Day 229

 Happy Halloween!

Day 228

They finally came! I ran these races a little while back and the medals were to be mailed. These were the first race events that I participated in and didn't have a medal waiting for me at the finish line or in the case of virtual races, at home. The delayed receipt of my bling was a little bit of a hollow victory, however pushing myself to run new distances was satisfying in it's own right. I've happily put these three newbies on my medal rack and can't wait to earn the next one. In four days I run my first 15K! Eek!

Day 227

 Throwback Thursday to the time I visited Ireland, with a stop in Dublin. 
Next to Hawaii, Ireland has been one of my all time favorite places to visit.

Slainte!

Day 226

 (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Cheers!
Sometimes a good beer does solve all your problems.
If only for the time it takes you to drink it! 

Day 225

You know what is just the best thing ever? Ok, one of the best things ever? Receiving a random phone call from a friend who is not known to call you and although you miss the call, the voice message left behind is amazing. 

I met Linda on a, now annual, group scuba diving trip 3 years ago and spent a week with her. We don't dive, but we run, walk, shop and talk a lot while our significant others do their diving stuff. So far, we've met up on three such trips which means I've spent all of 21 days getting to know her over the past 3.5 years. Despite the short amount of interactions, we just click. She is a mother figure, mother Earth type of soul, inspirational, yet real and vulnerable woman not afraid to share her experience and strength so that I may learn and do well. She listens. She hears. She in a word is simply, amazing. She's a soul mate. Yes, I believe soul mates come in all forms, both friends and lovers and that you can indeed have more than one. She challenges me. She changes me. Best of all, I know she loves me - and that's an awesome thing to know and truly feel in these hard days. 

If you're anything like me, or a victim of being accustomed to the digital age, you may have lost your desire or even nerve to make or accept phone calls these days. We get stuck in the comfort of texting versus talking. Most of us are out of practice of having real, live conversations and text instead of call. Let me tell you though it's no substitute for a warm, live voice. I challenge you, as well as myself,  to pick up the phone like we used to and dial instead of text. You never know who needs to hear your voice, if even just in a voice mail. What are you waiting for? 

Day 224

The Kid went back to school today, in person, as part of a hybrid solution. It's been 224+ days since she procrastinated leaving the comfort of her bedroom to rush downstairs, scarf down a bowl of cereal (leaving parts of it to dry and stick to the sink) and run out the door. Despite her continued odd relationship with time and timing, she was quite excited to go back. While most of her enthusiasm surely comes from being a teen allowed to finally get out of the house and an opportunity to perhaps make friends, my enthusiasm blooms with the thought of her getting some "hands on" education. I hope both our enthusiasms last and that this one week at school followed by one week at home works out for all involved. I fear this program is at risk due to rising COVID numbers, but will bask in it's glory for now! If you're a teacher reading this - thanks for all you're doing and enduring. 
 

Day 223

 I ran 7 miles today.

That's 3.5 more than I ever thought I'd run continuously.

I can't say that it felt good physically past mile 4.5, but mentally it felt awesome to complete.

I have one more long run next weekend and then will complete my first 15K in 11 days. 

Yikes!

Day 222

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year (and who can say 2020 has been their year?) you go visit The Friends Experience. Finally, a day off and no family responsibilities allowed for a visit to this pop-up in Chicago and I highly recommend it (if you're one to venture out of the house these days). If you watched the series "Friends" during it's initial debut, this outing allows you to relive your younger years and to perhaps, forget about your current worries - if only for the 30ish minutes it takes to complete. 

Spacing, cleanliness and sanitizer and wipe stations galore made for a "safe" feeling environment. Friendly staff and awesome photo ops made this museum-like visit a memorable one, too. We were able to explore each set (the opening credits couch scene, the apartments, rooftop, Central Perk, etc.) and take photos feeling as if we were the only ones there! IF you're up for an outing these days, I give this activity 5 stars! 
 

Day 221

 Happy Friday giggles Readers!

