I commented about seeing parents cry on the first day of school. Almost got me today.
Reanie has been 5 years old for less than month. She's at the young end of things at her school and in her class. She's my only little girl.
This morning, while eating breakfast, she told me she wanted me to drop her off with the other big kids instead of walking her into school. I expected that I'd have to walk her to her class for a couple of weeks, at least. Mind you, just about every kindergartner has parents walking them into school and to class, and frankly, I'm not sure if Reanie can find her class on her own. I still don't know, now that I think about it.
But she was convincing. Of course, not having to park, unload Buddy, and all of us make the hike inside, and then hike back to the jeep isn't something I want as part of my morning, but I do like that time when we are all together chatting.
So this morning (an hour ago as I write), I waited in the line of cars, inching up one car length at a time, that was equivalent to the time it takes for a parent to get their kid out, put on a back pack, say good-bye, remember the lunch box or money, then say good-bye again. For eleventy-million cars.
Screw that.
Reanie, tired of sitting and waiting for everyone get out, asked if she could go ahead and get out of the jeep. I couldn't think of a reason why she had to wait until we pulled up to the front of the school, so I said, "Sure."
She unbuckled her seatbelt, hopped out (normally, she needs help out of the jeep), grabbed her backpack, slipped it on herself, told me to have a good day, blew me a kiss, and shut the door.
All pretty cute, right? I think so.
But where she got me all choked up is when she took off running for school then. Her size 10.5 feet pitter-patting as fast as she can go while wearing Keds and a backpack that is way too big. She looked so tiny. My baby girl. She couldn't be running to school. We weren't pressed for time, and I wasn't on anyone's case about hurrying. She just wanted to run and get there.
I lost sight of her quick, though I tried to look through and over the 20 cars ahead of us. I can only assume she made it to the front door, and from there I can only assume she made it to her classroom. But that little pitter pat run with her backpack darn near as big as her...my memory forever.
We got through the line of cars, and started working our way to the highway towards Buddy's school. He told me to turn right, which was actually correct. I made the turn, and he told me, "Good job, Daddy."
It isn't even 9am yet, and I've had a GREAT day.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
2 of 3
First day of school in these parts. Noah is now in 6th grade, so he's off to a new campus, and Reanie started kindergarten this morning.
Buddy and I took Reanie in to school. The line waiting for the doors to open was at least 400yards long. Parents everywhere with video cameras filming every second of standing in this line.
At 7:40 the doors opened, so the parents either filmed the kids from behind as they slowly marched in line to the school, or they walked backwards, filming their kids from the front as they slowly marched into school. So many videos are going to have a script that reads, "oops, sorry" as parents walking backwards filming run in to parents walking forward filming.
We were sans camera and just talked about big school, what was in the lunch box, our phone number, and whatever Buddy picked up off the ground to show us.
I was surprised to see so many parents crying. For a second, I almost felt bad that I wasn't. Am I doing something wrong? Am I supposed to be sad? Are these tears of joy? Or maybe it was the shirt I was wearing that said, "2 down, 1 to go. Day care is expensive."
Reanie settled into her classroom fine. We'd just been there on Friday, so it didn't seem all that new to her. She seemed excited about being there, but she did seem suddenly older. Not really any baby left in her. If you blink, you'll miss it.
With Reanie secured, I took Buddy to his preschool. It was the first time I can remember taking him to school all by his lonesome. He didn't seem any different about it. If anything, he was more chipper than normal, but that is probably because we'd eased into our day, whereas in the past I let them sleep until the last second, threw them in the Jeep and dumped them off at preschool.
today, though, he "read" his Thomas book to me, and every time he needed to turn the page, he handed me his toy plane, turned the page, then took the toy back. As we pulled into the parking lot, he said, "Bye plane. Bye Thomas. Bye book," and set them down on the floor board.
Most days he starts out grumpy at school, but today he was ready to go.
One in middle school, one in kindergarten, and one on deck. Ok, Buddy will be two more years before kindergarten, but still...divide and conquer.
...
