Restocking the Pond

The title of this blog reminds me of a deep metaphor for life, such as "the glass is always half full" "you only get what you can handle" "time to refresh and renew" "restocking the pond". But it isn't.
 I have a pond in my backyard:

 

not this one.......

 

 

This one:

 

 

 

It is a very relaxing place to have morning coffee, listen to the waterfall and watch the fish swim. At least it was until this year.........

 

 

For reasons I won't go into (because they are all my fault) local raccoons had a sushi feast this spring. We had 20 fish earlier this spring, and now only one, lonely, baby fish as of a couple of weeks ago. So we have been in "discussions" to get a few more small fish and start over. Yesterday was the big day.

 

She hasn't named them.........yet

 

I'm not sure who was more excited, Lisa or the remaining fish but Lisa was excited enough for all 3 of us. We got 5 goldfish and 2 koi. I'm sure in no time there will be a bunch more swimming around while I'm enjoying my morning coffee in the near future. And I had to promise that the raccoon sushi bar is permanently closed.

 

The happy fish family

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Me

I turned 52 a couple of months ago and for my birthday Lisa gave me the gift to run the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Half Marathon. Run, not Race. The two things I know when I line up is that I'm not going to win and I'm not coming in last. As I mentioned in a previous post this trail is one of the most beautiful places I've been to and a favorite run.  Who needs birthday cake when you can have all the lukewarm, diluted Gatorade you can drink? Along with over 2000 complete strangers of course.

Sherry drove us out to the start and kept Lisa company while cheering the runners along the route. Nancy also joined the party at the finish line.



Great morning for a run in the hills.






Mile 5 High Five and still smiling!



Mile 13: Finish line in sight.
Notice the guy reacting to my jet wash as I zoomed by

I feel so blessed to have the support of my family and the opportunity to enjoy a great weekend in the Black Hills. Lisa is so supportive that she even helped me loosen up on Monday when we got home by having us weed the garden and plant a bunch of flowers. Gotta love her!

Recovery and dreaming of 26.2 miles in Chicago