Mamma Bear Shows her Claws!

SO--we had one mile to go of the 10K. MC and I running together, feeling great--when CRACK! There is a peice of a car flying around and my little girl is grabbing her arm and crying out in pain.

Not Good. Everything is fine. She's a bit banged-up and bruised and will be sore tomorrow. She may favor off road races from now on though. . .

We didn't finish--but she got a consolation prize of 3 live lobsters. The man driving tried to move to the passanger seat and claim his wife was driving. He also started to yell at me because she was on the wrong side of the white line. I pointed out--not too nicely--that it's not illegal to run inside the white line, but it is illegal to hit a pedestrian wherever they are!! And besides, did you notice the traffic cops and the "watch for runners" and "SLOW" signs? I really wanted to tear his face off. . .

He has a suspended liscense. I told the Sherrif I definately want to pursue this since he is an unsafe driver and should not ever be behind the wheel again.

PHEW!! Now to follow up with my poor Mom who got the brunt of my anxiety when we got back to the race start. . .

Follow-Up--Amazing B-day Meat!!!

Pork Pomotion

My friend Kurt is getting into the smoked pulled pork business, and needs an excuse to have people taste his food. That excuse is John's 43rd birthday. If you live in Maine and know (or can get) my phone # you are invited to our house Saturday Aug 8 for pulled pork sandwiches, 4pm. BYO drinks and a side to share. I'll have cake and paper products. Remember--plenty of space for happy children to play!

Good Work

Dream come True Girl

In Anne of Green Gables, Marilla asks Anne to "dress a chicken for dinner" when they get an unexpected guest at Green Gables. It has long been a dream of mine to say the same to a daughter, and get the appropriate results.

That day has come!

True to my nature, I don't mean EXACTLY--on the 4th our friend Peter came over to whack the head off the "mean duck" who also happened to be a meat duck. Mary Catherine did the rest, including down for her pillow, and some lovely breasts, legs and thighs for the BBQ later that day.

Oh Happy day!

Can't wait to have chickens.

PS--she said later she could have done the whacking herself. . .

The only Shot

Thank goodness a child took this lone proof that we were all on vacation a couple of weeks ago--this is IT--the only photo. But then it rained all weekend. . .

Resisting Putting Life on Hold

There are obvious big watershed moments in all our lives. Getting a degree, a job, a marriage, a baby etc. My memories of these times include the feeling that my life will "begin" when x finally happens. Like that painful final semester before the BA, or the long last few days before a baby comes.

I did have a telling crossover between two of these event when I gave birth just at the end of first semester senior year in college. Since baby came a good 3 weeks early I didn't ever have the most painful part of the wait. If anything I was hoping that I'd get my senior paper done before she came (I didn't, and began my score of years typing at the computer with one hand while nursing).

But life really began for me in a profound way with the birth of Mary Catherine. At the same time my close friends were itching to be done. All those nursing hormones mellowed me out enough to savour the Darwin readings in the unhurried manner of one who is eager to reach a goal, but also satisfied with what life is offering in the moment. (though I've gotta say I think my senior paper would have been better had I not been so distracted. . .oh well--MC is worth it!).

In this moment right now, in the soggy northeast I feel myself making the decision that life can only get back on track when the rain stops. Does the rain really have anything to do with folding the laundry, mopping the floor, and supervising the chores? No. I must fight this! Especially since there is rain forecast for the next week. . .