Fight On!

Just like that, I'm at my son's freshman orientation -- for college.  

Seriously, what the hell?? 

My heart. All the feelings!

My son graduated from high school about six weeks ago. He turned 18 last February and five days later got a tattoo. Five days. No judgement here; I have two tattoos of my own -- but you gotta be impressed by the swiftness of that decision. 

Graduation: Aunt Erika and Boydoll get jiggy wit it.

Boydoll's last four years of high school passed by in an instant. Well, up until the last three months of school...which crawled by. As nostalgic as I was over the 'lasts' -- his last school dance (freaking prom, y'all) and his final jazz performance of his high school career, senioritis is for real. We were both totally over it by the end of the year. 

This last year has been pretty incredible for both kids. My daughter graduated with her BA in psychology in three years (!!!). She moved home for a year to work full-time and save money, took the GRE and applied to grad schools...and recently was accepted into a doctorate program. I am beyond proud. I can't stop bragging on her. I mean, come on. 

Kids these days, amirite? 

Congratulations Dr. Gwennie!

This one is a trifecta of ferocity, drive and beauty!

So, you might see where this is going. 

That's right -- in 7 short weeks, we'll be empty nesters. I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter in our lives: my husband will retire in (hopefully) four or five years, we'll slowly remodel the house [emphasis on s l o w l y], and do a little traveling. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm bracing myself for the roller coaster of emotions that next month will bring. There will be lots of ugly crying when both kids move out of the house and into their new lives. 

Seventeen Again

I came across this letter stored in the Werdsmith app on my phone. I wrote it for my son's 17th birthday last winter. It's sappy as hell but I'll blame it on the jet lag.
  
Dear Son, 

I am traveling to Japan today and you have been on my mind. The significance of my trip is big. I’m celebrating my 50th birthday this summer and I am taking a bucket-list trip to Japan with your aunt. I loathe that expression — bucket list. It feels trite or like some silly meme, but I suppose it’s the human condition to have things in this lifetime that you want to see or accomplish. Life goals, amirite? On our drive to the airport, we had a conversation about you. We both agreed that we each have a connection and big love for you and the incredible person you are. I always like to write you and your sister letters to commemorate each birthday, and it’s crazy to me that you’re seventeen. I was looking at a picture of you and your sister that was taken about four years ago...and I was struck by how much you have changed. Dude! You were almost unrecognizable in the photo — you were just a little guy, but now you hold the distinction of being the tallest person in our family. It’s all kinds of awesome. 

Dressed up for lunch with Poppa. 2011

G's college graduation. May 2018

This past year has been a really crazy one for our community. Between the intense fires right before Christmas to the devastating mudslides that shut our city down, it felt like the holidays were almost an afterthought. You missed a month of school and we were evacuated from our home for over a week. The novelty of staying in a hotel was short lived, but we made our own fun spending a day in Solvang, visiting Ostrich Land, going to the movies and having dinner at a hipster restaurant in Buelton (charcuterie, anyone?). I was happy to have the dogs along with us — it went a long way toward boosting morale. Yeah, I’m not going to lie...dressing Riley up in leg warmers was pretty epic.

[obligatory Flashdance reference]
'Just a steel town dog on a Saturday night...'

All of that coincided with an invitation for you to join The Caverns. They are a fun band with a big local following, and it’s so awesome that you’re getting paid for gigs now. You have been diligently saving Christmas and birthday money towards buying a car, so it’s neat that you’re earning money playing in a band as well. And, if you weren’t already motivated or busy enough as it is...you landed your first real job as a skate shop last week. Taking names and kicking ass.

The Caverns at Figueroa Mountain Brewery

It’s bonkers that you’re a few months away from finishing your junior year in high school. In a few weeks, you and dad are headed off to look at a colleges. It’s such an exciting time! Due to the timing of this trip, I’ll be too wrecked to travel across the country less than 48 hours after returning to the States, but I’m looking forward to touring University of North Texas together later in the school year. 

Grammy Camp 2018
This photo hadn't happened when I originally wrote
this letter...but it's my blog and I can take
time-travel liberties if I want to.

You are one of my very favorite people to spend time with, and I am looking forward to taking a few vacations this summer as a family. I am beyond proud of you.

Always,

Momma

Couch to Active

I have been a fitness ambassador for FitApproach #Sweatpink for almost 4 years. Sweat Pink is a group of fitness influencers with an online presence. I really love their philosophy of fitness and health, and the founders have been nothing but responsive and kind to me in the several interactions I've had with them.

Recently, I was given two Couch to Active workbooks - one to keep and review, and one to giveaway on social media. Written by Lyn Lindbergh, she has a practical and no-nonsense approach to fitness. It's like having access to a motivational speaker who also cuts to the chase: exercise is vital and not some unnecessary luxury.

