Happy Monday!

Summer is now officially here! I went running last night and timed it to catch the first official sunset of the season.

Summer's first sunset

Summer’s first sunset

I covered 8 miles and brought my anxiety level down a whole lot of notches!

8 miles

8 miles

It was really peaceful and for a hot summer day I lucked out as there was a great ocean breeze and the humidity had dropped.

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Sometimes birds will just chill out on these wood pilings. I always get a kick out of that.

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

happy!

My view for a few of the miles!

I'll never be able to move away from the ocean.

I’ll never be able to move away from the ocean.

Here's the hare....I guess I was the tortoise =)

Here’s the hare….I guess I was the tortoise =)

sweating out the small stuff

sweating out the small stuff

I had a highly emotional weekend. It started on Friday with a trip to my friend’s house. Her mom is in her last days as she has been battling cancer and it’s taking a toll. She’s lived a very long life but it doesn’t make it any easier to see someone deteriorate and suffer with the. I went for a run friday too.

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

I’ve been much slower but just happy to be able to run. I’m on track to start NYC Marathon training in about 3-4 weeks. Woo hoo!

Saturday I joined my friend and his family for the Walk to Defeat ALS. His mom was diagnosed last year as was a former coworker’s husband. It was a wonderfully successful walk and my friend’s mom even walked the whole thing but it brought so much emotion out. The cold hard facts about this disease are grave and hard to believe.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

My former coworker’s husband found a unique way to raise money for ALS research. It’s called Pickals. Go check it out.

After the walk I took Duncan to his first ever doggie birthday “paw-tee”. Peanut was having a bash for her 6th birthday.

it's not a party without a cake!

it’s not a party without pup-cakes and paw-tee bags!

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

It was really cute. Duncan was a little freaked out though by all the noise and hoopla. We stayed for an hour or so and he even won a prize for doing tricks. Then we had to head out to my brother’s house for a BBQ.

Playing with his loot the next day

Playing with his loot the next day

There was also some bargain shopping and some cleaning that went down in between everything else. And lots of chill time with this loyal companion…

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

in the car on the way to Peanut's birthday paw-tee

in the car on the way to Peanut’s birthday paw-tee

Here’s to a good week! Hope you all have a good one.

Tell me about your weekend?