(Not So) Daily Dose of Dawn

No more Dose!

2005-12-04T15:58:03Z

Four years ago I started this journal and wrote in it several times a day. Through the tough times in Sweden, all of the lonely times, as well as the many happy and good times, it was a wonderful way to document my daily life and keep others informed. And I made some TERRIFIC friends along the way, I love you all!

But, as I sit here and realize that yet again a week has gone by since I last updated what used to be known as "Daily Dose of Dawn" I think that this creative outlet has outlived both its usefulness and anyone's interest in it. I will keep the LiveJournal account for commenting purposes, and I will definitely continue to read about those who I have grown close to over my years here, but I can no longer promise any updates. The journal has become a chore. Perhaps it is a reflection of how busy my life has become since the move, but I really can't find the time or energy to keep up with it!

But, I will take this opportunity to wish both my wonderful husband T and thesidhe a Happy Happy Birthday!

I will also be scaling down my web presence significantly, mostly using the domain for email and not much more. I need to get more of a life independent of the internet, and scaling back here will allow me to do that.

I hope you all understand and respect my decision here! I felt like an explanation was in order, but please do not write about how you are reading and you can't bear to see me go, because, let's face it, the last several months have been BORING here in my journal!!

Website, email problems

2005-11-25T13:28:36Z

Hello.
Looks like our webhosting/domain expired. So, this is my only online presence at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to get it fixed ASAP.

Happy Turkey Day!

2005-11-24T16:50:04Z

The turkey is a in the oven, I just got a short run in, I got a good haircut and a new outfit yesterday, T brought me flowers yesterday (belated for my bday and also for a bad day!) and mom and dad are here! It is truly a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am THANKFUL for all of the opportunities I have had in life. My family (especially my three little nieces), my wonderful husband, my health, my friends. I try very hard not to take anything for granted, and I think that we should all do that, not only today, but everyday. We are all so lucky to have the lives we do!

Big Thanksgiving hugs all around!

31 is a good number, right?

2005-11-22T02:39:16Z

We had a GREAT weekend in Philadelphia. My parents are here now and I am gearing up for my very short work week, but I wanted to pop in and say THANKS for all of the birthday wishes from my online friends! I am not around much on here anymore, so the fact that so many of you cared to wish me a happy birthday really touches me! Thanks for all of the e-cards, etc. You guys rock!

So, 31 seems fine to me so far. Last year I was kind of in a funk about turning 30 and not having accomplished much. Now I see how silly that was. Let's hope this is the best year yet! Aiming for 2, maybe 3 marathons in my 31st year, and who knows what else!

Weekend getaway

2005-11-19T13:43:00Z

I'll be relaxing HERE all weekend. We were going for the marathon, but colds, etc. have put T's training on hold, so we'll be tourists instead. Ahhhhhhh. Always fun to go to a new city - neither of us has been to Philly before!

On Monday (my bday and a vacation day) we will head home, meeting my parents in Newark after their flight from Florida!They'll be here for about a week, I can't wait!

dbrus @ 2005-11-12T12:44:00

2005-11-12T17:49:16Z

Do I EVER write in here anymore??
Anyway, the latest crop of Swedes flew out on Thursday night, I am fully recovered from the marathon save a bone in my right foot that I swear has repositioned itself. Today we spent the AM cleaning and a friend of T's from work and his girlfriend are coming over after they look at a condo in another part of JC. We are going to go out for brunch and show them around the neighborhood. May even drop in on some open houses at condos around here.

All is well, just gearing up for the holidays and the Disney World marathon in January. Mom and Dad are coming for Turkey day and will be here about a week. We are staying around here for the holidays, our pal Rob may come in between Xmas and New Years, that would be cool! I am looking forward to my first winter season in NYC, I may just do all of the touristy stuff this time, just because I can. Rockettes? Nutcracker? Thanksgiving Day Parade? Lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center? Ice Skating (Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Central Park). There sure is a lot to choose from!

Marathon!

