A Different Kind Of Pickup Line

Today I was given the task of picking up Lindley at her new school. I'm still not accustomed to thinking about her in kindergarten, mainly because it seems like just yesterday my own kids were in kindergarten. So even though I'm trying to transition, I still think of her as simply going to a new preschool daycare.

But today I was to pick her up at school. There would be no going in to her room and getting her. No, this was serious elementary school picking up. Lynnette gave me her special hang-tag which had explicit instructions concerning pickup on the back. And while I intended to follow them to the letter, lest I be put into pickup detention, I fully expected for something to go awry.

I pulled into the correct place at the time Lynnette suggested so that I would not be blocking traffic out on the main road (the school is in the heart of the Vanderbilt campus and also amid several construction projects in Nashville, so traffic is a given). Of course, the hang tag said to "pull into any of the three lanes). As I pull in, there are only two. And only one has cars in it. So I decided to take a chance and pull into the other lane, hoping that a third lane would materialize.

As I pulled around the corner, passing several parents in their cars and wondering if they were taking down my tag number, I saw the third lane. I pulled into the middle lane and ended up being the second car in that lane. Of course all this happened thirty minutes before school would actually be dismissed, and I had forgotten any reading material (Sam and Lynnette had suggested I bring some), but since I have Solitaire on my phone, I had something to occupy myself with. Other than looking out my window to see if I was at the right place. Of course I had turned my car off, as the hang tag had stipulated.

Thirty minutes later, some lady with a clipboard walked around. I saw another lady lead a group of children out a door close to where I was, but they all seemed quite large and old to be in kindergarten. Then a loud voice over a loudspeaker started calling children's names and adding a direction at the end of the child's name. It was like, Joe Smith South Lane Two (or something like that). It was enough for me to panic, wondering if I was at the South Entrance or the North Entrance or was I supposed to be at another entrance. I hadn't heard Lindley's name, so I began to wonder if I was even at the correct school.

But then they said her name, although I didn't remember her direction and/or lane. I looked at the close-by door, expecting to see her, but she never materialized. I then began to panic with the thought of what if the traffic line started getting dismissed and she wasn't in the car - what was I supposed to do then?? But then I kept looking out my rearview mirrors and saw her walking up between the lines of cars. I stuck my hand out the passenger window and waved (because the security guard was there and I didn't know if I would be apprehended if I were to leave my car). She saw me and trotted to my car and got in. Apparently all the kids were secured by then, and we were all dismissed to leave. After turning back on our cars.

We then headed to Everley's daycare and picked her up - a much simpler procedure, since I've been doing it for the two of them for the past several years. Well, it was simpler except for the fact that Everley's teacher was new and had no idea who I was or who I was picking up, even though I figured she would, since I am LaLa. Oh well, I guess it was a learning day for everyone!!

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Thankful today for: pickups and remembering snacks for the trip to LaLa's house; Lindley and Everley time

Guilty Pleasures

Lest you think I am a deeply thinking, cerebral type person, I just thought I would share with you my guilty television watching. No, I'm not talking about those naughty adult shows. They would probably just confuse me. And no, I don't watch any show where people are plopped down in who-knows-where and have to eat gross stuff and learn to survive - and sometimes nekkid at that. Naw, I'm just talking 'bout regular folks - and these happen to be Texans.

The first show I would like to present is "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - Making The Grade - Season 10". Yes, season ten. And yes, I've watched most of the seasons. It's shown on CMT, which should tell you something. But just in case you've never seen this show, let me give you my rundown.

This show is about little girls who have always wanted to be a part of DCC (which is Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - you need to memorize that early, because you will hear it about eighty-eleven times during the hour) and now they're all grown up and ready for tryouts. I think about a gazillion females start the process, and slowly the boss ladies whittle them down to about 50 who go to training camp, and they they whittle those down to the actual 36 who make the team.  Here are the main players:

Main Boss Lady Kelli is the end-all and be-all. She don't take nothing off nobody. And dresses to the nines (for Dallas) to do it. She's been the main boss lady for centuries, and has the thick skin (and big hair and shoes to go along with it) to get stuff done. She says what she thinks through her mouth and her expressions and is a hoot. And you needn't even think about crossing her and questioning what she says.

Second Boss Lady Judy has long blond hair, which I seriously don't believe is all that natural, considering she's as old as Kelli and been doing this as long. And they both were DCC back in the day. She plays second fiddle to Kelli and chips in with her two cents about all the "candidates."

The candidates consist of last year's DCC (remember what that means?) who made the initial gazillion female cut and the rookies who danced their way into the finals. Each week they put on a two-piece bathing suit type outfit that probably would fit Lindley or Everley and learn dances and kicks. They practice and cry and smile and do it all with full makeup and hairdos. The ones who aren't doing too well get called into the office to talk to Kelli and Judi and there's lots of tears and thank-yous and yes ma'ams and then somebody gets the dire "this will be your last night." For kicks, they bring in the dance coach Kitty who, in case the candidates have any confidence left, watches the dances and gives her opinion. And then, one day they get fitted for their outfit/uniform/costume, which I believe they attempt to make out of a cut of material roughly the size of a man's hankie.

Anyhoo, I love this show because I never wanted to be a DCC, so these women with these dreams amaze me. I can't help but like them because they are so real and so pursuing their dreams. And then I feel sad for the ones I really liked but who got cut. And I am amazed at how tiny they are and how high they can kick and how they can kick high and then fall into a jump split or split kick or something. It's just all around amazing, mainly because Kelli, Judy, and Kitty are not my life coaches.

