I miss blueberries.

We do have gorgeous tropical fruits here in Puerto Rico - bananas, mangos, papaya and dozens of others that we love discovering and sampling.

It is hard to be in a position to complain when you can pick your own mangos, and some are as big as your head.

And the bananas are plentiful and delicious. My favorite are these tiny banana niños. They are just 2 bites and they taste like a sweet banana-pear blend.

But this time of year, I miss all the berries. Strawberries. Raspberries. Blackberries. Blueberries. They just don’t grow them here, and as a result, the few that get shipped to the grocery stores cost a fortune and are often tasteless and moldy. My yogurt, cereal and salads are sad.  I am relegated to buying frozen berries. These are fine for smoothies, but defrosted, they don’t hold the right texture to appear on shortcakes. Since every summery dessert seems to have berries in them, I had to adapt.

Growing up, my mother made a delicious crumb cake that had a layer of fruit between the cake and the crumbs. In my memory, I think of this as an apple crumbcake, but in the last few weeks, I have made it with a peach compote, and then with cooked (originally frozen)blueberries. Today I share my mom’s original recipe as well as my Gluten Free version. (And yes – a slice of warm bluberry crumbcake and a glass of milk eased my berry sadness.)

The Peach

MOM’S CRUMB CAKE

INGREDIENTS

Batter:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

pinch of salt

Topping:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 sticks of butter

3 tsp cinnamon

Fruit: 

homemade cooked fruit compote, canned pie filling, or fruit jam

DIRECTIONS

• Beat batter well, it will be thick.
• Spread into a greased, rectangle pan (9×12, 10×13)
• Spread fruit on top of batter
• Mix topping with finger until combined and lumpy
• Sprinkle lumps on top of fruit
• Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes
• ENJOY
• Serves 12-16

The Blueberry

GLUTEN FREE CRUMB CAKE

Note – based on the contents of a Bisquick box, I halved the above recipe. This entire cake can be made with 1 box of Gluten Free Bisquick.

INGREDIENTS

Batter:

1 cups Gluten Free Bisquick

1/2  cup sugar

1/2 stick butter

1/4 cup milk

1 eggs

Topping:

1 cup Gluten Free Bisquick

1/2  cup sugar

1 stick of butter

2 tsp cinnamon

Fruit:

homemade cooked fruit compote, canned pie filling, or fruit jam

DIRECTIONS

• Beat batter well, it will be thick.
• Spread into a greased, square or round pan
• Spread fruit on top of batter
• Mix topping with finger until combined and lumpy
• Sprinkle lumps on top of fruit
• Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes
• ENJOY
• Serves 6-8

During the last 6 months I have taken a “vacation” from all professional work and my projects have been either gifts for friends or my own artistic amusements. With the kids back in school, I have a few spare hours a day to play in my art studio. I use the term “studio” loosely, as in this home it is just a creative alcove in a corner of the Master Bedroom. But, it fits the bill. I have storage, work space and light. I am now ready to “get back to work.” Starting this blog was just a portion of my creative project, as I am putting together online options to view and order artwork as well as view and book photography sessions. It will take a bit of time to bring it all together, but if you have a creative wish, let me know and we can get this process started.

Painted Coconuts (Yes – address them and mail them as is!)

Two 16×20 canvases for two sweet little boys

11×14 Canvas Board hung by ribbons – for a sweet new baby

11×14 Canvas Board hung by ribbons, initial

Three 20×20 Acrylic on Canvas – Surf’s Up

12×36 Acrylic on Canvas – Personalized Rapunzel

9×12 Acrylic on Canvas, Crosses and Fleur de lis

9×12 Acrylic on Canvas Happiness

4×4 Canvas Blocks – Initials

Week 3 complete. Barely.

