Ah... where to begin. I'm not even sure what's happened in the last few weeks. Something about changing jobs, moving to a new city, and running a marathon. But before all of that, I made a list of some favorite times in Dallas to officially close out that chapter. In no certain order:
• the “original” 3P Challenge event: fun team, great adventure
• Fossil: holiday time, Farkel tournaments on Friday, and the tin wall
• Small Group Bible Study & Christmas party charades
• Village Burger & Glen Phillips: one of my very favorite evenings
• PC Sundays at Fortress
• Saturday morning long runs at White Rock
• camping and exploring at Ray Roberts
• FW Main Street Arts Festival
• Northbridge extravaganzas: Harrison, a room full of balloons, and hallway chatting
• Life is Good Pumpkin Festival: tower of jack-o-lanterns, homemade chili, and Disney trivia
• couch movies at Inwood Theater
• exploring the Katy Trail with running buddies
• Vertis: birthday desserts, Golf Galaxy, Brookshire photo shoots, and the lime green studio
• volunteering at the Bridge: engaging homeless through running groups
• 48 Hours of Prayer and Service at PC
• Alias and LOST: addiction with two best buds
• backpacking at Lake Texoma
• FC Dallas soccer games
• ice/snow days: snowmen, snow ice cream, and snow running
• Heritage Salt & Light activities: being hands and feet in the community
• MP Relay (x2): 240 miles on the road + close, smelly quarters = instant friends
• Café Brazil outings with Emily S.: best conversation and coffee combo
• South Padre Island: raining in Dallas? buddy pass to the beach!
• FW Cowtown Marathon w/DM
• MP's 50 Hours of Kickball
• Shakespeare in the Park outing with Allison
• Lifetime Fitness TRI: first indoor triathlon with Erica
• Grapefest with the Amer. Air crew: food, more food, and a grape-stomping competition
• Amer. Air photoshoots for Cents: paper sailboats and golden cash registers
• Matt Nathanson, Train, & Maroon 5 concert with Amber
There are many more that I'm sure I forgot to add, and I purposely didn't include excursions outside of Dallas... which means I have a whole lot to be grateful for these last 5 years. Surely BCS would dare to hold just as much adventure, yes? Or yes?
Archive for 2011
... on race week!
Life is sprinting along here in Bryan/CS, Texas. We are PUMPED to be hosting 1500 runners this weekend for an inaugural race that is going to rock some socks off as well as raise a lot of money for some sweet, sweet kids. Several updates to come – after Sunday.
Gotta love those “play catch up” Saturdays… It’s been a long week and a whirlwind last month or two. Here’s what’s been going on:
I quit my job…
It’s funny – I’ve bounced around to over 15 different jobs in the last 5 years here in Dallas, but I’ve never had to quit one until now. I finally found a place where I enjoyed the work, loved the people, and could picture myself for quite some time. (Insert shout-out to the American Airlines Publishing clan here.) So it will be sad to leave that behind, but I’m more than willing and ready to do so.
And accepted another…
Why quit a great thing? For something even greater! Starting in December, I’ll be working as a designer/coordinator/communications guru for Mercy Project. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work for MP on a full-time basis, thrilled to use my talents and passions to help some sweet kiddoes in Ghana, and thrilled at how everything has fallen into place for this to happen.
Which means I’m moving…
I was moving anyway at the end of a lease, so the timing could not have been better. Sort of… My lease in Dallas ended Oct 31, so I moved everything but my clothes to Bryan the weekend before. Now I’m hanging in the Metroplex until Thanksgiving, wrapping up work and a few other commitments. Thankfully, I have some very gracious friends who have offered their homes to me for the three in-between weeks. Then it’s off to Canyon for Wyatt’s birthday/Turkey break and back to Bryan for good at the end of the month.
To the BCS area…
Ah… small town, no traffic, friendly people… I’m excited. I will miss a few things about Dallas but am glad to be making the transition out of the city. Goodbye commuting, hello HEB! Mostly, I’m excited about living in a place small enough to really experience community and living life with people. That’s something I’ve searched for in Dallas but have had a hard time finding amidst all the noise and busy chaos. I’m looking forward to living with friends for awhile in Bryan and seeing what God has in store for this next leg of the journey.
In the meantime…
Marathon training is in high gear for the next two weeks. Running a half tomorrow morning, then two more long runs before taper time. Super excited about the upcoming SOLD OUT race. Aside from that, the next two weeks are for running errands, getting in last minute appointments, and hanging out with Dallas friends.
