Friday, November 4, 2016

Loving....Not Loving...

Holy Cow! As longtime Cubs announcer Harry Caray once said, "sure as God made green apples, someday the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series". You'd have to be living under a rock not to know about this improbable win for my hometown team.

But that's not all I'm loving lately! This week's Friday Five v2.0 link up theme is "all about me". It's been a while since I did a loving/not loving post, and so today, I share 5 things that I'm loving but not loving!




How about those Cubs? Yep, I'm loving the win, the hype, the whole hullabaloo! I've been bleeding Cubbie blue since birth. It's been fun watching this team make a run for the big show. Growing up, my sisters and I would go to visit our grandma on her farm and it was always a sure thing that she'd have the Cubs game on! My husband and I have been to more Cubs games than I can remember. We have so many great memories of Wrigley Field, even when the Cubs were losing. What I'm not loving is that we were unable to get tickets to any games this year. We could have bought tickets from ticket brokers, but the markup on the tickets was obscene. Next year...

Taking the Long Way Home

Working in pediatrics can be pretty fun, especially around the holidays! As a group, we're pretty fun people and we go all out for holidays. Quite a few of us dressed up for Halloween this year. I was loving my WonderWoman tunic that I found at the Halloween store. It was comfy and went well with the blue leggings I already owned. I like the simple costumes--the kids don't get the clever ones. Our nursing supervisor dressed as a Snapchat filter--but I didn't know what she was. She asked me if I had Snapchat and when I told her no, I was not loving her response that "only young people know what Snapchat is". Cue the blank stare.

Taking the Long Way Home

I'm not loving that we are in the month of November. The days are getting shorter and the trees are dropping their leaves. Winter is around the corner and I'm not looking forward to that! The Farmers' Almanac predicted a long cold winter with snow by Halloween. To paraphrase a certain presidential candidate, WRoNG! What I am loving is our mild fall. It was 73F on Tuesday this week and has been in the 60Fs since. But according to Accuweather, we in the Midwest are going to see the retreat of our mild weather by the end of the month and December is going to be snowy. Let's see how that goes. I'm ready for anything Mother Nature throws at us.

Taking the Long Way Home
From 2 years ago! Will we see this kind of weather again?
One week to go until the general election. I am not loving the nastiness that this election has generated, both in the candidates and in the general public. I'm kind of nervous about the outcome. But I'm loving that I'm able to vote by mail. I'm relieved that I get to avoid the polling place and the potential negativity. I'm not loving that I don't get one of those "I voted" stickers. I'm loving that I can sit at my computer and research the list of judges instead of just picking random ones like I usually do...

Taking the Long Way Home

It's been 6 months since my youngest son broke his leg playing rugby. It was back in May, only one week after we came home from our "not a second honeymoon". I was still on my post-Big Sur marathon high when he was tackled on the rugby field and sustained a tibial spiral fracture. The incident revealed a tibial bone cyst which eventually required a bone graft for the leg to properly heal. It's been a long journey and we were not loving the length of time it has taken for him to recover. He's been rehabbing the leg with Becky (my coach) and this week, he was cleared by the orthopedic surgeon to return to all sports! He hit the ground running (literally) and I am loving seeing my son so happy again.

Taking the Long Way Home

What are you loving? Not loving? Cubs fan, anyone? Are you a Snapchat person? Are you ready for winter? 

I'm linking up with Rachel, Meranda, and Lacey for the Friday Five 2.0!





68 comments :

  1. YAY for your son being able to get back to sports! I know his pain--seriously, I understand! Just make sure he doesn't hit the ground running too hard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's been shockingly cautious. But he's jumped back into his activities, which is great to see.

      Delete
  2. Wow, what a long recovery for your son, but cool that he's working with Becky. I am so excited for it to be this time next week with the election behind us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a rough year all around. Hoping for a good outcome next Tuesday.

      Delete
  3. It's certainly got to be a fun week to live in Chicago! I hope we don't have that kind of winter again. I am loving our warmish fall running weather. Have a great weekend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been really fun to watch this team. I hope they keep them together!

      Delete
  4. Great news about your son! Wait, I waited in a line that wrapped around the building to vote early and I could've done so via mail? Who knew?? I guess I'm young and cool with my Snap Chat acct that I have no idea how to use...
    Greg said the train was already packed at 5:30 am with Cubs revelers headed to the parade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matthew said it was standing room only at 8:30 this morning! Those poor folks who had to go to work...

      Delete
  5. I wish I had the option to vote early in my state. I'm just planning to get to the polls when they open on Tuesday so I can avoid any craziness.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So true about actually being able to research the down-ballot candidates instead of randomly picking when you vote by mail!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm not much of a baseball fan, but the World Series was awesome! It was great to see the Cubs in action! And this election is SO ugly, and it's not just the candidates. I'm looking forward to the "sound of silence" come Wednesday ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a feeling there's going to be more ugliness for a while...

