Loving Lately...

Okay, I meant to post this last week, and didn't do it. Now it feels like old LewsNews, but I'm still going to post it.

Things I've been loving lately:
(or loving last week...)

-Matt, of course

-this song

-white chocolate (on my pretzels, on my strawberries, and just by its pretty delicious little self)

-this tv show. Yep, I LOVE it.

-my first pair of Toms shoes. They rock.

-this blog. It is hilarious. I think we would be excellent friends.

-watching Workout Wednesdays on Flotrack

-looking at pics of our Caribbean apartment...sorry I can't figure out how to get those pictures up here. Sad.

Things I have not been loving lately:

-rainy weather right after sunny weather. Oh how you tease me Utah spring.

-not seeing Matt very much because we are busy bees. Welcome to real life!!

-hurdle crew at home track meets. LOATHE, in fact. Set up your own hurdles, you hurdlers. I can only carry one at a time, and I get an anxiety attack every time they get stuck when I try to change the height.

-The thought that my days of eating Zupas and Costa Vida are numbered.

Well, that's the list for now. I'm planning to get an update from the Conference Championship this past weekend up soon too. I bet you're all so excited now that you know that. Oh, the anticipation!

A post, a post, a post, a post! Would you, Could you write a blog post?

Um Double What What?? Yep, another post comin at ya! (Ha side note for Jess and any other super old Disney Channel fans: "Cleopatra, comin' at ya! Cleopatra, comin at ya!" talk about a one hit wonder. Or...a no hit wonder)

Maybe we'll get some pics in this time. Except I can no longer save the iPhone photos I email to myself. Sad? YES. What, do I have to learn to use a real camera again? How could you iPhone? I love you so, but this has put a wedge in our relationship.

Some classic graduation pics, and solid proof that we're actually done! Or...I am. Matt is soon. So, high five cougar I run by almost daily!
Another classic grad photo. Also, if I was a freshman on the cross country team, I would be compelled to lean over and kiss that Matty of mine, simply because we are on the cougar. Luckily, there was a long line of people waiting to take pics in their caps and gowns, so I refrained. Notice: the shoes. Yep, from my wedding :)
Matt and I at the athlete graduation banquet. I got my own mini cougar statue. I promise I won't try to ride it. The food was most excellent. Ask if my family got desserts before anyone else: they did.
Me and the cutest messin' around.

Now, what's been a goin on since last week? Well ladies and gentlemen, I have started a job! A real one! Meaning not lifeguarding or shoe-selling! Okay, technically it is another internship, but it is paid, so I'm counting it as a bona fide job. Utah Valley Magazine decided to let me come run-a-muck for the summer. No, I'm going to do a good job I promise. I'm currently in charge of the calendar of events, featuring someone awesome from Payson and finding cool products made locally in Utah Valley. I'm also looking for cool ways to serve/volunteer in Utah Valley. Got some suggestions? Hook a sister up!

Random interruption: I have the tv on, but the sound way low because I'm home alone and I just like to have it on. (Matt is playing bball.) Anyways, I just saw a commercial for diapers that look like denim. Really? Then I sit there and think, "I wonder what the commercial is saying?" But do I turn up the volume? Nope. And before I know it America's Funniest Home Videos is back on, soundless. This is also to ensure that the neighbors will hear my solitary laugh better.

Anyways, I put a full 8 hours in today. Meaning I opened my eyes to this rainy spring world at 6am to get in a run and a shower before showing up to the office at 8:00. I don't like running alone for many reasons, though I don't blame anyone for not wanting to run with me at that time. But, one reason is I get out there and become indecisive about how many miles to do. I started with a plan to run 6, then 4 more after work.

As I ran Provo's streets, I thought, "Nah, I don't want to run later, I'll just do 8 right now and be done for the day."

Then I think, "Boo, that's long and I don't have time, I can run 4 later no problem."

Followed closely by, "What if it's raining later and my hair will be newly washed, and I can't waste that miracle!"

To which I eventually settle on, "Okay, I'll do 7. That way I can run later if it's not raining, or I don't have to if it is."

