Yes, I have officially decided to do this marathon thing again; destination - Edinburgh, date - May 2011.
For the 14th time, I will have the pleasure of training for another marathon....
Trying to be a little less spontaneous with life and not always so goal oriented, those who know me well will notice that I refrain from posting a projected time goal. Don't think I have gone totally cold turkey and do not have one. Let's just say that I will see how the personal and professional work committments align this year before I throw down the marathon finish time gauntlet. There is a vague time noodling around in the back of my brain though.
Come next week, the 19 weeks of training commence...kinda like starting a new semester of school.
I am energized.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
actually, it smells really nice
Unlike the US, there is no need to haul your "bigger than Texas" live (and now dead) Christmas tree to the local tip (let me translate into American for you = "the dump") after the decorations are down and the new year is upon you. No, just haul your used tree to your local park or green belt and drop it anywhere you like; the city garbage men will then pick it up for recycling. Seems pretty easy, although I saw UK dads for days dragging their old Christmas trees down the street. Kinda a hassle but a green one.
While we are on the subject of Christmas trees, in the UK, people traditionally do not put up the Christmas Tree and begin to decorate their homes until about 12 days before Christmas. If you follow this tradition, then the reverse happens by the 6th January, which is 12 days after Christmas. None of this bad luck leaving the tree up after New Year's Day.
As I was heading to the tube on Friday night, there was a large pile of trees that had been dumped...I smelled them before I saw them. Comforting in an odd way.
While we are on the subject of Christmas trees, in the UK, people traditionally do not put up the Christmas Tree and begin to decorate their homes until about 12 days before Christmas. If you follow this tradition, then the reverse happens by the 6th January, which is 12 days after Christmas. None of this bad luck leaving the tree up after New Year's Day.
As I was heading to the tube on Friday night, there was a large pile of trees that had been dumped...I smelled them before I saw them. Comforting in an odd way.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Puh-lease
Each month, I always look forward to receiving my latest copy of Vanity Fair Magazine. A long hot soak in a nice bubblebath, a cup of Earl Grey tea and my magazine in hand, and I am ready to go. Which is precisely what happened two nights ago.
As I relaxed in the lavender scented bath, tea mug sitting within easy reach, I excitely removed the latest edition of VF from its protective mailing cover to find....EGADS!
This month's cover was devoted to none other that the teen heart-throb, Justin Bieber. Please note the operative word there..."teen" heart-throb. With the demographics of the magazine certainly NOT being girls in the 8-16 age range, why in the world was he the featured article and cover?
Yea, after a cursory flip through the other articles, the mag went in the recycle pile...I'll pass on the Bieb-meister, thanks all the same.
As I relaxed in the lavender scented bath, tea mug sitting within easy reach, I excitely removed the latest edition of VF from its protective mailing cover to find....EGADS!
This month's cover was devoted to none other that the teen heart-throb, Justin Bieber. Please note the operative word there..."teen" heart-throb. With the demographics of the magazine certainly NOT being girls in the 8-16 age range, why in the world was he the featured article and cover?
Yea, after a cursory flip through the other articles, the mag went in the recycle pile...I'll pass on the Bieb-meister, thanks all the same.
The three phases of Christmas
Essentially, we had three phases to the Christmas holidays this year: Horseshoe Bay, Garland, and Waxahachie. After the cleanout of my aunt's house in mid December, I anxiously awaited Bud's arrival in Garland from London. Heathrow airport had other ideas.
After 3 flight cancellations, due to a total of 4 inches of snow, the Budman arrived in Boston, only to miss his connection to DFW due to the late arrival of the flight attendants. OK, so the passengers and pilots could make it into Heathrow on time, but the flight attendants were 2 hours late. Nope, not buying it. I add insult to injury, Heathrow had the equivalent of lie...one snow plow to shovel snow..yea well...
A late arrival in DFW, sans one suitcase (to be located the next day), and we were reunited. Great visits with family and friends included these highlights:
* Jane B. - thanks for lunch at our fav place....yea, Chili's (can't get that in London).
* Tex-Mex with my long-standing gal pal, Tracey - I love ya like a sister.
* Barry and Terry - besides being the friends we can always count on, we got to see you multiple times. The home remodel project rocks!
* Judge Joe and school marm, JoBeth - a.k.a. "rocking grandparents" - kudos on both boys AND the new gig.
* Martha and Paul - a great breakfast that morphed into lunch in the "holly free" zone
* Jim and Catherine - my Arlington surrogate parents...I also laugh alot when I see you guys
* John and Jon - dinner AND the ride in the new Bentley - cool! Both were lovely.
