It's a Major Award

I never win anything, and technically, I still didn't win anything.

I nominated Elijah's teacher, Michael Massad, for Mix 94.7 & Whataburger's "Austin's Favorite Teacher" contest. Well, he won! They picked my nomination. I was giddy because Mr. Massad deserves this award. I wish I had my nomination letter to post.



More Photos (you'll have to scroll through Track & Field)

And here's Heather Rivera's blog post.

Congratulations, Mr. Massad!

i carry your heart

A forgotten post
waits for an uploaded pic
penned may 17

===========================================
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)

I shared those lines from the famous poem with Joshua tonight. I had written them years ago to my father on Father's Day (back in college when I had no money for a gift so I made a gift). It's overwhelming at times to look at my children. My cup runneth over.

The Summer of Creativity is dawning. I've put running and exercising on the shelf for lots of reasons. I'm not interested. I'm extremely busy. I don't care. I'm tired. I'm not training for anything. I really should exercise, but other interests tug at my minuscule amount of spare time.

Cooking is really fun. Baking is even better. Watching the mama bird get food for her chirping babies in my back yard is so peaceful. Sipping tea and reading is luxurious. Watching Joshua's baseball games is what spring is about for us. Listening to Elijah play the piano while doing dishes is life. Running? I think I am ready to play soccer again. Not in a league though. Maybe just kick the ball around in the yard with the kids. I need new cleats though.

I did run with Joshua at Chuy's Hot to Trot. He's 7, and this is his first 5K.

Anniversary Poems

For David

Peach blossoms bloom a
soft pink smile to you and me.
Wedding day tribute.


This poem is from our wedding, read by Aron during the ceremony.

"At the Wedding March"
by Gerard Manley Hopkins

GOD with honour hang your head,
Groom, and grace you, bride, your bed
With lissome scions, sweet scions,
Out of hallowed bodies bred.

Each be other’s comfort kind:
Deep, deeper than divined,
Divine charity, dear charity,
Fast you ever, fast bind.

Then let the March tread our ears:
I to him turn with tears
Who to wedlock, his wonder wedlock,
Deals tríumph and immortal years.

Haiku for the day

Cool spring morning rush
Ebullient boys on the stairs
Regret fills my heart

"Everyone knows it's Windy" Sing-a-long!

Saturday, March 28 - Rosedale Ride

Marc & Dianne were already planning to do 40. Sarah and I had dropped down from 63 to 40 after realizing we are very busy moms with other things going on that day that we not only had to do but also wanted to do. 40 is nothing to be ashamed of, but we had a bit of a time convincing ourselves of that.

Was anyone outside on March 28? Well, if not, I'll tell ya. A cold front blew in overnight. It was in the low 40s with a wind chill in the 30s. I can deal with cold. It's not as fun to ride your bike when it's cold as it is to run when it's cold. It's doable though, and your body does eventually warm up (if not your toes). The real issue this morning was the wind. Not a little wind either.

A few photos for your viewing pleasure.

I have never ridden in such wind before. It was not fun the way this ride is supposed to be. At the first stop (which we hadn't planned on stopping at), Marc tells us they are doing the 20-mile route now. Sarah and I look at it each other. This is supposed to be fun, right? Are we having fun? No. Why do we need to kill ourselves and do 40?

We chose the 20 (22.9 actually), and it was (in the wise words of Sarah) one of the best decisions we've made in a long time. The back stretch of that ride was slow and so windy.

I made up new lyrics to a bunch of songs to make us laugh while we struggled to pedal. Sarah joined in and came up with some goodies. Enjoy, and I hope you sing along.

Bob Seger - Against the Wind

"Against the wind...I'm colder now but still riding against the wind."

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Christopher Cross - Ride like the Wind

"I've got such a long way to go...
to make it to Samsung parking lot.
So I ride...ride in the wind."

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Patrick Swayze - She's like the Wind

"She hates wind in her face.
She's pedaling but going no place."

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Bette Midler - Wind Beneath my Wings

"Did you ever know that I can pedal
and not get anywhere at all?
I can ride faster than a snail
when the wind blows like a gale."

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The Village People - YMCA

"We are riding in the W-I-N-D (insert hand movements)
Oh yes, we're riding into the W-I-N-D.
It blows from the front.
And it blows from the side.
No matter which way we go, it blows.
Because we're riding in the W-I-N-D
Oh yes, we're riding in the W-I-N-D."

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The Association - Everyone knows it's Windy

"Who's blowing me back while I fiercely pedal?
Who's tipping my bike over sideways?
Who's bending down to knock me clean off?
Everyone knows it's Windy!"

So, in honor of the Wind, we stopped at Wendy's for my usual half-n-half soda (half coke, half diet coke). Well, I had to get a picture for the ol' blog. Sarah snapped this brilliant photo...

You are the Wendy's beneath my wings.

San Marcos 50

Sunday, March 22 - 50 mile ride to San Marcos with Sarah, Dianne & Michelle. There were some very slow-going spots due to a combo of wind and inclines. We finally got to San Marcos about 45 minutes later than planned.

Dianne's hubby Marc was waiting with their son, Alex. See, I'm not the only family who has to swap out workouts and take turns and do all sorts of somersaults just so both parents have a turn to train.

Dianne and Michelle had only planned to ride to SM, so they were blissfully loading up their bikes while Sarah and I stretched and braced ourselves for the ride back with Marc. The ride back was much more pleasant and much less windy, and we finished that same distance 30 minutes faster.

Goals

This must be the race meant for me!

Fat Ass Trail Run


I don't miss the long runs.
There's no time in my day to miss them.
Sarah and I have been cycling toward Rosedale on March 28.
It's hard to get back in gear.
All of our long rides,
I've wondered how I rode 25 miles in the middle of a triathlon.
Man, I was in shape then.

So, dv laid out his goals for the world to read (whoever might the world be?).
I shall do the same, but I warn you. If you are here to read about running goals, you might need to hop off the track.

1. Complete 3 projects that have been looming over me for months and months. Complete them by May 15.

2. Rosedale Ride on March 28 - 65 miles

3. Rogue Trail Series:
May 3 - The Maze 10K Trail Run
May 31 - The Loop 10K Trail Run (they scheduled this early this year just for me, I'm sure!)
June 21 - The Bluff 10K Trail Run (um, sounds scary for clumsy folk)

And now, the Pièce de résistance:

4. Clean up my poems and write this summer. I won't be working. I'll have hours to compose while my kids swim and play. I am always writing in my head, so my big goal is to put pen to paper. Even if no one ever reads them. Yup. Maybe one day, I'll go to a writing workshop. Or a bunch of workshops. I think they call that an MFA.