The Coolest Women in the World

This is not a picture of one of the coolest women in the world, rather the cutest nephew in the world(Spencer) produced by one of the coolest women in the world, my sister-in-law Crystal. He really has little/nothing to do with this blog, but it captures ones attention, this dang cute face, does it not?

And now that I have your attention...

One of my sisters (who shan't yet be named) guilted/bugged me until I created a blog. Which I have faithfully posted in once a year. Now another sister (different, but not to be named either) is guilting/bugging me because I don't post enough.

So I've sifted through my life and found there are usually things I could be blogging about, but usually at blogging time (late at night when no kids to bug or messes to clean and I'm a bit loopy) I am trying to watch Biggest Loser or Vampire Diaries. Yes, I like Vampire Diaries. A lot. It's a stupid show. I totally know it. It's one notch above 16 and Pregnant. But for some dumb reason I like both shows. And one can only handle so much political commentary before the mind cries to be turned off by mindless drivel. Those shows fall solidly under that category.

Still with me? (It looks like Michelle's sticking her arm out behind Julienne's back). In this picture are two boys who went to the event for which this blog is named. (Not the snow). I went to hear Condoleeza Rice speak at a BYU forum last week. It was heaven. It reminded me A. of how much of an international relations/politics nerd I am, and B. of how much I absolutely love strong, powerful women.

For the A. part above. I desperately wanted to ask her a question in the Q&A session afterward on her opinion of the role of Narco-Terrorism in destabilizing nations, specifically Afghanistan and Mexico. (I REALLY wanted to know...) But I was beat out by a Tea Party nut with a question about the need for a constitutional convention (really dumb-dee?), and a bunch of kiss-ups who were trying to get extra credit for their PolySci classes by asking inane questions about education, etc.

For the B. part above. Condi Rice is a rock star. She grew up in segregated Birmingham, AL, but was raised by her parents to believe she could be president. She talked about the transforming power of education. I seriously got chills at various points during her speech. Also on the stand was Julie B. Beck, another amazing woman. When they announced that she was on the stand, I seriously thought, 'I've died & gone to heaven to see these two women together!' (end quote)

They are great and amazing in their own very different ways. But both are no-nonsense and unapologetic for their views and values. Dr. Rice talked about how history most times differs totally from the headlines of the day. How Secretary of State William Seward had the foresight, vision and courage to purchase Alaska for $7 million, with many calling it 'Seward's Folly' at the time. Yet now Alaska holds inestimable strategic and economic value for the United States.

I think of my own mom who often made the difficult choices that were resented in the 'Baughman Bee' (my made-up name for our non-existent newspaper). But she is a rockstar among women. One who will be remembered long after she is gone, not for prizes or praise she garnered on the public stage, but for the lasting legacy of love and faithfulness she passed on to her posterity.

So my hat's off to the coolest women in the world. To my mother who is just on her way to Australia to start the next phase of her awesome life. To Julie B. Beck who fearlessly leads the largest women's organization in the world with unapologetic dedication to values and virtues that make women great. To Condoleeza Rice who pressed on with firm conviction that history would view her choices with more wisdom than the headlines of the day. And to my sisters who each bug/inspire me to do better and be better. If this post isn't what you wanted/expected, no whining... It's your fault it's out of my head and onto the net.

The Whole Enchilada

June 12, 2010. It was a drizzly early summer morning. The baby was fed, the IT band securely held in place with a jimmy-rigged ipod armband around the knee, the brother (who had just left the army 3 days before & decided he could run a marathon, too) was laden with energizing snacks for the upcoming 5 hour ordeal, and prayers for safety and not making a fool of oneself had been fervently offered... The stage was set.

I trained for seven months. Got up at 4:30 a.m. for the required weekly 'long runs' ranging in distance from 8 - 16 miles. Carb loaded. Carb replenished. Learned that eating a banana after an hour of running gives one a kick of energy and not the urge to vomit. Obsessed over halhigdon.com's beginner marathon schedule. Really obsessed. Almost died completing the highly recommended 1/2 marathon race (see shameful last blog entry). Went through 2 pairs of pricey running shoes.

I hereby testify that ANYTHING is possible for those who have the will to do the work to accomplish a goal. Running a marathon was the last thing I or anyone who knows me ever thought I could or would do. I'm the one who as a freshman in high school threw up after 'jogging' a 13 minute mile without stopping to walk. The marathon was the greatest experience I've ever had. The course was beautiful. The rain made the canyon green and lush and the clouds were so low that it actually made me feel like I was running in Central America. My brother Russell (the aforementioned brother who carted my energy snacks along the course) threw down and ran it with me with no training at all... Yes, he's in that great of shape on a consistent basis. (Though I must interject that my recovery was much faster and easier than his.)

I am reminded of a poem my mom forced us to recite as children:

Stick to your task till it sticks to you,

Beginners are many, but enders are few,

Honor, power, place and praise will always come to the one that stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you,

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too,

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile,

Will come life's victories after a while.

I stuck to my marathon til the marathon stuck to me, and I (still) lack my big toenails to prove it. So, you may be thinking (if your attention is not deficit and you stuck to reading these ramblings til it's now sticking to your brain), what could possibly top this adventure? Well, my new task is a triathalon. I'm aiming big because apparently that's the only aim I have. I'm training for a half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). I wanted to do one in Provo in August, but it seems that August will find me far from Provo (which is the topic for another day's blog), so I'll have to see if I can find another one. So, if you can handle the once-a-year posting that goes on here, stay tuned...