* Mark and Tere, kids, and grandchilds - loved catching up with all your lives
* Amy - sister...it's been a heck of a year, but Christmas Eve at The Mansion was awesome. Plus, I loved wearing my Valentino red dress.
* Bob, Dee, J/P/SB/J - love you guys
* SB - great new pad!
* Waxahachie - a sight for sore eyes
* Loose Leaves - ladies - you are all one of a kind...thanks for ALL showing up for lunch
* Baylor Bears - you know who you are...it was a cruddy game but the company was FAB
* Jim and Becky - always a blast - come see us in 2011!
* South Carolinians - your new little boys are beautiful...thanks for introducing them to us.
* Meriam - thanks for making thr trip to Arp for Peggy
* M/M - well yea, thanks to Heathrow (your trip), we'll catch you next Christmas
* Kenlee and her parents - thanks for taking care of our home in Texas
* Ken and Dietra - you were last in the rotation but certainly not least...we were sorry to miss your New Year's Day running soiree but we ran with you in London simultaneously...in spirit, that is
As we took off from DFW, and I reflected over the past three weeks, I realized I had been given the best gift of all this Christmas...the love of family and friends.
After 3 flight cancellations, due to a total of 4 inches of snow, the Budman arrived in Boston, only to miss his connection to DFW due to the late arrival of the flight attendants. OK, so the passengers and pilots could make it into Heathrow on time, but the flight attendants were 2 hours late. Nope, not buying it. I add insult to injury, Heathrow had the equivalent of lie...one snow plow to shovel snow..yea well...
A late arrival in DFW, sans one suitcase (to be located the next day), and we were reunited. Great visits with family and friends included these highlights:
* Jane B. - thanks for lunch at our fav place....yea, Chili's (can't get that in London).
* Tex-Mex with my long-standing gal pal, Tracey - I love ya like a sister.
* Barry and Terry - besides being the friends we can always count on, we got to see you multiple times. The home remodel project rocks!
* Judge Joe and school marm, JoBeth - a.k.a. "rocking grandparents" - kudos on both boys AND the new gig.
* Martha and Paul - a great breakfast that morphed into lunch in the "holly free" zone
* Jim and Catherine - my Arlington surrogate parents...I also laugh alot when I see you guys
* John and Jon - dinner AND the ride in the new Bentley - cool! Both were lovely.
* Mark and Tere, kids, and grandchilds - loved catching up with all your lives
* Amy - sister...it's been a heck of a year, but Christmas Eve at The Mansion was awesome. Plus, I loved wearing my Valentino red dress.
* Bob, Dee, J/P/SB/J - love you guys
* SB - great new pad!
* Waxahachie - a sight for sore eyes
* Loose Leaves - ladies - you are all one of a kind...thanks for ALL showing up for lunch
* Baylor Bears - you know who you are...it was a cruddy game but the company was FAB
* Jim and Becky - always a blast - come see us in 2011!
* South Carolinians - your new little boys are beautiful...thanks for introducing them to us.
* Meriam - thanks for making thr trip to Arp for Peggy
* M/M - well yea, thanks to Heathrow (your trip), we'll catch you next Christmas
* Kenlee and her parents - thanks for taking care of our home in Texas
* Ken and Dietra - you were last in the rotation but certainly not least...we were sorry to miss your New Year's Day running soiree but we ran with you in London simultaneously...in spirit, that is
As we took off from DFW, and I reflected over the past three weeks, I realized I had been given the best gift of all this Christmas...the love of family and friends.
Come on 2011!
Hello, dear old friend. I am back...strictly blog speaking. After the ups and downs of 2010, I am ready for a new chapter. And so, I am ready to embrace the new year and all that it may hold.
Usually I am not a big fan of the new year's resolution as it is often not achieved, let alone remembered by mid-year. This year, I am making an exception to the rule, having refused to set any resolutions about health, diet, career objectives, etc.
No, this year, the resolution is simple: 2011 will be the year of exploration.... literally and metaphorically.
Can't wait to see where this year takes me. Be sure to stop by periodically and find out.
Usually I am not a big fan of the new year's resolution as it is often not achieved, let alone remembered by mid-year. This year, I am making an exception to the rule, having refused to set any resolutions about health, diet, career objectives, etc.
No, this year, the resolution is simple: 2011 will be the year of exploration.... literally and metaphorically.
Can't wait to see where this year takes me. Be sure to stop by periodically and find out.
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