6:44am

We crossed the state line into Mass. This is going to be trickier than I though. Apparently, I can't edit existing posts from my blackberry, so I'll have to create a new post with each entry. The sun is up now, and we're enjoying the ride through the Berkshires.

The Boston Marathon

11:33pm: I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update this, but I'll try to keep it going. It's the night before the marathon and everyone's in bed. After a big pasta dinner for the carbs, Phil set up his pack and his clothes for running. We printed out directions to the starting line and where we hope to see him along the route. We're all set and ready to go. In a few short hours, we'll be getting up and on the road the brginning of the race in Hopkinton, MA.

5:35am: The sun isn't up, but we are. We're groggily making some quick breakfasts and getting moving. We have about a three hour drive to the starting line in Hopkinton, which should give Phil plenty of time to warm up and settle in when we get there. The forecast says 50 degrees and overcast, which will be perfect for running. Phil says he feels good, we're all excited to get out the door!

Geni

I just joined Geni through Facebook and wanted to let everyone know that it's really neat. It's basically an online family tree that everyone in the family can add to and edit. I've added as many Flemings as I can, but it would be wonderful if we could get a few more generations and details (wedding dates, birth dates, etc.) on there. I would love to see all the Panning, Trueblood, and Trudeau generations on there as well! It would be great to have a huge family tree compiled for the next generation! Thanks for your help.

Who's Heading to Beantown?

Yes, Uncle Phil, we know you're going!

Anyone else? Let's get a thread going to work out some plans. Anyone driving up from the south (like, oh, Virginia...or even Florida) pretty much has to come through NYC. You're all welcome to stay with us before or after the race if you want to visit. And if anyone has extra space in their car, maybe we can save some gas and go together?

Time to rally the Fleming cheering section!

Skiing was Great!

Tim, Mike, Jessica E., and I had a real experience of "THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH" during the recent Utah ski week. Actually only four and a half days - but what days they were!

We were blessed with cold weather and blue skies the first two days, but because of a recent snowfall of four inches a few days earlier, you could ski anywhere, even between the groomed runs, which means tree skiing! The resorts felt much different when you could go virtually any direction and be in decent snow.

During that second day we tried a new area called Powder Mountain, out past Snowbasin. It was worth the longer drive and we had a great day. Jessica skied her first black diamond run and you should have seen the glow on her face! Tim and Mike were roaring down the tree runs and yours truly was "carving 'em up"! Lots of pix on Facebook!

At Mass later that evening, we heard a homily about "transfiguring moments" and the priest actually used the analogy of skiing a black diamond run for the first time as an example of a grace-filled experience which reveals the love and glory of God!

Then the snow came...we skied at the Canyons in a blizzard and had a blast. As the visibility worsened, the snow got better and better! The mogul runs softened up and we skied some pretty interesting stuff off the top of the highest lift, "Ninety-Nine Ninety", representing the altitude of 9990' at the top! Jessica manged to pull off two "firsts", first mogul run (thanks to me for taking her on an ungroomed powder bump run) and her first deep powder run (thanks to Mike for leaving her behind). But she survived and thrived! Way to go, Florida girl! Must be the new skis!

The next day, our last, was at our favorite, Solitude, where we remembered Aunt Paula (Solitude was always her favorite) and skied as many runs as we could using the express lifts. Burned our legs out before noon, but kept skiing anyhow :) You should have seen Mike and Tim blasting through the moguls. I mostly stuck to the groomed once the powder areas were skied out...until the end of the day when Mike had the bright idea to take me down Milk Run, a double black off the back side, er the dark side of the mountain! I felt like an old man, thrashing around in the deep stuff trying not to kiss the trees...oh, well, it WAS beautiful in there. Thanks, Mike! We'll try it again someday!

Next year in Colorado! Hope to see alot of you there. Keep the dates free - February 27 thru March 6, 2010. Begin thinking about which half of the week you can make it. By splitting the week we can give more people a chance to come.

Another Address Update

Hey there! Chrissy and I are making the long trek (ok, really only about a mile) across the river to Brooklyn. As of April 1st, we will live at 20 Schermerhorn St. Apt. 1, Brooklyn NY 11201

Our new apartment is on the ground floor and has a backyard, a rare treat for New Yorkers. We'll be grilling all summer, and our home is always open if anyone wants to visit!

Long Lake!

UCF just posted the class schedules for Summer, Fall, and Spring. I don't have to take Summer B classes!! So, we are definitely going to Long Lake!!! (Can you tell I'm excited?) We can't wait to see everyone there!