December 31, 2011

As I stared into the bubbles of another glass of champagne, I thought back on the last year of my life.  New Years Eve is funny that way:  tomorrow is just another day, but it isn't at the same time.  It holds promises of positive change, new adventures, and a wonderful future.  It's the world's "start over" button.  Looking back on the last year, I am struck by how blessed I am.  I am healthy and loved beyond measure.  Looking forward to this next year, I am overwhelmed by what is coming my way:  another crack at the 3M Half, another ultra marathon, graduation from law school, the bar exam, and, hopefully, being sworn in as a member of the Texas State Bar.  But with this past year behind me, I know to focus most on the life in between those larger-than-life moments.  Without those bits of life, the exciting parts are meaningless.  Happy New Year to you all, may it be full of laughter, growth, happiness, and many, many blessings.

December 30, 2011

With bags packed, the apartment locked up tight, and the kitties taken care of, we hopped on a plane to what I affectionately refer to as "the frozen tundra of the north."  I know Wisconsin is not actually a tundra, but it felt as close to the tundra as I am likely to get.  We first stopped in Detroit for an hour layover, then had a short flight to Milwaukee.  After a quick drive, we found ourselves in the small suburb of South Milwaukee, a tiny town full of industrial manufacturers, neighborhood bars, and green parks.  It was too late to do any serious exploring, and I knew I would be given the grand tour with a long run bright and early tomorrow morning, so I just took in the sights of a city that has kept its tiny charm in spite of the world around it.