2005-11-07T13:28:06Z

I finished the NYC Marathon yesterday, it was quite an experience. The course was much tougher for me than my first marathon in Stockholm, and my finish time reflects that. But, the crowds were AWESOME as were my fellow runners. Such a wonderful experience. T and his family were at mile 8, but I didn't see them there. I saw them between mile 17 and 18 and gave T a big hug. Then they were there at the second to last curve (mile 25 and a half or so) and I gave them a big wave. I am working from home today, my legs, hips and feet are shot. My shoulders ache, and I have trouble eating. But, yes, I still plan on running Disney in January, and that means a 3-miler already tomorrow!

Marathon Eve

2005-11-05T15:50:40Z

Today I rest, hydrate, and visualize.
Tomorrow I conquer New York.

Here's a tour of the course.

Playing tourist and gearing up for M-day

2005-11-03T00:17:40Z

So, I've been very busy with the guests, and the marathon is THIS SUNDAY!!!

Here are some pics from the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center, we were there yesterday on the first day the new observation deck was open! Neat!

View of home from the rooftop (Looking South)

Playing tourist (Looking North)

I must say, seeing how far I am going to be running this weekend from a bird's eye perspective was a bit daunting!

Tomorrow, back to work!

I'm still here

2005-10-27T01:11:27Z

Just popping in to say I am still alive!

T minus 11 days until the NY marathon and the in-laws arrive tomorrow for their two week stay. I'll go to work tomorrow and we'll pick them up late at night. Then I am working from home on Friday and of next Mon, Tue, Wed. So I'll get to spend a lot of time with them. Should be interesting to see how H & H (T's half-siblings, age 7 and 9) react to their first plane ride and jetlag. It will be a full house here and we'll be busy. I think we are headed out to Great Adventure on Saturday with the whole crew if the weather permits. Then T, FIL and I are running a race in Central Park Sunday. That's about it for now.

I just ran 20 miles :)

2005-10-23T19:15:47Z

Just in from a 20-miler. My last long run before NY Marathon in two weeks. The new shoes are awesome!!!

Yesterday I cleaned the whole house except for the living room and the den, so I am pretty tired between that and the running!

Off to eat, take a bath and veg before doing some more stuff to prepare for our guests arriving on Thursday!

New shoes!

2005-10-22T00:27:24Z

I went and got analyzed and fitted for new shoes today! I ended up with these beauties:

Asics Gel Kayano XI. I think they will be great, much better shoes than all of the pairs I have owned since I started running. These should take me through at least the NY and Disney Marathons, maybe longer. Will break them in tomorrow before a 20 miler on Sunday. Then it is all about the rest until the big day, with a few runs here and there but no more long runs.

Fun commute this AM

2005-10-21T14:22:39Z

Today was a fun day to be navigating the NYC subway system.

DETAILS HERE

Busy, but time to show you a cute pic.

2005-10-20T01:12:47Z

The trip to Sweden was wonderful despite the travel problems. And we never even got jetlag! I am super busy lately, I have very overdue articles to write and a lot of miles to run, etc. And our new TV arrived. More visitors from Sweden arrive next week, so we are trying to get things straightened around here too. I don't anticipate updating muc hin hte next few weeks. But, I thought I would share this one pic from the Sweden trip. Funny, we went for Martina's birthday, but almost all of the pictures we took are of Bella, our niece and goddaughter. Here we are on our way out for a walk on a crisp sunny Swedish fall day!

Flying woes!

2005-10-17T09:10:35Z

The visit has been great! Lots of good food and visiting with family. I am glad we did this even if it was crazy. It was really worth it to be at Martina's party. The jetlag has not even had a chance to affect me yet, we'll see how I feel tomorrow at work.

However, the travel part has not been the best.
We are supposed to be on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic right now, but out plane is delayed 9 HOURS! Yes, you read that right! We are prisoners at Arlanda airport with only food vouchers and uncomfortable chairs! We will still get home today, but much later than expected. So glad we got up at 4.30 to head to the airport in Jönköping!

On the way out of NY, I dutifully reported to the check-in desk very early with our luggage (T worked most of the day and would show up later) to be told that our reservation had been cancelled the day after it was booked. SAS told me to call United (we used United bonus miles) which I did. They told me everything looked fine in their system. Back in line, same thing again! Called United again, everything was fine. I won't go into the gory details but there was some yelling and tears involved, 150 phone calls to a very nervous T during his commute out to the airport, and somehow we ended up on the flight and got here okay.

