Life continues

5/14/06 ~ Mother's Day
Char and I ran the reverse of the loop. We actually didn't think we'd make the 6 miles but managed to surprise ourselves. It's Mothers Day and the first for Char without Carl. It does not matter and so difficult to explain what this day means. I wanted to go see my own mom but felt the connection to be closer to home. Life - no bad days ~ no regrets! Seems so easy and yet very difficult.

5/15/06 Monday last book group meeting for the 2005-2006 year. Officers have been decided and summer reading lists need to be shared. Where did this year go?!

5/20/06 - 5/21/06 -
10 months. Again it is all about these dates. We plan so much around different events and yet these dates creep up on us and the sadness continues. It's almost a year and yet the pain is still so raw and close to all of us. When do we wake up and not think is this nightmare really happening. I am amazed at how well Char continues to go on - each and every day when who knows if any of us could do the same. I need her motivation to keep me going to know that these milestones are important and this is our goal! Char says we need to run further each weekend and than - - - it doesn't happen because of endurance, breathing and whether we have it in us "this morning"! But we do it and that is what truly matters - we get out there and run - escape from reality.

10 months - we put one foot in front of the other - go on in his honor. No bad days - no regrets!
Carl ~ we miss you more than ever!

Flying Pig - surviving Cincy

Is it really May ~~ the weather is more like March. We (Angie) did great running the Shamrock the weather cooperated and the rain didn't start until much later! We continue to train for our goal of the Chicago Half Marathon 10/1/06.

5/06 - Flying Pig - my first trip back to Cincy since days at Whittman Hart. Angie, Char and I left Saturday afternoon once the composite bins were all delivered. It was a glorious day for a 5 hour ride and Angie mentally prepared herself for the 5:00 am (4:00 Chicago time) wake up call Sunday morning. I drove and Char was my co-pilot. She did an awesome job! Once we arrived in Cincy - starving and passing the hotel 3x trying to find the entrance we came upon a girl/woman/individual with a wipe board and looking up! We decided to pull over as ask for directions to the Hotel! Char asked the question, Angie looked up from the backseat window, I tried to figure out what the heck was she writing on the wipe board. I thought she was an artist!
Well - once I looked at the writing and eyes followed the fence I realized it had barb wire on the top. Angie was getting suggestive looks from the windows and Char couldn't listen after I said twice - do you see the barb wired!!! It was the Cincy correctional center only 2 blocks from our Hotel - Welcome!

We managed to drive around the corner and low and behold - there was the hotel! Since we really had no idea where we were; called the running group for directions to the restaurant they were eating and drove up by them!

The weather for the race did not turn out at all like predicted - we froze but cheered on the runners. Drove home to Darien to one of the top 10 weather days of 2006! Angie was our co-pilot the way home so we avoided the 80/94 traffic!

Had a few hard belly laughing experiences! Well needed. Cheri showed up early Sunday to see her Mom off to the finish - but didn't get to see her until Mile #4. It all worked out well! Need to plan the next road trip!!!!