Oh the things you see when running

I love running. Most everyone knows that about me. I love it for how I feel, for the time I have to be alone and think, and for the calming effect it has on me. And I love it for the adventure it is. In China, it was an adventure just with the crazy people I'd meet on my run (Mr. Orange shirt talked about here). Here in the hill-country of Texas, it is not people I meet so much as the fun little critters.

My favorite so far? Wild boar. Yep, when I heard that rustling and snorting coming from the bushes next to me I about jumped out of my skin! And then I see this huge boar running away with little baby boars scuttling after. Number of sightings so far? Three.

And then there are the dozens of deer I meet. Some days I see over 20 of them. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I see one of the huge bucks. But they don't seem to venture out by the road too much. And right now, there are still lots of little fawns. I see sometimes five of these little guys with their mammas watching close by.

After it rains, there are tons of frogs. Mostly squished on the road, but I do see a few just hopping by.

One day I saw a huge snake coiled up on the side of the road. It was red and black and yellow. Now, I have heard that depending on the order of the colors it might be poisonous. I don't remember what this one was, but there is the possibility that I was close to getting bit by a deadly snake!

There are also these funny looking insects. Like the ones you see in books where they look like sticks. They are about 6 inches long and, well, stick-y looking.

And the birds. Beautiful birds. That is, except for all those vultures! Where I come from, you never see vultures. Here, on one of my runs, was the very first time I ever saw a vulture in real life (as far as I know. At least the first time that I recognized one). There was a whole group of them, line up on a wall about five feet from the road, staring at me. A couple more were on the ground surrounding their dinner. Creepy, definitely creepy.

All in all, its been fun. I never know what a new day will bring! And I wonder, what new adventures will I have on my runs in San Diego? Probably no wild boars...

Never ending to-do list

Do you ever feel like you head is just going to explode? This past week has felt that way every day. With Eric and me moving to San Diego in about a week and a half to start grad school for him and dietetic internship for me, it seems as if there has been a never-ending list of things we have to do. Which all seem to have to be done now. Car insurance…health insurance…professional liability insurance…apartment finding…cell phone buying…going though boxes and boxes of things we had stored at Eric’s parent’s house…buying furniture…finding a way to get that furniture we bought to California…wading through the seemingly endless pile of internship homework…getting a physical for internship… And I’m sure I’m leaving off quite a few. As of today, the majority of those have been crossed off. It will feel so good to finally feel like we have everything finished and under control. And to not have a pounding headache by 5pm every day- often sooner.

I need a weekend. Badly. Too bad most of it will be spent finishing above list. But Eric’s sister Kimberly and her little family are coming for the weekend, so one good thing to look forward to. Yay!

What a morning!

Its been an interesting morning. It all started early when I was running. I was only about a mile from home and noticed a little fawn stuck between two iron railings in a fence. I almost didn't see her, it was still mostly dark. I went closer to see if I could help her. Poor little thing was so scared, and when I got closer she just flailed those little legs like crazy. Her mamma was on the other side of the fence, worried sick I'm sure. I didn't think I could get her out on my own so I quickly ran home to get Eric.

We went back, with a container of Crisco (it was the only idea I had!). Eric was very dubious as to the helpfulness of Crisco, but anyone who has ever gotten a part of themselves stuck in a dining room chair knows how great it is. Unfortunately, we realized that it wouldn't help our little friend. She was stuck even worse and on her sides she had been rubbed raw with her struggling so hard. It broke my heart to look at her. We had no idea how to get her out. I had to get Eric to work though, so we had to leave. I stopped by a vet on my way home to see if they could help. The nice lady let me in even though they weren't really open yet. She gave me a number to call, the San Antonio Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.

When I got home, Eric's mom had already found that number online and called and left a message. After what seemed like forever, they called back, got the information,and said they would send a volunteer. We went and met the volunteer up there. Two other volunteers had already beat us there and got the little guy out. They told us that this actually happens a lot and what you have to do is grab the front and back legs, stretch the deer out long and thin, and then they will be able to slip right out. The poor little guy was apparantly so scared and disoriented that she ran in circles, confused,and then almost got stuck again in another fence before getting through and running up the hill.

