FRIDAY
I had planned to go to school to take my Calc quiz at 0930, but downtown was flooded and traffic was fucked up and I was worried about getting from school to the airport so I emailed my instructor and asked to take the quiz on Monday morning instead. She finally responded at 7:30PM... (I had emailed her at 8am) so 12 hours later.... /facepalm.I also had a work call at 0800 for my "transitioning off" project, during which I texted my former PM to clarify that I was fired for miscommunication, after participants on the call kept apologizing for not making the requests for work cleara. Yep, glad I was the problem. Fucker.
Since I wasn't going to school, I packed after finishing the laundry and headed to Teh German's work early so he could drop me off at the airport. I got to my gate and found a spot to plop with my breakfast and laptop. Rather than doing homework, I decided to blog. Honestly, I was super wound up from the stress of the night before and morning and I needed some Megan time so that's what I did.
My flight was delayed because of weather, which meant that I could have went to class, but oh well. I did eventually make it to Chicago where Teh Running Bestie was waiting on me. We were texting and agreed to meet at the baggage claim since my bag had gotten checked at the gate. We couldn't find each other so we agreed to meet at the train area. We still couldn't find each other.. at which point we realized that Teh Running Bestie was at Midway and I was at O'Hare. FMMMLLL.
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| I had her birthday present out and ready to give to her too... I was disappointed to have to pack it back away. |
Rather than deal with the trains and having to navigate the city with my luggage, I called for a Lyft. Brian my Lyft driver was awesome, which was good since we spent an hour and 30 minutes together trying to get to downtown. Our ride even included stopping at the train tracks for THREE trains to pass, one of went all the way forward and then back ALL THE WAY back. I cannot make this shit up people. This is why I hate trains.
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| Fucking trains. |
Finally, I made it to the hotel and Teh Kiawah Running Friend (who I'm going to start calling Matilda) and Teh Running Bestie jumped in the car with us and Brian took us to the Expo so we could pick up our bibs.
After the Expo, we headed back to the room to drop off my luggage and then went back out to pick up pizza at Lou Malrati's for dinner. We brought the pizza back to the room since the wait for a table was almost an hour and a half. After changing into stretchy pants, we devoured our pizza and soon after it was sleepy time.
SATURDAY
A 0630 alarm was set for race day. Teh Running Bestie and I signed up for the 5k on Saturday and the 10k on Sunday so we would qualify for the Remix Challenge to get the extra medal, #priorities. We made it to the start line in record time since our hotel was close by the park where the race started. Due to being Gimps, we had already decided to walk both races. It was predicted to rain, but we were fortunate that the rain mostly held off until we crossed the finish line. We made stops at the medical tent for ice (not for me, fret not) and then the merchandise tent. Matilda had found us along the course a few times and then right before the finish line. She stayed back cheering the people at the end of the race.
When we all met back up, we finally agreed to walk back to the hotel in the rain. We took quick showers and then headed downstairs for the breakfast buffet, which was ON POINT. After breakfast, we headed back upstairs to post-run/brunch naps.
When we finally woke up by 2, we agreed to go be tourists. We made a pit stop at Kilwin's to grab ice cream, went into Walgreen's for some water/supplies, then went into Millennium Park to see the different art pieces and The Bean. After, we walked to the Navy Pier, where we sat and enjoyed the break in the clouds for a bit. Eventually, we decided to head back towards the hotel and find dinner. I found a place called Remington close to our hotel that did just the trick.
After we were all stuffed to the gills, we practically rolled back to the hotel. We lounged around for a little bit, I FaceTimed with Teh German, I started this post, and we watched the Navy Pier fireworks from our bed and then it was bedtime.
SUNDAY
We were up at 0530 for our 10k race. |
| Snow plows to block the road make me LOL. Great use of the trucks in the off-season, if you ask me. |
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| Waiting to start. |
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| Start line! |
I ran into a little snafu before we started when I realized that my bib said corral 17 instead of corral <5, which Teh Running Bestie and I had both just assumed. Oops. While we were waiting to start after we got into the groups, I just kept my bib covered over the corral number in case someone was going to call me out. 17 was the last corral and I just could not with that. AND I realized it right as we were about to start and I wasn't going to fight my way to the back corrals after having just fought my way to corral 5. Nope. #ALittleBitSorry
There were some great views along the way. I also learned that my super awesome Google phone takes garbage panoramic photos. /facepalm.
It rained on and off throughout the entire race. It took us a little under 2 hours to walk a 10k. Honestly, I feel like walking was harder than running because Teh Running Bestie and I were both just wanting to take off. In fact, we ran through the start chute, despite my grumblings at Teh Running Bestie that she shouldn't be.
