Run Log: December 2011

I have accomplished another New Year's Resolution.  Seems I'm pretty good at the ones that require me to record and keep track of data ~ the actually work resolutions don't seem to have similar results.
This was a pretty good run month...until Christmas Break~  I ran twice in Colorado for a total of 5 miles.  The first 2 were on a stupid treadmill, but the last 3 were on the bike path around Dillon Lake.  BEAUTIFUL run.
I ran 58 miles this month (only 1/2 less than November)

YEAR TOTALS:
Bike:     383 miles
Run:      564.5 miles

I'm really happy with that total.  I'm hoping that my run miles are higher in 2012 ~ and I expect my biking miles to be lower, since I did that mainly when my IT band hurt too much to run.

Run Dreams:  Run 4 days a week ~ hovering around 20 miles a week.  Keep a 8 mile long run on the occasional Saturday.  (notice I didn't call them goals....too easy to mess that up)

#34

Book #34 was a short little kids' book that I had to read because I liked a quote from it that I read in The Reading Promise.  Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! by Stephen Manes was a cute little story that took me about 20 minutes to read (I'm not a speedy reader).  The quote that got me interested in the story: (page 39) So just think: you have nothing more to fear for the rest of your life.  Even if you put your pants on backwards or wear two different-colored socks, a hat with grapes on it, and a diaper, you will never look as stupid as you did a moment ago.  Obviously you will never be embarrassed again.

Good words ~ but I did picture a more embarrassing scenario than wearing broccoli around your neck for a day.
Another good quote: (p71) CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE NOT PERFECT!  It's ridiculous to want to be perfect anyway.  But then, everybody's ridiculous sometimes, except perfect people.  You know what perfect is?  Perfect is not eating or drinking or talking or moving a muscle or making even the teeniest mistake.  Perfect is never doing anything wrong--which means never doing anything at all.  Perfect is boring!
Great lesson for little kids and big kids too!  It would be a good book on any classroom shelf.
I think I need to make it more of a habit to read short little kids' books every once and a while...many good lessons to be reminded of.
fl: Some people want to be astronauts or ballet dancers or plumbers.  ll: He didn't say a word.

#33

Book #33 was another Sandra Dallas, Alice's Tulips.  It was set in Iowa during the Civil War and was a great tale of character, perseverance, love and hope.  It is written as a series of letters Alice wrote to his sister Lizzie chronicling her life as a soldier's wife.  Life was hard then.  I think life can be hard now, but Americans have know much more hardship than we currently face.  I don't think people work near as hard now and we have so much more. 

fl: December 3, 1862  Dearest Sister Lizzie, Are you surprised to hear that Charlie has gone for a soldier?  ll: I think you will not hear for a time.  From the happiest sister you have ever known, Alice Keeler Bullock

Colorado Christmas

Christmas 2011 has come and gone ~ and so has our trip our west.  I wanted to start this Christmas reflection with a quote from Real Simple magazine ~ the "modern manners" section had a parent ask the question, "my neighbor's kid told mine there's no Santa Claus.  What should I do?"  Part of the reply (from T. Berry Brazelton himself) "you should tell your child that you believe in Santa, too."  I should?  "Well, don't you? I do," he said firmly.  "We all believe in Santa on some level or other, right?  If we didn't, we would be in deep trouble." 
We started our trip west at 3:18am Monday morning (12/19).  We headed straight into a blizzard that dumped a foot of snow on Hays, Kansas overnight.  We made it to Aunt Chris and Uncle Bud's house...but that last 90 miles into Hays...as the rain turned to freezing rain to ice to slush to blowing snow...was SCARY.  My husband is a fearless master of driving in the worst conditions, and he was disappointed that the gate on I-70 wasn't closed at Russell.  We were ever so thankful for T-Bones and the excellent food and drink AND the warm bed to rest in. 
The next day was fine traveling after we drove out of the snow.  It was one of those rare days when we crested a hill and could see the faint outline of the Rockies in the distance ~ still some three hours away.  There is something magical for me in those mountains.  I know it sounds corny, but it lifts my soul.  They are so majestic and AWE inspiring.
Highlights of our Christmas trip:

• Mike's dominant tooth ~ you know it's not as sharp as it used to be.
• a Big Foot sighting ~ yep, that's him, on top of the mountain.  He's not moving because he's hibernating. (I took a picture for proof)
• playing Mexican Train dominoes for hours on end
• WINTER SOLSTICE celebration that included a poem, a dramatic speech, a quote, sparklers and a YULE LOG cake (try #2) that was good looking as well as yummy (last year's try #1 not so good looking)
• a 45 minute sleigh ride (in a REAL RED sleigh) that only lasted about 20 minutes...but it was so cold I was ok with the shortened experience.
• spending time with my parents and brother Bill & Clare & the girls.  Wish brother Bob & Christy & kids could have been with us...but not this year.
• trumpets waking the dead Christmas morning
• Mary Grace and Maggie having a American Girl Christmas!  oh, my the clothes and the shoes!
• a truly beautiful and joyful church service Christmas morning
• running the bike path on Christmas Day with Stephanie and Mike for the most glorious run in the mountains I've ever had!  We ran Stephanie's pace and I COULD BREATHE!  running along the lake with the snowcapped mountains all around...does it get any better?
• making the trip home in 20 hours and 20 minutes.  Mike thinks this is a new record.

Cookie Decorating

Here's how my AP calculus student chooses to decorate Christmas cookies.

Have a Mathmatically Joyful Holiday!

Love,

Patrick

#32

#32 is Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas.  I really liked this book for a number of reasons: 

~ It is set in Middle Swan, Colorado ~ which, as the author notes, is based on Breckenridge, a place in the Rockies close to my heart.

~ It's set in the 1930's during the gold dredging that tore a path through Breck, the remains of which can still be seen in the rocks that line the town and the old gold dredge rotting in it's pond.

~ It is a nice, sweet story of life in the mountains and the people who made it their home.  People I respect because Colorado would not be what it is today had they not been willing to go first.  I would never have been able to handle the hardship and the sadness that had to have been a part of their daily lives.

~ I also loved the concept of Prayers for Sale.  Hennie decided she was so happy in her new life in the mountains with her husband and child that she had nothing left to ask the Lord for, she had 'prayers for sale'.  And Jake made her a sign and nailed it to her front gate.

fl: The old woman peered past the red geraniums in her deep front window at the figure lingering in the moon-white snow at the gate.  ll: "I'm hopefuller than can be that it'll be a while yet before I know how that story comes out."

