Just 13.1 Miles

The race was good - for the most part.  The weather was perfect - 70 degrees with a breeze and overcast skies.  The crowd support was great - especially the dudes in Speedos cheering.  The volunteers were so nice at the water stations to provide us water and Gatorade and to cheer us on.  The course was interesting, until Mile 9 when we headed out of town - and kept going for another mile and a half before we finally turned around (thank goodness for the two ladies who told us that the turn was only a block away).  The finish line was wonderful just being the finish line, but made even better with friends and families cheering everyone to the finish (and where I saw Molly as she was headed back to the hotel).  The medals were awesome, as I've never had a deck chair medal before.

Yes I was slow, but I had enough fellow slow-goers to keep me company.  Yes, Miles 9-12 were not my favorites because I wondered if we were ever going to turn back towards the finish.  Yes, my skin turned to salt as I sweated (yes, slowpokes sweat, too).  Yes, my hands swelled up and look like sausages. 

But guess what - I finished, and in retrospect, had a pretty good time!

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Today was a great day because:  weather and race were pretty much perfect; finishing the half-marathon; fellow woggers (I love to eavesdrop to different groups along the way); supporters along the course; race medal; lunch at the airport and our server; safe, smooth ride home to cold weather; Sam and Lindley picking us up at the airport; Maribeth and Everley bringing dinner over; sleeping in my own bed

Saturday in St. Pete

Today Molly and I stayed busy.  First we were off to the race expo to pick up our race bibs.  When we got to the host hotel, we had a choice of (a) spending $12 for hotel parking or (b) using the metered parking on the street.   Naturally we chose street parking.  Except then we discovered we had no change.  Molly noticed that these were fancy meters by which you could pay on the phone, but after a too-long process/wait, we opted for Plan B - ask random strangers for change for $1.  After a few "sorry no change," one dude said he didn't have change, but then searched in his car and came up with four quarters.  We fed the meter and were soon off to the expo to get our stuff.  Of course there was a little shopping, especially when there were racks with stuff 75% off.  And we may have done a little Christmas shopping at the expo for some special people ... 

Anyhow, after an hour (our meter-allotted time), we got back in our car and looked for a store that was having a big sale.  We searched for parking, only to remember that we still had no change, so we ditched that plan and headed back to the hotel and parked the car.

By this time we were getting hungry so we headed for the farmer's market that was in the park across the street from the hotel.  For lunch we had:  dumplings, black beans and rice, caramels, corn cake sandwich, meat sandwich, Nutella crepe, and various samples of this and that.  We headed back to the hotel for a post-lunch siesta.

We decided we needed to get out of the hotel, so we headed for a mall.  There was some discussion as to which mall (communication seemed to break down after lunch) but we finally agreed we would go to the regular mall rather than the outlet mall.  Molly asked Siri for directions, and Siri directed us to a strip mall in an interesting part of town.  Apparently Molly and Siri were having communication difficulties, too.  Eventually they also resolved their issues and we found a parking place at the mall.

We found several stores that seemed empty of customers, so we had plenty of space to shop - and purchase.  We considered having dinner at the food court until we got there and found that approximately six billion high school band members were there eating (and mating as only high schoolers can do).  We opted for a restaurant instead, and were rewarded by possibly the slowest service ever recorded in history (I would mention the restaurant but the last time I discussed a name, I was promptly commented on by the local manager - in not very glowing terms).  Anyhow, eventually we received our food (but no refills on our water) and even later we were given our bill, which we paid and left.

We headed back to the hotel to pack our suitcases, since by the time we finish tomorrow's race it will be close to check-out time.  We also thought it might be beneficial to get a few hours sleep before our 13.1 miles tomorrow!

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Today was a great day because:  fun stuff at the expo and race shirts and bibs; shopping and eating at the farmer's market; shopping and eating at the mall

Fun in the Sun

So here we are in St. Pete, Florida.  We are here for a quick weekend trip for two reasons:  (1) to complete the Women's Half Marathon on Sunday (thank goodness for a four-hour time limit), and (2) to get another Southwest trip in for Molly so she can be "A" status for 2014 (we all have our goals and dreams).  After a lovely flight down, we promptly hopped in our rental car and drove to Orlando for a little Disney and outlet shopping.  It was a small preview for Molly, who will be returning to Orlando next weekend (along with Steve and me) for some Black Friday shopping (although I will be sleeping in the bed while they do that).   People were already parking their cars on the grass at the outlet mall, so I cannot imagine what it will be next weekend.

Anyhow, next week is also Lynnette's birthday celebration (her actual birthday isn't until December 1 but we need to celebrate it before we head out of town because we will be gone on her actual birthday, like maybe on a cruise that she's not going on because she has to work).  Pretty much after that I will be on that giant slide that will briskly take me right into Christmas at the Doik - where this year's dinner is being built around "Food On A Stick."

Now if I can just get rid of this stupid chest cold, I might have some fun ...

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Today was a great day because:  we had a safe smooth flight to Tampa; an interesting chat with Javon the Enterprise car rental dude; safe trip to Orlando and back; lunch at Portabellos at Downtown Disney; finding a parking spot after the lady finally decided to move her car; Subway sandwich maker and homeless tv dude

Me and Charlie Brown

So last year I decided to get rid of my artificial Christmas tree.  It was many years old and a pain because you had to put in each row of branches by itself.  It went home with some new owners at one of my celebrated (and hated) garage sales.

This year we've got several trips planned here and there and I started feeling the crunch of getting a new tree.  I had decided that instead of one big tree, I would get two or three little ones and "theme" them (I had heard of other people - obviously capable, talented people - doing this).  My dilemma came about because I couldn't decide between getting two real living trees (to be planted post-Christmas in Molly's backyard) or two artificial ones. 

Of course Molly and Maribeth said to wait until Black Friday/Cyber Monday.  But I didn't.  I trotted to Target (twice) and picked two that looked pretty good.  That's where I made my mistake.  Yes, I can read.  Yes, I understand the concept of measurement.  But when the display trees are shown on big tall display tables, they look taller.  They are not.

I finally got out the tree and put it together - all two parts of it.  It's 4.5 feet tall.  Which in my mind seemed tall enough.  It's short.  It's Everley and Lindley sized, which will be great for them.  One of my "themes" was going to be Disney, so after throwing some extra lights and a few Disney ornaments on it, I decided I was done.  And yes - that's Maggie the Cat underneath.

I just needed Lucy and the gang to stand around it and sing ...

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Today was a great day because:  I got most of the house cleaned up; got the Christmas tree put up; picked up Everley from school; got packed for a Molly trip; chatted with Maribeth while she studied

It's Wednesday

In two weeks I shall be here.

With Molly.

And a few other people.

So today I thought I would offer up this picture.

Because I like it.

And I really didn't have anything else to say ...

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Today was a great day because:  I got four miles in with KB; I saw Gary driving his school bus; I took Everley to school; I got some Christmas shopping done; I picked up Lindley at school and had some Lindley time at home; actually got a few rooms cleaned up