A Mile or More in My [Running] Shoes
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#flashbackfriday
My Father. Canberra Marathon 1992.
I think of him every time I go for a run.
When I was 13, I announced to my Dad that I...
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Life Update.
People always say that when you break up that it’s time to focus on you, that it’s time to be the person that you want to be: to get...
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I did yoga last night and I’m proud of myself. I always talk about how I need to cross train but don’t. I have done yoga a handful of times in my...
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Have decided
I am going try and be “glass has water in it” person, as opposed to declaring the glass “half full” or “half empty”.
It is a glass. It...
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GPOYW: Me with my two favorite guys in the world edition
My dad, me, Mr. B
GPOYV(acation) - Tampa Round 2 Edition
There was a day filled with green gear, green beer, green rivers, a parade with beads, and silly neon glasses.
There was a day at the beach with sandy feet, rum runners at a beach bar, sun and surf. And several days spent poolside with good tunes and good company. (And miraculously, no sunburn and a little bit of a tan!)
There were many days of sports! Spring Training baseball and NHL hockey with lots of college basketball games and bracket analysis sprinkled in between for good measure.
All in all it was an incredible vacation and I was really sad when it ended. Back to life, back to reality…
I am a/an habitual over-packer… (So sue me…)
I always end up packing 4-5 more outfits than is really necessary. My first visit to Tampa was problematic because I had to pack for approximately 3 different climates, but this time, with multiple sporting events to attend, I find it extremely necessary to come prepared with each team’s respective apparel.
On a completely separate note, I got to Skype and have a virtual beer with one of my best friends ever tonight. Woo, I love you. I’m so glad you were a part of my day today! Thank you for filling my life with lots of smiles, laughter, love and good times.
That’ll do Tampa, that’ll do…
Whee vacation!
I’ve been trying to/meaning to get to this post for a long time now. I just got back to New York, and since I can’t get the keys to my new place until tomorrow, this seems like an appropriate time to get this done. Please forgive the picture quality… I don’t have an actual camera, so my phone is responsible for the photos I’m including.
My first two weeks at home were filled with meals at my favorite places, a Christmas party, a holiday brewery crawl, Christmas, a Lions playoff berth, losing my voice but acquiring a nasty cough, and lots of catching up with family and friends.
Friday morning before New Year’s Eve, my college roommate and one of the best friends a girl could ask for carted me over to Detroit Metro for my flight to sunny Tampa. (Did I mention it was her birthday on Friday when she did all of this? See? Told you. One of the best.) Tampa was a whirlwind. Flip Flop Friday, a 4 mile run along Bayshore and into downtown Tampa with Rob, a New Year’s Eve filled with dancing, sequins, heels, and drinks with devilishly good-looking and impeccably dressed company, a trip to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, swimming in a pool with a giant frog named Jeremiah, and finally the second Lions v. Packers showdown of the season. (Didn’t end the way I would have liked, but at least someone was pleased with the outcome.)
Up and at ‘em bright and early on Monday morning to hit the road to New Orleans to watch the Wolverines in the Sugar Bowl! An incredible playlist, several sing alongs, a pit stop or two, tense moments following Big Ten bowl games on phones that wouldn’t refresh, 2 dead phones, 655 miles and 10 hours later, we were pulling into New Orleans for football and a mini ADPi reunion! First order of business: have a drink and watch the end of the Rose Bowl. Second order of business: have a shrimp po boy. After step one and two, it was time to hit up Frenchman Street for live music followed by a jaunt down Bourbon Street.
Tuesday morning (GAME DAY!) began with donning our maize and blue, brunch, mimosas, and a lot of bar hopping (including a stop at one of the coolest bars ever - seriously, beer, fire pit, and blankets in the warm NOLA sunshine? yes please!), and some more eating before finally making our way into the Superdome for the main event. The game wasn’t the prettiest, but our seats were incredible, and the outcome was everything I’d hoped for! It’s GREAT to be a Michigan Wolverine! Sugar Bowl Champs! Geaux Blue!
Probably three of the best weeks I’ve ever had. I owe my friends and family many thanks for helping to make it so memorable. I love you all and miss you all already! 2011 was an adventure, but I have a great feeling about 2012…
Hey blog! I’m in New Orleans getting geared up for the game later. (Which means drinking BYOB mimosas at brunch, then drinking beers with blankets and a fire…) I’ll post a thorough update later and a few pictures while I’m at it when I get a chance. Expect pictures from the Sugar Bowl too! Geaux Blue!
