2013...Check.

I never published my 2012 re-cap cause, well...it sucked.  2013 had a lot of highs and lows as well but overall was a good year.  For me it started off by moving into yet another apartment, my 4th in under 3 years.  The move was definitely for the best as my life needed to move in a much different direction.  I finally had a one bedroom apartment with a patio, downtown in Monterey within walking distance from work.

I started training for my first triathlon, the Napa Valley Olympic up at Lake Berryessa.  I got clipped in to my new bike and started a whole new type of training.  For me, running had really been the focal point of my training for the previous 15 years of my life.  Now, with my ankle still on the mend and me being uncomfortable to put the serious mileage in I decided it was time to try something new.  I bought the bike in 2012 but hadn't clipped in till early 2013.  It was tough and time consuming to train for all three aspects but the overall conditioning was definitely worth it.  And then on April 14th I finished my first Olympic distance triathlon in 2:40:14.

As high as I was feeling on April 14th, that mood changed drastically on April 15th.  The Boston Marathon bombing was quite an emotional day for everyone.  I wasn't even there and I was an absolute wreck.

"So f'd up. Sadness, shock, and anger...just makes me nauseous. Hope everyone is ok."

                     - Facebook post immediately after I found out

After I found out about it I didn't leave my work computer for the rest of the day.  I was trying to get a hold of everyone I knew that was either racing or attending.  Luckily all my friends and family made it out just fine but the overall emotional damage had been done for everyone there along with those of us sprinkled throughout the country.  You never expect it to happen in your neighborhood, to your town, but it did.  And the Boston Police Department responded as any true New Englanders would, with a "not in my town" attitude.  They literally shut the town down until the bastards that did this were caught.  I listened to the scanners online for almost 24 hours anxiously awaiting the capture of these terrorists.

Feeling helpless out here in California, I decided it was best to show our west coast support in some way. On April 19th I put together a Run for Boston here in Monterey.  I was able to get one of the local radio stations, KRML along with two news stations; KION and KSBW.  We ended up raising over $500 in cash along with online donations as well.  Before the run began the remaining terrorist was very close to getting caught.  By the time we were done people were cheering because he had been caught.  It was a fitting finish to a very emotional couple of days.  The night of the bombing I was lucky enough to get to see the Dropkick Murphys, THE band of Boston in Santa Cruz.  That was a great place for me to be after a long, stressful day.  And the concert was amazing!!

Six weeks before the marathon bombing I got a call from one of my best friends, Autumn Roy.  We hadn't talked on the phone in a while, having just been exchanging a lot of text messages as usual.  I knew she had been having some health issues, Autumn was always having health issues.  But this was different.  She told me she had stage 4 brain cancer.  Are you f'ing kidding me?! Well that was an awful conversation filled with tears and words filled of love and regret.  There is an immediate sense of contrition when realizing you're going to lose someone you love.  You think about all the times you didn't hang out, that you didn't call, that you didn't text just to say hi.  It's hard to try and remember all of the good times right away when you realize you may not get to make any more of those memories as you move forward.  But I was lucky enough to see Autumn on one last trip home in the summer; we even got to see two Red Sox games.  On July 22nd Autumn died and on August 3rd I helped bury her.  This was an extremely challenging time for me that tested my sobriety, my sanity, my emotional stability, and my overall well-being.  I hope to GOD I never have to go through that again with anyone else.

But let's turn that 2013 frown upside down shall we??  On May 9th my life changed entirely with one harmless tour of my seahorse service area.  Honestly, I didn't even know I was giving a tour that day; either I forgot or was never told.  I happened to be in the service area adjacent to the seahorses, saw huge group of people standing outside the door to seahorses and was thoroughly confused.  I had to enter into the seahorses to ask my co-worker a question and she informed me of the tour.  As this large group of 15 or so people sauntered into the holding area that I spent countless hours raising baby seahorses in, one particular member of the group happened to catch my eye.  "Hi, I'm Katie," this gorgeous woman says to me in her white shirt with her brunette hair tied back.  I was immediately locked into those beautiful eyes and fabulous smile.  I guess I was supposed to be talking to everyone else from her department but I didn't want to stop talking to this one person.  45 minutes later the tour was over and I made up some ridiculous excuse to walk out this "Katie;" I think I pretended I needed to make a call or something.  Luckily for me I had spotted her last name on her nametag and by the end of the day I had sent her an email saying:

"It was very nice meeting you today, I hope you enjoyed our seahorses!

