Snowdog!

Who knew when we moved South we would still get snow? I'd like to think of it as one of the benefits of increasing global climate instability. While I do not miss lingering cold I do miss the snow...and was pleased when not once but TWICE last week Atlanta was graced with white stuff.

The first night, I was the first to make it home to let the girls out. They were eager as usual to go out...but as I told Tilley, you are so excited and you don't even know why. I told her her head might pop off when she got outside to see what was going on. She didn't notice all that much in the parking lot, until we got to the road leading down to the park and she looked at the 2 or so inches of snow and her eyes bugged out like, what the hell! She quickened her pace and between the two of them I felt like I was being led down the Iditarod course by a whole team of huskies...not just one corgi and one aged corgi mix.

When we got to the playground, I unclipped their leashes and...EXPLOSION! Laika skipped around and Tilley took off like a shot. She stuck her nose in it, caught snowflakes on her tongue, and rolled in it. I threw snowballs for her to catch and it was much fun. John got home about an hour later and it was starting to rain, so went out for a quick jaunt as the snow started to fade.

On Saturday, MORE! They were calling for 1-2 then 2-4 and things were really promising while we were at the Chiropractors. We headed home after a quick stop for a new pair of cushy wool socks at Performance, and I got ready to head out with Tilley on a run. I was on target to do something over 7 miles, so arranged for John to come pick up Miss Tilley at about 40 minutes in. I am always skeptical of my layering ability and sure enough spent the first half mile going oohhhhhh crap I am going to freeze. The snow and cold were combining to sting my face, the roads were wet, and it was windy. We pressed on and sure enough we both warmed up. I looked down at first and Tilley was all squinty into the snow....but grinning ear to ear! We headed along the road (versus taking the trail behind the park since NO ONE was out) towards Riverside drive. I was shocked to see only one other runner and two walkers the whole time we were out. Atlanta is such a running town, but when it's sloppy weather, people HIDE. No running. No grocery stores. Restaurants close. It's hilarious.


We ran along the river and enjoyed snowy views and snowy geese, and Tilley had a blast part of the way offleash chasing snowballs she was kicking up by running with her nose in the grass. We headed down Old Riverside and a friendly toot of the horn behind us brought John; I had him pull ahead a few minutes until we got to the bend back on Riverside. I had a Carb-boom at 52 minutes in, and a quick kiss, and Tilley got into the warm car. I was tempted...but pressed on home alone in the cold. John said later that Tilley was standing up looking out the back of the car going WE CAN'T LEAVE MOM! I had my phone in the event that it went badly but by the time I got into a groove again, I was fine. I traced back the little set of footprints and pawprints back towards the apartment (with a quick stop by the Trout Unlimited sign - a client!) and all was well...until about the last :10 when I had to stop and stretch because everything, and I mean everything, tightened up. I made it back to the gate and ran just a few seconds past it to hit an even 1:36 and a shade over 7.4 miles. That's the longest I have run since...September 2004. On to next weekend's long run!

Muddy Buddies

Back in DC from New York, it was time to get another Rock Creek run in with JoMarie, Amelia... and Pazzo and Tilley.

It was late afternoon on Sunday and the temperature was dropping fast.

DC had enjoyed a good bit of rain recently (this is a foreign concept to me, living in Atlanta) and so we headed off into the woods with some skepticism.



Sure enough, we got to the narrow banks above the creek and it was a slogfest.

I delicately made my way acros by finding the tiniest bits o plant and roots to give me confidence to not slide down the bank into the creek.

Jome followed behind and said wow, that was worse than it looked from the other side.

Nannygoat Jenkins skipped right over. I think she must have a spare set of feet or something.



We had a great 6.25 mile run from The Mill through the woods up Beach Drive and back down Beach Drive, complete with singing to one another everything from Eye of the Tiger to a dance remix of Holdin' Out for a Hero.
Luckily most people had the good sense to be home and warm by then...but that wouldn't have stopped us from singing out loud.

Leaving New York Isn't Easy

My Birthday Girl

Let me just say, I'm sorry. I am a relatively normal and otherwise sane person most of the time....but when it comes to Laika in particular, I have a soft spot.


No...I know that she doesn't REALLY know it's her birthday and of course No...I know she didn't really ASK to go to New York for her birthday.



But after we moved to St. Simons and I would sit up late at night and watch Sex and the City, she would sit up with me. And watch. We bonded.



