Winter Wonderland

Today was one of those days I was extremely grateful I work from home. It was a 2+ hour commute on nearly every expressway/road home today with some being nearly 4 hours! It took me over 20 minutes to go about 2 miles to the gym. Today was also one of those days I wished I had a house with a home gym or at least some cardio equipment. There was no avoiding the treadmill. The first 20 minutes went by relatively quick then the dread started to set. I pushed through to 30 where I told myself I could stop but actually ended up with a nice 40 minute run. It would have been nice to go outside but with no traction on the shoes I wasn't taking any chances. Maybe some other day this week.

Monday Night

Running? Not so much...I don't do ice and haven't been feeling the dreadmill. I go to the gym with happy running thoughts in my head and then I see the machine...that's as far as I can go. At least I am staying active. Hopefully I can run outside tomorrow because I'm feeling a bit stir crazy.

Tonight was a girls get together like it used to be. Arrive in the comfy pants/sweats, order in the Domino's, drink some wine, and talk. And oh did we talk! Let's just say the conversation ran the gamut from dirty Illinois politics, to weddings, to a depressed vagina (not ours - someones boss!), to nipple cream. A fun night had by all :)

Early Arrival

The last work trip of 2008 is officially over! And I was able to leave early, catch the earlier flight (for a small fee), and be home while it is still light outside. Today was a good traveling day. They are few and far between so I'm happy the last one ended on a good note. Now to catch up on 3 months of administrative/office paper work in 5 days...should be a fun week next week.

Happy Weekend all! And good luck to D10 on her marathon this weekend !!!

Quick Catch Up

It's been awhile...again...I know. I have had absolutely no motivation to blog. Not much is happening other than me working and complaining about work. Oh yeah shopping and a little working out too ;) I've managed to motivate myself to run several times over past few weeks. The running gear I purchased helped motivate to get out in the dark and on the icy, snow covered path in a windchill of 10 degrees. Talking to my husband the other day I compared winter in Chicago to an ex. Once spring/summer comes to Chicago you can only remember the good of the weather and the city...then the first snow happens and you remember why you want to move and/or hibernate. So it is always a huge adjustment once the temperatures begin to drop as I am sure it is with everyone in every northern state/province. I hate the first few minutes of being frozen and the last couple miles of not being able to feel my chin but I try not to think of those things when I'm having an internal debate on whether or not to run outside. I do like feeling hardcore, the satisfaction once I'm finished, not slipping on ice, and the empty paths.

Alright I am off to pack for hopefully my final work trip of the year! Yeah!!! Actually I was done with my own sites last week but I have had to cover for others - boo.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Everything seems to hit at once doesn't it? The least of my problems is that I am up to my eyeballs and then some with work. And of course everything is due 10 minutes ago. Don't they know I have over 700 posts listed in my google reader waiting for me? Needless to say I haven't had time to blog or peruse your blogs :( Maybe over the Thanksgiving break I catch up with everyone! I have a crazy week and a lot of long car drives (2-4 hours each way) but have been found some time, even though I wanted to pass out from exhaustion, to workout and even run 4 miles. Yesterday's run was absolutely freezing but I saw some entertaining people and things along the short route. Always good to keep me going. In fact I think I found Big Foot, he lives here in Chicago...and wouldn't you know he is a winter runner ;) Alright I am off to eat then catch up on my 800 expense reports and 10 regular work reports.

This and That

No I didn't get kidnapped by a pack of wild hyenas (or something like that) I honestly have had nothing to say for the first time in a long time! Running has been sporadic thanks to the fantastic weather and awesome work travel schedule. I'm still trying to figure it all out. And yeah I have been supa lazy. Other than that I cleaned for 2 days straight last weekend to be able to have a small house party (my hallways is finally clear for the first time since January) and otherwise just staring at my wedding pictures that we finally got back from the photographer. Tomorrow we are going to Denver to visit our friends. We found amazingly inexpensive tickets a few weeks ago and I haven't been there to visit in over a year so it's about time. I am sure I'll have some good stories when I get back. In the meantime I'll leave you with a couple of my favorite wedding pics. Oh I am so in love with my photographer! Is that wrong?

Hot Chocolate 15K in a Shirt that Races

I could copy and paste the report in but I'm even too tired/lazy for that right now. wore the Shirt that Races in the Hot Chocolate 15K this morning and posted my race report on that blog. Check it out! I'll leave you with a post race picture to peak your interest.

This was a lot of fun and it is very cool to represent Chicago, Illinois in the shirt's quest to race around the country. Thank you Nikemom for starting this "project"! If you are interested in wearing the shirt and you're racing in a state that doesn't have a name listed next to it be sure to contact Nikemom. And for you men who don't typically wear a woman's medium shirt or pink just isn't your color there may be the start of men's shirt that races so let her know your interest.

Off to wash the shirt and get it ready to ship to Shoe Running for her California race on Nov 9th!