AZ Recap: Part I

Here's all things Arizona about my trip.  

For starters, I walked thru O'hare airport from the front doors to my gate in 15 minutes.  Tell me you're not impressed.  

Day 1 (which is really just 10pm at night):  Greg, Sara & Jake picked me up from the airport and took me onto Mill Ave in Tempe (which is where Sara & Greg live) and checked out an outdoor bar followed by some late night outdoor Mexican.  The streets were very lively and there were street performers everywhere.  I really felt like I was back in Barca.  Very cool.

Day 2: You already saw pictures from my amazing hike.  After the hike, we watched some NCAA games and had drinks & lunch (outdoors!!)  It wasn't until 3:00pm that they finally took me to pool.  Greg played some water polo and I passed out in the heavenly bliss of the sun.  Later that night we went to Four Peaks Brewery which is the largest brewery in AZ.  Of course, I tried one of every kind of beer they offered ;)  After lots of chips n salsa, I was pretty satisfied and tired, but couldn't resist ordering when we went to G & Sara's fav restaurant, The Pita Jungle. It's a VEGAN restaurant so naturally I could eat most anything.. so sad I wasn't hungrier.

Greg & I at the top of Camelback Mountain.

Day 3: Finally a pool day! See, it took me 3 days to get to the pool.. I'm not a sun worshiper. Being on the ASU campus at the pool made me wonder why I didn't go away to a warm state school.  Probably because every day would be spring break and I'd have failed out of college.  We went to a late dinner (of course, with an in between course of chips n salsa at Boulders on Broadway.  Let me tell you what Tempe does.. Reverse Happy Hour.  That's right.. from 10pm to close bars have deals on all drinks and food items.  If this happened in Chicago, all establishments would be out of business.  While we waited for Sara for dinner, we played bags where G & I ran the boards winning somewhere between 9 and 12 games straight.  (These randoms thought I was God's gift to the game because I had a couple good rounds, but G was really equally dominate if not better.)

As you can see.. thus far in the trip I had been slacking on my picture taking.  I start to show a little improvement here! 

Day 4:  Pool. Happy Girl.  Champagne.  Happier Girl.  Took the Light Rail (electric train) to the Suns Game. in Phoenix. 

Tickets for the Light Rail

Here I had my first ticket scalping experience. (And by me, of course I mean Greg & Jake negotiated and I watched) These scalpers are cut throat.  We ended up getting 3 tickets for $50 and sitting in whatever seats and section we wanted.  That would definitely not happen at the United Center.  I also walked in unsearched and my purse unchecked.  I don't know if I felt safer or not.  It wasn't until inside the stadium that they actually served Stoli vodka.  Win!  The Suns lost, but we got to see Shannon Brown light it up with 32 points & who could forget the World's Limbo Queen.  I thought I could limbo. She went under a pole on top of two beer bottles with two trays of drinks in her hands.  Impressed is an understatement. 

Scene of the Scalp: Outside the stadium

We met up with Sara and a couple of their friends at District in the Sheraton in downtown Phoenix for some more reverse happy hour.  

Sneak Peak of tomorrow's post:

My very first look at the Grand Canyon. (The picture isn't nearly as good as the real thing.)

Up Hill Battle

My first morning in the valley I woke up for a 3 mile run.. unaware of the 2 mile up hill adventure we were going on after.  Welcome to Camelback Mountain.  Summit: 2,700 ft

Just a little leap of faith right here.  The fall wouldn't be so bad.

That DISCOVER commercial was playing in my head right here.  Feeling so accomplished =)

G- On the way up.

Countdown to Spring Break

Less than 7 hours until spring break! Less than 48 hours until Arizona! Yes, I am equally to more excited for spring break than my students. I know that we have had unbelievable weather this past week, but it’s not the same as being on vacation. For starters, I’ve been working all week which has seriously affected my bronze time (which has been limited to my after-school runs). Also, it seemed a little strange to put on my bathing suit in March, in Chicago. Not saying that I wouldn’t have done it, but still strange.



Why vacations are amazeballs:


1. The number one thing I look forward to the most is the SUN! Mostly, because we usually don’t have it as often as we should in Chicago. Sunshine makes me happy. And tan—which also makes me happy. And there’s just so much more to do when it’s warm and sunny.

2. The people—Whether it’s the people you’re travelling with, the friends/ family you’re visiting, or the new encounters that you meet along the way.. The people really do make or break a vacation. On this particular trip, I’m getting a little bit of everything. I’m traveling alone to visit my friend, G, who recently moved to AZ. I can’t wait because I haven’t seen him since August! (What?!) He just started a new job, so I’ll be spending my days by the pool alone (which is also a very valued part of vacation for me.) Mid week though, I’ll be heading with a new friend (Greg’s buddy) on a 2 day excursion to the Grand Canyon! (I’ve never been and can’t wait!!)

