Lost in Translation

I have been really busy with work and even busier at home with the Kids and Em going to school full time.
Then, a couple of days ago I had to travel to Plano, TX, where I am currently working for the next two weeks. So basically, I haven't been climbing much lately and won't be touching anything climbing related until after the 14th.

I have been running more and more lately though. I have caught the bug, that is for sure. While I am stuck running on the road instead of the trails I'm enjoying being out there and pushing my limits.

I have been working on pushing my distance. My regular routine is about 4.5 miles. After a 4.2 mile day yesterday here in Plano I found an extended route that would allow me a 6.2 mile day. Leaving the hotel at about 6:15am I took off on the new course. The first mile and a half you have to run almost solely on the grass as there was no shoulder or sidewalks. As it was my second day I was a bit more used to it, so I didn't have to work as hard to get through it. Beyond that point I found I was able to run on the sidewalk the rest of the course. Phew.

I was able to complete the course in just over 50 minutes, pretty good considering I've never run that far before. I'm hoping that within the next 30 days 6 miles will become my regular workout and my long days will be 8 - 10.

While its not sending projects in LCC, it is a lot of fun and I feel great!

New Family Blog

Emily and I have started an actual family blog and not just one for me where I go on about nothing. Please refer to that blog to keep up with all of our family happenings. I don't plan to post here anymore.

URL: lloydorganizedchaos.blogspot.com

I will continue to keep my climbing journal open. I know many of you prefer that one as it is closer to our person interests. I do plan to expand it to cover trail running and skiing though. If you don't like that stuff, tough. Deal with it. It's cool.

Thanksgiving

Along with our wonderful family we forced Jami to come and eat with us since she couldn't go home to PA to be with her family. She didn't stay long but everyone was glad she was there.

T spent most of his day on the trampoline

Four of the most gorgeous women you'll ever meet.

Sam may have loved the tramp more than T

Such a happy mother. Max is so cute.

Bells Canyon Hike 11-22-08

Tyler and I took a short hike up Bell's Canyon on Saturday morning. It was a beautiful November morning; the sun was out and the temperatures were perfect, somewhere in the mid 40s.

We hit the trail by 10am and were up to the lower reservoir about 20 minutes later. We hiked about half a mile up the trail further and then decided to head back home so that we could spend the rest of the afternoon with Em and the other boys.

Here are a few pictures.

New Photos

Here are some updated pictures of the boys.

Sam loves computers

All of my boys together. Tyler is the best biggest brother.

Week 2/3. Not happy I took his picture.

The Ugly Face of Racism

It is not uncommon for me to receive chain emails from family and friends. While I don't particularly welcome them, some are entertaining and others even inspirational. However, over the course of this election I have seen some down-right disturbing emails regarding our President-elect that are bothersome and even racist.

I won't discuss politics on this blog as that isn't the issue at hand. I respect people's varying political views and congratulate them for the active role they often take in promoting their opinions. If anyone would like to discuss the negative aspects of a particular campaign in regards to the candidates or parties platform, I think that is great. But when they begin to attack their religion, gender, or ethnicity I have to draw a line.

Our President-elect legitimately won what will be considered a land-mark election. History has officially been changed. Let's not also forget that two women from different parties came very close to making equally as large a place in history. What they accomplished, even in their losses, is monumental. It makes me proud to be a part of a country where we can look beyond race and gender and elect a candidate based on their platform (whether I or you voted for him or not).

And then I get emails that attack Obama solely based on his race. Are these emails meant to be funny? Should I laugh simply because the last 50 people on the email chain thought it was entertaining enough to forward on? It makes me sick to my stomach to think that this still goes on today. It is one thing to see the distribution list that these emails are sent to when I receive them, but it is even more disturbing to me to see the historical path these emails have taken to get to me and the number of people who have viewed and forwarded on once again something so offensive.

The pride I had has now been slightly tarnished. This country I love is a little less perfect, a little less hopeful, and a little more hateful. I thought these things were finally on their way out. I guess I was wrong.

If you have read this post and may be one of the people who have forwarded something on when you shouldn't have I will please ask you to be a little more careful in the future. For my sake, just don't send me stuff. Honestly, I don't want your chain emails anyway. Unless its a funny bunch of pictures of puppies and kids I don't really have time to read it and doubt that it will be true anyway.

If you have taken offense to any of the things I've said then maybe you are the one who should consider the types of emails you are forwarding on. And if any of you have been offended by something I've forwarded on I sincerely apologize. I am certainly not perfect and have equally as much responsibility to play by these rules.

Thank you.

craig

Max is so cute

Here are just a couple of additional photos that have been taken in the last week. Max is doing well and even allowing us a few hours of sleep between feedings.