Sister Sally asked about the side door to our Houghton house.  I told her it was a gnome size door.  It's plenty big to fit a gnome, even when he is riding on his trusty frog steed.   We got this guy on sale at sears last fall and it looked like the perfect lawn ornament for the Houghton house. 

THe college kids don't think it's too cool - BUT WE SURE DO!!!

The boys and I went to see Ironman tonight.  It passed the "no-sleep"test  (and I was really tired!)  It was pretty good - I told the boys I'd give it a solid 6.5 out of 10.  (Spoiler alert - This WAS NOT a true story!)

I Had 3 tasks to accomplish today.   1) Relax; 2) take a bike ride; 3) do a quick mow on the lawn.  Done, Done and Done cats!

Remembering my Mom

We had a beautiful Memorial service for Mom today.   Sally,  Gabe, Lori, Nancy, Joe, Sue, Ron, Shawn, Walt, Matt, Aunt Beverly, Jerry, Joyce, Marsha, Harry,  Patty, Gary Haller and me!   It was a very nice service, Gary read scripture, We sang "Old Rugged Cross" and "In the Garden", Sally read a great tribute to Mom, Sue and Nancy added some great words.  

Sue presented Aunt Beverly with a nice present - a large charcoal drawing of my Dad.  A perfect way for her to remember her brother.  Sue also brought photo albums for all the families.  They were assembled from pictures that my mom had collected and filed by family.  There was a few misplaced baby pictures - but it made it all fun!

Afterward, Sally broke out a bit of a surprise.  She had the posting we put in a "time capsule" that was created when we were together for Christmas in 1999.  It was fun to see the prediction we made.  I don't remember filling them out, but it sure was fun.  In my post, I asked if Walt was eating pizza 7 days a week!  Ha!

I am blessed to be part of such wonderful cats!!

  

Riverbank Run - The rest of the story...

My poor knees!!! I tried to run today - 5 days after the long run on Saturday. After about 1/4 mile my knees asked politely if we could do this later. I agreed - the old boys are getting old. :-( In an ironical (I like that word) twist, my bad knee is good and my good knee is bad. All this is just observation by the way - I am not complaining! Guess I need to switch to biking or swimming for a while.

Walt and Matt got back from Alaska yesterday. They had a fun trip - so much to see there. It sounds like they saw enough moose that it became no big deal. That's a pretty cool thing. Thanks Aimee and Brian for being great hosts! Now I'm all geeked up to try Mooses Tooth pizza...

Fetch me the Ben Gay cats!

Fifth Third River Bank Run

On Saturday I ran the Riverbank Run in Grand Rapids. The last time I ran it was in 2003. It felt really good to be able to get through it this year. I ran it in 2 hours 15 minutes. I was happy with that. I had been doing a lot of cross training (more biking and elliptical machine) and that was able to keep me sufficiently trained – with out putting too much stress on my old joints! That worked good - except for my feet! They don’t get much training on the bike and they were barkin’ for the last few miles. A few goals came and went, but over all I felt like I gave my all and I did not have to walk (It’s hard to start running again after you walk a little!).

Shawn was there to cheer me on for my kick to the finish line - it was sure great to see her big smile and give me that last bump to the finish! I was pretty happy to cross that line!

Thanks for the support Cats!

How do you get to....

Radio City Music Hall?? I know, I know - that joke is Carnegie Hall, but in the excitement of our walk in NYC, I had someone take my picture with that line in my head. It was a fun few days in New York. And we even accomplished a few things - which is good when you're working with Marketers!

Practise, Practise, Practise cats!

Live from New York...

I got to spend two days living a "marketers life" in NYC. Our meetings are right near the theater district; we spent the night one block from Time Square; I had lox and bagels for breakfast; we rode the subway; we saw the Museum of Modern Art; we saw a swat team preparing for something(?); I took a run in Central Park...

AND, going against my baseball up bringing (sorry mom and dad!) - we went to a Yankee game. I even pushed the group to go - this is the last season in the Old Yankee Stadium. The game was wonderful - great seats, great night, "great" fans - just how I pictured Yankee fans. The best thing is the Yankees lost!.

I head back tonight...

Fahgetaboudit Cats!!

The importance of eye contact

We have always told the kids that eye contact is very important to conversations.  I think we should have toned down Aimee's lessons. 

It is so great to see our "tids" on Ichat.  I feel like George Jetson when we use it. 

R'ats r'all cats!

# 1245

"It's go time, bring your "A" game!" The 5/3 Riverbank Run is this weekend, I entered to run this year after a 5 year Hiatus. I Just found out my number will be 1245. The riverbank run as a 25K run - 15.5 miles. I was having knee problems in previous years, but this year I have found enough cross training exercises to keep me in shape and keep my knee happy. I have a new attitude about my running, no watch, no times, no worries. I just try to set a pace and stick to it.

In my younger running days, I would have a goal time in mind and go out too fast in the beginning of the race. I'd get tired and slow way down. Then I would get passed by all these old guys and gals who knew their pace and just stuck to it. This year I hope to be one of those old guys. I won't have a best time, but I will be thrilled just to finish - at my pace - whatever that may be.

Keep on chuggin' along Cats! That's what I'll be doing Saturday! (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...)

Gardening with Bif

Nope - Not a new nick name - when you have a son that's a Geological Engineer, you have to include a little B.I.F. in your landscape.  B.I.F. is Banded Iron Formation.  This is what they mine at Tilden mine where Walt worked last summer.  Walt has provided me with rocks that have quartz pieces and green junk in them (I'm sure there is a better name for those), native float copper and slate.  I made steps out of the slate.  

The Gardens are shapin' up - but I have a way to go!!!

Keep the green side up Cats!

saving the planet one pizza at a time...

Tonight the dinner choice was Big Bob's Pizza.  Thats the local pizza joint - about a mile from our house.

...and just today, we were talking about what our minimum trip would be before we use the car.  I think I am going with 2 miles...  So that meant I had to bike for the pizza tonight.  I'm sure I looked a little funny strapping our pizza on my little China Bike - But it was all good!  The pizza stayed in place the whole way home and it was even hot when I got home. 

Tomorrows assignment is mulch in the Garden - the garden shop is 1.99 miles from our house :>/  I guess I'll make that call in the morning!

Keep green Cats!

Red Horse

My friend Phil Vanderbilt (yes - of the famed Vanderbilt's of Grand Rapids) keeps talking about how much he loves Red Horse Beer when he is in the Philippines. Curiosity has gotten the best of me, so I asked about it at our local beer store. Don, the beer guy says he can get it, so I ordered in a case and told all my work buddies about it... 3 weeks later it is not here yet! My pals are getting a little bit testy about the whole situation.

I learned today it would be shipped in by May 8th - the deal involves a multi tiered trade for Cuban cigars, a boy with a trained monkey, long johns, coconut fibers and a cricket player to be named later. I have the lawn chairs, bats, balls and Frisbees already in my suburban - we'll be ready for a Filipino picnic when it arrives!

Drink responsibly Cats!