Semi-famous. Not really.

Last Friday, I was at Ford Field photographing a state football final. In Michigan all of the state football final games are broadcasted live on Fox Sports Net. To cover the game, I was standing on the sidelines near the visitors. Since I was near the visiting team that meant possible TV time. Most of the cameras were set up on the home side of the field facing the visitors side.

Before I left for Detroit, I set my DVR to record the game. I wanted to see myself on TV. Who doesn't want to do that? During the game, I received a voicemail from my sister. She called to say that she saw me on TV. Next the day I watched the recorded game and I saw myself numerous times on TV. Granted I wasn't the main focus, but you could visibly see me in the background.

All this week, people have been saying to me that they saw me on TV. My husband and I were eating at a restaurant Tuesday and an acquaintance let me know he saw me on TV. The topper was yesterday while photographing a high school wrestling match. The official for the match was walking around the mat before starting. He saw me, walked over and asked how I was doing. I told him I was doing well. He then said,"The last time I saw you, you were standing on Ford Field. You were on TV a lot." After he said that he walked over to the center of the mat and started the match for the 171 pound weight class.

Sometimes its nice to be recognized.

Brick wall - Adrian, MI

Goodbye to you

I did something last week that I have been wanting to do for a while now. I've had it for a couple of years and in the end it just wasn't the same. In the beginning I was using it constantly. Lately I only checked it once every couple of weeks. So I decided to get rid of it forever.

I said goodbye to myspace.

I liked leaving comments on friends pages, adding photos, finding high school friends and answering the typical survey. Over time, my friends weren't on all of the time and gradually I wasn't on all of the time. Finally it became a chore to check my account to see if there was anything new. Usually there wasn't besides the fake profiles trying to be your friend. I decided it was time to give it up.

I now have the same thoughts about facebook. I have an account. I only check it once a week or two. The last time someone wrote on my wall was October. The only recent activity I have participated in is super poke. I don't think that is a reason to keep my account. This will make me sound old, but I really don't know how to use it. That is my fault because I guess I didn't care to learn. I think my facebook account will have the same ending as my myspace account very soon.

Junk - Adrian, MI

The ending they didn't want - Detroit, MI

Members of the Blissfield Royals football team walk off the field November 23, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. The Royals were defeated in the Division 6 state football final by Saginaw Nouvel, 12-7. The Royals finished their season 13-1.

Books read in 2007

Last year I read 39 books. Right now I'm in the middle of reading book 38. I think it will be no problem to read 2 or 3 more books before the end of the year. The last couple of books I read, it only took me a day to finish them. The current book and the next book will be fast reads. I could finish them faster if work didn't get in the way.

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

Currently Reading: Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Up Next: Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, Donald Spoto

An early gift

Something very nice was delivered to our home yesterday. A front loader washer and dryer.

When my husband and I moved into our home in 2002, the previous homeowners left their old washer and dryer. Over the years the washer started to wear. The agitator didn't work properly. So our clothes were washed, but not like they should have been. For the last couple of months, we have been looking for new ones. We had some picked out and in blue. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, a hardware store had an unbeatable deal. We, actually my husband, went with the great deal. The only bad part of the new washer and dryer is they are not blue like we wanted, they are white.

After they were delivered and hooked up, I had the chance to look at them. They are fantastic! I said to my husband I couldn't wait until Sunday to use the new washer and dryer. I'm such a geek.

Chain gang - Detroit, MI

Chain crew for the Division 6 state football final

Ford Field - Detroit, MI

Could that be any louder?

I went to a local dealership this morning to get an oil change. I handed over my keys and walked to the waiting area. I brought a book with me. Last time I waited for my car the selection on the television was The 700 Club. No thank you.

I pushed the door open and found an empty seat. I sat down and opened my book. The first thing I noticed was the television was really loud. I looked around and noticed I was sitting in the waiting area with older people. I really wanted to walk over to the television and turn it down. But I stayed in my chair because they probably thought the sound was OK. I started reading and I noticed that I was not really reading the words. I was listening to Rachael Ray on TV. I like Rachel and watch her shows daily, but I really wanted to read. I reread everything that I was skipping over.

On Rachael's show, she was making steak. I like steak, but I concentrated on my book instead of watching the cooking segment. A couple of the older people watching the television were making remarks, "I like steak, but she ruined it with that tomato sauce." "I wouldn't eat the steaks with that sauce." OK. I get it. You don't like tomato sauce on your steaks. You don't have to tell the entire room about it.

