Here it is December 26

Well here it is December 26, and still 7 days of vacation left. I can't begin to express how much I am looking forward to these 7 days. I am hoping I enjoy them so much that they sustain me for the next 5 months of work. If it is anything like the last few months AND how things left off before the break I am going to need it. I can't even begin to explain what work has been like this year. Let's just say in the 4 years I have had this new-not-new anymore career I have cried 4 times sitting in my office and 3 have been this year, including one just last week. BUT enough of that.

Christmas itself was quiet, my parents didn't make it up (a whole other blog post that no one wants to hear). So we invited hubby's parents for Christmas Eve.The boys like the company, but I think if hubby's mom called him by his brother's name one more time he was going to banish her to the garage. Christmas day was spent, eating, reading, napping. Big Fry even napped, with his head on my shoulder, need to hold that memory close. Physical contact and affection at this age is few and far between, so really was a "gift".

Speaking of gifts, hubby bought himself an early gift, a nutribullet, um yep a kitchen gadget, because I so need another one of those in the kitchen...but guess what the thing is pretty nifty. Especially if you can get past the color of the concotion that it makes, because the taste is not that bad. I vow to use it...um soon... to help me detoxify from all the eating and unhealthy beverages consumed over the last few days.

 

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas time, celebrating in your own way with family and friends. I think I may just go take another nap.

Goodbye Grandma Wilma

Good bye to the woman who took my husband hunting and fishing.
To the lady who taught him to embroider and make beer cheese soup.
To the lady who took him to buy his first car and let him eat powdered sugar straight out  of a whip cream bowl.
Who drank her beer out of a bottle, and lived 98 years and 11 days all with most of them being on the great great prairie of South Dakota. With 97 of them being on her own and only one in the home.

We salute you Wilma...you will be missed and they really don't make us woman like you anymore...

Here, here, here

I am here, after a whirlwind time in Boston. Ugggg love going places, hate the coming back tranistion time. I missed you all, I have caught up on thumbs-thanks Carey and holiday spirit-thanks Bobbi (by the way approve me!). Happy December everyone!

How the token woman in a male household spends Thankgiving

First, I think I win the award for longest blog title thus far.
Second, this is a brief and humorous overview of our otherwise boring and uneventful Thanksgiving. When you come from a very small family (on both sides) when some sides aren't talking to each other, or everyone lives far away you may spend your holiday time finding other entertainment. It is in no way a reflection that I am not very thankful in every way.

I had visions of my entertainment. Starting off with sleeping in, possibly some shopping, lots of wine, lots or reading and some extra time of bike riding and working out EVERY day. Maybe a chick flick in there, and even a possible spa appointment with my leftover Mother's Day facial gift certificate. That was the vision...

Where there is a vision there is always reality.

I did get a haircut, and all the necessary groceries, vowing I would not go to the grocery store on Thanksgiving day because we weren't having dinner that day. I then had one small fry tell me HE NEEDED to get the wild turkey for dinner and so we had to go out and TRY. What time do you try and hunt for turkeys you ask? Let me tell you, 5 AM in the morning. So we pack up, turkey call in hand, camo, gas station donuts and cheez its and head out.

I don't get a workout in because while exiting the booth at happy hour, I twisted my knee (that already gives me problems) and ended up icing it for a whole night and taking it easy (so I could get up at AM for turkey calling)

Turkey day comes, when we ALL plan to go hunting so I don't plan ANY cooking. I forgot one important thing though, to let Big Fry know. Lumbering upstairs he asks, "when is turkey". Ooops. Needless to say he is a little miffed-I guess a 13 year old really looks forward to EATING on Thanksgiving. We pacify him with beef wellington-way harder then a dang turkey, AFTER out hunting.

Instead of shopping, it is out for day two of hunting AT 5 AM. No luck, I again thank my lucky stars we are not pioneers. We would be praire or hills dust if we were.

And now I am down to one ay left with DINNER to cook tomorrow as Nana arrives. And then already back to work.

So here I am no facial, no extra workout, no chick flick and TOO much wine that made me to tired to read at night, and really needing those workouts.

