C25k - What the heck? It means, "Couch to 5k" and is a 10-week training program that helps participants get fit enough to run their first 5k race. I've walked three official 5k races now, and it's time to up the ante. Rather than go for a longer walking race (though that's still not completely off the radar), I decided to work on jogging a shorter race.
So - my goal is to run the Sacramento Zoo Zoom 5k on April 11, 2010, and I started training today.
December 28, 2009
December 23, 2009
Christmas Newsletter, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to write this letter. In my electronic playgrounds of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, blogs and e-mail, I've been in touch with friends and family more than ever, so there's very little "news" that hasn't already been shared. But for those who are not online, here's a short recap of our year.
Despite California's worsening economy, we've been lucky that neither I nor Patrick has been furloughed or laid off. However, we know that unless things improve significantly, that possibility still exists for next year. In the library, we've had 10 retirements this year - all those Boomers are cashing out. I'm going to continue working for the foreseeable future. Besides, I like my job! Our new library director, who started in September, brings a lot of really positive energy to her relationship with everyone.
Marty's practice, as with many other businesses, hit a flat spot this year, but the second edition of his book. "Internet Gaming Law" was published on schedule last spring. He's now working on a 3rd edition with an eye to migrating it to an electronic format that can be updated as needed. He's also become an Associate Editor of "Gaming Law Review and Economics".
There's still a moratorium on salmon fishing, but he and I found a guidebook of local day-hikes, and went out many Sunday mornings to places within an hour's drive: Cosumnes River Preserve, several parks along the American River Parkway, Lake Berryessa, Putah Creek, and other places to enjoy nature. We also walked in the Buzz Oates No Excuses 5k and still get comments on our t-shirts, which display all the excuses.
Patrick's roommates built a swimming pool this summer, added patio furniture with a fire pit embedded in the table, and are now planning an outdoor kitchen. Oh, and they have a housekeeper! He's been extraordinarily fortunate in his choices this year!
Laurel is a senior and will graduate in May. Last summer, she worked as a lifeguard for the Cabana Club again. She's trying her wings, and I expect that as soon as she becomes 18 next April, she'll expect to fly. Tonight, she's baking cookies for the Marine Corps Junior ROTC holiday party tomorrow.
Some members of our family are going through difficult times, and we want them to know we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.
We wish you all good health, hope, and peace during this holiday season and throughout the next year.
All our love,
Ann & Marty
I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to write this letter. In my electronic playgrounds of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, blogs and e-mail, I've been in touch with friends and family more than ever, so there's very little "news" that hasn't already been shared. But for those who are not online, here's a short recap of our year.
Despite California's worsening economy, we've been lucky that neither I nor Patrick has been furloughed or laid off. However, we know that unless things improve significantly, that possibility still exists for next year. In the library, we've had 10 retirements this year - all those Boomers are cashing out. I'm going to continue working for the foreseeable future. Besides, I like my job! Our new library director, who started in September, brings a lot of really positive energy to her relationship with everyone.
Marty's practice, as with many other businesses, hit a flat spot this year, but the second edition of his book. "Internet Gaming Law" was published on schedule last spring. He's now working on a 3rd edition with an eye to migrating it to an electronic format that can be updated as needed. He's also become an Associate Editor of "Gaming Law Review and Economics".
There's still a moratorium on salmon fishing, but he and I found a guidebook of local day-hikes, and went out many Sunday mornings to places within an hour's drive: Cosumnes River Preserve, several parks along the American River Parkway, Lake Berryessa, Putah Creek, and other places to enjoy nature. We also walked in the Buzz Oates No Excuses 5k and still get comments on our t-shirts, which display all the excuses.
Patrick's roommates built a swimming pool this summer, added patio furniture with a fire pit embedded in the table, and are now planning an outdoor kitchen. Oh, and they have a housekeeper! He's been extraordinarily fortunate in his choices this year!
Laurel is a senior and will graduate in May. Last summer, she worked as a lifeguard for the Cabana Club again. She's trying her wings, and I expect that as soon as she becomes 18 next April, she'll expect to fly. Tonight, she's baking cookies for the Marine Corps Junior ROTC holiday party tomorrow.
Some members of our family are going through difficult times, and we want them to know we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.
We wish you all good health, hope, and peace during this holiday season and throughout the next year.
All our love,
Ann & Marty
December 18, 2009
7 Days till Christmas
The tree is all decorated, there's a crackling fire going in the fireplace, and Husband is asleep in the La-z-boy. It's cold enough outside that we can really enjoy the warmth of the fire, and we keep it cool enough inside to require fleece booties and a sweater.I finished my first cabled scarf, and now I'm looking for a new project for a toasty greyish tweed yarn I bought. But I may put that on hold for a while and stop by Rumpelstiltskin on Sunday to find some silk-blend yarn to make fingerless gloves for Daughter. It would be a crochet project, so I think it would be quick to finish.
