August Heat and Fiber, Running and Driving

Well, August came upon me in a big way. I wasn’t even expecting it and all of a sudden I was in the middle of it.

It’s been such a busy month. And September plans to be no different. Only I hope the humidity can settle down a bit.

I started the month at Stitches Midwest with Julie—and we didn’t get one selfie. Jeepers I am losing my touch. But just because we didn’t get a selfie doesn’t mean that we didn’t have a wonderful, wonderful time.

Stitches Midwest is MUCH different than West. First of all, it’s spacious and roomy and manageable. There are great places to eat nearby—within walking distance AND in the hotel. Oh, and did I mention at a reasonable cost? I saw some local people I know which was super fun. The rooms were so, so nice and I was able to afford a single room. I took a really good class about the Anatomy of Yarn. I learned so much. There were a ton of spots to sit and knit with plenty of widows and light. I plan to return next year for SURE. Did I mention the market? Not as big as West but that was ok because I was still able to spend too much money!

Beautiful hotel.

We were able to see our friends from West though……..

Julie pointed out there was a TV in the bathroom mirror. A mixture of creepy and fabulous.

My view of Schaumberg Il. There are a LOT of tolls to get here but it was an easy and nice drive. It was also hot there. Hot and muggy. The story of my life.

Our empty bar for Saturday dinner!

And seriously good food.

There was lots of yarn and fabulous fiber just down the hall FYI-

I bought the kit AND the book. My biggest spend. Can’t wait to knit it and my goal is to wear it to West.

A little sampling of the market---

There was so much more. AND they had quilting and sewing too which I think I will take a class in that next year. I love it. I tried to get some fashion show pics but they didn’t turn out well. The fashion show is on a raised platform instead of in a theater and we thought that was a much better venue. We could sit closer and see better.

So—we left on a fiber high. I dropped Julie at the airport and headed back home.

The next weekend I ran the annual Western Days Stampede. It’s a trail race and I’m getting better. I was a minute faster than last year AND I didn’t fall down. Win-win. The weather cooperated and wasn’t chokingly humid.

Start

and Finish

Weekend three found us driving up to Grand Forks-—

or more accurately Veselyville

We spent a nice weekend chillaxing with Blane and Melanie doing nothing which was just fine with me.

Pen Pen and Squirrely Bird

Flat views and corn

It’s hazy due to the fires in Canada. But not too bad. We got there Saturday and left Monday. I took more naps in those three days than I’ve taken in months. But it was much needed and very relaxing. I was hoping to get up there Friday but Dave didn’t get the day off. Oh well, next time.

Thursday was Laura’s birthday so we had dinner on Wednesday at her place. And again, I have no pictures of people but I was VERY intrigued by a chicken casually walking up on the deck to partake of some cat food.

   Say What?

And I could not leave without some pics of these girls--

Are you talking to me?

And babies, lots and lots of babies.

The population has tripled since our last stay there…..

Happy Birthday to my Blog Muse!  I was looking for the famous Laura picture of her carrying a calf but I found this one called Laura and Gargantua. I think this is possibly related to the fact that the calf was huge but it cracked me up and deserves a repeat in the blog—

Happy Birthday!!

Finally, last weekend was the Scheels Health Human Half. Ugh. It wasn’t as hot but the dew point was up in the mid 60’s. I can’t even. My time was 2:14:47. I can’t seem to finish it up anymore. I am losing my strength early and I don’t know why. I need to research better training or something. I had my doubts about this race since all my half marathons have been going off the rails this summer. I was pretty demoralized but oh well. As the pacer said when she was trying to pass me “At least you are out here running”. Yes, but running so much more slowly than two years ago. I am discouraged. And next week I have the half in Virginia and it looks to be even hotter and more humid than ever—high of 85, dew points have been up in the upper 60’s. Maybe stormy which will likely add to the moisture. I have already got a poor attitude about that. I told Cody that if it’s truly that hot I’ll be running a mile and a half, then walking a half. mile, rinse and repeat. There’s not way I can tolerate  running in that for 13.1 miles.

BUT—I did get out and run the race and I did finish and Cathy did a great job and we had our ritual post race bloody which was the best part of the whole dang day.

So that’s why I haven’t gotten much done around here-and next month is the trip to VA and then Scotland!! Woot woot. I can’t wait. I’ll have better hair and my teeth are fixed. Way too much fun.

