Who Loves Me?!

My wonderful, tolerant, patient, loving husband took time out of his half hour lunch break to drive the long way home, stand in the lunch hour line-ups to bring me home fresh doughnuts and a coffee. This, of course, made it necessary for him to scarf his lunch down in record time and bolt back to work in a hurry.

He knows I really, really don't want to give up drinking coffee...even though tea and biscotti is pretty good. It is not, however, coffee.

Sigh.

You know, I was thinking. If Pioneer Woman's punks knew there were free doughnuts to be had up here in Canada-Land - no wrangling, branding, fencing, up-before-dawn mornings necessary - I bet they'd ride their little butts to the border and beg to come live with me.

Brad the Ironman & Ramblings

And there he is...Handsome devil, no? He had to be in order not to be totally outshone by his big sister. Brad's a little sore at day #2 after his Ironman. He's pretty sure he's done something to his one foot so he's on crutches until he's feeling a little better and can differentiate lactic acid from injury. Great form, though, don't you think? You'd almost believe he knew what he was doing on that bike. I'll have to ask him if he enjoyed his race enough to do it again. Some other time, though.

Summer is puttering along in our house. Raiden is spending a lot of time outside and Kori is spending her time reading and pouring over the special features of all our DVDs. She's had enough think-space to consider going to camp again next summer. I'm glad I have lots of notice this time. Camp's not cheap, you know!

Both kids are happily working through their library activities nearly without reminders. M, the summer student facilitating the activities is a great girl whom Kori does her best to spend time with. Kori is fascinated by M's bilingualism (English & Polish). She's also pretty taken with M's Polish cousin, O, who tags along to the library with M. The language barrier only comes up maybe 25% of the time. Kori prattles away to O in English. O babbles back in Polish. If either of them think something crucial has been missed, M is found to translate. Raiden is happily reading books independently for the book report portion of the Summer Reading Club. He is dictating what he wants to write on his report and then copying it after I write it out from him. Not once have I heard about his hand being sore, there being too much to write or how boring it all is. It's like I'm in the Twilight Zone.

Swimming on Thursdays has been popular and we will continue with that activity. Raiden's confidence and ability in the water has soared in only three swims. Kori is enjoying the freedom that lessons have provided. Her endurance and skill let her flit from one area of the pool to the other. She's enjoying her independence.

This week the kids and I split the Playmobil into thirds and bought a bin for storage. African Safari and Pirate Island were packed away and suddenly there is much more playing going on with the 'Modern Life' that was left out. I knew the toy rotation principle that has been stuck in my brain since Kori's short stint in daycare would come in handy one day.

Brian's hot pepper plants have begun to flower. I've been scared to mention our meagre planters for fear of Murphy's Law. But, at this late date of the growing season, I'm feeling a little braver. For Mother's Day, the kids and Brian bought me a few tiny herbs: peppermint, chives, chamomile and licorice root. After planting, there was still a planter left, so we planted some grocery store jalapeno seeds. They're doing very well. Pics later this week, maybe.

I'm feeling a little restless and it's noone's fault but my own. I've been drinking coffee again and I haven't been accomplishing any of the very realistic tasks that are floating around in my head. I'm very frustrated with myself. So. As my dad always told me, tomorrow is a new day and it's going to be a great day if I want it to be. Yeah. Ok. We'll see.

A Curious Sight

Today I saw a most curious thing. I wish I had had my camera while I was driving by our local community college.

A group of summer school students were walking across the grounds. It looked like they were heading en masse to the area fast food establishments. A fashionable, energetic looking bunch, all things told.

During my quick drive-by, I noticed an eclectic mix of fashion. There were boys in shorts and tees, jeans and open button-downs, baggy pants and band shirts. There were girls in jeans and tiny-tees or layered shirts. I'm sure you've seen the current trend: painted on, pulled down, lace bottomed, plunging vee with maybe a weeny sweaterish thing buttoned under the pushed up and padded . There was an eccentric or two in the crowd of 20 or so. The girl in the black and white flared, short skirt, striding around on platform knee-high boots, fur around her collar and wrists, large 'fro and huge sun glasses really stood out. There were kids in athletic looking shorts and tops and a yoga pant wearing person as well as at least one pajama pant wearing individual.

So there they were, walking along having a great, friendly time on their journey and one thing struck me. The boys were unencumbered. Hands in pockets or swinging at their sides. Shirt fronts flapping. Carefree. Casual. Cool. Yet - I would bet money on this - every single girl in the crowd was packing a large, cumbersome, over the shoulder handbag. Complete with supporting hand to ensure it stayed put.

What is up with that? What are they carrying around in there? Pets? Overnight clothes? A small Buick? What do they need so badly that the boys don't need? Can lip gloss and a debit card not fit in a pocket? Do boys not carry their stuff with them because the girls in their party are likely to have 3 days of supplies for any possible situation? Do the fashion gurus specifically not put pockets and storage space into ladies' clothing in order to force the necessary showy handbag? Don't answer that.

It was very peculiar. Perhaps I noticed because the kids and I have been talking about fads. About what's worth having and what we can easily do without. About how tv commercials are trying to tell us what we need. About fashion and values and what we are saying with our choices in dress, speech and attitude.

I find the pull of pop culture very strong here. The kids sometimes get concerned about what they should be wearing or how they should be acting. I do my best to turn their concern back to them and find out what they'd really like for themselves and then support them to that end.

For example, when Raiden wanted to bring snorkel goggles to the pool, but was worried that he wouldn't look 'cool'. Or when Kori wanted to cut her hair 'short like a boy'.

