Why I don't post

Honestly, I feel like I just incur anger and jealousy - what with the land-of-milk-and-honeyness. It was just so, so much easier to write in Idaho, what with all there was to complain about! Snow in June, snow in September, windy bike rides, freezing hands, boring restaurants, charging moose, prowling mountain lions .... People love to know your pain!

On the positive side of Idaho, there were all those picturesque hikes begging to be photographed, back when I had a camera battery that was charged.

Now I feel like no matter what I write about, you (the single reader who still occasionally gives the blog a glance) are going to think, "So? But she's still in California!"

I can say, "But I think I've set a Guinness book record for most times draining a car battery in a month", I had to walk home with the kids carrying a chicken on our backs, and you'll say, "But it was gorgeous and sunny and 70!"

This just happened, by the way (third time since maybe 2/1), and we did contrast it with being stranded in Idaho. Surely, someone there would've offered us a ride - well, potentially. Or at least we'd have someone to call - if our phones weren't all out of power. Here they just think I'm that crazy "eco-mom" who's making her kids walk home because gas is $4+/gallon.

I can also say, "We had to spend all of last weekend at an outdoor swim meet with much of it IN THE RAIN!" And you will say, "But it was still o.k. to be in a pool in the rain? Wow, you're so lucky!"

Really? Lucky? I would think that might be unlucky even in an Alaskan's book. Who knew that every swim meet in Southern California is outside? This was the big short course ender - the Junior Olympics for San Diego County. Ethan qualified in five events plus 2 relays, Lucy in one event plus 2 relays. Because I always provide results, here goes (I'll get back to trying to complain in a minute):

Ethan
100 IM - 11th place - 1:25.75
50 Free - 15th place - 32.64
50 Fly - DQ (did freestyle to start - ugh - thought we were over that!)
200 freestyle relay - 2:09.29 - 3rd place
50 Back - 37.17 - 8th place (medal)
100 free - 1:11.35 - 17th place
200 medley relay - 2:23.6 - 3rd place - qualified for Western zones

Lucy
50 fly - 12th place - 31.00s
200 freestyle relay - 1:59.93 (12th place)
200 medley relay - 2:11.13 (8th place)

So in addition the OUTDOORED-NESS and RAIN, there's also the fact that it's crazy competitive here for swimming. I did a comparison of the Idaho short course championships, and for the most part, the kids would've placed much, much higher there!

On to other topics, I also have to live with the constant suggestion from co-workers that I am always "Out surfing" or "When you finish catching waves", or "Surf's up!" to end a call. I have not ever surfed and probably never will. I sit at a desk in a corner in my bedroom (aka "the lair") and rarely leave except to shuttle the children or ride a bike.

Honestly, people! California isn't all surfboards and tanned bodies and blond hair!

Ok, mostly it is, but I experience sadly very little of any of that.

I am sporting some pretty fly bike tan lines on my legs and arms. I am in week 8 of my century training - and doing perfectly until TODAY! I am so lame. I couldn't face down heading out there for some reason. 30 miles felt far. And lonely.

You're like, "Oh, because it's such a challenge to ride along the beautiful pacific ocean in your spacious bike lane in your bike couture and on your top of the line bike?" Sadly, I am what you'd call "anti-bike couture" - although I was told I have "character". I wear plain bike shorts, random jerseys, wool socks and purple 80s sunglasses. I am quite looked down upon on my old aluminum Masi with the worn out everything and 15-year old bike shoes with holes. "What is that SOUND?" says snobby cyclist guy who I am passing. "Oh, just my bike."

I am trying to decide whether or not to upgrade my bike. I have been offered a "super-bro deal" - but it's hard for me to make the move. If I get the bike, then I feel like I'm "one of them". Like David, with the Swami's "kit" (Swami's = local cycling team; "kit" = matching get-up), competing ALL the time on normal rides, with the like $300 shoes or whatever those people spend. I'm just not sure I want to be THAT Joe Pro.

I don't feel like Idaho was into the 'couture' as much - as the bike shop owner said, "It was more about the go, less about the show." (I can't pull off the Cali talk like these people)

You're like, blah blah blah - it's still biking along the Pacific Ocean!!!

True. It's hard to beat the weather. It's hard to beat being able to walk outside, look at blooming flowers and feel the sunshine when you're having a hard day. The whole point of me starting this blog originally was to accept where I was - in Idaho - and live in the moment, write about the moment, enjoy the moment where it was, without always wishing you were "somewhere else" (which I spent at least the first six years there doing). Even in the land of milk and honey, I still need that advice - because while it's beautiful here, it's awful lonely. Despite all of Idaho's problems, I find myself often wishing I were still there - for the all the friends and comforts of what became "home"...But if I learned anything, I shouldn't spend the even six months here wishing I was "somewhere else"...

So I will try to start writing again. I sure do read a lot. One thing I absolutely adore is our library here - in spite of the fact they made me buy the book I dropped in the bath tub (I wanted it anyway). The $1 book sale area is like my sacred space right now.