Walk 135. Brownie mix

J wanted brownies. I should have made them with him right after dinner, but just chilled instead. Then before I knew it it was 8:15 and time to walk. Promised him I'd stop at Albies for a brownie mix (yes, something easy and not homemade) and then he added a Twix bar to the order.

Walk was lovely. Ran into a friend and stopped to chat for a while which put me home when it was almost dark. I was hoping the kiddos were in bed, but no, just E. They were waiting for me.

Fortunately J was fine with just a Twix before bed (I know, I'm a horrible [or fantastic! depending on who's perspective] mom) then a quick book and they were fast asleep. (S ended up sleeping in until 9:30!!)

The beginning of July should be a happy time for us.... it's almost my 15th wedding anniversary. But the 9th looms. It occurred to me that E & I have more years married after Juliet died than before. Looking back we seemed like babies when they were born and she got sick. We were only married 6 years.

It's beautiful here. My walks are lovely. It's not hard to go in the evening anymore....in fact, I prefer it. 135 walks in and they are just part of my life. Don't really think about them, don't get that worried about them, so grateful I get to go.

3.4 miles

Walk 134. I missed my sky

So good to be home and go for an evening walk. Listened to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and B52s' "Deadbeat Club" on repeat and thought about my sis. Love you and miss you! Wish we lived closer. 3.1 miles

p.s. I'm discouraged with the problems I'm having using Blogger. I thought no one was reading and that's why no comments, but I've recently realized that comments won't post (especially if you're trying to comment using an iPad). I haven't been able to fix it. Frustrating! I wish I had started this with WordPress. Would love to migrate the site off Blogger.... but I'm tech challenged. Also, my blog doesn't show up in search engines. Doh!

Walk 133. Same as yesterday

Well, maybe a little shorter. 2.8 miles

Walk 132. Evening around my folks' house

Reminded me of walks I used to take when I lived there. I feel old. 3 miles

Walk 131. Along the canal

Morning walk along the canal in the hills near my folks house. 3.5 miles

Walk 130. Capitola and the Boardwalk

We have a tradition of going to Capitola for a slice of Pizza My Heart and a t-shirt (3rd year!) then the Boardwalk. I barely, almost, or not really got a walk in. Just from the upper parking lot in Capitola to the beach, then all around the Boardwalk for 5 hours. I hope it was a mile. It counts!!

Walk 129. SJ

To the park with the kiddos (lemonade stand), then walked the loop with my sis as it was getting dark. 2 miles

Walk 128. Village with J in the morning...

then evening walk after E got home. 3.7 miles

Walk 127. Pretty sunset

3.3 miles

Walk 126. Village and zoo

Walked around the village this morning. Starbucks, farmer's market, checked out the village barber (trying to get J brave). That was about a mile. J rode his balance bike.

In the afternoon we went to the zoo. Penguins, reptiles, river otters, meerkats, etc. He was a trooper and the little bug house kept him going. He also enjoyed the playground. Oh and pacing with the Jaguar.

3.5 miles

Walk 125. Evening walk with J

Marcus came to play today. We walked to the post office, then played at the park, then Menchies, then home. That was about a mile.

Later, about 8:15 pm, I finally convinced J to let me take him on a walk. We walked to the Sound, counted sailboats, collected pine cones and walked along the angry flower street and saw a few more.

I love walks with my kids.

3.5 miles

Walk 124. Last day of school (for S)

Busy. School, pool party with AD girls, then off to airport with Nanny. Went on walk after E got home. 3.2 miles

Walk 123. Last GL this school year

5.1 miles

Walk 122. My giant stroller can fit in E's tiny trunk

Who knew?

It was useful it did, because today S had lots of after school stuff. J and Nanny (my mom) tagged along. First, to her summer Irish class, where she basically got a private lesson. Yay! She switched studios and needs to learn 4 beginner dances before she can join her appropriate class (2 down!).