Ground Running – 13.6 miles (longest run 10.5-miles)

Swimming – .5 mile

Stair Climbing – @100 flights

“There is no such thing as bad weather, just weak people” – Bill Bowerman

I am weak. A little something got in the way of my training During week 3. Hurricane Irene. Puerto Rico was pounded with 4-5 days of high winds, heavy rain (4 inches an hour at times) and no electricity. This really put a crimp in my training plans. I couldn’t run or swim outside, nor could I get to use the treadmill. What I COULD do was climb the 7 flights of stairs to my apartment (no electricity = no elevator) over, and over, and over. I could have gotten more motivated to do more weight training in the dark in no air conditioning – but I didn’t.

What can I say? It happens during months of training. Sometimes illness or a sudden change of events get in the way of training and it throws my whole game off. The best part, is I always have mañana.

What went especially well, was my long run. I managed to get it in on Friday night and felt great! I actually ran 10.5 miles faster than I ran 9 miles two weeks ago. With a good run under my belt and a swim today that really loosened me up, I am ready to get back into my normal routine this coming week.

I also received an authorization to see a pulmonologist for this nagging cough – I am going on about 11 or 12 weeks now. Any doctors out there? Mainly in the evenings. No wheezing. Very aggravated by talking. I can run, I can swim, but I can’t talk. Inhalers do not help. Antibiotics didn’t help.  It doesn’t seem to be effecting my runs, but it is impacting my sleep. So – perhaps we will find a solution to that problem soon.

Plans for the upcoming week: I plan to up the run miles, get in the water at least twice (it helps tremendously) and get 2 weight workouts in. I also plan to focus on water intake and monitor calories. In the words of Amby Burfoot: “To get to the finish line, you’ll have to try lots of different paths.”

Watching the news tonight, my thoughts are with my family and friends in New York. This weekend certainly it isn’t the ideal time for a jaunt through the city that never sleeps. As hurricane Irene approaches, public transit is shut down and the locals are bracing for high winds and tons of rain, yet I can’t help but think of the picture perfect day I spent there just weeks ago.

I had a date with my daughter.

As the mother of 4 children, much of my time is divided and distracted. Add being the wife of a military man, and there are many days that I am playing the roles of both mom and dad. It is safe to say that one-on-one time with each of my children is special. We try to be purposeful in making this happen. Sometimes it is just washing the dinner dishes side by side. But other times it is a real splurge and we get to spend a few days together, shopping, movies, travel – whatever it takes to create memories and get to know each other outside the typical roles of the oldest, the youngest, the brother, etc. Some of the best conversations and laughter come out of time completely designed and organized by one of my children.

After an incredibly hectic year…. a deployment, followed by a move, goodbyes, a new school, a new home, shared bedrooms… we decided that each child needed some special time, away from each other. This resulted in individual summer vacations. Victoria and I got to spend a few days together in New York; a mix of time on Long Island and one fantastic day in Manhattan. It was a visit fit for a queen, and a queen my Victoria is! Forty hours in the Big Apple and we hit some of hot spots in the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. Broadway. NBC. Shopping. Star sightings.
It was truly a perfect morning, sunny blue skies, 75 degrees and not a bit of humidity.

We started out early with a quick breakfast. The ideal NYC breakfast of a bagel was not an option for either of us, as we both have to remain Gluten Free, so we opted for made-to-order omelettes and fruit.

Our first stop was to catch a glimpse of Matt, Ann, and Al at the Today Show. We didn’t know what we were getting into. It was ZUMBA day – and the famous plaza was filled with hundreds of Zumba enthusiasts. It was fun, loud and full of action. We saw all of the News Reporters shaking their thing.

Rockafeller Plaza

We slipped away from the Zumba action and I showed Victoria the NBC back door. Just as I told her that this is where the reporters leave work and get in their cars for home (I know this because I have seen Matt Lauer depart a few times) out steps Ryan Reynolds and Jason Batemen. The Today Show interviewed the stars of the new movie Change Up, and there I was, with the 2010′s Sexiest Man Alive and the brother of the girl from Family Ties just a few feet away from me. And what do I do? Nada. I was star struck. No photo. No autograph. Not even an ”I watched every episode of Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.” Since I had nothing to commemorate this experience, I took a shot of their billboard.

