On a lighter note



As you all may have noticed, I posted a widget on the blog that tracks the progress of Swine Flu. It's a little scary for me since none of my students know how to cover their mouths when they cough and want to be as close to teacher as possible when they don't feel well. On a lighter note, I took these pics of Apache, the next door neighbors' horse, as he was playing with the swing. This guy is hysterical! I only wish I had put on the telephoto lens first. Hope you are all well and healthy.
love,
mom

OKC Half Marathon!




I did it!!! I really can't believe that I was able to do the entire half marathon (13.1 miles). My strategy was just to not think about it and DO IT. I guess it worked. Tammy did it too, but finished about 45 minutes before me. Right now, it doesn't appear that I've suffered any major injury. The only ikky is a blood blister on the bottom of my left foot. I don't think I had the shoe tied tight enough and my foot was slipping around a bit. Other than that, I feel good. It was really a terrific race with just me, Tams, and about 19,000 others running through the streets of OKC. This race is run in memory of those who died in the OKC bombing and this is the 9th annual running. I think I will do it again next year. The people were super friendly, lots of snacks and most importantly, abundant porta-potties! I took the picture of the fu dogs when we went through the Asian section of town. Yes Katie, right by Cao Nguyen's!

Another Golden Girl

As you have all probably heard by now, Bea Arthur has died today at the age of 86. You will be missed.

Romans and Caching



Yesterday, Rick wanted to go mountain biking at Roman Nose State Park, but there's been so much rain that the trails were muddy. So we decided to go hiking and caching instead. It was an overcast day and we had a little rain, but the hail waited until we left. I had not been hiking in this park before, but it was so gorgeous! Rick go a first to find cache also. He had to climb up a significant hill to do it, but he made it without injury. We also found 4 others. I am still getting ready for the OKC half next weekend. My knee has been hurting so I am going to take it slow. I just hope I can finish. Hope you all are well,
mommy

Red Bud - Part Deux


Although Rogers and Hammerstein were good New Yorkers, they certainly knew the unique correlation between Oklahoma and "the wind sweeping off the plain". The second part of Red Bud was run today and Tammy and I did the 10 k and Rick did the 5k. It was pretty chilly, but there was a sustained 35 mile an hour wind. Not fun when you are also running up hills! It was a good run in the way that I think my knees are going to hold out for the half marathon. Hope you are all well,
love,
mommy

Red Bud - Part Un



Who in their right mind would get up at 0'dark thirty on a Saturday morning to ride a bike in a very cold Oklahoma wind???? Me...Rick...and about 500 other brave souls. This is the first leg of the Red Bud races this weekend. Man, I was debating the 33 or the 52 miler, but I didn't want to humiliate the others so I stuck to the 10 :) Tomorrow, Rick is doing the 5k and Tammy and I are doing the 10k. Tam's signed up for the OKC half and she fully expects this to be a pre-race trial tomorrow. (I won't disillusion her yet).
Rick is enthralling the folks at the Pottawatomie County Democratic Convention now and I get to scoop kitty litter and scrub out the toilets. My life is a roller coaster of fun!
Hope you are all well,
love,
mommy

Marley and Me


I just could not resist the cuteness any longer and purchased the movie Marley and Me. What I find incomprehensible is that Elizabeth sat through this movie. It's soooo sad! Even Keiko liked it! Does she really think Owen Wilson is hot???
It was a pretty day today and i got in a nice 6 mile bike ride. The temps are supposed to be very cold tomorrow. The powers that be determined that the heaters needed to be shut off in school on Monday, so I had to break out my thermals again. I would use a space heater in my classroom, but it knocks out the power to the whole west side of the hall. Oh well... what doesn't kill ya....
love,
mommy