Trying New Things

I have always attempted to be the type of person who will always try something once, well willing to do most things.  Since moving to Seattle I feel like I have tried so many more new things than I was before.  I think part of it has been the wide variety of cultures, lots of different foods and entertainment.  Part of it is branching out to meet new people, different meetings and groups.  Also, trying to get out and about, lots of fairs and events.  I LOVE the amount of new food and activities I have enjoyed since moving to Seattle!

Here are some of them (you should try them, or something similar, if you haven't before):

- Open water swims, I did the GLOWS and the Emerald City Open Water Swim

- Going to fairs by myself and not being self conscious 

- Mud Run, I did the Dirty Dash.  As a side note they just added O'Dell's as a sponsor, so maybe they will be heading to Colorado next year.

- Lychees

- Kayaking  

- Bubble tea

- Meetup groups 

- Running a race on a parade route, shortly before the parade.  I did the Torchlight Run.  People are cheering for you and the kids all want high fives, talk about some external motivation!

- Participating in Pride Parade

- Dragon Fruit

Book Reviews

Check out my other page with book reviews.  I have been trying to update this regularly.  Also, I plan on posting more regularly in the near future!

Spring Break!

I started to write a blog about my trip to Las Vegas and just realized that I didn't get beyond this list (in black). I decided to leave the list and add some more explanation in blue. 


Wednesday Big B and I went to Las Vegas with our two friends.
  We went on Wednesday and Big B and I stayed a bit longer than them through Saturday.  This trip was my Valentine's Day present from Big B
 and he went all out.  I didn't leave wishing I had eaten somewhere different and we went to a show and exhibit that I had really been wanting to see.  
We stayed at the New York, New York.  I really enjoyed this casino because there were a lot of reasonably priced food options and the atmosphere is really laid back.  We ate at the burger joint there and then spent some of the evening at the Piano Bar, which as always a good time.
Burger
Piano Bar

Thursday On St. Patrick's Day we went to the Bellagio buffet which is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Vegas.  We gambled in Hooters a bit, we discovered that this is one of the few casinos that has openings at the $5 craps and blackjack tables.  We headed back to New York, New York to see their St. Patrick's Day parade, it was awesome and had bagpipes, which I love.  
We visited Mandalay Bay to check out the new Guinness store, not really worth the side trip in my opinion.  Most of the trip we were on a mission to find cheaper tables.  We went to Sahara and Fremont for this reason.  While we were at Sahara we witnessed a burrito eating contest. 

Fremont we saw this awesome casino with a water slide that goes through an aquarium with sharks.  At Fremont we also had green beer that actually tasted good!  I don't remember what I meant by sports, but we were there during March Madness and I did place some bets.  I didn't win (even though I thought I should have) because I didn't understand what bet I was placing, oh well, lesson learned.  The evening we saw O, absolutely my favorite Cirque de Soleil show that I have seen.  We were all over the place and I logged 29,217 steps according to my fitbit.
Bellagio buffet
Hooters
Mandalay Bay - Guinness
Sahara
Fremont
Sports
O

Friday We had breakfast at La Font, spent some time at Hooters and Sahara.  Then our friends had to catch their plane home.  Big B and I then met an roommate from college at Pour 24, where we again tasted some good beer.  That evening we went to Zumanity.  
La Font
Hooters
Sahara
Pour 24
Zumanity

Saturday Our last day in Vegas we had breakfast at the Paris buffet with my  ex-roommate, another favorite place to eat.  We timed it perfectly so that there was breakfast and lunch items available.  We had some more time before our flight left so we check out the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor.  It was so interesting and I had been wanting to see this exhibit for a while now.  We ate lunch at 9 Men and watched some of the March Madness.
Paris Buffet
Bodies
9 men

New Hair

I forgot to post photos of my hair, so in case you haven't seen it, here it is.

Much shorter than planned, but it is starting to grow on me.

Hair!!

For the last 2 years I have been growing out my hair to donate it.  I grew out my hair and donated it in 2004, I felt good giving my hair to someone who needed it, however when I cut off my hair it was much shorter than I liked and was really frustrated while working out since I couldn't throw it into a ponytail.

My hair right before I cut it last time, not the most flattering photo.                 My hair about a year after I cut it off.

So, this time I am growing it a bit longer so it isn't quite so short when I chop it.  But boy is my hair driving me crazy!!  

I tried to take this picture one night before I was going out, but the flash kept washing me out, obviously.  However, you can kinda see how long my hair is getting.

Next time I go in to my hairdresser I am not sure if I will just trim it, or cut it off, but don't know what style to go with if I donate it.  Any ideas?  

Speaking of hair, check out how crazy mine can get!!  This is after a run in May.  I think it was a combination of sweat and then lots and lots of rain.

My Cousin's Wedding

My cousin got married in Las Vegas in October.  (As a side note this is my second cousin to get married in Vegas).  It was a nice opportunity to get out of town and visit somewhere other than Colorado, I LOVE Colorado, but like to visit other places also!

Here are some photo highlights:

First dance

This is what happens to your feet when you don't wear shoes.

My brother and his friend enjoying the festivities.

My other cousin and I.

While we were in Vegas we also did a lot of walking, some gambling, rode the New York, New York coaster, and went through the 13th Floor Haunted House at Circus Circus.

We also spent some time with my friend, right in time, just a week before she moved to San Diego.  We enjoyed some all-you-can-eat sushi, yumm!

At MGM we played in the lazy river, watched Ka (amazing!) and enjoyed some time watching the lions.

Blog Maintenance

I just realized how far behind I am on my side bars.  I know I have seen many more movies since Avatar, that will just have to miss some movies.  Also, I have read some books recently, but I believe I can track those down.  Lastly I finally updated my time, didn't realize it was on Mountain, oops!