Progress

I'm going to finish out another week of running to and from work. I can definitely feel a difference over last week - an improvement. I'm stronger, more fluid and more confident. Some cool stuff is happening - one of the guys at work shakes my hand every morning when I arrive. He tells me that I'm inspiring him to run again. There's nothing much better than being a positive inspiration. So, I feel great for all kinds of reasons.

It has been tougher this week in some respects. It's been hot and humid on the south shore of Nova Scotia. By hot, I mean 30 C or 86 F. It doesn't often get much hotter than that in these parts. It also poured buckets the other morning...it caused me to laugh a few times - not that there's anything particularly funny about running in a downpour.

I've got a busy weekend - the kids play The Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival twice tomorrow (Friday) with "Slow Cooking Cover" and as the Cusack Boys. Saturday, we're off to V's annual family reunion in New Brunswick. Wow. Lots of driving and fun. I'll sprinkle in a few photos when we're back.

Take care.

Say Say Say

Local gals nail it.



Life is good here.

Turn Of Events

Running Miles This Week: 30.

Huh? Robb is running? Yeah...it's true.

There has been a shift to be sure. I've quit whining and started running to and from work. It's about 5K each way so that gives me 50K for the week or 30 miles.

My legs feel the worst. I thought my breathing would suffer but it's my legs that trouble me most - primarily the quads that area stiff. They mainly bother me on the stairs.

This is part of a personal challenge - a deal I've made with myself to run to work 30days in a row and it's worked out pretty well. There's a shower at the office and I keep some clothes there. What more does a guy need?

Frankly, I've been pretty low about not running and it feels good to commit to this and get back out there. Cool and wet this week. It's raining right now and 62 F or 16 C. Perfect running weather.

I'm back baby. I'm back.

Joy

Running miles this week: 0. I have put in a few miles on the beach this week - draggy, introspective miles on the beach. There's no easy way to tell you this. Truth is, Nova Scotia has more coastline than California and the really cool thing is, nobody lives here. Well, they live here but you don't trip over them and you never ever pay. It's all free. Drive right on the beach in some places.

Life is real good. Hey, come visit sometime.

Life In Pictures

Running miles this week: 0 miles. Zip...I got nothing going. Maybe next week.

Words are great but today I'll post photos as they sum up a lot of things.

Just a few random shots...there's the picnic table at the LaHave River Yacht Club...the Goldfinch with the red eyeball, Chris and Jon with "Slow Cooking Cover" at the Yacht Club...and Chris and Jon on the Halifax waterfront - later joined by a blues harp player (a walk on...haha). Oh, and there's one of Chris holding the body of his guitar. He's at the sanding stage. Solid cherry - it will sound amazingly rich. He's working on the neck now (mahogany). This is life in Nova Scotia.

Blessed

Running this week: 0 Miles.

I’ve been too busy to talk about it but I am incredibly blessed. School is finally out and things will hopefully settle down for the summer. The last few weeks have been a blur and a rush all at once.

Chris was exempt from writing all of his Grade 8 exams again this year. Hallelujah! He made the Honour Role again too. Jonathan will enter Jr. High. He graduated from Grade 6 with a couple of nice awards including a Music Participation honour and a plaque from the Hone & School Association. Probably for being a nice kid – which he is. So, I’m proud of my boys for finishing well. It’s been long school year and we’re all pretty happy to have a break.

Did I say ‘break’. Life ramps up in summer around here. A couple months of warm weather means we maximize every waking moment. Chris and Jon have several music gigs lined up. Some sweet gigs that pay exceptionally well. This weekend, they play 3 or 4 times. I forget. We have a master calendar on the fridge at home and I really should keep up with it. I have a tough time keeping up with most everything it seems. I’m not complaining. That’s just my confession.

RunningWife and the other two kids, Sam and Ben are super. They’re growing up.

Hey, here’s a photo of the RunningWife that blows me away every time I glance at it. We were out for a drive the other night and happened upon an old quiet hillside – a field so full of daisies that I couldn’t help but think of heaven. Here she is. A flower among flowers.

Sam's Appendix

I feel much better now. 9 year old Sam was rushed by ambulance to the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax overnight Monday. He had his appendix out at lunchtime on Tuesday. It came on suddenly and was pretty stressful for all of us.

Truth is, there are lots worse things that can happen any day of the week. I am grateful that we have it so good. Thank God. Throughout the turmoil and stress we had real peace because we knew people were praying for Sam and the rest of us. Thank you.

They sure don’t keep you in the hospital for long these days. His surgery took place on Tuesday afternoon and we were checking out on Wednesday at suppertime. He’s getting stronger everyday but still hobbles around like a little old man. His back hurts. His body is still pretty tense from the operation.

The rest of us did well during the ordeal. Chris and Jon continued at school. I stayed home from work on Tuesday to be with Ben and to wait for word from Victoria.

I took Ben into work with me on Wednesday. I have a private office so he and I just goofed around. Being a 6 year old boy and hanging out with dad at a big RV dealership…well, that is being a kid in a candy store. No question. I even had him out in cruising around in the tractor.

It’s times like this when I miss running most. Troubles seem to evaporate over the course of a few k. I’m shifting into a new era these days and may have a few minutes per day to lace up again, just like old times.

There is always hope. Hope always.