Pole, Pedal, Paddle 2K11

On the way to the mountain.  One hour until Race Time!

Jason and Connor powering up on Gatorade goo-substance.

And....Connor might be skeptical?

Jason is off on the bike!  I'm glad you can't tell he's wearing God-awful Oregon State cycling gear.

He survived!  Whew!

Connor dominating the Kayak leg.

Double fisting: water & Muscle Milk

Yeah, man!  We did it!

Team Tacchini:  The Tac Attack

Awwwww...cousins!

Me and baby Collin

He is so-super-cute.

He wasn't afraid of me at all...Jacoby, take some lessons! 

Haha!  I wish this picture turned out better.  This is Cycle Pub.  Drink beer and have a bike ride for a ridiculous price!  Still....it's pretty cool. 

The actual Mirror Pond.  Beautiful.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew ...I'm just sayin.

Well, we all survived Saturday and I'm glad about it.  I'm not saying that the end is never coming.  I just don't believe we'll ever know when it is coming.  I'm okay with that.  Having a deadline really freaks me out...

Change.  Uncertainty.  Two things I believe are necessary and constant.  I know that I need change.  I know that change can be good, is often very good, but at the same time I fight against it with all that I have.  I am living in uncertainty and am coming to realize that maybe this is what life is about. In recent weeks, I've discovered that I'm a fairly inflexible person and have spent considerable time trying to change this.  I have never before seen myself as someone really 'high-strung' or 'wound tight.'  But, in the face of uncertain futures, I certainly become this way...for better or worse.  When I am able to stop and think about my life and what the future holds, I'm gripped with panic because I have no answers.  I can't reassure myself that I'll ever find the one person I'm great with.  I can't reassure myself that I'll have a job in 6 months, a year?  three?  five?  I can't reassure myself that I'll stay in good health and that my family members will also keep their health.  Lacking answers to all of these questions, and many more, is terrifying.  So, I try not to think about them. 

In the meantime, however, I feel myself getting stuck in a rut.  I'm doing the same thing over and over every day and nothing new is happening.  I need something new.  I need something to mix it up.  I remember feeling this way several summers ago, when the opportunity presented itself for me to drive cross country with some friends.  I need that again.  Well, I don't need to drive cross country again...as much fun as that sounds...I can definitely hold off on that.  But, I do need something different.  My feet are itchy.  So apparently, if I introduce the change, and change is not forced upon me, I'm good with that.  I have no idea if this is "normal" or not.  It's just the way I feel.

I'm thankful to have healthful, fit cousins who participated in the Pole, Pedal, Paddle last weekend in Bend.  Of course, I had to tag along.  I was slightly skeptical going into the weekend thinking it might be awkward or dull.  But, it was anything but that.  I had a great time hanging out with my cousins!  It just doesn't happen enough!  I have to admit though, I was slightly jealous that I was not in good enough shape to even consider doing any ONE of the legs of the race, even though each of my cousins did 3 legs a piece.  That's insane.  I did vow to start training for next year.  Although I'm pretty sure the only thing I could ever do out of any of the legs would be to run...and Tacchini's hate running.  Hate. It.  My cousin, Jason, and my cousin, Connor, dominated the P.P.P, or P cubed.  Jason...a little math humor?  Anyway, this is how it went...

Friday night Jason and I arrived at the gorgeous house we stayed at in Sunriver.  By gorgeous I mean, awesome western decor, an arcade room, a sauna in the bathroom, and a hot tub.  Dan, Jason's friend we were staying with, was showing us around the house, and pointed out the "twin room" and the "bunk room."  Jason looked at me, and said, "Which one do you want?"  What a gentleman, right?  Immediately, I was like, "Pssssshhhh twin room."  So, J, got stuck with the bunk room.  He's such a good sport.  After we were settled, we went into Bend, to meet up with Connor, hammer out some race day logistics and go to dinner with Connor, his g/f Mallory, and Mallory's parents.  Turns out Mallory's parents are the kindest people on the planet.  I had a great time hanging out with them, and getting to know Mallory a little better, as well.  Dinner went swimmingly, good stories were told, and excellent beer was had by all...except Connor maybe?  I don't remember him drinking the night before race day!  Jason was not on board with that plan.  ;o)  After dinner, it was time to hash out the plan for the following day.  It is here that Connor informs me that this will probably take three hours.  Three hours!?  That was definitely not on my agenda.  But, ok.  This is why I was in Bend afterall.  So, the minute we got back to Dan's, you can bet that I was packing up snacks, and activities for the following day.  It sounded like it was going to be the most boring day ever.

