Life on the Runn...

This past weekend marked our second Ski the Beav Weekend excursion with friends.  It was a fantastic few days in the mountains - we had great weather and excellent company.  What more could a person ask for? Ah yes, to never have to return to dreary weather or work.... After an entertaining, albeit tenuous, drive from Denver to Beaver Creek - thank you gusting wind and tumbleweeds, freezing rain and snow -  Scott, Steph, and I met up with Brian, who I hadn't seen in over a week.  One of the perks of working from home is that BR can make 'home' just about anywhere he wants, and I know where home is for this man -- not Wisconsin! Our time in fabulous Colorado was limited, but we made the most of each day. That first evening, after a grocery store run - in order to keep to our timeline, Scott and I rushed about Whole Foods like we were contestants on a food-themed game show - we picked up skis (and witnessed the most inappropriate conversation turned battle between two st

We closed out our time in Ecuador with a few days in the quiet (quieter than Quito, at least) town of Otavalo.  Our home for the last four days of our trip was the more than 400 year old Hacienda Cusin. After time in a bustling city and days chasing monkeys, the peace and quiet was a welcomed change.  We ate well, slept well, lived well.  We recharged under the South American sun, and it was wonderful!    We hiked around the property, visited the local and well-known market, and made trips to near-by villages to see their trades - weaving, wool-work, instrument making, and jewelry crafting.  In the afternoons and early evenings, we'd spend time reading on or patio or walking about, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the nearby volcanos.  In Ecuador, it seemed, you were always in the shadow of a volcano - what amazing sights!  While most of this leg of the trip was a 'just the two of us' experience, we did enjoy the company of a British couple our first evening a

Time, ah time.  It certainly seems to be passing by quicker than ever.  I think that means I'm getting old.  Well shoot! The past several weeks seems to have flown by. But isn't that adult life for you?  Work has kept Brian and me both plenty busy; climbing events have filled our weekends; and physical therapy and trips to the gym have consumed our evenings.  Thus, it was especially nice to enjoy some simple relaxation (even if it meant hunkering down with 125+essays) this past weekend.  Saturday, I did take a break from lounging in front of the fireplace, pen in hand, to enjoy an afternoon wine tasting with my cousins and my Auntie Lynn.  We snacked, sampled wine, chatted, and laughed.  It was great. So too was Sunday evening, when again I took a break from grading, this time to crash Mom and Dad's Valentine's Day dinner.  Italian food -- mmm, garlic bread -- is much better than candy hearts and chocolate, at least in my book! Now it's Monday, and it's

The past two weekends have been almost entirely devoted to an activity that is central to the Runnells household - climbing!  Two weekends ago, the fun began with Adventure Rock's annual Quick on the Draw competition. Brian has long been involved, either as a participant or a volunteer, and I even attempted to climb at the comp once.  Suffice it to say that I am better suited for assisting with scoring and volunteering than climbing with about a billion people watching. Craig, our dear friend and a manager at the gym, always flexes his creative muscles when it comes to this comp.  There is guaranteed to be a creative theme, which finds it way onto the website, the walls (tape art), the T-shirts, and the awards.  There's always pizza, and there's always an after-party that puts all other after-parties to shame, at least in my book.  Seeing all of our gym friends and 'family' is the best part of the Q on the D weekend, for sure. So, how can such a fun time wi