Best friends - Okay, first the humor..... this will be Kristin and I in about 37 years from now....
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/what-was-i-thinking-when-i-called-sarah-palin-a-bitch/
Then, the good news! Turns out running is a miracle drug (cured my sciatica) and it has done a far better and faster job at reducing my cholesterol level than even being on medication did for me a couple years ago. I've gone from 238 about 8 months ago to 195 today! (It's recommended to be under 200 for those of you not in the know.) On medication for about 6 months, I barely got my cholesterol to come down a handful of points and now I drop over 40 points by running and changing my diet a bit. :D I knew this running would pay off somehow.... not to mention two people who I haven't seen for a while at work commented today on how great I look (weight loss) and that's always a boost in the self-esteem.
The car - still, more good news here too. I was a bit leary of whether I made a good choice in the vehicle I purchased because I was worried it would limit the number of things I could do because I took my Subaru's capability for granted when I had it. Well, I have to say, I really like the 2007 Silver Chevy Malibu. It's a good size - small enough to feel like I'm not driving a boat, large enough to hold 5 adults very comfortably and not seem overwhelmed by a roof rack installed for the kayak and bikes (not yet, aiming for b-day next spring). The really great part I'm loving right now is that the remote works like a charm from great distances and when I do unlock the car early in the morning, the horn doesn't honk - but the headlights, taillights and reverse lights all come on and I can find my way to the car before the sun is up. It looks so pretty all lit up like that. I am still getting used to the fact that the inside of the car is so lit up also - everything has a light in it - from the cruise control on the steering wheel to the great radio/car info system to the trunk button on the inside of the driver's door. I'm still finding all the nooks and crannies in the car and how best to utilize them - but I do know that I have the two best cupholders ever between the two front seats. And, the car is still spotless after 3 weeks of ownership. Now, I just need to find her a name....... I can't tell you how much less my stress is every day because I don't get in the car and automatically start praying that it just make it down the road one more day - I have a feeling this car and I have a lot of great miles and days ahead. I shouldn't get so mushy about a car.... I'll get pictures up this weekend though - of the car and other things.
I think that's all for tonight.... hold your loved ones tight!
Erin
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Race results and halloween costumes...
http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=9677
I was bib number 1421, which you have to enter in the grid at the bottom of the page.
****************************************************************************
Mother Nature it is this year for me as far as a costume goes. Leah gets the credit for finding the perfect gown at goodwill last weekend when we were searching for all kinds of ideas for the whole family. Will try to get pictures and post them.
Erin
I was bib number 1421, which you have to enter in the grid at the bottom of the page.
****************************************************************************
Mother Nature it is this year for me as far as a costume goes. Leah gets the credit for finding the perfect gown at goodwill last weekend when we were searching for all kinds of ideas for the whole family. Will try to get pictures and post them.
Erin
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Kids....
I miss them terribly....
I would be happy to have them fighting with each other all weekend long, or to go back in time to when Nate just ran around the McDonalds acting shy the first night I met them, or to have Molly swing her arm around my shoulders (since we're close to the same height) and tell me she wants to talk about girls' stuff. Give me 2 hours some evening just to pick them up from their mom's and I'll take them out to dinner and then to Walmart so Nate can check out the latest games available for the Wii or any of his other game systems and Molly can look at shoes, makeup, etc. Put me back in May when I got to plan for all the stuff we would take with us that last weekend to open up the cottage, put me back in February when I was planning Molly's birthday slumber party and trying to find people who could help me pick up all the kids and handle them all for the weekend if Sam didn't show up. Let me have the chance to take Nate to that pizza place by the Ridge theater for his birthday like he asked me to do. Put me back in my old apartment for just a minute so I can go out in the living room and see two beautiful children that I helped raise, fast asleep on their respective couches with the t.v. still on. I promise I'd never complain about sleeping with Molly in the bed at grandma's and give her a hard time about how many times she almost pushed me out of bed with her wild sleeping habits. Nate riding in the backseat and giving us his best "one liners" that had everyone laughing - the bit about Molly throwing her gum out the window was the best part.... someone said the birds would eat it... and then Nate piped in with "Yeah, and then they'll die." He said it so deadpan, I think I was laughing so hard, tears were coming down my cheeks.
Molly and her wanting me to paint her right hand because she couldn't do it herself with her left hand.
Nate and his belly button that I used to tease him about until it finally did turn into an "innie".
