Birthday fun

Nate and I at a friend birthday party last week

Happy Birthday to Nate! Because of my work/accident schedule, Nate had some of his birthday time filled with other things like: taking out the recycling (that's not part of it, but it's important*), shuttling me back and forth to work and the hospital. I would say Nate gets extra points for being so outstanding on just this one day, but honestly, he's just always like that. To pay him back for his nicety, I hoped to throw him a stupendous, cat-filled party. I'm not sure if I achieved stupendous, but cat-filled...yes!!

Cat-filled!

Excitement!

Many thanks to Mom and Dad Higley for this one...the guys at the Y will be jealous!

After present time, we moved on to the castle cake lighting and singing and eating portion of the program. Then we decided to just watch a good movie and relax. Movie, yes. Good? One word: Vertigo. If there is someone out there that understands this show (why it's good, I mean), stand up now.

Why.

Happy Birthday Nate!

*quiz

Crash, boom, bang

Yesterday was Nate's birthday; I still had to work and was bothered about it...if I could just have a longer lunch with him, I thought. I got it! On my way back to work, my car and I were rear ended. For the Toledoeans in the audience, I was heading west on Central at the intersection of Executive Parkway. I'd stopped at the red light like a good girl. I was wearing my seat belt with nothing except the ending of my book on CD to distract me. Because I had such a clear head, I was able to notice the truck coming at me in my rear view mirror. Luckily I was first in line, so I didn't run into anyone else, but it didn't spare Carol from some damage. My trunk popped up when it was hit, so I couldn't really see very well, but there was a guy on the sidewalk who guided me to the other side of the street. He was also a perfect witness to my innocence. Also on the scene was a paramedic (he was just driving by) who checked out my neck. Another guy driving by called the police (I had managed to get my phone opened, then stared at it).

After the firetruck arrived, I was fitted with a neck brace and was told I'd be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Exciting, but I didn't really feel like being strapped to a board (I was wearing a skirt and barbie shoes). I called Nate, who luckily doesn't start work until Thursday, so he was able to act as my silver ambulance and moral support.

The only accident I've really been in was me hitting someone just like Rabara* hit me. I found out today in the police report that there was a bug on her leg that distracted her. Rabara seemed so upset, but she was insured; I could've hugged her! Well...I did. As I was leaving I told her everything was fine, that I felt okay and nothing was seriously wrong. She said she just had a friend get in an accident and she felt bad causing something like that for someone else. So I gave her a little hug and told her to have a good day. We moved my limping Carol to a nearby parking lot so she was off the street. Last night after Nate's birthday festivities, we went and picked her up so she's safe at the house. We went to Toledo Hospital just to make sure everything was okay; I'm pretty sore but everything is normal. Lucky, lucky, lucky right? I don't often take a positive spin on a situation, but I felt really blessed with the whole situation and grateful to all the kind people around me.

An unexpected bonus: "Linda Graham from Dr. Petroski's office" has already called twice to remind me that I will need to visit a chiropractor soon, and before I worry about talking to the medical claim adjuster. Right. Wow, thanks Linda. Who are you again??

*name has been changed

Proof of my hospital visit-I wore it back to work just to be a show off in case I was questioned. Um, also proof that I've inherited my mom's good veins.

The recovering patient at Nate's birthday party; look how fat Kathryn is-it was a good indication that my strength wasn't suffering

White Night

As always, our friend Alana had free tickets to something fun and (normally) expensive in Toledo. Toledo's "Zoo to Do" was held last Friday night and it was bunches of fun. At it's core, the "Zoo to Do" has various food vendors from the area set up booths and give out free samples; so we got a free dinner and party all in one!

Nate was more than excited about this-it was so cool to feel the snake! If I look scared, it's because I am. The handlers kept telling us to make sure his head isn't close to us...um, how do we completely control that?

My favorite couple; they wore crazy frog hats last year. We saw them at the end of the night drive away in a convertible-I assume to accommodate the kitties.

Nate in front of the lions.

Liz before we headed in to the crowd to eat.

Michelle, Joe, Alana, Liz and Nate

At the end of a fun night.

Touchdown

This past weekend I took a trip to South Bend, Indiana for their "Hall of Fame to Notre Dame" race. I was in the half marathon, Alana and Candace were in the 5K. Although I missed Nate's company, it was fun to have a girl weekend. South Bend is about 2 and a half hours from Toledo; so compared to our trip to Nauvoo it felt like about ten minutes in the car.

I haven't run in a half marathon for three years, so I was a bit rusty and nervous but I had a great time. I had good company, wonderful weather, no injuries, and no crazy thoughts until only the very last mile ("what if I just sat down, right here?"). The end of the race was super cool-the finish line was on the 50 yard line of the football stadium. I ran through the corridor, burst out onto the field (determined to beat the bathroom guy*), and then my vanity got in the way. I slowed down so I didn't look ridiculous in pictures, so bathroom guy went speeding past me. It maybe wouldn't be so embarrassing if he didn't have gray hair. In spite of my lack of speed (I think some could've cartwheeled through the race faster than I ran), I had a great time and actually felt good throughout the race. Quick update: It's now Wednesday and it's the first dayI can go up/down stairs normally again. Victory!

*barely into the 3rd mile, he cut into a patch of (not way private) trees and went for it. I think I may have stared (I'm not a veteran runner okay) because I was shocked at his willingness to (almost) expose himself. Just a few more feet would've been fine with me.

Stretching and warm up is vital.

My cheerleading section: Alana and Candace

Me and bathroom guy.

Resting with the masses.

Me outside the stadium after the race.

Jalizza was right...

...the hotel in Nauvoo DIDN'T have enough food for breakfast. And while we are at it, Ashton was right too; we should've brought a proper cooler. The containers we brought ended up leaking water all over the extra bed making the bed look....used.

The good news: Nauvoo was great! The drive from Toledo to Nauvoo is about 8 hours, but it turned into about 10 hours after breaks, traffic, etc. We got in around midnight that Friday night and quickly collapsed. I should back up-or at least remind-Nate and I went to Nauvoo with our friends Joe and Alana. Because they own everything we don't, they brought along four bikes for us to use.

The weather was mostly great (and a bike still functions in the rain, I found) and it was a fun way to get around town. Saturday we went to the temple in the morning, had lunch and biked around, then finished the evening back at the temple, just in time for us to miss all Nauvoo's open hours for any store. Don't get me wrong, I love the quiet that Nauvoo provides, but a grocery store open until 9pm would've been awesome. Just a thought.

At least the post office was open...

Nate and I took a run that night and found the church for the next morning and also learned it's fun to jog in a place without cars and many streetlamps, but enough raccoons. Okay, we only saw one; but for a minute I thought there were two-the second was a fire hydrant.

We had time to get other workouts in as well

Sunday we went to church and visited Carthage. I really enjoyed the visit; I appreciated the opportunity to think about what happened there and why.

The rest of our time in Nauvoo was spent checking out more of the houses, biking in the rain, walking around a cemetery, a little shopping, and visiting an extra large viking. Happy Memorial Day.

Extra large viking

Nate tying off the rope we made.

Liz by one of the original Nauvoo Temple sun stones