Cross-Training. Day 1.

The entire Chicagoland area has been spoiled. We're talking temps in the mid to upper 50's, some even in the 60's. While we should be out running...we totally haven't. I blame the fact that we've been entertaining my rockstar of a sister (who leaves in the morning, I'm quite sad). And when I say "blame" I mean...I have a great excuse to not run.

So in lieu of running...the three of us did a bit of cross-training today...on ice. This evening we headed to Millennium Park for our own rendition of the Icecapades!

It was great. Mike is definitely a natural born skater...he puts Michelle Kwan to shame. I think he made it around the rink once without having to hold onto the sides. The look on both of our faces when we first went onto the ice was probably sheer terror while trying to find our balance. He was so cute. But I wasn't much better. I tried tapping into my inner Sasha Cohen...tried being the opportive word. The good news is, I didn't fall!! The bad news is...I think I made a few folks around me fall with my wreckless skating and inevitable wobbling about. Oh well. Better them than me. However my sister Cathy skated circles around us--and she's not even that good (just goes to show how bad Mike and I are!).



We skated for all of thirty minutes before our legs were killing us. Clearly, we were not 10 years old anymore and had forgotten just how much work it is to skate in circles.

My question of the night...why is it that every skating rink I've ever been to, they skate counterclockwise, but at Millennium Park everyone skates clockwise. Hmmm...

And in true Barb tradition, I made sure the workout was followed with something counterproductive. This evening's festivities were followed by a nice fattening trip to Cold Stone Creamery. Peanut Butter Cup Perfection (but with white chocolate ice cream) was just what the doctor ordered. Sadly enough, I've got a killer tummy ache right now. Regardless of the calories, I'm still counting tonight's ice skating adventure as cross-training.

So it's about 2 am and I'm awake here on the laptop unable to sleep. I've got American Pie on the DVD player and I'm thinking about the days of high school and all the juvenile drama that came with it. Oh, the good ole days! I've been looking up old high school friends on MySpace, seeing what the hell they've been up to the past eight years. Hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep soon.

May you dreams be light...

- B

Well...that *was* an interesting race...

Let me preface by the fact we almost missed the race. It took forever to drag our buns out of bed, find a working ATM and just get our butts in the car. We sat in bumper to bumper traffic for about 30 minutes (all race traffic at that), parked in the LP Zoo parking lot and dashed off to the start line. Right as we're walking up, they're finishing the Star Spangled Banner...and a few moments later, the gun went off. We started in the back of the group, but there were a few hundred people still running up behind us (last year parking was a problem, too). At least it was a timed event.

Temperature-wise, the weather was absolutely ideal. Although I was definitely overdressed. I should've just been in shorts and a long-sleeved tee. But instead, I was in capri's, long-sleeve shirt and a running vest. I was overheated by mile 1. By the time I finished the race, my face was BRIGHT RED!!! Oof.

It was a beautiful day for a run, and we had lots of fun. Mike and I ran together for about the first 3/4's of a mile, and in his competitive nature he ditched me and moved on (like I'd ever hold him back?). No major aches and pains, just some tight hip flexors. I definitely was a bit rusty out there, but it felt great to be pounding the pavement. So I really only have two cute lil' stories to share about yesterday's run...

1. Just before mile 2 I was running along next to a dad pushing his daughter in a jogger. The was loooooooving it and singing Old MacDonald at the top of her lungs. So after we learned that he had a pig, a cow and a duck, I joined in during a little E-I-E-I-O...which this darling little girl stopped singing, looked at me and said "I'm a soloist. I don't sing with anyone else." I nearly keeled over in laughter. Apparently, I was running next a future American Idol with the most hilarious diva attitude...she couldn't have been any older than four. Too cute!

