'It's the Eye of the Tiger"

I thought I would share the story of my running life. In high school, I hated it.  We would have cardio tests where we would have to run a mile and be timed.  Yeah, I was happy to get a slow time and just walk it. Sometimes, I would run when I felt my teacher was really watching me, but usually it was a run. There was one random time where I ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill, that was a weird time.

Then a few years ago, I was in a life changing mood.  Making all sorts of goals and I randomly decided to add run a half marathon as part of my goals. Not sure why, I don't think I really had the intentions of doing it but it felt kind of cool to say that I was going to run a half marathon. In my excitement to be making these goals, I informed my dad about the half marathon. He got so excited and told me he was going to do it with me. "Oh Shoot" went through my head, I was actually going to have to do a half marathon! We signed up and soon I found myself running farther than I ever imagined I would run. And it actually felt good! I remember the first time I ran 3 miles and I was so proud of myself, I proved to myself it is possible to do something like this.

Then I did my first race, the Rex Lee 5K! I was so excited to be doing an actual race! I found my friend Jacey there and we started the race together! I had some friends come cheer for me as well!

A few months later, I found myself on the bus at 3:30 in the morning heading up to the starting point for the half marathon. I can still remember all my emotions I was feeling, almost felt like throwing up. I kept thinking, why am I doing this! The gun noise was heard, everyone cheered and we were off! I ran and ran and kept running and then at 12 miles I couldn't stop smiling! I was actually going to run the entire half marathon! Something I never had done before and I was doing it!!!! I was so excited! I had friends cheering for me and I felt so great! My dad came back and ran the last little bit me and I crossed the line! Best feeling ever! We loved it so much that we decided to do it again next year.

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So, I started training again. This time, I felt good because I have done a half marathon before. Training still was pretty hard. No matter how many times you run it, 10 miles is still a quite a distance to run. Six months later, Rachelle, my dad and I were on our way up the canyon and ready to accomplish our second half marathon! This time, I was still extremely nervous, but I knew I had done it once before, so I can do it again. When we started we were doing around 9  minute miles. I have never ran that fast before in my life! After three miles, I knew I would have to do the rest on my own because the other two were crazy fast! So, I stayed a pretty close to the 9.5 minute mile person and soon they got just a little ahead of me.  But I couldn't see the 10 minute mile person any where, so I was feeling pretty good! And I did it, I finished about 12 minutes faster than the year before!!!

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So, my next running adventures included training for a Ragnar! Something my roommate had done and I thought sounded so cool but didn't think I would be able to do! But I joined a team, paid the fee and I was in! It was one of my most favorite experiences! Running three different times, hanging out with people who are just as crazy as you are and even though we were all pretty sick by the end, we were happy and loving every minute! And I ran crazy fast!

I did some more 5ks, my favorite being the Santa Run! You know, many years ago, I didn't think I would be running, let alone in a Santa Suit in the cold! But it was fun!

Now, I am training for a marathon. Something that I always told myself, you never have to do that Tiare. Marathons are for crazy people.... but then you get Rachelle who somehow manages to convince us that a marathon is a cool thing to do! I remember how good it felt to reach the 14 miles mark, my first time going past a half marathons length. And then there was today, I did 20 miles! I had to finish my last 8 miles at an indoor track because a very cold rain storm randomly started! But, I did it!

Now, I have to do a shout out to my man Thomas. I texted him at about mile 7 when I was ready to give up. My hip hurt and I knew I needed to get to my 20 mile mark but walking it sounded okay. So, he being the amazing man he is, came to my rescue at mile 9. We did walk and run a little bit but then when the storm hit, we had to go to the track and he ran the 8 miles with me! He has never ran more than 4-5 miles in his life, so I am so grateful for him to do that for me because I know I would have given up on the 20 miles if he hadn't been there for me! I don't know how to thank him but I just got to say, I am one lucky girl!!!

 Okay, so there was my extremely long story of running and how I made it to this crazy point where I can now claim that I have ran 20 miles! And in two weeks, I will be able to claim a full marathon!

