Skiing???

I just took a look at Skinny Ski and there was skiing at Mapelag this last Sunday (10/26). Probably over a month away here. Probably. :)

Monday

• 8 mile run at lunch w/Todd, JVD, Eric H. Added on the little gravel loop to get 8. Chilly.


• Played with Lilly outside and Hailey came out with her metal detector. Realized the batteries were dead when it couldn't find the car. Kicked the soccer ball around.


• Tied down the boat cover. Hopefully it'll stay tucked in until spring.


• Worked from home. I think work may be a little crazy for a while.

Tuesday

• 7 mile run at lunch. Big group - Joe, Todd, JVD, Nelson, Eric H. Politics talk even on the run. Ugh.


• Lilly and I picked up leaves and Lillys.

Wednesday

• Reading buddy. Freidrich and I talked a lot more today. It's good to have him start to come out a little more.


• Lilly swim class. We had to leave early (my choice) as Lilly was misbehaving. Not fun.


• Hyper-dash in the living room:
  
  
  


• Blowing and raking leaves in the dark. It doesn't work too bad using a head-mounted lamp. We're out of town the next two weekends so yard pickup will have to be in the evenings.

Thursday

• 8 mile run at lunch - me and the mp3 player. Nice crusing run.


• The river is down as the dam opened up on Monday. Lilly played in the mud while I cleaned the sticks and driftwood out of the shoreline rocks.


• 2 hour bike ride on the green bike - through the park, along the corridor trail over 610 and back up the Anoka/Coon Rapids side. Neil called as I was crossing 169 and let me know Dave was right behind me. Waited for him and rode the corridor trail to his house. Had a beer with him and realized if your problems are burning enough vacation time and getting the leaves off your lawn you have life pretty good.


• Had some dinner and raked leaves for an hour. With the yard light it works pretty well to rake after dark.

Friday

• 7 miler at lunch w/Todd, Eric H and JVD. Sped up the 2nd half and it was just me, Todd and John at the end. (49:30)


• Pearl Jam Ten has to be one of the best albums of all time.


• Raking and playing in the leaves with Lilly and Hailey.


• Trick-or-treating. We (Lilly, Holly, Boo and I) met up with "the neighbor kids" (Hailey, Jacob and Mia) and their mom Julie and went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Lilly was Bat Girl:
  
  
  
  
  
  Hailey was "scream guy with a sword!", Jacob was a "scary clown" and Mia was a "light up princess".
  
  The weather was nice (~50 degrees) and there were plenty of people out. We left the candy out on our porch and only a few kids must have come down because it was almost all there when we came back. It's always a guess as to how many will come down to our houses at the end. Took Hailey out a little longer as she was motivated for more candy and the younger ones wanted to be home.

Saturday

• Headed out at sunup to squeeze in a ride before chores and heading down to Iowa. It was 30 degrees so I decided to duck into Hoglund's woods and do some mountain biking. I was able to stay warm when I was working in the woods and only was cold after I'd pop out onto a paved trail. Rode for 2 hrs and headed home.


• Yard work. Raked and picked up leaves, mowed and fertilized. There's only leaves left in the bed by the river. And then the willow and hackberry will let loose and we start all over.


• Holly and Lilly got back from Erica's baby shower and we took off for Sioux Falls. Took Boo for a walk around Harrisburg and saw a cool sunset reflected off some silos at the end of the street:
  
  
  


• Watched Alicia sing in the South Dakota All-State Orchestra/Chorus concert. Very nice concert.
  
  
  
  Jackie and Lilly:
  
  


• Headed to Sioux Center and watched a "Dirty Jobs" TV show on milking and breeding cows. Mmmmmmm. :)

Sunday

• Woke up early and ran for 1:20. Sandy Hollow and back, to the new golf course, through some new neighboroods, back to the Sandy Hollow trail and back. Probably 11 - 12 miles.


• Jumped with Lilly on the trampoline. She can do a flip:
  
  
  
  I tried one too and didn't hurt myself. It was so fun to play around and laugh with her. It was a very special moment of the weekend for me. Some pics:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Alicia's birthday party. She turns 18 just in time to vote.


• A family game of kickball.


• Holy cow, it's 75 degrees!


• Headed home. Lilly fell asleep 15 minutes into the ride:
  
  
  
  Jumped off 169 in Mankato and found a nice tavern/restraunt to eat at ("Tav on the Ave"). Holly had a buffalo chicken quesedilla and I had fish tacos. I love finding local places to eat.


• Got home around 9:00, read stories and went to bed. Fun weekend!