We’re headed to Chicago for the weekend and I’ll be updating as we go with all the special things Frank says.

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Getting coffee at Stewarts

Frank: that’s just wrong!
Me: what is?
Frank: eggnog!
Me: some people like it for their coffee.
Frank: no that’s wrong, its almost June, eggnog is for Christmas!
Me: says who?
Frank: Frank says!

Because it’s Friday, I have my Kahlua flavored coffee, but coconut mocha almost won out. The day is young and I didn’t sleep so you never know what’s next. Regardless of the flavor, care to join me for a cup and a chat? If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can feel free to have whatever beverage you’d like.

How are you today? What’s new? What was the best part of your week so far?

Oh, you heard it through the grapevine that I’m enjoying running now? Not so much. What I said was, “Sure! The day I decide it’s ok if I don’t want to keep running? That’s the day it’s not miserable.”

The other morning I was sitting there thinking about something totally different and I heard Mehmere’s voice clear as day say to me, “You know, Court, it’s really kind of silly to keep doing something that makes you so not happy just to be better at it. You don’t have to be good at everything.”

So I thought about it and I decided that if running wasn’t making me happy at all, that I didn’t have to do it just to get better at it. Yes there’s the sense of accomplishment after the fact, but I can get that through things I enjoy more than running.

I had plans to get on the treadmill that night to stretch out my legs before yesterday’s race. Just a little bit if I had time. Of course that’s the run that after being allergy filled and sick for two weeks that wasn’t a fight to get done. Sure it was a challenge, but it wasn’t miserable for me.

I don’t know if it’s because it was just my day to run or if in giving myself permission I freed myself in a way, but it was nice.

Now that we’ve dispelled the nasty little rumor of me enjoying running, tell me what’s new with you.

I wasn’t looking forward to it, but I was determined that I would do the very best I possibly could…even if today, that very best wasn’t very good.

The course isn’t easy. A good portion of it is up hill and there are a crap ton of people. (For today’s purpose crap ton will be over 7,000 finishers.) There’s a lot of bobbing and weaving, a lot of getting caught behind people who are catching a break (totally fine! Just sayin’) and it’s not a 5k. It’s 3.5 miles. Why? Who knows.

The race was fine though I walked when I had to, retied my shoes when it was needed and picked up the pace again. I even stopped once to take this photo.

Name that bar! With the name my friends and I knew it best by!

Don’t worry brother dear of mine. I sprinted the block across N. Lake. We all know you have to do that no matter what shoes you’re wearing!

Towards the end of the race, I needed to use some serious tricks to psych myself out at times. Each song that came on, I’d dedicate it to someone in my head.

• Float On (Modest Mouse) went to D-Rock because he truly believes I can do anything.
• My Name is Jonas (Weezer) and There’s No I in Team (Taking Back Sunday) went to my brother because he thinks I’m too good to ever give up.
• Pickin’ Wildflowers (Keith Anderson) went to NotSoSweetPea cause we shared some serious laughs and it was a great pick me up.
• Finally Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) to BatGirl cause by gosh and by golly if we could dance the night away (sometimes til dawn) then I could finish that race running damn it.

As of right now, my feet are torn up, my legs don’t like me and my hip and heal are both crying. I’m debating another Advil.  But no matter how bad it hurts right now, I just wanted to do better than last year and I did. The pain won’t last, the fact that I did even just a little better than last year will.

(I’m also pulling for a strawberry milkshake with sugar cookies on the straw like we got last time.)

Did I mention we’re driving? We’re getting in the Little Nissan that Could and heading west for the weekend. Yeah. I’m fidgeting as I type this and I just got up, refilled my drink, and wandered around 20 min ago. If you’re not familiar, it’s about a 13 hour drive. You can see how this might end up.

To combat The Fidgets and be less annoying to Frank I have to bring stuff for me to do in the car. Yes this is much like you would do for a small child. What can I say? I bring a book, my tablet (games and books loaded), my laptop (sometimes) a billion and four crochet projects, my music, etc.

I want to get the following done in the car this weekend:

1. Reading. I haven’t been doing it when it’s scheduled (Although for the most part the schedule thing is actually going pretty well when I stick by it!) Although I don’t have anything to read currently for Red Letter Reads, the Bill Bryson book I started is pretty interesting so far.
2. My To-Do list pertaining to blogging schedules, design/layout etc both for this and the Court is Crafty space and shop
3. The bazillion hats, scarves, and baby sweaters I currently have started that need to be finished.