2. Just after the three mile mark, a woman started telling me how she thought this was a 5k and not an 8k...she was having a rough time. Apparently, she had given birth six weeks prior, this was her "comeback run" (hadn't done any running since her second trimester) and she kept proclaiming how her "breasts were about to burst." Ouch. I felt really bad, so I talked through the next half mile or so, and then she needed to walk some more. Hopefully she finished in one piece and with limited soreness.

The finish line was a zoo, but Mike and I somehow met up quickly and headed home to get ready for some turkey and pie.

I went into the Turkey Trot with absolutely no expectations...and walked away with a pretty little PR. My last "official" registered 8k time was 1:03:37 back in April (Shamrock Shuffle).

Yesterday, I finished in 56:12, for an 11:19 pace. I'm quite pleased with myself. :)

But our Turkey Day was fabulous. As usual, I ate way too much food and nearly fell asleep at the dining room table. The pumpkin pie was a little slice of heaven.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAnd my sister made it into town safely and we've been having a good time thus far catching up, hanging out, and of course...napping (we're both EXCELLENT nappers).

More later.

Peace, yo.

So you wanna hear something funny?

We have an 8k race tomorrow.

...and well...we're unprepared.

This should be...interesting, to say the least. I mean, it's only five miles. Right? But it's just that. IT'S FIVE MILES. And uh...the last time I ran five miles was at the start of the marathon....ooooooooh a month ago.

Could be trouble!

I ran this event last year it was insanely cold. Think negative wind chill cold. About 1/3 of participants didn't show up b/c it was freezing. Ice caps on the lake. Wind gusts stinging your face bitterly. By far, the coldest day of the season.

I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be a bit kinder. My pals over at weather.com tell me 44 at 9am (with a feels like 39). Looks like I should be okay to venture out in my running capris.

Since I haven't been running in uh....almost a month, I have no expectations going into this race. My only goal is to finish and not be a popsicle when I cross the line. Although my secret expectation is that this race will help jump start our Country Music Marathon training. Gotta love hidden agendas.

My mom, in her infinite coolness (yes ma, I just said you're cool, don't let it go to your head) called me earlier this week to let me know that she's already putting together a CMM Cheer Team for us. Having grown up right outside Nashville, we still have a handful of family friends in the area. I'm pretty sure that in their minds, I'm still seven years old and too sassy for my own good (oh wait, that part I never grew out of), so it'll be cool to see them all on the sidelines.

The toe is still hanging on for dear life. And the RBF Great Midwest Relay team is all registered and ready to go...with the understanding that our name is still forthcoming. Sheesh..."Tootsie Roll" was definitely over scrutinized, guys. So in the meantime, we are simply "Team RBF" with the official name change to come.

I've enjoyed my mini-hiatus from running...but let's face it. If I even stand a chance at getting close to 5:30, my rear needs to get in gear. Leah? Jason? Drag my buns to the track next week...I've got some extra padding that I need to run off. ;) It doesn't appear that I'll get my pre-race work out in before tomorrow like I had wanted to. Other things just took priority (like Kansas basketball...which, nine times out of ten, will always take priority). Tonight will consist of cleaning and grocery shopping and picking up our Turkey Trot race packets. And other than that, my sister Cathy gets in tomorrow evening...could I *BE* any more excited? (think Chandler Bing voice)

But I hope everyone out there in blogland has a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday! Eat lots of stuffing and turkey and 'taters and pie...

Happy Holidays!

You'll Shoot Yer Eye Out!!

Sooooo...things are going much, much better in the Jayhawk/OOSG casa.

There was some major drama that threw down on Friday in our condo...to make a long story short, before they patched up the wall, our "ingenius" maintenance guy decided to only then take a look at the pipework and noticed that our neighbor's pipe was leaking, too.

He then said the words that caused the volcano to errupt...

...looks like we can't patch this up today...