Holiday Spirit

The lights twinkle as the rain falls.
I find it hard to be in the Christmas Spirit when there isn't any snow.  We've not had much snow, no more than a dusting a couple of times, but we've had a LOT of rain.  However, I don't think that's the only reason I have trouble with this Christmas Spirit.  Shopping, creating, baking, Christmas carding, planning, and packing...it's exhausting.  And I don't even go all out.  I try to keep it "low key", "low stress", focus on family and love ~ remember the reason for the season...
And then you watch the ads and walk into Walmart and you're surrounded by the FRENZY.  Finding the peace and the calm, the 'Silent Night', as it were, isn't as easy as it sounds.  We can't fill that void with STUFF ~
Kinda like daily life.  We can choose the watch the twinkling lights or be washed away by the falling rain.

That's all I'm saying

The other day I had to call Dominion East Ohio about gas service to one of our rental properties.  I get through very quickly for a Monday call to the gas company. (small victory)  I explain what I need to the customer service rep and she asks for the property address.  I give her the address ~ which is on South Ridge West.  She asks me to repeat it, so I do, a tad more slowly.  I hear her typing and then she asks, "Can you spell that?".  Oh my, "south, s-o-u-t-h, ridge, r-i-d-g-e, west, w-e-s-t."
That's all I'm saying.

Runner's Log: November 2011

Highlights: 

• Run club met 2 times ~ and the weather was pretty good.  We cancelled twice ~ because of other commitments, but the weather would have (most likely) washed us out. 
• I ran every Monday this month.
• I was over 50 miles on the month.

Lowlights:

• My IT band started to act up...I get close to that 20 miles/week mark and my body falls apart.  At least I know what to do to make it better!
• I didn't win a pie in the Turkey Day 5k (by a LOT)
• My "plan" of running every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday...only happened once!

Totals:  58.5 miles for November ~ 506.5 miles for 2011. (No bike miles this month so 2011 biking is still at 383 miles.)

#31

Trapped by Michael Northrop is book #31 for the year.  I bought it at BOOK FAIR (oh, let's pause and recall the joy of book fair.)  It's about seven kids trapped (hence the title) at their high school by the blizzard of the century.  It's not a far fetched setting given the weather we've been having the past few years.  It taps well into teen-drama-end-of-the-world possibilities...The foreshadowing of death is pretty strong, so when someone dies, it isn't that much of a shocker...in fact it was almost a let-down because the expectation was so high.  But the problems of dark, no water, cold, structural damage...were all real.  It ended in rescue, but left me hanging as far as the kids' families...I would have liked all the loose ends tied up.  How much snow was there?  How many people died?  How long before things returned to normal?  What happened to the teacher?

An interesting simile on page 130 ~ last week we were working on using figurative language in our journals and one of my kids gave the example that the trees looked like broccoli stalks stuck in the ground.  I thought that was pretty creative thinking.  And then I read: Farther out, the tops of trees looked like giant, frosted broccoli sprouts.
fl: We were the last seven kids waiting around to get picked up from Tattawa Regional High School. ll: It was like the world had tilted sideways on its axis.  It had been doing that a lot lately.

Turkey Day

I guess it's a good thing when you can't actually write about a day until the next because you were too busy!  A great Thanksgiving 2011 is in the books.  We started the day at the Central YMCA for their first annual Turkey Day 5K.  I really thought there would be more of a crowd than the first annual Rabbit Run (180+ peeps) ~ You know, 220 or so.  Yeah, around 1000 peeps.  So much for me winning a pumpkin pie...and no PR's, but that's ok.  It was a beautiful morning, in the 40's, even sunny at the end of the race.  Patrick was the family winner.  He ran 22:55 and placed 64 overall, 21st in his age group. Mike ran 23:44, 88 overall and 4th in his age group.  I ran 24:17, came in third in the family, 107 overall and 6th in my age group. Jacob ran 26:27, 170 overall and 15th in his age group.  Katie ran her first 5K in 26:35, placing 170 overall.  Terry and Megan had a good walk and finished 51:34 and 51:35 respectively.  Then we all went home to shower and cook.  A few hours later we traveled to Newbury, ate, laughed, and played games.  A great Thanksgiving Day with a family I am very thankful for.

#30

#30 is a book club book.  One I probably would not have read on my own, but it was enjoyable.  It was The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma.  The father was a little strange...didn't like to be touched (reminded me of a co-worker, who's a good guy...so his weirdness didn't seem like a bad thing). 

Chapter 12 had me laughing OUT LOUD!  Absolutely the funniest thing I've read in a long time.  If you only pick up the book and read one chapter...read chapter 12.  Can you imagine being scared of JFK's dead body?!?  Written so well you can feel her fear and remember irrational fears from your own childhood.

I loved that each chapter started with a quote from a book.  It was even more meaningful because I had read many of the books and cherished them just as Alice and her father did. 
The most madding part was how the public school system forced reading, and hence, her father from the school.  They are doing the same at my school...where we have LITERACY WITHOUT LIMITS...and 1/3 of the library was given up for a computer lab...and another large chunk was given to the humongous copy machine...that will be LOUD...and there has not been money for new books in two years...and the high school doesn't even have a librarian anymore.  Sad days for pubic schools.  And no one really cares.

Good Quotes:  ...there was just something about Roald Dahl books that made everything seem like a dream.  The vivid colors, the underlying darkness that sometimes hinted at despair.  The ending seemed just a bit too happy to fit the rest of the book, but I wasn't one to complain about a happy ending.  p10
"It could be that one day you will want to get a boy in the dreaded kiss-lock."  This was a wrestling move my father often described, where one person held the other down and forced mouth-to-face contact, usually lips to cheek; but sometimes, in a worst-case scenario, lip-to-lip contact accidentally occurred.  This, he informed me, was actually poisonous and to be avoided at all costs.  An accident of such proportions could be nearly fatal, if not properly treated.  p35
If your father is an eccentric and excitable children's librarian like mine, or even if he's not, you may very well know about the joy of book fairs.  Even if your father is a dancer of a plumber or a professional teapot designer, you have probably sill experience a book fair.  You need only to have  kid or be a kid to remember the thrill of walking into the library (or gym or cafeteria) and seeing those big silver cases, all lined up in a row, waiting patiently for someone like you to wander over and pick out something nice. p61

fl: It started on a train.  I am sure of it.  The 3,218-night reading marathon that my father and I call The Streak started on a train to Boston, when I was in third grade.  ll:  Thirteen years ago, my father made the reading promise to me.  He kept his word.

God's Gift

Love the title of this blog post...  It reminds me of a story that makes everyone who sees/hears it shake their heads in disbelief.
Believe it or not, a former student and high school football standout had this tattooed down his triceps (minus the apostrophe~UGH~my punctuation pet peeve).   Yeah.  It's true.  18 years old...Gods Gift (one word down each tricep)  Really needs no commentary...

