Journal of today’s activities:

My wife organized a surprise birthday party for me. She is a nurse and was working on the day that I turned 50, January 15. For me, the milestone didn’t mean much. I’m still focusing on preparations that I must make to build stability. I spent my birthday working from home, just as I was working this afternoon. Carole insisted that I take her out for a walk downtown. We live very close to the center of the city, but our busy schedules mean that we rarely go out together. I agreed to go out in the late afternoon. As we walked around town, visiting the little shops, I invited Carole to stop into three different pizza restaurants. She insisted on us going to Risi Bisi, a restaurant with several delicious dishes. When we walked to the front of the restaurant, I thought I recognized my friend Lee Nobmann’s white hair. When we entered, I saw a table filled with our closest friends. Then my sister Julie showed up with Gracie, her niece.  I looked at Carole and kissed her, thanking her for going to such trouble to celebrate a memorable birthday for me.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 157
• Miles run today: 10.4
• Miles run this week: 81.5
• Miles run this month: 166.33
• Miles run in 2014: 166.33
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 54.64
• Today’s Weight: 163