Planning for 2012 -- Races and Tunes

Do you feel the ruv?

I have started putting together my "race" schedule for 2012 and posted it over there -----> on the right side over there.  See it?  I don't know that I will really try to do both Pocatello and San Juan Solstice, both difficult mountain 50 milers requiring travel, but maybe I will.  It will depend somewhat on how the beginning of my year shapes up work-wise.  Gotta bill those hours.  In any case I told Leslie I'm definitely in for Pocatello.  So we'll see about SJS.

I am not sure whether to do the "recreational" or "race" division of the Whitefish Whiteout.  I was dead last in my division in the recreational division last year which clearly suggests I should step it up and be last again in an even more difficult version of the event.  I will likely do the rec division again unless someone wants to stick with me for the race division.  I might need some technical support/instruction... or maybe not. 

There's a chance I will swear never to do another 100 after Susitna but there's an equally good chance that by March I'll be interested in Bear again, so I'll keep that on the calendar.

I am the token girl on a 3 person team doing the Grizzly Man adventure race.  I cannot navigate or orienteer, and I am promised that I just have to keep up and can space out -- our goal, evidently, is to win and qualify for some sort of championship adventure race.  The desire of my teammates to win is my main motivation this winter to be super fit.  It's a lot of pressure and I don't want to let them down.  Frankly, this is why I am not a team sport kind of person.  I hate disappointing people -- I am a classic overachiever who prefers to not have to achieve -- because I am also lazy.

Brew to Brew is a relay from Kansas City (Boulevard Brewery) to the Free State Brewery in Lawrence.  My dad, brother and step-mom will all run or walk or participate with me.  If you love beer and are super fun and enjoy relays we will consider your application to join team "Beerly Standing."

It seems people are interested in running music suggestions and my playlist.  I thought I'd share the first song on the playlist.  This is the first time I've watched this video and am delighted to see that it features a runner -- who is clearly crazier than I could ever hope to be even.  Who thought that was possible??? 

Happy Holidays Cyberpeeps!

Are you interested in what we have been up to these past couple of weeks?  No?  Well I'll tell you anyhow.

1.  Trying to ski despite disappointingly sparse snowpack.

2.  Driving our new giant truck that has replaced our Subaru.  Much like my interest in the Su 100, my interest in driving a truck started out as a joke but somehow became a reality.

3.  Holiday gluttony.  This morning my girlfriends and I ran to the donut shop and ate donuts.  We did get 4 miles in though.  Tomorrow will be an eggnog day.  Tonight Ted and I are baking cookies (though it's like baking with a toddler where Ted made the dough and will probably do everything while I hover around stealing dough and such).

4.  Rhino figured out finally that he can leap over the fence without much trouble.  Sigh.  We will be doing some fencing, which is always fun during the winter when the ground is frozen.  We need to make our yard like the Supermax Prison I toured in Wisconsin before it opened.  Impossible to dig out, jump over or otherwise outsmart.

5.  This weekend we head out east to visit Ted's family and celebrate Christmas.  We are both looking forward to seeing everyone.  The dogs are probably not looking forward to being boarded.

6.  I am working on playlists.  One for my friend in South Dakota who has a big marathon coming up, and one for me and Jill for Su training.  They may end up being the same playlist. 

7.  Playing with my Christmas presents, which I have already recieved because I'm spoiled and because they're fun toys to play with (e.g. an iPad, SPOT tracker...)

8.  Billing the last hours of the years.  Or hoping to.  This diversion is probably not condusive to achieving that end.  I am such a procrastinator.  Nothing is fun unless done at the last minute?  Like, cramming as much work as possible into the last few days of the year while normal people are enjoying their holiday?

9.  Remembering that I still have some Christmas shopping to do but have no idea what to get for people.  Still.  Just a few days before Christmas.  If I was super rich I would buy iPads and SPOT trackers for everyone.  And giant trucks maybe.  Though that obviously demonstrates a hatred for the Earth that I have to mitigate by not buying everyone giant trucks.  If it's just me with one it's ok, right?

10.  Celebrating the solstice and the fact that the days will now get longer.  Light between 8:30 and 4:30 isn't really a lot of daytime...

Well folks, there you have it.  Exciting stuff indeed.  I suspect it will be a little while before I blog again because I won't be able to roll myself to the computer after the holidays have ended.  Actually, I've been fairly good about mitigating the damage I do during this time of year.  I will just be relaxing and not doing the sorts of things people are willing to read about.  Enjoy your holidays, whatever you celebrate, if anything!  If nothing else, enjoy the time off from work if you get any time off from work. 

