NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

It has been a while since we have had a post. It is not that nothing has happened, but actually the opposite. So much has been going on that there hasn't been much time to sit down to get it down in words. So I am going to do my best to get summarize May as best as I can.

AIR NATIONAL GUARD

Michael was sworn in earlier this month into the Air National Guard and is not longer in the Army reserves. There were many reasons for this. One being that his old unit in Washington was downsizing their medical personel and needed to release some soldiers. The ANG had a perfect reservist position open in the medical field up in Harrisburg that was perfect for Michael. He is able to go into it without having to going away for a month to four month training. So he crossed straight over and is now int he Air National Guard reserves with the whole one weekend a month and two weeks a year thing.

MICHAEL IS A WINNER


We all headed down to Greenbrier park just South of here for a National qualifying mountain bike race. The top 33% of finishers were eligible to go to Nationals in Vermont. The race was five laps on a rocky, hilly, technical course, which is perfectly suited for Michael. He has been training mainly on the road bike, but it was obvious when he crossed the finish line in first that his natural ability and true love is for mountain biking. Looks like we might be heading to more mountain bike races in the near future.

FIRST TRIATHLON OF THE YEAR

Michael and I headed up to Butler for a family visit and to do an early season triathlon. The race was located at Slippery Rock University, about twenty minutes from Butler, PA where the majority of Michael's side of the family lives. With Gilbert in the safe hands of the Grandparents we headed up to the race. I know this might come as a surprise to some, but the only training Michael did was on the bike. Despite the lack of proper training, Michael used his natural talent and came across the finish line in seventh place out of about 80 men. I did train, and also dug deep because let me tell you the come back trail after having a baby is longer and harder than I thought it would be. But training paid off and I managed to come in first out of about eighty women. This is my first win ever in a triathlon and a really great welcome back to racing.

MOTHER'S DAY

Michael make me a mother's day cake, plus bought flowers with a sweet card from both him, Gilbert, Lucy and Meowsey. A great first mother's day!

GRANDMA JUDY aka MY MOM COMES FOR A VISIT


My mom flew in from Alaska on May 17th and stayed through May 25th. When she first arrived we met in Ellicot City because I was racing the Columbia Triathlon the next day. With 2100 people racing I really needed her help with Gilbert so that I could get through all the logistic of the race. Thanks mom! Her first few days in Chambersburg were rainy and much like Portland weather. We tried to do indoor things like head North to the Bent & Dent Grocery which is run by the Amish. On the way back we took the scenic route and went through an amazing covered bridge, I think she will have her camera next time we head up there. I did realize as a result of her visit, that there isn't much to do here in Chambersburg. So we headed just 25 miles East for a visit to Gettysburg. Thanks goodness it was a sunny day as most of the sites are outside, with the exception of a new museum. Needless to say Gilbert wasn't too into the museum, too crowded and noisy, and his howls cut that visit short. But touring the fields where the battles took place was great, and one step closer to getting a grasp on US history. From Chambersburg my mom hit the road to the NE to visit friends and family for the next few weeks, and will be back again in June for another visit on her way back to Alaska. See you soon mom!

A SMALL SMALL WORLD

There is a playground at the elementary school about four blocks from our house. If I take the alley it is a straight shot. And since the alley is recently paved, it is an easy cruise down with the baby jogger. Since Summer is here, I've been heading to the playground more with Gilbert and Lucy. I think I've taken the route about ten times. Just recently I notice a really cool looking Winnebago at the end of the alley. The reason I notice these things is because Michael and I have the fantasy of packing up the bare necessities and hitting the road with the bikes for an endless adventure....a Winnebago being part of the adventure. So I was checking it out with a sharp eye and eager heart last week. You would never guess what state the license plate is from and what it reads......

Guess that is a sign. Really what are the odds? I mean, we live in Chambersburg, PA.

