Triathlon 2012: Forty-Five and Over...just showing up is half the battle!

Road Trip! It's time for my much anticipated first triathlon of the season!  As they say, "ready or not...". Friday I took some extra time to pull all of my gear out of storage, clean the car, pack up, and leave.  But not before a quick lunch on North Avenue with Peter!  We're just over half way through May, and it's already well into the eighties in Chicagoland...a sign of things to come?  

Hey...do you think it's too loud out here?

No, just close your eyes and imagine....calm.

And after Three Hours of driving I'm at the lake,  packet pick-up, park your bike, and so on.  This race, as simple as it appeared at the outset, is a major commitment. The logistical affairs involved in getting oneself to the race start alone are completely overwhelming, and then there is the reality (i had been warned) of the hills.  The Galena area promises hills, and as far as I can tell from my drive to race start, there will be no disappointment on this front.  It wouldn't be the day before a triathlon without a collection of people giving the water a go.  I hadn't even considered the idea, since, well, it was all I could do to arrive, but it would have been lovely to do a bit of swimming on Friday.

no ice, this year!!!

That said, I worked my way on to Galena, where I was staying, fortified with the knowledge that I'd have a night out on the town in Galena, followed by a day filled with shuttle buses and sports! Leave it to me to find the one hole in the wall in town unpopulated by nervous triathletes. The vibe in Edme bar/eatery was great, and I overheard some great chitchat.  A triathlon anywhere in the state of Illinois? All roads lead back to Chicago...of course!

refugees from chicagoland populate Galena and it's businesses.

And what about the race, you say?  No photos to document my experience, you'll have to take my word, fine reader, that I actually showed up and did the thing. What with all the usual tri-gear accoutrements and comings and goings, I didn't even slow down to take pictures of the lovely countryside on this fabulous weekend!  Next year, I'll try.

The race went off, pretty much with no hitch.  The swim was delightful and short, the bike hilly and beautiful.  Starting in the final wave gave lots of opportunities for me to pass other people.  This is a good and bad thing. That far back in the pack it's easy to feel fast without actually pushing Enough.  Then again, I had plenty left for the run, which was HOT at nearly noon.  I'm never lightning quick, and with the long, steep hill in mile one, i was proud to tick off the four miles without walking, slowing, or any other serious impediment.  So I finished fresh, realizing that the heat had taken a toll on me in this two hour race.  I spent the rest of the day trying to re-hydrate and celebrating the fact that this was the first early season race I've managed to complete in Three years! Yay!!! By looking around at the other 45-plus women who manage to show up on race day, I'm discovering that to hang on for so long is a true accomplishment.  I met a number of fabulous women, but I was particularly thrilled to meet a gal who has been racing for as long as I have been, and has tremendous accomplishments to show for it.  Her engaging smile and conversation was by far the high point of my weekend.  We talked about old time races, training outside, and our aging parents.  I looked around at all the beautiful young women racing and training (and fast) and wondered how many of these kids will hang on into their forties and fifties, with families and all sorts of baggage to show for.  Let them try! I sure hope so, maybe when I'm sixty, sitting around after a race, I'll see lots and lots and lots of other older women!!!

Happy Mother's Day, Y'all!!!

Ahhh....Mother's Day. What a fine holiday. The day that Mom gets to "not cook or clean" and either get served by others, or get taken out for a meal. Cooking? Cleaning? There's always tomorrow, the sooner the better. And now that I've got that cleared up, I have a few minutes for blogging. So what's new and exciting? Not exactly a lot, besides the arrival of spring and lots of holiday joy.  Here I am, last week, at Ashby's birthday party. Can you say, "pass the valium, please?"  I'm hoping I don't always have this glazed look on my face while talking to a nine-year old.  But look a little closer, catch the apron-dress thing?  One of my recent vintage acquisitions, which looked simply fabulous on the rack.  Unfortunately, a full frontal apron has the negative effect of, well, broadening the appearance of one's torso.  Kerry Vitali, apron creator extraordinaire, lectured me on this very theme quite some time ago, when I requested an apron that covered the stain age portion of my cooking wear, and she explained how utterly un-flattering full length aprons look.  How true, how true.

hmmm....motherly peace?

OK, now it's my darling daughter with the transparent sneer on her face...

So, now that Mother's Day is practically over, for those of us east of the Rockies, I'd like to celebrate with a song.  Connie Francis, "Mama", sort of reminds me of the mother that my own mother's generation was trying to be.  In fact, in our own moment in history, when women are being pushed back by political forces more powerful than we can comprehend, I find this delightful ditty to be heart wrenching and ominous.

But Wait...there's more!

"Did you make that?" "Why, it would take years!"

Yesterday I wrote about the fabulous aluminum cups I bought at the estate sale two doors down.  I didn't even take the time to discuss multiple shades of crochet arcana!  Dig this, in the basement I find a mint condition crochet thread weight cardigan, hand made in China, who knows in what year (1970?).  The thing, clearly has never been worn, and I love rescuing crochet of any sort, especially when it's slammin' like this garment.  Even better, there was a Gala Event to attend last night and I hadn't even begun to think about attire, so snap! Instant evening sweater! Check it out!!!!!

But there's more! In the basement, there was a pile of pattern books and cooking pamphlets, usual assemblage that you might find at a house that hadn't significantly altered in 40 years or so.  Lo and behold, I find a Granny Square pattern book from the seventies that is beyond perfection.  Words don't give this little gem justice.

Yeah, baby, dare me to sport this puppy!

Ahhh. The romance of the seventies.