Enter spazmatical Barb...
WHATDOYOUMEANYOUCANTPATCHTHISUPTODAY
WHYTHEHELLDIDNTYOUFINDTHELEAKSIXWEEKSAGO
WHOTHEHELLAREYOUTODELAYWORKONOURCONDO
HERLEAKISNOTMYEFFINGPROBLEM
YOUCANTDOTHISTOUSANYMOREYOUSTUPIDSUNNOVAWITCH
OURKITCHENBETTERBEDONETODAYORHEADSWILLROLL
...there was a lot of high pitched shrilly shrieking going on. (Think Jack McFarland freak out from Will & Grace)

The Jayhawk had snapped.

Enter a bunch of lies and scandal from our maintenance man. Enter Barb, Mike and our Property Manager not taking any more bull shit. Enter our Godsend of a contractor who had everything finished before 4pm. And finally...things got handled.

...all about 4 weeks TOO LATE.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...we now have a semi-finished kitchen. Our new countertops will be delayed because work got delayed on our condo Friday. But all of our kitchen contents are back where they belong. The new dishwasher came and is so beautiful it'll bring a tear to your eye.

*sigh*

So while the Great Flood Debacle of 2006 continues (countertop replacement next month and carpet replacement after the holidays)...this chapter of the repairs is coming to a close. We're writing a letter to our Condo's board, property manager, condo supervisor of the parent company, all copying our state attorney. It's on muthafudger. :)

So you could argue that Christmas came early this year. In Barb & Mike tradition, all our Christmas decorations went up today. We put on Christmas movies (A Christmas Story, some old Christmas Classics...we're actually watching Home Alone right now) and decked the halls. It was a perfect way to wind down the weekend.

But all in all it was a crazy day. We had company over for the KU/Towson basketball game. We had to do grocery shopping. And the SEVEN strands of lights from last year that went ka-put (which brought me close to tears).

As you may have guessed....we still haven't gone running...which means we're already behind in training for the Country Music Marathon. Whoops. AND we have a race on Thursday. It's only an 8k...but right now 5 miles feels like forever. Our goal is to go running at least once before the Turkey Trot. Even if it is only 2-3 miles. That and to buy me some winter running pants. Cause well...homey don't like her other pair.

But I do have one small pinch of news to share that's running related. My second toe on the right foot...is officially...3/4's of the way nailless. EW! The last bit of the toenail has just hanging on for dear life ever since the marathon! What am I supposed to do? Let it sit there until it falls off? Rip it up? It's just sooo...sooo stumpy. And gross. It's like a toe-let or something. This whole toenail falling off things is definitely new to me. At least it's not flip flop weather. That would be bad.

Anyhoo...it's my best girl's birthday today...Welcome to the Quarter Century Club, Linds! *mwah*

Day 2: Demolition Day.

Where's Ty Pennington!?

It was demo day in the Jayhawk household. Straight through the wall we go...tomorrow the plumber is going to come out and will get all this nonsense taken care of.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut...we're making progress. So I can't complain too much.

So yeah...clearly, they kept the countertop there. WTF? They made a whole ordeal for us to pick out a new countertop becuase this one was going to crack because "It had to be removed." I'm annoyed. They managed to destroy the one cabinet in the process though.



















The stupid drainage pipe (above the bucket) that caused the Great Flooding Debacle of 2006. What a pretty hole that is!















Shambles. Yes...our sink is in our dining area.
















So the good news is...NO APPARENT MOLD! The bad news is...KU put the basketball team on the court tonight when the cheer squad could've delivered a victory. But let's not get me started...

Change of luck...*knock on wood*

Well...Santa got the message...

...at least we THINK.

Maybe Santa was a little taken aback by the fact we were tinkering with reporting him to the better business bureau if he didn't pull through for us in a timely fashion? I was on the verge of going to the North Pole and laying the smack down personally after our doorknob to our bedroom LOCKED US OUT (seriously...it just kept going downhill). I was at least thankful I was showered and changed for the day. The doorknobs were the original from '86 and literally crapped out Monday morning. Sheesh.

Anyhoo...