 Talk soon,"

We went on our first date on May 15th and haven't looked back since.  It's an incredible feeling and I couldn't be happier!!!

One month later, June 15th my incredible cousin Erin got married to AJ and was the first of the "first cousins" to get married.  I was stoked I was able to make it and had a blast with all the fam and friends that were in attendance.  That trip was also when the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup and while I didn't go to a game while at home (too damn expensive) it was great to be in town for it.  And even though they lost in game 6 it was great to see them back in the big game!  Two weeks later I was back in New England on a a work trip and got to travel to Woods Hole, Long Island, Hoboken/NYC, and the New England Aquarium.  It was a great trip and we made some good connections along the way.

On August 25th I ran my first marathon of the year, the Santa Rosa Marathon.  Even with minimal training due to the three trips back east I was able to get a PR (Personal Record) of 3:34!!!  I ran it with a couple friends from Monterey and the course was fantastic.  Just a month after the marathon was my second triathlon, in Santa Cruz.  I took about 4 minutes off of my previous time with 2:37:08.  This course was a fast course but I still have some serious room to improve my cycling.  November 9th was the last race of the year, another marathon, this time in Santa Barbara and I unfortunately did not PR this time and missed it by about 30 seconds.  Bigger and better races are ahead for 2014!!!

October was probably the best month of all.  Katie was introduced to a serious C Payne Halloween, we watched close to 30 movies, won 1st place in a costume contest, intense playoff beard and oh yeah...the RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah that's right...one of the worst teams in baseball in 2012 (add it to the list of crappy things in that year) turned it all around with some personnel changes, key additions, a winning attitude, and inspirational leadership (possibly some luck) were the best team in baseball in 2013!!  You really cannot make this stuff up...and Boston needed it.  

This year ended with my sister visiting Cali and getting engaged while out here!!! NBD! I couldn't be happier for them both and cannot wait for October 11th to get here.  It was a great holiday season and no reason to believe that 2014 isn't going to be an absolutely incredible year.  I'm looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead, the experiences that await me, and another year of growth and development.  

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

Other highlights:
- Joining Treadmill Triathlon Club
- Successful St. Patty's Day Dinner Part Deux
- Relay for Life 2013
- 32nd bday
- Steve and Theresa got married and I went to Michigan for the first time!!
- Sox vs A's: Farrell's autograph!!
- Sox vs Giants
- Sharknado

Beard Nation

The Red Sox were united with some serious facial hair among this bunch of unique characters that charged the field this year.  From the Wolf, the Siesta, the Saltine, Ironsides, and so on...they came up with some crazy nicknames for some even crazier facial hair!!  Well of course to show my support I stopped shaving by the end of September, before the playoffs started (I don't know exactly when but I know I was going strong at my triathlon on Sept. 29th)

Here is the final product (nicknames welcomed):

And then the gradual farewell to it...for now:

Abe Lincoln next year for Halloween

I think they should all have nicknames...

Halloween 2013

BUT!!!  Just because the Sox were dominating the post-season didn't mean Halloween was completely ignored.  Katie Perry and I watched a number of scary movies (listed below) and this was her first time really diving into the scary movie genre.  By the end of the 2-week Scare-A-Thon she was wanting to watch more movies than I was!!!

So what did we go as you ask?  How about a leprechaun and his rainbow with a pot-o-gold?!!

This get-up won us $20 to Chili's!!  I know, nothing huge but still...costume contest winners fo sho!!  

