This Year in Review

As we come towards the close of this great year (tells you how it's taken me to write this thing), it's time to see what I've done over the past few months. Here's a spoiler, it's a pretty good one.

At Woodward Park... I think we just heard the guys won.

They knew exactly what my proper title is.

For those unaware, I'm currently in my second and last season as an assistant coach for the Embry-Riddle cross-country team. One of the great perks is leaving the high desert of Prescott, AZ and heading out to San Jose, Santa Clarita (hello, home), and a surprise visit to Kansas. I've really enjoyed coaching as it keeps me in shape, uplifts my social life while still being able to spend way too much in the library, and helps me watch others I coach progress. This year's men's team along with two of our freshman girls progressed so well that we headed to nationals, due to the guys winning our conference in just our second year being around and the girls rocking some pretty awesome places. We headed out to Kansas so that we could compete in Nationals, and you best believe that we got out hands on some pretty kicking mini vans to haul us all around in. While in Kansas, there was a visit to a "baked" cookie/brownie store that didn't live up to expectations, I fell to the beggings of an athlete to drive him to Game Stop so his girlfriend didn't have to buy the newest Pokemon Gameboy for him, oh, and a Nationals race that had the intensity of a Mt. SAC race, the deceiving difficulty of a crossword puzzle, and the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning. It was a great time for me because, lesbehonest, I'll never get to go again. Fun time! But as soon as I got back, it was time for the most American holiday there is.

Right after the guys finished their race

Thanksgiving was a total highlight this year. For those unaware, my brother Matt with his wife, Christa and two kids Alexis and Brooklyn live out in Austin, Texas. I've visited a couple of times before (once for Christmas and another to bring down the hammer in the family as the dominant athlete) and have always had a great time. Matt pulled the brotherly card and flew into El Paso so I didn't have to drive all 16 hours by myself. After getting to Texas, we had a solid 60-mile bike ride where I learned how much I have to improve before our next competition - The St. George Half Ironman (all are invited to come and watch me go through several hours of pain.) We recovered over egg nog and HEB's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream (really, it's the favorite!) I'm convinced there's no better way to recover. Thanksgiving day came and Matt surprised us all with a Turducken (that's right, a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey with cornbread stuffing filling any open spaces.) While carving it up, we should have been chanting, "USA, USA, USA!" If anybody is ever looking for a good time, head out to Austin and live with their family for a few days - you'll get your fill of fun.

By this time in the school semester, I pretty much haven't been to school for the past 2 weeks and I feel really good about now having to do anything and the motivation to do something about that feeling just isn't coming. Good thing I did well in the beginning of the semester so that I didn't feel the pressure from finals.

As soon as my last final ended (really, like my car was packed and everything) I headed up to Provo for some time with some awesome peeps and another classy Christmas party. For those who aren't cultured in this aspect, it's pretty much a whole bunch of college students being our classy selves and almost getting there. Unless your name is Vladi Falk, then you've been classy the entire time. I'll confess that I hadn't been there for two years, but I try to justify my presence by claiming that I attended the first. This year, everybody showed up. Really, it was tough to find a place to breath sometimes. But positive note is that we all had fun and that the banoffee pie was a huge hit (even Vladi gave up his "no sugar" diet to partake.) While living it up in Provo, my sleeping habits completely changed from going to going to bed around 9:30 and getting up at 5:00 to going to having to make myself fall asleep around 2:00 and finally waking up around 11:00. It was a glorious change!

After Utah, a trip to California was in order to make sure that I got some quality holiday weather. And as if 65 and sunny wasn't enough, I was spoiled with a trip to Costa Rica's 85 and sunny weather for about 5 days. Here are the highlights: Car rental was made in San Jose (CA) so we had to find a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy who rented us a car with the engine light on and no gas. My grandfather (83) joined us on all activities. All participants caught a sailfish when we went deep sea fishing (I might have got a little queasy and tossed up breakfast, but was completely fine after that.) Fed some monkeys as they climbed all over us -  I want one. Slept out on the bench due to noise being made by the other occupants of the bedroom. Partook of some street food and still have no side effects (would have been worth it, though) and found the best apple strudels Costa Rica has to offer. My mom kept on having this constant desire to watch Mean Girls (she's still in the dark.) Went zip lining over the most dense patch of green I'm convinced actually exists. Did a Segway tour around Quepos and Las Damas. I had my doubts about how much fun it was going to be, but it turned out to be a lot of fun (my dad hit a coconut while flying down the beach and flew off - he's okay.) Spent about 5 hours searching for the local LDS Church only to give up about 50 yards away from having found it. We now know for next time. Fell in love with plantains, arroz con pollo, and all things Costa Rica!