Teammates are sorting out what categories they are racing at an upcoming race nearby. Some want to race their ability-based categories, and some want to race in their age group. The age group races are easier for me. And I was tempted to go that way seeing as I haven't raced since I dismounted abruptly, but I've got a kid in middle school now, and I'm not ready to be old.
ROF May, sign me up for the p,1,2's. I'll take it like a man.
Buddy and I took Reanie in to school. The line waiting for the doors to open was at least 400yards long. Parents everywhere with video cameras filming every second of standing in this line.
At 7:40 the doors opened, so the parents either filmed the kids from behind as they slowly marched in line to the school, or they walked backwards, filming their kids from the front as they slowly marched into school. So many videos are going to have a script that reads, "oops, sorry" as parents walking backwards filming run in to parents walking forward filming.
We were sans camera and just talked about big school, what was in the lunch box, our phone number, and whatever Buddy picked up off the ground to show us.
I was surprised to see so many parents crying. For a second, I almost felt bad that I wasn't. Am I doing something wrong? Am I supposed to be sad? Are these tears of joy? Or maybe it was the shirt I was wearing that said, "2 down, 1 to go. Day care is expensive."
Reanie settled into her classroom fine. We'd just been there on Friday, so it didn't seem all that new to her. She seemed excited about being there, but she did seem suddenly older. Not really any baby left in her. If you blink, you'll miss it.
With Reanie secured, I took Buddy to his preschool. It was the first time I can remember taking him to school all by his lonesome. He didn't seem any different about it. If anything, he was more chipper than normal, but that is probably because we'd eased into our day, whereas in the past I let them sleep until the last second, threw them in the Jeep and dumped them off at preschool.
today, though, he "read" his Thomas book to me, and every time he needed to turn the page, he handed me his toy plane, turned the page, then took the toy back. As we pulled into the parking lot, he said, "Bye plane. Bye Thomas. Bye book," and set them down on the floor board.
Most days he starts out grumpy at school, but today he was ready to go.
One in middle school, one in kindergarten, and one on deck. Ok, Buddy will be two more years before kindergarten, but still...divide and conquer.
...
Teammates are sorting out what categories they are racing at an upcoming race nearby. Some want to race their ability-based categories, and some want to race in their age group. The age group races are easier for me. And I was tempted to go that way seeing as I haven't raced since I dismounted abruptly, but I've got a kid in middle school now, and I'm not ready to be old.
ROF May, sign me up for the p,1,2's. I'll take it like a man.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Becky Rode Her Bike in France...
...a little bit.
Congratulations, Becky!
She just completed the historic Paris-Brest-Paris. 1200K (about 750 miles). Oh, and she did it in about 90 hours. The drop out rate was massive this year. I've read that it was as much as 40%.
But Becky fought it out and did it. I'd have to get all bike geek to talk about the event and what it took to qualify, but the fact is that she made it. She rode 200K in 26 deg temps and rain. She injured her knee had we had to get real creative about getting through the 300K, 400K and 600K qualifiers, which all had to be done by the end of May to make it to P-B-P. But she did it.
This was a case of 1% coaching advice and 99% Becky is a Bad Ass.
We are so proud of you Becky!
Congratulations, Becky!
She just completed the historic Paris-Brest-Paris. 1200K (about 750 miles). Oh, and she did it in about 90 hours. The drop out rate was massive this year. I've read that it was as much as 40%.
But Becky fought it out and did it. I'd have to get all bike geek to talk about the event and what it took to qualify, but the fact is that she made it. She rode 200K in 26 deg temps and rain. She injured her knee had we had to get real creative about getting through the 300K, 400K and 600K qualifiers, which all had to be done by the end of May to make it to P-B-P. But she did it.
This was a case of 1% coaching advice and 99% Becky is a Bad Ass.
We are so proud of you Becky!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Make a "T", Daddy
We've been enjoying an A frame beach house in slow Surfside, TX since last Friday. It has been our first honest-to-goodness vacation in years. Sure, we've had some getaways down to the farm for long weekends and visits out to Big Bend, but I've never really been off work or anything like that.
But this has been play time, and it has been good. The waves have been great! So good, in fact, that we've actually got scrapes from when we timed our body surfing or body boarding efforts. We'll need to thank the two storms that have been around us (the Gulf) and not actually hit us.
