Well, let the games begin! Yesterday I went to Tait's party at school and had a great time. Tonight we go to (my) Grandma's house and then I have a party tomorrow night and more through the week. I got to run my route yesterday morning and shaved another 30 seconds off my time-it is now time to lengthen my run from just over 1 mile to somewhere around 2. The sclae this morning said 186, I was really surprised, I need to get a new scale and be consistent about when I wiegh in-but still I feel good. But I still have the 'ol beer gut for now. It is long way to six-pack-abs and I'm not sure you get there by avoiding coke and coffee and running 2-4 times a week!

I heard that old Neil Diamond song on the radio yesterday...
Money talks,
but it don't sing and dance and it don't walk
And as long as I can have you here with me
I'd much rather be
Forever in blue jeans.....

How true. How many times in the past 8 years have I said, man if I could only "find" another 5k life would be so good! Well, while it does help..in the end "it don't sing and dance and it don't walk", it don't hold you or tell you how great you are or how much you're loved.

Tait and I went to check out the Children's Bereavement Center today and he whined the whole way down there, "this is going to be dumb" "i'm going to hate it", blah blah blah

When we left he was upset that we can't go back until classes start in January. I think it will be good for all of us.

I'm feeling really good. I only had one 'moment' today when I got a card from the good people in the oncology wing of the NE Methodist Hospital. Dori had several extended stays there the last 2-3 years. She hated to go and there were times she was sick but she would beg me not to call the doc because she knew he would put her in the hospital (I usually called anyway). But once she was there she loved those people. And I mean everyone, from the nurses down to the lady who brought in the food trays. In typical Dori style she didn't care what you did for her, she loved you and treated you with respect and you could tell that from the card. It just reminds me of what a great person she was and (sadly) how rare that is too find in the world. But I think Dori has changed a lot of people and how we look at things and the world is better because of that.

I spent all night getting Christmas cards and thank-yous done. I could almost feel Dori looking over my shoulder as I put on the stamps...and I could almost hear her saying "you know this should have been doone weeks ago!" And she would be right. But hey, some things never change.

Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
Mix Margaritas when the eggnog's gone
Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store
We need some ice and an extension cord
A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite
A box of pampers , some Marlboro Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family

Fran and Rita drove from Harlingen
I can't remember how I'm kin to them
But when they tried to plug their motor home in
They blew our christmas lights
Cousin David knew just what went wrong
So we all waited on our front lawn
He threw the breaker and the lights came on
And we sang Silent Night
Oh Silent Night o' holy night

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

-goo goo dolls

We had a pretty good weekend. The Hutto Hippos won their game Sat. night and I got to see it. It has been over 15 years since I played for the Hippos and I still look back on those days as some of the best of my life. I loved the thrill of the battle, the sense of brotherhood with the guys on the team, the feeling that nothing else mattered in the whole world except what happened on the field Firday night. So I'm glad they won, I just wish sometimes that I could get one more Friday night.

I have felt pretty good all weekend, the kids have been good. Tait hates football so he hated going to the game Sat. but otherwise had a good weekend. I'm trying to remind him that sometimes you sacrifice for others. We continue to work that concept.

Friday we saw The Chornicals of Narnia, it was an awesome movie. Special effects were awesome, and a good story too. Tait loved it. I'm not sure how a got a PG rating because it had some pretty intense battles-but a very kid friendly movie. Four jalapenos for sure.

I spent some time tonight doing thank you cards and reflecting on all the things people have done for us, it is a lot of love that has come our way. The third grade teachers at Tait's school gave me a card and checks to the Komen Foundation rather than exchange gifts this year. That is just one example of things people have done-there are many more.

I got more light up on the big tree in the front of the house, maybe I'll take a picture and share it.