Chicago Rock 'n Roll Half 2011

August 14 came bright and early at 4:15a.  That was a rough moment in my life.

Bossyboots and I [somewhat] quickly got dressed in our racing gear, ate a yummo breakfast of eggs, toast, and my favorite pre-race fruit: bananas!  I added my necessary outfit accessories...

...and we locomoted to the train!  Getting downtown to the start took us a full-on hour.  At 5a, Chicago trains are few and far between, so we definitely got in a little bit of hangout time.  Going into the race, I knew I was trained... I had completed several runs that were longer than the half marathon distance, I was hydrated - I felt ready!  The only thing I was scared of is the fact that I've been running away from several "almost" injuries.  I say "almost" because I am ok, but I am feeling some strain behind my knee and then in my right achilles.  Ice baths, weight classes, and foam rolling have become a new part of my regular routine, but I know I'm not at 100%.  At this point, I'm so close to the Chicago full marathon, that I'm kind of just hanging on until October 9th.  Doing my best here!

Anyway, so at the start, I was ready to make the most of it and enjoy my run.  We had fantastic weather for our race!

The National Anthem rang out... and we were off!

My hope had been to finish in under 2hr 30min.  I had finished a 13.1 in 2hr 36min two weeks prior, so I thought this was totally reasonable!  Alas, it was not to be.  My right Achilles got super cranky at mile 10, and the ensuing limp sloooooooooooooooowed me down big time.  There may or may have been a few tears.

As I ran down the finish chute, I reminded myself that 13.1 miles is nothing to sneeze at, even if I didn't snag the time I was hoping for.  Bossyboots met me at the finish and he reminded me that I deserved the medal I hung around my neck, and I should be proud. 

So, I adjusted my attitude.  :)

I look really crazy in this photo, but that's ok.  I couldn't hide the fact that I was so happy to have finished!!!

Afterwards, Bossyboots and I took the best showers of our lives and treated ourselves to a milkshake:

This milkshake may or may not have been followed directly by a cheeseburger and french fries lunch with Wrigley-T and Senor Diamondback!

My first thought after I crossed the finish line?  "In 8 weeks, I'll be doing this all over again. Twice." (!!!)

Riviera Cancun: Operation Relax... Pt1

OK, this week is all about Mexico, amigos!  Last month Bossyboots and I were on a mission - a mission to relax, that is!  We'd both been feeling the need to run away from civilization, and a beachytimes vacation sounded like just the thing.

We had a few things we were looking for out of this vacation... mainly we wanted a place that wasn't rife with sightseeing opportunities, so anything resembling Hawaii or St Lucia was out.  We didn't want to feel pressure to go see alllllll the cool things in the area - we really needed to just lay on a beach and drink frosty beverages - no pressure, no schedules, just relaxing.  We also wanted an adults-only location.  We both love kids, but the family-friendly resorts (at least in my experience) tend to be loud, with a lot of running [children].  Peace and quiet was of utmost importance to us!  Last but not least, the destination couldn't be a budget buster.

Now I have to give credit where credit is due, and really there are two people that made this trip happen for us.  Firstly, I had read Nodakademic's fantastic recaps of her Jamaican honeymoon, and so she lead us toward considering the Secrets all-inclusive line.  In fact, in the end we were deciding between her exact resort and the one we ultimately chose(!)  Secondly, Bossyboots and I decided to work with a travel agent - Margie over at All Seasons Travel.  She suggested our final destination and took care of all the details for us.  Book her!  She's great.

Now our first day involved an early, early morning, but I didn't care - wire me up with some caffeine and I'm ready to GO.  See?

And I was so excited, because here was where we were going to spend the next six nights for our Riviera Maya adventure...  Secrets Silversands!  This resort filled all our hopes - quiet, pretty, all-inclusive, adults only... done.  Sign us up.  (clearly)  I know this is a spoiler, but the resort looks exactly as it does in the pictures.

Once Bossyboots and I were settled onto our departing plane, Starbucks in hand, thin airline blankets stretched over our knees when what to our unsuspecting ears should we hear but the pilot... telling us about a major mechanical issue that they HAVE fixed, but felt the need to tell us about.

Cue panic.

But we remedied our panic with a vodka tonic - immediately quelling any fears.  Nobody was crashing in the ocean TODAY.

Anywho, after a long, long set of travel hours, we were picked up at the Cancun airport and dropped off here...

