How do you interwebs?

Sorry about the blog quietness!  I have been having an issue with spam.  No, not the delightfully curious canned meat, but the kind of spam that is millions (ok, dozens) of weird comments attacking my blog with links for Viagra and discount Marc Jacobs bags.  Having a base level understanding of the interwebs to begin with, I really don’t know (also, don’t care) where to begin to stop that nonsense.  So, I shall embrace the spam, and celebrate their rogue comments.  At the very least, they are at least trying to understand and replicate my vernacular by drawing my attention with comments like “what’s up awesome friend” and excessive exclamation point usage.  You get me, spammers.  You really get me!

So here’s a quick recap of what the past week has been like.

•        I ran a few times with Matt.  It’s been weirdly hot though, and it tends to make us grouchy.  Matt also somehow became ensnared in a burr bush.  It wasn’t a great running week for us.

•        It’s been too hot to run with the dog, or even let her rock out at the dog park in the evenings, so we have been hiking in some of the forest preserves with her.  They have some off leash hiking areas that have a secret perimeter fence, so waffles feels like she’s free, and I don’t have to worry about her ending up 30 miles away.  It really has been too hot though!  She kept flopping down for breaks, and finally Matt just had to carry her, Congo style.

FREEDOM!!!

Freedom is exhausting.

•        OMG – we went in a CANOE!  THIS GIRL!  AND THAT DOG!  Matt did all of the paddling, while waffles and I cowered in the bottom of the canoe.  Then we realized the canoe was actually pretty hard to tip, and were brave enough to peek out.  And of course drink as much lake water as possible (her, not me)

we float in giant water bowl?

•        I got holographic nail polish!  I am so good at this whole being 30 thing.

The picture does NOT do this 99 cent nail polish justice.  It is much sparklier in person!

•        We saw Cheap Trick at Ravinia!!  AHHHHH!

•       And invented a second use for running shoes - wine holders!

•          I have bangs now.  I do this every couple of years for no reason.

•          I survived this mega storm!  It ruined my run, but at least I made it home in time.  I even managed to get my car into the garage for safe keeping (a first for me!)

•          Diana Nyad.  I love you.  I cheered her on all weekend.  For real, you make me want to run an ultramarathon. <3

So that was my week in a nutshell.  I actually have much to talk about in upcoming days.  None of it’s interesting, but it will definitely be words that you can read.  Or not read.  And pictures of my dog.  Hurray!

Two sick puppies.



Poor Matt.  If i was him, i would have run screaming from the infirmiry our apartment has become...



What is the worst thing that could possibly happen 3 weeks before your marathon?

The flu.

Ok, its probably not the very worst thing that could happen, so I should probably shut up before I jinx myself.  But, I am slightly less than pleased that during what is probably the most crucial week of work outs in training, I have been completely side lined.  The only redeeming thing in my illness is that Waffles has been sick all week too, and has been my constant cuddle buddy. She is having an IBS flair-up, (a particularly nasty one at that) so she has been having digestive problems for the past week (a nice way of saying explosive diarrhea.) 

Between the germ-ridden travel, the stress of cramming 5 days on work into 3 days, the emotional havoc of two days with a bunch of Huntingtons Disease people, and not having continuous sleep since March (Thanks Waffles, you poop monster….) has really caught up with me.  I have a friend (who just ran the Paris Marathon, Congrats Jess!!) that would always function at 110%.  She would get more done in a day than most people got done in a week, and I am still in awe of how she managed to do it.  I have a low tipping point, and whenever I try to go “Jess-mode,” the stress and exhaustion gets to be too much, my whole body shuts down.  My never ending drive to do all the things has left me side-lined on the couch (once again) with Waffles doing NONE of the things, other than eating plain rice and napping.



NAPPING.   Like a Boss.



We did walk down to the park this weekend, since we were both too sick to exercise, but wanted to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.  It was really funny, because all the dogs, hyper as they were, would take a break to calmly come over and lay by my feet, like I am some kind of dog whisperer.  It’s weird the way that animals can sense sickness, and care for you in your own way.  Sometimes I think I am better around animals than people – they just get me. 

***I am still working on my DC post – the whole thing was much harder and more emotional than I thought it would be.  And now I feel like crap on top of it.  Waffles is spending the day with the vet.  Sadly, she doesn’t have the meat on her bones that I do, so where as I can stand to not eat and lose a few lbs (ok.  10 lbs.  I should probably lose 10 lbs.) she is so tiny to begin with that they need to keep her hydrated. 

