Stillwater 20 mile results

I’m just going to say that the 20 mile distance is great because right around mile 18 is usually where my marathon falls apart.

That said, it was a GREAT race!

Average Pace: 8:31

Overall Place: 38 out of 156

Gender Place: 9 out of 79

Age Group Place: 3rd

6 am

This morning was the first lake swim of the season.  It is one mile to that beach in the photo and back and it couldn’t have been nicer, with the exception of the weeds we got caught up in around the middle.  But that just makes for lively swimming.

Tomorrow, the Stillwater 20 mile run!

Ummmm

Do you feel the freight train come’n?

I just realized the kids last day of school is NEXT WEEK!!!

Track practice

When the only thing you have is an open field and your little brother…why not hurdle him?

“BANG IT LIKE A MAN”

Is what KP yelled to the 11 year old batter as he stood in the bleachers at CT’s Little League baseball game last night.

And no, no he has not gotten kicked out of the ball field YET.

Wingtips of a Dead Man

Guest Blogger…NATHAN EKLUUUUUND! The following is a story that Nathan told me last week, he was kind enough to write about it. Enjoy!

“What size shoe do you wear?”

“10.5”

“Do you want to try on my dead dad’s shoes?”

“Yes. Yes I do.”

Mary asked if I would be interested in trying on her dad’s shoes that they had purchased a month or two before he died. Frugal like Tom himself, I espoused the “if the shoe fits, wear ‘em” mantra and I went ahead and accepted. I mean who doesn’t want some free Rockport red/brown arminian chili colored wingtips?

To be frank, the shoes aren’t actually really my style, assuming I have a style. But I love Mary, I loved her dad, I love free stuff, and I figured I’d find some occasion to wear them. And I was right.

Last week I went with a co-worker to make a pitch to a potential large client. Please note: I don’t really “make pitches” to “clients” with “co-workers.” Not really my normal gig. But the morning came and when it was time to get dressed, I figured I should dress the part. I knew my co-worker would be the black suit sort of guy. So I decided to play a little good cop/bad cop and I went the more dressed down route. A pair of khakis. A blue dress shirt. A brown sport coat. Pretty plain. A little cute.

But then it was time to pick shoes. It was a clear loafer outfit. But looking in the closet, there were the shoes. Calling to me. And I realized why. Tom made a career of selling stuff. And I bet he was really good at it. So, despite that fact that they were the wrong shoes for the outfit, I slid them on. Did they look good? No. Not really. But were they the right choice? Absolutely.

As we pulled into the client’s office, a black cat passed in front of our car. No kidding. My colleague was sort of jokingly shaken by it. Regardless of your personal view of superstition, I suppose a black cat passing in front of you isn’t necessarily a good omen.

As we were sitting in the lobby waiting for the meeting to start, Phil reiterated that the black cat was sort of unnerving. I crossed my legs and pointed at my shoes.

“See these shoes Phil? These are the wingtips of a dead man. We’re okay.”

An hour later we left the meeting. We had crushed it. It could not have gone better. The shoes were clearly more powerful than the cat. From here on, I’m dedicated to wearing these shoes each time I’m in a sales situation. They might not look good on me. They might not be right for the event. But damned if they don’t work.

6…6…pick up sticks, and anything else you can get your hands on

Dear KP,

Today you are six!

You are my baby, who has not been a baby for such a long time.  You have grown so much this past year, not only your physical appearance but in your emotion state as well.

You are an amazingly funny kid that bring so much joy and laughter to this house.

You don’t match your socks, you prefer your hair sticking up, you love squirling things away under your bed, you hate sleeping alone in your room without your brother, you love having things in your pockets and hanging things from your belt, you now kind of like Chinese, you are very loud, you love movies and TV and your DS, you love Lucy and worms and turtles and caterpillars, you just learned to ride a two wheeler and had your first big wipe out, you have an amazing imagination that takes you far far away from here and you certainly know how to love, love with all your might.

When you give me a hug, it is like I am the only person there in that moment when you hang on and squeeze.

Here is a little gift to you.  Your 5 year photo project we have been working on all year. In all good third kid style, I am a bit behind and not all 365 photos are up yet, but I am darn close.

It has been so much fun watching you grow this past year.  I love you my boy.  I can’t wait to see what is in store next.

Happy 6th Birthday.

Love,

Mom

Last day of being 5

How can this be?  Tomorrow my baby turns 6!

So very gratifying

Are you a picker?  You know, one of those people who like to pick zits or pick other peoples zits?

I’m not, just in case you were wondering.

But, that aside, I just bought a snake.  Not a snake that slithers around but a snake you put down your drain, deep into the bowels of your plumbing.

And let me tell you, I am sure I just got as equal of a high, when I pulled out the three inch long hair/soap/skank clog in my bathroom shower last night, as a picker does hitting the mirror with their popped zit.

Our Future

At the dinner table tonight, we talked about what the kids would choose to be if they had to choose their occupations RIGHT NOW.

CT said an architect or an astronaut.

PJ said an artist.

KP said…A ROBBER!

Yeah, we’ll see who picked right!