I’m On A Boat

adminbourbon, brownies, Fall in Chicago, Groupon, Lake Michigan, sailing, Tall Ship Windy, Uncategorized%s Comments

Somehow, Chicago has lucked out on yet another week of unseasonably warm temperatures.   It was perfect timing for me yesterday because 1) I got out of work early, 2) I had a Groupon for the Tall Ship Windy that was expiring exactly yesterday and 3) the weather was perfect for a little fall sailing.  Off to Navy Pier I went.

(Are you familiar with Groupon.com?  It’s my go-to for when I want to try something new and try it on the cheap.  It’s a deal-of-the-day website where if enough people purchase said Groupon for the day, the deal is on for everyone.  I’ve tried The Counter, Jazzin’ at the Shedd, Spa Chakra at the Palmer House, and Paint, all for a fraction of the cost I would have paid.  Pretty sweet.)

Back to the sailing.

“Rum Runners” was the theme of the sail so in addition to AMAZING views of the city with the wind in my hair and sun in my face, I heard all about how tall ships were used to smuggle alcohol into 1920s “dry” Chicago.  Apparently, “Grandmas that made brownies were now making bourbon.”  The docent telling the story was fantastic and I learned a lot of cool things about booze and Chicago.

These days are the kind I store in my pocket and bring out when it’s Februry and freezing and I haven’t seen the sun in weeks.  When winter’s frigid winds roll into town, I am going to be able to remember that, at one point, the wind was soft, warm and propelled Tall Ship Windy through Lake Michigan on a lovely October day.

Chicago Marathon Recap

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, Chicago running, CM10, Fall in Chicago, first marathon, Luna Bell, running, Uncategorized%s Comments

This weekend was sooo my weekend.

First, my Michigan State Spartans beat U of M.  For the third straight time.  This is may also be known as “putting them in their place” or “basing your team on a kid who can’t tie his shoes is a terrible idea/he will never win the Heisman”.

This glorious, 34-17 win gave me a clear conscience to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon and run it, I did.

A record setting 38,131 runners competed in the marathon and 26.2 miles later, I was one of the 36,159 that finished.  Even today, I cannot believe that I ran that far and it’s all over.  It’s almost surreal.

Some highlights:

  • Nearly every inch of the entire course was lined with spectators.   I now know what 1.2 million people look like.
  • Every single one of those spectators were cheering, screaming, sign-holding and smiling.  I now know what being a rock star must feel like.
  • My friends Mike and Lindsay were at miles 6 and 9, Ryan and my Mom were at mile 12, my co-workers were at mile 23, my college roommates saw me cross the finish.  I had people there for me at crucial miles and it made all the difference in the world getting me across that finish line.
  • Every Port-a-Jon I used was relatively clean.  Score.
  • I was served a Dixie Cup of beer at Mile 24.  I dedicated that entire mile to those fine folks.

Here is the method to my madness during the race:  I focused on each individual mile.  Some people told me to break it into sections, some people told me to not look at the mile markers.  But the second my feet hit the start pad, I knew it was going to be a mile by mile race for me.  “Working on 2, working on 2”, “working on 8”, “working on 18”, all the way to “working on 26”.  This really kept me focused on a manageable task (I can run a single mile) and fully present to what I was trying to accomplish.  It worked for me because before I knew it, I was working on 26.

Speaking of Mile 26, this is the only portion of the race with a hill.  The Chicago Marathon is famous for being “fast and flat” but right before you hit 26, there is a decently steep hill.  And I didn’t even mind.  For me, it hammered home that yes, this is a huge deal, yes, even though you’re almost done, you have fought for every step of this run in 80 degree heat.  And yes, once you’re at the top of that hill, .2 miles has never looked so sweet.

When those .2 miles were done, I cried.  Oh boy, did I cry.  I was a marathoner.  I ran 26.2 miles.  Every time I didn’t go out, every beer I didn’t drink, every mile I put in when I just wanted to stay in bed all led to the exact moment I crossed the finish line.  Holy cow.

And then I got to meet up with my cheering section:

And then I got to go home to my cat.  And even though I had to share my bagel with her, I didn’t mind one bit.

