Well, you may be wondering where I have been, and honestly I can say I have no idea, where have I been.  I think working or sleeping maybe running, yeah I think running.  My latest and greatest accomplishment was the Spokane Half Marathon.  This is my second time running it a beautiful course very colorful and challenging.  I forgot how hilly the course was until I was in it.  The morning started off cold I think 27 degrees or so, whatever it was it was cold.  It warmed up into the 50s and was a perfect day for a race.  Last year I ran the race in 2:07 and was hoping this year I could do it in 2:00 hours but of course I was a little skeptical of my training and time I had put in so I would be fine as long as I finished before 2:15.  Remember I am the person that doesn't set the goals very high, that way I know I can reach them.  Well, I got to the top of Doomsday hill and with only a few miles left I was feeling pretty good.  I starting picking up the pace so I thought or maybe everyone else was slowing down but needless to say I came across the line at exactly 2:00 hours.  YES I DID IT!!  It was very fun to see friends I hadn't seen in awhile and then I got to run my sister in law the last quarter of a mile her first one ever how cool was that.  I could barely keep my tears back when I saw her coming.  How awesome she is and what a great accomplishment for her.  I have a great sister in law.  GO COLLEEN!!

What a Weekend!

Well I thought I would update my blog when there was something exciting I believe last weekend definitely qualifies.  The weekend was full of adventures and unforgettable memories.  I first flew to Portland Thursday night where I was to be staying with my friend Kelly.  I called her once I got to the airport (an hour early thanks to Craig) to tell her my flight has been delayed and I'll be in at 9:15.  Kelly answers the phone and rather hesitantly says...I'm not sure if I should have called you or not but her husband and her and been vomiting all night but the good news she hasn't thrown up since 12:00:).  So, I think for a minute and ponder I am out of town going to a wedding do I want to be exposed and sick.  I then tell her okay I'll call you back.  I place one of several calls to Craig, he says just get a hotel no big deal, maybe no big deal for him but that is big adult stuff and I am scared to stay in a hotel by myself.  Mind you I am already feeling very anxious and rattled since last time I took this flight to Portland was when my dad passed away so I am freaking out because of this also.  

Next step I place several calls all over Washington trying to get phone numbers of some girl friends I know live in the Portland area.  After calling to Wenatchee and calling Whitney's dad I get a hold of Whit.  Mind you the last time I spoke to Whit or saw her was at her wedding 7 years ago, but I have no apprehensions about calling to shack up with her.  I call her have to leave a message say hey this is Ann Flanigan remember me from college??  Thank God she remembers me calls me back picks me up at the airport and she says okay I am going to drop you off at Heathers  who is the bride and has already gone to Hood River where the wedding is taking place!   I think Heathers, are you kidding me do you know I barely made it off that flight I was balling my eyes out I am a mess I can't be left alone.  I beg and plead telling her I don't care if she has 2 bowls in the sink has she ever seen my house?  Obviously not.  Yes, she caves and I get to stay with her.  We sit around and chat until about midnight I crash on the couch and the next morning she drops me off at a Starbucks at 7:30 and I wait for my next pal to come and rescue me.  Kelly was feeling better thank God and she came and found me in the local Target shopping,  I was very happy at Target I never get to browse by myself it was real close to serenity. Kelly and I finished the day shopping waiting for Stacey to join us and get Kriss from the airport and venture on to Hood River where the wedding is.  

Stace arrives we hang out we end up going out to dinner with Kelly's family and her parents who were in town for her daughter Lauren's first birthday.  We eat at a yummy pizza place enjoying the food and company and Kendall her older daughter keeps complaining her tummy doesn't feel well.  Kelly does the typical mom thing "do you need to go potty?" No, next thing Kelly's family gets up and leaves and low and behold next thing you know Stacey and I are now only eating with Kelly's parents.  Kendall is not feeling well, we get to there house afterwards and Kendall and vomited uh oh the flu and hit its final victim in the house.  Stacey and I decide we need to get going to get Kriss from the airport she is due in in about 20 minutes.  

We get our stuff loaded in Stacey's car and for some reason her fan was having a little issue earlier and wasn't turning off before dinner and wouldn't you know it it is still going but very lightly.  Stace gets in to start the car and nothing dead battery.  Crap 2 minutes later I get a text from Kriss, "landed let you know when I get my luggage"  Crap, I call Kriss and say hey don't rush it might be a bit we are at least 20 minutes from the airport and we are trying to figure out how to unplug the fan so in case it doesn't turn off again we can unplug it and not have to worry about a dead battery.  Perfect 30 minutes later and a jump we are on our way to get Kriss.  We get Kriss drive to Hood River and get lost in the town trying to find our house we are staying in find it, and move in.  Saturday morning we shopped the town and talk with the all the wedding party everyone excited for the big day.  The wedding went off without a hitch Heather looked beautiful as always the view was great looking at Mt. Hood,  weather was perfect.  We had a great time enjoyed wonderful food and yummy wine, some of us more than others.  At the end of the night we headed home took some guy back with us who drove his motorcycle and had too much fun so we said he could stay at the house, he had to work at 8:00 the next morning but Stacey said she would wake up at 6:00 and drive him back to his bike.

We get home I crash the alarm goes off Stacey goes to the other house looking for this Justin guy who she can't remember what he looks like and she can't find him, he isn't exactly where we left him.  We tell her to look for his motorcycle gear and nothing, checks the rooms and he is gone.  Rumor on the streets is he took a cab at 1:30am back to his bike ad slept next to it.  (Whatever)

Next morning we get up everyone is moving a little slower Kriss especially I am not sure if she moved for a good couple hours.  We decide to get ready head back to Portland and tackle the shopping town before I catch my flight back.  We load the car clean the house we stayed Stacey and I have this fan thing down to a science, I plug in and she unplugs .  We head out get on the highway to head back to Portland Kriss is set up with all the hang over supplies, vomit bag, water we have crackers.  6 miles in Kriss gets sick, uses her bag we pull over at the weigh station to throw away the bag and Stacey's car starts smoking, she pops the hood and smoke is rolling off the engine next thing you know I YELL FIRE!!! get the water, I grab the water out of the back seat pour 6 bottles over the fan area and phew the fire is out.  Stacey is still standing there thinking do I have a fire extinguisher??  We all have a good laugh and then think hmm how do we get back to Portland?

Stacey is now a proud member of AAA, I tried to get us on the Oregon ducks bus that pulled over, they felt no sympathy for us, they said okay guys let go this is a private party.  After hours of phone calls to rental car placed and dealerships and to find out nobody is open on Sunday we joined the tow truck driver on a 50 mile ride to the Portland BMW dealership.  We again called our good friend Whitney who rescued me and the other girls, we ate lunch at the Hollow Goose a greasy pub with slow service.  We are all fed and now ready to head home, Stacey decides to take the train nice scenic derailed and 4 hours delays and switching trains not the best decision.  I was dropped off at the airport nice smooth arrival home and Kriss I believed had a delayed plane as well.  I must say it was a weekend full of memories that will not be forgotten.