Probably won’t be posting too much in the next few weeks but am planning to return by the end of the year with a little blog makeover. I’m sure it will be good… once I think up what it will entail…
Ahh... it's been awhile. I think 'hectic' would be a good term to describe life as of late, as well as 'complete upheaval', but more on that later. It's time for digging deep and building mileage in preparation for the upcoming race in December. Only 48 days remain: 4 weeks to build and 3 weeks to taper. (I'm not counting or anything.) I can't believe how fast training has flown by this season. Always kinda nice.
Even better is the fact that the 1/2 Marathon is SOLD OUT, including 50 additional charity entries. So exciting. There are only 58 spots left for the Full Marathon, and those are going fast. This is going to be a fantastic event. Here's a little taste of what we're in for:
BCS Marathon Course from Chris Field on Vimeo.
One of my finer moments in life:
1993.
White shorts.
Tucked in elementary school shirt. ("Can't hide that Oscar Hinger pride!")
Extra large red-rimmed glasses.
Hangin' out with the plastic Playmobil horse set, complete with a yellow hot pad for the hay in the barn.
(The horses may or may not have had names...)
Not a care in the world. Here's to you, Friday.
For your Flashback Friday viewing (on Sunday of course)... a trip to the Berry Patch. (I believe DM and I are holding up some sort of cloth-stuffed creature. DM has a dinosaur, and I have something that resembles a large goldfish that's about to eat my face off.)
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I have to say, I've done a sub-par job of posting verses of the week. But I have continued to write them out each Sunday. This week's verse is from Isaiah. I love the reminder that we serve THE God, the only one ever, and I continue to marvel at the fact that He would choose us as his witnesses. Wow.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
Isaiah 43:10-11
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Great weekend... lots of errand hopping, birthday party going, park sunning, lake running, kitchen baking, and box packing.
Lessons learned this weekend:
1. I will never be a concert "groupie".
2. There's a reason they make padded bike shorts/seats.
So Friday night, Amber and I headed to Fair Park to see Matt Nathanson, Train, and Maroon 5 in concert. I was pretty excited. Like, 5-year old on Christmas morning excited. I've been to my share of Christian band concerts in churches, but never a 'real' 20,000-people-in-attendance-concert. And since it was on my 30 List and tickets were dirt cheap, we had to go.
Thankfully, Amber did not make me walk when I went a little nuts in the traffic getting there. It was stand-still on the highway, we were late, and I navigated her through the ghetto to get us there. Whew; she's a keeper. Here we are after making it to our seats. 
'Concert' has now been added to the list of best spots for people watching. There was the row of 18 year old girls in front of us that screamed the entire time and took a picture every 3 minutes or so. The dressed-all-in-black crew sitting next to us. The guy wearing this (creepy) Maroon 5 shirt and many, many more. Entertaining in so many ways... Here's a little bit of Train, via Amber's phone, since mine is lame. We actually left a few songs before the end, because let's face it, after one Adam Levine song, you've pretty much heard them all...!
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This morning, I participated in an Indoor Triathlon at Lifetime Fitness. Perfect for the I-can't-swim-but-want-to-try-this-out newb. Let me tell ya, the event staff there had it together; I was way impressed overall. Very helpful, positive people. 10 minute swim in a lap pool, 10 minute transition, 30 minute bike on a spin bike, 5 minute transition, 20 minute run on a treadmill, earning points based on the distance traveled in each leg of the race. Very much geared towards people of all fitness levels. I highly recommend. Best part? No wetsuit rental/gear required. After I got off the treadmill, one of the ladies commented that I had great running form. I told her 'thanks, good thing you didn't see me flopping like a fish during the swim leg'!
• Learning the meaning of "giving up something great for something greater".
• Making homemade granola; I finally found a fantastic recipe.
• Enjoying the cooler temps... but pretty stoked to have set the record for days over 100 degrees.
• Modeling for a photo shoot at work this week for FW Magazine. My claim to fame consists of a 4x6 image of running down the Trinity Trail with my co-worker. We now await our call from America's Next Top Model.
• Reading up a storm. I know stow books in my car to make sitting in commuting traffic bearable.
• Joining a new small group Bible Study on Thursday nights going through John Eldredge's Epic. Enjoying it so far.
• Cruising the streets of Grapevine's Grapefest for a big work outing. I even went as far as to compete in a Grape Stomping Competition. And I ate funnel cake and lots of bad food. And it was wonderful.
• Running at White Rock. Have missed being out there this summer and am loving being back at the old stomping grounds. Now entering Week 5 of marathon training.
• Trying to make some decisions for the next few months and leaning into God for assurance and guidance. Grateful for the encouragement of so many good friends.
Missing some Gila time this year; here's the first trip I joined in on in '98:
And Happy Birthday to my amazing Mom tomorrow – glad she gets to celebrate around a campfire in the wilderness!
