Good morning,

Had 2 really nice days off, have to go back to work this afternoon, darn!  Oh well only 3 days work and then off again until Wednesday.  The library does not acknowledge us in any way for Christmas, but we are closed Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, so that is really nice and it is all paid also, so when, you think about it, that is a bonus of sorts!  

Yesterday was my GD's Christmas programs...one in 1st grade and one in 4th grade.  Very happy time, but I couldn't help but think of those families in Connecticut, who lost their children about the same ages...it is still so hard to comprehend, these children are so innocent and happy with their thoughts of Santa and Christmas....so darn sad.

Cindy...one word for you and your rant....AMEN!  Hope your family is recovering from their illness and you can get some Christmas shopping done.  It will all work out, it always seems to doesn't it??

Julie...sounds like you are enjoying your trip.  Love the picture of the rainbow.  Something about rainbows isn't there?  Nice picture of you and Camille too, how great that you had a FE!  Think you will have snow in Oneonta?  I am from near Buffalo NY, but I don't have any family left there anymore, so we don't visit during the holidays.  I know Buffalo is the brunt of jokes about snow, but I think Oneonta/Syracuse , places like that in NY really get more snow.

Judy...I forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday Too.  Happy Belated Birthday!

I am pretty sure that I need new running shoes, but the process of buying new shoes for me is not all that pleasant, darn right foot anyway.  

Lisa Marie....nice 5 miles and good on the second wind!  Love when that happens

Camille... I hope your DD is feeling okay today and not coming down with a cold or anything.

Lisa....nice that you have corresponded with Bill, I think of him and the kids so often and , yes, it makes as much sense as anything that Karnel was there for those children.

I may go for a short run this morning.  Don't know, the hips are really still sore , might hold off another day, but I cannot let myself get so unmotivated like I usually do this time of year...you guys keep after me okay?

Ginny

Fire Jumper, I like the Brooks Adrenalines. They are stability shoes since I need that.  I have used New Balance and liked them for many years. The asphalt outside really breaks down the outsoles quickly, but I think that is just what happens when you run on pavement of any kind.

I also had Ravenna 2's and still use them. The very next year they changed radically and no longer fit the same so I never bought any of that model.

Good morning!  Weather here is quite nice again , sunny and 30-50's and yesterday's run was good.  Need to do 7-8 today and it's supposed to be sunny and get to 60's!?!  Sweet!  DD is pretty sick with sore throat and fever of 100-101. I made lemon chicken soup for her last night-a favorite. I'm trying Airborne. Hope it works.

Cindy, Lisa, Linda and others, I agree about Facebook posts!  I bit my tongue for months during the election only to finally respond in an email to my sis and cousin about the reasons I didn't like their candidate... the day before the election.  Yes...should have waited 2 more days and I wouldn't have sent it.  Sis responded with, "I am totally offended!"  I apologized profusely and was glad I didn't put it on Facebook where I would  prob have offended more. However, it never occured to posters that people might be offended/put off  by the terrible things  posted about the candidate I preferred?!?  My note at least had facts.       This  area is  very conservative with a lot of fundamentalists and like Cindy, I'm biting my tongue again at some of these posts. I can't really unfriend some of them, but I sure wish I could filter their political/religious posts. My tongue needs a break.

Ginny, paid time off is the best bonus.  : )

Judy, enjoy the music

Lisa, funny story about your former coworker. I hope you set him straight!

And have you seen the T shirt that says "December 22, 2012: After Party" ?

Ginny, glad that you are getting the time off with pay. I'm sure there is someone who will protest that time off for public employees should be unpaid, but that person is a jerk.

And get out there and run!

Judy, glad your tire is fixed. And asphalt does wear down shoes more, especially if you are running on the side of a banked road. My right heel always wears down more than my left.

Carol, PF? Pilates Floor? To me PF means the dreaded foot ailment.

Camille, is there any way to ignore any posts from someone that mention certain key words, like a politician's name? Like you can set junk mail to filter out certain words?

Susan, hope you feel better after the exacting class. Can you do some stretching at home too? 

DD is home, after a mixup with flight arrival times & airlines -- a few minutes of serious worry when she didn't get off the United flight, only to find that she was on Southwest instead.  Now she is claiming that the cats have put on a lot of weight while she was away. I had to weigh each of them to show her that they are not pudgy puddycats.

Not doing too well with eating this week, and didn't get up to run today. It was so darned cold (and late) last night when we came out of choir concert that I didn't want to get up. It was even spitting snow! So will go to the gym at lunch. I did get in 6.5 with running neighbour yesterday morning, and managed the haircut that I've needed for some time.

Happy runs!

The back of our office looks like an aid station at an ultra.  I am fueled up to run one.  Alas I shall be storing these calories for a loooonnnngggg time.

Boxes from Harry and David are not to be ignored.

7 miles this morning. Almost quit after one, figured I'd do 2 or 3. Around 5 I stopped complaining in my mind about how sucky it was and thought I would embrace the suckiness of the run as imperfect as it was. Then, as often is the case, I started thinking about how I would comment about run on Facebook (sad isn't it?).  Came up with "Seems like a good day to rejoice in the imperfections God has blessed me with-starting with this run."  Amazing that after that the run felt much better. Still far from perfect but better.  I guess on Friday, after the Rapture, life will be perfect. Until then we will keep slogging away hoping for a second wind or the endorphins to kick in. but more likely just breaking wind and having our butts kicked.  Oh well, there's always the next one..God willing.

Just picked up tickets for Jersey Boys for New Year's Eve with another couple.  Will be our gift to them (only non-family that we exchange with).  She asked what she owed me. My response was "To be whisked to show in a shiney black car. A cocktail before the show and a private afterglow with midnight champagne toast."  (she just bought a 300 and we ususally spend NYE with them at their house so this fits in) Our dd's get along well so they can prepare the midnight feast while we are the show. 

Enjoying life here in Michigan!

Marjorie, you reel off 14s like some of us reel off 4s! Good for you. I feel like it's Thursday too.

Lisa, sounds like a yummy aid station. Enjoy.

And snickering over your NYE plans!

Laura, glad you got out for a run. I know, sometimes it is difficult to believe that it is going to be awful weather when it is lovely out. *says she looking out the office window at the sun descending towards the ocean and shining off the water...*

Short lunch run because I got invited to go tour someone's decorated offices. (Impressive. The department that invited me had the whole place done up as the South Pole. I was on the point of begging to have all that quilt batting when they were done with it...) However, I did get 3.78 in on the TM. DS's choir concert this evening. Would I be a really bad choir parent if I drop him off and go for a run? His group is not singing until the end. I did sit through the whole concert last night...