A refreshing break

I didn't travel outside of Chicagoland this week & it felt great! It was so nice to not be away from home. My own bed and my own surroundings was such a pleasant experience every night. My new home is shaping up nicely-- and I am really enjoying it. I have a few more pictures to hang up and then I think I will feel settled-- oh I still need to be brave and try to wire up the DVD play-- all of those cords scare me--- it really is too much technology.
Tomorrow morning is an 8 mile run- which shouldn't be too bad since we ran 10 last weekend-- Megan and Matt are having a housewarming party tomorrow night- and then Sunday is the annual Pride parade-- which is always quite the spectacle to see.

Well- I should ge ready for dinner with a friend here in the neighborhood-- have a great weekend all.

Technology can be cool---

I purchased a Nike+ system for my Ipod NANO-- it hooks up to my Ipod and then I put a sensor in my shoe and it tells me how long I have run-- how far I have run- and my avg. pace. It was really cool. When you come home from the run- you can link back up to your computer and the computer program will track my progress--

I guess this is an example of when technology works for me-

It has felt so good to be at home in Chicago again this week- the condo is on tract to be ready for the housewarming party next weekend.

Settling Down-

I ran 10 freaking miles yesterday---- I am so impressed with myself. When I signed up to do the marathon-- which is 26.2 I kind of figured I would have to run 10 to make this a reality- but when I actually did it for the first time it really sinks in. The last two miles were hard-- it was very hot and muggy outside-- and I really did not want to keep going- but one thing Team in Training did is talk about the patients that suffer and have no choice-- I thought about Megan and the pain and hardships she endured with the chemo and radiation- so I sucked it up, put on some Madonna on th Ipod and finished strong-- GO TEAM!!!

This morning- Sunday I have been in the nesting mode- I cleaned- put up some more pictures- reorganized some kitchen cupboards. More and more the place is feeling like home.
I am still struggling with the "New Balance" coments I posted the other day-- Thanks Dawn and Megan for the encouragement- I needed that.

I was listening to country music the other day on the satellite radio and a sad song came on-- and there is a line that goes, "Life's about change and nothing ever stays the same"-- and that really hit home-- it is about change- and we need to learn to adjust our attitudes and make lemonade out of the lemons.

Don't forget -- Housewarming party June 30th- Be There!!!
or just donate to Team in Training for me.

Achieving New Balance-

What a difference a year has made- I have now been in Chicago and in my new role as an external wholesaler for a year. It has been a fun year of adjustments and life changes. I have moved two times in 12 months (not fun) and basically taken my life and turned it upside down. I used to live a very 9-5 life filled with routine. Each day was literally the same and my life pretty much ticked on a rigid schedule. Today I am constantly in flux- no two days are the same ever. My poor company car has taken me over 40,000 miles in the past year. Don't get me wrong - I am having the absolute time of my life and living out the American Dream. My career is going well- and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do what I am doing. I guess the question is - at what price am I sacrificing all of this for?? Do I have a chance at achieving the all American dream of a family and a normal home life??? Or will I wake up and be a tacky 55 year old traveling insurance salesman?

I feel really bad that I have such wonderful friends in Chicago- and yet I struggle to find time to really hang out with them as I would like. I want to form friendships with new acquaintances and I also want to sustain the friendships I already have. Yet I am feel like I am in a constant battle with the clock-- always strapped for time-- waking up feeling like I am already 5 minutes behind... I guess I just need to find a new balance--- a way of juggling all the areas of my life and finding some time to relax and claim some me time.

Any thoughts??

Busy Busy Busy-

Life comes at you fast!!! Trust me- I am really tired from a 10k hike up to the top of Crazy Horse Mtn. today near Hill City, SD-- it was really incredible. I will write more later -- but here are some recent photo highlights- including Dillon's 1st birthday in Ohio.