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Ankle Update 10.0

Saturday marked ten months out from my ankle surgery and I celebrated by running in my first race since the procedure. Although this race was just a local 5K, I am still excited to say that my ankle performed beautifully. I had no ankle pain during the event and very little swelling afterwards.

Jeremy ran this race with us. It was his first race ever. Way to go Jer!
Jeremy, Jason's brother, ran this race with us. It was his first race ever. Way to go Jer!

I tried playing outdoor soccer a few weeks ago for the first time since the slice-n-dice and my ankle did not fare as well. Running on the field’s uneven ground caused considerable pain and I was swollen and stiff for days. I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised since this activity was what caused my injury in the first place but I was hoping that jumping back into soccer would be a nearly pain free experience at this point.  After my disappointing soccer restart I was thrilled that I did not have similar frustrations from running the 5K.

Although my ankle behaved like a pro during the race, my good foot had some objections. It still needs some help adjusting to its new lifestyle. It doesn’t tolerate the orthotics I am now required to wear very well. It fell asleep during the event, something it does periodically when I go running. This made me feel like I was dragging a lead block, instead of a minuscule foot, for the last two miles of the race. I’m going to have to figure out a way to make righty a little happier with his orthotic buddy. But even with that slight foot malfunction, I was extremely pleased with my body’s cooperation in general. I’m so glad that my ankle has decided that running is an acceptable activity.

Our ragtag group at the finish line
Our ragtag group at the finish line

My ankle’s running tolerance has spurred a new plan of madness. I am in the process of trying to organize a team to run the Red Rock Relay in September. This 181 mile, 24 hour, relay race runs through some of the prettiest country in Utah. It starts in Cedar Breaks, goes through Zions National Park, and ends up in St. George just outside of Snow Canyon. Gorgeous! While I realize this relay falls into the “crazy Rachel plan” category, I am quite enamored at the prospect of it. I hope I can get a team sorted out. By the way, if any of you friends feel up to a little insanity let me know; I’d love to have you on my crew. Let the lunacy begin!

Rachel July 1, 2009 2 Comments

Girls Night and the Man Date

My friend, Fran, organizes a monthly ladies night out. Sometimes this event just involves eating and chatting, other months it’s a bit more elaborate, like when we had a Pride and Prejudice marathon. (I love you Mr. Darcy!)

The ladies chowing down some sushi at Happy Sumo
The ladies chowing down some sushi at Happy Sumo

This month the plan was eating dinner at Happy Sumo, one of my favorite restaurants, and heading to Color Me Mine for some creative ceramic painting. Because this get-together was going to take place on a Friday, which is not the norm for girls night, I decided I needed to find Jason some alternate entertainment for the evening. I couldn’t leave him home alone on a Friday night; that just wouldn’t be right. In lieu of wifely company I arranged for him to have some male companionship; I set him up on a man date. His brother Jeremy, my brother Drew, and our friends Jacob, Cody, and Greg all agreed to be Jason’s escorts for the evening- probably because he’s so hot!

Since I am too jumpy and anxious to watch horror movies, and Jason loves them, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for him to see the new Sam Raimi horror flick, Drag Me to Hell. He was all over that! And because my brother Drew’s birthday was the following day, Jason decided to make this event an honorary birthday celebration for him.

Ahh, aren't the boys so cute together!
Ahh, aren't the boys so cute together?

The guys went to the burger joint, Five Guys, for dinner and then ran to the movie. They enjoyed the show, but the highlight of their evening was apparently not the flick itself but rather what my brother Drew was doing during it. He jumped, squirmed, shrieked, and frequently shouted things like, “Don’t go in there!”. I’m sure I would have been very entertained by this if I had been present- oh wait, if I had been there I probably would have been way too terrified and busy screaming like a little girl to even notice Drew’s antics. Skittishness evidently runs in the family.

This is my vase before it's kilning.
This is my vase before kilning.

While the men relished the amusement Drew unwillingly provided, the girls talked non-stop through a delicious sushi dinner and then did some experimental painting at Color Me Mine. The hour and a half we had to paint until closing time didn’t allow me, an extremely slow perfectionist, to put many details on my vase, but some of the other ladies managed to create impressive pieces despite the time limit.  If only I could be that artistic! I’m sure all of their masterworks turned out fantastic after kilning!

My vase after kilning
My vase after kilning

I enjoyed my relaxing evening with the ladies and I’m glad that Jason’s sizzling man date was a success.

Rachel June 10, 2009 1 Comment

Going Up

Since we need to uphold our status as the coolest aunt and uncle around, last Saturday Jason and I took a group of our nieces and nephews to see the new Pixar movie, Up. We invited all of my sister’s and brother’s kids that are old enough to sit through a movie. Of course, I’m defining “sitting” here quite liberally as: constantly moving around while your hind-end is relatively close to a seat cushion.

We unwisely seated the two youngest, Miles and Jadon, next to each other. The proximity of these two squirming beings seemed to increase their wiggles tenfold. Besides just being restless, Miles was also a little freaked out by the “scary” dogs in this movie, which surprised me because that boy seems like he isn’t intimidated by anything, but he settled down once he was safely snuggled up on my lap.

Me withe the kiddies outside the theater
Me and the kiddies outside the theater

After the movie we walked a couple blocks to an ice cream shop and got the kids a treat. Benson had the oddest sundae: blue bubblegum ice cream topped with gummy bears and caramel. It didn’t quite look natural or appetizing to me but he was pleased to devour it.

Benson
Benson and his bizarre treat

Despite the mid-movie bathroom breaks and nearly constant fidgeting, we enjoyed our little Saturday outing with the kids. We’re glad we get the chance to indulge them now and then. After all, that’s what aunts and uncles are here for- spoiling kids and sugaring them up. We are more than happy to do both.

Rachel June 3, 2009 No Comments
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