This isn't Goode

Well, it's been decided, I've not been chosen for the Really Goode Job. It goes without saying that I'm disappointed as clearly my video was the best, but it's OK. It won't deter me from drinking wine and writing about it, sharing the good grape with friends, and growing my love affair with the vine. If anything, it makes me more interested in learning more about wine and strong-arming everyone I know in joining me.

June Snippets

I've got lots of good stuff and thought I'd separate it into little snippets rather that the long paragraph form with which this blog has become so accustomed. Bear with me as I jump along a bit, as they're in order of excitement/immediacy:

I've never been so excited that it's June 22 in my life! TOMORROW I get my cast off. After six weeks of agony, hobbling around and near helplessness, I think it's about time. I'll be going straight from the podiatrist to the pedicurist to work some magic on my neglected toes.

Last night while limping around at Meijer in the wine section, Chris and I came across a bottle of Murphy-Goode Cab which we quickly napped. It's a 2004 (read: GREAT year for Napa Cab) and I believe that it could quite possibly be an omen. Guess I'll find out in a few days whether I'm selected.

Tonight Chris and I are going a wine tasting at the Franklin Grill with my parents. We have no idea what we'll be tasting, but are hoping we can come home with some new summer wines! Aren't we all sick of drinking the same varietals over the BBQ? UGH!

Our tenants are tentatively paying their rent today. WOO HOO!

Danny and Holly are rolling in on Wed. for a quick Rutherford fix/Cubs vs. Tigers game. My other side of the family will be represented too with Uncle Pete (one of the three Chris and I have between us), Aunt Mary and cousin (and fellow Chicago Marathoner) Jo. Hopefully we can also get in some time with our two coolest nieces ever, Catherine (20 months) and Grace (three weeks).

Elvis got a bath today and THANK GOD! After his stint at the Strut Your Mutt at the Franklin 5K, he's been more than a little ripe. Chris said he got a little hot and began strutting his muttly self through the driveway drain offs along the road. It may have cooled him off but boy did it make him a mess! Summer molting season has officially started.

A Really Goode Job

Hi everyone!

Have you heard about the Really Goode Job? It's a six month temporary position at Murphy-Goode Winery in Healdsburg, CA. The winery is looking for an enthusiastic wine lover with a knowledge of social media. The responsibilities include:

* Living in a gorgeous house in scenic Healdsburg (where I ran one of my too many races last year)
* Twitter/Facebook/You Tube/etc. about Murphy-Goode
* Seek out great picnic spots
* Highlight whatever other fun finds I stumble across
* Make a wine with the wine maker to commemorate my visit

Oh...and it pays $10,000 a month! Think this sounds like a good idea? As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if you're reading this right now, it's likely too late to apply (the deadline is tonight at midnight). Eveyone is invited to come visit me if I'm selected! Here's the video I submitted as my application:

Chris is on the radio!

Tune into Chris Rutherford, this Sunday, June 14 at 12:30. Set your radios to or stream at WDFN 1130. He and his business partner, Jason Allen, will be speaking candidly about their new business, Ecofficient Solutions, a real save-the-earth type of company. They provide home energy audits to assist consumers in making their homes greener and more comfortable, and in taking full advantage of the government rebates available. Check it out!

Three More Weeks

Well, I did not get the news from the doctor that I was hoping. Bring on the pity party! I now have an exciting new cast that I'll be hauling around for another three weeks. It's black. I let Chris pick the color this time! The soft tissue damage I had between my third and fourth metatarsals is on its way to healing (my third toe is no longer angled outwards) and my tibial sesamoid revealed the tinyist of cracks (was that a crack or a shadow, really?) and is still a bit tender.

I know these six weeks will seem so insignificant compared to the rest of my life, but it's still hard. I'm experiencing one of those time-standing-still phenomenons that we only wish could happen when we're having fun. Thanks everyone for your well wishes and for making me laugh. And you're right, I am getting along pretty well in this thing!

Day 20

Tomorrow I go back to the podiatrist for another xray of the (now stinky) pink foot! I'm so excited just to get this thing off. Don't get me wrong, I've been enjoying Chris taking care of me, driving me around, running errands, doing laundry, cleaning the house, cooking, sprucing up the yard and caring for the animals, but I'm ready to ease back into my former life. (It feels like I've been injured for so long that I think I can safely use the word "former," though I know it's only been three weeks!) I'm sure Chris is even more excited.

Stay tuned for an update tomorrow! Think good thoughts!

Bayshore 2009

This weekend I traveled with friends to Traverse City for the Bayshore Marathon. My training partners and I had all trained for the half, with one of us doing the marathon. Back in November, we orchestrated a brilliant plan to crash at my parents' condo in Glen Arbor, due west of Traverse. We imagined consuming gobs of food and wine while recanting great points about the race, celebrating on the deck overlooking an incredible sunset into Sleeping Bear Bay, and giggling relentlessly while clinking to a great year of running.


Fast forward to how the weekend actually went: with a headcount of eight, we lost five due to injuries. Of the five, three opted out of the trip altogether, and two earned stress fractures on opposing feet (which, as one would imagine, brought lots of jokes about being twins competing in the three legged division). This left three runners who were (mostly) injury free. One of us was beaten down by the marathon at mile 25, and two finished the half unscathed. Statistically speaking, it was not a stellar weekend for running. Foruntately we were able to drown our sorrows in platesful of pasta with homemade sauce, chicken enchiladas, and eight different kinds of cookies.

I honestly thought I would be OK going to the race. Though the weekend was about running, I focused on the trip as a weekend long experience rather than a 13.1 mile race. Running takes you to so many amazing places and sometimes, as in my case, it takes you to a place where your foot is enveloped up the knee in plaster. Even so, I was elated to be hosting my friends at a place where I grew up over swaying trees, summer tennis lessons, and chair lifts. Of all the places I've been, it's one of my favorites, and I had the chance to share it with some of my favorites.

My mirror imagine and I made inspirational signs and cheered our friends on, and hobbled from spot to spot to catch a glimpse of what we were missing. Somehow, being together in the same situation, didn't seem so bad. We had each other, our markered "quit your crying" signs and our team spirit. It didn't matter if we couldn't run. A race isn't quite as fun without the loud mouthed bystanders. Despite my positive front, I can't say I didn't get a little misty and feel that twitch of excitement (tinge of jealously?) when the runners breezed by. It all just seemed a little unfair.

Between obsessive thoughts of removing my cast at home and carefully considering my post cast getting back to running program, I am doing some hard core resting. I'm looking forward to my follow up appointment with the foot doctor on June 2. Updates to come.