Thoughts in Random Patterns

Winter

Since the winter solstice is my seasonal holiday of choice, I suppose that technically my celebration time is over; but I'm still going to Hotchkiss to see my aunts and uncles and cousins to celebrate their winter holiday of choice.  I'll be off email and Twitter and mobile phone and essentially all electronic connection for the next couple of days, which is a real celebration. 

Here's the current weather in Keystone / Dillon.

Rocket City Marathon - Alabama

Last weekend we were in Huntsville, Alabama for Brad to run his 14th marathon.  I've never been to Alabama before, but my father's family is from around there, which partly explains how it's not such a huge coincidence that the woman driver at the airport is related to me.  Maiden name Batchelor, first name Samantha, grandfather's name Walter Batchelor.  My grandfather was Oscar and my first name is Margaret for my grandmother.  Samantha is the same age as I am, and we figured out that we were both at my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Tennessee in 1977, but couldn't completely figure out the connection.  Some kind of cousin somehow. 

And Huntsville turned out to be an excellent place for Brad, who finished in 4:39, which was so fast that I actually wasn't at the finish line yet to greet him.  Oops.  Bad Sherpa.  I'll go earlier next time!

 

Brad Before:

Doing some last minute email -- crucial for marathon prep

All numbered up and ready to go:

The Start - photographs taken from my 7th floor hotel room:

 

Brad is in here somewhere:

Brad During -- at Mile 13:

Brad After:

Finisher medal, Garmin watch results:

A storm drain cover:

Another marathon down for Brad and a new state visited for both of us.

The next marathon is the Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans on February 1st.