Don't worry, I'm still here!

 It's been a minute. Time has a way of moving forward unimpeded regardless of our documenting and chronicling its every moment.

Now in my 50s, I have one teen left. He is home for the summer, but spends the majority of the year in Arizona where he goes to school. He was back a week and managed with the help of his Dad to get a job for the summer. More than I could have hoped for! Working in the bag room at a country club golf course. More than HE could have hoped for.

The other two are college grads with jobs and lives and officially off of our family payroll, as we say. Successfully launched, as my friend would say.

I am attempting to wean myself from a 32 year adrenaline addiction working in critical care. I won't say I don't miss it. I will say it's better for me, I know that. Will I continue to be good to myself? That remains to be seen.

My husband is retired from law enforcement. He currently lives his best life as a would be farmer, part time morgue attendant and golf starter at the afore mentioned country club. Who says you can't learn new things?

We built a house on 25 acres in a rural setting. We are throughly enjoying the quiet, self sufficiency, hard work and learning new things. Neighbors are kind, welcoming and always willing to help out in a jam. I think they take pity on the town folks that have come to live in the country. It is a very different lifestyle. A change that we were ready for whether we realized it our not.

So it may be that I'm too busy to write or that it is no longer a priority or, I just don't know where it fits in with this new life. It is a learning curve, and we are on it. So stay tuned!

An Organized Home is An Elusive Creature

We are currently in the throws of packing for a cross country move. It has been a death by 1,000 moves. While attempting to navigate Covid, both of us 'essential workers', our thoughts of retirement began to crystallize into a formal plan. In the space of 5 months we purchased 25 acres, found a builder, sold our house, moved into an apartment and started shuffling our belongings from Oregon to Iowa one pick-up truck load at a time. Now in the final few weeks, work is winding down, farewell parties are happening as we wait for our #3 to graduate from high school and the majority of our things are in the completed house over 1400 miles away.

As I continue to go through every little thing, I found a previously written (apparently 8 or so years ago) but until now unpublished observation so here we go!

We have a large entry way. I really like it. It's open with lots of room, high ceilings and hardwood floors. the problem seems to be we cannot decide what to do with the space.

Currently there is a LARGE bookshelf/filing drawer combination sitting there. It is functional and fits well in the space. It looks nice enough, but it is not my favorite piece of furniture and it's the first thing you see when you enter the house.

I would like one of those nice multi purpose units. You know it has a shelf with small cubbies and hooks on the top portion and then a bench with larger cubbies and baskets to hide things away on the bottom. They are usually prominently featured and obscenely over priced in every Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel catalog you receive in the mail. Apparently if you order one thing from either of these stores they assume you need to order weekly! -- That is a whole other story.

I do have valid reasons for desiring this storage monstrosity. They are #1, the oldest affectionately know as 'the senator', #2 the girl and #3 I-forgot-my-sharing.

These three people are waging a daily battle with my husband and I to take over and invade all the available spaces in the household. They are like alligators or some invasive plant species that continue to expand to fill all areas of their surroundings. No matter how many times you 'organize' their rooms with containers and shelves, no matter how many 'cubbies' or spaces they have in the shared closets of the house, no matter how you try to streamline the homework area, their STUFF is ever expanding, growing and filling every. square. inch. of. the. house.

The Pottery Barn/Crate and Barrel piece is PERFECT, I think. A row of hooks for coats, some storage in the top for small items and those great big baskets in the bench on the bottom. If you are a mom you know what I want to put in those baskets. SHOES! They are everywhere!

Currently this is how it goes. When we get home I say, 'Don't drop your stuff in the entryway or Dad's head will explode when he gets home". I continue on into the house to start the pre-dinner, someone needs to go to sports practice, homework has to be done, check e-mail, start a quick load of laundry routine.

They proceed to drop their stuff in the entry, mostly the girl. #1 usually makes it to his room to drop his things. Mr. I-forgot-my-sharing doesn't have much stuff yet. As #2 drops her sports bag full of large smelly basketball shoes and her gigantic horn, the baritone in the entryway she then moves to the kitchen where she drops her colossally over stuffed backpack near the table to start her homework.

So you can see how those cool baskets might come in handy for last minute clean ups of the afore mentioned shoes, pencils, hair ties, legos, baseball cards and a endless list of detritus that seem to be escaping from the children's rooms and their baggage.