But my God's Gift came in the form of my run today.  It has been raining and storming ALL DAY LONG.  During my last class we had a really long hail storm rain down on us.  It was LOUD and THICK.  I had trouble seeing the classrooms across the courtyard from my room.  It was one of those times that you had to pause and look outside to watch the power of weather.  One of my kids said, "All hail is breaking loose."  Totally fit the situation!
When I got home the sky was moving those dark and not-so-dark clouds around pretty quickly and the flags were flying sharply to the north.  It wasn't raining and I decided it was worth the risk.  I had trouble catching my breath running up County Line into the wind, but I got my 3 miles in, drank my Poweraid Zero, and as I was heading up for my shower the skies opened up and the rain just poured down.
I know it sounds weird...but I really felt that God was giving me the gift of an outdoor run today.  I spend so much time worrying about tomorrow...if God can give me a run, he certainly will take care of my bigger needs.  It was a much needed blessing today.  (As I sit here typing, listening to the thunder and rain pelting the window and Mark Johnson telling me about the high winds, hail, and the risk of tornadoes all around me.)
I do love a good storm.

yep!

My birthday card from Stephanie June Cashon Mullaly, aka Nut.

Yep.  That's me alright.

first snow!

It actually started snowing on our way home from Jacob's first indoor soccer game last night.  It was about 8:30; the thermometer on the car read 43 degrees; the snow was hitting our windshield.
When we woke up this morning, 11/11/11, there was a covering on the ground.  I made Jacob and Gracie get out of the car to take the first snow picture.
I guess there was quite a bit more snow south of us, but there was none on the ground at MMS.

hummmmm?

I was driving my Yukon north on County Line Road yesterday headed to my favorite running place...the bike path at Geneva State Park...when I passed a very familiar sight.  One that always makes me take pause.  Things that make you go hummmmm (if you will).  At the corner of Cashen Road and County Line Road is the Madison Waste Water Treatment Plant.  I think there are three big round cement treatment containers, but the one on the corner always makes me wonder.  There, on the railing, high above the ground hangs a big round orange life preserver. 

Really? 

Scenario:  I think I'll go for a swim.  Oh look, a big cement swimming pool.  Oh, it's smelly and foul looking, but I really want to swim.  Oh, I'm drowning; I wish there was a big orange life preserver that someone could throw to me.  Oh good, the government thinks of everything.  Now I'm SAVED.

Run Log: October 2011

With Cross Country over I would have thought I'd be able to increase my miles...but so far I haven't gotten over 13 miles in a week...I'd like that to be 15-20...so I'm close.  Gotta turn that running 3x a week into 4x a week and I'll be set.
The end of Cross brought the start of run club at school...Tuesdays we meet and run.  The first week it was me and Bill and we ran 3 miles.  The second week we added Cheryl and a mile.  Today, week 3, we added Allison, but not another mile.  I think consensus is we leave it at 4 miles, but try an add a member each week (we'll see how long that lasts) and how long run club lasts once the snow starts to fall.  It's fun to run conversationally and with a fun group.  It makes the run go by quickly and it is fun for me to talk to people I don't get to just chat with during the busy school day.
I'm running pain free and I'm running strong and it all feels so good.  Good running month for sure!
Total for the month ~ 51.5 miles
2011 total ~ 448 miles
Biked for the month ~ 13 miles
2011 biking total ~ 383 miles

#29

The final Myron Bolitar (at least for now)...I hate it when I catch up to an author.  I have to wait until they write another book, not whenever I decide to read it.  Control issues, I know!  #29 on the year is Harlan Coben's Long Lost.  This may be my favorite Bolitar.  It had twists and turns (that I really had to pay attention to.)  I don't understand why Coben makes it impossible for Myron to have a stable relationship with a woman...  There were some pretty disturbing issues dealt with in this story...Homeland Security and the power they have to protect the "greater good."  It's pretty terrifying to think about the reality of people trying to kill ~ to terrorize ~ because they think their God demands it.    fl: “You don’t know her secret, “ Win said to me. ll: and though he wears a heavy backpack, he walks into the crowd with his head held high, his shoulders back, and his posture perfect.

Rabbit Run

The Barton family made its debut as a running family early this morning, in the frost, while we could see our breath.  The first Rabbit Run took off just after sunrise and we all did very well.  Mike finished 2nd in his age group, 17th overall with a time of 21:37.  Patrick was 18th overall (with a major sprint to try to catch his father) with a time of 21:58.  Jacob finished with a time of 24:32, (amazing for his first 5K) beating one of his XC team members who usually placed well ahead of him.  And I'm going to brag a little here.  I finished third in my family, but I came home with the biggest trophy.  I came in 20th overall with a PR of 22:45 (YEA), but the best was that I was SECOND overall female!  Beaten only by the teacher who shares my room, fellow MUC graduate and ADPi sister, Kelly Kirchner, who finished in 19:something. (not beating her 24 year-old self)
I got a trophy and two tickets to any Rabbit Run production in the 2012 season.  Pretty Cool.  I think you can tell by the smile on my goofy face how excited I was!

snakes & me

Just so you know, I don't really mind snakes.  I will jump when I see one because they just appear and surprise me, not because I'm afraid.  I won't pick one up or have one as a pet, but I do think they are pretty cool to look at.

And now the snakes in my life lately.  A week ago I went on my run and when I started down rt 84 I noticed a dead snake just to the right of the white line.  It was a little snake, maybe three or four inches long, and it was squished dead.  A foot or so later, I see another little snake squished dead.  Then I see another, and another, and another...there was over a mile of little dead snakes all along 84.  Mass suicide?  Murder of caged pets?  It was almost if they had been placed there...except they were all squished dead.  Very, very strange.

That was my first encounter ~ and it was strange.  My second encounter was gross.  Sunday we went riding on the towpath to Peninsula.  We were casually riding along (at about 5 miles per hour).  Jen was leading and I was second.  Just about the time I hear the squeal, I see a snake roll out from under Jen's back tire.  There is nothing I can do.  I'm right there.  I watch as my front tire runs over this coiled, writhing snake.  It was so GROSS.  Of course I squeal too (and they said I flapped my hands...yea, probably did that).  The back of the pack said they watched it slither off the side of the path, so they all think it was alive, but HOW could it be?  Jen RAN it over and I RAN it over.  There he was, just sunning himself on a beautiful fall day and we come along and squish him.  I felt gross and horrible at the same time. 

Hopefully that's the last snake story for a while...

