Summer 2022, Week 7

The kids didn’t have any camps this week—- which was good because it was otherwise jammed with fun friends and family activities.

The girls and I went downtown to the National Theatre with a gaggle of friends to see the musical Six. It is super high-energy fun, fun, fun. The tragic bios of Henry' the VIIIs six wives are converted into something surprising, entertaining, and (even if it were just for a moment) thought-provoking.

The next night we met up with the Camarotes in Baltimore for the baptism of our sweet niece and nephew. I was honored to be Hamilton’s godmother. The deacon performing the service was just wonderful and engaging. He invited Baya and Linc to help out with the service- they were delighted to have a role. It was such a beautiful evening celebrating family and faith.

Last but definitely not least, the kids got a kids-only pool party with Aunt Anna immediately followed by an epic sleepover with tractor races at Grandma and Opa’s farm.

Here’s the Week 7 highlight reel. Hope you like it!

Wonder what we’ll do to top this next week???

Summer 2022, Week 6

Week 6 didn’t disappoint. Two-thirds of our kids went to skateboard camp with 5 of their friends from the neighborhood. It made for an epic carpool! Reviews were mixed. It was a great camp but apparently makes for a long week when you decide you don’t like skateboarding 20 minutes into Day 1. Sigh.

The delight of my week was a coffee date with the kids and my cousin and all-around awesome person Kenny Flanagan. He was in town from Mississippi doing what groups of rural county supervisors do in DC— shake hands and plead your case for two new roads and an airport.

We laughed and talked about family, dogs, his ideas for improving the game of soccer, and his candy distribution strategy when riding on the firetruck as Santa. He has “Magic Hands!”

We also talked about his seething hatred of Auburn football. The funny coincidence was after we parted and got back in traffic, we were RIGHT behind someone with Auburn plates. Too funny.

Marin had several soccer games this week— including 1 in torrential downpour, 1 under a rainbow, and her first in a big high school stadium. Oh and 1 had a truck selling beer. What?! So, of course, when in Rome…

Here’s our highlight video for the week.

That’s all for now! See you next week!

Summer 2022, Week 3

For the uninitiated, Boba tea (or bubble tea) is creamy or fruity, very sweet tea with chewy balls at the bottom. If you’re trying it for the first time, I’d highly recommend:

• Studying the menu for at least a week ahead of time. Then plan on ordering whatever the very cute but apathetic teenage cashier with extravagantly long lashes suggests. Don’t rely on your own knowledge of what you like. You don’t know.

• Then, specify your sweetness level. 0, 10, 30, 50, or 70%???!!! Huh? I’m not even a dentist and this seems like a bad idea.

• Most importantly, know that boba tea is a cool kid thing. Act annoyed when drinking it so you don’t mess up the “ass-thet-ic.” What, huh? Those words don’t even make sense.

Before I paid $17 to learn the lessons above, we had had a crazy week. It started with dropping the girls off at camp. We then celebrated the 4th with our dear friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, it was also our turn for Covid. Ugh.

We’re all better now, have our girls back and are looking forward to week 4! Thanks for watching our video!

Summer 2022, Week 2

This week was all about making stuff— a genius base for our badminton net thanks to Opa, a lemonade stand, and coding small machines at camp.

Building the Butterfly Fence

An a desperate attempt to urge spring along, Baya and I decorated the back fence today with hundreds of beautiful, fluttering butterflies!

To start, we bough a couple hundred colored butterflies from… where else… Amazon. They’re a light but pretty sturdy plastic. We’d planned to glue them but realized very quickly that that wasn’t going to work.

We tried a couple different types of glue… including hot glue which required a sprint from the porch where the gun was plugged in. It tried WAY too quickly.

No problem!

We took a break for a quick trip to Michaels for a new staple gun. (We have one but, alas, no staples.) Once we had the right tools, the project progressed pretty quickly.

Baya placed every single one of these butterflies. I was just there to help out.

We were pretty pleased with how this came out! We don’t know how long they’ll last. We’re hoping until mid-June when we’ll switch. We’re already cooking up a plan for what’s next!

Winding back July

Here’s what will hopefully be the second in three-part series of “round ups” this summer. (I hate publicly committing to future writing that may or may not happen but that’s my goal.) You can find June’s here.

July’s routine was all about work, workouts, kid drop-offs, and day camps. All good stuff. However, there were a couple special things highlighted below.

Getting Organized

Kicking off the month, we were visited by a professional organizer, y’all!

