... Chicago ...

Here I am in beautiful Chicago. I am here for a show and am honestly going to try to run everyday. I got off to a good start, as I traded my lunch with a run.

 

The airport my second home it seems.

 

 

Too bad about the weather extremes ... Chicago is my kind of town ... I just know I could not live with the winter.

 

 

I ran with my favorite T-shirt from Dorothy! 6 miles. I was happy. I am going to try to get in a 3 mile run everyday.

 

I was able to buy water along the route. How amazing. Well not the Acquafina. Yuck. It hit the spot though.

I took a picture at every mile. Stunning.

 

Time to rest ... Long day ahead tomorrow.

 

A presto ... J

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... another milestone ... Prom ...

... time is going by so fast ... soon she will be a senior ...

 

... here are a few shots from Prom ... hooray for digital ... almost embarrassed to say I took 400 plus pics ...

... don't mean to be conceited ... but she looked so beautiful ...

 

... love this one ...

... not necessarily a fan of this one ... But they HAVE to do a funny face one ...

... loved her hair ...

... and her dress ...

 

... her beautiful sister surprised her and came just to spend the day with her ...

 

 

... one more prom left ... fortunately ... as they sure on easy on the pocketbook ...

... a dopo ... J

 

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... unsuccessful picture taking ...

I can't remember the last time I had time or took the time to attempt to take a nice food photography picture. This weekend of course was no exception. I was trying to take part in a photo challenge out on location by Jungle Frog. The assignment was to take a picture out on location without the assistance of artificial lighting ... The problem was that every time I had the right opportunity, I didn't have the right company. My family is used to me taking pictures and allow me the time to do so ... but ... when I am in the company of others I just pass on the opportunity.

 

So, I leave you with the only shots I took ...

 

 

... I had no time to think of light or lack there of as I was using my daughter's friends plate ... I didn't want it to get cold. Hence the results ...

 

 

.. breakfast time ... this time hunger got in the way ...

 

 

... I also leave you with a few successful Instagram shots ... It's hard to go wrong with all the filters and additional tools to make the shots look better.

 

... Dante as he watched his favorite movie ...

 

 

... Dante's new toy ... Who said that only bunnies are for Easter? ...

 

 

... Riding around ... love ... love ... love ... when my daughter is in town ...

 

 

 

... Crepe Cellar with my daughter ...

 

 

... should have stopped at the Crepes ... but didn't ...

 

 

... I also participated in throwback Thursday on Instagram ... with my Baywatch Babes ... adorable ...

 

 

 

Tomorrow I am off for one more day as we celebrate Pasquetta ... rest and regroup time ... a dopo ... J

 

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... Sunday Travel ...

Yes, another trip that feeds into my weekend. I love to work ... I love my job ... however sometimes things just seem off ... this just happens to be one of those times ... things are just plain off ... so when things are off at work and with all this traveling, leaving on a Sunday is just plain painful. I miss my daughters already ... even if at least my little one is beside me ... and even though my oldest is at college ... still so painful.

I feel that this is my time ... It should be my time ... the whole day just not a part of the day ...

Enough whining onto a little picture fun ...

I semi-tried the Dr. Oz 3 day cleanse. Semi, I say, because I really never finished with just the juices. I didn't care for the mid-day drink, however breakfast and lunch were not half bad. My daughter wants to do it with me when she comes home next week ... so round two is coming up ... I think I still just want to do two juices and a sensible dinner. Will keep you posted.

My new favorite, flaxseed. More on that later.

My friend took me to Duke's Grill. A tiny burger diner in the middle of Monroe. She didn't want to take me ... I guess she thinks I can be a little thrown off by the environment, :) however in actuality I think that I am pretty easy going, maybe? :) OK, maybe not ... HOWEVER, this time at least I thoroughly enjoyed the hamburgers and the quaint joint. "Joint" I don't think I have ever used that word before today.

Duke's Grill since 1951 and also featured in the travel channel. Not bad.

Soccer season is back. Can't tell you how much happiness it brings to me to watch her play. The team is doing wonderful ... I am so happy AND proud.

We had a little scare last week, as Titti felt pain in her knee and the trainer was fearing a meniscus tear, thankfully it was just a muscle strain. (Just ... I say .. as it is a much better alternative to anything meniscus oriented ... nothing at all would have been better, though)

Can't even tell you the relief I felt when the doctor said everything looked great.

She did however have to sit one game out ... she was NOT happy. ;)

I think the pain started because they had to interrupt the game in order to let the lighting pass ... after playing a half and then having to wait on what was a very COLD RAINY night and then only having 5 minutes to warmup to play the second half ...

I think improper warm up was the culprit of the muscle strain. I believe that more attention should be paid to stretching and warmup in kids sports today.

On other life events ... we also volunteered at our local Ronald McDonald House ... and visited the doggy park to let Mr. Dante run free.

Oh speaking of Dante ... he is on a diet ... that is right ... veterinary imposed. Why? Still daunts me ... he looks perfect to me ... Actually he eats really well ... we don't feed him table food ... we only give him doggy food, a tablespoon of yogurt, veggies and fruit. OK, the occasional Parmesan cheese ... Maybe this is the only transgression.

So we now are on diet food and we are doing great ... OK, he is ... me on the other hand ... Not so much ;).

1.5 pounds lost only 6 to go. I could use some loosing myself ;).

... a dopo ... Need to head for the airport ... J

 

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... Sunday ... Snow ... Volunteering ... Resolutions ...

Let's see so Friday here was t-shirt weather. Yes, t-shirt weather which would not be bad or highly unusual ... maybe a early break for spring. Temperature changes are frequent in Charlotte, however we did not expect such a difference in temperature however this is what we found ... snow.

Yes, snow ... it snowed ... 4 cm ... it was gloriously beautiful and wonderfully cold ... you won't find that I often refer to cold weather with such fondness, usually ... but this time around it just felt great ... the cold felt crisp and airy and almost seemed to clean the air ... of maybe it was my own need for a lightness that seems to elude me lately.

Today our Sunday was filled with volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. One of my chosen charities and community service organizations.

... we collected donations in the arena ... all in all we walked about 6 miles in our 3 hour shift ...

 

... we worked up our appetite and ate brunch at one of our favorite restaurants 5Church ...

 

 

... we came home to an excited puppy ... playtime led to a fun run in the mud left where the snow had once been ... we were forced to include a nice hot shower to our Sunday plans ...

 

... before and after pic below ...

 

... so adorable, so lucky, so spoiled ...

... I am doing good in one of my New Year's Resolutions ...

I finished another book ... Damaged by Cathy Glass ... it was a tough book, very graphic words at times ... and I kept waiting for justice and resolution ... and it didn't find it ... at least in the way I wanted to.

I searched the Internet for answers and found out after reading the book that it was a true story ... and the real life resolution pained me ... or rather, I felt pain for Cathy and Jodie ... I found myself looking for the happy ending ... in a way there is some happiness in the end for Jodie ... but after the horror of her life all I felt was deep sadness. For the time being I don't think I will read another book from this series ... I think my mind needs a break ... may seem a little selfish after the subject at hand and the horrific events that were endured by Jodie ... but my heart at the moment can't handle more ...

I'm getting ready to pack ... packing on a Sunday is always so hard ... I have another week of travel, one week home, and again more travel, BUT after that I will be home for two whole weeks ... can't wait ... I miss being at home ... I love to travel and I love my job ... but sometimes I just love to be home.

... I better go pack ... Happy rest of Sunday! ... J

 

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