Lynda joined me in the basement weight room this morning. Nice of you to run with your sick friend Arla. Good job SR.

Leslie - good to hear that they can lap you. Must mean it's not too angry...it's a teensy organ, really, unless it's all inflamed and infected. My anatomy students have a hard time finding it (albeit this is in a pig or cat so a bit smaller than in humans). SR - I knew I should've had your beer. Arla

Wow! Now that's some snow right there, I tell you what. Hey 40s+....some nice runs and workouts. I just got back from a nice 6 miler @ 10:31 pace. Very nice weather in beautiful OK. Really could use some rain though. We've been having wildfires. Lucky for us the areas affected are fairly remote and easy to get to. Not like the hills mountains and valleys of CA.....with homes and such. But still it's a drain on the local resources. And the farmers and ranchers have stock and equipment out there. Luckily no structures were destroyed. Could see more of the same the next few days. My neice just had her GB taken out. 3 (or was it 4) very small incisions....it was an outpatient procedure. Good luck fatozzig.

Quick Hi! to everyone. The usual kid stuff going on-sports, grades and misuse of a cell phone. Anatomy has begun and I'm always feeling like I'm behind-already have some papers that need to be written. And looking for work! I may have struck gold-I interviewed for a trainer position at a club today where I would be walking into an established clientele list to take over. I'd be crazy to pass this up. I haven't been officially offered the job yet but the owner didn't have any reasons not to hire me. He's interviewing other trainers as well so we'll see. I'll let you know what happens-keep running! Kelly Jim, I saw your comment about my tele skiing the bumps-they were small bumps-you know where a trail is half bumps and half smooth? I was on the the first row into them from the smooth side so I could bail as necessary. I was also using them to practice a maneuver called 'stemming', basically a wedge turn with a tele finish. A way to walk yourself down a steep trail if you can't ski it-a very handy skill to have in the backcountry. Sorry guys I didn't read all the posts-I'm trying to stay on task so I'm not always getting everything done at the last minute. Miss you all!

Fingers crossed for Kelly! That would be so cool! Leslie ~ you too (fingers crossed that all goes well w/your surgery!) & that it solves your stomach troubles! Although, ya know that some of your DH's BBQ fare will no longer be as "appetizing" DD had hers out a few yrs ago, now looks longingly @ french fries & such.... ......On the other topic, coincidentally, I just read a piece on Redfield, NY - located just East of Lake Erie, which has an "average" annual snowfall of 300"! as does some parts of the central Co. Mtns ....I remember having winter snowfalls like that when I was a kid in Northern Iowa/Southern Minnesota....pre-snowblower! but loads of fun for kids!! Ahhh Joe! love that kind of run the best (silent snowfall) & the best time for it is definitely evening! Jim: You working w/free weights? we have a Crossbow (Sears version of Bowflex) in the basement that I just haven't really "bonded" with as yet.... Ev: Enjoy! Looks like we have a few more days of the Springlike weather on deck! S'posed to hit near 70* here tomorrow....course, I'll be "upstairs" where it'll only be 45* So, what's next SuperWoman Arla? Carol: Sounds like you're gonna be all kinds of "comfy-ready" by race day! Excellent! Jewels: Hope the knee is behaving for you!..... Me & Mairead have been getting out for some little loops (I keep forgeting to log some..)...warmer, but breezy...good thing we were down here though ....wind gusts up by the mtn house day before yesterday hit near 80mph!! I don't wanna even drive in that!!..... Now, I think I've shared that Mairead tends to be a little overly timid about some things (she's getting better overall)...there is a house 4 down from us that we need to pass to get to the trail for our runs that has two large dogs behind a wooden privacy fence...these two go nuts (if they're outside) when we pass - even if we're on the other side of the street! poor Andy has had to replace several boards since I took up running! they're very apologetic & try to redirect them when they're home & catch them doing it. I can't start running till after I pass the fence, or if I'm doing hill repeats/block laps, I may have to stop & walk past that section...when they charge the fence, Mairead freaks & pulls away from it pretty hard. 100 lb dog tied to my waist....I can see a yard sale happening! So, yesterday as we're heading out, I see Nancy with both dogs on leads come out of their house heading for the same trail....hmmmm.....she & I quickly came to the decision to walk the three together for awhile & see how it goes (she wants to get back into running again but isn't quite ready-especially w/the two together!) It went rather well! A little over two hilly meandering miles & the dogs barely acknowleged each other! Then we dropped her & her crew off @ their house & Mairead & I headed out for another loop - easy run this one. But, as we passed the fence coming back, there they were! barking & carrying on as usual! guess we should consider regular group dog walks!.... unless I can convince her to run w/me! hmmmm Cindy

