Taper!

This is the last week before the marathon...and I am loving the taper.  Yesterday I only had to run 4 miles at an "easy" pace.  Since the weather was cooler, Maggie Roo got to go on her first run in ages.

She was thrilled...for the first 3 miles.  Too bad there was another mile after that.

Poor Roo Bear.

Chicago and Halloween

Chicago was great...the night after I saw Nate I got to see my darling friend Rach from grad school.  I should travel for work more often -- it's a great excuse to visit friends :)

Rach and I met up with some other girls from grad school--Francie and Aqeela--but I neglected to take pictures.  I wish I had--Francie and her darling boyfriend were dressed up as Waldo and his girlfriend Wenda.

Cute.

I got home from Chicago on Sunday - in time for Halloween.  David and I went to church and got home about 7pm, missing all the trick or treaters...so we decided to load up Maggie Roo in her bumble bee costume and take her searching for treats at Steph and Jon's.

 Maggie promptly stole Wicket and Willow's food. 

She has no shame...especially considering that her costume busted open every time she sat down.

Diet time, Maggie Roo.

Chicago!

I have arrived in Chicago....two-ish hours ago.  

Already, I've seen my glorious friend, Nate.

And I had my favorite turkey sandwich, ever.

It's going to be a good trip.

The (2nd) Greatest Day of David's Life

On Saturday, David and I traveled to Columbia for Mizzou's homecoming....

I've never seen that man so happy.  He kept saying it was the second greatest day of his life, which is very sweet...but I'm doubting that a little bit.

Thrilled.  He was thrilled.

Anyway, I'll just show a smattering of photographs.

Enjoy!

Bad Owner.

Maggie Roo has a Puppy Date this weekend, and she insisted on not stinking to high heaven before the date.

I can't figure out why... don't dogs like stank?

Anyway, I took her to U-Do-It Dog Wash and scrubbed her clean. She even got oatmeal shampoo and blueberry facial scrub.  Towards the end, I decided that her nails were too long but that I didn't want to pay the extra $8 to have someone else do it.

My dad's a veterinarian, I reasoned...surely I should be able to clip my own dog's nails.

Of course I should be able to clip them myself.  Unfortunately, I am terrible at it.  

Maggie bled.  It was horrible.

She was still bleeding when we got home.  

I tied her up in the front yard and waited for a bit.

Still bleeding...only now there was blood all over our porch.

I tried tamping the flow with flour (advise from Poppa-Bear last time I injured my baby).

Still bleeding...now with flour everywhere.

After I while, I decided that only time could heal this...

so I wrapped her paws (just 2) in paper towels and then in two plastic bags, securing with tape.

She hates her life.

Poor baby

Needless to say, she survived, but I felt terrible.  She was miserable for the few hours I made her stay tied up.  At least she got a rockin' bandanna out of the deal.

No more nail clipping for me.

Yard Signs

Before Mom and I took off for Seattle, she dropped off a yard sign.

See, my uncle's running for Governor... last time he was up for election I was in the Peace Corps, so it's been about 12 year since I've been "around" for an election.

So, despite the fact that we live in (and vote in) Missouri (not Kansas) and it's confusing to all the neighbors, we're displaying our yard sign proudly.

Family pride, people.

Favorite Dinner