Only four days until my nested vacation starts and with each passing day I look more and more like this cat… So. Unbelievably. Excited.
After two marvelous weeks in Michigan with family and friends and an incredible Christmas, I’m heading to Tampa for fun in the sun and New Year’s Eve (nested vacation part 1)… Early in the morning on January 2nd, we’re hitting the road for New Orleans* and the Sugar Bowl/mini Alphas ‘04 reunion (nested vacation part deux)…
OMG. I. Can’t. Wait.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
*New Orleans folks: PLEASE let me know all of the places that I need to go, the things I need to do/see, the food I need to eat, and the drinks I need to drink. This is my first time in your fair city. Help a girl out and drop me a message!
Ok, so that’s definitely a lie. I got some much-needed time away from New York City. I got to get all fancied up (believe it or not, there aren’t any pictures of me all gussied up which makes me a little bit sad.) AND I got to spend a lot of quality time with Drew and his family while celebrating his brother’s graduation and exploring Georgetown and its cool architecture and wonderful boutiques and stores.
But this? This sunburn? Ughhhh. The thought of putting a sports bra on is enough to make me want to cry… It’s a really unfortunate set of tan burn lines, and I get the feeling that I will be spending most of the summer trying to undo the damage. Note to self: you favor your Norwegian roots and as such, you are not able to sit in the midday sun expecting to get home unscathed. (You think I would learn…)
I’m hoping to resume normal running tomorrow. The NYRR New York Mini 10k is in a few weeks and I need to get myself back in longer distance shape. Classes also start after the holiday weekend, so I have to get into an academic frame of mind.
Yaycation: A Brief Review
Drew and I made our triumphant return to a gray New York City this morning. We had been spending some much needed time in sunny Naples, Florida while Chino went to puppy camp.
We were fortunate to have great weather. The initial forecasts called for rain here and there, but we didn’t see any sign of rain the entire time we were down there. We spent a lot of time outside and in the sun and we both managed to make it home without any sunburn. (It doesn’t seem like a notable accomplishment, but somehow I’m the only of my my sisters to favor our Norwegian heritage, and my fair skin burns quickly - with or without sunscreen.)
We took trips to the beach and to the pool. We stimulated Florida’s economy at the outdoor shopping mall. We rode bikes. We swam. We walked around town. We ate a lot of really good food. (Must run and get back on track…) We got up early. We watched a Royal Wedding. We flew through books and Instapaper queues on our Kindles. We brainstormed. We drank good beer. We stayed up late. We watched Water for Elephants. We watched our Red Wings in round two and hoped for better luck at the Joe. We took funny pictures. We went to bed early. We enjoyed the scenery. We enjoyed the company.
Drew and I have agreed that we need to make a more concerted effort to take vacations. Taking some time off was a wonderful reminder of just how important it is to take the time to relax and regroup.
The morning started early with the hustle and bustle of last minute preparations for our flight, Chino’s stay at doggie camp and last minute packing and apartment tidying. (Who doesn’t love coming home to a clean apartment? Am I right?)
After arriving at the airport, making our way through a security line that snaked all the way across the front of the Delta terminal and to our gate, we paused to have a bite to eat. I have been checking the weather every day for the past week and a half to be sure that weather wouldn’t cause any issues with our departure from the island, and I knew that there would be storms in New York today. We were fortunate enough to board our plane, sit in line on the tarmac for about 20 minutes and about 5 minutes after our pilot’s admission of his doubt surrounding our actual takeoff because of our position in line and the weather, we were airborne and heading south! Thank you air travel gods!
Upon landing we were whisked away to swim and sun and drink to our hearts’ content.
Oh, hey Oberon! So nice of you to wait so patiently in that cold fridge for us!
After swimming and sunning and reading was dinner. Tonight’s dinner was at the beach, and this was our view:
Breathtaking.
Now we’re winding down and getting ready for bed. There’s a wedding tomorrow and I believe there will be tea, coffee, scones, strawberries and clotted cream, and a whole slew of other deliciousness awaiting my arrival in my finest formal jammies in the living room.
Drew and I just booked our flights to visit his grandparents in Naples, FL. We’re going the last weekend of April and I am looking forward to getting out of the city and getting some sun on these ghostly-white legs of mine! Operation beach body starts tomorrow…
