[bard73]

<p>Just getting ready to head out to the airport in a bit.  A coworker who lives nearby offered to give me a ride so I didn't have to pay for parking for the week, and it turned out to be a good thing she did.  My car had a flat tire when I got out to the parking garage at the end of the day.  I have a nail or screw or something.  AAA helped me put on the spare and it can sit for the week, I'll deal with it when I get back.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope all of you have the weekend that you hope to have:  fun with family and friends, relaxation away from work, no drama.  If you are not celebrating the Christmas holiday, I still wish you peace and joy and happy sunshine as the days start getting longer again. <span><img alt="smile.gif" id="user_yui_3_4_1_7_1324721674750_161" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[Ailarie]

<p>Greetings <strong>bard</strong>!  May you have a flight version of smooth sailing today! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>5M on the Tm last night.  Actually felt pretty good for a change!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm off to Kolh's in a few minutes (need more pants for work, and it's hard to turn down the sale prices + the 30% off deal for using a charge card.   Then it's off to Lowe's or Target to check out floor lamps, maybe getting my nails done, and more fun fun fun raking pinestraw!  zzz </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope each and every one of you have a Merry Christmas - full of love and laughter! </p>

 

[KP]

<p>Made it back from Cincy yesterday...people, if you think Oskar is cute in the pics, you should see him in person.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So all of last week was spent going through, sorting, organizing, and dealing with my parents' stuff.  Here's the tally:</p>
<p>20+ boxes (5 van loads) of items donated to to Goodwill (most of those boxes were Lowe's medium moving boxes)</p>
<p>11 boxes, 3 large trash bags of clothing/towels donated to a homeless shelter</p>
<p>a 20 yard dumpster was delivered on Wednesday and 2 hours later was 75% full.  I have pictures.</p>
<p>We dealt with approximately half of the stuff in the house.  The remaining items will most likely be up for an estate sale.</p>
<p>We got rid of zero furniture - including things like the dining room chairs that were replaced 7-8 years ago and just moved to the second floor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yes, my parents might have been borderline hoarders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There is still a room, yes a room, full of boxes that are full of material, craft supplies, etc that my mother started and wasn't able to finish/deal with before she got sick.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The week couldn't have gone better family drama wise - there was ZERO.  In fact, my sister and I both agreed that we hadn't seen my brother that friendly or social in about 10 years.  At times it was actually pleasant.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, needless to say I haven't had time to read up from last week - no inter-webs - so did we miss anything?  cliff notes version?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and we haven't even started to work on christmas cards...</p>

 

[2oh]

<p>hey all,</p>
<p>just thought i'd stop in and wish you all a merry christmas, happy holiday and a happy new year. enjoy your family and friends and set aside those grudges/quarrels if only for a day (i wish my uncle would heed that advice).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>we have been really busy around here lately readying our house to go on the market - we're moving to a nearby town to get p-nut into a neighborhood with other kids and into a better school district (my alma mater). so with all of the painting, sanding, raking, trimming, nailing, cleaning, scrubbing, sheetrocking, boxing, dusting, moving, wiping, nailing, cleaning up after contractors, decluttering....i hope we're done hemorrhaging cash for a little while. it's been really painful the past several weeks and the sleep deprivation was about as bad as having a newborn all over again. we're through with interviewing the real estate agents so now we're waiting for our market analysis reports. next we choose the agent, and the price and then it goes out to the ret of the world. then the nerves kick in... we're hoping for a quick turnover.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>otherwise, not a lot in terms of exercise going on in my life especially with the above mentioned activity - all of my free time has been spent getting ready. hopefully once we get settled in and the finances plane out (we sell our ark) we can think about setting up a home gym and get sqared away. gym time has been limited b/c of reorganization at work and i have been swamped. we have potential budget cuts coming soon which makes some folks take on a bit of a cut-throat attitude making for a fun work atmophere.</p>
<p>i just eat more chocolate and it makes things better.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>sorry for not being around much...well at all. seems like i have missed a lot. i do miss the running community, socialization, events and race atmosphere. spectating doesn't quite give the same thrill. dw has done a few races this fall and is running pretty consistently with a goal of a 10k in the spring. funny that she picks it up only as i put it down. hmmm</p>
<p><strong>kp</strong>, sorry to hear the news.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>stay well and stay safe out there.</p>
<p>holiday cheers</p>

 

[gatorbob]

<p>Safe travels, <strong>Bard</strong>!  And I'm to hear you made it thru your travels safely, <strong>KP</strong>.  Good to see you, <strong>2oh</strong>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hrmph, I just finished a long run.  And it wasn't pleasant.  This is probaly TMI, but I had to stop for a No. 2 about halfway thru.  I <strong>never</strong> do that, so I'm not used to it.  So the first half of the run was unpleasant because I had, umm, unpleasant feelings.  And the second half of the run was unpleasant because I had to stop for so long.  Hrmph.  Well, I did finish 19 miles, so I guess that's worth something.  I had wanted to do 21 or so, but if I did that I probably be in pretty terrible shape for the rest of the day, and I don't want to ignore my family any more than I already will... </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, it's three weeks until the marathon in Phoenix, and I am quite confident at this point that I will <strong>not</strong> be under 4 hours.  None of my recent long runs give me any confidence that I can maintain the proper pace for anywhere near that long.  I think I'll say 4:10 is my goal, but really this'll just be a get-it-done-and-check-off-the-state kind of run...</p>

 

[Runninlaw]

<p><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>(((((((((((((((((((((((((((</strong></span><span style="color:#006400;"><strong>all of the thirties</strong></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>)))))))))))))))))))))))))))</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Those are big Christmas hugs.  Health, happiness and love to each of you.</p>

 

[amichel]

Merry Christmas!

