How I became an ultramarathoner

It took five energy gels, one chindigger with a small knee abraison, thirty-five miles, two pairs of shoes and socks, four pretzel rods, two saltines, five red jolly ranchers, one piece of 60% cacao dark chocolate, three cups of Gatorade (blue), eight electrolyte tablets, two Advil, 7:57:51, one detour, four extra miles, half a PB&J, one Larabar, body glide, one hydration belt with lots of bottle refills, and three pringles for me to become an ultramarathoner!

Stay Thirsty My Friends

We had, yet another awesome time with my cousins, the Messicks, in Chicago. The highlights are as follows:

1. Catching the Hopper & Homer Exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago , which, in my opinion, is one of the best art museums in the country. The Messicks had a VIP members only connection where we got to see the paintings before the museum opened and the madness began.

2. Dining at the Park Grill in Millenium Park (just say "yes" to the organic grilled pork sandwich). There's something about sipping from a water goblet with a cloth napkin on my lap that makes me feel like a grown-up.

3. Meeting up with Chris' college friend, also Chris, and his Swedish girlfriend Anna-Lena. We hooked up at the Gage for a couple of beers with cheers, which, adding to the grown up theme, were all served in their proper glasses. If you know me, you know I love my glassware. Chris and Anna-Lena live in Allentown, PA and were in town on business. This was their first trip to the Windy City.

4. Piling in the Honda Pilot and cruising through the city back to the suburbs to check out some of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces (several Oak Park homes and a temple). It's amazing how theses residences have become landmarks in the city.

5. Having an early Cinco de Mayo celebration where we convinced Anna-Lena to pour on her thickest Swedish charm (and what a charming young lady she is) to see if our server would provide her with her first go at a pinata because May 5 happened to be her birthday.

6. Watching Anna-Lena to charm the beer off the trays of the Dos Equis girls who were roaming the bar. When they figured out that Anna-Lena was was Swedish, they rushed back with more beer samples and a bunch of Dos Equis schwag for her to take home with her to Sweden, uh, Allentown. It's funny how people talk louder when English isn't your first language. Btw, Anna-Lena speaks better English than I do.

7. When the Messicks realized that my Chris, who I affectionately call "Plum," was not a morning person and Holly referred to him as "Prune" instead! Hahahaha!

8. Kudos to Danny, who reminded us that Chris didn't get just one, but two great nicknames over the weekend, the second being "Turtle," which he actually got first. Chris eats his meals like a turtle runs. We all rejoiced in yelling, "TURTLE! TURTLE! TURTLE!"