13.1

On Saturday I ran my second half marathon! The first time I did it back in February of 2013, I trained a lot more than I did this time around, but I still think I did pretty good this time too!

My time ended up being about 45 minutes faster than at Disney, but we also weren't stopping for photos with characters and I didn't wait in line for a bathroom half way through. My official time was 2:33:36, which I was pleased with. Before the race started, I really thought I would be closer to three hours, but looking back I think I could have been closer to 2 hours!

My friend Caroline came out to cheer for me and brought me two cookies! Yes, I ate cookies while running the half!

I ran with Lindsey. I do better running with people because if I am running by myself and get a little tired, I stop. But if I'm running with someone, I keep going because I don't want to disappoint. Lindsey and I ran (and walked a few times) for the first 11 miles. Around Mile 9.5 we ran into my friend Mara and then at 11 I was feeling good, so she and I kept going. I felt horrible for leaving Lindsey and really wanted to meet up with her after the race to get a photo, since we'd ran the whole thing together! But my phone died! #iphoneproblems

Overall, I felt good most of the race. I really tried to hydrate myself throughout the week and I think I did pretty good at that. I think I should have done better at hydrating myself after the race though. And by that I mean beyond just downing water right after I was done. I should have had more to drink Saturday evening and all day Sunday. But I'm drinking Gatorade like nobody's business today!

Stacie and I before and after the race!

Bowie was exhausted after I ran the half, so she and I took a nice long nap.

After the race I went to lunch with my Mom, Stacie and Derek at Katalina's in Victorian Village. It was so good. I had Nutella pancake balls and it's definitely a new 'go to' place to eat. Saturday evening Molly and John took me out for a little celebration dinner and we shared these nachos that were delicious. I had been craving them all afternoon. Then we went and celebrated with a few students who were graduating.

Sunday was Ohio State's graduation. I didn't make it to the actual graduation, but I did attend the breakfast that morning for my department and did my best not to cry in front of any of the students. There are a few girls that have become such good friends over the past year or so and I am going to be so sad to not see them on a regular basis. And to top it all off, they're moving out of state! At least I'll have new fun places to visit! Omaha, Fort Wayne and Columbia, here I come!

Going to miss this girl!

Sunday afternoon was a spontanious trip to Cincy to go to Ikea and the Reds game. Molly had never been to Ikea before. I knew she'd like it, which she did. I was hoping to get a nice tan at the Red's game, but woke up this morning looking pale as ever. Time to get the tan towels out again.

Go Reds! Go!

Go Redlegs!

Overall, it was a great weekend. My knee is still bothering me today, so I need to get that checked out. It's the pain that's been here before with my torn meniscus. :/

Dogwood 5K & Festival

Molly and I ran the Dogwood 5K this past weekend. This was the fourth year in a row that I'd ran it and it was also my first race of 2014. I have been running some over the past few months in preparation for the Cap City Half Marathon this coming weekend, but not as much as I should have been. Work has been really busy and going to the gym at 10pm to run 3+ miles just doesn't always happen.

I was super excited that Molly wanted to run it with me this year. She has been a workout diva these past few months and you can see the results. She isn't a big runner though, so there were points throughout the race where I hung back or ran a little slower to keep her going and not let her walk. It worked for the most part.

It wasn't my best time ever, but I did ok. I stopped once to tie my shoe and once to get a drink from our neighbor! (They don't have water stops along this course. booo!) I ended up at 35:35 and Molly finished right at 36. I thought for a split second she was going to ramp it up and pass me, but she didn't! #bigsisforthewin

Surprisingly, this year they did age division awards and she and I got 2nd and 3rd places in the 17-29 age group. Next year I'll be racing in the 30-39 age group! NOOOOO!!

After we recovered from the race, we went home and headed down to the actual festival to watch the Cutest Baby contest. OMG....I never felt more competent to be a parent in my life. There were whining, crying kids everywhere. Parents chasing and screaming at them. And the things these people wrote down to be announced!?!?! Chocolate should not be your 5 month old baby's favorite food!