Ah... back to school. It doesn't feel like summer should be over already (aside from the fact that I'm WAY over the summer temps), and yet that benchmark first day has already come and gone. There is plenty of photo album proof that the Nickson children were victims of the annual "first day of school picture" (all the way through the first day of college, kid you not), yet this is the only one I seem to have on hand at the moment. To be honest, I don't know that this was a first day shot, or rather, I'm HOPING I was not sent off to my first day of pre-school dressed like a little Ewok. But I did have the Care Bear lunchbox, so maybe that balanced the coat out? Eh, probably not. I did have a sidekick who rocked the "leather jacket" pretty well, yes, or yes?!
Well, friends, in light of last's months birthday, let's go back in time about 15 years or so. I look about the same now, minus the pink attire, huge glasses, and braces. I did not, however, have a horse birthday cake this year. I have gained some wisdom in my old age and traded in the cake for homemade apple pie.
Anyway, I've also made the customary list of 30 "things-to-do-before-I-turn-30". If you'd like to help me out with any of these, let me know. Here's a small glimpse:
• Finish a sprint triathlon.
• Go on a midnight picnic.
• Acquire a bicycle.
• Try 50 new recipes.
• Read 10 classic novels.
• Stay up from sunset to sunrise.
• Find 15 geocaches.
• Buy ice cream from an ice cream truck.
• Spend the night in a yurt.
• Visit an art museum.
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This has been my verse this week (and next too, I've decided), and it's oh-so-good! Love this translation...
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (Message)
Life has been a bit stressful here in the big city as of late, but here are two things that brightened my day today:
This brilliant little stop motion flick...
And a quote from my dear friend, Emily...
I truly believe that we find the divine in our moments of greatest uncertainty. For when we find ourselves both refreshed and overwhelmed, it is then we can be most sure that we are in fact, alive.
11 Ways to be Unremarkably Average
1. Accept what people tell you at face value.
2. Don’t question authority.
3. Go to college because you’re supposed to, not because you want to learn something.
4. Go overseas once or twice in your life, to somewhere safe like England.
5. Don’t try to learn another language; everyone else will eventually learn English.
6. Think about starting your own business, but never do it.
7. Think about writing a book, but never do it.
8. Get the largest mortgage you qualify for and spend 30 years paying for it.
9. Sit at a desk 40 hours a week for an average of 10 hours of productive work.
10. Don’t stand out or draw attention to yourself.
11. Jump through hoops. Check off boxes.
I came across this last week, courtesy of Amber, via this site. Interesting post; there's a lengthier version here if you'd like to read the expanded post. Thought it was pretty good (though I can't say I've read a lot of the other content on the site). I read through the first time and laughed at how true it is before I started realizing that several of the points are quite self-applicable. 9 times out of 10 (maybe even 9.5 times out of 10) I like to blend in. I like to avoid the spotlight and divert attention. I like to record my thoughts in writing way more than speak them in public. I'm ok with being average. Sometimes I simply desire to be part of the crowd.
So I've been thinking about that this week. And I know that odds are good there's a reason I'm not like everyone else. And there's a reason we aren't all like each other. And that the world needs people who desire to live simple, yet extraordinary, lives in order to avoid the mundane existence of the average. And I gotta say, life is way more exciting and adventurous and fulfilling when we're willing to live a little outside the box.
Ah... corn harvest. Apparently I missed out on the fun at the ranch yesterday, but don't worry; I've had a fair amount of experience in the past.
For you city folks, It goes a little something like this:
Gather the tasseled corn ears by bucket and/or wheelbarrow.
Sneak in a few rides in the wheelbarrow.
Dump all the ears in a ginormous pile in the yard.
Shuck husks, hatchet any worms, and chop off the ends.
Divide "cob" ears from "kernal" ears.
Sort into water-filled ice chests.
Throw the husks over the fence to the neighbor's cows. Bovine brunch.
Move the operation inside.
Essential step: De-silk every ear of corn. Every silk, every ear.
Wash corn ears and cut out bad spots.
Freeze cobs. Done.
Cut all the kernals off remaining corn. Split up into bowls.
*The more you eat at this stage, the less you have to cook and freeze.*
Microwave bowls one at a time on a 1-2 minute rotating basis.
After approximately 500 rotations, spread kernals onto cookie sheets to cool.
Use every surface in the house to achieve the aforementioned step.
Kill all flies that have made their way into the house over the course of the day.
Bag corn in ziplocs for freezing.
Clean-up.
Eat more corn for dinner because you haven't had enough of it yet.
Wash, rinse, repeat when the next planting is ready to be harvested. Good times. I think this shot is between my Senior year of high school and Freshman year of college...
Friday!
