Oh my gosh! The picture of your dog is hilarious!   And where do you get 2K in 9 miles. Is that 9 miles RT or just one way?  You have steeper hills than we do!!!

I do have a really hard time in January.  I can ignore the dark with all the Christmas lights on but as soon as new year comes it is horribly dark on my street and in general. I usually plan a bunch of things for January- cooking lessons, 1 month "free" pass at a new gym or discounted yoga studio.  Something to keep the winter blues away.