Made it!

Thomas did amazing today and finished in 3:24;59. He carried a 7:49 pace in the end and struggled with some strong leg cramps around mile 20 which required some stretching to carry on. He finished strong and with smiles. He recovered with a bath, Bass Ale, Chipotle burrito, Taco Bell quesedilla, sore muscle rub, aftersun (unexpected sunburn), and some chaffing cream. What a day, so exciting to watch.

Bright and early, ready to run

Getting ready at the start line

Start line

Marines serve as the fence...why use real fencing when there are men!

Off and running

Starting down the road after the 105 mm Howitzer (Cannon-like sound) and lots of white doves released. Tom's in the middle in the maroon/blue striped shirt.

Key Bridge, Georgetown

Coming off the Key Bridge, 4.5 miles

14 Miles

Coming up to 14 miles with the Washington Monument behind

15 miles

Still going strong

All done!

A fantastic finish chip time of 3:24:59!!

Just like Haile

Well it's bright and sunny this early morning thanks to Daylight Savings Time! Nice, brisk 46 degrees right now. Tom is up and ready, complete with nipple bandaids and eucalyptus no-rub on, he's looking really excited. He was serened with Haile's theme song (or is it John's theme song?) as he got out of the shower and putting all his running clothes on. We're now watching Haile's opening run through the African safari on his movie Endurance while Tom eats some toast. Amazing drums and music in the back...even I'm inspired to go run through the hills. Tom will do really well I'm sure and I'm all ready to watch and see!

Marine Corps Marathon

Tom will be running the Marine Corps Marathon tomorrow (Sunday the 30th). We got to go the pre-race Expo and packet pick-up which was great. You get lots of samples, like power bars, Tylenol, lotions, chapsick...lots of stuff you don't really need but because they're handing it out you feel like you too have to get in line to get one. Anyhow, it was fun and now Thomas is all ready for the big run in the morning. We'll be up bright and early for the 8:15 start, but at least all we have to do is get on Metro and ride. Tom is going to be sooooo fast this year and may be the winner, so keep watching! The weather is so great right now (although some might say too cold) and supposed to be a high of 68 tomorrow, so nice running weather. We're working on carbo-loading today, so we started early with Olive Garden last night, pancakes for breakfast, bagel sandwiches for lunch, and will hopefully meet up for pasta dinner with some kind-of relatives of Tom's for pasta dinner (one of them is also running it). Tom was once again disappointed with the marathon shirt he was given. Not only for the shirt being long-sleeved, but it is purple and a mock turtleneck, which he isn't so excited about. His next marathon I think will be decided on by the shirts instead of course and location! So keep watching for his results!

Little ones

I met up with our new friend Emma (Brian's her husband) and got to spend the night with her and her new baby, Tyler. It was so nice to girl talk and cuddle Tyler all night. Emma's British and Brian's American, so it was nice to chat about moving countries and starting over and how it all works. Looking forward to seeing them again!

Preparation

Well, the cats are nearly ready to go. They got their microchip and rabies vaccine and are ready for their rabies blood draw in 2 weeks. They are beginning to recognize and fear their crate, so we're working on that. Last time it took me 10 minutes to find Basil after he saw me put Colin in the crate. Oh well, that's how it goes I guess.

Weekends

Yipee, it's the weekend. I've stayed up far too late all week and am excited about two days off! All is well in the Mather household, just carrying on as usual. My job is still fantastic...been almost three months now. I find I am constantly learning and being challenged and I love it. I feel like I'm really helping people in their lives which is what I feel nursing is all about. I start working the STD/HIV clinic soon which I'm strangely looking forward to. I've gone through HIV counseling training and still have 2 more days of that and then I'll start in the clinic. I love all that I'm allowed to do and never imagined I'd be this happy in the job. I do miss Labor and Delivery still, but what a great alternative this is! AND...I don't have to work nights, weekends, or holidays. In fact, I just got a week off over Christmas break to go to Oregon and the first week of January off to go to England! What more could I ask for??? I couldn't believe it was so easy to get time off, and I'm not even expected to cover another time like Thanksgiving or New Years, maybe it has something to do with the clinic not being open then, but still, it's fantastic! So we should be in Oregon for Christmas and then work a few days here again, then off to England the 31st-ish of Dec for a week (hopefully do some scouting of places to live and work while we're there!). Lots to look forward to.