The really hard part is that I feel guilty.  Guilty that I didn’t run 20 miles this weekend (even though prolonged standing is making me dizzy at this point).  Guilty that I didn’t run yesterday.  Guilty that I am not running right now as I type this.  Guilty that i can't take care of my stupid dog.  Guilty that i can't write a coherent blog post.  I know that it’s batshit crazy to feel that way, but whatevs, it’s how I roll.

Do you get running guilt when you’re sick?  What about marathon flu?  (this will be the 3^rd f***ing time I have gotten sick a few weeks before a marathon….what the heck?)

A damn good shot.

This past saturday, after my 18 mile run, rather than this:

like i normally do, i decided to check out Archery Bow Range Chicago.  

This actually not my first time to the range - my dad used to take me to the plug and pellet back in Rockford.  However, they didn't have any bows small or light enough back then, so i kinda sucked big time.  My little 10 year old arms just couldn't handle an adult bow.  I learned on a recurve bow when i was little, because thats what my dad had.  It was lighter, but also harder to draw.  

At ABR, i took an introductory clinic, because it had been such a long time.  I was a little worried it would be a herd of teenage girls hoping to be like Katniss, but i was really impressed with the diverse group they had.  Old, young, there was even a little 10 year old girl!  They suited me up with a compound bow which has little wheels, which makes it heavier, but much easier draw (i.e., easier to aim and shoot).

Just like when i was little, i have impeccable aim, but i tend to flinch when i fire the bow.  When you draw, your hand rests on your face, and i kept thinking i was going to graze my face, which is impossible.  So i either get bullseyes, or the arrow comes flipping back at everyone.  Luckily, our first lesson was bow safety, so even with my wild shots, we were all safe

Not my target.  mine usually consisted of two bullseyes, and one on the floor, perilously close to another archer.

I had a great time.  The introductory class was 90 minutes, and $25.  They provide all the gear, and make sure to fit you with a bow that will work well for you.  They usually have introductory classes on saturdays, and maybe on weekday, but the schedule changes, so make sure to look in advance.  Now that i went through the intro course, i can go to the range at any time and practice, so if anyone wants to shoot, call me!

*I enjoyed the class so much, i signed up Matt and I for a couples archery night next month.  Vwa ha ha!

3 day weekend?

My obvious absence from the interwebs yesterday was the direct result of taking a personal day.  Every once in a while, i just need to nap all day with the dog, and power through season one of Lost.  It is known.
So i did absolutely nothing yesterday, but here are some other notables from the weekend.

Waffles got to have her "Birthday Party" at Krisers.  Seriously, i recommend you register your dog's birthday.  She got a homemade PB cupcake and a huge packet of treat samples.  Sadly, she was so excited by everyone pampering her, that she got explosive diarrhea, and we had to return home in shame.  I also learned i am not ready to deal with children.  I hear they poop and vomit on things all the time.

Luckily, she rebounded quickly, and was soon able to eat her pupcake.

Matt and I also decided to go for a run.  It reminded me how fun Matt is to run with.  When neither of us is training for anything.  I hope he will run with me again soon (HINT HINT, I KNOW YOU READ MY BLOG!)

 I also tried out My Brooks PureCadence's.  It's too soon to know if they are the shoe for me, but I had no problems on the run.  And, Matt also runs in PureCadence, so we got to be "that couple"

 And Sunday, we indulged our OCD, and cleaned the apartment like there had been an Ebola outbreak.   The inside of the couch was vacuumed, the fridge was scrubbed, and every piece of furniture was moved and cleaned behind.  The only problem was, when Matt moved my 8 year old Ikea dresser so that we could sweep behind it, the whole freaking thing collapsed.   It was completely unsalvageable.  Oh well.  I suppose 8 years for Ikea furniture is really like 50 years.  You served me well, old friend.....

This dresser collapse forced Matt and I to go through all our clothes and consolidate. Needless to say, about half our wardrobe is en route to salvation army.  We managed to fit all our clothes into Matt's dresser, with the exception of one last Ikea drawer of running clothes, which Waffles managed to up-cycle into a new puppy bed for herself.  

I realized that this clean sweep was just another way for me to avoid dealing with the unavoidable approach of Christmas.  It's coming, and there is no amount of cleaning I can do to avoid it.  I should probably start my Christmas shopping.....

On a side note, i apologize that I have been completely alienating myself from all forms of social media lately.  I am seriously the grinchiest grinch that ever grinched.  I assure you, i will return to my booze-fueled, marathon running self in a couple weeks.  Until then, Bah Humbug.