October 09, 2008
A Nice Fall
The weather is cooler, it's dark too early and the leaves are starting to change. We're into the school year and the kids have developed their homework/playtime rhythm -- at least until next week, when field hockey ends and Katie will have free time to fill.
We saw Andy and Lynn in Baltimore last week for our now annual birthday get-together/music fest at the Living Classrooms Maritime Magic fundraiser at the harbor. This year we saw The Subdudes, and the weather was again great and the food was excellent.
Tomorrow is the end of my "exercise year" which runs from October 11 to October 10. I track my workouts (maybe a bit obsessively) so I know I managed to increase my biking mileage 30 percent over last year, pedaling almost 4400 miles, on moving bikes and the ones in the gym that don't move. I got in almost 1000 miles on my new bike, which I bought in August. I'm pretty happy about seeing my distance and speed improve. And the 2.1 is a fun-to-ride bike.
Despite a ride that featured getting stung by a bee AND getting hit by a car, I haven't had any serious mishaps. I have, however, learned two important lessons about the sacrifices needed to increased my riding.
September 22, 2008
20 Years
Mary Ellen and I took a little time away to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We farmed the kids out to friends and relatives then took off early on Friday to a bed and breakfast in Washington, VA.
Friday evening we had dinner at The Inn at Little Washington. We'd been to the Inn about 15 years ago, as a sort of last treat to ourselves Before Children (Katie arrived six weeks later). Since then, it's been our private standard for food and service. Our dinner on Friday confirmed that first impression -- we had a fantastic meal and a really fun evening. For all the fancy decor and high staff-to-guest ratio (and the high price) it isn't stuffy -- or even centered on the food, which really was delicious. Somehow, they make you feel like the evening would not be complete if you hadn't shown up and enjoyed yourself.
On Saturday we hiked Old Rag, which I'd been trying to convince Katie and Mary Ellen, and especially Sean, who would love the rock scramble, to do for years. It's a great hike -- the rocky parts are challenging, there are great views in all directions from the summit, and the way down is long enough that you feel like you worked a bit by the end.
Later, describing the hike to Sean, I mentioned that the rock scramble was about ten times more difficult than our local favorite, the Billy Goat Trail, and that he might not be able to handle it. He was incredulous: "What the heck? if Mom can do it, you know I can."
September 06, 2008
End of Summer
UPDATE: Code Black Band video
The kids are back in school, and the transition from summer was pretty smooth. Sean's moved up to a new school this year, with changing classes, lockers and gym uniforms. Katie is no longer a lowly freshman, and is on the way to running the place two years from now. She's playing field hockey again, and we're all happy she made the squad -- there was tougher competition this year.
Highlights from the summer included our annual beach visit -- early this year to accommodate August field hockey, a quick trip to Rochester to help John turn 50, and Sean performances with Code Black at the School of Rock.