Circus Juventas!

Basically just a post of poor-quality cell phone photos!

W00t!

Trail Run #2!

...oh, the agony!!

Murphy-Hanrehan Park in Savage, you have bested me but I shall not be conquered!

This was a heckuva race, ladies and gents. Firstly, I'd been mentally preparing for a 5-mile race (which was a bit longer than I thought I was raeady for) only to be told the course was actually 5.6 (or so?!) Secondly, there was not a lot of running going on - this course had some serious ups and downs. There was a lot of walking up, and actually a lot of walking down so I didn't die. (I did almost biff it once. That was terrifying.) Add to that the eternal "sunglasses or no sunglasses" question - the last few miles left me choosing whether to be blind from lack of light, or lack of glasses.

Yeah, it was tough.

I was impressed that I did manage to maintain around a 15-minute mile, I didn't die/injure myself, and I will show up for the next race.

Oh, and I wasn't last! I actually passed 6 people, and mky best mile was mile 4-5. I picked up some serious pace time.

The next race, at 3.2 miles will seriously seem like a walk in the park.

Woo hoo!

Oh AND I wore my totally bad-ass trail shoes. They are awesome.

AND AND my number this race was 113! I am having some serious number love... though I have still to win any serious swag. Maybe next time.

Puff-Puff-Puffing Along!

Last night I made my triumphant return to the Minnesota Centennial Showboat!  (The last time I'd been on-board was for its inaugural season -- Jekyll and Hyde in 2002.)

Some lovely black-eyed susans from Harriet Islad.

A beautiful vista... the boat, the river, and the skyline.

It's the boat!  Still beautiful, 9 years later.

And a view FROM the boat.

So I sat next to this great couple, who's been coming to see shows on the boat for the past 8 years or so.  They were just a stitch and a half, and made me feel like quite the Showboat Celebrity!  (The coolest part for me was when I saw that they were using the SAME BAG I made in 2002 for the Newsboy Olio!)  The show was wonderful, and my favorite olios were the parade olio (a Practical Man) and the one featuring a hotdog, ketchup, and mustard.  (Frankfurter Sandwiches!)

I kind of want to go again.

Trail Race #1!

I can't believe it's already started, but I had my first trail race of the season last night!

This is part of the Lifetime Fitness Trail Series -- it runs every other Thursday for 5 events.  This one was 4.58 miles in Hyland Park Reserve.  The weather was a little on the muggy side, and I was having a hard time with needing my sunglasses for the blazing sun, but being blinded by them in the more wooded areas -- but all in all it was a success!  My goal was to finish in a hour, and I got in at 1:03:38.  Not too shabby at all!

(I think I could have made it.  I didn't push myself tooooo hard.)

The only bummers were that there was no water at the second water stop, and then no water at the finish line.  (Or Gatorade!)

But I'm excited for the next one... or I was, until I just saw that it's 5.4 miles.

Erk.

A really good number!!  Except that I didn't win any prizes.

To Duluth!! (Link-o-Rama!)

A whirlwind trip to Duluth this weekend.  I came into some surprise concert tickets -- and the show was awesome.  Every hotel within 20 miles was totally booked, and I am thankful that I have generous relatives who will let me crash in their cabin overnight.  Waking up to the sunshine over the lake -- priceless.  Almost enough for me to wish I drank coffee.  I bet that would just add to the enjoyment!

Then into Duluth for a run along the lakeshore on the boardwalk, followed by a delicious breakfast at At Sarah's Table Chester Creek Cafe.  Everyone should go there.  All the time.  I left a postcard to my friend's Fringe Festival show.  Everyone should go to that, too.  Seriously.

THEN a quick stop by the Park Point Art Fair, where I bought a spectacular photo from Pat Parnow Photography (the pear one under "fruits & veggies.")

Oh, and a few rousing games of Road Trip Bingo (thanks to an iPhone app) on the road home!

SO fabulous.

I am SO TIRED.

I am AWESOME!!!

Okay, just a little horn-tooting here.

I had kickboxing this morning at 6am!

BUT...