With my heart rate just a little higher than usual (yes, they were handsome and charming in person) we were off to the TKTS line. Located in Times Square, there is a booth where you can buy “day-of tickets” at reduced prices. While waiting in line, you get to take in the sights. In past years we have seen the Naked Cowboy and the Naked Cowgirl, some great costumes, interesting people… whether you have a 5 minute wait, or a 2 hour wait, the line is part of the entertainment experience. This time around, our wait was just minutes, and by 9:30 am we had tickets in hand to see the matinée of Mama Mia.

Tkts in Times Square

Next, it was back to the NBC studios to meet Auntie Bean – a beloved sister and aunt who planned to see the show with us – and even more exciting, to meet Kathie Lee Gifford. Yes folks, we were invited into the NBS studios to watch a portion of the Hoda and Kathie Lee show being filmed. Here she is: (Sorry a lousy shot – but flashes were not allowed, and I was shooting directly into sun through the windows.)

We enjoyed a nice lunch in 30 Rock – just below the lobby is a very nice selection of eateries and shops. Our next mission was to pick up some gifts for our family left behind. (Mind you, they were left behind on a tropical island – don’t feel too sad for them.) We hit The Lego Store. Two stories of little plastic blocks to set one’s imagination on fire! We collected a selection of unique pieces for our favorite little brother. I loved the bin of little yellow heads.

Wall of Legos            Lime Green Blocks     Yellow Heads             Lego Dragon

   
We also had time to hit The American Girl Doll Store, The Disney Store, and The M&Ms Store. Victoria made herself a little “snack bag” of colorful candies – a smart move based on the prices of the concessions within the Theater.

M&M Store             Wall of M&Ms                                                 Our M&M gal

Next stop – The Winter Garden Theater. I left the play choice completely up to Victoria. I can’t express my secret joy with combining Broadway and Abba – two of my favorite things, ever. I had already seen Mama Mia – both in London and New York, but it didn’t matter. I was happy to see it again.

You see, last year I made the choice when I took the kids to a show. I pushed them into “a classic” – Westside Story. My timing couldn’t have been worse. Just 2 days later we received news that we might be assigned to a base in Puerto Rico. As you know now, we eventually were, and really love it. Now, if you are familiar with the premise of WSS, you know it is about the movement of Puerto Ricans to the United States for a better life. Once they had the song I want to live in America running through their head, it was hard to convince them that they would want to leave the United States for the images of crowded roads, overpopulation, no tvs, and hurricanes. I had faith that Bjorn’s music would not leave any questionable imagery in her mind.

Time for the show!

She loved it! Really, how could she not? I only think she was slightly disturbed, in a very tweenish way, that I was singing along at the end. Oh child – if we were in London, not only would the entire audience be singing along, they would be standing up and dancing too. I love a country that holds Abba in such high esteem.

Next we had the second lesson in The Stage Door. Just like The Today Show, we went around back to see the stars leave work. Unlike the stars of television and screen who have an entourage and waiting town cars – the guys and gals in the theater just walk down the street and get on the subway just like us ordinary folk. Every single one was so nice to my little girl, posing for photos, giving autographs. She has a little bit of the theater bug and this just made it stronger.

 
Here is her Playbill. What’s a Playbill? At a broadway show, this is the program. They always look like this. Even my Playbill from my first ever show, Annie, when I was a young girl looks the same – black, white and yellow. It is nice to have a sense of continuity and tradition. The actors and actresses signed it for her – a perfect keepsake for the day.

A light drizzle started while we were in the show, but it was NOT going to dampen our day. We walked Auntie Bean back to the train station, and it was time to: shop, shop, shop  Macy’s, Little Mismatched, Zara, The Gap, H&M….. we shopped our way up 5th Avenue from 34th to 57th. We also stopped for a few fun NYC tourist photographs.

Public Library Lions         Home Alone  2                   Lady Liberty

   
Wet and tired and hungry we headed back to our hotel for hot showers, big beds and room service. V is a huge fan of ketchup. I can’t even begin to explain her joy over these tiny, personalized bottles of ketchup. Some people take little soaps and shampoos home from hotels. We took home ketchup.