But here is the reality...I spent two mornings in absolute silence, no phone, no traffic, side by side with a small fry. One of the days so absolutely beautiful with an overcast sky and big, fat snowflakes drifting down through the pines, watching deer run away from us, and hearing the excitement in his voice. I couldn't have taken a picture that did the moment justice.

I also trudged myself off to the very expensive movie theater for Big Fry to meet a "friend" and was instantly aware of what being a 13 year old girl feels like all over again. LIKE INSTANTLY. And now I am doing all the indoor work while hubby works on a fort for small fry before he heads off for hunting. AGAIN.

There it is, being the token female in an all male house. Quite a bit to be thankful for. Don't worry, I am shooting for the facial at Christmas.

The rest of the story...

Ok, if you didn't read the last post, do that first.

Now here is how anniversary night 18 went down.
Started with multiple texts:
What do you want to do tonight?
I don't know... apps and a drink?
Sure, how about this new place_______ here is the menu link
Looks good (very good I thought)
Ok, they open at 5.

So at about 4 Small Fry calls to tell me he needs me to go to the grocery story, and by the way do I like licorice. Ummmm why... I am making dinner he responds, a surprise dinner for your anniversary! Ok... did you talk to dad we are going out, maybe another night. Silence...sigh, that's what dad said. Fast forward, he calls. Three times, "Ok, just don't eat dessert, pick me up dark chocolate cake mix and white, I am making dessert". Fast forward, rush through Walmart get necessary cake mix and rush home.

As I walk into the house and into the kitchen I see adopted child number 2 (aka neighbor friend of Small Fry) at breakfast bar, mise en place galore. He is using my potato masher to make meatballs from...wait for it...Pioneer Woman cookbook! Small Fry has his own mise en place for dessert, flour, oil and cake mix. Adopted child number 2 (Big Fry's best friend) arrives with Big Fry and dog in tow. The house is now full of 4 boys, one dog and ingredients all over the kitchen and floor, the dog to say the least is pleased. We debate. We decide go anyway as the big boys PROMISE to not pester and even help if necessary.

Fast forward to restaurant, beautiful in decor and then the menu is place in front of us. WHAT...7 things. 7 MEXICAN THINGS. That I can make at home?? Um ya the waitress says, we changed our menu last Wednesday. We grin. We bear it. We WILL eat out for our anniversary. We ask for the wine list, "ummm let me check with the bartender". I ask for a "glass of wine, Merlot".  Response "um ya uh let me check with the bartender, um well I can give you taste of something we have like it.". You see where this is going people, DON'T YOU. Hubby asks for beer. 5 minutes later, "umm ya we are out of the that". The decision is made, throw in the towel...

We pick up a bottle of wine on the way home, come back to a  whole and still standing house and semi clean kitchen where I help finish making surprise dessert, hubby makes surprise meatballs, I go to soccer, come back from soccer, do some laundry, wait for meatballs and with relish eat...dessert.

Like the previous post says, one big roller coaster. And I coudn't have chose a better person to take the ride with.

By the way bonus points for the first person who knows what mise en place means!

Anniversary Night #18

Watch the clip until about the last 10 seconds, yes it really is a rollercoaster. Here is just a short old school movie clip that gives you a preview of how #18 started..,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW2ebN3PWT0

More details later

Fun Sucker

I am all about being an informed citizen. I am all about eateries and dining places being more forthcoming. But REALLY? Does McDonalods really need to post the calories of the coveted Egg Nog Shake, which comes out but once a year?

Totally sucking the fun out of fast food consumption.

Figuring it out

Week 3 of parent-teacher conferences. Week one MY school, week two Small Fry's, and week 3 and tonight-Big Fry's. Here is the deal, I DREAD parent teacher conferences. Not the ones at MY school, not usually anyway, unless I have some outlier parent lurking to pounce on me about something I know nothing about. Really people? With 630 kids I really don't always know everything that is going on or sadly EVERY kid.