I could identify with SATC as I missed my own girl family so badly some days that it was hard to describe. DC and New York seemed so far away back then, so it seemed to be the right thing to do.


So if I say for her 18th birthday that my girl's going to New York, then for her 18th birthday, then my girl's a-going to New York.

KnowwhatI'mtalkinabout??

Fortunately....



... John is exceptionally tolerant of this kind of behavior either out of sheer desperation, quiet submission, or just the fact that he loves me.

It's number three, and one of the many ways I know I found him for a reason.



So after breakfast, it was time for Laika's big moment.

We found just the right handsome cab...a nice emerald green one (the fellow was from the Emerald Isle, as it turned out), and we were off.

Laika sported her birthday boa and tiara, and took in her moments of glory.

At least in my mind. And that little dog did smile.



People cooed, I smiled, and even John enjoyed giving her the extra attention.

After all, if he had gotten a bebe when he got her, the child would be going to college now :).





Plus really: It's fun to see the world through your own eyes, but isn't it grand to see it through the eyes of those you love, be they man or beast?



After the carriage ride, I told John (who had understandably begged for me to not have her wear the boa on the walk to the park) in a very Carrie voice, you go on to the hotel, I'm a walkin my dog down 5th Avenue for her Birthday.






We had a quick photo shoot at the Plaza Fountain and we were off. A few poses at Bergdorf's, a few poses in front of the Trump tower, a few stops with passersby who admired her and wanted to pet her (including a few strangers who took her picture), and many birthday wishes from those who inquired.


She was so sassy. She was so City.




She was my Birthday Girl.

New York By Night

After my meetings it was time to head out on the town. First stop? A walk up 5th Avenue with the girls to the Park.
Tilley has more than a few opinions about where to go.


Ready to go!!!


The Fountain at the Plaza, dressed for winter holidays.


AMAZING windowdressing at Bergdorf Goodman.


I want 14 sweaters. All. Green.


Ahh, the St. Regis. A hotel in the same building as DeBeer's diamonds can't be all bad...if the furs or the cashew/macadamia/almond bar nuts don't tip you off, your $38 drink tab will. Or if you have the means, you can pick up a $600 glass of cognac. Really. Turns out Forbes refers to the St. Regis as "arguably Manhattan's most luxurious hotel". Damn that was a tasty drink!


Fantastic Italian food at La Vineria within walking distance...we just toddled over to our reservation after our $45 two-drink tab at the St. Regis. Aren't we fancy!


Luckily, the cocktail tab was offset by the copious amounts of free hot chocolate and tea (for John and me) and steamed milk (for the girls) we consumed.


Laika was always happy to go exploring, but a little embarrassed when Tilley insisted on walking her in the lobby of the Shoreham.


Mmmmmm! Steamed milk!

New York By Day

For our morning excursion after my run, a few photos capture it best. We had a little time to wander the south end of the park with the girls before we grabbed some breakfast and I headed downtown to NRDC.



John and the girls scoot across the exceptionally cold rock outcrop overlooking The Pond.




Tilley, enjoying the morning light at Cop Cot, the Park's largest wooden rustic structure. Cop Cot is Scottish for "little house on the crest of the hill".





John captured a nice moment of me and Tilley attempting to warm up (still couldn't feel all of my body parts at this point; the sun definitely helped).





Laika shows off her smart little charcoal wool number with the faux fur collar.




John, Laika, and The Pond.





As we headed out of the Park, Laika got all Sassy and trotted right up the stairs. Such a gritty city doglet.



On our second morning we explored futher to the Inscope and Gapstow bridges, built in 1973 and 1896 of granite and Manhattan schist, respectively.




Huddled with the Gapstow bridge in the background.




Beautiful light and reflections from the water; despite my heroic efforts including fenceclimbing, photo doesn't do it justice.



Waiting for Spring.

How Cold is Cold?

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a huuuge fan of the cold. AT ALL. In fact, in part, I moved away because of it. I do like snow and x-c skiing in particular, but what I can't bear is the cold that goes on and on and on and on and on until like April.

So what better time to be in New York than, say, January, for their first and most bitter cold snap of the year?

Hey here's another idea.

Let's go RUN IN IT.

All along I had been planning to do a run in Central Park with Tilley while in the City. I had checked around for some run routes, but was a little bummed because my gut told me I should stay to the outside of the park/the main drags versus venturing off on some of the cut throughs and bridle paths alone (or mostly alone). So I found an escort!