One of the big reasons we began to homeschool was so that we could do our best to help the kids be confident, happy-in-their-own-skin, discerning little beings. I want them to choose with confidence the clothes they like, the hobbies they enjoy, the books they are interested in. I hope by exploring things like fads and fashion, like belonging to a group and feeling included, like how to make the best choices for ourselves and not according to what others are doing/wearing/buying that the kids will grow to understand themselves.

~He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.~ Lao Tzu

~A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify~ Leo Szilard

BRAD IS AN IRONMAN!!!

This is so exciting!

I can't wait to hear the story of Brad's race. I've set aside some red meat for a celebratory BBQ. I have some red meat set aside. Of course, it will have to wait until he can walk properly again and can get some time off work. Me thinks he'll need some help rebuilding some muscle mass.

For prosperity's sake, here are Brad's finishing times and standings:

TOTAL SWIM: 2.4 mi. (1:05:03) 1:42/100m 376th

T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE: 11:40
FIRST BIKE SEGMENT: 56 mi. (3:21:03) 16.71 mph
FINAL BIKE SEGMENT: 56 mi. (3:46:12) 14.85 mph
TOTAL BIKE: 112 mi. (7:07:15) 15.73 mph 1378th

T2: BIKE-TO-RUN: 15:18
FIRST RUN SEGMENT: 13.1 mi. (2:24:46) 11:03/mile
FINAL RUN SEGMENT: 13.1 mi. (3:22:04) 15:25/mile
TOTAL RUN: 26.2 mi. (5:46:50) 13:14/mile
OVERALL FINISH: 1583rd

Go Brad Go!!! - Updates found below...

I'm SOOOooooo excited for my brother, Brad!!!

He's competing in his first ironman. The Ford Ironman USA started this morning in Lake Placid and it seems the Brad is doing well. After a 2.4 mile swim in 1:05:03, he was in 376th place. There are at least 2209 athletes competing, so I figure Brad's doing pretty well.

After a transition-to-bike time of 11:40 (what was he doing??) he's off on the first leg of the 112 mile bike.

I can't get in touch with anyone else, so I figured I'd update here. Poor Brad, who has not been training properly, is going to be a mess tomorrow when he has to return to his regularly scheduled, impossible to post-pone activities. So, send all your luck and best wishes his way. It's the run, later today, that is going to kill him. He's had a nagging injury that he's been nursing that is not going to be helped by a 26 mile run. But, boys being boys and all that, he decided to race today.

Good Luck to Brad...

UPDATE #1 - Bike Half Done (noon)

It seems Brad has safely passed the halfway mark of the 112 mile bike. His time is listed as 3:21:03 at the 56 mile mark.

The pic isn't Brad. I think it's some of the Men's leaders. In this particular Ironman, there are a group of Lady Pros racing. They're out in front right now (about 90ish miles into the bike portion) and the group referred to as the 'Age Group' men are behind the ladies. The live webcam is still showing a regular stream of bikers passing the halfway mark, so I am confident Brad is doing very well as a first time competitor. I heard it announced that there are about 900 first time competitors in the race today.

Go Brad Go!!

UPDATE #2 - Waiting, waiting....

We are closing in on 3 hours since Brad passed the halfway mark of the 112 mile bike. I expect Brad will be finishing the bike in the next hour. The Pro ladies are well into their 26.4 mile run. Many of the Age Group entrants have started their run. The webcam is showing the athletes as they are starting their run. We are also seeing pictures of bikers coming around the finishing corner. I hope Brad has had a good race thus far. I believe racers have until midnight to come across the final finish line....it could be a late night....

Back to the webcam I go.... Go Brad Go!!

UPDATE #3 - Run, Brad, Run!! (4:00 pm-ish)

I had been refreshing the results webpage obsessively and when I saw that Brad had completed the bike portion of his race, I yelled and jumped and called the kids. I'm getting very involved, here. Anyway, onto the nitty gritty....

Brad has finished the 112 mile bike ride in 7:07:15 earning him the rank of 1378 overall so far. He spent 15:18 in transition, readying himself for the 26.4 mile run. The webcam has been moved to the finish line, so I wasn't able to see Brad come out of the gates to start his run.

It seems the lady Pros are approaching the finish line. The leading lady has begun to walk in the last 3 miles, obviously hurting. Her sizable lead is diminishing as they approach the finish. The race for first place may be exciting yet.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed, say 94 Hail Mary's and make a bargain or two with the Big Guy for Brad, won't you? He's got 8 hours to finish his run. I'm hoping that he won't push himself too hard. I'm also hoping that he's thought way ahead and made himself a 'Special Needs' food bag to be picked up along the race course.

Run, Brad, Run!!

UPDATE #4 - Almost Finished!!(6:50 pm)

Brad has just finished the first half of his 26.2 mile run!!! He's running an average of 11:03/mile giving him a first-half time of 2:24:46. Go Brad Go!! I'm so excited to see that he's nearly finished this toughest leg (for him) of the Ironman. I really hope he's not hurting too much. If he can keep up this pace, he may be finished before dark. More of an accurate guess, I expect he'll cross the finish line shortly after 13 hours of racing. The time at the finish line currently is 11:54:12. I'll be back watching the live webcam in an hour or so. After watching all day, I certainly don't want to miss him crossing the finish line!!

UPDATE #5 - HE FINISHED!! HE FINISHED!!(9:30 pm-ish)

With a time of 14 hours and 23 minutes, Brad ran across the finish line!!! He placed somewhere around 1612th...More tomorrow...I have some phone calls to make!!

Good Job Brother!! I am very proud of you tonight!