Boring?  It was not.  Saturday morning brought a very early wake up call...6:45.  I got up and promptly made breakfast, just like a good girl cousin should.  (Gag, gender roles, shudder)  But, I knew it was important that J had a full belly and a decent amount of carbs.  Once that was done, we packed up and headed out to pick up Connor before heading up the mountain.  The first leg of P cubed, is a 100m (?) sprint up the mountain and then snowboarding down.  That was Jason's leg.  Then, Jason tagged Connor and Connor took off on a 5 mile cross country ski loop.  Then, Connor tags Jason and he takes off on a 20 mile bike ride, or something crazy like that.  Then, Jason tags Connor who goes on a 5 mile run, then hops in his kayak to paddle 2 miles up and down river.  Lastly, Connor tags Jason who sprints a half mile to the finish.  Yeah, I know, right?  Are you kidding me?  So, the only important job I really had was to drive Connor from the top of the mountain down to where the cyclists meet to tag the runners.  Arguably, the other important job was to document the entire event, which I did, to the best of my ability.  Jason's first leg took a total of 4 minutes, including the crash and ice rash he, consequently, sustained on his back.  Connor had anticipated his 5 mile leg to take approximately an hour.  Needless, to say Jason and I were in no hurry to wait around in the bike exchange area.  We were lolly-gagging around when suddenly Jason was like, "Oh man!  He's right there!"  He dropped his shoes and sweatshirt and ran.  I can't really convey how hectic it was.  But, it was.  Let me put it this way, I barely had enough time to order, and drink, my chai tea latte before I was heading back down the mountain with Connor in tow.  Now, it was time for my big important job of getting Con down the hill.  We got back to the car, got his skis loaded up and wouldn't ya know it, those darned VW's have a sneaky way of getting in reverse?  I absolutely could not figure out how to get that Jetta into reverse!  I was panicking, because I was about 2 inches away from slamming into a beautiful Yukon, and, of course, the driver was sitting in the car.  This actually came to behoove us, as Connor said, "Here, watch this."  He jumped out of the car, tapped on the mans window, and said, "Hey, yeah, there's something wrong with our transmission, could you pull over there (points) so we can just pull straight out?"  The man happily obliged us.  Quick thinkin, Con!  So, now, off we went.  I tried to hurry him down the hill but then we found ourselves stuck in traffic.  Connor started panicking because we knew Jason was hauling ass down the hill (because we passed him not too long ago) and Connor made the executive decision to get out where we were stuck and just run to the exchange place.  So, actually, Connor ran about 6 miles that day.  Jason arrived at the exchange and saw Mallory who flagged him down to inform him that Connor was not there yet.  Ha ha.  This was confusing for many.  The rest of the race was fairly uneventful for us spectators.  Connor didn't tip his kayak or anything so we just went from place to place to watch and take pictures, obviously.  The boys finished in 2 hours and 43 minutes.  Not bad for not really having any background in kayaking or cross country skiing, I thought!  Maybe next year I'll be able to participate with them, and have someone taking pictures of ME, instead! ;o) 

All in all, a great weekend was had by all...I think?  Enjoy the photos courtesy of yours truly!


Today's list:  Pet Peeves
1.  Men not knowing how to drive a stick shift
2.  Revving of engines
3.  That beeping noise a school bus makes when it's backing up
4.  Wet counter tops
5.  My phone not working at my own house for a solid week
6.  Inefficiency
7.  Insincerity
8.  Dishonesty
9.  Sneakers on a wet floor (Squeak, squeak)
10. The gym being closed 2 days this coming weekend!  ARGH.

Addendum to Out of the Mouths of Babes...

I already have more stories.  Can you believe it?  I bet you can. 

First and foremost, my brother and sister in law recently found my nephew, Joey's, "hate list" in a notebook he had stashed.  It reads...
1.  Communists
2.  Justin Bieber
3.  Republicans
4.  Decisions


He is definitely part of our blood line. ;o)  I love, love, love him! 

In a separate notice, I'd like to add another very common, yet unhelpful/uncomforting phrase to my previous list.  I've rewritten them all again, in case you've forgotten.  Although, you should probably commit these sayings to memory, if you haven't already.  It is the only way you'll be able to use them to annoy people like me. 

(The order of unhelpful sayings may not be the same as last nights.  Yes, I'm just that lazy that I refuse to go back and look at what I wrote last night.  If I do get them in the right order, I should for sure get a prize.  So, what am I going to get?  Huh?  Huh?)
1.  It is what it is.
2. You never know.
3.  Time will tell.
4.  What will be, will be.
5.  It'll happen when you least expect it!  (Although, admittedly, I do tell my students this frequently.  It really is the only way they will stop hassling me...i.e. "Juuuuuuuddy (read with whiny voice) when are we going to get to play bingo again?"  Or, "Juuuuuddy, when are we getting new pencils?"  Or, basically any other inane question...and to which, I like to reply, "It will happen when you least expect it!"  It's kind of like a nice way of saying, "That is never going to happen, at least for a very long time."

Oh, what's that sound?  What is it?  hm?  Oh, that's just my bed calling my name.  Sleep is so good.