After making the steaks, the show went to commercial. After the break she had a segment "So You Think You Can Cook?" One of the older women said "no" really loud. Keep your comments to yourself. At this point her husband came back from wandering the halls of the car dealership to sit with her. As soon as he sat down, he kept clearing his throat. It went on for a couple of minutes. It was gross. If you're going to do that for an extended period of time, go to the restroom and cough it up. I didn't know how much more I could take between the loud TV, the throat clearing guy and the unnecessary comments. It was at that point my name was called and I could leave.

Maybe that is why I always drop my car off for an oil change. When I drop it off, I don't have to hear the loud TV and the comments.

Gateway to an alley - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad

Currently Reading: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Up Next: Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

What did you say?

Friday afternoon three reporters and I were walking across the street from a parking garage to Ford Field in Detroit. A worker noticed our finals press passes and offered us help.

Worker: "You see where the group of signs is?"

Saturday morning I was watching Food Network while running on my treadmill. I heard something odd.

Chef: "You should see how this smells."

Falling apart - Adrian, MI

Spray painted skull - Adrian, MI

Random things

My husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my side of the family. So many little things that need to be done and finished before everyone starts walking in the door tomorrow. Earlier this week, I noticed the kitchen curtains were really filthy. I mentioned to my husband that they should be washed before Thanksgiving. Before going to work, I took down the curtains and my husband put them in the washer. When I woke up this morning, the clean curtains were hanging on the rods. They look like they did we they came out of the package, clean.

I woke up this morning for work at 4 am, went in at 4:30 am. I stayed at the office only until 9:30 am because there was nothing for me to do. I finished all of my work earlier. With all of this free time, I still have time to catch a nap before starting some Christmas shopping.

When my husband finishes with his work this afternoon, we will get in the car and drive to Toledo, Ohio. We are going to start Christmas shopping for family and maybe get something for ourselves. Before driving home to Michigan, we are going to eat dinner at Famous Dave's. I think I'll have the bread pudding for dessert. YUM!

I need to find time today or early tomorrow morning to go to the store and pick up appetizers for Thanksgiving. My husband was going to make a cake for my sister's birthday for dessert after dinner tomorrow. But we didn't want two pies and cake for dessert after dinner. Cupcakes will be a perfect little treat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Books read in 2007

Now that engagement and wedding season is finished for the year, I have more free time. Besides work and running, I have been reading alot. I just finished a book yesterday in just over a day. Maybe with all of this extra time I have I can start making my Christmas cards.


A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt

Currenty Reading: Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Up Next: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

Back of Apartments 116 & 114 - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler

Currently Reading: American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Up Next: Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad

Alley - Adrian, MI

Miles run in 2007

Five hundred.

After completing my three mile run this evening, I have run over 500 miles this year. I couldn't be happier! My New Year resolution was to run over 500 miles and I did. I did it this year by trying to run over 10 miles every week. With just over six weeks left in the year, I should run about another 60 miles. Hopefully.

Miles run through November 16:
2007: 500.2
2006: 426
2005: 313.8
2004: 259.6

Apartments 116 & 114 - Adrian, MI

Seeing. How overrated.

This afternoon I had my yearly eye exam. I had to read the lowest line possible on the wall, cover one eye and had a bright light shined in both eyes.

It had been a year since my last appointment, the doctor dilated my eyes to look at my retinas. She left me alone in the room for five minutes for the drops to take affect. At this time, another lady was looking for my prescription for new contacts. A couple of minutes later, the lady who was looking for my contacts said that only the left lens was in and they would have to order the right lens. At that time, I was asked to put in my old contacts so the doctor could look at my eyes since the dilatation drops started working.

The doctor came back in and I realized something. I had to photograph a girls basketball team later that afternoon. I asked the doctor how long do the drops last. She said about four hours. I told her that around 4 pm I had to photograph a team. She said I should be fine by then.

I got in my car at 4 pm to drive over to the school. I noticed my vision wasn't good. I could see far away fine, but right in front of my face everything was out of focus. Not good for a photographer. When I got to the school, the portrait photographer was taking individual photos of the varsity players. I decided to sit on the floor and do tests with my camera. My camera shows a green circle when things are in focus, so I practiced on my shoe that was in front of me. After I took the picture, I looked at the LCD screen. I had to hold the camera way back to see if the image was in focus. It was. The real test was still coming.