We also hung out with our Pop for a while in the back of the fire house. This was his 44th year of thawing fish for their fish fry. It wouldn't be the Dogwood Festival without him coming home in the evenings smelling of fish. :)

We said "smile". He did, but never looked up!

Fire trucks lined up for the parade!

This festival is definitely growing to what it once was.There were a few years where it was not a successful festival at all, but with new members on the committee who are excited to get involved, it's becoming bigger and better!

Olympics - a hot mess in Sochi

The 2014 Winter Olympics have come and gone. I was so excited for them I couldn't stand it, but then found myself not watching them as much as I thought I would once they were here.

I went to Jill's to watch the opening ceremony. We had a little pizza party and I wore my American flag sweater. Olympic parties are always fun. I was pumped for the opening ceremony, but it was a bit of a disappointment.  For some reason, I always thought the big 'to do' happened before the athletes walked out, but maybe not? It make sense for them to be there and watch it, since they ARE the ones who have worked to get there and all. I thought the closing ceremony was sooo much better and I loved that they poked fun at the fact that the one snowflake didn't turn into the Olympic ring during the opening ceremony.

As for the competitions, the time difference was bad. They were competing while we were sleeping, so in the evening we already knew what had happened and they just showed these little bits and I only saw one medal ceremony because they waited to show those at the very end of the night and well, I was already asleep by then! I'm glad Bob Costas' eye problem finally healed up. And I wish I had cable so I could have watched a channel that showed all of the figure skating competition and not just the three Americans and the ones they already knew were going to win. I feel like a lot of Americans that were picked to win their events didn't, and that just makes me sad for them. I mean, some of them still got a silver or bronze medal, and heck, they were competing in the Olympics - something I'll never get to do unless I take up curling my hair when I retire - so they aren't that bad off. But it still has to be disaapointing knowing that you were only .03 seconds away from a gold medal. Poor Bode Miller and Gracie Gold. #soclose

We didn't have a get together like we did for the summer Olympics in 2012, but I probably couldn't have gone anyway because I was sick most of the last month with a sinus infection and lots of coughing. Too many of my friends have babies these days to be spreading germs around.

Waiting a really long time for my Rx at the pharmacy.

I did go ice skating while the Olympics were going on, and while I like to think of myself as an okay skater, I have many skills left to acquire before competing in South Korea in four years. Basically all skills after skating backwards in the wave pattern. But I can skate on one foot for as long as it takes Molly to snap the picture.

You can't tell which one is me? 

Yes, I wore the pants to 'fit the role'.

And did you hear about all of the #sochiproblems from before the games started? What a hot mess! How can an event as large as hosting the Olympics not have their stuff together? I read this article a few days after the olympics started and while at first I thought "yeah, the Americans are being a little bratty by posting pictures of stuff not read", I really think it's an embarrassment for Russia that they have such poor infrastructure, leadership,and organization AND water that is never suitable for drinking, EVER!, yet they spend more than $50billion on hosting the Olympic games. Now I know not all of that money came from the government, but some of it did. I'm hoping that with the revenue they've made over the past three weeks, they work on things that need to be done in the best interest of their citizens. And to talk about the way they treat their workers? I'm in a volunteer and human resource management class right now and I'm sure most of what was described about workers leaving and a new shift coming in to pick up where the last group left off, is probably the worst way to run an organization. And the translation? How do you not get a better translator? It's the olympics!!!! End rant.

I'm looking forward to the summer Olympics in just 2 years. Maybe I'll even be there? My bro is going to the World Cup this summer, so maybe he'll be up for another trip to Rio! #ihope

i'm the kind of girl who....

I'm linking up with Holly today. Holly is one of my blog friends turned IRL bestie and you can find her blog over here. I used to do link-ups all. the. time. but this is the first one I've done in what seems like forever. 

I'm the kind of girl who.....

....has to write 'kind of' instead of 'kinda'...:)


....knows all the words to every Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync song ever recorded.