Did a little rearranging today in the apt which is always fun (that's what the photo is of). Moving things around trying to pretend that we have a load of space. Makes things sort of feel new again when they're in a new spot. So no big plans for the weekend. Sleeping, reading, cleaning, watching The Princess Bride...that's about it and it's going to be great!

A bit of home!

Lauren came for a visit and we got to meet up tonight. We went to Austin Grill for dinner (Pamela's favorite) and walked around Old Town then came back and got to sit and chat at our apt. So so nice to see old friends, hear the latest news/gossip on high school friends (most of which I had forgotten existed!), and reconnect. Such a fun night with Lauren! Sorry about the red eyes in the photo, but it's way better than the lazy eye!

National Cathedral

Dennis and Abby came down this morning and we started the day off right with Chinese Brunch. We then headed off to DC for a tour of the National Cathedral and a nice walk. The weather is definitely changing and getting really nice. Windy and a little cold sometimes, but welcomed all the same!

Basil the gardener

This is how Basil likes to help the strawberries grow... Thanks!

Overnight the cats??

All is going well here. The weather is cloudy, sprinkley and fantastic. Nice to have the humidity and hot summer days gone! Still working things out for the big move, right now the focus is on the little ones. Lots to be done, and far too much money to get them there, but honestly, could I just leave them behind? Look at their little faces. Anyhow, microchips will be going in soon followed by a bucketfull of other things to do! If anyone knows of an alternative way to get cats to England, apart from FedEx as Tom has suggested, let me know!

Tom is busy running and preparing for the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct 30th, which he is going to be sooo fast in. Me, I'll be a fantastic supporter from the sidelines, and may even get the bike down and meet him along the course. Steak quesadillas seem to be his secret weapon, so I might try to sneak him one to power down about mile 18. Not really, but I'm hoping to meet him along the course and cheer him on, but am a little worried I'll just get lost and it'll be a mess. Worth a try though.

I get to go to Phoenix in 3 weeks to stay with Julie and her new little man Lucas, go to my nursing school friend Rachel's wedding, and see another friend who relocated there (April). All in 3.5 days, but it'll be fantastic. Not to mention all the other people I'm sure I'll get to see while I'm there which I'm excited about. That's about it for us. Just plugging away at work and school and plans for the future...

Good bye Yankee Doodle Dandy

Well, after lots of talking, thinking, praying, some more talking, and working things out, Tom and I have decided our next move will be to England. Plans can always changed, but we are moving forward with plans to move to England in May. Preliminary ideas are to move to Watford, a city just outside of London. Tom's sister Hannah lives in London, and his other sister Sarah lives in Watford, so we will be very close to his family. His parents will be just 3-4 hours away, much closer than now! Tom is looking at lots of different options for jobs, so hopefully he'll find a great one before we get there. As for me, I just have to switch my nursing license over and get a visa to work/live in England and I should be set. There is also the option of going to midwifery school, which sounds great too, but time will tell. Colin and Basil are beginning the process of immigration as well by getting a microchip placed for starters, they even have to get a passport!!! I've started studying my British language skills so I don't sound like such an amatuer! So...onward and upward to the land of fish and chips, pretty party hats, funny accents, and a new start for us. I'll keep updates coming as we figure things out, but just wanted to include everyone in the plans thus far.

Hiking

Tom and I went hiking today at White Oak Canyon with my friend from the hospital Pamela and her husband and daughter. Lots of waterfalls and rocks and really pretty views. It's right on the Shenendoah Mountains and was such great fall weather.

Bugs

Sebastian found a stick bug...they really look like sticks, who would've thought!

Happy Birthday, Pamela

Pamela, James, and Sebastian at the waterfall... on Pamela's birthday!

Dinner out

We went to dinner at Portner's in Old Town Alexandria on my mom's last night. It was such a great place, really nice time with the little family! Thanks, Best Friend Ron!

Kickboxing

Can one get a brain injury from doing too many Jumping Jacks?