Date Night

How did this happen? How can I be here at D’el Arte  wearing a suit and tie with my beautiful wife?   The day hadn’t been planned to end with a date night.  Then it all dawned on me.  I’d been set up.  Duped, so to say, into this unlikely event, a date night.  Her plan was so clever and deceptive as to escape detection until the last card had been played.

 

Oh, my wife is clever.  When exactly did the deception begin?  Was it the party which lasted until 3am the night before? Was it at the invitation to the wedding three weeks ago?  How far back could it possibly go.  When was this seed planted in my wife’s brain to have a date night with me all dressed up and formal?

So many twists and turns-she played her cards well, I never suspected while sitting in the pews next to my wife that when she leaned forward with a pained expression on her face that the evening would end at D’el Arte.  Nor when her condition appeared to worsen and I decided to go get the car to take her to the doctor’s office, nor when I returned to find her lying on the cold hard stone floor of the church could I have ever imagined we would be enjoying a quiet evening together sharing entrees and desserts.  Nor could I have conceived after having multiple people help calling the ambulance, which never came, or the friends who called my in-laws to come take care of the kids, that we would be eating a wonderful pizza by the end of the evening.  No, none of these things would have prepared me for the relief I would feel after waiting 4 hours in the emergency room that her pains were probably only intercostal muscle pains and the test for something more serious were all negative.

Honestly dear, next time you want to go out for a date night just ask me.  I’ll say yes.  

The aftermath Day 1

My week in the Alps went by quickly and despite missing my family terribly, I had a good time.  Of course there were a few problems. The first float was an easy class II section of the Guil. If you can imagine the hardest part of the Jack's Fork river, and then make it continuous for about 4 miles you'll have an idea of what the river was like.  Up close the  landscape here is similar to the Ozarks, just gray instead of brown gravel, water more blue than green and well,the mountains are considerably taller. 

On the Road

It's been a long spell since the last post...but I've been thinking about Posh taking out her old manual typewriter and writing her "Dear Brats"letters  while Bucky would be driving.   It's a bit different today.  I've pulled out my smartphone and instead of typing, Swyping, but the purpose is still the same. 
Right now we're (the kayaking club) are on our way for a week of kayaking in the Alps.I've left the family  in Bain-de-Bretagne for a week of working on some real whitewater to improve my technique.  The Alps have just popped into view...up until now we've been in the foothills.  Impressive.  Real mountain whitewater is something I've never really tried, I'm sure there will be a learning curve that will be a real challenge. 

Clémentine's 4th Birthday.

A long time since I've posted anything,and lot's of stuff to post, so we'll start here I guess...

Baby Fox

image

Originally uploaded by PhilW

While I was out on the map for Rick's birthday I saw this little fella and his siblings...aren't they cute?

16 Years Today

It's hard to believe that my little running life has reached its sweet 16. 16 years ago this morning I laced on an old pair of running shoes left over from my college days and drug my 200lb+ butt out the door to go for a run. Well that was the idea anyway. In reality it was a run walk affair. I'd run 30 seconds and walk 2-3 minutes. It wasn't pretty or even that much fun. Those 30 seconds seemed to drag on forever, whereas the 2-3 minute walk breaks felt no longer than 30 seconds. If I'd had one of the fancy watches I'd soon buy to support my running addiction, I'd have sworn I was running the reverse that I'd intended. But no, I was that out of shape. My lungs were on fire, my legs jello. How I convinced myself to try that again, I don't know. But I did. One year later, I'd managed to run a full year, something I hadn't accomplished even during my "true" athletic career in high school. I was ecstatic. Driving to work that morning I after my historic run, I heard on the news the first reports of the Oklahoma bombing. My elation was short-lived as the world learned more and more of that terrible act. To say that afterwards I decided to continue running in their honor would be a lie, but the thought of all those lives lost do cross my mind during my runs in April or really anytime I think about how long I've been running.
So this journey has brought me from 220 lbs (110kg) to 150lbs (68kg) and currently back at 176lbs (80kgs). The blubber is currently winning having snuck up behind me...i.e. Love handles. The battle continues...
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Cold Case: Bain-de-Bretagne

A new break in the mass fish murder case. In an effort to create a break in the case it was decided to expose the suspects to a room full of fish and observe their reaction. upon reaching the first fish shop, absolutely no remorse was observed on any of the suspect's faces, quite the contrary, all three suspects exhibited a great sense of excitement. Whether this was due to the idea of choosing new fish for the aquarium or the view of so many more potential victims could not be determined. Upon choosing the new residents of our aquarium, a fight ensued between the suspects. Who was going to carry the bag of fish to the car. A plea bargain was offered to the suspects in return for the honor. Three confessions were quickly offered and accepted. Sentence has yet to be determined. Case closed.
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