What really happened? I accidentally ran 7.5, because I forgot that I ran from home, not from the school. And did I run four later? Well, it wasn't raining, and a deal's a deal. That makes a grand total of 11.5 alone today. I guess I'd better start getting used to it. Anyone wanna move to the Caribbean for the specific purpose of being my running buddy?

Maybe I'll take out an ad: "Looking for running partner. Must be willing to live on a Caribbean island where the weather is perpetually 82 degrees and humid and willing to run anywhere from 6-12 miles a day at 7-ish minutes per mile. Preference will be given to former BYU runners, and also to those who love ice-cream and the Disney Channel."

Okay, to save on time and advertising costs, Jessica, will you just move there with me? K, good.

I mean, this could be us for the next 20 months!!
Yeah, yeah. I know you have Jason and stuff. Just consider it? You're very qualified for this position.

Now, to change the subject without any transition whatsoever, I make FANTASTIC broccoli cheese soup. Thank you Lion House Cookbook! And Matt likes it, he likes it! I think my cooking skills are actually improving. I needed half and half for the soup, but bought whipping cream. I didn't realize this until I was already pouring it generously into the pot. It seemed too thick, so da da-da da! I stopped pouring at the halfway point and did the other half with milk. The soup was SAFE!

What did I do with the rest of the whipping cream? Made whipped cream, duh! Sadly, I am ruined by canned whipped cream. I LOVE it, I spray it directly into my mouth, thank you very much. So, this homemade stuff is good, but different. I can't have it straight the way I do from the can. It works great with: french vanilla hot cocoa, strawberries, a spoonful of peanut butter and cinnamon toast crunch cereal. It doesn't work so well with pretzels and...actually that's it.

Well, that's the LewsNews, which is mostly CecilyLewsNews. Oops. Uh...Matt is busy memorizing a million things for anatomy. He LOVES his anatomy book. And he is becoming less freaked out by cadavers. In fact, he is inspired by the muscles on the cadaver he is currently studying with. Hence, more frequent gym trips this week. Good job honey man!

Hey, if I put a pest control shirt and hat on your cadaver, will you be inspired to make more frequent trips to Salt Lake to sell? Ah, let's face it, I will NOT be touching a cadaver. So, Matty you're safe.

Oh, curse my totally biased blogging.

Here's some more of my writing that is in no way objective (thank goodness):

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705371895/Reasons-to-Run-Fight-the-temptation-of-looking-at-greener-grass-by-running.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705372356/Reasons-to-run-My-mom-always-supported-my-passion-for-running.html

Longest post ever! THE END, whew!

Goings on...

Okay WHAT? Who deleted all the posts I've been faithfully putting up for the last year?

Oh wait...I haven't posted in a year.

Well, the world keeps spinnin, and the Lews keep livin and I guess it's time for some updating.

The biggest LewsNews is that Matt and I have GRADUATED! Well, I've graduated. Matt and I both walked, but he has just one more class to go. It's okay to have a little pre-celebration, right? Well the fam came and it was such a great weekend. Our partying was complete with Brick Oven eating, movie watching, Easter egg dying and of course plenty of graduation pictures. We were sad to get back to real life when it was done.

And what exactly is our "real life" now that it's Spring? Well, as mentioned, Matt is taking his class, along with anatomy just for some pre-med school preparation. He is also selling pest control in Salt Lake on the days he doesn't have class. Should be a fun term, right? I am doing my best to cheer him on from home, "Go Matt! Knock them' doors! Sell that pest control!" However, I feel like toilet papering the crazy lady who yelled Matt off her porch today, and then proceeded to follow him around in her car and scream at him to get out of the neighborhood. Matt said her license plate said "SENILE" so, nuff' said I guess.

My days revolve around running as usual. Not a bad life, eh? I'm getting excited for the Conference Championships in two weeks at Colorado State University! Hopefully I've got 3 more 10k's to go before my college career has to end. Bittersweet.

I'll also be starting a new internship in a week, this time with Utah Valley Magazine. Not sure what I'll be doing exactly, but I'm excited to see how things work at a magazine as opposed to a newspaper or an online publication.

