July 2008
July 10th, 2008
Here I sit updating the website instead of packing for our trip tomorrow. I have cleared my calendar today so that I can do nothing but laundry, packing and some cleaning...yet have not done any of those things yet. I have vowed to myself that I am not going to overpack this time. I am usually the one you see pulling 3 pounds of stuff out of my suitcase at the airport check-in, to get my bag within the 50 lb limit. That's after I've already hit the UPS store on the way to the airport to ship a big box full of stuff I picked up along the trip. Not this time. For once I don't have to pack diapers, or tons of other baby gear. Just swim suits, pajamas and a few outfits. Should be easy and lightweight. We'll see. This is going to be an interesting trip, to say the least. For the first time since having children old enough to require their own ticket, we are attempting to fly using Buddy Passes, i.e. going standby. So far it looks like we will get on the flights we're listed for. But that could all change and we could spend the day sitting in an airport somewhere. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well, and that we get there and back as planned.
July 6th, 2008
We spent the 4th of July weekend in Atlanta, GA with my brother Lenny, and his family. We (me, Chris, Lenny, Carley, and Austin) ran the Peachtree Road Race early on the 4th. It's a 10K (6.2 miles) race down Peachtree Road in downtown Atlanta. What a fun time! Chris has done this race before, but I never had. I think it's the funnest race I've ever done. It wasn't easy, by any means, but it sure was fun. The weather was great: sunny, 70's, a little humid, but not too bad at all. Carol and Catherine kept Melanie and Morgan, and brought them down to their favorite spot to watch the race. I spotted them as I was running along, just at the top of "cardiac hill". I was unpleasantly surprised (well, not really surprised) by all the hills...but I will mostly remember how much fun it was. There were 55,000 runners and walkers. It was huge. Chris finished really well, with a time just under 48 minutes. I squeaked in just under an hour. Although I hoped to finish under 55 minutes, I am not unhappy with my time. There were lots of hills, and so many people to contend with. If you ever get the chance, this is a race you can have fun running or walking. It's a parade-like atmosphere with spectators really cheering you on the whole way. Some of the things we saw spectators giving out to the runners: beer, donuts, holy water (at the Catholic Church - there was a big sprayer you could run through, and the priest was throwing it also), cupcakes, cookies...
Yesterday we went to the Atlanta Braves game against Houston. That was fun. Turner Field is a really nice ball park. The Braves didn't do so great, but it didn't matter. We still enjoyed ourselves.
We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing, swimming, and just hanging around. It was perfect. Chris, Lenny, Catherine and Austin even got in a little round of golf at a local Par 3 course. We had our own little fireworks display, but could also see some really nice fireworks from Len and Carol's driveway.
Catherine and Melanie Carley, Lenny and Austin
Morgan, not quite awake The view from Len and Carol's driveway