Well, as usual, the weather people hereabouts have ramped up their forecasts prognosticating snow! Good night, you'd think the end of the world was upon us the way they carry on. As I type this there is a snow shower but all it's doing is peppering the deck with a few white flakes. Now the real issue is the cold. Serious cold. The lows tonight are expected to be in single digits with windchills over the next two days of -10 to -15.
Linda and I are prepared. We went shopping this morning for fresh fruits and veggies and bought a very nice, plump deep red filet of wild caught sockeye salmon. If I manage to get up the courage I'll grill it; if not I'll bake it. Right now I'm leaning toward the grill (less clean-up). I also made a batch of goetta. It's finishing up on the stove and should be ready for morning breakfast. I added some extra seasoning this time around because the last batch was watery and bland. I used some higher quality oats this time also.
Matt, Ciara and Aiden are back in Charlotte and Linda and I are in withdrawal, again. There is a birthday coming on 2/28 so we should see the little guy again then.
I think Linda and I are finally over our colds. Just to be on the safe side I'll wait until Saturday before going out for a run. If the cold persists I might have to wait until Monday. I'm not taking any chances this year. I've already been sick twice once before Christmas with a nasty virus and now after New Years. Hopefully I've had my quota.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Congratulations Matt!
Congratulations to Matt, Ciara and Aiden. After a morning SNAFU (we weren't on the docket; the court's mistake) Matt became Aiden's legal father.
Aiden Matthew Walburg.
We celebrated with brunch at First Watch before going back to the house. Linda and I gave Matt a St. Christopher medallion engraved on the back:
Aiden Matthew Walburg.
We celebrated with brunch at First Watch before going back to the house. Linda and I gave Matt a St. Christopher medallion engraved on the back:
Aiden
2-28-06
Daddy
1-13-09
I wish I could take credit for that but it was actually my brother Mark's idea. Well done!
Too bad the weather wasn't nicer. It's cold and getting colder; at least it's not snowing. Now Matt, Ciara and Aiden are on their way home to Charlotte.
2-28-06
Daddy
1-13-09
I wish I could take credit for that but it was actually my brother Mark's idea. Well done!
Too bad the weather wasn't nicer. It's cold and getting colder; at least it's not snowing. Now Matt, Ciara and Aiden are on their way home to Charlotte.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy Birthday Linda
Today was my bride of 31 years' 53rd Birthday!
Last night I came home from work and saw the day's mail sitting on the dryer in the laundry room. I thought Linda had forgotten it and brought it into the living room. She was on the phone to Ciara and said, "I even got a card from your Uncle Ned, it's in this real pretty silver envelope!" She didn't open it or her other cards preferring to wait until today. So, this morning she opens the silver envelope and marvels at the flashy card inside. Then she says, "Boy, Ned sure splurged this year!" She opens the card and to her chagrin it's from her husband! Wasn't she surprised.
It was a nice card.
I took her to lunch at McCormick and Schmick's seafood restaurant off Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. It was our first time there and we really enjoyed it. The restaurant was quiet, warm and friendly. There were a fair number of business persons but also a number of folks like Linda and I; people out for a leisurely lunch. The service was excellent. I think we'll go back.
We had intended to go to the Museum Center's Omnimax theater after lunch but decided to go shopping at Sam's instead. We stopped at Starbuck's for coffee and then Servati's for an after dinner birthday treat.
My afternoon run was pretty miserable. I didn't feel like doing it to begin with and then the cold, blowing wet snow and incessant wind made things all the worse. However, I would have really been mad at myself had I not gotten out the door. Four miles in 42 minutes. Not bad given the conditions.
Last night I came home from work and saw the day's mail sitting on the dryer in the laundry room. I thought Linda had forgotten it and brought it into the living room. She was on the phone to Ciara and said, "I even got a card from your Uncle Ned, it's in this real pretty silver envelope!" She didn't open it or her other cards preferring to wait until today. So, this morning she opens the silver envelope and marvels at the flashy card inside. Then she says, "Boy, Ned sure splurged this year!" She opens the card and to her chagrin it's from her husband! Wasn't she surprised.
It was a nice card.
I took her to lunch at McCormick and Schmick's seafood restaurant off Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. It was our first time there and we really enjoyed it. The restaurant was quiet, warm and friendly. There were a fair number of business persons but also a number of folks like Linda and I; people out for a leisurely lunch. The service was excellent. I think we'll go back.
We had intended to go to the Museum Center's Omnimax theater after lunch but decided to go shopping at Sam's instead. We stopped at Starbuck's for coffee and then Servati's for an after dinner birthday treat.
