Pages

Thursday, January 7, 2016

foretelling?

"If the way you spent your New Year’s Eve is any indication of how the rest of the year will go, how would you say your future is looking right about now?"
------------------------
  • After arriving at our rental cabin, Magnum, Chaco, and Wolfgang went for groceries, and then Chaco made a nice dinner for everyone
  • Wolfgang had brought a very fun game - Wizard - so we all learned to play while playing several rounds.  
  • When we'd finished the game, midnight was approaching, and we began to discuss our midnight mile strategy.
*Pause for some background info...
About eight or so years ago, I was with the family at the bowling alley on New Year's Eve.  The kids were making plans for their evening when I noted that I planned to be snug in bed, probably by 10:30 or so.  They urged me to stay up, but I held fast.  Finally, I told them that the only way I'd stay up was if someone ran a mile outside with me at  midnight - a "midnight mile" for the new year.  I thought that would be the end of it, but much to my surprise, they all wanted to do it.  We've managed to do it every year since in some form or another.



  • We tried to determine just  how cold it was outside.  We all had different weather apps on our phones, which were giving varying results.  We took the average and decided it was about one degree above zero Fahrenheit.
  • We had a crude map of the area, so mapped out an even more crude route.  
  • Thus crudely planned, we began to dress for the occasion
  • Meego and I put on warm running clothes while the rest of the crew geared up as for Robert Scott's final expedition
  • All that compression gear made me feel rather super-heroish, while truthfully only giving me the appearance of your garden variety weirdo.






  • As the witching hour hit, we were outside.  Meego and I immediately took off running as it seemed the natural way to keep warm
  • We followed what we felt was our crudely planned route as the area lights fell further behind us
  • Thankfully, the path eventually looped back around, and all the while, we kept the area lights in sight.
  • We had no idea where the others were by then, and we stopped to enjoy the holiday lights in the quiet cold of the first minutes of the new year.  


  • Since we'd stopped running, I began to feel the coldness.  Meego seemed strangely immune.
  • I pulled my balaclava up to protect my face from freezing off as we made our way toward the cabin.
  • Doing so had the effect of completely fogging up my glasses.
  • I was "faced" with a choice.  I could (a) sacrifice my face in order to see, (b) save my face and be essentially blind, or (c) stop breathing.
  • I ended up choosing a strange combination of all three, and we managed to make it back to the cozy cabin where we met up with the expedition team.



Interpretation for 2016:
  • If I don't shop or cook, we still won't starve 
  • I'll learn new stuff and have to pay good attention to the lessons, or I'll lose
  • Educated guesses will probably be good enough
  • Power clothes will be a factor, but image isn't everything
  • I won't get eaten by the wolves as long as I plan ahead, don't stray too far from the path, and keep my attention on the bright things
  • I  might have some tough decisions to make, but I'll manage to keep the vision and save face.
  • Don't forget to breathe

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
3. If the way you spent your New Year’s Eve is any indication of how the rest of the year will go, how would you say your future is looking right about now?



And you??

UPDATE:
I was curious and looked it up.  The first midnight mile was seven years ago - [here].
There's video.  Meego was so tiny!


.


19 comments:

Lori said...

I love that idea of running a mile on New Year's Eve! It's symbolic of moving forward and running to face things head on. Great lessons for the year too. I especially liked the 5th lesson. Stopping by from Mama Kat's :-)

Morgan Cartwright said...

Midnight Mile! And Breathing! I like both those ideas!

Jerralea said...

Love the idea of a midnight mile on New Year's Eve - I'm not going to do it but love the idea.

I like your interpretations list - especially #1.

ShadowRun300 said...

You learned some great things this New Years! I spent mine in bed. Wonder if that means I'll have a restful year.
Thanks for the look back. I didn't know you way back when. And you're right, Meego IS tiny!
Here's hoping for a great 2016 for you and your family. Perhaps we'll meet again at the bottom of a steep mountain of steps?

Unknown said...

What a great New Year's tradition! Sounds like you have a great year ahead. Enjoy 2016!

gin said...

Visiting from mama kat. Love the midnight mile tradition Yall have. Makes for great family memories. Happy New Year.

Tee said...

So glad you didn't drop the midnight mile tradition! Kudos to you and Meego for toughing it out and being prepared!

If there's any foretelling based on my New Year's eve, my year is going to be quiet, uneventful, and I'm going to go to bed early a lot. I'll take it.

May said...

Midnight mile. I am so impressed. A toast and kiss and I am off to bed!

carol daniels said...

Love the "mile run" tradition on New Year's. And, I really like the take on the new year's goals. Keep those wolves far behind you!

KatBouska said...

Your face puns are making me laugh over here. I actually love this interpretation for your year. Cheers to a great one!

Unknown said...

That is some wild activities you have there....
I stay at home every new year eve. Without fail.

Sparkling Red said...

Nice ninja pose! I relate to your problem of foggy glasses - I find myself in the same position when the weather gets super-cold. I am too lazy to bother with contact lenses. The only time I wish that I wore them is when my glasses have iced over and I can't see a thing.

agg79 said...

Was always curious as to the reason behind the midnight mile. I had imagined it was due to some kind of wager. With all of that compression gear, you look like some kind of Ninja action hero. Glad you were able to make the run and nothing froze off. I have the same problem whenever I use a balaclava - to see or not to see.

Linda Hensley said...

Oh brrrr!!! I did the couch with a nice book, but I admire your family togetherness and motivation. I really like your "interpretations" for the new year. I'm going to absorb them into my 2016 too. Happy New Year!

Anita said...

balaclava - I love a fun, new word.
So I grew up in 4 3-month seasons Virginia. :)

Like Shadow, I was in bed. The only reason I knew when it was Jan. 1 was because of the firecrackers, guns, or whatever, going off. (Hopefully not guns; although back in the day, my neighbors fired a shot or two.)
No way my family would do a midnight run in 1 degree weather! I'm the only one crazy enough to try it, but since I have no takers, a warm and cozy bed works.
I like the pics. :)

Anonymous said...

Great post. I think I like the entries for this prompt the best - they've all been so great!
Happy new year and hope it's a great one!

Rock Chef said...

I love how you created your own family tradition - long may it continue!

LL Cool Joe said...

Is that you power dressing in the first shot? :D Whilst you were running around in your trendy running clothes I was fast asleep in bed wrapped up under a duvet. :D I hope you have a great New Year full of lycra and thermal underwear.

Riot Kitty said...

OMG, love the ninja look! New Year's Eve was fun and low key. I'd like that for a year.