I got in a few outdoor runs this past week. Last weekend we had our annual ski weekend with friends - which was great - and then I took a couple of days off from running on Monday and Tuesday. Today it was beautiful out - finally! - but Lila didn't have school and my inlaws are in Florida so I had to hit the treadmill for 90 minutes.
 Depressing. I watched Inside Llewyn Davis, which was even more depressing, but in a good way (if there is such a thing). Because I've been a fan of Dave Van Ronk's music for 2o years (Llewyn Davis's character is based on Dave), and because the folk music of the 60s rocked and still rocks my world, I got what the Coen brothers were trying to do with this film. Do you move to the suburbs or do you follow your true passion at all cost? I loved it. It ruined my day, entirely, but I will treasure it as a work of art that is particularly close to my heart. And ironically I probably would've missed it if it wasn't for the dreaded treadmill, as Jeff and I never go to the movies....tomorrow I get to do a long run OUTDOORS while Lila is at school and it's looking like it will be a mild first day of spring - lots of snow finally melting out there.

Still unbearably cold and still running on a treadmill so nothing enlightening to record. My 41st birthday  - on February 21st - came and went with little ado, which is exactly how I like it.  Two people whose craft and character I deeply admire were also born on February 21st: David Foster Wallace and Nina Simone. I truly wish I had known DFW, somehow, some way,  while he was living. Here's a link to a commencement address he gave some years ago - wouldn't it be great if my college prep students would adhere to these ideas....I come back to it often to keep me grounded.

http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words

We've had school vacation this week, so I haven't had much of a chance to blog. Although we were seriously tempted by a last minute offer to travel to Tulum Mexico with friends, alas we decided upon a "staycation". We joined my brother Phil and his family up at Cranmore where we got both girls on skis the first weekend, hit the Children's Museum, had a 7th birthday party for Cleo the dog, took the kids down to the northshore for an indoor amusement park/hotel with pool stay, had a playdate at the bouncy place in town, had a snow picnic and did A LOT of singing and dancing. I did all of my runs on the treadmill - my long run last Monday was 14 miles and I watched The Butler, which I still can't get out of my mind. At any rate, I'm definitely looking forward to hitting the pavement again. I also got some free time and mental space to think up and find additional whole food, unprocessed recipes for us all - I'm happy to report that Solveig now says things are "too sugary", as we can go days just quenching our sweet teeth with fruit. Here are some pics: