Starlight Run, and Andrew drives!

Last night, Mali was up at the school with her friends and played some basketball wearing flip-flops. She crashed into Hannah and hurt her toe - possibly broke it. We will check it again tomorrow. She really wanted to run the Starlight Run tonight, so we walked down the hill to the Verizon store to see how it would handle that. It did okay, but then we walked to the nearby church where Andrew was driving with Susy!!! I had Mali jog a short distance, and her toe started hurting, and she was very mad that she wouldn't get to do the run.
Andrew was driving home from the church when we got there, so we called and they turned back and picked us up. He had already been pulled over by a police car - his first time on a street! - But the Police just wanted to get around him, and sped off after he pulled over. He did fine, driving. He can't drive with more than one person - a licensed driver - until he's driven for 100 hours.

I did the Starlight Run without Mali, who stayed home with Susy and Andrew. I ran it with Paul, Zoë, and Hannah, until Hannah cramped up. Zoë and I finished together at 33:37, so about 11 minutes a mile (5k = ~3.1 miles). Hannah was able to start running again after a couple minutes of walking with her mom, who then ran the rest of the way with her, while Paul ran ahead. It was great fun! I must have high-fived a hundred little kids, sticking their hands out to the runners. The 70's theme was great - unfortunately Zoë and I were at the same pace as the girl dressed as a Rubik's cube, which was announced to the crowd loudly at every intersection with a tv camera or a radio show going on. The girls wore tie-died stuff, and Mali gave me tie-died leg-warmers she made, and I wore them on my arms. I also wore a fisherman's hat with my number pinned to it, but that was the extent of my dress-up. There were some pretty wild costumes, and at least one very pregnant lady running barefoot. Lots of little kids too, younger than Hannah, even some 4 and 5 year-olds!

The past few days:

Thursday I pulled Mali out of school to have her mole - the infamous blue nevus - removed. Unfortunately it was too inflamed to remove, so she has to wait a month or so. We did discover the German Sausage Deli, where I purchased a can of almond pie filling that combined well this morning with cottage and cream cheese to push our normally wonderful French toast into some new realm of deliciousness. Meanwhile, Andrew sleeps.

Yesterday Susy and I walked up to Alana's, and while we were up there Mali, Andrew, and Rian returned from the pool and made us a yummy bacon-filled waffle breakfast for dinner. Mali disappeared up to the school with her two amigos Rachel and Hannah, and a bunch of boys, and the rest Susy, Rian, Andrew, and I played hearts until Rian had to go home. (Guess who won!?!)

Wednesday night (without Rian) we all played poker after dinner, and we laughed so hard our sides hurt.

The past two weeks:

The Scleroderma auction was fun. The theme was humor, with a comedian (David Crowe) and everything. It was really great to see folks again: Mary, Amy & Stathis, Mike, Anna & Ashley, Dave & Susan, Grandma & Grandpa. This year we did not even bid on anything, though we bought raffle tickets, and Andrew and Mali sold them again. Ashley helped, but refused to wear the hat.
We spent the night at G&G's house, took a tour of the neighbor's house for sale, then Andrew RUSHED us home so he could get his birthday present from Rian. She nicely gave him the Disney version of Scene It?, because she always wins the regular version and she thought he'd have a chance at the Disney version. Not so much - she creamed him at it anyway. Afterwards we took Rian along to GoGo's for Andrew's birthday dinner.

Mali has started soccer practices, and Andrew is swimming twice a week for swim team. They will both do the Murray Hill team again, which starts soon after school is out. They are both counting the days (10 more to go!)

I went up to Redmond for work Thursday morning (May 22) to catch a lunch meeting. I was only slightly late after it took me four and a half hours to get there! It was a good trip, and work is again both productive and fun. I returned home late Friday night and avoided the Memorial Day weekend traffic.

Memorial Day weekend was non-stop:
Saturday we had a wonderful dinner followed by a fun poker game with Rian, Jason, and Terry at their house. Jason grilled steak, chicken, and shrimp satay, and made a trifle for dessert. Andrew was the big winner at poker, so he was happy.

Sunday we were up early and driving to get to the memorial for my Grandma Lil. I spent most of the first three years of my life at her house while my dad was in Vietnam, and much summertime there later - all of it embedded in memory as the most wondrous days of my childhood. Hers was the hug I most looked forward to.
I will have to write more later about that. The memorial was in Bremerton at my cousin Liana's house. Grandma Lil was the glue that held us all together, so there was a lot of planning of next meetings and events: Jennifer's Wedding, Olympic swimming (We all hope!) and Christmas. Also talk of Tara's turn on What Not To Wear, the televised date will be much advertised here as soon as it's determined. It was really great to see everyone. We will all miss Grandma.

We came straight home afterwards and went to a big BBQ at Deborah's house.
Memorial day we slept in, the kids went to the (now open!) pool, and then we went to Paul and Nancy's house for grilled steak and chicken.

I worked Tuesday but took the rest of the week off. I finally finished painting the kid's bathroom and put up the towel rack the kids accidentally tore down.
Work is busy but again productive and fun, and Monday I fly to Ohio to help some folks sort out some computer applications for upgrade.

Waking

Just like high school, Dad (Grandpa) drags me out of bed to start the day. Thus I depart my hibernation, and return to the land of the living.
This time it took him two attempts.
But I think I'm awake now.