I was so relieved that she was okay. While we were waiting for the Rescue place to call us back, I was sitting there trying to study and I couldn't stop thinking about her just lying there stuck- frightened, scared, and hurt. And we were just sitting comfortable at home. And she was there for almost three hours at least- from when I first saw her to when she got out. I just wish I could have known what to do to get her out so she didn't have to go through that. So simple too, you'd think I'd be able to logically think to stretch her out and pull her out. I felt so hopeless though. I wanted to help but didn't know how.

I am just so glad she is free. I hope she finds her mamma again.

Apartment? Check!

We did it, we paid the deposit today for our apartment in San Diego. It feels so good to have this taken care of. It has been quite the ordeal trying to do this long distance. Calling what felt like hundreds of landlords and leasing agencies, checking Craigslist for new listings every few hours, making charts, mapping everything, etc, etc... And of course, I got the fun job of doing it all since Eric was gone during the days. Wore me out. But we got it! And its the one I loved from the second I saw the picture. Cute Victorian-style blue house. It reminds me of this yellow house I always wanted to live in in Provo. Do you remember that one Heidi, did I ever show it to you? I would go home the long way just so I could drive by it. And though it is not yellow, I am finally getting my cute house! Well, almost. After getting all excited about it, my mother (who was so amazing to drive 2 hours to go look at some places for me!) informed me that I will not actually live in the 'cute house' but in the little building attached to the back. Talk about a let down. But, as Eric says, at least we will see the 'cute house' from outside our window. That's something, I suppose.

Our newest treasure

I thought I'd share my favorite yard sale treasure with you all. As nice as beds and dressers and tables and all those 'useful' things are, they are not what get me most excited. My favorite find so far (along with an awesome digital meat thermometer I got for 50 cents!) is this cute picnic basket:

I have been wanting a picnic basket for a while. It just seems that a picnic would be that much more fun if you took it all in a pretty basket. So I jumped at the chance to get this one. It even came with a tablecloth, napkins, plates, and glasses.

Eric and I already had a chance to use it. We went to a concert last Saturday that was part of the Cactus Pear Music Festival and went to a nearby park beforehand to have a picnic. So much fun! We had some deer, squirrels, and birds for company. Gotta love picnics!

Hitting the Sales with Dad

Need a dresser, a baby crib, an antique iron? Is there a certain book you are looking for? Or anything, for that matter? Eric's dad is the one to call. He is a master. Of yard sales and estate sales, that is. The last few weeks, after mentioning to him that we are hoping to find furniture and things to set up our apartment when we get to San Diego, he has been bringing us along with him on some of his trips.

He seems to know where all the sales are. We'll be driving down a street and suddenly he'll pull a sharp turn. "Didn't you see that sign? There's a yard sale over here!", he'd say. We look back, straining to see. And sure enough, a tiny piece of paper, in tiny writing will say: 'yard sale'. He also knows all the tricks-- when to get there, what to look for, and how to bargain (he'd probably get along just fine in China).

When he goes, it is a serious thing. Out the door before 7am, not home until after 12pm. And he just goes and goes. But, thanks to him, we have found some great stuff. We sure won't be sleeping on the floor like we were afraid we might be, thinking we wouldn't be able to afford a bed. Or eating dinner sitting on boxes. And its great, because he knows how to find nice things.

I had actually never been to a yard sale or estate sale before just a couple of weeks ago. And I thought you can only find junk at them. (and at some, that is still true) But why would you ever buy the cheap $20 bookcase at Wal-Mart when, for the same price, you can get a really nice, heavy wooden one for the same price at one of these yard sales? Needless to say, we are fans.

But after 5 hours in one day, Eric and I are both about yard-saled out for now. Anyone else want to take a turn?

Called to Serve

Eric's sister Brittany received her mission call today! She will be serving an 18 months mission for the LDS Church. Everyone got together today, some people via Skype and telephone, to watch her open the letter.

And she will be going to...

Berlin Germany!!

We are so excited for her! She will be an amazing missionary. This brings back so many wonderful memories from my own mission. Oh, I felt almost jealous watching her. Those were some of the best months of my life. Everyday teaching people about Christ and his restored gospel. Can it get any better than that? I wish I was going with her.

But for now, I will just have to settle for dinner of brats and sauerkraut.