Windsor Half Marathon

This was my very first half marathon anniversary! A year ago, I ran this half marathon with Trisha through the vineyards of Windsor, California. Unlike the Marin half marathon in April, I didn't have any shin splint pain! Whoo Whoo! Emily was supposed to run this one with us, but she was having some shin splint pain so opted out. In her place, my friend Ian ran with Trisha, Amanda and Irene. Shawn and Ian drove up the night before and stayed in the new house I'm living in now with Emma and Evan. Ian zipped through the run in about an hour and forty minutes! I finished about my standard two hours fifteen minutes. It was a beautiful day out. What I was happiest about, was that for the first time since I've been jogging, someone was at the finish line to snap a picture of me, and cheer me on. Thanks to Shawn. I'm so glad he and Ian made it up! Thank you both!!!

To Boise, With Emily!

It was perfect timing that Emily wanted to visit Boise the same weekend of Andrej's birthday! Chelsea, Emily, Chuck, Andrej, Wes, Brie, Tiffany, Aida and I all got in a limousine and went wine tasting through the snake river valley. Of course, we had to stop at Ste. Chapelle winery where I got some of my favorite ice wine- YUM! We had some dinner that evening at the Bonefish Grill and then drinks later that night at the Matador. The next day Emily, Chuck and I played some cards at my parent's house and then Emily had to hop a flight back to California. FUN weekend!

CT, Graduation & Wedding

This weekend I flew from California clear across the United States to Hartford, Connecticut. Flying into Connecticut was absolutely beautiful. Saturday was David's graduation from the University of Connecticut with his Master's degree in Sociology. It was a lot of fun cheering him across the stage with Song, Janice, Julie and Shelly!

The next day Clint and I jogged six miles around one of the local parks, it was really nice. He hadn't jogged that far before, I'm absolutely convinced he could do a half marathon- no doubt! That afternoon Clint and David had their wedding ceremony. It was beautiful, it was reflective, it was perfect. Two very in love, happy gay men got married and I was very honored to witness it.

Marin Half Marathon

Of the handful of half marathon's I've run over the last year, so far this one is my favorite! Trisha, Amanda, Irene and I took this race on. The jog is along the ocean and through some of the back trail areas in Marin County. I had my iPhone tracking my race as usual and also playing music out loud. There was a gal that said "Follow the DJ!" and we kept pace for quite a while. There were beautiful views all along the way. I pushed this run a little bit hard and had some shin splint pain on mile 11. I had to walk through it and was able to do a half-jog-shuffle for the last mile finishing the race doing OK! I plan to do this one again!

Chuck Meets Sonoma

This weekend Chuck flew in to visit me, celebrate my birthday (a little early) and see Sonoma where I've been living. The first night we played some games with Dustin, Emma, Evan and Emily. It was a fun evening. The next day we went to the city and walked along the wharf. We had some chowder and then walked through Ghirardelli and ate some delicious ice cream sundaes! Then we walked along the ocean and took some pictures.


The next thing I know, Dustin and I were alone with no sight of Emily or Chuck! Apparently the two of them hit it off right away, it was very cute!

Peter & Michelle

Are now Married! After the Alliance conference in Denver, CO, I flew directly from there to San Diego, CA for the Flores wedding. Peter's brother Gabe picked me up at the airport and we headed to the brewery for Peter's bachelor brewery party! The beer tour was amazing. It started at the Karl Strauss Brewery, then over to the Lost Abbey and finally the Stone Brewing Co. Even Evan had a few tastes of the beer flights we had! We crashed at the Valley View Casino for a bit, and then gabling! I doubled my money, then quit. I then gave some to Peter who'd lost his money and he tripled it! Then I placed a roulette bet for Emily and lost that so I stopped. We crashed that night at the hotel. The next day Evan and I went to Balboa Park and checked out the Air and Space Museum and a few others. What an expansive and beautiful park! That night I played some Wii golf with Evan and his Mom. The next night was the Flores wedding! It happened so quickly! There was drinking and dancing and everyone was dressed so nicely! The next thing I knew we were headed back to Sonoma and Peter was finally married! ^_^

2011 Alliance, Denver CO

This was my first Alliance (Higher Education User Group) conference with my Sonoma State co-workers! We planned to arrive in time so that we could do the IO Consulting 5k fun run. Amanda, Trisha and I got up early in the cool Denver morning and joined some of the other conference goers for the run. Jaime and Meryl cheered us across the finish line. After the run we took a short break, and then ran it again! HaHa! It was a lot of fun.


We got out one evening for some delicious drinks, one with pear and vodka and one with blueberries vodka and dry ice. Another evening IO Consulting hosted a party atop one of the Denver city skyscrapers. There were beautiful views all around the city and delicious hours'doeuvre. It was fun catching up with the Boise State contingent too! The conference was busy back to back sessions each day. It was great seeing all the other schools up on the next version of PeopleSoft. All in all one of the best I've ever been to!