:(

Didn't feel well Wednesday, or yesterday, and it followed
me to practice at Emrick last night.
Not only was I low on "Go" juice, I wasn't in a very good
mood either.
Oh well, some days in rains on the outside, and others on
the inside.
Great thing about weather and health issues, you can count
on them to change, given time.
Late in the practice I hooked up with the fast pack for a
few laps and after that spent another handful of laps getting
as low as I could without messing up my balance.
Cracks me up that what feels so low, isn't very low at all.
I look at my reflexion in the first floor office windows
when I pass by and they tell the real story, not the one
my mind makes up.

He's In (Almost)

My son and I went to the Air Force recruiter
in Bethlehem last night and Austin spent 2 hours
listening, asking questions, taking a practice
ASVAB test and watching a video.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is what
he wants to do, and it looks like they are very
interested in him.
From what I understand, the Coast Guard and the
Air Force are the most difficult services to get
into. And from this initial ASVAB test he shouldn't
have any problem, at least on that front.
He scored double the acceptance figure, without
any study.
Next month he'll take the real deal, sign up for
the delayed entry program in October, and will
be well on his way to a career in the military.
Who knew when he was born that that was the
direction he would choose..
Certainly not me.
He's excited to have started the process and I'm
thankful he won't be sitting in my living room
as a twenty year old playing video games day and
night!
LOL
On the topic of tests, I really wanted to get my
motorcycle learners permit and it took me two
tries to pass the written test this week. And I
studied.
From the people I was next to in line this morning,
I learned that taking more than once to pass any of
the written tests, isn't as uncommon as I thought.
Next on my agenda is the free 15 hour Motorcycle
Safety Course the state of PA. runs for it's
citizens.
I had to have my learners permit to even sign up
for it.
The guy who was running the test process at the
DMV in Allentown couldn't say enough good things
about this course.
His wife took it last month at the same location
I plan to, loved it, passed the practical, got her
license and is having a blast with her new found
skill.
Sounds like fun to me too!

Settling In

It was like I never left, work or practice, and it
was nice to be enthusiastically welcomed back at both.
I really am blessed by the friends I have, on the
job and where I play.
The time off did me good and I felt relaxed all day.
I'd thought having two weeks off would negatively
impact my skating, and that I'd be huffing and puffing
last night, but all the walking I did on vacation must
have kept me fit enough to pick up where I left off.
Fact is, I thought I skated better than when I left.
Was it because I was relaxed?
Spent some time in the faster pack and reveled in
being balanced and stroking smooth and easy lap after
lap.
Once the speed picked up in that pack and moved past
my ability, I had to drop off. There is only so fast
I can go before fatigue sets in and I was quite aware
when my stored fuel had been used up.
Back never bothered me skating but once my boots were
off my lower vertebrae said "HELLO!".
Slept like a rock and that same back was very happy to
spend the dark hours of the night in a familiar bed.

Picking It Back Up

Vacation was fun and it was probably healthy
to take two weeks off from skating.
I took yesterday off of work too and even
though I wasn't able to get everything I
wanted to accomplished, I was busy all day.
Among other things I rearranged the living
room and now my slide board isn't in the middle
of the floor but along the back wall.
I can still use the glass doors of my hutch
as a mirror to check my form so that works.
What once was the TV room has turned into my
training room. LOL
We don't watch TV or get much company,so what
the heck.
Practice at Emrick tonight, and I'm looking
forward to getting my skates back on.
My lower back has been acting up and I think
it well be happier soon.

Home

At 7:15pm we climb aboard the Shuttle to
Seattle whose pick up location is down
the hill at the Seven-Eleven, and we begin
our journey east.
Our first flight leaves at 11:10pm and we
will both try to sleep that one out.
Then it is on to Houston and then to
Cleveland, and then to Allentown.
Should see the tarmac there about 1:30
Sunday afternoon.
I'll miss this Pacific Coast climate,
and it's geology.
And my Dad.
But this isn't my home, it's his.
Took me 6 days to slow my walk down, and
while in Oak Harbor I achieved some clarity
on issues that were, well, issues.
This past week has been like having a
freshening wind blow through the open
windows of my home.
Out with stale and old perspectives, and
in with enticing new ones.
Now I look forward to getting back to my
world.