I usually don't dread Small Fry's either-until last year when I was pounced on by the teacher and his imature, off task behavior. I listened when I really wanted to say "Umm ya, you didn't have the older one did you?".Small fry left in tears after that one, no one likes sitting there hearing non-glowing things, especially a perfectionistic Small Fry.(By the way his teacher rocked) So it made my heart happy when this year we had quite a different picture in all aspects, he loves being considered an awesome math student and gasp-a leader. It did his heart good and makes up for his lamenting about his lack of height-which has been weighing heavy on him.

So tonight was Big Fry's turn. Well our turn, we didn't take him along, it is to distracting for ME. We heard the usual things. "Late works affect grade", "Rushes through work", " Could get an A easily but you know, he just gets a little off the path". Then I heard the other parts. "Love him, could talk to him for hours" -this from the kindred spirit science teacher. "He is very respectful", "Really very bright", "Comprehending at a 12th grade level with the reading assessment.", and "I have to nag, but he is always good".

I didn't think much of it there, but I did think of it later as I pondered what to blog. I finally left a conference not worried, and dare I say maybe a little happy. And here is why. It wasn't the almost A comment or bright comment, it was the respectful comment that came up, more than once. See I texted my good friend Karen, and others that I share my horrible days with (not all the details-just my emotional venting in brief 21st century texting-venting style), that somedays I just DON'T GET IT. I don't get how some children, among my very own 630 that are just um, how do I say it with some PC, just not very respectful. And lets admit, not very nice, and downright not likeable. And not just one kid, one time, But a small minority and many times, over many years. In the words of Taylor Swift, "This is exhausting".

But here is the thing, I KNOW what I am doing, because I created, well we (Hubby) created a RESPECTFUL kid. It may not be evident every minute, or with his dear parents all the time, and he will mistep in the future. But do not underestimate the power of NICE people. We need more of it, and I will keep fighting the fight of creating nice children.

Even if it causes me gray hair (I can color it) and emotional eating of cheetos and wine every night. I really heard wine is healthy and well the cheetos, well, ok, maybe need another outlet.

24 hours and some random thoughts

24 hours ago teen was downstairs watching tv, annoying the dog, loud, obnoxious, happy go lucky as usual. 3:30 AM wakes me tell me his throat hurts. 8:00 I go to work. 3:00 PM he sees white patches and goes to dr. 4:00 PM has xray a 101 temp and finds out the diagnosis is bronchitis. Really who does that??

On another note, did I tell you hate conference night. Do you know why? Because of the parents? Nope. The 12 hour day? Nope. It is the FOOD. You see teachers love to eat, and conference night is a great night for POTLUCK. And do you kno where we keep the food for potluck? In the lounge and guess where the lounge is? Yep, out the back door of my office....cream puffs, nacho cheese, chili, chocolate mint brownies, tortilla chips. Nothing I would ever make at my house but by gosh sit it in the room next to me and the grazing begins.

THEN I come home to the wonderfu smell of french dip I made the peeps at home...here is the recipe, make it this winter, it will be the easiest think you ever make!!
Well that is relevant, but it is one of my favorite easy things to make!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Slow-Cooker-French-Dip/Detail.aspx

sigh

A moody tweener-I guess small fry will officially be one soon
A moody teen-oh how those middle school teen self-confidence  and-I-don't-fit-in blips are so painful
Moody students at school
A smelly dishwasher that I just can't convince hubby to kick to the curb

All of these make for one heck of an emotional eating binge on the evening horizon. Maybe if I just go to bed it will all go away.

To Terry

Terry Lee Walker. My dad. I don't talk about him much, he is after all just my dad. He wasn't a war hero by any means and doesn't talk about his time in Vietman much at all. The only two things he has ever mentioned that I remember were these two things. He was a door gunner in a helicopter and was very thankful. He said if he had been on the ground seeing what he was actually killing it would have been the end of him. The second was, he doesn't remember leaving Vietnam because of umm, you know a little bit of help from various medicinal herbs and plants if you get my meaning. That's my dad honest to a fault.