While things have been tight ($) on the homefront lately, we'd already paid for this place, so we've just ate in, surfed, surfed some more, played in the sand, napped, surfed some more, and then after dinner, surfed some more. And this place has cable (we don't at home), so we've fried our brains too. Noah and I rode a few days getting him back on the bike after taking a couple weeks completely off. We all (Mama, Noah, Jordan, Noah and me) rode one of those surrey bike things with Reanie and Buddy in the front jump seat. We picked up Reanie a back pack for school at Col. Bubbies. We ate ice cream at the candy shop on the strand. Reanie and Buddy basically learned to swim here.
I still had to work a bit, most of it today. A tiny bit of TXBRA stuff, some race promoting stuff, and actual work emails and a few training plans, but all in all, it has been the most relaxing extended time we've had in so long.
After submitting this, I'll go for my last swim on this trip, we'll clean up the house, hit the sack and head back home first thing in the morning. Reanie has meet-the-teacher night at school tomorrow evening, and seeing that this is Kindergarten for her, we have to make that one.
We brought the camera, but I've been so busy with actually making memories, I didn't record much at all. However, Buddy has burned in a good memory, mostly because he does this 10 or 12 times per day.
"Make a 'T', Daddy."
He knows he can't go out to the beach without sunscreen, and that's how he stands when getting slathered. You'll know he wants to go to the beach or go swim when he's talking about making a "T". I know it is getting late, but I think I'll sign off here and get him to go make a "T". There's some kids and six+ foot waves calling my name.
But this has been play time, and it has been good. The waves have been great! So good, in fact, that we've actually got scrapes from when we timed our body surfing or body boarding efforts. We'll need to thank the two storms that have been around us (the Gulf) and not actually hit us.
While things have been tight ($) on the homefront lately, we'd already paid for this place, so we've just ate in, surfed, surfed some more, played in the sand, napped, surfed some more, and then after dinner, surfed some more. And this place has cable (we don't at home), so we've fried our brains too. Noah and I rode a few days getting him back on the bike after taking a couple weeks completely off. We all (Mama, Noah, Jordan, Noah and me) rode one of those surrey bike things with Reanie and Buddy in the front jump seat. We picked up Reanie a back pack for school at Col. Bubbies. We ate ice cream at the candy shop on the strand. Reanie and Buddy basically learned to swim here.
I still had to work a bit, most of it today. A tiny bit of TXBRA stuff, some race promoting stuff, and actual work emails and a few training plans, but all in all, it has been the most relaxing extended time we've had in so long.
After submitting this, I'll go for my last swim on this trip, we'll clean up the house, hit the sack and head back home first thing in the morning. Reanie has meet-the-teacher night at school tomorrow evening, and seeing that this is Kindergarten for her, we have to make that one.
We brought the camera, but I've been so busy with actually making memories, I didn't record much at all. However, Buddy has burned in a good memory, mostly because he does this 10 or 12 times per day.
"Make a 'T', Daddy."
He knows he can't go out to the beach without sunscreen, and that's how he stands when getting slathered. You'll know he wants to go to the beach or go swim when he's talking about making a "T". I know it is getting late, but I think I'll sign off here and get him to go make a "T". There's some kids and six+ foot waves calling my name.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Reanie's soccer race
Reanie started her first season of soccer on Tuesday. They play 3 on 3, it is a girls team, it is all very cute. The shin guards, the cleats, and everyone with a pink soccer ball.
The few days leading to the first practice had Reanie really excited. We've kicked the ball around some, but we never got around to goals, defense or anything like that, but she picked it up pretty quick.
She's super cute in her soccer outfit and her enthusiasm, but to make sure we keep it in perspective, she kept asking, "When is my soccer race?" "What time is my soccer race?"
The few days leading to the first practice had Reanie really excited. We've kicked the ball around some, but we never got around to goals, defense or anything like that, but she picked it up pretty quick.
She's super cute in her soccer outfit and her enthusiasm, but to make sure we keep it in perspective, she kept asking, "When is my soccer race?" "What time is my soccer race?"
