Ezra's Run

One of my typical New Years resolutions is to exercise more, but I always seem to fall short of the level I would like to be at. I also firmly believe that "what gets measured, gets done"... So if I could some how measure my progress and have all my friends bug me about keeping my goal, I will somehow succeed. Right?

And so I signed up for a half marathon.

Now how will I measure it? Click here. Each time I run, I'm going to log my time and miles in this handy little spreadsheet. Then I can easily compare that to the plan I found at some fanatical runners site selling spandex (not going to happen) and $200 shoes (Looking for the right excuse).

Occasionally, I'll publish a little graph, like the one below, showing how I'm doing.

The spreadsheet also shows the course I ran (find the web address to the right) and other bits and pieces of data that I'll collect along the way.

I expect to start slow...hey I just had surgery...and I doubt I'll ever hit the 25 miles per week, but at least I've committed to all my friends and the www that I'm going to finally get into shape...or kill myself running 13.1 miles.

Now, to make this work, I need everyone to bug me about it and I need your motivational support.

And how can I get people to help me?

If you leave a short motivational quote or comment, I'll write it on a white t-shirt that I'll wear on race day... Ok, that sounds kind of cheesy, but if you think its a good idea, let me know and I'll still think about it.

Either way ... help me! I need motivation!

Read more...

Endoscopic Nose Blah Blah Blah...

So Ezra had Endoscopic Nose Surgery on Thursday and is home recovering quite well. Lots of naps, tissues, and pain killer has kept him quite passive. The kids have been very patient and helpful. Look at the cute note Natalie made for him on the day he came home.
Click on it to see a larger picture.

Let me point out a few things...first he just finished reading the book "Ender's Shadow". Can you see the book and words in the lower left hand?

Second, Ezra works for an electric company that builds lots of power lines. Can you see the spelling of Electricity and the power lines?

Lastly, we were looking at stars last night as we drove around.

What a thoughtful kid!

Read more...

Bowling with Brendan

Tonight was "Mommy-Son" date night. Brendan and I went bowling. This was his first time and it had been many, many years since I had bowled, so it was an adventure for us both.

Have any of you been bowling lately? Bowling has changed since the 1990s at the Wilk. They have AUTOMATIC bumpers. They popped up for Brendan and went down when it was my turn. They also have fancy animated balls and pins acting out strike/spare/gutter/etc. on the overhead screen. But the rental shoes still stink.

I wish I had a picture so you could see Brendan in his little size 11 bowling shoes, hugging his six-pound bowling ball. He loved that ball. As soon as it came out of the machine, he grabbed it and held it until it was his turn. First he tried bowling the regular way, with one arm. Too heavy. Then he switched to the "granny", setting the ball on the ground and giving it a big underhanded push. That worked better, but the ball still rolled so slowly down the lane that he got bored waiting to see if it would hit anything.

Once as I was starting my steps towards the lane, he yelled "Go Lisa!" Hearing him call me Lisa caught me completely off guard. My ball went straight into the gutter.

One other new thing is a little light and buzzer that go on when you "scratch" or step over the line. Brendan thought that was pretty fun. When he didn't set it off as he rolled the ball, he would stomp on the line to set it off. He later described it as a "buzzer that doesn't shock you".

I'm proud to be able to say that even though I did not get to use bumpers, I still won. By an amazing score of 69 to 67. I taught Bren the meaning of "gutter ball", since I was the only one who had one (or maybe a few more than one).

Read more...

Richards Can Dance!!! (but not pregnant Richards)

Don't send a lame eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Read more...

Fun in the Snow

Read more...