Wow, been a long time since I've posted a blog. I'm surprised I even remembered my login and password!

February

So this year's off to a running start. Marathon training is in full swing, I started triathlon training as well. I swim 4-5 time per week, am running about 35 miles per week. Madeline started the swim team, still takes dance and swimming lessons. Annie knows how to chill and doesn't do much of anything except tag along. Ryan got a new title at work: Senior Associate and became a member of the "Board of Director's", which is a super elite secret group. Ooops, let the cat out of the bag, didn't I? Anyway everything is going well!

My job is great. I have four new planning commissioners and all the fun of training a new board. I am very excited about the potential of this board. It is a very good cross section of the county and includes some very interesting and knowledgable people! I am honored to serve them. News on the County Board front is that our chairman will not run for a second term. Her opponent is a peer from the Chamber of Commerce. He may have a challenger which would make for an interesting race. It will be a very interesting year, to say the least! I love politics! At least, when they don't involve me.

January 2010

Since it's been a very, very long time since my last post...I will start my innaugural post of 2010 with new year's resolutions. I didn't actually make any, but I will think of some on the fly now.

2009 was a very interesting year. I hope that 2010 is also interesting, but perhaps in different ways. Such as the following:

1. Find better balance between my highest priorities; Ryan, Annalise/Madeline, exercise routine and career.
2. Spend more time building the evolving marriage relationship.
3. Strategize on how to impress the most important values onto the girls.
4. Finish critical home projects.

My personal goals include:

1. Run a marathon.
2. Finish a triathalon.

We hope to visit Europe soon, make a nostalgic trip out to Seattle and I would like to visit my best friend Mona in New York City for a solo (or with Ryan) vacation. So there you have it! 2010 in a nutshell.

I was able to close out 2009 by going through almost every item from my parents estate. I donated about 2000 cubic feet of items to the DAV and a vanload to the county department of community services. There is more to donate and that will hopefully be finished soon.

I started swimming class which meets weekly on Tuesday's. There I will learn all of the strokes and how to perfect my form so that I will be in top shape for the triathalon in June. :)

Demolition

I used to have a fireplace mantle and hearth. Now I have none. I still have a fireplace, though. I will post pictures soon.

Taylor Swift Concert

I will blog more about this tomorrow since it's late. Madeline and I were lucky to be able to purchase a couple of tickets to the concert tonight and attend with our friend John. He provided the opportunity to buy seats in a great location. We had a lot of fun. I have some pictures and videos to post.

Garden Update

I realized that it has been awhile since I updated on the garden. As many of you know we have a fairly extensive garden in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.

Many of the crops did not get planted. I think I mentioned in a much earlier spring post that some things had not yet been done. They never got completed. Peas, beans, raddishes, lettuce, carrots or onions were never planted. A few things did get planted. Things that are doing well are fruits that are perennial. We had approximately well over 100 peaches. We had a variety of peach issues this year. There was some peach curl, a bug crawled over the peaches and gave them sticky spots and caused some malformation, worms got about 60% of the peaches and several were eaten or partially eaten by birds. We harvested all but one of the peaches. Several were eaten and I all found was a peach pit at the base of the tree. I'd say maybe 20 peaches were lost in that way. Even still we were able to harvest and keep a significant amount of peaches. We had about 40 that did not have any worms. Those were eaten whole. The rest are going to be canned. At least they are supposed to be canned, if Ryan does it.

The blackberries, grapes, tomatoes and peppers are ready. Raspberries are almost ripe (and there are many, which need to be covered to avoid loss from birds). The brussel sprouts are doing well and look to provide a decent crop. I almost forgot about the squash and cucumbers. Those are being picked now too. Pumpkin and butternut squash are growing now. I can't tell how many there are of each because of the way that Ryan planted them this year. They're in a cluster right now. When the growing season is over, we'll harvest them.

There are several pears on the pear trees. this is the first year fruiting. I don't know if they will ripen enough to eat. Only time will tell.

Madeline's top toof

Ryan pulled the last top tooth today. She is enjoying her new smile and excited the tooth fairy is coming tonight. I will post video and pics soon.