Hoo doesn't like snow?

I thought our first big snow of the year would result in some fun memories of Park playing in the snow for the very first time in his life. I thought wrong. He wouldn't touch the snow. He wouldn't even move in the snow. He just stood there frozen like everything else in the yard ... except for making that face.

We did have two very excited dogs, however. Here's an action-packed three minutes of frozen owl boy not cooperating while two snow-loving dogs use their water bowl as a toy. Sad on so many levels. Enjoy.

Glutton for punishment

I'm not really sure why I do some of the things I do, deep down, I must just really, really enjoy punishing myself. If that's true, then I don't think I want to know what I did to deserve my most recent penance, because not only have I decided it's time to run another marathon, I have decided to run a marathon that has required me to train throughout winter. This alone would be enough for some to classify me as clinically insane but I think it's important to point out that: 1) I hate being cold and 2) I don't really like running.

That said, I think you can safely draw the conclusion that I'm an idiot.

Originally I was signed up to do a half, something I've done the last three years, but my brother's attempt to not only run his first marathon but also qualify for Boston must have inspired me, because for some reason I started following the full-marathon training schedule a couple of months ago and eventually transferred over my registration to the full on the last day possible.

So now here I am, committed to something that should have me committed. I've tried to brave the elements as much as I can, but most of my time has been spent inside on the track. The day after Christmas, when it was a brisk 16 degrees outside, I ran my 18-miler on a track in Kansas City which added up to 180 laps. (Below is the pitch counter I used to keep track just for verification.)


I've got three weeks yet to go, but this week is hell week, culminating in a 20-mile run that I really need to do outside, if for nothing else, to ensure my mental conditioning. To help, I've got myself some brand spankin'-new shoes.


To be completely honest, the training really hasn't been that bad. The most difficult thing has been trying to schedule my workouts around Park's schedule so that I would not only be able to spend time with him, but avoid putting more of a burden onto Carrie (who, by the way, is running the half and kicking ass despite being pulled in 1,001 directions).

But back to the initial question of why I'm doing this. Last night I finished reading Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide and I was struck by a quote from a woman woman who had lost her husband to cancer who was asked the same question to which she answered "because I can."

It's crazy around here

We've been busy ...
... taking on a painting project that is FAR exceeding the time we thought it would
... trying to come up with ideas for Christmas gifts and finding time to shop (what did we do before the internet?!)
... looking for this year's winning recipe for Saturday's cookie swap
... making big purchase decisions in a short amount of time that usually take us months (or years) to make
... deciding if it's really worth paying to have the darn TV fixed
... switching from Cox to AT&T and getting internet service that WORKS (again, what did we do before the internet?)
... running (Craig's training for a full-marathon and I'm training for a half)
... walking and running after our kid who is finally walking and falling and walking and falling ...
... caring for Zoe who has torn something around her shoulder and is suffering from a UTI (or possible kidney stone). Poor girl.
... wondering if Christmas cards will ever get done
... cheering on the WSU men's basketball team
... finishing up other projects that have been dragging on way too long
... filling 25 bags of leaves in 2.5 hours (and that was only the front yard)
... working to pay for most of the above

'Tis the season.

We'll be back blogging soon.

Enhance your LindemanLife experience with a new (to you) iMac

Just in time for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, Bodhi Day and Festivus we're offering up something that's sure to be perfect for a special someone on your gift buying list.

A while back we upgraded computers and we're now ready to part with our trusty—and I might add, pretty tricked out—G5 iMac.

Here's the lowdown.

20” G5 iMac
1.8 GHz
2 GB RAM
250 GB Hard drive
SuperDrive (DVD/-R/CD-RW)
Wireless keyboard and mouse
OS 10.5.4 factory settings (I've done a clean install of the operating system, so it's just like it was when it arrived on our doorstep, ready to be registered by its new owner—plus it's even in its original packaging.)

This would be the perfect computer for the whole family or a great "school" computer for the student in your life.

And it all could be yours for the low, low, price of $700.

All proceeds will go toward feeding one hungry boy.


How can you resist that?

7 years, 2 dogs, 1 kid and countless laughs later ...

Craig and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary yesterday. Seven years seems like nothing when we dated for 9 years before our short 3-month engagement, but still, it's seven years. And every one of them counts! I can't speak for Craig, but the highlights from our romantic celebration for me include installing a few storm windows together that needed replaced, not having to take Craig to the hospital after sitting on a ladder for the installation process, watching Park take several steps all on his own and driving around looking at Christmas lights - it's the first year Park can see them since his car seat is facing forward and he's very aware of lights. There's nothing like a little one saying "ooh" to some poorly hung icicle lights with Christmas music playing on the radio.

Thanks for an exciting seven years, Craig! I look forward to many, many more.

Carrie

My Life on the Run: A partial account

I've had my current Garmin Forerunner* a couple of years now, but the other day I stumbled upon a feature I've never noticed before, one that displayed my overall distance, time and calories-burnt totals. It was pretty amazing and kind of inspiring, especially considering 1) I haven't trained for a marathon using it 2) a lot of my training has been either indoors or on a track where it is completely useless and 3) I took about five months off this year.

Basically, I've run from Wichita to Fisher Branch, Canada (plus a few extra miles) and burnt enough calories to eat 753 Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies, which despite what my mom says, I probably actually consumed during the summer of 1988.

*A little side information, Garmin is founded by a Wichita State alum and their world headquarters is just down the road from Carrie's parents.

Happy Barfday, Craig!

I can't speak for the guy, but I'm pretty sure Craig had a crappy birthday yesterday. It all started late Thursday night when he woke up not feeling quite right -- achy, sweating and sour stomach. Within an hour or so, he said goodbye to his 15-year no-barfing streak. Yes, 15 years and the guy hasn't vomited. Can you believe it? He spent all day Friday under the covers, trying to get back to normal before his birthday on Saturday. Saturday came and he put on a happy face for the few minutes we saw him, but his appetite and energy weren't up to speed. He was able to exert just enough to open gifts late yesterday, but the chocolate I'm-going-to-have-to-run-10-miles-to-work-this-off cake I made is just sitting there uneaten. I didn't even take one photo yesterday to capture the un-birthday spirit. Pathetic.

On behalf of all birthday lovers everywhere, I'm demanding a do-over.

Happy birthday anyway, Craig. Here's to many, many more. May they all be 100 times better than this year's.