And what was hiding under the silver lid?

Hot dog and a salad                                    Turkey club, no bread

After dinner in bed, it was time for my little Dancing Queen to snuggle into her 8 pillows upon her fluffy bed and get some sleep. So much fun can be absolutely exhausting.

To my dear daughter. What a perfect day. Memories to last a lifetime. What a great way to share our loves of shopping, culture and musical theater. I steal these words from our day together…..

I say,
Thank you for the music, the songs we’re singing
Thanks for all the joy you’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For sharing it with me.

Today’s blog is brought to you by BINGO. The game, not the dog nor the catchy, sing-along song. In an effort to keep the hotel patrons happy, guest relations has upped the daily Bingo game that takes place 7-days a week at 2pm, to 4, count them FOUR sessions a day. You can win $$$ and a bottle of rum at 11:30, 2, 4:30 and 8!! While I am plugged into an outlet in the lobby, I overhear a rousing round. B-twelve, B-doce. I-twenty-four, I-veinticuatro….

Hurricane Irene Day 3? I think. I am losing track. Days and nights of rain, thunder, wind and no electricity are joining together without beginning or end. I am hoping that this will be my last report of the event, and that by this time tomorrow, I am far too busy to enjoy air-conditioning and television because I am out enjoying the sun and the sand. A girl can dream.

I have been out and about. There is flooding. There are trees down.

(Note – I did take some photos, very carefully, with both hands on the wheel and fully paying attention to driving.)

On our street

Guess which way the storm blew in?

But I am pretty sure that with 36 hours without electricity, the greatest devastation is within my refrigerator. Supplies are getting scarce and today I had to bin quite a few items. For dinner tonight we may bust out the can opener – room temperature beans, tuna and creamed corn for everyone!

Some businesses have opened (Burger King is hopping!) but others have completely shut down. Next door is a beautiful hotel run by the Waldorf Astoria – they have closed their doors. I am so happy our simple abode has running water, flushing toilets and a cheery staff that are making the best of it. And did I mention around-the-clock Bingo?

Speaking of open and cheery, the kids have school today. The base was up and running and school was in session. I figured all attitudes would improve with a good 8 hours outside of our cave. I also trusted that the roads surrounding the base must be safe if the schools were requiring kids and teachers to attend.

The drive upped my heart rate, as I had to brave this:

Thankfully, NOT my exit

This is the highway

And unfortunately, this was my exit – a kayak would have been helpful.

Just after I dropped the kids at school, I got a text that there were Tornado warnings in the area. Well, 4 years in Arkansas prepared us all for that. Except, I was in a car and I imagine that any basement on this island is currently flooded. I wonder if any other kids actually had parents that were as dumb as I was to drive during flash flood and tornado warnings?  I wonder if they enjoyed their lunches completely made up of pre-packaged foods? I wonder if a school full of teachers and my 4 kids spent the day playing those “we’re not really doing school work today” fun games like 7-up and Bingo?

I look forward to hearing the stories when they come home. I might even stick each kid in a box as they tell us about their day and we can pretend that we are watching the Disney channel.

Time for me to go – the next round of boards are being sold. If the power stays out and my husband doesn’t return soon, I might need to win one of those bottles of rum.

Hope your day is filled with cool air, technology, and sunny skies.

I was born with the right name. Wind. I love weather. I think it is exciting to stop all regular programming and give reverence to the forces of Mother Nature. And there is nothing like a day or two of forced family fun – no tv, no telephones, just marathon games of monopoly, art projects and picnics. But before the fun begins, some preparation are necessary. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of warning for this storm, as Hurricane Irene whipped up out of nowhere in a matter of hours.

This is not my first hurricane, but it is my first one as the adult in the situation. The one who is responsible for safety, provisions and entertainment.

