Did it snow this much last year?

Hmm, I can't remember.
They salt or chemical the side walks here, think it burns Emmitt's poor little puppy pads. Makes for very short, very stop and go and clean off his feet walks. He is currently wrapped around the heating vent letting the hot air blow his ears.

As for me, my run was a bust, so I decided to shovel out everyone's walk ways and the neighborhood sidewalks. That counts as physical activity right?

On the plus side, Emmitt and I have made friends...her name is Ellie shes a chocolate lab. The girl is Jess. Very nice, very laid back, shes a lacross coach at one of the local private girls' schools. We meet for lunch and evening doggie dates now, Emmitt is very happy to play. I am happy to have a female around from time to time :) She and her husband, joe, live 4 doors down from us. Her husband is currently in grad school, so I remember what its like to be home alone all night...I know she likes having Emmitt and I around to walk with at night.

Sooo back to more snow. I just wish we could get out of this weather pattern. I like when we are in the southernly weather pattern, where the wind comes up from the south, not this pattern where it comes from the north west. All I can do is hope for more sunny days, even though I know they will be cold for another few months...

The Music of my Life

So I can't remember what Drew and I were talking about, but somehow we got into a conversation about music...Oh wait, just remembered how we got into that conversation...anyway, this is a PG site...so how we got there isn't important. I realize I am plugged into music at all times.
As long as I can remember I loved music. I begged my parents at age 10 to get me my own stereo. When I finally was allowed to have one, I put all my saved money into it...My dad said he would match whatever amount I could spare. Now I'm a saver with a capitol "S"...so I got a good system. I listened on the bus on the way to school, at home doing homework, bus rides to soccer and track, walking to and from college classes, (in some classes as well)...always painting and drawing, and not only listening to music while I did that, but also illustrated things I saw in my mind when I listened to a particular song. Basically I guess I would say that the only time I don't have music on somewhere when I am sleeping, I will even listen sometimes while watching tv, (I know...weird)
heck, I even listen to music in the shower :)
As I sit here, I am listing to my Ipod touch....currently Peter Gabriel's "games without frontiers"
My musical taste has changed, but really only to add more, I listened to this song wayyy back when it came out when I was in middle school.
Its interesting, most people like music...gotta jam to something while working out, or sitting in traffic...but I have discovered not everyone could listen to music all day long no matter what they are doing. My sister Eryn shares this obsession of music with me...Many of my art school friends as well...not Drew, he needs quiet sometimes...not my mom or dad, or Grace, same thing for them...
It makes me wonder if its at all creative/art related or just some people do....?
My parents even bought Eryn and I water proof radios for the shower so we dont electrocute ourselves when we listen.
It kills me not to listen to music...and not just any type of music, I have to have the right type of music for each mood or activity.
Quiet for when I get tired, I can listen to Bach or some other classical music....NIN for my really pissed off moods...techno or dance for my runs or when I paint....sad or angry music when I am upset...
Does everyone else have an immediate association with each song they hear? Every song I hear evokes emotions from every and any time of my life.
Some makes me think of when I was 2 at my dads races....mostly phil collins and the Police...
Some of my grandfather, usually Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra. I can close my eyes and smell him...aftershave with coffee and cigaretts...hear his booming voice, see their old house, and remember how I used to feel...

Is this the same for everyone?

Yea for the sun!

Guaranteed this is what he's doing now..

Yea for the sun! Emmitt and I just got back from an hr and thirty min walk/game of fetch in the park. Hes so much happier and to play and calmer when we get play and run around. Love the sun.