This angel of bins, labels, and “like with like" helped us rein in the growing chaos in the kids’ playroom and bedroom. The issue was that they weren’t fully using the toys and clothes they have because they couldn’t see or find anything but what was on the surface. More importantly (and who are we kidding?), the mess was stressing me out. So something had to change.

In a couple “before” pictures below, you can see how their stuff was stuffed. Everywhere.

Just when I hit a breaking point, I found out a friend and colleague helps people get organized on the side. And, she’s amazing at it. Here’s how she worked…

After some preliminary discussion and sharing of pictures and goals, we decided she would come to our house two days in a row. Day 1 would be dedicated to the purge. Day 2 was putting the stuff we were keeping into its new home- with all its friends.

She started with a very short, interactive “lesson” for the kids on how to think about using a space, the benefits of being able to find the stuff you want, and how to think about organizing it all. She had them at, “use this sharpie to write on the wall (on paper).” We then dove into the grouping, sorting, and purging. Some went to the trash, the rest to a curbside give-a-way with one big thrift store drop off.

On Day 2, we put it all back together. A couple of things that were great about this for me…

• Having another adult with both the process and the willingness to roll-up her sleeves was super helpful. She’s kind, not judge-y at all, and great with kids. These qualities were just a bonus. I loved the results so much I would have taken a surly grouch. Please direct message me if you’d like an introduction.

• It’s also helpful to have the time block set aside. This project was something I’d previously tried to tackle a bit at a time with no real progress.

• Having a couple of new things- some new rugs, pillows, a throw, and bins just made the end result all the more satisfying. More stuff!!!

Ahhhhh…..

Lighting Up the Neighborhood

We celebrated the 4th with friends and illegal fireworks. What’s considered tame just about everywhere else is off limits here in Falls Church. Taking a calculated risk, Brian and Linc hit up the stand in our neighboring county (.4 miles away). We then pooled our stuff with our friends for a decent show.

Opening Up Shop

Next up, Baya opened an Etsy shop called, The Brightest Night. She makes really lovely, beaded bracelets inspired by the dragons in her favorite book series, Wings of Fire. I’ve been so impressed with her diligence and craftsmanship. The shop is open for business. And be on the look out for a more formal launch soon!

Fixing Food & Friends

Of course, last but not least… we’ve spent lots of time cooking, baking, smoking meat (Brian), catching lightening bugs, playing soccer in the rain, floating at the pool, and just hanging out with friends. Bring it, August!

Our garden is thriving this year thanks to more planning and attention and doubling the depth of our beds. Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

Last-ish

I’m done! At 3:28 and change, I made my goal to beat the 4 hour cut-off.

At my first tri in a LONG time, I learned (or re-learned) a bunch. Here's what happened leg-by-leg.

We all gathered, then headed into the water like we were boarding a plane, 2 by 2 by 2. I got off to a good start. And by “good” I mean that I didn’t have a full-on panic attack requiring that I flip over to avoid sucking down water. I didn’t get kicked in the stomach or get water in my goggles or have to cling to the side of a kayak. I was able to relax enough to wonder if I’d remembered to brush my teeth. That ended when I touched something very weird which I can only assume was the hair of a dead woman whose body was lodged on the bottom (maybe lost during last year’s race?) Or it was seagrass. We’ll never know.

Then came the bike. The Bike.

I’d like to go on record and take back something I wrote last night on Instagram. It was something gushy, written under the influence of M&Ms and the peaceful solitude in my hotel room. It was something about the bike being the unexpected joy of this triathlon training experience.

SCRATCH THAT.

In fact, I hate bike riding. I just remembered.

Until this year, I hadn’t ridden in forever. Forever ago was when my old bike flew off the top of our car at 80 MPH on the Jersey Turnpike. Thankfully, no one was injured that crazy day but I conveniently took that as a sign that biking wasn’t for me.

Fast forward 17 years amidst a global pandemic. Brian surprised me with a new bike. I was so excited. And, in fact, that bike was a big part of what sparked this whole triathlon training idea anyway.

It turns out that as much as I love the actual bike. I don’t really like riding it.

I don’t like hunching over. I don’t like my palms getting scratching from the bouncing. I don’t like pedaling. I don’t like shifting… unless it’s down (or up)- whichever way makes it easier. I don’t like wearing my helmet. I don’t like seeing other people wearing their helmets. I don’t like the smell of roadkill or the sight of litter.

And I don’t like being passed over and over again.

The truth is that today I got SMOKED on the bike leg. I don’t know how else to put it.

I came out of the water with about 1/3 of the bikes remaining in the transition area. Every single one of those ended up passing me over the next 25 miles. I got passed on uphills and downhills. I got passed on curves and straightaways. I got passed by a guy not even holding on to the handlebars as he took a squirt from his water bottle.

