Ducks in row

Here are some gorgeous flowers and lovely purple pods that grow with them. I have no idea what thy are but I saw them on a dog walk and had to take a picture.
I am on vacation this week. I worked a 4-hour day on Monday (which I will take as flex time next week, you can be sure) but other than that, I have been free. I was supposed to clean my entire disgusting apartment and do all kinds of wonderful organizing and decorating projects, but instead, I have done a lot of lounging around, grocery shopping, laundry, internet bs, and some triathlon prep. I also gave Lois a bath. It's been wonderful so far. I think I need another couple weeks to get to the cleaning and organizing bit. Oh! And the weather has been perfect perfect perfect. Today I am getting a student (cheap) massage at the Chicago School of Massage Therapy.

I went to my last group workout last night. It was an easy run on the lakefront path for 20 minutes, with 4 30-second "accelerations" mixed in. I liked it. I biked fast to get there, ran well, and I sweated a lot. It was good. Then I biked to Lou Malnati's pizza place, where I just drank water (forgot my money and also wanted to eat the 10 tons of food I have at home) and talked with the other ladies. It's fun to be this close to the event - everyone is really excited. The coaches answered our questions and everyone had a good time. I ducked out early, before the pizza arrived, and rode home to eat soup and buttered garlic naan instead.

Yesterday I bought a new bike helmet (they check them at the triathlon) and also had my bike inspected for the race. I was worried - since working on it myself and it being so old, a hand-me-down, etc., I was sure they'd come up with all kinds of repairs I'd need to have done (and pay for) - but they said it was in great shape! Yea for bike class!

The other thing I will briefly say is that I have met two nice guys through the internet. So let's just say that things are going ok in one department - at least as an interim plan. I am still looking for Mr. Right, and am positive that he's out there somewhere. I think being - um, less distracted than I was before - will help with that search.

Draggin'

Tired, tired tired. I am gonna stop complaining about it but jeez - it's like I can't get enough sleep even now that I am sleeping great again.

We ran more hill repeats at Cricket Hill last night - my heart rate is recovering much better, but it still goes WAY up when I run. I could add more runs to my schedule, but just fitting in the other stuff is hard enough. Plus, I am feeling like being at least a little more social.

Today is a day off from work, which I'd planned to spend with Peter, but then I got a call for a job interview with the Park District, and I HAVE to go to that! It will be interesting. First, a bike workout, then rush home change and prep, and then interview downtown, and then meet Peter. No Great America, but that's the breaks.

Crossing my fingers on this one. Still haven't heard about the job at work, either, so we'll see!

Two Dog Nights

I have two dogs right now, and unfortunately, I did not sleep much last night. Hedley (above R) is Lois' boyfriend dog, and his "Mom," Lisa, who lives in Madison now, had a wedding to attend in Austin, so even though dog and mom are rarely apart, Hedley's staying with us for 6 days.

I LOVE Hedley. He's a great, mellow, and very handsome, fluffy dog (as you can see). I took him and Lois for a 2-hour walk-and-park-play last night. But, all the excitement of a new place (and no Lisa) must have still made Hedley restless, and Hedley being in Lois's midst at all, let alone restless, made Lois all anxious, so basically I was up at least once every hour during the night. I took them out twice in that time, fearing one or both of them had to go (but they didn't). They would jump on and off the bed, make semi-growly noises in response to each other or to things outside, and click, click, click, click across the floor, then plunk down in various places for catnaps, sometimes with sighs and groans. No matter how much I petted them, sang, and talked softly—trying to make them hang out and go to sleep—it didn't work. The upshot is that I couldn't get out of bed for my 8am meeting, and I've been acting spacey and dropping things all day.

In other news, I don't have to go in to work tomorrow! Woot-woot! 4-day weekend! (But I do teach on Sunday...that's fine.)

And: I'm back in the swimming groove! More on that later.
And: above is my heinous, but new, kitchen floor. There have been workmen in and out of my apartment all week. They still haven't replaced the screen or handle on my back door but I am hoping for that soon. Slumlords...what are you gonna do?