Today was a good day, despite the fact I didn't go running...again (I'm pushing 2 weeks on slacking...seriously...can someone motivate my buns...please?)...in a matter of a few short hours, we learned that our plumbing drama would be solved within the next three days, the Corian countertop folks told us it'd be a short 6 days from time of measurement to installment (Home Depot said 3-4 weeks), AND our yanker of a claims agent actually got off her rear and did something to help us out...she actually pulled through and got us reimbursements for all of the meals we've had to eat out for since our water's been shut off (and I'm quite embarassed to tell you the dollar amount, but trust me...it's absurd!).

So all in all, this appear to be looking up!! *knock on wood*

Over the next three days, I'll share our progress as we tear out the cabinets, slice open the wall and get everything patched up. Should be interesting to watch this unfold. Just cross all of your crossables that when the cabinets come out, they don't disintegrate from water damage...and that there's no crazy mold or anything lurking in there.

Cause frankly...I'm over this whole kitchen drama. I know I really haven't blogged about it before this week....BUT...I'm soooooooooooooo over it.

Here are a few before photos for you. As of right now, the contents of our entire kitchen are sprawled out around our living area...

Don't mind the fact the dishwasher is pulled out. Our rockin' super cool NEW DISHWASHER will be delivered on Saturday! WOO HOO!!










...and the other side...messy...messy...messy...











You can see our old nasty countertops here, I think this may very well be the original countertops installed in 1986.

And here is the sample of our new super sleek, sexy Corian sample, Mont Blanc. We're getting a new Corian sink, too.

So yes...this drama will hopefully be soon behind us all. And things can get back to normal. And maybe then running can resume. Maybe then our nights won't be spent roaming around Home Depot like little lost puppies making outlandish charges to our credit card. Maybe then...I can enjoy a home cooked meal. Maybe then...I'll be more relaxed...

Maybe then....

...just maybe...

...training will officially kick off.


45 days since the Great Flooding Debacle of 2006
32 days without having water and homecooked meals.
40 days until Christmas.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is my kitchen back. You see, the OOSG and I are officially pushing 6 weeks since the Great Carpet Flooding Debacle of 2006 that nearly ruined my birthday...and we are rather frustrated that it took maintenance more than two weeks to determine the culprit of the flood was none other than an old drainage pipe that had rusted, flooding our walls, carpet and interior of our next door neighbor's unit.

You see, this tag team has had it up to their witts end dealing with our snot of an insurance claims agent and the "brilliant" property manager of our building who has been about as helpful as a bag of rocks (which, as you can imagine, isn't very helpful)...and lets not forget the moronic plumber who couldn't tell his own head from his ass. At least we're now working with a contractor, who was of this point, has more intelligence than the three aforementioned entities combined. That's not to say I can't take back that comment back at a later date.

At this point, we've picked out and paid for new countertops and sink, purchased a new dishwasher, shelling out our hard-earned cash (okay...it's on the credit card, whatever) to get this corrected...and now we've come to realize that the cabinetry may be rotted beyond repair. If these people continue to drag their feet, I am seriously going to have a "Ginger Snaps Back" moment.

We know that we're in the "we can't make shit like this up" phase...and to be frank, we've sort of lost our sense of humor with the whole situation. Just when we think it can't get worse....it does!!!

So throw us a bone. Bring Christmas to our home early this year. Bring us our kitchen back. Possibly before December hits?! Pretty, pretty please? We can deal with replacing the carpet after the holidays. But we're pushing a month of not having a home-cooked meal in our place and it's making me quite sad. Not like I could cook in the first place, but that's beside the point...

I promise I've been a good girl this year...minus the fact I totally did not run this weekend like I had initially promised...but if you bring me my kitchen back in a timely fashion, I'll even learn how to cook better than I currently do now ('cause let's face it...frozen pizza and toast do not constitute as cooking).