Possibly the biggest and most exciting LewsNews is that we are officially going to the Caribbean for medical school. Hmm, what else do I say about that? Matt wants to be an MD. We like adventure. We're tired of snow. It all adds up really. Start planning your vacations now because we'll want visitors! I just bought a new swimsuit, so I guess I'm all ready to go.

I'm sure that will make a good post later: what we're packing to the Caribbean. Don't be surprised if it all ends up being pirate-related gear, i.e. sword, skull and cross bones flag, parrot, eye patch, peg leg. My brother Bob did ask me today if we were moving to Tortuga. Oh, if only.

Bob also has Chewbacca's famous growl as his phone's email notification ringtone. I have the coolest brothers.

I also recently ran my first 10k race in almost two years! It was so fun to be back at Mt. SAC and hear my wonderful coach, teammates, and family cheering me on. Yep, Matt, Matt's parents, my mom and Jess and Jason all braved the chilly night air and and faithfully yelled for 25 laps! Then we hit up Disneyland the next day, which was AWESOME! As proved in past LewsNews posts, we are addicted to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Hoping to be more consistent. And more entertaining too. This was just like a classic catch-up journal entry. Sigh, I guess I'm out of practice.

If you're bored, these might be more interesting than this blog post:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705370918/Make-a-plan-for-post-race-rewards.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705371394/Reasons-to-Run-Shopping-for-running-shoes.html

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238152-2011-Mt-SAC-Relays/video/484412-W-10k-H02-OD-Finish

It's a Fine Life (Carryin' the Banner)

Where has all the LewsNews gone?!?! Nowhere really.

But for goodness sake it’s time for an update. Plus, Matt watched Newsies for the first time on Friday night, and if that doesn’t mean it’s time for LewsNews, then I don’t know what would J

Matt was, how should I say it, wary, of watching not only a musical but an “old movie” (Matt’s description.) Especially when the only Christian Bale Matt knows and loves is Batman. I suppose it would be hard to picture Batman singing and dancing. But c’mon, does it get any better than cool kids in suspenders running around New York City singing about going on strike and seizing the day? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Not to mention all the sweet one liners this movies has to offer. I may never tire of saying “Soak em’ for Crutchy!”

(All of those who are lost up to this point because you haven’t seen Newsies, stop reading and go watch it; then come back and laugh at that last paragraph.)

So, Matt loved it! Okay, he liked it. I guess I’m still waiting for him to start singing, “That’s my cigar/You’ll steal another/Hey bummers we got work to do” around the house. All in good time.

Since the last post a lot has happened! Matt and I finished winter semester, and no, I still haven’t looked at my grades. Matt continued to study his brains out for the MCAT and faced the beast on June 17^th. Five hours of testing! Shudder…. We get his score back on July 20^th so we’re anxiously awaiting the arrival.

We made a trip to Matt’s house for a week and were lucky enough to go to Disneyland with our awesome friends Paul and Brianna. Matt and I rode California Screamin’ at least 3 times. But this is us making awesome faces on Space Mountain.

I got a job at 26.2 Running Company and now get to talk about running all day long (like I didn’t do that before, right?) I’ve learned A TON about shoes, socks, clothes, gu’s and so so much more. It’s ironic because Matt is the one studying to be a doctor, yet people come into the store and tell me all about their injuries and then I try to tell them what’s up like I’m some kind of athletic trainer. Mostly, I’ve just had a lot of the same injuries so I know what’s going on. Anyway, 26.2 is extra awesome because we have a treadmill in the store with a video camera set up to film people’s feet while they run. Then, using a special computer program, we can watch their feet frame by frame and determine what type of shoe that person needs.

