Day in D.C.

Tristan hit the big numero '6' last week and I hopped in the car & headed to DC for 24 hours to surprise the little Dudes with a very quick, yet fun filled visit from their E. Besides the torrential rain, rush hour traffic and strange odor on the metro it was all worth it. It was great spending time with Jess, catching up with the kids and having a few hours of Birthday time with Tristan.

Every visit seems that the little guys have grown up just a little bit more. I cherish every visit and when the elevator doors opened and I was able to capture the startled surprised looks on their faces the ride was worth it. Tristan took a few looks and Gabe stared mouth agape only to jump up and down with a, "E!!!!" It made my heart swell with joy and a big smile painted my face.  

It was a great 24 hours and it was wonderful to be able to spend a few hours with Tristan on his special day. Yay, for Birthdays! Lots of good stuff. 

This weekend D.C....next weekend = Dragonboat Festival 2011!!! Very excited to paddle down Boathouse Row with my girls! 

I love summer. I love all aspects of summer from sand, sun, flip flops and even the beach tag checkers  that I have grown to love as I haul towards the Atlantic with surfboard in tow. Run away! But there is just something about the end of one season and the beginning of another. What I love best about fall's return is catching up with my girls of 110 Carranza aka Seneca. We all seem to go our separate ways during summer, drift and do our own thing, but as soon as opening day rolls around we're back and in full bonding mode. There is nothing quite as wonderful as sitting around a table with a whole bunch of loud, raucous and down to earth girls who are all about the goodness (and some serious food). 

With good food and friends also brings the return of thr (target heart rate) group at school. So you're thinking,"why is there a pic of the moon? what does that have to do with thr?" Well, now that you asked I shall respond. I took this pic outside the house before heading out to thr for a run and swim at beach one (yes, that is a lake not a pool). Driving with the moon hanging above and stars still twinkling in the sky there was something that made me wonder if my actions ranked under earning a gold award for
hard-core-ness or placed me more on the lines of straight up crazy train. A little mix of both? Hmmm...I like it.

Saturday was the annual Medford Lakes yard sale which equated to me driving around for a few hours on a mission to find things of a fun nature. Mission accomplished. 

I was most proud of my sofa find. I pulled up in my jeep, hopped out and asked how much they were asking. A firm $75 for the couch and $25 for the matching chair. I proceeded to use my questionable charm explaining how the furniture would be used in my office for, as I like to say, goodness. Working with kids, encouraging them to make good decisions and, of course, to always eat breakfast. How can you argue with that? So, this is a pic of me following Keith (at a stop sign of course) schlepping the couch and chair for a mere $45 green backs. Can I get a challah? You know it!

Gettin' Dirty

This weekend Taylor and I treked over to Maguire Air Force Base to participate in the annual Mud Run. The Mud Run is a 10k throughout the base with heaps of obstacles, mud and a little more mud. True confession...I was a little nervous. I did nothing to train and haven't gone on a solid run since June. My last target heart rate experience was opting not to go on a long run with Taylor, but instead hopped on the beach cruiser and enjoyed a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. Did I just confess that? Ouch...this chick is morphing into a bit of a slacker. No, say it ain't so! It's just a phase, jumpstart MUD RUN 2011!!!

 My goal: Finish Alive.          Outcome: Still breathing and I actually did fairly well.                                                                      Taylor clocked about an hour and five minutes. I was about twelve minutes behind. 

The obstacles ranged from crawling on your belly through mucky water under a mesh of rope, climbing over huge mounds of slippery mud and wading through thick mud (I felt like I was swimming through a huge vat of pea soup) and then jumping  up and over man made trenches in between wading in muck.  It was all right up my alley. Thousands of people gathered to just go a little crazy. It was sheer awesomeness. Already I'm planning on my tee shirt design for next year's event. Woop! 

In all the fun and craziness the event was planned the day before 9/11 in honor of the lives lost that day as well as raising funds for our local military. We are a blessed nation. I am proud to be an American and each of us are indebted to those who daily put their lives on the line. 

It's easy to take our everyday freedoms and privileges for granted. Men and women are putting their lives on the line every day on home soil and abroad. I have the greatest respect for those who wear a uniform representing the USA. Be proud. Be thankful.                                             

It is our job to remember the fallen, encourage those who serve (military, fire department, police force, etc.) and never take our freedom for granted. God Bless America! 

Reflection of a life well lived

There aren't that many people in life that leave behind a legacy. Tonight I attended a viewing, or more likely a celebration, of the life of Bill Johnson. My first hint at what lie ahead was the inability to find a parking spot met with a sea of people standing in a line with over a two hour wait.
For those of you who don't know who Bill is, it might be Johnson's Farm that rings a bell. Bill & Bette Johnson started Johnson's in 1953 and it has grown into somewhat of a landmark for Medford. As I joined in the line it was amazing how many, young and old, filed through.
I'm only 33, but still feel like I remember 'the old Medford,' if you will. Bill represents the old Medford.     I bumped into Coles Roberts who used to run Jersey Jerry's years ago. I used to love stopping in for a gallon of cider that was on a slab of ice and bags of apples that you had to grab out of the big wooden bins. My family actually rented out the back section of his main building for their craft business and Coles used to stop by every so often to see what we were up to. He always got a kick out of watching my sisters and I clean & cut slate. As I look back now, those were moments that mean the world to me.
As I gazed at pictures of Bill, his kids and grandkids it was amazing to see the love, hard work and dedication that he had to really make it work. Jess and I were both bakers in the small red barn that is now home to a few cash registers and seasonal decorations. From rotisserie chickens to pumpkin pie and quiche - we knew how to kick out some mean baked goods. I can remember Bill coming in from a tractor ride perusing the bakery for a little pie or some cookies. He was always just sort of around.
In line I spoke with guys who used to drive tractors at the farm and others who had been loyal customers over the years. It's funny how one little place has so much history in so many people's hearts. From the mom who used to bring her kids to pick pumpkins to the kid who had his first real job or the high school kid who used to pop in after school to grab a snack before track practice....it has really connected a ton of people over the years.
From Bill's worn out pitch fork to Bette's still of her husband with a bird on his head - they are truly two people who have accomplished a tremendous amount along with leaving imprints on the hearts of countless people. Tonight wasn't filled with rows of people sobbing and silence. Instead, Frank Sinatra tunes played, corn stalks and mums lined the walls and there was endless chatter of those in line reflecting and remembering a man who touched their lives in some way.
None of us have any clue of how long we have on earth. Bill had 84 years and I have to say, the dude lived, loved and was loved in a way that's pretty rare these days.  Bill, thank you for everything and you will be missed, but mostly cherished in the hearts of many.

Life by the salty sea

No matter how intense and stressful life can be my instant remedy is found in the ocean. The moment I drive over the bridge, with windows down, the smell of salt air & anticipation of paddling out has been my most successful form of therapy for quite a number of years now. 

On Tuesday I was out past the breakers and was startled by a pair of dolphins that greeted me with a light spray from their air holes. I am often overwhelmed by the vast beauty of nature and the ocean is an ever changing canvas of color and richness. Sitting on my board as the sun began to peak above the horizon I was overcome with every ounce of nature's awesomeness. My eyes have viewed some pretty spectacular sights over the years, but nothing quite beats a beach sunrise. 

I have to say how overwhelmed I am by God's awesomeness and His creation. Man, I hope there's some swell to ride in Heaven....and I probably won't even need a board:)