What all can I do in a year? My journey to run 365 consecutive days...: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

11.29.2015 - 121 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

65 degrees 95% humidity

A little church time this morning. This is the last day of Thanksgiving Break before we go back to work. I hate leaving this girl tomorrow to go back to work. I get so use to being around her all day. And I really like it this time of the year. She is so happy and excited about Christmas. Two and a half more weeks until we get more time off together! I can't wait.

11.28.2015 - 120 of 365

5 mile run - Lake Serene

60 degrees 95% humidity

Pretty good run this morning. I was actually really tired and felt like quitting after the second mile. I pushed through it and finished the five miles. Today was college football rivalry day. Southern Miss played La Tech and we demolished them securing our spot for next Saturday playing for the conference championship. Three years ago we didn't win one game and now we are back on top. Great job Southern Miss. SMTTT! This evening I watched the rest of the games sitting outside watching them on my outside tv. It was a beautiful night. I looked inside the window to see these pictures tonight.

I realize that I am a lucky man.

11.27.2015 - 119 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

62 degrees 85% humidity

Before.....

After!

Really didn't want to run this morning, but got it in. Then it was time to work on the VW again. More removing of rust and priming. Still have a long way to go!

11.26.2015 - 118 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

55 degrees 80% humidity

Enjoying Thanksgiving Day with my best girl. I love her so much. Played chase in the front yard today.

Thankful for this today!

And beyond thankful for this.

11.25.2015 - 117 of 365

2.5 mile run - Lake Serene

56 degrees 75% humidity

Started sanding the bus again today! Finished the sliding door today. It was nice to be working on her again. Seriously can't wait to be able to drive her around town.

Sanded and primed. Starting on the roof tomorrow.

11.24.2015 - 116 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

49 degrees 55% humidity

So the Grismaul Family Christmas card is officially complete. This years inspiration comes from Home Alone. I typically wait until Thanksgiving Day to post this, but I can't wait any longer......

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

11.23.2015 - 115 of 365

2.5 mile run - Lake Serene

47 degrees 35% humidity

Grismaul Family Christmas has begun! The house lights are officially up!

More lights than last year!

Still not enough. Next year I must have more lights!!!

11.22.2015 - 114 of 365

4 mile run - Longleaf Trace

42 degrees 45% humidity

I love thanksgiving break! Got my run finished and then we went to get our Christmas Tree! Time to decorate!

These decorations are some of my favorite. I remember putting them on the tree when I was growing up. They are over 50 years old. We take special care of them and I'm so glad that I have a few left for Ruby to hang up.

Ahhhhhhh.....so pretty

Christmas is here!

11.21.2015 - 113 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

56 degrees 80% humidity

Today I got up and did my run in pretty good weather. Then it was off to do our Thanksgiving Dinner at Jenny's parents house. It was also time for the annual Wigington family Christmas picture. Ruby is 3 years old now and not very cooperative. We did what we could. Maybe sooner or later she will enjoy doing this. Then again maybe not. Ha!

11.20.2015 - 112 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

70 degrees 40% humidity

40 years old!!

Yesterday was my 40th year on this planet. Tonight Jenny had something planned for my 40th birthday party. I didn’t have any idea what to expect. When she got home from work she made me put on my crazy bellbottom pants, a denim shirt, red bandanna and boots. She started getting dressed and I soon realized that we were having a 1970’s themed party. It was pretty cool. Everyone really got into it. People came dressed up like they were in “That 70’sShow.” You did good Jenny. Thanks you for making my 40th birthday memorable, and thank you to all my friends that made this evening great.

40 years! Wow! How has it already been 40 years?! I look back on my time on this earth and I realize that I have done a lot since I have been here. Some things I wish I could take back, but mostly I have enjoyed my life. I am also looking into the future. Will God let me have another 40 years? Who knows, instead of wondering about that question each and every day of my life, I am learning that I need to be thankful for every day that I wake up. I need to change a few more things in my life so that I can stay around to see my daughter get married and have children of her own. That is what I am looking forward to seeing in my future. It’s time for me to make a change in my life that will help me make it to those years. It is time for me to slow down a little, and not have wasted days. So today (I am actually writing this November 30, 2015) I challenge myself to change myself. Only I can do that! I have to want to make these changes or they will never actually happen. It is easy to say that you want to change, but if you don’t do something about it, it will never happen. I’ve told myself this for years, but never actually listened. I tell myself daily that I have to make some changes, but never actually go through with it. Well, here we go again. Let’s see what happens. There are no more excuses. It’s time to make that change. It’s been a great 40 years, but I plan on having an even better next 40 years. Time to get started!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

11.19.2015 - 111 of 365

2.5 mile run - Lake Serene

46 degrees 90% humidity

40th Birthday Run

It's here. My 40th birthday. I can't believe that I am officially 40 years old. I love my boss for getting me a gluten free birthday cake and bringing it to work. Today is the last day of work before I get a whole week off for Thanksgiving break! Today was sweet. Jenny sent me a recording of Ruby singing Happy Birthday to me. It may have been the best part of my day.