It's been a hectic and relaxing weekend all at the same time; for now, just felt the need to share this, straight from the ranch:
A little while ago, the ranch hands at the 4N Ranch (as we fondly call the Canyon Casa) took a poll and realized that they indeed did not have enough mouths to feed. After those results came in, it was determined that not one, but TWO, equine were needed to even out the "herd". Meet Breezy (momma Buckskin) and Little Gila (4 months not-sure-what-color), the newest additions:
Meeting the kids:
Breezy will actually return to her home at the appointed time. Rumor has it, Gila will be staying for what DM and I refer to as "Ranch Bootcamp". He's gonna need it; the kid has quite a kick for such a young pup!
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Dallas life has been clipping along at a solid pace, with many of the typical summer happenings: overdoses of humidity, way-too-early morning runs, long commutes to work, and ice cream on the weekends. Recent activities include: extending my current work "contract", apartment hunting, and amping up to train for this fabulous race here.
And... it's been awhile. Life has been slightly hectic this week which translates to me getting lazy on posting.
Ventured to the Dallas Aquarium last Saturday and enjoyed some time there with my two favorite kiddoes. The place is huge!
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Sunday was the Harry Potter finale! It's been a good run. Stole this off a FB post:
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Google gave a shout-out to Alexander Calder today, commemorating his 113th birthday. Calder was instrumental to 20th century sculpture, creating the first hanging mobile as well as wire sculptures and large installation pieces. His work is a study of suspended abstract elements that move and balance in harmony.
Here's Google's short video on their logo today: Love the interactive abilities!
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And for our Flashback Friday fun... a trip to the Colorado Gator Farm in Alamosa from quite some time ago.
I believe that's enough randomness for the weekend. Cheers!
continued...
Small gifts: One of our team members brought an entire suitcase full of bubbles, futbols, candy, coloring books, and school supplies to share with the village kids. We had such a good time seeing the excitement on their faces over these new and colorful things. True story: A bit of violence broke out when we were blowing bubbles and a "time out" was awarded to one particular girl who got a little over-zealous in her shoving of other kids! The children colored picture after picture and chased soccer balls long after we (all except Jeff) were ready to stop.
Tool delivery: In addition to planting the cassava, we also took new processing tools to the village. Everything in the past had been done by hand, so the diesel grinder and pressing tools will help the people process quicker and in larger quantities so that they are actually able to glean some profit at market. Getting the tools to the island was quite a task!
Little shadows: I feel like anyone who has traveled to Africa would agree that there is just something about African children that just captures your heart. The village children were no different and couldn't care less that we were unable to speak their language and understand their conversation. They latched onto our hands, climbed in our laps, followed us everywhere we went, and became our little shadows for the week. As we walked the mile from the lake shore to the school area, little faces would run out of the huts and bushes to meet us. Their clothing was dirty, mis-matched, and often non-existent. Their feet were bare. Their smiles lit up not only their faces, but ours as well. I can't help but think that these are the little ones we ought to be more like, these are the children welcomed by Jesus.
We ended the week with a time of celebration, a coming together of two very different worlds for one common goal. The biggest thing affirmed in my heart this trip was the continued knowledge that when mere ordinary individuals are willing to be His hands and feet, God shows up. And He shows up over and over and over.
continued...
Machete swinging: The main attraction of the week? Planting cassava! Farming was the agreed upon economic project for the village: 40 planned acres of cassava, which is a root-like starch that tastes similar to a raw potato. We spent time clearing the designated area of trees, brush, and thorn bushes, then waited for a tractor to come plow the field. I will say that farming in Ghana is much different than in America. Where we would plant in neat, clean little rows, the plowing was much more hap-hazard… stump-dodging and grass-cluttered dirt, complete with large mice and scorpions. Awesome. But we worked in the field a little each day and then finally were ready to plant on Monday morning. While I loved the time with the kids, I honestly felt a little more in my element in the field. Country girl returning to her roots! The Ghanaian men came out to work alongside us and teach us how to plant and chop the cassava sticks. It was one of those "I just got chills" moments as I looked through the lens of my camera and saw Ghanaians and Americans working together in the field on MP's first project. SO very cool. Even cooler than getting to swing a machete! 
Sunday church: I've mentioned in the past about the amazing church services we've gotten to attend. This time around was perhaps the largest one I've been to; two churches on the island combined to worship with the Americans and to hear Osofu Nah-Nah Yaw preach about Heaven. The gratitude of who we would deem "the poorest of poor" is staggering. The people thanked us over and over, but it was our team that received the gift of pure worship that morning. One thing I noticed was during the offering: after someone placed a few coins in the collection box, a few others would subtly take it back out and share with another individual or child who would go up and put it right back in the box. For those who weren't able to give that week, they were still able to take part. "And they shared everything they had…" I wonder what would happen if someone did that during a church service here in America.
