Some Weather We're Having, Eh?

I'm sitting here at Starbucks during lunch, like I have been doing for almost every workday since October. With the unseasonable, and possibly record-tying, warmth today, I switched up my drink order to a Passion Tea Lemonade, and started reflecting on how long it's been since I've had one of these guys.

Of course, it will be my (non-alcoholic) drink of choice starting next week when we're back on Maui. But wouldn't you know it, we book a tropical vacation in the middle of winter to escape all this cold and snow, and the week before we leave, we get a heat wave and the snow all melts!  I guess my threat to not come back from Maui until all the snow is melted is pretty much useless now. :)

I also wanted to leave you with just one last image for when you get back inside from being outdoors enjoying weather.  This was taken back on December 1st, before all the major snow hit us.  Doesn't that seem like it was soooo long ago?

Final Week: Game Over

As I had feared, things are just too crazy right now in the final two weeks before our trip. I haven't been on the bike in about 2 weeks now, and other than just watching what I eat, I have down little much else to get closer to my goal weight of 180lb.  

I'm still very happy with where I am though, especially compared to this time last year and the fact that I've been able to sustain this diet for just as long.  March 1st will be the official anniversary to when this whole thing started. And while that's the day we come back from Maui (diet on vacation, too), I'm looking forwad to posting photos of before and after to show what the difference a year can make.

Looking for some Hawks Deja Vu Tonight

We're heading out to our second Bud Light Hockey Night out at Buffalo Wild Wings this evening, hoping the Hawks can repeat the spanking they gave Edmonton last time. Despite the nasty weather and equally worse commute last December, the turnout at BWW was pretty impressive, as was the 9-2 win the Hawks had over the Oilers. 

The weather doesn't figure into the commute this time, but we are planning to arrive earlier than before to make sure we get a better table. I don't think we'll be bringing as big of a work crowd this time either, but folks that do show up will be sure to have a good time. There are even a few running jokes here and there around the office about the last get together. Who knows.

The Hawks are in the midst of an 8-game West coast road trip, which has pushed the game times out into the 9:30pm realm here in Chicago. Not bad if the Hawks are able to jump on their opponents early and often (right Phoenix?), but those nail biter finishes late into the 3rd make getting up the next morning a little tougher.  The puck drops at 8pm tonight, though, which should be a welcome change this week.

Our Next Hawks Game

You might remember we won Hawks tickets last time we went to one of these events, and we wouldn't mind repeating that, too. The Hawks don't return home until the 14th, which is the night before we leave for Maui. We do have really great seats for the Sharks game in March (the 25th, I think), and I'm really looking forward to that, too. Should be able to get some more really great shots like I did last year.

Aside from that game, we haven't looked passed our upcoming vacation much to see if there any other home games we want to see. I remember looking at one of those 6-game packs briefly, and noticed our regular seats were getting a little harder to come by. We'll have to wait and see.

Go Hawks!!!

Week Four - Almost Game Over

Two weeks left before we leave for our trip, and I'm still at 184 lbs. This was a pretty stressful week for me, making it rather difficult to be motivated and focused on dropping those last few pounds before we leave.  As of a few days ago, I was ready to call it quits with this little challenge, but now I'm thinking I might see it through.

Still a lot going on right now and a lot left to do before we leave.  The majority of everything is booked, paid for, and ready to go, with only a few minor details left to cover. Thinks like what to pack, how to pack, what toys come with and what stay home, etc. It looks like it's going to be another gadget-happy adventure for me this trip, so I'll be travelling even more like a pack-mule than last year.

We'll see if this week is any better than the last, and I really can't imagine it getting any worse.