Working a 24 hour shift so my running is over for the year. I missed my goal mileage by a couple of hundred miles on the running side of things and was over a 1000 miles short on the biking side . Hopefully next year is better.

QOTD: My only plans are working tonight. Hopefully everybody in my area partys safely and lets me stay in the station all night.

Hello all.

Got in 7.9 miles along the river trails last night with the dog, while pushing DS in the stroller. Came up on a woman standing along the Rio Grande in either her undies or a bikini and it definitely was not swimming weather. The guy standing there with a camera would suggest that it was some sort of photo shoot, or maybe just trying to get a Facebook profile pic in the nice evening light. Either way, not something you see very often this time of year... Hoping to get out for a few more miles this evening to round out the year.

QOTD: Probably something crazy like getting some take out for dinner and hanging on the couch. I will be surprised if my wife and I stay awake to see the clock turn over to 2014.

Did 5 miles this morning.  Just slow and easy.

qotd: going over to a friend's house for a visit, but we'll be home early.  Perhaps we'll stay up 'til midnight, but probably not.  Gosh we're old....

No run this morning. Ribs are still hurting, bruised rib take forever to heal. Starting to question whether I'll be able to do the 50 I'm signed up for this weekend.

QOTD: Dinner party at friends house, most likely stay the night in their guest bedroom.

Took LadyB out to Green Lane and we ran the standard lake loopie today, so approximately 12.5 miles. A pretty slow sloglike run. The knees were a bit more gimpy today then usual. Still good to be out there. Chilly, but not unseasonable for these parts. Nice conditions to start... grey skies, no wind, and snow flurries, however by the time we finished up the clouds were breaking and the cold winds were blowing. The lake is slowly approaching frozen over stage. Plenty of ice now, just not very thick yet, and still some open water in places.

QOTD: No exciting plans. Veg out with the tele and a few brews after visiting the hospital. I've had a few doozies in years past but not for awhile. The best one I remember was 2004, 5, or was it 6? My friend just bought a huge yacht (yes he was wealthy) and we drove it up from the Chesapeake to Philly for the New Year's Eve fireworks. He hosted a large party on the boat and we anchored in the Delaware and ended up about 200 yards from the fireworks barge. Just before the grand finale the police boats came charging up and it was quite the scene with fireworks booming, boat sirens flashing, cops yelling, my buddy freaking, and a boatload of festive partiers. I remember sitting up on the bow lifting up the anchor as my friend shouted, the skies exploded, and we all were waiting to end up in the slammer. Odd though. Once the fireworks ended the police were gone and we went back to the dock and partied some more.

Ended the year with cross-training (the wood pile).  Our woods are very noisy this year--nuthatches, kinglets (ruby-crowned and golden-crowned), Chestnut-backed chickadees, and winter wrens have taken over the park.  We think it is because the campground is closed; that makes the park much quieter than other years.  The birds aren't disturbed, so they did not migrate any farther.  Today was also highlighted by several ravens, maybe in their first winter, that came surprisingly close to watch me stack wood.  They talk a lot as they watch.

QOTD:  Nothing.  I just noticed we didn't even have the stuff to make a cheesecake.  I will sit at the screen and pretend to be writing as I track ATY.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope peace, health, and happiness fills your year (and life).  Thank you for your support with my book and for being such and interesting group.