Just something quick to keep the ole blog active...
This past weekend Danny and I traveled to Santa Cruz, CA. The little beach town I called home for a whole year! It was lovely to be back and see how little things had changed.
The weekend restored in me a sense of calm and reminded me of the great pleasure I find in the simple and non-scheduled. We took specific care not to make many dates and flew by the seats of our pants most of the weekend.
Sitting by the water and people watching (and puppy watching on the beach) and walking to Kelly's Bakery to get coffee and sitting on their outdoor patio without a care in the world was awesome.
As spring approaches and the days get longer and warmer, I'm going to make an effort not to plan. I don't by any means want to lay around all spring but I want to find things to do and just do them when I have time.
The city of Chicago has endless activities and I want to enjoy as many of them as possible! A close friend of mine shared the idea of "Trekking". You start in one part of the city and literally just walk to another. This gives you the opportunity to see the city from a different perspective. You can stop in shops, cafes or parks as much as you fancy.
So as spring approaches, I'm going to embrace the city and enjoy it as much as possible. I'll share the details here!
And... I start training for the half marathon next week with a trainer who has run 29 marathons. She knows her stuff. This will also be a part of enjoying the city this spring and summer and hopefully looking killer in a bathing suit!!
XoXo - e*ricks
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Spring Cleaning
"Above all we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place - or not to bother." - Jane Goodall
The end of February means a few things.
First - that the worst of winter is over... fingers crossed
Second - that spring is around the corner... fingers crossed
Third - that it is spring cleaning time!
I love spring cleaning. I am a mild hoarder and Danny will be the first to tell you that I have a problem. Spring cleaning means you have a chance to sweep out all the dust from under the bed and discover what is down there! I know I have some books in bags under my bed and I'm excited to pull them out.
This spring I am also going to do some personal spring cleaning. I am going to focus on improving myself. I am to the point where I eat breakfast every morning, I have time to dry my hair (at least mostly) and I am following Weight Watchers with much detail. All three of those were goals of mine in November. Now it is time to add to the resolutions I made 4 months ago.
This spring I am going to start running. This is entirely new to me. The only running I have done is to the train when I am late for something. But I want to get in shape and I have many friends who run and I think it is a great sport.
On August 1st, 2010 I will run in the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon. This will be a first for me and I am nervous but excited. Besides getting in shape and having a hobby to share with friends this half marathon will be for something more, something greater; my cousin, Evan.
Last April, Evan Witty passed away while serving at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Cambodia. Evan was a extraordinary person who put a smile on the face of everyone who had the chance to know him. He was caring, selfless and inviting and has been dearly missed every day. This race will be for him.
Official training starts in April but in March I will be doing "prelim" training because I need to be able to run for 5 miles in the first week of official training. Those of us running in honor of Evan will be raising money for Cambodia's Hope, the organization he was working for.
The Palm Tree Orphanage is home to 93 children from age 4 to 18. The kids take classes in English, accounting, computers and dance as well as music lessons and a Cambodian curriculum. The children have room to learn, play and exercise at Palm Tree. They have a band practice room, and a large arts, crafts and ceramics room. There is a large play area for soccer, volleyball and other activities, and a spiritual meditation room on site as well. Cambodia's Hope maintains the orphanage as well as fund all of its operations.
Please visit www.cambodiashope.org to learn more about the group and how you can help. I am hoping to have people sponsor my training and donate $1 per mile I run from April to August 1st. If you are interested in running or donating please let me know!
I look forward to sharing my journey with you for the next 5 months.
XOXO - Rickert
The end of February means a few things.
First - that the worst of winter is over... fingers crossed
Second - that spring is around the corner... fingers crossed
Third - that it is spring cleaning time!
I love spring cleaning. I am a mild hoarder and Danny will be the first to tell you that I have a problem. Spring cleaning means you have a chance to sweep out all the dust from under the bed and discover what is down there! I know I have some books in bags under my bed and I'm excited to pull them out.
This spring I am also going to do some personal spring cleaning. I am going to focus on improving myself. I am to the point where I eat breakfast every morning, I have time to dry my hair (at least mostly) and I am following Weight Watchers with much detail. All three of those were goals of mine in November. Now it is time to add to the resolutions I made 4 months ago.
