Four races down...

   ... And clearly, they have affected my brain. ;)

   Aki & Taylor representing the four races I've done in two weeks: warrior dash, trolley run, corporate challenge 5K, and Cinco de Mayo 5-que. 

What all Warriors are wearing for Derby Day/Cinco de Mayo: the Viking sombrero!

More cuteness:

THIS... IS... SPARTA!!!

Sunsetting on a long week

   I was tired from studying this week, working so hard this week, from expending mental energy on the test this morning, and then from diving this afternoon. But it turned out that this sunset was a compelling argument for me to get out and run tonight. So I took Taylor with me, and we polished off another 5 miles. Worth every moment! 

   My boy is almost 7.5 years old, but he still drags me the whole way. I'm hoping he'll be up for running the Westport St. Patrick's Day run with us! But for now, we are zonked after our run:

   Scott sent this to me, and it gave me a good laugh during this trying week…

Olympics highs & lows

   The best thing about the Olympics is that I've spent a lot of quality time at home on the couch with my pets over the last couple of weeks.

   The worst thing about the Olympics is the repeated and gratuitous use of the words "twizzle" and "Ligety".

Sunday Funday

   I woke up early-ish this morning and went for a 7 mile run, bringing my 2+ year grand total to 601.1 miles. I hit the 500 mile mark back on November 29 in Sonoma, California, so I've really increased my mileage per week since then! Going to try to keep it up as long as I can. Loving this cold, snowy weather, and of course the Sheebs love it too.

   Kismet, on the other hand, prefers to remain warm and cozy on my head. She is the weirdest/awesomeness cat ever.

   Later I met up with Polly and we drove downtown to pick up Michele & Ted, so we could all enjoy brunch together before they flew back to Columbus. We started out at eggtc. and had a huge meal, and then had dessert and coffee at Classic Cup on the plaza. It was so fun to catch up with them since I hadn't seen them since I visited Columbus in July for our reunion. Of course, this time was slightly less exciting since it didn't involve a ride in a classic Porsche. ;)

   Then I rounded out the day with more Olympics… What a surprise. Women's snowboard cross was on, and as expected it was full of mayhem and surprises.

   I can't wait to get out there and ride again!!!!!!! One of these days I might have to consider taking another lesson and trying to learn to do some jumps… get out there and show these whippersnappers how it's done.

Animal Olympics

   Taylor gold medalled in inverted stiff-legged couch surfing:

   Kismet is thinking of becoming a diver. Maybe. Maybe not. But perhaps. She's not sure really. Definitely curious though.

   For sure she's top of the podium for beauty and sweetness, in her extra-long winter-fur finery:

   Aki keeps bringing me the little plush moose that Sawako brought. It's her favorite.

   When I take it away and tease her, she makes it known that she is tops in the "awful demon face" race!

   Who will win the gold for maximum hibernation? It's going to be a close race... perhaps a four-way tie between us!

Laying it on thick

A little wobbly, drawn on the bus. Based on actual events.

Bump in the night

   It has been a very exciting Saturday night… I heard a bump upstairs, went to investigate, and found the kitty scrambling around the bathroom floor. 

   I picked up the trashcan and suddenly, a mousie jumped out from behind it and ran all the way up my arm almost to my shoulder before I could shake it off. I'm not afraid of mice, but it was so sudden and unexpected it made me let out a little scream that surprised even myself. It also drew a crowd:

   Kismet caught him, but the Shibas would have gladly dispatched of him!  Proof that this breed is as catlike as you've heard.

   I took these few photos to capture my mighty hunters, put the mousy in a trashcan, and took him a mile away from the house to release him back into the wild. I couldn't bring myself to kill a mouse, they're too cute. And so are the photos. Squeak!

Everyone knows it's windy

   It is super duper crazy windy outside. And the wind is driving them crazy. So they're paying it forward by driving me crazy.

   Sing it with me:🎵 Who's sitting down right by my bedside, snapping her jaws & whining at me? Who wants outside though she JUST came inside? Everyone knows it's Aki! 🎵

   An intensely-alert dog can be surprisingly irritating. Cute, but definitely irritating. ;)  She's hearing the wind howl and is doing a little howling of her own.

   I peeked out back and my barbecue grill cover is missing… not sure if it was the wind, or Taylor. Chow Hound strikes again?!!!

Massive Shiba cuteness!

Chow hounds

#icanteatundertheseconditions

   But I have to say, after the meal was over, it was pretty sweet the way Taylor wanted to snuggle with me… my furry BFF. I took him to the vet tonight to check his thyroid levels, and not only did they look good, but my boy has lost 2 pounds this month! I'm ecstatic that we have found the source of his problem and he is on his way to being lean and mean again. Well, lean anyway.  This boy isn't capable of being mean!

Shibariffic birthday!!!

