Chicago Bound

Again.

Every time I tell someone that I'm headed to Chicago this weekend for some "triathlon stuff" they get excited about the Chicago part. And while I'm happy enough to be going to Chicago, a trip there lost its allure about 20 trips ago.

My first trip to Chicago was senior year in high school (technically, senior year had ended I guess because I had already graduated) and we flew there a few days after I was un-wait-listed at the college I attended. We flew into O'Hare and drove the 2-3 hours to Northern Indiana and toured the campus (and asked for a copy of the letter proving I was in ... proof is always nice, just in case). Now that was an exciting, memorable, life changing trip.

And there have been other great times in Chicago ... my first Cubs game, visits senior year, the Incident at the Irish Oak, bachelorette parties that taught me who my friends were and weren't, beautiful runs, crazy New Year's Eves, post college football games, meeting parents and being nervous to meet parents (for some reason that was a one time thing, of course flying in on the bomb scare plane probably didn't calm my nerves) ... etc.

I've often thought about moving to Chicago. Still do sometimes - even though the people that made me want to live there in the past are all in suburbs more-or-less, the midwestern lifestyle (that many deny exists) still holds allure. That and the Well Fit training center. Of course, then I remember that the coldest I've ever been in my life has been in Chicago (did you know that your teeth can get cold?).

So for whatever reason, going to Chicago isn't that big of a deal to me. Its kind of like going to the mall except it takes longer to get there.

Packing for this trip however is a big deal. I couldn't sleep last night and right now the thought of packing is exhausting so it will have to wait until tomorrow (after I bribe someone to take the pedals off my bike and before my 7:30 am flight). I don't think I've ever made a written list of items needed for a trip but ... if there is any hope of me not forgetting anything I think I have to now. So, for most of you, this is the end of the blog:)

Pajamas

Toiletries

Camera

Garmin & Charger

iPhone, ipod & charger

Book

Granola Bars

Tri Clothes for under wetsuit

wetsuit

cap & goggles

towel

bike shorts, sports bra, jersey, vest, jacket, socks, bento box (?)

bike gloves, shoes, pedals, helmet & sunglasses

sneakers, running shorts, visor & hat

real clothes (Saturday night)

bathing suit

running shorts, sports bra, shirt, socks

biking shorts

different shirt, capris for yoga

real clothes (Sunday night)

running shorts, sports bra, shirt, socks

real clothes (travel home)

3 water bottles

fuel belt and bottles

6 bottles worth of gatorade

10 or so gus

flight & rental car information

directions to various places

It doesn't really seem that bad all written down. But I'm sure I'm missing something (Sara?)?

Sort of Maybe Update.

I was email bantering with a friend the other day and he commented that there hadn’t been a blog update in awhile. Usually I have things to write but I have trouble finding the time until one of my 3 fans comments that I’ve written nothing in awhile – then I find the time. Because that’s me, always aiming to please. And usually I like to write and to post stuff in the space.

Usually. But not lately.

Lately I have nothing to say. Or I have things to say but they don’t fit into the so.much. fun theme. Its not that life has totally ceased to be fun – it still has its moments – but I’m caught up in the boring suckiness. And I don’t want to be the girl that writes about the boring suckiness …

So that’s where I’ve been. I think there is a forest for the trees analogy that could come into play here. Maybe.

Anyway, today, I came back again to wanting to write and to write something here. I figured if I paid enough attention something worthy of a blog post would happen and sure enough, when I got home I looked at my bike and realized the rear tire was flat. After dinner I set out to change it and the first try took, a long long time and I had a few moments of “I am never going to be able to do this and I am going to have to take the tire to the shop which is so embarrassing” but eventually I got the tire on and decided to do it again and the second try took a long time but only half as long as the first time. Success. Twice. It’s the little things.

Sometimes you have to work at what you want. And that doesn’t just apply to tires.

Of course, in my 4^th (I don’t count the first danskin year) year of triathlons I should be a little bit better at this, but its not my fault, it’s the bike tire gods’ fault. They’re the ones that only gave me 3 flats in these past 4 years- two in the past 2 weeks. Hopefully I’m good for the season nowJ

Although, did I mention that when the tire changing was all done there was a lone screw lying next to my bike? Yeah, no idea where that came from. Hopefully no where important ...???

And there are other things on the horizon – things more fun than changing a tire. A newish bike fit that I think makes me hate the bike less (despite the flats), new sneakers if my achilles ever stops hurting enough for me to actually run, a fun girls weekend trip to Chicago when I’ll meet Liz and workout and hopefully see my college roommates and their children and a 150 mile charity bike ride in the Boston area.

I used to think I’d meet my husband in a field in Iowa during a cross state bike ride but on further reflection, Boston seems like a much more likely scenario.

So … I’m going to try to cheer up (even though its hard) and try to become a better tire changer (even though its hard) and try to write more things on this blog … because if I focus on the non-sucky things maybe I’ll see the forest for the trees or the trees for the forest. Or something:)