Rhino Report + Befuddlement

There's really not nearly enough snow in the mountains for the resorts to open, but Amber and I found enough powder up on Blacktail Mountain for some laps.  Rhino came along and proved himself a most excellent ski companion.  His only flaw was his inability to distinguish between us and another group of skiers in terms of his responsibility of making sure the last person made it down.  We therefore had to wait for the last girl in another group to come down the mountain before Rhino rejoined us.

 It's quite possible that this was one of the top days in all of Rhino's year of doggie life. He seemed to really have a lot of fun -- or maybe it was just that I was having so much fun and assume it's fun for everyone.

I started to put a training calendar together for Susitna but the truth is -- I don't know exactly what I should focus on, other than some walks in the snow.  I feel ready right now, and doubt I will lose too much endurance between now and February, particularly if I remain moderately active.  On the heels of my Grand Canyon R2R2R, I think a long run in December and a long run in January might suffice (with my regular shorter runs, some gym work and skiing being the meat of my activity).  This isn't to say I'm in shape to destroy Susitna, but I can't really fathom how I could get into such shape even if I weren't so lazy.  A race like Susitna is so mental -- it's just not the easiest race to train for.  A traditional running race requires running.  As has been suggested previously by Beat (who is doing the Iditarod Trail Invitational this year, which makes me somewhat jealous), even gains in speed will likely not translate at Su.  Suggestions?  I guess I should go out and simply do some long slogs in the snow... but slogging doesn't really require too much focused slog training.  I feel like I'm going to be in way better shape than last year and that the challenges of weather and my brain will again be the main things to worry about.  Anyone with opinions should feel free to offer your $.02.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim

After enjoying our traditional cheese fondue with Ted and some friends on Thanksgiving, I flew to Salt Lake City to ride with Meghan to the Grand Canyon where we planned to run from the South Rim to the North Rim and back up the South Rim.  Meghan wanted to do this run and so I invited myself along.  I did a similar though shorter version (to Ribbon Falls and back) back in late January 2010 and was interested in experiencing the full meal deal. 

Meghan on the way down

We chose to run down the South Kaibab Trail, up and down the North Kaibab Trail and back up the Bright Angel Trail, which brings the distance to about 45 miles.  For those who are interested in these things, we hit Cottonwood Campground in about 3.5 hours and the North Rim in a little less than 6.5 hours.  We were back at Phantom Ranch in a bit under 10 hours and finished in approximately 14:03.  This included about an hour of stopping/sitting.  There is water at Phantom Ranch, creek water at the Roaring Springs (which we treated) and then water at Indian Gardens and possibly other resthouses on the Bright Angel Trail.  This was plenty.  I probably drank a total of 6 liters of water.  The temps were sunny and roughly 40-60s.

Meghan running into the sunrise

I have to confess that I woke up Saturday morning feeling sub par.  I was just plain tired.  This isn't the way I like to feel when about to embark on an arduous physical adventure, but you play the cards you're holding, right? 

photo credit: Meghan Hicks

The views were 100% spectacular.  What can I say.  The Grand Canyon is a popular destination for a reason.  Getting to spend a full day there is a privilege.

photo credit: Meghan Hicks

Speaking of privileges, it was evident that I was taking for granted my physical ability to do a run like this when I was feeling a little whiny inside.  Trudging up the North Rim I was sighing heavily and whining, which I didn't even realize until Meghan told me about it later.  She noted her concern that by the time we were headed up the South Rim I'd be on all fours.  Looking back on my 2010 trip, I feel extra bad for Cheryl who was not feeling her best but rallied nonetheless and made it out in one piece.  I remember feeling awesome that day, but I better appreciate how tough this trail is when feeling less than awesome.  I should try to not forget that I am privileged to have the fitness and health (not to mention opportunity) to be able to do this even when feeling a little off.  It was still an amazing experience that should never be taken for granted. 

photo credit: Meghan Hicks

It is an even greater privilege to have friends like Meghan with whom I can enjoy such a day and who tolerates my less than sparkly personality when I'm in my own hole inside the hole.  I thought often about my buddies from the 2010 trip and wish Cheryl could have felt better.  Perhaps I can convince her to go back someday...  Anyhow, I know I'm a broken record with my friend-worship but seriously -- how did I get so lucky?  I heart Meghan and I heart my friends and family.  Lucky lucky lucky girl I am.