If you’re my friend come in and I’ll give you a 30% discount (how much like an 8-year-old did that sound? Like I’m bribing people to be my friend: “Oh yeah, well you’re not invited to my birthday anymore!” You are my friends…right?) I also help write a blog for them. Check it out at www.262running.blogspot.com

Matt and I have an addiction problem. No I’m not talking about sugar! Okay, we might be addicted to that. And no it’s not eating out either! (We’ve been slacking on meal preparation lately…ah, so guilty!) But the new addiction is Nickel City Laser Tag. We try to get a big group together so we don’t have to pay the entry fee to Nickel City, and just the price to play laser tag. We also have to try and get relatively different people to come with us so we no one suspects our obsession. Okay, it’s mostly Matt. Although I like running around and pretending I’m cool, I don’t love getting beat. Yep, I’m not very good at the shooting part. Matt however, is very good. I can see him running around the dark room, the lasers from the gun lighting up the determined expression on his face like he’s in one of his favorite action movies. It’s pretty cute. After a 8-11 mile day however, I’m not the most enthusiastic player. My strategy is to pick a spot and sit there until someone walks by; then I shoot them. Consequently I get shot a lot too. One time Matt told me we should stay on one of the bridges the whole time and he would defend one side and I’d defend the other. So we ran in when the game started and staked our claim on the bridge. The plan worked for about 45 seconds at which point he asked me if I wanted to move around more. This really translates into Matt being too antsy to stay in one spot. Ah, how can I say no?

See the cute boy in the middle? This is who Matt turns into when we go to Nickel City.

So in laser tag there are black lights. This is the back of my track shirt which has my last name sewn onto it. Matt was pretty excited taht "Lew" was lit up. Picture's not so great, but it's kind of fun.

We also invested in season passes to Seven Peaks Water Park and go at least once a week. It’s great to have a pass because we can ride slides for an hour or two, and then lay out for an hour or two. Provided one of Utah’s wacky summer thunder storms doesn’t move in, that is. Oh, Utah.

If we’re lucky we get to meet up with Kyle and Andrea and the girls. Those girls are fearless! They love the water, and they go down all the slides they’re tall enough to ride. Even baby Kate can go if someone is holding her! We are really, seriously going to miss them when they move to Texas. We’re trying to steal as much time with them as we can before they go.

So up next in the forecast is my adventure to see Stacy in Wyoming, Matt and I making another California trip in August, and maybe something worth celebrating on the 25^th later this month…

Our own Spring Break

Cecily with "Baby Kate"

Jess at our house last week. Bein' cool. Gangsta swish.

Matty with Katelyn Jane Lemmon

As it is March 31st, I want to get a blog posted because I'm trying to pretend like I'm consistent and get at least one blog in a month. So just as many of you rushed out to do your home/visiting teaching today, I'm typing out some lews news.

There have been some fun adventures, let me tell you. Mom and Jess came for A WHOLE WEEK, and I, of course, was loving my life. The visit consisted of all the good stuff: running with Jess, playing our new favorite board game, Ticket to Ride (or as Matt calls it, Trains), getting mad at Jess for not listening to the game directions, eating ice cream, playing with nieces, and staying up much too late to get some extra laughing time in. Bliss. It was the best non-spring break week ever. (BYU=no spring break)

Speaking of playing with nieces, there are some stories waiting to be told. First of all, the newest Lemmon, Katelyn Jane, is absolutely adorable. Can't stop staring at her. Second, Brooklyn says some awesome stuff. Mom made a comment about how amazing it was that she could use the computer to which she replied, "Of course, I know how to do everything!" A true Lemmon. Third, we drove to Lehi on Tuesday to meet up with Bob and his two oldest girls for swim lessons. Unfortunately, a child had pooped in the pool and the lessons were cancelled. It was entertaining to watch the lifeguards dump tons of chlorine in, then attempt to "stir" the water by running kickboards across the surface of the water, around the edges of the pool. My two favorite moments were when 1. an unsuspecting boy ran and jumped right in the pool only to resurface to the wild whistling of multiple guards telling him he was not allowed in. He got out...and cried. 2. Jessica encouraging Alyssa and Emmalie to go down the slide anyway.

Matt and I are very excited for school to end-two more weeks! Matt, of course has real finals, and Cecily, in true journalistic fashion...doesn't. Good thing he's the one going ot med school and not me.

Cecily in med school:

Teacher: "Today we'll be discussing Rhinovirus"

Cecily: "Are we veteranarians? I'm not treating a rhino. "

Teacher: "No Cecily, it's not a virus afflicting the rhinoceros."

