Overworked

It's been awhile since a post -- I've just been too busy with work to have time to post or to do anything worth posting about. In fact, I am so over my billing requirements for the year that I could take an entire month off and still be over my required hours. Crazy!

Hopefully we will have some time for ourselves this weekend. I don't plan on going in to the office, which is a first in awhile. We have some last-minute things to finish before Lisa's wedding next weekend, and John is planning on playing a par 3 in Wilmette on Sunday. Other than that, it's just a lot of relaxing (and hopefully a run for me). I haven't really been running regularly since the half marathon on August 2nd. I have another one in San Antonio on November 15, so I need to get back on the wagon, that's for sure!

Off to bed for us -- finally we get to sleep in! More posts to come over the weekend...

Air and Water Show

We went to my friend and co-worker, Rebecca's, place today to watch the annual Air and Water Show. We've never been before, mostly because it's a major dose of sweaty public. However, Rebecca lives in a high-rise in Old Town, right near North Ave. beach, where they always put on the show. We watched from the lovely, air-conditioned penthouse of her building. Note to self: you are too old to enjoy alcoholic beverages all day long. I think I will have to take a little nap.

Thousands and thousands of people!

Family Time

It seems like we've had company nonstop for the past couple of weeks. First, my mom and her friend, Luanne, came in for the half marathon and stayed until the following Wednesday. John's sister, Lisa, and her fiance, Niel, came immediately thereafter for Lollapalooza. John's dad and John's brother, David, also came to join in the family fun. Everyone went home on Tuesday, so we've just been catching up on household things we neglected while we were spending time with family.

Both John and I have been busy with work. John is busy interviewing temporary designers to help with the big winter catalog that's coming up, and I have been crazy at work, as usual. The good news is that one of my big cases settled, which is great since it was scheduled for the week following our trip to San Diego for Lisa's wedding. Another of my trials, which was scheduled for early October, was also moved by the judge. So my fall just got a whole lot better. Overall, we don't have too many exciting plans for the fall. I have a few little races before the half marathons in November and December. And John will be busy with his catalog, of course. It has been pretty warm here lately, so we are definitely looking forward to the cooler fall weather. Hopefully we will have something more interesting to post soon!

A candid of John's dad, Lisa, and Niel at the amazing Glenn's Diner.

Half Marathon from Hell!

Today I ran in the Chicago Rock n Roll half marathon. From the start, nothing seemed to be going right, which was not a good sign for the rest of the race. The nerdy GPS watch I wear (tells me my distance and pace) was totally messed up, saying that I was running a 4 minute mile. I figured that the buildings were blocking the signal, but I was really disappointed when my watch said that I had already ran 4.96 miles when I hadn't even reached mile 3! So, I had to restart the watch and was never really able to tell how far I'd gone, but most importantly, how much I had left. My stomach was upset for the whole race, the tank top I decided to wear chafed my arms to pieces (until I was finally able to get some Vaseline at mile 9), and there were no water stops between mile 9 and 12! I thought I was going to pass out from dehydration! The only good news is that I somehow shaved a minute off my time, which is a complete fluke considering that I thought I was so under pace (and had no clue because my watch wasn't working).
I'm not too sore (thanks to my three and a half hour nap after the race), but I expect to be pretty stiff tomorrow. Sometimes I wonder to myself why I do these races -- who in their right mind would run 13.1 miles for fun? Apparently me, since this is my third so far this year, and I have two more planned before the end of the year. Hopefully the next two will be better (and less painful).

Smiling through the pain.

Almost to the finish! I look happy, but inside I'm saying the worst of curse words.

Kristen and me -- this was Kristen's second race ever (and first half marathon),
and she did awesome!

Hobbling to the el. Ouch.