Can't Beat It

Sitting in a kayak with your son in front
of you, paddling in unison around one of
the islands in the Puget Sound.
Burrows to be exact. (I think) lol
A beautiful day to be on the water and
"Cory", our guide, gushed on about how
lucky we were to have to such a fine day.
The two other girls in our group, Jen and
Rebecka agreed.
Jen, an anaesthesiologist from a hospital
in Seattle, was the smartest among us. She
had, and slathered, her exposed body
parts with sunscreen.
Since the kayak trip was an un-expected
gift,I hadn't even brought a hat from home
so picked one up in town.
Thankfully I have a decent base tan, so in
three hours I got darker with a little
Pacific Coast sunburn. My son on the other
hand just got the sunburn.
He was lobster red last night and pretty
bright this morning.
That's what happens when your a computer
gaming geek and spend every minute online,
inside the house.
LOL
Didn't come across a ton of wildlife, but
we did see Kingfishers, Blue Heron, Harbor
Seals, a Porpoise, Lion Mane Jelly Fish, and
some diving birds.
And of course seagulls.
Once, when we stopped in a cove to chat and
float a while, I pulled my cell phone out
of a pocket on my life vest, and the plastic
bag it was sealed in, then called a friend
on the east coast.
That was just so cool!
Sure, I wasn't on the moon, but technology
can still amaze me.
In a kayak, in the Puget Sound, nothing but
nature in sight, and I can talk to someone
on the other side of the country.
Simple pleasures for the simple minded I
guess..
Not much happening today.
I'll walk the few miles from the Library
back to my Dad's and my son and I are going
to catch a movie later.
I would have loved to have gotten on a Ferry
for the day and gone out to the San Juan's
but I guess that will have to wait for another
visit.
Dad, his wife Lois and my son are content to
read all day and while I chomp at the bit to
get up and moving.
I'll be having to do much more of that when we
get back east, and go on a diet to boot.
We sure have been eating well out here :)
Talk about eating, tomorrow we're going to the
Casino to gamble and have lunch!

Sitting

Ichee Mama!
There's been a lot of siting.
Sitting in the car to get to the airport,
sitting there waiting for plane #1, sitting
in the plane for an hour and a half, sitting
at Dulles waiting for plane #2 and sitting
for 6 hours on a 767 in seat 26D.
Sitting in the Sea Tac terminal for 2 hours,
waiting for the next shuttle to Oak Harbor,
(because we missed the one we were supposed
be on), and sitting in the back seat of that
shuttle for the 2 hour drive north.
Sitting in Dad's car after he picked us up,
and sitting in his living room for an hour
chatting before laying down to go to sleep at
2am, 5am EST.
We sit in the morning, sit in the car, and
sit at night. We sit to eat and sit to talk.
And I'm sitting in the local library as I type
this short entry..
My back is having a hissy fit with the extremely
soft bed in the guest room..
I'm keeping myself less than stiff as a board,
by taking a 1 hour walk twice a day.
Since my Dad lives in "Scenic Vista", it's down
hill to the harbour, via a very interesting nature
preserve, and back up the very steep hill that
gives scenic vista it's view.
Thank God for that hill..
'Cause old people sit a lot!
LOL

Cracks Me Up

That the day we leave for an island in the Puget
Sound, the weather here on the East Coast, which
has been uncomfortably hot and humid, does an
about face, and is now exactly what we will walk
into when we get off the plane in Seattle or at
least greet us every morning in Oak Harbor.
It's not quite 60 degrees at 7:30am
And, to top it all, weather guy says it's going
to stay this way all next week.
Ahh, I would not have missed the drone of the AC
while sleeping in my own bed, windows open, cool
natural air causing me to pull the blanket at my
feet, up around my shoulders.
It's always good to get away though, to break
with routine, our own unique daily rounds.
The one that gives purpose to our lives, or where
we find purpose, because we need to.
With the gift of travel, those bonds are set aside,
if only briefly, blinders off, we look right and
left, not only straight ahead.
Doesn't take long for me to take a deep breath,
and let go, go of all the structure.
It begins at the airport.
When my suitcase goes one way and I go another.
The beginning of being unencumbered for a few days.
It's a sweet taste, freedom.
And like sugar, too much isn't good for you.