On another note, I am now going to be an undergrad student again....I am taking Intro to Asian Art. I figure I can only gain more art history knowledge, cant hurt...and the best is its FREE! Just call me Erin Bell :)

Updated Emmittainment

Well days are getting longer, and thank god...warmer! Or at least for the next few days it will be. Emmitt has found himself a new source of entertainment. He has pretty much figured out how the day will go, with a few changes here and there. So when I start to make dinner, he knows Drew will be along soon. He can see out the door, and can see out the front windows because I usually close the shades part way so people walking by arent looking right in. He listens and can hear people and cars go by, and every time he runs up the steps and looks out the top windows for Drew. Then he runs back down to greet him at the door. He does think whenever either one of us comes or goes. When I go running on the weekends in the morning when Drew is still in bed. I look up at the top windows and theres Emmitt with his little paws up on the window sill looking out at me. I wave, and then I'm off. Its good though, he used to whine when I left, now he knows....I'll be back.

SOO not fair!

Ok, I know I'm getting pretty whiny now, but comon! its like 1out again. I know January and the beginning of Feb are always the nastiest months, but this is getting ridiculous! Fortunately emmitt is comfortable enough with us now that he doesnt have all that nervous energy like he did when we first adopted him. Hes happy just to sleep in the sun room or at my feet, but he gets pretty excited whenever we try to play. I know he is hoping for summer soon. Lastnight we got outside, we let him out to pee in the yard unleashed, so he can sniff around...then we put on the leash after 5-10 min. so we can walk around the neighborhood. We just barely got it on and walked a few steps when he did his business, and then wanted to go home. Much different from the warm weather when he holds off until its been 40 min into the walk because he wants to go outside and play. Oh summer come soon!

This Morning's Emmittrainment.

Emmitt hates the cold as much as I. The last few days I have noticed he has been interested the the heat registers on the floor. Yesterday he kept laying on them, and letting the warm air blow his ears up. Today he has realized the cheap ones they have here are not screwed into the floor, so now he digs them up, takes the covers off, and sticks his whole head down the heat vent so he can get the maximum heat in his face...hahah! So funny. Drew kept finding the heat covers off all over the house...now we have found the culperate. Hopefully he will not try to crawl down there and get stuck! The heat is great, glad he's figured out how to stay warm, but don't too excited about the heat source there Emmitt!

Weather not helping my resolution

Well this stupid weather is not helping motivate me. I can't say that the cold gets me, its the cold/wind/ice/snow combo that makes me want to slither off to the gym and forget all about the outdoors. Just like Hil, I too was not expecting snow, same thing..."light flurries" However, I ran hard all weekend and decided to take an easy day at the gym. I always bring books, so I get totally involved in my reading...after a while I looked up, and was shocked to see accumulated snow on the ground!
Last night they salted the side walks, but not the streets?! They didnt even plow?! I dont get it?? The stuff they put on teh side walks burns our dogs feet apparently. We HAD to walk Emmitt...and every dog we passed was picking up their foot limping just like Em. We kept having to stop and brush off his paws so he would lick the ice melt and get sick. It was a short walk.
I am missing my doggie runs, and walks, this weather sucks!
More than that, I am missing my runs...Go away snow and cold!!!!

More Emmittainment

So as we all know, winter is cold...our house is older, not well insulated, and pretty drafty. We wear slippers because the floor is very cold. The poor dog has to lay on the floor (per drews rules) and he was chilly this weekend. We tried to tape up all the cracks in the door and windows with some insulation tape, but to little avail. Anyway, so Emmitt has been trying to get onto the couch with me to cuddle and warm up. I have no qualms with it, but can't go against Drew's wishes, so I reluctantly keep pushing him off the couch and get his pillow for him to sleep on ...or I drape my blanket onto him. This sat was espically chilly..
Emmitt was at my feet sleeping on his pillow, and Drew was going out with friends. Drew came and said goodbye, got his coat...and went to the door (Emmitt meanwhile opened one eye and watched this) pretending to be asleep...the minute the door closed and locked, he was up..peeked around the corner, turned around and launched himself onto my lap...SOOO funny. He knows I'm a softie...Cracked me up for a good 5 min, I had to call Drew...hehehehe