There's this company City Running Tours (brilliant!) that works like this. You pay a nominal feel ($60 is a fair price for safety and the ability to be adventurous, imho), and you tell them how far/what pace/what part of the city you want to see, and they do the rest (well, not the running per se). I put down that I wanted something just over 5 miles on Friday at 8am, Central Park focused, and that I was a SATC fan and enjoyed hearing about history and goodies as well. Oh and by the way, can my corgi come too?

This was all great news and had me REALLY excited. Until...the Realization...Sometime after dinner Thursday - as the temperature KEPT dropping, it occurred to me, ohshit, I am going to freeze. I didn't bring my balaclava to cover my face, only had lightish gloves and a medium-weight hat. My tights were more for a 35-40 degree run, and I had a thinnish jacket but thankfully many layers of shirts available. I think the coldest I have run in was with Jess in Arlington once where it was 19. We were dipping to 17 that night.

I slept fitfully, and woke up early to do some panic-stricken prep work which entailed the following ridiculous moment. I pawed around the hotel room looking for ANYTHING to wear on my neck/face. I finally found a microfibery Banana Republic top, and found the leftover needle and thread from mending Laika's jacket, and stitched up the neck to fit snugly over my nose and mouth, and tacked the sleeves to one another to enable me to twist it around for a second layer if needed. As I sat there stitching I thought, this is how great inventions happen.

Just before 8 I met my guide in the lobby from City Running Tours. We walked to the southern end of the park in what felt like - and turns out was actually true according to the weather history data online - 13 degrees. THAT is how cold cold is.

We started off (I may get these out of order, give me a break, my brain was frozen) through the elms of Literary Walk where Tilley felt moved to write, sculpt paint...go to the bathroom...From there we went by the Bandshell where the great bands of the 40s used to swing, up and over Bow Bridge (see photo) down and under to Bethesda Terrace, designed to be the Park's central gathering space and plaza. The arcade we walked under (complete with the pack of well-dressed Malteses who outnumbered Tilley) was just restored this spring after the tiles were removed for storage over 20 years ago to prevent further water damage. It was an amazing display of color. From there we headed up into the woods into the Ramble, which felt a lot like DC's Great Falls park and boasts as many or more bird species. Big boulders and curvey trails...not first of mind when you think of Manhattan.

We continued up to Belvedere Castle (see photo) and the NWS weather station (the same weather station I had checked online earlier that morning, in horror). We went down through Shakespeare's Garden, though most everything was tucked in for a long winter's rest. We went across to the great lawn(see photo), reminiscent of the National Mall but fenced in many places. I was surprised (and Tilley was aghast) at the number of dogs totally off leash on the walks around the great lawn. We had a few her-stopping-while-I-was-still-running-leash-popping-off moments. We also ran by the Boathouse where people can take a gondola or boat ride, or if you are Carrie and Big, you can take a dip.

We then ducked up along some of the bridle paths to the Track around the Reservoir (see photos, yes that's the Ghostbusters spook central behind me) where Charlotte ran in SATC, which is about a mile and 3/4 around. We only did about half a mile as we were reminded of the "no dogs on track" policy in the park. I told my guide (see photo) I was tempted to say this isn't a dog, she's a runner, to which he said that would be a very NY thing to say.

But instead we ducked out by the statue of Fred Lebow, founder of the NYC Marathon and the New York City Road Runners, and headed for a run along Museum Mile...where it was cool to see a lot of the museums along the park's east side...but FREEZING. I was glad when we ducked back into the park proper.

We headed down by the Alice in Wonderland statue where Tilley got her pic made by the Rat. We also hit the statue of the wonderdog Balto for a quick Tilley photo as well.

We then headed futher back south through the Central Park Zoo...finally emerging by the Ice Rink (Serendipity among others) and the Pond where I made special note to retell the connection to John for his favorite Catcher in the Rye.

And just like that, it was over. We walked back to the hotel and I bid farewell and thanks to my guide, who gave me my unopened water, as well as a schwag bag with a t-shirt and some various samples.

I excitedly went to the room to report to John all about the run and spent the next hour trying to get my arse to stop tingling. It seriously took a while for it to stop feeling cold to the touch....even through putting on more layers to go back out with John to walk Laika and to pick up some breakfast.