Speed Bumps

I ran the Rock N Roll Seattle 1/2 Marathon last year, and my time was not very impressive.  I had a really messed up ankle from a work injury, so I was just proud that I finished.  When I signed up for the 2012 race I said, "I can totally beat last year's time...I was injured".  So, in the past 6 months, I have set about training to increase my speed.  I also bought a copy of "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald.  I'm not going to lie, I mostly skimmed it.  But, I think that I got the gist.  The speed bumps that I consistently encounter on my way to my new PR are the deposits of fat around my stomach.  Lose weight, run faster.  I've read a lot of articles, with scientific backing and all, which corroborate that very point.  I just like Skittles too much to really care.  Science is overrated.  Skittles, on the other hand, are always delicious.

An Open Letter To Jason Segel

Dear Mr. Segel,

I enjoy your films. But I have one particular film on my mind today. I just want to thank you for "The Muppets". I watched it the other night and it was awesome. I totally dorked out. Watching Kermit and Gonzo and Fozzie felt like being reunited with dear childhood friends. I didn't know how much I missed the Muppets until you brought them back into my life. You filled the Kermit-sized hole in my heart. I don't even think it is weird how much time you spend making films in which you play with puppets. I cannot say the same thing for Jeff Dunham, that guy is a creeper. So, in short, thank you. You're the man.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Davies

Someone is making the best of a bad situation!

My mess just keeps getting BIGGER and BIGGER

Kenley LOVES "Tangled"

Just when I thought the yard couldn't get more destroyed...

It's Gunite day! These guys started at 6 a.m. which in turn Doogie started barking at 6 a.m. It will be a long day!

CSI Experience

While in Las Vegas for the IRB Sevens tournament, Mom, Dad, and I stopped by the MGM Grand to get the "CSI Experience".

Here, Mom and Dad are posing by a burnt corpse from the show CSI: Miami.  This would make a nice holiday card, don't you think?

Once we received our case, we got down to business.  Mom and Dad examined tire impressions from the scene:

While the parental units were busy reviewing the victims phone records, I compared DNA samples in order to determine the victim's biological parents:

Next it was time for the autopsy.  Mom took the lead on this one.  First, she poked the victim to make sure she was, in fact, dead:

Next, Mom removed the victims hand.  I'm not sure why she did this, but it was very funny!

Then, we submitted our findings:

Our new boss, Gil Grissom, was pleased.  Here's a peek in his office:

It was a lot of fun.  We are bona fide crime fighters now!!

Las Vegas Sevens Rugby Tournament

New Zealand Team

New Zealand vs Samoa

Kenyan team. Fantastic athletes!

Just got back from the Rugby Sevens Tournament in Las Vegas and I must say Rugby is AWESOME!!!!! We had a riot.

So confused!

Doogie can't understand why she's not allowed to play with the Kenley's toys! Life is so unfair!!!

What a mess!

I keep having to remind myself how great the pool will be. The dirt and mess in the backyard is beyond belief!

Happy Dog

No workers today so Doogie is happy. There's no barking today! Yay!

It's beginning to look like a pool

The re-bar guys were here Thursday and now you can really see more detail.

If you use your imagination......

If you use your imagination you can see the spa in the upper left corner of the pool and the baja step (for the grandkids) to the right....

Someone's excited!!!!!!

Doogie loves the dirt!
Steph is REALLY excited about the pool!!!!

Very confused Dog!

The poor dog can't understand why I am letting the workers dig up the yard. She's going to be very hoarse from all the barking and I will be deaf.

I'm sure our neighbors hate us!

This is what I woke up to this morning!

Very agitated dog.

We're getting a pool

Can't believe after living in So. Cal since 1980 we are finally getting a pool. Yesterday the contractor came and removed the awning. He also took down the ugly chain link fence that was here since we bought the house. I was so happy to see it go. It did serve us well over the years. It kept our 4 little kids safe while playing in the yard. It kept our dogs from running in the street. It also confined my 20+ cub scouts when we met at the house.

9/11

I still remember where I was when the Twin Towers went down.  I was home, still on summer break from UCSB and my brother Jon shook me awake and told me to watch the TV.  I sat there, even after he left for school watching the images.  It was really too much for me to understand, and probably still, my mind cannot fully comprehend what happened that day.  Tomorrow is the 10 year anniversary of September 11th.  It is amazing that 10 years have passed.  We should all stop and reflect on the events of September 11, 2001.  We should pay our respects for the lives lost and we should be grateful for all the blessings we have in our lives.  Fly a flag, do an act of charity, or just take a moment to reflect.  One particular image will stick with me forever.  I remember watching on the news as NYC firefighters hung an American flag on the rubble of one of the Twin Towers under a sign that read "we will never forget".  I will never forget, nor will I ever cease to be grateful for the sacrifices that others have made for my freedoms.

Disneyland 5K

Here are a few pictures to recap our 5k weekend:

 Mom, Dad and Steph posing with Pluto on our way up to the Health Expo.

 The whole team at the Expo with all of our free loot!

 Mike and I anxiously waiting to start the 5k.

 Mom, Dad and Mike on the course.  People loved our shirts and everytime someone would pass they'd make some comment on how awesome our shirts were.

 Mom and Steph post race enjoying the free snacks.

 Mike proud of himself for running the last mile with Dad and doing it in 10 minutes.

 Dad going over the times in his watch post 5k.

The characters waiting at the end of the 5k to greet you.