After we got our medals and some ice for Teh Running Bestie's ankle, we picked up our Remix medal (the bonus medal for running 2 events in the same weekend) and then headed to pick up coffee for me. After acquiring caffeine, we headed back to the course so we could wait on Teh Kiawah Running Friend and cheer her on. Unfortunately, it started raining BUCKETS and we were wet and cold and we opted to go back to the hotel instead of waiting the 30-45 minutes for her to come by.
After showers, Teh Kiawah Running Friend made it back to the hotel. We stretched and chatted and then, sadly, Teh Running Bestie and I had to depart to head to the airport. We took a Lyft instead of walking through the rain with our luggage to get to the train, despite Teh Running Bestie's desire to ride the L. Hopefully, her 10k medal of the L made up for it?
After getting to the airport, we made it through security (I didn't have to take my shoes off and I went through non-TSA-precheck security and I was confused, but not complaining), grabbed something for lunch, then headed to my gate to wait for my flight since I departed first. Teh Running Bestie turned on her hotspot for me to try and get some homework accomplished, but due to my Java ineptitude, it didn't really happen.
Sadly, the time came for me to board and we had to part ways. While I waited on the plane to take off, I did some Java research. After we took off, I tried to read the Java stuff that I had opened, but it was putting me to sleep, so I took a nap instead... Which is my airplane specialty.
Teh German picked me up from the airport and we agreed to do Mexican for dinner. After dinner, we headed home for me to spend the rest of the night beating my head against the Java wall. Teh German ended up going to bed well before me.
And just like that, the weekend was over.
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I had a super fun fantastic weekend with my Running Homies. But I won't lie to you.. if the trip hadn't already been planned and paid for, I wouldn't have went. I had fun while I was there, but I was just putting off the stress of everything I had going on, which didn't cause me to relax more. Additionally, there was a black cloud over me all weekend. It was exhausting. Not just to me, but for everyone. I hate when that happens because I know that when I'm annoying myself, I'm also annoying everyone around me.Thankfully, the mood finally broke Monday evening and Teh German was quite surprised when I got home on Monday evening in a rather chipper, upbeat mood. I still had studying to accomplish on Monday, but I wasn't as frustrated as I'd been on Sunday, which always helps.
Teh Running Bestie pushed me to hire a tutor for Calc 2, so I've finally done it. Today I spent ~2.5 hours with a tutor, which has mostly taught me that I know what I'm doing, but I'm fucking up the simple things. I have a test today, so hopefully the money was well spent. If not, I'll probably keep spending the money anyways, since there is only one more week left of the summer semester and I really need/want to pass this class. My current grade is a 73. It's cutting it close.
As for my CS class. I've figured out that if I fail it, my schedule, NOR my GPA will be effected, so I'm not overly concerned. I probably should be, but I needed to prioritize and I can retake the CS class in the spring at the Citadel and it will only be a MWF class, vs if I have to retake Calc 2, that is a 5 day a week class and that's just obnoxious.
If you're still hanging on with me through this rough patch, you're the best. I have expectations of myself to get back on my blogging schedule as soon as this summer hell semester ends. I have Honeymoon recaps to write and whatever else I normally do when I'm not in my own personal hell.
Work is work. Because I spend 95% of my time teleworking, I've been making sure to check in frequently. I did have the satisfaction of replying to an email from someone on my "transferred" project with my former PM cc-ed that I was no longer involved with the project and maybe the PM could direct him to someone who could tech write his document. /shrug.
The only negative thing that has happened is that I discovered something I thought was complete, was NOT.. 2 weeks later. That doesn't bode well, but I corrected the error and now I'm hoping for the best. It was an unintentional mistake and it happened after the whole disaster went down, but I know that I'm under a microscope, so we'll see how this plays out.
In all of this, Teh German has been a rock-star. He ensures that we eat and he does things without me without making me feel like I'm missing out and he checks with me before potentially inviting people over when I could be doing school work. He's pretty much the best husband ever, which I tell him frequently.
Oh and finally, the dogs have been extra awesome too. They both have known that I've needed love but also needed space. They lay with me in the office while I'm slaving away on my homework in the evenings and studying in the mornings before I leave for school. They always ensure that I am properly greeted when I arrive home and butt scratches can be administered until I have to eat dinner and go do homework. Meri has been super snuggly with me in the mornings and Pax has given me his greyhound hugs (he leans on me) frequently. I love when they know how much I need them. For that, I give them bully
Gentle Readers, THE END IS NEAR. Stick with me through this last hell week!!!