A Ray of light in a Place of Darkness

So, after 5 years of rude people, no eye contact, or eye rolling, ignoring me, or only talking to us if something is needed...something so out of the ordinary happened...I think I reacted wrong. I was sitting on the couch last night, having my tea before my shower, thinking about how damn cold it is, and would home depot have more insulation tape so we can insulate more of our doors and windows that are oh so drafty...when knock knock knock...
What? did I hear that right...oh crap, what are we doing wrong now...The last time someone knocked it was to complain that the "for rent" sign was still up in front of our place. Emmitt was OUT he never heard the knock, so i tentatively opened the door...and there were our 4 neighbors. Erin, David, and their 2 young boys (prob under 5 each) The older of the two boys proudly held out some oatmeal raisin walnut cookies they had baked and proclaimed, "welcome to the neighborhood" I was flabbergasted! Did not expect that! I had briefly met them outside one morning letting Emmitt out, and exchanged hellos with Erin.
I asked the boy if he had made them himself, and he said "yes'! "well my mom helped too.." how cute.
Finally Emmitt awoke and decided to come and be the "mean gaurd dog " he is...hahaha he barked, and I had to close the door. I hope I see them again, what a thoughtful thing to do....plus the cookies were YUMMY!!

Fear and loathing in the Mill..

So let me tell you a little story. We moved onto Lockard drive and into a house about a month and 1/2 ago. Usually we are in a condo or apartment on the second floor or higher, so have never really been concerned with break ins. Aboutt a month ago, after having been here a few weeks, we went to take the dog for a walk about 7:30 pm. I'm not going to say names, but someone who is notorious for locking us out (yes we had to go rent a ladder and break into our own condo last summer) locked us out...Crap, we are renting, the agency is about 40 min away, and thats fine...if we had phones or knew the number to call?! So panic insues for a few min. Then my brave "friend" who got us in this conundroum in the first place has a moment of "ah ha!" and runs around the back. Not 5 min later he is opening the door...how did that happen? Apparently our sliding door doesnt really lock, he just pulled hard and it opened...good for us....oh wait, bad for us?! People in our neighborhood are broken into, raped, killed, threatened...and now for the first time, we coudl be too. I tried not to think abo t it that night. Around 3 am, however, I couldnt sleep...so I got up and tore through the house looking for something to wedge in between the door and the wall. Finally I remembered the plunger and pulled it apart and put that sturdy dowel in the track of the sliding door and tested it myself....phew .....

Lastnight, we were hearing noises again...Now I know my dowel will probably hold firm, but just incase, now that we are open to rapings and pilliagings....he barracaded the door that connects the basement from the kitchen...just in case! How much longer will I get to live in fear of every freakin noise in this "lovely" state?!?!

what the F*!?

Let me just start by saying....8 with a wind chill of -5?! Hello...how do I walk a dog in that?!?!?? Isnt this why I moved out of MA?! This is the typical winter weather of Westford MA that drove me thousands of miles, and several degrees south to college in Tucson!! Ba Humbug!

Little pupsicle..

I suppose by this time I should edit this blog to include Emmitt in it...
Anyway, funny dog this morning. So he hasnt seen snow since we were last in MA, so he might associate the snow with driving in the car 8 hrs on drugs...But this morning we got a very light dusting, must hav been about 5 am. It was so cold, however, that the snow didnt stick and was that powdery stuff that swirls in the wind. So Emmitt sniffed, and the snow moved, and he jumped....His fur went up, and he kept looking back at me (usually first thing in the morning I just let him out the front door and he does his doggie business) I watch from the doorway. He just didnt want to go this morning, and I could tell he NEEDED to go! haha
Finally after much licking, jumping, and turning circles he eliminated. Phew. Poor guy, I mean its 11 out with the windchill...no one wants their ass exposed to that! So glad he got over his fear of going when its cold! haha
Hes quite an oddity in the morning, much like us, he wakes every morning and stretches, he yawns, rubs himself like a cat on my legs to say goodmorning, then flips on his back for a good belly rub. Once i am finished, he then rights himself, only to rub his little paws on his eyes (again very cat like) getting the sleepies out of his eyes and licking his paws clean. When we first adopted him we thought he had fleas or something because sometimes he also dries his face on the carpet after ridding himself of his sleepys...

