Re-Run

I want to post, but I have other things going as well, so here's the compromise: left-overs from September. Again, if you're bored, there's the 'x' up in the corner. Thanks everyone for stopping by. ~eclectic

I DOUBT:

That things always work out for the best;
That anything bad lasts forever.

That I'll remember everything I want to remember;
That I'll be able to forget all the things I need to forget.

That everyone who says, "I'm sorry" actually understands what that means;
That everyone who fails to say sorry actually understands what they've done.

That I'll live long enough to fully solve the riddle of my own emotions;
That anyone does.

That real love is possible without a belief in something larger than self;
That true hate ever leads to anything noble.

That life for its own sake is always the highest objective; That death is always the least favorable outcome.

That much of what we cling to is worth the effort; That much of what we let go will be missed.

Where Baseball and Track Meet

Ah, the thudding sounds of adolescent bodies smacking the pad at the end of the high jump, and the scent of starting gun smoke on the wind. Or the twangy thwack of metal bats on foul balls, and the scent of fried foods wafting above the concession stand. Yes, it's Spring. For us, that means track meets and baseball games.

Typically, practices and/or games and/or meets will conflict, requiring the parental Eclectics to divide and conquer as it were. Occasionally however, like this week, the planets align in kindly formation and the entire family is present at both events. Here is Little Boy Eclectic (LBE) as starting pitcher in the game his team won by 11 RUNS:





And here is Not-so-Little Girl Eclectic (NLGE) chatting (or talking smack, she didn't say...) at the line for the 50-meter dash before the event was called. For inquiring minds, she placed second by 1/100th of a second. She did so many events I lost count, including the the 800 relay, the 800 medley, the triple jump (she took first!) and others.




Yeah, I'm bragging. Just hit the little red "X" in the top right corner if you get bored. I won't be offended, I promise.

Tequila-Con '06, or "Why I am Drinking Myself Silly Tonight"

OK, while I am here, at home, NOT in New York City, some people are at TequilaCon'06, hanging out with other bloggers, and answering (or attempting to answer) questionable telephone calls from inebriated individual(s), who may or may not sound like me. I can't confirm or deny... I'm drunk.

And wallowing in self-pity. Also trying to figure out how to hit the damn "Send" button on my phone.

You will post pictures, right? RIGHT?? Please? You too! Alright, alright... please?? You can post pictures if you want, but I'm partial to the ones you paint with your words. So get writing, missy! Oh did I forget please? Sorry.


***


Salut!

Ridge to River - Part Deux, and Blossoms, too.

The Iron-Girl whose mother dropped the ball (story to follow), along with her Obstacle Course Volunteer Partner, who was only slightly coerced into it:





The Side-Kick/Mascot who will tell you he won:




Alright. Who knew the Iron Girl registration would max out a month before the race?? I went last Monday to the race office to register and was informed that my son's tandem team would be fine, but my daughter's solo effort was a bust. So sorry, there's always next year.

Me: Uh, NO, there's not. She's 12, and this is her last year.
Race Lady: Well, you could have registered her earlier.
Me: Uh, YES, but I didn't.
Race Lady: Sorry.
Me: Uh, YEAH, me too.
Race Lady: There's room in the mixed team division.
Me: Uh, NO, all her friends are already on teams. She wanted to Iron it this year for her last year.


***Awkward pause***


Me: WAIT! If I sign her up as a mixed team, can she do all the events as her own teammate?
Race Lady: Uh, NO. The Team Obstacle Course requires teamwork. With at least one other person. And in the mixed division, it would have to be a boy.
Me: So she could do all the events herself so long as a boy joined her for the obstacle course?
Race Lady: Uh, Yes. If he's 12 or younger.
Me: (realizing I have a nine-year-old son who can be bribed) SOLD!

So here's how it went: The 12-year-old mixed teams started at 10:20. She ran 1.5 miles, then hopped into the kayak for the 200 yard paddle leg, popped onto her bike for the 2-mile ride, and then met her brother at the start of the obstacle course, finishing Fourth. Then, he raced back to the lagoon to meet HIS tandem teammate at the end of their run which started at 10:50, he paddled then hopped on his bike to the obstacle course where he and Cole passed teams from the 10:40 wave to finish first in their division. ***whew*** Congrats, kids! Thank you for salvaging my self-worth as a mother.




This is visible all over the valley right now:










Yeah, I know the blooms don't go with the Jr. R2R post, but I took the photos all the same day and I'm too damn lazy to make two posts out of it. Just pretend there's a date stamp and another title if it makes you feel better. There. See how I'm always there for you? ***heh***

In My Own Front Yard

Somedays, it's good to know that there is beauty living so close to hand:












And Lynn, I haven't forgotten the cherry blossoms, I just never have my camera handy at the right moment. I'll work on that tomorrow, I promise.

A Day in the Life

4:30 a.m. -- alarm clock rings, get out of bed.
5:15 a.m. -- train first group of clients at the gym.
6:00 a.m. -- train next group of clients at the gym.
7:00 a.m. -- drive home to get big kids to school and little guy to playgroup.
8:30 a.m. -- train clients at the gym until 1.
1:00 p.m. -- take little guy home for lunch and nap; while he's napping do legal work from home office until big kids come home and need help with homework.
3:30 p.m. -- drive to office to complete tasks, run around doing errands.
5:00 p.m. -- drive middle kid to baseball at one end of town, simultaneously pick up oldest kid from track on other side of town, drop little guy at playgroup.
5:30 p.m. -- teach spin class at the gym
6:30 p.m. -- pick up little guy and go watch the remainder of baseball game.
7:40 p.m. -- pack up and drive home to prepare dinner.
8:30 p.m. -- serve and eat dinner.
9:10 p.m. -- get children ready for bed.
9:30 p.m. -- get children into bed.
9:35 p.m. -- clean kitchen and set coffee maker for morning.
9:50 p.m. -- start final load of laundry for the day.
10:00 p.m. -- sit down to read email and check blogs.
10:05 p.m. -- fall asleep in chair.
10:15 p.m. -- write post about daily activities.
10:30 p.m. -- get ready for bed.
11:00 p.m. -- sleep.

Any questions?

Ridge to River

Today we did this. Well, technically, I was just the sherpa. I was signed up, but my teammate bailed, so I did too. It took half the day, and I ran my ass off trying to gather all the equipment and keep everything on schedule. I think being sherpa is almost more stressful than competing! They did great. I survived.









The office is nearly organized now but not quite, even though it's been open in its new location since last Monday. We are spending the remainder of the weekend there. Any of you are welcome to come help move file cabinets.

Collar Wars

It's been raining all day. Wet dog fur is particularly nasty when matted beneath a nylon web collar; so when it rains all day, the collar comes off. What we didn't foresee was the apparently irresistable nature of such an item to the smallest human in the house:





"I got your collar. Nyah, nyah, nuh-nyah, nyah!"






"Mom, a little help here. The kid's got my collar."






Brizzy: "Give it back!"
Carter: "No! Finders, keepers!!"
Both: "MOM!!



Officials are preparing for a predicted increase in hostilities. We'll keep you informed with live, up-to-the-minute coverage. Stay tuned.