I created daily prompts through my Instagram stories that such as myths about exercise or 'stretch' exercises (we want to try) out of our comfort zones. Spoiler: mine is one of those aerial classes where your are suspended in the air using strips of fabric or 'silks'. Crazy cool, right? 

I added that cool sunglasses IG filter to Lyn's
cover photo. I hope she doesn't mind terribly :)

Mine would be taking an aerial class.
They look beautiful and crazy hard!
Have you tried one?

Congratulations to Kashmira G. for winning my giveaway! She answered each daily prompt with thoughtful and positive comments. If you are ever in San Diego, check out her indoor cycling classes at Carmel Valley CycleBar. She received the Couch to Active workbook, as well as a few extra goodies from me. 

Congratulations Kashmira!

Sabbatical

Okay, I don't suck -- it's just been a long time. A really long time!

Here's the thumbnail of what I haven't blogged about: 

1. my son's drivers license 

2. my daughter's college graduation

3. numerous birthdays

4. my first tattoo 

5. (for our) 25th wedding anniversary 

(except we got them on our 27th wedding anniversary)

(are you keeping up??)

6. perimenopause (you're welcome)

7. running and not running

8. starting a podcast

8. Japan (you’re not getting off so lucky on this one — definitely blogworthy)

8. general daily shenanigans

So, what was important enough to bring me out of my blogger sabbatical?

Marco Polo Motel. Nice rooms. 

I STAYED AT THE HOTEL WHERE KURT COBAIN SHOT HEROIN. 

Yeah, that. 

I visited Seattle last summer with my best girl. It was an emotional trip that I won't go into for reasons, but it was also incredibly special.

Pike Place Pig. Who doesn't love alliterations??

When you wait 45 minutes in the sun to get into the
first ever Starbucks, they give you umbrellas. #mybestgirl

Starbs 

My snaps are woefully few and far between anymore.
Snapchat still has the best filters, though.

MoPOP

PREPARE TO DIE. - Inigo Montoya

Hair game strong.

If you haven't been to the Museum of Popular Culture (formerly known as the Experience Music Project), it is incredible. I have visited the museum when it was the EMP, but the exhibits have expanded into, well, popular culture. We didn't have nearly enough time to see everything properly -- their Infinite Worlds of Science fiction installation is fabulous. Your girl LOST HER FUCKING SHIT over the Blade Runner exhibit. Complete with pages from the screenplay and the actual clear raincoat and boots that Zhora wore...before being gunned down by Harrison Ford's Deckard. It was so unexpected and amazing that I may or may not have actually cried a little. 

Do you think I'd be working in a place
like this if I could afford a real snake?

If TV or movie pop culture isn't your thing, the music exhibits at MoPOP are very cool and totally worth the visit. Also, the ratty sweater Kurt Cobain's wore on MTV Unplugged lives there. (See what I did there? FULL CIRCLE, BITCHEZ.) We didn't have enough time to see anything beyond the fantasy and science fiction exhibits. I cannot wait to go back.

I promise not to be a stranger for so long next time. Pinky swear!

How Sweet It Is

Dear Son,

You turned sixteen weeks ago. Of course, this entry was supposed to be fully written to go live on your actual birthday - but life has a way of sneaking up on me anymore. So, there’s that.

Having teenagers is nuts, but not in the way that most people think it is. I have actually enjoyed this parenting stage as much as any other. That is not to say being a teenager doesn’t come with it’s own share of mini-dramas, but what stage in life doesn’t? When I say nuts, I’m talking about fever-pitch activities and the time management required for being a teenager nowadays.

I don’t think I would have graduated from school with the requirements you face. Throw social media into that mix, and it would have been a bad outcome. Maybe I'm not giving myself enough credit - although, admittedly, I did a lot of stupid shit - just ask Zaydee. Wait. On second thought, don’t ask your grandmother. She would gleefully dish out details you would never want to know about your mom.

You have lived your life around the presence of social media and the immediacy of having world-knowledge at your fingertips. I’m still tripping over the ability to see and talk to your sister remotely on FaceTime.

Anyway. All of this is to say that you are a champ. Obviously, I’m biased.

That jacket is sweet.

However, I’m not just talking about your incredible accomplishments as a musician, or your wickedly funny sense of humor. It’s bigger than that. Dad has described you as an old soul on more than one occasion. He’s completely right. You have a calm and a wisdom far beyond your 16 years. We aren’t a religious family, but I have always believed in karma and kindred spirits. From the moment I held you the first time, you were mine and I was yours. It was as simple as that. It could be how all parents feel about their children, but there is a connection between us so profound that I am overwhelmed by it.

Ew, right?? Not really. #sorrynotsorry

 Kauai 2012. You always have my heart. 

