I'm Getting Along Swimmingly

Hi everyone. I wanted to update ya'll about how I am adjusting to my new family. Today, Dad took me to the boat launch on 4th street. This was my first time and I was delighted. The ramps made it easy to run into the river and bring back the plastic chicken leg Dad was throwing.

Dad took some pictures of our trip. If you want to see them click this link with your paw finger:

Photos of Bear at the Boat Launch

After playing in the river, I got a good bath, then I took a long nap. I was really tired. Later in the evening, I got to eat some steak.

I really think I am going to like it here.

Until the next time
Bear

Happy Birthday Mom

Take a moment and wish my mom a Happy 73rd Birthday. I was lucky when God was choosing mothers. Mine is funny, smart, and loving. She has always been there for me and supported me. With her steady hand, work ethic, and values, I had a wonderful example to follow into adulthood. Having said all that, she can have more fun than any two year old. Happy Birthday Mom!

Mom's Blog: Essentially Esther

Now, here are some photos of my mother:

Mom as a little girl

Young girl and age 13

1968 she is 36

Celebrating Mardi Gras in the early 1990's

Retirement. They hated to see her go.

April 2005 at the Boston Marathon

Until the next time
John Strain

Summertime and the Living is Easy

One thing about kids is they provide opportunities to harken back to simpler times. I have been harkening back, but I think my son is having more fun than I ever did.

Just the other day for instance, he and Roy, his college roommate and long time friend, went fishing.

The boys caught some fish. Here is John with a catfish.

Roy holding up his 22" bass: the catch of the day.

For a little excitement, a water snake swam by.

These two could be Tom and Huck. Enjoy it boys, a complicated demanding life awaits. Make it wait as long as you can.

Until the next time
John Strain

End of Season

Thank God they're over. I have been enslaved on Monday nights to watch 24, Tuesday nights to watch House, Thursday nights to watch the Apprentice, and Sunday nights to watch the Contender. Now that they are over, I have 4 extra hours a week to do whatever I want. Maybe I can catch up on the blogs I need to read and even leave comments.

I have really come to appreciate Tivo. I record the shows I like and watch them when I am ready to see them. This is great, because Barbara and I can come home, change, go to the gym, come home, fix supper, and then watch TV. We don't miss a thing.

With the new dog, birds and squirrels, and yard work, that 4 hours will come in mighty handy.

How about you, were you hooked on any TV show(s) this year?

Until the next time
John Strain

Goat Milk and Slot Machines

Do I have your curiosity piqued? Choosing a title for my post is one of my favorite things about posting, but I don't always work real hard on it.

This weekend, Barbara and I went to Vicksburg. The Goat Milk Marathon is 30 minutes away from there at a little town in Mississippi called Utica. Barbara is from Vicksburg and her dad and sister still live there.

We stayed at the Rainbow Casino Hotel. Barb's dad and significant other, Miss Kay, frequent that establishment so much, they get all kinds of comps, including cheap hotel rooms. We are the recipients of their casino patronage.

We drove up on Saturday and met Barb's folks at Utica to drive the Goat Milk course. I was a bit intimidated as we drove, because there was one big mountain hill after another. The Boston Marathon course wore me down with what seemed like much smaller hills. Ulp. I knew I was in for a hard run in the morning. 20 miles on this course would be a good test for the real thing in two weeks.

After driving the course, we checked in at the hotel, and then met Barb's folks in the casino for a little slot machine action. Barbara was staked $10 by her dad at a penny machine. She lost it quickly, and being a good father, he threw more good money after bad. She lost another $10. Being a good father-in-law, he hooked me up with a $10, but the results were dramatically different. I parlayed that fen into $76, but lost down to $66 before cashing out. I redeemed Barbara and made a few bucks ($36) to the good. I think I am going to quit my job and be a full-time gambler; that is some easy money.

Sunday morning was beautiful. The temperature was headed to the low 90's, but it started out at 62. We got to the course by 7:00 am and I felt very good at the start. I ran slow knowing I had 20 miles to traverse. This is my last long run before the marathon. It is important this run be a good experiences or my mind will have to wrestles with doubt leading up to marathon day.

The scenery was beautiful. We were in the middle of nowhere. The whole time I ran we only saw three cars. On the other hand, we saw deer, a coyote, squirrels, birds, horses, cows, and of course, a few goats. One spot on the course was like running in a tunnel of trees. The road sloped down like a black ribbon into a dark green cave. The beauty and serenity of the course took my mind off of the hills. I began slow, 8:15 to 8:30 per mile, but picked up the pace. Many of the miles were run at 7:47. I felt so good, I ran an extra mile and ran it in 7:33. Two hills were long and hard. My tongue was dragging on those, but I recovered quickly. In the end, I ran 21 miles in 2:49:23. I know I could have run the whole marathon that day. So I am full of confidence and looking forward to the race June 4.

I suppose it is time to start a new week. Here's hoping yours is a good one.

Until the next time
John Strain