Sonja's Video Debut (with annoying squeaky voiced narration)

OK so this isn't the most fascinating video ever, but I'm learning!!! It's amazing how clearly Sonja is a working dog. She's very serious during our runs, at least the ones on trail in the snow, and seems annoyed by walking and falling. She must think both those things demonstrate a weak character.

Christmas Eve! Happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy!!!

Celebrity Sighting at Grocery Store

Ted and I saw John Lithgow and a friend (wife?) at the grocery store. I was trying so hard not to stare and be obnoxious but he was totally in the way of all the produce I needed. It's funny because although he was casually wearing a plaid shirt he was wearing a beret tilted to the side. I don't know why that struck me as so funny. Who would have thought when Ted and I saw him in the pre-Broadway showing of Sweet Smell of Success in Chicago that we'd bump into him at the grocery store in Kalispell, Montana. This isn't really that remarkable since he lives here at least part of the year, but it's not every day in Montana that this type of thing happens.

In running news I managed 20 miles today. I was supposed to do this run yesterday but skipped it because I had so much fun Friday night I was tired on Saturday. Thus, I was 10 miles short this week and ended up with 41 miles total.

M = R

T = 8

W = 5

R = 8

F = R

S = R (and sleep until 10)

S = 20

(total 41)

Sonja ran the last 5 miles with me

cool little trail half a mile from the house

Hostess with the Mostess

Tonight Ruth and Jerry had a party and I'm always impressed by people like them -- everything is so perfect and you just feel so comfortable and happy. The food was incredible -- salmon that they caught in Alaska, caviar, pheasant, elk marsala, delicious desserts (multiple), good wine and good conversation. I need to take lessons on making the perfect little appetizers and such. They have such a nice house too -- I kind of want to just move in. It's tempting to just stay. But we want to be invited back.

Random Update

This weekend Ted and I went to Billings for my work Christmas party. My employer generously brings us all together for lobster tail and wine each Christmas. We went Friday night to celebrate our dear friend and colleague being made partner. Saturday Ted and I drove to Red Lodge which is a cute ski town an hour from Billings. I took a great picture with my cell phone of this funny giant man with a gun (statue not real) but I can't figure out how to get it from phone to computer. Our flight home this morning was EARLY and we're both pretty tired. But it was a really nice weekend and I appreciate the opportunity to get together with everyone.

In running news, I did 45 miles this week.
M = rest
T = 10
W = 9
R = rest
F = 16
S = 3 dreadmill at the hotel
S = 7

These were all slow miles. I am going to do what Jack Daniels says to do and increase about 10 miles every three weeks. And lots of whiskey. (har har har).

CHARACTERS

Cheryl was nice enough to send this to me -- in case I was missing the "Hi Guy." Hi Guy runs every race in his super loud flip flops and rides everywhere on his bike. He seems like he would be quirky and fun but rumor has it he's kind of a jerk. Anyhow, I haven't seen any comparable characters locally, so while I don't miss Hi Guy at all I do sort of enjoy his existance.

(photo courtesy of Gary)

Also, Cheryl tipped me off that the Chicken controversy in Chicago is getting serious. I do actually think the rodents make the chicken scenario a little different in Chicago than, say, Missoula. Chicago is already pretty rat-a-licious.

LINK

LAZY SUNDAY

Unless you're Ted. Here's his delicious stollen -- he baked it from scratch.



Puppy is tired from her run today:


I would have liked to nap but the dogs don't let me sleep. EVER. Note the old torn sheets on the couch -- we're hoping the couch will survive two dogs.

Today was a beautiful clear sunny day. I did my first official WS trail training run (at least I thought of it that way in my head) and I think I might have seen a BEAR!!! for the first time. It was pretty far off, so frankly, it could have been something else. But it was big, black, round and fast as it barrelled straight down the mountain. I turned around when I saw it and ended up running 13 miles (I had hoped to run 14). It was a run I would describe as glorious -- crisp cold air, beauty all around and I just felt great. Here are a few pictures I took. They don't really do the colors justice though.

RED SONJA IS ALL GROWN UP NOW
but here are some baby pictures

She recently turned one and it's hard to believe she grew so much. Her eyes aren't really red but here are some cute baby pictures -- from back when her head was proportional to the rest of her body :p




In running/training news, I've been doing crunches/back thingies and am ramping up my mileage (ha for me that's not saying much!). Hopefully tomorrow I will get in a few hours at Heron Park (on the Foys to Blacktail trail) -- although Iris scared me by telling me it's mountain lion central out there. I will carry a big stick for poking mean giant kitties.

TREE DECORATED!!!

I'M A WINNER!!!! (I think?)

I can't even believe my name was drawn. In late June, I will be running 100 miles under 30 hours. This will be an event I can't wing -- I'm sure mental fortitude is critical but it can only take you so far before you fall over. I've got a lot to do!

I have to say though, I feel a little embarassed. Kendra did not get in, and she's a *real* runner who I would expect could finish in the top 5 if not top 3. (By the way Kendra, I'd love to know what your plans are for 2008. . . ) Joe and Chris, who have done other 100s and really deserved a spot did not get in either. Me, I have no business being entered. But in recognition of opportunity I have, I plan to give this my all and make sure I show up at the starting line in shape to succeed. It will be tough to base build over the next few months -- this morning Leanne and I ran 15 (she ran 18) in the snowy cold and it was pretty miserable in parts. But I can't make excuses -- I have a very long race to get ready for!!!

In non-running news, Ted and I went to the forest and cut down a tree today (with the proper permit). It was absolutely gorgeous -- we went to Lion Lake where Le Grizz finishes up. Unfortunately I forgot my camera but I'll post pictures of the tree once it's decorated. It's kinda BIG! Funny how your perspective changes when you're out in the woods surrounded by so many trees. . .