Their beautiful faces, their smiles, their great sense of humor, their temper tantrums, everything from the diapers to giving medicine to taking them to see Candy Cane lane and letting them ride in the back of the Subaru.
My kids.... how I miss them. And how very much I love them. I would do it all over again for them.
Erin
I would be happy to have them fighting with each other all weekend long, or to go back in time to when Nate just ran around the McDonalds acting shy the first night I met them, or to have Molly swing her arm around my shoulders (since we're close to the same height) and tell me she wants to talk about girls' stuff. Give me 2 hours some evening just to pick them up from their mom's and I'll take them out to dinner and then to Walmart so Nate can check out the latest games available for the Wii or any of his other game systems and Molly can look at shoes, makeup, etc. Put me back in May when I got to plan for all the stuff we would take with us that last weekend to open up the cottage, put me back in February when I was planning Molly's birthday slumber party and trying to find people who could help me pick up all the kids and handle them all for the weekend if Sam didn't show up. Let me have the chance to take Nate to that pizza place by the Ridge theater for his birthday like he asked me to do. Put me back in my old apartment for just a minute so I can go out in the living room and see two beautiful children that I helped raise, fast asleep on their respective couches with the t.v. still on. I promise I'd never complain about sleeping with Molly in the bed at grandma's and give her a hard time about how many times she almost pushed me out of bed with her wild sleeping habits. Nate riding in the backseat and giving us his best "one liners" that had everyone laughing - the bit about Molly throwing her gum out the window was the best part.... someone said the birds would eat it... and then Nate piped in with "Yeah, and then they'll die." He said it so deadpan, I think I was laughing so hard, tears were coming down my cheeks.
Molly and her wanting me to paint her right hand because she couldn't do it herself with her left hand.
Nate and his belly button that I used to tease him about until it finally did turn into an "innie".
Their beautiful faces, their smiles, their great sense of humor, their temper tantrums, everything from the diapers to giving medicine to taking them to see Candy Cane lane and letting them ride in the back of the Subaru.
My kids.... how I miss them. And how very much I love them. I would do it all over again for them.
Erin
Sunday, October 26, 2008
More fun stuff.... and useless information.
Running - I forgot to mention that my time in the race was 15 seconds longer than it should have been.... my shoe came untied shortly after the start of the race and I had to stop to retie. Damn shoe laces.... and I found myself at the store today pondering over 3 different pairs of running shoes because I'm sure I have put so many miles on the first pair (saying that tongue in cheek) that I need another pair to rotate the first pair with.... but I am going to wait and use my dogsitting money over the week of Thanksgiving to get a REAL pair of running shoes.
Clothes - Well, as my mother-in-law can attest to (see Camping below), it was high time that I purchased a new pair of jeans for myself since the ones I had were literally falling off me last weekend. So, a trip to Kohls, and I'm the proud owner of new jeans - size 12, instead of size 14 - and I probably could have gone down to a 10.... but these will probably fit for a while after I wash them a few times. My favorite brand - Levi's, boot cut - one in a lighter blue and one dark blue.
Camping - My mother-in-law is a wonderful woman and I really hope that she and I will always be friends. I remember shortly after first meeting her that I thought she wasn't too impressed with me, but as I got to know her and she got to know me - we really found that we're both very good, hardworking, honest people and that we've got a lot of interests in common as well. One of the main ones being camping or staying at the cottages in Port Washington. She literally made my day when she emailed me a couple weeks back and said "How about we camp on the beach, I'll bring the stove if you bring the tent?" So, plans were made to camp on the beach just north of town near the family cottages and despite the cold weather at night - it was comfortable during the day to where I could put on a pair of shorts on Saturday to walk into town from our campsite. I drove up on Friday evening and in the near dark, we put up my tent and she helped me get my stuff across the creek from my car which I didn't think would clear the rocks in the streambed. She had driven up on Thursday and had brought her tent and rest of the camping gear with her. Over the course of the weekend, I've figured out two great gift ideas for her for her birthday and Christmas. We went out to dinner at Beanies on Friday night and after a couple drinks and some good mexican food, we went back to the tents and snuggled in for the night to read and to get some much needed sleep. I personally have to find the camping pads I have.... I bought a makeshift one and it sucked! I think I would have been more comfortable sleeping in the sand if it wasn't so cold. I was just glad I brought