Tag: MLlove

California Love

Waiting at the gate reflecting on my trip. Don’t get me wrong I wish it wasn’t SO COLD and rainy most of the trip, but other than that I really can’t complain.

I got to spend the trip with Kelly, one of my best friends who I don’t get to see enough.

Here are the quick highlights:

Wed: hung out all day at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

Thurs: Went to the HIMYM set and WATCHED the cast filming a scene in MacLaurens. Met friends for dinner and drinks at USC and explored campus.

Fri: Awesome brunch on the beach in Malibu. Explored Pepperdine’s gorgeous campus. Race expo and bib pick up.

Sat: DAVID COOK LUNCHEON. Having great conversations with Dave – including telling him my marathon “story.” Getting pictures with him and he signed my race bib.

Sun: Great weather. RAN A MARATHON. Ate In-N-Out Burger.

Mon: Slept 12 hours. Feel sore, but not as bad as I thought.

I have a big week ahead of me, full of goodbyes, packing, driving, and starting a new job!

Getting to meet the man who started it all…

THIS JUST HAPPENED:

I got an email from a project manager at ABC2 – the charity team I’m running on for the LA Marathon. ABC2 is the charity team that David Cook (from American Idol – aka the love my my life) is running on and have worked with for years.

The email simply asked for my shirt size for a team shirt and an address where to send it. However they sent a previous email asking for people to share why they were running on the team. I decided what the hell, I have a good story. So I sent this:

In your previous email you asked for some background on why I was running as part of your team. 

This will be the 3rd race I’ll be running for ABC2. I first learned of your organization through David Cook. I donated the first year he ran in the Race for Hope and then came up to DC to run and fundraise for ABC2 myself the past 2 years (and will again this year). I’m excited for LA – it will be my first marathon. I owe so much of my running success to David Cook actually.

In November 2007 my Dad passed away suddenly from complications of gastric bypass surgery. I wasn’t much of an American Idol watcher, but in Spring 2008 I heard buzz about David Cook  after his audition and watching/looking forward to American Idol that season helped me get through the early weeks of coping with the loss of my dad. I became a major fan of David, his story, and his music which became part of my regular work out soundtrack.

I donated to David’s team at Race For Hope 2009. I was stunned by the bravery and dedication to run in wake of his brother’s passing the night before. Even though I didn’t lose my father to cancer, his loss touched me and motivated me further to get fit and healthy. The following year when David announced he was going to run Race for Hope again I knew I wanted to join him and raise money myself. I was NEVER a runner. However slowly, but surely I started. I ran that my first 5K – Race for Hope 2010  in ~33min and raised some money. I started to pick up my running and by Race for Hope 2011 – I knocked my time down to ~26 minutes. I’d love to run sub ~25 minutes at Race for Hope 2012.  

I’ve run a number of half marathons, but I knew I was up for the challenge of a full marathon. I had my eye on Los Angeles due to the weather and mini-vacation, but once I heard David was going to be running it and partnering with ABC2 I knew I had to. I’m hoping to run a sub 5 hour marathon and have been asking folks to donate based on how many miles my longest training run was that week. 

I have gained so much from running – I’ve found peace, confidence, and good health. I’ve lost over 45 pounds in a little over 2 years from running. After losing my dad due to his weight I’ve given myself the gift a long healthy life due to running. My hope for everyone is to have long healthy lives and finding ABC2 has been such a blessing in my life. I hope I get the chance to tell David my story one day. He’s truly an inspiration and I’m excited to see him conquer the LA Marathon with me!

Soon after sending it I get this response:

I love your story! Would you mind if I sent it to David’s people so they can pass it on to him? We are trying to put together a lunch the Saturday before the Marathon with David so you may have the chance to tell him yourself, but I really want him to know how much he has inspired you. 

After nearly falling out of my chair I replied:

WOULD I MIND?!?! I’d love you to pass it along. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get my story out to him. I saw something about Marathon Stories on the LA Marathon website, but I wasn’t sure who was reviewing them and your email struck a chord in me to share. I know that David thinks of himself as such an average joe, but he’s truly been a hero to me and he should know it! 

She replied that she is sending it along to her contact from “his people.”

STOP. 
HOLD THE PHONE.
NO REALLY.
I CAN’T EVEN.

I mean I would LOVE to meet him and tell him my story, but even the fact that he might just get to learn about it means the WORLD to me. I shall keep you all posted!

Quick Lucas Update

We’ve talked every night since we exchanged numbers. We also have had some great text chats/flirtations. 

He’s flying back to Alabama today to get his truck/uhaul trailer and then drive back to Virginia on Saturday – sadly I won’t get to see him because he has a family dinner thing tonight and I have plans in to be in Birmingham. 

Regardless.

This morning I texted him:“I hope you have a good day of traveling, but don’t expect to sit next to anyone near as awesome as me on your flight today, you pretty much won the lottery on your last flight.”

He replied: “I’m starting to see that…”

It’s so hard to not be excited, but I need that job first in order to really see where this could go.