Plot twist; my husband is adamantly apposed because he has a problem with baskets. He seems to have been traumatized by some sort of wicker or rattan in the 1970s.

I blame his sisters. He has 4, three of which were getting married in the late 60s and early 70s and decorating houses in the full blown 70s. You know their wedding pictures have big velvet bow ties and matching ruffled shirts. I won't even go in to the dresses. 

I'm sure at least one of them had one of those big rattan chairs and possibly a shelf or bedside table, not to mention the all purpose trunk that acted as a coffee table which leaves me married to Mr. I-Hate-Baskets.

Don't get me wrong, we do have some baskets in the house. I slip them into cupboards and closets. They are The Best way to make a messy storage situation look tidy.

In the bathrooms I went with those metal baskets. The ones you used to put your belongings in at the public pool when you were a kid and they give you a giant safety pin with a number tag on it. Some how these are nostalgic and manly enough to be tolerated. 

So, as it stands no cool Pottery Barn/Crate and Barrel/IKEA piece of organizing, coat hanging, basket storage for me in the entry. 

I will persevere. Whenever we get one of those catalogues in the mail I leave it in the basket in the bathroom. He's sure to see it there, maybe I'll wear him down.

Story update: the new house has just such a thing! It only took 11 years, a house build and a cross country move. 

 

Letting Go

So, I'm not going to go on about how I'm really going to be more present on the blog, run more, eat better, generate more followers and all that stuff that I sometimes think, but then run out of time for. I'll just say we can all see it's been awhile. No judging.  Update: Kid #1 now a senior in college, Go Hawks! and in the Army National Guard. Kid #2 now a sophomore in college, Go Big Red! and Husker Flagline. Kid #3 now a sophomore in high school. Time is flying and I'm just trying to keep it all together. Here goes!

As I was listening to the ever present NPR/OPB in the car, I don't even really remember where I was going, probably on the way home from a run with my friend or to work or on the way home from the farmer's market on Saturday.  Anyway who ever was talking, I wasn't really paying attention, was answering a question about having children and being a parent.  Her next comment really struck me.  Of course, I'm paraphrasing because I'm terrible at directly quoting people and I was driving.....  She said, 'the moment you are presented with this baby, this small person, however they come to you, from inside your body or adoption or foster or any of the ways that children come and make us parents, from that moment your life becomes an exercise in letting go.'

That just stopped my brain right in its tracks. How true, how so very true, these are the words I have been waiting for, I didn't know it but I was. It was like my whole life as a parent was crystallized in those words.  Every decision regarding my kids that I have made over the last 21 years had just been validated. In my eyes anyway.

To be clear, I'm not often looking for validation regarding my life decisions. Although I do appreciate these small gifts of reassurance in my life. I'm well aware that things I do and say are sometimes not anyone else's cup of tea.  I'm a direct communicator which seems to be a dying art/quality/characteristic and I'll just leave it at that.  I know that people find me harsh especially when it comes to my kids. Maybe I'm just saying what they're all thinking.  Now though I believe it is the result of this constant letting go, so maybe I can stop shaming myself about it.  I'm my own worst critic and wonder often if I've made the right decisions, if I should have been more of a touchy-feely mom? Honestly though, kumbaya is not my mantra, more like suck it up and move on.

My rational always was and I think still is that we - my husband and I are trying to prepare them to survive in the world on their own.  To advocate for themselves, to problem solve, to compromise, to live a good life.  I've always told them that I want them to grow up to be kind people, who work hard, that other people want to be around.

We have always maintained that we are not trying to ruin their day when we give advice or make suggestions but are trying to give them the benefit of our experiences and more so our mistakes.  I'm pretty sure we all do this because while we are trying to let them go we're are also trying to spare them any hurt. With new found clarity though I now see that the pain, self doubt, regret is part of the process, part of the growing.  Its what forms you and shapes you.

Now, I am finally beginning to see that this whole life of ours, us as parents and them as kids is all about separating when all along we thought it was about holding on. Staying with a sitter for the first time, going to school, every first sleep over, riding in someone else's car, walking the dog by themselves, staying home alone, setting out on their bikes to God-knows-where, pulling away from the house with a van full of friends heading to the beach. These were at first small separations for us building our trust in them and their abilities, and at the same time huge steps for them going out into the gigantic world outside our little family doing something they had never done before! Now the tables are turned with my husband and I taking the big scary steps of knowing that they have these lives away from us both geographically and emotionally that we cannot be a part of in the way we have become accustomed. We can only know what they give to us, glimpses into their new worlds.

