Last weekend I went shopping and picked up a little something for Cecil: his own haunted house! At first he was a scaredy cat and wouldn’t go in but eventually he warmed up to it.
I can’t believe he’s all grown up and has his own place now!
^ Not Cecil (Cecil’s much cuter than the cat pictured, obviously)
I also bought Cecil this brown cube called a Curious Cat Cube. I thought he would love the small cozy space, but he refuses to go inside or even lay on top of it unless I give him treats near it. I guess he prefers the Haunted House aka a decorated cardboard box. He’s such a cat sometimes 😉 .
I also bought myself a little something: new nail polish. I love the gold flecks against the navy blue. It reminds me of winter which is almost upon us. Yesterday morning it was 80 degrees when I left the house and I had to put on a jacket. Don’t laugh, just pass the hot chocolate.
Speaking of weather every single day I log on to weather.com to see what it’s like in Chicago. Does anyone know if these are unusually warm temperatures for late Sept/early October in Chicago or if they are pretty normal? It’s looking just a tad warmer than I would like to see, but at least it doesn’t look like it’s going to be in the 80s on race day (fingers crossed).
I’m really excited to spend a few days in Chicago. I don’t know how much sightseeing I’m actually going to be able to do outside of the race, but I hope to visit the bean and a few other key landmarks.
I think I’ve officially hit the point in training where I am more excited than nervous about this race. Now there is nothing left to do but sit back and trust in my training. Okay, well “sit back” is probably not the right phrase since this week of the taper is still pretty intense.
Have I mentioned how my legs have felt like bricks since Saturday? They feel tired, heavy and sore but not painful or anything. They just feel like I almost ran a marathon!
Only 17 days until Chicago!
Recommendations for any place I should visit/eat at/see while I’m in Chicago?
Is the public transporation pretty good
Aww, Cecil is so cute! I love the haunted house!
It’s pretty normal for it to stay warm in to October in Chicagoland (I live out here), unfortunately. Hopefully you get one of the cold days for the race!!! It got up to the high 80s the year I ran it!
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I have my fingers crossed for a cool day! I’d love a high somewhere in the 60s but it looks like the 70s might be what we get. Which honestly, is pretty cold for me anyway, haha!
It was in the 80s last year when I ran the Portland Marathon so I completely understand the pain you went through running Chicago in the 80s. By the end of the race my skin was boiling from the lack of shade on the course. Hopefully that can be avoided this year!
where did you get that haunted house?! i need it for my kitty!
also, i’m going to second ^ opinion. those temps look right for this time of year. things don’t start to reallllly cool off here until the last week of october. i’d say expect somewhere in the 70s on race day, with the morning being cooler. 80s is a little rare, but don’t rule it out completely!
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Hi Brittney, I got the haunted house at Target! 🙂
Thanks for the advice. I was really hoping that it would be in the 60s on race day, but I think I can deal with the 70s! That will still be better than the 82* I was treated to last year in Portland! 🙂 REALLY hoping to avoid the 80s!!
The public transportation in Chicago is fantastic — I’m running the marathon this year too — you can purchase a Ventra card for $5 and then load it as you go OR buy 3-day unlimited passes, etc., which can be used on both the rail and bus systems. Uber is also really popular and affordable throughout the city.
Chicago is an amazing food city…I don’t even know where to begin! A few favorites of mine are Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Oak + Char, Big Star, Longman & Eagle, Intelligentsia Coffee, Eataly, and Shake Shack (not sure if you have those in Florida).
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Hi Hollyanne, thanks so much for all of the Chicago tips!!! This is the most helpful comment ever!
I’ll be in town for about 4 days so I am looking forward to trying a few places off of your list! 🙂
I just looked at that weather this morning! Hope the rain goes away!
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ME TOO although I think the rain might cool things off a bit? I hope!
That haunted house. LOVE.
I can’t wait to meet you!!! We need to coordinate!
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Obviously! 🙂 Maybe our hotel rooms will be next to each other!
Sending you an email soon!
Transportation in Chicago is great! You can probably use the metro for most things but you might want to Uber once or twice, depending on where you go.
If you feel like doing a celebratory dinner or brunch and cocktail, I can’t recommend Longman & Eagle enough. They don’t take reservations, so that can be a pain, but it is totally worth it. The Publican is also good (and similarly pricey). Au Cheval for an awesome burger. If you want deep dish, I’d go with Lou Malnati’s. There’s multiple locations so you can probably find one close to where you are staying. I can think of a million others, but I’ll leave you with that. I’m so excited for you!
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Ohh that’s the second recommendation today for Longman & Eagle so I’m definitely putting that one on my must-visit list! Thanks so much!
I love Cecil’s new place! What a lucky cat. 🙂 My cats have a condo with a hole in it and a shelf on top. Chrissy never gets on it but Jelly does all the time. He used to get in it too, but obviously he is too big now! Here is something they BOTH LOVE. It’s called the Purrrfect Archway. They love to lay in it. It’s so strange but they love it! http://www.amazon.com/ETC-The-Purrfect-Arch-DESIGN/dp/B00MH57KG8
Paul’s aunt got it for us for a gift. It’s less than $7!!!!
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Hahah aww poor Chrissy! Cecil is sort of too big for the haunted house. He can lay down in it okay, but once he stands up to start scratching the scratch pad part the house ends up getting knocked around like a tornado is hitting it!
Someone bought Cecil an archway as a gift too, but he won’t even look at it. I think he sniffed it once and never went near it again. Cats are way too picky! Our local shelter has received so many donations of toys and beds that were never used because Cecil is so peculiar about what he likes and doesn’t like. There is no rhyme or reason! He loves to sleep on top of Adam’s briefcase but he won’t sleep on top of the comfy cube, go figure!
I am amazed he did not like the archway! I bet he likes Adam’s briefcase because it is cold?
I love little Cecil!! How adorable that he has his own haunted house, I bet he loves it in there 🙂
I’ve only been to Chicago once on a business trip, but I did get some deep dish pizza and it was absolutely AMAZING. We had Lou Malnati’s and I highly recommend it! They also had a deep dish cookie skillet/ice cream dessert that was seriously to die for. Would make a perfect post race meal if you ask me 🙂
That house is so cute! Cats and boxes, mine love them in any size lol
I like the flecks, that is really cute polish!
In terms of prepping for your trip, keep in mind the weather can change somewhat quickly! I’d at least have ready what you would wear for the 45-degree, 65-degree, adn 80 degree weather just in case! (Maybe you don’t bring it all, but at least have it thought through and ready to pack!) It will also be chilly in the morning, but warm up quickly (e.g. this morning was 60 degree at 6:30, but rose to 70 by 10 AM)– so bring some warm stuff for pre-race! Many people throw it away – it gets donated somewhere.
Can’t wait for you to come out! Yay Team PAWS!
That’s so exciting that the race is close! I hope it goes super well and that the weather is just right!
Thank you so much for providing this information about Cecil. I am thinking to buy cecil for my cat. After reading this blog I will surely buy it.