Happy Halloween!

From BumbleBug, SkeleBurton and WillyDog

On a whim...

...I signed up for Rock and Roll New Orleans. The half marathon to be specific because I haven't completely lost my mind. I blame the coupon. The amazing deep discount that RnR offered for 1 day only. The kind of discount they never offer. I was seduced by their discount.

What have I gotten myself into?!?

Now this isn't to say that I haven't run a half marathon before. Because I have. But I haven't run any significant distance since June 2009. And my training, and dedication to a training plan, has been impulsive and inconsistent at best. As I right this I should be running, but I'm not. I know part of me was hoping that signing up for a race, giving my self a goal and a timeline, would motivate me. But so far, nada.

It was pretty fabulous to watch all the people on Twitter realizing that we ALL took advantage of the great price and signed up. It's safe to say that everyone and their mother is going to be in NOLA the first weekend of March. And that is something I want to be a part of.

But between here and March is training, and self-discipline, that I'm just not sure I have these days...

Friday Funk

It's Friday and I know I should be be in a good mood, but I'm not. I'm far from it in fact.

Things just aren't playing out as they were planned. I'm treading into new uncharted territory at work, I've completely fallen off of the running map, the house is a disaster...and it looks like our honeymoon is out of the cards for us.

That last one stings the most.

So yeah, it's Friday, but I'm just not feeling it today.

The next thing I knew it was October!

I don't even know if anyone stops by this place anymore it's been neglected so long. For all like 4 of you who previously read my musings, I thought I'd attempt to recap the last 3 or 4 months for you.

Everyone warned me that the time would FLY by but I just don't know where it all went. It seems like just yesterday it was spring, I was running, I had free time, things were mellow and good.

Then June hit.

It's probably a lot more fun if I show you were I've been....

The chaos all kicked off with Ragnar Chicago Relay. Well worth the lack of sleep and sore muscles. I've made some truly amazing running friends. xoxo!

Then my BFF came to visit from NYC and we made our annual pilgrimage to Summerfest, complete with tickets to see Britney Spears!

W and I then moved our kitchen mini-remodel full steam ahead! Those flower tiles HAD to go.

Note: No actual before pictures were taken because the kitchen was SUCH a disaster. Ugly, messy, and in disrepair. Shudder...

Flowers GONE! But drab cabinets and weird green walls remain...

Nothing a fresh coat of paint on the walls and cabinets can't fix!

(I'm trying to track down a picture of the other half of the kitchen....you know, where the cabinets are...)

Kitchen remodel finished, complete with custom bench designed and upholstered by yours truly, chalkboard paint wall, and a new spice cabinet!

Now if only the new floor and counter fairy would swing by Claire St.

The weekend remodels were intermixed with working events like the Robbie Ventura Gran Fondo

And Centurion Wisconsin.

Which was immediately followed, of course, but Trek World!

I found time to sneak in another race and joined the Pavement Pirates last minute for the Ragnar Great River Relay.

Where I earned my "Make it a Double" medal for doing both Chicago and GR in one season. Huzzah!!

Before I knew it I was off to Vegas for Interbike 2011.

I mean really, who doesn't want to spend 7 days in Vegas the week before getting married...

All the house cleaning and home reno was not for naught though as we hosted our rehearsal dinner in our bcakyard on our fabulous patio.

Then we said some vows...

...took some pictures....

...and had a party!

Followed almost immediately by hopping on a jetplane and heading to Kona to work the Ironman World Championship.

And yes, I was close enough to snap a pic of Chrissie crossing the finish line and regaining her title. OMG.

Don't worry, I had a chance to enjoy a Hawaiian sunset or two.

I realize so much of this is worthy of posts all their own, and I promise to do just that, but not now. I'm almost out of time on my lunch hour, and, well, I am still trying to get caught up from the last few weeks.