"I'm getting close to Portland Town"

The last of my major adventures was going to Vancouver Washington with Thomas. His brother was in the musical Beauty and the Beast, so we flew up to see his last show. Friday after I took my certification exam, we headed up to the airport and had a nice and relaxing flight to Portland. When we got to the airport, we were picked up by his dad and brother. It was later in the night by the time we got there, so we just got some ice cream and played some games.

The next morning, I ran thirteen miles on this beautiful trail next to a lake! It was a great run! Had lots of little hills so by the end of the thirteen miles they felt like mountains! But totally worth it!

The trail!

 After getting cleaned up, we headed to downtown Portland.  Boy, that was an interesting experience. The stereotype of Portland is right! It was fun though, we walked all around and even went to this Chinese Garden! That night we went to Thomas's brother play!

Sunday, we had some scones in the morning, went to church and then played basketball and frisbee! I loved it. It was great just to hang out and have fun with Thomas and his family.  They really are so fun and sweet! Thomas showed me around his hometown that night.

Monday we went on a hike in the gorge. It truly was gorgeous! We went past this AMAZING waterfall and then ended at these cliffs. We had lunch at this lodge that is in the gorge and then rushed back to home to head off to the airport. Our very short trip had come to an end.

Now, my life is searching, searching, searching, searching for a job.  Getting frustrated with that, blogging and putting all my pics up on facebook, more searching, finishing wedding videos(sorry they took forever!), searching, editing videos, searching and then hang out with Thomas. You jealous of my days? Yeah, I am jealous of everyone that has a job! This whole no job thing really has been a humbling and different experience. I am living in my grandparents basements pretty much out of suitcases with all my stuff packed up in their corner of their basement.  I am so grateful for their charity and love they have for me to allow me stay in their basement! I am sure all my stuff there is frustrating for them. Then I go over to Thomas every day when he gets home from work.

I just hope I can soon get a job, get my own place again so I can finally feel like I have my place once again and don't have to feel so dependent on everyone else. But I am so grateful for everyone and the help they have given me during this time whether it be food, friendship or living it has helped me so much as I struggle to find a job.

Enjoy the pictures!

Thomas and I in downtown Portland

Thomas and I in downtown Portland

Thomas and I with some bears

Thomas and I in the Chinese Gardens

Thomas mom and brother with us in the Chinese Garden

The waterfall!

On the cliff

In the Gorge

Mt. Hood as we flew by it.  

"Come Sail Away"

So as if going to Disney World for four days isn't fun enough, we then got to experience what the wonderful life of a cruiser is like! Boy oh boy is it great! On the Friday and Saturday before the cruise, everyone arrived at McKay's place.  It was pretty fun to have the whole family back together(minus Rachelle's kids).  We all went out to lunch to celebrate my dad's birthday and then took some family pictures. The rest of the night we just hung out and prepared for exciting adventures that were about to happen.

Sunday we drove to the port and after security and check in lines we were finally on the boat! We ate some lunch at the buffet, explored the boat some more, went to the sail away party and then headed down to dinner. We ate in this BEUATIFUL banquet room! It was gorgeous and it sure does make you feel special walking into such a fancy eating place.  Every dinner, we would all end up ordering multiple meals because we could! So, I got daring and I ordered lobster, duck and lamb on different nights. Of course, I always ordered a back up that I knew for sure I would like!

Just about to get on the boat! 

Rachelle and me watching the port get farther away from us!

There was an amazing sunset that night! So, we went outside to enjoy it

You should be jealous of my sleeping arrangements!

Monday was our first at sea day. I have always been a little scared of going on a cruise because I watched that one movie Poseidon where the boat gets hit by a tsunami and is turned upside down. Of course, on my first full day at sea, we are stuck in the middle of a crazy storm! But lucky for me, it got me over that fear and the boat remained right side up the whole time! Because it was such a nasty day outside we just spent the day inside playing cards and exploring the boat some more and watching movies. That night for dinner was our first formal night. We all got dressed up so fancy and then of course took lots of pictures afterwords.

At formal dinner

Ryan and Me at formal Dinner

Colby 

Mckay and Stephanie

Jayson and Rachelle 

Shane and Sam

All the Ladies

And the Men

Its my family! Minus Colby

Ryan found himself a nice new lady friend

Rachelle and McKay entered each other into the finish the lyrics competition

Tuesday was our first port day! We went to Labadee Haiti, which is just a private part of the island that the boat owns.  So all day we just hung out at the beach and enjoyed the sun. By the end of the day we finally decided to splurge and spend money to go in the aqua park which ended up being totally worth it.  We were allowed in for one hour but that hour was well spent and by the end we were all exhausted.

Dad's favorite activity, reading

At the aqua park

My whole family in front of our boat

Mom and Dad at the beach

Rachelle and Jayson

Shane and Sam

Ryan

Me

Stephanie and McKay

Both Jayson and McKay performed in Karaoke that night. They were the
best two of the night. But the MC guy picked McKay to sing another
song with him! 

Wednesday was Jamaica! And probably one of my favorites! We went ziplining across the farms and jungle life of jamaica and it was a lot of fun! We also visited a little falls that is a big tourist hit I guess. We were a little surprised to see it wasn't a giant water fall like we were expecting but we still had some fun there.

Here we are, ready for the days adventures

Once we arrived at the ziplining place, they gave us some delicious juice!

Getting all harnessed up and ready to go

Rachelle and I getting ready 

Hooking on just before I left the platform

This is the Screamer, its a huge swing that lets you free fall for 40 feet! Pretty
scary but extremely fun!

Sam, Shane and I on the screamer

Rachelle, Jayson and Ryan on the screamer

Sam climbing up the pole

Jayson

Dad going across

Colby 

Even though she tried to get out of it,  My mom
really enjoyed this experience

Going across!

At the falls. Shane didn't look in a single picture

Rachelle, Jayson, Ryan and I hiking up the falls

Here they are up close and personal

I guess it was a very tiring day

Our tour guy, Thomas! Besides the scary driving, he was great!

Thursday, I don't have very many pictures of because it was scuba diving day in the Caiman Islands! And guess what everybody, I made it down!!! Woot! After the disaster in san diego with my ears, I was pretty nervous but I did it! I, Tiare Curtis, swam with the fish and I LOVED it! It was so cool to see the ocean life! I definitely want to go scuba diving again! We had another formal that night, so there are a lot more pictures from that night again!

On the way to the dive location

This was still when I was a little nervous about making it down

Formal night pictures! We met a new friend that
night and I think I was laughing about what was
being said. 

Rachelle was practicing with her camera. She took these sweet pictures
of the couples and then one of me and ryan alone

What a great looking family right?

Sweet moon shot!

Friday was our last port day and that was Cozumel! The boys went scuba diving again and this time I hung out with the girls and went parasailing! Bought myself a new bag and a little surprise for my poor man that I left behind! It was a penguin so I think that made up for leaving him for two weeks!

Sam and I at the beach

Stephanie relaxing the shade

Sisters

The four of us on the boat getting ready to parasail

Sam and I parasailing

My mom and Rachelle

Guess what everybody, Betty Ann Curtis Parasailed! Many years ago, she
said no but she has finally done it!

And the day wouldn't be complete with out holding the iguana

Because I held it, Sam decided she needed to as well

Then Rachelle really felt like she had to 

Waves of Cozumel

We played Mormon rook every single day

Saturday it was back to the sea for us. We swam, rock climbed, ate at johnny rockets and just enjoyed life that day.  It was a pretty relaxing day and I rather enjoyed it!

The Parade on the boat

Our waiter made us dance every time this one song came on

Best part of Johnny Rockets was the AMAZING oreo sunday!

The family with our waiters! They were great!

The moon was amazing that night!

Just some fun shots with the moon

Sunday we packed up and head home.  It was a great trip and I decided cruises are a great idea! Thanks Mom and Dad for everything! It was amazing!