Mike, Matt, Me, Kimi, Jen, Craig ~ towpath bike ride

#28

Book #28 on the year is What looks like Crazy on an ordinary day...  by Pearl Cleage.  First I have to say I LOVE the name Pearl.  It conjures up the best image in my head ~ and the reality of how the author looks makes the name so quirky and charming.  This book was good.  So far from my "world" ~ yet, not that far.  People are people, black or white ~ and the craziness of the minister's wife (and the minister) made the craziness at my church last year seem not-quite-as-crazy.  I do find it interesting that Pearl portrayed the people "of God" as the ones so far from the Love of God ~ and mixed with what I've seen lately in my own church, I can see why she would promote that theme.  Sometimes thinking you KNOW all there is to know is more dangerous than thinking you know nothing.  And when I think of God, I bet I know far less than there actually IS to Him.  I just hope I'm doing more good in the world than harm...and learning the lessons.

fl: I'm sitting at the bar in the airport, minding my own business, trying to get psyched up for my flight, and I made the mistake of listening to one of those TV talk shows.  ll: And we danced too wild, and we sang too long, and we hugged too hard, and kissed too sweet, and thew back our heads and howled just as loud as we wanted to howl, because by now we were all old enough to know that what looks like crazy on an ordinary day looks a lot like love if you catch it in the moonlight.

Safari Adventure

The Bartons went on Safari today...Africa and back all before the Browns game.  I also used my first Groupon ~ got four tickets to the African Safari Adventure in Port Clinton, Ohio for $5.  It cost 15 times that in gas for the trip and 3 times that for breakfast at McDonald's.  We also bought a $4 bag of carrots to feed the animals. ~ Should have brought our own carrots ~ one bag was not enough!  And the cup of food they gave you at the gate was stolen from our hand by the first animal.

Thought it might be a bust of a trip, but it was actually pretty cool.  The animals surrounded our car and were not afraid to stick their heads right in.  The buffalo whose head was as big as the window, was a little intimidating.  The deer who walked along beside us, were very friendly.  The giraffe through the sun roof was really amazing.

homecoming 2011

After pictures they went to Arby's for appies, Wendy's for the meal, and then McDonald's for ice cream cones.  These two know how to have a good time!
I was told the dance was fun ~ I even creepered on facebook and saw some kid pictures of these two dancing. 
It's heartwarming to see your kid all dressed up and ready to do the things that teenagers do.  He's a great kid, if I do say so myself :)

leaves

The leaves on my trees are changing.

Such different colors make my yard

like a box of bold colored crayons.

In a short time they will start to fall.

Left alone they will cover my yard

like a blanket of snow.

But Mike is prepared

with a brand new leaf blower

shipped on Friday.

He is excited for leaves to drop.

peaceful

the sun shining through

the crunch of fall leaves

the smell of woods

a peaceful path

Filled with 30 middle school cross country runners as they ran the loop four times ~ passing people and their dogs ~ passing people and their children.  Breathing hard and laughing.  A great day of practice at Hog Back Ridge.  But I'm not so sure the others got their peaceful walk!

#27

#27 is a Read 180 book that I read because one of my students couldn't understand one of the questions being asked of her, and I didn't know the story enough to help.  Turns out the question was messed up and asked about Uncle Wong ~ the Uncle's name is Uncle Fong...way to go Scholastic.  Anyway, The Magic Paintbrush by Laurence Yep is a cute little tale about a poor Chinese family ~ Grandfather, Grandson, and Uncle (who's just a friend of Grandfather's).  They discover a magic paintbrush (hence the name) that brings to life whatever it paints.  Of course the mean, greedy landlord discovered the paintbrush and wishes for riches that end of being the path to unhappiness.  A great tale of what is really important in life.  Every student I've had read it loves it.

Great Quote:  page 63, "Mr. Blue smiled politely.  "Little sir, magic cannot be tamed.  Magic is like Nature.  Can you control the rain?  And do you blame it when it gets you wet and you catch cold?  And yet does that same rain help your crops to grow and feed you?

fl: Steve sat in the school yard long after school was over.  ll: He couldn't wait either.

Run Log: September 2011

A great race this month.  I still can't believe we placed 18th out of 164 teams.  That is CrAzY!  There is a picture of me (for purchase) that shows my thighs so cut ~ amazing that I have such defined thigh muscles.  Now when I run I like to look down and picture that photo ~ because when I look down I see that fat on the inside of my leg jiggling like jello...  I would purchase that photo ~ except that my face is all contorted.  I'm not really a pretty runner ~ you can tell that I'm working pretty hard to keep on truckin'.  But I'll be all cocky and big-headed about my muscular legs!
For the month of September I didn't log a lot of miles ~ but I did run a 9 and race an 8.  I'm hoping that once CC ends I'm able to get into a good routine of running 15 - 20 miles each week.  We're signing up for a 5k in October and another on Thanksgiving day.  So there's some motivation to go.  Mike really wants to run the Cleveland half in May.  I haven't made up my mind yet...
The final number for September:
I ran 56 miles and biked 16
2011 totals:
I've run 396.5 miles and biked 370

#26

#26 is a book club book ~ the perks of being a wallflower by stephen chbosky.  It's really weird.  As a mother of teenagers, it made me very uncomfortable...where are these parents that this boy is out all night ~ drunk, stoned...? Who are these people who befriend this shy quiet wallflower and then right away totally trust him with their feelings and secrets?  That part didn't ring very true to me.
And then the whole truth comes out ~ and my heart breaks for this little boy ~ and I wonder how many of these little boys are out there?
Did I like it?  I didn't dislike it...but I don't think I'd recommend it.
Favorite Quotes:
p26: "Then, I turned around and walked to my room and closed my door and put my head under my pillow and let the quiet put things where they are supposed to be." ~ I liked the idea of personifying quiet...
p66: "And I think they knew.  Not anything specific really.  They just knew.  And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend."  Even though he totally didn't get it in the story ~ I really like this definition of a friend.
p211: "I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons.  And maybe we'll never know most of them.  But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose wher we go from there.  We can still do things.  And we can try to feel okay about them."
p212: "That was the amazing part.  Things just keep going.  We didn't talk about anything heavy or light.  We were just there together.  And that was enough."
ff: Dear Friend, I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.  ll: And I will believe the same about you.  Love always, Charlie

Busy Weekend ~ Part Two

 
The Historical Society asked that our house be included on the annual Home Tour ~ so of course we said yes.  Not totally realizing the ramification of it being the day after the Akron race.

The Historical Ladies were two amazing women with lots of charm.  They were fun to talk to and they seemed to really like our home.  They even decided to put it on the front of the flyer and recommended it be featured in the News-Herald article. It was really a fun and interesting process.  The only funny thing was the garden club lady who didn't like my tablecloth, so she brought her own along with a BEAUTIFUL flower arrangement for the dining room. 

As the day drew nearer ~ I became a little more tense.  Our house is not a showcase.  It's our home.  Where we live.  Where we are ourselves.  Where you're likely to find dirty socks without really looking.  The chaise chair has a dog hole in it, fancily covered by a sheet.  The carpet is old and, even after we cleaned it, showed its wear.  But we love this house and we love it's history and we like to share it.

