1. I went for my first nighttime run of 2012 tonight because it was a glorious, windless 52º outside (and no, Jody, I didn't wear a parka). I only ran two miles, which is less than half of what I know I'm capable of, but the difference between now and last year at this time: I mostly had fun anyway. And I know I'll get better again after I am out more. Treadmills just don't really cut it for me, though I've been making an effort.
2. The best part of tonight:
Tonight is the best viewing night for Jupiter and Venus... not only was it a crystal clear sky with a kazillion visible stars, I was watching planets as I ran. Maddie and I took a Starwalk screenshot on the way out of her book club tonight (it was a busy night):
We love Starwalk, though I'm sure people think we're crazy for waving a phone at the sky. Better that than an iPad, I guess.
3. How do you get Maddie to break into a run? Find and hold up the elusive second book in Rick Riordan's Lost Heroes series from across the library. Nerd. She is also on her seat for the second book in Brandon Mull's Beyonders series, which was released today. If I had been more on the ball, I would have had it preordered and delivered today. Alas. She got the first book in hardcover from Carol Mead (Governor Mead's wife) for being a Wyoming fourth grader (it totally pays to live in Wyoming) so I'll probably spring for the $10 to get her the second one, too :)
4. Speaking of books, Gracie is plowing her way through the Roald Dahl catalog at the moment (hooray!!!). She just finished The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me and has moved on to The Witches.
5. Speaking of Gracie, she is the next victim of the mysterious fever illness that has been moving through our house. First Bridget (last weekend, followed by three days of utter fatigue) then Maddie (this past weekend/Monday, followed by a terrible cough) and now Gracie. When Bridget has a fever of 101º she reacts as if she has a fever of 101º. When Maddie has a fever of 101º she reacts as if she has a fever of 109º. When Gracie has a fever of 101º she reacts as if she has a fever of 157º.
6. I ruined both Matt's and Bridget's day today by causing the van to have a deader-than-dead battery this morning. It is too mortifiying and absurd to tell the story; I will simply state that it involved birdwatching and leave it at that. Bridget missed storytime and Matt had to come home from work, try to jump the battery, shake his head at me regarding the magnitude of damage I did to the battery, go back to work, and then come home again to buy a new battery and replace it. I helpfully pointed out that two hours working outside in the pleasant weather wasn't the worst way to spend the afternoon. And then I ran inside and kept my mouth shut.
7. In my defense: original battery. Five+ years old. Survived the February of -41º wind chill without a garage. OK, OK, there really is no defense.
8. I am starting a new list of things Bridget says. The first thing on the list, in reference to one of my workout DVDs that has a section of boxing with Jillian Michaels: "I could beat these guys with my boxing skills." I'm not even kidding. That child is hilarious.
9. In addition to boxing skills, the Dillow girls now have Laser Tag skills. They were the only girls invited to a birthday party for an 8 year old friend on base recently... they walked in and saw twelve boys gearing up for Laser Tag and totally freaked out. Gracie refused to play the first round (Dark spaces! Loud voices! Weird lights! TWELVE BOYS!) but I finally convinced Maddie and Bridget to try it... by the second round, Gracie's curiosity got the best of her and she decided to give it a try, too. I think she ended up having the most fun of anyone. And how about that Bridget... not sure I trust a girl with a laser gun and this face:
Also, I'm not sure where Gracie learned to hold a laser gun in such a menacing fashion.
10. And now that Grandma has fainted, I'm going to bed.
: )
