The Westminster Alumni Triathlon

This past weekend was "Alumni Weekend" at Westminster College where Jim went to school in Fulton, Missouri. He was very excited to find out, some months ago, that a triathlon for students, faculty, and alumni would be hosted on campus during this particular weekend. It would be a low-key and fun practice event for the upcoming, and more competitive triathlons in which he has planned to participate later this season.

We were so pleased that our usual crew of observers were able to attend the event. Jim's mom and dad, his sister and her kids, and Chris were all there and cheering. Even some new spectators were in attendance! These included Josh and Mark, two of Jim's close college friends. It was beautiful weather for the event, and although Jim got off to a rocky start with some pre-race tire troubles, it was a great day. (It is safe to say that the air pump will never be forgotten back in the hotel room again.)

What is the most fun to report is that Jim was announced as the overall winner of the event with a finishing time of 1 hour, 11 minutes! We were all so proud of him. On a side note, these triathlons are famous for dishing out the heavy duty and expensive prizes, and this one was no exception. His winnings included a towel, a sports water bottle, and a gift certificate. These prizes clearly beat out any previous tokens he's collected in the past as a participant, including all the coffee cups and pairs of socks. We were raking it in. The real prize, of course, is the joy of competing, but that lessens the impact of my sarcasm, doesn't it?

Congrats to a speedy Jim. "Go Daddy, Go!" indeed.

Above, Jim rounds the corner on the bike, preparing to dismount and head to the transition area prior to his running portion of the race.

Nearing the end of the run, Jim is still looking strong. How annoying is this black speck at right that's apparently deep inside my camera lens? Let's name the speck, "Walter."

Jim looks triumphant after the finish. Walter looks smug.

Jack particularly enjoys the triathlon experience, as it provides the occasional opportunity to make playmates of his cousins. Below, Jack, Maria (left), and Cecilia (right) play around sections of the Berlin Wall as they are on permanent display at the Westminster campus where Winston Churchill once delivered a well known speech.

Back From Traveling

This past weekend, Jim and I flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I had never been there, so I was quite excited in looking at the pictures of palm trees, blue skies, and ocean scenes before the trip. We finally arrived after descending through a thunderstorm and experiencing the kind of turbulence that makes me clammy and green. Once Jim took me up in a little two seater airplane, and I can remember the only thing that prevented my throwing up was the picturing of being closed in a gray metal room. I know that's weird, but it was all that halted the ruining of a good blouse. I haven't really needed to conjure up the metal room image since then... that is, until this past weekend. It's not that I'm afraid. It's just that, for some reason, as I get older, I get more and more susceptible to motion sickness. I don't know why that is, and come to think of it, I don't know another person that can be DRIVING the car and be the only one getting car sick. But whatever.

Anyway, I had my focal point on the seat in front of me and was quietly breathing through the nausea when we at last landed in Florida. The weather was just like the pictures, and it was gorgeous. I enjoyed the 85 degree weather while my hair instinctively assumed its Florida frizz position. Keeping in mind that the folks back home had April snowflakes, the frizzy hair was worth it.

While vacationing we had the bright idea to drive down to Key Largo so that we could say we'd been to the Florida Keys. The drive turned out to be MUCH longer than expected. This was partly because of a lot of bathroom stops for so many people, but it was also because we learned that Key Largo has virtually nothing to see. You are basically forced to continue driving on to Key West just so that you can say you didn't waste your day. What makes traveling to Key West by 12-passenger van with a bunch of virtual strangers bearable? Key Deer, of course! Now, I've never been to Key West, but as we were driving along the causeways, I surely did not expect to see "Deer Crossing" signs. Crocodile crossing, sure... but really? Deer?

What are deer doing on the keys (and HOW did they get there) was a real bonding conversation in the vehicle. We laughed about the animals trotting along the seven mile bridge. Surely that's not how it happened. Wikipedia offers a nice picture and reveals that the deer are a tiny version of what we're used to seeing in Missouri. The deer were apparently trapped on the islands after the most recent Ice Age when a glacier melted, causing the sea level to rise.

This explanation seems ordinary and definitely not as funny as the ponderings by van that day. We looked and looked for the elusive little creatures, but I finally lost it when someone in the back whispered, "I bet they have webbed feet."

The Critical Meaning of "Sometimes"

Jack has not been at school all week due to complications from severe seasonal allergies. Anyway, I think we're past the breathing treatments at the Urgent Care facility, but he is still congested. We're giving school a "go" tomorrow, and we'll see what happens.

Last Friday my classroom phone rang, and when I answered it, the school nurse over in Jack's building described his puffy eyes -- I was not especially surprised at this outcome of an outside recess. However, if you've not witnessed this instant springtime eye-puffing with Jack, it's quite a scene. She was audibly relieved that Great Grandma/Pa were able to come and pick him up. I can see why she was nervous. After all, he was clawing at his face.

This morning, while driving to work with Jack in the back, I told him that he was going to go back to school tomorrow. I mentioned that tomorrow was the class "Spring Party" in my best excited Mommy voice. He replied, "Sometimes I don't like parties." At this I was surprised and raised at eyebrow via the rearview. "Whaaat?!? You don't want to go to the party at school tomorrow, Jack?"

Dramatic and exasperated pause...

"Mom, I said sometimes. Sometimes I don't like parties, but tomorrow I want to go. You didn't listen."

Pink Eye is the Pits

I've never had pink eye in my entire childhood life. I've never had pink eye through eight years of being a teacher. I never had pink eye through year one, two, or three of Jack's existence. But now, I've had pink eye, and you can say that again! To be more specific, I've had three bouts of pink eye in the last two months. No one else around me has it at the moment. WHAT is going on?!

Anyway, this is the worst episode yet. Both of my poor little eyes are shrunken and blood red. The kids say, "You look different." Or they say, "Mrs. Hoodenpyle, are you tired?" When I explain the actual cause for my altered appearance, they get this look on their faces... It's the heebie-jeebie look. Yeah, I'm right there with ya, kids. This isn't any fun.

Last night, I must've gotten up five times just to wipe away the eye-gunk. This is disgusting. And it makes for a crotchety feeling on a Monday.