Ice Skating in September....

I'm going to have to let the kids choose what activity we do more often. We got to spend some much needed time together this morning/afternoon and their choice today was to go ice skating at the Pettit Center in Milwaukee, WI. It was a blast and I can finally tell I'm in shape because nothing hurts - not my back, legs, shins, feet - nothing! So, here are some pics from today....

First, proof that both kids and I spent time actually ON the ice....


The Servais-Grohall family joined us.... and I'm glad that the kids are all friends... makes everything much more fun!!!

Now, I just have to wait to see them again. (Yes, I was driving while taking the picture in the car of the three of us...) :D




OTHER NEWS TO NOTE: The BREWERS won the wildcard spot!!! I would have really liked to be at Miller Park to see the chaos ensue on the field after they won their game against the Cubs and once they knew that the Mets had lost their game. I'm sure it was quite the experience as I listened to it on the radio after I dropped off Molly and Nate. I was so happy for the team that I almost cried.... although lately I cry at everything.


I'm back to the races tomorrow - literally.... going to try to best my 19 minute time in a 1.5 mile run. :D It's weird to actually look forward to that on a daily basis, but it's actually one of the only things that has given me some kind of piece of mind and escape from the rest of what life has thrown at me.


The kids humored me this afternoon and we went through a car lot today - there is a dark blue Hyndai Santa Fe that really caught my eye and I'm very seriously thinking about going back to that dealership tomorrow after work to see what we could work out on a trade-in of my car and final price on the Santa Fe.


Apartment hunting has been shitty. Saw one apartment with some possiblility yesterday and will have to talk it over with my future roommate....? Just an FYI - I'm one that goes with my gut a lot of the time and none of these apartments have given me that good, gut feeling.... and I'm thinking maybe I need to just let her find her own place and I'll stay in Elkhorn for a while with a newer vehicle.... maybe.


Again - yay Brewers!!!!


Have a lovely evening everyone.... I need to hit the apartment listings again. Smooch that loved one of yours and remind them how special they are to you. :D


Erin

Whoo Hoo! I'm running....

Got the mile under my belt again this morning - Yay! Slight wardrobe malfunction prevented me from going further - will rectify that asap. I felt great and really only slightly winded even.... wow, I can't believe I'm finally getting into this whole crazy running thing.

So, I checked with the run coordinator of the event I wanted to sign up for on October 25th (Lakefront Discovery Run) and it's still wide open for registration, so my entry went out in the mail this past Tuesday and I just have to figure out where/when to pick up my race packet. http://www.badgerlandstriders.org/

Anyone interested in coming to watch... my goal is to run the whole thing straight and I have 4 weeks to accomplish that goal, which I think is manageable now.... and I wouldn't mind someone taking a picture or two as the Al's run group seems to be a bit slow on getting a link up to their pictures... :(

Let's see - my hip hop class is going well actually.... didn't think I was going to like it, but I'm getting the routine down better and last night's class was over before I wanted it to be.

Molly, Nate and I are going ice skating tomorrow - wish me luck - it's been over a year since I've been on any form of skates, but I'm terribly excited to be spending the day with them. I've posted on facebook for anyone interested in joining us - open skate starts at 1:00pm.

Right now - I'm off to get dressed for a wedding I'm going to this afternoon at 2pm and an apartment I am looking at prior to that in Oak Creek. Keep your fingers crossed that this might be the one.... although I'm starting to have doubts about moving right now with the car on the verge of dying every morning (rent versus car payment). Going to check out a few car lots on my way home.

And.... my coach, best friend and true all around great guy, Jim, is getting ready to run a marathon next weekend in Minneapolis/St.Paul. I'm sure he's going to do great and let's all keep our fingers crossed that the weather is perfect - clear and in the 50's/60's. http://www.mtcmarathon.org/

That's it for now folks - I'll probably be logging in again tomorrow when I have pictures to post from the wedding, ice skating, etc.!!! Have a beautiful Saturday!

Erin

Ahhhhh, what do you mean registration for the race is closed???

Yep, I'm going to do it again - run in another race. Jim was totally right, this can get addictive! I wanted to sign up today and send in my check for a race on Oct. 25th, but it appears the registration is full and they aren't accepting any more entries?!?!? So, I have to check to see what else would be available to do around that time as I was hoping to get 4 weeks of further training in under my belt and improve my time per mile.

Sounds like dad is home, time for me to go.... have a good night everyone!

Whew!

I would say, "Boy, I'm glad I'm done with that...." in regards to the race I've been training for these past 9 weeks has finally happened (this morning) and I finished and lived to tell the story. But, when I got done, I realized I still felt pretty good and must not have pushed myself hard enough to run more than I did. And it was kind of a "downer" to finally be at the end of my journey and while I'm proud of myself, something just seems to be missing... and I'm not sure what. Both my wonderful coach, Jim, and Sam did send me messages to tell me how proud they were of me and I'll be forever greatful for that.... as this was quite a bit of hard work and it's nice to have some recognition for the effort. The race ended and I came home to a relatively empty house for the evening.... which was nice as I got a rare nap in and now I'm not tired enough to go to sleep.... figures.



