A Ladybug of 13 Months

What a difference a year makes!

Last year, I propped up this tiny 1 month old to get the token Halloween picture.

Her 1st Halloween.

Our 1st Halloween as a family with a child here to raise. License to dress her however we wished before she suddenly becomes old enough to voice her opinion.

She was still so tiny and new. Having to rely on someone else for her every need. Poor kid.

She survived.

Still tiny.

Less new.

Now she can do a lot more for herself.

In the blink of an eye, she can be across the house terrorizing Tonka. Poor dog. He has a new master who happens to only be about 2.5 feet tall and 15 lbs. She yells his name when he isn't meeting her expections. Tooonnnta.

At least, I know what I have to look forward to in 12 years.

The rest of the time they are best buds. Today they even shared the banana I gave her for snack. She handed it to him. He kind of hesitated, looked at me, and snatched that banana before anyone could change their mind.

Smart dog.

Later we went outside to get the token Halloween photo for this year. It may just be our Christmas card.

Happy Halloween!

Training for Savannah. Mission Complete.

With 323.7 miles behind me for the year, I am definitely stronger than I was when I wrote this post. On January 2nd, I did expect to meet those goals, however I have been pleasantly surprised to see what else I have learned along the way.

My last long run before Savannah was yesterday. As I ran, I had many thoughts meandering through my head. After all, I had over 2 hours to think about what I had learned during my time spent training for this race.

The main thing I have learned is that, not only am I stronger now that I was in January, I am also much stronger than I was in 2007 when I ran my first and only 1/2 to date.

I merely survived training and racing that time. This time that has not been the case at all. My runs have been more productive because I understand how my body is going to react most of the time.

Last time, I also trained with a group and truth be told pretty much just did what everyone else did in regards to mileage and fuel.

This time, I trained alone and listened to my body. I took days off or even weeks to let my body recover when needed.

Yesterday, as I pushed through 12 hilly miles I did everything exactly as I plan on doing it in Savannah. I'd examined the course map so I ran with the knowledge that there would be a water station here, a Gu station here, and finally the finish line there.

Mentally and physically I am ready.

Bring on RNR Savannah 2011!

Playing Pretend

Once upon a time, I was able to convince some really powerful people that I am important. They clearly should have been aware of this prior to now, however, they were not.

They are now.

See me?!?

This was one of those "bucket list" experiences. The kind where you may or may not come out in one piece, however, if you do it will be totally worth it in the end.



It was totally worth it!

Luckily, none of these guys ran me over or I might not feel the same.

This is not Johnny Depp. You can return to your regularly scheduled programming now.

This is PeeDee the Pirate.

Purple Haze.

2011 Helmets.

A couple of kids enjoying the game.

This is always one of my favorites sights because hopefully these experiences stick with them as they grow. It is one reason we have already started exposing L to ECU football.

She may not attend college at ECU, but hopefully wherever she goes she will enjoy the experience as I did.

Love this picture.

And this feeling!

Ready to Rumble!

Focused.

It was at this point, when I was standing next to the players on the sideline that I realized many of them are 1o years younger than me.

I'm still young compared to many of my friends and family, so it was a thought provoking moment.

These players and cheerleaders surely have their moments, but the reality is that they are more mature than the average 18 year old college student.

Food for thought as I wandered the sidelines on that dreary fall day.

Can't wait to do it again one day!