Nashville Country Music Half Marathon

Based on some inspiration from JR and Mike's coworker, Mike signed up for the half marathon in Nashville.  As always he went a little light on his training but that didn't stop him from finishing.  The course was fairly hilly through most of the race, but Mike still managed to finish with 1:56:29.


To make things a little more interesting it rained pretty hard for the entire race.  Lucie and I trekked through the city to try to catch Cameron and Mike at as many places as possible along the course.  While the live music and cheering was good, I bet it's a much better race in good weather.


 

Atlanta - Final Four Weekend

After receiving an invite from some friends, we drove down to Atlanta to stay at their place over the weekend of the Final Four.  We got a chance to go to outdoor concerts of Zac Brown and Muse, hit some good pubs/restaurants, and enjoy the city full of the Louisville, Michigan, Wichita State, and Syracuse fans.

Big Bracket in the CNN Center

View from our Friends' Place

We also got a chance to go a little outside of Atlanta as a group to hike Kennesaw mountain.  This area was a central point to the Atlanta campaign of the civil war as Sherman stormed through the South.  It just so happened a small company of Confederate soldiers (reenacting) were marching around the battlefield at the base of the mountain.  A pamphlet warning Jolene about ticks at the beginning of the hike had her swatting at anything that moved...

Top of Kennesaw Mountain

Rebels Reenacting

Surprise Birthday + Easter + Christmas Promise Visit (Southport, North Carolina)

Surprised?

We finally found a way to get my entire family together in Southport at the same time.  Even trying to explain how it all came together wouldn't do it justice so I won't try.  It did however allow us to fulfill a promise over Christmas to visit, celebrate a belated 65th birthday for my dad (a surprise by the way!), and the oh so allusive family Easter which hasn't happened since 2001.

The highlights of the weekend included (in no particular order):


1. Dave and Mere getting engaged on the beach!

Fire Pit Celebration

2. Family pyramid to surprise my dad for his birthday (Jolene steadying the pyramid by using the ceiling).
3. Security guard calling Dave an Ascot as we negotiated our way into the development.
4. The infamous "Bal-sucky Shrimp Phone Call" by my mom to get my dad to come home (you had to be there to understand this story but it would have made you laugh so hard it hurts).

Family Surprise Pyramid

Easter Tablecloth and Excited Family