Animals are funny, great to bring some hilarity to our lives. I cant tell you how many times Drew and I have laughed ourselves silly at the expense of the dog doing his usual dog stuff! love my Emmittainment!

Baby its cold, outside...

Brr, well that was a brisk run if i do say so myself! I get the most bizarre looks when I am out there in the mornings. I just think to myself "hey I could be at home where its like -4....so 7 isnt too bad. Some guy at the gym (where i go to warm up and stretch afterwards) made some comment that I must not be from around here since I didn't look too cold. I wanted to tell him that if you moved your ass fast enough and dress appropriately for the weather, it really wasnt that bad to exercise in. Not that I would advocate just going outside in a tshirt and just hanging out on ur porch or anything.
I actually was hot by the time I got back from my run...
Walking the dog, well thats another story. We keep our pace up pretty quick, hes not a walker, hes more of a trotter or a runner....so I wasnt totally frozen, but was no Arizona! hehe
Yesterday the doggie got himself back into that disguesting dead animal again! Man I dunno what it is about that. Hes so great off the leash now (as long as we are away from lots of people and traffic) We were out in the woods playing fetch, having a great time...I let him roam into the woods and call him back when I start feeling like hes too far off, or catching a scent...so anyway I saw him getting all excited about something...lo and behold he had found some nasty dead deer he was rolling himself in...ugh! He was covered in just black decay, and so proud of himself....until he remembered that we humans dont like that smell....i was so tempted to toss him in the stream nearby, but knew it was too cold for that!
We basically ran (one of us with our tails between our legs) home and had a nice bath. Unfortnately he still kinda stinks...tho he has been behaving ever so well yesterday and today..haha!
I guess thats one of the pitfalls of dogownershit....hahah i mean ship! Happy tail wagging :)

Running update

Well I know January isn't the time of year to resolve myself to get back into distance running, but oh well. I have to say I have been feeling SOOOO much better than I have in the last almost 3 months since I stopped going on long runs. Ahh so so good.
So it lets me get back to thinking, organizing my brain, and being able to be in a good mood to entertain Drew and try to keep him happy.
I have noticed the last hmm I dunno few months even since we didn't get to move to NC and change jobs hes been in a particularly foul mood. He HATES his work so much. Its not even that he doesnt like the mundane day to day crap. He has a shitty boss who is nasty and just dismissive of him, he is too nice to say no to helping people...and since everyone knows that he gets piles of other peoples shit dumped on him...without even a thanks. He always tries to do things for people, get gifts for new moms, cards for bdays, take people out, I made everyone cookies for christmas; that sort of thing. And then yesterday, he didnt even get so much as the typical bday gathering. He got a cookie...that was it...Poor bebs!
It was such a let down almost having that new job, almost having a house, almost being able to start a family and start a real life....just to have it all dashed by one little phone call saying he didnt get chosen for the job.
Neither of us are happy here, its like we are just waiting for death to come take us at this point. Well maybe thats a wee bit dramatic, but we havent been doing much but sleep eat work run errands...We both feel so so trapped, no way to get out of this HELL hole of a state!
We discussed having a family at dinner the other night...basically if we dont get out of Maryland, we have decided we will never have children. Its just not right to have them in a place where they will get beaten by the other 6 yr olds, or raped, or stabbed, and maybe not even learn to read by the time they are 15...unless we shell out that 20K a year just to get them into private kindergarten! Looks like its just gonna be me Drew and the dog...so long kids! BOO!

Does anyone have any contacts down in Chapel Hill...looking for an art teacher and a computer database worker with his MBA!?

