Updates, updates, updates...

Obviously I've been away for awhile.  A long while.  I do have some pretty valid excuses though:

1) Work - anyone who knows me in real life knows that February - August my work life pretty much sucks.  In a good way, but sucks nonetheless.  We put all of our shows on sale starting in February and then have to keep working on them until the night of show.  It makes for some long, late , crazy days/nights.  So...no blogging.

2) Hand - I had my first running related injury in early March, barely two weeks after the half marathon in Orlando.  I was at the tail end of a 9 mile run, not paying attention and flipping through my ipod while running. I tripped on a raised bit of sidewalk and bit it...hard.  My immediate reaction was to jump up and look around to see who witnessed my glorious spill - lots of people it turns out, it's a busy street.  My second reaction was to look down at my hand which took the brunt of my fall.  Two of my fingers were at very abnormal angles.  Being the ex-basketball/volleyball player that I am, my instinct was to pull on them and pop them back into place, which thankfully worked...for awhile.  After a few hours my entire hand had swollen considerably and was starting to turn bruised blue down to the wrist.  I went the next day for an Xray (by that time in considerable pain) and had fractured my middle finger in two places and severely sprained just about everything else.  Damnit!  Half of my left hand was in a splint for the next 7 weeks.  Typing became slow and awkward.  So...no blogging.

3)  Significant shakeup - without getting into any details...I've been in the middle of some personal - ehem - stuff.  I have been a fan of the Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken" since middle school and have been thinking of it frequently lately.  I have been standing where the two roads diverge for the past few months and have finally chosen my path.  I'm dealing, some good days some bad, but the choice has been mine and I'm happy with it.    *** Prose aside, this has consumed me lately, so...no blogging.   

So, what has happened the past few months?  Well, I didn't really get to cross any of the winter stuff off my list.  Which is ok, because it's not anything I can't do this December, when I'm 30 years old and 3 months.  Close enough, right? 

I completed my half marathon in 2:42.  Which is like a 12:15 mile.  I'm ok with this because I've learned (1) I'm never going to be a really fast runner and (2) i trained outside in the IL winter and then ran this race in the 80 degree humidity of Orlando.  It was tough!

I'm signed up for and on track (more or less) for the 2011 Chicago Marathon in October.  Woo hoo!  And I'm running VERY carefully now - no more broken bones!

I took a sushi rolling class which is sort of like a cooking class.  Not sure yet if I'm going to fully count it or now, but it was really fun and I learned some good tips.  I also made AWARD WINNING sushi.  No joke - I won an award :)

I bought a wine tasting package for 12 people.  Why  not combine learning about wine and partying with girlfriends?!  Need to schedule this for early fall.

Most of the other items are still works in progress.  I may not finish this completely, but I'm going to keep trying! 

 



Lets play "Find the Fracture!"

Princess Laura - Disney Princess Half-Marathon

Award-winning sushi artist





One month to first 1/2 marathon!

One month from today I will be on my way to Orlando to run in my first 1/2 marathon race on 2/27.  I am incredibly excited, not only to realize this (1/2) goal...see #1... but to run IN Disneyworld and run WITH princesses!  I haven't been to Disneyworld in years!

I am working on my costume, possibly utilizing the tutu from the Polar Bear post below.  1/2 marathon + Disney + Princesses + a costume???  It's almost too much for a girl to handle!

And my reward for finishing?  Well, in addition to a fancy schmancy tiara medal, and a carb-lovers dream dinner, I'm going to treat myself to a new pair of running shoes and a spring running wardrobe...a reward AND motivation to keep going!

Polar Bear! 1/1/2011

I've been slacking.  I know.  The holidays pulled me into their delicious, intoxicating, crazy busy trap.  But I did manage to accomplish one list item over the holidays...The 2011 Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee.

Weather:  A Sunny, very windy 

Temperature: 8 degrees

Windchill:  Oh, i'm guessing here, maybe 0 or slightly below 0

The first thing everyone has said when I mentioned this was "so how cold was it?" and to be honest, I really don't remember.  I was so focused on running in, going under, running out, that my brain didn't take the time to stop and register exactly how cold it really was.  Or maybe I was just instantly numb.

And the outfit, you ask?  Well, it served two purposes.  1) Lots of people dress up or dress silly for this.  Lots of guys in speedos who don't normally wear speedos, and the like.  So it helped me fit in and look like a pro.  2) I don't exactly have the summer bikini body currently, especially since i have NOT been good about my running routine since Thanksgiving.  So the tutu provided some coverage.  As did the tank top.

Brian came with me and was my photographer/videographer.  It was such a lively scene that he commented, as we were leaving, that looked really fun.  "We should get a bunch of people together and do it next year.  And tailgate." 

