What is that, a dog?

So I finally feel like I am on an upswing again, and it is a very welcome feeling.

This weekend was a good start to a new outlook. Saturday, Fuzzy was gone all day, so I took the opportunity to wash and put away 4 loads of laundry, scrub the kitchen and bathroom, wash the dishes, go for a run, change the cat boxes, do an exercise video, and choreograph half a dance. It is hard for me on any normal day to do one of those activites, much less all of them, plus I had a nice long talk with my brother that day and I talked to my mom, too. I think I am preparing for really purging the house--I mean, really PURGING. We have so much STUFF, and it is driving me crazy, so I am excited to sort and purge now instead of looking at it like it is a big giant chore. A positive outlook can really make any chore seem exciting. Time to focus on me and Fuzzy and our life together.

On Saturday, I did for the first time, Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Holy Shit, this is the hardest and best workout I have ever done. After having recommendations for it from Kate and Margaret, I finally took the plunge. I have never sweated or cursed so much at a workout video before, but I could tell it was already making a difference. It is only a 20 minute workout, so it is doable, but damn it is hard. Now it is 3 days later, and my body is still sore, but it is a good kind of sore. I don't have any time to do it the rest of the week, but next week I am trying it again. Look out.

Saturday night, after Fuzzy got back, we went out for a dinner at my favorite restaurant, Ras Dashen. When we were sitting there, a tall, tan, good postured supermodel looking woman in a yellow dress came in, and I only saw the back of her head, but I thought to myself, that's McKey! Then I thought it was silly, cause not every tall gorgeous woman is a winner of America's Next Top Model, but as the night went on, I was more and more sure that it was her. I took a trip to the bathroom to get a better look (we were on opposite ends of the restaurant), and sure enough, it was her! She is from Lake Forest, IL, so it makes sense that she was at an amazing restaurant in Chicago (with a cute boy, no less.) Not surprisingly, she is stunningly gorgeous, and she put all of us other schlubs in the restaurant to shame. Thankfully I was wearing a cute dress, so I didn't feel TOO inadequate. We didn't talk to her, but it was a fun sighting.

We sadly opted out of seeing the Belmont Burlesque Revue on Saturday, because Fuzzy had to make a last minute trip to NYC Sunday for work.

Sunday morning, we got up bright and early, picked up the newly married Rebecca and Tim and we headed to Tinley Park, IL for the first annual Colon Cancer Coalition Get Your Rear In Gear 5K walk. I took a photo of Dad and put a chain in it so I could wear him around my neck, and I wore one of his old work shirts. It was an emotional day for us, but it was wonderful to do something in memory of him. All in all, I wish the event had been more focused on the cancer survivors and those who lost their lives to it, but instead, it was just like a normal ole 5K run and walk. I wish that they had read a list of the people that were being honored or memorialized through the walk. Maybe next year. I want to make this a regular thing for me, so I can keep Dad alive in every way that I can.

Fun Fact: Tinley Park has tons of Pancake Houses! We passed at least 3 or 4 on the way in to the event. Who knew they loved pancakes so much? Certainly not the Gerdes/ Ryder crew, but we sure do know now. And we also know they are yummy.

The rest of the weekend and yesterday was spent with beloved friends with lots of wonderful conversation and catching up. I am so out of touch with a lot of my friends right now, so it has been good to visit with those that I've been able to see.

In not so happy news, our sweet Vicksburg kitty, Campbell, passed away yesterday. He was born when I was still a teenager living at home, so we've known him for a while. His furry little face will be missed. He's the grey tabby in the picture below:

The rest of the week is going to be super fun--tomorrow is a special day for Fuzzy and I, and we are treating ourselves right and taking the rest of the week to celebrate accordingly.