Well, we're off again.

We'll be visiting these fine folk. Tony and I are going to his Mom's side of the family reunion. She has 11 siblings . . . so this is going to be interesting. I'm not really looking forward to it, plus we're giving up another weekend AND I'm missing my kickball and soccer championship games. :(
Main reason I'm not looking forward to this weekend, the potential of one of these.
We're staying at a college campus! Are you kidding me?! Plus, there's not even a lake. Blech, it's just like poor planning all the way around.

Worth Looking At

Hi all,
In the "worth looking at" section to the right of my blog, I have wasted, I mean spent, time giving a lot detail about myself - titled facts about me.

Take a look-see if you will. For funsies of course.

That was awesome!

Apparently we were apprehensive of our drive for absolutely no reason. Nadia, Aaron and Cassie were promptly at our house to pick us up Friday, at 2:30. We had some enjoyable and extremely hilarious conversations on the way up, only hitting a portion of traffic just outside of Cambridge, of all places. We made good time and wound up at the Raushel's, Cassie's parents, at a little before 5:00. Cassie's parents are awesome and put us up for the night! After saying hello, with a little chitchat, we made the treck into Duluth to join the masses and pick up our race bibs and complete registration. Parking was ridiculous, so we abandoned hope, and drove away from the canal to walk it in. It probably took us 45 mins to get our goodie bag, just enough time for us to watch the winners of the William Irvin 5k come in . . . 16:22. Yes that's right 3.1 miles in just over 16 minutes. Watching the first few finishers gave me goosebumps! Especially the first female in 18:35. We headed back to the Raushel's to be greeted by the most fantastic spaghetti and meatballs! After gorging ourselves on the mandatory carbo load, we were in bed, almost asleep at 10:00 pm.

Four am came waaaaay too quickly! I ate two pieces of wheat bread with peanut butter - which always worked for me during two-a-days and spring conditioning for soccer! Out the door at 4:30, we reached the parking lot to grab the bus to the starting line at about 5:10. Yes, that is am. It was so strange to see 1000's of people milling about in the light of dawn. As we were bussed out, the time seemed to stretch. My mind started to play all sorts of tricks on me as Nadia confirmed that we were on the route that we would be running. I started to severely doubt that we would be able to do it. It seemed to take forever.

Nadia and I talked about the fact that I haven't had a truly bad run in training, and she quickly quelched my thought that today would be my "bad run." She said, it just doesn't happen. She doesn't know why, but it just doen't. Race day does not turn into bad run day. Lol, I let it work for me.

At the starting line there were literally 1,000's of runner, all arranging themselves according to what pace they thought they would continue for the race. After throwing off my sweat bag - identified by my race number and returned at the finish line - we settled ourselves at the 8:45 minute/mile marker. Although a little faster than our 10:00 min mile pace goal, we knew adrenaline would kick in.

Right on the dot, 6:30 am we started.

It was amazing.

All along the way we had supporters, families, bagpipers, drunken college students. All the same, they were cheering us on. Two of the sweetest was a very pregnant woman and her child, screaming "Go Daddy Go!" and an atleast 80 year old man smiling and holding a sign that read "I'm so proud of you."

At about mile 7 I developed a side ache, which are usually disaterous for me. I don't usually get them, so I'm a big baby when I do. I did about 7 minutes of breathing in through my nose and out my mouth before I finally shook it.

Mile 8 I finally took water before approaching Mile 9's Lemon Drop Hill. Yes, it is a big butt hill and it aptly has a name. But at the top was the home stretch. Between Mile 9 and 10 seemed to be the longest stretch, but I also learned the wonderful benefits of ice cups! Pretty nifty! There's a little big of melted ice, enough to drink, plus you can carry it while running without spilling. Additionally there's no sloshing it on your face because you can just grab a few chips and let them melt in your mouth! Genious!

Miles 10-13.1 were quite the blur as we were finally inside the city and it was packed with supporters. As Tony said, "There's just so much to smile about!" It was such a great feeling.

As we rounded the bend to the finish line we could hear the commentators (yes, I know commentators for a marathon) mentioning that someone was finishing in under 2:00:00 so Tony looked at me and said "C'mon! We can make it!" So we started to "book" it in, haha, more like a little lengthening of the stride, before I heard the commentator start counting down from 18 seconds. I looked at Tony like he was crazy and said there was no way we were going to make it . . . so we maintained our pace, held hands and crossed the finish line at the official time of 2:00:42.

That's right! From our goal of finishing, to a goal of 2:10 that I thought was unachievable . . . to 2 hours and 42 seconds!

Out of 5,409 finishers, I placed 1,968.

Out of my age division of 1,723, I placed 443.

Out of 3,015 woman (yes, there were more women than men!), I placed 744.

Our pace overall was a 9:18 minute mile.