I know it seems like a lot, but it’s a lot of time in the car! So what do you do in the car on long trips?

Today we have my dear friend Sue who is another example of social media friends becoming thick as thieves. Her words? Derek, hockey puck, and polka dots.

The first time she saw him was in the hall, rushing between classes. The second time was outside, talking to friends. The third time, she saw him alone at the mall.

“He’s so cute,” Sue thought. This was her chance to say hi.

She learned his name was Derek. He was a year older, and liked to play hockey. Fortunately (for her) the season had just ended, so he had some time to spend with his new friend.

They went to the movies and lunch. He called every night. The first time he held her hand, Sue saw little stars. No – they were more like polka-dots, like the kind on her favorite pair of cute summer shoes. She wore those on their first official date, when they had their first kiss. She knew she walked home, but it felt more like she floated.

But before long, Derek’s hockey practice started up again. At first, he tried to make time for her. He even invited her to watch a game! She hoped to be introduced to his teammates as his girlfriend.

Instead, Derek became less and less available.

The day of the game, Derek canceled their lunch date. Sue shook it off, and went anyway. On her way in, she saw Derek with his team – and another girl.

Sue knew she should keep her eyes on the game, but couldn’t stop watching this new girl. Was she there for Derek? Or another player?

Sue didn’t see anything except her new competition. She didn’t see Derek take a shot from across the ice. She never heard the crowd yell, “Duck!” She didn’t notice the people around her scramble out of the way…

She woke up lying on the floor, dizzy, with a headache. She opened her eyes – and saw polka-dots. Once they cleared, she saw Derek, with his arm around the new girl’s shoulder.

Sue concluded the only lesson she could: Falling in love is a lot like getting hit in the head with a hockey puck. You rarely see it coming, you can’t get out of the way fast enough, and it will probably leave you with a huge headache.

I just love how she used her words! I think we’ve all been there. (Possibly with a hockey player. Sigh.) By the way, if you’re not already reading Sue’s blog, Not the Life I Ordered, well what are you waiting for? You can and should also follow her on Twitter. Thank you Sue!

If you want three words, just let me know and I’ll give you some!

I have been working on my Here’s how to page where I’ve linked all the recipes that I’ve posted here on the blog.  If you don’t feel like clicking over, here’s the list.

- Accidentally Low Fat Banana Bread
- Acorn Squash
- Apple Cider Caramel Cookies
- Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham
- Berry Terrific Frozen Yogurt
- Chocolate Cupcakes
- Craisin Pistachio Magic Bars
- FABULOUS! Cake
- Garlic Green Beans
- Gotta make them Garlic Knots
- Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Ham and Egg Cups
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Kettle Corn
- Key Lime Yogurt
- Mehmere’s Brownies
- Muffin or Breakfast Bread (basic)
- Oreo Treats
- Sausage Pesto Pizza
- Smores Treats
- Stuffed Peppers
- Toaster Oven Pizza
- Waffles with Peanut Butter and Fruit
- Zucchini Chips

Ok so not all of them are recipes, but I’ll keep updating.

A few weeks back, Frank and I took the rusty porch swing apart and set up a table in chairs in its place. We knew it wouldn’t be long before the ivy came in and made the setting lovely to use.

Today it felt unbearably hot in the apartment so I went outside for a.few minutes to cool off. Feeling as lousy as I did, it wasn’t a long sit, but it sure was easy on the eyes.

So due to feeling barfy, my usual Sunday post is postponed.

Happy Mother’s Day ladies! Hope I didn’t give you germs.

We were at the dollar store today and Frank was marvelinghorrified by the culinary offerings

I think this video says it all. If you can’t see what the box is, it’s Larry the Cable Guy Triple Cheese Cheeseburger Dinner.

I was writing a post about Five things I can teach you, but it sounded rather self important to so I clicked save for another day. Instead, I’d like to tell you about what I’d like to learn to do:

1. Make Baklava and Creme Brulee (Because well, duh.)
2. Play the Guitar (I want to know 4 chords before my brother’s bday in August.)
3. Draw more competently (Working on it! My doodles are coming along.)
4. Stick to a diet/work out regimen to lose (now) 30 lbs and keep it off. (Seriously, it’s mind over matter on this one. I need a little more discipline.)
5. More about you! So tell me something you’d like to learn below.