I continued my training in the cold, wet North.  We had two days of 50 degree weather, so most of the snow melted and the roads were clear by the time the cold came back.  I moved some firewood into the cellar for my Dad for cross training on Tuesday.  I even ran on Christmas morning and the morning after (the day of my flight back to Florida).  I headed into work on Friday and it was my turn to clean the hippo pool - via SCUBA.  I am on the Dive Team at work and we help the Edge of Africa keepers clean the hippo pool.  Maneuvering in the water is definitely a workout.  Once out of the water and running the next day, the warmer weather was appreciated - I did not have to wear so much gear.

Yesterday, I finished out my work week - yay for Super Friday! - got a quick 5 mile run done in 46 minutes, showered, finished packing and headed to my friend's house...so she could drive me to the airport (thanks, Kristin!).  One three-hour flight later and I was in single digit weather.  Yippee!  It's always nice when my Dad remembers to bring my winter coat into the airport to warm it up, so I don't have to put on an I'm-an-icicle-from-sitting-in-the-car jacket, or lug one up from Florida.  Do I even have a jacket there that would keep me warm enough?  I can deal with the cold, because it's always nice to come home...to Ashburnham, Massachusetts, that is - where I've lived since I was one year old in a house my Dad built with his best friend.  It is a small town and we live kind of out in the middle of the woods - it borders a state forest.  I am a New Englander at heart, but I have the (thin) blood of a Floridian.  "Cold" in Florida is just not comparable to this.

I slept in a little this morning - both my parents had headed to work already - but I force-fed myself a glass of orange juice (woo hoo!) and fresh bagels from a little shop downtown were waiting for me.  One of my favorite things about  coming home - the local delicacies, i.e. bagels, AleHouse pizza, and the local grocer's frozen fruit punch concentrate.  I watched some TV, then headed out for my cross training for the day - walking our dog, Riley, in the snow - we saw a single turkey on our walk, wandering up the middle of the road.and   I also shoveled a path to the woodpile out back (and the walkway out front for good  measure) after the walk.

It kept snowing throughout the day, so after my parents got home, we made dinner and watched a few TV shows together, and then the snow finally stopped.  I got my second "workout" of the day by re-shoveling the pathways while my Dad snow-blowed the driveway.  I'm pretty sure we got at least 8 inches today.  Good to be home.  :)