I think he spent a very short amount of time there compared to most, just one year. But I am sure it holds a lifetime of memories. So when I had a chance to see the Vietnam Memorial, the Wall, it was on the must do list.

It came up last on the list but not least. As I first walked up I had expected bigger (AND I was running through in my head how much time I had before we had to make a last chance dash for the airport) so maybe the impact wasn't quite there yet. As I walked by names, and more names. and then tokens left by families and friends, and then finally a women in a wheelchair with family around her holding her as she cried. Then a little girl much to young to have know someone, reading and touching names carefully. I so wanted to capture it in a picture that did it justice. Honestly I don't think one can. I wanted to look, and read every name. Wondering if my dad would remember any. Then you come to a book, a book with every name...it is astounding. Knowing the names of most were young men, someone's son or brother. I could have stayed and sat all day watching people as they paid their respect. As I said, one thing off my bucket list is crossed off.

 Do you see me in the reflection, didn't even notice that til later, here is to you dad.

Back home again

Wow, back home again from the big trip to the big city of DC. It is hard to believe I was gone since now I am surrounded with laundry and making dinner, but the memories will stick with me because after all there are great memores. When else will I get a chance to to Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland all in one weekend. Probably never. When will a friend go with me and comb racks of pants to find yoga pants just for me? Probably never. Who will watch me buy four-yes four pairs of shoes and applaud my efforts-can't think of another person. Who will let me cook in HER kitchen and tell me what I made tasted fabulous (when I know her cooking skills far exceed mine).Gracious as always

I will let Karen share the rest, she is always better with words then me...Thanks for the visit friend.

List for karen

Mango Salsa ingredients
Pork with green salsa ingredients
Boots
Purse
Yoga pants
Wine

Think that about covers what I need!

Fall foliage, then and now

I have pretty much given up on family fall pics each year. It used to be an annual thing. Matching clothes, perfect hair, and plenty of candy on hand to bribe toddlers and preschoolers to be good. I am not sure if I have become less patient with the whole proces, found candid photos that work just as well, or just plain lazy. Still not sure which.

But today I was inspired by an early morning ride on the Mickelson Trail with a friend. So I gathered up boys and dog (I had forgiven her by now for the underwear fiasco). Here is the funny thing, I didn't have anyone change clothes or comb hair, we grabbed the camera and a bag of chex mix, with electronics in hand, and away we went.

I have to admit, the old feeling came back, with the same faces, eye rolling and bickering at the start of the walk. Where's the water? Can we get in the water? Is this poison ivy? ARE YOU SURE? Wait I need to put water on my legs I think it is poison ivy...I may have threatened to turn right back around to the car. But the beauty and nature took over and....here we are a little flashback to the old fall foliage days and some new ones to share. Dang, not bad for weekend photographer if I do say so myself. I love these guys, just what I needed this weekend.


THEN

 

 NOW

 

 

Oh so little 

And now, not so much 

 

Hmmm maybe not so changed after all

Who knew?

 

 

 

Number 4

4.
This is the number of MY underwear that MY dog chewed while we were at soccer this evening.
Needless to say we are not speaking to each other.

5 words

Today was a good day. I don't know if I have said that since the school year started, which gives you an idea of HOW the school year started. I think I actually told my boss and co-workers that working at Starbucks was looking PRETTY GOOD for a career path.

But...

Today was a good day.

18 days

In 18 days I will be here, and this is the only monument or historical excursion I will make my friend Karen take me on.

Just have to take a pic so I can tell my dad I was there just for him. AND I promised Small Fry I would not take one step in any Smithsonian Museum without him.

A little lonely upstairs

So what does one do when the hubby is a grump (even though he doesn't think so), and you have a huge faux pas by correcting him in front of the children of how he is being grumpy with said children for no reason. AND you can't even text your best friend about it because of a wee little texting argument the day before that just doesn't feel quite over yet. Blog, that is what you do.

The weekends event, hot, dusty, hot Aberdeen. Way better than hanging with the soccer crowd, just saying. Here is how I know. No refs get berated (there was a little complaining about the heat and taking too long), no one is gossiping about teacher or principals or other people-well around me anyway. All the moms scream for all the kids as if they were their own and Big Fry is always a big hit with the little riders, he is very entertaining.

