Yesterday was one of those days that sort of make up for the sucky days. My central air conditioning died on Wednesday. #firstworldproblems

My house eventually got up to 81 degrees.

My house eventually got up to 81 degrees so I went up to the attic to pull out a fan because someoneone was panting =)

frozen York Peppermint Patties are amazing when it's 81 degrees in your youse

frozen York Peppermint Patties are amazing when it’s 81 degrees in your youse

But luckily my dad was going to my house to finish up the kitchen cabinet refinishing project he started for me a while back. So I was able to schedule the repairman to come and he was there to let him in. I’m usually home on Thursdays but yesterday I had plans to go to Six Flags Great Adventure with my niece and nephew and sister-in-law (and niece’s friend and her dad too!).

Six Flags Great Adventure Season Pass

Season Pass: YES!

I can’t tell you the last time I was able to rely on someone else to wait for a repairman for me. Thanks dad! And I’m so excited the repairs were minor and only set me back $190. Usually when something in the “scary room” needs repairs it’s upwards of $1,000.

Meanwhile I was riding roller coasters and eating every kind of unhealthy food possible like a champ and it felt so good!

cotton candy

Blue raspberry cotton candy: YES!

Cotton candy, ice cream, chicken fingers and fries paired with some of my favorite rides like Nitro and El Touro.

photo 4-1

My niece tried to entice me with her Dippin Dots…eh, not a fan. But I enjoyed the bucket-o-chicken and fries

El Tour: Yes! (sensing a theme here?)

El Tour: Yes! (sensing a theme here?)

We were splitting up into groups of two to ride the skyway lift across the park and my niece said “kids in one and adults in another”. So I asked “am I a kid or an adult?” Gratefully she replied “well, your a mix!”  #holdingontomyyouth

me and the niece who's taller than me now. But not sure who's goofier...I think I still have her beat.

me and the niece who’s taller than me now. But not sure who’s goofier…I think I still have her beat.

And my "too cool for school" superman nephew reluctantly joined for a photo.

And my “too cool for school” superman nephew reluctantly joined for a photo.

Just a bunch of fun in the M&M's store

Just a bunch of fun in the M&M’s store

So get this? They have massage chairs in the theme park! The best $1 I ever spent for a 2 minute massage!!!

They have massage chairs in the theme park! The best $1 I ever spent for a 2 minute massage!!! Niece and her friend won't see each other for the next 2 months due to camp so they were inseparable yesterday

Niece and her friend won’t see each other for the next 2 months because of camp so they were inseparable yesterday.

I had to take a moment to say goodbye to Rolling Thunder…the wooden roller coaster that was so much a part of my youth. I took this picture last July..

Rolling Thunder

My last time riding this classic from my youth

And I took this yesterday from the same spot…

RIP Rolling Thunder :(

RIP Rolling Thunder 🙁

So grateful I got to take the niece on it last year because it was taken down and is now gone forever.

I returned home to a cool house and the completion of my kitchen cabinet refinishing. #thanksagaindad

photo 2-3 photo 5-1

Here’s a side by side comparison of the before and after of the cabinets.

From washed oak to Espresso

Rustoleum Transformations: from washed oak to Espresso

Today I have the day off. We get 3 Fridays off in the summer. It’s one of my favorite perks of my office. I have physical therapy at noon which I am looking forward too. Not only is my tendonitis hurting from walking around the park for 6 hours but my other foot and my knee are aching too!

I’ll probably squeeze in a 10-15 mile bike ride later this afternoon too.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Tell me 3 things you’re doing this weekend.

Happy belated National Running Day! I hope you all were able to celebrate in some way. Whether it was running, signing up for a race, buying some new running gear, subscribing to a running mag or maybe donating to a fundraiser of a runner.

I was sad that my tendonitis injury wouldn’t allow me to run (technically based on dr’s orders) so I did a couple of other things.

First, after reading this, I went here. Go #TeamJaimie, Duncan and I are rooting for you. Then, on my lunch break I headed up to the ASICS store to see if they had the Cumulus 16s in.

asicsstore

I discuss my love of the Cumulus back in this post and how I ended up with Brooks Ghost when the Cumulus 13s couldn’t be purchased anymore. Well, I’m excited to say the 16s felt just like the 13s when I tried them on. Nice and cushy. And so I bought them.

asics cumulus 16

 

So after skipping over the 14s and 15s I’m really happy to be reunited. I still have plenty of mileage left on my Brooks Ghosts and I’ll be keeping them in rotation for sure. Of course I have to get past my fear that they caused my tendonitis.

Just to share about what I was looking for in a sneaker in case you are wondering I have a wide forefoot but a narrow heel. I also tend to get metatarsalgia (feels like you have a pebble in your shoe under the ball of your foot) on the bottom of my left foot so cushioning is really important. My gait is quite neutral so stability isn’t as important. Asics tend to be roomier in the toe box and forefoot area.

On my way back to the office I passed this port-a-potty in an abandoned storefront that had been gutted but then construction stopped (for probably a year now). Something tells me it’s in worse shape than one at the start of a marathon. LOL!

scary potty

your welcome

On my commute home as I was scrolling through news feeds galore I saw that on Staten Island (and all 5 boroughs of New York City) they were celebrating National Running Day until 8pm at one of my favorite parks. With new sneakers, and a huge craving to run I roped my friend Mike in to coming with me and Duncan for a “walk” there. I just wanted to check it out. =)

I run to Sweat Out the Small Stuff

I run to Sweat Out the Small Stuff

They were giving out free bandanas and had race bibs that you could fill out.

nrd-bib

Once I filled out my bib I knew I had to at least run a few strides. And so I ran about 100 yards.

This video shows my entire run! LOL! I think that was a perfect compromise to following Dr’s orders. Then Duncan and Mike and I walked for about an hour.

Thin Ice

June 4th, 80 degrees….I think it’s safe to take this sign down. LOL!

Just a duck

Just a duck

note to self: Hill repeats to prepare for San Francisco should happen right here

note to self: Hill repeats to prepare for San Francisco should happen right here

YAY! Honeysuckles are finally appearing!

YAY! Honeysuckles are finally appearing!

National Running Day with Duncan

Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

scenic

scenic

After the walk Duncan got dropped home to eat his kibble and we went to the diner where I had a roast beef melt sandwich and sweet potato fries.

sandwichOn the way back we noticed that in the same shopping center as the diner that a Tasti DLite is coming. This shopping center is only 1/2 a mile from my house. This could become my new obsession. Especially since duncan’s groomer is also in that shopping center.

tasti-d-liteThen I came home to see the progress of my kitchen cabinets. My dad started this project back in 2010 and then lost the mood but after some gentle nagging from my mom he’s finally back to business and progress is being made. Basically he’s painting them with this special, made for kitchen cabinets paint/process by Rustoleum called Cabinet Transformations. They used to be a washed oak color:

oldfinishBut will now be chocolate brown:

cabinetdoor

door

cabinetframe

cabinet

Did you get to do anything for National Running Day? What are your favorite running sneakers?

Have you ever done a kitchen renovation? I’m so hungry for breakfast but can’t access anything because my dad is on his way to put the second coat of paint on and everything is all masked off. Sigh!