Out With The Old

My part time, after work filing job is
a thing of the past.
We finally caught up on the huge backlog,
and the college aged girl who normally
does it should be able to stay on top of
things.
Since indoor practice starts up, a mere
two weeks from now, I won't have to deal
with any conflicts between the two.
And it only took a week for my boss
to come over to my office, shut the door,
and go over the opening in the Parts
Department.
The one my son created when he decided
he didn't want to work his Senior year.
None of the regular counter men want it.
Though, before my son started, they were
all obligated to work one Saturday a month
on a rotational basis.
It seems absence does not make the heart
grow fonder when it comes to working on the
weekend.
For years now, I've taken every opportunity
available to get on the Ford parts counter,
only because of the earning potential, but
no one wanted to take the time to train me,
or anyone for that matter.
Not even the manager before this one.
You had to have experience or forget it.
But now they are desperate.
So my request wasn't dropped like a hot
potato this time and I have even received
the official blessing of the owner of the
company, who I was told, was very pleased
with the idea.
My son thinks I'm nuts to step up to the
retail counter,( where everyone new person
starts) experienced or not.
Then he doesn't pay the bills
Learning this particular job as you go along
is a sink or swim situation. It's not going
to be easy, I've been warned.
My boss learned it that way and he said the
first few months will be awful..
I might even want to quit but if I hang in
I'll eventually pick it up.
Sounds a lot like me and speed skating..
With some things you just have to stick it
out, come hell or high water, before you see
the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'll be sure to check the batteries in my
flashlight..

Thanks

It had been along time, too long.
Years.
That time, and changes in my own
life's path, had put space between
what was once a close friendship.
Close enough that she put her hand
in mine, never pulling it out of my
crushing grip, for the 33 hours of
labor it took for my son to be born.
Nine of those hours while I was in
the hell of non-stop jack hammer like
contractions that came "hand in
hand" with having your child's birth
finally induced.
It wasn't pretty, not at all.
Not like in the movies.
And she stood by me as I struggled
to spit out my boy who seemed to
like it just fine enough where he
was.
She was the one who loved kids. I
was the one who had doubted my
ability to have them, much less be
a decent mother.
Life is weird.
I have a son, she is childless.
We got together for an early dinner
last Saturday.
The last time she'd seen my son was
when he was 2 or 3.
She'd come by the farm with a stray
kitten, that we kept, who is now a
15 year old cat called "Edward".
My son didn't recall her at all.
So we sat across from each other,
after ordering our meals, and caught
up on old news and new.
My son shared what a 17 yr old will
of his world, she listened as I looked
on.
We had a wonderful time and she and
I laughed about stuff that only old
farm girl friends can, and it felt
really good.
We parted with hugs and promises to
not let the years slip by again.
Early the next morning there was an
email from her in my mail box thanking
me for dinner and telling me never
to doubt that I'm a good mother because
my son is "amazing", and my face lights
up when I watch him talk or talk about
him.
And, it's obvious he and I are close.
Your right Kathy, I love him.
Thanks for helping me bring him safely
into this world..
I couldn't have done it without you.

At The Movies

Friday night my son and I went to see the
Simpson's Movie. If you've seen one episode
of the Simpson's on TV, you've seen them all,
and if you've seen a few, you've seen the
movie already.
As is usually the case, what my son and I
found funny, no one else did. So at times
the only laughs in the whole theater, were
coming from our two seats.
We share a unique sense of humor..
God bless our weird little hearts :)
At home Saturday night, I watched a NetFlick DVD,
the newest 007 film, Casino Royale.
What a fantastic action sequence, a foot
chase, in the beginning of the movie.
Wow!
As good or better than the very best car
chase I've ever watched in a movie.
So good, I went back and watched it three
times.
I wasn't even aware there was a sport
called "free running", which is a style
of movement that involves jumping, flipping
over, through, and around obstacles.
The chase scene is made up of all of those
and more.
Next morning I investigated it on the Internet.
Seems the French started it.
Not something I could ever do, speed skating
challenges me enough..
And 007 ?
Well, it takes place when Bond first reaches
00 status, and explains a lot about his development.
And Daniel Craig?
He makes a very, very yummy Bond..
Bond.
James Bond.