Day 1 of "back to running"

So it figures, I woke up today with a resolve to get up and RUN...until I got out of bed and the CRAMPS struck! UGH how I hate being a girl sometimes! So i got my ass in gear, got the dog out, fed him etc and went out to run. Brr cold...so as im settling into a long run, while trying to ignore my aching ovaries...I see it, the darkest snow laden cloud on the horizon.... Growing up in New England you learn types of snow clouds by color. This one was dark and coming fast, which meant high winds and horizontal snow. Just my luck. Fortunately it was a very fast, relatively small cloud. By the end of my run, the sun came out, the clouds blew away, and it was "nice out" I use the quotes because its still below freezing, so with all things being even and its the winter...sunny and 30 is "nice"
Now to get back out there and walk the dog.
Feels good to be getting back into running again! :)

forgotten blogging...

Ok, so I signed onto my blog and was looking at the original description of what this is about. Said something to the effect of "a blog about running, and my life in general..." so where has the running part gone? Ugh, now I know I have been slacking with the running (the unsightly slowly forming tire around my middle will attest to that) but actually seeing that I have not blogged about a run in so long makes me cringe!
With all this moving crap going on, Drew and I aren't doing our usual Arizona race...(so so sooo sad) So I have really been letting myself go this winter. Usually I strap on my shoes and millions of layers to tackle whatever winter weather mother nature throws at me, but this year I have been wimping out! The hearty new englander in me is ashamed....
I think for the first time EVER this year my resolution will have to be to get back into running again. To really enjoy it like I used to. Man this is something I never thought I would hear myself saying!? What is wrong with me?! And here I thought I was a true runner, oh well, guess everyone falls of the wagon at some time or another......hey at least running to try to jump back on it will help me reach my goal....hehe!

Move over Emmitt...

Silly little doggie...he makes for such great entertainment. SO stubborn, so hopeful, especially when it comes to food.
Drew has been talking about writing a cartoon about Emmitt. Just for fun. We'll see how that goes.
Next week he will no longer be the center of attention, I will have several 3 yr olds running around the house for "art" (aka give mummy a break for a few hrs) classes.

Should be fun, should be interesting for this little pup.....

blogging from 13 inches below...

Well its that time of year. I pack up my sleigh (the focus) full of presents, and LOTS of warm, heavy clothes...and make the 8 hr drive up to MA. With benadryl in the doggies tummy, and Erin by my side playing "mommy bird" (thats another story for another day) we made it in pretty good time...almost exactly 8 hrs. Connecticut was seriously bumper to bumper from the time we entered the state till the time we exited.

The dog finally woke up, poor guy...to a rude awakening of cold cold weather and a potty full of snow and ice. He slipped, he slid, he skidded as he tried to lift his leg. Had to crate him in my bedroom since he slept 8 hrs driving up, and was wide awake all night.

Up this morning, and out the door...think he's finally resigned to making yellow snow, cant find any grass anywhere to water. I'm excited, the snow slows him down enough that I can just let him righ out the back door and he cant run away anywhere. We had a nice off the leash walk in the woods on the trails behind my house. Then went to the soccer field and played "catch me."

I think Emmitt could get used to this living out in the woods in a nice neighborhood. Hes calm, and happy to be off the leash. Doesnt go too far from me, and always always comes right back when I call him.

I know where I'm going to move him next....! (and no, there wont be snow)

Well addressing the 13 inches below...we are getting a BLIZZARD with wind and snow and everything. I shoveled the deck only 30 min ago, and already its past my ankles again....Tomorrow I will wake to snow up to my knees...so sad. I can deal with the inch that was on the ground already....up to my knees; not cool!

Blog slacking

Its been too long, I've been a blogging slacker.

I apologize...tho this isn't read by many...