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Buon Compleanno
Kid #1 is 12 years old today. That 11yr old year was a pretty good one to lead out the 12th.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Only Chloe's Flight...
...because my flight would have had gas cans filled up from when gas was $2.29/gallon.
Mama went to see Apple Granny for a couple days in Tennessee. Flew in, visited, flew home.
The hiccup was the return flight that had a layover in Houston. Plane lands, probably a transfer involved, and then...a delay. Thursday night, 7pm flight from Houston to Dallas, I think it is reasonable to expect that the people on that flight were planning to be home sooner rather than later.
But nope. Turns out that the plane was out of gas and the plane gas filler up people didn't have the right voucher from Southwest to just pull up to the pump and take care of it. So they had to sit and wait.
Buddy and I (Reanie stayed the night with her cousin Anelise. No, they aren't really cousins, but it was easier to explain to them that they were than to try to explain why they aren't sisters if they are both sisters to Noah. But I digresss.) head out to the airport at 10:00pm instead. Picked up Mama at 11:00 and were still home on Thursday, so it wasn't all that late.
Good to have Mama home. I think the kids were tired of having grits for breakfast and dinner.
Mama went to see Apple Granny for a couple days in Tennessee. Flew in, visited, flew home.
The hiccup was the return flight that had a layover in Houston. Plane lands, probably a transfer involved, and then...a delay. Thursday night, 7pm flight from Houston to Dallas, I think it is reasonable to expect that the people on that flight were planning to be home sooner rather than later.
But nope. Turns out that the plane was out of gas and the plane gas filler up people didn't have the right voucher from Southwest to just pull up to the pump and take care of it. So they had to sit and wait.
Buddy and I (Reanie stayed the night with her cousin Anelise. No, they aren't really cousins, but it was easier to explain to them that they were than to try to explain why they aren't sisters if they are both sisters to Noah. But I digresss.) head out to the airport at 10:00pm instead. Picked up Mama at 11:00 and were still home on Thursday, so it wasn't all that late.
Good to have Mama home. I think the kids were tired of having grits for breakfast and dinner.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Buon Compleano (yesterday)
This is a shot of Reanie at her Princess Birthday Party yesterday. 5 years old!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Most mornings...well, today anyway.
Most mornings I'm up before everyone here. I wander into my office, stoke the LCD fire to glow up the room and sit there all stupid until I hear the coffee machine signal that it is ready.
after a few minutes of clearing cobwebs and pretty much working on autopilot, things come into focus and I start knocking things off of the "to do" list properly. Then one of the pet monkeys will wake up and stand next to me for awhile.
At that point I either stop what I'm doing and have a tickle fight or tell them to crawl into bed with Mama. sometimes Reanie wants to sit in my lap while I work on training plans or answer email. When Buddy does that I usually end up losing the training plan or whatever I've been working on, so he's not allowed to have his fingers within two feet of my keyboard. Otherwise his rear end starts to hurt.
Today has worked out a bit different, as Mama is taking the day off from work, so she took the kids to school this morning instead. No, don't call it school. call it "Kiddie Barn" or Buddy will get upset with you. School. School. School.
This means me and Noah will ride for about an hour, finishing just in time for me to motorpace Christina. After that I'll grab some lunch, work on a training plan, answer an email or six, visit with Lisa for a moment to make sure we are sending Noah to camp with shorts AND udnerwear instead of twice as many shorts as needed and no skivvies, then motorpace Troy, then meet with two clients prior to the KoW ride, then ride the KoW myself if I have any juice left.
Ok, the part about riding twice today isn't like most days at all. But I'll take it.
after a few minutes of clearing cobwebs and pretty much working on autopilot, things come into focus and I start knocking things off of the "to do" list properly. Then one of the pet monkeys will wake up and stand next to me for awhile.
At that point I either stop what I'm doing and have a tickle fight or tell them to crawl into bed with Mama. sometimes Reanie wants to sit in my lap while I work on training plans or answer email. When Buddy does that I usually end up losing the training plan or whatever I've been working on, so he's not allowed to have his fingers within two feet of my keyboard. Otherwise his rear end starts to hurt.
