STEPPING OUT

It has been over 13 months since Kathleen and I had dinner in the company of someone outside our family. 

We and most of our friends are now vaccinated. Therefore, it was a treat to walk over to our colleague Dan Hayes' house for dinner with him and his wife Jane.

Great drink, including a single malt Scotch, and great food - chicken picata, carrot mash, and a salad, and peach pie were had by all.

More importantly, we had the chance to talk, learn about each other, and do a normal pre-COVID activity.

Here's to more normalcy soon!

RUNNING THE TOWN

Cate spends most of the daylight hours on weekends playing with the three boys across the street. This is a welcome change from Portland, where the kids had very few friends nearby. I guess that is the advantage of having gone to the neighborhood public school last year.

The kids play a variety of sports and often ride their bikes throughout the neighborhood. Yesterday, Kathleen and I were on a walk and happened to spot the kids walking their friend's dog about one mile from our house.

After we said hi, Kathleen and I headed back home, but a few minutes later we saw our little one come zipping by on her bike.

I am so glad Cate has made such close friends that live so close by with whom she can "run the town," especially in these crazy, uncertain, disruptive times.

THERE'S STILL SOME GAS LEFT IN THE TANK

This past weekend, I participated in a virtual 5K race put on by Greenhills School, which this kids attend.

I decided to head down to Gallup Park by our house and picked out a pancake flat route. I went full tilt and ended up finishing the 3.1 mile race approximately 3 minutes faster than my normal pace. My final time was 22'11". 

Good to know I still have some speed left! Tomorrow I'll be back to my leisurely morning run at the same location, dodging geese, and taking in the beauty of spring in Ann Arbor.

AT LAST, FIRST!

It has been two years since Barca last won a trophy, but that jinx was broken this month when Barca triumphed over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.

It was a tight contest in the first half, but then Barca pulled away after the break, winning comfortably at 4-0. 

Afterwards, the players all took turns taking photos with Messi, probably thinking this might be the last time he plays in a final with the club. After a night like that night, let's hope Messi decides to stay and win many more trophies!

LUCKY

Driving back from Pittsburgh,

I was speeding and almost got pulled over.

But someone sped past me just as we reached the speed trap.

He got pulled over, not me.

At that moment, I was the luckiest man in the world.