enough clothes and a good sleeping bag to sleep in layers and stay very nice and warm. Then Saturday morning came and my tent was pink with the glow of the gorgeous sunrise, which I peeked at from a slit in one of the tent windows and crawled back into the sleeping bag for another hour. After we were both up and dressed we got going on our walk into town - I would estimate it was about 3 miles one direction - and went to the farmer's market and then visited with Linda's friend Carolyn and made plans to come back and have dinner with her that evening. We walked back and chatted the whole way back to the tents. I changed clothes for the cooler evening temps and brought a bag of shower items with me as Linda assured me that I could wash my hair at Carolyn's instead of waiting for the water to heat on the stove to do a bucket bath. Well, she was right - not only did I get to wash my hair, but I did so in one of the most beautiful bathrooms I've ever seen. It had to be the size of the kids' bedroom in my old apartment - maybe bigger! After I was cleaned up, we went to eat at Newport Shores and visited for a while after dinner before Linda and I drove back to the beach. We retired to our respective tents for the night as it was pitch black out and I stayed up for a while and read. Apparently sometime while I was reading, Linda got up to go to the biffy (outhouse) and she said with the crazy wind that stirred up and the light from my lantern inside the tent, it looked like a living, breathing entity. That is something I should have gotten a picture of - that and the second beautiful sunrise the next morning. There is something about the smell of the air at the cottages and on the beach that I would know with my eyes closed and it smells and feels like home. I miss it already. On Sunday, again the sunrise woke me up - how can it not when it fills your tent with this honey pink glow and it seems like the beach, the lake, the cottages even have been holding their breath and then collectively sigh when the sun starts to peek over the horizon and begin to send rays of warmth over everything - even if the wind is still gusting to 25 mph. Linda and I ate a late breakfast of cappuccino, chocolate zucchini bread and an avocado. I love it when other people don't mind just eating something simple and easy for a light meal. My tent blew over at approximately 11:30am - while Linda and I were sitting on the deck of the cottage and just relaxing. We both ran down to the tent and saw that the wind had just finally won the war with my tent stakes and pulled three of them straight out of the sand! Linda suggested that I get different tent stakes for the next time we go camping there. She held the tent down while I climbed in and quickly packed up all my sleeping gear and clothes and got everything out so we could just take the tent down. Then after thinking about it a bit, we decided to pack up Linda's stuff and get her tent down also. We hung out for a bit to make sure we left the place the way we found it and headed out around 1:30pm. It was such a nice break for me from the usual and so very nice to have Linda to talk to that it was hard to leave. My mother-in-law paid me the greatest compliment I've ever received in my life and I'm forever greatful to her for the kind words - whether they be just something to make me feel better or if she felt it was the god's honest truth, either way - I'm going to keep her words close to my heart to help me get through all the tough days to come and for all the better days that will follow. Even her friend Carolyn made sure to give me her work and home phone numbers in case I ever wanted to come up to Port Washington to visit or meet her after work some night for a drink and to talk. The camping trip really helped a lot for me emotionally, it's too bad that my good vibe had to be ruined recently, but I'm sure I'll get in that mode again. I hope I'll be able to take Molly and Nate for a day of a weekend and go to Mazomanie closer to Linda's birthday and maybe all of us can celebrate her birthday with a cake, a gift and another good visit. The only problem with the camping trip? I didn't take any pictures!!!! Oh, and in reference to my mother-in-law commenting about my pants falling off me, she noticed this especially when I was trying to get all the camping gear back into her truck at the end of the weekend and nicely commented that I was going to lose my britches. That's what I get for forgetting to bring a belt.
I think that's it for now.... after all the talk about getting myself settled in for the night to read the running magazines, I took a long hot bath instead and then promptly fell asleep in the recliner while waiting for Saturday Night Live to come on. So, offline I go and time for reading for the rest of the evening. :D
Have a good night everyone. Love the one you're with. <3
Erin
Clothes - Well, as my mother-in-law can attest to (see Camping below), it was high time that I purchased a new pair of jeans for myself since the ones I had were literally falling off me last weekend. So, a trip to Kohls, and I'm the proud owner of new jeans - size 12, instead of size 14 - and I probably could have gone down to a 10.... but these will probably fit for a while after I wash them a few times. My favorite brand - Levi's, boot cut - one in a lighter blue and one dark blue.
