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Friday, November 14, 2008

Status Update

Marathon training is going well! I went out with the women's running group yesterday and we did 3.7 miles in about 40 minutes, much faster than I would have done it on my own, and farther than was on my training schedule too! And I felt good. We ran a couple real hills and I managed to keep up and keep running. I'm sure it's premature to judge but so far so good.

The girls are both doing well. The Bunny was tapped to be in a reader's theatre presentation for the kindergartners yesterday and was pleased that the rest of us all showed up to see. She also tested for her low yellow belt in TKD on Wed. I hope she passes but she hasn't made up her mind whether or not to continue with it. I hope she does of course, I have been so impressed with the kids who are testing to be black belts. They have such incredible poise and confidence. Our favorite girl just made a huge mistake of judgement but unlike what I'd expect of a normal 13 year old, not only did she confess to me what she had done to explain why she won't be available for babysitting for 6 months to a year, but she asked me to forgive her and expressed her hope that my opinion of her was not irreprably damaged. Considering her infraction I think all the more highly of her for her mature way of admitting fault and accepting consequences. A lot of adults could take a lesson from her.
But to get back to the Bunny, she knows she'll have to pick an activity to fill in the gap if she does drop TKD and so dh and I are hoping that her decision won't create any massive transportation complications.

Ali G is doing well too. She is walking and chatting up a storm. Her words are getting closer and closer to what she is trying to say. She is such a sweet little kid . Her default setting is happy optimism and she is calm and comfortable with or without me, a huge difference between her and her sister. During the testing she watched the activity on the mat until a mother picked her up out of her backpack seat and then she spent the rest of the time investigating the contents of bags and packs and being generally charming.

So, that's the update for now. Next week we go to St. Louis to introduce Ali G to her other grandma and then up to Madison to see Dad and spend Thanksgiving.

Time to get some tidying done.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Amen to that.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

YES WE CAN!!!!


I just realized how odd it is that I hadn't mentioned the AMAZING HISTORIC ELECTION that just took place here.
The thing about this blog is that I compose entries in my head every day that never get out. I have spent a lot of time recently thinking about the election, crying with joy and amazement and feeling flushed with a renewed faith in the decency and the fundamental goodness of America. Honestly I can't remember ever having this sense of pride in my nation. I was psyched that Clinton won the first time I voted but it's so different to feel that the country has made this sea change in outlook and deed. Maybe I kept putting this post off because I am not able to express this as eloquently as it deserves. But I think you know how I feel. I think you feel that swelling feeling in your chest, that catch of the breath, that feeling of HOPE taking wing.

Running in the Rain ROCKS!

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain pounding on the roof. Pounding. That isn't actually a common sound in these parts, or at least it hasn't been in the 6 months we've lived here. So today was the day I had resolved to join this women's running group in town. I've been hanging out with the Dingos online for years now but I haven't done much IRL group running and you know, this marathon thing is kind of intimidating so I'm looking for all the support I can find. Anyway, did I mention the POURING RAIN? Well so I got a bit freaked out. Okay it was really more like those butterflies you get at the top of a double black diamond slope that you've just committed to and can't get out of anymore. It was like that. Only for a few minutes there I could still back out because nobody knew I was going but me and dh. But then I told the Dingos and then I called the health cli to see if they were still going. they were. And they got my name. Sooo... I got my gore tex pants and my "wterproof" jacket and went.

And it turned out to be terrific. A really great run. The women are nice and welcoming, though generally faster than me (hardly a feat). We ran the 5k loop that we did for the 4th of July run and which will be the Turkey Trot here. A couple of them are training to do the Vancouver Marathon in May. Hmmmm.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Week 2 of Marathon training under way!

Well, my runs are super short but so far so good. Today I did 3 miles and it felt great. I am so excited to see this thing through, I have lots of time but I do hope it's enough.
I found a couple pictures of the Bunny from the costume parade from Halloween in her Hannah Montana getup.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy Hallloween!

So the town went all out for Halloween yesterday. All of the elementary school kids got marched down the main street of town and lots of adults got dressed up too. Including me! I went as HazMat Mama with a tool belt full of dipes and wipes. Ali G went as Piglet and we got our picture in the local online journal. The Bunny was Hanna Montana and you can almost see her in a picture on the second page but you kind of have to know where to look.

Here I am with my mom and Ali G waiting for the parade.

Here we are after Ali G's first-ever trick-or-treating.



And the Bunny, looking way too old for seven with her Haloween makeup on.

A journey of 26.2.miles begins with a single step...


Yup.
I'm doing it.
I started training this week for the San Francisco Marathon, July 26 2009. If we women can make a human in that amount of time I should be able to turn myself into an endurance runner in that amount of time, right? Right.

So far I've done 6 miles. Six incredibly slow miles. But you have to start somewhere (see above) and I'm pretty psyched. For a long time it's been in the back of my mind that I'd like to do a marathon someday. So, thanks to my buddy Poppy, I suddenly thought, well why not now?
And, how about you? Yes, you! You wanna do this thing too? My goal will be 1. to finish and 2. to finish in 6 hours. That's it. Nothing fancy. No heroics. Just 26.2 miles of steady plodding around my favorite city in all the world. Just think of the post-race food! Mmmmmm. Chinatown here I come!