....who still has said above bands on my work grooveshark playlist, along with Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Eric Church and Jason Aldean. I'm cultured.

....used to be scared of everything, but pretty fearless these days.

....has the most amazing friends, many of them who I initially met through this blog.

....loves cats. I said it, I love my cat. I love all the cats. I love all the cats I visit at Colony Cats when I volunteer. I want to pack them around in baskets and have them wear bowties.

....really does love cats, but is usually making fun of people that are truly obsessed. I am not.

.....who is usually being sarcastic or making fun of something. Always.

....a neat freak, but my apartment is usually a disaster.

....loves to cook, but hates to clean the mess.

.....absolutely HATES washing dishes by hand.

.....will wheel a portable dishwasher across her apartment and connect it to the bathroom sink, therefore blocking the hallway and putting the bathroom out of commission in order to not have to wash dishes by hand.

.....dreams of the day I owns my own place so I can paint and DIY things.

.....likes to pay things off as soon as possible.

....can't stand to waste money on cable each month, but usually blows that savings on things I don't really need a Target.

 .....wishes Ohio bordered Florida so I would be closer to warm weather and the beach.

.....searches Pinterest every morning for an idea about what to wear to work.

....always played the "mom" role. Always.

.....wishes I would have lightened up more in college and stepped out of my comfort zone.

....can't imagine having a more perfect job for me than the one I have right now.

....never curses. Like ever. And hate when people do, but also don't judge them. I have to be REALLY fired up. And have never dropped the Fbomb.

....had about 3 alcoholic beverages between ages 21 and 27. Now a margarita during a girls night is quite nice.

....love my Monday night's at Bible Study Fellowship so much.

....loves seeing how God will answer my prayers.

....knows God's timing is perfect and I have nothing to worry or be anxious about.
 
...who surprises myself every day by being the kind of person I never thought I'd be but always wanted to(in a good way of course!).


See what other kind of ladies are out there....

a LOVEly weekend

Valentine's Day is a mixed emotion holiday for me. I love it but I hate it. I love it because it's purpose is about showering those you love, but I also hate it because I usually get disappointed. I'm one of those people pleasers and have always done, done, done for other people (ie, boyfriend), but then don't get the same done for me, so that's where the big expectations and big disappointment usually come in. No boyfriend = no disappointments!

Last year I had a great Valentine's Day. Molly went above and beyond to make sure I had a great day, since my Valentine's Day in 2011 totally sucked. She brought  me flowers, I got a sweet phone call from one of our Vice Presidents sent by a student, went to dinner with Molly, Jill and Cara and then we went to see Safe Haven. It was a great day. I was worried that since last year was such a good day full of so much fun, my expectations for this year would be too high. No fears, they were not.

One thing that I started doing last year that my friend Laura told me she did was make Valentine's Day about your friends and not just about your significant other, which totally makes sense. (And is easy to do when you're single! ha) So last year I sent a lot of my friends quick texts letting them know I was happy to have them in my life. This year I did the same thing but to even more friends, wishing them a Happy Valentine's Day. Even my fraternity boys got corny messages from me with green and yellow hearts letting them know how much I LOVE being their advisor. The messages I got back from them, and so many other friends were so nice. I didn't set out to get a response, but it was pretty nice to hear back from so many people. I hope I made someone smile that day. :)

That evening there were a group of us that went to happy hour after work and then to the OSU hockey game. It was our "Galentine's Day" outing. At the hockey game there were lots of couples and we got on the jumbotron TWICE! Unfortunately, they did not show me holding my sign that clearly said I was single. Ha. I'm not desperate, but just hopeful there would be a nice Columbus Blue Jacket's player in the stands. ;)

top left: Fraternity boys and advisors; top right: my valentine; bottom left: i'm single!; bottom right: hockey fight

After the hockey game, I went to a 24 hour dance marathon that they fraternity and several other of my students were participating in. I almost signed up to participate myself, but decided not to. I wish I would have, because this was such an awesome event! The visitor hours were supposed to be over at 10:30pm, but we stayed until 1am. It's like the high school dance that never ends! #dreamcometrue The students stayed until 8am the next day. 3 hours was my max.

