Sometimes you just need a comfy place to curl up...

1 week...

Simple Joy

Doggie Doctor Visit

We had to take one of out dogs in for a teeth cleaning this morning. Having lost a dog as a kid in a fluke teeth cleaning fatality, I was pretty apprehensive taking her in. Not having kids, these dogs are our insight to what it is like to take care of someone completely dependent on us. It was the right thing to do taking her in, but damn that kind of anxiety is tough. My hat is off to parents.

Estes pulled through with no troubles and is slowly getting back to normal. I'm just glad this procedure is finished.

Taking a Walk

As of late, Tiff and I have been taking the dogs for a longer walk in the evening. It has been a great relaxation doing this. I am trying acclimate to not having to work hard all the time as I had for several months now. When I wasn't at work, I was working to find work or supplementing with some extra work. Having time off, even at the end of the day feels pretty new. These walks have been perfect for reminding me to enjoy life about me a little. I have my wonderful wife and two adoring, happy-go-lucky dogs with me and everything feels good… balanced. I am a lucky guy and strive to never forget that.

Colfax Marathon 2013

The marathon is in the books and I am the umber proud owner of a new PR, 3:50:20. After 5 attempts, I have finally been admitted to the sub 4hr marathon club. Having put in more concentrated effort than ever before, I am tremendously gratified it paid off. I wasn't even in bad shape afterwards. It was a great and completely different experience. I knew the course from last year and had run most of it on a 22mi training run. My wife and folks were out to cheer me on and their efforts to get around the course amaze me. Tiff even brought the dogs out. It was a great boost every time I saw them. The heat was tolerable, but definitely uncomfortable. 

My official info:

TROY 

gender:	M
location:	DENVER, CO
overall place:	275 out of 1208
division place:	89
gender place:	223
time:	3:50:20
pace:	8:47
"6 4 mile split:	59:55
"10 3 mile spli:	1:35:26
"15 9 mile spli:	2:22:42
"19 9 mile spli:	2:56:51

Very grateful and tired!

Good Dogs

I have sat down to write this post a couple times already and looked over to see both my dogs staring at me wagging their tails. They had that feisty look of "you can try to come catch us" going. Sure enough each time there was scampering and tussling and eventually just a lot of ear rubbing. It may seem like an inane observation of my home life this morning, but there is a point here. Plus, don't I write inane observations everyday? The point is that over the last week I have been utterly drawn into checking the news everyday to find out updates. I have been wanting to know what is happening in Boston and hoping for resolution. With last night's apprehension, there feels a degree of relief from that urge to know. I firmly believe there is no justice in this situation, but closure can begin to a degree now. The point I promised, was my dogs kept engaging me in the present and the now. They just wanted to play and I needed the simple reminder to be here now. Good dogs!

Pure Joy

Dog Run

I decided to try something new with my rest day run. After talking about it for a long time, I finally decided to take our dogs out with me. They are Westies and terriers are reportedly good for running dogs. I wasn't sure how our little princesses would do trying to run, but I figured I was only going to do a mile today and that would be a great introduction. To even the field a little, I wore my Vibram 5 Finger shoes that I must run slower in anyways.

It went great! We did not run the entire mile, but they did pretty good for trying a new activity. It also kept my pace way low and probably helped me get a little more rest out of a day I am not actually supposed to run on. We walked several times, but they seemed quite happy to be out beyond our block. Hopefully we will get more accustomed to this and they will be able to actually run with me for shorter distances. Regardless, it was goofy good fun today for all three of us. Plus, we all enjoy peanut butter rewards after!

Dog's Life

It's a sweet and sleepy Saturday morning in my house. I managed to get out for an easy 4 miler, but the dogs seem to have my wife and I pinned in a state of lounging. I know for a fact they would just be sleeping all over the couches if we were not here. Usually, they keep engaged with us though when we are both around. The tables have been turned today as we seem to be hopelessly drawn to laying on the bed or couch as they snuggle in and before we know it, no one is moving. These mornings are helpful though. Often we seem to hear life needs to be enjoyed more. For me that means occasionally shelving my plans of productivity and enjoy the dog's life, literally.

Bike Therapy

I used to admire and be mystified when I would hear my musician friends talk about just needing to go play a while. It would be therapy when pissed or celebration when happy, but either way it was a true need that seemed to transform them in a way I wasn't all that familiar with. At least not like that. I think I have found that something as of late though. Getting on the bike and going somewhere in the city. I love to run and I love to paint, but there is a certain difference in the hopping on the bike to get somewhere. The last part is key too. While I love to just ride, there is a decided difference in running out to grab dinner or meet friends or today, grab some paint. I feel so free flying down the street, like nothing else can reach me; ironic being how wonderfully vulnerable I am out there. None the less, my troubles fade after but a block or two. That is a cool thing to have learned.

By the by, today I grabbed 1 1/2 gallons of paint, running socks, energy snacks, and a beignet in my beloved Chrome bag on my old steel frame Bridgestone. Seriously this bag rules!

Dog Time

I am still in the early stages of my day, having the opportunity to sleep in a little. While still formulating what to do before work, our dogs have been particularly attentive this morning. I wanted to get breakfast, read, and get ready for a run. Apparently their plan was a little different. Ordinarily they will just hop on the couch after the morning walk and snooze all day to save their energy. After all, driving my wife nuts takes a rested pup. Today they were all about engaging me andI am a little embarrassed to admit it wasn't working at first. I am shocked how my brain can keep me so wrapped up, I miss something like a couple Westies trying hard to get you to play. Fortunately they outlasted my "important" planning and we tussled a bit. It was potentially the most important thing I can do today. Not the wrestling and tossing of rubber bones but the paying attention to what life has going on right now.

Happy Picture Friday

Happy Picture Friday

Dog Life

I am getting a chance to catch up on some odds and ends around the house this morning. I can't tell you how good it feels to just take care of a few things around here. The dogs have been following me all over. They have this uncanny ability to lift the spirits just by being around. It is fantastic to just get a nice recharge.

Happy Picture Friday

It wasn't perhaps the height of excitement, nor the riveting adventure that gets immortalized in print for all time. Hell, it wouldn't even make for a very good water cooler story. None the less, over the weekend Tiff and I grabbed the dogs and went for a ride around town. It was just simple, good fun. We even managed to grab a bite to eat at a dog friendly place on Friday night, ironically called Steve's Snappin' Dogs.

It was just great to have everyone together. I appreciate so much my little family and love that such a simple pleasure is possible from just being together and riding around.

Happy Picture Saturday

Happy Picture Friday

Puppy Priority

It's fun and pointless trying to write this tnight. Estes is vying for the same attention. To be honest, it feels stupid to pay attention to the invisible mass that may see this as opposed to the adoration of a dog right here and now. Time to play with the dog then.

Happy Picture Friday