Progress

Here's the list from yesterday. Still a lot to finish up today!

Updates in green
Laundry almost done check
Get the estimate for the new patio check
Get my hair done check
Get the paint for the master bath check
Paint the master bath check
Email the home warranty people because the tree in our backyard is dead nope check
Clean the garage nope started
Start getting ready for the garage sale we are having next Saturday not even still no progress
Run 9 miles no, but today is finally sunny so this one's gonna happen in about an hour check, and it felt freakin' great!

Of course, not there are 10 million other things I need to do. We decided to go with the estimate we got yesterday because it was the lowest and we have seen the guy's work and it is great, but now apparently we have to get it approved by our HOA first. I just want a freakin' patio!!!

Suzanne- I told Dan he could do the rest...he was not that receptive to the idea. ;)

Way Too Busy

Today's To-do List:
Laundry
Get the estimate for the new patio
Get my hair done
Get the paint for the master bath
Paint the master bath
Email the home warranty people because the tree in our backyard is dead
Clean the garage
Start getting ready for the garage sale we are having next Saturday
Run 9 miles

How is this all going to happen? And why did I think it would be a good idea to sign up for our community garage sale? I'd better get moving!!!

The Fates Are Conspiring Against My Long Run

I am supposed to do 8 miles this weekend. It usually do my long runs on Saturday morning so they are over and done with and I can enjoy the rest of the weekend with my family. It was a no go yesterday either outside or at the gym because of the insane snow. So, I show up at the gym at about 9:00 today (after barrelling over all the snow in our driveway with the jeep... god forbid we would actually shovel the driveway). When I got to the gym, there were fire trucks in the parking lot. Like a ding bat, I go in anyway and the firemen stop me (Castle Rock has really good looking firemen, by the way). There's a natural gas leak and the gym is closed.

Crap.

So, I get in the jeep and drive back home thinking, well, it's over 40 degrees now, so I'll just run outside. As I drove through the neighborhood though, I realized no sidewalks or bike paths are cleared yet. That means I get to run down the single lanes on the roads that are cleared. Sounds pretty safe.

So, as soon as I finish this cup of coffee, I will be on my way. I'm not totally sure I will get in the full 8, but I am going out to run something. Earlier, as I got grumpier and grumpier from 2 days of no running, Dan said, "You either need to start running or start drinking so you can calm down."

I'm thinking, cool, run first, then drink.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Suzanne! I am glad Eric made it home in time. Have a wonderful day.

Training Buddy

I have always been a solo runner. I like the alone time. It gives me time to think and process all the things that are going on in my life at any particular time. It also means I can run as fast (or as slow) as I want to on any given day.

But, I have a training partner for the Pikes Peak Ascent. And I am really happy about that. We don't do every run together, but we always do our midweek long run together and it is nice to have someone to compare training plans with, especially since this is such a tricky race to train for.

The chick I'm training with also works with me, and she is really cool! As an added bonus, she lives right by some of the most beautiful, mountainous trails close to the Denver area. Most of them are not any more technical than the trails down the street from my house, but it is nice to have different terrain to practice on, and different (and beautiful) scenery to enjoy while we are huffing and puffing up some ridiculous incline.

Also, I have already noticed that our strengths complement each other. I keep her motivated on the uphills and she keeps me from slacking on the downs. And by that, I mean that she is kicking my ass with the speed on the flats and downhills. And I am getting faster because of it. And she is getting stronger on hills (we both are).

Work has been very stressful recently, and it is nice to have someone to process it all with once a week. When the Barr Trail (the one the race is on) clears in the spring, it will also be nice to have someone to run the weekend long run with...and right on the race trail.

Here is a picture of the area I run in with Debbie:

On a side note: Dan and I reached the 10 year milestone yesterday! (Yes, I mean our 10 year anniversary...who'd have thought...?) I love you, Dan!!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Happy birthday to a most wonderful husband and father, Dan Kangley. I love you!

Happy Easter!

For Easter, we had Kate and Jason and Ethan and Marlowe over. It was just great. Noah and Marlowe and Ethan ran around like wild children, and Kate and I drank wine while Jason and Dan talked guy stuff. Dan made a turkey and it was SO GOOD!
Here are some pictures from the day:

I think Japhy wants Noah's chocolate bunny: Cheese!!!
Finding the eggs Dan hid all over the house (and he forgot to count them first...rotten egg in my future???)
The Japhy-dog: Still looking for eggs:
Noah's fave present from the Bunny:

Spoiled, much?

Sleepy head:
Noah and Marlowe:Noah, Marlowe, and Ethan:

Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, we went to our neighborhood's annual Easter egg hunt. It was crazy windy and a little cold, but not too bad. Noah loved it. Here are some pictures:

Noah and Dan on the way to the Easter egg hunt: Noah and the Easter bunny:

The hunt:

The aftermath! Man, did Noah eat a lot of candy:

Park Fun

After dinner tonight, Noah and Dan and I went to the park. Check out Noah playing on the spinny thing:

Easter Eggs

We all dyed Easter eggs at our house last night. Noah loved it and especially loved the wraps that you put around the eggs and then they shrink onto the egg in boiling water. My blogging has been nonexistant lately because we have been so busy. Between painting our master bedroom, running errands, working, and training for Pikes, there just hasn't been any time. This weekend should be busy too but fun. We have an Easter egg hunt to go to on Saturday and then Sunday the Vlcheks are coming over for Easter. I can't wait! And neither can Noah. He loves Marlowe!!!

Jay Cutler is a Whiny Little Turdsack...

...and Josh McDaniel is no better. And I think Pat Bowlen has lost his mind. Let's step through this for a second. My reactions are in this color.

1. In January, Pat Bowlen (owner of the Broncos) fired Mike Shanahan, a two time Super Bowl Coach. Oh crap!
2. Then, Bowlen hired rookie (untested) head coach Josh McDaniel from New England. What the...???
3. In February, McDaniel tried to trade Pro Bowl QB Cutler for Matt Cassel, backup for the Patriots. Are you freakin' serious?
4. Cutler proceeded to pout about that for the next 6 weeks and act like a whiny little turdsack (hence the title of this post). Grow the f___ up!
5. McDaniel acted like a little punk who was trying to start his own "inner circle" even though he doesn't really know how because he was never in the "inner circle" in New England. Who the hell does he think he is?
6. Over the last 10 days or so, the Broncos say they tried to contact Jay and he wouldn't talk to them. Jay says they never called. As the Broncos Turn...
7. Yesterday, Bowlen traded Jay to Chicago probably because he just couldn't stand the whining. Good riddance of the whiny little turdsack! But Kyle Orton now??? Really???

I have a feeling the Broncos are screwed!