Today's list:  Painful/torturous exercises I endured today
1.  Kettlebell lifts
2.  Weight shifts
3.  Lunges
4.  Push ups
5.  Plank taps
6.  straight leg, bicycle and wrap around ab cycle
7.  15 sets of stairs
8.  oblique crunches with the kettlebell
9.  tricep dips
10.  this could go on and on...the good news is, I feel mostly good.  Only a bit weary...and I'm pretty sure that this workout is what keeps me up until the unGodly hour of 10 pm....

see ya next week!
J

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I am alive.  It's true, I have successfully survived yet another session with dear Kim.  To refresh your memory, she is often referred to as Devil Incarnate, or D.I.  My last session was last week and I basically could not move after she was done with me.  I love the feeling, but hate the feeling.  I've learned only one thing from these workout sessions, the day after is always much worse.  Actually, I think that's generally a life lesson.  The day after is always much worse.  Take those words of wisdom and keep them close to you.  You're welcome.

I'm coming to the conclusion that the D.I. has an interesting personality.  I can't quite figure her out.  I will tell you she definitely has an interesting way about her.  I ran into her at the gym the other day and was asking her questions about my routine and body composition and what not.  At this point, she informed me that she was a "competitive gymnast" in high school and it would have been impossible to find an inch of body fat on her.  She continued on about how, even when she was studying to become a trainer, her classmates would never even test her body fat percentage because you wouldn't be able to find hardly any body fat.  Wow.  If anyone knows anything about me, it is when people talk like this about their bodies.  Grrrrrrrrrrrr.  Today, she told me that I really need to be encouraging Christine to work out more.  Uh, listen Kim, I can barely get my tush to the gym.  I cannot be responsible for my friend, as well.

Seriously?

Last weekend, I got to go see Wicked with one of my besties, Erin.  We had quite the rockin' date night. We went out to dinner and then headed to the musical.  I was so excited to see Wicked and it far surpassed any expectations I had.  I remember trying to read the book about 50,000 times and could never get past the first hundred pages.  The musical was much more entertaining than I found the book.  Although, of course, now, I'm questioning myself and thinking...well maybe I should give it another shot.  Maybe I will.  Regardless, it was a great evening of fun and I'm glad that I FINALLY got to see this fabulous musical.

Ah, well, I'm headed home again this weekend.  It's going to be a whirlwind of a weekend but I can't even foresee how much fun it will be!  I can never seem to get enough of my nephews.  They are so hilariously entertaining.  Last time I was home, Joey and Johnny thought they'd come by to hang out with me and grandma.  By hang out, I mean, Johnny wanted to do "projects" with me and Joey wanted to play his electronic handheld in the chair while grandma and I watched our typical Friday night tv lineup.  Johnny found some origami to do while we watched 20/20 which happened to be all about Elton John and the adoption of his baby boy.  At one point during the interview with none other than Barbara Walters, Elton divulged how he and his partner are involved with Ukranian orphanages and that's how he started thinking of adopting a baby.  He went on to say that he was unable to adopt a child from the Ukranian orphanage because of the international laws that prevented him from doing so.  From out of nowhere, Joey pipes up, "Oh yeah, those international laws are a drag."  Excuse me?  Where did he come from?  I thought he was playing his electronic game!  Moments later, I sit observing Johnny who is working on his origami creation, and having a pretty cool dialogue with himself.  It went something like this, "Oh man, I messed up.  Wait, did I mess up?  Hm.  No.  Oh yeah, I did it right.  I'm awesome.  (shakes his head)  I'm so awesome I could never mess up."  Well, no self-image issues here, people!  Back to the interview with Barbara Walters, ol' Barbara says to Elton, "There are some people that say two men shouldn't raise a child together."  Again, from the chair, Joey chimes in, "Ah, yes, and those people would be called Republicans."  (Sorry for any Republicans in my fan base...it's a pretty liberal family I'm from!)  I was astonished that he would even come up with that.  I just busted up laughing.  What 11 year old has any idea about political parties?  Dare, I say, none?  Very few, at most.  After the interview was over, I was ready for bed, and it was time for the boys to head home.  Grandma began hassling John about picking up his origami and putting it back where he got it from, when he shouts out, "Ya can't rush a thinkin' boy grandma!"  Oh my....

I'd have to say the quote that takes the cake, however, was actually not a verbal quote at all.  It is brought to you by Joey.  He is so traumatized about the puberty unit his class is about to begin.  There have been several letters sent home to alert parents about this unit, and Joey has done a remarkable job of making sure his parents know nothing about this puberty stuff.  He is just too mortified to even bring it up.  The most recent puberty packet that was sent home, promptly got hidden under grandma's chair in her bedroom.  She found it at some point last week and when she pulled it out she saw a note attached to the papers that read, "For the love of God and all things Holy, do not open this packet."  I adore him.

Erin and I at Wicked!

Wickitini's MMMMMMMMM.....

Erin tried to take a picture of us one-handed.  Half of her Wickitini on the floor is what resulted.  ;(

Mini champagne glasses.  Oh so cute. 

Flowers from the staff for Teacher Appreciation Week.  Guess what?  I cried.  So sweet.  They wrote a very thoughtful card and I'm glad I didn't even attempt to read that in front of them!  I definitely felt valued and appreciated!

Today's List:  The Least Helpful/Comforting Sayings of ALL time.
1.  It is what it is.
2.  What will be, will be.
3.  You never know...
4.  Time will tell.


'Til next time...
J