Nurse on the Run

I’m currently blogging from O’Hare International Airport, as I decided to shell out the $7.00 for internet since my flight is delayed for two hours…not that I’m surprised since I’ve grown used to landing in Philly at 2am, so why things would be different for (what I think is) my last trip to Philly is beyond me.  But anyway, it lets me catch you all up on my wonderful weekend at home!

thursday

I arrived bright early on Thursday morning (didn’t sleep Wednesday night…lovely), and my family and I headed to my favorite breakfast place, which happened to be where I served all through nursing school.  I had some glorious blueberry pancakes, caught up with some people I used to work with, and filled my belly.  Gotta love it.  I headed home for a short nap before going to get my hair done…I don’t trust anyone else to do my hair, so I get it done when I go home.  I only cut off about two inches but it feels SOOO much shorter, and I’m not sure I like it!  I also decided to go a little blonder on my highlights…yikes.  I’ll like it in a week, I tell myself.  The rest of the day was dinner with the family (I haven’t had a meal cooked for me in ages….so nice!  Thanks mom!) and then pie with my friend and her fiance…it was my first time seeing her ring, so that was lovely.  Then I went to bed early since I was sleepy…

friday – WRIGLEY

Okay, this day will be much more interesting since I have pictures to go along with it, and if that’s all you look at…that’s fine with me. 

My day started out with a run!  I loooove all my old running routes, so I planned to hit all of them while I was home.    My first one was a short four mile run around the local community college loop.  A motorcycle class (where they teach you how to ride…something I want to try one day!) was out, and some of them waved. 

Friday, August 6
4.04 miles in 31:17, avg pace of 7:45

After my run, my dad and I hit the road to go to Wrigley!  My dad’s birthday is this week, so I gave him an early present of Cubs tickets.  I’ll be a Cubs fan forever, no matter how bad they are.  They lost to the Reds with no runs scored (“The Cubs are quite anemic,” says my dad), but going to Wrigley is fun and of course I had a bratwurst!

Wrigley!!

Matching Dad and daughter t-shirts!

I love the signs about Cubs’ games!!

After the game, my dad dropped me off at the train station and I headed home, while he headed to Michigan to help my brother move.  I met my bestest friends at Buffalo Wild Wings (I don’t have one close to me in Philly!!), and I had my first celebration beer for my job in New York.    BWW was one of our favorite places to go, and we always head them when I’m back in town.  Post-dinner, we headed to Dairy Queen for blizzards (another favorite…we don’t do “healthy eating” when I’m home…it’s fine), which was fun because the bar across the street had a band playing outdoors and we could hear them from where we were sitting eating our ice cream.    Love it!

Oh yes, at dinner my friends compared engagement rings, and it was discovered that they have the same ring.  Future fiance, please take note!

My hand (empty), first friend (engaged), second friend (married!).  I’ve been thinking about this picture for a long time, haha.

  Matching engagement rings…

saturday – my friends are the best

Saturday morning was another run, this time to the “downtown” area of my town.  This run goes by a playground, and I always like seeing the little kids out playing. 

Saturday, August 7
5.04 miles in 38:56, avg pace of 7:44

Afterwards, I had lunch with a friend who I haven’t seen in about two years…he runs and does tris, so it was fun to catch up and do a lot of talking about running!  I don’t know any runners where I live (that’s soon to change…yay!), so it was fun to talk about running for an extended period of time…you know how runners can talk forever about running!

While I was having lunch with him, my friend Katie texted me to ask if I wanted to do Chinese food and a chick flick later in the evening…she sure knows the way to my heart.    Of course!!  We stopped by David’s Bridal first to look at bridesmaid dresses, which I got to model…woo woo.  Then it was off to my favorite Chinese place!  So good.  We then headed back to my house after making the quickest Red Box decision known to man (people were behind us in line…the pressure was on!).  We had to bake…since that’s what I do, and my friends are awesome too.  Some people go home and party…I go home and we bake and watch movies.    It’s not for everyone, but I like it.

We decided on Oreo cupcakes…and let me tell you..baking is much more fun with my helpers around!  They make it more fun…look below for photo evidence!

Frosting fight!

Miles wanted some frosting. 

My friends actually said, “Don’t you need a ‘cut open’ picture??”

Taste testing!

Post-cupcakes, we watched “Couples Retreat” on my dad’s amazing TV…I thought it was quite funny, especially the couples yoga part since we did partner yoga in Costa Rica!  Haha.    Good times with good friends.

sunday – i don’t want to leave!

Sunday started off as most Sundays should…a long run on my favorite route!!  When training for my marathons at home, I ran this route a lot and I love it…I can tell you exactly what mile I am at, how far to the water fountain/bathroom, and I can get lost in my thoughts and just run as well.  The run is also broken up into different segments (this is all in my head, by the way), so it goes by pretty fast for me.  I headed out, and it started to run after about 1.8 miles, so I ran most of it in the rain.  It was actually quite lovely since it wasn’t a total downpour, and I haven’t run in the rain in awhile…I enjoyed myself!  And I love that run!

Sunday, August 8
10.12 miles in 1:19:33, avg pace of 7:52

After my long run, I showered up and headed out to meet my Katies (my two best friends from home have the same name…) for lunch at Egg Harbor, my location of former employment and home to AMAZING food.  I opted for lunch this time, which was definitely yummy.  Additionally, being a Sunday, more servers and such were there, so it was fun to catch up with them!  I truly loved working there and the people I worked with…they were so awesome.  They said I could have my job back if I went back…so tempting…

I said bye to one of my Katies at the restaurant and then took my other Katie home…we chatted about her upcoming wedding for awhile (really…I’m having a blast planning her wedding!), which was fun.  You know those friends who you can sit in their driveway for an hour just talking?  And time flies?  Yeppp, I miss that!!

My parents (who were both gone for most of the weekend…) got back in time for dinner, and we ordered Chinese from my favorite restaurant (yes…again), which was quite tasty.  Moved some furniture (cause that’s what families do…and my muscles are huge), and said bye to my mom.  Hopefully I’ll get to see her again soon!

My dad dropped me off at the airport, and I arrived to find that my flight is delayed two hours…hence my current blogging.    It’s time for one last 2:15am arrival in Philly, assuming all goes as (currently planned)…getting me home around 3:30am.  I’m not going to miss this, that’s for sure.

random side note

Reason #874 Why Illinois is Better than Pennsylvania:  You can buy beer, wine, and liquor in the same place…in the grocery store!!  Pennsylvania has crazy alcohol laws, and I was super excited to see all of the above in the grocery store…PA needs to get a clue.

Two thumbs up for beer, wine, liquor, and frozen foods all in the same location!

final thoughts

Being home really made me think that I should have pursued jobs in Chicago a little harder.  I love the city and I love my friends and family, and it kind of makes me sad that I’m not moving home.  However, if New York City is half as great as Chicago and the people I meet become half as good as friends as my friends here, then I’ll be a lucky girl.  Everyone I’ve talked to about New York says it’s an amazing place and that I’m going to love it…and I hope I do!  I’m really excited to start a new chapter, a new job, and meet lots of new people.  Two more weeks of work and I’ll be good to go.

I just have to make it to Philly first…time to board soon, I hope! 

What did you do this weekend?  I’m clearly behind on blogs, so give me the highlights! 

Have you ever been to Chicago?  It’s my favorite city.