Camping - My mother-in-law is a wonderful woman and I really hope that she and I will always be friends. I remember shortly after first meeting her that I thought she wasn't too impressed with me, but as I got to know her and she got to know me - we really found that we're both very good, hardworking, honest people and that we've got a lot of interests in common as well. One of the main ones being camping or staying at the cottages in Port Washington. She literally made my day when she emailed me a couple weeks back and said "How about we camp on the beach, I'll bring the stove if you bring the tent?" So, plans were made to camp on the beach just north of town near the family cottages and despite the cold weather at night - it was comfortable during the day to where I could put on a pair of shorts on Saturday to walk into town from our campsite. I drove up on Friday evening and in the near dark, we put up my tent and she helped me get my stuff across the creek from my car which I didn't think would clear the rocks in the streambed. She had driven up on Thursday and had brought her tent and rest of the camping gear with her. Over the course of the weekend, I've figured out two great gift ideas for her for her birthday and Christmas. We went out to dinner at Beanies on Friday night and after a couple drinks and some good mexican food, we went back to the tents and snuggled in for the night to read and to get some much needed sleep. I personally have to find the camping pads I have.... I bought a makeshift one and it sucked! I think I would have been more comfortable sleeping in the sand if it wasn't so cold. I was just glad I brought enough clothes and a good sleeping bag to sleep in layers and stay very nice and warm. Then Saturday morning came and my tent was pink with the glow of the gorgeous sunrise, which I peeked at from a slit in one of the tent windows and crawled back into the sleeping bag for another hour. After we were both up and dressed we got going on our walk into town - I would estimate it was about 3 miles one direction - and went to the farmer's market and then visited with Linda's friend Carolyn and made plans to come back and have dinner with her that evening. We walked back and chatted the whole way back to the tents. I changed clothes for the cooler evening temps and brought a bag of shower items with me as Linda assured me that I could wash my hair at Carolyn's instead of waiting for the water to heat on the stove to do a bucket bath. Well, she was right - not only did I get to wash my hair, but I did so in one of the most beautiful bathrooms I've ever seen. It had to be the size of the kids' bedroom in my old apartment - maybe bigger! After I was cleaned up, we went to eat at Newport Shores and visited for a while after dinner before Linda and I drove back to the beach. We retired to our respective tents for the night as it was pitch black out and I stayed up for a while and read. Apparently sometime while I was reading, Linda got up to go to the biffy (outhouse) and she said with the crazy wind that stirred up and the light from my lantern inside the tent, it looked like a living, breathing entity. That is something I should have gotten a picture of - that and the second beautiful sunrise the next morning. There is something about the smell of the air at the cottages and on the beach that I would know with my eyes closed and it smells and feels like home. I miss it already. On Sunday, again the sunrise woke me up - how can it not when it fills your tent with this honey pink glow and it seems like the beach, the lake, the cottages even have been holding their breath and then collectively sigh when the sun starts to peek over the horizon and begin to send rays of warmth over everything - even if the wind is still gusting to 25 mph. Linda and I ate a late breakfast of cappuccino, chocolate zucchini bread and an avocado. I love it when other people don't mind just eating something simple and easy for a light meal. My tent blew over at approximately 11:30am - while Linda and I were sitting on the deck of the cottage and just relaxing. We both ran down to the tent and saw that the wind had just finally won the war with my tent stakes and pulled three of them straight out of the sand! Linda suggested that I get different tent stakes for the next time we go camping there. She held the tent down while I climbed in and quickly packed up all my sleeping gear and clothes and got everything out so we could just take the tent down. Then after thinking about it a bit, we decided to pack up Linda's stuff and get her tent down also. We hung out for a bit to make sure we left the place the way we found it and headed out around 1:30pm. It was such a nice break for me from the usual and so very nice to have Linda to talk to that it was hard to leave. My mother-in-law paid me the greatest compliment I've ever received in my life and I'm forever greatful to her for the kind words - whether they be just something to make me feel better or if she felt it was the god's honest truth, either way - I'm going to keep her words close to my heart to help me get through all the tough days to come and for all the better days that will follow. Even her friend Carolyn made sure to give me her work and home phone numbers in case I ever wanted to come up to Port Washington to visit or meet her after work some night for a drink and to talk. The camping trip really helped a lot for me emotionally, it's too bad that my good vibe had to be ruined recently, but I'm sure I'll get in that mode again. I hope I'll be able to take Molly and Nate for a day of a weekend and go to Mazomanie closer to Linda's birthday and maybe all of us can celebrate her birthday with a cake, a gift and another good visit. The only problem with the camping trip? I didn't take any pictures!!!! Oh, and in reference to my mother-in-law commenting about my pants falling off me, she noticed this especially when I was trying to get all the camping gear back into her truck at the end of the weekend and nicely commented that I was going to lose my britches. That's what I get for forgetting to bring a belt.
