What is your husband up to?

Last evening, Bill and I went to a Jimmy Hendrix Tribute concert.  It was a great concert, with some wonderfully talented musicians (Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, a guitar player from the Doors, and many more).  At one point, I looked over at Bill and asked if he was okay.  After he said he was fine, he asked me "why?"  I told him he hadn't moved in quite sometime.  To which he replied "I'm concentrating." He was obviously very intent on both listening to the music, but also observing the incredible talent of the musicians.  At the risk of sounding "old," let me say this was one "LOUD" rocking concert.  At the end of the evening, as we headed out the door, I noticed Bill had something whiteish in his ear.  At about that same moment, he casually reached up and pulled it out....I thought this was a bit strange, so I asked what was in his ear....Are you ready for the answer?....mint wrappers...in a matter of fact tone he explained that about the second song in, he could barely stand the noise (aka music), so he got out the mint from the restaurant where we had dinner, ate the mint, then put the wrapper in his ears. This is but one reason in a list of many as to why I love my husband like I do......

Why we vote

No matter who we are or what we believe (gender, race, politics, religious, etc., this is an excellent reminder of the impact we have on the choices for future generations, and the impact those of days gone by have had on us...

THIS IS MOVING.  HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET, IF WE EVER KNEW,  WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE. This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago.  Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote. The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed  nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking  for the vote.    And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.  Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing  went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of  'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'  (Lucy Burns) They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above  her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping  for air.    (Dora Lewis)  They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her  head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,  Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.  Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,  beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,  when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because  they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right  to vote.  For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their  food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.    (Alice Paul)  When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks  until word was smuggled out to the press.  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf  So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because-  -why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work?  Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new  movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle  these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling  booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder. All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote.  Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.  Sometimes it was inconvenient. My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history,  saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk  about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought  kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said.  'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use,  my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just  younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn..' The  right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.' HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history,  social studies and government teachers would include the movie in  their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere  else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think  a little shock therapy is in order. It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'  Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.  We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women.

Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote. History is being made.

Tri Girl Tri

A few weeks ago, I headed to CA to take part in the Tri Girl Tri with my sister Teri.  We had been planning this great event for quite some time, so we were both very excited.    (Ummm... if you happen to run into Teri and she tries to tell you I cheated by doing a tri the month before, do not believe her.  We had an agreement that we were both going to do a tri before our tri together, though she did her's in the form of a relay, as the runner; their team placed first in their age division in Ukiah..congrats).  Anyway, I digress.

Thursday when I arrived, Teri took me to our brother Steve's house, where I spent the first night and got in hours of wonderful visiting with Steve and his wife, Diana.  When I got up the next morning, Steve informed me that I couldn't speak to him until after he'd had his coffee and worked his Sudoku puzzles...apparently, Friday is Diabolical Day and he times himself. (Somethings in life just do not change, such as the way big brothers treat little sisters :)) .

Anyway, Teri came to pick me up sometime later and we headed off to the bike store so I could pick up my rental bike.   This was some bike, let me tell you.  At home, I have a great Touring bike, but this was a true Road Bike....can we say "F-A-S-T", like the wind!!!  We also bought matching, must have, cycling jerseys.  Then we ran a few errands, and fretted over the windy day and the lower than expected temperatures.  In the evening, we enjoyed cheering Ryan's JV football team to victory, and met up with Haley and the rest of the local family for a pre-race dinner.  

Back at Tom and Teri's, we embarked on final race preparations, and later I headed to our room for a few moments of quiet time.  

The following morning, I arose earlier than early to get ready.  Word from the been there...if your razor breaks at 4:30 in the morning on the day of your big race, don't try to shave with just the razor head...it will result in bandaids in your arm pit, which can be very uncomfortable, and more unsightly than a couple of days growth.

Under the still cover of darkness, off we went to meet up with a few of Teri's friends and caravan to Lake Berryessa, the site of the race.  As we drove, we kept an eye on the temperature (in the 40's), and the windy (very windy).  We arrived and after bundling up in all the extra warm gear we had and convincing ourselves it would get warmer when the sun came up, we headed off to the transition area. About half way there, we were met by Teri's friend Jen, who informed us that they had cancelled the swim due to unsafe conditions.  At this level of competition, there is generally a large percentage who have never swam in open water, and likely are only able to swim the distance in a swimming pool, therefore, safety being of primary consideration, I thought this was wise.

Instead, we would run an extra 1/2 mile leg at the start.  Teri was obviously disappointed as she had trained long and hard for this moment.  I was disappointed, because swimming is my strongest leg, and running my weakest, and my feet were already bothering me.

In honor of the cancelled swim, several of us opted to wear our caps and goggles for the substituted run leg.  Off we went in waves of about 75...ankles twisting in the sand, adrenaline carrying us like wings.

