Christmas Gift

"Christmas Gift!" is how my Aunt Boo answers her phone on Christmas morning. I may have that wrong. She may say "Santa Claus!" or " Christmas Tree!" or something similarly festive but it never fails to crack my sister and I up. She has a deep southern belle accent so it is really only funny when she says it. Just reading it I know is not doing it justice. I should probably add that she isn't "Boo" as in "peek-a-boo" but is "Baewe." A guess that is a double diphthong or something. You get the idea.

Weeeell anyway, this Christmas morning, I will be answering our phone with "Christmas Puppy!" because that is what Santa is bringing the kids!!!

Here is the one Ryan and I went and picked out last night. She is a full bred Siberian Husky. And she will also be known as my new running partner next year. I am so excited to have a dog again that will pull my tired ass up hills again. I like being the sled.

But everyone shhh!!!! It is a Santa surprise.

Last week we had to put our dog Thor down. Thor was a golden chow mix and was 15 years old. He has not been well for a long time. So this wasn't a shock. I was also not Thor's biggest fan. He was 100% Ryan's dog.

So when I told Carmella that Thor was gone she surprised me with her tears. I was shocked because it wasn't as if she really had ever played with Thor or ever shown any interest in him--when I said he hadn't been well for a long time I wasn't exaggerating. He really hasn't done anything but lay around for the last 5 years.
After a few minutes of crying she wiped her tears away and asked if we could get a puppy. Beau jumped on the puppy bandwagon and ever since the Puppy for Christmas campaign has been going strong at our house. They have paraded out every stuffed animal dog they could find.


Ryan relented; and I insisted on a Husky. Ryan was far from keen on the idea of Husky-- having met my parents' Husky Bob. They are hyper dogs who love to run, run away and be chased. If there was ever a dog completely antithetical to Thor a Husky would be it. A Husky is very much a dog like me or Beau. It is also the only breed of dog I have ever liked so it is the only type of type I was willing to get. If we are going to have a dog we are going to get the type of dog I like. And here I will admit that I am not known as a dog lover. I am also not a hater but again, definitely not a lover either. Huskies, though, I adore. They're funny. Frustrating and naughty; but funny.


So am sure I will have lots to complain about in the coming months since a Husky is like a perennial 2 yr old. What can I say, I guess I am glutton for punishment.

And speaking of my masochist side I ran a 17 miler earlier this week. I was bit on the slow side because I chatted on the cell for several miles--it does get lonely out there--but is was fine. The weather has just been amazing. I mean, sunny and 60 degrees. Pretty perfect. I guess no snow this Christmas.

I finished the run at The Big Peach Running Co and I officially registered for the GA ING Marathon. I encourage those that are planning on it to go ahead and register. The price for the half and the full will go up after December 31st. Give yourself an early Christmas present that will keep on giving.

Okay, I want to hear the puppy name suggestions.