That's the website photo, but it's really what our room looked like.  My sister also surprised us by having a bottle of wine sent to our room!!  Here, I'll show you (and ignore my super annoying voice/mannerisms please!)

This was our view:

And in addition to the main pools, each building has its own private pool - we loved ours:

Well, that's enough for today - after taking the tour and enjoying the wine my sister sent us, we cleaned up and headed out for our first dinner on the resort!  More on the food later - hint: I came back 6 pounds heavier than I left.  Really.

Gettin' Engaged in Galena

OK, after a MONTH of waiting for the engagement ring to be sized, reset, yadda, yadda - Bossyboots and I finally picked up the engagement bling for keeps this weekend!  It was a good moment. :)  So NOW I can write about our New Years Galena trip, along with the accompanying exciting events!

So, Bossyboots and I are old souls, and we've discovered that we love to take weekend trips to resort towns, like old fogies.  Last year, we spent New Year's in Galena at a great bed and breakfast - we loved it so much that we decided to come back for NE 2011.  We spent two days unplugged from our phones and computers (the wifi's slow, and our phones didn't work out there in the boonies anyhow!)

On Thursday, December 30th, we set off on the three hour drive in the midst of Superwinter...

It was SO snowy and white outside.

After plenty of toasty beverage stops, we FINALLY arrived in Galena!

Bossyboots and I like to wait until New Years to exchange gifts, partially because it's fun to draw out Christmas, and partially because... we still spend Christmas with our individual families, so exchanging gifts between Chicago and Dallas is kinda difficult.

Because I am greedy (!), I WANTED TO OPEN PRESENTS AS SOON AS WE CHECKED INTO OUR HOTEL!  At this point, Bossyboots got super weird and nervous.  He brought out his gift for me and said...

"I have to tell you something.  I've been telling you that I've been taking my car to the mechanic, but that was a lie.  I've actually been running around because I had a Christmas gift disaster and had to scramble.*  I bought you your real present several weeks ago, but then this week, I found out it never shipped and wouldn't get here on time.  SO I had to get you a backup gift."

OK, Weirdo, just give me my pretty present!  ;)

So then I open my present, and it's the BEST possible present anyone could give me...  every single National Geographic magazine, article, and photo from 1886 to 2009 on CD-ROM.  I LOVE National Geographic, and I'd been really wanting this CD-Rom set!!  The "backup gift" is pretty great!

Then Bossyboots opened his gifts from me: a 50mm lens, with accompanying filters...

*I later found out that the "running around" was ring shopping!

FUN!

After that, we spent two days just hanging out and relaxing and eating and drinking.  We started out by going to this GREAT ice cream and popcorn shop.  They even had a Chicago mix, which is caramel corn mixed with cheddar corn.  It was pretty good, but of course you can't beat the original: Garretts.

Galena is chock full of little places to shop.  Bossyboots and I aren't big shoppers, but it was fun to look at all the wares and walk around taking photos.

 We love, love, love spicy food and have a passion for hot sauce, so we definitely made a special stop at the Hot Sauce Emporium on New Year's Eve.  We saw that they carry a Ghost sauce and made BIG claims about the hotness level... so of course we had to burn our faces off by tasting it.

Galena is also home to President Grant's home as a historic spot, so we stopped out there to look around and take snowy shots.

We had planned to get all dressed up for New Year's Eve dinner, but we were having fun just knocking around, so we switched gears and just stayed out until dinner time!  We spent a few hours just drinking coffee and reading newspapers (NOT on a computer, the actual printed dinosaur).  It was lovely.

By the time New Year's dinner time rolled around, we were pretty relaxed!!  We ate steaks at 111 Main, and they were delicioso.

Then, we headed back to our hotel to play board games and drink champagne.  Apparently, this is when I started foiling all Bossyboots' proposal plans.  The entire evening back at the hotel, he was hiding the ring box in the couch cushions, in random pots, in suit pockets.  He was paranoid about losing the box, so that meant he felt the need to move it every ten minutes.  :)

He wanted to watch the Dick Clark NYE show and drink champagne.  I thought that was boring (because it IS!) and didn't want to comply.  However, I saw he was disappointed so (BIG SIGH!) I just did what he wanted.  For a few hours we played Clue and watched TV.  I could tell he was a sad panda about the fact that I didn't want any champagne, so I gave in on that point, too, so that he wouldn't be sad. (WHATEVER!)  Finally, the ball dropped in NYC, so I thought we were done doing boring stuff, but Bossyboots...