Well Erin or (Eryn) as she writes it, is visiting me. Helping me schlep the doggie up to MA for christmas. Emmit and Eryn love eachother...we baked peanutbutter dog biscuts yesterday for our neighbors dog's for Christmas, (yes I am one of those people...) First the cookies for Drew's coworkers, then the cookies for the dogs...Did I mention I love to bake. I like "winging' it too. I usually look up a recipe and then sort of edit it in a way I think would taste better, or at least be slightly healthier. Usually my expiraments work out, sometimes not so much....
Think I get it from my dad, we have a general knowledge of what foods do what things in recipes ie what are binders, what help make things rise or give it certain tastes, and then with that knowledge we apply it to random foods. Each time I go home I usually do this. Last year we altered the Gingerbread men recipe. The traditional one calls for so much LARD! (thats tons of saturated fat by the way) not good for my dads already partially clogged arteries...so we substitured a "lighterbake" ingredient (its basically mashed prunes) they tasted really good, they were still soft, but didnt have that "lardicious" flavoring.

Anyway so back to the dog biscuts, mostly just peanutbutter, flour, egg water, and a bit of bran. Emmitt was a big fan, he wasn't happy about sharing them with his friends. Guess he'll have to learn that to be a good puppy we must share our favorite things with our friends sometimes.

He'll get over it.

We have been walking by all the decorated houses on our nightly walks lately. Someone decided to put out fake deer, not the ones that are white and light up and move, they look like real deer. Emmitt wanted to chase them, but then noticed they weren't running away...I went up to touch them to show him it was ok. He wasnt cool with that, started barking and proceeded to freak himself out. Guess he only likes deer when they give a good chase.

Monday night he got to chase some in our back yard. Drew went out the sliding door that leads to the back yard to take out the trash. Usually Emmitt will sit and stay with me while we wait for Drew...however monday...he saw a deer, or a squirrel. I'm still not sure, all I saw was a flash of a white tail, and then a flash of a white dog, and lots of leaves rustling around and being kicked up....There was a moments panic from me as he charged into the woods. I couldn't see a thing since it was so dark, just the eerie glow of his eyes from time to time. Fortunately he must like the food we feed him, because a moment or two later he was back, so happy to have chased something, even if he didn't get to bring it back for us. Haha, good dog!

Its been a loong time..

Ok, so I think last I wrote Drew and I were in "eviction" hell...we wasted our fun, January vacation money on a hotel, a moving van, and lots of days waiting to move into a place. I just want to skip all that...fast forward to now. We are happily moved into our new townhouse...a whole .20 mi from the last 2 places we have lived in the last 6 years. What are we, nomads? Seriously we are like in the Kelley tribe that moves around the planes of Owings Mills, searching for...buffalo? hmm think thats the wrong state...guess here we are searching for...hmm a way out of here..so far no such luck. However, having 3 floors means the dog can run up and down the steps still he passes out, he can play tug of war as rough as he wants, and he has 2 doors to get to the outside through! He couldn't be happier...well really he could be, because now hes seen snow...and he HATES it! First he growled at it, then sniffed it, then tried to bite it...Apparently the snow won, because he has been going hours upon hours with out going to the bathroom (lets just say this little pup normally does his business 4-5 times a day, sometimes twice on one walk...and im not talking about coloring the snow yellow...) Fortunately today (after 3 days of holding it so long he could not sit down) he found his friend Regan, a Mastif having no problem browing the snow, so he decided he too could get in on that action! Good thing!

Well moving on from the dog's ass...Its getting to be Christmas time! (hmm interesting transition there...) Anyway, as far as I'm concerned once I break out the big hubbard squash for Thanksgiving, its Christmas. Nothing like a 15 lb squash to get you in the mood for gingerbread and other goodies..This year we are giving all our friends, neighbors and coworkers homemade cookies and fudge to save money. Tomorrow I am starting on the chocolate meringue snowflakes (martha stewart's got nothin on me!) Yea thats right, I am going to pipe the cookies into snowflake shapes...tho maybe I should wait to boast till after this expirament! Then its onto peanutbutter munchies, and peanutty buckeye bars, and maybe some chocolate thumbprints, and some fudge and finally some turtles! Good thing New Year's is just around the corner..all his coworkers can resolve to go on diets after this cookie extravaganza!

Anyway, merry Christmas, and here's to loosening our belts this time of year!!