I am glad that the 9 hour delay is on this end and not on the way here. I am pretty bored though. I left T with his newspaper and headed off to explore and I ended up here at the internet station.

I have not looked at LJ in a while except to keep tabs on carrieb. Congrats to Carrie, Mike and baby Erik (and grandma!). Great pics. What a cutie.

Well, back to my boredom. Has anyone seen that movie "Terminal" with Tom Hanks? We're living it.

Cuteness overload!

2005-10-10T22:33:09Z

A whirlwind trip to Chicago this weekend, we met Maddie, became her Godparents, and had a blast with the rest of the family. Ellie is such a darling little thing, I wanted to take her home. She really enjoyed saying Toe-BEE to T. Very cute.
Anyway, I must share:

Proud Godparents

Ellie and her Grandpa

Several more HERE.

Running and journal blahs

2005-10-02T14:11:22Z

Just in from a 1.7 mile "Norway Run" in Central Park. Yesterday I ran 18 miles so it was quite short for me! We are going to clean up and head back up to Midtown for some shopping, and then possibly buy the TV we've had our eyes on for a while!! Sorry for the lack of updates, I am actually seriously considering retiring this journal at its four year mark (November). I will still be around for commenting and reading others, but I really don't feel like I have much to contribute any more. It has unfortunately become more of a chore...like "Oh, I guess I'd better post something" rather than "I can't wait to tell everyone on the internet about x." We'll see. I've been in this place before, perhaps it will pass.

Picture Post

2005-09-29T00:43:18Z

It a has been way too long since I made a proper post here, and this isn't one either. Sorry, busy busy. Six weeks until the marathon, busy with work and upcoming travel, etc. But, I will share a picture I just received from my dad. Here they are in their brand new kayak...It must be rough being retired and living in Florida, huh? It will be nice to meet up with them in Chicago next weekend for Maddie's baptism!

Sicky Poo

2005-09-21T22:24:22Z

So, we are a bit sick...intermittent sore throats, lethargy and low grade fevers. This is not good when we are 6 and 8 weeks away from marathons!!!! We did not have ANY problems training in Sweden, we were injury and illness free for the entire period leading up to Stockholm Marathon. This leads me to ponder if it is a) air quality or b) stressier lifestyle c)exposure to more people and germs or d) all of the above that are causing the problem. In any case, it is not that bad, but it is not wise to run with a sore throat. Gunilla always says it can cause kidney problems?! Strange, but apparently true. So, another running day lost. We are signed up for a mile race (I don't think I have ever run such a short distance since taking up running!) on Saturday, I plan on getting that and my long run (only 12 miles this week, a step-back week on the schedule) in no matter what.

I've been shopping around for Maddie's baptism gift. Of course, I will bring a gift for Ellie also, and my sister's bday is right around the corner too, so plenty of gifts to buy! It is so much fun shopping on 5th Avenue after work...quite a change from taking my bike or a bus to the mall in Sweden!

Nothing much else going on. Due to the aforementioned lethargy, the house is a mess!

Ouch Zzzzzzzzzzz

2005-09-18T19:43:01Z

UGH.
16 miles on a treadmill is not a Sunday (or any day for that matter) activity I recommend. 2 hours 40 something minutes as a mouse on a wheel basically. But, I got my run in. T is not feeling well, and a long run in the heat and sun by myself is never a good idea (I tend to get lightheaded and confused after serious mileage, no matter how much I hydrate.) So, off to the building gym I went. I was able to watch some TV, and I even ate a banana muffin (homemade, made them last night) during the later part of the run. I think that I may make mini ones and take a few on the marathon, it was easier to eat than the raisins I usually have with me. When you are out for 2.5+ hours (or 4.5+ for the marathon) it is important to get some food down along the way.

T is off taking another nap, I am doing a crossword and relaxing. The funny thing is, I ran four times as long as yesterday, but my average pace was quite a bit faster today. There are no hills on the treadmill, and the hills are what are making me walk due to toe pain. I wish that stupid injury would just heal!