WANTED TO WATCH THE RERUN OF THE BALL DROPPING since it was only 11p in Galena.  Dang you, Dick Clark.

At this point, Bossyboots was really killing me with the TV watching, but I decided that it wouldn't kill me to be nice for once.  We watched that ball-dropping show AGAIN.  

At midnight, we smooched like you're supposed to, and we had our romantic moment "I love you.  You're the best thing that's happened to me...." Smoochy smoochy.  Then, Bossyboots stands up and acts all nervous again.  (I was still clueless)  He pulls out - wait, is that a RING box?? - a tiny box.  Then he says "You know how I said that your Christmas present didn't come in?  Well, I actually have it right now."  Then that guy gets on one knee, and I finally clue in to what's going on!

Kissyface and crying ensues!  I think I said "yes" somewhere in the melee.  Mass texting and phone calls followed!  It was pretty exciting.  :)

And now that I have my ring back from the jeweler, you can see it, too!

Bossybooty WIN

I realized that I don't think I've ever written about how Bossyboots and I became a "thing".  It actually started way back in summer 2001 - that's 9.5 years ago, if you're counting.

I graduated from The Theatre School at Chicago's DePaul University in May 2001, with a BFA in Production Management.  Immediately after graduation, I started work as a Second Assistant Stage Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater:

(SOURCE)

I was fresh out of college, and I was excited to work full-time - life was a new adventure after four years of academia.  I was assigned to a production of The Wizard of Oz, complete with creepy Munchkin puppets and all.  

The way theatre works is that you rehearse for several weeks with the cast in a rehearsal space, then you move into the performance space a couple weeks before opening.  In the theatre world - the show team becomes a tiny little faux family for those months that you're together.  We eat together, dress together, go out together - nobody that works in theater is modest or shy (or at least not for long).

Anyway.  When our show moved into the performance space, I met a very blonde guy named Bossyboots.  He worked stage crew; I worked on the stage manager team - our whole crew were buds.  Our team went out for beers, threw parties, hung out on Chicago's Navy Pier - all while running a show that performed eight times a week.

Unbeknownst to me, the entire time we were hanging out, Bossyboots thought I was cute and had "intentions."  One night, we both had the night off, and he invited me to see another show that was playing at CST.  Apparently, this was supposed to be a ROMANTIC DATE where Bossyboots told me what was up.  However, these Bossybooty intentions were not relayed to me, so I thought we were buds hanging out, just like every other night of the week!  We attended the show, and then went to our respective homes.  Date FAIL!

After a couple months of Bossybooty FAIL, I threw a small party at my apartment after Friday performances.  Everybody came over.  Music was played.  Drinks were had.  This was supposed to be the BIG night where Bossyboots made "the move", but I had a few drinks too many, bailed on my own party, told Bossyboots and our other show-friend to spoon on the couch, and promptly passed out in my own room, as is proper for a young lady.  Bossyboots says there was even a door slam (but that is NOT true!)  

Bossybooty FAIL #2.

Just a week or so after Bossybooty FAIL #2, I scored a promising job offer at a different theater, soooooo I quit Chicago Shakespeare.  No more Bossyboots; new theatre friends.

MANY years later, in 2008, I was walking the halls at my current employer, and what do I see?  A new employee who was very tall, with very blonde head of hair.  Who was this guy?  He gave me a funny look, too.  Clearly we knew each other - but from where?  A few days later, I saw Blondie again, and this time he walked up to me...  "Penny?  Do you remember me from Chicago Shakes?  I'm Bossyboots!"

Well, knock me over with a spoon.  

In any case, he had a girlfriend; I had a boyfriend.  No Bossybooty was going to happen, so we just said hello in the hallway now and then.

Fast forward to 2009 - he and his girlfriend had broken up; and Bossyboots and I were Facebook friends.  He saw my relationship status change from "in a relationship" to "engaged" to "single".  

Promptly one week after I went "single", that boy was hitting me up on Facebook...  "So what are you doing?"  "Want to get drinks?"  "What's going on?"  Clearly the shy Bossyboots of yesteryear was no more!  Meanwhile I was busy recuperating from the single worst relationship of my life - an abusive, addicted ex-fiance.  The online flirtfest with Bossyboots was one of the few fun things I had going on back then, in the midst of a broken heart.