Meghan still running

Back to the story -- despite feeling blah, the day was relatively uneventful (as in pleasant and unpunctuated by drama or terribleness).  I rolled my ankle at one point which made for a somewhat tenuous half hour or so but my ankle seemed to recover quickly.  I also took a tumble which bloodied my elbow and knee but nothing major.  I was extremely pleased with my roll down the trail which decreased the trauma of the fall -- but no one saw it to compliment me.  You will have to take my word for it.  I did begin joking about taking a mule out since I'd been dreading the hike up the South Rim since I woke up that morning.  Meghan was less than amused by that idea I think.  Because she is an extremely caring person, she spent a lot of time worrying about the mules and whether they were well cared for and happy.  I expect they are probably well cared for since they are very public and I would expect pretty valuable.   

Remarkably, the hike out the South Rim ended up being my favorite and best-feeling part of the day.  I like to preach to others learning to conquer long distances that you have to stay in the moment and not think ahead to all the miles left to go -- I did not adhere to this rule on Saturday.  I didn't fully realize this until I was trudging up the South Rim, realizing I had been dreading it all day and letting it affect my attitude.  Of course, the hike up ended up being fine and my worries were misguided.  It's not so bad really.

At the top of the North Rim

I'd like to do this again but take a significant chunk off my time.  Not that it's a race or anything, but it would be great to get to the beer and pizza more quickly.  After awhile one becomes canyoned out and the beer at the end of the tunnel beckons loudly.

Just a random observation I made Saturday: when I get tired to the point of just wanting to cry a little (or any other emotion that would typically cause a child to want her mommy) I think of and miss Ted.  It's exactly that feeling of wanting mommy -- which is either extremely weird and disturbing or means I really like him and he has grown on me :-) 

I think this was good training for Susitna though right now I feel pretty wrecked.  The combination of holiday eating, travel eating, Meghan + Danni food mayhem + strenuous effort bloating = not feeling my fittest right now.  It's totally worth it of course.

so glad to be done...

Thanks Meghan for the good times.  I have gotten to play with Meghan 3 times in the past 3 months, which is yet another thing to be thankful for.  Since it was Thanksgiving weekend and all I am being thankful.

Ski Season Soon

Dave and I investigated the snowpack Saturday and hiked up Big Mountain (at Whitefish Mountain Resort) to earn our very first turns of the season.  While it's definitely "not there" yet, there was enough snow to ski down one run (only the cattrack seemed adequately covered -- the rest of the mountain seemed insufficiently covered and quite grassy yet).  It was a great teaser though and got me excited about Season III of my skiing adventures.

Dave checks out grass levels for downhill route

I was worried I wouldn't remember how to ski and would have trouble getting down the mountain.  Granted, we were on the easiest route down from the summit, but it was fairly effortless and I felt pretty good about my form and am optimistic that this will be the year I kick my skiing up enough to have more fun in the backcountry than I often do due to skill issues.

downhill preparations

In the meantime, while I wait for more snow to grace the mountains with powdery goodness, I'll wrap up the running season with the Grand Canyon R2R2R next Saturday.  Whoooooop!

Run to Hot Springs, Montana

My friend Elisa, with whom I previously rode bikes to Hot Springs, decided she wanted to run to Hot Springs.  Just to see if she could do it.  She could obviously.  We ran from outside Kila to Hot Springs -- 38 miles total.  Next time we'll run from home which will make it closer to 60 miles :-)

My camera battery was uncooperative so I didn't get that many pictures.  It was a little dreary and cold -- windy at times -- but very pretty.

When we arrived in Hot Springs we enjoyed some soup and sandwiches at "Rainbow Zen Cafe" -- a cute little place run by a woman named LoHua (pr. lowa).  She also read my Tarot Cards.  Above all, we again soaked in the "second most healingest waters" which cured all that ails me.  I'm sure of it.

