Three Months Later…

Well, it’s not that I haven’t posted in two months, it’s just that my last post was about my trip in September, and it’s now December.

So I’ll just do the long and short of it.

The first weekend of October was quilt retreat. It never disappoints.

I worked on small projects this time. I finished the pretty dresses quilt.

We had a campfire

And I went for a lovely nature walk and found mushrooms.

Trees

and vistas

It was grey but not too cold.

It was a rainy October and after retreat I did the Nerstrand Big Woods Run.

One word-Muddy.

Before-brrrrr

After

It was funny because at first we all tried to keep out of the mud holes and then after about the first 1/2 mile it was like ‘hell with it” and through the middle we went.

Later that weekend Lacey got the critical diarrhea which I couldn’t control and 1000 dollars later she is all better.

We took her to the emergency vet and she sort of threw some shade at us.

It happened that way.

Next day

Next week I’m off to Denver for the ANCC Magnet Conference. I was with over 10,000 of my closet friends, all nurses, from 74 countries. I stayed in the sketchiest hotel ever. EVER. It’s the first time I couldn’t wait to leave a place. The only good thing was I didn’t have neighbors till the last night. At least they were quiet. But I actually heard one of them sigh. Sigh. It’s not that loud of an emotion. The ripped dirty towels were a little bit gross and the halls that smelled like urine, well, not so much.  I loved the armed security guard. It was about 1.5 miles from where I was staying and I was able to walk every day. The weather was pretty nice. The neighborhood left something to be desired but I wasn’t frightened at all. I didn’t walk home any later than 8-9 though. It was on a fairly busy street and well lit. I think there might have been a drug deal below my window next to the dumpster sometime in the dead of night.

Denver was pretty and the convention center was nice.

  

     

And I got to see my friend Kathy, aka Mountainpurl

They threw a huge party for all of us and that was pretty fun--

It was crazy and the food was free.

The beer was sort of spendy though.

There was a nice liquor store between the convention center and me.

I learned a lot and it was really fun, except for the crappy hotel. That was a super bummer. I’d go again in a minute.  To the Magnet Conference, not to the hotel.

                             

Remember, always be friends with the mascot.

                 

In November--

Some snow…..

   

Voted Blue…..         

 

And ran a 10 mile trainer at White Bear Lake

It was cold but a really nice route. I’d do it again only I think I’ll be running a half in Savannah next year at that time.

Rainy and cool.

I went to VKL Minneapolis

    

I love this.

  

I took a great sweater class from Marie Green, designer of the Beekeeper Cardigan, Olive Knits.

I was able to meet up with another friend, Kathy, aka Instantmess, and we had a fab lunch together.

 

Love.

Later that night I met up with my coworker Ashley, her husband, and Dave and we went out to dinner and to Book of Mormon, which I liked just as much the second time round.

Squinty eyes and crazy hair.

THEN—as if that wasn’t enough the next weekend was Route 66 1/2 marathon. My weekend with Machelli. Love x 10.

I left Minnesota at 25 degrees and arrived in OK to 70 degrees.

Machelle’s back yard

We spent Saturday getting our race stuff, and doing some shopping in the cutest shops.

Again with the mascot

I found this soap……

Kinda true…

Our new ritual—The pre-race pedi. How did we not think of this before?

Race day and the temp dropped 40 degrees cause that’s how I roll. We did it though.

I’m happy to say that in sight of the finish line I fell right down, tripped over a large heave in the road. Pride severely injured.

Knee will survive. Gawd.

Can you stand it?

Finish line libations.

Next year I will be watching for that speed bump.

I got home Monday in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday.

AND—we went to the gym and worked out on Thanksgiving day! We look so enthused.

The day after Thanksgiving was a lonely bus ride--

We didn’t do a thing  for the holiday but on the following Sunday we went to US Bank and watched the Packers lose to the Vikings. Ugh. It was super uncomfortable as Vikings fans are pretty assholish. Sorry but true.

We took the bus up and back. It was fun but uncomfortable because as I said the Vikings fans are pretty hostile to the Packer fans. Oh well. At least I can say I’ve been there. We’ll go again when the Seahawks come.

And on to December.

Sorry about the long pause. I hate when bloggers do that. I am hoping to be better. Really.

Coming up—dogs dogs dogs, Seahawk games, and Christmas trees.

Meanwhile, back at my desk….