I think that's it for now.... after all the talk about getting myself settled in for the night to read the running magazines, I took a long hot bath instead and then promptly fell asleep in the recliner while waiting for Saturday Night Live to come on. So, offline I go and time for reading for the rest of the evening. :D
Have a good night everyone. Love the one you're with. <3
Erin
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Things of interest or new experiences....
Just some interesting things of note that have happened to me or I've done/seen in the last week or so...
1. Downtown Milwaukee and driving - I need to do some random driving around down there to get more familiar with it.... there's so much to do there!
2. Lakefront Brewery - dinner with a couple bookcrossing friends (Amy and Joann) Friday night. You are seated at tables with strangers - to fill the tables. Actually pretty cool and the restaurant is a renovated warehouse building with a good fish fry and live polka music.
3. Miller Park - Thursday night on my way home from picking up my race packet it had the most beautiful blue glow coming from inside the stadium and the roof was closed, so it resembled an odd shaped globe. Almost an eeerie effect - fitting for this time of year.
4. Runners are extremely friendly and helpful people. At my recent race (today), I chatted with a couple guys who were also running this race for the first time and were signed up for the 5K, I met the runner #1 (on his bib), #32, and #64 - as we were the first ones to register this morning and the three of them all said hello and made small talk with me as they joked with each other about which of them would win the race that morning (they were doing the 15K event) - none of them were in the top 10.
5. ELLA - she went to bed with small leg weights on one night (yes, seriously) - I think Leah and I had had very long days to not have noticed....
6. Letterboxing on Halloween! Rumor has it that there is a box being planted that day for interested letterboxing fanatics to find that evening and I'm definitely doing this (with Amy and Joann and others).
7. Milwaukee and it's architecture - I never realized it before today when I walked back to my car at the starting line - from the finish line. Definitely going to have to do a few walking tours around the city.
8. Halloween costumes - I'm on the hunt for a halloween costume idea.... if there are any suggestions, let me know!
9. Michigan Street Diner - I walked past there this morning on the way back to my car. Need to stop there and have breakfast in that cozy little place sometime soon.
10. Raspberry filling stuffed donut holes - Oh my god, I've died and gone to heaven. Sentry grocery store on 68th and State!
11. Fiddlesticks restaurant - Not only the best "stuffed" french toast, but also the best warm, homemade donuts.
(Can you tell, I was hungry this morning after my race and all I could think about was food...)
12. Lakefront Discovery 15K/5K Run - definitely one I'll be doing again next year. Yep, it was cold, but fun!
13. Mitchell's Fish Market in Brookfield, WI - the absolute BEST Key Lime pie in the world!
14. Appaloosa - Good western movie with Viggo Mortensen.
15. Budget Movie theater - Hwy. 100 and Layton Ave. - get in there for the $2.00 movies while it lasts!
16. 160 - the number of pounds I weigh. I was worried a bit when the weight stopped coming off, but I've adjusted my diet again and I'm on my way down - with the occasional plateau as I add more and more lean muscle. I'm fitting into Medium running pants - no more Larges for me!
Many more to come.... next week is a very full week on the calendar!
Always reach for the hand of the one you love and hold it like you'll never let go. Have a great evening all! Time to turn up the heat, get a blanket, find my favorite spot on the couch and read running magazines, eat mediocre Mac & Cheese (I never did make it as good as someone else) and watch Saturday Night Live - who doesn't love the Sarah Palin routine by Tina Fey?!?!?!
Erin
1. Downtown Milwaukee and driving - I need to do some random driving around down there to get more familiar with it.... there's so much to do there!
2. Lakefront Brewery - dinner with a couple bookcrossing friends (Amy and Joann) Friday night. You are seated at tables with strangers - to fill the tables. Actually pretty cool and the restaurant is a renovated warehouse building with a good fish fry and live polka music.
3. Miller Park - Thursday night on my way home from picking up my race packet it had the most beautiful blue glow coming from inside the stadium and the roof was closed, so it resembled an odd shaped globe. Almost an eeerie effect - fitting for this time of year.