Cecily: "Oh crap, are my patients gonna come in looking like a rhino?!"

Teacher: "Once again, no. It's just the common cold."

Cecily: "Oh, well there's no cure so it doesn't even matter. Next subject."

Matt's theory is that at the first sign of a cold (sore throat) you should drink hot chocolate because the warm temperature will kill the virus. It's mostly an excuse for him to drink cocoa. I think he should market it they way Coldeze and Zicam do, but it would sell way more because it's chocolate. No one needs to know it's really just hot chocolate, right?

I also think Matt should be a model...so there you go. (So does Hollister- three out of his last four times in the store he's been offered a job)

Well, Criminal Minds is on now (don't worry, i cover my eyes at the scary parts, and Matt mutes the sound), so I...gotta go...

It's homework, it really is! I'm writing a paper on the show for my media and world religions class. Yep, that's what my final is for the class. Poor Matt will be in more than one four hour test. Hope our kids get his smarts.

And his model body.

Cecily strikes again

Today we're coming to you live from Vancouver... oh wait no we're not.
*Ahem*

Today we're coming to you live from Cecily's Kitchen of Horrors; where recipes are frequently read incorrectly and food is consistently ruined!

The top story of the day: Chicken Squares gone bad.

The fact that Cecily's interpretation of chicken squares look nothing like squares was hardly the worst thing about her poor attempt at cooking them. Her good intentions of signing up at church last Sunday to bring dinner to a family with a brand new baby was swallowed up in a gross lack of preparation and poor reading skills.

She found herself racing through the grocery store late Friday afternoon, dodging old women and workers on ladders alike to grab last minute ingredients.

After rushing home, she threw various items in a pot, and paused only a moment as she questioned the large amount of garlic the recipe called for; three tablespoons.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, how would you like three tablespoons of dried garlic in your chicken squares tonight? I thought so.

You may ask yourself why she was so rushed and as such failed to notice that it was actually dried onions required for the recipe. Well, she was due to go visiting teaching at 5 and dinner was needed at 6.

So, she set an alarm for her poor napping husband with instructions on how to finish the dish by putting them in the oven and mixing up the gravy.

It was not until, while out visting teaching, she got a text message from her loving and diligent husband who informed her that she had used garlic. When she called him on her way home, he was at L and L Hawaiian Barbeque getting food for the family that could have been unsuspecting victims of garlic overdose.

Tune in next week for and exciting report on how to burn everything; taking special examples from Cecily's horrific past mistakes including burnt cookies, burnt pizza, and burnt pancakes. Until then, Happy Cooking!

Okay, but seriously? Garlic? How stupid am I? Wanna know the worst part? The "squares" are in the oven as I type, because we decided we might as well bake them and see how they taste. Most likely awful. Our house smells.

I made peanut butter sandwich cookies a week ago to take to Matt's intramural basketball game. One girl told me it tasted like watermelon. Watermelon? It's a peanut butter cookie!!!

THREE TABLESPOONS OF GARLIC POWDER.

Okay, in other exciting LewsNews Matt recently returned from San Francisco where he presented research with some of his lab partners at a Bio Physics Convention of some kind (aka: nerd gathering). He returned bearing Ghirardelli chocolate and two bread bowls and two cans of clam chowder from Boudin's. Wonderful husband? Yes. He also brought me back an official nerd t-shirt complete with yellow tie-dye. Awesome.

Cecily has slowly begun her relationship with running again. This week's grand total mileage so far: six! Two miles every other day. Is she super slow? Yes! Does she look like a whale out of water? Yes! Can the old guy who breathes funny beat her on the indoor track? Yes! (Seriously, it sounded like he was in labor)

Speaking of racing, I believe that sometimes when people see me in track gear or with my track backpack on, they inevitably try to race walk with me. It's very annoying. Last week, I was race-walked home three times. Matt says I make it up. I say bring it on home-walkers, bring it on.

