Triathlons and a Graduation

Today I wanted to just write about 2 things that have happened this summer that are of big importance in the Sponbeck household.  Firstly I needed to take the time to recognize a commencment into a new stage of life.

Macy is graduating hair school!  I know, I know, I can just hear Macy telling me "Josh it is not a big deal!"  But you know what, it is a big deal.  My sister Collie went to hair school so you would think I had some idea about how tough it actually is, however I must have forgotten how long and grueling hair school actually is because I am once again deeply impressed by these girls ability to finish through and finish strong.  There are a few requirements you have to fulfill in order to graduate from hair school and they are as follows

1)  a)-- Finish 2,000 hours in the school cutting hair and learning to cut hair!  First of all that is a lot of time.  30 hours a week for 78 weeks to be precise.  It has taken Mace a long time but she is doing it and she is doing awesome.  (Who would have though there would be that much to learn about hair too, but there is.  Just ask, there is a lot to know)

5d)-- Have good enough grades to be eligible to graduate.  I think Macy is a straight A student!

b)-- Pass your two state boards which are very strict and tough to pass.  When I was reviewing the book that Macy got to study with I was suprised at how much general chemistry she was expected to know.  Things that I learn in Gem Chem 2 she could tell me and it was fun because I had no idea she knew so much about pH, and compounds.

c)-- Complete a service project for a charity of your choice.  Yes that is right, a service project outside of class time.  I know right?  Who would have thought.


I can't think of the other ones right now, but i'm sure there is one or two things I am forgetting.  But anyway just wanted to send a shout out to Mace because she is doing awesome and i'm proud of her.

 Oh and P, just so you know once she is graduated she can still cut hair.  Except better because now you can have a real friend and family discount.  Just sayin'...


 Next up, next up.  Now I wish I could say that I had put in all my work to be able to be graduating but I haven't.  But I can say that I now have, and will have another check mark on my Life's to do list.

I ran a triathlon.  Now I say I do have but will have the check because I only have it halfway completed.  On June 2, 2012 I completed the Salem Springs triathlon.  It was so much fun and I really did enjoy it.  (Weird I know)  I competed in the Tri, with my sister Collie who swam, biked, and ran with a broken arm.  She is awesome.  But we did great and I am so happy.  Now for the rest of the check mark, in approximately 4 days, I will be in Burley Idaho to finish a full olympic triathlon.  Which is about a mile swim, 30 K bike, and 10 K run.  It has been a long time coming and I have been training for it since January.  It is actually quite time consuming, and I will be happy to have done it.  I really like to compete and it's fun to be out there pushing myself in new ways that I have always wanted to try.

It will also be fun because the whole family is going to be up there supporting us in Burley.  So who knows what Idaho will through at me, but bring it on SPUDMAN!

So I guess all around we could call this a commencement.  On to bigger and brighter things.  Hoorah.

Elevator Equality for All

I work on the 5th floor of my building.  Technically it is really the 6th floor, because there is a floor A, then it starts with the actual floors 1, 2, 3, 4, and finally 5.  I take the B elevators to the fifth floor most days.  I say most because some days I take the stairs because I remember a comment made to me one time by a friends Dad that elevators were just a waste of energy.  But on days that I can't seem to muster up the energy to walk those flights of stairs I take the elevator and boy am I grateful for it. 

On the elevator there is a certain heirarchy of importance.  You see as you step on the elevator at work you never want to be the one to be riding the shortest distance.  I can always take a certain pride in punching the 5 button because that means I am more entitled to the elevator than the person riding to the 3rd floor.  Those 4th floor kids, they have a lot pride when they step in and hit the 4 because they know just how difficult it is for them to be beat, unfortanately for them it can be done and I do it often. 

Today's post though goes out to the one floor rider.  One measley floor.  Come on we have all done it.  You just can't bring yourself to the stairs that day because you are too tired.  So you just think i'll just hop on the elevator.  I know i've been there.  And i'll definitely be there again.  Probably this week for that matter, maybe. 

The other day there was a guy who got on the elevator holding a lot of stuff.  I was headed down from the fifth floor when the elevator stopped on the third floor, the man stepped in, and punched the two button.  Just to settle the matter he turned to me and said "usually i'm not this lazy, but it's hard to carry all this stuff down the stairs."  I laughed about it, and said don't worry it's not like I make terrible judgmental comment about every person who hops on the elevator just to go one floor.  He turns to me and says I sure do.  Why can't you just take the stairs buddy?  You have interrupted my whole elevator riding experience just so you can go up or down one floor.  With that the elevator opened and he stepped off.  I was still laughing as the elevator door closed.

So today is for elevator awareness, to everyone.  Because there will always be a time that we are all one floor riders.