LOL, Mike, I can't help but think about you guys! I'm glad your event went well. Is this the first one like this that you've done? I would be a nervous wreck. My wedding nearly put me over the edge!

Theresa, congrats on 10. And you run below 10 degrees?! Ugh. But I guess you Maine runner are a hardy bunch. I wouldnt even survive a fall up there much less a winter. Kevin, wow to 1. you are over 53 (which I never knew) and 2. your mom lived in your childhood house for 53 years! 6 years is the longest I have lived in one house and 7 years is the longest I have lived in one state (Hawaii). Mike. tell us what the event was. We need to have a newbie meetup. We have been chattering on these boards for over a year. We should pick a centrally located race, train for it and meet up to run it then party afterwards. Who's in? Laurie

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be secretive. I was just trying to spare you the tedium of my explanation of it. The event was an emergency drill where we simulated an attack on the nuclear plant and called in offsite resources to assist. We set up an incident command post for the first time (for us anyway). responding to the site were the local sherrif's office, other local police departments, Tenn State Police, Tenn Dept of Homeland Security, FBI, ATF, Several local fire departments, Local ambulance services, an air ambulance from Knoxville, FEMA, Tenn Emergency Management Agency and local county Emergency Management agencies. We also had some pretty high level people from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission onsite to watch the festivities. My job is maintaining the plant's radiological emergency plan, which entails periodically running drills in order to test and exercise the plant's emergency response capabilities. Every two years we run a drill that is evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commision. This was the biggest I've done, in that it's a new type of drill and it required more coordinating than any others. So now we are analyzing what happened to see if there are any program improvements that we can make (which there are). Linda, I'm so glad that your Dad was able to return home. That has to be so much more comfortable for him (and your step Mom). It is so easy to reinjure something that is not completely healed. So sorry. Cheers everyone, Mike

Laurie, I'm in.

Holy crap! That sounds big. Complicated. And if you had made us guess, I guarantee you that none of us would have come up with anything as "cool" sounding (to outsiders) as that.

Wow, I'll say! I was thinking office party, lol. That's a huge responsibility. I'm glad to hear there are things like that going on!

Laurie, you're right. It would be fun. I'm interested. btw, are we getting extra credit now for age? whoohoo. Kevin, nice of you to help your mom.. is it going to be weird for you? how does she feel about this? sounds like it will be nice for her to be near your sister. you are a busy guy lately. Linda, great news about your dad. too bad about your ankle! good detedtive work . I'm glad you got to the gym! too bad about the elliptical. I can see where the rowing machine could be a little iffy for your neck. frustrating. Mike, how cool! very nice to see the coordination between the different agencies, too. i'm so glad it's working out for you 'down' there. I did have an idea about the event, but that was cheating.. i already knew what you do. which reminds me of the art fair... taken any good pictures lately? i'm still battling the shin thing & piriformis issues. I haven't quite been able to cut back as much as I should, I suppose, but I'm getting better instead of worse, so it's hard to make myself stop entirely. i'll go to the gym tonight instead of this morning, that way I can use the whirlpool when i'm done.

Mike, spoken like a true southerner. Theyve got you now. Ok where do we meet then? Any ideas? The race needs to have several distances to make everyone happy. How about Disney? Its not centrally located but its the happiest place on earth. Heating my leg to stretch and head out to the res for a run with the women. Laurie

Hi, everybody. Just wanted to check in and let you know I'm lurking here and thinking about all of you. Posting on the daily, getting in at least three runs per week, trying to keep my head above water in this grad class, learning music for the church gig, and oh, yeah, actually doing my real job are keeping me on the edge of being swamped right now. Putting my head down and pushing on through the next two weeks - we have a long break at Thanksgiving (conference days and Wednesday off!), and I'm going to be so ready for it! Good running, all, Eliz