Bossyboots' and my mutual employer sent our entire company on a great group vacation in summer 2009.  Up until this vacation, Bossyboots and I had kept our contact strictly electronic and technically platonic.  Once we were on vacation though, Bossyboots and I started hanging out, and as soon as we returned to Chicago, he asked me out on a real, live date.  FULL DISCLOSURE: He HAD smooched me (PG-style smooching!) on the vacation after 24/7 hanging out, and it WAS the best kiss of my life, but.... you know how those things go - was it vacation fun or was there something real here?

We went on our first legit date on a Friday night.  I hadn't been on a date with a new guy in 4.5 years, so there was champagne pre-gaming going on.  (I was NERVOUS!)  He picked me up at 7p... and we parted ways at 4:30a.  After three successive dates that all ended after sunrise... it was pretty clear that we both had some crushing going on.  (And I will SWEAR in a court of law that all smooching was PG!  PG PG PG PG)*

A year and a half later...  Bossyboots has been the best thing that has happened to me.  He is kind and loving.  He has a multitude of opinions and is a great match for my bulldozer personality.  I respect and admire him so much, and he puts on a Bossyboots Comedy Show for me every day.  He is so passionate about many things.  He shows me every day how much he loves me, and he lets me do the same for him.  He encourages me to be my best self and to go after my dreams.  I am so thankful that The Universe gave us a second chance to find each other again.

He's also pretty dang cute.  

And so, this past New Year's Eve, when Bossyboots asked me to marry him - I said yes.  We be getting hitched!

I love this guy a whole lot.  <3

Don't judge our bedraggled appearance! This photo was taken at 3a after a series of tears, champagne, and mucho family phone calls. We're cute in real life, I promise. ;)

*PG!

The List: Topolobampo

What's The List about?  Click HERE!

OK, so you may or may not have heard of Master Chef Rick Bayless.

(Photo Source)

Here in Chicago, we like to refer to him as "Ricky B". :) His restaurants Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, and Xoco are well-known and most Chicagoans makes their way to those tables sooner rather than later.

For some reason, I'm a "later".  Who knows why.  I love Mexican food, and being from Texas, I know what it's supposed to taste like (not Tex-Mex - MEXICAN).  Chicago, I love you, but I have yet to find a good Mexican meal here.  Maybe I waited because I was afraid after so many Mexican disappointments.

Anywho, I finally made it... and it was delicious.  Bossyboots and I made our reservations way back in September for a chilly Friday in December.  That's three months - if you're counting - which I was.  You have to wait a long time to get in on a weekend to Topolobampo.

Here we are excited to sit down at our table (I bought a new going-out blouse and everything!):

We had scoped out the menu for the evening ahead of time.  Usually, when you go out for a "fancy" meal, you select the tasting menu.  Often, you and your eating buddy will select different tasting menus so that you can try as many different dishes as possible.  That way you get a true picture of the personality of a restaurant.  This time, Bossyboots and I both set our hearts on lobster, scallops, crab, tuna, etc etc.  It just made more sense for us to go the a la carte route.  I don't share well.

Next time, I think we'll go the tasting route!  I do need an excuse to go back, so... twist my arm!

Drool:

Our chosen menu for the evening, in order:

• Guacamole with turnips and cucumbers
• Manitas de Cangrejo con Crema Habanera: fresh, first-of-season sweet Florida stone crab claws with creamy blood orange-habanero dipping sauce, crispy chips of local fall vegetables.
• Ceviche Fronterizo: lime-marinated Hawaiian albacore with tomatoes, olives, cilantro,and green chile; served on crispy tostaditas. 
• Langosta y Callos de Hacha en Salsa Otonal: Maine lobster and Viking Village sea scallops in creamy sauce of Nichols Farm sunchokes and roasted poblano chiles. Salt cod croquettes, young coconut, black barley, puffed wild rice, watercress leaves
• Chocoflan de Camote: super-creamy flan (infused with Nichols Farm sweet potatoes)baked atop moist chocolate cake. Dark chocolate caramel, rum-poached sweet potato, chocolate cookie crumble.
• Crepas con Cajeta y Platano: warm, buttery crepes filled with plantain custard. Nieve de crema (sour cream sorbet), peanut crunch, homemade cajeta and bittersweet chocolate drizzle.
• Cafe Playa: Kahlua, golden Arette anejo tequila, steaming americano (espresso, hot water) whipped cream, dusting of Mexican chocolate.
• Some sort of after-dinner candy treat!

*We also consumed several delicious margaritas.  Yum.

 The staff could not have been friendlier, and they are so great at what they do.  I highly recommend Topolobampo (as have many who have gone before me!)  We loved it - Xoco is next on my to-visit list!