      Delete
  8. Oh, I have Snapchat but don't understand a damn thing about it. I might be the model for your photo up there lol. I need to get a tutorial from one of my nieces or nephews during the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  9. PA does not have early voting but I wish they did! That being said, I am very excited to vote. I am always caught of guard when I get to the voting booth and there are ballot measures listed that I know nothing about and didn't research. This year I went to ballotready.org and got to view my ballot and see not only the candidates I can vote for, but the ballot measure and arguments for and against that measure. So I would recommend people to use that if they aren't able to early vote and don't want to kind of be caught off guard at the polls!

    What snapcat filer did your colleague go as? I saw a friend's daughter go as the deer filter and her makeup was soooo cool. She really did look like the deer. :)

    YAY FOR THE CUBS! I am not a sports fan, or a fan of any particular team, but how can I not be excited for Cubs fans that they finally have their moment! I saw an article on FB that made me cry... a man drove all day to sit by his father's grave site to listen to Game 7. Apparently they made a pact that they would listen to the game together, and by golly the son made it happen. Omg I am crying as I type this. I am so emotional these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great advice about doing the research. I had no idea that site existed! The nursing sup was the flower filter? It was cute. I've heard so many stories about the Cubs and elderly family members! The news has been full of them.

      Delete
    2. Definitely considering Grandma's! I'd never heard of it before reading about it on your blog. Sounds like a great race! I'm signed up for the Santa Barbara Half Marathon in May, and am hoping to get a spot again for the Napa to Sonoma Half in July. It sold out in 17 minutes last year, so I'm not sure I can get that lucky two years in a row. Such a beautiful route! I am also signed up for the Naperville Women's Half on April 23rd...only to find out my husband's niece is getting married in Arizona on the 22nd. Last year was the first annual and it was fantastic. I'm going to see if they allow bib transfers if you or any of your followers are interested...I also put my name in the lottery for Chicago this year. It will be my 5th consecutive, which will give me legacy for future years. So...I will see about Grandma's. So many races, so little time!

      Delete
  10. We can vote early here as well, but you have to do it in person. It only took me 5 minutes though, so it was worth it.

    Glad to hear your son's leg is finally all better!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't have snapchat either, so don't worry. It took me years to get Instagram, and I'm set with FB, Twitter, and Insta. I don't need anything else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty good with IG, FB, and Twitter. Actually, I'm still trying to figure out Twitter. I just don't get it.

      Delete
  12. I've honestly been loving the warm weather this fall (except for the MCM). I don't like feeling cold so it really makes me sad when the days get short and the weather is cold.

    ReplyDelete
  13. As a life-long Boston Red Sox fan, one among millions upon millions who waited 86 years between World Series victories, I was cheering for Cub fans the whole way. Now we have yet more in common, the end of the WS drought for our home teams.

    Best of all is reading about your son being cleared to return to sports. I wish him the best every step of the way on his journey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have Theo--I think we stole him after he gave your Red Sox the pennant!

      Delete
  14. What great news for your son!! Such a hard journey for him!!!
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a tough couple of months. We're all glad to have Matthew over the hump.

      Delete
  15. It has been a long healing journey for your son! I am glad he is ready to get back to sports!

    Way to go Cubs!! sorry you couldn't get tickets.

    Not ready for winter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's going to be a few years before we can get tickets...unless someone gives them to us!

      Delete
  16. I have never followed baseball - my dad played high school and college football so that's my team sport of choice.
    I am not loving perimenopause, especially this week (a surprise after no period for 4 months.)
    Winter + So Cal = perfection! We rarely get below 40.
    Happy for your son's news!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No one loves perimenopause. I think I've moved into the full blown thing tho....

      Delete
  17. Yay for your son's healing! Amen to the negativity of the elections and all the horrific political ads. I went and early-voted this week and am so glad to be done. The Cubs parade is generating complete madness today. I heard Metra was a mess!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son was down there and he said it was crazy! But they had a blast, as only teenagers can!

      Delete
  18. Loving that your son is healed and back to sports! Loving our rain, not loving the fact that it didn't bring cool temps along with the wetness. Hot rain, my favorite, said no runner ever.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ahhh. My boys played rugby too. My oldest (he's 16) still does (he's a prop) but my 14 year old dropped out last year mid-season because he got dropped and then ambulanced. He's got a blood disorder (HS) so his spleen is enlarged and they were worried that it burst. He didn't go back into rugby after that! He's sticking with soccer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son is ready and raring to jump back into rugby! Now that he had that bone graft, I shouldn't have to worry about broken bones. Right? Right?

      Delete
  20. Really great news on your son! Awesome. I am loving our warm CO weather...I won't be loving winter. I don't mind the cold as much as the snow (because snow and ice mean it's hard to run outside and I need my fresh air). And I am loving the story of the Cubs. How can you not love that?!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right there with you on the cold and the snow. But if it's short lived, it's kind of fun...

      Delete
    2. That is why I don't mind our spring storms. March/April are actually the snowiest months in Colorado, but the storms are big and epic and then the sun shines so much the snow is gone in a day or two...it's really perfect and kind of fun!

