About the author...

Okay, time to come back to my neglected blog... things have been crazy around here and for a change, a lot of that craziness has been because of, drum-roll please, MY schedule. So in an unusual twist for this blog, this post is mostly about... ME!

During the third week of October the annual weekend with my high school friends took place in NY. The place never really matters with this bunch, because we would have a blast anywhere, but this time we stayed in cottages a few steps from the bay. We went to a few wine tastings and while I know little about wine and rarely drink it, the vineyards were beautiful, the tour amazing, and, of course, the conversation and company amazing!

The next picture was taken in the bathroom of a restaurant. I didn't really want to put the parts with the toilet paper and such on the blog so they have been cropped out. The bathroom was different... sooooo many mirrors and pink everywhere... toilets, sinks, soap, tile, etc. It looked like it hadn't been updated in quite a few decades. Somehow, really, I got pushed into the door of the men's bathroom and was able to peek in and from what I saw, with my eyes covered of course, was the same style, just in blue. This is probably not nearly as funny as it all was in person, but I figure if I write it down someday I will reread this and laugh again at the memory.

Then two weeks later, on the weekend I turned 32 yet again, the girls from college got together for the weekend. How great it was to have us all together... I think we figured it had been my wedding, 11 1/2 years ago, since the last time we were all in the same place. Doug coordinated the whole thing without me knowing about it until the end... and we are all so happy that he did.

I am only bummed that I didn't take any pictures so I am borrowing a few from where they were posted on F*ceb**k. Above we had just finished at the spa... my toenails are a lovely shade of purple. Below we indulged at the Ch**secake Fact*ry.

After my friends left, we celebrated my birthday at home. Doug and the kids gave me a cell phone... no more pay-as-you-go plan for me. I think Doug thinks that if I have a phone with a few bells and whistles, along with a monthly payment, that I might just remember to keep it charged. I have to admit I have enjoyed being able to get online while on-the-go this week.

Last weekend Doug and I, along with our friend Denise, ran the Richmond 1/2 marathon. It was our second time and we beat last year's time by about 10 minutes, finishing in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 55 seconds. I trained harder for this one... well, as much as one can with a busy family life & 5 children and I could tell... I felt so much better during the race. I felt so good tht I even enjoyed a small cup of beer at mile 9 without worrying about dehydration, germs, the history of the person in the kilt handing them out, how it would look to others, etc. I sprinted at the end and I think that is the reason that now, three days later, my legs are still a little sore, especially my shins, but unlike last time when I was unsure I would run another, this time I am ready for the next one! Doug and I had a goal to run the whole thing and we did it... though I highly recommend to future runners to walk while drinking a beer or the smell of your shirt will remind you of "being bad" for the remainder of the run. Or you could always just do the shot of bourbon offered a mile or so earlier.

I have had a head cold for the past week that has zapped my energy ~ I was not going to let it stop my race, though it is now worse and I am not sure that a draining run was really the best thing for it. I am off to the doctor today (I'm back now... drugs in hand). I have also been battling a never-going-away-but-can-be-managed thyroid issue since the late summer that still is not under control so that too partially explains my blog and photography neglect. I'm just too darn tired. Hopefully I'll be back to full speed soon... just in time for the holiday madness!