My day was pretty good though and I'm definitely going to do another race - maybe even this fall if I can find another 8k to do. I have to bug the coach to see what the schedule should be for the next month at least..... and then how/what I can do over the winter with my limited resources to stay in shape to some extent. I'm pretty sure a yoga class may be in order... after I'm done with this crazy hip hop dance class I'm doing on Friday nights.



I'm going to try to include a picture of the race today.... sorry, I can't tell exactly where I am, but I am in the picture - trust me.



Hugs and goodnight wishes to you all,

Erin

I think I've found them....

My new roommates that is. She came to me by way of a referral from my best friend who is also her co-worker, as for the second roommate - he comes to me by way of the first roommate as she is his mom. I think Renee and Drew will be a very interesting combination to live with for at least the next year. Now, we just need to find an apartment and figure out when the moving will eventually happen.

Now, if only I could work my magic on getting partial custody (one weekend a month) of my stepchildren, I'd feel almost like I had my life back on track again - or at least close.

There's a guy I've been chatting with - there's no spark per say, but it's nice to have a friendly conversation with a guy about all kinds of things and not really feel that crazy pressure to be on my best behavior or acting just right so I impress the hell out of him, which I'm sure I haven't done - but he's nice enough to continue to chat with me whenever he sees me online at night. :D

So, I get to go to bed tonight with at least one good thought on my mind.... someone must have decided to actually give me a break in life for a bit now.... I have the new, wonderful co-worker and now have probably found the new, wonderful roommate. And of course, I've always had my wonderful group of friends who look out for me, right now especially.

Have a good night folks, peace and love to you all - and do me a favor, give your special someone a big kiss goodnight and tell them how much you love them.

Erin

Yes Jim, I'm sure it's mental, but...

Okay, so I'm busted, because I cannot tell a lie to save my life, but this last week I haven't been as dedicated to my training schedule as I should have been. I slacked off - quite a bit and I'm paying the price...

Yes, I'm definitely in the group of "must get outside to exercise or you'll go nuts being stuck inside all day" crazies.... but I'm not insane - yet.

No, I didn't get my mile straight in again today.... which irritates me to no end now. Yes, the coach says it's a mental thing on my part now since we already know my body can actually accomplish this feat (refer back to 2 weeks ago). So, what am I going to do to get rid of this mental block I'm stumbling over? I'm really not sure. I'm down to only 13 days to go and I'm so far off the actual training schedule at this point that I would really like to get the straight mile under my belt again at least. I've even gone as far as asking (will resort to begging) my coach to jog the race with me as maybe that will get me through in under 1 hour 15 minutes - although he has decided to tease me about this and comment about how far he will run compared to me if he runs literal circles around me as I jog down the road. Ha, ha, ha - very funny Jim!!!

So, I'm vowing right now that I will be back on a decent training schedule starting tomorrow and over the next 13 days, I will be running/walking at least 10 of them. I'm getting through this race whether my body likes me for it or not.

The really good news.... I now am 160 pounds - dressed in my running clothes and shoes on! The doctor I'm seeing is probably going to freak out a bit, but hey - I used to weigh 132 at this same height about 10 years ago and I bet my cholesterol numbers are plummeting as well. Thank goodness I'm addicted to ice water lately - helps keep the weight coming off.

Well, goodnight folks... back to work tomorrow. Love to you all and do me a favor - lean over and give your special someone(s) a hug/kiss and let them know how much they mean to you - you never know when you won't get the chance to do it again.

Erin

My services for hire....

Yep, I'm one heck of a multitalented person and I offer the following services: (more to be offered in the near future)

1. Baker - Matt, my dad, my aunts, etc. are not the only ones in the family that can bake... and decorate....

2. Baby Washer - yep, you read that right and I can give one very pleasing bath for your young child any time - day or night...

3. Gardener/Flower photographer: I'm even entering a picture in our staff calendar contest at work...

4. Professional Cat wrangler: sorry, cat not included, but containers are negotiable...

More services available shortly!!!!

The summer has come and gone...

And with it probably my insistence on running in this goofy 5 mile race coming up in 3 WEEKS!!!

I just haven't progressed as far as I was hoping - I had a moment of glory last weekend when I finally eeeked out 1 mile straight jog without walking and now I'm having a hard time getting a 1/2 mile straight without a walking break. So, I'm not sure what the issue is.... I'm having some minor issues with side cramps, so I'm just going to stay more hydrated this week and push, push, push to get that mile back under my belt. Oddly enough, I'm starting to feel like a runner - or a person who needs to exercise on a regular basis - as I definitely notice it when I don't go out and run or kayak for the day. Went kayaking for an hour - made the entire loop of Rice Lake outside Whitewater, WI in that time - and you should see the little biceps I'm getting from the effort.

Been having an up and down week otherwise - work has been really good actually for the first time in a long time. I really love my new co-worker and I think we're going to make a great team - so much so that I'm almost dreading going back to my old schedule again eventually.

That's it folks.... love you all - even you strangers who happen upon my blog for some strange reason.

Erin