Its hard to be objective when it comes to your kids but what I most want for them is to be happy and I know that's what everyone says. I guess what I really mean is having no regrets in the decisions that they make whatever they may be.

So as much as we pray, hope, long for the best, because seeing them make a decision about classes in college or a new job or a financial miss step hurts our hearts just like when they used to skin knees, sprain ankles and lose their favorite blanket, so much as we want to keep them from being hurt, it is about the letting go.

How do Moms have time to workout?

I am continually asked this question, so here is a day in the life situation. Obviously they are not ALL like this but it does go to show where there is a will there is a way!

Set the alarm for 4am. When it goes off reset it for 5am and go back to sleep, because your husband who usually works at night is home on vacation and it's hard to pass up some extra time in a warm bed. Hit snooze twice. Now you're kind of cutting it close. Shower-it's a no hair wash day.

Head downstairs, teen #1, 17 year old boy is already in the shower! Mildly shocking. Teen #2, 16 year old girl is already up and eating breakfast, no surprise there. Let the dog out, pack up the lunch you made last night, turn the light on in Tween 11 year old boy's room.

Mobile order your Tall Americano with 1 pump Sugar Free Cinnamon Dulce Syrup and Light Whip so you don't have to wait in line at Starbucks.

Out the door at 6:15am. At work by 6:35am. Put on scrubs, eat yogurt and granola in the breakroom, clock in at 7am.

Work 8 hours.

Teen #1 is at work making Pizza. Husband has dropped Tween at baseball practice on his way to work an overtime shift. Teen #2 needs to go to Walgreens to get 'Peeps' 70% off for some slumber party game. Just don't ask, it's better that way.

Put on running gear-you'll see in a minute. Get the 'Peeps'. Drop off Teen #2 at party. Go to baseball practice. Go for a quick run, 1.5 miles-9:47min/miles! Yippee! Practice is over! Double Yippee!

Take home Tween. Take car and keys to Teen #2. She is babysitting tomorrow and not staying overnight. Sad for her, yay for you! Now that she has a shiny new drivers license she can drive her own self home at 11:30 at night. This also gives you the opportunity to expand on your exercise for the day!

Literally run home after dropping of car and threatening bodily harm if she loses the keys. 2 miles-9:38min/miles! Happy Dance!

Shower. Fold laundry and hunker down with some popcorn and Powerade to do some knitting and watch 'Grimm', because at 48, that's what Friday night looks like.

Don't get me wrong I can still stay up late drinking Margaritas with the best of them. If my friends and I can coordinate our schedules which usually takes some sort of act of congress or natural disaster.

In conclusion I could have gotten up at 4 done the running then, but what fun would that be? And I would have still needed to get home after dropping the car off, soooo........there is always time to exercise you just have to think outside the box. Which I hear is good at staving off Alzheimers, you know, vary your routine, so I'm all about that! I fact, I may be the Queen of the un-routine.

I'm a rule follower, I like rules.

So my yearly mileage total was not as good as I had hoped. Just about 100 miles less than last year. Not really pleased about that, so in an effort to alleviate a repeat of that disappointing performance, I am off and running again in the new year.

To start with I have set a goal to run one race a month and have February thru September decided on. I did complete 3-1/2 marathons last year which was a record for me. I'll give myself a little credit for that, still have not PRd in that particular distance so that is another goal for this year. The schedule so far consists of 4-10K, 1-15K and 2-1/2 marathons. August's race is still up in the air because we will be taking my oldest to start college in August so I'm looking for a location run.

All of this leads up to why I broke one of my cardinal rules of running on Saturday, which is, 'Don't start a run in the pouring rain'. The problem being, I had already broken the 'No coffee before a workout.' rule, since I was up to transport my daughter to practice on one of the few days I could have slept in and I was planning on running later in the day I decided to stop for my new favorite coffee, Americano with whip cream.

Ok, you coffee purists please climb down off your high horses here. I know what your thinking. Probably what the Barista in Amsterdam was thinking when I ordered this summer and was European enough to just come right out and say, 'WHIP CREAM?! On AMERICANO????'. Yes! I say, just the right amount of sweet and cream without a lot of other junk. Anyway - Since it was so early in the day I was also breaking the 'No coffee before having a least a liter of water.' rule.

