Marathon

Ran the Portland Marathon a little over a week ago and it went pretty well.  Weather was beautiful, had a good collection of neighborhood people holding up signs and cheering me on, Sheryl made it to several points along the route to see me, and I got to explore a few areas of the city that I'd never been to before.

The actual run itself was good, but one or two problems held me back.  Got a little dehydrated and didn't realize that was the case until 15+ miles in.  Unfortunately, this was the longest distance between water stations (from 15.6 to 18.4) and I had to fight through some cramping.  But  I managed to start feeling a little better after hitting the next several stations and drinking all the water they could give me.  Plus there was beer at Mile 23, so that helped.  :)

Anyway, cut 40 minutes off my last attempt (4:41) and no crippling knee problems.  Those are definite positives.  All things considered, felt I did as well as I could have done.  I've been out for two runs since then and things feel fine.  Now I just need to keep my cardio levels up and look for another run to do at some point.

Quick Update on us:  I have gotten a new user name (thanks Schmer) so am able to get on again.  Except that I am beat, so this won't be a long one :)
The 4th grade teachers at Buena Vista Horace Mann are a good, tight crew so Tommy's year is starting off well.  Interestingly he seems a lot less shy about speaking Spanish and flipping back and forth which is nice to hear.
Activities: This year Tommy is playing soccer with the BVHM 4th grade co-ed team.  Saturday's game was a frustrating loss but they've won all prior games.  Tommy's been solid in goal and assisted a couple goals, but has also been a "wall" of a defensive player, a nice new addition.
Baseball:  fall ball is less stressful and more fun - TK's letting the co-coach practise a lot of the head coach responsibilities and that leaves him to focus on skills training, etc.  Fun bunch of kids and really fun families!  Next Sunday we end at 6 so we'll plan on delivering a bunch of pizzas to the field for a casual dinner :)
Along with sports, Tommy is doing a science club on Mondays and starts chess club this Friday.  A good mix of head activities as well :)
Alas, I am co-PTA treasurer and it's been a bit of a slog for the first several weeks of school.  All the PTA officers as well as the school principal changed, we changed banks, merchant accounts, etc - a bit crazy making but we're getting a routine down and determined to make sure that all of us have sane lives!
Happily we're spending more time getting to know good families on our block - Friday several of us met at "the Broken Record" a whiskey bar and southern food kitchen at the end of our street, which has been featured on food channel's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives"  yummy stuff.  One of the houses across the street came up for sale.  A little bummed that the firefighter and his family moved out, but have sent the info to a school teacher couple we know from little league and would LOVE to have them in the 'hood!  Cross fingers.
Work is too busy - I'm really wanting to work less and am gonna figure that one out :)  But making sure to spend time with friends, walking a bit on weekends, and enjoying the stuff this City has to offer!
OK - off to bed!  There are fun stories to share, but for now, just an update!  Miss you guys, Lis

Got back late afternoon from retreat with Knots for Knitters only Friday through Monday. It is in a Presbyterian camp, probably soon to be sold, out near where Sheryl and Ben were married. Beautiful country just beginning to turn color. I spent a lot of time on watercolors, some I started at the Torpedo Factory and some I did on site. Good to get back more into painting. They have done these craft retreats twice a year for several years, but this is only my second one. The lodges have big gathering areas where we set up tables and everyone works and talks. Some leave the lodge only to go eat! I got my alone time outside painting when it was nice weather. Carol Morrison was one of the gang.

Got a call from Mike Cockill, an old friend from Ft. Campbell days. Nelson and Fay and I plan to get together with him and wife Anita a week from Thursday when they are in town. Last time we saw them was when they visited us in Hawaii!

Loved Scott's post and Sheryl's comments!  Love, GrandmaK

DC experiences

Once in a while, I have what I call a "DC experience", where stuff happens that couldn't happen elsewhere. Previous examples:

• seeing Karl Rove live giving a speech with a bright blue tie on, then crossing the street to Starbucks and seeing the front page of WaPo with him...wearing the same tie
• leaving the Smithsonian with Emma and Eileen and being directed by a cop to pull into the middle of the Rolling Thunder parade. We drove in the middle of hundreds of motorcycles, waving to confused crowds cheering our 03 Honda Accord, all the way across the 14th Street Bridge.

You all probably know that the half-smoke is DC's culinary specialty. Well, yesterday I ate a $105 half-smoke.

At 4:30 yesterday, I was driving down 23rd street near the State Department and heading toward the Lincoln Memorial and Memorial Bridge. I was starving, and I noticed a food vendor half a block up on my right. There were a couple of cars parked in the right lane, which is supposed to be clear during rush hour. I figured this was my chance to pull in front of them—right in front of the food vendor!—and buy something to eat without blocking traffic.

I was at the vendor for three minutes, tops. Got my half-smoke with onions and sauerkraut. That's when I saw the meter maid walking away quickly. She snuck up and I never saw her. I smiled at her and asked "too late?" and she nodded and kept walking.

I can't stand it when people complain about getting a ticket just because the traffic people did their job well. So instead I'm trying to get mileage out of my $105 half-smoke :-p Are you not entertained?

Love, Scott

PS still suffering from a super crappy cold—ten days now.

PPS not trying to garner sympathy. I actually find this all hilarious. Except the cold...

Neil's Wedding

Neil's wedding was really fun. Met Bob and Barb in Chicago and we drove a rental to a hotel in Indiana central to the festivities. Made the rehearsal dinner Friday night hosted by Mike and Ellie in an Italian restaurant and met Brie's two little ones and Paul for the first time as well as Helen, Neil's new wife. Both Paul and Helen are very outgoing and the two little ones are really really cute!
Helen comes from a close knit Serbian family. Helen and Neil were married in a 100 year old beautiful Serbian Orthodox church. Incense, crowns, murals, no chairs! A brunch was held in a huge home which reminded me of Sheryl and Ben's wedding. Lots of yummy Serbian food and music (violin, accordion, keyboard, and singer). Neil and Helen are business partners as well. They were introduced as Dr and Dr, rather than Mr and Mrs! Reception was held in a huge permanent tent with a nice floor for dancing. The same music group performed and Bob, Barb, and I joined some of the simple Serbian dances (I had done them at folk dance) as well as the more normal wedding dances. Elinor sent us home with a Costa Rica picture calendar she made plus a kringle I'll share with SMEE. Sorry, it got a little crushed, but still tastes good! We got up too early for me today. Yawn! I'm going to bed early.
Love, Gheema and GrandmaK

K's latest

Lots going on right now.
Scott helped me finish my Costa Rica presentation which I'll give at the Hermitage Thursday morning.
Our pastor nominating committee is trying to update the MVPC website (no small task) and has 76 pastor information forms for us to sift through already.
I started a great watercolor class at the Torpedo Factory. I am the worst in class. No way to go but up!
I started a Spanish class way above my ability level. "                                                                     "
     Actually I understand a lot more already. My speaking has yet to improve.
The American Indian History class continues to be very interesting. I'm taking the second of our texts to Chicago this weekend.
Enjoyed starting to make a paper haunted house with Emma and Eileen last weekend. Will be fun to see how it turns out.
Looking forward to seeing my sisters and husbands, and all of Ellie's family this weekend.
Enjoyed Scott's beautiful concert and a great play at Studio based on Ralph Ellison's 1952 book, The Invisible Man. The staging was inspired by collages of Romare Bearden ( a friend of Ellison).
One of these days I'll have to attack all those piles of paper! Love, GrandmaK, Gheema, etc.

School's in session

Just wanted to report in that these first few days of school have been going well for SMEE!

Eileen's really enjoying Kindergarten and Emma is reconnecting with her friends in 4th grade. Mary's teaching a new 6th-grade advanced math course, which is bumping her position from a half-time job to 70%.

Luckily that fits her schedule just fine: she leaves the house at 7:30am with both girls, gets done teaching and then has an hour and change of her own time before picking up Emma and Eileen at 2:45. It's refreshing for them all to be together instead of Eileen going her own way each morning.

My commute is also easier. Not only do I not have to get Eileen over to the Rec Center for preschool as in recent years, but I just learned that my early-morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been canceled because only one student was qualified for it. That means I get to miss morning rush hour every day now! I will still have late nights, but will get better sleep and see the girls every morning.

Mary has been very consistent about working out every morning first thing, but my most recent exercise was 18 holes of golf...Wii golf, that is. Now that Sher and Ben are literally stepping it up, I'm going to do better, so starting this morning I'm strapping on my running shoes...

Love, Scott