Firstly, in case you haven't been annoyed by me and my constant yammering about running yet, I'm training for the Austin Marathon on Februrary 17th, which I'll be running with my friends Erin and Sarah. Erin's significant other Wale is also doing the half marathon, last I heard, so remember to be impressed by them too.
What this all boils down to is that in the past 6 weeks, I've done lifetime distance bests for running three times, first 14, then 16, and most recently 18 miles this Sunday! BUT you don't even have to be impressed by me, you can just focus on being impressed by this little dynamo right here, who has done every mile with me, often more because of all of the extra smelling things she HAZZZZ to do.
That's right, it turns out that R2 is a marathoner at heart! Don't worry, she naps for about an hour after we get back from our runs, and then goes back to wanting to play. Also, a medical professional has said that as long as I feed her as often as I feed myself during runs, make sure she gets plenty of water, and make sure that the pads of her feet aren't getting torn that it is good for her.
Here she is taking a rest after we got back on Sunday, sooo tired!!! Also, she is slowly developing super powers over time. The laser cats won't have anything on the laser dogs when the apocalypse happens tonight, methinks.
Recovery is important with running, so we've also been putting in some time on the stretching and yoga front.
R2's favorite? Downward facing dog!!
In other, non-dog news, my family was here for Thanksgiving! We cooked all of the things, and also took a trip to Brazos Bend State Park, where there are ALLIGATORS.
First, here are some pictures of food:
Apple Pie!!
Squash Pie!!
Those of you who had the privledge of staying at WILG for a Thanksgiving when my dad and I cooked will remember that my dad has an aversion to pumpkin pie. Caroline is no doubt saying "Rightfully so! Pumpkins are not food!!!" However, its not that my dad feels that pumpkins are not food, he just feels that squash (squashes?), are BETTER foods. They are sweeter and absorb the spices better.
It turns out that my dad has also developed an aversion to measuring which exceeds even my own. I am someone who is not likely to measure things for recipes I am used to making, but for new recipes or new ingredients I usually stick to known methods and quantities. However, this year it turns out that the spice industry, coming on the heels of their success with Pumpkin Pie spice has launched a new time saving convenience called "Apple Pie Spice" which is just all the spices for apple pie mixed together. Anyway, my dad just dumped it right on into our cut up apple pieces with nary a nod to the measuring spoons. Horrified, and a couple of glasses of wine into the day at ohhhhh 10am, I said something like "OH, I guess we'll just abandon science!!!" which is now a BIG family joke in the Price household.
The pies came out fine anyway, science or no.
The next day, very much in need of exercise, we drove out to a state park called Brazos Bend State Park. I was picturing an idyllic day of wandering some trails and seeing countryside which would help my parents cope with being in the big city. BUT we pulled up at the gate and learned that we were entering "The Home of the American Alligator"!! Imagine my surprise and my mom's chagrin!!
Luckily, there was some idyllic trail walking:
Our driveway:
I guess the driveway has more foliage. BUT, it was Ohio in September.However, the Park also had some Swamp, which had Alligators!!!
Swamp (Not Pictured: Alligators)
More Swamp (Pictured: Alligator!)
I have about 190 iterations of that 2nd picture, with different alligators. Mostly the alligators sit on the islands on the opposite side of the banks from where the people are and don't do much other than look terrifying. They didn't move around at all, which was good because R2 probably would have been scared otherwise. Also, my mom and brother would have been up a tree.
Other cool things we saw:
Trees FULL of Ibises (Ibii??)
Baby Alligator (More cute, less terrifying!)
My parents went home the next day, and my brother the day after that. That brings us through the Thanksgiving week updates!That being said, you should be expecting your Christmas cards sometime around Valentine's Day!!
Hugs,
Pricer
