Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Prepare for radio silence.

OK, I have a week (6 days to be precise) to process the rest of my most important data set for this dissertation before my next trip to NY on Sunday night/Monday morning.

I also have had a sick baby for the last three days.

If you don't hear from me for a week, you'll know why.

See you on the other side.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

It's a good thing he won't remember this.

Russell got a ... well that's funny, I have no idea what to call the darned thing.

It's a combination toy. It's one of those ring stackers where you have big rings that go over a cone. And, a musical tub that you drop balls into. It's made up to look like an elephant, with a big funnel for a head, and two of the rings have feet.

Why do you care about my poor description of a toy?

Because this toy produces some of the most fantastically cute pictures you will see today. They make me laugh whenever I see them

You see, the rings with the feet velcro (for some reason I don't understand) and Justin and I have had more fun (at Russell's expense, naturally) with those rings.

See:



Tee hee - he's so cute.



Here she comes, Miss America...



...or a Star Trek 'alien'



Just another shining example of quality parenting.

I did get out for a run today, nothing special.

Walk/Jog C25K Week 5 day 1 (take2).
Start time: 4:00 PM MST
Run time: 35 minutes
Distance: 2.5 miles
Pace: 14 minute mile
Estimated Miles on Sneakers:
Pink Adidas 4.80
Blue Brooks 12.83

Notes: Running in the afternoon is way harder than in the morning. I think I am running harder than I did the first time through, that run was much harder than the first time, but I did it nonetheless. Now my quads are sore. Good sore, but sore.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Running update

With the family in town, I never got out for a run on Saturday (We went for a walk at the zoo instead.) So my 'weeks' of running are off a little.

Then, I did a run on Monday, (C25K week 5 day 1, for those keeping score at home) and it went fantastically well. But, exact stats I don't have, because I never wrote them down in the chaos.

Today, I did week 5 day 2. I did it, but it was HARD, and I just barely made it through that last interval. Those stats are below.

Walk/Jog C25K Week 5 day 2.
Start time: 10:15 AM MST
Run time: 33 minutes
Distance: 2.44 miles
Pace: 13.52 minute mile
Estimated Miles on Sneakers:
Pink Adidas 4.80
Blue Brooks 7.33

So, with my schedule all messed up, and my work cut out for me in terms of the next run (week 5 day 3 is a straight 20 minute run...) I have decided to step back and keep the success rate up.

Saturday I will restart week 5. This felt good on Monday, and will likely feel great again on Saturday. Monday I will run week 5 day 2, which I did today, and likely have more success. And then, whether I like it or not, I will run the week 5 day 3 20 minute run in one week, and will report a raging success! How's that for optimism?

Back in a minute...

Family came to visit this last week, and between the visit and the dissertation I haven't had the time to post.

I will be back shortly.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Presents!

Between Christmas and my Birthday, we have received a number of great gifts in the last few months, and I thought you'd like to see some action shots of us loving them all.

Andy and Sarah sent Russell two fantastic puppets for Christmas. Check these out!



and of course they came in this:



I made reference before to the birthday hug monkey well he not only made an appearance this year, but he got a bike too!





Justin also got a bike!



Russell loves to play with some of his Christmas presents like drum



and his vtech ball



But, he still doesn't quite get his jonny jumper...he will.



Two of my favoritest presents from this year are my grapefruit tree



and my Roomba.



(I also ADORE my Garmin, but I don't have a pic of it)

So thank you one and all, if you gave us one of these objects, we are enjoying them thoroughly. Of course, if you gave us something that isn't here, we are likely enjoying that too...but it hasn't shown up on film yet.

Oh...and I just realized, this is my 100th post! Go Blog Go!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Reason #4...

that I like Phoenix: Rainbows!

I was driving Jus to work this morning, when I realized that today was a run day. This would have been totally unremarkable, except I realized it because I was thinking about the fact that it is RAINING. This would be my first run in precipitation of any kind here in Phoenix. No biggie really, but remarkable because it is so unusual.

When I got home I went out for my run. There is a significant upside to rain in Phoenix: RAINBOWS! I saw three on my short little run, one of which was a complete arc. I never run with my camera, unfortunately, but it was beautiful.

Now, Run stats:

Walk/Jog C25K Week 4 day 2(2nd time).
Start time: 9:15 AM MST
Run time: 40 minutes
Distance: 2.75 miles
Pace: 14.54 minute mile
Miles on Sneakers: Blue Brooks 5.11

Notes: I am feeling really good about these runs. I will certainly be ready for week 5 next week. Of the 40 minutes, 16 of those are spent running (interspersed with walking intervals) and I finish each running segment without significant exhaustion. I know next week ramps up fast, but I think I am ready for it.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

A couple of good days

Friday we went down to Tucson so I could meet with Molly who was in-state. I had a very productive meeting and feel like progress is being made,

Additionally, we got to see the Tucson gang for the first time since living here. It was a good time. AJ and CJ have a fantastic new house (I am suffering from a tiny bit of house envy) and we spent the night and came back yesterday.