All of us waited for the boys to finish practice. When they were finished the team, the portrait photographer and I went into the gym. While the other photographer was setting up the team, I continued to play with my camera and try to get things in focus. I had to rely on the dot inside the viewfinder to let me know when they were in focus. To me that was very hard to do. I know its not like a wedding where you only have one shot at a photo. But I always like to do my best. As I took the team photo, I made sure the green dot was visible. After the team photos I had to take head shots of the girls. I had them stand in two's against a wall. Since the girls and I were so close, they were out of focus. I took two photos each of the girls. I hope they are all usable. If they aren't that would make me feel bad. Tomorrow when I download the photos at work I'll find out how well I did.

AS - Adrian, MI

Random things

Not much has been going on with me lately. Here are a few thoughts that I had.

Project Runway season 4 starts tonight. I won't be watching at 10 pm because I will already be in bed. Even before I watch the season premiere sometime tomorrow, I will be reading an episode recap on one of my favorite sites, TV Squad.

Is it just me or is this season of America's Next Top Model boring? I start watching the show every week but I find myself turning the channel frequently to other programs. I guess I'm tried of Bianca always talking about Heather and her handicap. Get over it Bianca, she is better then you. I really hope ANTM does something to make the show more interesting. If it continues to be this boring for the rest of the season, I may not be back for the next season.

Thursday is Michigan's opening day for gun season, white tail-deer. A few years ago I was the lucky photographer to take photos of all of the dead deer and the proud hunters. This year it is someone else's turn. Every year when a hunter pulls into the lot with his trophy, most of the employees inside run outside to look at the deer in the back of a hunter's truck. I've seen plenty of dead animals growing up on a farm, but I don't like looking at the dead deer. Even though they are dead, it seems like they always have a sad look on their face. The tongues are always sticking out and blood is dripping everywhere. Not exactly what I call a good time.

Trashed - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor

Currently Reading: Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler

Up Next: American Spy, E. Howard Hunt

Closed and locked - Adrian, MI

New project on the table

I've started my new photo project. I found out I won't need it by February. The special section of the paper it was supposed to run in got dropped. Now this has become a project that is just for me. Besides my love of cemeteries, mausoleums, statues, deteriorating buildings (apartments, houses, industrial) and ballet, I wanted to add something new. My new project is graffiti.

After working this morning I got in my car and drove to a spot where I noticed graffiti. It happened to be spray painted near a old gas station that is for sale. The gas station is in bad shape with peeling paint and broken windows. It was a perfect subject to be photographed. Once I finished with the gas station I walked to a building behind it and started with the graffiti. A lot of names and swears were spray painted on the back of a neighboring building. When I was in the back, I noticed a boarded up apartment building next to the old gas station. All of the years that I have been driving by that location, I have never noticed it. Its probably due to most of the trees covering the building and the fact that there is no reason to be looking over to the left when I driving. The outside of the apartment building was in not good condition. All I could think is how much I wanted to get in. The only way to get in was broken windows on the second floor, unless I have a ladder with me that isn't going to happen.

Once I left the gas station/apartment, I drove to the industrial side of town. Didn't see anything worth stopping for because there was hardly any or someone painted over the graffiti. A couple of the buildings that I had in mind to photograph were recently painted over. I was mad that I didn't get to shoot it before it was painted over.

So my new project has began. This will probably continue for a long time. I'll add it to my stash of favorite things to photograph. Now that it is in my stash, I will always be on the lookout for it.

Today's Daily photo is from the gas station that is waiting to be sold.

Hole - Adrian, MI

Light switch - Adrian, MI

Random things

In downtown, people act like its almost Christmas. While driving to work this morning, Christmas was as far as the eye could see. Christmas lights in the trees, wreaths, bows on light poles, downtown businesses with lights in the windows. Do they realize Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away? Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, I consider it too early.

Anyone have suggestions for Thanksgiving appetizers? My husband and I are hosting for my family this year and I would like to make something different. In 2005 we hosted and I made fried ravioli, which turned out well. They all disappeared from the serving tray in record time. I want to make something that is quick, easy and won't hog up oven/stove space from my husband when he is cooking the rest of the dinner. If I get no suggestions then I will make my awesome fried ravioli again.

