SSTIFY

This one actually isn't too bad.  I used this song for a workshop that I did this summer and really liked it.  Then, my kids liked it.   Then, we played it in the car about a gagillion times.  I'm almost tired of it.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Kid 2's Best Day EVER...The Exciting Conclusion

Previously, on Running off at the Mind.......

I pick him up and we go to the back of the church.  Usually, when he gets a different view of everyone, he forgets about his imaginary digestive issues.  At this point, we're at the part where we're all kneeling and it's really quiet.  

Quiet + Kid2 = bad

Kid 2 pulls open my shirt, looks down and says:

A) "You have boobies, daddy."

B) "Where's your penis?"

C) "I HAVE TO GO POOP!!!!"

If you chose "B", you would be correct!  I'm pretty sure that no one heard it save for my wife and a couple of ushers.  What was my immediate response?  I laughed my ass off, of course.  Seeing this Kid 2 smiles and repeats his question.  Before he finishes, we're out of the church and almost to our car.

Oh, and he was just getting warmed up.

After church, we go to the grocery store to get some lunch.  He and I are battling.  He just does not want to get into the grocery cart.  Under my breath, I say, "Kid 2, you're being an ass."

"I'M NOT BEING AN ASS, DADDY!  YOU'RE BEING AN ASS!!!"

Awesome.

I'm laughing all the way to where my wife and Kid 1 are shopping.

Wife:  "What's so funny?"

Kid 2:  "DADDY'S BEING AN ASS!!"

Awesome times 2.

So, in the span of about 2 hours, my son got what he wanted:  attention and 2 good laughs from his dad.

Proudest. Dad. Ever.

Kid 2's Best Day EVER

I love my kids.  I do.  Not in the "they make me a better person and complete me" sort of way.  Blech.  I love my kids because they give me great stories.  Not to mention the suh-weet tax write-offs!

I'm never at a loss for stories and, while I post most of them on Facebook, a lot of people have suggested that I start some sort of a blog or something so I can keep track.  I tell them, "Hmm, a blog, huh? Sounds geeky.  Get away from me, nerd!"

They are pretty good stories, so if you'll indulge me, I'll share the good ones right here on ROATM.

Kid 2's Best Day

When it comes to creating a scene, our 3 year old is unmatched.  He has stopped mass with one of his screams.  He almost evacuated a sporting goods store by attempting to pull the fire alarm.  You know...normal 3 year old boy stuff.  A few weeks ago,  he was in prime form.

We are at church and we almost get to the Our Father.  For us Catholics, we call that "The Home Stretch". Anyhow, when we all get up to say the Our Father, Kid2 decides that he has to go poop.

"Daddy, I have to go poop."

"Not now Charlie.  Besides, you don't have to go poop.  You just want to get out of church."

"Daddy, (louder and slower) I. Have. To. Go. Poop!!"

All around us, people are snickering.  Quite honestly, we've done this drill before and it is pretty damn funny.  I pick him up and we go to the back of the church.  Usually, when he gets a different view of everyone, he forgets about his imaginary digestive issues.  We're at the part where we're all kneeling and it's really quiet.

Quiet + Kid2 = bad

Kid 2 pulls open my shirt, looks down and says:

A) "You have boobies, daddy."
B) "Where's your penis?"
C) "I HAVE TO GO POOP!!!!"

Part 2, tomorrow.

Oh Yeah...THAT thing.

You would think that having 1900+ students roaming our halls for the first time in 2 months would remind me that fall is quickly approaching.  You would think, wouldn't you?

I must have been distracted by the fact that The Volcano is back in my life because I completely forgot that I have to train for my next race, the Market to Market Relay.  The relay is in early October and I kinda forgot that I should probably start doing that whole long run thing.

During my summer hiatus, I had gotten in 2-3 runs per week with my longest being in the 6 mile range.  You could say I was in "Maintenance Mode".  Well, shit, I just looked at a calendar the other day* and realized that early-October is going to be here kinda quick.

So it looks like I'm back to training.  Starting tomorrow.  Yep, here we go.  The first tempo run of my training is at 5am.  Yep....here. we. go.

Oh, and lest I forget that the 2nd Annual Burrito Run is the week before that.  Looks like some intervals and some fajita burritos are in my future, too.

Yep, gonna be a fun Fall.

**A Few Random Bullets**

As I was linking back to previous posts, I realized some things:

• I used to be pretty funny. 
• I need a new nemesis.  My old one seems to be busy getting knocked up and having twins.  Typical.
• A lot changes in a year.
• I really missed writing.  A lot.
• I'm 50/50 about bringing back the SSTIFY
• I need to regale you about other happenins in my life besides running.  In due time, my followers.  In due time.
• I like turtles.

*one of the most underrated aspects of having summer's off?  Not knowing what day it is.  And not caring, either.

Editor's Note - I've come to terms with foreign bloggers making comments on my blog.  Now, who's up for a caterpillar roll?

Race Report x 2

Last week, I dusted off my alarm clock and headed back to work.  And, how do we ease our way getting ready for our students?  Meetings.  And - my personal favorite - meetings about meetings (aka - "debrief" or "post-mortem").  I digress, though.  One of the things I do like about going back to school is our school's Cross Country fundraiser, the "Back to School Bash 5K".  It's an exceptionally small race, but a lot of the teachers show up, a few students, and a large amount of Omaha's elite runners.  Oh, our did I mention that our boys' coach finished the 2009 Boston Marathon in the Top 100?  So..yeah....he's kinda good.

Anywho, it's a flat course and, although it was hot and humid, I still managed to PR with a time of 23:12.  So there's MY race report.

The one that I'm most proud of would be my daughter's first race.  It was a 1 mile fun run and she was so excited to go!  There were only 6 kids running the race and the others were all boys.  Not only that, but she was the youngest.  Didn't bother her in the least.  When the starter yelled "Go!", she was off like a shot. (OK, we have to explain "pacing" to her next time.)  After about .25 miles, she wanted to walk.  No problem.  We employed the run-walk method for the race and she was loving it.  At the half way portion of the out and back race, the girls XC coach was there to give her a high five.  When we got towards the end, she wanted to walk - not quit, but walk.  I told her how cool it would be to run the last .25 miles or so. I was right (dad always is).  Everyone had lined up to cheer her on to the finish line. High fives everywhere and she finished in a time of 13:11.  She won the 1 mile girls division and got a pretty damn cool t-shirt out of the deal.  She had a blast.  She even asked when she and I can go running again.  As of this writing, she still has a smile on her face.

So did her dad.

Invaded

I'm a tolerant man.  I really am.  But......

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET THE CHINESE OFF OF MY BLOG??????

More posts to come.  I'm back in school and we're having meetings about meetings.  Tomorrow we talk about the power of blogging.  No lie.