I'm a runner

Just so we're clear on this, I'm the guy you've driven past, merrily running around town when it's like 20 below zero out. I don't know why God wired me that way, but I'm a runner through and through.

I'll grant you this: it does get hard to motivate myself to run when it's bone chilling cold outside. I almost always find a way to get myself out to do it.

The times I most dread going for a run are (1) approx. 2 days after it snows and (2) right after a hard rain. Here's why. With the snow, I normally run on the Constitution Trail (or here or here), and it's way too easy to get sprained ankles from running on hard, crusty, icy and uneven ground.

After a hard rain, I just don't like to run on all of the worms that have crawled onto the pavement to avoid drowning. Yep, it's true.

White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules

We had a blast doing a white elephant gift exchange with our friends last Christmas. Here are the rules we went by. Read them before you try them, and feel free to modify or use them however you wish. Thanks Pete and Janet! My in-laws loved it this year!

1. Pick a gift with red wrapping
2. Pick a gift, but do not open it
3. Pick the largest gift
4. Pick a gift, but sing a Christmas carol before opening
5. Pick a gift, but do not open it
6. Pick a gift and drop it before opening
7. Shake 2 gifts and choose 1
8. Pick a person/gift that hasn't been opened and have them open it. (wait until opened) You have the option to steal.
9. Pick any open gift in the room
10. Pick a gift, but do not open it
11. Pick the smallest gift
    
12. Pick the most uniquely wrapped gift
13. Pick you own gift
14. Have 2 unopened gifts trade, you get the third gift
15. Have 2 opened gifts trade
16. Pick a gift
17. Say something nice about 3 people here, then pick a gift
    
18. Choose 4 people here and give them the gift that best fits them
19. Pick a gift for someone and take theirs

* Any time a wearable gift is opened, everyone with an opened gift must rotate one to the left.

Pacey's first Christmas

Here's a collection of pictures we've taken of Pacey over the past few months. Isn't she a cutie!