Thank goodness for running buddies...I left the house just before 6 am (in the dark), didn't get home from work until almost 6:30 pm (in the dark), came home to a lovely assortment of dog poo artistically displayed across the kitchen floor, and did not feel like getting a run in AT ALL. But you can't bail on a running buddy, so I laced 'em up and felt worlds better a few miles later. Feeling pretty good about the upcoming half marathon; a little bummed that we're not doing the full (which we did last year), but we just didn't start training early enough. Oh well. Might do one later in the spring.

Christmas is coming on like a freight train this year, and is going to be gone just as fast. This will only be our second time as a couple staying in AZ for Christmas. We're having our annual Christmas bash this Saturday, then leave Sunday for a few days in Sedona. Not sure what our plans for the rest of the week will be. I'm on pins and needles right now waiting for Erika to have her baby--I'm going to be a (biological!) Aunt, and I am SO. EXCITED. to meet Ms. Madigan! She's due on Monday, so send good vibes! We'll head to CT to meet her just after Christmas.

For tonight: wine, Christmas movies on basic cable, and homemade sugar cookies. Cheers!

Things making me feel like it's all Christmas up in here:

Giving smarter gifts...

Seeing a Christmas classic live and in person...

Boozy hot chocolate...

A sweet remixed version of "Baby It's Cold Outside":

Look, I'm not proud, but here it is: I am seriously fighting the urge to start playing Christmas music.

I KNOW.

You can still get away with wearing shorts and a t-shirt this time of year in Arizona. It's only mid-November. We just wrangled all of our Halloween decorations into the garage, ferchissakes. But as I scroll through my iPod playlists, it takes serious effort to not stop on the one labeled "Christmas Songs". Oh, who am I kidding? I have, like, 5 different Christmas song playlists on my iPod. Whatever. I don't make fun of your Taylor Swift songs, so shut up already. Besides, I noticed this morning that my neighbor has poinsettias on her porch, so IT IS ON.

Arizona is on fire. As of two hours ago, the reports were that 311,481 acres have burned so far, and the Wallow Fire (named after its origin site, Bear Wallow) was still 0% contained.

Truly and without exaggeration, this is some of the most beautiful land in Arizona. I know the ecological importance of fire and I know that the land will recover, but this is so devastating and heartbreaking. In terms of water quality impacts, over 300 miles of perennial stream have been impacted so far, including several Outstanding Arizona Waters. Arizona's largest fire to date (the 2002 Rodeo Chediski at 468,630 acres) impacted just 50 in it's entire 29 day run. The Wallow fire is only on day 10.

My thoughts are with those in the evacuated and pre-evacuated communities. Cross your fingers for an early monsoon season, because I just don't see how else this fire is going to be brought under control...

Additional Links:
Evacuation Update
Residents Told to Flee as Arizona Fire Spreads to New Mexico
KML downloads for viewing fire data in Google Earth

[image from here]

Unless you have, as I do, a lemon tree. Then you bag those buggers up and give them away. (Because, hey, who doesn't want free lemons?).

[image from here]