Happy 4th of the Luly! It's jut how we say it.

(Amy I had to steal your post title. It was too good to pass up.)


I have a new mantra. Its true. I'm not one of those people who carries one around. I collect them. Some fulfill their purpose in certain moments like Go! Diego! Go! only works for me for running long distances. Muttering it to myself at work would only invite awkward glances and the eye avoidance game. Not familiar with the eye avoidance game? Its really simple you stare at someone being awkward and then when they look at you then you glance away real fast. Try it. Super fun. Not.

Anyway back to the life mantra in which I have discovered here it is

" I am not the only one failing to live up to my ludicrous expectations of myself; we all are. So maybe we should all just relax."- Lisa Wolfe writer (Words to Live by O magazine 86)

Lisa has it all figured out. To mean this means it is time for me to delete the unrealistic pintrest boards of the perfect body, toss out the runner's world articles on how to drop my running time, burn the recipe card of time consuming and expensive recipes I'll never try, and to be okay with wee bit of clutter (oh lets be honest its more like Blake the pre hoarder years around here) and the clothes that I bought but secretly hate.

In my mind I thought if I consumed all and created this perfect person in my mind and that some how live up to the perfect person ideal I created inside of my head. I refuse now to berate myself for enjoying a moment on my couch. I worked damn hard for the couch and I'm going to enjoy it. If I on my runs find myself short a mile and I've given it all I'm not going to get all flustered cause I ran 9 miles instead of ten. I will enjoy the time that I spend with friends instead of focusing on the dumb phone call that I didn't get to at work. When I'm at church I will no longer let those who missionary experiences/ dating/ look at me I'm the perfect Mormon instead I shall tell the person he's dating that he has herpes. I won't. But I'll think it and laugh a little.

In this spirit of the independence of our country I'm declaring mine. I am from now on focusing on the life of Liberty,Life, and the pursuit of happiness. My happiness coming from what I have accomplished not my "If Only's". If somebody tries to rob me of my happiness, belittle me  or just be a meanie head I shall call them out on it and then say thank you for your opinion and the committee and I shall take it under consideration (I being the committee of course) and get back to you. Then 5 seconds later come back and say the judges and I voted and your mean comment shall not get a rose, shall not be the next top model, but it does qualify you to be a biggest loser and I don't mean weight.

I'd rather spend my life grateful for the things that has given me. When I forget what I have been given I shall take my notebook out and write my blessings and beside it write Thank God. Every time I think that what I have is my own creation I shall try to humble myself and go no wait. Wait a minute all my talents belong to the one created me. I am constantly humbled that God who created the world also created me. If I ever forget this I hope he humbles me enough for me to remember it.

In essence I'm going to try to LIVE my life instead of enduring it. I'm going to paint with all the colors of the wind dang it!


So I'm declaring my independence. Hope you will join me!

I Wonder How You Are

The Beach. 

By Blake. 

Age 28. 

Today I had one of those scary moments that happen when you get close to senior citizen status. I wandered on down memory lane. See the other day I may or may not have overdosed on the caffeine (Oh Birthday week you did me wrong) and was so hyper that I felt like running a marathon and cleaning my house. Since it was 11:30 at night and no one was answering their phones. Rude. I decided to self medicate. Or as I like to describe it a  Marilyn moment. 

So with the with all the uppers and downers in my system I literally checked out. So ready to go on my pseudo acid trip? 

With no one answering the phone and me tripped out I whipped out my note book and wrote down all sorts of randoms things. The first three pages went like this " why do they call them pints? They should call them little boxes of happiness coated in sunshine with words like ice cream and sunshine! Sunshine ice cream! that would be a great flavor! Wait but would that make people think of yellow snow? That would be gross. Yellow snow ice cream. You know who I like? Who? Me! Oh you are so sweet left side brain! Thanks right side brain!"  and so it goes for another page and a half. 

Then I did a dangerous thing. I started writing down all the things I've accomplished in the last ten years. When I was eighteen years old I had just graduated from high school and getting ready to go on a LDS mission. So I decided to write down all the things that I've done that I felt noteworthy. This is the part where you can tune out and come back for the comedic ending. Its okay. I don't mind. Since I don't have kids this is my only outlet to brag a little bit. 

