Soup-er Sunday

Cheesy, I know.  But it's fitting!!  After a very long absence, both figuratively and literally, I'm back to the blog and Sunday Supper.  It's time.  Sunday, Nov 14.  Only this month, it's going to be a little different than in the past.  Since I have been sick, and am still recovering from this dreadfully exhausting thing called mono, I don't know that I can handle the full day in the kitchen that Sunday Supper usually requires just quite yet.  (Hopefully by December I will be 100%!!)  November Sunday Supper is going to be a soup extravaganza ... Soup-er Sunday!  And all of you will be bringing the soup!  Please bring your favorite soup to share.  Since there will be several to sample, no need for a large pot, enough to serve 4-6 will be more than enough!  I'll provide cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, cornbread, anything else I think of that goes with soup, and dessert.

If you will be attending, please let me know what soup you're bringing so I can do a bit of planning.  Thanks!

where has the time gone?!

To my faithful readers - yes, I am still alive.  Buried in work and training, but still alive.  2 more days until September 15 & the return to restful nights.  I found out this past Saturday that running many miles (18.22 according to my trusty Garmin) and working past midnight do not go hand in hand.  Awoke at 4 am to the sounds of the clubs on the next block spilling their late night drunken crowds into the streets only to find myself on the couch next to my computer instead of tucked cozily in my bed.  Awesome.

As soon as Wednesday comes and goes, I will properly update the blog.  Please stay tuned.

26 days 'til marathon Sunday!!!!

BLUEBERRIES

I was finally able to visit my blueberry bush today.  It was a long time coming, had been planned for at least 3 separate occasions prior to today in the past 2 weeks, and had to be rescheduled each time.  Work, sick dog, sick Angie, work.  As the season is nearing its end, it was really becoming do or die (or live without fresh blueberries from my very own *rented* blueberry bush)!  Approximately 4 1/2 hours in the car, roundtrip, and 1 hour of picking blueberries on a sporadically rainy Saturday, and I have 12 lbs of blueberries in my kitchen awaiting their fate.  Muffin, smoothie, freezer, cobbler, pie, glaze for salmon, or plain old eating straight out of the refrigerator.  Either way, I tell you, these are the BEST berries I have ever tasted!!  Joe's Blues, Moss Fennel Farms, Bangor MI.  YUM!!  Highly recommended if any of you ever find yourself in the market for a blueberry bush for a season or fresh berries shipped to you from Michigan.  Wonderful people, wonderful farming practices, wonderful berries.  Visit them!  Special thanks to the wonderful woman working there who took pity on my poor amateur-picking self and helped me pick berries in the rain.  I was the only visitor to the farm during the hour I was there today.  I'm guessing it was the rainy weather. But ... when you come all the way from Chicago, you absolutely tough it out and pick the berries you came for!

Pics of the farm, my blueberry bush and the absolutely delightfully delicious (& VERY good for you!!) blueberries!!

A picture worth a thousand words

Unbeknownst to me, a friend took this picture a few weekends ago on our sailing adventure.  I may be forever indebted to him.

I'm also very excited to announce that I, along with Mike's help and input, will be launching a second blog soon.  We haven't settled on a title yet, but it will be about his ironman training and this "little" adventure we chose to be on together.  Kona 2011.  Kona is the Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hawaii each year.  He needs to qualify, I need to find a new bikini!  :)  Watch for the blog launch, we hope you'll join us for the journey.

Running behind

The past few weeks have been a bit hectic and I'm running behind on my "I Run" posts.  :)  This week will be a 2-for-1 deal.

If you have been following my blog, you know that I've been battling a foot injury the 4-6 weeks and haven't been able to run.  Not REAL running anyway.  I have been able to run on the anti-gravity treadmill at physical therapy.  Last week, I was cleared to begin gradually adding regular treadmill running back into my training.  This period of time has been difficult for me - mentally and emotionally.  It is extremely frustrating to not get my training runs in, to be forced to incorporate other types of training instead.  And then there is the mental challenge of staying positive during injury recovery when it seems to be taking so long, and battling the stress of knowing that time to marathon day is dwindling.  All of this brings to mind two of the reasons I run.

I run because I feel happier and better about life, in general, when running is a part of my life/routine.  I've noticed this more and more as I've gotten older.  Even if I'm only able to get in a few miles, I feel better.  This past Friday, I hopped onto the treadmill for my first regular treadmill run on this seemingly long recovery road.  I couldn't have been more excited.  Normally, I dread running on a treadmill.  But on this particular day, it was like a weight had finally been lifted from me.  Those around me even noticed the spring in my step.  Running is such a blessing in my life.

With my foot recovery going slower than I had hoped, I was not able to run the Chicago Rock 'n Roll half marathon this morning like I had planned.  My goal was to finish in an hour and 50 minutes in order to qualify for a start corral for the full marathon in October.  Within in the past week and a half, I had to come to accept that I wouldn't be able to run the half.  If it were the reason I was training, my ultimate goal, I would have run and I would have run fast enough to finish in the time I wanted.  BUT ... the half marathon isn't what I am training for, it was only a step along the way to the full marathon.  Sure, it would have felt REALLY good to run that fast since it is over 10 minutes faster than my previous half marathon time.  But, I have to be smart & think about the end goal rather than the instant gratification.  Those milestones can be met another day.  Right now, I have to focus on recovery and preparing for October 10.  Which, in a way, is a friendly reminder to count my blessings and not take them for granted.  I CAN RUN.  I am able to work through this injury; I will recover and complete the marathon. There are so many people who do not have the ability to do what I am doing.  I run because I can; I run for all those people who can not and with each new day that I lace up my shoes, I am thankful for this blessing in my life.

Sailing Lake Michigan

Last Saturday, the skies threatened rain as we waited to board our sailboat, but the storms went around us and the sun peeked out in time for us to enjoy the early stages of sunset as we sailed back toward the harbor.

Rather than learning to sail, as originally planned, Megan and I decided to charter a sailboat for our July Top 10 event.  It would be less time-consuming, less expensive, and less manual labor for us!  And possibly a bit more fun since it would allow us to invite a few friends and enjoy food and drinks as we sailed.  It was a fantastic afternoon "out to sea" filled with friends, music and laughter.  Not to mention breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline.  I highly recommend it!

I like big butts!

No, I'm not revealing something I look for in the opposite sex.  Rather, this is a quote from a random man (much older I would guess based on what Megan saw of him) who was sitting on the patio of a restaurant that Megan and I were leaving a few months ago.  Fairly upscale, trendy restaurant here in Chicago.  We had just dined there to celebrate the end of tax season for me, and as we were leaving, we had the pleasure of this outburst of .... approval???  I suppose if we were different girls, we might have been offended.  Instead, we looked at each other & Megan said "Did he just say 'I like big butts!'?"  "Yep."  We laughed.

Running does not leave me with a small backside.  It's more like a bubble butt.  Small chest?  Absolutely.  First thing to shrink when I start running a lot.  Small buns?  Nope.  More well-defined, tighter buns?  Yes. Small?  No.

But, you know, I'll take it.  Apparently guys like big butts.  :)

I run for the positive effects on my backside!  Haha!