4. Runners are extremely friendly and helpful people. At my recent race (today), I chatted with a couple guys who were also running this race for the first time and were signed up for the 5K, I met the runner #1 (on his bib), #32, and #64 - as we were the first ones to register this morning and the three of them all said hello and made small talk with me as they joked with each other about which of them would win the race that morning (they were doing the 15K event) - none of them were in the top 10.
5. ELLA - she went to bed with small leg weights on one night (yes, seriously) - I think Leah and I had had very long days to not have noticed....
6. Letterboxing on Halloween! Rumor has it that there is a box being planted that day for interested letterboxing fanatics to find that evening and I'm definitely doing this (with Amy and Joann and others).
7. Milwaukee and it's architecture - I never realized it before today when I walked back to my car at the starting line - from the finish line. Definitely going to have to do a few walking tours around the city.
8. Halloween costumes - I'm on the hunt for a halloween costume idea.... if there are any suggestions, let me know!
9. Michigan Street Diner - I walked past there this morning on the way back to my car. Need to stop there and have breakfast in that cozy little place sometime soon.
10. Raspberry filling stuffed donut holes - Oh my god, I've died and gone to heaven. Sentry grocery store on 68th and State!
11. Fiddlesticks restaurant - Not only the best "stuffed" french toast, but also the best warm, homemade donuts.
(Can you tell, I was hungry this morning after my race and all I could think about was food...)
12. Lakefront Discovery 15K/5K Run - definitely one I'll be doing again next year. Yep, it was cold, but fun!
13. Mitchell's Fish Market in Brookfield, WI - the absolute BEST Key Lime pie in the world!
14. Appaloosa - Good western movie with Viggo Mortensen.
15. Budget Movie theater - Hwy. 100 and Layton Ave. - get in there for the $2.00 movies while it lasts!
16. 160 - the number of pounds I weigh. I was worried a bit when the weight stopped coming off, but I've adjusted my diet again and I'm on my way down - with the occasional plateau as I add more and more lean muscle. I'm fitting into Medium running pants - no more Larges for me!
Many more to come.... next week is a very full week on the calendar!
Always reach for the hand of the one you love and hold it like you'll never let go. Have a great evening all! Time to turn up the heat, get a blanket, find my favorite spot on the couch and read running magazines, eat mediocre Mac & Cheese (I never did make it as good as someone else) and watch Saturday Night Live - who doesn't love the Sarah Palin routine by Tina Fey?!?!?!
Erin
Oh, thank goodness I'm back on....
Thank goodness I'm turning into a computer geek in my spare time - just fixed the folks' computer issue with connecting to the internet - has been down the last two days - therefore, my complete and utter silence.... that and I'm crazy busy at work.
I'm also a bit addicted to Facebook lately - it's too much fun to have 70 some friends and relatives online with you all at once - and even more fun to chat with about 5 of them at the same time and try to keep track of each individual conversation. I also have a "farm" on there and you have to check in on a daily or semi-daily basis to plant or harvest your crops.... I find the planning of where the crops go, when to plant, harvesting - all to be very interesting - even if it's a somewhat elementary "game" to play.
And finally - running..... I finished another race today - a 5K (3.1 miles) in 38 minutes. I've shaved one minute per mile off my time and I actually ran the majority of it with only 4 minutes of walking because of a terrible gut ache right in the middle of the race. Guess I'll know better next time not to drink a bottle of chocolate milk right before running. The really good thing was I stayed with about 6 people for the length of the race (caught back up to them after I walked) and I really think that is what helped me keep running and not think about stopping to walk. I can't wait for the next race.... when exactly, I'm not sure, but maybe one more in a couple weeks? I'm addicted.... I went and bought more running clothes this afternoon and now I'm getting ready to settle in for the evening with all of the Runner's World magazines from 2007 that I'm borrowing from Jim. :D
I'm probably going to post more stuff today too - I've realized my social calendar is getting jam packed and I wanted to share some of the fun stuff there is to do between Elkhorn and Milwaukee and what I've observed also in the last week or so.
Big high-fives to you all (if anyone but me and maybe two friends ever read this...),
Erin
I'm also a bit addicted to Facebook lately - it's too much fun to have 70 some friends and relatives online with you all at once - and even more fun to chat with about 5 of them at the same time and try to keep track of each individual conversation. I also have a "farm" on there and you have to check in on a daily or semi-daily basis to plant or harvest your crops.... I find the planning of where the crops go, when to plant, harvesting - all to be very interesting - even if it's a somewhat elementary "game" to play.