3. Leads me to another reason—New Adventures. I have never been to Grand Canyon and now I get to hike it, sleep in it, watch the sun rise and set in it. Amazing!! Pictures to come, for sure. In the general sense, I love the “Just Do It” attitude on vacation because you never know when the opportunity will arise again. Almost all of the “coolest experiences I’ve ever had” on my list happened somewhere other than home.

4. Outdoor running—again I’m used to still having snow on the ground and being stuck on a treadmill. But nothing gets your blood pumping quite like that first warm outdoor run.

5. Just getting away—this reason is two-fold. First, getting away from your daily routine (work, run, dinner, TV/ read, pass out) and the monotony of laundry and dishes and picking up and putting away.. It’s boring and overrated. You know what else you don’t have to deal with? A cell phone. Obviously I’ll be using my phone, but isn’t it nice that you don’t NEED it? Who do you need to get in contact with when you’re on vacation? No one will be hunting you down if you skip their call because once you get out of range, your no longer that important. Even though it seems wrong to say it out loud, I appreciate having a break from people that you see every day (and drama) and it makes you realize how much you love and miss your friends, family, or significant others.

6. And finally—though I could go on for days—Island Time. You never really have to be anywhere at any time for any particular reason. When you come from a down to the minute schedule that I run my life on, it’s a nice break. Funny enough, I feel like my bed time stays the same on break. The sun always drains me to an early bedtime and 7am is “sleeping in.” So even on vacation I am early to bed and early to rise.


I have to laugh whenever I go on vacation because I always think about being an out-of-town guest. My friends wrote this hysterical article for the Harvard Crimson that depicts why that role is so clutch and what you can get away with just because you’re from out-of-town. I also am partial to the story because they ran it right before my visit to Harvard. If you’re looking for a laugh, read this. The Bell Lap: The Ultimate College Visit I always think of this before a trip.

Happy Spring Break!! And if you don't have one.. just pretend like you do. They're really fun!

Banned Books

I don’t get it. Well I do, but I don’t. What could be worse for a kid these days that is written in a book than what they see on TV? Yesterday, I received a text message from a 10 year old I babysit. It was one of those chain text messages that promise you great things if you pass it along, but if you don’t pass it along you’d have bad luck. Well not only would I have bad luck, but supposedly a little girl was going to come and kill me at night. (Thankfully that didn’t happen.) The point is I doubt that the kid who started that message got the idea from a book (s)he read, but probably a TV show or movie. Kids are exposed to a lot of what we’d consider “inappropriate or mature” content at a young age. Parents do not shelter their kids from much. Is it right? No. But should we ban books because we are afraid that the content is too intense for their already violent and tormented lives? No.



I’m referring to one “controversial” book in particular. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book is recommended for grades 7 & up. That is probably an appropriate grade to read and really understand some key concepts in the book. Any grade before that and the kids are missing a lot of the parallels and the mockery of our own government and society. But let’s face it; we always want to do things a few years before THEY tell us we’re allowed to. First it is standing on your tip toes to get on a ride at Great America that you’re too short to ride. Then its R-rated movies that you sneak into by buying tickets for PG-13 shows. And finally kids are smoking and drinking using fake IDs. You might have felt rebellious or accomplished if you prematurely succeeded in any of those events and bragged to your friends, but how often do you recall getting really worked up about a book? (Not dirty magazines.) Exactly.

I am a 5th grade teacher and have recently been told to remove The Hunger Games series from my classroom library because parents were complaining. On the surface, the books seem vulgar and inhumane: (which I guess they are, but so is war) Children killing other children for the capitol’s entertainment. But the book is captivating and multifaceted. It has depth. The characters show strength, perseverance, and the determination for justice. The best part about this book is that it’s an easy read, but its content is mature and action packed which keeps all readers engaged and wanting more.


As a teacher, I have a hard time telling students they can’t read a book. Last year, I had a struggling reader who picked up The Hunger Games. It took him all year to read, but it was the first chapter book that he has independently finished ever. Since the book has been removed from my classroom library, 25% of my students have a book from the series on their desk that they brought from home or the public library. The reason…? Not only is everyone in the room talking about it, but now it has also been “banned” from our school libraries. All the students want to know what’s in this book that is so “bad”. Book ban backfired.


It’s also upsetting that the few parents who fought to get these books banned have not even read the book. Instead they looked up book reviews to find support for their argument. If you read the book, its not as gruesome as you’d expect. I’ll admit when I heard the concept of the book, I was a little turned off. But after reading, I can accept it for the fantasy/ science-fiction novel that it is. Just as kids know the difference between real life and violent/ mature TV shows (that yes, young kids watch) such as: Scooby-Doo, Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Ren and Stimpy, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Beavis and Butthead. I think that while it can be difficult to draw the line on what content is appropriate for your children, it should at least be consistent. And if you feel the content is inappropriate, than you can forbid your kid from reading a book, but do not take away that opportunity for other students.


