For those of you curious how the Vincent men spend their time, check out the collaborative story Luc and I wrotethis morning. We used SubEthaEdit, great software from the folks at The Coding Monkeysthat allows several writers to work on a document simultaneously. Enjoy.

I despise running. Never understood the enthusiasm of runners. I hit the streets and break into a jog and count the minutes until it is over, lungs burning, legs aching, attention span taxed. I finish a lap and wonder what I’m missing. There’s a psychology to running – long-distance running. I haven’t fully experienced it, but I gather the gist from the tales of my running friends. The psychology of running is rooted in a self-induced conflict, where the mind and body battle for control.

“What’s my time again, Dad?” Lucas kept his eye on the pool, his swim cap a wee bit big for his head. It scrunched his eyebrows into an involuntary look of perplexity. “1:15:24,” I replied. “Remember to ask the timers how you did when you pull out of the water.” He nodded, still watching the current competitors as they finished their final strokes and tagged the wall. The PA announced his heat.

We retreated to Palm Springs for the weekend. But for a few family meltdowns, it was a therapeutic holiday. I’ll post more shortly.

Her counts were good when she went for labs this week, so she’s back on chemotherapy. She ran a slight fever Tuesday night. The medical team pulled her from school as a precaution and she has not returned. She has a lot of trouble walking. She continues to lose her footing and fall often, but it’s her stride that’s most affected now. She walks awkwardly, with heavy steps. Her arms extend so that she can catch her balance and use furniture to steady herself.