And finally - running..... I finished another race today - a 5K (3.1 miles) in 38 minutes. I've shaved one minute per mile off my time and I actually ran the majority of it with only 4 minutes of walking because of a terrible gut ache right in the middle of the race. Guess I'll know better next time not to drink a bottle of chocolate milk right before running. The really good thing was I stayed with about 6 people for the length of the race (caught back up to them after I walked) and I really think that is what helped me keep running and not think about stopping to walk. I can't wait for the next race.... when exactly, I'm not sure, but maybe one more in a couple weeks? I'm addicted.... I went and bought more running clothes this afternoon and now I'm getting ready to settle in for the evening with all of the Runner's World magazines from 2007 that I'm borrowing from Jim. :D
I'm probably going to post more stuff today too - I've realized my social calendar is getting jam packed and I wanted to share some of the fun stuff there is to do between Elkhorn and Milwaukee and what I've observed also in the last week or so.
Big high-fives to you all (if anyone but me and maybe two friends ever read this...),
Erin
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Proof that I actually did run in the race...
The following are directions to see my pictures from the Briggs and Al's Run/Walk event back in September.
Here is the link.... www.alsrun.com
1. Start on the Home Page of Briggs and Al's Run and click on the link for race photos.... (under race results link)
2. In the box for "Any Part of Race or Event name" - type in the word Briggs
3. Select the Briggs & Al's Run and Walk for Childrens Hospital
4. You can search for pics by using my bib number: 4306
Now, to run when I get home tonight, a long walk tomorrow after work and another run on Thursday evening.
That's it for now....
Erin
Here is the link.... www.alsrun.com
1. Start on the Home Page of Briggs and Al's Run and click on the link for race photos.... (under race results link)
2. In the box for "Any Part of Race or Event name" - type in the word Briggs
3. Select the Briggs & Al's Run and Walk for Childrens Hospital
4. You can search for pics by using my bib number: 4306
Now, to run when I get home tonight, a long walk tomorrow after work and another run on Thursday evening.
That's it for now....
Erin
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Guilty pleasures...
Everyone has a guilty pleasure or two that they partake of from time to time. I got the chance to enjoy two of my favorite ones tonight.
1. Cereal for dinner - Berry Capt'n Crunch is the choice this evening.
2. Anything to do with Val Kilmer - he is the voice of Kitt on the new Knight Rider show.
Hey, I love Val Kilmer - so sue me. He plays Doc Holliday in Tombstone - mmmmm, yummy!
And I'm definitely deserving of a few minutes of mindless pleasure as it's been a long, hard day.
So gang, love the people you are with - we never know when they won't be around to love anymore. Hugs and kisses to you all. To my special someone - know that I miss you and watch the stars at night thinking of you.
Erin
P.S. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can and should do today.
1. Cereal for dinner - Berry Capt'n Crunch is the choice this evening.
2. Anything to do with Val Kilmer - he is the voice of Kitt on the new Knight Rider show.
Hey, I love Val Kilmer - so sue me. He plays Doc Holliday in Tombstone - mmmmm, yummy!
And I'm definitely deserving of a few minutes of mindless pleasure as it's been a long, hard day.
So gang, love the people you are with - we never know when they won't be around to love anymore. Hugs and kisses to you all. To my special someone - know that I miss you and watch the stars at night thinking of you.
Erin
P.S. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can and should do today.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Just pictures...
I think somewhere my mom got a decent picture of my Irish cousin, Lorraine, and I at another cousin's wedding.... they had an amazing Pinot Grigio being served (yes, I'm the lush.... lol!).
Otherwise, not much excitement - just got home from spending the day with Jim, Dave, Rosalyn and the kids - Josie and Cora. Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car... :( Beautiful day to be at Blue Mounds State Park with them (Dave, Rosalyn and kids were camping - Jim and I drove up). Funny how I've heard so much about this park from my mother-in-law, husband, stepkids - but had never been there with any of them in the last 9 years. We climbed both watchtowers and did some hiking, had lunch and played with the kids - a nearly perfect day.
I did purchase a newer car yesterday - a 2007 Chevy Malibu. It is nice and I hope it can last me about four years when I think I'll upgrade again to something a bit more like an SUV again - or another Subaru as I already miss mine - only for sentimental reasons as it was really falling apart faster than I could fix it.
