The last time I wrote a blog post was mid-july, when I was traveling back from a weekend in San Antonio.  The funny thing is I thought things were slowing down but I was wrong. Since then I have travel to the west and east coasts twice, ran 4 half marathons, buried my father, discovered and met my long lost my half-brother, blown out a knee, taken steps towards growing my career and taken tons pictures.   I have a lot I want to write about and document on my blog.  But until then, here are the highlights of the last 6 months…

• I got a new camera body … the Canon 80D
• I spent a day hiking and doing photography at Yosemite National Park
• While visiting Stanford University, I got a phone call that my dad had died unexpectedly, which resulted in an unexpected trip home
• Allyn drove like crazy in some local auto crosses
• My father’s death resulted in me getting to know (and actually meeting) my half brother along with reconnecting various family members from his side of the family
• On Labor Day weekend I enjoyed trip a Virginia Beach, where I completed a half marathon
• In mid September, I enjoyed a photo hike at East Fork Lake with other area photographers
• I caught a nasty stomach infection and had to give up running the Philadelphia Rock N Roll Marathon
• We spent a day at the Ohio Renaissance Fair
• I got new lens for my camera … a micro lens 18 – 300 mm
• Allyn and I enjoyed a photo hike with other area photographers in Loveland, Ohio
• At the beginning of October, my mom and I meet up in San Jose and rocked the half marathon, 10K and 5K
• After the San Jose Rock N Roll weekend we enjoy a short visit to San Francisco
• In mid October Allyn and I visited his cousins in New York City
• While in the New York City area I ran the Brooklyn Rock N Roll half marathon.
• During our visit to New York City we spent a lovely day at Ground Zero, the new Freedom Tower and in Central Park
• I spent a Saturday exploring St. Louis, Missouri
• While running the St. Louis Rock N Roll half marathon, my foot was eaten by a pothole and I went rolling down hill, dislocating my knee and ankle
• Knee injuries kept me from running marathons in Vancouver, Savannah, Las Vegas and San Antonio
• I attended the 2016 Preservation Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Even though I didn’t run the Rock N Roll Las Vegas marathon, Allyn and I enjoyed a weekend in Vegas and took in the Hoover Dam as well as a Penn and Teller show during our visit
• My mom came up for Thanksgiving and I cooked dinner for us and some friends
• Allyn celebrated 41 years of life.
• I submitted my application to the University of Kentucky for their PhD program
• To make up for last year’s birthday, I surprised Allyn with having one of his best buddies in town, a weekend fun and a birthday dinner.
• I attempted to make my grandmother’s orange cake for the holidays
• We flew down to San Antonio to celebrate Christmas with my mom on the ranch