As of now, I am 16.5 miles away from my goal of running 500 miles this year. Around 5 pm I will be running 4 or 5 miles on my treadmill. So that will knock it down to 11-12 miles to go. Its only early November too, I will be finishing the year with high number of miles.

Friday the weather is supposed to be in the 50s. It will be a nice day to go on a photo shoot and start my new project. I'll keep it under wraps until I think I will have enough photos to make it into a great series. If I don't it's back to the drawing board. Which I hope won't be the case because I need it to be completed by late February.

Another broken window - Adrian, MI

No one to dial - Adrian, MI

It's cold inside

When I get to work in the morning, it is cold outside and inside. I'm cold from the walk in from my car and once I get settled, I warm up.

This morning there was no warm up.

Before 7 am, I walked into my office to grab my scarf. I wrapped the scarf around my neck to warm up. I thought about putting on my coat, but I really didn't feel like answering the question, "Are you cold?" Every time I wear my coat in the office someone who is passing by will say that to me. Usually, I'm one of two people that are always cold, but today a male co-worker said he was cold also. Once he said that I knew it just wasn't me, it was really cold in the office.

An hour later one of the office managers walks over to the thermostat that is located on the wall behind my desk. He looks at it and tells me that the air conditioner is on. He asked me why I didn't turn it off. I said that we are not allowed to touch the thermostat. But why is the air conditioner still on in November? A couple of weeks ago I suspected that it was on, but I never said anything. I was wondering why it was always so cold in the office. At least the heat is on in the building. Maybe I can keep my scarf hanging with my coat when I'm at work.

Not a good sign

My husband and I voted this afternoon for the city commission election. When the machine sucked in my ballot I read the number to see how many people voted before me. I was the 11th person in my precinct to vote for the entire day. The election official said the polls have been open since 7 am. How sad.

Broken fence - Adrian, MI

Weekend update

Friday night, I photographed a district football championship game. The home team won 14-13 and will play again this week. If any of the three teams left in the playoffs win this Friday they will be a game away from the state finals. The only state football final that I photographed was in 2003. The team that I was covering for the newspaper lost 28-14. That was the last Michigan state football finals held at the Silverdome. It would be nice for a county team to make it to the finals, I would love to photograph a state final at Ford Field in Detroit. But these teams have to make it through this week first.

Saturday morning, I drove to Michigan International Speedway to photograph the state cross country finals. The county had runners in 6 out of 8 races. So it was a long day. My first race of the day started at 10 am and the last race that I had to shoot started at 2:30 pm. The highest that any county runner finished in the state meet was 12th. All of the races that I saw were good. Maverick Darling a Ovid-Elsie senior, ran the fastest time of the day with a 14:52.8 in the Division 3 race. He was 40 seconds ahead of the second place runner. He verbally committed to run with the Wisconsin Badgers next fall. It will be interesting to follow his college career at Wisconsin and see how he progresses.

Sunday morning, I ran my last race of the year the Souper Run 10K. It was a nice morning, not too cold but just right. My 5K time was around 33 minutes. I was really doing well then I fell apart. One of the toughest parts of the course is the hill near the end of the race. Starting the hill I knew it would be hard, my legs were very tired. I was still running but if anyone saw me it probably looked like I was walking up the hill. After making it up the hill I recovered by running slowly. Following the slow run, I started running a little faster to finish the race with a good time. I finished in 1:10:55. That was my fastest time ever running that race. Yea me!

Bike trail - Adrian, MI

Halloween things

People at work asked the other day if I was going to hand out candy for Halloween. My answer was no.

For the last five years on Halloween I always had to photograph a game. Last night was the first time I didn't have to work My husband, who loves Halloween, had to work. Since he was working we didn't buy any candy. To make sure that no one would mistake my house as a stop, I didn't turn my lights on in my house until a half hour after trick or treat started. After I turned on my lights, I noticed all of my neighbors sitting on their front porch handing out candy. I wasn't on my front porch so children passed by straight to the next house.

A co-worker this morning mentioned she received Halloween presents from her mother. She asked me if I ever received a present at Halloween. I haven't. I have never heard of anyone buying Halloween presents. Is this something we have to do now, buy presents for every holiday?