polar express

Reading the Polar Express is a Fiebiger Christmas Eve tradition. The story is heart warming and the illustrations are beautiful. I look forward to reading this book every Christmas season!

"On Christmas Eve, many years ago..."

"All aboard,' the conductor cried out."

"Outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the Polar Express raced northward."

"We climbed mountain so high it seemed as if we would scrape the moon."

"The first gift of Christmas!"

"Santa circled once above us, then disappeared in the cold, dark polar sky."

"I shook the bell. It made the most beautiful sound my sister and I had ever heard."

"Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."

Merry Christmas to you and all those you love!

'get off your butt and on with your training'



I recently finished reading a book in preperation for training for the half marathon I will complete in June, 2011. The book, The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide For Women, Get off Your Butt and On With Your Training, is a very matter of fact look at the mind set, ups and downs, and insanity of training for a long distance run. The realistic humor left me laughing out loud throughout just about every chapter in the book.

It is complete with a training guide for both a half-marathon and full-marathon.

The program I will be following is a 20 week plan with the end being race day! Since it is more than 20 weeks from my race day I will be spending the next 8 weeks doing a combination of running, walking, eliptical machine, weights, and P90X videos in prepartion for the training program. My goal during the next 2 months is to increase my endurance, become more familiar with running, gets used to working out regularly, lose weight, and gain strength.

Last night I had the joy of completing my first official training day. This was not a very long workout considering I had to work night shift just after but it was not easy to say the least. I used the treadmill in my apartment complex gym and ran/walk 2 miles which took me 29 minutes (pathetic if you ask me, but that's why it's called training...right?). I went a max speed of 5.5 mi/hr while running and probably walked half and ran half. While running i focused on keeping my upper body relaxed, my breathing patterns, running technique and tried to ignore that my lungs felt like they were burning and my neck hurt. Over time i hope my body will hurt less, to increase my speed, and length of time running. On an exciting note, over the past 3.5 weeks i have lost 5 lbs and feel great! It's rewarding to know my increased efforts are giving some sort of pay off!

the art of racing in the rain

I had the pleasure to read this book a few months ago and since reading it have passed it along to a friend, my sister and now my mom. No one I know that has read this book has been disappointed! The Art of Racing in the Rain is written by Garth Stein although is told through the voice of Enzo.

This description from Garth Stein's website says it all, 

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals....A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

I recommend any and all of you readers (especially if you have or have had a pet) to go out get this book and get reading, you surely will not be disappointed! 

spring break

Although I am no longer in school to have a traditional "Spring Break", I fled to the beach at La Jolla shores with the other Spring breakers the last week in March during a much invited warm spell. At the beach I bared my pale body in last years swim suit (wearing SPF 70 I may add), listened to my iPod, read a book, and people watched. I had a very enjoyable time! After about an hour of soaking up as much sun as one with my history should for the day, I left the beach and headed to downtown La Jolla where I window shopped and walked around. Here are some pictures from this beautiful San Diego day in March.

P.S. Little Bee is a very great book. It usually takes me awhile to read books but this one didn't take long at all as I was always excited to pick it up and read what was going to happen next. The book is about a Nigerian refugee who flees to Britian. The story is about where she goes when she gets there and the people she meets. I would recommend it to anyone.