Walking to and from school can be very interesting. On one unnaturally warm day for a Utah winter, I saw a boy in shorts and a t-shirt and a ski mask walking past the tennis courts. Was his face cold? If it had been dark, I definitely would have been scared. Also, a few days ago I saw a man running, through the rain, pushing a baby in a stroller that was defnintely not meant for high speeds, with a screaming child inside. I felt bad for him, but I mostly was laughing. That will probably come back to bite me one day.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed today's episode. Time to go taste the garlic crescent chicken squares.

trying to be consistent?

Well, hello! Fancy meeting you here! Because you probably thought that since I blogged not to long ago it might be 6 months to a year before I did it again. Betcha didn't see this coming. Commence feelings of pleasant surprise.

Okey dokey so Matty and I got to go home to beautiful La Canada last weekend. I know it's really rainy there and everyone's worried about mud slides, but it's hard for me to picture because the weather was PERFECT while we were there! 65 plus degrees and guess who didn't get to run in it? yeah me. Still rockin the elliptical with my inflamed achilles tendon. Not. a. fan. Anyway, back to sunny CA. We went home to hear Matt's sister Jessica speak in church because she went into the MTC on Wednesday! Two Lews in the MTC at once? Can they handle it? Speaking of which, poor Ryan finally got his Visa that he's been waiting for since he entered the MTC in November. But he leaves for Brazil on Tuesday YAY!

So now that two of three Lews (or I guess four...I'm a Lew now too!!) are gone, that leaves Matty and I as the automatic favorites. Although this is only by default, we'll take it. In fact, we have a plan. While they're gone serving the Lord, Matt and I are the only children to love and pamper (it's already happening, cough, Iphones, cough). When they return, we will hold onto our position as favorites by having a baby. As everyone knows, once grandchildren enter the picture, children are no longer important. Okay, they are, but let's face it, we're gonna have a pretty dang stinkin cute kid. Anyway, sorry Ryan and Jess, we've got Favorite locked up for awhile.

Although it was a quick trip home, there's just something about that sunshine! And family of course. It was so rejuvinating to be there. Luckily, winter in Provo has been oh so mild. This, while being awesome, is also sadly an insult to my injury, LITERALLY. If I wasn't injured I'd be enjoying running in a 40 degree winter and ice free sidewalks. That's practically t-shirt and shorts running weather here. Crazy? YES.

So it's late but here's some fun updates:

-Mom and Dad Lew and my brother Kyle FINALLY saw our cute little provo apartment! Complete with recently printed, framed, and hung wedding photos!
-Matt discovered the cutest new dessert place over in Brigham's Landing called Cocoa Beans. It has they best hot chocolate and yummy cupcakes. It's like the Mormon version of a coffee shop. I probably want to go there everyday and write poetry or something...
-That obnoxious Hefty garbage bag commercial? Yeah, it makes Matt want Chinese food because there's an empty take out box in it. Why does trash make him want food? I make fun of him.
-My article on Verizon vs. AT&T ran in the Daily Universe front page on last Thursday. Oh so prestigious!!
-Matty had a birthday and his lame-o wifey only got him an ace of cakes book. We didn't even go to Tucanos, tear.
-Cecily is no longer allowed to use knives. I cut my finger every time, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing except that I can't handle seeing my own blood (thanks dad). I'm not kidding, we're talking serious blacking out. So I was cutting butternut squash up on Thursday night and once again cut my finger. Dude, fingers bleed a lot.
-Cecily presses the snooze button about four times every morning. I let it go long enough for Matt to move or groan so I know he's at least heard it sub-consciously. But let's face it: 7:30 am alarm means 8:00 am wake-up.
-We've discovered Jim Gaffigan! We stayed up until 3am this morning watching youtube videos of him! And, don't eat zupas tomato basil soup if you plan on laughing really hard. Jim Gaffigan almost made it come back about four times and it did not feel good.

Okay, well, that's the LewsNews for now. Stay tuned because I have a surprise for Matty this weekend (haha he doesn't get to know!!!) and in two weeks Matt heads to San Fran with his lab buddies for some kind of nerd...I mean science convention. So there's plenty in the future and I sure hope some of it includes real running because I'm basically going crazy. I mean, crazier than normal.

So, okay bye.