But my favorite of all races are the Ragnar Relay races. I love everything about them. Being with my friends, Staying up all night, Yelling out the window at runners, oh... and I guess I like the running to. In April I put a team together to run the Los Angeles Ragnar Race.

Where: Ventura to Dana Point.

Team Name: Simmons

Our Mascot: Richard Simmons.

Team Awesomeness Level: Off the charts

Amount of fun: Indescribable

Here are some pictures of the weekend. There are kind of a lot. Just a warning.

I am already thinking of ideas for the next one!

i want these: