An accidental eavesdropper

I learned a lot today.

I discovered that there is a US Open Pheasant Championship. Apparently, there's still time to find a good litter of dogs, and get a special deal on pheasant-training. I heard about a nine-year-old computer (do any of those still work?) and how any idiot can access Morningstar stock reports (hmm, I think I know one). I even heard about the 'deal of a lifetime'.

My new acquaintance with these things came from some lunch conversation ... a stubborn, opinionated, narrow-minded, and above all LOUD man at a neighboring table.

My sympathy is sent out to his lunch companion, who (as far as I could tell) couldn't get a word in edgewise. Likewise to his server... given his opinions on money management, I suspect she got stiffed in the tip, unless his friend was paying.

So what - aside from some useless trivia - did I really learn? that a fool will seize the opportunity, again and again, to prove his folly. And that it is unwise to hold a private conversation in a restaurant!

The most embarrassing moment...

Everyone has a secret fear of being caught unprepared. In my case, a series of unfortunate events (pun intended) culminated in a truly ridiculous moment... and one that is too funny not to share.

From the beginning...

Friday was Purple Day at school for Sabrina... which means she gets to wear something purple and bring in something interesting for discussion. On that morning, I woke up a little late, and took a quick shower. Just as I was wrapping myself in a towel, Sabrina wanders in and asks about the purple Chinese lantern I brought back from Singapore. No problem... we track down the lantern, but the trim is falling off. No problem, again... I take it downstairs to glue it back on, leaving the towel behind - I figure I'll only be down there for a few seconds.

As I'm heading downstairs, I realize that the painter is supposed to come to the house to finish the trim, so I take a quick, modest peek outside - good - no painter. I get the glue out, refasten the trim, dab a bit of glue on to the lantern.... DING-DONG!

In horror, I realize that I am twenty feet from the door (with glass side windows) and am stark naked. I panic and race into the laundry room, out of sight, and realize that there is nothing in there but a large folded pink fuzzy blanket with teddy bears on it. Gathering the remnants of my dignity, I wrap myself in the blanket, and head for the door with every appearance of nonchalance. I let the painter in, and suggest that he go ahead and get started - I'll just head upstairs to help the girls (AND ME) get dressed.

I can't help but laugh at it - I was utterly mortified and yet couldn't help but see the humor in the situation! I'm never leaving the bathroom without my robe again... I swear...

An Iron Girl?

What do most people do on a Saturday morning? Sleep in. Watch cartoons. Eat pancakes.

Not me - I signed up for the Iron Girl Duathlon in Bloomington, which includes a 5K run, an 18 mile bike, and another 3K run. Crazy? yes, without a doubt... but there were 499 other crazy women there with me. If you're going to be crazy, you might as well have company, right?

I noticed that before the race, many of the women were joking about how hard it was, how much they hated running (ME), how they hoped they'd finish... contrast to a similar group of men, who would be one-upping on how long they trained, how they are in much better shape than last year, and how they just finished a half-marathon last weekend. Not that the women weren't competitive... but apparently it's better form to pretend that you're not ready.

I completed the race in 2:01:04, a wholly respectable time - enough to earn me a 31st place out of 45 in my age group (!) but it doesn't matter - I finished! Derek, my two girls, and Ann and Emma (visiting from Michigan) were there to cheer me to the finish, and to help me eat my celebratory breakfast.

But the true measure of an Iron Girl is not the finish.... not the medal... not even the feeling of victory. An Iron Girl is never done... there is always more to do. In my case, I washed, folded, and put away three loads of laundry when I came home, settled the girls down for a nap, and then climbed into bed myself. The race was only the beginning.

The true measure of the Iron Girl is her fortitude... for the race is never done.

Ann and Emma

We had two wonderful visitors this weekend... Ann (my best friend) and her 2.5 year old daughter, Emma. Squeals of glee, laughter, and an occasional wail of frustration filled the house... but fewer wails than I would have expected from two 2-year-olds and a five-year-old in close proximity. They play very well together.

We had a normal weekend in the Rucker house... which is to say that we ran Ann and Emma all over the Twin Cities and exhausted them! We visited Camp Snoopy twice, and went to the Renaissance Festival - nothing compares to watching a toddler on an elephant. They own the world.... "look, Mama, ELEPHANT! " ... pretty cute. (Ann drew the short straw and ended up on a camel with the girls - can't imagine how anyone tolerates one of those beasts for an entire desert journey! they're bumpy and ill-tempered).

The best part of the weekend, and the most startling, was watching our daughters play together. Ann and I have been friends for a long time (since she's reading I won't say exactly HOW long) but suffice it to say that we never imagined this at the start of our friendship. It's a very odd feeling to realize that you and your friend have changed roles - you are now "Mommy" and three little girls (four, actually, but little Mary stayed in Michigan) are practicing their wiles on you. It adds an entirely new dimension to the friendship!

Sabrina (and Fiona) are now recovering from strep throat, and we're back at work.. Ann and Emma are on a plane back to Michigan. Our world is back to its normal, hectic pace :-)

Carpe Darwin... er... Diem

Not much to write today... but I'll add two quick notes.

There's a book called The Zahir, by Paulo Coelho - many of you have seen my recommendation of this one. It's a great book, and has an intriguing set of characters, but I liked it for a different reason: it shows that we set our own limitations. Seizing the moment - or carpe diem - is more than a moral. It's an opportunity.

Just for one moment, think of something that you've always wanted to do... no matter how improbable. Then think of a way to make it happen. Sometimes the cost isn't worth it (for example, backpacking through Europe with a couple of toddlers) but sometimes it is. We often set our own traps... we settle, comfortably in them... it is a risk to break free. I'm trying to remember to seize the moment and do things - not just watch, or think, or regret, but simply do.

On a lighter second note, Darwin is our cat - a big, floppy, snuggly cat who thinks he is a small lap cat... seizing the moment is fun, but seizing the cat can be more fun. Carpe Darwin, indeed!

102 and feeling blue

If 99 is feeling fine, 102 is definitely not - fever, that is. How did I forget what happens when any child starts a new school? New friends, new playthings, and new germs. Predictably, Sabrina is bright-eyed and feverish, with a pounding headache. I don't recognize this virus so we're off to the doctor this afternoon. And she's definitely not going to school today.

She's watching movies, with the help of Tylenol and Motrin (alternating). It makes me realize how lucky we are to have medicine that helps, and yet how little we know. 100 years ago I would have been completely without the tools I now have to help her feel better. Wonder what life will be like in another 100 years?

Crossing fingers that the rest of the family doesn't get this one... we honestly don't have time to get sick this week. Illness, of course, does not wait for a convenient time.

How quickly they grow

Today I'm in the mood for pictures. I wanted to share a few cute ones of my girls... Sabrina, of course, has been enjoying her first week of kindergarten. Fiona climbed and clambered around the playground at Sabrina's school yesterday, and today wants to go to school with Sabrina.

We're off to a wedding in Michigan this afternoon - I'm imagining my two crazy kids looking angelic in dresses. The dresses I can see, but angelic? not likely! but they may surprise me.

Pursuant to the following...

Mrs. Norton:
I was advised at the Open House that students could get an extra milk at lunch if a parent signed a consent form. At that time (9/1) I signed and returned said form. I had appraised Sabrina of her 2nd milk option, but she said she had difficulty on Thursday getting more than one milk.

Please advise as to the best course of action.

Imagine, if you will, what Sabrina's teacher would think upon receiving a note like this one... I fortunately got to Derek before he put that note in her school bag. Isn't that a scream? I can just imagine the follow-up message... our lawyer has recommended cafeteria police for the milk line to ensure that all students are well-hydrated and have adequate calcium intake...

According to Derek, he was trying to compose a professional, courteous note. I think he might have been trying for Most Scary Kindergarten Dad of the Year.

So what would you think?

Back and Busy and Blogging

Thought I'd only be doing this during my trip, but there's so much to say! So I'll keep the blog going a bit longer.

We've volunteered our house for a family rescued from Hurricane Katrina, but don't know when ( if?) they will arrive. Many of the people in shelters want to stay as close to their home as they can - I've heard that over 300,000 have relocated to Houston and are overwhelmed by the generosity of the families there. I am glad to see it.

Sabrina's first day of kindergarten is today! The first day is a short one, from 10-12 noon, and I get to come with her. Tomorrow is the first official day (without parents). It meant a few last minute changes to my work schedule, which is fortunately flexible... but some things are more important than others. There's no way I'd miss kindergarten!

I'll post pictures later. She looks SO cute. Last night, while looking through some of her school things, I found a picture from her first day at day care... five years ago. It made me laugh to see the difference and to think about how much has changed.

Still can't believe I'm the mother of a kindergartener.

Heading Home

It's been a grand trip to Singapore and Thailand, and even better to have it end with the journey home. It's way, way, WAY too early this morning, but my flight leaves in three hours and you must be at Changi airport two hours before your flight. So.... off I go! I'm all packed (thank goodness for expandable suitcases) except for the computer.

Can't wait to be home. See you soon!