Countdown to April 19, 2008

Mr. G suprised me this Christmas with a very special gift: a completed registration for the 3rd Annual SLC 1/2 Marathon (Merry Christmas to me!). We've been talking about tackling a marathon for some time now, but have never really been able to wrap our minds around 26.2 miles of running....without dying. So, we'll start with 13.1 miles with the sole goal of finishing the race. Never mind the race part, just finish.

To do this, we are going to start a rigorous 12 week training schedule, where every week we will run a long distance, starting with a 4 mile run (no sweat!) and gradually working our way up to 13 miles (I...can't...breathe!). Somewhere in there we will also need to reevaluate our diets to ensure we are properly carbed-up and hydrated. I keep reading about this energy gel used to keep the body strong during a long run, but the sound of it reminds me of Double Dare slime and the thought of ingesting it is repulsive. Maybe it is an acquired taste and actually becomes a staple runner's "food" one can not live without (ahem...doubtful). You do what you have to to survive.

Because you are the lucky readers of this blog, you get to hear about our progress, since I know talking about it to the world (all three of you who read my blog) will help me to complete this goal.

Wish us luck! Oh, and if you decide you, too, want to run the race let me know. It always helps to train with another person

Christmas Time is Here

This last week, we pulled out our Christmas decorations. Over the years, and thanks to my days at the BL, I have collected some really great Santas and other ornaments that I have always enjoyed during the season.

Lately, though, I have become increasingly more of a Scrooge. As I get older, I am finding it more and more difficult to enjoy Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love the season. I love giving. I find no greater joy then finding that one suprise for Mr. G, giving the chocolate letters to my co-workers for Dutch Christmas, or making my way through the holiday crowds to play Sub-for-Santa for a family, that all they really wish for is a warm coat and a pair of snow boots.

So why the Scrooge? What gets me down? The expectations. The obligations. The commercialism.

I really don't enjoy gift exchanges. Why?? What a great opportunity to GIVE and, even more exciting, to receive? Isn't that what its all about? What's wrong with every gift exchange ending with a $10 gift card to Old Navy? I don't want to sound ungrateful, or unappreciative, because I'm not - my collection of gift cards usually come in handy when I need a great shirt in the after-Christmas sale. So often it's a feeling of, "Oh my heck, it's Christmas eve and I forgot I have to buy a gift." I know if I feel like that, so do others. Hence, the $10 gift cards (oh, and don't forget, most gift exchanges have set dollar limits, so you know how much "gift" to give.) I really just want to do something for other people that I know is special for them. Give them their "warm coat and boots." Perhaps that's what I expect (see...expectations) in return.

A group of friends and I were talking recently about general Christmas gift giving. One girl told about someone she knows who provides a Christmas list (great idea, if you're 6 yrs old), but it's not enough to say 'red cashmere sweater,' she also provides the item number and bar code so whoever is so fotunate to purchase the red cashmere sweater is sure to get the "right" one. It is all so wrong.

This year, instead of my focus being so much on the production of "Christmas," with Santa, lots of presents, worrying about what set of parents haven't seen us for the last 3 Christmas', or the annual trip to Vegas, I am focusing on the real purpose of the season. The real point. Because nothing else matters.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

For the last week, the weatherman has been predicting an impressive snow storm starting Friday night and lasting through Sunday morning. So many times before, the weatherman gets a little too excited about his storms, and we end up lucky to get rain. Well, this time he got it right. This is what I woke up to this morning. The prictures don't do it justice. I looked out side to this Winter Wonderland, the Marshmallow World, the Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow! So far (and it's only 8:00 AM) we've received about 8 inches of snow! And it's not over. As you can see, it is still snowing!

And while I was in take-a-picture-of-this-beautiful-sight mode, I headed for the backyard to capture it's beauty. Lo and behold, I spy a racoon nestled in the corner of the house! He was starring at me initially, both of us at each other, like deer in the headlights. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then he put his head down, as if to keep his nose warm. I continued to spy on him from inside the house. At some point he lifted his head again and realized I was stalking him and scurried off to a more private location. It's hard to tell from this picture, but he's a big boy. I bet he weighs 30 lbs (is that big for a racoon?).
My cute little next-door neighbor, Ethan, was taking full advantage of the storm. He pulled out his sled and used his steep driveway as his sledding hill.
What I didn't capture in this picture was how Ethan's sled came to an abrupt stop and he rolled about four times down the driveway. That didn't stop him though. He did it again.

Happy Birthday Clara!

On Saturday Clara celebrated her 4th birthday with a dozen friends at The Little Gym in Sandy. When we got there, the kids were all sitting quitely eating cake and ice cream. It was shocking how well behaved they were being, but apparently they had just spent an hour tumbling and making a racket in the little gym, so they were pretty tuckered out.