Today has worked out a bit different, as Mama is taking the day off from work, so she took the kids to school this morning instead. No, don't call it school. call it "Kiddie Barn" or Buddy will get upset with you. School. School. School.
This means me and Noah will ride for about an hour, finishing just in time for me to motorpace Christina. After that I'll grab some lunch, work on a training plan, answer an email or six, visit with Lisa for a moment to make sure we are sending Noah to camp with shorts AND udnerwear instead of twice as many shorts as needed and no skivvies, then motorpace Troy, then meet with two clients prior to the KoW ride, then ride the KoW myself if I have any juice left.
Ok, the part about riding twice today isn't like most days at all. But I'll take it.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
numbers
6 days in a row on the bike.
7 days until Reanie's princess birthday party.
6 days after tomorrow until Reanie's princess birthday party.
"How many days after that until my princess birthday party?"
5 days after that, Reanie.
"well, how many days after that until my princess birthday party?"
That would be 4 days, Reanie.
"So it is 4 days until my princess birthday party?"
Yeah, sure.
7 days until Reanie's princess birthday party.
6 days after tomorrow until Reanie's princess birthday party.
"How many days after that until my princess birthday party?"
5 days after that, Reanie.
"well, how many days after that until my princess birthday party?"
That would be 4 days, Reanie.
"So it is 4 days until my princess birthday party?"
Yeah, sure.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
One day riding
I rode yesterday. Well, I've been on the bike three times since I removed my top tube from my old rig, but the first two didn't go well at all since I clearly wasn't ready to roll yet.
And I'm still not. But I didn't go ride to train so much as I did to just move and get some fresh thoughts blowing into my ears. Dorkballing may just be riding bikes, but I need that fix. What I really need is to race, but riding is part of making that happen. Walk before you run, or something like that.
I'm grumpy, grouchy and no fun to be around when I'm prohibited from sweating in spandex, and this is amplified because I was going pretty well when I dismounted last. It had taken so long to get sorted out, and just as i was...I'm waking up on the ground again.
But I rode yesterday. can't pull up on the bars. can't take a deep breath. and I need Noah to help me change out a flat tube. But I rode yesterday. And I'm going to ride again today. and tomorrow.
The discomfort in the ribal region is not much compared to the brain mush grouchiness frustration darn near panic I feel when I can't get out and just move forward. So, it is a wobbily step, but going forward.
Oh, I'm sure the guys who have been finishing 30th-39th in the races are scared now that I'm getting back at it and moving them down a spot, but I gotta start (again) somewhere.
These days, I feel like the buffalo...
Still standing.
It helps having PALS.
And I'm still not. But I didn't go ride to train so much as I did to just move and get some fresh thoughts blowing into my ears. Dorkballing may just be riding bikes, but I need that fix. What I really need is to race, but riding is part of making that happen. Walk before you run, or something like that.
I'm grumpy, grouchy and no fun to be around when I'm prohibited from sweating in spandex, and this is amplified because I was going pretty well when I dismounted last. It had taken so long to get sorted out, and just as i was...I'm waking up on the ground again.
But I rode yesterday. can't pull up on the bars. can't take a deep breath. and I need Noah to help me change out a flat tube. But I rode yesterday. And I'm going to ride again today. and tomorrow.
The discomfort in the ribal region is not much compared to the brain mush grouchiness frustration darn near panic I feel when I can't get out and just move forward. So, it is a wobbily step, but going forward.
Oh, I'm sure the guys who have been finishing 30th-39th in the races are scared now that I'm getting back at it and moving them down a spot, but I gotta start (again) somewhere.
These days, I feel like the buffalo...
Still standing.
It helps having PALS.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
2007 Texas State Road Race Champ 10-12 yrs old
PS-- added to the collection with a State Championship in the criterium today in Lufkin (7/22).
Friday, July 20, 2007
Last race at Nats
A bit delayed in getting the update out here...
Noah's last race at Nationals was the road race. This is the event he has the best mindset to do, but this particular course is so hard with the hills that it might not be best suited for him (yet). That said, he went at it like he does every event-- Full Throttle.