Cindy - Sounds like the neighbors dogs are pretty territorial if they were fine when walking. On Saturdays, sometimes I get to listen to a pet behaviorist. Wonder what he would say about all this . . . . Also, we have a Bowflex. It and I have a sort of love/hate relationship, too. I feel like I get a better workout with my free weights, but I feel guilty not using the BF since we spent the money on it. Re the GB removal and food - Are you telling me your DD can't eat French fries anymore??? . . . I may have to rethink this . . . . FJ - Love your "farmy" weights set up. You do whatcha gotta do, and it sounds like it works just fine for you. Hey, post a pic! I'm in the middle of a mini-taper with the Clam Beach Run coming up on Saturday. We're suppose to get rain tonight and tomorrow, but hopefully it's not so much that the creek crossing is armpit high. Anyway, 3 miles this a.m., and what a beautiful crisp, clear morning it was, with an absolutely stunning sunrise. 9:56/8:25/136 9:13/7:31/156 9:16/7:22/155 I feel like I'm really struggling through this mileage, but then when I get home and look at the numbers, they ain't so bad. The cold is definitely messing with my lungs and asthma, though. Yesterday for my 6 miles I had to use my inhaler numerous times, and today at least 3 times - both not counting the use before I leave the house.

So you can absorb enough fat to get the fat-soluble vitamins you need, but a large order of fries is definitely out...you'll have to ask the docs exactly how much fat you can handle in one sitting. Hopefully they also told you that you may have some side effects of surgery for some time, which can include gas, and diarrhea OR constipation...that should all go away (hat off).

Yes, I knew about the side affects as my friend, Karen, had her's removed and told me it takes the system awhile to figure out what's going on. As far as how and what you're able to eat afterward, no, that wasn't explained. Guess it's a whole new weight loss plan. The thing that kills me right now is I've felt great since Sunday. Figures.

Afternoon all...... Good luck Kelly on that job! People are being layed off left and right around here. It is really sad times right now for a lot of people. Jim......a hodgepodge of weights sounds like you'll never get bored. Weights are weights......those good ole fashioned benches and free weights are a super workout! Good for you and Lynda. Your getting in some decent runs as well so woot, woot to you. Leslie, the pace on your runs have been very steady and whatever you are doing keep it up. It is all working and coming together. Your workouts are great and your runs have been consistent! Have fun this weekend at your Clam Run. Enjoy......your surgery is right around the corner. Go buy yourself a couple of good books..... Arla, nice runs for you! When is your next race? I think you mentioned the SF marathon? Anything else in the horizon? Ev.....glad your shins are back to normal and you are getting in some nice runs! How is Mrs. Ev doing with her runs? Joe, way to go on the 16-mile LR Sunday! Cindy, nice hearing from you. I bet Mariread knows long before she gets near that one house that it is the scary one! Does she start to show "signs" a few houses before? Dogs are so smart.......nice runs for you in calm weather vs. 80 mph. Jeez....that would blow me away! How's Salty doing? Shout out to Carol....... Doing nothing this week except babying my knee......I'm even afraid to go to the gym. Don't want to tweak anything. Just taking it easy this week and then back to the normal runs/gym routine next week. The weather is suppose to break some crazy record tonight. Below freezing temperatures.......Brrrrrr, then the weekend should be back to normal......... mid 70's, just in time for my race! Jewels