My other show is "Texas Flip And Move." This show is on the DIY network and is another show that I can watch knowing that I will be doing none of that.

This show is about three teams of Texas - The Snow Sisters, the Young Guns, and The Lone Wolf (apparently naming your gang is important). The Snow Sisters are indeed sisters who work for their daddy who is in the house moving bizness (and probably does other stuff). The Young Guns are a young married couple, and the Lone Wolf is a older/middle-aged dude with an awesome mustache.

The premise is that the area around Ft. Worth, Texas, is booming, and everybody is getting rid of old houses to build new mansions. And so these teams go to the auctions to buy the old houses before they are torn down. If they win the auction, then they move the house to some trailer lot, where they fix up the house to be auctioned a second time, hopefully making a profit. Once the Young Guns bought a house that literally fell apart when they tried to move it. But another time they bought an old school portable building and turned it into a two-bedroom house with a workroom (and put plastic brick siding on the outside).

Anyhow, there's a lot of fun Texas-style banter among the teams as they try to outdo each other and make the highest profit. They are all amazing in their efforts to rehab houses. As is the auctioneer who sells the houses. I just wish I could see the rehabbed house moved to its permanent home. Although judging by the buyers who are shopping for the finished houses, there are a lot of lakes in Texas, because everyone wants a house "to put out at the lake".

So apparently Texas has a whole lot of interesting people out there. They certainly are putting out some entertaining television. But I have an idea for another - I do think it would be an interesting match to see a showdown between the Snow Sisters and the DCC Boss Ladies ...

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Thankful today for: family dinner; Lindley and Everley time; surprise package in the mail; afternoon rain shower; clean house thanks to Daniel

Humpty Dumpty Remix

So, in keeping with my "let's actually train" scenario, I decided to get out this morning and do a slow two-miles with KB. I couldn't be gone too long, since GDiz is in town, but I figured two miles would be a good recovery walk. And it was - until about the last mile. At that point, I stepped on something (a log, a stick, an acorn, a piece of sand) and my off-balance, non-correcting ankle decided to twist the wrong way. I tumbled to the ground, skinning my knee (no photo - skinned through my britches, although the britches sustained no damage) in the process.

Anyhoo, I sort of writhed on the ground a bit, with KB to the side desperately trying to help (probably deciding whether to call 911 or run to get the car). Eventually, as is the usual case, the pain subsided enough for me to get back on my feet (with KB's assistance) and hobble back to the car.

If this weren't such a common occurrence, I would probably deem it a catastrophe. However, since it has and does happen on occasion (I was not wearing my ankle supports), I pretty much know the routine - rest it and take some Tylenol. This will delay my actual walking training for awhile, but maybe I've learned my lesson - although which lesson it is, I'm not sure. Typical!!

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Thankful today for: getting two miles in; KB's help during mishap; MB bringing Whitt's BBQ for dinner

Happy Labor Day!!

Since I had to do laundry last night (because packed, damp, sweaty clothes are no picnic if you let them stew for a few days), I actually got unpacked. Which gave me a good start to today - trying to figure out what day it is and what else I need to be doing.

Steve is bringing up GDizzle for the week, but I got his bed ready before I left. I invited the family over for dinner, so I guess I'd better start thinking about that, which means a grocery store run. There's also a bunch of other stuff that needs attention - maybe I need to make a list for that. It's always nice to have a lot of options.

I'm just glad to be back home.

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Thankful today for: Steve and Gdiz's safe travel to Nashville; family dinner with chocolate pies; Lindley and Everley time

Just 13.1 Miles Through The Parks ... And Anaheim ...

After falling asleep last night around 8pm, I got a solid night's sleep, so waking up at 4:30am was no problem. Molly and I got up, got dressed, and headed to our corrals. At 5:30am, the first corral was sent off, and soon we all were on our way for the Disneyland Half Marathon!!

After wogging in and out and about Disneyland and California Adventure, we hit the streets of Anaheim, passing cheerleaders, bands, hula dancers, Spanish dancers, antique cars, and many supporters yelling encouragement. Eventually (around Mile 9), we made it to Angel Stadium! Once you enter the stadium and start running on the warning track, you're greeted by thousands of cheering fans! The announcer even announces your name as you show up (well, as many as he can read off the prompter of who has entered the stadium).

  

The good news is that once you leave the stadium, you're close to Mile 10 - only three more miles. Unfortunately, those three miles were pretty much in direct sunlight, and my body was about ready to give it up. But, thanks to more bands and cheerleaders and supporters, I managed to make it to the finish and then back to the hotel for a quick lay-down on the bed and shower before the shuttle picked us up for the airport.  This weekend I managed to snag four medals - one for the 10K, one for the half-marathon, one for the Dumbo Double Dare (doing both the 10K and the half-marathon), and one for the Coast to Coast Challenge (for doing a half-marathon both at Disney World and Disneyland in the same year). And if you're wondering where the 4th medal is, it's in yesterday's blog post.

Soon we were at the airport waiting for our flight back home to Nashville. The good news is that the flight wasn't full, so we weren't cramped together for the four-hour flight back home. God gave us a smooth, safe flight home and I actually finished reading a book on the way home! 

Another half-marathon is in the books. Our next planned one is in November, so it gives me a good incentive to see if I can do better with that one.

Guess I need to start training!!

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Thankful today for: all the supporters and groups along the course whose encouragement keeps us going; race volunteers who provide water and encouragement; a beautiful day for running and for flying; nice shuttle driver who pointed out the "Hollywood" sign on the mountains; sweet baby and mommy who shared a airplane row with me; sleeping in my own bed