Saturday Jill and I went to the antique show that was at the state fairgrounds. I didn't find any good antique things (I'm on the search for an old map), but I did find a mask to wear to our mascaraed banquet this April. Now to find the perfect dress!

I need a green or blue dress.

And Saturday evening I went to the George Strait concert! George is such a classic. I love him and his music, even though he played a lot of old stuff that I did not know.

top left: emily, me, katherine and jill after the concert; top right: GEORGE; bottom left: me, so happy to be there; bottom right: our view of the stage

 Sunday Molly and I headed to Mam and Papaw's for dinner and to visit with the family for the afternoon. It was a great weekend.

my favorite valentine.

Before Valentine's Day last week, the class that I'm in this semester volunteered at an organization here in town that helps women overcome drug and substance abuse. It's a home where they live, many of them with their children, while they learn to live and deal with life's ups and downs without turning to drugs and alcohol. My class (which is studying volunteer management) worked at the organization's Love Yourself event for the women, where they learned about accessorizing, got their nails and make-up done, learned how to eat healthy, etc. I was a nail painter and there were ladies that came through who said they had never had anyone paint their nails before. For me, I paint mine every few days, usually in a different color to match a certain outfit I'll be wearing, but these women didn't have a normal childhood like I did. Many of them became mom's at an early age or began abusing drugs and alcohol when they were in high school - everything that is the complete opposite of my growing experience. At the end of the event, one of the ladies even stood up and cried during the sharing part at the end of the event about how a classmate of mine had painted these cute daisy's on her nails because no one had ever made her feel that special. #tears!!!!!

At the beginning of the event, a graduate of the program who is now a successful business women in town shared steps on how you can love yourself, instead of depending on someone else to love you. I wish I could find the exact article to share because what she had the women read was so empowering. It was even a great refresher for me, someone who had to learn how to love and take care of myself instead of always letting my happiness depend on someone else. If I ever find this article I will definitely share it because it's a good one.

Valentine's Day this year was my 'singleversary'. I know that's not a word, but I like to make up words. Two years. It's a good thing though - probably the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Two years of me living life. Even though I was very sad at the time of the break-up (and for a while after) the past two years have been about me loving me. I'm happy. I'm soooo happy. Happier than I have every been in my whole life. I have a great job. I have the most wonderful friends. I HAVE FRIENDS. Two years ago I did not have the kind of friendships I have today, let alone so many great friendships. I do things that make me happy and I don't worry about if it's making someone else happy (I mean, I'm not going to do anything to make someone unhappy on purpose!!). I do want to someday have someone that makes me happy, but I know I don't have to have that someone. I'm content on my own, but if Mr. Wonderful comes walking through my door tomorrow, I won't shut it. :)

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day as well. I am extremely blessed with wonderful people in my life to love each day.

Emmitt House

A little over a month ago, my 'hometown' lost one of our greatest historical landmarks. The Emmitt House was destroyed by fire on the coldest night of the year. I put all the pictures in a post the day after I took them, but couldn't actually type out the post because I'd get too emotional. So I saved it as a draft for when I could talk about it without being a hot mess. I get emotional pretty easy, ok!

When I first got a text from Molly that said "the Emmitt House blew up" I brushed it off. I thought for sure it was a facebook story blown out of proportion. But then I got on facebook and started seeing pictures of it completely engulfed in flames. :(

A little history of the Emmitt House is available here, but my best memories of the place are from when I was just a wee little thing. During the summers we would go to eat lunch at the Emmitt House as a special treat. We always thought we were so cool because the part we would sit in was like a little bar/lounge/pub area and I felt so grown up. ha. 