On the 26th I'm going to run Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon with Meghan.  It was a last minute thing but sounds like good training for Susitna so I'm game.  I know it's going to hurt but I also know it will be a blast.  Maybe we can get Elisa to come.  Just to see if she can do it of course :-)

Just like that, it got dark

Up here in Northwestern Montana it gets pretty dark this time of year.  Particularly with the end of daylight savings time, it's dark when I go to work and dark when I leave work.  It's also gloomy on top of dark, which makes it even darker.  I lose all motivation to do anything other than lounge around in my pajamas and sleep.  And eat.  And drink red wine and scotch.  Working out seems like an overwhelming proposition, (though I am lucky to have friends that force me to meet up with them at 5:30 a.m. or 5:45 a.m. most days).  By springtime I am ready to plan fun things -- right now I don't even feel that excited about planning adventures.  They sound tiring.  I am exhausted just thinking about adventuring. . . . I just want to roll around in a giant fluffy bed of slothfulness.

Father Damian Karras and Regan Ewok

At Sixteen Weeks

There are sixteen weeks until the 2012 Susitna 100. Among the things I plan to do to prepare are: get leaner (I have thankfully shed the 10 pounds I gained over the last year already), get stronger (I plan to hit the gym twice a week and do heavy squats, deadlifts, kettlebell swings and shoulder presses for good measure), get faster (my endurance is fine but I could use some fast twitchers) and get used to walking in snow. We don’t have snow yet, so I should be doing ankle exercises or something. Of course, I’m not. Nor am I doing much that promotes getting leaner. I have been going to the gym at least and hit the track this morning, so 50% is a start.

Since my training isn’t yet in full swing I’m doing what I much prefer to do: think about gear. I still have Andrew’s sled and harness which he let me borrow last year, but I think I ought to get my own pulk system. He uses his with his kiddos and I feel bad for depriving him of it for most of last winter. The main thing I am contemplating is the waist belt system. I want a large pocket on the front in which I can keep many hours’ worth of Snickers, my light and anything else I will need between checkpoints so I don’t have to stop at all except when physically required. I am not sure what the best bet is. I clearly need to enlist Dave as my consultant, since he makes all manner of gear and is a genius when it comes to creating useful stuff.

It also is never too soon to consider what to bring. There is required gear, but beyond that I brought far too much stuff last year. It is required that one’s sled contain 15 pounds of stuff, including required gear. Mine was around 40 pounds. To some extent it helps to know more about the race-day conditions when planning, but assuming it will be cold as hedoublehockeysticks like it was last year, I plan to pack:

 Required gear (sleeping bag, pad, food, bivy, water, lights)

 Feathered Friends puffy coat (this would have saved me last year)

 one extra pair of mitts or gloves (last year I brought a million which was unnecessary)

 one extra hat (last year I brought a million which was unnecessary)

 Balaclava (maybe two since they get gross)

 Duct tape, foot kit, 5 pairs of extra socks (easy to grab from the sled to bring into the checkpoints with me)

 iPods/camera (on my person probably to keep batteries warm)

 copious amounts of handwarmers

 snowshoes (depending on conditions)

 lightweight rain pullover (or heavy one depending on conditions)


The key here is to have the FF puffy readily available the second I get into the sled. In other words, the first thing I do will be to put on my coat before doing anything else. This is key. Second, I will have my food divided into 6 baggies and have each on my person between checkpoints. I do not want to stop to get food. When I leave each checkpoint I want to be able to grab the baggie for that segment, put it in my geniusly constructed and engineered easily-accessible front pocket and go. My lights will be in the corresponding baggie so I don’t have to stop to get my light either. No stopping. Unless it’s really warm of course, all stopping should be only when it’s warm… this is all I have for now. All suggestions and comments are welcome. We do have, after all, 16 weeks to obsess.

Whitefish Legacy Trail 20k

Unsure of whether I should sign up for the 10k or 20k, I decided I should err on the side of over-doing it.  That's always the best choice.  No, I hadn't run since last weekend and had no idea if I would feel ok or fall apart.  I figured it was looking like a beautiful fall day so I wanted to maximize my time outside and hoped for the best.  Indeed, it was sunny and cool with bright yellow aspen trees, sparkly lakes and smooth single track.  At one point it smelled like my favorite scratch 'n sniff sticker from when I was little, though I cannot remember what the sticker was supposed to smell like.  It felt incredible to run -- like running in a dream.  I felt like I was sprinting -- of course my average pace was around 10:45 or something which might suggest I wasn't actually sprinting.  I finished third from last, which was somewhat annoying since, you know, I felt like I was sprinting and all.  And, the reality is that both knees were creaky, as was my left calf and both feet.  I am not 100% but hope to be there soon. 