So Sunday we loaded up the kids and the dogs and off we went to look at the other houses on the tour.  The first one we went to was the Mayor's house.  And it was a showcase.  Granite.  Furniture showroom rooms.  Beautifully faux painted walls.  Luxurious carpet.  And we both felt small and ashamed to have our house on the tour.  I have never felt such shame ~ knowing I shouldn't feel that way.  I was a little panicked ~ and I wanted to run home and tell everyone to leave.  But, knowing we should be proud of our humble abode, we toured on.  The rest of the houses were just like ours.  Great character.  Lived in.  Homes.  Seeing them reminded me of why I love my house, of why I love old houses, they all have something that makes them special and they are all filled with years of families and memoies and fights and love.  I'm not one of those crazy "aura" people, but I think homes have a type of soul.  It was a great day.

Busy Weekend ~ Part One

To add to the craziness that is Barton Fall, we just HAD to run in Akron this year.  So we jump in the car Friday night to drive to Akron to pick up our race packets.  Because I am cheap, we drive back home (as opposed to getting a hotel room which just sounded like a waste of money when Mike suggested it back in June).  Therefore we were up and out the door at 4:00 am Saturday morning to meet my "Runners are Funner" marathon relay team at the Cracker Barrel on 91 at 90.  We drive to Akron and, because we were so early, we parked REALLY close!  We spent a very fast hour and a half waiting at the start.  I have to say that Akron was SO MUCH BETTER organized than Cleveland.  Port-o-Johns lined the start ~ I don't think there was ever a crazy line...and they were RIGHT THERE so there wasn't any chance of missing the start because you were in a bathroom line.  Mike was very excited/nervous to run his first half...on a hilly course...with Dodd hoping that he couldn't beat his 1hour 51 minutes...and Mike hoping to finish...and me hoping he did well...and a little bit hoping he wouldn't beat my 1:55:04 time.

We watch Jill (Bissler's friend) and Mike at the start and head over to the first relay exchange to see Kimi start her leg and Mike run by at about the same time.  That was the last I saw of Mike, but I got a few more text messages as he passed over the timing mats.  The first one said he was on pace for a 1:48:17 finish.  The second said he was on pace for a 1:49:49 finish.  During this time, I got on a shuttle bus to head to relay point #5 ~ and we rode that bus on a highway for a really long time.  Even though I'd driven the course back in July, I was still a little nervous about how far we were going from the finish!  As I was waiting, I was standing next to a guy in a Mount Union t-shirt.  We started talking just to pass the time.  As we were talking I was watching the race clock get closer and closer to 1:45:00.  I mentioned that my wrestler husband should be finishing soon.  Then I got the text.  1:47:29.  AMAZING.  If he was going to beat my time I'm glad he did it by such a HUGE margin.  Then I got this picture text from Terri (she and Bill, our amazing pit crew) ~



Mike's amazing finish ~ 1:47:29

And I hadn't started running yet!  Sometime after this I to the call from Brynn that Cheryl had started her leg, and was headed my way.  I started my warming up and 27 minutes later I started the last 7.9 of the Akron 2011 Marathon.  It was a great run.  I felt great.  The weather was great.  The scenery was great.  The blue line running the whole marathon was really cool.  There was a really steep hill at about mile 3 (of my leg) and all I could think of was Emily (8th grader on my CC team) yelling, "ATTACK THAT HILL, MADISON."  Took me right on up and past lots of people!  What a feeling of strength to power past someone on a hill.  Then at mile 23 we started the decent into downtown.  We ran two miles downhill.  I just loosed up and let it go.  (and I still can't believe the number of people WALKING downhill)  Entering that stadium and seeing that finish line was a thrill ~ and I had a cheering section pretty much straight ahead of me :)  We are now medal winners and marathoners.  I ran my 7.9 in 1:06:20 (that's a pace of 8:23) and our team finished in 3:50:05, good for 18 place out of 164 women teams.  Pretty rock starish if I do say so myself.

My "amazing" sprint to the finish ~ 3:50:05 marathoner(s)!

riding with F&G

Minus my finger...this is a great shot of my parents at the end our our 16 mile trip.  If I had taken a picture at the beginning of the trip, it might not looked as happy!  This was the first time they had ridden together ~ and I wasn't sure they'd make it.  Mom couldn't stop laughing and Dad couldn't get mom to get balanced.  "Grace, stop moving around." ~ But they got going and made it to the lake and back.  Much to my brothers dismay, they might even want to start riding the bike at home.  (It has spent its summers at his house where he and his daughter can use it.)
We had a great time hosting Frank and Grace.  We spent Saturday at sporting events and Sunday working in the garden, riding bikes, and watching the Browns win ~ and Joey's for dinner, of course.  Monday Mom and I tried to find new dishes for my birthday present...and I'm still looking for the perfect ones.  (And I have been looking for a few years now.  My goal is to have them picked out before Christmas ~ they are my birthday present after all.)

Double Wide

Let me tell you about Camp Stigwandish.  #1 ~ It has the coolest name EVER.  Go ahead, say it out loud, "Camp Stigwandish."  Just rolls off the tongue, no?  #2 ~ It's a pretty cool place to run.  I'd never run trails before and I really enjoy running at Stig.  The MMS XC runners seem to enjoy it too.  They are excited for their first home meet tomorrow.  #3 ~ I have my own key for the gate.  This just makes me feel cool and coach-like.  #4 ~ oh, #4 ~ you deserve your own paragraph.
#4 ~ I walked into one of the outhouses, and to my surprise, there were TWO seats on the bench.  REALLY?!?  Who goes to the outhouse with their friend?  It's a strange concept...and I can't fathom a time when you would want to sit in an outhouse next to someone...  The team decided that we must be high class because we have double wides.

#25

I almost wish I hadn't read book #25 firefly lane by Kristin Hannah.  I couldn't put it down ~ as it followed bff's from the 70's to the 80's to the 90's and into the 2000's.  I couldn't wait to find out what happened next ~ and then (I have to throw in the spoiler ~ even tho' I don't usually do that) one of them died. 

Here it is: 9/11 ~ full of emotion anyway ~ watching the Browns lose their season opener ~ reading about a character dying.  Not a good day.  I've been out of sorts since I finished the book.  Too true to life and not the happy ending I usually appreciate in a book.
But it was so well written.  A beautiful story.  Life if short ~ make yours beautiful.

#24

Book #24 was Harlan Coben's Promise Me ~ part of the Myron Bolitar series.  I know I've said this before, but I really like how Coben lets time pass for his characters as well as the reader.  He doesn't pick up the series with the next week or month.  Things have happened in their lives that the reader only gets glimpses of.  For me, this makes the characters more real.  Sometimes we don't see people for a while and we really don't know all that they have been through ~ I appreciate that with Coben's series.

