What's Your Dream?

When the bar offers $4 shots to accompany your hard cider, of course, you must say yes to a Fireball shot to make Angry Balls! Never pass that up, it’s an apple pie in a glass. A highly enjoyable beverage to partake in as I await for my next flight to depart. Running along the Napa River as the sun was just beginning to reach over the Vaca Mountains is how I chose to wrap up a short but long work trip, it was exactly what I needed. The air was slightly chilled with a low fog hanging over the river. The perfect running temperature which made me feels as if I could just keep going forever. I am finding my feet once again in the thralls of a seemingly chaotic time in my work/life balance right now. I am very proud of my first training workout during a work trip. I was concerned that I wouldn’t find time to dedicate to a run while traveling, it was a short run but a run none-the-less.   In the coming month, I will be on the road more than ever between work and personal time wit...

Last year I had many setbacks, not only in running but in my life. I never thought after the year that I had that I would even consider signing up for another ultra distance race, yet, here I am. All signed up for two more ultra races! Not only am I signed up, I am more excited about them than I ever have been with a race.  The North Face Endurance Challenge California 50k in November! Then the Black Canyon 100k in February!  One of the things that I have learned through running is that is ok to fail, it's how you get back up that matters. That isn't just about running. That is with all things. My favorite quote right now is from Star Trek, The Next Generation. Jean-Luc Picard "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life."  Even if you are not a Star Trek fan I highly encourage you to watch this short video. This resinates perfectly for so many different things.  The next several months are going to be...

So, here I am once again in Missouri. The place I never thought I would live again. Have to give life that, it is so unexpected and you just can't control it. I have had a very rocky 2017. So much has happened this year in a negative way that it is almost unbelievable. I left Amazon because they wanted me to work more, I was already pulling 60-70 hour weeks (in office, not including work I did from home). Then I moved on to Intentional Futures and the job was ok but it wasn't challenging enough for me and it was just not quite the right fit, so I left them. I have been unemployed now for three months. I have applied to hundreds of jobs and so far, nothing. It isn't from the lack of interviews. I have interviewed at least two dozen companies, mostly phone screens, but I am still in the rut. Hopefully the right role will come along soon. As far as my running goes, I have talked about my IT band injury from July. I received a steroid shot in my knee which I had several r...

Money Maker! Since my last post I have successfully had 4 guests stay with me! I never knew that my little couch would come in handy with paying the bills but here it is lending a helping cushion! What's even more shocking is that I am loving it! I have been blessed with extremely nice visitors. They have all been traveling for different reasons and are from all parts of the world. I have loved visiting with them and learning their stories, finding out what they are interested in seeing while in town, etc.  October Guest Calendar This is what my current booking calendar looks like. I have just a few more people staying with me! I am booked solid until half way through November. I couldn't be happier! My rate is extremely low, which draws in a lot of people but that works for me. I could raise my rate but then I wouldn't have as many bookings, $2 or $3 dollars a night can make or break an AirBnB listing. I'd rather have more frequent guests at this point. La...

On your bucket list of places you'd like to travel, what's you number one? Loi Krathong the Festival of Lights in Thailand is by far my number one place/festival that I would like to see.  During the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, Bangkok hosts the Festival of lights. Loi Krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle that can float on the water.  They can contain food, nuts, joss sticks   (incense),   flowers, coins and a compulsory candle. Building the Krathong is very symbolic ritual, once the Loi Krathong is made you make a wish and let it float away with the river. The flame of the candle signifies longevity, fulfillment of wishes and release from sins. ( Source ) There are several legends linked to the origins of this festival. One holds that the festival began about 700 years ago when King Ramakhamhaeng of Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, was making a pilgrimage on the river from temple to temple. One of his wives wanted to please both the k...

As you may or may not know I am from the Midwest and I recently made a very quick trip back to the "homeland" to visit my family. By quick trip I mean almost crazy quick! I left Sunday morning after getting off work at 6:00am and arrived at my final destination Clever, MO at 8:04pm! A long day after completing a 12 hour shift at work, but I made it! Then Headed back Wednesday evening for my turnaround. I booked last minute so I didn't get the best deal on the airfare like I usually do but I still researched all the flights the best that I could before my flight. I flew Frontier and the only thing that I have against Frontier is that you have to pay for everything! From the soda and chips to even your carry on! So let's say you pay $300 for the round trip flight, but then there is the $20 baggage fee both ways, then if you don't want to be in the back with no leg room another $40 additional both ways. So that up to $520 already! No soda, no chips or whatever you mi...

A couple of weeks ago I made the tedious trek across the country once again. This time the goal : Return my mom's car to her. Good goal. Unfortunately is took four days of solid driving. However, there are so many up sides to driving across the country and that would be all the Amazing and wonderful things that you get to see when you are driving into places less traveled. This time I took a route that I usually don't take. I went the northern route driving through Spokane, WA where I stopped and visited a local car show and saw the musical Wicked for the first time which was fantastic! Then on through northern Idaho and into Butte, MT for the evening. There I stayed the night. The second day I drove south and went through Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone National Park which I have driven through twice before but it never gets old. Saw many hot springs, Old Faithful and even my first grizzly and her cub! Went on to Billings, MT for the evening and went on t...

The last couple of weeks I have been planning a Road Trip to Seattle. Now this isn't just a "fun" trip there is a purpose behind it. So I cannot simply jump in the car and drive. Not to mention driving from Springfield, MO to Seattle, WA is a 33 hour trip, one way! In my attempts to find good routes/cheap lodging/interesting stops/gas stops/etc I have come across road trip planning websites. They might be helpful to some but from the few that I browsed or attempted to use they are not very thorough. The most "detailed" site I have found thus far allows you to put in a trip and gives you hotel locations along the way in your budget. But that is it. I have found a couple of neat sites that pinpoint road side attractions along major highways but they won't allow you to plug in a route and then give suggestions if places to see along the way. You have to sift through the attractions by hwy or by state. If these sites improve dramatically their functionality they...