My preventative measures included:

Storm Shutters. The downside is that without electricity, the apartment is incredibly dark. Worse, I can’t see what was going on outside. I think listening and imagining is worse than actually seeing. But then there is the upside – we didn’t have any coconuts fly into our apartment.

Water. We filled all vessels –  bathtubs, jugs, pots. The kids asked “why are we filling the tubs? So that we stay clean?” I answer:  “No, to flush the toilets.” I will be honest, I think I am filling it for toilet flushing, but I have no idea what we will need exactly. I grew up on an island, but we had well water. We needed electricity to have water. Here, our water is running freely, and toilets are flushing. This is a good thing. But the tubs are still full – it just seems like a good idea.

More water. The front desk reminded me to fill pots with water. Hmmm - do I boil it? Or is that when someone is having a baby? All of my emergency instincts are blending together. Anyone need the Heimlich? I’m ready. CPR or a tourniquet? I’m your gal.

Flashlights. I gathered our 4 working flashlights and extra batteries and put them in a basket by the front door. In the span of 24 hours the kids have misplaced them 14 times.

By 11 PM, I was having trouble keeping my eyes open – I slept on and off – waking just about every hour to look out my little window, and check on the kids. Surprisingly, they slept through unbelievable amounts of noise.

We are now in the eye of the storm. It is calm outside. People are flocking to the doors, breathing in the fresh air. Some are exploring. The less brilliant ones are going for drives. Clearly they have never experienced a flash flood. The illusion of the eye is that the storm is over. There is still more to come. But people have the invincible sense that they survived the worst of it and now they will be fine.

I am writing from the hotel lobby. There is minimal electricity here provided by a generator. It is a nice break from our apartment – turned into cave by the storm shutters. The only problem with a public place during a time of disaster – or in this case no air-conditioning, minimal food, and no technological entertainment – is that grown ups can turn into a bunch of whining children. Seriously. There are some Islands that will be demolished in the next few days. Homes destroyed. Populations without power, water or food for weeks.  Yet I am overhearing: I can’t get any sun on the beach. I want a hamburger. I’m bored. I’m hot. I’m hungry. Whine, Whine, Whine. Today is NOT one of the days when I am reassured by the human race.

I just tell myself that they didn’t get their morning caffeine. I, on-the-other-hand “had” to eat my coconut milk cappuccino ice cream before it melted. Maybe my optimism and pleasant personality are merely sugar and caffeine induced illusions.

After an opportunity to send my “all safe” reports to friends and family and take a good look at weather forecasts for upcoming days (there are a few things stirring up off the coast of Africa) I will go back to our little cave where the kids in this scenario are behaving like adults. Keeping busy. Entertaining themselves. They are a good bunch.

Week 2 complete.

I am still feeling motivated.  Again, I  focused on consistency. I worked out 5 days – but did 2 days with 2 workouts.

Ground Running – 23 miles (longest run 10-miles)

Deep Water Running – 30 minutes

Swimming – .5 miles

Weight Training – 60 minutes

1 lb lost – diet of many fruits and veggies. No alcohol. No soda.

Generally, I felt great all week. I enjoyed adding in weight training – it was a combination of upper body weights, chin ups, dips and abs. IT was my first time in the base gym, folks seem friendly and my morning workouts coincide with the “Golden Oldies Group.” The hardest run was my long run – 10 miles. First, it was much hotter than last week and the sun was very strong. This makes a huge difference for me. Secondly, I was put on a strong cough medicine this week, and I took it the night before the run. I think the Narcotic just made me feel sleepy. I never felt like anything hurt, I was just lacking energy. And bad run reason number three is that I ran my first 3 miles with my husband – who is in training for an Ironman – I ran a little too hard considering I had 7 more to go after he left me.

A few scenes from the long-run (Cait was my run partner for the middle miles.)

A shout out to The Easy Runner running shop in Little Rock.

The view heading home – from here there’s about 2 miles to go.

We ran with him and dozens of his friends.

Can we catch the info girls on the Segways? Why yes we can!

A public beach with a water park and a fountain – we stopped here to refill our water bottles and cool off in the fountains.