My afternoon run was pretty miserable. I didn't feel like doing it to begin with and then the cold, blowing wet snow and incessant wind made things all the worse. However, I would have really been mad at myself had I not gotten out the door. Four miles in 42 minutes. Not bad given the conditions.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Cold Final 4
What a great picture of Aiden to top off a great day! He loves yogurt but hasn't gotten the eating part down quite yet. At least he didn't get it in his hair.I ran a half-marathon (13.5 miles) this morning on the roads around the neighborhood. It was in the 30 degree range with a pretty stiff breeze. Generally overcast but Mr Sun occasionally peaked out around the clouds. I was surprised that I managed to get through the run without more difficulty. I haven't run this far in months and expected things to be more of a challenge. That's not to say that it wasn't, just not what I expected. The last 4 miles were into the wind and I can't say which was worse, the extra effort or the cold. The wind was relentless. Now of course I'm sore and stiff especially when I get up after sitting for awhile and I've got pain in my right heel (plantar's ????) I hope not. I also ran the distance in a 5:1 ratio which was encouraging. Now the trick will be to repeat it next Monday.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Dreary Sunday
Up early this morning for church. Rained overnight. Stopped at Starbucks after church for a coffee and newspapers.
There were several interesting articles on the financial crisis in the NYT this morning. The first was a long piece in the magazine talking about VaR or Value at Risk. It's an alien concept to me and even after reading about it I won't pretend that I understand it. The second article was by Michael Lewis and David Einhorn. It's written in two parts and well worth reading. I also enjoyed Frank Rich's opinion piece.
I had every intention of running this morning but the bad weather and general winter lethargy combined to conspire against that idea. Instead we drove down to the Walton Krogers Superstore and spent big bucks on a week's worth of groceries. We concentrated on the perimeter so most of what we bought is "real" food: fruits, yogurt, milk, some chicken and meat as well as some canned beans.
When I got home I made a big pot of bean soup and a casserole in the crockpot. Dinner tonight will be a roast chicken with baked potatoes. I might make some stuffing that I've got hanging about too. I like stuffing. Last night we had a strip steak that I marinated, sliced into strips and stir fried with cut up vegetables and served over quinoa.
I hope I get my mojo back tomorrow and can get a long run in.
There were several interesting articles on the financial crisis in the NYT this morning. The first was a long piece in the magazine talking about VaR or Value at Risk. It's an alien concept to me and even after reading about it I won't pretend that I understand it. The second article was by Michael Lewis and David Einhorn. It's written in two parts and well worth reading. I also enjoyed Frank Rich's opinion piece.
I had every intention of running this morning but the bad weather and general winter lethargy combined to conspire against that idea. Instead we drove down to the Walton Krogers Superstore and spent big bucks on a week's worth of groceries. We concentrated on the perimeter so most of what we bought is "real" food: fruits, yogurt, milk, some chicken and meat as well as some canned beans.
When I got home I made a big pot of bean soup and a casserole in the crockpot. Dinner tonight will be a roast chicken with baked potatoes. I might make some stuffing that I've got hanging about too. I like stuffing. Last night we had a strip steak that I marinated, sliced into strips and stir fried with cut up vegetables and served over quinoa.
I hope I get my mojo back tomorrow and can get a long run in.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
First New Year Post
Matt, Ciara and Aiden left for Charlotte (home) this morning. They left early but not as early as originally planned so Linda and I were able to get kisses and hugs from Aiden before he left. They'll be back, briefly, in a week for Aiden's final adoption hearing. Then we probably won't see them again for several weeks, maybe for his birthday in late February. What a whirlwind week and a half we had.
Yesterday Aiden, Matt and I went to the Zoo. It was a cold day but we had a great time. We had all of the displays to ourselves and were surprised when we encountered other visitors. Aiden enjoyed himself and Matt and I enjoyed watching him. Then we met Ciara and Linda for lunch at Skyline.
This morning I ran for an hour or so at MAF. I had the trails to myself and they were in really good shape. Surprisingly I didn't see any deer.
We'll see how tomorrow's run goes.
Yesterday Aiden, Matt and I went to the Zoo. It was a cold day but we had a great time. We had all of the displays to ourselves and were surprised when we encountered other visitors. Aiden enjoyed himself and Matt and I enjoyed watching him. Then we met Ciara and Linda for lunch at Skyline.
This morning I ran for an hour or so at MAF. I had the trails to myself and they were in really good shape. Surprisingly I didn't see any deer.
We'll see how tomorrow's run goes.
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