Who's Buried in Hunt's Tomb?

        

Sunset hikes with a book are the best kinds of hikes.

6 Month Workaversary

It's been six months since I started working here in Phoenix. It feels like forever and no time at all--at the same time. My coworker surprised me with an orchid plant. I hope I don't kill it but then at least I know to stick to succulents then!

Falling with Style

I finally got over my fear of group trail running and went to my first outing at Papago Park, super close to where I normally run. Everything was fine until about 10 minutes in when I fell? Not sure what exactly happened but this lovely picture was the outcome. It never crossed my mind to stop so I continued running with the group for 35 more minutes. Sweat and blood ran down my legs. I felt quite tough. The bruises are huge!

Monsoon Running

Chasing that elusive love of running while being chased by monsoon thunderstorms. Good trip to Tucson. Also, can we talk about the sky. It goes from dark and stormy to blue and sunny. Such a difference. A reminder that monsoons don't last forever.

Making Postcards and Friends

Moving to Phoenix has been hard for me. I don't make friends easily but I've been trying to put myself out there by joining a running club and book club and just getting out of my apartment. I found a group of young women who enjoy traveling. Like-minded individuals are the first step, right? The group organized a meet up at Changing Hands bookstore where decorated postcards. This beluga whale postcard was my best of the night. See the lipstick?! More events to come quite definitely.

Heard Museum and Biking in the Rain

Free day at the Heard Museum. Rode my bike in the hot sun while wearing a dress and stopped for ice cream on Roosevelt Row. I always enjoyed museums but recently I've been extra distracted whenever I go and I get bored easily. But I can walk for hours on trails through the desert and enjoy that. I don't know--lots of soul searching out here in Arizona.

Funny story from today. I've been making yoga on Sunday nights a commitment for a a few months now. I'm trying to be more conscious of my environmental impacts and of my laziness so I've tried to ride my bike more often. As I rode to yoga tonight, I saw the dark clouds forming over Tempe and hoped that it wouldn't rain on my way back. Well, during yoga, when I was supposed to be relaxed, all I could focus on was the loud sound of rain pellets falling six feet from me on the other side of the window. How the heck was I supposed to get back? Stubborn and rationalizing the drizzle, I sprinted back on my bike, through every rad light, through every puddle, afraid of being struck by lightning. But I made it one piece, just a little wet.

Another Papago Sunset

A spontaneous walk to watch the sunset. On my way to the grocery store, I stopped at the park across from my apartment and properly watched the sunset. I get to see it most nights during my runs but it's nice to be still for a moment and enjoy the beauty. As I sat on the rock, I thought how nice it will be to share this when friends and family visit. I'm in awe that the park is right near to where I live and that I can do this whenever. While it's tough being in a new city, it's nights like this where I feel like I made the right decision.