An Unexpected Weekend!

It was the best reward after a few emotionally draining weeks... I actually had a fun weekend where I did something more than run!!

Saturday I found myself at the Oregon coast with the "charming fellow" from an earlier post. And it was so warm you could have almost said we went to the beach! Before seeing the ocean I HAD to stop and visit my boyfriend ... Steve Prefontaine. Turns out that the shoe that was at his grave in September is STILL there!

I gave Pre some little flowers and sat there for quite a long time. We talked a lot about running and how Pre is my ultimate inspiration. I guess it just felt appropriate to have some really enjoyable running conversations in the presence of The Man! 

After a yummy lunch we were off to Sunset Bay. Tons of people were there swimming, exploring tide pools and having picnics. I loved it! I haven't walked around there in a few years, and haven't had a day so beautiful at the coast since 2001 right before I moved to Florida! I was in heaven!  We investigated the tide pools - determined to not fall in, determined not get trapped since the tide was coming in, and determined to find a starfish. And find one I did! It was big and maroon - but wedged in between some rocks where I couldn't get a decent photo of it. But I saw it! Missions accomplished!

I was lucky and never had any unplanned encounters with the water, but the times it did touch me (um, yeah, I willingly walked in it. I couldn't resist) it felt wonderful! I haven't been in an ocean since the Atlantic in 2010. Oh my gosh - so warm. I wanted to move into the ocean and live there. Oregon - NOT like Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Once the tide was deemed a hindrance to my tide pool investigating we made our way over to the other side of the bay to hike up the trail to get the awesome views from the cliff. I just love it up there. So peaceful and quiet, with only the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks and the sea lions barking down below. They are too cute!

Eventually it was time to head down the trail and make our way back home. The drive was lovely and I had an absolutely fabulous day! Such a wonderful surprise to find myself in one of my favorite places. Unexpected and lovely!

Then came my first run of marathon training. After that I had a date!! A "Rae Date" -- aka mother/daughter date. We don't celebrate Mother's Day since this "holiday" actually has a lot of sad memories with it. So instead of doing flowers or anything that maybe normal people do?? I took my mommy to see Dark Shadows. For YEARS we've been watching every single episode of the original TV series. I refuse to calculate how much money we've spent buying all of the DVDs ... but it is worth it. We love watching together, laughing at the mistakes and predicting the lines they'll say next. So a few years ago when we heard Johnny Depp would be Barnabas Collins we were more than excited. I bought my mommy her ticket and got us some popcorn and drinks - for us this was the perfect way to spend Mother's Day! And we LOVED it!! They twisted the story a lot - but I think that is good. I mean there are so many stories and characters all twisted around in the original series, so the way they worked in the basics was good. Johnny was beautiful, as per usual. And the scene stealer for me?? Helen Bonham Carter. LOVED her!! I just moved her to my 2nd favorite actress (nobody passes Kate Winslet!!). If you are a fan of the original Dark Shadows - keep your eyes open for the Jonathan Frid cameo - and my favorite, Kathryn Leigh Scott! GO SEE IT!

And that was my weekend. How was yours??