What the heck kind of forecast is this?  After 5 days of 70s and sun, it was a rude awakening this morning and this is what we have to look forward to for the next 5+ days.  We are suppose to get about 4"-8" of snow...REALLY?  The only person that is happy about this is Danielle because she wants a white birthday (May 2). Well Danielle it looks like you will get your wish!   This rain/snow crap is ruining my training for the triathlon.  I got a 8 mile bike ride on Monday and a run/walk yesterday but the next couples are going to be tough. Damn you weather!



Like I mentioned in the last post, I love snow except when it ruins my plans or make my commutes long.  Well let’s just say this week has been hell on the commuting part.  It has really tested my patience. Thankfully we can use the car pool lane, but that only helps to a point.  On the traffic map, every possible route from downtown Minneapolis to our house has been wonderful shades of red. Now I know that Christmas is less than two weeks away but MnDot I don’t like seeing all that red!  Our mornings haven’t been too bad. But maybe my brain is still frozen from my nice walk Monday morning to remember exactly.  Monday morning was the worst one and I understand that it was still snow into the evening on Sunday so I expected that.  We left early but not early enough because I had to walk about 8 blocks. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but it was zero degrees and the some of the sidewalks were not shoveled.  Add the plows 3 foot crusty hard snow piles at every intersection made it interesting. Good thing I wore boots.  Monday night was horrible. It looked as though MnDot hadn’t plowed at all.  I mean it took us over an hour and a half to get to Eden Prairie (3 times normal time).  I was starving and told Eric I was in no mood to cook dinner so we ate at the Mall and did some shopping. I have to say Hwy 169 heading south was plowed really well.  Tuesday morning was fine but Tuesday night, again, horrible. Again the traffic map was aglow with red.  It took us over an hour and a half to get home.   UGH!!!  The roads are terrible. It is really sad when county roads are in better shape that major interstate. Come on MnDot get with the program!

This morning was good, we will see what tonight will bring. Here is the map…doesn’t look too bad. I guess we will see.

Well my plans for today have been foiled thanks to a nice snow storm.  I don’t normally complain about snow, I love the stuff. It is so pretty to watch it fall. The only time I hate it is when it ruins my plans or makes my commute long. I’d much rather it snowed on the weekends because hopefully by Monday morning the roads will be clear and our commute won’t be long. So right now it looks like we are in a snow globe that just got shook up. It is so pretty to look out and see the big fluffy snow.

So my plan was to go to the Water Park of America.  I bought a Groupon for 2 admissions for $20.  It is a great deal since it is over $22 for just one person. It was supposed to be Eric’s reward for finishing his third semester of his master’s program.  We had good intentions of going. But we drove as far as Valleyfair and realized this isn’t a good idea.  We saw a van in the ditch, visibility was basically zero and the roads hadn’t been plowed.  My hopes of warm water and fun slides had been foiled.  So we made our way home and now I’m baking instead.  I guess either way, I’m having fun today.

It started snowing Friday night. My commute home from Downtown was really long. I was on the bus and I didn’t have my iPad. Oh so sad! There was a car flipped in the median just south of the bridge so that was the reason for the back-up. It took me a while to drive home from the park-n-ride. Once I got home, I got the urge to put up the Christmas tree, with a little help from Swirl.  As I look at the tree, I realized I need a new one. Ours is 12 years old this year and there are apparent holes and broken limbs…thanks to Swirl.  Here is a picture of Swirl and Snoopy by the Christmas tree. I also put up the lights outside too. Putting them up at night makes it easier to see how beautiful they are and I know it probably wasn’t smart to put lite Christmas lights up while it was snowing but oh well I did it anyway.

Yesterday was quite a busy day for me.  I never really left the bedroom. I did a major cleaning.  It was in dire need of a scrub down. I took away Swirl’s “jungle” so he isn’t happy with me. He laid on the bed and glared at me all day. No more late nights of wonder what the heck is Swirl chewing on. I threw a lot of stuff away.  Reorganized book shelves, picked up all the garbage, dusted all the stuff…the Christmas bears were very dusty, folded all the clothes and vacuumed. It was a major undertaking!  But now the room is clean, organized and feels huge again.

Well my cake is almost done.  Next is frosting. Mom’s chocolate frosting…my favorite!

It has been booked...ok not Hawaii!  How about "Da Plane, Da Plane" from Fantasy Island? Anyways, we are off to the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Jamaica.  We are leaving Christmas Day and coming back New Year’s Day.  7 days of sun, water and relaxation.  I’m so excited!  Hopefully I won't get bored! I have been dragging my feet on purchasing it and the price went up $400 yesterday!  I was so pissed.  But today I got a Delta Vacation code and saved almost $500.  Yes!  I’m spending another Christmas Day at the airport.  This is becoming a tradition.

I ran 4 miles on Monday and 5 miles today!  5 miles!!  I was so happy.  It was slow but 5 miles!  I was only going to do 4 again but I went to the preserve by the river and the out and back is only 3.8 miles.  So I had to turn around and when I did I thought what the heck I can do another mile.  I’m not sure what is going on here but I really like running. I celebrated by going to Kohl’s and to buy new running shirts.  I’m getting annoyed by baggy t-shirts, I want something that wicks sweat. 

Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week.  Yippy!  I have Friday off to prepare for Milwaukee and to go to Abbie’s Confirmation.