Goodbye 2007

Finished the year with an 8 mile run down Banklick Rd and back. My usual neighborhood run; a fitting end to the year and a good place to begin 2008. Clocked the run on my IPOD+ from Nike. It actually works pretty well, surprisingly. It will be interesting to see how it works over the long hall.

Cooking a boneless pork loin as I type for New Year's Eve dinner. Linda and I are expecting Charie, Ciara, Matt and Aiden's already present and accounted for. Christmas was wonderful I had hoped to be able to post some pictures but Buzzy (Aiden) managed to erase the disk in the camera. I don't know how he did it but he loves gadgets and just went to town pushing the buttons!

Sunday evening we had dinner at the house. I fixed a standing rib roast with all the trimmings. Ian and Rieko came up from Arkansas, Colin and Melanie, Ciara, Matt and Aiden were here for the evening. We exchanged gifts after dinner. Monday we celebrated Christmas at my sister Susan's house in Park Hills. It was spectacular. Most of the family here in town were there. We wrapped things up with Christmas brunch after Mass and then a low key dinner at Matt and Ciara's house.

Work New Year's day, the first of a string of 6 work days in a row.

Christmas Tree Trimming with Aiden

Aiden visited with Grandma and Grandpa overnight. He woke up about 05:30. Waaaay too early! But after playing with his musical "turtle" for awhile he fell back to sleep and got up for good around 07:40. We made pancakes but picky eater wouldn't eat them opting for two bananas and some yogurt.

Morning weather was uninviting: heavily overcast, rainy but relatively warm. So, I went for a run. Surprisingly it was not too bad. I was wet but not cold and despite the wind I enjoyed it. Ran for about 90 minutes or so.

This afternoon Matt and Ciara came by to get Aiden but since they were all going to stay for dinner he decided to take a nap and spend the afternoon with us. While he slept we put up the Christmas tree and set up Aiden's train beneath it. Overall it was a great day.

Muddy Tuesday at EI

Ran with friend Jeff this morning at EI. 36 Hours of rain left the trails wet and muddy but because they're very well drained it wasn't as bad as expected. It was comical, however, to see the skid marks of the deer on trails.

It was cold and very breezy but the crystal blue skies made everything spectacular. It was a great run. Our muddy trail shoes tell the tale.

Day After Thanksgiving

A very lazy day. Slept in past 7. Got up and made a few journal entries. Ate breakfast (once again enjoying my cinnamon rolls). Cold and overcast outside with a very faint dusting of feather weight snow. Journeyed down to Abode on the northeast corner of 5th and Scott St. in Covington to look for bar stools to go with the new "breakfast bar" in the remodeled kitchen. Ended up we found just what we wanted, ordered, bought and paid for them on the spot. Came home. Ate lunch. Hung out at the house for the rest of the day.

Looking forward to seeing Aiden tomorrow afternoon. He spent Thanksgiving in Dallas with Matt's family. We missed him.

Cemetery Sunday

What a beautiful morning. Cool. Partly cloudy. Linda walked I ran. The trails in the cemetery were in fantastic shape. Check out the pictures.

Saturday Afternoon Run

What a beautiful afternoon. Sun shining, blue skies sketched with wispy clouds, a persistent light breeze and temperature in the 50's; it just doesn't get any better. Ran about 8 miles out the front door and down Banklick and back. About 90 minutes or so for the run.

Aiden flew to Dallas with Ciara and Matt this afternoon. Ciara just called to tell us they arrived. She said Aiden was "an angel."

We'll be going to Max and Erma's tonight for "burgers and beer."

Monday With Aiden

A very nice day. Started with a run out the front door of 91/2 miles (according to the IPOD+ device that I'm finally using from last Christmas). It's kind of nice to have some "independent" confirmation of my distances/times. Now however I'm really sore. I don't think it was the distance but my new shoes coupled with the run in EI yesterday morning.

The weather is unseasonably warm this afternoon. This morning was cool in the 50's and generally overcast with a stiff breeze. Now the sun's out most of the time but the strong breeze remains. I think the temperature is in the mid 60s. Jacket weather.

I came home from my run and made a chicken stew with a chicken I cooked in the crockpot on Friday but didn't eat. It's really a soup more than a stew but it's got lots of grains and veggies in it.

I picked up Aiden at about 11:00 or so and we stopped at Remkes for salad. I realize now, however, that we forgot some fixin's so we'll probably have to go back. After lunch we played outside and I was able to get some good pictures of the "little devil."

As I type this he's napping and hopefully will continue to sleep for a while longer.

BTW the fall colors while somewhat muted are really quite nice. Just take a look at my pin oak in the background.