Hittin' the Gym

During Q4 things get really nuts at work and like most people I find it hard to get the gym with any regularity. This year was no exception. I quit the gym near me (All Star Fitness) even though it was a pretty decent set up, I just wasn't going. Just a 4 blocks from my house there was a new gym about to open and I after meeting with the owners by chance one day I joined up. The kicker is that it was 24 hour access and small. Small is good, keeps out the weirdos and attracts the disciplined. It's a chain gym too (Anytime Fitness - that's an actual pic of it to the right) with locations in Dallas, Denton, and lots of other places, so there's reciprocity. Anyways, I was able to stay in decent shape in Q4 using some weights at home, I invested in a while back, but now I'm back. I'm finally feeling strong again now that I go every other day or so, and only work out at home when I'm bushed and just want to push a little weight around. I've forgotten how good it feels to be focused in the gym. It's a place that I can be selfish and learn about myself via little tests of will, me vs. weight. The tipping point finally occurred, now to hold on to it for a while.

Hits So Close to Home...

I Drank That

Public warning. Coffee from McDonalds is lame. While I was waiting for some new tires to be put on Lindsay's car I grabbed a cup of this stuff from across the street. Ugh. Not good. Put your curiosity to rest, I took the bullet for you.

Hockey Talk

I met Lindsay at the arena today, and got a backstage tour of the goings on there. They crew was just finishing the hockey ice and hadn't installed the goals yet, so I tried one of them out. They call me "the wall". Yes, that's a squeegee "the wall" is using.

Deep Snow (Prior Week)

White Christmas Snow/Rain

We're still melting out from under the snow, but today, Christmas day, we got a little light snow mixed with rain. I took a little video of the front and back yard so you can see what we have left and our white Christmas.

Finally, Melt.

Guess what this is a picture of? Melt. Snow melt actually. It's 36 degree now. A little more snow last night has turned to rain and it looks like we're starting to melt out from under our foot of snow.

Here We Go Again, More Snow

It's like living in Minnesota around here lately. After a day where it stayed around 25 degrees, it's snowing again. I cleaned all the snow off my truck yesterday, but there's already another 2 inches on it from tonight's new snow (took this pic at 5:30). You know what the worst part is? I got cabin fever today and cleaned the house! Oh no! It's that bad!

Coffee and Cards

Lindsay did all the hard work addressing and organizing the Christmas cards last night (I dozed on the couch), so this morning I put stamps on, and wrote a few notes in the remaining few, while I had coffee. In other words, the cards are on the way!

Mo' Snow

10:35AM: Well, we got socked in with more snow. It's really amazing to watch, as it covers everything. We're almost up to 6 inches and it's still snowing hard. I'll just be posting pictures here as I take them, and maybe when it's all done put them in one album.

Snowed In

We spent the day, on foot, running errands around the Junction because all the streets around us here on Genesee Hill were ice and snow (West Seattle Blog covers the snow issues nicely if you want more info). Not just a little, but 3 inches of snow and black ice on the roads so our cars (and especially my motorcycle) weren't going anywhere today. We made the best of it and had a good time strolling around our local shops. We shopped, ate out, made hot chocolate, and are getting ready to sit around the fire now. Took this pick of the house, looking very home like, from the back of the backyard and thought it was nice. I just gotta say, see how nice the pergola is keeping the snow off the back door? Love it. Holiday greetings to all. Update: Added a few more, of Loo and Isis watching Murphy in the front yard, and me refilling the birdfeeder.

Snow Dog!

It snowed last night! Murphy's super excited about it and has been eating big mouthfuls of snow as he runs along kicking up powder. I got him to stand still for this glamour shot for just a sec. More snow pics to come.

The House Lights are Up

Get it? It's a lighting joke, for roadie types. The house lights are up. Ok, not that funny. Anyways, a bit of dry weather this weekend allowed me to climb on top of the house and plug in a few strings of lights. Got inspired and put a star on the top of the house too. However, now that I look at it I agree with what Lindsay's mom observantly and humerously said - it' looks like we're Jewish. Blue and white, with a star on top. That's pretty Jewish. We also got the Christmas tree today, so as soon as we get the lights and ornaments we'll get some pics up. Happy holidays to everyone!

Blog

Seal (Or Sea Lion?) Sadness

Fair warning, this is sad stuff. Walking on Alki beach this evening we noticed this sad sight. A large sea lion (not seal as I originally thought), very dead, skull partially exposed, on the beach, just past the tide line, and the really sad part that white blob to the right is a pup, still alive just laying there blinking and breathing. If that doesn't bum you out nothing will. I'll find some happy news to post soon. BTW, there's security tape around them both, and the seal sitters are there watching over the pair.

Early Morning Reds and Oranges

Lindsay went to Cali a few days ago, for work, and as I came back from taking her to the airport I was fortunate to catch the sunrise over the Junction.

My Times Square Obama Pics

Rain Drop Blade

Rain drops on a plant, on our deck. I'm fascinated by the blue gray colors.