My brother always wanted to play pool, so while we waited on our food and after we were done eating, we'd 'play pool'. "Playing pool" consisted of us hitting the cue ball with the pool stick. Very rarely did we actually get quarters to play a real game. And even if we did, we didn't actually play by the rules because we didn't know them. Heck, I still don't know them. I played a few weeks ago and had to be reminded 20 times of what to do.

Anyway......my favorite thing to order was either the chicken fingers or the grilled cheese and we always asked for ranch dressing to dip our chicken fingers and fries in. At the time, we got weird looks from the waitresses (us Wickham kids dip our food in weird things, like chips and applesauce!!), but now it's pretty common for ranch to automatically come with those items as a dipping sauce. I think we started that trend.  

We also had a few nice dinners in the fancier part of the restaurant and even hosted a baby shower for Holly when she was pregnant with Emery in that room too. When I got older, I went to the bar a few times to listen to friends play music in the upstairs large room. 

The day after the fire, work was closed again for the Polar Vortex and I already had an appointment to get my hair cut back home, so Molly and I went home early to spend the day with our grandparents, then to see the Emmitt House. We got there just in the nick of time because they had started tearing it down already. Because it was so damaged and so close to the road it was a safety hazard. Molly and I stood across the street and cried and cried and cried as they tore it down. It was such neat place on the inside and I hated to see someplace with such special memories and soooo much history be torn down.

 Because it was so cold while it burned, so much of the water turned to ice. To stand in the middle of the street and look around, it was like you were looking at a movie set since just this one area looked like this. It was just one big sheet of ice over everything - neighboring buildings, awnings, street lights, sidewalks, cars. It was unreal. 

When we first got there we stood across the street by the library. They were tearing down the lounge area that we at at so frequently as kids. We eventually walked all the way around the block to see all of the sides.

The US 23 side. Holly's shower was in the room that has the door with the square awning. Molly and I both cried when they tore that part down.

This back side would have been the kitchen.

The equipment just barely tapped the walls and they fell over so easily. I understand that there was NO way to save this, but it was still so hard to watch.

When we got to Piketon, Molly laid on Mom's lap and cried and cried about it. :(

My brick covered in ice for the time being. It's now melted.

As the daughter and granddaughter of firemen, it's really important to thank the men and women who not only worked on this fire, but did so in below freezing temperatures. There were a lot of people at the scene the next day and even online talking about how the fire department shouldn't have let this happen because the station is only two blocks away. I think people forget that our township fire departments are VOLUNTEER fire departments. They don't sit in the station all day waiting for a call like the bigger departments and those you see on TV do. These men and women are in their homes, with their families and have to leave where they are (if they even can leave) and go to the station, then wait for enough men to take the trucks to the fire. It was also 2 degrees on the night of the fire. They water was turning to ice as soon as it hit the air. Do you know how hard it is to put out a fire with ice? Not easy. The weather conditions were not in the favor of the fire department that night, so I give them credit for containing it as much as they did, without letting it spread to any other buildings.

firemen with ice covered helmets.

What is left of the Emmitt House.

Sk80s Photo Booth

I talked earlier this week about how I went to Roller Sk80's on Saturday night with some of my best girlfriends. It was lots of fun. There was also a photo booth there, so we of course had to take advantage of getting our photos taken....a lot. Here are some of my faves from the evening. :)

Peace.

Love these girls.

Crazy.

 

We attempted the "Bridesmaids" movie poster.

Big group, plus random Slater.

Prom pose.

Burt Reynolds joined us.

Holly's hubs had four girls as his date.

Big group.

And a few of my other favorite costumes I saw that night:

The USA olympic team.

The girl dressed as the boy riding the bike with ET in a basket. And the Ghostbusters.

A Rad Weekend

I'm now wrapping up week two of being sick with a head cold. It is the worst. OK, not really the worst because this is the most sickness that's ever infected my body (other than the stomach flu and strep throat), but seriously, two weeks of sniffling, coughing, and having only a raspy voice is not fun. Not to mention waking up in the middle of the night as thirsty as can be because you're mouth is completely dry because you've been sleeping with it wide open because you can't breath out of your nose. Oh the struggle, it's real folks.