10k

I arrived at Trexlertown somewhere near 10am,
after taking my son to work 55 minutes east,
putting in an hour and a half myself, driving
55 minutes west, back home, to get my skate
gear, and then 25 minutes further west to
T'town.
No one knows how the race director, Bob Albanese,
does it, but once again we had beautiful weather!
Sunny, it started off in the 70's and stayed in
the low 80's
The man really must have an in with Mother Nature.
The 50k was still in progress when I got to my
favorite spot under a little tree track side.
As I spread out my blanket and put my gear down
Russ C., the announcer for all our League meets
and for the ESS series, was telling the crowd
that the leaders had two laps to go.
Getting my skates out, I heard that a contemporary
of mine, Rosemary R., had 13 to go.
The 50k.
Earlier in the week, I learned that it was 30 laps
of the T'town track.
For a very brief moment in time, I'd thought about
about signing up for it..
Alas, thinking had gotten me into deep water earlier
in the week on another subject, and wisely, after I
mentioned the thought to my coach, he nixed it.
My race, the Advanced 10k, was scheduled to go off
at 10:30 so without much time to play around with,
I went to check in and get my number.
Soon my uniform was zipped up and my boots were tied.
Deciding earlier to wear my MP3 player,(the first
time I'd be doing so in a race), my ear buds were at
the ready.
Not having an arm band to carry it on, I'd resorted
to putting it in a small plastic bag and placing it
in my sport bra, between the "girls".
On the start line we where informed that instead of
the scheduled one minute gap between starting the
men and the women, we would all be sent off at once
and cross drafting would be permitted.
Woo! Hoo!
I might finally have someone to skate a 10k with!
Well...things didn't turn out exactly the way I'd
hoped, but I had a good start, and was the leader
of our small pack for the first lap and a half.
Unfortunately for me, once I sent Ray, who was behind
me in line, up to lead, he pulled away and I was
dropped little by little and then by a lot.
Bummer..
But that's just the way it goes.
So, there I was, by my self once again, with a voice
in my head telling me to quit on lap 3 and 4.
Yes, it was tempting me to commit a skating sin.
Quiting.
My right quad was tight, sore and burning and the
hill was going slower and slower each time I went
up it.
Thankfully, the part of me that is not a quitter
stepped in and conversed with the temptress.
"Look, sure, it hurts, it always hurts after the
first few laps, but look down at your legs, they
are still moving, still working, despite feeling
like crap, and don't concern yourself about how
you look going up the hill, just keep skating".
"Skate in pain. You can do it"
So I did.
And there weren't as many rest rolls as I usually
take, and there were many areas where I rolled
in a past 10k, but didn't in this one.
When the lead pack passed me with two laps for
them to go, it was OK.
There's no way I could ever hang in with them.
Yet when the skaters I'd started out with passed
me and I had one more to go, it stung, but heck,
you can only do what you can do and I was doing it.
Each time I'd come down the hill, I crossed into
the left hand turn before entering the straightaway.
This is where all the spectators were and the
finish line.
We would cross the line six times.
On the plus side:
During the race I passed a few people, one skater
twice, and I didn't let the voice in my head get
to me.
As I've been taught to do, I swung my arms more,
and I thought about cadence, even going up the
hill.
Still, I came in close to last, and that is getting
older than I am...
On the other hand, I am improving bit by bit.
So I have to take what I can and go with it.
After handing my tear tag in, I was heading back to
get my skates off and Jeff F., my 2 mix relay partner
passed me on his way down to watch the Rec. 5k, and
he called over, "good race!".
That was nice.
I have no time to report because the time clock
was broken. So I don't know if I was faster or
slower than last month.
Bob came over while I was sitting down, recovering,
and asked if I had another 24 laps in me, and feeling
chagrined, I knew the answer to that question, and so
did he...
He did say, "You finished strong".
I'd done that on purpose.
No more spaghetti arms for this girl.
Oh, well.
Like I said, you've got to work with what you have..

