Our New Office

We recently purchased a sweet new laptop. 

Of course, if your getting a new laptop you might as well get a new router, external hard drive and USB hub.  While your at it you might as well move your office into your loft which will mean you need a new desk, chair and light fixture.  Since you will now be able to see the office from your beautiful main living space (because the loft is separated from the main living space by an open railing) you will want to make sure it doesn't really look like an office.  And since you are still paying for the 2008 Remodel project (which resulted in the beautiful main living space you are so concerned about preserving) and you really only budgeted for a new laptop you will need to make all of this happen with a very small amount of money.  Are you following me?  When all is said and done it will look something like this...

And you'll be quite pleased!  The computer, printer, modem, router and much much more is all nicely tucked away in that cute little 'compact office' - and everything is wirelessly accessible from virtually any location in the house.   

Of course, now that you have such a quaint little office space you'll need to find a way to keep your Little Black Angel (whose favorite chair used to occupy this space) from taking it over so you will do silly things like place a pillow on the seat of the chair which for some odd reason actually keeps him from jumping on it.

2011 Race Plans

I LOVE to plan - I'm actually quite good at planning and creating plans.  Sadly, I often fall short when it comes to execution.  My 2011 Race Plan is a great example.  I had planned for my first race of the year to be the Polar Dash 10K on New Year's Day.  I registered, picked up my race packet and ended up staying home the day of the race.  It was really cold and really windy and I just didn't feel like running outside that day.  I convinced myself it would actually be dangerous for me to run although several hundred other participants seemed to get through the race unscathed.  In an attempt to redeem myself I did run 6.2 miles (a 10K) on a treadmill at the gym on New Years day.  I may not have earned any bragging rights but I did get a good workout.

I'm choosing to believe that this was an anomaly rather than a pattern of behaviour to be repeated throughout the year.  I've certainly considered skipping races I've signed up for in the past - generally due to weather - but this is the first time I actually followed through.  So yes, definitely an anomaly.  On to the next!

Here is what I have planned so far:

• Securian Winter Run 10K - January 29, 2011
• Get Luck 7K - March 19, 2011
• Stillwater Half Marathon - May 29, 2011

I'm also considering several other races:  the Stillwater Lumberjack Days 10 mile, the IronGirl Duathlon in September, the Women Run the Cities 10 mile in September, the Twin Cities 10 mile in October, the Monster Dash 10 mile or Half Marathon in October and several other races - but I am currently only committed to the three races listed above.  We'll see how my legs and my pocket book are doing in June and go from there. 

I'm also considering joining Team World Vision.  Team World Vision gives you the opportunity to dedicate any race to raising funds and awareness for World Vision's work in Africa.  World Vision is an organization I trust with a purpose and mission I believe in.  I also like the idea of my races being about something other than my personal achievement.  I haven't committed yet - but you'll be the first to know if I do.

Keep Breathing...