Getting passed repeatedly is not awesome.

First, triathletes are such a friendly, collegial people that every single one says something like, “You got this! Way to go!” To each I’d smile and manage a “you too” while telling them in my head to SHUT THE F UP.

Second, everyone’s age is written on their calf. So first, Mr. 23 years old passed me. Fine. He was quickly followed by a 37, 41, 53, 61… and, then, Mr. 68! You’ve got to be kidding me.

If you don’t already, you should know that I’m a proud back-of-the-pack-er. But like everyone else out there “just to finish,” I don’t want to be last.

On this day, on this course, on this bike, I was seriously LAST. Or last-ish. Either way, it was close.

Whatever you call the feeling of relief, irritation, and optimism mixed together, I was that starting the run.

You won’t be surprised to hear that I’m no speedster in sneakers either but at least running is familiar. After figuring out the funky turnarounds, I regained some ground and returned the “You got this!” favor to a dozen or so people before finally finishing.

As I crossed the line, a volunteer handed me my medal and an icy cold wet washcloth. It reminded me of the moment my Aunt Loretta gave me a Pepsi after the San Diego marathon. It was this delightful surprise that I didn’t know how much I desperately needed and wanted. With those cold washcloths, they just hand them out and, like, don’t even want them back. They’re yours to keep!

AMAZING.

So with that, I’m now all in for the next one- even with the bike.

Winding back June

We closed out June all snuggled in our bed. As the kids red or watched their iPads, I wound back the month in my mind. Since school let out on the 10th, we’ve covered some ground— and still have so much summer left to go. Here’s a snapshot working back in time…

We went to the movies. Actually, we went twice— seeing the animated Spirit and In the Heights (just Marin and I with our dear friend and neighbor.) Both times we were nearly the only ones in the theatre. It was nice to sit in the dark with a humongous bucket of popcorn— which is really the only reason to go to the movies these days.

I did my first open water swim practice with Wave One at National Harbor. My first triathlon in nearly 20 years is coming up in 3 weeks. Hoping to avoid some of the inevitable panic during the swim, I figured some practice out of the pool in something chilly, brackish, murky and wave-y might help. Putting the weirdness of swimming in a public place where nearly everyone else is walking around fully clothed eating ice cream aside, this was a really great experience— the friendly group, calm, sparkly water with plenty of space was just awesome. Though I still I suspect all of this is just leading to me eventually being eaten by a shark (more on that phobia in a future post.)

Last week, the girls went to sleepaway camp for the first time at Camp Varsity in Madison, VA. They loved, loved, loved it. This baby step towards greater independence benefitted for all of us. While they were singing, hiking, and enjoying late-night “cabin talk,” Linc fully embraced his temporary status as an “only.” He enjoyed take-out, pool playdates, and having his grandparents and cousins all to himself at the annual River Bash. Brian and I got two date nights in a row which was pretty great too.

Before camp drop-off, we went cherry picking. This is one of those experiences with kids that never quite lives up to my imagination. It was HOT, a bit buggy, and uphill both ways through tall grass. It seemed like a good idea to get the big bucket. It wasn’t. We were all into it just long enough to cover the bottom with cherries. So it wasn’t long before I was yelling, “Just keep picking!!!” And all that annoyance was BEFORE I realized the pain in the ass it would be to pit them all. Ugh. What seemed like a quick, fun activity turned into a week-long project. The best thing that came out of this was these cherry bars. They were so good it was almost worth it. The other plus is that we have enough in the freezer to perfect our Luxardo maraschino recipe to keep us going with Old Fashions all winter.

The biggie this month was our trip to Ocean City, MD to visit the beach and Aunt Anna and cousin Jake. As a bonus, we got some chilly lunch and playtime in with Kelly and Ric’s Cambridge cousins.

As many of you know, Brian and I are not laying on the beach people. I hate sand, sand, and sun in anything but small quantities. Somehow we got three who LOVE the buckets, waves, shells, boogie boards, wet towels, snacks, and running back and forth to the water. Marin is like her Mom Mom T and could jump the waves for hours.

Brian spends his time grumbling about how different (subpar) the Maryland beaches are compared to New Jersey. He was part delighted and disgusted when the lifeguards actually called a meeting to warn about the riptide. Apparently, that would NEVER happen at the Jersey Shore. Here are just a few of the highlights from that trip.

Lastly, a couple of random highlights…

• Enjoying the most delicious mixed grill BBQ put on by our friends (including an actual Brazilian)— with marshmallows!