   Shiba-themed birthday artwork made just for me, all the way from Fukuoka, Japan! Madeline asked her niece & nephews to draw for me. She just returned from a 3-week visit and surprised me with these at my desk. Couldn't ask for a better present than this!

Snuggly

Me & my teddy bear Mr. Taylor-man, snuggliest Shiba ever. Every day I look in his eyes and am so happy that TWO families gave him up, so he could be mine!

Random Hallmark Moments: Hallmarket

Awesomely talented (and hilarious) Allyson Lassiter

Steph's on the left, Jen's on the right

   Here's a quick Hallmarket report before I crash out early (soooo tired): The weather was crummy until late afternoon, and started with thunder and lightning and rain—the works!—but I found that it hardly mattered; we were able to keep our art dry, and had a steady stream of people throughout the day. There were 92 artists; the event has grown every year. I shared a booth with Steph and Jack two years ago, and marveled today at how it had grown, in numbers of artists, patrons, and in the variety of work created. The world has no idea how much talent resides at Hallmark.

   A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who came today—I know weekends are precious, and it was drizzly, but it means a LOT to me that you came to hang out and support me and my work. (Seriously. Thank you!) The day went so fast—I was having great fun visiting with everyone. (Aki and Taylor agree... And are quite tired themselves, from their adoring fans, most especially the cute kiddos.) I tagged most of you on Facebook, but a special shout-out to my friend, coworker, and creative conspirator, Monte Cushman, who isn't on Facebook. So good to see you. :)

   As I was driving home I was thinking about the crazy Venn diagram of friends who came: Hallmark coworkers—past, present, and... future? (we'll see on that one); Humane Society volunteers; Joni, Kristi and Kaye from our big, happy, dog pack; and an amalgamation of adventure buddies: my fellow rock climbers, hikers, kayakers, yogis, snowboarders, adventure racers... it was like the bizarro universe where all of my friends collided. So awesome! Everyone always comments on how active I am, and lately I've been reflecting on why... only by participating in all these hobbies can I meet such a diverse and incredible group of friends, and they've taught me a ton.

   Big thanks to my mega-talented boothmate Steph Allen for urging me to participate, and Jack Pullan for helping us set up, mind the store all day, and take down. Thanks to Regi for organizing, and to Hallmark for its generosity and support of the creative community: not only did they provide the tents and tables for free, they bought our lunches—and took NO commission on our sales. I know, right? WOW.

   I was more than a little surprised that I sold a little under HALF my pieces. Nice validation to the huge amount of fun I had creating them. The last two weeks have been a blur. Which should teach me NOT TO PROCRASTINATE, but—d@mn!—look how well it all turned out! So I guess I've learned nothing.  ;)

   Off to bed, with a big smile on my face. I am beat.

We had enough patrons that we were standing in the rain all morning, so we weren't blocking the art! Which explains my hair in the next photo...

John Keeling's gorgeous paintings

Letterpress awesomeness by "my KC family",  Diane and Madeline

Taylor's evil twin

The dogs LOVE it when I throw a towel over them and rough them up. They snarl and bite and wheel around and throw it off... And then come back for more. It's quite funny. Particularly when you consider how much they HATE to have their wet feet toweled off when they come in from the rain.

Hot dog + Hot lemonade

   Sawako came over last night. She brought presents for the dogs & kitty, homemade croissants for us, and a giant cup of homemade Japanese hot lemonade for me! YUM!
   While we were sitting at the dining room table, eating and talking, all of a sudden Sawako felt something on her leg. She looked down to see this: The Hungriest Dog in the World strikes again!

"PSST! SAWAKO! Don't tell Jen, but I'm very hungry.
Please pass some food down to me."

   Sawako was kind enough to overlook Taylor's rudeness, and even kinder to share her recipe with me—in two languages!

ginger from Target; lemon juice from Whole Paycheck Foods

Clinton Lake Hike

"Like a boss"... Aki seems to think she owns Renee's minivan!

"Are we there yet?"

   This morning Renee and Joe picked me up, and I loaded the Shibas into her van, along with her dog, Rosie (aka "Giant Aki") and we headed out to Lawrence, KS to meet a few others from the local Sierra club. The organizer planned a 6-mile hike through the woods and along the lake, on the blue & white trails on the north shore. The weather turned out to be perfect: cool and overcast, and only a single tick, unlike my previous experience in the area.

   After the hike, the lure coursing, and taking in a nice vista from the top of Sander's Mound...

   Renee, Joe, the dogs and I headed over to Mutt Run park to play a little more.

"Nobody here but us Hobbits."

   Joe found some seed pods which had fallen from the trees, and before long, we all were mustachioed!

"It's-a me, Mario!"

   I took this cute photo of Joe & Tay (who adores Joe). And Joe (one of the wittiest kids I know!) did a face swap: