Stay away

Sometimes, you just have to snuggle with your chicken (or what used to be a chicken)...

"RAAARRRRRRRR"

(I actually snapped him mid-yawn...he's not growling)

So long, summer

Old Man Winter is slowing showing his frozen face.  I'll be using this picture (one of our lovely & delicious homegrown maters) to pull myself out of the winter blues.  Where's my blanket, it's time to hibernate!

Let me count the ways...

AT&T, how I loathe thee.  With an undying passion.  You are the bane of my existence.

My currently swollen, & probably broken, big toe can attest.  Apparently, when you've exhausted frustration over inferior & insufficient phone service/quality, you turn to the nearest object & kick it.  That object turned out to be a door.

AT&T, I hate you.

Now it's time to slap some frozen peas on my toe & call Verizon.

SQUIRREL!

We have an acrobatic neighborhood squirrel that has taken quite a liking to our bird feeders.  I'm a sucker for cute, furry creatures, so I don't complain too much when he/she stops by for a treat.  Or a meal.  Steve, on the other hand, has suggested we try Squirrel Soup.

Apparently squirrels are quite adept at hanging from tree branches with their back legs in order to get to the bird feeder...

Our ferocious hunters - aptly named Gidget, Guinness, & Brewer - believe their mission in life is to get that damn squirrel.  I'm reminded of this scene from one of the best movies ever created....

Looking ridiculous while running is the only way to run

If you've read our blog & know us (me), you probably know I have an affinity for dressing up for runs.  Or dressing ridiculous.  Steve & I ran the CASA 1/2 marathon in July, which is a great run through Spearfish Canyon.  I had a serious desire to break 2 hours in the half & was poised to do so at this race, but it didn't happen.  Don't ask.  I have issues with this.  (Luckily this time, it had nothing to do with runners trots)  The elusive "break 2 hours in a half" is still a pipe dream.

So if I can't meet my goal time, why not look fabulous instead?

Look!  That blur in the green tank top, sparkly heart skirt, & pink compression socks is ME.  Moving so fast the camera had a difficult time snapping a photo.  (Let's not point out the fact that the lady in front of me is 89 years old.  I overheard it in conversation because she sat in front of us on the bus.  It's a similar feeling to having a lady pushing a double jogging stroller pass me on an uphill.  With two kids in it.)

 Who's that stud?

 We're a compression-sock-loving family.

So despite the fact I didn't break two hours & an 89-year old rockstar beat me, I still was so excited for the race director to stop me after I crossed the finish line & exlaim, "you were, by far, the most colorful runner on the course!"  And one of his little volunteers, handing me my medal, saying "you looked really cute."