Channeling my inner Julia Child

I will be the first to admit that at times I have a tendency to obsess over things and lately the things I have become obsessed over are actually real people. This is really nothing new. Don't worry though, unless you either wrote a book or are the subject of one you're probably safe from my obsessive behavior. Maybe obsessive is even a little strong, let's say it's more of a mixture of adoration and respect.

Anyway, I recently read the book (or listened to rather) My Life in France by Julia Child and what started out as a curiosity for the 6'2" boisterous woman quickly turned into appreciation. Most people know Julia as the outgoing quirky woman with a cooking show long before Food Network had a place in cable land, but reading the book made me realize how she found such success, especially during a time when a woman in the spotlight was out of the ordinary. Though I admire her cooking skill (and definitely share her passion for eating) and can only hope that someday I can cook at least half as well as her, its her attitude, compassion, love for life and sense of humor that truly inspired me. She found a way to interject her zest for life and infectious energy into everything she did and it paid off. Chances are she could have found a passion for anything and would have probably been quiet successful.

The other part of Julia's life that I found fascinating was her relationship with her husband (Julia is pictured to the right with her husband, Paul, in a postcard they sent to friends for Valentine's Day). It seems through everything I can find about the two that they truly had a friendship and partnership above and beyond their marriage. They knew how to have fun and enjoy each others company, but they also challenged one another and pushed the other to follow their dreams. They signed letters to friends and family jointly as "Pulia" (Paul + Julia) long before it became a trendy phenomenon for celebrities like "Brangelina." They each found a way to support one another and get involved in the others passions and interests. The two ended up in France shortly after they got married because of Paul's job as a diplomat for the United States Government, but instead of just tagging along Julia made the most of the opportunity which obviously paid off. Paul not only supported her curiosity for cooking that began in France, he was extremely involved in the process even down to helping building sets for her TV show and always serving as the taste tester as she perfected recipes for her various cooking projects. I am sure they had their moments and their relationship wasn't always perfect, but it came pretty close as far as I can see.

As silly as it may seem, Julia Child has become a role model of how I want to live my life. And maybe, if I can channel all of her other positive traits, then learning to cook will just come naturally. (That might be pushing it.) One thing is for sure, if I ever get a chance to have a dinner with 10 guests dead or alive, she will definitely receive an invite. Maybe she'll even cater it. . . A girl can dream, right?

A Warrior in Training

Last year I challenged myself to complete a 5K run before the end of the year. In early December, dressed in a Santa suit along with thousands of other crazy Las Vegans I obtained my goal. I am naturally an over achiever and would have preferred to have ran the entire 3.1 miles but on that day I was proud that I finished. Since then I have continued working out and have even ran in two other 5K runs. The side benefit to accomplishing my goal is that I have lost 37 pounds since last August. And let me just say, there is no motivation like being able to fit into your skinny jeans fresh out of the dryer without even having to lay on the floor or jump up and down and do the tight pants dance!

I guess you could say that running 5Ks is my gateway sport! So, with my new found confidence in my athletic abilities I have been looking for new challenges to help me continue to lose weight but also (and more importantly) because I truly have enjoyed pushing myself to a new level. A few weeks ago one of my friends, who has also recently been searching for ways to pursue a healthier more balanced life, sent me a link for the Warrior Dash. I was hooked instantly. This is just what I need. The Warrior Dash is a 3.27 mile obstacle course that will test the fittest of athletes endurance and sense of adventure.From running to jumping through tires and climbing up ropes and over old cars and even jumping over fire,  there's very little the event creators left out. Each participant also receives a Viking helmet and a beer after completing the race. What more could I ask for, right? The best part is that there is Warrior Dash in my home state of Colorado this August. Perfect timing.

Today I  registered for the event and have declared myself a warrior in training. My friends think I'm crazy, but what's the point in living this life if we can't push the limits once in a while?

I'm back. . . .

Last summer I started writing this blog because I needed an outlet to express myself as I transitioned back into the world of being single. It was great. I love writing and enjoyed the positive feedback I received from my adventures (and often misadventures) in dating. And then in December something amazing happened. I began dating this guy (he happens to be the subject of my last post), but I found myself not wanting to share it with the world. I wanted to keep it to myself and savor every moment of this experience with the new person in my life.

Over three months have passed and I am happily in a relationship and ready to return to the world of writing. I'm not sure exactly what form my writing will take or the exact topic of every post but that's ok, right? It is my blog after all. I am looking forward to getting back into writing on a regular basis and hopefully sharing my experiences in an entertaining way.