October is almost over already

Here's the happenings in October for the Carpenter family ~
Mid-October: We've been in Maryland for a year already...crazy how time flies!
October: It is amazingly beautiful out here during this time so Mike and I have been enjoying riding the motorcycle and enjoying the beauty of Fall.
October 18th: Celebrated our 1 month anniversary...well not really celebrated but recognized due to Mike reminding me. He even had to say "Do you know what today is?" After not catching on right away, he had to follow it up by saying "Remember what happened 30 days ago?" Then I remembered! ;)
October 25th: Marine Corps Marathon - I have been training for this marathon since the end of June or so and I decided about two weeks before the 25th that I wasn't going to run it. Surprisingly, it was a pretty emotional decision. In summary, I went on a 17 mile run about 3 weeks before the marathon and it was incredibly painful physically. I've battled IT Band issues on my left side, which causes pain in your knee, since about one month after I started training. The 17 mile run caused pain in my right side as well so...as a result, I didn't want this to be the end of my running career so I decided, with many tears shed, that I wasn't going to run it. :( I did go and watch and it was AMAZING. 30,000 runners!! Phenomenal experience just to be a spectator!!
October 28th: Stuart's 2-year anniversary of his adoption. He certainly doesn't like to remember his days in the Humane Society as "Tyler." (what a silly name - Stuart is MUCH better!) We are grateful to have him in our family!!
October 30-31: To finish off the month, we are going on an overnight back-packing trip on the A.T. (Appalachian Trail) I've never been on an overnight back-packing experience but I'm excited to use my pack I bought this summer and I'm sure we'll come across many thru-hikers so it'll be fun to hear about their experiences.

I think that about sums it up. Shhhh...I'm off to sneak some of my belongings into Mike's pack without him knowing. :)

girls

Before I begin, I just want to say that I'm madly in love with my husband. If there was only me and one other person left on this earth, I would, hands down, want it to be Mike.

That said, there is something to be said for some quality girl time. Yesterday it was rainy(I think it was the fourth straight day of rain here) and it would have been very easy for me to just lay on the couch all day, read, eat some food, watch TV, etc. But I emerged from my blanket cocoon to go to lunch with two of my close girlfriends. Lunch was followed by a mission of shopping to find some boots for Kate, which was followed by 5 hours of talking and laughing at Adena's place. It's so refreshing to the soul to chat about the normal girl stuff...boys, shopping, perfume, clothes, etc.

It was a great 10-hour Saturday with "the girls."

a great start to my morning *insert sarcasm here*

My typical morning was disrupted today with a spill down the first section of stairs in our townhome. I usually wake up and head downstairs...grab my work laptop on my way to get it fired up(it takes numerous clicks and one restart each morning to get me up and running for the day) as I take the dogs out, start my breakfast, and make my tea. With my work laptop in hand, I head toward the stairs and whoosh...legs fly out from under me, laptop crashes into my face, my work planner flies out of my hands, Stuart bolts downstairs, I thump thump thump down the stairs on my back side, and scream bloody murder.

**Last night was Mike's short night so he got home around 3am and was still sleeping**

Within seconds, Mike was bolted out of bed, threw Boulevard in the bedroom, and was sitting on the stairs next to me asking me if I was ok as I was moaning and groaning and crying. AND...yep I'm ok, my lip was a little swollen and my already "bad back" is a little sore but I'm healthy and alive with no broken bones. :) I proceed to gather up my laptop (by the way...there were no injuries to the laptop either because I never let go of it) :) and head downstairs and poor Stuart is cowering near the front door. I'm guessing he probably thought my screams were directed toward him(because typically when I raise my voice, I'm yelling at him). LOL! But we all survived!

Mike later told me that I probably woke up people 5 blocks away with my screams! Ooops!

snow in Nebraska??

While Nebraska was enduring snow this weekend...we had an 80 degree day on Friday and some 60 degree days on Saturday and Sunday.
Since the weather was projected to be so nice on Friday, I took the day off and Mike and I enjoyed the fabulous weather. We decided to go on a steam train ride out in western Maryland(about 2 hours away) because it was "almost peak" colors out there. The train ride was fun, got to have lunch at the historic Princess Restaurant in Frostburg, and then took the train back. We drove home and then went to dinner and then a movie. We had free tickets to the movie...how else would I have got Mike to go to the theater with me and watch "Couples Retreat." :) The movie was very funny by the way, I recommend it ~ and Mike liked it too.

"something bad happened"

Here is a conversation that happened last night as I called Mike while he was working ~

Mike: "Hey"
Kirsten: "Hi. Something bad happened."
Mike: "What?"
Kirsten, crying and in hysterics: "I threw up in your truck."
Mike, as calm as can be: "You threw up in the truck?"
Kirsten, still crying and sobbing: "I'm sorry."
Mike, still perfectly calm and maybe even laughing: "It's ok."
Kirsten, still in tears: "I didn't mean to and now I feel too sick to go out and clean it up. I'm sorry!"
Mike: "It's ok, we'll just clean it up tomorrow."

Lesson Learned: Throwing up in you husband's truck does not warrant a divorce. :) Whew! :)

P.S. I know you are all concerned about the vomitting episode ~ I'm not really sure what did it. I think it's the combination of run/walking 14 miles yesterday, drinking too much water while I was running, and my running jelly beans weren't sitting very well. It happened on my way home from the run. I feel perfectly fine now.
Now, I need to get out to the truck to clean it up. UGH!