And why not?  A true Wisconsonite will take any reason to tailgate, even if it means swimming in a lake on New Years Day.  I'll be there with ya, Bri.

Write my name at Gino's East - Done!

outstanding photography by Ryan Arnold

Living in a big city is so different than visiting one.  I have lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and have never done half of the things that most visitors do.  I've never really been to the museums.  The last time I was at Shedd Aquarium I was 13.  Ditto for Navy Pier.  I've never been in the Sears (Willis) Tower.

And I've never been to Gino's East for Chicago style deep dish pizza.  Until last night.  Ryan and I had a wonderful date over a spinach pie inside the graffiti covered walls of Gino's East.  It was great, even if I did consume my monthly allowance of cheese in one sitting.  AND...I got to write on the wall.  Twice.  So that is officially crossed off the list.

On to the next item...


Happy Thanksgiving!  Wish me luck in my Turkey Trot tomorrow as I continue on the road to the marathon in 2011!

LA!

I was hoping to knock something off the list in LA this past weekend, but alas, the opportunity never arose...unless you count our wine tasting at the Malibu winery as a "wine appreciation class".  Kind of a stretch.  Still had a TON of fun anyway!  It was great to spend some time with the Kelly & Kelly.

Next up...TBD.  Stay tuned :)

437 ladies + 4.37 miles + beer + lasagna + old pictures = awesome weekend!

I'm continuing to (sloooowly) work my way towards a half marathon, then a full marathon.  Part of that continued training this weekend involved great friends and great beer.  Two of my favorite things.

I convinced half of the 437 W Dayton St roommates to sign up for the Tyrannena Beer Run 1/6th barrel (1/6 marathon) race with me on Saturday in Lake Mills, WI.  It's less than 40 minutes outside of Madison, which was a great excuse to spend Friday night with the ladies.  So much fun!  I just about wet my pants looking at old pictures from college and remembering all the stories behind the pictures.  We were a crazy bunch!

Saturday was cold but clear and sunny.  After (slowly) running 4.37 miles I was rewarded with delicious microbrews and veggie lasagna. So yummy!  Training would be much more fun if I rewarded myself this way after every run :)

O-mazing!

My O Face

The first item is "O"fficially crossed off my list.  Went to see Oprah today with Kelly Liss.  So.  Much.  Fun.  I wish I had been able to bring the camera inside for some fun pics but I'm sure every single crazy Oprah fan woman has that exact same idea, hence their strict no camera policy.  And apparently there's a no paper policy too, which was weird.  They literally combed through everyone's purse and made us check pieces of paper.  So odd.  Anyway...here's a quick rundown.

Show Topic:  Stars of Discovery and TLC

Guests:  Cash cab guy, Mike Rowe, Quints by Surprise family and DC Cupcake sisters

We got there at 7am.  Well...I got there at 7am.  A bit late.  Kelly was there at like 6:20am.  It's ok.  If you average the two times we had great timing.  It really didn't matter much because we had to wait in line outside regardless, in a covered but cold area to be let in.  It took maybe 30 minutes to actually get in and check our coats.  Then our bags were given the most thourough inspection I have ever seen.  Ever.  Airports included.  And we were then given a form to fill out with a number and ushered into a waiting room.

And -- totally random -- next to us in the waiting area was Rick Herb's sister.  Rick was my boyfriend in 8th grade back at St. Mary's.  I gave her side-eye for about 5 minutes and then said to Kelly "I think I know her".  Kelly had seen them check in ahead of us with Wisconsin IDs, so I asked and sure enough!  Rick Herb's sister.  16 years later with a huge rock on her finger.  Small world.  Apparently Rick is now in Chicago.  And still BFF with John Bako and Zack Messenberg.

Anyway, back to Oprah.  We finally got seated in AMAZING seats - first level of the riser, in the seats right next to the stage.  I was really hoping all along that something would get passed out to the audience.  Yes, yes, I was "there for the experience".  I know.  But c'mon it's Oprah and everyone knows she gives away some good sh*t. 

I knew it wasn't Favorite Things or any sort of special episode, but I was hoping for something.   Preferably edible since I had only had a banana on the way out the door at 6am.  I think I mentioned this to Kelly no fewer than 5 times.  And positive obsessing - er, thinking - worked!  We got champagne cupcakes from the DC Cupcake girls.  And I screamed when Oprah said "bring out the cupcakes!" and out walked the staffers with silver platters.  So fun.  And yummy!

Posing in the rain

One down...29 1/2 to go.  I'll post an update when I know the air date!





Silly woman took a blurry picture.  Sad.