Back From Vacation

Vacation was wonderful. We went to see my family, then up to Trinidad for a week. From there we went to Fern Canyon:
A few hikes in Patrick's Point:

And a couple of trips into Oregon. Unfortunately, the second day on vacation Jim got sick. About the time he was starting to feel better, I got sick. So, we were able to do a decent amount of hikes, but no bike rides or runs. I wasn't even able to run at home until today. And it was 82 degrees when I finished my run this morning! Coming from 65 degrees in Trinidad, it was too hot to do any more than the 6 miles. And I know it's going to hit 100 degrees today before the day is over. Oh well. I'll get back into a decent running schedule now and slowly add some miles back in. I wasn't planning on doing another half marathon until December, so I have time. But I'd better find a good 5k or 10k in the next couple of months to keep me focused!

Almost Summer

Summer is almost here. Earlier this week I would have said it didn't feel like it. I ran my long run in the rain and wasn't able to ride my motorcycle. Then Thursday it was so warm that I was hot on my run (bad news - I should have hydrated better), but I was also able to ride my motorcycle to work (good news)!! Things around here and work have been pretty stressful. You would think with the added stress I would be escaping more into my books. But I have not at all. Nor to the television. I've kept up my running and pretty good about the gym (which I think exercise is about all that is keeping me sane right now), and it's been listening to music and playing number and word games. Kind of a mindless thing to do, but it seems to help. I still have my martini nights on Saturday after my long run as well, but I've started mixing them with lighter items (low-cal cranberry juice, diet ginger ale. . . ) and that seems to be helping with the weight as well. You know, you control what you can and do the best you can with the rest! On another good note, my husband and I are enjoying or time together. We may not being going out to dinner as much, but we cook together at home, do walks together, the gym, brew beer. . . basically we still enjoy each others company. And after almost 25 years, I think that's a really good thing :-) And, looking to the future. . . I'm hoping to do another half-marathon with my daughter in October! We're looking to do the Rock n Roll one in Vegas and my friend and her daughter (if it's not finals week) may join us as well! Of course my husband will go, but he'll sit on the sidelines and cheer with my daughter's boyfriend because neither of them like to run those kind of distances!

Bay to Breakers

I just finished the Bay to Breakers race. What an experience that was. All good and fun though! Here's a picture of my friend, her daughter and me after the race. Also, one of one of the many costumes that I thought was funny. And yes, I have pictures of people running naked. And no, I won't post them on the web!

Catch up - again!

I see it's been over a month since I last posted. Lets see, work is going as usual. The big event of the year is over and just one more week of actual school for the students left. It's always nice to go on to summer time! Running is going well. I've been averaging just over 20 miles per week. It feels good - although I keep thinking I should lose at least a little more weight. Then again, my eating is not the best. It could be a lot worse though so I just need to be thankful for what I have. And maybe go to the gym more than twice a week! I've also been catching up on a lot of reading. Now that I'm buying less book (and actually using the library), my tbr pile is getting smaller. In a couple of months it may get to the point where it's just books on my bookshelf waiting to be read, and not around the floor as well!

As for future plans, we're planning another trip up the cost in July. We have the trailer, and a place to stay the first few nights (going to see my Grandmother!), but we haven't made the reservations for the rest of the nights. I've picked the places and written down the phone numbers. My problem is that I do that late at night, and these places are only open for reservations during normal business hours. So hopefully today we'll get that done! And, next week I'm running in the Bay to Breakers race (I think it's just over 7 miles with a killer incline around mile 2.5) with a friend of mine. Since it's a hilly race, and more run for the fun and scenery, I plan on slowing down my pace and just enjoying the people and such around me. I'm really looking forward to it though. And when I get back, I need to buy some new running shoes!

Napa!

Well, my youngest just turned 21, so we all celebrated by going up to Napa for some wine tasting! Here is just one picture of my girls and their boyfriends.

Birthday Celebration

We had a fun time celebrating my birthday last night. It was a murder mystery party set in the Renaissance time. Everyone did great getting into a costume and trying to act their part. I do wish the kit we bought gave us a bit more detail, but not bad for a first time. I'd love to try this again - not sure if the others would or not! Here is a picture of my girls and me in costume.

Catching Up

I feel like I'm behind on everything right now! It took us almost 6 weeks to bottle the honey ale. But the reading were really good and so is the taste (so far). But it's done and bottled and now we're getting the yeast starter done for the next hef. And I went to get a Belgium, and there were only three small bottles left in the pantry! So, I went to order the supplies to make another next week, and the website is down. Oh well. One day later for that as well! I also want to get my exercises done, but I keep putting them off or only doing one type and calling it quits. I need to get up off my behind and get back going. Not to mention my online class is taking a lot of time as well. And I feel like I'm behind with it because every week we have to post on the discussion board and then take an online test - but the test isn't even available until tomorrow morning! And I've read the chapter, done the pre-tests, completed the online homework (that doesn't get turned in), and yet I feel like I'm behind. I guess I don't like thing left undone! Oh well. On the running side I'm still keeping up with that. I signed up for the Women's Nike half-marathon lottery. The race is in October, but you have to sign up now and then they draw names by the end of the month. We tried last year and didn't make it in, but we're hoping for this year!