I could not be happier, and Tony and I will be doing it again next year!

* I ate everything in sight yesterday and had no pain except for in my joints. I feel fantastic today, and actually just got done planting a tree, and will be playing in a soccer game tonight!

Also, our friend Cassie ran her first full in 4:22:00! That's incredible! We're so proud of her!

Fantastic

Tomorrow we are leaving for Duluth. It is only 1 day and some 8 hours until race time. I know this because of grandmasmarathon.com's helpful ticker, as if I'm not starting to freak out already!

In addition to the mental game that I'm starting to strengthen, we also have to deal with physically getting there!

Normally on a gorgeous summer weekend we would experience traffic, compound that by how many participants will be making the same treck and add in a dash of a traffic accident that damaged I-35 and you've got a mess folks. A freaking earth scraping vehicle fell of it's trailer! And now, while I'm complaining, I want to point out that there were mutliple vehicles involved in the following accident, and in all seriousness it could have been worse . . . but now already bad traffic will be cut down to one lane! Craziness!

So . . . yeah. I'm freaking out and I have mosquito bites all over my legs, which are driving me crazy now . . . which means they'll be even worse while running! So those are my random thoughts while I'm contemplating sure doom and wondering who the heck made us sign up for this silly thing!

Success!

Okay, so not true success as there were some substitutions - but I did get a "You should make this again!!!" from Tony. Let's be honest, that's all I really wanted. I used Farfelle and Half & Half instead of Penne and Heavy Whipping Cream.

And I'm not quite sure why, but I feel compelled to share these pictures from the wedding this past weekend.

My Grandma, Lorene. This is take #2 . . .
As this was take #1! :) She begged everyone at the table to steal my camera to delete this picture. I find it adorable.
My brother with our grandparents. We basically lived at their house when we were younger.

It's my sweets birthday!

Yay! It's my baby's birthday, the 3rd that we have celebrated together. He's only 13 years away from 40 - I'm attentive like that. :)

I successfully pulled off the surprise, but it's a good thing that the tv was stashed away at Nancy's! I gave it to Tony as soon as he came home last night lol. I couldn't resist.

I figured a "funny" way of getting back at him for the skates by way of another Target sale. Tony hates to lift weights, while I on the other hand, love it. Sometimes I'll daydream about the motions done while lifting, in addition to the subsequent soreness and well muscles. :)

I've been pestering Tony that I want weights for a while now, and found the perfect solution by using my $100 of the stimulus check (if I didn't mention before we decided that we each get to spend $100) to purchase the 25 lb Reebok speed pack dumbbells that were on sale at Target.
I first gave the weights to Tony, saying "I think it will be reall 'sweet' to lift together." As that was his reasoning behind the skates. He good naturedly laughed and thanked me and told me that he would use them. I told him that he better put the weights down before he dropped them and opened the trunk of my car to show him the TV.

In true Tony fashion, I didn't get more of response than "It's a tv!" Lol. Tony needs time to fully get his mind around things before he reacts . . . so after the hug, kiss and thank you the excitement definitely grew. So much so that when we were in the house I was afraid he was going to drop it!

Regardless of the fact that it was 11:00 pm, he had to put it together. So here is my hunny enjoying his birthday present, almost on time.



You can't miss the goofy guy look on his face here, where he just can't hide how excited or impressed he is!
Now for tonight - I'm going to attempt to make Penne ala Betsy from the Pioneer Woman in addition to some fabulous cuts o' beef!

This is all after our last long run - 6 miles tonight - as our first 1/2 is on Saturday!!!

Fricken Husband!

All of my life I've been terrible at giving presents, mainly because I don't wait for a present giving opportunity, thus robbing myself of a good present when I need to give one.

My husband is turning 27 in less than a week, and following our great Christmas this year - seriously we did awesome giving great gifts to friends and family - I got him, what I think is a fantastic present!

Mind you, he may not necessarily deserve this fantastic present, as his great idea of a birthday present for me was Bauer hockey skates. Please ask me if I skate. The answer is NO. Tony bought me a $200 pair of hockey skates to use once a winter because he thinks it's sweet to skate with me. Fine - but he bought hockey skates for me, for him!

(Here they are in the closet with our seasonal decor)

So anywhoo months ago, I bought him a fricken sweet present, which even now I'm scared to name, because even though he doesn't read my blog, it's such a big deal - augh what the heck, I bought him this, a 37" HD Tv:Target had it on the front cover as a blow out, I used my 10% employee discount (like I said months ago), 10% Target credit card coupon and I paid $150 in cash from serving tips. It was my plan to use my Acapulco serving money to pay it off inconspiculously . . . but then I quit Acapulco when I got my present job. Therein lies the problem.