Oh, and one other thing...if you could kindly explain how it is that the building owns our drywall (despite the fact we own the unit) and not the pipe in question inside of the wall (cause the interior of the wall is considered common area with the building), I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm starting to think they're all fulla shit.

So Santa, if you can't deliver this simple request...perhaps you could just point me in the direction of a money tree? I'd greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Barb

PS...I'd also like to add this, and this, and this to my Christmas list! Thanks ya big ole jolly fella!


...and in case you're wondering....
43 days since the Great Flooding Debacle of 2006.
30 days without having water in our kitchen...without a homecooked meal in our own home...and without the help of anyone from our maintenance staff (sooo glad we're paying their salaries, eh?)
42 days until Christmas...you better get busy, big guy.
...but who's counting?

All work and no running makes Barb a dull girl.

Sooooooooo...I really haven't run at all since Sunday. Last Sunday, that is. Sunday October 29th.

All together now...."BAD BARB!!"

Between work sucking the life out of me and then wanting to just relax and do nothing after work this week...I've just been...well...sitting on my rear, riding the couch, and collecting dust...

It's like, without having officially proclaimed my next "big" event...I really have no motivation to train.

So here it goes.

My spring marathon will be...

This one.
(half mary is still pending...)

I'm a girl with southern roots, so it's only fitting I go back and give it a run. Plus we've got old family friends there, and a two rockin' RBFers with an adorable pooch, and my folks say they might could be swayed to come out.

I'll admit...I'm a bit scared to train for this one alone (not alone, with Mike of course). Both of my marathons I trained with TNT in a group. And I know alumni can go back and run anytime with the Team...but it's weird this time...going solo that is.

Any advice?

This time will be all about discipline. MAKING myself get up when the wind chill is -10 and just go run. ...you know, for the hell of it. We're planning on a modified Pfitz plan as well as actually incorporating speed work into our routine this time around. I'm intimidated to say the least. (Stop laughing. I'm trying to be serious here.)

My goal for this weekend? To run...a minimum of 4 miles.

My goal for this marathon? To get as close to 5:30 as possible and to NOT LET MYSELF GET OVERANXIOUS THE MORNING OF THE RACE AND COMPLETELY LOSE IT MENTALLY.

I think I need a sports psychologist. ...but more on that later.

I'm such a slacker. Let's hope the weather complies and I can at least do it outside and not on the hamster wheel. If I'm outside...I might just go for five miles. We'll see how I'm feeling!

This is what a 70+ hour work week causes...

I don't often post photos of any drunken debauchary on the blog...but because of work chaos last week I entered the seventh circle of hell...I feel so compelled to show the...uhmm...partier side of the Jayhawk...

This is what a 70+ hour work week causes...

...me to get behind in blogging...
...me to get completely behind in reading and commenting on my favorite blogs...
...me to not do any running whatsoever the past week (which is driving me nuts)...
...me to be at my desk by 7am and not leaving until 10 at night...sometimes later...
...me to work at home the few hours I was away from the office...
...me to appreciate the hubby in a whole new way (especially for him not killing me when I was going bonkers)...
...me to nearly have an emotional, mental and physical breakdown...
...and then it causes me to go completely off the deep end at a bachelorette party last night...

that's the OOSG's hand, for the record...



















a few too many martinis and a couple of shots later leads to...chugging. (oh gawd, what as I thinking?)



















No idea...it's all a bit foggy at this point...



















To protect the innocent, I'm only posting pics of moi...there are many others that involve drunken dancing ON the bar with friends...pouring champagne all over the bride...as well as a handful of other unmentionable photos I'd never want my mum to see. I've been basically hungover all day...but after everything being so hellacious last week, it was soooo worth it...

Yes campers...I am that blogger right now. But I figure such photos add a tinge of the human element to ye olde blog. I'm such a lightweight now...it's ridonkulous. So enjoy the more...uh...intoxicated side of me...(I think this may just be my first drunken photo post after nearly a year...and will hopefully be my last)...

Peace, yo.