my dad...

Happy Birthday to my dear dad, who says he's happy to be turning "51" today. Ladies- apparently 51 is the new 29. Take note!

My dad built a two-story ground level treehouse for us, nestled within a bunch of trees in the second most private corner of our back yard. He'd drive the family's maroon Chevy van down Tuthill road as fast as can be so we could squeal and get butterflies. He not only took us to the carnival, but he'd play games and ride the rides right alongside us kids.

He gave us horse rides on his back, gave us rides around the living room on a blanket, and let us use his outstretched legs as a hurdle as we'd leap over them. I think he even instigated using a refrigerator cardboard box as a temporary indoor slide down our basement stairs- because it was 10 times as fun as sliding on the normal real slide in our back yard.

He can eat a bowl of chocolate ice cream every night and not gain a pound. He's driven thousands (millions?) of miles for work and never been in a car accident. He can still do pull-ups, even at age "51."

My dad.

Our sweet Ko broke a tooth a few weeks ago, so he had to partake in an all-day visit to the vet to have his tooth pulled today. It was a full-blown surgery complete with anesthesia and lots of take-home medication, so our buddy is not himself tonight!

He's been sleeping a lot, and in between naps we'll find him sitting or standing in random spots throughout our apartment. I find myself monitoring his every move, updating Brandon from another room, "Brandon- Koda's standing up on all fours in the hallway next to the closet! He's been there for two minutes now!" as if it's breaking news. Koda really does have his few favorite spots in our place, and it's odd to ever find him somewhere new. Not late-breaking-news odd, mind you, but strange nonetheless.

Anyway, it's kind of throwing me off a bit that my always-enthusiastic running buddy is out of commission tonight. I was scheduled to go on a jog, but spent most of the night laying next to him instead.

Here's a picture of me and my half-marathon training partner-in-crime! Do you know why we look happy? Because it's not Sunday! I declare Mondays as my official muscle relaxation days.

In the photo below, I like to think that she's thinking, "Girl- you are hilarious!," as opposed to, "Sister- you are sometimes just a little too crazy. Seriously. You make me cringe with faux laughter. Please, stop making that face. You're scaring the cameraman with that evil eye of yours. The street psychic you met in California 9 years ago was right."

We went hiking up near Lyons, Colorado today. I haven't been up to the mountains since moving to Denver in May 2006. We have a fabulous view of the Rockies from Denver, but it's tragic that I don't get up to the mountains more often! I need to change this.

Koda LOVED the hike.



I tested my balance as I walked over a stream. This photo makes it look like I could possibly be 10 feet up, but it was only about 2 feet.

Falling in love is like owning a dog
an epithalamion by Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.