A Night In

With the skies dark, and the threat
of a downpour immanent, I made a
quick phone call to check the status
of practice.
It was still a go, but I decided not
to.
Instead I stayed home, fed the washer
and dryer, went out, picked up a fast
food dinner for my son and started in
on a Deadwood DVD.
Deadwood is an HBO series, not near as
good as The West Wing, but for a western
it holds it's own and more.
The cursing is shocking at first, but
you get used to it and come to realize
it is part of the lawlessness of the
time period and location.
Later I got on the slide board for a
fast 1 minute x 3, and spent 5 minutes
on the NordicTrack.
Don't know what else it works but that
X-country ski machine works the peaches
out of your lower legs.
Tonight is movie night and it's up to
my son to pick between Harry Potter
and the Simpson's..

Cool Down

Thankfully the heat/humidity wave
broke sometime last night and when
I came downstairs this morning I
turned the living room AC off and
opened all the windows.
What a welcome relief..
There won't be any excess heat or
humidity for the next few days and
as is to be expected, the ESS race
this Saturday out at Trexlertown
will be blessed by Mother Nature
once again.
This week I've been working an extra
2 hours after my normal workday so
I can cover my filing obligations and
take off most of Saturday for the race.
There will be a much anticipated 50k,
and the top dogs will be strapping on
time chips to keep track of their laps.
Not me, I'll be sticking to the 10k
distance and seeing if I can repeat
or lower my time from the last one.

Night School

Due to the oppressive heat yesterday, practice was
pushed back an hour. The humidity is what makes
conditions ugly and we seem to be in a spell of it.
As I type this, the dew point is 75 and with a
matching temp. The rain moving through is not making
a dent in cooling things down.
It "is" a jungle out there..
I woke up at five to the local country station, shut
my eyes for a moment, and woke up forty-five minutes
later.
Guess I was tired.
Last night the pack I was in did seven laps on the big
track before moving over to the shorter flat track.
Keeping pretty much to my own pace, I felt good and
questioned being called in after seven.
After a rest, coach called for us to head across the
street. Learning from last time, I'd only taken a sip
or two of Gatorade.
Divided into two groups each began the pass up drill
where the skater in the back of the pack moves up to
the lead position,and done right, it's a constant flow
of skaters passing up the line.
Our pack had the younger kids and a new woman on
fitness skates and the pace was kept slow for them.
After several accordion style pile ups, everyone got
it together better and when the slower skaters took a
break, the rest of us picked it up.
The faster pack passed us several times, and at one point
with our pack in disarray, I was tempted to join them.
Hesitating briefly, the next time they went by, I thought
what the heck, I can try to catch them at least.
So that's what I did, getting lower and picking it up.
Skating in the dark, with only parking lot lights here
and there illuminating the blacktop, is very cool.
It's a trust thing, you can't see the ground well and
you just hope you don't run over any junk and crash.
It's exciting!
I didn't think anyone in that pack saw me, as I was
at the tail end when I caught them, and stayed there.
And I only hung on for two laps, but until the very
end, those sprint laps felt really, really good.
Later Coach Bob, who was pacing that group on his bike,
told me he'd seen me in the back for those laps and
that at one point we were doing 20 mph.
Very cool...
I want to do it again :)

A Family Affair

In two weeks my son and I will be making our yearly
trip out to visit my Dad and his wife in Washington
State.
Only one transfer on the way out, via D.C.,three on
the way back, via Houston and Cleavland.
I've never been to Cleveland before..LOL
The two+ hour shuttle bus ride from the Seattle
airport to the North end of Whidbey Island isn't a
hardship.
There is always a lot to see.
(Dad doesn't like to drive far anymore, but did pick
us up from the airport the first time we came out)
Sometimes the shuttle is packed, more often than not
with military personal, but sometimes it's just the
two of us and the driver.
At one point we take a Ferry from the mainland, and
that's when I start putting the East Coast behind me.
I love the West Coast!
A few days of temps in the 70's and everyday views
of Mt. Baker, the Cascades, the Olympics and the Puget
Sound area, and I cringe at the thought of returning
to PA.
Why, when there is a beautiful spot like that on earth,
am I working in New Jersey and living just across the
river in PA?
I wonder, now that my son has firm plans to enter the
Air Force after he graduates next year, if I would have
the guts to pack up and start all over again.
I swore 8 years ago, that that was the last time.
Then, if I've picked up anything in the last 51 years,
it's never say never..

