Roxanne Online

Old Car New Car

So after a month of planning, plotting and strategizing, we bit the bullet this weekend and bought a car.

Marking yet another important step into becoming real live grownups. It's probably high time we also got our own car insurance instead of just mooching off our respective parents.

We'd been eyeing the Mazda CX-5 for a while but this weekend all the stars were aligned. We were at the dealership for over 5 hours, partially because they had to drive it down from Fort Collins. Des is really good at bargaining and getting deals (one of his many attractive qualities) and he was in top form talking to our dealer, Andrew. We finally got the price and details worked out but then a problem came up. There were no black ones in the model we were looking for. We flip flopped on color for while and then finally decided that since blue is the one from the commercial and we're suckers for marketing, and since it's also a really cool color, that we'd go with blue. I'm actually a glad we were pressed to pick that crazy color. Black is a good, safe color, but this blue really stands out. Which I like. 

The toughest part about the transaction was not the waiting, or haggling or talking to the finance guy named Viktor (huge scar by his eye and a thick Russian accent) but was rather saying goodbye to Hendrick. Hendrick, so named by my dad beause we got it at Hendrick auto dealers, was my 2000 Saturn that I'd had for the past 10 years.

He's been the only car I've ever owned, after helping my dad pay it off. He's been from Fredericksburg to Centreville and back so many times he could probably make the trip without me steering. He's been in multiple fender benders and never had any real body damage. He's gotten me everywhere I needed to go for a decade without complaining. He didn't even get mad when I left him for almost 2 years to live in Scotland. He was there waiting for me when I got back and we picked right up where we left off. In the past year or so, he's been getting a little bit more rattly and tired. He still drove great but I could tell he was looking forward to retirement. When I went to clean out the glove compartment and trunk to trade him in, I discovered an actual time capsule. Posters from college friends, notes written by ex-boyfriends, old Irn Bru bottles, CD books, ceramic skulls, Scotland flag stickers, an Independance Air bumper sticker, tiny dinosaur figurines, a kite, a camping chair, handwritten directions to places before Google maps or printers were invented, drawings from friends, various ipod/radio transmitters and about 7 headlight screwdrivers. I was super excited about the new car, but as we were driving away, I gave one last glance to Hendrick and got a little bit choked up. There he sat, stripped of his plates and bumper stickers, alone in the spotlights of the car lot. "Goodbye old friend," I whispered like a crazy person. "Thank you for everything." 

Food From Around The World

Here are some colorful things I ate recently:

 

Little India!

Little Brazil! 

Normal Sized Mexican Hot Dogs (Made these ourselves)

 

We also recently ate at Ikea which would count for Sweden, but the food was really gross, so no photos were taken. Des observed "I don't want to go to a furniture restaurant for their salmon." Good point.

 

Roxanne All Grown Up

So I work out now. Whatevs.

For anyone who has ever known me for more than 5 minutes, I am not an athletic person. I've been known to get winded and pull muscles running for shotgun. In high school I 'ran' 16 minute miles (more of a brisk mosey, really). I have noodle arms. I have never been the pinnacle of physical fitness. 

Since I made the shift from ice cream maker to work from home on the internet all day, my physical activity has dropped considerably. I can literally roll from my bed, into my work desk and stay stationary all day. Which is awesome. However, recently I noticed that this was not having an awesome effect on my clothes fitting correctly. This pushed me to make the usual half-hearted regimen of working out: get really pumped up about it, go once or twice and then drop it for five years.

However, somehow it's stuck this time. This is the third week that I've gone to the gym three times a week. I think I discovered why I've kept it up this time. Here's a brief text conversation with my bud Kassie. 

• Rox: I just worked out and I feel freaking fantastic. Are these endorphins? I want to do everything I've ever wanted to do. Today.
• Kassie: Hahaha they are indeed endorphins!! Do you kinda feel like walking really fast everywhere and being really nice to people and making out with your fella? Endorphins.
• Rox: Yes it's insane!! I want to write four books and bake a pie and do all my laundry!
• Kassie: This is great! I wonder if they have a bigger effect on you cuz they've been waiting most of your life to bless you. 
• Rox: Haha probably. "She may never work out again! Let's go boys, while we have the chance!"

Whatever the reason, these things are great. And they are probably doing magic things to me because this weekend I got hit on by a lesbian at a dance party. Thanks endorphins!

Let the record show that in addition to excercise, I also floss daily. I blame my constant editing of dental blogs with their scare tactic proganada for that one.

I may need to make a pillow fort and eat cotton candy for dinner for a week straight to counteract all this grown-up-ness.

Catch Up

Well loyal readers (mom. dad.) It's been over a year since my last post. I will neither apologize nor attempt to write an insanely long post filling you in on everything that happened.

Short version (since that's all your Twitter addled brains can handle):

• Married the boy of my dreams
• Moved into a great apartment with said boy
• Worked for a year or so as an ice cream maker
• Moved on past ice cream and now work from home doing SEO and internet marketing (no I'm not writing this blog on work time)

Parenthetical asides aside, I have had a great year as a newlywed. Now that we're in year two, I'm officially an oldywed and can begin doing activites like I see old married ladies doing on TV sitcoms- watching soap operas, shopping all day and baking. Here is a bread pudding I attempted tonight. This is not a food blog, so this will not be a sexy shot of the dessert. It's still actually cooking, but I'm too lazy to wait til it's done to take a better photo. Take that Martha Stewart.