I get goosebumps just thinking about the fact that the crochet revival that has taken place in my own household during the past three years has been sitting practically on top of a treasure trove of kitschy goods. Perhaps we've been cosmically connected to that little house, two doors down, little molecules have been drifting up the sidewalk all this time. Who's to say?  Something could be in the air, indeed!

Made in Italy!

Remember when...

It must be Spring! An estate sale, just two doors down! I've been waiting for this one for quite a while, and although a bit overwhelming, I wasn't disappointed.  A set of mint condition Bascal cups and I'm good for the season! Been looking for something new to put in the bathroom for our new color-coded motif! Stay tuned and I'll post a photo of the hand crocheted vintage cardigan I found in the basement. Frighteningly meticulous work, would be mistaken for machine-crochet, if there were such a thing.

A Hermit Crab Called Tiny, and a whole lot of fun!

Tiny...you're so....cute!!!!

OK, so the Unencumbered Woman is feeling a bit tethered these days. After all, there's work, practically every day of the week (how do people do this?) and then there are the children and spouse, all with squeaking needs and even requests for company and fun...what's a gal to do?  Life goes on. I'm still training, although in a very modified Ironman fashion.  Frequent blog visitors know that my posts have slowed down ( I blame Pinterest for that digression), and we've gotten some help in the house, which didn't come a moment too soon.  Updates from the adventures in and around the suburbs?  Two great photo-opportunitites in the recent past.  The other day I was teaching in Ashby's class and she was proud to share with me the pet hermit crabs that reside with the Canyon Classroom.  Cuddly creatures?  Well, they tickle a little bit, and Ashby warned me that the one crawling on my hand did NOT have a tendency to pinch, unlike the other nibbler.

See Mom?  She won't hurt you!

I'm not too skittish about unusual pets, but having experienced the pinchers of Real Dungeness crabs when crabbing as a child, I'm hesitant to pick up any animal called a crab, even, well, if it isn't a real crab.  But how could I resist? The students are so proud and Ashby was very proud of her extended responsibility this week.





And then today, what better excuse to NOT go for a bike ride than a birding adventure with our local birding expert extraordinaire, David.  We went to Jackson Park, in Chicago, and were delighted to see all matter of winged and feathered friends.

The book displays were the only times that I didn't have my own binocs pasted to my eye!

It's all about paying attention.

 Needless to say, we have a new hobby!  We spotted sparrows, thrushes, cardinals, woodpeckers, and more.  With field guide and binoculars in hand, we were ready to take it all on!  A gorgeous day in the city , indeed! Who needs to ride a bike for four hours when they have access to such fun and learning!?  So, It's all about balance, finding the right thing for the right time, and letting things happen as they should.

After three hours or so, Ashby is winding up, but the rest are just catching the bug!

Japanese Garden...who knew??? Chicago Park District, that's who!

Dear ATT

Midcentury gem: rare in Oak Park but not extinct.

Dear AT&T, 
Thank you for providing me and my family with mediocre dsl connection.  My constant drops in internet connection have prevented me from fully indulging in my obsession with Pinterest and other online activities.  When the connection slows down, it gives me an opportunity to walk away from the computer and do something else...like eat breakfast.  Today, in particular, I'm grateful that you are visiting my alley to inspect the wiring and connection to my home.  Because our date will occur sometime between 8AM and 8PM, it gives me ample excuse to sit in my pajamas for the entire day, surfing the web and pinning images, so I can accurately log the multiple occasions that internet service is interrupted.  If it weren't for you, AT&T, I might have dragged myself out of bed this morning and gone for a bike ride, or at least a run sometime before 12 noon.  But with your loving support,  I'm sitting here with a cup of hot coffee and bowl of ten grain cereal.  Oh well, let's hope we can resolve this issue, or I'll never leave this desk.


With Warmth,
Karen


ps: in case you're wondering, AT&T, why I've attached a photo of the above home, (which is not my home, as you probably already know), it's because I wonder, deep in the recesses of my mind, whether everyone in our fine village suffers such angst at the hands of the telecom giant, (you), dear friend.  Is it possible that each of us, in our own way, is experience sub-par experience, be it with our home telephone service, our internet, or even our cellular service?  This home, one of my favorite midcentury houses in Oak Park, looks so pristine and complete. It's hard to imagine that it's inhabitants suffer such inconveniences also.  Usually, when my computer sputters or I hear static on the line on my telephone, I assume it's some blunder of mine, or my family's...but really, what if these folks are suffering too? After all, they have a vintage portal-front door, painted to perfection, a bleached coral. Don't they deserve the great service as promised?  Well?

Postcard from Oregon. Growing Old(er).

And yes. That is the author's red wine.

Mom and Dad at the Firehouse Restaurant. 61 years of marriage and counting.  Given the chronic fatigue and exhaustion of the mid-forties that Peter and I experience, it's hard to imagine dumping another 45 years on top of this.  Wow.  Walk in my shoes, I suppose.  Not always done with grace, but always loving their daughter, I thankfully admit. Today, watching my almost thirteen year old sidle into the car while her friends walked away on the date that I had denied her (it is a Monday afternoon, after all), I couldn't help but remember what seventh grade was like for me.  Who knows what is right? All I know for sure, is that all of that confidence that we brought to the parenting of babies and toddlers seems so completely irrelevant today.  I know it all mattered--at least it mattered because now it is the memory and record of who we are and what we did.  I guess I'm just feeling, as I often do, completely humbled by the experience (of life) and outclassed in many ways (by my peers).  So, Mom and Dad, congratulations on making it this far and being able to celebrate the new season's arrival with your family. We're all in your corner, watching you take on this bravest of challenges.