Myron questions his actions in this story, as I think we all question our actions and contemplate our path in life.  Another enjoyable story.

fl:The missing girl--there had been unceasing news reports, always flashing to that achingly ordinary school portrait of the vanished teen, you know the one, with the rainbow-swirl background, the girl's hair too straight, her smile to self-conscious, then a quick cut to the worried parents on the front lawn, microphones surrounding them, Mom silently tearful Dad reading a statement with quivering lip--that girl, that missing girl, had just walked past Edna Skylar. ll: And now, at long last, he had.

sporty day

Friday, September 2, 2011 may have been the most humid day I've ever had in a classroom.  Even the floors were sweating, literally.  So when today rolled around I was glad that the cross country meet was at 9:00 this morning and not this afternoon!  It was still humid, but it didn't reach 90 until after the kids ran.  Even so, I was, to quote Audrey, "moist and uncomfortable" just walking the course.  But we had a great race.  Jacob ran 16:02 for his first meet ever and I've so proud of him.

Then we left Garfield Park and drove to Lyndhurst for Patrick's 1:00 soccer game.  By this time it was over 90 ~ but I was already sweated through, so it really didn't matter.  We sat in the stands in the sun on the blanket and some were under umbrellas.  It was just hot.  They even stopped the game twice for water breaks. Soccer boys are tough and they played on.  Patrick (#18) was unofficially named the defensive player of the game by a parent in the stands.  He was always there running the guy to the outside.  He played a great game, too bad they lost 3-0.

Run Log: August 2011

What a great running month ~ I began my cross country coaching career (that's rather alliterative) ~ and am having fun with a great group of middle school runners.  My patience is not so long for kids who stroll along, walking the course, laughing and joking with their friends...but it's not so productive to yell at kids and MAKE them run.  It's quite a mental process to gently motivate and encourage and find success with kids who really don't enjoy running...it's like getting a reluctant reader to read for fun, so it's quite similar to what I do all day anyway.  But then there are the kids who are working their butt off and are able to run 7 minute miles.  Totally amazing to me.  Our course at Camp Stigwandish (love to say Stigwandish) is tough.  Just past the mile mark there are two hills on a washed out gravel road that are really rough to run and that second hill doesn't end.  The hill itself peaks at the camp office and then the course turns left up a less steep, but much longer grade to the woods turn-in.  I'm dying when I get to that turn-in ~ and I have a kid running the two mile course (after a hill workout) in 13:05.  We've had four weeks of practice and our first meet in Saturday.  It's time for a meet ~ the kids need to see what we've been preparing them for.  Wanting to improve times is a great motivator!
And my running:  I have been running with the kids, so I'm not logging the most miles during the week (SOOOOO hard now that school has started to squeeze in my own runs) but it's been rewarding to share something I love to do with kids.  But I've worked up my long run to 8 miles (so ready for that 7.9 Akron Marathon Relay leg).  I've gone up to the bike path and then continue to run the strip in GotL and wind through a trailer park ~ then back down the strip and the bike path.  It's a good 8 mile run because it has lots of turns and different terrain.  I like that 8 mile long on the weekend and would like to keep that in my schedule (and now we start the cc meets and soccer games on the weekends...best laid plans and all)
I logged 72.5 miles in August for a 2011 total of 340.5.
I only biked that one trip to the towpath for 27 miles and a 2011 total of 354 on the bike.

Best running month of the year!

catching up

The last few weeks of summer just flew by ~ once band/soccer/cross country started it seemed like school was in session anyway!

A few things of note:

1 ~ way back at the beginning of August Katie and Megan joined us on a trip to Cedar Point.  It was hot and it was crowded, but we had a great time and rode everything we wanted to ride.  The Dragster and Millennium Force are still my favorite rides ~ I would be happy to ride just those 2 all day long.  After our trip there last summer I'd been trying to remember the warning on the signs in line for the Dragster.  So, while waiting in line, I emailed them to myself.  Here's the warning.  The "just in case" it happens possibility.  And I really never want it to happen to me:
Occasionally the train fails to clear the hill. Do not be concerned. The train will safely return to the launch position.

I especially like the "do not be concerned" ~ yeah ~ I'd be concerned...

2 ~ A longer time ago (I believe it was Thanksgiving 2010) Morgan told me about a comment a teacher put in the margins on one of her tests.  I would get fired for putting this message on a student's paper:
ATFQ
You may be asking, What is ATFQ?  and you would be right to wonder.  It stands for: answer the f-ing question.
things that make you go hummmmmmm

3 ~ Last Sunday (not so very long ago) we FINALLY went to the Ohio-Erie towpath and rode our bikes from Rocky River to Peninsula.  It's a 13.5 trip one way.  It's really a pretty ride.  Lots of turns and different terrain.  It was rather crowded which made it a little tricky (especially for Kimi who doesn't always pay attention).  When we got to Peninsula we were outside the train depot reading the train schedule to see when the train back to Rocky River would depart.  Out of the depot comes a park ranger in full park ranger gear ~ hat and all ~ and she walks up to me and says, "Becky, I would recognize that voice anywhere."  It was a girl I'd gone to Mount Union with.  While Mike doesn't let me forget that I'm loud and obnoxious, it was a treat to meet up with Kerry after all these years and it would never have happened if I were quiet and shy.

4 ~ Today we went to Newbury for a picnic dinner because Uncle Bob was visiting from Florida.  Mike brought a new game to the party ~ Beersbee.  It involved throwing a Frisbee at a beer bottle perched on a pole.  It was really fun and we LAUGHED as we played and I broke blood vessels in my right thumb trying to catch the stupid Frisbee.  Obviously I was not so good at this game!  Dad Barton, on the other hand, is REALLY good at catching a beer bottle knocked off the pole.  It was rather AMAZING how ninja-like his reflexes were. 

Headed into a week of soccer games, cross country practice and 5 full days of work.  I know, I know, teachers have it so good.  I did make an amazing career choice.

THOME

Jim Thome has come home.  Yesterday the Indians claimed him off the waiver wire (and I really have no idea what that means).  When I heard the news this morning, I got my Thome jersey out of my closet because it's no longer vintage apparel. 
I have loved Jim Thome since he played third base ~ he became my favorite player because he was so bad at third base and Mike always made so much fun of him.  Loving the underdog, I took him under my wing (at least his name) and wouldn't let anyone make fun of him any more.  Then he became GREAT.
We're watching the Tribe play and it's such a smile in my soul to see Jimmy in an Indians jersey again.  And then he swung at the first pitch and bounced it in front of the plate.  (I was kinda hoping he'd hit a home run.)  I think he was a little nervous too.  I hope he's happy being back in Cleveland because I'm pretty excited that he's here.

