WHAT A GREAT DAY

Today was one of those days I am going to look back on, when I MAKE MY KIDS SIT AND LISTEN TO MY OLD STORIES, on my life. It was a simple day, but one filled with so many smiles.

I got to play 18 holes of golf with my wife, my boys, and my in-laws (a couple who ANY man would be proud to have as in-laws). Mind you, GOLF SUCKS, but the time out on the course was peaceful, for the most part. That does not mean that I did not get peeved while trying to learn this awful game (which had I been smart and learned as a youngster when my father tried to get me to play). But, when you see your 6 year old, who loves the game, getting better and better with every round and getting the biggest smiles on his face as he hits each ball............it is hard to not love the game, at least for this day. I also watched my 4 year old play every 7th ball with his driver...........whether in the fairway, in the sand pit, or on the green. Between each of his hits, he runs off into the woods to find sticks and pine cones.............for what reason, only he knows. I also get to watch my wife, who is a great golfer, have a frustrating day and still have a good time. We even found a snake on the course, and instead of running away...........we just sat and looked at it, a site my youngest could not stop talking about well through dinner.

After golf, my sons wanted (and got to go) to go with their grandfather fishing. Apparently, they both caught a bass at the exact same moment and my 6 year old commented: "they must have been buddies, one must of said to the other you go get that worm and I will go get that one". What an imagination he has.

While all the fishing is going on, I get to go on a great run. Nowhere special, just the track........but, man was it a good run. I ran 2 mile warm up, I ran 6x400m @ 1:38, and ran 2 mile warm-down. The numbers were not important, but the feeling during and afterwards was. Felt so good............

And now, to top of the evening, I am sitting in bed with my wife. We are eating ice cream, watching a movie, and not getting up every 2 minutes for wants and needs of the boys. This is almost as good as a vacation night gets. Some days, I am so lucky.

I AM GOING TO GET MY NERD ON, TURN AWAY NOW

I was jazzed last night/today, but due to an obligation to my wife I did not get to expound upon my nerdiness.

First off, my obligation was to take my wife to a Kenny Rodger's concert. I was not unhappy about this, but not thrilled either.....I am no real country music fan or expert..........but I must admit, he was entertaining.

Now for the nerdiness:

#1 - USA Soccer defeats Spain (#1 in the world) 2-0. I know that no one in the US cares about soccer or about the team, but I do. I grew up playing soccer. I played in Europe for 3 years during high school..........and I love the strategy of the game, much like I love watching the strategy of a marathon unfold. (mind you, many of the USA's best runners got their start playing soccer - Futbol).

#2 - USA Track and Field Championships Previews abound - I am such a track and field junkie that I am going to watch most of the championships online. I know I am a dork for wanting to watch online, but man cannot get the coverage anywhere else. I know there will be a couple hours on Friday and Sunday on tv, but really.........we will miss all the good stuff. Also, I have a dream of taking a trip back to where I was born, Oregon (military brat, lived there 6 months and moved away and have never gotten back). I have always had this pull to Oregon, so every chance I get I guess I just soak up anything about Eugene, Prefontaine, Bowerman, Oregon Running, Nike, etc. I just turned 4o, so I have let that many years go by without going back and visiting my birthplace, hopefully I will get there before the next 40 pass.....or I pass.

#3 - Transformers was released - takes me back to my childhood when I used to watch all those shows similar to, and including, Transformers. Now, I have an excuse as an adult, to go see these movies (along with cartoons, comic book-based, old tv show spin offs, etc.)...........I have 6 and 4 year old sons who live for these movies.....so, I get to relive my youth, hang with my sons, and eat lots of crappy MOVIE food.

Speaking of my youth, sad to hear today that two influences of my youth died today: Farah Fawcett (first crush on a tv/movie personality - first poster) and Michael Jackson. Sad day, rest in peace.



I am a Nerd, Dork, Geek, whatever adjective you might use.............but I am proud of it, just ask my kids............I now get to embarrass my sons like my parents embarressed me in my youth.....and I have an excuse.......I am a nerd.

RUNNING WITH A SUNBURN

First off, I am usually very WHITE and PASTY. Today, not so much....more of a RED and ROSY. We spent the day at a local lake (playing on the beach) with the boys. In the process, I GOT FRIED....even after my wife put sunblock all over me...I STILL GOT SCORCHED. Well, needless to say, I did not let the pain of the sunburn slow my running.....

Last night, at about 9:00pm (tends to be the coolest part of the day here) I went out for a run. Temperature was down to 85 degrees, humidity about 80% (not bad around here)....and I wore the thinnest shorts I could find in my closet....to no avail, my legs were on fire...the shorts rubbed me all 5.3 miles....and I ended with an attempt to put my hands on my knees only to scream at the top of my lungs (forgot I had scorched legs).....I think I scared the neighbors and a few of the neighborhood dogs.

WHAT AN IDIOT I AM.

REAL VACATION

This week has been wonderful.....if you discount the massive rain storms on Monday and Tuesday and the oppressive heat today. Great week, how"

I have gotten, and get to spend, the entire week hanging with my sons and my wife without work interruptions. Monday I got to sit around the house and watch the boys play with each other all day...and at times I had to break up some scrums....but it was so much fun, at least for me, to hear them and watch them be BOYS. I experience them fighting over a video game, I had front row seats to a battle of DINOSAURS, and I got to prepare about 10 meals for the two of them........man little boys sure eat A LOT.

Tuesday mom was gone playing in a golf tournament with her mother....much deserved break for her....time for some mommy fun. The boys and I, after some house cleaning (just know I HATE cleaning the bathroom, and I did it anyway), we got to go to the local library and check out some books....I am thinking this is a lost practice. We were the only ones in the children's section of the library. They would only let us check out 4 books, and may have been the only 4 checked out all day............but I digress. Following the library, we went to hang out in a local pet store..just to look at the animals, then off to 18 holes of mini-golf. We ended boys day out with the must visit to McDonalds and their play-land. The day ended with some Daddy time out with a friend...............off to see a non-animated movie: The Hangover (so funny I got a workout just watching it).

Today, sleep in - pool for the boys/mommy - 18 holes of golf for daddy. Home to hang out and do some yardwork...while the boys played in the water sprinkler (boy I remember when we did that ALL SUMMER LONG - another quickly dying tradition). Boys to bed, and they are so beautiful when they sleep, so that we can get up and visit a beach tomorrow..........this is the best week of the summer (so far anyway).