Five Things Friday

1.  We Got A Dog!  I've never really felt the need or pressing desire for a family dog by any means but our kids sure have.  They've been asking for a dog for years.  At one point we told them we'd get a dog when their little brother was two.  Well, he's five now.  Then we told them we'd get one when we moved back to Oregon after our adventures traveling from Asheville.  Well, here we are.  It was time to hold up to our end of the bargain.  We are officially dog owners to one beautiful, smart, happy, and eager young boy named Asher or Ashe (I'm liking this version more).  He was named after Asheville but the name is also very fitting for him.  I think I kind of love him already.  A few things I love about Ashe so far:

• So good with the kids!  Really, he chose them and they chose him.  They found each other.  When we first went to the Humane Society, he was just brought in as a stray and looked so scared and unsure of everything.  I was immediately drawn to him for some reason but figured he was a little too timid for our family dog.  But then we went back a week or two later and he was so different!  He let the kids play with him through the door (we couldn't take him out yet since he hadn't been assessed) and he would bring his ball right up to where they could reach in with their hands.  Today, we was ready to be adopted so we went to spend some time with him.  There was no way I could say no to this dog after seeing him with the kids....all of us really. 

• He is so well behaved and smart!  I can't believe this dog is under a year old and seems to know so much.  He let my husband and the kids give him a full on bath tonight and just sat there patiently until it was over.  He followed the kids all around the house and I'm pretty sure he tucked each one of them in in his own dog way.  Now he's at my feet chewing on a bone after giving up on me throwing his toy in the air for him to catch.  Oh, and it's like he speaks our language already because I will just talk to him and he seems to know just what I'm saying.  GOOD Dog. 

• He's a Lab/German Shorthaired Pointer...or so they think.  He has a lot of energy...just enough for our family.  Eventually, he will make a GREAT running partner.  He will be able to do so much with us...hiking, running, road trips.  Oh, and Bend is the most dog friendly city on earth from what it looks like so I'm thinking he'll get his own seat at the table when we dine out.  Kidding.  But maybe not kidding knowing Bend. 

2.  Boston.  I'm registered for Boston 2015!  I love this race but more importantly, I love this race weekend and the friends I get to see when I go. This will be my 5th Boston so I think after this one, I should be done for awhile...maybe. There's more to marathons than Boston. And way more affordable marathons for sure!   I don't know how I'll train for Boston but I can figure that out soon enough.  The more I think about it, the more I think it would be fun to use it as a training run for a 50k in May like I mentioned a few posts back.  I guess I'll wait and see how a Bend winter treats us.  

3.  Bend Winter.  Speaking of Bend in the winter, it is already quite cold in the mornings and evenings. I still keep seeing posts about humidity and heat.  Those posts are surely not written by people in Bend.  I'm thinking it is time to pull out the winter running tights soon.  

4.  Sunshine and Aging.  Is it possible to look older after only a month of living somewhere? Can wrinkles show up that fast?  Seriously, the sunshine here is the real deal--strong!  When I lived in Portland, I used to joke that the constant gray and rain was actually our best kept beauty secret...I think people in Portland who have been there a long time usually look younger than they are.  They are definitely a shade or three or four lighter than most people. A good place to live if you are a vampire.  Bend is a bit different.  No vampires here...they'd all die.  The sky is almost always blue and the sun is always shining.  I'll take it.  But with the happiness of sunshine comes lots of exposure to those sunshiney rays.  Daily note to self:  Hat, sun screen, sun glasses.  

5.  Twin Cities Marathon.  I'm so excited to travel to MN next month to watch the Twin Cities Marathon.  One of my best friends will be racing and I know of a few others that will be there too.  I've heard such great things about this race and about how beautiful it is at this time of year.  My friend that's running has been one of the most supportive and loving friends a girl could ask for. When I ran Grandma's Marathon in June, she drove down to Duluth to spend the weekend with me and she was at so many places along the course running next to me and cheering.  I'm so glad I get to be out there to support her this time.  Even better....another dear friend is traveling out there from Boston to be there too.  A girlfriend weekend, time to support our friend, and the opportunity to be part of the beauty and energy that this marathon has to offer!  

1.  Do you have a dog?  What kind?  Does he/she like to play catch/fetch?  Do you run with your dog? 

2.  Have you run Twin Cities Marathon?  Do you know someone running this year?  

Amanda

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