Of course it isn't a sport if there isn't a little drama. Small Fry as usual has BIG visions of going to Aberdeen and kicking some, ummm you know what. He always underpeforms, not because he is outclassed though, because his head messes with him. He threatened on night one to QUIT after the weekend was over. In my excellent parent experience I may have said "can you do us a favor and do it now, saves us the 55 dollars for the rest of the weekend registration". Yep I admit it, I said it. Then I explained that if we really thought they were that much better we would TELL him. I then may have said, take a risk or stay in the back and just have fun eating road trip food all weekend. As usual, he perseveres and guts it out for Sunday when it counts, bouncing into the stands with the biggest grin. He finished not in the top three that he would have liked, but made the main race and wasn't last. I will take it.

Big Fry gets better each year, fought off some tough kids to make it into the main, a gate malfunction gave him a bad start but he stuck with it. We DID NOT stay for state plates, after the debacle last year. Big Fry's words this year were "We are NOT staying, after you said I may get a plate and my name didn't get called, my heart hurt the whole way home." So we didn't. But we did get the text that he go fourth place out of all the 13 year olds, he was estatic.

And here finally is why I love this sport. As 200 riders come and go from the gate with their matching jerseys pants, helmet and all the cool gear. Here comes Big Fry to the gate, AC/DC short sleeve shirt, with pads, beat up helmet and non-matching pants. I lament to the mom next to me about his lack of style and not going with the flow-what kid doesn't want those cool colorful outfits...she promptly replies "Ya well, and that is his statement in itself don't you think,you gotta love it"

Yep I love it, congratulations to both of you boys

Just your average day

A day in the life of your favorite principal

4th grader on bench with shoes in lap. Eye contact with 4th grader's teacher. Teacher replies "She is getting the knots out of her shoes"
Me-"Sara how did you get those knots?"
Sara-"I tied them, um ya and if I can't get them out I think I need to call my mom"
Me-"Good thing I am am a good knot untier"

Fast forward, 5th grade teacher shows me a picture, "Know what these are? Bats! Outside our door, we need to rescue them!"
So next step, get custodian to get ladder. Go to lost and found to get gloves, go to nurse's office to cover cloth gloves with rubber gloves. Ready to go. Meanwhile 5th grade teacher googles how to remove bats, directions say: Take a towel toss over and scoop into towel, shake to release. Use a kind quiet voice as bats have very acute hearing.

Bats rescued by hero principal and put in cage to take home (will be a hero mom as well)
After lunch come to office to find coffee can on desk, yep another bat. Brilliant idea to put this bat with others and when I shake the coffee can he flies out into the office. Hero principal once again, dress and  (thankfully flats today) climbes the counters to capture.

All in  days work.

If a dog could blog

My literary preferences aside, one of the earliest authors I secretly enjoyed was Stephan King. One of the first books I read was Cujo. I always enjoyed the dog's point of view in the story and I wondered if dogs really thought that way. You know like he called his owner "THE MAN" and the son "THE BOY" and so on.

I thought about this laughing in my head thinking of what Luna would blog about if she could. I know last night would have been about the (here comes the dog speak),

BIG SILVER BOX, that THE MAN puts the MEAT in. The BIG SILVER BOX burns like fire, had a burnt nose one time trying to the get the sticky stuff that leaks out of the BIG SILVER BOX. Ohhhhh the BOX, just need to get to the BOX. If I pretend to have to "go potty" I can sneak over to the BOX. But the WOMAN is smart, brilliant really and BLOCKS the BOX with those sitting things.
 The odor comes from the BOX for days and then the MAN takes it out to that other food area. The SMELL is overwhelming, just a few little pieces drop as the MAN chops and chops. If I wait nice he will toss me some, I LOVE THE BIG SILVER BOX.

There you are smoked pulled pork from the view point of THE DOG. At least she isn't thinking of eating us!

Soccer, losing, winning and exhausted

Here is the bullets of a whirlwind week...