One of my greatest struggles with physical training and having Lupus is deciding when to push forward, and when to hold back. As a marathon runner, I train myself to ignore all of the little voices that say: “Quit! Enough is enough. Let’s just take a break. Pain. Exhaustion…..” When 26.2 miles are at hand,  the human body will send signals to the brain that there is fatigue, pain, hunger, thirst…. For every runner, it is hard to know which signals to listen to and which signals to ignore. I believe that I continued running through some of the worst, early symptoms of my illness because I had taught myself to ignore pain and fatigue. The problem is, to function in a healthy manner, Lupus patients have to really listen to their body, and unlike some illnesses that you can fight, this is one that you have to give in to. Imagine if you will an Oak Tree versus a Willow Tree. Instead of being strong and stoic and powerful, I will reap more benefits if I bend with the elements, giving in, rather than fighting. It is very much against my personality. I will never win fighting the battle against Lupus, but rather live better learning to coexist with it. It is a matter of graceful acceptance, and know that I have NOT mastered it yet.

Motivation for the week: I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.

This week my Prince and I revisited a conversation that we have had time and time again. It is the talk about our military future….. timing, assignments, options. I don’t enjoy this conversation because:

1) what we want/think/plan really has no bearing.

2) we can’t know what opportunities will exist 1 or 2 years from now. This time last year there were no active duty Air Force positions in Puerto Rico, yet here we are. 8 years ago no Tanker pilot had ever participated in the Staff College/RAF exchange, but guess where we spent 3 of the best years of our life?

This week, The Powers That Be revealed that we will be leaving Puerto Rico LATER rather than SOONER. It appears that they are very happy with the work being done  and they have a few more things they want sorted before his release.

My feelings on orders to stay put? YAHOO! I like our life here. He loves his job. The schools are excellent. I am over most of my fears (driving, doctors, haircuts…) And finally, all the things that I was trying to cram into the next year can now be spread out over 18-24 months. Oh, and let’s remember where it is that we live again…..

I will continue to humor this topic, as our plans for the future somehow create some peace here in the present. While hopes and plans do make for interesting thoughts, the bottom line is: we will get what we get. Once we are headed to who knows where, who knows when, we will make lemonade from any lemons that roll our way.

Today I don’t have any lemons to speak of.

Figuratively – the sun is shining, my Prince did the drive to school today, and I have plans for lunch with a friend.

Literally – I really don’t have any lemons. I do have a peach, a few apples, a lime and a bunch of old bananas.

It happens all the time. I buy a bunch of yellow bananas, yet as soon as a brown spot appears, they are deemed inedible. I refuse to throw them away, so in this house when we have old bananas – we make dessert. A recent visit to the Bacardi Rum Factory inspired the dish and it’s been requested again and again.

BANANAS FOSTER. Fast, easy, and impressive.

(There will be no flames in this version – we live in an apartment and I don’t want to set the fire alarms off.)

You will need:

3-5 Bananas cut into chunks

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

3-4 Tbsp cinnamon

3-4 Tbsp dark rum

2 tsp Vanilla

Vanilla Ice Cream

In a frying pan, melt the butter.

Stir in sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.

When sauce is dark and thick, add in rum.

Simmer for a few minutes.

Add bananas at the last moment over low heat.

Once bananas are coated with the sauce, remove from heat.

Pour over scoops of ice cream and serve immediately.

Happy Friday!

We had a little incident yesterday.

I found a very small toy in my son’s pocket that did not belong to him.

After a large amount of hemming and hawing, I learned that he “found it, a boy left it, I just picked it up.”

Hmmmmm???????

One of his sisters very quickly ratted him out cut to the chase: “He showed it to me in Walgreen’s the other day. I guess he took it.”

The argument from the accused was that he “found it.”

I tried to explain that anything found in a store must actually be purchased in the store. Regardless of whether or not it is found on a shelf, in a bin or on the floor.

