new kid on the block

It must be spring... there's a new kid on the block!
.
We've got another pair of house finches hanging out... they started working on the next about ten days ago or so. We're not exactly sure what's in the nest yet and may need to take the hand mirror out for a bit of re-con.
.
As a post script... check out the 4/17/08 post (or search 'nest' and scroll down). There is truth in the adage that everything old is new again. Welcome SPRING!!!

thing #2

re thing #2: complete another half marathon ...

Alright... so 13.1 miles on a bike would be a whole lot more efficient than 13.1 miles on foot... but the challenge of distance and endurance always lures me.

This wasn't a very walker-friendly event but there were a few of us. I managed just under a 14-minute pace and completed with an official time of 3:01:18.0. Woo whooooo!

That was 26 minutes better than my March 2008 official time of 3:27:17. Gotta love it! Maybe I'll try to break three hours in my next attempt... Are you up for joining me?

thing #14

re thing #14: see an art film or documentary ...

The medical center campus offers fairly regulary presentations to employees and staff about different topics on diversity. This time around it was a showing of the 75 minute documentary The Beauty Academy of Kabul. Wow.

The strength that it takes an Afghan woman (or any of our middle eastern sisters, for that matter) just to be is phenomenal. Getting from one end of the day to the other is no simple task, and certainly not to be taken for granted. It goes without saying that I'm very glad to be living where I am living.

Parts of the film were warm and humorous... and other parts weighty and heart-wrenching. The film is an amazing reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit...

alright already

Meow. Meow. Meow. Alright already... time to get up. Message received loud and clear. I was actually hoping to sleep a bit later this morning... but meow, meow. meow...

The furry one that lives with us was more than a bit demanding at first light this morning. There was meowing... and pacing... and walking on us in bed... and then pitiful wailing. I put her off until I could put her off no longer... and finally got up to take care of her needs.

First off - room service. She demands daily litter box scooping... a bit fastidious, she is. Meow... meow... meow.

Next - fresh water, food fluffing, and kitty treats. Now, in all fairness... the bowl was close to empty... but was nowhere near empty enough to create the household uproar she caused this morning. Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!

And... here I am... up and blogging... enjoying a cup of tea. The postlude? Snickie has settled in nicely for her first morning nap. Shhhhh...

Meow!

never a dull moment

Last evening, we went to dinner with Ed's folks... (shhh... we were CELEBRATING... as Ed is 39 again today!!!!). We came home to a bit of a mess, however. I could tell from Ed's voice that something was really amiss... so I wasn't sure what I'd be seeing when he called to me from upstairs.

It seems that the large mirror above our bathroom vanity decided to leap off of the wall in our absence. What a mess!
It took out half of "Vi" (my beloved African Violet) on the way down, and displayed some lovely orginal wallpaper.
Soooo... we've cleaned... and vacuumed (repeatedly)... and will get on the phone tomorrow to call a few glass stores for replacement estimates. I'm sure that poor Snickie had the bejeebies scared out of her... and she's still a bit skittish today.
We actually had a dinner party on Friday evening... just 24 hours before this bathroom catastrophy. I imagine that the eight of us would have experienced quite a jolt had happened a day earlier!

first ride of the season

Friday was a perfect day for a ride... the skies were blue and the temperature around sixty... so off we went! Our friend Jim drove in from Dallas on Thursday, and Jenn arrived at about 9:45 Friday morning. We loaded up Jenn's car and headed toward June Marie's Mystical Mile on the Katy Trail.

Ready to go... a day full of promise!

At the east end of June's Mile

Jim and Jenn on June's bench...

It really is all about the love...

We even experienced our own personal flyover by a big bird on it's way back to Whiteman Air Force Base.

We got on the trail in Calhoun... made the seven mile trek to Windsor for lunch, then turned around and headed back to the car. Nearly fifteen miles in all... and we didn't see another person the entire time we were on the trail. It was wonderful!

.

The first person we encountered was back at the trailhead as we loaded our bikes. We had the pleasure of meeting a deligtful man named Buster - and his companion, Mama Dog. We learned that Buster is a WWII Navy Veteran, who served on the USS Duluth. He seemed to be about eighty-ish and said that he lives in a house about 40 feet from the trail... the same house that he's lived in since 1938. Below is a picture of Buster and Mama Dog and me...

.

Buster gets out on the trail every day on foot or bicycle, and said that he rides the entire trail each year during the June ride sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. No small endeavor... as the challenge covers roughly 225 miles in four days. Buster ROCKS!