Next up is Susitna 100 -- Danni's Revenge.  As some of you know, I dropped last year at the last checkpoint after shin pain slowed me to the point where I couldn't stay warm.  This year I have a very warm puffy coat so I should be able to stay warm.  Further, I will do some ankle strengthening stuff and specific snow-walking in hopes of avoiding similar issues.  I have four months until Su which should offer plenty of time to get ready.  My plan is to lose some more weight (I've finally dropped the 10 pounds I gained over the past couple of years), lift more heavy weights, walk in the snow, do ankle exercises and, of course, ski.  I will also run with my girlfriends Leanne and Allison who want to train for a March marathon.  If I do all of these things I should be in good shape to finish Su.

I don't think I'll plan any adventures between now and then.  I should probably do some work...     

Slickrock 100

Turn up the signal, wipe out the noise... I have no idea what Peter Gabriel meant when he wrote Signal to Noise, but when it played on my iPod, set on shuffle, at sunset, it seemed the perfect accompaniment.  You would guess that I learned my lesson about iPod shuffles at sunset after the Susitna-Gorecki-sunset meltdown, but I'm glad I didn't.  Anyhow, the ability to "wipe out the noise" is why I love being outside for silly lengths of time.  It's basically impossible to think about much less worry about things like work or whatever else.  Everything is boiled down to the essential: move forward, eat and drink (or rather "go forward, move ahead, try to detect it, it's not too late, to whip it..." (that's Ted's addition to this report)).  Maybe also: check out the scenery.  Anyhow, onto my "report."

Meghan, Danni, Beat and Roger at the rainy start

I ran the Slickrock 100 this weekend and it was my best 100 yet.  I felt great the whole time except for some minor foot achiness near the end.  I never had a low and had fun the entire time.  Who thought it was possible?  I flew into SLC and my friend Meghan, who I backpacked with in the Uintas, picked me up and took me out for Indian food in Salt Lake City.  I am so ethnic food deprived here in NW Montana.  It was a real treat.  Saturday we met up with Beat and our new friend Roger from Australia, who is hilarious.  We attended the pre-race meeting where we learned of a "quicksand situation" that would require a complete course reroute and then had dinner at the Moab Brewery (the race is outside Moab, between Arches and Canyonlands).

stunning scenery

The start of the race was rainy, as was most of Saturday, but it was beautiful nonetheless.  The new course was going to be tougher than the original race course, so my goals had to go by the wayside (since I didn't formally train it was somewhat absurd to have goals) but I didn't really care.  I was just there to have fun really.

that Cherokee drove up that...

The course is run mostly on jeep trail, and I was astonished by the places people take motor vehicles.  I mean, I would NEVER get in a car that was going to drive straight up a rock wall.  NEVER EVER. 

Martin did not want to be photographed -- silly Martin!

I ran into my friend Martin who lives in Helena and got to chat with him for a short while before he was far ahead of me.  That was a real treat since I rarely get to see him, except for at the occasional race.

The race was mostly uneventful, which is a first for me.  I was happy and never cried.  The only thing that was somewhat eventful was when Jill (HERE is her report, which is much more interesting than mine), who flew in from California to pace me (thankyousomuchwhatagreatfriend), met up with me at mile 53, we got to chatting and took a wrong turn.  It was awhile before we realized it and ran back to the correct road.  We then continued on for sometime until we pulled into the aid station, where we were told "you were already here."  Ooops.  We went back the way we came in the wrong direction.  We even remarked "so strange how this is downhill both ways."  Yeah...

busy on the slickrock

After realizing this, I started remarking politely: "*$%! &$^! &$^!"  The race director was there and said I could subtract the distance from the final out-and-back (on the second reroute).  Wow.  I have never heard of that.  I was back to being supremely happy.  It was great too because Jill and I got lost a second time.  We even said many times "we are going to pay close attention now!"  And I would say we did.  But sometimes it's hard in the night in the desert to go the right way I think.

random grave of child

I will have to Google Mary Jane Francis.  Poor little girl.

