2019 Begins - What Will it Bring?

I started the new year the way I like to start every new year and every birthday with a race. I ran the Commitment Day 5K in West County, St. Louis. It was in the 30’s but felt much colder with the humidity and wind. The course was hilly but not too bad. I was surprised at the turnout of less than 200 because it was the only New Years Day event in the area. 

On New Years I broke out my New Years emoji pj pants. Fred had worn some on Christmas Day and Leah sent some to Clarence so I put together a fun collage. It’s times like this that really make us all miss Ted and Rob from the five of us who enlisted together February 6, 1968 to serve in that decisive Vietnam War. There are more friends who we often think and talk about from time to time (like every time we get together) but this time it’s Ted and Rob. 

While the kids were gone I walked to a local bar that I’ve talked about stopping at since I’ve started visiting here. It was exactly what I expected. Small and redneck right down to Fox News on the television. The “famous cheeseburger” was mediocre but you can’t screw up bottled Bud Light. 😊

The weekend they returned was another all hockey weekend. On Saturday Chase had a game in Wentzville where the first Vietnam Memorial in the United States was established so Stacie and I stopped to see it after Chase’s game on our way to the Blues game. We ate at another Irish Pub, Maggie O’Brien’s, before the game. It was a great day even though the Blues lost. 

Sunday was another hockey game for Chase followed by lunch in Kirkwood at Billy G’s with Coach Vacha and his family. 

Assistant Captains Chase and McKenzie talking strategy while waiting for an injured opponent to get up. 

On Monday we went to El Maguey, a must stop for me on my St. Louis visits. 

Tuesday was laundry and packing and Wednesday flying home! It was a great trip!

Wrapping up Christmas and the End of Another Year!

I had to write one final post about Christmas so that I could include pictures of my Christmas onesie and my Christmas sleep pants with the sweatshirt I received at the Candy Cane Course Race. 😄

A couple of days after Christmas the kids were going to New Hampshire and I was going to hang out with Barley, get some running in and watch way to much Netflix. I finished a couple of good series like Hell on Wheels and Godless. Between the violence and the language those are good series to watch when there are no kids in listening distance. 

The night before they left Chase’s hamster Tucker died so I told him I would take care of burying him the next day because they were leaving so early for the airport. Barley and I took care of him the next morning. 

For New Year’s Eve I didn’t do anything different because of two things. One I never stay up late anyway and two I had a race the next day. Barley and I chilled and watched some football and some Netflix and I celebrated about 8:00 with a couple of Christmas cookies and a glass of Bota Box Cabernet. 

It was time to put a bow on another year and look forward to a new one hopefully with continued memory making with Family and Friends!