My new March's resolution is to post more frequently and not just videos of cats. We'll see how much of that promise I can keep. 

Attitutde of Gratitude: Wrapup Post

So writing blog posts from the road proved to be trickier than my maxed out brain could handle for more than a few days. That didn't make me any less thankful. I know at the beginning of this project I said I wouldn't thank all the obvious things in my life. Well I lied. I'm doing that now.

I was thankful for the following things, in no particular order:

Jason & Paul- Mostly for being rad dudes, but more specifically because they requested a shout out on the blog. They have been a part of many (most!) of the adventures I've had here in Denver and I'm really glad they are my friends.

All the ladies in my life- While I do feel way comfortable around my dude friends, I love my chicks as well. There's something so nice about being able to hang out with my ladies who I've known forever as well as who I've only known a short time and being able to chat about anything.

Family- I have the best Mom, Dad & Brother and I'm lucky to have them in my life. They've made me who I am today and have done more for me than a dumb blog post could ever mention. Thanks guys!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints- I know that this church is true. It's been such a strength and blessing in my life and I have no idea where I'd be without it. I'm extremely grateful to be a part of this church.

Des- Just when I was starting to think I'd never find the lid to my pot, this guy shows up out of nowhere and is everything I ever wanted.  He's loving, thoughtful, smart, has a great imagination and a great heart and can always make me laugh. He's a hard worker, is close with his family and is very motivated.  I've loved getting to know him the past year that we've dated and I'm so excited to marry him and spend the rest of our lives with each other.

Discount Tires- (So this one wasn't obvious but I was so freaking thankful for them yesterday) I was super bummed a couple days ago to discover a HUGE nail in my tire and the tire being nearly completely flat. Not something I wanted to pay for with a wedding and Christmas coming up. With the help from the wonderful Des (see above), we got air pumped into it and drove it to Discount Tires.  I was expecting to be bullied into spending thousands on new tires. Imagine my delight when the tire place fixed it for free and just recommended I get new ones at some point because they've not been rotated and the front ones are getting bald. Back ones are fine. I didn't pay a thing, they took the nail out and I went on my way.  What a great place! Des got his tires rotated as well for free. How do you stay in business Discount Tires? You are giving services away for free? I'm not complaining. Thanks!

With that I will wrap up my month of thankfulness. And if you're reading this, I'm thankful for you too.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 24

Today I'm grateful for phones with GPS built into them. Some of you readers out there may be saying 'but roxanne, you already thanked the internet'. True, but this is slightly different and I really was glad to have it today.

This week marked my first trip to New York with a phone that can access Google Maps. It made getting around about a billion times easier. Not constantly pulling a huge map out and self consciously checking it. Not wondering where local restaurants are. Not trying to figure out how long it might take to get places. It even has a subway route map built in. Such a time saver! I did learn quickly that my phones battery dies if I don't put it on airplane mode in the subways, but after jumping that hurdle I was very glad to have a tiny map at my diisposal.
My brother pointed out that the access to information we have now must have been what Einstein's friends must have felt when they were all hanging out and someone asked how something worked. Instant answer.
I'm glad I don't have to feel like a lost tourist in the city anymore. Thanks phone with GPS!

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 23

On Tuesday, I was thankful for friends, but especially ones I'd not seen since graduating from college. I had dinner the night before with high school buds Melissa and Reema (and later Michelle) and it was a great night. Tuesday not only reunited me with my old college roomie Carmela but had me face to face with Absar-my Pakistani body double. We were inseparable in college and then he moved back to Pakistan to do med school. He's here for an internship and when I found out he would be in the city at the same time as me, I screamed. It was so so good to see him again. He and I and Carmela had a lovely evening reminiscing, skipping through the streets arm in arm and wearing silly hats. I love when you can go five years without seeing someone and then pick up right where you left off. Thank you reunions with old friends!

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 22

Monday found me thankful for New York City having everything you'd ever need in it. I went shopping with my mom, brother & his girlfriend Alison and found exactly what I was looking for for my wedding dress. Actually Alison found it for me.
I like that no matter what you are looking for, chances are you will be able to buy the finest and crappiest versions of it in the big apple. Thanks New York!

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 21

Today I'm thankful for airplanes. How lovely that we can sit in a cramped metal cylinder, throw back some Coke and peanuts, and then end up halfway across the country. A trip that used to take weeks now takes a few hours and we complain about how long the flight is.
I'm thankful I don't have to sit in the car for a million hours to get from Denver to the east coast. Thank you airplanes!

Ed. note: since I'm posting from the road, I'm on my iPod instead of a computer so I can't post pictures. Try to use your imaginations, brosephs.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 20

Today I'm thankful for the moon* This thing had inspired tons of poems from me. I love that it constantly is changing, has a cool color/texture and you won't go blind if you stare at it. I'm also a night owl so the moon and I are good friends. Tonight was a full moon and the light was so bright I was casting a shadow at midnight. Beautiful. Thanks Moon!

*celestial body, not Sam Rockwell movie