This is what I walked in to see this morning when I got to my classroom. Well done.

After work some of us went out for a few drinks to celebrate. This is Sonya, she was one of my first students that I ever had 10 years ago when I started teaching. She now works with me at PRCC. Crazy to see her all grown up. Today was fun, but tomorrow will probably be more crazy. I know Jenny has something planned for tomorrow night. This could get interesting.

11.18.2015 - 110 of 365

1 mile run - Treadmill

Heavy Rain

2 mile run - Lake Serene

58 degrees 80% humidity

First and foremost, I NEED THIS SHIRT!

Now to the running part of the blog:

Well we had nasty storms out this morning when I typically do my run. I told myself that I'd just get my two miles in on the treadmill. That turned into one mile. I just can't stand doing more than a mile on that thing. I figured I would just come home in the afternoon and run my second mile. When I got home I went out for my other mile run and decided that I would do two miles. I would have felt bad saying that I did two miles if they were not done at the same time.

If I haven't said it yet I am going for two or more miles a day for this second 100 days of this streak. So far, so good.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

11.17.2015 - 109 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

65 degrees 95% humidity

Yes, I actually came home to this tonight after work. Ruby said that Mollie was Princess Belle tonight! It was sweet, but I could tell that poor Mollie hated every second of this. Warm and humid run today. Bad weather expected tonight, then colder temperatures expected. Yes!

11.16.2015 - 108 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

50 degrees 95% humidity

Day one of my 8 week half marathon training. I have decided that it's time to do a few half marathons again. That has always been my favorite distance to run. I have chosen the Mississippi Blues Half Marathon in Jackson, MS. This is one that I have ran in the past and really liked the course. The race will be January 9, 2015.

11.16.2015 - 108 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

50 degrees 95% humidity

Monday, November 16, 2015

11.15.2015 - 107 of 365

2 mile run - Lake Serene

68 degrees 45% humidity

Woke up this morning with a major headache. This picture is of a beautiful moment at church today. Jenny and Ruby standing there conducting the children's choir. So special. Ended up not running until after church which made the run a little warmer than it could have been. I still had a good run and enjoyed the beautiful weather. This weekend has been absolutely beautiful outside. It has been fun going outside with the family to enjoy it. One more week of work left until we are out for Thanksgiving break! Let's get this week started.

In the words of Ruby, "It's been a nice good day."

Saturday, November 14, 2015

11.14.2015 - 106 of 365

2.1 mile run - Lake Serene

57 degrees 35% humidity

Prayers for Paris.

I did not take this picture, but someday I hope to visit here and take pictures like this.

Real American Heroes

This morning I had an amazingly beautiful run, but I could not help but think about the people in Paris. The events that happened last night in Paris have prompted me to write this blog.

I woke up this morning and watched the news about the bombings and mass shootings of innocent people in Paris. It reminded me of the morning that I woke up to realize that my United States were under attack on September 11, 2001. I remember how helpless and how upset I felt for all of the people that had lost their lives. I also remember realizing then that I no longer lived in a safe world. I realized that from that day on my daily routine would never be the same again. I would always have to be aware of my surroundings and I would most likely live in at least a small amount of fear of a terrorist attack happening in a location that I may be at any given moment. I will have to say that I have been very impressed with the United States for keeping us safe on our own grounds. I do worry that someday we will most likely see something like 9/11 once again. The people of Paris saw something like this last night. These cowards in ISIS bombed and murdered innocent people that were enjoying an evening in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I feel helpless again, I am angry once again, and I will be checking my surroundings more and more as these types of terrorist acts occur. I pray today that the people of Paris can find some peace in what they have lost. I pray that those who have lost loved ones can have some type of comfort in their lives. I am mad that our world is becoming more and more dangerous. It is not fair that my innocent daughter will have to grow up with terrorism being such a norm in our society.

Three days ago we in the United States were celebrating Veteran’s Day. I wrote a short blog thanking my father, grandfather and all of my friends that have served or that are currently serving in the military. Today I looked back at that blog post. I am proud of it, but I want to thank all of them by name today, for they are the true American Heroes. Thank you to all of the following people that served in the past, present and future. I have went through my friends on Facebook and found those who I know have served. Please let me know if I missed any of you or your family members. I would love to add you or your family members to my list. Also Walmart launched a campaign that's called Green Light a Vet. Where you change one of your outdoor light to green so that veterans know that you support them. Please join me in doing this. I will have a single green light outside my home in honor of all of you true American heroes.