And finally, more dogsitting this week - Tuesday PM thru Friday AM (only 3 4:30am walks!) and then straight to camping after that with my mother-in-law for the weekend on the beach of Lake Michigan just north of Port Washington. Even though I am expecting cold nights - I can't wait to go and feel like I'm at "home" again. I will definitely be taking pictures and posting them.
That's it for tonight - a bit of a headache, so I'm going to take a couple ibruprofen, drink my Fresca and sit down to watch football and read through the Runner's World magazines Jim just lent me. :D You should all know the drill by now - lean over, hug and smooch that special person next to you and tell them you love them!
Have a great night and day,
Erin
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Rain, rain, go away...
Blech! Rain..... no, this isn't the kind where you just want to dance around in the warm rain doing an imitation of Gene Kelly. It's not the kind that is mentioned in many love songs, stories, etc. where you and your significant other just climb further under the covers and snuggle in for the night. It's not even the kind mentioned in the really good, spooky stories by various macbre authors....
This rain folks is the precursor for more cold, rainy days in a typical Wisconsin autumn, one that has moisture that seeps into everything and everywhere, one that just falls straight down in a slow, steady drop, it's color is gray, it only has one tone no matter what it falls on, it splashes and makes mud puddles, it keeps people from being motivated to do anything but just shrug and close the door and stay inside for the remainder of the day when you have so many other important things to do.
Come on already - give me a good roll of thunder, a lightning bolt that streaks out of nowhere and makes you watch the t.v. to see if there is an actual thunderstorm warning in effect for the next couple hours. There is no pitter patter of drops on the roof, there are no pretty droplets hanging on blades of grass.
Everything is just wet, cold, bleak, quiet, drenched. No sun peeking through the clouds, just overcast as far as the eye can see. And it doesn't seem to want to stop, it covers everything and fills everything so that you would have a hard time finding a single spot that remains out of it's reach, beyond it's influence. Rain, rain, go away....
This rain folks is the precursor for more cold, rainy days in a typical Wisconsin autumn, one that has moisture that seeps into everything and everywhere, one that just falls straight down in a slow, steady drop, it's color is gray, it only has one tone no matter what it falls on, it splashes and makes mud puddles, it keeps people from being motivated to do anything but just shrug and close the door and stay inside for the remainder of the day when you have so many other important things to do.
Come on already - give me a good roll of thunder, a lightning bolt that streaks out of nowhere and makes you watch the t.v. to see if there is an actual thunderstorm warning in effect for the next couple hours. There is no pitter patter of drops on the roof, there are no pretty droplets hanging on blades of grass.
Everything is just wet, cold, bleak, quiet, drenched. No sun peeking through the clouds, just overcast as far as the eye can see. And it doesn't seem to want to stop, it covers everything and fills everything so that you would have a hard time finding a single spot that remains out of it's reach, beyond it's influence. Rain, rain, go away....
Friday, October 3, 2008
Dogsitting...
It's that time of year again where I start dogsitting for my boss when she leaves town for a conference or vacation or this weekend - just to visit her nieces. It's a good weekend for it, I can get online for a while to update this blog, get some really good running in, keep track of Jim's marathon split times as he's running along and some fun in the Milwaukee area.
Okay, so I still haven't scored a ticket to either of the games this weekend for the Brewers, but there's hope. If the tickets don't happen, then maybe a little letterboxing with a friend after I take in some good music at Cathedral Square Park tomorrow during one of their last Farmer's Markets, a little lake glass hunting perhaps if it's warm enough, walking the dogs, getting a run in, etc. I was dreading being alone, but I need the break too at the same.
Maybe the music in Cathedral Square Park will lead to finding out about more interesting things going on downtown too that day.... :D
Later folks - have a good night - I'm off to dance class, then home to pack for the dogsitting weekend that starts tomorrow thru Monday.
Erin
Okay, so I still haven't scored a ticket to either of the games this weekend for the Brewers, but there's hope. If the tickets don't happen, then maybe a little letterboxing with a friend after I take in some good music at Cathedral Square Park tomorrow during one of their last Farmer's Markets, a little lake glass hunting perhaps if it's warm enough, walking the dogs, getting a run in, etc. I was dreading being alone, but I need the break too at the same.
Maybe the music in Cathedral Square Park will lead to finding out about more interesting things going on downtown too that day.... :D
Later folks - have a good night - I'm off to dance class, then home to pack for the dogsitting weekend that starts tomorrow thru Monday.
Erin
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