The clear solution was to march him right down the street, back to the Walgreens, apologize and pay the store manager. I was hoping that the outcome in Puerto Rico would be along the lines of “thank you son, and don’t do that again” and not so much “we punish thieves by cutting off their hand.”

What I didn’t realize was that the most effective part of the punishment was not the trip to the store, but the hour before the store, WAITING FOR DAD TO COME HOME. There was a good hour of worrying, sobbing, and predicting a very dismal future.

You see, he was convinced that he was “going to Juvie.”

And even worse, he was sure that they wouldn’t feed him a Gluten Free diet (he has Celiac Disease) and he would die a slow and painful wheat-filled death.

Dad came home. Harry set off to Walgreens with the toy (a small animal that fits on the top of a pencil eraser) in one pocket, and his wallet in the other. It was time to pay-up. But guess what? He really did just find it. Walgreens did not sell any such item. It looks like a little boy did drop it, and Harry did find it. A not-so-clear-cut example of Finders Keepers.

In the end, I am pretty sure a lesson was still learned. I really hope that the fear of a Glutenous prison keeps him from future illegalities. I never want to see my baby behind bars.

Harry – age 1

Week 1 complete.

My goal was to focus on consistency. I worked out 6 days.

Ground Running – 21 miles (longest run 9-miles)

Deep Water Running – 60 minutes

Swimming – 1.25 miles

3 lbs lost – not particularly working on diet (there was Carrot Cake.)

Just to give you some views, I swim/deep water run in one of 2 places.

Our Beach

Our 25 meter pool

I run on a variety of sidewalks, and sometimes on the beach or treadmill.

We run down a sidewalk that runs along this beach.

The most entertaining run of the week was my long run, yesterday. I spent some one-on-one time with the kids, as we covered the miles. I used this technique years ago when I trained for my first marathon. My first mile was with Harry. Next two were with Victoria. Then Grace joined me for two miles. And finally Caitlyn did the last four. We all had time to chat about their first week of school, I had company during my run and we all got some exercise. Along the route I watched a large wedding cake being delivered to a hotel. I saw many lizards, to include a 2-foot long, neon green one run just in front of us. Victoria and I ran past a 6 ft tall orange martian. (YES – I promise to carry a camera for the next long run.) Our last stretch was along the beach and there were tons of parties going on and lots of music. It is fair to say that Caitlyn did not appreciate my salsa dancing during our walk breaks.

My run leads to the reason I started running marathons. THE KIDS.

As I have mentioned many times before, running is my sport of choice because I am not particularly coordinated. Running is a sport, that with time and effort, anyone can either learn to run faster or farther. I like to set goals and watch the progress in reaching them.

From 1997 – 2005 I was either pregnant or nursing. Just around Harry’s first birthday, I was starting to see the light at the end of this sleep deprived tunnel. I was anxious to be a little bit selfish and reclaim my body. I thought a lot about making some changes, and getting into an exercise routine.

So, what was the turning point?

It happened during dinner one night. My darling 5-year-old (same child that prompted my Be Nothing post)  http://windinspired.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/be-nothing/  Yes, she was just as brutally honest then as she is now. As we ate our meal, she asked “Mommy, will I look like you when I grow up?” I started in with a child friendly version of heredity and Punnet squares…. just as I was pointing out how she got her blue eyes and blond hair, she cut me off with “No, not my eyes, I mean will I be chubby like you?” Ouch. I would like to say that I responded maturely with something involving a healthy diet and regular exercise, but I am pretty sure it sounded more like: “Yes, if you have 4 children in under 6 years and spend every waking hour caring for them you just might.” Not my best moment.

I got a real view of what my children saw when they looked me. I didn’t like it. I wanted to be someone they looked up to, and not someone they dreaded turning into. A walking/running program was started at once. 1 year later I ran 3 half marathons and my first full 26.2. That kick in the right direction brought so many benefits and accomplishments. Sometimes brutal honesty and a different perspective is exactly what we need.

A few years later, Victoria was given a class assignment; to write about her favorite athlete. While other kids researched Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter…..Guess who she wrote about?