and so it begins...

"may your coming year be filled with magic and dreams & good madness.

i hope you read some fine books, and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful.

and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or live as only you can.

and i hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

(neil gaiman)

 well 2017 is off and running.

we rang in the new year with family and friends, and i barely made it to midnight. but we did make it to watch the ball drop and then crashed out. it was a good night and a fun way to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017. that sign behind me says "we were together i forget the rest". so true, so true.

the next morning barrett and my nephew and i headed to seattle (and it was cooooooooold) to do a 5k run and a polar plunge (yep, all the way in) in lake washington. the lake was so cold, but like the last two years, it was a good way to start the year. i was happy that my legs cooperated with me and i could run it although i am definitely feel sore today. but the aches are worth it.

we have lucked out and had blue sky days for the runs each year, and i think that that it is a great way to start off the year. everyone is super friendly. strangers saying "happy new year" to each other. smiles everywhere you look. people high-fiving strangers as they run by them.

if you ask me, anytime you have strangers together and get smiles, high fives, and told to have a happy new year - i consider that to be a little magic (and don't worry, i won't use the word magic in every blog post this year. just maybe all but one;)).

i hope that your year is off to a great start.

let's do this 2017.