Mornin' everyone!

I was so tired yesterday that I almost fell asleep at my stand-up desk! Wouldn't that have been interesting (or not)? So I decided to sleep in this morning to get myself back on an even keel. So far, it's working.

This evening, DW and I are going to the Button Factory in Portsmouth, NH. It's an old brick factory building (guess what kind?) that was long ago converted to artist studios. Normally, they are closed, working studios. But for one weekend a year, they clean up and open the building to the public and allow the artists to sell their creations from their studios. There are painters, photographers, potters, ceramic artists, people who make jewelery from all kinds of materials, wood carvers and turners, furniture makers, fabric artists, etc., etc. It's a treat to see the work of so many talented artists in one place, and to have the opportunity to meet and speak with the artists. Fun stuff!

Tomorrow, I have a 9am racewalking training session, followed by a trip with DW to another (indoor) winter's farmer's market, and then Trader Joe's. If' we're lucky, we'll get back in time to catch at least part of our town's annual Christmas parade, which could have been created by Norman Rockwell - so home-spun and charming.

According to the "Intrepid Racers," only Tramps and Deez are racing this weekend, so you two will have to carry on for the rest of us!

Have a greta Friday!

Jay

Jay,

I was in Porstmouth once a very long time ago. We really enjoyed our stay there.

4.7 easy miles in a dense fog. Tonight is a local 2 mile Christmas run/walk. The route is lit by luminaries. Always enjoyable with some of the best cookies ever at the end. It's a small dutch settlement.

Fruday [sic]? Is there some hidden meaning there? We're having the same weather as Holly, but I was reluctant to try running again even though the knee seems 100% better after only 2 out of 9 days of my prescription, so instead I walked briskly (but not at a Jay pace!) with a couple other of the walking-wounded on the 6-mile lake loop then went out for a late breakfast.

Next week I'll start with a spinning session and run a bit on the TM before venturing outside for some EZ running. It might hit the 50s late in the week, so hopefully I'll catch a couple of those days. After the early winter blast a couple weeks ago we were prepared for another winter of polar vortices, but right now we've settled into a more typical pattern.

After my original expected car in a nice conservative blue color was damaged in an apparent rail accident (a number of cars damaged, some totaled at the same time), I'm glad in the end that I went back to my original color choice, which they happened to have on the lot. Think this is "too red" for an old guy like me?  All the latest tech gizmos, too, more like a computer with an attached car. Zoom, zoom!

2015 Mazda 3 S-GT hatchback

Sweet wheels Rochrunner!

Greetings all! Busy week of work travel---Colorado and also NYC. Tis the season and all.

I like the beard Slo, but yes, the various colors that emerge are interesting. My CNYrunner's facial hair is quite grey (or blond he says...ha!). The kiddo came home for Thanksgiving with freshman facial hair   It looked good actually.

I need to go correct the Intrepid racers list as I'll be running the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage 5k on Sunday http://www.hotchocolaterun.com. It's a huge fundraiser for an amazing organization sheltering women and children who face abuse and violence here in Hampshire County. They also offer counseling and important support. This race, now in its 11th year, raises more than 15% of operating budget for the organization. Everything is donated and the mugs we get at the finish bear the original art work of Hilary Price ("Rhymes with Orange" nationally syndicated cartoon). She is a Northampton resident and a runner! Many of you here donated to my fundraising effort for this race and I am so very grateful. Our team total is nearing $6,000 and we are the third place team right now. Our own Aamos was instrumental in hiring the first Exec. Director of Safe Passage years ago when she lived and worked here in Western, Mass. Thank you all so much! My former assistant years ago at Vassar was beaten so brutally by her husband that she had to leave work. And even closer to home, my only sibling can't see his son because of the reign of terror on his own family. I approach the race with a happy spirit and a heavy heart.

Good early morning running Holly!

The Button Factory is awesome---love it there. There's a holiday open studios here this weekend at the Cottage St. studios (a converted mill building much like the Button Factory. This area was known for its silk mills and textile work back in the day). I love that the artist colony is so large and well supported all over New England.

This week marked the first of 20 in my Boston marathon training plan. Time flies!

Happy weekend all!

Dang it, enke....that stinks.  I never liked the looks of him anyway....he was too tall.  Seriously, I am very sorry.

I was so tired yesterday that I almost fell asleep at my stand-up desk

According to the "Intrepid Racers," only Tramps and Deez are racing this weekend, so you two will have to carry on for the rest of us!

<>jay - since I can sleep walk, I've often wondered if I could sleep standing up. I think I sometimes do in bank lines. However, you must really have been tired this fruday.

Slo - I hope all the luminaries are hot,...that new Christmas butterfly sure is

roch - anyone who can has the agility to climb out of your new sporty lowslung, deserves to have it in red.

holly - the 35-degree dentist reminds me of the cold water the barber sprays on my unsuspecting scalp.

enke - no particular reason but let divechief and me know where this no. 20 hiding out anyway, ... to say nothingof his predecessors....

karin - Have a good and now Intrepid run too. Not sure how your bro ended up at the receiving end but, it was here in Seattle, he’d probably be the one in jail. I hope not. good luck. let us know if you see aamos

...my only sibling can't see his son because of the reign of terror on his own family.

Although I could see how long-term he wouldn't have made me happy, we seemed very compatible and similar and I was greatly enjoying all the perks of having a companion.  

If you focus on the first part of the sentence, you could look at it as maybe you are better off getting out now.  If it's any consolation, I am (once again) not speaking to my DH.  Having a relationship isn't always what it's cracked up to be. 

Mariposai - I am so excited for your Boston!

Tet - I love you but I have no idea what that means.....