 

[Brandy]

<p>Merry Xmas everyone! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up to get a cookie burning run in. Man people just keep on bringing treats over. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I got a pair of under armor tights.  No drawstring though. Does anyone have them?  I am worried about southernly drift</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well this is from my phone with in a pain in the arse so I'm off!</p>

 

[solarpowered]

<p>Merry Christmas, everyone!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Been a crazy busy couple of weeks -- but the Christmas Eve Eve party was a success and work yesterday was fun, so it's all good.  Got an early run in this morning and then headed to the shore after completely breaking down at the cemetery when I delivered a pointsettia to my Meme and Papa.  Deep breaths. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Already did gifts with my parents, and now we're waiting for my brother and his crew to arrive for wave 2.  Wave 3 will be with my sister and her crew around 2pm.  Looooong day!  Bring on the wine! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope all of you enjoy your day with the kids <em>and</em> adults in your life! </p>

 

[kjboston]

<p>Merry Christmas! Hope everyone has a great one. <strong>Brandy-</strong> I had them when I lived in Boston but that was 5 yrs ago so not sure if the tights changed, but I didn't have any drift. Of course, you are so <em>skinny</em> these days!</p>
<p>What did Santa bring everyone? I got a new Garmin 405 which I hope will help bring my running mojo back. Also got one of those Jawbone UP trackers (Had never heard of it so still need to research and find out if I want to keep it) and some UGG boots. </p>

 

[equinox marathon 43]

<p>Merry Christmas 30's.</p>

 

[duckgeek]

<p>Merry Christmas my friends!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We had a few days up at Mt. Hood with sister's family.  Crap snow, but cold enough to ski.  Tycho made his way down some tough, icy stuff, so he should rock the mountains when we get good conditions.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I cooked dinner last night and I also made <strong id="user_yui_3_4_1_8_1324754317253_11" style="font-style:inherit;font-weight:bold;">NCRG71</strong>'s Gingerbread pudding cake recipe.  It was fabulous, warm and spicy!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good luck with the move, <strong>Dan and Family</strong>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Glad to hear that your road trip was successful and without drama <strong>KP and T.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oh, on the way back from Portland we stopped and visited <em><strong>Titus</strong></em> for the first time with the kids.  He kept trying to give Claire kisses and was very friendly.  I think they're sold on him!</p>

 

[missy1102]

<p> </p>
<p>i started my christmas morning early in the hospital with the delivery of a beautiful christmas angel, baby M. it was one of the smoothest deliveries i've had in a while.. so peaceful and perfect. i've had my nap and am ready for some dinner!!!!!!!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>merry christmas all!!</p>

 

[gatorbob]

<p>Merry Christmas, everyone!  Did anyone run today?  I thought about it, but decided not to abandon the family.  Oh well, there's always tomorrow...</p>

 

[praecipua]

<p>Hi friends.  I'm on limited internet access but I wanted to pop in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Funny story that almost made me cry:  I forgot my sneakers in MO and couldn't get what I needed here so I paid as much in shipping as a new pair of shoes to have them overnighted and arrive on Christmas Eve.  I did go to the gym right away and I went this morning, but I'm so irritated with myself.  I guess that means I'm realy commited to this workout stuff.  Not sure how tomorrow's weigh-in will go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Later!</p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Hi all - <strong>Bard</strong> arrived over on this side of the world with no issues.  Christmas with the family went well, with lots of the usual happy times, times of reflection, and realization by many that I'll be no longer within relative arm's reach.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After dropping off one of my relatives at the airport this morning, we both roamed around San Francisco for a sort of goodbye tour.  Some parts of the city were crazy quiet, while others you think were a typical busy work/tourist day (Chinatown and the Golden Gate Bridge especially).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tomorrow morning we start bright and early toward Kingman on the way back to Ohio.  Should be able to pop in with random Facebook updates and possible end-of-trip summaries at the end of the day depending on wi-fi access at the hotels, but as for this post, this is the last for awhile from the left coast.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>KP</strong> - I'm glad you were able to get through that with no family drama</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>2oh</strong> - good luck on the house sale!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Prae</strong> - if that's not a sign of new-found dedication, I don't know what is; you go girl!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Missy</strong> - great way to spend a holiday <span><img alt="smile.gif" id="user_yui_3_4_1_7_1324868071691_161" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span><strong>Duck</strong> - sounds like Titus has made a great impression on the family</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Alrighty...<strong>Bard</strong> and I wish you all a merry merry Christmas, safe travels to all, and we'll see you on the other side of the country in a few</span></p>

 

[equinox marathon 43]

<p>yes.  6.03 miles, every mile faster than the previous one.  A bit over 1 hour and one minute.</p>