White Christmas

Even though it didn't snow on Christmas Day, I kept plenty busy with activities to keep warm. From cozy next to the potbelly stove with my twin Cousin Rachael...

to snuggled up with Mom and a few warming beverages...

and shoveling cow poop in the barn with Dad...

it sure was pretty!



And this is what it looked like on the morning I was heading back to Florida...
and the loooooong drive to Pittsburgh!




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Marco Hill Run

5 miles. Up hill! I didn't believe there were hills in Florida- there are! The ancient Calusa shell mounds have been covered over with pavement and homes, making the toughest race course around. With the holidays fast approaching, this was an excellent workout. Thanks Susan & Lisa for the motivation!


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Doggy Dress-up

I may not be the Christmas tree type... But I do enjoy dressing up these dogs in festive attire! They must really love me to let me embarrass them like this (every single year!)

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Gulf Coast Runners Xmas party

How fun that the running club has a Christmas Party! There was even an ice luge!


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Xmas parade

I like to take Mavie and Sheebs everywhere I can, so I thought the Christmas Parade would be fun. I am so glad Andrea and Megan were there, because I did not take into account that my dogs bark at the following: motorcycles, diesel engines like fire trucks, dogs, people in uniform, and people of color. The parade was comprised of many of those and there was a lot of barking. Maverick was so scared of the sirens that he was in my lap. Sheba was happily picking up the popcorn that Sage was dropping. And they both tried to catch every piece of candy thrown into the crowd. I don't beileve parades will be our family tradition!


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Adventure Race

The Turkey Trot was a good practice for our annual appearance as the Rookery Bay Tandem Reindeer Team in the Adventure Race!









70 participants and a rainbow of kayaks!









Tandem teams got a 2 minute head start this year, so we felt like we were ahead of the pack!








We finished 2nd this year- must be the antlers :)

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Turkey Trot

Starting the holiday with a 5k always makes for a good Thanksgiving! But this was the coldest day of the year: 43-degrees at 7am!







It turned out to be a gorgeous day after a brisk 3 mile run through downtown Naples!

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Real Florida Run Series

Racing on trails at area State Parks is a great way to have a behind-the-scenes look at places I thought I already knew! Lisa and I registered for the whole series and had a blast on our weekend road trips. Everywhere we visited, we lucked out with a tasty local eatery, and saw old and new friends along the way.






Lovers Key- this evening race ended on the beach at sunset. And our whole crew won medals!





Fakahatchee Strand- another evening race. No medal for me, but the bonfire and beer afterward was a welcome treat!






Charlotte Harbor- rugged terrain through an old cow pasture, but we all placed!






We got took advice from a local and indulged at a fabulous taco stand in some well-earned brews and burritos.






Oscar Scherer- special award for doing 6 races!






And first place!






And then the real competition began! Potato sack races?






This was more challenging than the entire 3 mile race!





Lisa and I came in 2nd. With no broken bones!






Then we discovered a "haven" in the middle of nowhere and celebrated our victories!






Good times were had by all! Looking forward to the Spring Series, beginning in March!






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Congressional visit

I traveled to West Virginia for an annual conference for work, and stopped by DC on the way for a visit to Capitol Hill.



Jeff and I sat in on a Congressional Briefing, given by our Director and fellow colleagues. Then we visited met with Congressmen's staffers and two Representatives to discuss why what we do is important and should continue to be funded.



It was a wonderful experience because it combined what I loved about living in DC a few years ago with what I'm doing in my career now. While it was strange to wear a suit in Naples, I felt completely comfortable upon arriving in the Capitol. I look forward to another Hill visit next year!


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Poison ivy

Somehow I spent 32 years of my life immune to poison ivy, and the day before I turned 33... I got it, and I got it bad!









I endured the following:
-1 visit to family doctor
-1 prescription for steroids, 6 pills a day!
-1 bottle of calaclear
-Loads of Benadryl
-I begged for a shot but they said I didn't need one

After a week, I was going insane. Washing the sheets and towels in hot water everyday, constant scratching, and making more than one middle-of-the-night sandwiches to curb my ravenousness was too much to handle. When I woke up on day 7 after finishing the steroid pack and my eyes and face were swollen, I went to urgent care and got 2 prescriptions: same 6-day steroid pack I had been on before and a tube of topical steroids. I again, begged for a shot, and heard again that I didn't need one.

The Doc asked me if I thought my leg might be infected? I looked like I had been beaten and it itched like nothing I can describe!








Fast forward to 6 weeks later... I just now stopped itching! But who knew you could scar from the ivy? I'm hoping some sunshine will fade the bright white scars on my arms and legs!

Lessons learned- avoid the plant at all costs, no matter how immune you used to be! And demand a shot of precosin no matter why they tell you you can't have one. And keep tech-nu on hand for random exposures!

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Halloween

I played a construction-worker by day at the office and Devil by night, handing out candy in the driveway...



We had tons of candy ready to go, Jamie and I, all of our favorite kinds of course.



Mavie and Sheba sported their spooky Halloween collars, even though their barks frightened the children!






And we carved jack-o-laterns!






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Chili cook-off

While I did not win against the gator, buffalo, turkey, or beef chilis, everyone thought I made some darn good veggie chili! The weather has been cooler and it was delicious!






We had a nice turnout of "tasters" and I was looking forward to having more of my Chipotle Chili the next day...






... Until I dropped the crockpot getting out of the car and smashed the side of it!

I just added a new red crockpot to my Xmas wish list :)

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Happy Birthday!

Thank you everyone for the cards and gifts- I just love celebrating my birthday the entire month of October!



I traditionally purchase a fun gift for myself and this year I had the idea of a beer fridge for my newly renovated Florida Room.



I picked out this red one, but the reviews were terrible. Cute, but not functional.



After loads of online research, I bought this one- complete with site-to-door free shipping. Brilliant since it was too big to fit in my car, I thought. However, it arrived with 4 major dents, so I returned it...



... For this beauty. But this one, I decided after a week, was too small inside, and too loud, so I returned it, too!



And now I am the very proud owner of this swanky wine fridge- and I just love it! It holds a lot, keeps things chilled, quietly, and is organized inside, with movable shelves and even a blue neon light for show.

And I ordered new blinds with my birthday money- stay tuned!


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Rainy season

The bad news about rainy season...



Maverick will not go outside without his raincoat!



The good news about rainy season...



my hedges are growing!



I finally got some of them trimmed- see the difference? The other day, a neighbor told me she has "hedge envy" :)

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