Halfway Through 2014

At the end of 2013, I wrote about how much running has changed my life.

Through the winter, I did not run very much because Washington is very wet and unseasonably dark at that time of year. Tougher, stronger runners can put up with that, but I am not one of those people.

My people tend to congregate on the couch and binge watch Hell's Kitchen and Orange is the New Black. We might look outside and notice the few, brave runners in dayglo orange, but that's only when we muster the energy to crane our necks away from the bright, LED glow of our televisions.

Turning Back Time

Dear 14 Year Old Shasta,

Greetings, young one! This is yourself about thirteen years into the future. I just wanted to check in on you and see how you're doing. You've been uncharacteristically quiet lately, like, really quiet and this is concerning because you typically have a way with words as evidenced by your parents' monthly phone bills and your endless journalling that would put James Joyce to shame (in terms of quantity anyway, though some of his work is a little willy-nilly if you ask me).

I Think I Can, I Think I Can...Swim?

"I just...."

"C'mon, go for it!"

"I don't know yet."

"Here let me show you, it's really easy."

"Wait a second!"

"No, we'll do it together! You'll love it!"

"Hang on! I'm not sure!"

"You don't have to be! Just try it!"

"Just hold on! I'm thinking first!"

"There's not much to think of - let's GGG-"

"WAIT!

"GGggggoOOOOOOOOO!"

One Day, I'll Drive a Ridiculous Car Too

Sometimes when I open my mouth, I hear my dad. Then I look around and Ben Lewis is no where to be found.

How did he manage to say something so quickly and leave? Where did he go?

Oh, it was me speaking. It's just that I am turning into my father.

Is this everyone's worst nightmare? Or is this everyone's eventual reality?

My dad and I are the kind of people who claim to be Type B, but we have so many Type A qualities that the latest edition of the DSM can't keep up with us.

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

I cannot take all the credit for these chocolate chip cookies because I'm not Mrs. Tollhouse, the Inventor of the Chocolate Chip Cookie or anyone like that. I have to give major props to Sally from Sally's Baking Addiction because this recipe has so many great cookie tricks that it is basically FOOLPROOF and a great starting point for any soft, chewy cookie you'd like to try.

20 Facts You Didn't Need to Know

I have this older brother, but this post isn't about him. I essentially grew up as an only child because he is that much older than me, so this post is about me. On my blog. I'm writing about myself on my blog.

You're stunned, I know, but that's sort of the deal you signed up for when you decided to read this post about me on my piece of the web.

Welcome to my self-centered life!

Alice & Mary Blair: Two Cool Ladies

Like any semi-grown twenty-something, Disney movies made a huge impact on my upbringing and the colorful scenes of all those animated feature films set a fire within my imagination. I will gladly belt out any song from Beauty and the Beast at any given moment with gusto. When I watch any of these movies at home (which is way more often than my husband wants to admit), it's basically a sing-along for me.

Don't even get me started on Frozen because that soundtrack is on repeat in my iTunes library on a daily basis.

Growing Up in a Girl's World

At a very early age, I wanted to go to college and have some kind of career. I spent most of third grade writing extra credit papers about all of the planets to hone my writing and research skills.

When I found out about a nearby college-prep middle school, I begged my parents to send me even though that meant years of carpooling.

As soon as I could drive, I started taking community college classes and learning about scholarships.

I never aspired to be married or to have a family. Maybe it's because I was so hyper-intense about school, but my parents never encouraged me to do that or even made mention of it.