• Mom here and and gone for the annual two week visit-it is always a roller coaster ride to say the least
• Teachers back into their classroom, needing this needing that and "one more question Cher..."
• Parents and kids back for open house...I think I whooed and smiled until my cheeks hurt and wore my work shoes until my feet were miserable
• Created the kick-ass kick-off speech I do for teachers with written story included. This one I worked on until midnight a few nights. It is kind of like blogging but ah, more professional
• Open house for my own middle schooler, once again smiling and whooing and then watching 13 year old try to open his locker-no much smiling
• THEN off to the wonderful dusty city of Gillette for both bmx AND soccer. I am telling you right now no soccer mom am I. It just isn't going to happen. Give me the dirty dingy bike track anytime.
•  I don't know which jersey to bring (thankfully the hotel was only 10 minutes away), have no idea about offsides, don't bad mouth the refs at every turn and really dislike sitting in a line of chairs as I was instructed to do when I went to sit off to the side in my own little world. Seriously, "Now, now come over here, we all sit in a row, that's  just what we do". Sigh. Conformity.
• Oh and losing, Small Fry losing 2 out of three games, last in Friday's BMX and last in Sunday's race. We can say discouragement and tears all around.

So I don't know why I put winning in there, because really I am just exhausted... and tomorrow 550 cherubs walk through the doors...better get out those work shoes. Oh and pack for Aberdeen this weekend.

And I should say Carey-as a sports mom, you rock don't know how you do it!

Mile 25 and Mile 76

So there is a reason you see all those smiling bikers at Devil's Tower. Devil's tower is at mile 26 of an 80 mile MS ride inWyoming. We are all smiling, because we have just conquered a huge hill and we have yet to know about the hills that await us. Smiles all around.

There are no pictures of mile 76 and the beloved tree my partner Deb and I stood under quite a long time. We debated, drank water, debated some more. Saw the SAG wagon go by and thought that THIS is what it means to be so CLOSE and just say screw it "PICK US UP!". We had laughed earlier at who the heck quits a race/ride so close to the end. Really, you can do anything for 4 miles right? This as we contemplated another rolling hill ahead, that really did look like a mountain at this point.

We promised each other, ride to the base and decide then.

I tell you sometimes that competitive and stubborn streak can come in mighty handy.

Ettie's Place

Sundance is small. Very small. So you ask your local motel clerk, the one who looks at a handwritten ledger for your name AND hands you a KEY (an actual key) where to eat. He promptly tells you Ettie's Place. Ettie's place is not very busy, but very upscale and only one waitress. The waitress could  be my mom's age and you know she has waited tables her whole life probably. We have to wait a long time, a very long time so they treat us with free wine and we tell them we are in no hurry. After all the night life in Sundance is not glamorous. When the waitress actually has two minutes to breathe we tell her we are in town for the MS ride. Her eyes tear up and she says "Thank you, thank you so much, my niece Hannah who just graduated college and got married and is 23, we just found out she has MS." She continues to say, "I should have just learned more, but thank you for riding for complete strangers and good luck to you".  And then there were no words, we all couldn't speak.

 And I thought about her as I pinned on my number and a sign that says "I ride for..." and it took me a split second, Hannah. I ride for Hannah.

24 hours

In 24 hours, we will be embarking on THIS...

I really hope I will be smiling like the lady in the picture is!

Back on the journey

Well here it is, officially summer is over (well almost, I don't really confront it until the boys step into THEIR school building for the first day).

I have to admit that while my friend Karen shares her mourning and sadness of our boys outgrowing us, I can say that my summer and closeness with both boys these last few months has been a gift. Also my mourning may be less because I have one other fry who is not even close to outgrowing me-yet.