As it stands, the book is banned, but the kids will find a way to break the “rules” as they always do. Just an interesting last thought are these other “controversial” books that have been banned in many places: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger (my favorite book of all time), The Lorax by Dr. Suis, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. The best books are the most controversial.. Aren’t they?

   

Jumpstart for Swimsuits

Yesterday on a radio morning show, the question was posed, “If you could stop doing one thing, without it being a social catastrophe, what would it be?” Some listeners were saying plucking eyebrows (agree), brushing teeth (gross), applying makeup (no! so fun!), and so on. One listener said dieting which caught the host’s attention and she agreed saying that she has been on a diet since she was 12. For so long I have associated so many negative thoughts with that term because people make it seem unhealthy (which it can be if you make it that way.) When I hear the word diet, I always think someone trying to lose weight by following a special plan/program, but that’s not really what this woman meant. Dieting is just being aware of the things you are putting into your body, and is actually healthy. The male co-host agreed and supported my newly enlightened definition by saying, “Well dieting also promotes your health so would you really want to give that up?”



For many women, including myself, there’s a never ending struggle with weight. Every female that you ask would probably agree they “could lose 5-10lbs.” I am by no means overweight or feel unhealthy, but fall into the “I could lose 10lbs” club. With spring coming up, and two bathing suit vacations upon me, I decided to jump start my diet I decided to do try this GM 7 day detox that I found on a blog.

 The detox was supposed to have you waking up 10-17lbs lighter on the 8th day. Fail. But you can see why I wanted to try. Right? I’d be right where I wanted, and all I’d have to do is maintain. Well, I’m sure this detox works if you have a little more weight than me to lose and if you eat a lot of crap daily. Since the basis of my diet is fruits and vegetables already, and I work out quite rigorously, this diet dropped me a whopping 3 lbs.


Well, I didn’t get the results I wanted, but I did learn a little about myself. I need a plan, a well thought out plan in order to execute. Without one, that handful of gummy worms gets me every time. And if you are anything like me, one little lapse of judgment and it the whole day is shot; Try again tomorrow. So for the past two weeks I’ve been planning out my meals for about 4 consecutive days which allot for something extra delicious every day (even dining out and wine.)


Another thing I learned from the GM detox is that I need to be full. On the GM detox, you were allowed to eat specific foods every day, but you could (almost) always eat as much of each food to satisfy you. I know that seems silly to fill yourself up on a diet, but YOU CAN feel full on the right foods and still lose weight. The secret? Lots of lean protein. I’ve been adding lots of hardboiled egg whites, grilled chicken breasts, chickpeas and hummus into my weekly plan.


I am not an expert on weight loss or the GM detox or any other fitness & health programs, but I’ve tried the detox and was able to find a tidbit of the motivation I need to get me started.


What do you do to jumpstart or reset your body?

Boys Night Out vs Girls Night Out

I have a lot of guy friends that I hang out with on a regular basis. Throughout high school and college, there was always an open door policy to go out with the crew. There were so many people it was just easier to consider yourself invited to every event than to get a personal invite (if you can even remember life prior to facebook).

Last January, the boys decided to throw a boys-only party for the Bears/ Packers NFC Championship Game. Some of you may be thinking this is legit because its football and what girls watch football? Some of you, like me, would understand how upsetting this is because you do like football (even moreso than some of the guys invited to this homogenous party.) Needless to say, this boys party left us girls to fend for ourselves with a bit of hostility, which consequently kept many of us on bed rest the following day. The point isn't that we cannot have fun without them, but what year is it that football viewing is only for men?

The reason I bring this up from the past (and partially because I'm still a little bitter) is that we are upon yet another male dominated sports playoffs known as March Madness, and I find myself in a similar situation.

The double standard lies within this thought.. boys have boys nights and girls have girls nights. Typically, females hate boys night and men could care less about girls night. Here's why. A man does not want to be alone amongst a pack of females. What do girls do on girls night? Drink wine, talk shit, laugh at inside jokes, go to plays/musicals. Boys are happy not have to partake in any/all of these events.

A guys’ night most likely includes: beer, cards, sports, and take out. Do girls want to be a part of this? No. But we are sensitive beings aren’t we? And if we aren’t having fun, no one should be having fun. I think there are many satirical sitcoms that make fun of this exact fight and always show the husbands & boyfriends lying to their wives & girlfriends about their whereabouts because they want some time with the boys, but their wives wont allow it. Right?

I think my problem with guys’ night is that I have always been very much like “one of the guys”. I preferred Matchbox Cars to Barbie Dolls. I beat up boys on the playground. I’d play street hockey with the neighborhood boys. So when it’s guys night, I’m not used to being discluded.Now that I can also enjoy the girlie things in life like shoes, shopping, wine, and shoes, I need to accept that sometimes the boys just need their time just as the girls need their time.
I guess when you look at the broad spectrum of things, it makes sense. Let’s hope this girls outing goes better than the football debacle.

Question: What do you like to do for girl’s night?