The Things We Do - They Do

So at the end of a crazy week, so much has gone on, that I am struggling to remember all the things I wanted to include in this journal for Shaan.



From off the top of my head, I remember that Shaan put his own shoes on this week for the first time, straps and everything. At leas the first time that I have seen it. Which I think is a fairly big accomplishment. He also seems to be getting the hang of puzzles.

I picked up writing here more than a week later. Oh the things that happen. One of things I really wanted to include was that I had a week off of work from Jan. 9-16 that I got to stay home with Shaan. It was some really cool Dad-Man Child time. Unfortunately he was sick for the early part of the week and the weather was the typical Pittsburgh, which just really equates to crap. Finally though on Thursday after being trapped in the house for 3 days, we were able to go out. In the morning we went to the Natural History Museum. We got to see dinosaur and whale exhibits which are just fantastic. Also, we walked around the other parts, including an Egyptian exhibit. Upon entering, Shaan says in perfect diction, "Look Dad, Heirogylphics." no flinching, with the word, no struggling. This boy is going to be a better man than me, and may already be.

On the family front, we have added a new member to the brood - sort of. We have a rat. Thats right, a rat. I've seen it, twice now. It has cost us some money. He has chewed through some plastic piping under the sink, and may have caused more trouble the plumbing for both our upstairs bathrooms. Both are leaking - toilet, shower and sink, into our kitchen. Can not be used at all. It is costing us a fortune to fix it. Including not being able to use our kitchen. Life is a bit hellish in the home right now, not easy.

If and when I get this rat, I am going to torture it. First, I am going to pull off its legs with pliers. Then I am going to poke at its eyes with a thumb tack. Then I am going to make it watch reruns of "Two and Half Men", Clockwork Orange style. Then I am going to chop its tail off in bits and feed it to itself slowly, mixed in a tasty stew, so it wont even know, its eating itself. Then after it is dead, I will leave it on a stake outside for all other rats to see, like Vlad the impaler used to do.

Anywho. On a more positive note, the training for the half marathon has had its ups and downs.
I reinjured my knee at yoga last week, doing this weird twisting position. Still not 100%, but I''m doing lighter training. So this past saturday's big run did not happen. The week before did, when I ran 5 miles in 51:30. the weight loss plan also has had its ups and downs. After gaining .2 lbs t get back up to 164.8, on the weigh in this monday, I lost .8 and am at 164.0 even right now. More than half way to my goal.

Thinking about the run today. Up till now, I have been planning to train to not be the last one to finish in my group, or out of everyone running. But I've had it all wrong. New goal, do you best, but train within my limits, but try to finish first. What kind of lesson would I be teaching to the boy if I taught him to try to just get by. Do you best, but always try to be the best. Its amazing what people are capable of, if they just try.