The Help

A great book and a great movie.  This was one of those books that, when I read it I thought, this is one of my all time favorite books.  I find it disconcerting that it joins Gone with the Wind ~ but I'm not going to dwell on the moral ramifications of that today. 
And then I went to see the movie with some MMS favorites ~ so the company was good and the popcorn was buttery!
There were about 75 middle age, book club women in the audience and I think 3 guys.  The one in front of me kept checking Facebook throughout the whole movie...really?...but, once again, it was great to watch a movie in a crowd to hear the responses ~ the laughter, the shock, and some tears. 
I left the theater feeling humble ~ would I have the courage to stand up for what it right?  Or am I Elizabeth, who does what Hilly says?

Class of 1986

After 25 years Mike and I chose to attend a high school reunion ~ his.  They were honoring Cliff Radie, his wrestling coach, so Mike couldn't NOT go.  I would not choose to go back to high school.  It was four years of growing and learning and I really don't need to go back there.  I am fb friends with the two people I still talk to (would be three if Judy would be on fb!) ~ but I really don't care to go back.  Mike feels basically the same way, but being that his family is still in Newbury and he graduated with family, he knows more of those people.  It was like a family reunion ~ and I was reminded of how strange Mike's life was growing up ~   In his graduating class (120+ total) are: his ex-step-sister, his step-aunt, and his step-mother's sister's brother-in-law.  Yep.  That's not so easy to follow, I know.  But it's all true.  He even went to prom with his step-aunt ~ before she was his step-aunt.
It was good to meet Tina, his ex-step-sister.  She pretty much "saved" Mike during the "evil-step-mother" years, and it was good to get to know her a little bit.
I thought that a reunion would bring back more memories of high school ~ thoughts and reflections about where I've gotten to in my life.  Maybe I didn't experience any such moment because it wasn't my reunion ~ but it was just a get together of people, some I knew, some I didn't.  We ate and drank and had a nice evening.  1986.  Seems like a life time ago ~ probably because it is.

#23

Elizabeth Berg's True to Form is book #23.  This the third book about Katie (and the one that started my quest to read the first two).  I'm sure that some people think Berg's style is too sappy ~ but I love it.  It is rich in the images that have been true to my life.  Here teenage Katie is learning who she is and how to be who she wants to be.  So many characters come to life and point to things she values in her own life. 

I have quite a collection of good quotes:

• This one just made me smile ~ to have your whole being reduced to one sentence: "She was a housewife who made good gravy and kept a parakeet in her kitchen." (p2) and have that sentence speak so much!
• Why I wish I could be a writer ~ (p63) I take in a huge breath and look at the sky as hard as I can.  I feel like I'm trying to eat it with my eyes.  I wish there would be certain things you come across and you could say, Okay, that's one.  Put that away for me to pull out later just exactly as it is now.  My dream is for me to be a poet who could make things like this sky come to life for someone else.  If you see a sunset and try and describe it to someone in normal words, all you can say is, "Boy, I saw a great sunset last night."  But if you are a poet, you give it to someone to feel for themselves.  Like you make a little seed of what you saw, they swallow it, and it blooms again inside their own heart.
• If we could live our lives remembering this ~ (p72) One thing I know: Anything we have, we are only borrowing.  Anything.  Any time.
• (p130)  This is why I'm crying, the distance from what you feel to what you say, how it will always be like that.  ~ This is EXACTLY how I feel when I want to tell someone thank you.  Can words ever express what we truly FEEL?
• The gardener in my soul knows this ~ (p167) Sometimes when you've been outside and gotten dirt on your hands, it just feels so friendly and connected.
• (p210) Next to me was a woman who could not carry a tune.  At first I was so annoyed, listening to her.  I wondered, Why does she sing so loud when she doesn't even know how?  Then I looked at her and she was so pure, staring straight ahead, her face lit from within.  Something moved into my heart at that moment that I did not really understand, but I understand it now: It is never about how good your voice is; it is only about feeling the urge to sing, and then having the courage to do it with the voice you are given.  It is about what people try to share with each other, even if so many of us are so off-key when we do it.  It is about saying we are somewhere, when what we mean is we are as close as we are able to get.

fl: It is the first Sunday evening of the summer, the sky an ash rose color and losing its light to night.  ll: The leaves rustle violently, then settle back down into calm greenness, as though nothing has happened.  I think when I get home, I'll sit at my desk and find a way to make something of that.

disappearing

Where do things go when they disappear?  We've had a rash of missing things over the past year:
1.  Mike's charger cord for his iPod shuffle ~ lost February 2011.  I remember when we got it thinking, "Wow, this is so small, I'll have to put it some place safe so I don't lose it."  Where that place is I still don't know.  Mom and Dad were here at the time of the loss and Dad found one on Amazon for 99 cents.  Unfortunately, it didn't work as the iPod shuffle is the only iPod to not have a universal charger.  Apple wanted $30 for a replacement charger (HELLO, the iPod only cost $47).  I was ready to buy a new iPod when I found chargers on eBay for $1.29.  It came from Hong Kong at a total price of $3.29.  Quite a deal. 

2. Jacob's iPod ~ lost April 2011 (as we were leaving for spring break).  He claimed that it was on the counter in the mud room.  He had put it there and I remember seeing it.  He had a 22 hour car ride looming and no iPod.  I felt pretty bad for him and searched high and low.  We all did.  No iPod.  Mike dug out ol' Mae (the pink iPod found on the side of the road...that does work) and Jacob was happy to have something.  In May Jacob got a bunch of birthday money and in June he bought himself a new touch screen iPod nano for $150. 

3. Patrick's cell phone ~ lost at float week July 2011.  He remembered having it the first day of the week spent camping.  He looked in the tent and around the tent.  I think it's lost in the woods.  Luckily we found his old phone and a charger that works and Version actually activated it for free.  I could have even done it myself through the website.  That was a miracle.

4. Patrick's soccer cleats ~ lost August 2011.  He swears he put them in his bag, put his bag in my car, and went to the (stupid) mandatory OHSAA meeting at the high school.  The next practice (two days later) the only thing in the bag were empty Gatorade and water bottles.  No cleats.  Things that make you go hummmmm.

5. The remote control for the common room TV ~ lost August 2011.  Not under the couch cushions.  Not under the couch.  Not under the chair.  Not under the bean bags.  Not under the blankets.  GONE.

This is when we said, "What's up with this bad juju?"  Something is going on here.  Which begs the question, what IS happening?  Is there really something taking stuff from us?  Mike went back to the common room to find the remote.  He lifted up the couch...and there was Jacob's iPod.  Patrick walked into the common room and looked at the couch and the dislodged middle cushion...and there was the remote control.  He said, "Quick, lift up the couch again and find my cleats!"  (but they weren't there)
Maybe the "curse" has lifted and all will miraculously be found.   Maybe we'll learn to be more careful with our stuff.