Tony pays for a service through which he is able to daily pull his outstanding debt and receive his credit score. He's had it ever since we've met and for some reason, decided yesterday was a good idea to sign me up for the same service! So I had to lie through my teeth about the balance on the Target card!!! Although he specifically asked is that dollar amount really on there, and I truthfully said No because the balance was from the previous statement . . .

I hate lying to him, but honestly, less than a week before your birthday?!

To solidify my dorkiness.

I have spent my birthday present from my Mom, and a little of Christmas too.

My birthday is in October.

And I got these.
Best Bet Iris

Jurassic Park Iris

Both are reblooming Iris' so I'll have them throughout the summer and they multiply!

And I'm this close to peony blooms!

Tony did not win points . . .

Today at work we had a grill-out for lunch. Tony completely forgot and did not put his name on the list for the potluck, additionally he forgot to put a belt on this morning (which never happens!). This of course meant that he asked me to run and get something for him for lunch and pick him up a new belt!

me: I have to take care of everything for you (extremely exasperated, but still laughing)!

tony: That's why you're my wife.

Oooooooo. That hurt.

Dudes - We did it.

Tony and I ran 10.04 miles in 99:00 minutes last night.

We are still maintaining our under 10:00 mile.

Only 11 days until race day.

You know you want to see it.

This guy is new, but the others are just growing in beautifully!

While checking the water level one this guy, check out my terrible observance! Gah. I'm not even that afraid of spiders, but good golly!

Speaking of the basement . . .

We have walls! All of the plumbing is finished and Tony's now working on the electrical. We still need tile, but otherwise we have purchased everything we need for the basement bathroom . . .

Friday night boredom = cookies

So . . . Friday night Tony worked on the basement, while I, well, I didn't have much to do . . . so I decided to bake cookies!

After pooling my ingredients though I realized I didn't have what would really amount to a recipe, so I improvised.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups cocoa pebbles cereal
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
In large bowl, cream butter or margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until well blended. Add flour, salt, and baking soda, mixing well. Stir in cereal and chips.
Drop by heaping tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove cookies to cool on racks.

Of course even with the improvisation it couldn't go smoothly:



Seriously, how does that even happen? Lol. The bowl was part of a 3 piece set we received as a wedding present, even though they were not on our registry. They have grown on me though, so I am saddened by the loss.

Update

My grandpa's doctor was the one who informed the family that nothing else could be done for his heart, however after consulting a different specialist a surgery was scheduled.

My grandpa just had additional stints put in this past winter, but this doctor decided more could be added. Apparently the clean up from his double bypass, which was atleast 10 years ago, has included massive scarring. These new stints should help, apparently they are special and help with stopping the bodies natural tendency towards scar tissue? I have no idea. Definitely not my area of expertise.

He went in for his 5th heart surgery yesterday and managed to make it back out.

I'm scared to lose him.

My mom's parents are my Grandparents. Sure, I had 3 other sets, but not really. They didn't even come close. That might seem calloused, especially since I have lost 4 out of the 6, with my Dad's mom and stepdad's mom they only two remaining . . . but they were more like aunt's and uncles.

I grew up with my Grandparents 5 minutes away. My grandma stopped by most every day while my Mom was doing daycare with some little thing she picked up at a garage sale or some special food she thought we'd enjoy. Most of my favorite memories of my childhood involve my grandparents or their house. My Grandpa could always be good for: "Not those kids again!" But I knew he didn't mean it, he loves my brother and I so much.

If you guys thought he was cute before, that was before knowing his name is Elmer. :) His sense of humor is hilarious. I remember the first few times Tony met him, he was so unsure of himself. Tony never knew where my Grandpa was going to come from next!

Even now, in the hospital he's joking around. He accused my Grandma's cooking of laying him up, or that she was going to kick him out so he had to arrange a bed for himself somehow.

I've been tagged (multiple times lol)

I've been tagged!Here Are the Rules: Answer the following questions about yourself. At the end of the post you pass on the questions to 6 other bloggers and list their names. Then write them a comment telling them that they've been tagged and ask them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know that you've accepted the challenge and refer to your post.

1. What did you do 10 years ago?

I was 14, just before starting high school. My lifelong and best friend who had lived next door to me since birth moved 2 hours away. My life was consumed with riding horses and playing competitive soccer. I was actively involved in my church youth group, and was constantly putting myself into awkward positions with my 3 best friends, who were of course male and had crushes on me and I them. I'd never been kissed, and would still wait a little over a year for that to happen. My brother was one of my best friends, and I was learning for the 2nd or 3rd time that girl friends suck.

2. Five items on your to-do list today:

1. Visit my grandpa in the hospital

2. Run 3 miles

3. Try to not spend money

4. Put away 3 hampers of clean clothing

5. Cook a great meal for my hubby - because he's sweet.

3. Snacks I enjoy? Hummus and carrots. I love it! I seriously go through a container in like two days. Also All Fruit popsicles (30 calories, no added sugar).

