currently: 12.05.2014

reading + thinking about

My Husband’s Tumor. If you read one thing today, this is it (but, be prepared to end up reading her entire blog… have tissues handy, too; you will need them). Their story, gracefully told by Nora, is a sharp reminder that life is far too short… so, live big + boldly, have fun and love hard every single day. #RIPBigPurm

One of my favorite excerpts: 

I’ve learned, from Aaron and my father’s death and my mother’s graceful entrance into widowhood, that this is what being an adult is: doing everything before you are ready. There is no syllabus for life that helps your graduate to the next event. It is happening all around you, all the time. This life itself is the lesson and the test and there is no honor roll, just the sum of your relationships and actions and how you feel when you lay down to go to sleep at night.

started

A sweet sweat life facebook page! Follow me over there for more good stuff on swim bike run yoga life love 🙂

training

It’s amazing how quickly your body responds when you start regimented training again. I’m definitely nowhere near where I was in August, obviously, but I’m feeling good about what’s in store for 2015. Coach had me start using paddles in the pool, and after some trial and error, they finally don’t fly off every other stroke. Bonus: they make me feel really fast. Running… I’m up to a whopping 30 slooooow minutes. And, despite living in the tundra where temps rarely creep above 20ºF for four months, I’ve resolved to run outside. Because there’s no such thing as too cold if you’re dressed properly (and, that includes getting over the dorkiness factor of shorts over running tights to keep the bum warm). As for cycling… funny how 10 watts can make all the difference in the near-puke factor. Definitely being pushed outside my comfort zone. I like love it. 

curious about 

Twitter faving. When did all this favoriting tweets start?! And, is there any protocol behind it… when to fave, what to fave, why to fave. I used to only favorite tweets I wanted to reference (articles, quotes, etc.), but now it seems faving is a way to end a twitter conversation, done instead of a reply (as a thank you perhaps?) or is completely random. Tell me… what do you fave and why?!

listening to

Serial. I know I’m late to the party, but OMG, SERIAL IS SO GOOD. Nick and I binge listened to all nine episodes during nearly 12 hours in the car over Thanksgiving weekend. And, I’ve never been so thankful for a 30-mile commute when episode 10 was released yesterday! If you haven’t listened, open your podcast app and subscribe immediately. 

watching

The Banff Mountain Film Festival world tour. This is the third year Nick and I have attended, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. A few of our favorites:

• Mending the Line – so touching! WWII vet Frank Moore found respite in fly fishing after the war; in the film, he returns to Normandy to fish the river he saw 70 years ago. 
• Cerro Torre: A Snowball’s Chance in Hell – this featured David Lama’s quest to free climb Patagonia’s Cerro Torre. Breathtaking scenery (Patagonia is tops on my must-visit list) and an intriguing story line (though the subtitles were difficult to read)
• Wild Women – there weren’t many films about women at the festival (c’mon, film makers! Start featuring rad women!), but this one about slackliner Faith Dickey was fantastic. “Everyone has a different comfort zone, and I think everyone should push these comfort zones,” she says. Hers is slacklining without safety. 

loving

Girl talk. No, not the DJ (though he’s rad, too), but rather girl talk in real life. This week I met up with two friends (who I don’t see nearly enough), and we talked life for nearly four hours (I didn’t check my phone once!). It was lovely. My sister and I have also been spending time together… a painting night last month and one of our Christmas gifts to each other is attending a LAB MPLS cocktail lab next week. Because buying experiences trumps stuff any day.