This spring I am going to start running. This is entirely new to me. The only running I have done is to the train when I am late for something. But I want to get in shape and I have many friends who run and I think it is a great sport.
On August 1st, 2010 I will run in the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon. This will be a first for me and I am nervous but excited. Besides getting in shape and having a hobby to share with friends this half marathon will be for something more, something greater; my cousin, Evan.
Last April, Evan Witty passed away while serving at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Cambodia. Evan was a extraordinary person who put a smile on the face of everyone who had the chance to know him. He was caring, selfless and inviting and has been dearly missed every day. This race will be for him.
Official training starts in April but in March I will be doing "prelim" training because I need to be able to run for 5 miles in the first week of official training. Those of us running in honor of Evan will be raising money for Cambodia's Hope, the organization he was working for.
The Palm Tree Orphanage is home to 93 children from age 4 to 18. The kids take classes in English, accounting, computers and dance as well as music lessons and a Cambodian curriculum. The children have room to learn, play and exercise at Palm Tree. They have a band practice room, and a large arts, crafts and ceramics room. There is a large play area for soccer, volleyball and other activities, and a spiritual meditation room on site as well. Cambodia's Hope maintains the orphanage as well as fund all of its operations.
Please visit www.cambodiashope.org to learn more about the group and how you can help. I am hoping to have people sponsor my training and donate $1 per mile I run from April to August 1st. If you are interested in running or donating please let me know!
I look forward to sharing my journey with you for the next 5 months.
XOXO - Rickert
Friday, February 12, 2010
Olympics - the greatest show on earth
It is that time of year again... well time of every two years. The world comes together for the Olympics. I wish that I had enough vacation to take the whole two weeks off and just watch all day and all night long.
I am a competitive person and watching the world's best compete head to head is awesome. I know there are those out there who think that the winter games are not exciting, or not as exciting as the summer games. They obviously are not watching what I am.
Skiers racing down mountains at 80 miles per hour. Faster than we're allowed to drive on most freeways (except in Wyoming and Montana and a few other states). Imagine being out there on nothing but 2 six foot long fiber glass sticks that you are clipped into! Same with bobsledding and the luge. Crazy stuff.
That's not even getting into ski jumping; those athletes go like 100 yards in the air... that's a football field! There is also ice skating, speed skating, hockey, curling and that one where they cross country ski and shoot things.
In other news, my weight watchers is going well. I've been doing my hair in the morning and just last night finally bought make up that isn't too tan for my winter skin! I've also decided to run the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon in August! I'll start training for that in the next month or so and I'm sure I'll share the details of my struggle to compete in a race for the first time since 7th grade gym class.
Also I'm signed up on Google Buzz... I didn't really have a choice they just put it in my inbox one morning. So ya'll can catch daily updates there.
Have a good weekend and happy Mardi Gras!!!
E*Ricks
I am a competitive person and watching the world's best compete head to head is awesome. I know there are those out there who think that the winter games are not exciting, or not as exciting as the summer games. They obviously are not watching what I am.
Skiers racing down mountains at 80 miles per hour. Faster than we're allowed to drive on most freeways (except in Wyoming and Montana and a few other states). Imagine being out there on nothing but 2 six foot long fiber glass sticks that you are clipped into! Same with bobsledding and the luge. Crazy stuff.
That's not even getting into ski jumping; those athletes go like 100 yards in the air... that's a football field! There is also ice skating, speed skating, hockey, curling and that one where they cross country ski and shoot things.
In other news, my weight watchers is going well. I've been doing my hair in the morning and just last night finally bought make up that isn't too tan for my winter skin! I've also decided to run the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon in August! I'll start training for that in the next month or so and I'm sure I'll share the details of my struggle to compete in a race for the first time since 7th grade gym class.
Also I'm signed up on Google Buzz... I didn't really have a choice they just put it in my inbox one morning. So ya'll can catch daily updates there.
Have a good weekend and happy Mardi Gras!!!
E*Ricks
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