T'town

Across the street from the Lehigh Valley's Velodrome,
in Trexlertown, PA, is one of the best locations to
skate on the east coast.
A closed track, with walker, bicycle and skate lanes,
professional athletes and parents with young kids on
tricycles share the same mile long loop. With flats,
rises and hills, all meandering pleasantly through
woods and open fields, there is something for everyone
to enjoy.
Except for a dog here and there, on an retractable
leash that their owners have reeled out to the full
50ft, it's a very safe place to skate.
Ten or so of us made our way there at 6pm Sunday
evening and whatever rain was traveling in our
direction held off till well after we all got home.
Used to be I didn't like outdoor much, simply because
I wasn't very good at it and skated alone a lot.
But, heck, stick with anything long enough and you'll
learn or burn.
Thankfully I'm doing the first and I find pack skating,
now that I can do it, a lot of fun!
We started off in one group for a few warm up laps and
our coach lead us out on his bike, keeping the pace slow
and steady.
Cutting the faster skaters loose and letting them move
out ahead of the pack I was in, Bob stayed with us for
a handful of miles guiding us through lead changes,
giving us pointers, and encouraging us to stay tight and
use the pace line to full advantage.
My back bothered me after 3 miles but that's normal for
outdoor and I stayed in and enjoyed pulling our 5 person
pack when it was my turn.
Step by step, things are getting better on several fronts,
and I'm all for the progress being made..

Smoke Signals

As hard as it is to imagine in this day and age,
human beings used to gather wood, climb to the
top of a tall hill, and with a damp blanket, and
a steady fire, communicate to a person on another
hill.
I wonder if they had trouble with mixed messages?
After all, just how do you read smoke?
Is there a smoke manual?
Do you look for a calm day when there isn't
any wind, and no rain in the forecast?
Do you wait till your certain they're ready to
signal back, kindling and blanket at the ready?
Well, in the modern world, we do it all the time
with email.
We type out messages, and hit send.
Into the ether your words go and where they land,
sometimes you just don't know..
Or why you hit send in the first place..
And like in the days of yore, sometimes the modern
method of sending an important message isn't any
clearer than if you were standing on a hill with
a wet blanket..

Sizzle

Heat was on my mind yesterday afternoon
when I got in my car to go home after
work.
It was like climbing into an Easy Bake
Oven turned on high and I was what was
cooking.
Even called my coach to see if practice
had been pushed back an hour due to the
extreme heat.
It hadn't.
Actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought
it would be once I got to Emrick at 7pm.
There was even a bit of a breeze.
Working on form, not speed, we sprinted
up the hill each mile, for a total of 10.
After 5, I was light headed every time I
rolled out after the sprint effort, but
I've never done particularly well in the
heat so I wasn't too surprised with that.
What did surprise me was that,if I kept
my form intact, and didn't allow it to get
sloppily, I gained on the person in front
of me, going up hill.
A year or so ago I wouldn't have managed
more than two trips up that hill before I
totally died.
One challenged me.
We took a sit down break after the 10, I
drank some Gatorade and we moved over to
the lower flat track, for a passing drill.
I like that drill but the Gatorade didn't
sit well and in short order I felt like
I was going to puke.
That spelled the end of practice for me
but I'd had some decent moments so was OK.

Life Is 99% Maintanence

Drive, work, drive, sleep, drive, work, drive,
sleep.
Repeat.
Drive, work, drive, skate, drive, sleep, drive,
work, drive, sleep.
Repeat.

Life's not that boring but pretty much.
Then, there are my dogs.
They have fleas.
Year before last was a bad flea season,
but last year we were flea free all summer
and didn't miss the thrill of flea baths,
flea drops and flea bombs...
When our dear, sweet, loving dogs pass
over from this world to the next, from old
age, I am going to stay pet free until I
pass over from this world to the next.
I swear to God I will.

Yesterday morning the "new", less than 3
month old upstairs AC unit died, wailing
like a dying walrus on it's way out.
My budget is in a tight phase, so going
straight out and buying a new one isn't
an option.
Recruiting every fan we own once I got home
from work, I didn't sleep horrible last night,
but it was an oven up there until the outside
air cooled things down, sometime in the wee
hours of the morning.

I'm being offered a new part time position at
work and I'm not whole heartily sure I should
take it.
More money than filing but it won't near be as
flexible, and will tie my Saturdays down.
How long do I really want to work six days a
week...