Then a quick playdate with her besties (Ellery and Catalina) to finish making a present for their teacher, Ms. Green. It was a quick one though, and that's why me, J and Nan walked at Green Lake. J asked if he could take a nap in the stroller. He always asks me if he can sleep (when we're out and about).

3.2 miles

p.s. I am 1/3 of the way to 365!!

Walk 121. "Dry the Rain"

This is my last week (easily, conveniently) walking GL until the fall. Funny, it felt like fall today. Or rather, it totally felt like March rainpocalypse. I got soaked.

The tunes were flowing though.

Some thoughts...

Echo and the Bunnymen totally holds up! They sound just as relevant today as they did in the 80s. Maybe even more so. Go listen to them!!

And, the Beta Band's "Dry the Rain" was the perfect song for today. LOVE.

3.4 miles

Walk 120. Discovery park loop with Russell (aka whiny Stells)

Me, mom and Russell walked together this morning. At first it was just going to be me and my mom, but then Russell insisted on going even though she knew it was 3 miles. She just said she'd complain the entire time. And she did!
She even made my mom give her a piggy-back ride at one point (up a hill!). I couldn't carry her because...

1. My back is still killing me. 
2. She knew what she was getting into! And she still wanted to come!

It was fun and so pretty anyway. As Uncle Seth would say, "Good times."

Walk 119. Performance day!

Sorry, ballet has taken over a bit these last few days. This hasn't been that much about the walking. Hopefully I can tie it together!

First time is the most stressful time. Was worried about getting her to the stage door through SPU graduation traffic and the Mercer mess (which isn't getting any better and might be getting worse after all is said and done.). We made it (mom and dad came with me), watched her enter while feeling pride and worry for her, then hit the gift shop and waited for E to arrive after dropping J at a perfectly timed friend's birthday party.

Then finally the curtain rose, the prologue began, and then Level 1s! She was radiant and graceful and confident. I cried in the beginning and then just enjoyed watching her. It was fun seeing the curtain drop while she stood front and center with her arms raised. Even though it was a dignified crowd, I had to yell out a woo hoo!

The rest of the performance was good. The kids were amazing and it was fun to see the progression of where she's headed in the coming years.

Then found her on the 2nd tier, gave her flowers (nanny gave her a new ballet mouse stuffie) took pics and headed home. Success and relief! Emotional release after looking forward to this moment since she began. I was tired.

But she wanted to go celebrate, so we walked to our little sushi joint in Mags, ordered lots of food, J fell asleep on my lap, E carried him home while me, mom and our ballerina went for a walk.

2 miles

Walk 118. The end of the crazy

I'm thinking once school is out everything will calm down and I can write and walk and get stuff done. That's the theory, at least. Today was S' PNB dress rehearsal at McCaw Hall. I volunteered, so I was able to go backstage with her and help wrangle all the girls.

And then I got to watch her perform...

Wow.

Tears.

I don't cry on the first day of school, I never have. But this! I couldn't stop the tears from coming. I'm so proud of her. I remember taking her to see the Nutcracker when she was 3 (or 4?) and thinking someday she could be on that stage.

And not only that, the performance was gorgeous. All these Level 1 girls moving in unison so gracefully. It was breathtaking. It had to feel wonderful to be part of it, to create ART so lovely, if fleeting.

Anyway, since it was her first time the day was a ball of stress, and my folks came in to town to see her perform. We made it through the day and I went on a walk with my mom while S rode her bike.

The year is winding down. The crazy will soon be over and it will be mellow summer lots of time for long walks and reflective blogging.