• Lots and lots of great food between our garden and nights out

• Backyard bubbles with neighbors, and, of course

• Plenty of screen time

San Fran, Yosemite, San Fran: Spring Break 2021

For spring break, we went to San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, then back to San Francisco again. The trip was bookended to allow for the logistics- long driving and flying times. Here are all those hours and miles condensed down to a quick 2 minute video.

In summary, it was great. I know I say that a lot but it’s true! Here were some of my highlights…

• The change from gray, chilly East Coast scenery to (unseasonable) 60-degree temps and bright blue skies. Both places were simply gorgeous and so refreshing.

• Getting back to Yosemite. It’s one of my most favorite places on the planet. It’s just spectacular- from the perspective-setting feeling of walking through the valley between massive, ancient rock walls, the bubbling of the Merced River, gushing falls, and grand views, just all of it.

• Walks and hikes with the kids with minimal complaining. I don’t want to jinx us, but we seemed to have turned a corner on enjoying outdoor experiences.

Catching up with my dear college friend Erin for pizza and wine on our last night.

• Going through the tank tunnels at the aquarium. It was such a simple, cool design to walk under the fish.

• Eating nearly all the groceries we bought- with no extra emergency stops for stuff we forgot. We’re getting good at planning meals to fix and eat where we’re staying. I only brought home a ½ jar of peanut butter and a box of mac and cheese. (Yes, this is a highlight because of how much I hate throwing away food.)

• The kids really got into the history on Alcatraz. The listened to every word of the audio tour— taking special interest in the escape attempts then sharing their ideas about how they would have done it. Baya takes after both my grandmothers and literally reads every pamphlet and every sign. It’s both great and incredibly tedious.

• Then there are all the little things I try to remember but know I’ll forget— like listening to the kids’ inside jokes with each other and made-up games. They really get along so well- except when they don’t. But through this pandemic we’re all getting better at figuring out the right carrots and sticks that make long days together in close quarters a little more manageable.

2 days to go and all the feelings

There are 2 more days until our 50K ultra marathon— 34 miles of up and down over rocks and roots through the George Washington National Forest in central Virginia.

When I finished my last run this morning, training was official done. Now I’m just waiting- obsessing over details like toes socks, buying the kids’ groceries, and dying my hair.

I’m anxious.

I estimate it’ll take me 8-8.5 hours to finish- but I really have no idea. However many it is just seems like a long time to be outside. Deep thoughts.

With so many miles and so few people, I know I’ll be alone most of the day.

I’m worried.

I’m worried about being hot. I'm also worried about being cold. I keep opening the back door to intentionally notice the weather while looking at the app. “What does 42 actually feeeeeeel like?”

Other worries include blisters, stumbling, falling, getting lost, getting an eye poked out with a branch, bears, being so tired that seeing a bear doesn’t motivate me at all to run faster, etc.

Maybe most of all, I’m worried about giving up then remembering I can’t give up because there is no way out but on my own legs. Oh god. What if I have to get rescued?! Ugh!

I keep dragging my attention back to the positives. The feeling of moving with and through the trees that I love so much. The feeling of caffeinated butterflies and the smell of Bengay at the start line. The feeling of relieved accomplishment as I turn to see the finish chute, time clocks, snack tables, and smiles. The feeling of hearing a “good job” from an equally wrung out stranger.

But I’m still nervous. It’s going to be hard and I’m going to hurt. And I remember that’s why I wanted to do this to begin with.

From experience, I know that whatever is going to happen will happen. Then, it’ll be done. Saturday will turn into Sunday and I’ll move on to the next thing. I’ll have learned something. I’ll settle on a feeling of satisfaction in finishing the training and spending this time with Brian.

I’m grateful.

When I first shared the idea of an ultra back in October, I asked if he’d coach me. He said yes and took that role to heart. When he decided to run it, as well. I was overjoyed. He put together our training plan. He was at the door after each run to analyze what worked and what changes we needed to make. He figured out my shoes, gear, and snacks. He studied the course, booked the hotel, and arranged for kid coverage with his mom and brother.

Talking through our training has been a welcome alternative to the kids’ school stresses, hassles at work, politics, and the pandemic. This race has been something to do together. Ish. He’ll run his race and I’ll run mine. Like other things in the big bucket of "life while married", our runs are synchronous but solo achievements. On Saturday, our roles shift from doing with and for to simply witnessing the other do their best for themselves.

I’m also grateful for all the support from family and friends. Every single person had nothing but encouraging words. I appreciated the hundreds of check-ins throughout. I’ll be thinking of you all.

So here at end of this part looking forward to the next…

I’m ready.