      Delete
  21. Is it wrong for me to like the "mother runner winter photo" and kinda looking forward to those runs! I'm talking crazy here!!!!
    Great news for your son!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! You know, I actually don't mind it at first...after a while it starts to wear on me. Happy to be starting marathon training in late winter this year.

      Delete
  22. Congrats to the Cubs! I was feeling the high last year when the Royals won the World Series for the first time in 30 years. So much fun and it's easy to see why people love baseball so much...it has a lot of drama!

    Glad to hear your son is healed up! I can't believe it's been 6 months of recovery!

    I'm loving that we haven't hit the really cold weather yet, even though I am a big fan of winter running!

    And I will be so happy when this election is over....I turned in my absentee ballot a couple days ago!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need it to stay warmer for a few more weeks, so you can get that marathon in!

      Delete
  23. Congrats to the Cubs! I am not a baseball fan but it did give people something to talk about besides the election!!! I am happy for you and your son and HELL NO i don't snapchat! :) TGIF lady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been fun to be a Chicagoan! And I didn't snapchat any of this...

      Delete
  24. I'm not loving that it's November and it's starting to get dark SO EARLY... I'm not a huge fan of running in the dark. Congrats to your son!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We turn the clocks back this weekend. So it's just going to be lighter in the morning...

      Delete
  25. Oh man, I'm totally loving that election day is almost over. It is exhausting and anxiety-inducing.

    And SO HAPPY for your son. I know it's been a long road to recovery. Great news that he's finally back in action!!

    Also, snapchat? What's snapchat? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently I'm too old to know about snapchat....it's so yesterday anyways...

      Delete
  26. As a Red Sox fan I can appreciate breaking g the "curse"! Theo will forever hold a special place in Boston

    ReplyDelete
  27. LOVING your post, as always! Still hooked on the 5s??? I am loving most everything these days. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the crisp cool air and clear skies, the changing of the leaves, and of course Halloween (my and my youngest son's birthdays)! I am LOVING finding all of these things we have in common~~PNP/NNP and such a shared sarcastic sense of humor! Also a die-hard Cubs fan since Day 1! I was alone in my hotel watching Game 7 and screamed so loud with that final run. My oldest son might be his generation's biggest fan ever. He lives behind Cubby Bear and can see Wrigley from his roof. He has probably been to 30 games this year. He just walks up on the day of the game and gets tickets at face value. I also love that he lives there, because he gets parking passes for street parking so when we go to games we can park a block or two from the field! (I can send you a pass the next time you go!) This same son is engaged to a girl I love as my own...loving that too! What I'm not (and never) loving is the fact that somehow, in this bleed Cubbie blue family, our middle son is a Cardinals fan. What??? He has loved them since he was 8 years old. He also lives in Wrigleyville and at least had the decency to be genuinely happy that they won. I am also loving my entry into the world of running, blogging about running, and especially the yoga challenge on IG! I can just as easily give you a whole laundry list of the things I am NOT loving these days (including my job...I would lay odds on you and I dealing with the same crap). But I choose to focus on the positive...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right there with you on the job...so happy I have this side thing here. So are you going to join us in Duluth for Grandmas?

      Delete
  28. That's such great news about your son! May he stay happy & healthy!

    At least we've heard of snap hat; that counts for something, right?

    Ahem, we DID have snow before Halloween. Of course we did, since I have a half in March . . . at least Darlene has a different one around then, too.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I can only imagine how exciting it was to be in Chicago for the Cubs' win! I also am NOT loving all the negativity that this election has generated and am pretty nervous for the state of our country, regardless of who wins. I hope something changes, and soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son went to the rally yesterday--where I hear there were 5 million people! It was crazy. He had fun and what a memory for him!

      Delete
  30. Congrats to the Cubs!! I'm also very happy hearing about your son's leg healing well. What a relief for you as well! I'm not on Snapchat either. I can barely catch up with all the Social Media outlets!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Congrats on the Cubs win! I am not a fan of snapchat...tried it, don't really like it.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am loving the mild fall and am definitely not ready for winter! It will be nice when we get some more light in the mornings next week though. I did the same thing with looking up the judges as I was voting! Congrats on the Cubs win- Rob is from Cleveland so he was disappointed. Glad your son is doing well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry for your hubs...but oh my gosh, this has just been the best!

      Delete
  33. So happy to hear your son has recovered and is cleared to return to sports. Also with you on the Cubs. I grew up in Northern Illinois and was raised in a family that loved the Cubs - so happy to see them finally pull it off. I am aware of snapchat and it seems that is how my son communicates with all his friends. I've considered getting on it but I don't even know who I would snapchat with...isn't text messaging easier? lol, I must be old

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am so not loving what is around the corner with the weather. I hate winter. Glad to hear your son's leg is much better. I'd like to think of myself as young, but I do not have Snap chat either.

    ReplyDelete