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire? I would pay off our parents' debt, get my Mom out of daycare forever (or atleast until we have children :)), pay off my brother's student loans (he's got a good head on his shoulders, he'd be appreciative), we'd build this house (we already have the floor plan), I'd garden ALOT and Tony would open his sports business. But above all we would seek out God's plan for putting that amount of money in our hands.

5. Places I would live: Minnesota. I love our state. I wouldn't mind having a cabin up North here though.

People I'm tagging: Kari, Lisa, Erin, Greenery & Tea (because I can't remember who you are!), my two red shoes.

Today's not a good day.

There are so many worse things that could have happened, and yet, it was still not a good day.

Firstly, my primary objective with my new job is to launch a new website. We currently have an extremely outdated one, which, with google analytics, we have found 85% of our guests visit once with an avg time of 50 seconds on 1.41 pages. Pathetic. So today prior to a dreaded golf event, my boss and I went to visit a communications company. I have been working with this company on our website redevelopment, and they wanted to present a proposal to us today . . . to the tune of $15K. Five thousand dollars MORE than the budget I'd given, specifically as high. To make matters worse, they told my boss that that budget was the one I'd given them . . .

To follow up this wonderful meeting, we then joined one of the other principal architects and our contractor contact for a "fun" golf tourney. I hate golf. I honestly do. I'm a soccer player. Pure and simple. I have foot eye coordination and little else. I hate golf, it is not comfortable, it is not natural and I simply suck at it. So away we went. I enjoyed some gentle ribbing, but for the most part suffered through . . . Amazingly enough though, I actually won THE LONGEST PUTT award. Purely coincidence, but I scored a $30 gift certificate. Sweet!

So then I come home, after a 1 hour, 20 minute drive to find a sweet note from the hubby.

This sweet, sweet note is on the back of a letter from our mortgage company, which is unopened, alerting us to the fact that they have taken out Hazard Insurance on our behalf, because we have not sent them record of our Home Owner's Insurance Policy!!! Something that I had been told our insurance company had taken care of, based on a conversation with my husband! So now we're being billed to the tune of $1900 on top of the insurance we already pay!

Sweet.

I'm probably over-reacting to this financial business, because I received an upsetting phone call from my Mom this evening. My grandpa was admitted to the hospital yesterday due to throat pain. My grandpa survived the depression eating lard and bread sandwhiches. He is not a healthy man, due to his subsequent eating habits, after promising that himself at a young age that he would always eat well. He has survived a heart attack, a double bypass, a triple bypass and multiple stints, only to be dealt kidney cancer. We've always known his heart is and would be a problem for him, but apparently these throat pains are a part of his heart issues and the doctors have no solution. They think it is the beginning of the end.

I'm going to go run.

Welp, we did it.

Tony and I ran 9.4 last night in 90:13.

It hurt, but it's done and boy were we ever on a high last night.

18 days until race day.

Weekcap.

Phew. What a freaking weekend. Friday night, Tony and I were just hanging low. Saturday morning bright and early, a 9 mile run was facing us, before a trip up to Brainerd for one of my old teammates wedding.

I hope I do not dissappoint, but we did not make our date with our 9 miler. Instead we were called out to a night of revelry aka Dinkytown and Mesa 2 am pizza. Super night!

Tony's finger itched . . .

Anywho, not only did we not run, we were actually just in time for the 4 pm wedding. Who is almost late to a late afternoon evening, other than the two of us. Ridiculous.

Unfortunately, the weather delayed the wedding, so we ended up having time in spades. The Brainerd area actually fell into a Tornado warning at the time of the ceremony, but we waited a few minutes and Kristel was able to have her outdoor wedding. In fact the second she stepped out of her horse drawn carriage she was surrounded by sunshine, I kid you not. It was almost spooky how perfectly timed the sun was.




And that my friends, does not even come close to the evening that we had.

It was sooo much fun. I haven't seen some of those girls in well over a year, and my, oh my, it's been 2 years since I graduated!

We finally hit the bed at about 1:30, knowing full well that we'd have to be up and out the door at 8:00. I had a trap shooting event for work at 12:00! So after a quick jaunt into dreamland, we were out the door and motoring on back.

I was super apprehensive concerning the trap event, as I did not know a single soul, and it's only been about 10 years since I last shot clay pigeons. Even though I hunt, I do not hunt birds . . . so shooting at a deer in real life, is extremely different than shooting at something flying through the air!

I managed to survive, did decently well, and only walked away with a small token of pain from our .12 gauge.

Additionally, I won some Twins tickets through company paid raffle tickets, and I get to actually use them! I was kind of scared that they would just go to the company to be drawn for, but I was allowed to keep them! Whoo hoo!