Day 220

 If you need some Fall ideas...

Day 219

 Despite its severe neglect this season, this rose has just kept on blooming! Aphids have attacked it and eaten holes in it's leaves. I've not trimmed it back as I should have and I didn't bother to fertilize it either. Despite all of this mistreatment, nature has run it's course and continued to move forward. No matter what 2020 has dealt you, keep blooming!

Day 218

 When it's early morning and you'd (okay, ME) would rather stay in bed instead of head to the gym...

Day 217

Well. I just signed up for my first 15K virtual run. Yep, you read that right. Because I mean, what else is there to do with my time (and mind) right now? Gotta stay challenged, focused and maintain a healthy outlet for COVID stress and running seems to allow for that. So here we go, a 9.23 mile run set for November. Pretty sure this is insanity but pushing myself outside of my (running) comfort zone has been surprising, to say the least.  The weather is still a concern for me so I have already started researching "best running gloves" and other cold(er) weather accessories. 

Do you have a craft, hobby or interest that pushes you out of your comfort zone? Is there some task or "thing" that you're constantly working on getting better at? If so, what?

Day 216

 Ain't this the truth? 

Day 215

It's grey. It's cold. It stays dark for far too long in the mornings, for my liking anyways. This is killing my "get up early and run" vibe. The double whammy combo of diminished daylight and upcoming daylight savings time change is a hard hitter for me. I am one who, literally, starts watching the days get longer by the minute after the winter solstice in December and count down, or "up" I suppose, until Spring. 

Anyone else already contemplating the weather, daylight and/or seasonal changes coming up? Do your hobbies or habits change? If so, what do you do differently until the sun returns full time again?

Day 214

It was bound to happen. A family member has unknowingly been directly exposed to someone with COVID. Because said family member has no symptoms however (which is great) they are in, apparently, no urgent need of a COVID test (which is not great). The primary doctor has referred the family to a local testing site which may or may not have tests available today and of course, results to follow days afterwards. While I'll try not to complain too much here, I can share that trying to locate a viable testing site with availability is hard enough. Trying to convince them you need a test is even harder. If not covered by insurance, the test for each person is $220.00 a swab - yikes! Does a nasal swab count as an early Christmas present? 

Day 213

 

Throwback Thursday...

...to the time I visited New York's Chinatown and had the BEST pork soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai.

Day 212

Note to self and anyone reading this. 

Do not apply Chapstick to lips and then put on a cloth face mask.

Sticky.

Day 211

Ran a(nother) 5K today. The 3.10 mile distance is starting to feel pretty easy! Given my recent 4 Miler and 10K, fellow runners say I'll be running a half marathon in no time. I'm not so sure about running 13.1 miles any time soon, however! With the weather growing colder and my preference to run outdoors, I see the ability to pursue longer distance running sessions coming to a rapidly fraying end. 

While I do like to run in colder weather and even enjoy the rain, I know winter and ice will bring my running outdoors to a halt at some point. And with that I have to ask, who enjoys running ten miles or more on a treadmill with no change in view or environment? Will my running (and endurance) come to a stop in the winter? Will I learn to just deal with the treadmill for hours at a time at a local gym? Who knows! I definitely don't have those answers now, but guess time will tell.

What do you do for exercise in the winter? 

How do you stay active indoors in the colder months?

Day 210

It's day 210 of COVID-19 shut down and I sit and wonder how much longer it all will go on? I mean, no doubt the virus will be around forever in some form, but what I question and wonder is how long will it's effects surge? Should I start a count down as if I am anticipating Christmas? I mean, there are only 155 days until we'll come upon the one year anniversary of dealing with the novel-virus. Should I pick a 2021, third-quarter date instead? Most people seem to think that's when a vaccine will be available. I truly don't anticipate a cure, vaccine or change in restrictions for the better until perhaps next year October or later and I think that's optimistic.

What are your thoughts on the virus and it's "end" date? 

Should we start a betting pool? 

