Runs for Cookies

April 01, 2023

Photo Week, Day 5 of 7: San Diego

Jerry and I are going on vacation for a week (well, I say "vacation", but we're really just taking care of my sister's dogs at her house in Rockford, Illinois. This will be the longest we've been away since 2014 when we took a family vacation to Punta Cana!

To truly take a break from reality, I'm going to do something a little different this week. I've had a daily post streak going since January 1, 2020, and I really don't want to break that! So, I thought it might be fun to do a travel theme for each day and share some pictures from different trips I've been on. Each day will have a theme based on the location of the trip.

I'm preparing these posts ahead of time so I won't have to even open my computer while I'm gone. (I can still approve comments from my phone, though.) And hopefully when I get home, I'll have some good stuff to share :)

I've actually been to San Diego three times, but I'm just going to share photos from one of the trips. In early 2017, I had been horribly depressed for nearly a year and something happened that just made me kind of have a break down. I seriously considered going to a mental health facility, but I decided to ask my friend John if I could go to his house for a few days to get away and see some sunshine. He and his husband Ric said yes immediately, and I was on a flight later that day.

They took SUCH good care of me and it was just what I needed! I felt a million times better when I got home. There are some pictures with several fans of From Fat to Finish Line; they happened to be meeting for a race. I didn't race, but I did go for a long run with a new friend Colin (who I'd only met a couple of days before). Here goes, in no particular order...

Before heading to the airport

Ric made this quiche for breakfast and it was divine.

Walking around on my own enjoying the weater

John and Ric took me to Hodad's for burgers--a fun place!

I thought this was a very cool looking van!

Found this on the ground...

Me, Ric, and John

Cocktails with John after a long travel day

John's backyard cabana

So much travel, very strong cocktails, and a three-hour time difference did me in. I met Colin, though!

Ric made homemade tortilla chips and guacamole and I nearly died and went to heaven.

Jen, me, and John (from the documentary), and Nora, a FFTFL fan

Group photo in the elevator the night before the race

Getting to meet with reader Martine, who I'd been chatting with for years

With the FFTFL group before their race

On a long run with Colin (I think it was eight miles?) along the beach

March 31, 2023

Photo Week, Day 4 of 7: Minnesota

These photos from from 2-3 trips to Minnesota when my brother lived in St. Paul. In no particular order...

Brian took us in a NorthWest (Delta) flight simulator used for training

When Brian "flew" it I was TERRIFIED, even though I knew it wasn't a real plane. I literally had a panic attack.

Brian made a can crusher for Noah to crush all the pop/beer cans

At the Mall of America

Build-A-Bear for Noah's birthday

I'm amazed I fit inside of that!

At the zoo

Brian's dog Rocky

Brian treated us to a Twins game

A walk along the Mississippi River

A ride at the Mall of America

Flying on the Breezy (I wrote about this on Thursday)

While the boys didn't ride the Breezy, Steve took them in a different plane--it was their first time in an airplane.

My first Ragnar Relay--I filled in for someone on Brian's team who backed out

I have a full page of travel adventures--way too many to list this week--and they can be found here.

March 30, 2023

Photo Week, Day 3 of 7: Pacific Northwest

These pictures are from several different trips to Portland and Seattle and I have about 10 billion of them on my computer, but it would take me all day to pick and choose. So here is a (somewhat random) selection, in no particular order...