Some Veggies and a Walk

Hi everyone!!!

What a whirlwind of a trip this has been so far! Work is busy and the weather is definitely less than desirable.

Thank goodness that we are staying in the same hotel as the conference so we don;t have to go outside if we do not choose to.

I needed a break from all the food (you know conference food...meat, junk, sweets, etc.) so I went for a stroll on Wednesday when the rain stopped for a few minutes.

The path is right by the hotel and is called Indian Creek Trail. Here is a trail marker...

It is part of the rails to trails link up so I think that it somehow connects to the same trail I ride and walk on at home.

Here is a look at the creek. You can see how high it is based on all the rain...although it is not high enough to hit the flood marks - HA!



Another shot of the river water...



As I was walking under the bridge; I spotted a snake wrapped around a tree up ahead... can you see it in this picture below? As I was taking the photo, I also noticed a few more snakes next to me on the trail...after I started looking for them...I found eight snakes in that one area!!! Breading area?? Not sure!!



Here is a close-up of the one wrapped on the tree...



And here is another closeup of a pile on the ground...



After checking with people at the hotel and showing them the picture; it has been identified as a Northern Water snake...not poisonous but it was not like I was going to pet it anyway. HA HA!

As I was walking around the river; I spotted this area that appeared to be someones make shift home??!! I pray he is not at home when the river rises!!




Another view down to the river...



I really needed a break from the carbs and sugar; so I declined the appetizers for dinner and ran out for a salad and drink. Here is my bubble milk tea from Kung Fu Tea and my Panera quinoa salad. My favorite things ever!! It felt so good to get something green and healthy in my belly!!! Ahhhhh...



I even bought a mango jelly tea for today...Closeup of my tea...


I hope everyone is having  a great week and staying dryer than me here in Overland Park, Kansas.

Fingers crossed that the tornado's steer clear for the rest of the week! HA!

I AM A MARATHONER

Happy Wednesday yinz!! This is going to be a SERIOUS random post!

Below is my "cleaned-up" Marathoner picture!!  I got my co-worker to take my photo wearing my 2014 Pittsburgh Marathon Finishers medal!!! Whot!  I think I am going to milk the finishers thing for a long time!!! :-)

And this is a close-up of the bling!!!! Soooooooooo  worth it!! Yea!!!

 This is the field at work where my bluebird boxes are located! We participate in Wildlife Sustainability where I work and I have the pleasure of monitoring four bluebird nesting boxes!

I am happy to report - I had five eggs last week...this week I have five baby chicks!!!! YEA!!!!

The little bit of grossness pictured below was in my expensive salad from Panera yesterday!!! YUCK!! I NORMALLY love the fuji apple salad and got one for lunch. Apparently my Panera was out of RIPE tomatoes so they had these all throughout my salad - I think I picked out at least ten! They were hard and sour!! YUCK!!! Just leave them out next time for goodness sake Panera!!! Total grossness!!

Tonight I am going out to dinner downtown with two friends from work. We made reservations a month ago at Meat and Potatoes. It is supposed to be amazing! I am definitely getting the fried pickles and then not sure what else yet. The menu looks amazing! I promise to have photos!!!

Also, I am finally able to walk normal (still a little soreness but not much) after completing the marathon on Sunday so I am planning to go to HipHip tomorrow night (Thursday) for the first time in months literally!! I am sooooo excited!!! I will have pics from that too!

Hope yinz all have a great HUMP day!!!!