 Now I can't say that it was perfect, and I believe I sent a few furious texts about everyone going to CAMP because they deserved it. I often contemplated how 10 years ago I couldn't wait to be the mom who could take a book to the park, the pool, the lake and sit and read while my kids played, a little jealous at these well coiffed moms in bikinis (because they HAD time to work on their bodies now) in their relaxation mode while I chased children, sunscreened children, hovered over children. I was horrified I am now THAT mom. I never dreamed I would be THAT mom, and here I am-still now well coiffed. At times it is sad, but when I reflect on the summer exurcions, road trips, camping, bike rides, and yes still butterfly and ladybug hunting I realize it is just where I am supposed to be and to enjoy the ride.

And guess what? I still didn't get to read a darn book! So there all you book reading pool moms!

Guess what friends???

He's back!!

Umm I mean this great historical show is back

Mile 27

Today was to be the culmination of a 3 day road cycling excursion across half of Iowa. But as you can read I am blogging from my air conditioned house for you beautiful people. Injuries and a brief hospital stay for my good friend put our plans to a halt. Good news (or bad-read below) I found a replacement ride a little closer to home and for a good cause. So our new plan is to ride in the beautiful Black Hills of Devil's Tower, Spearfish, and Belle Fourche for Ride MS. Two packed days of 70 mile trips. Yes 70, and I thought a 50+ miler in Iowa was intimidating.
Here lies the problem, there are few goals I set for myself that I don't meet...there are some, but the big ones I can do. So in the spirit of continuing to train I set out for a long ride. Long for me meaning over 25-a goal I have yet to meet. It seems like fishing, camping, and basic summer fun has just fit on the plate better the last two months.

I get on the bike, temperature is good, no wind (ya, not until turning AROUND) and the first 10 feels fabulous-20 mph average, I am thinking oh yes, going for 30 today, and it may just be easy. At mile 15 the half way point I feel good, stop for a cliff bar and a drink and realize I neglected to put my water on the bike. No biggy, not really thirsty. So I turn around and realize NOW that the lovely wind I had at my bike is in my face. Mouth is a litte dry, but I am still optimistic...
My optimism quickly fades as I get thirstier and the wind annoys me more. At mile 20 I text my hubby that I would die for some gatorade. No response, a little reassurance was all I was looking for, as I was still determined to make it. I turn off the FLAT part of the trek and hit the hills that I have to survive to get back to the car. Now my mouth is really dry, my stomach hurts, legs are shaky and a little light headed.
I am determined but thinking "This could be bad". At mile 27 with a big hill facing me and more lightheaded feeling. I do the unthinkable I text hubby, "Come get me".
He responds "What?" I text it again,
"Umm not feeling well, come get me"
He calls and meets me where I sit in the scratchy grass with the grasshoppers, and proceeds to lecture me about the lack of water. "I told you every 15 minutes, DRINK"
Sigh
All I can think of is two weeks until dry hot Wyoming and my legs need to do what my mouth says it can do. Mile 27 just isn't going to be enough and I try to remind myself, if it was easy everyone would do it.

Whooing and hibernation

3 weeks from today I will be back in my little office, in my not so little school preparing for the 4th year. Not sure if it was the weird crazy year or the changes in the future, but I am having hard time even wrapping my brain around going back. I think I forget how much I love summer, I am sure I could look at past blog posts at this same time each year and it will be the same thing. Sleeping in, time with boys (who are becoming small men quickly), exercising, better yet recipes and cooking. Road trips and everything ELSE!
So as I pack for another work trip, this one to Denver, I am hoping I can get my "whoo" on-that is that social set of skills of small talk, getting to know complete strangers, acting smart and impressing people I don't know. At the same time maybe a little time ALONE in the car, in the hotel with my professional books may be just the ticket to get my brain in a little thinking action. Maybe a little hibernation will help.  We will see

Tidbits and time suckers

I thought I would leave you with some quick tidbits before I head out for a busy week of professional learning, Pierre today and tomorrow, home Wednesday, Denver Thursday thru Sunday. Whew.
I new time sucker has arrived on the horizon-Pixlr-o-matic. I have been seeing all these cool photo people keep posting and figured I just need to see for myself. Instagram was not an option so found this one. THIS could cause me to lose a lot of useful time! The secret artist/photographer could sit and play ALL day.
Boy and summer is in full steam but sadly winding down at the same time, back to work August 6, I am hoping this week of my own learning starts to get me in the mood, it seems like I JUSTgot in the mood for summer.
Well I think that is all for now, the best tidbit, maybe, hopefully, better be seeing Bobbi and Carey when they head out west this week.

