I Spent My Days On The Beach With A Leggy Blonde
/Did I mention I'm spending the weekend at the beach with the world's most beautiful Greyhound? Her name is Bella and she is, as her owner refers to her, "A leggy, vacant blonde."
BellaBella is four years old and was a rescue. She use to be a race dog in Florida. 
"I love to run!"
Greyhounds chill easily so Bella spent her days wrapped snug in her blanket. Which, for the record, was the cutest thing ever.
Bella wrapped up in her blankie
We took a million pictures of her on the beach. The light just bounced off her.
Beautiful Dog
Overpack Much?
/Thank God Blair was already at work and didn't see the packing nightmare that was me yesterday afternoon. I'm at the beach for a girls weekend to celebrate my friend Melody's 40 birthday. I am not exaggerating when I say I packed more for this three-day adventure than I will be bringing on our 11-day tour of Egypt. Don't offer me a car and unlimited packing space 'cause I'll use it.
My gear included:
- Backpack full of running gear - shoes, water bottle, Gu, various layers of clothing so I'm prepared for -8 to 90 degree weather
- Suitcase full of regular clothes. 6 outfits for 3 days because God forbid I'm left w/out options
- My pillow
- Bag full of toiletries - makeup, facial soap, hair brush, hair dryer, toothbrush, etc.
- Work bag - computer, friend's novel I need edit/critique, my novel I'm writing, client folders in case I need to update this weekend
- Fun bag - movies, books
- Food Bag - decaf coffee, peanut butter, chocolate rice cakes, sunflower seeds, wine... I hate to be caught w/out snacks
- Towels. Weren't sure if the house we were going to was stocked, so packed 3 of our fluffiest towels.
On the bright side, when I went to pick up Melody, she had even more stuff than me. I do so love traveling with another woman.
The beach home we're in is STUNNING. We're at Pawleys Island, SC. I've been watching the sun rise over the water, listening to the waves, and waiting for Bella the world's most beautiful tan greyhound to wake up so we can walk on the beach. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.
Dena
20 Degree Runs
/
Someday soon--next week, I think--I'm going to carry a camera on my early morning trail run. I want to share the beauty of what I see weekly with all of you. (The pictures here are of the trails I run, just not winter pics and not taken by me.) People call me crazy to head out in 19/20 degree weather for a run and when I first step out my front door, I agree with them. But the cold is all but forgotten after the first half mile. The blood starts pumping, the sun peeks over the horizon, and I can't imagine a better start to the day.
Today I ran with Neal and Dave, long-time trail-running buddies. Although bundled up in our thick black tights, gloves, and stockinged caps pulled low on our heads, we more likely resembled bank-robbers. The morning was stunning in its simplicity. The trail was frost-frozen and leaves and dirt crunched under our feet. Bikes had been through earlier in the week and the trial ruts made by them had frozen into mini-hills on the path. The denser woods had snow clinging to the ground on either side of the path. A low vapor hung over the lake, muting the calls of the ducks and geese who rested there. The path we ran today had a number of wooden bridges which we had to walk due to their being coated in ice. Once the sun came up, the whole woods sparkled with melting frost. It made spotting roots and limbs in the path tricky, but was well worth it for the effect.
I come home happy from these runs. Life just seems to make more sense. Out on the path, all I need is light focus, deep breaths, and an appreciation for the moment. Everything else
falls away. It has to. Out on the trail, with my nose running and my breath creating a fog around my head, it doesn't matter what's in my in-box or that the laundry is piling up. I can't do anything about any of that out there, so I let it all go.
That's a small price to pay for being a little chilly.
Happy Wednesday!