Group Shot of my peeps from work

Our 2013 Movie List (may be forgetting some and in no particular order):

- Friday the 13th 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and the remake (We definitely did NOT watch every minute of each but at least some of all)

- Halloween 1 and 2 (originals)

- Halloween (remake)

- Halloween 6

- Carrie

- Insidious

- The Shining

- Texas Chainsaw Massacre

- Bloody Mary

- Paranormal Activity (All 4)

- Fright Night (original)

- Nightmare on Elmstreet (2 and 3??)

- Rosemary's Baby

- Children of the Corn 1 and 2

Katie was a champ and watched way more movies than I did as I had a tendency to fall asleep during a lot of these movies!!!  But she watched all (except a couple that I watched solo) and I'm very proud of her for taking part in something I LOVE to do every year :)  

Till next year!

October Madness!

This year Halloween was put on the back burner due to a certain sports team from Boston being in the playoffs for the entire month of October.  With each series win getting them closer to the World Series, the Boston Red Sox did what nobody ever expected them to do.  They were able to go from one of the worst teams in the league in 2012, having won only 69 games, to being not only the best team in the American League but the best in baseball!!!  The Boston Red Sox are World Series Champions for 2013!!!!

The amount of joy this brings me is immeasurable really...it's been an incredibly emotional year for the city of Boston and honestly it was quite an emotional year for me personally.  So when Koji threw that last strike in the top of the 9th in game 6 of the World Series it was hard for me to hold back and not break down.  It's not just the overwhelming feeling of having my favorite team win yet another title, or what it means to the people of Boston and those affected by the bombing but how much I wish Autumn were here to experience it with me.  She was such a HUGE sports fan, especially the Sox and Pats so this would have made her day for sure.  But I know she was watching them from above and cheering them on...I just miss her Go Sox texts and Can you believe it?!  

Anyways, the Sox won and it is incredible...it was a high priority for all of Soxtober and I was completely preoccupied with making it home for the first pitch instead of training for this "marathon" I am supposed to be running in 6 days.  But those are the breaks!!!  The Sox showed what it truly means to be a team and came together against all odds and fought their way back to the top.  The word magical was getting thrown around a lot throughout the year and after looking back on it I completely agree.  This team was absolutely magical; come from behind wins, Lackey's turnaround, a number of no-name guys stepping up, beards growing on beards!!!!  What a friggin good year!!

Way to go Boston, we're still on top...thanks for yet another parade.

Last out

I was going crazy!!!  Koji on the mound, 2 outs with Iggy up at bat.  Tim McCarver making stupid comments...strike one.  strike two.  "One more baby, one more!"  Foul.  Slider low and outside...STRIKE THREE!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Sox are going to the World Series!!!!

2013 World Series or bust...

World Series Here We Come!

Must See

KOJI!

My Snapshot

Today I had the unfortunate experience of burying one of my closest friends, Autumn Roy.  Autumn and I went to  the University of New England and she was one of the first people I ever met there.  We both got to school early for preseason cross-country and hit it off immediately, but how could anyone not hit it off with Autumn?  She was an absolutely incredible human being with an outgoing personality and a spirit drenched in positivity.  We spent that preseason playing Nintendo 64 (yes, it was that long ago) while I tried to school her in Bond and Mario Kart.  What I didn't realize as I was sitting there next to her was that this was someone that was going to have a major influence over my life.  I could tell she was funny, a little naive, and pretty cute; but I never thought I would meet a 17-year old girl that could have such an impact on me.