Revel

rev·el

[ révv'l ]

1. take pleasure: to take great pleasure in something
2. enjoy party: to have an enjoyable time in the company of others, especially at a party
3. noisy celebration: an uproarious party or celebration

This is what summer means to me...I hope you are taking time to revel as well...in whatever way you choose

Back to normal, well almost

And there it is, one week already and sunny skies, and breezy ocean, and relaxing wave sounds are a distant memory.
Nothing like real life to bring you back to the real world. While on vacation my ragbrai team mate texts me to tell me our 3rd team member crashed and broke his collarbone, so our trip is on standby due to to support team logistics. Sigh, I am still trying to get over the disappointment. I persevered though and ventured out for my first ride in my clips. Unclipping BOTH feet is a must, learned that the hard way.
Small fry comes home with some small rash on his foot-we assume from venturing into the foliage to hunt iguanas OR then it becomes poison ivy from Horse Thief Lake-and is up all last night scratching and itching his feet like crazy. Oh and this was in OUR bed, so I think a nap is a must today.
Math tutoring for big fry resumes, you can all imagine how home practice went. An engineer father does not make for easy math practice when one doesn't "get" math. Poor big fry.
We skipped big races in Aberdeen to get caught up on long needed "to do" projects. Nothing like cleaning the garage from top to bottom to say family vacation away is over. But the garage looks fabulous. Oh but the dog apparently ate something in the dust pan pile and had a night of grass munching and gagging.

Yep back to reality

We're baaaackkk

Well here, we here we are back in our little midwestern home state. I think we all have PVS-post vacation syndrome. Not quite as bad as post traumatic stress, and a little up there with post holiday blues.
An excellent time was had by all. The week started out rough with super rain and a forecast of more, but the forecast was wrong.
Scattered clouds with blue skies prevailed. Big Fry snorkeled until his teen body just gave out. Small fry declared at the end that he could stay another week.Nothing beats sea turtles in the morning, hermit crabs, and iguana chasing in his mind. Floaties in the pool with mudslides in hand, with the best friend. And this morning I was wondering who was going to serve me my breakfast mimosa. Sigh. Also one lost underwater video camera that slipped off MY wrist. Double sigh, because it is really hard to take pics with a regular camera when you are in the water all the time.
By the way ignore the hair-humidity is not kind to us with naturally curly hair. Karen THERE is your picture of the TWO of us! We had many mudslides to actually pose in the suits.

Oh not mimosa or mudslide, Mango Mojito

 Couldn't convince him to put his arm around me, ungrateful teen

48 hours

In 48 hours this will be my breakfast time view! The best part? It will be with my besty Suree and her family. The worst part? Pre-vacation checklist:
Pack, laundry, dog kenneled, clean house, mow yards, bmx track garbage to dump, music lessons, clean cars, make sure nothing nasty is in the fridge...
PRINT SHUTTLE VOUCHERS

Note to self

Next time the 13 year old offspring tells the eye doctor a "funny story" and it is about the dog chewing up three pairs of your underwear and him then using a stick to put them in the dirty clothes, believe him. Today was laundry day, 3 pair bite the dust.

A little sunset for the end of your day

I really didn't mind giving up my camera at the butterfly house, I got my "money" shots the night before. I hadn't had my camera out in forever, holding on to and watching a 60 lb dog on exursions limits one's ability to focus. Dog in camper.=camera time. I missed you my instant art friend.

Boys and butterflies

Rewind to 4 years ago, a family stops in Westminster, Colorado for the famed Butterfly Pavillion. The family pulls up and finds it closed due to wind and hail and  shattered glass ceiling. Then 9-year old bug obsesed child leaves with no glimpse of a single winged creature.
Fast forward to this weekend.
Let the pictures tell the rest.
(Just for the record, I never got to touch my BIG camera, not once!)