#22

Book #22 is Harlan Coben's Darkest Fear ~ a Myron Bolitar ~ I think the seventh one.  I'm almost "caught up" with this series.  I like not being caught up because I know there is always another one coming.  As soon as I catch up I have to wait for them to get written!

This one was one I didn't want to put down!  Coben really can weave an intricate mystery.  I do have trouble remembering characters from previous books, but he does a pretty nice job of giving enough information to jog my memory.  Interesting concepts about how fragile life really is and how quickly it can be changed.  Does evil always have to exist?  Myron and especially Win live by the belief that the strongest survives and violence is necessary.  It's easy for Win, with out a conscience, but is that really the way we should live?  Isn't that just perpetuating the evil?

The book also touches on father issues.  What makes a Dad?  What happens as our fathers age?  Should the father/son relationship change over time or is it important for Dad to always be Dad and Son to always be Son?  

fl: Ann hour before his world exploded like a ripe tomato under a stiletto heel, Myron bit into a fresh pastry that tasted suspiciously like a urinal cake.  lp: The images scattered when he blinked.  his heart started beating again.  He stared again at the basket and waited.  This time nothing burred.  Nothing happened.

#21

 Book #21 is The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.  My friend, Anita, was reading it while we were on our girls' trip to UP ~ and gave it to me when she finished.  Barbara Kingsolver wrote The Poisonwood Bible, which I haven't read, but has been on my list forever!  This story revolves about the question, "what makes a family?".  The answer, according to Kingsolver, is the people we end up loving.  It's not easy to make your way in this world and we certainly need loving people to guide us in the right way. 

Good Quote: (page 241) "It's like this, " I told Turtle.  "There's a whole invisible system for helping out the plant that you'd never guess was there."  I loved this idea.  "It's just the same as with people.  The way Edna has Virgie, and Virgie has Edna, and Sandi has Kid Central Station, and everybody has Mattie.  And on and on."  The wisteria vines on their own would just barely get by, its how I explained it to Turtle, but put them together with the rhizobia and they make miracles.

fl: I have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up and throw Newt Hardbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign.  ll: And me.  I was the main ingredient.

run log: July 2011

I can run.  I can run.  I can run!  I had the best run of 2011 yesterday ~ going 6.5 and loving every minute.  Nothing hurt, I could breathe, and I felt strong.  It's been a long time since my body could do what I wanted it to do.  Now to learn the lessons:  recovery days are good things and stretching is important.
This month I ran 42.5 miles for a 2011 total of 268
I biked 112 miles for a 2011 total of 327.
I met my goal of running over 6 miles by the end of the month and even better ~ I AM BETTER!
I will run the last leg of the Akron Marathon and it will be good. 
Goals: I would like to have over 50 miles for the month of August.  I would like to have 8 mile runs as my long run ~ and I'd like to run 4 days a week.  I've only been running 3 days a week because I've been afraid of re-injuring that stupid IT band.  But I think 4 days is really doable and it would be very good for me. 

I bought some new running tops at the Under Armor outlet in Frisco ~ because it's important to look cute when running.  If you look good, you feel good and you run well!  That's my motto :)

Colorado

Jacob had a ball with his grandparents.  They hiked and swam and he "worked" a day with his Uncle Bill.  They even bought him an all day pass ($70) for the adventure park at Breckenridge ~ seriously, can you get more spoiled?  Still, I think he was happy to see me when I flew in on July 22.
A few highlights of the two-Barton trip.

• Hiking the continental divide at Loveland Pass.  We went 5 miles total ~ along the "spine of the Rockies" as the book called it, and then we looked (and looked and looked) for a non-snowy, not too steep, not too rocky way down.  There was only the rocky way down, so that's what we did.  They were rather loose rocks too and I kept hoping the whole way down that I wouldn't start a rock slide.  On the hike back in the valley, so to speak, we found a large bucket (about as big around as a five-galloner, but only half as tall.  Would I call that a 2.5 gallon bucket?).  It was duck-taped shut with the date and location written on another piece of tape.  These facts were mostly faded out.  We had many theories about what it was...a bomb...a scientific study...trash...When we told the Texas Butlers, Bob thought we may have stumbled onto a geocashe.
• Geocashing.  Bob showed us the app he has on his iPhone and we went and found a geocashe stuffed under a stump on the hill behind my parents house.  Then we tried to find one on our Cataract Lake hike, but we didn't have any cell reception and there were LOTS of "twin pines", so the clue didn't help at all.  Of course, Dad thinks this is a great adventure and downloads the app to his iPad.  We found our second geocashe in a little "park" (a concrete pad with a bench and a bear statue surrounded by trees) next to walmart in Frisco.  Rather exciting little treasure hunting.  It adds a little bit more fun to a hike.
• Hiking Cataract Lake.  My favorite hike ever because it has all sorts of different terrain and the flowers were beautiful this time.  There was so much snowfall (lasting well into June) and so much rain that the flowers are everywhere.  Then there's the waterfall which runs right though the dense trees at the top.  It's cool and peaceful with a pine needle floor and the loud sound of the rushing water.  It's the highlight of the hike.  And Bob had used Axe body wash, so all (and I mean hundreds) of the mosquitoes went to him and not anyone else.  Biting mosquitoes are female ~ so the ads must be true that women can't resist Axe!
• UNO extreme.  The Texas Butlers shared Wesley's version of UNO ~ that involves "helping" others as well as slapping the table and hitting your forehead.  I thought Dad concussed himself once by slapping the table and then smacking his forehead ~ quite a ricochet of his hand.  Luckily there seemed to be no brain damage.
• Jeeping up to Georgia Pass.  I love to Jeep.  And my dad is the best Jeep driver.  He's totally trustworthy so I don't have to worry about falling over the edge of the cliff or slipping out-of-control down the mountain.  While we were bouncing up the road we saw a HUGE MOOSE who had gigantic antlers just standing in the valley eating shrubs.  We stopped and watched him wishing someone had brought a better camera than a cell phone.  I took a picture, but it doesn't look as impressive as it really was.
• I became the mom of two little gold fish while away.  Who knew.  They are about an inch long.  No telling how long they've been there...how big is a freshly hatched baby goldfish?  Now I'm up to 5 fish in my little pond!
• Anniversary Party!  I almost forgot the whole reason we went at the end of July.  Chip and Jane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary ~ the whole gang was there.  All the Butlers and all the Rutledges.  It was great to see everyone and catch up just a little bit.  We laughed and watched a DVD of old pictures and ate a great meal.  It was crazy to have all the kids running around, having a great time together.  We do not see enough of each other!

The Rocky Mountains are my favorite place.  Their Majesty reminds me of my littleness and God's greatness.  I am very blessed to have them in my life. 

"I am king of the world!"