Dear Friday,

I love you.

You make me happy just showing up after Thursday.

Please come again soon.

Love,

Hannah

Hannah gifted both sets of parents and ourselves with a great collection of children’s books this Christmas. Without a doubt, my favorite was Knut: How One Little Bear Captivated the World. I admit I was strictly judging the books by their covers, so I had no idea this was a story about a real bear. Let alone, a huge celebrity animal with his own website. Several, actually, but I liked the knute.net one the best.  I was even more impressed after searching Amazon a bit, and realizing the book is popular enough to have a spanish translation.  And a DVD.  Although, I was a little surprised that 5% of Amazon customers buy Inglorious Basterds after viewing the listing for the Knut and Friends DVD.

Anyway, I was planning on giving the books a read through once Maggie was born. That way we could both enjoy them for the first time together. Then Brian, my brother, sent me a message the other day about Knut. Brian’s as big a fan of the Knut book as I am, but he also was judging the books by their covers. His message:

I just saw this story about Knut. I guess he’s a real bear. Who knew?

Apparently, lots of people knew. Just not the two Miller boys. Consider us in the know now. Brian had a story come across his computer about Knut possibly being castrated, and passed it along to me.  I didn’t ask how that came up at work, but was naturally grateful that a story of a bear being castrated reminded him of me.  I now know that Knut is a real bear with lots of real problems.

Brian has assured me he will not seek out a sequel to Knut, although he’s certain someone will write Knoe Knut sometime soon.

I’ve waxed and waned about how I lack the crafty bone, but apparently when it comes to Mod Podge I’ll sit down and cover myself in the gooey mess with the intent of creating something. This past weekend I found myself, again, in the paper section picking out delicious colors to add atop a barn star.

I kid you not when I say that I saw no fewer than 5 other pregnant ladies wandering around the store with craft-lust in their eyes. If you feel the need to see a pregnant woman I suggest going to a craft store.

Anyhow, last night I sat down and hammered out a bumpy, sloppy, not-straight-even-though-I-used-a-ruler, paper & Mod Podge covered star. I’m happy with it, but now wonder what I’m going to do with the rest of my massive bottle of Mod Podge.

Back to the paper section to hang out with the other pregnant ladies at the craft store, I suppose.

I was recently at my parent’s house and noticed that there was a new rock wall planter in an area that they’ve been improving. I commented that I really liked it and it seemed to go perfectly with what they are planning to do. My dad responded by looking at the planter and saying, “Oh, I did that yesterday.”

Right, yesterday.

I thought to myself what I had accomplished the day before – I mean, certainly my body was busy growing fingernails and eyeballs for HBaby – but in no way was I out building gigantic planters. Jeesh.

Either way, today I am determined to do something that by tomorrow I can look back on today and feel a total sense of accomplishment.

Kennedy Hot Springs Hike, 2003

Things to know:

1. We’d been anticipating Spring and decided to hike to Kennedy Hot Springs – although it was only March.

2. We were so intent on reaching the final destination it didn’t cross our minds to turn around when the road was closed and we passed people wearing snow shoes.

3. The snow was above our knees and we kept on hiking, I was wearing jeans.

4. At one point Barry fell off a bridge trying to rescue me and I thought I lost him in a snow drift.

5. We camped in the middle of a snow field with gear that was not meant to be used in snowy weather.

6. The hot springs were not that hot, but worth it.

February results:
Driving = 41.7
Riding = 51

No new low temperatures were set during February, but I did have one 30 degree day.  Right after I shaved the beard too.

Overall Total

Driving = 411.8

Riding = 530.7

September, October,  November, December, and January Logs