And since I've not been feeling well, that made the week drag on even longer. I spent a lot of evenings on the couch, wrapped up in multiple blankets watching tv. After going most of the month of January without any TV, I had a lot to catch up on - on the three channels that I have. And now that the Olympics are on, I'll be glued to that for the next few weeks for sure!

I didn't make it to the gym until Saturday, mostly because I was lazy and changed into pajamas as soon as I got home every evening. And like I said, never left the couch because I was cold.

Friday rolled around {finally!} and that evening I went to Jill's house to watch the Olympics. My plan was to wear these new comfy leggings with my sweatshirt {to be comfortable!} but I ended up adding my American flag sweater to show my American pride. #iloveamerica #USAUSAUSA #thesecolorsdontrun #youhavetoknowthejoke

Check out the leggings. They'll be important in a few minutes.

The opening ceremony was good. I thought it was really cool how the athletes came up from underground. There just wasn't a "wow" factor for me. I just can't believe all the money that was spent for these olympics and it's a hot mess over there right now. Gheesh!

Saturday morning I went to a brunch for Columbus bloggers. I had gotten invited a few weeks ago and knew a few other people on the list, so I decided to go too. Jenny and Holly were both there and I met a few other ladies at my table who were from hometowns near mine. One girl's dad actually works across the street from my parent's house and with my mom! Crazy!!

Many of the girls there seem to blog as a career or are definitely more "professional" bloggers than me and my little old blog here about my life. Some of the girls even passed out business cards. I included my blog address on my Christmas card this year..ha! But it was still really fun to meet these girls. Some of their blogs I had read before and others I hadn't. Three years ago I went to a random blogger "blind date" and the girls I met there are now my best friends, so who knows what will happen with these new "relationships" we formed yesterday. Plus, we met at The Explorer's Club in Columbus and it was good! So quaint and cute. Another new restaurant I'd never been too. #expandingmyfoodoptions

I was taking a picture of the room, but got a lot of Amanda. Sorry, girl! :)

A list of everyone there.

Business cards that I got.

I mentioned earlier that I wore my new comfy leggings to Jill's house on Friday night. Well I also wore them on Saturday morning with a cute black flawy top and my black riding boots. Well, apparently that outfit screams "hooker" because I got asked TWICE if I "needed a ride". "Needed a ride" is code for how prostitutes get picked up. {I only know this because I googled it when I got home!} I am never wearing those leggings in public again. I can't even believe that happened to me the first time on the way in to the restaurant and then again on the way back to my car. What are the odds? Obviously good if you're wearing cheetah leggings! And who knew the South Columbus area was such a hotbed (excuse the pun) for hookers AND that so many people look for them at noon on a Saturday!!!!! #mindblown

Saturday evening was Roller SK80's: Saved by the Bell. Holly's knows people that know people that organize it, so I was excited to get invited this year. I tried to dress like Kelly Kapowski and got a floral skirt at Charlotte Russe and red Ked's like tennis shoes. It was fun. The costumes were amazing. Everyone was dressed up. My two favorites were this girl dressed like the boy from ET and the guy who looked just. exactly. like MAX from SBTB. Lots of Slaters, but I didn't see one Screech. Poor Dustin Diamond.

I skated a lot and didn't fall once. One time I even skated backwards a little bit! All that skating during my 5th grade field trip paid off!

Awesome kicks, right?

Everyone skating.

stole this from Holly's instagram.

ET in the basket on the handle bars!!!!

Solid gold made an appearance. :)

sk8's.

Too kool for skool.

Kelly Kapowski (with 2014 poofed hair cause i got hot!)

Today was spent at home. I was so productive and did no less than 13 loads of laundry. All my clothes are clean (and put away!) and I've washed every blanket, sheet, comforter and pillow in this apartment. I even mopped AND cooked dinner. The only thing I didn't do is vacuum and do the dishes. There's always tomorrow.

She was a snuggler. I think she doesn't feel good. or just likes having me home for an entire day.