To the D and back to the B

I'm back from Detroit. Oh, how I dread the return to work tomorrow. Yuck.

However, my mini vacation to Detroit was awesome. I arrived on Thursday night and slept until 11am on Friday so obviously vacation got off to a fabulous start! Amy and I (along with three friends, Marissa, Kate, and Devin) ran the Martian Invasion on Saturday morning. It's a 10k and it was a wonderful run. There were little blow up martians along the trail. Here's Amy and me on Friday picking up our race packets and posing with one of the martians.

Amy, Marissa, and Kate showing a little love for the martian men of many colors.

I ran well and finished in 72 minutes. I don't love training for running and really didn't engage in any of that hard pre-race training stuff. I just showed up and felt the thrill of the race and the people and the glorious, non-humid weather. And, I got a medal! Yay for medals. I was so excited about it. I know everyone got a medal who crossed the finish line, but mine is really special and different. Ha. I may or may not wear my medal to staffing tomorrow morning.

A major perk of visiting Amy is the food. We had a dinner party on Sunday evening at her adorable new apartment.

Check out our homemade pizzas. They were delicious.

Check out part of the lunch that Amy sent with me for the plane ride home. Let's review: curry chicken salad, fruit salad, bagel chips, carrots/peppers, and two oatmeal cookies. I loved cracking open the containers on the plane and snickering as everyone else is suffering through another meal of airplane peanuts and pretzels.

It was a good weekend. I'm amazed at how similar life is all over the world. I mean, the language, the customs, the city may be different. But, people are so similar. People need to eat. People fall in love. People hurt each other. People take risks for things they believe in. And we all have our insecurities. I came face to face with some of mine this weekend when I encountered some people who really got on my nerves. I had to look at my part. I am often too sensitive and take things too personally. I am often quick to judge someone else when I perceive that I am being judged. I am quick to feel inadequate and believe that others are thinking the same of me. I am quick to gossip instead of looking for the good and honoring that goodness.

Blessings on your week.