Autumn came into UNE as one of the best runners on the team.  I don't think she knew how good she was going to be when she showed up but it didn't take long for her, or any of us, to see that this crazy girl was our new #1 female.  Autumn epitomized toughness, hands down.  She never left anything on the course and I quickly became the person that would catch her at her finish line because if I hadn't been there she would have fallen straight to the ground as soon as she crossed.  Autumn was extremely familiar with what pain was but you never knew it by looking at her.  Whether it was her leg, her shoulder, whatever; it never stopped her from getting to that starting line and giving it all she had.  She is my reason for fighting through (or ignoring in some cases) the pain because I watched this girl, a phenomenal athlete push it to the limit every single time.  There was no stopping, it was just go till you collapse.  After watching her run how can I ever possibly find a reasonable excuse to NOT finish a race?  I watched her run races with one arm taped to her body...literally.  Are you kidding me? The second I hear that gun go off Autumn is always with me.  And anytime I feel like I want to quit I can hear her in my head cheering me on.  And any time I need that last push to get me through the finish line I close my eyes, take a deep breath, hear her and just go.

Autumn and I never lost touch with each other and although we probably didn't see each other as much as we should have we still made sure to check in with each other.  I always told her about the latest girl and she always wanted to make sure she could approve before it got too serious.  But of course me always being thousands of miles away that never happened, but she wanted me to know that it had to anyway.  We always said we'd be in each other's weddings no matter what our significant others said.  And if we couldn't find someone by 40 we'd just marry each other (I'm pretty sure we said 30 first but then realized that was coming faster than we realized and with her meeting and falling madly in love with Brian and me with whomever it was at the time we thought it wise to push it way back.)

When I came back for my cousin's wedding in June we were lucky enough to spend a lot of time together.  We went to a double-header at Fenway with my dad and spent a couple days just hanging at her apartment watching movies and ordering take-out.  So when a friend asked today, "What's your snapshot?" I couldn't answer right away.  A hundred snapshots of Autumn shot through my head at that moment.  Is it her driving Brad and I back from the bar (a stick-shift) with one arm (obviously the other was in a cast)??  Is it that first meeting when we just hit it off and started playing video games in a barren dorm room? Her making all of us laugh at one of the many races we had together? Or when we met up in Jacksonville to tailgate at the Patriot's Superbowl victory over the Eagles and started the morning with power-hour at 8am? Or my most recent memories of us at Fenway or watching the Hunger Games?  To me these memories are all one big snapshot but the one lasting impression that Autumn has left me is her toughness, perseverance, and how much she truly cared for her family and friends.  She always put everyone else ahead of her own needs and never wanted to see anyone unhappy, no matter how much pain she was in.  Autumn Roy influenced many people in her life and she will be missed greatly.

I love you and miss you terribly Autumn, I'll see you at the finish line.

Run for Boston

Here are a couple of news coverage articles and videos from the Run for Boston I put together on Friday.  We ended up with about 80 or so runners and raised over $500 for the One Fund Boston foundation that Menino and Patrick put together.  If you'd like to make a donation that goes straight to the families that have been effected by the bombings go to onefundboston.org.

BOSTON STRONG!

http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/22029700/tribute-run#.UXf6owNGM9B.twitter

http://www.ksbw.com/Showing-love-for-Boston/-/1824/19827128/-/5rc5a2/-/index.html#.UXf79yvEBqI.twitter

For Boston

Someone this morning questioned (with a clearly confused look) why I was so upset.  Clearly I wasn't my jovial self and even though I'm not living in Boston anymore and that thankfully none of my family or friends were injured, this was still an emotional morning for me as it was for everyone else.

What people out here do not realize is that yesterday was not just a Monday.  It was Patriot's Day, Marathon Monday, a holiday.  There is a lack of understanding as to how much pride comes with growing up in Massachusetts, whether it was actually IN the city or outside or in Sturbridge or Orange or Swampscott or wherever.  We are a very proud group of people that clearly take everything to heart.  So when something as tragic as this happens on Boston's most popular day of the year, it strikes a chord with all who have ever grown up there, still live there, have friends and family there.  With those that have walked down Boylston, have cheered loudly for those tough enough to brave Heartbreak Hill.  With those of us that know what it's like to walk towards Fenway, but not nearly as fast as you normally would because you want to cheer on the runners before entering the Cathedral.  It touches us all.