He made the 6-man break that formed on the second of three laps. On the third lap, with about a mile to go, on one of the steepest hills, he lost contact with the group. He said he kept going as hard as he could, but that he knew he was dropped and not coming back with a mile of climbing left. His plan was to keep it full gas and hope that something went wrong up front.
Nothing did, but he did hold on for 6th with 7th and the rest minutes behind. Considering Noah finished 27th or something on the same course in the same race last year, he did a fantastic job.
Because I have access to the files his computer on his bike provides, what I've come to respect the most out of Noah's racing is his ability to go to 100%. People talk about giving "110%" or "150%" or even "200%!" but Noah really does give 100% out there. I never wonder if his placing could have been better if he just tried harder.
He wasn't blessed with bike racing genetics, but he has something that is often better-- heart and guts.
I'm so very proud of you Big Boy.
Noah's last race at Nationals was the road race. This is the event he has the best mindset to do, but this particular course is so hard with the hills that it might not be best suited for him (yet). That said, he went at it like he does every event-- Full Throttle.
He made the 6-man break that formed on the second of three laps. On the third lap, with about a mile to go, on one of the steepest hills, he lost contact with the group. He said he kept going as hard as he could, but that he knew he was dropped and not coming back with a mile of climbing left. His plan was to keep it full gas and hope that something went wrong up front.
Nothing did, but he did hold on for 6th with 7th and the rest minutes behind. Considering Noah finished 27th or something on the same course in the same race last year, he did a fantastic job.
Because I have access to the files his computer on his bike provides, what I've come to respect the most out of Noah's racing is his ability to go to 100%. People talk about giving "110%" or "150%" or even "200%!" but Noah really does give 100% out there. I never wonder if his placing could have been better if he just tried harder.
He wasn't blessed with bike racing genetics, but he has something that is often better-- heart and guts.
I'm so very proud of you Big Boy.
So close
Buddy was being particularly sweet to Reanie. While Reanie wasn't exactly being ugly, she wasn't really giving Buddy the props he deserved. With both of them in the kitchen together, I looked at Reanie sternly and in my Daddy voice, I told her, "you need to say 'thank you, Buddy'". All the while, Buddy ran around flying his tractor and not paying attention to the exchange between me and Reanie.
As soon as the words left my mouth, Buddy said, "thank you, Buddy."
As soon as the words left my mouth, Buddy said, "thank you, Buddy."
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Road Nationals Update
The first day was the time trials. Noah eeked his way onto the podie with a 5th.
Jordan in the last mile of the TT.
Here's me trying to think of something intelligent to say to Jordan and Austin. This race got sobering real quick. On a straight but very fast downhill about 3 miles into the race, a crash happened. 30 or so riders down. We heard about it over the race radios while waiting for Royce to start in the next race. This was the official race radio reports, so it wasn't rumor, which made me queasy.
Ultimately, 8 ambulances and two Life Flight helicpoters were called in and used. Meanwhile, we waited agonizingly to hear the numbers and names of the riders down, not knowing if ours were involved.
I'm not happy anyone went down, but we were relieved that our riders made it unscathed. Unfortunately, our boys were delayed so long that they were out of it from that point. Both noblely soldiered on and finished. This is one case where I'm glad our guys did just finish, because we weren't sure they could there for awhile.
Hig your kids today, please.
Jordan in the last mile of the TT.
Here's me trying to think of something intelligent to say to Jordan and Austin. This race got sobering real quick. On a straight but very fast downhill about 3 miles into the race, a crash happened. 30 or so riders down. We heard about it over the race radios while waiting for Royce to start in the next race. This was the official race radio reports, so it wasn't rumor, which made me queasy.
Ultimately, 8 ambulances and two Life Flight helicpoters were called in and used. Meanwhile, we waited agonizingly to hear the numbers and names of the riders down, not knowing if ours were involved.
I'm not happy anyone went down, but we were relieved that our riders made it unscathed. Unfortunately, our boys were delayed so long that they were out of it from that point. Both noblely soldiered on and finished. This is one case where I'm glad our guys did just finish, because we weren't sure they could there for awhile.
Hig your kids today, please.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)