RIP Mary Jane Francis

On the final out and back we calculated by our GPSs that I had 15 more miles so we set out for 7.5 and were going to turn around.  The turn around was about 4.5 miles out, so regardless of what the total distance was for everyone, I ran 5.5 miles more than everyone else (who didn't get lost).  I am guessing I ran close-ish to 100 miles though a tad short, up to 5 miles short (which would be 10 miles for the other runners).  Someone else thought it was more than 100 -- Garmins aren't 100% reliable but I would put my money on the race being short.  Regardless, trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I finished in 25:24, a significant PR for me.   My best 100 time (of the two prior ones I'd finished) was 29:10 or something like that.

the Colorado River

I am really pleased.  I feel as if though training could allow me to someday run 100 under 24 hours.  I'd like to retire from 100s but this really fueled my interest.  There's nothing better (or rarer) than a race that goes smoothly.  I should probably stop now while I'm ahead but that hardly fits with the excessive unhealthy nature of ultramarathon running.

sunset

sunrise

my puffy hand -- "the hot" as Meghan would say

The only weird thing was my puffiness.  I get puffy normally, but this was out of control.  Does anyone know how it's possible to get so puffy?  I think my electrolytes might have been off already due to wine consumption earlier in the week, but I have never gotten this grotesquely puffy.  Gross.  But fascinating.  Can't look away, can you?

pacer Jill Homer

our camp area

All in all, it was a great weekend and a fabulous race and I couldn't be happier.  The race itself wasn't without glitches but weather and brand-new-ness of the race combined to work against the RDs.  I have no major issues and appreciated the opportunity to go wipe out the noise.

Limp In, Leap Out

According to its Chamber of Commerce, this is the motto of Hot Springs, Montana.  I can't actually find any proof, but according to Elisa, Hot Springs has the second most healingest waters anywhere.  Well it's hard to beat that.  Thus, we rode bikes to Hot Springs on Saturday, taking a rather arduous back road route.  I mean, there's no point in "tapering" when you haven't "trained" for a race, right?  Am I right? 

Because it's Elisa, she taped speakers and an iPod to her bike.  We couldn't possibly do this ride without Madonna.  She tried to tell me that the only song on the iPod was "Lucky Star" by Madonna, but she wasn't facile enough with the iPod to put it on repeat so the truth was quickly revealed.  It was actually really great fun having tunes the whole time.

The road basically climbs for about 20 miles then goes down for about 5 and is then flat for 20 more miles.  Hardly seems fair but the road was pretty bad in places which made the downhill a little scary.  My brain was shaking so hard I couldn't see.  So I rode my brakes quite a bit.

My favorite thing was that of the things Elisa was carrying in her small backpack, she had a bottle of homemade raspberry wine that she reported "tastes terrible until the second sip."  She brought this in case we found ourselves stuck in a ditch killing time, waiting for a ride or something (we saw almost no cars and there's no cell service so the wine would have helped for awhile I'm sure).

Alas, there was no sitting in the ditch and instead I drank the raspberry wine, to which I added water for rehydration purposes, in one of the hot springs pools.  I certainly came in limping and left leaping but I'm not sure if it was those healing waters or Caleb's homemade raspberry wine...

I'm sure that it's all good preparation for the Slickrock 100 this weekend.  If nothing else I'll enjoy the company of friends and get to enjoy some desert before hunkering down for winter.

No man is an island

Last weekend I returned to Madison for my ten year law school reunion.  I was on the fence about going but am really glad I went.  I had the chance to catch up with good friends.  Cheryl drove all the way up from Chicago to basically just have lunch with me.  My friend Angela came along for the football game which was great because otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to see her.

I had the chance to catch up with two of my besties from law school.  There were four of us in a study group and we remarked as we caught up over beers that we couldn't have done what we all did alone -- together we made us all 300% better.  We all did super well in school and it's because we were together and spent every finals period at our table in the library helping each other and holding each other accountable.  These were and still are incredibly good friends as well, and though we hadn't seen each other in many years it was completely natural as if we'd just hung out the day before.

Jake, me and CJ

I thought it was a good reminder that I would never be where I am today without my friends.  I've been fortunate enough to be blessed with so many incredibly good friends who have helped me through so many things in life.  I could never be a hermit.  I'd be dead hermit :p 

Me and Cheryl

It was great to get back to Madison.  I tried to visit as much as I had time for -- that included every bar we could squeeze in.  Definitely a weekened of debauchery but it was incredibly fun. 

a "tech dingy" (tippy sail boats)

I used to sail!  Maybe someday we'll sail again.  Flathead Lake is pretty big though.

Union Terrace

Orpheum -- where Ted and I had our wedding reception

Where Prof. Komesar taught us to "lawyer it both ways"

law school atrium

My home for three years -- law school library