When we got back I got in a run. It was hard to get out, since I had just spent 2 hours in the car and was 'road-tired' but once I worked the lead out, it was a fantastic run. I am so very glad I am re-running week 4.

Walk/Jog C25K Week 4 day 1(2nd time).
Start time: 3:00 PM MST
Run time: 32 minutes
Distance: 2.36 miles
Pace: 13.56 minute mile
Miles on Sneakers: Blue ?? 2.36

Notes: fantastic. Just fantastic. The first 5 minute run segment felt almost easy...or at least good. The second 5 minute run segment certainly wasn't as hard as the last two times. I think the 5 day break did me good, let some muscles I needed built up. Looking forward to Monday.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Our most unphotogenic dog.

Let me start by saying how much I love my dog. She has her quirks (like being afraid of the baby), but she's also got a long list of wonderful traits. She's the sweetest dog you'll ever meet, fastidiously clean, and very smart (assuming the scale you are using does not include border collies). She is also an incredibly beautiful dog.

In person.

Once you get a camera out, somehow my dog becomes unbelievably homely. Photos always make her look either developmentally delayed, like she's attacking someone, or simply looks (or walks) out of frame. Every time I decide to get a dog pic, I wind up with things that look like these:

The tongue.


The tic.


Or just crazed.


However, every once in a while, I get lucky and get something decent.



So, there are actually a lot fewer pictures of my dog on this blog than I would like, because they are SO incredibly hard to take.

Unrelated health update: After spending all day yesterday fighting a fever of 102 degrees, needing lots of cuddles and some tylenol, the Hug Monkey is back to his usual healthy happy self. He's such a great kid.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

No run today on account of illness.

No, I'm not ill. The Hugmonkey is.

Poor thing has a fever. So far as I can tell, that's his only symptom. But it's high enough that he can't go to daycare; and he's clearly not feeling great, since he's curled up in my lap right now just staring off blankly into space.

So, I solicit advice from any mommies (or daddies) out there, how do you keep an infant with a cold comfortable? (Other than tylenol and hugs?)

So, no run for me, for a good cause. This more or less cements my decision to rerun week 4. I'll get back to it this weekend.

Right now, I am going to cuddle my baby.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Family, Friends, and more Family!

Part last (seven?) in my holiday wrap up series.

The last few days of our visit home were spent visiting with family and friends I nearly never get to see. Now that we are all 'that age' we all have children of our own, so there were kids everywhere! It was wonderful.

Some highlights:

Russell loves his great grampa.


Visiting with the gang from Keene.


TC and Alexis


TC and Russell


Visiting with the gang from Concord.


My aunt and Russell.


After all that visiting, we got on a plane and left the frigid northeast. It was a fantastic vacation, and I am still reveling in the fact that I managed to see you all over the break. It makes me so very happy...I hope it's not too long before we get to see you all again.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Happy Groundhogs Day!

Which, I admit, doesn't mean much to Phoenicians. I haven't actually spoken to any natives about it, but they probably don't understand it.

It was one heck of a Super Bowl yesterday. Cards lost...but only just barely. It was fun to watch, and even more so because I am so happy for the Steelers. I took the day off from working yesterday so I could enjoy one day completely without "I should be working" guilt.

In addition to watching the game, we watched the first three sets of the rebroadcast of the Nadal/Federer final at the Australian Open. I organized all my digital pictures on my computer, and I finally finished the knitting and seaming of Russell's jacket that I have been working on very slowly for a while. All it's missing now is buttons, because I don't have any yet. Isn't it cute?



And it fits him darned perfectly at the moment. Once the buttons are on, I'll take a picture of him in it.

I also made breakfast yesterday, and had to keep the little one entertained while I did so. I gave him a funnel. It was picture worthy.



Today, I got my run in...I think this week will be week 4 and next week will also be week 4. I think if I push to week 5 next week I am doomed. No harm in slowing it down. It'll ultimately make it more fun.

Walk/Jog C25K Week 4 day 2.
Start time: 10:00 AM MST
Run time: 32 minutes
Distance: 2.36 miles
Pace: 13.56 minute mile
Miles on Sneakers: Pink Adidas 2.36

Notes: My pace *appears* do be improving tremendously. Really, there is just less total walking because today I ended the day's program AT my front door. No extra walking home because somehow I wound up a quarter mile away. Until I am done with the C25K, it will jump around a lot because pace isn't really what matters here. (I was just curious.)

I am also adding a new stat...miles on sneakers. It won't be exactly accurate for either pair of running shoes I own, because I have no idea what miles these shoes have already seen, but it will give me an idea of when I should spring for a new pair of shoes to avoid serious injury.