Patriot's Day celebrates the beginning of the Revolutionary Way which if you may not know started right in the area I grew up.  As kids it may have been hard for us to truly appreciate all of our historic buildings in Bedford, Lexington and Concord because really how many times can you go on those tours?!!  But once the understanding of what happened there sinks in you begin to realize how special an area it really is.  And you are proud to say that MY TOWN FLAG IS THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY!  All of those early mornings your parents dragged you out of bed to go see the reenactment on the Lexington green means more to you when you are older.  We grew up in a town that helped start a revolution and build a country.

So while I may not live in Boston anymore and probably will not live there anytime in the near future; my family is still there, my friends are still there, my home is STILL there.  And yes I did NOT grow up in the city of Boston.  I am not from Southie, or the Town, or wherever else all these people out here think I may be from due to watching too many Ben Affleck movies.  I am from Bedford, MA.  Born and raised and proud.  But Boston is still my home.  And even being 3000 miles away the cowardly acts of yesterday still ring true out here.  I worry about my family and friends that have to commute into town every day with an unnecessary fear on their minds.  I'm incredibly sad for everyone involved yesterday and it kills me to think that this happened so close to home.  I love my family so much and take my friendships seriously and even those of you that I haven't talked to in 10 years know that I'd do anything for you if you needed it.

We are a proud group of people and we stick together through tough times.  We are BOSTON and we do NOT roll over and take it.  We get up, dust ourselves off, fight for one another and help one another.  So Boston I'm so incredibly sorry that this happened to you, it absolutely breaks my heart.  But I know we will become stronger because of it!  I love and miss you all, all thoughts and prayers go out to you.  Be safe!

Tough Guy?

Sob Because of Grief Forcing Flow in a Channel to the Sea

Found this one in my drafts from September and found it extremely fitting for my current situation:

"I'm from New England.  To some of you that means nothing but to others it means a lot.  I'm straightforward, direct, to the point, blunt...you get it.  I say what is on my mind.  I rarely use a filter.  Sarcasm is the only other language I know and I speak it very, very well.  Most think I'm an a-hole, mean, abrasive, insensitive and to them I say I'm sorry that I was not brought up in a world where every kid won a trophy.  I will not put up with you talking down to me, disrespecting me, or talking back.  Your feelings are hurt because you are not tough, you are expecting gifts, you want everyone to love one another.  Even when I'm honest and I'm being nice, it still never means anything.  But I can only be nice for so long.  And then, unlike the cowards who speak ill behind one's back, I'm direct with no regard for outside opinion of the ignorance that judges me. The negativity fuels my fire, gives me confidence and it means I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing; and that is being myself.  I will never live my life trying to make every single person happy just to make sure everyone likes me.  I know who my friends are, I know who cares about me, I know who understands me, and those are the people I show respect to and care about the most in this world.  I'm an ass because I choose to make myself happy instead of pretending to BE happy just for the sake of those around me."

Damn, it's refreshing to be back.

So much going on

I just realized I haven't written anything in 2013 yet.  I had started to write a 2012 review but it was such a crappy year I couldn't finish it.  2013 is starting off on a high note though, a new beginning for me, allowing me to be myself and actually enjoy living my life.  I have my own apartment now less than a mile from work.  I get to walk in to work everyday so that saves a bunch on gas money, which is very nice.

Work is incredibly stressful and super busy.  We have a bunch of people out due to a number of personal injuries so there are a lot of areas to be covered in their absence.  Our cephalopod gallery for 2014 is being put together piece by piece and while there are some serious frustrations we are doing some groundbreaking work that has never, EVER been done before.

I'm training for a triathlon that takes place in Napa in mid-April.  I knew I shouldn't have signed up for it when I did because at the time I was pretty sure I wouldn't be in the same relationship by April.  But we signed up together so I'll go through it, alone, and as usual I'll perform above and beyond my own personal expectations as I am highly motivated when flying solo with limited support.

Cheers to new beginnings in a new year that already has hope of being way better than 2012!