My Life is a Rom Com

So today I emailed Lucas (aka Mr. Airplane Date) back before lunch. I didn’t want to come across too eager, but still reply in a timely fashion.

In the afternoon he emailed me back and included his number along with an invitation to call or text him. I texted him after work and we exchanged a few texts before I had to go run. Let me tell you I kicked those 4 miles ass.

We ended up talking on the phone just now for an hour! Casual, yet flirty. We have so much it common it’s crazy. I’m trying to just enjoy all this insanity in the moment and not get too ahead of myself. 

HE EMAILED ME!

To top off a fantastic interview day today I just came home and found an email from Lucas.

“Hey, This is Lucas the guy you met on the plane. Hope your interview went well. I wanted to tell you I had a really good time talking with you yesterday. Also, hope you made it home safe and in time to watch the game. Well I am about to watch the game. Hope to hear from you soon and maybe you will get the job up here.”

Stop. I. Cannot. Breath.

Now I REALLY need to get this job!

Meet Cute

Do you guys remember in The Holiday when the old guy tells Kate Winslet about the “meet cute” of two characters in a movie? A cute random happenstance type meeting is THE DREAM. In the world of on-line dating there are no meet cutes.

Well…

Shortly after my previous post I spot a cute guy (not wearing a ring, because yes I look) sitting at my gate AND he’s wearing an Auburn hat. It’s custom to say “war eagle” (it’s a long story) to someone wearing the Auburn logo. I secretly hoped he would sit next to me (obvi), but I planned to say war eagle to him as we boarded, but boarding the plane got crazy.

I get to my aisle seat and then a lady claims her window seat. Then I spot the AU guy and he’s on the aisle a row ahead and across from me. After he gets settled I say war eagle and we get to talking. The plane wasn’t full so the flight attendant tells people they can move. Well he moves back a row so we are across the aisle and…

WE TALK THE WHOLE 2 HOUR FLIGHT. (Much to the dismay of the people around us).

He’s 27, from the town I live in, but moving to VA for work. He was flying up to apartment hunt for the job he starts in 2 weeks. We had so much to talk about, including our height! He’s 6’2 – swoon. He reminded to a lot of Jason Segel.

After talking for like 1.5 hours (and me already have fallen in heart with him) he asks me my name and then I ask his. He replies “Lucas” and I almost died.

There is a running joke in my office how I need to date/marry a Luke because my male coworker is named Mark and my 2 female coworkers are married to a Matt and John. AKA names of the Gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

I knew through our conversation that he was single and I alluded to it as well. Once we landed I rifled through my wallet for a business card to give him. I had to. I said something about how if I get this job and move up here we’ll have to start an “Auburn Club.” He gladly took it and said how he didn’t have his new ones yet for his new job.

We deplaned and walked to baggage claim/ground transportation together before it was time to go our separate ways. We shook hands and said goodbye.

It was like the best first date ever.

Praise the Lord I looked cute-ish for the flight. So we’ll see. Even if that one 2+ hour conversation is all it ends up being it was still freakin’ awesome!

Now I’m at the hotel and need to get back to interview prep since I didn’t get to do ANY on the plane, but it was well worth it!

Weekend In Review (Thus Far)

  • Had a date last night with the Army guy I’ve been casually seeing for a few weeks. We’re not exclusive, but we have some established rules so to speak. 
  • Ran 15 miles at my EXACT marathon-goal pace in nearly 60 degree perfect weather.
  • Worked/ing on a presentation for a job interview I have on Monday in the DC area.
  • Briefly logged into OKC for the first time in a few days and stumbled across a cute guy who I’d never seen before in my “search results” he messages me and we end up talking on OKC for an hour (turns out he just moved here last week from Nashville). Then we talked on the phone briefly and now made plans to get coffee with him in 2 hours  – because I’m “so beautiful/hot he can’t stand the thought of waiting any longer to meet me” (should I be flattered or scared? however he’s 6’5 and very cute, so I’m going with flattered).
  • After coffee date I need to go to Khols to buy a shirt for my interview, but the rest of my interview suit is perfection. 
  • Still need to work on my presentation because I’m flying to DC tomorrow afternoon for the interview that is Monday.

So yeah, there’s that. WHO AM I??????????

(Answer: I don’t care, but I love her)

Bridesmaid-to-be!

Although I’m basking in the glow of single life I need to take time to celebrate one of my best friend’s engagements. She’s the first of my inner circle to be getting married*. ALL of my other 20 something friends are either single or dating – actually her finance proposed to her on 30th birthday last week! I’ve only attended a handful of weddings in the past and this will also be the first time that I will be IN A WEDDING. I’m excited! I hope she doesn’t make me wear a strapless dress, despite how perky my boobs have gotten they still need an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder!

*Star I know you’re reading this, you are totally inner circle too, but you were already a grown up and got married on a Thursday without a wedding party and we’ve only lived in the same place at the same time for 10 weeks and that was 5 years ago. So there!