As one of the other parents from your jazz combo recently noted: you no longer sound like a rock drummer trying to play jazz. You have continued to develop your chops as a musician and have truly found your voice as a jazz drummer. There are few things that give me more joy than watching you play music.

Boys & Girls Club fundraiser, August 2015

You passed your written driving test and began driving a few weeks ago. While these milestones are sweet, it is the reminder of how quickly you’re growing up. Both your dad and I are always talking about it. Older people wax poetic about that kind of stuff all the time.

Sharp dressed man! Jazz Festival, March 2017

Year after next, you’ll begin applying to colleges. Although I’ve been through that with your sister, it’s not going to be any easier when you leave for college. Regardless, I have great faith in the man you are becoming. I know you’ll go out and do great things...because you already are great.

All my love,

Momma

#teamsparkle

I’m so behind in my blog posts, you guys. I was honored to be featured on Sparkle Athletic's blog in January. I know. Here it is, mid-March and I’m just now telling you all about it.

If you’re not familiar with Team Sparkle, they are as awesome as they sound. Sparkle Athletic was founded by three friends in 2010. A few years after their company was established, I ran the Warrior Dash with my daughter and a group of friends. We established a team of runners, some of whom were friends of friends. That's the beauty of running: you make connections with people that you might not have met otherwise.

One of those friends was a woman we met at the race with her now-husband then-boyfriend and their dog Frank. I obviously liked Brenna right from the start: anyone who has a dog sidekick named ‘Frank’ that also happens to be a Labrador has to be amazing, right?? Brenna had a bunch of ‘dress up’ stuff for us to wear: glitter skirts, striped sleeves and visors. I asked her where she had gotten the loot, and she casually explained her aunt Kelly owned a company that sold athletic wear.

This certainly wasn’t like any athletic wear I had seen before. I still own the skirt and sleeves Brenna give me that day, and I have worn my black and silver sparkle skirt to races several times over.

Believe it or not, I was actually able to salvage my
#teamsparkle outfit. I have laundry skillz, y'all.

Holy crap, were we ever muddy. Good times! I count my lucky stars we didn’t get hepatitis.

Anyway! It was an incredible honor to be a featured runner on their site. Many thanks to one of my favorite social media runners Carlee McDot for reaching out to me and making this happen.

#runalways

I was thrilled to be a featured on the  #RunAlways Instagram account in January. Like the name implies, it's an account designed to inspire and connect the global running community.

 

A RUNNING STORY ------------------------------------------ I am an addict/alcoholic. Running is a huge part of my recovery and it has turned into a form of meditation; my head is quiet when my body is moving. . I was 35 years old when I began running. It started out of necessity because my son wouldn't stay in childcare at the gym. I ran 3-4 days a week pushing a baby jogger, but it took a full year before it was something I looked forward to doing. . I had heard you could get high from running. At age 38, I decided to run my first full marathon. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I ran my second full marathon on my 40th birthday. . Two weeks afterward, my entire right arm went numb during a run. I thought I was having a stroke or heart attack, until I realized the sensation stopped immediately when I began walking. I was diagnosed with bulging discs in my neck. My doctor said I had to stop running. . Against his advice, I slowly began running again. I made some corrections to my form and gave up road cycling. Three years after my injury, I ran my fastest half marathon and finished the course with a PR of 2:05. My glory was short-lived. During the race I felt a small tug on the back of my leg, but I had so much adrenaline onboard that I was able to shake it off and finish strong. . I tried running a few days later - the tug had become a sharp pain at the top of my right hamstring. I was diagnosed with bursitis. Despite seeing my chiropractor weekly, it took nearly four months of no running for the injury to heal. This coincided with some thyroid issues and I quickly gained 25 pounds. . Over the last 5 years, my relationship with running has changed and so have my expectations. Last November, I ran the same event, only to finish one hour and forty-five minutes slower than my PR. It was enormously humbling. . Running is a fickle thing. Injury has taught me to be resilient, and it is a part of my success as a runner. I always surprise myself when I persevere. - Featured Runner: Brea McInnes @babydoll_brea / California ~ It's not just about inspiring pictures, it's also about inspiring stories. _ Tell us yours: run-culture@run-always

A post shared by Run Always (@run.always) on Jan 23, 2017 at 4:31pm PST

The account is run (no pun intended) by several administrators, one of whom goes by the pseudonym Runnermarx. I discovered his account years ago, and he now has over 6.5K followers. Mark is a lifelong runner with a true passion for the sport. He's a great guy: outgoing, smart and incredibly knowledgeable. And yeah, it doesn't hurt that he starred in a beer commercial that aired during Superbowl halftime. Just sayin'. 

Anyway! It was an honor to be chosen to share my running story. Check it out and let me know what you think.