AUNT BONNIE & UNCLE GEORGE

Three cheers for Aunt Bonnie and Uncle George!!!! They were our second visitors. Being the snow birds that they are, they were driving back to the Boston area after spending the last half of the winter in Florida. They met me and Gilbert at the Big Oak Cafe for a leisurely lunch. Then they checked out the attached Butcher Shop and were very impressed with the "over 140 selections" in the deli and the vastness of fish and meats. It is very old school but modern and hip at the same time.

We had some catching up to do, since that last time I saw them was at my brother Fred's wedding in Canada. I believe that was ten years ago. WOW, that is way too long. But it seemed like I had just seen them. We caught up and even had time to discuss politics and current events.

Lucky for them Spring is in the air, so it was sunny out but still a bit cool with that breeze.

Aunt Bonnie and Uncle George, if you need help cleaning out that garage....I'll show up with a UHaul. Please note they are avid collectors of antiques. :)

KEEPIN' IT SIMPLE

This weekend the race was a circuit race, which means Michael's race consisted of eight laps on a seven mile course. Set in Amish Country that means farm land and rolling to steep and short hills. One of the best things about Michael's races series this year is that they are in Lancaster County. Lancaster has a large concentration of Amish. This is their land.


For part of the afternoon they stopped doing their chores to take some time to watch the races. Luckily I was able to snap a few pictures at the race. I really love the one of the man on the horse. The finish line was on the road that lines his families' property so they came across the land to check it out. So he really is actually looking over his land in that photo. It was just so beautiful, I can only imagine his sense of pride. I could go on about the Amish, but what it really comes down to is that I have so much respect for them and their way of life. I felt very lucky to get a sneak peak at their world coming into contact with ours.


Oh yes, and the Amish kids huddled at the finish line...too cute!

HAPPY EASTER!

WANNA GO ON A DATE?

YES! We had our first official paid babysitter here in Chambersburg. The day after our first races we scheduled a girl we know from the YMCA to babysit for us. What exactly did we do for our date you may wonder....hello, we went for a bike ride. It was my first time actually riding a bike outdoors since Gilbert was born. But I think the pure excitement of actually getting to go for a ride together pushed me enough to get through the ride just fine. Michael knows a few routes, so he lead the way. Any direction you head outside of town you are on rolling country roads. Which were a lot nicer than I recall seeing from driving along in the car. It was really very beautiful and left both of us on could nine for the rest of the day. I quote one farmers sign in saying,"The broad path leads to destruction". In other words, keep it simple folks. So true, so true!

AND THE RACE IS ON...

Michael and I had our first races last weekend. We both got a bit worked. But it is early season, so really any race right now is simply to determine where you are and what you need to do to get to where you should be. Um....I've got a lot of work to do.

I "raced" the Chambersburg Half Marathon. They say never try anything new on race day. Well, I didn't really follow that rule and decided to take Gilbert along in the baby jogger. It was our first time actually using it for running. We were doing just over a nine minute mile until miles eight through ten. We had to pull off about four times for feedings and for holdings. I think for anyone running a half marathon those are the roughest miles, who can blame him. So we placed close to last, but it was a beautiful Spring day and I really enjoyed getting to share the experience with Gilbert. It was just nice to be out with other runners enjoying the outdoors.


Michael did the first race in a local series that goes through August. Here is the link to the series for cyclists reading the blog:

http://www.redroseraces.com

He did well and felt pretty good throughout the race. He was mainly just trying to push himself to see what he has in the tank as far as early season goes. He finished 18th and with the second pack of racers. The top twenty finishers get points towards the series, so he came away with a few points! The series should progress well, being that a lot of the same racers will consistantly be there. So needless to say he is already getting a feel for some of the styles of the other racers.

There were other members racing from his team, C3 Sollay, based out of Baltimore. They have not had much time to train together, but hopefully in the upcoming races they will determine how to work their individual strengths to come together as a team, resulting with one of their teammates out front.

The majority of the races are just over an hour from here, so as long as I'm not racing we will head out as a family. And if there is someone there to watch Gilbert I might even get some road racing in this year.