1. I went on a mission to O HI O! 

2. After that fun little adventure I finally had the guts to move out of Ogden and went to Utah State. In Logan. 

3. Worked as Aggie Ice Cream Dairy Lab assistant/Scooper/Sexy guy in a hair net and boots. 

4. Got a job as a Resident Assistant for two years worked with some of the most amazing people residents and co-workers included (holla!) for two years! 

5. I moved 11 times in four years. 

6. I graduated from college! It got me a great job serving food! (What does an English degree get you from USU? A chance to serve food.) 

7. Moved out of my parents house officially. Yes that meant both my summer and winter wardrobe live together again. 

8. Ran a half marathon. 

9. Ran  a full marathon. 

10. Got a new job as the Front Desk job for Mammography. 

11. Sold off the Honda and bought Bertie! 

12. Ran three half marathons in 3 months. 

13. Gained and lost 60 pounds. Gained 30. cried. working on it again. Whoops. 

14. Went on some amazing trips, Alabama, Florida, South and North Carolina, Disneyland, Sacramento, The Sea Ranch, Sun Valley, Sacramento again, Santa Cruz,Hawaii, and now trying to go to Boston. 

15.  Made some amazing friends. 

16. Learned to knit. 

17. Started writing this blog. 

18. Started thinking about getting married. 

So there you have it the 18 things I have learned in the last ten years. After my hyperactive list writing I found myself tangled in the sheets muttering to myself I was so skinny! I was so skinny! 

This kids is why you don't do drugs. 

Listen to Nancy Regan. Just say no. 

(This message is brought to you by the don't write stupid post while high on uppers and downers.) 

Seriously. don't do it. 

Lover to Lover

Yup.

He's my Dad.

What can I say? He's super fast on his bicycle and motorcycle. Ever since his accident we've had to keep a helmet on him though. Just Kidding! Or am I?

He's the best Dad that a kid could ask for. Really! Who else would take their kids to a miniature horse show and convince them it was was the coolest thing ever? I realize now that my Dad worked super hard to make sure that my sister had quality time with him. He made sure that we felt loved and valued. My parents marriage may have not lasted but my parents worked hard to make sure that our childhood could be the one of the best ones ever.  When I need my Dad I know that he will be there. He has always gone to my super hokey events and never complained about it. He was there waiting for me when I thought I was going to die at the marathon and helped run me in to the finish line. I honestly couldn't have gone that last mile without him by my side.

As I get older I hope that I can be as good as a Dad my Dad was to me.

What can I say? I've got some huge shoes to fill.

Happy Father's Day to my truly awesome father. Thanks Dad for being the best.

Blake

Mini Muffin

I'm going to reveal to you one of the greatest you tube videos ever made. When I die I'm torn on what I want written on my grave stone. For years I've always wanted "That Will Do Pig" from the movie Babe (Great movie about a pig who saves a farm. Creepy talking farm animals who couldn't love it?)  inscribed but now after watching this I want "Mini Muffin!" inscribed right under it. So just in case a random bus hits this is how I want my tombstone to look like.

Blake Farr Ure 

1984-****

"That Will Do Pig" 

MINI MUFFINS! MINI MUFFINS! MINI MUFFINS! 

If I could use a visual representation on what goes on in my brain on a daily basis this video is it. I can't stop obsessing about food. Its constant cravings going on here. When I'm done eating my pints (yes you read that correctly pints) of ice cream I start dreaming of pancakes! Or waffles?! Worse its never cravings for something nutritious like raspberries or a nice green leafy salad.  No sadly God did not bless me with those cravings. I eat food like I imagine people who have good sex. Constantly with lots of moaning. But what do I know? This is what I have learned from such educational program such as Grey's, The O.C, Gossip Girl...etc.. Sorry if this is risque but with this heat wave going on in this apartment complex there was bound to be a sex reference to pop up somewhere.

That and my 28th birthday is coming up next Friday. I hope y'all have it circled on your calendars. I'm not sure how I feel about turning 28. I thought I was going to be in a different place than I am in my life. I have a great life.However I'm needing a push, a strike of lighting, a path to open up to get me out of the ruts that I've spun my wheels in. Change comes from within. I've learned that the hard way go up 60 pounds come down 30 and then start climbing back up again yet I'm not going to let it happen again. I've lost too many great pairs of pants in this battle.

Since I keep on losing my point in this essay let me just bring you back on board! Mini Muffin! Mini Muffin! Mini Muffin!

The end is near

I hate saying goodbye!

Waves

I love the look of the ocean.

Over the Rainbow

Some day I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me..