I forgot to mention that I voted in the primary and I hope you all did too-

Miscellanous thoughts--

It’s been hazy here as mentioned before

Manny has been holding his water quite well for the past 3 or so days. Of course, we’ve been here letting him out on a regular basis. But I was checking out some solutions at Pet Smart the other day….

I think these would save us some frustration, and he’d sport them like a champ.

Dave says no, no diapers for Manny….yet.

So, that’s about it for August. We are in the final week and then we leave for Norfolk, a place I’ve never been.

Enjoy the rest of the summer-it’s going fast!

A Happy Mother Bear

So Hot, So Very Very Hot

July was really really hot. Well, the start of it when all my races were was very hot. Now it’s pleasant and dry. Of course. I have a race in a couple of weeks though so the heat should ramp up again. And Ragnar Great River (which I am NOT running) is towards the end of August and that is usually a terribly hot weekend.

But where has July gone? It’s August in a couple of days and then it’s a slide into fall. The years just go faster and faster I guess. September will be a huge month, what with travel to Virginia to see these three

And then off to Scotland for more selfies like this-

Cause that’s what we do best. Only I’ll have way better hair AND my teeth are fixed now. The landscapes should be as nice though.

Oh, but in August we have a trip to see these two

Plus 10 pets and a  zucchini the size of a small dog

But back to the present—and near past.

July 4th I was supposed to run a race called Red, White, and Boom in Minneapolis. However, it was soooo hot they cancelled the 1/2 and made it a half of a half, or 6.75 miles.

At first I thought, this isn’t bad-I could have run a half-

I have a band on my head-my hair is not that big…..

But then after about 7 blocks I thought-Nope, too hot.

Post Sweaty Race

So that was all fun and games.

Then, two weeks later I did a race called the Nuthouse Challenge.

This race is a 10K in the morning, a 5K in the evening, and the following morning is a half marathon. And the weather didn’t disappoint.

It started out ok. Pre 10K at Soldiers Field and the War Memorial. It was pretty hot but only 6.2 miles so not too killer. Temps in the upper 70’s along with a dew point of 70 degrees. It’s like breathing water. But I did it.

Round Two

I can run 3.1 miles in the blazing humidity

Sadly, the 1/2 didn’t go quite as happily.

I was hot before I even started. Race start was at 8 AM. Thankfully it was somewhat overcast, but the dewpoint at that time was again 70 degrees. Temps heading upwards to 80ish. But barely which was another blessing.

However, I did want to die several times out there. There was not enough water and I stupidly didn’t carry any. Longest hottest 1/2 I have ever run.

Reflecting on the War Memorial and that I am already too hot.

And the end….

All I can think of is Death, take me now. Ugh. It is so hot right there. Growing up in a cool climate is not serving me well here and I am rethinking summer races altogether. I’d rather run in the cold. And when I get to that point I’ll be thinking-It’s 10 below, what am I doing here?

I got three of these, 5, 10, and half.

The only plus was that I won 2nd place in the challenge in my age group and got a 15 dollar gift cert to a local running store. So good for me. I guess.

Winner winner, chicken dinner

Bad picture but that’s how I looked. Bad.

I can’t even say how much I’m glad that’s over. And within a week, the temps dropped, the dewpoint is non-existant, and here we are. No races for weeks. So annoying.

We babysat Brandy for a few days-she and Lacey had a good time barking at everything that moved-

Dave enjoyed some Ice Cream…

And July rolled on.

I quit paying for parking and started to take the bus exclusively in July, after practicing for most of June. I actually love taking the bus, however, it’s been summer so ask me when it’s pouring rain and freezing cold. Maybe not so much then.

I’d like to say I get a lot of books listened to and some knitting done

I got some new and seriously cool sunglasses (finally) and I showed them off with Angie as we were working on Friday

We are really really cool.

Puddy, the worse cat known to mankind, decided that the deck wasn’t good enough anymore and there are new heights to scale…

I was able to get her down before work this day, but Dave couldn’t get her down yesterday. She eventually came down on her own and hasn’t decided to climb since. Well, yet anyway.

This coming weekend I travel to Stitches Midwest to check out another side of Stitches, and to see my friend Julie. Woop Woop. It’s almost here. I’ve been working alot these past two weeks and the thought of getting up on Friday AM and driving over to Chi-town fills me with the utmost happiness.

Till then, Jack says get that effing camera out of my face….

And Manny wishes that, for once, he knew where the bathroom was….