Congratulations to all of the 2010 Chicago Marathon runners!  It was long and it was hot but we did it!

An Apple a Day…

adminapples, Fall in Chicago, Fox and Obel, JK's Scrumpy Organic Cider, Uncategorized%s Comments

After an hour of discussion about what to get for dinner and a 4 mile run on the treadmill while watching college football, Ryan and I headed to Fox and Obel for a little dinner “and”.

I say “dinner and” because you can’t go to Fox and Obel without picking up some delightful little treat to bring home.  I’d have to rob a bank to be able to afford entire grocery shopping there but Ryan and I love grabbing brunch or dinner and a few special things to bring home.

After sharing a burger, salad, their to-die-for homemade potato chips (thick enough and perfectly under-cooked enough to still taste like potatoes), and a pear salad with candied walnuts (which are just incredible), we trudged home through the rain.  While unpacking our little bag of goodies, I noticed a theme:

JK’s Organic Hard Cider, honeycrisp apples, apple pie squares… can you tell we are loving this cold, cozy season?

Here.

adminFall in Chicago, Harvest Moon, Uncategorized, yoga, Yoga House Chicago%s Comments

Shortly after 10:09pm last night, the Super Harvest Moon was visible in Chicago.  I read and re-read the technical descriptions of what and why that is and here’s my understanding: it was super big, super orange and marked the transition to fall without asking; this Super Harvest Moon was telling us it was here and it is now Autumn.  Period.

I went to the Sunrise Yoga class at YogaHouse Chicago this morning and the instructor, Annika (who was fantastic, btw), said some sweet words as she set the intention for the class.  She said that as we experience this Harvest Moon, to reflect with gratitude on that which we have harvested in the past  but to also look forward to what we are harvesting right now, what we are creating right now for future harvests.  I have never harvested anything in a figurative sense (we all know how growing a basil plant went) but her words touched me in that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the goodness in my life; however, I know that what went into “harvesting” that may or may not be what gets me to the “harvest” of what I’m working on now.  Humble gratitude for the past but absolutely focused on the here and now and learning new ways to get to my next Super Harvest Moon.  Both figuratively and literally.

Namaste and Happy Autumnal Equinox.

Things I Am Loving: Fall Edition

adminAffy Tapple, Apple Cider, College Football, Comfort Food, Fall Cooking, Fall in Chicago, Republic of Tea, Uncategorized%s Comments

Walking home from coffee with a good friend today,  I got to thinking about why I love this season so much.  In honor of the first official day of fall, I have comprised a list of Things I am Loving.  Happy Autumnal Equinox!

1. Republic of Tea’s Apple Cider Herbal Tea.  Ryan and I picked this up while waiting out a downpour at Crate and Barrel last Saturday.  I am loving waking up every morning and basically having Fall in a steaming hot mug.

2.  Affy Tapples.

Picked one of these bad boys up on the way home from work last night.  Reminds me so much of being a kid- you knew it was fall when Mama G. started buying these for treats.

3. Gossip Girl and Glee.

I pretty much Gleeked out as the season premiere of Glee began last night and Gossip Girl’s premiere last week was came just as Ryan and I had watched our last Season 3 dvd (Ryan loves him some Chuck Bass).  CANNOT wait for 1) Glee’s Britney episode and 2) for the creepy Juliet girl Nate is dating to go away.  So annoying.

4. College Football.  I sleep in a Michigan State t-shirt every night for good luck during football season.  We’re 3-0.  I like to think it helps.

5. Scarf and sweatshirt season.  This is that perfect, fleeting, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it time of year when you can wear scarves or a sweatshirt by itself and you’ll be perfectly snuggly and warm.  Fast forward 5 seconds and you’ll be craming said scarf and said sweatshirt underneath a parka due to frigid wind and snow.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

6. Soup making and bread baking.  Fall comfort food.  Heading to the Green City market this weekend to inspire some Saturday cooking.  Probably while wearing a scarf and/or sweatshirt.  See #5.

Check out Trib writer Mary Schmich’s article for fun fall facts.  Interesting stuff.

What are YOU loving about Fall this year?