WOAH BEAR, WOAH!!!

I've shown all my visitors the Grizzly Bear Safety Video, which is funny. According to the video, you're supposed to say "woah, bear, woah" as you back away. Well, turns out David and I weren't the only ones paying attention:


Hip shot deters charging grizzly

By JIM MANN/The Daily Inter Lake

‘It was just a monster bear’

It happened as fast Vic Workman as could say, “Whoa bear, whoa bear, whoa!”



FULL ARTICLE

THE bear video


The part about "it was just a monster bear" makes me think of the spoof done on Grizzly Man, which I previously posted in this very blog. What a big big bear!!!

Oh, bears are so funny. . .

THANKSGIVING -- a recap

Although it would have been nice to have the whole family around for Thanksgiving, we've become accustomed to *not* travelling on amateur weekend. Even though it was just the two of us, I brought out the good china and fancy table things Anne Wright made us register for. :p We even used the sterling silver eating utensils from Aunt Pat and Grandma. It was fancy indeed!

So below is my attempt at napkin origami (sp?). Not the best but hopefully I will be even better by Christmas.


Even though mom never made this, and I'm pretty sure no one in our family makes this, I thought I'd make green bean casserole to add some traditional kitsch. I have to say, though I love all the ingredients, it was totally overrated.


But the cheese fondue was absolutely perfect. Ted baked fresh sourdough bread and made the fondue -- I picked greens from the coldframe for the salad. They are GREEN. Apparently that's what happens when you pick them moments before the meal.


For dessert I made pumpkin pudding, which is a Weight Watchers recipe. Make a box of ff sf butterscotch pudding and mix it with a can of pumpkin and add pumpkin pie spice to taste. Top with whipped cream and you have crustless pumpkin pie. We chose this not because we were dieting on Thanksgiving, but because regardless of its low cal low fat properties, it rocks. Tastes just like pumpkin pie without the crust. And we all know crusts are hard to make.


I hope everyone had an equally lovely Thanksgiving!!!

ONE YEAR!!!

One year ago today was our first day in Montana. I miss my Chicago friends everyday, but I feel grateful to have found this life here.

More chicken controversy. . .

Cheryl emailed this article to me. Looks like chickens are causing controversy far and wide.

BLOG TAG

I was tagged by a BORG (the cool kind of course) and am to share five random facts about myself.

1) I have a tattoo on my left ankle -- it's a girlie sunshine that I got the moment I turned 18. I think that's what happens when you tell kids "you can do what you want when you're 18" -- you think they're going to forget and change their minds but it only increases their resolve. Other than my earlobes, however, I have no piercings.

2) I chose my profession (law) because I wanted to be Christine Sullivan (Markie Post's character) on Night Court. I watched that show religiously and just knew I would be like Markie! Except rather than becoming a PD, which I very nearly did, I sold my soul to the man.

3) Joanna (Hedy and Maggie's mom) and I had a fairly elaborate "game" we played when we were little called "Martian-Land." We were judges, which was the highest authority on martian land, and would travel there by lego. We knew we made it up, but my brother Dave didn't. We made him cry by not letting him come to Martian-Land. We were mean. (We met when we were 4).

4) I just agreed last night to join the Board of
Foys to Blacktail which is a super cool group trying to preserve a trail system right here in town. I just went to the meeting 'cause I wanted a trail race, gosh! :p

5) I'm really scared of chairlifts and am already feeling a little anxious about all the "plans" people have to take me up to Big Mountain to learn to ski. David might remember when I started crying in line for the chairlift in Breckenride - I was borderline hysterical.

OK, so now I'm supposed to tag 3 people. I tag Leanne, even though her blog is technically supposed to be about her dogs. . . I think it would be ok to branch out, and David, assuming he has time which he might not, and Maggie and Hedy.

CHICKEN CONTROVERSY!!!

I totally got this from David's sister's blog but I laughed so hard when I watched this video that I was crying. My boss walked in while I was watching (of course) and remarked: "only in the People's Republic of Missoula". . . Um, so, anyhow. . . evidently there's a chicken controversy down there.

There are lots of chickens in my neighborhood -- in fact, when my dogs got loose the other night they found some of our neighbors' chickens but left them unharmed. Thankfully. I actually researched our city ordinances because I would love to have hens for eggs. Unfortunately, I'm not sure Sibes and Hens are natural friends...

So here's the video and article

BIG NEWS!!!

I'm going to be an AUNT!!! Tina, pictured below eating watermelon, who was nice enough to marry my brother Dave, pictured below with me (since it's my blog it's still somewhat about me, right? :p), is pregnant!!! This is very exciting news. They're going to be GREAT parents.

VETERANS DAY

My maternal grandparents met during WWII -- Grandma was in the Women's Army Corps and my grandfather, who died before I was born, was in the Army. They fell in love during an air raid. Bombs = romance. They married during the war in Italy. Below is a picture of a picture of them (I'm too lazy to use the scanner). Happy Veterans Day.

Another reason I love where I live. . .

The dogs got out. They were "at large." I was running around the neighborhood screaming for them. Very quickly, neighbors were mobilized -- either running around looking or driving looking. People were all very concerned and took the case of the loose Huskies very seriously. Leanne and Iris came and helped rather than being where they were supposed to be -- which was so wonderful of them. We finally got 'em. The time Zeke got loose in Chicago, he was hit (gently) by a car -- and the driver yelled profanities at Ted and sped off. Gotta love a "community" (I think that's what they're called anyhow).