gatorcast from paul smith

Tonight the boys and I put up the Christmas tree.  There is just something about a real tree.   I have always had a real one, except for a two year period.   I don’t think I will ever go back. This is a Frasier Fir from North Carolina.  I tried to get a good picture of it but, I lack serious photography skills. :>  We also lit the Advent Candles and read the following for Day 13:

Do not be afraid, Mary, you will conceive and bear a son, whom you will name Jesus.  – Luke 1:30-31

Last night I remembered how to sew.  The last time I did  was when I was 12.   I had originally thought that I never did, but remembered 7th grade at Cutler Ridge Jr. High when I made a soccer ball and a dolphin.  It was in ‘Home Ec’.    I was telling the story to Evan on the way home from Michaels (my new favorite store) after he asked me “Dad, how we were actually going to sew this together?”  I told him I would figure it out.  So the design was completely his and he did most of the cutting, but Dad sewed this old ‘historian” up.  Not too bad, huh?   This is for a play Evan will do at the end of the week at St. Pats.

The boys and I are in Miami having a wonderful time with the family.  This year we went to my Aunt’s house in Homestead.  Here we are in Roberta & Tom’s living room.

It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do…

Stand By Me…

I can’t believe it.  I started running.   I’ve been inspired by several things, but mostly because I want to be healthy.   Cameron also started running because of cross country at school.    I started walking again 39 days ago after putting down the cigs.  I’ve been wondering if I could actually run for a period of time.  I tried several times and could not go more that 2 minutes… yea….    I started thinking about it and watching other people and a  couple of weeks ago while I was in Miami, I passed an old guy also walking.  A few minutes later he passed me running.  Well, he was kinda fast walking that looked like running.   Shortly after that we both had the same pace, him “running” and me walking.  Then it dawned on me.  I was running the wrong way.  I was trying to kill myself trying to sprint.  I had no rhythm.  I had not cadence.    So last week I started out on a normal walk and about 10 minutes in started to run.   And kept running.  I ran for about 20 minutes straight down 39th ave.  I didn’t want to stop.  I was afraid I would hurt myself so I slowed and stopped.  It’s hard to put into words how it felt.    I’ve done it 4 times since and all I can think about is it running again.  One of the interesting things about this is that I can see that I have never had very good endurance.  At anything.   This however, requires it and I assume helping me build it.  I can feel it.  I am not planning a marathon or anything, but I hope I can keep this a part of my life from now on.