Scleroderma Auction and Dinner

Today we head to Tacoma for the Scleroderma Auction/Dinner. Then we'll spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. I gave Moose a haircut yesterday, so he's all ready for a visit, and the hot weather - It hit 100 degrees here yesterday. Then Mali and I hit Great Clips, where I told them of Mali's last unfortunate experience there, and they took very good care of her. Today Susy and Andrew will be getting haircuts before we leave for Washington, then we'll all be freshly shorn!
Mali and I are going running in ten minutes after I digest some of my breakfast. We are hoping to run the Starlight Run and we've only got 2 weeks to be ready to run 5km.

Andrew's Birthday Evening

Andrew did not go to the track meet, because none of his friends wanted to go (so we still have a ton of chocolate muffins...) Instead he met up with them at Tiana's house, and she made him a cake. It was ridiculously hot here, so no one was too interested in dinner. Mali cooked up some raviolis that she and I ate, and Susy made Andrew a Caesar salad at his request. Kind of lame for a birthday dinner, but we'll take him to GoGo's next week. Andrew LOVES his Mongolian Grill.

Andrew's Birthday! ~ ~ ~~ ><((((°>

I woke up early so I could work this morning, but I had trouble thinking past the excitement of Andrew's birthday. So I ran drove (no time for exercise this morning) to Safeway to buy all the types of sugar-free gum I could find that he might like (as he and I did for Mali), this time in a Costco box of Goldfish (crackers) his mom picked up for him yesterday. (He has already received his main gift: a new cell phone! Also his auxiliary gift: a digital camera.)
He needed his present this morning because we won't all be together until he gets home late from watching the Varsity track meet. I also retrieved his traditional birthday donut and even some chocolate and blueberry muffins as they were still hot from the oven. Susy was up early when I returned, making home-made chocolate muffins for the boy, so now there are many muffins for celebrating his birthday. He may even share. Andrew stumbled downstairs in his usual morning fog to a joyful, non-singing birthday greeting, and was happy.

I'm guessing there will be kids here this afternoon who will help him eat the muffins before I drive them to the track meet. Yesterday Andrew's friends Rian and Kyle were here until 8:00, since I let them talk me into playing a game of hearts after work. (Hey Mom: Guess who won!)
Mali had her friend Hannah over, helping her sort through her clothes - a Susy-decreed project. Hannah took payment of a couple of outfits, since she is slightly smaller than Mali.

Chauffer

My evening:
Drove Andrew, Rian, Tiana+Cody, and Eric to the Division Varsity Track Meet at Jesuit. Gave Andrew a $20 to pay for everyone, since no one brought money. They were lucky I had some cash.
I rushed home to pick up Mali and drive her to meet Collin and someone else (?) at the 5:30 showing of Iron Man. Susy may have to pick her up afterwards.
Update: Nope, Collin's mom gave her a ride home.

Friday's JV Division Track Meet

Andrew did great! His only goal was to get a PR in the 1500m, and he did! His old time was 3:34, his new time is 3:33.75. It's a good time - he got 10th in the meet, with only one freshman and 3 sophomores beating him. The only one from Southridge to beat him was a Senior.

His only other event was the 4x400m relay, and they took 3rd out of 13 teams. Andrew's split was 55 seconds, which would be a PR for him in the 400m, but times don't always translate well from a relay.

Mali came with me to watch, and had a GREAT time running around with Rian. Susy and I sat in the stands watching her entertain Rian's crowd of high school girls in the infield. I think I've never seen Mali having so much fun.

Soccer! Track!

Soccer tryouts for Mali's team - the Xtreme - were held on Saturday and Tuesday night. Coach Dean called Mali yesterday to tell her she made the team. Their team appears to be about the same, with a change of only two or three players.

Southridge lost a close meet against Jesuit for the conference championship. It was the last dual meet of the season. Andrew's last meet will be the JV District meet this Friday, where he's going to run the 1500m and try for a PR (Personal Record - best time).
Andrew's goal at the Jesuit meet was for a PR in the 800m, and he got one in the JV race, getting 6th place with a time of 2:10.97. His JV 4x400m relay team won against 5 other teams, though this great track web site Andrew just showed me only lists three of them. On the web site you can click any of the completed meets to see the results, and if you click on Andrew's name it will take you to a page summarizing all of his high school results.

Music Man: Final show

This last show was fantastic. I don't know how they fixed the sound, after they complained all week about how it wasn't working, but tonight it was perfect. The show was great - even when the kids almost lost it laughing through the second and third songs.
Afterwards the cast party appeared to be huge fun for the kids, with the sound guy as a DJ and a large table of chocolate things to eat.
Rian came with us to help the kids with their makeup, and left with Susy after the show, just after the party started.
Hannah and Rachel came to watch on Friday, to Mali's great joy. Rachel did a shimmy, which had Mali cracking up and copying it. Saturday Alana came, making Mali happy again.

Music Man: Opening Night

The big show opened tonight! Grandma and Grandpa drove down from Washington to see it. It was great, and Mali (second townsgirl on the left) was awesome! Very lively. The whole thing was very well done for a middle school production. I was impressed.
Tomorrow's another show. Saturday has two. We'll be there for all of them!