Winter arrived like a brick - it was just fine, warm, colorful fall, and then suddenly there was a HUGE rain storm, and after that the temperatures dropped into the 20s. We're now in the midst of what the meteorologists are calling "normal" storm tracking, where every few days we have rain showers, followed by a few days of fog. The temps are also back in the normal range of 40-60 degrees. It's been a couple of weeks since we've seen real sunshine, and it's beginning to tell on everyone's tempers.Daughter and I have been baking cookies, and will probably do a few more. No plans for a gingerbread house this year, though. I bought Christmas stamps today, and hope to get cards in the mail tomorrow.
December 08, 2009
The Big Freeze after the Big Snow
This morning, the temperature was 23 degrees, breaking a previous low for the date. I brought in the tropical plants that are still portable, and covered the ti, which is not portable, with a fleece blanket we got from some "save the wolves" organization.
Tonight, the weather man said we will experience another night of "hard freeze", so Daughter and I hung a bed-sheet from the bolts in the patio overhang, and brought the small pots into the shelter between it and the house. I'm hoping the overhang, the sheet, and the warmth from the house will be enough to prevent them from being killed.
I'm sure it was already in the 30s when I got home from work at 8:15 this evening, because my cheeks were stinging when I went out to retrieve the mail. We've insulated the outdoor pipes and I have to remember to leave a faucet dripping when I go to bed, so the pipes don't freeze.
Despite the cold and clear skies, this is a "burning not recommended" day - to preserve air quality, people are being discouraged from using their fireplaces because there is no breeze to disperse the smoke.
Tonight, the weather man said we will experience another night of "hard freeze", so Daughter and I hung a bed-sheet from the bolts in the patio overhang, and brought the small pots into the shelter between it and the house. I'm hoping the overhang, the sheet, and the warmth from the house will be enough to prevent them from being killed.
I'm sure it was already in the 30s when I got home from work at 8:15 this evening, because my cheeks were stinging when I went out to retrieve the mail. We've insulated the outdoor pipes and I have to remember to leave a faucet dripping when I go to bed, so the pipes don't freeze.
Despite the cold and clear skies, this is a "burning not recommended" day - to preserve air quality, people are being discouraged from using their fireplaces because there is no breeze to disperse the smoke.
December 07, 2009
Snow Flurry in Cameron Park
Marty and I drove up to Shingle Springs this morning to see the snow. There was still a trace on the ground in El Dorado Hills at about 11 a.m., and in Cameron Park, there were several inches on the ground, the rooftops, the guardrails and road signs, the trees ...
We went one stop farther, to Shingle Springs, before we decided the conditions were getting a little dicey for us, since we have no chains. Although the roadway was clear, the off-ramps were not, and we had to drive really slowly to avoid sliding around. After we turned around and were passing Cameron Park again, we drove through this snow flurry. What surprised me was the no-color-ness of it all - there was only white and shades of gray. It looked just like a Christmas card! Exciting stuff!
We went one stop farther, to Shingle Springs, before we decided the conditions were getting a little dicey for us, since we have no chains. Although the roadway was clear, the off-ramps were not, and we had to drive really slowly to avoid sliding around. After we turned around and were passing Cameron Park again, we drove through this snow flurry. What surprised me was the no-color-ness of it all - there was only white and shades of gray. It looked just like a Christmas card! Exciting stuff!
December 06, 2009
Snow?
The excitement is building, whipped by the animated storm maps of the meteorologists on every television channel. A very cold storm arrived today, dumping enough snow in the foothills to warrant closure of Highway 80, one of the busiest trans-sierra routes. There have been over 45 storm-related accidents in the last 4 hours up there!
But why the excitement? Because the storm is so cold, there is a good chance of snow here on the Sacramento Valley floor - anywhere from a trace to 3 inches! The high temp tomorrow is forecast to be somewhere around 41 degrees, and the low on Tuesday morning in the mid-20s! As I write this at 10:30 p.m., it has been raining for about 45 minutes, and that is supposed to change to snow tonight. If so, I'll be out there with the video camera in the morning! If not, there will be a lot of disappointed children, myself included.
But why the excitement? Because the storm is so cold, there is a good chance of snow here on the Sacramento Valley floor - anywhere from a trace to 3 inches! The high temp tomorrow is forecast to be somewhere around 41 degrees, and the low on Tuesday morning in the mid-20s! As I write this at 10:30 p.m., it has been raining for about 45 minutes, and that is supposed to change to snow tonight. If so, I'll be out there with the video camera in the morning! If not, there will be a lot of disappointed children, myself included.
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