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.

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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

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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.

As a runner, I find very few truly enjoyable ways to cross-train. Sometimes it’s the elliptical but mostly I just walk when I’m not running. I hate the gym, I’m not a bike person, don’t like to swim or do yoga. But yesterday, I found the best cross training workout..APPLE PICKING!!!

full body workout: apple picking

full body workout: apple picking

My niece and I spent about an hour and a half from beginning to end. We started with the walk from the parking lot all the way to the orchards. I’m guessing it was a good 1/2 mile warmup. We got our buckets and headed through the orchards to find the Granny Smith trees. Probably another 1/2 mile.

Then came the fun part. We climbed up and down through a dozen or so trees. I felt my core engage as I lifted myself up onto the branches and my arms were working hard to keep me steady.

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We made a quick pit stop to the pumpkin patch for a few pumpkins and after settling our bill we walked back to the car with a combined total of almost 35 pounds of apples and pumpkins!!!! I carried both buckets for some of the time and then my niece and I split the task for the remaining time.

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I suppose I’m on to something. A new cross-fit trend? There was a bonus WOD (workout of the day) too…

We went to Six Flags Great Adventure to ride some roller coasters AND get spooked during Fright Fest. Walking the length of the park, screaming and laughing….OH YEA! Another great workout indeed!

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Next to the runner’s high, I have to say, riding roller coasters are the next best high to have. It was a great day! And I got us season passes for 2014. I’m ditching my gym membership!

And now it’s Monday and nothing seems to be working, not my brain, not my computer, not my phone….

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Question: Do you enjoy rollercoasters? What’s your favorite? I really loved El Toro

Happy Friday Y’all!

I had a pretty uneventful Wednesday. Yesterday however was EPIC! OK let’s start with my run.

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How can 3 miles be EPIC? It was only 66 degrees out for a mid July summer day. A total score! And I actually came home with a t-shirt that was mostly still dry!!!! (that’s as EPIC as it gets =)

Dry in July!

Dry in July!

The EPIC-ness continued with a long awaited trip to Six Flags Great Adventure! My Niece S.  turned 13 in May and also had a Bat Mitzvah. In addition to a standard gift card I wanted to do something special. At first we talked about skiing. But while she was at camp, I was spending time at my brother and sister-in-law’s and we were watching a tv special about rollercoasters around the country. That’s when we realized that my niece would love if I took her to an amusement park. Usually when work anxiety builds I go for a run. Yesterday was no different. But I discovered that I need to give props to the makers of the Kingda Ka (tallest roller coaster in the world and fastest in North America). I have no voice today. Yes ladies and gentlemen….I sweat screamed out the small stuff like a champ.

AHHHHHH!!!!

AHHHHHH!!!!

I also got to ride a classic that I was introduced to when I was just a teenager. Rolling Thunder…

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After 9 hours of walking, waiting, riding and stuffing our faces (cheese fries and waffle cones) we were exhausted. I thought about how many miles I had walked and of course the calorie burn. Today I googled “calories burned while walking around an amusement park” and I was amazed to see how many people thought about it too. Some people even tracked their calorie burn to 600+ based on Fitbits, Bodybuggs, Nike Fuelbands etc.

Question: Anyone use a Bodybugg, Fitbit Nike Fuelband or pedometer to track daily calorie burn?

W.O.W.: Don’t forget how easy it is to make exercise fun. Dance around your living room or walk around an amusement park all day. And don’t forget how powerful and theraputic a special girls day can be. In this case my 13 year old niece and her friend were just the therapy I needed. Now I’m thinking I need to get her to run a 5k with me. Maybe one of those fun color runs