2.9 miles

p.s. my back still hurts :-(

Walk 117. Sailboats

Long day. J's first day of summer, S stayed home sick, I'm sick. Everyone was grumpy. But, we rallied in the late afternoon and walked to Menchie's, then the park. After E came home I walked alone (with crazy lower back pain! I did something pulling weeds. But weirdly enough, walking is when it feels okay). 3.3 miles

Walk 116. Cray cray day

Surgery 2 was this morning. Got Louise @ 6:10, off to UW with E, back to pick up kids from Hulets, off to school (J's last day! Which got lost in the commotion. Mommy fail.), back to UW, talk to doc, wait  wait wait, mess up prescription, go pick up J, back to UW, finally get prescription, home, take care of E, go pick up S, kids to Hulets again (Godsend! Thanks Elizabeth!!), then finally got to walk. It was sad/nice. Ran into sister missionaries a block from home. 3.1 miles

Walk 115. Evening awesome

Great tunes, great vibe, great walk. 3.1 miles

Full moon

Walk 114. Lost walk

Uh oh, I have been so bad at blogging I literally can't remember this walk! Luckily I see in my mapmywalk activity that I actually took it (I was a little panicked there for a sec that I missed a day and didn't realize it), but I...

just. can't. recall.

I think I need to resolve to blogging as soon as my walk is done. More insights, more creativity, more remembering.

2.9 miles

Walk 113. Inspired by KEXP

Just got back from a late walk around Mags. Listened to Street Sounds on KEXP (J loved it and was my dance buddy) all evening then walked listening to Warren G, Digable Planets, Snoop, a little Chuck D, Lauryn Hill, etc. Fun.

Oh, and the end of the street was on fire (amazing sunset).

3.1 miles

Walk 112. I ♥ Brian Jonestown Massacre

I have no idea what it means, but "Vad Hände Med Dem?" is my fav song right now.

And I'm looking forward to walks lately so I can rock out! It's fun!

Walked around Mags. In the warm sun. Came home red faced and sweaty. 3 miles

p.s. I'm not doing so good on not eating sugar. 

Walk 111. With E

E's number is 11. Fitting we went on a date night walk together today. It was kind of wimpy though...my knee felt creaky and his foot hurt so we only walked a little over a mile.

Walk 110. Around Mags with Jenny

Lots of good conversation. Love walking with her! 3.2 miles

Walk 109. Oh, the cravings!

And I'm not even going cold turkey! Saying buh-bye to sugar is hard. So hard. And I'm not doing so good at it. I need to taper down... Every day a little less until no more.

E went off sugar a few months ago (Well, his version which is no soda or baked goods but a nightly gourmet malt ball or 2 is a-ok). I know he wants me to join him. I'm trying!

I know I'd be so much healthier if I cut out sugar, dairy, & wheat. I really want to! But then I think of pizza and croissants, etc. I'm having a hard time just cutting them out for a while....so there is an end date. I think "forever" is super scary to me. Or "never again."

Anyhoo, I felt that way at the beginning of my walks. I was a little freaked about a WHOLE YEAR of walking. But it's turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done. And in ways I didn't imagine. It's totally blessed my life.

What would my life be like if I wasn't addicted to certain foods? Oh, the FREEDOM!

I walked GL feeling grumpy and having cravings. Hopefully tomorrow is better. 3 miles

Walk 108. No sugar

Today is my first baby step at trying primal. Primal seems to be pretty much ETL with meat and no beans. Anyway, today I took out sugar and dairy. Yes, dairy is okay primal/paleo, but don't think it's that great for my body and I think it's a trigger food for me. Anyway....

I have a headache.

Walked GL this morning. It was overcast and kind of cold. It felt weird after so much sun.

3 miles

Walk 107. Melting with the Nug

J, aka Nug, joined me on a late afternoon Magnolia stoll in the blistering 75 degree heat. Yes, to us Seattle folks 75 can feel quite blistering, especially while wearing too tight yoga pants and no hat. Nug went barefoot and ate an ice cream sandwich. We had to stop and play hide and seek again....in the spot with nowhere to hide. He got creative under park benches, in the stroller and using a blanket, which he later used as a cape while he ran really fast. We didn't walk far, and I didn't take any pics or video, but I hope I remember him running for as long as I live. 2 miles

Walk 106. Sunday evening

Walked along Magnolia Blvd after I put the kiddos to bed. The sound was a sparkly shade of blue. 3 miles