Day 209

My slow down Sunday includes this (see below) with French Vanilla creamer. It tastes like a blueberry muffin in a cup! What are you doing to relax today?

Day 208

Do you ever visit a place and say, "Oh, we have to come back here!" and then never return? You just don't think about it despite how close it may be to home, or how good the service, food, or whatever your experience was? I was reminded of such a place today, a local brewery we visited last year, literally a year ago and never frequented again. As participants of an annual wine walk today we made a stop in our route to go to the brewery. We reminded ourselves again of how we really should visit this brewery more often as well as the little town it resides in. 

As we continued on throughout the day frequenting other places of businesses and sipping our wine samples, we happened upon a BBQ restaurant that I swore we'd have to return to for dinner some time. And you know what, we actually did! Seizing the moment I suggested we do dinner at the restaurant after the wine walk concluded and we did. It was great food, great service and good company. 

All this to say, seize the moment when you can and get around to visiting the places you said you would (big or small)! Enjoy life. 

Day 207

I ran my first ever 10K today! I completed it two minutes over my desired goal time, but I am still proud of the accomplishment. I have to say, had it not been for the COVID induced gym restrictions, I would have never accomplished this feat. I can't wait for my medals to arrive from this, the Toyota 10K Flying Pig as well as the Queen Bee 4 Miler that I completed earlier this week. Having participated in one leg of each event (the pig and bee) I will also be able to add the "Snout and Stinger" medal to my collection of bling. Don't worry, I'll share a pic when they all arrive! 

 

Day 206

Throwback Thursday to when I used to volunteer at my local zoo's educational department and talked about poop. Yep. Poop. 

Day 205

 Wordless Wednesday

Day 204

The quote to the left is hard to follow some days. My version of how to be, and stay, in a good mood? Do something great that you're really proud of. Enjoy your accomplishment and then stay away from every other human on the planet for as long as you want to stay in that good mood!

Day 203

Ok, so question for you. Are you one of those people who dread and hate Mondays and just can't wait to make it through the day? Or, do you look at Mondays as a fresh start and a new beginning? Me personally, I think I'm somewhere in between. I try to "Never Miss a Monday" when it comes to working out, and think of it in general as a fresh start to a fresh week. Of course, I miss the weekend of "freedom" and not having to meet deadlines and such, but I definitely don't hate Mondays. 

Day 202

 What are you doing to slow down today? I worked out (yes, this actually helps me relax in the long run!) and took the time to sit alone, read and watch Netflix. 

Day 201

This weekend we masked up and ventured out to a pumpkin farm. I was happy to see, when purchasing tickets online, that the farm would only host up to 25% of their capacity crowd. Assuming not all 25% of the limited population could show up at the same time, I felt confident and somewhat "safe" with my purchase. Sadly, upon arrival the parking lot was packed and a crowded line of people waited for entrance. When turning in my tickets I questioned the staff member, "THIS is 25% capacity?". She assured me it was. 

Thankfully once inside the farm, with space to spread out, I felt a little "safer" but over all our trip remained short. I was happy to see the majority of the population wearing masks but of course there were some who chose not to wear one at all, or had it hanging off their chin. We observed unattended children touching public items and then eating food with the same, contaminated hands. Ugh. It didn't take long before we decided we had seen enough, picked out our pumpkins and left. 

While I, of course, want things to return to "normal" I can't say this is the way to do it people. Not wearing masks, not watching what your (or your kids') hands are doing or paying attention to where they've been, not maintaining social distance...it's not going to bring about an end to the spread of COVID-19. Sadly, based on this experience this will more than likely have been our one and only attempt to do something fall-like to celebrate the Fall and Halloween season.

Have there been any outings that you've attempted and regretted? Any adventures that turned out well? 

Day 200

200 days of blogging during the pandemic, wow! In the "spirit" of COVID, I ask this question. If you could personalize your face mask with three words, what would it say? Here are some of my ideas, what's yours?

- Cough that way ==>

- Always be kind

- I am smiling

Day 199