MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

Exciting News!

We found a house!! And get this - it's walking (wogging) distance from Lakeshore Park. No more taking the front tire off my bike and loading it in my car!! I was planning to go to Fleet Feet with you guys tomorrow, but I think I will be packing to move!! Hopefully, we will be in our new little home by Christmas!! Can you tell I'm excited? I mean, I'm happy in our apartment, but this is great! Since it's a patio home, there's no yard work - literally - no mowing, just a weed eater will do the job! So that's like living in an apartment without the upstairs neighbors making noise at all hours! LOL.

On another note, I sent a few of you an email of my son's t-shirt website. Dusty is the one that ran the Chicago Marathon with you guys. Well, he has created website where you can order t-shirts with the saying on the front like his wife made for their daughter, "My Dad ran 26.2 miles. . .What did yours do?" Everyone that saw it during the marathon loved it. (See picture in my previous blog.) Visit the site and tell your friends about it. The site is: http://155576.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/. He even has some that say "My Wife. . . My Husband. . . My Grandma. . . My Grandpa."

I won't be at the party tomorrow night because I'm going to Vicksburg to see my nephew perform a solo in the Warren Central Madrigal Singers. He's really good and a senior so I don't want to miss it. I hope to see you marathoners soon. . .starting blogging again everyone!

Memories of Chicago

It meant so much to be in Chicago with friends and family! I'm not sure you can read Iliana's shirt but it says "My Dad ran 26.2 miles. . .what did yours do?" I think my daughter-in-law is getting a patent on the design!! LOL Let me know if you want to place an order.

It was great seeing you guys today although I didn't get to speak to each of you. Mandy, Ann and Debbie, y'all are looking great! Vickie, it was great getting to walk with you for a little while; I hope you'll be back soon. Kim, you're an inspiration to all just by being out there with a newborn at home! Matt, you're very handsome with your new "scruffy" look! I've missed talking to you Pam, but it was great seeing you out there!

I have to admit that I haven't walked in a couple of weeks; so much has been going on lately. 1) You may remember that back in April I was assigned to a new attorney when the attorney I worked with for 4 years left the firm in March. It was quite an adjustment for me since I had to move to a different floor away from the people I had worked with for 4 years. 2) Shortly after my move is when I fell on my way into work, ended up on a walker for a month, then was told that I couldn't do the Chicago Marathon; it was Curb Crew for me (which I loved). 3) In September, I was assigned a young new associate who is extremely nice, but that meant I had 4 attorneys to work with (a former Judge just retired). 4) The attorney who left the firm is coming back starting Monday; last Wednesday, I returned to the 2nd floor to work with him again. AND 5) We've been house hunting! I definitely feel like a Marathoner with all that has been going on! Plus I've been having a little knee pain in my GOOD knee. . . so I only did three miles today. I hope to add a mile each week so I'll be ready for Marathon Makeover 2008; I certainly don't want to have to start over completely!

I've also started a new diet - I'm doing South Beach with my husband (he's lost 25 pounds in about 3½ months; and I've actually lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks, so I'm really starting to feel better). Believe me, it's not easy staying on a strict diet this time of year! I ate the normal Thanksgiving meal, did not go back for seconds, and we made sure that there were no leftovers! LOL The real trick will be Christmas with all the goodies that we have at work. I'm kind of glad that I moved back to the 2nd floor because the ladies on the 4th floor bring some sort of goodie every day starting the Monday after Thanksgiving; the 2nd floor only does it for one week! YIKES! I just pray for strength and willpower to get through December!

I hope to see you guys again before Christmas, but if not, I want to wish each and every one of you the Merriest Christmas, the Happiest Hanukkah, and the best the Season has to offer. Take some time to study what this Season means to you!

I love you all and will see you soon! Keep on blogging!