Enough about running! I got some pictures of little Maddie emailed to me today and she is soooo cute! Also, there was a pic of Maddie and my sister with one of her best friends from high school and her new baby at the hospital. They were two rooms apart, her friend also had a baby girl! I thought that was pretty neat.

Well, off to try and rest after the long boring run. I definitely think that the psychological drain of that much time on a treadmill was much worse than the physical exertion. Never again!!

Weekend plans

2005-09-17T15:49:14Z

Just in from a 4-mile race. It went okay, considering the toe pain is still around on hills! UGH! We have a long run (16 miles) tomorrow so I did not go all out. I was shooting for 40 minutes, had to walk on two big hills due to the toe (fine on flat land...it is weird!) and then readjusted for a goal of 44. made it in just under 43, so not bad. T was disappointed with his time, he has been feeling a sore throat coming on so he took it easy.

Today we have to go grocery shopping, clean the downstairs (we clean one of our floors each weekend) and rest up for tomorrow's early rise an long run! Fun fun fun.

We got our tickets and hotel for the baptism, so we are all set on that. And Sweden is the weekend after, so we'll be travelling a lot. Between that and all of this running before the marathon, not much free time!

Early riser

2005-09-15T10:06:00Z

Got up early to run on the treadmill (too dark outside, even now, after I've been back for a while!) It was lucky I decided to get up early today rather than go last night because I would have missed the call about my sister having the baby. She actually left a message on my cell phone early yesterday AM, but of course I did not have my cell phone at work.

Anyway, the news was on in the gym, and I learned that my sister had her baby the same day as Britney Spears had hers. Joy! I am sure she will be thrilled to hear that! (My sister, not Britney!) -Not!

Today after work I am off to pick up some race numbers & t-shirts for a 4 miler we are running on Saturday. I may also start looking for Maddie's baptism gift. The baptism is so early partly because of our hectic weekends, we are totally booked up this Fall with trips and marathons and visits from T's family. We also have to buy tickets and get a hotel for the baptism.

Now it is 6am, I have already run four miles, but I don't want to wake T up so I am going to hang out a while before I head up to shower.

To keep up with the severely disjointed nature of this entry (hey, it's early!) I will throw in that a new issue of Mosaic Minds is out. The theme is "Just a Little..." The next theme is "yes/no/maybe" so start writing!

Welcome, Maddie!

2005-09-15T00:00:13Z

MADALYN RUTH was born at 2.51 AM, September 14, weighing 7 lbs, 2 oz (exactly the same as her big sister Ellie)!

She's my third niece and I cannot wait to meet her! She'll be called "Maddie." Maddie and Ellie, two cute names for two cute little sisters :)

I just talked to my sister and it went very quickly, and all is well with the whole family. I get to meet Maddie in a month at the baptism, when T and I will become her Godparents!

Cool Views

2005-09-13T22:34:02Z

So, I was waiting for T at his ferry (and he was not on the usual one, so I came home without him...only a two block walk, no biggie) and what should sail past but the Queen Elizabeth 2. Awesome sight to behold, a huge majestic ship with Manhattan in the background, Lady Liberty in the distance and a blimp overhead. Cool! It was a little hazy out, otherwise a postcard perfect picture. We have been toying with the idea of taking a trip on her sister ship, the Queen Mary 2 for our 10th anniversary (still 2 years away).

The Cat is out of the Bag!

2005-09-12T23:06:39Z

We are going to Sweden for a long weekend in October!!!

Martina is turning 30 and we thought we'd surprise her! But we didn't want it to be too much of a shock, so we sent her a card with a rhyme in it telling her we'd be there for her party! Then we waited, and waited and waited until the card arrived, biting our tongues each time we talked to her so we wouldn't spoil the suprise! Well, today the card arrived and she called T and was very happy and indeed suprised! Yay!

In other news, the underwhelming response to my post about wanting my readers to give me some topics to write about here makes me think that nobody is reading anymore! I wouldn't blame anyone for giving up on me. The posts have been few and far between the past six months or so. So, if you want to remove me from your list, go ahead, I understand. I've done a little weeding here and there too.