Now this may seem like a lot of rules and regulations to you, I am however a rule follower unless of course I am not fully on board with the spirit of the rule then I do believe that they are guidelines and therefore open to interpretation. So if you are sensible and possess some good old fashioned horse sense, which frankly I find to be greatly lacking among the general population, you should fair well.

This leads us to the fact that even though it was pouring rain I really had to get the run in to even out my exercise karma, and as an added bonus I was observing the 'Work exercise into the family schedule.' rule by running to my youngest sons basketball game and meeting them there.

This may still sound crazy to you, I'll own that! Its gotten me this far though at my goal weight for 41/2 years after loosing 53 lbs.  I say -  have said - may times there in no need to re-invent the wheel. If I am motivated by all this crazy stuff, well I should just keep up the good work!

In the end I was blessed by the exercise gods and the rain let up, there was even some sun! See? A healthy respect for the superstitions of life will pay off in the end.

Adding Protein to your Workout

My friend often says, 'you should have given me an aspiration warning with that text, email, blogpost...', meaning that whatever I have written and/or transmitted may cause her to laugh, snort and/or unexpectedly aspirate. So consider yourself warned.

This will be a bulleted point presentation that will allow you to add protein to your workout.

• Go for a run after working eight hours because it was that kind of day.

• Make sure to apply some sort of lip stuff, because that's what you usually do when you run.

• This allows the swarms of white ash flies to not only fly under your sunglasses, into your eyes, up your nose, straight down your throat, but to stick directly to your lips so that you appear to be some sort of crazy (ok crazier than usual) running, spitting and waving your arms to fend of the flies that of course only you can see due to their miniscule size.

• Not that you are one of those graceful effortless runners with legs up to there anyway, but this sort of behavior really isn't helping.
• Upon arriving home when your husband asks, 'How was your run'? you answer, 'Well, I did not appreciate the effect of the ash flies prior to embarking on this run'. 'Eewwww....', he says. He is alway so loving and supportive.  He is my biggest fan!

• Try not to think of the actual amount of white flies you may have ingested. It's just added protein, right?

Apricot Season

The other day I was eating lunch in the break room at work, which this time of year sometimes resembles a farmers market. I don't know what it is about nurses, but most of us have gardens, as if we're not busy enough! It is nice however to go home with a fresh tomato or lettuce or squash depending on where we are in the growing season.

One of my friends was telling me about her most recent farmers market acquisition, as she ate her yogurt with apricots. She had recently gotten 25 lbs. of apricots for $19.95, a steal and if we can't grow it, which apricots are a little dicey this far north, getting a great deal on them is the next best thing.

And while that is a great price I couldn't help thinking, 'I don't know what I would possibly do with that many apricots!', or that much of anything for that matter.

Well she proceeded to tell me, two apricot pies, an apricot crisp, apricot cobbler, a whole batch of apricot preserves, a batch of apricot freezer jam and she was now left with a large bowl on her counter that were just a few days away from a date with the dehydrator.

Now it is her and her husband at home, so this is where you separate the men from the boys.  Any real man who knows what's best for him and his gastronomic future is in the worst quandary of all. He is being supplied with ALL of these fantastic treats and treasures, made from scratch fresh everyday so he has to measure his words. Because we're all still thinking it, 'That's A LOT of APRICOTS!'

But any words to that effect may impact his ability to be served freshly baked homemade treats in the future. So I asked her, 'What's the hubby think of all the apricots?' 'Well he hasn't said anything yet', she said.

That is one smart and loving husband who knows what side his bread is buttered on.

Captain Safety

My friend and I went running at the crack of dawn today, well actually it would have been the crack of dawn last week, but now it's just plain dark. I of course was wearing my 'please don't hit me with your car' neon yellow top and neon orange running shoes. She was wearing one of those reflective neon yellow safety vests, which I had never seen her wear before. We have been running together for over a year.  "Yes", she said, "Captain Safety (meaning her husband) insisted on it". We started running, "Oh, let me tell you about my Captain Safety" I started, "Oh, no", she laughed.

Last week my husband offered to walk the dog in the morning so I could sleep in a little. Yes I agree, he is so sweet! Anyway, most days it is me or the kids that walk this dog. This dog came to us about 3 years ago.  He is a rescue, mild mannered and cute, but with some (and I use the word loosely) separation anxiety.  There is not enough doggie Valium out there for this dog's anxiety.

If there is someone here with him he is all good, no problems. He does not however want to be left alone. On the days when we both work and all kids are at school we were having a lot of trouble with him behaving badly when we tried to leave the house and after we had gone. Through trial and error we discovered if he has a good walk in the morning, 2 - 4 miles, he is perfectly happy to sleep the day away. Pretty cheap fix, I say.

So this morning my husband was taking him for his long walk. As they strolled along they encountered, joggers, other dog walkers and a guy carrying a fairly good sized box and loading it in his car. Hmmmmmm... This is not a usual activity for people at 430am in our little neighborhood. My husband being a police officer and just suspicious by nature began watching said, 'guy'.

Now I have to say as a police officer he always has a heightened sense of security where his family is concerned. In fact if I had walked the dog that day I would have gotten the rundown before leaving the house. Do you have your phone - yes, keys - yes, flashlight - yes, pepper spray - YES, what route will you be taking.... the list goes on, but I think you can see where I am going with this.  Whenever the kids and I are out and about on foot in the evening or early am we get this line of questioning. It's as if we are headed out for overnight field exercises rather than a casual stroll to get our persnickety dog to do his business.

My generous dog walking husband arrives home.  The dog races upstairs to greet me, his tail waving as he prances into the bathroom.  He is obviously proud of himself, and he's always happy to see me. The rest of the family well that can be a crap shoot - anyway, I'm chatting with the dog about his walk, he is wagging enthusiastically, and I hear my husband dialing the phone. High alert, Mrs. Kravitz mode.  He describes a guy, gives addresses etc, then I hear him coming upstairs. "So you decided to start work a little early today"?

I guess suspicious 20 something guys aren't concerned with middle aged guys walking with poodle mix dogs at 430am. Middle aged cops watching suspicious people in their neighborhood while walking poodle-y dogs notice everything. Keeping his eye on 'the guy', he continued on his mission with the dog and started to notice the cars parked along the street had open doors and/or trunks, broken windows etc. Uh-oh. Cue Cop Voice, "Hey, what are you doing"? 'Guy' slams his car door and speeds off.

- "Why'd you wait to call?", I said.
"Well... -sheepish pause -, I didn't take my phone with me".
-What?! (mocking incredulity)
"...and I didn't think I should confront the guy armed with a bag of dog poop and a poodle so..."
- Uh-huh...Sooooo you didn't take the flashlight or pepper spray either?
"Well, no....."

Acting like this whole exchange had not happened he said, "A cop may stop by." "Well did you give them your cell phone number?" "No, just the home." Oh Good Grief! Since he left before me and I was leaving before the kids I put one of his business cards near the door and told the kids the whole story.  When I got to the part about him calling out - What are you doing? - they all said, "Did he arrest him?" I had to break the news that no he hadn't because he didn't bring anything but the dog and a plastic bag on his walk.  Almost at once the 3 said, "The leash." They refrained from adding "Duh."

All I could say was, "Really?!", but I did have to tell my husband, even though we have 2 teens and a tween and the battles for independence are raging at our house, his kids have every confidence, that armed with nothing but a bag of poop, a leash and a rescue doge with an anxiety disorder, their Dad is fully capable of apprehending and arresting a neighborhood car prowler.  That's got to make him feel good.

Post Game Post

Today was kind of weird. It started that we were going to have a friend and her kids over for the Super Bowl because her husband was out of town and she is a Seahawks Fan (sorry). Anyway, then we thought, why don't we add a few more people? I mean if you are going to pick up the house and clean the bathrooms you might as well make it worth every ones while, right?

The head count was up to 7 adults, 3 teens (2 of them boys), and 4 kids under 12. We had some light snacks and my friend was bringing the veggie tray. We bought the pizza, remember we were planning on 2 teen boys here.

As the day wore on guests were dropping like flies, people were sick, pets were vomiting, grampa's 96th birthday (ok that is a really good reason). At any rate, by noon we were back to us and my friend and her kids and A LOT of pizza.

Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday and I had been trying to find a day next week when we were home in the evening which is really impossible between three of us working, color guard & basketball practices, youth group, well you get the idea.  I was just trying to have a dessert with my parents for her birthday.

Dun-da-da-dum, Voila! Super Bowl/15th birthday party! Genius! So I called my parents, they were available, you might think that is a given for people in their 70s, but not so much. Also called some good family friends, also Seahawks fans (sorry again) they were available too! We were back up to 6 adults, 3 teens now 2 of them girls, and the same 4 kids under 12. Luckily I still had the 1 and  the 5 candles from previous birthdays, because you know those are milestone years. Game on!, Oops, I mean Birthday Party on!

When all was said and done we sent people home with pizza for their lunches, we have one pizza left for dinner later this week (yay! dinner bonus for me), 5 chocolate chip cookies, 5 mini cupcakes and 5 pieces of birthday cake. 'Mom', my daughter said, 'There are 5 of us. Everything is in alignment'.

'That's because the Patriots won.', said the 10 year old, he is a rabid Packers fan so as far as he is concerned it was one of the best Super Bowls ever.
Go Packers!

Best Brownies

Ok, so I took some brownies, well actually brownie bites, to work.  It was a birthday thing. I like to bake and take things to work then they don't sit around the kitchen calling my name until I have eradicated them from the area, usually along with half a quart of ice cream, some chocolate sauce and whatever else I may find in the general area.

Anyway there were two things about these brownies,
1) I modified and made individual brownie bites. Much less mess when dealing with a lot of people in a possible pot luck situation,
2) I made a chocolate stout butter cream frosting. Yes you read that right and frankly I could have sat down and eaten the whole bowl of the stuff with a large spatula if said dessert was not expected at work the next day.

I was asked a million times, no not exaggerating, about the recipe.  So here we go, there is a lot of stuff going on, so pay attention.

Dark Chocolate Stout Brownies

6oz. bittersweet chocolate
3/4c. unsalted butter
1c. chocolate stout beer, I used Boatswain from Trader Joe's
1c. brown sugar
1c. flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs at room temp for 30 min, why? I don't know it's what it said to do. I don't like to challenge new recipes that will be consumed by people other than my immediate family. They of course are total Guinea pigs for all my culinary exploits.

-Preheat to 350°. Grease 9x13 pan
-melt chocolate and butter in double boiler
 whisk in sugar, set aside and let cool
-mix flour, cocoa, eggs and beer.
-add in the chocolate/butter mix
-mix until just blended

Bake for 20 min.


Modifications:

Cheater Version:
Any Brownie mix, I like Ghirardelli's dark chocolate one.
Substitute the chocolate stout for any liquid in the mix, like water or milk.

Brownie Bite Version:
Instead of baking in your usual favorite brownie pan, you know you have one and if it is not available brownies cannot be made in any other pan.  Come on it's not just me! Is it? Do I have to worry?
Either grease or use papers in a mini muffin/cupcake pan.
Ours makes 24
Use about a Tbs of mix for each bite.
Bake at indicated temp from the box for 10 min then check with a toothpick. You might end up with hockey pucks if you over bake :(

FROSTING:
3c. Powder Sugar
1/3c Unsalted Butter
1/2 to 1tsp Vanilla
Super slowly add Chocolate stout and blend with a knife
until the correct frosting consistency. YUM!

Happy New Year!

Well, it's that time of year again, that New Year time.  I don't think it really matters which year, unless your 16 or 21, but that's just me. All the other years just seem to come and go with all their activities and occasions and before you know it it's new years again!

I'm not really an in depth goal setter or resolution maker.  I just hope and pray, a lot, that I can keep everyone healthy, get them where they need to go with teeth brushed (it can be a struggle) and clean socks and underwear (there are times when I wonder!), pay the bills, make the meals, get some sleep.

I'd say that is usually a do-able list. #1 Pet peeve right about now? New Year's Resolution gym goers.  I know the fitness clubs are loving life right about now.  They are adding new members left and right, and I am all for everyone turning over a new leaf and getting healthy for a change. Only problem is there are those of us who are the year round consistent, loyal kind of people and suddenly we are having to grapple for a treadmill at 4:30 am, get there extra early to secure a bike in spin class and brush up on our hand to hand combat for a spot in Zumba.

I start worshiping the weather gods right about now so that we have some dry days and I can just run outside until all this new years fitness enthusiasm blows over.  I can do cold, but not cold and wet, so these mornings in the 20s and 30s I'm doing ok, logging my miles, just waiting for a spot to open up again at the gym.

That being said I'm happy to say I exceeded last years milage by 46.72 miles!  The total for 2014 was 653.72!

Now I'm just waiting for a pass to the Nike employee store to come along 'cause it's time for a new pair of Air Pegasus to start my 2015 milage.

Happy New Year!