Despite the wind and chilly weather, it was  a good race.  Teri placed 10th in her age group, and I bettered my Tri Turtle time (my goal for this race, in addition to finishing and having a good time) oh and, beating JLo's time (HA!).  

Throughout much of the race, Haley, Tom and Rachael sat bundled in a shared blanket near the transition area, cheering us as we passed through, and in general enjoying some good bonding time.  They did, however, make their way to the start of the race, and also up to the main road where they cheered us on as we came in on our bikes.

One of my favorite compliments of the day was at the finish line, when Tom told Teri and I that we weren't even breathing hard, and needed to do twice the distance next time.

Afterward, the group headed to a delicious lunch in Calistoga.  I believe a good time was had by all!  That evening, Tom prepared a wonderful post-race dinner for Teri and I (earlier in the day, he and Haley had planned the menu).  Thanks guys!

A few statistics - Number of participants ~ 600-700, all women, 1/2 Mile Run, 11.2 Bike, 3.2 Run.  Time: 1:45:03.   Purchases on the wish list for 2009---Road Bike!!!!  Next seasons goals--More Sprint Tris, relays, and an Olympic Tri.

Tri Turtle Tri meets Tri Girl Tri

On September 7th, I embarked on my first triathlon adventure. After months and months of preparation and training, I felt ready to go. Many asked me what my goals were. Well, for my first Tri..the Tri Turtle Tri..it was to have a great time, and to finish. 

I set off in the wee early hours with Bill driving me to meet my friend Deb. Deb had a few technical challenges, which we were able to work out relatively easily and be on our way. The race went really well. I had a great swim (my strongest area), a good bike ride, and a manageable run/walk. I have been dealing with a foot condition, which has made it difficult to work on my running. 

While on the bike leg, I passed Bill, who had gotten a bit lost while trying to find the lake.  He told me later, he knew he was on the right track when he started passing a lot of cyclists.  I was happy to see him waiting for me as I went through the transition area from my bike to run. I can't tell you what it meant to me to see him, and his wonderfully supportive smile. At the finish line, after a hug, congratulations, photo ops, etc., Bill informed me that he thought he'd like to do a tri sometime too.  Which leads me to my third goal...to encourage others to stretch themselves to "tri" something they aspire to do. 

We stayed for the award ceremony, and then said our goodbyes to Deb and her family, and headed off for a yummy Mexican lunch and then home for a nap. 

I honestly felt quite good in the days to follow, a little burned out on all the training, but excited about my next triathlon...the Tri Girl Tri, which I did in CA with my sister Teri a few weekends ago.

Some statistics:  Number of Participants ~ 300, Co-ed, Swim 1/2 mile, Bike 15.2 miles, Run 3.2 (5k).  Time:  2.28.41

A sense of community

Today, Bill and I went to Bainbridge Gardens to celebrate their 50 year anniversary. We had the opportunity to talk with a number of people, as well as view pictures and articles related to the history of the gardens.  Junkoh and Chris Harui opened Town and Country Florist in 1958.  Later, they opened what is now known as Bainbridge Gardens.  It was an amazing testimony to two wonderful people, and the heritage and culture that makes Bainbridge Island what it is today.  

I wrote the above a couple of months ago, and just realized today (October 22nd) that I didn't ever publish it.

Sadly, Junkoh died this last week after a brief battle with cancer.  While we only met him a few times,  he touched our lives.  In a way that was quiet and respectful, in his presence, one felt a sense of peace that transcended the moment, and spoke of generations past, present, and future.

When you come to visit us, we will take you to this special place...show you the grounds and buy you a cookie.

SIlver Medal for a Bainbridge Islander

Emily Silver who qualified to swim the Women's Medley Relay last night, was one of two swimmers replaced by Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin. Because she qualified in the preliminaries, she will also receive a silver medal. According to the newspaper article, she has yet to receive her medal, but Dara let her hold hers.

Goin' Green and Dirty Dishes

As many of you know, Bill and I have an ongoing desire to be as "green" as possible. The other night, we took an online quiz related to this. We scored 9/10 (only because one was definitely a trick question, and neither of the choices was obviously correct. Alas, we chose the lesser of two evils, after which the question admitted it was a trick one, and showed the correct answer as ours..HA!).

Anyway, one particular question had to do with whether a dishwasher uses less water than washing by hand. We chose correctly--the dishwasher uses less water. The helpful hint to this was that it is unnecessary to rinse off your dishes, as the newer models do this for you. Bill said (to the air around him ) "Hmmmm....you'll have to take that one up with my wife." Okay I admit I use a dishwasher more for sterilizing than cleaning, as my dishes are pretty darn clean going in. So, as I stretch and learn on my journey toward "greenhood," I decided to put the suggestion to the test. That very evening, I put all those nasty, dirty dishes into the dishwasher, let them sit overnight, added some more the next day, let that baby do its magic, and WA-LA! I do believe they glistened in their cleanliness. Simply Amazing!