I GOT UP AT 5 AND RAN FOR TWO MILES BEFOREHAND!!!!

Considering I knew I'd be at work until after 7, it was a very pleasant day.  Up to run and box, then a shower and breakfast... drive to work, get stuff done... get a hair cut, do the frog dance, take some photos...

It was a great day.

Awesomely Sore...

My first kickboxing class was yesterday.

Kevin totally kicked my butt.  I never want to try to work any part of me "to failure" ever.

It was fun, though.  Real fun!  The time went fast, and I got to hit things. (But not people.)

I learned how to wrap my hands, and I had gloves, and got to kick stuff, too!

The coolest(?) part was that about halfway through the day the soreness started creeping in... suddenly when I reached for something, it hurt a little.  When I gesticulated wildly in a meeting (as I am prone to do) it kind of hurt! And then later, when I had a nice belly laugh I capped it off with "ouch."

So excited that I'll be doing it again tomorrow at the peak of soreness.

W00t.

Hooray, Tony Awards!

So, this year I went to a bona-fide Tony Awards Viewing Party.  My date is pictured to the left there.  (Okay, not really... but she was one of my favorite parts of the night.  Seriously the teeniest kitty I have ever seen.)

First, the food was fabulous -- INCLUDING a delicious vegan artichoke dip.  I know, right?

Second, Neil Patrick Harris had the most awesome opening number and THEN mentioned IKEA.  And then I Tweeted about it, and then someone said that I was AWESOME!

Third, I managed to pick 12 of the winners on my Tony ballot.  I would have had more, but I was holding on to hope that "Book of Mormon" might relinquish their stranglehold and let "Scottsboro Boys" have a little glory.  No such luck.  However, I was UBER-happy that "War Horse" got a ton of recognition.  The puppetry looks incredible and I will HAVE to see it if it tours.

So... good food, good folks, cute kitty, great show... total awesomeness.

A Summer Tradition!

Okay, not MY summer tradition... but I did put on my "To Do This Summer" list to attend a MN Saint Game.  As luk would have it, a friend of mine had a spare ticket, so I got to go today!

The weather was not ideal... cloudy, cool and more than a little breezy.  We also had general admission seats, so I think my goal will be amended to attend a game another time this summer as well -- we couldn't really see any of the "fun" stuff.

It's been years since I've been to a game, but they still had the fabulous ball pig AND it had costume changes!  I also thoroughly enjoyed Muddona's shenanigans, and didn't realize they had a goat now, too!  Of course I had a ballpark hot dog (and UNLIKE the Twin's awesome venue... Midway Field has onions for your dogs!  Epic win.) and a soft pretzel... the unlikely choice was the hot chocolate.  It did do a lot to warm me up though, and it was very reasonably priced.

The Saints did win, 3-2.

Next time I'm jumping in the bounce house.

Oh, the Anticipation!

Monday is my first kickboxing class!  I mean, they SAY kickboxing class, but it could also involve PVC pipe filled with sand, or tractor tires, or running around with car tires chained to you, or lifting big wooden beams... "Caveman Training" supposedly.  I'm a little intimidated, but also pretty excited.

Minneapolis in the RAW!

Today was a big day for me!  First I was WOWed by Cirque du Soleil's Ovo, which I got to attend free due to the generosity of my (soon to depart) store manager.  It was incredible for sure!

THEN I ran home, and instead of packing it up and hitting the hay -- I dressed it up and drove to downtown Minneapolis (I know, right?  It was, like, 8:00!) There I spent a very hip and happening tome at RAW, featuring the artwork of a very talented coworker of mine.

I felt hip and cool, I got to wear a fabulous vintage dress, I didn't fall off my heels AND I figured out how to use the newfangled parking meters in Minneapolis.

It was a full day.  Of ME!

Best. Lunch. Ever.

I seriously had the best lunch ever this week.

Steak with garlic, ginger and lemongrass; a bell pepper, tomato, onion, and cucumber relish; plus Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley.

I mean, I know it's all good for me.  But it's also delicious!  Why don't I eat this well all the time?  Seriously?