Owwwwwwww!

Guess that's what I get for trying something new, right?

Let me back up. Here in Philly dragon boating has a growing following and if you run a search in Google, you see a bunch of cities with their own dragon boat clubs. Philly is no exception. There are competitive teams that folks can join (and get up at the crack of dawn for practices - no thanks) and there are regattas where teams from different employers and groups get together, usually for charity, to compete. EPA has a team, so I decided what the hell, why not try it out. The first regatta is on June 7.

We had our first practice this afternoon after work. I don't know if it was smart or not, but I rode my bike up to the boathouse. Should have paid attention to the forecast that called for stronger winds. That 3+ mile ride took longer (and more energy) than I had expected. We then spent the next hour in the boat doing stroke drills and speed drills. To know when to put the paddle in the water, you need to watch the folks in front of you as well as the folks in the front that are setting the pace. Um, that was a bit of a problem for me since I'm so short and I was at the back of the boat. Still, I made do.

By the end, I was totally fading. We came around this little island in the middle of the Schuylkill and I was distracted by the nesting pair of swans in the trees. I tried to take a picture w/ my phone, but the camera isn't very good. I was toast by that point. After finishing up, and riding back home, it only 2 about 20 minutes for the pain to set in.

I stretched, but there was no way that would help. Oh, and it probably doesn't help that I did an arm workout last night at the gym. Duh. I did manage to take one picture w/ my phone. I was at the back of the boat so it's not much of a shot.

I found this picture online from one of the regattas last year. See the boat in the middle w/ the green t-shirts? Yup, that's our EPA team.

I will admit that the pain was worth it. It was so nice to be on the water. It reminded me of the canoe happy hours we used to do when I lived in DC. We'd rent canoes at Jack's Boathouse, load up w/ wine, cheese, etc. and paddle out to the Three Sisters islands in the Potomac and watch the sun set. It was such fun. I wish it was possible to do something like that here in Philly.

Now that I think of it, these are kind of like the boats we went on in Ketchikan after our jeep tour. Not that you can really see the boat, but it is the Tongass National Forest and a nice shot. ;-)

Why I love Philly

Aside from the fact that I can roll out of my apartment and have Kelly and West River Drive at my footstep, I love how small Philly is. I love that I am in a city (and 2 hours from NYC or DC) but most of all that I can walk down the street and run into folks I know. A few weeks ago I ran into a family friend on my way home from the gym. Today, I'm putzing around Target and run into a distant cousin of mine. How often does that happen to you in a big city?

On another note, I've been the total happy homemaker today (minus the cleaning and organizing aspect) and have spent the day cooking. Yup, you read that right. I hate to cook, especially when I get home at the end of the day. If I do get it together to buy stuff to cook, I usually am not in the mood for it by the time I'm ready to eat it. So, the fact that I am making two dishes -- chili and Mexican lasagna -- is pretty impressive. I usually cook every 1-2 months and put it in the freezer. I will say that I still have a ton of Yucatan chicken soup in my freezer from last fall. Just couldn't get into eating it b/c of the spice. Anyway, I now have food in my apartment. Like that will keep me from eating out all the time. Ha!

Of all the things I've lost . . .

. . . I miss my brain the most! I knew there was a reason why I bought that key chain. I really wish my brain would kick in sometimes.

I spent a great weekend w/ my family down in Florida. Iflew in Thursday night so I had 3 full days to relax in the sun. My weekend started out with a relaxing massage, 3 gorgeous days of walking along the water, 3 sun-filled days on the beach, time with the family, etc. (If you haven't noticed I was having fun w/ my cell phone on the beach)

Sadly, it ended with my brain taking a nice little hiatus. I showed up at the airport without my wallet! Yup, I somehow managed to leave it on the counter in the kitchen. Duh? In acutality, I did have my work ID, so I technically could have made it thru security; however, I didn't have any money to pay the cab fare home. Luckily, my mom had her cell phone on her and she and my dad rushed home (15 minutes away) to grab the wallet and meet me back at the departures area. I cut the security line and managed to get to the gate w/ 5 minutes to spare!

Now I'm home and wish I had one more day left at the beach.

On another note, my mom and grandmother always have the most beautiful flowers in their apartments (the benefits of living in Florida). The roses in my grandmother's apartment were just begging to be photographed and shared:

Aren't they beautiful?

While I was away, I also got a lot of knitting done. I made some headway on my first Monkey sock, did about 4 inches on Josephine, a pattern from last summer's Interweave Knits, and also worked on my tie-dye boxes sweater. My mom gave me the unfinished blanket she started for me 2 years ago with no plans of finishing it. I'm not sure where in the pattern she is, so I might have to rip it out and either redo it (yikes) or make something else w/ the yarn. We'll see. For now, I'm off to bed.

Spring is in the air!

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the Schuylkill and everyone is out and about enjoying the weather. Couldn't resist breaking out my bike on such a gorgeous afternoon!

Vladivostock Stole

Vladivostock is the name of the Rosie's Knits pattern I started after I completed my beginner knitting class. Let's just say that, as usual, Robin was a little ambitious with her first "real" project. It took me about 4-5 months to complete it in Koigu. My mom really liked it and wanted it, but I refused to give it up. Sad thing is, I have yet to wear it, but that's another story.

B/c my mom loved my first one, I decided to make her one for Hannukkah in sea silk, a yarn that I just love. Just like the other one, it took me about 4 months to complete, partly b/c of the intricacy of the pattern and partly b/c I needed to add in some no-brainer projects as well. Although Hannukkah was several months ago, I finally finished the Vladivostock Stole and blocked it this weekend. I took it to Rosie's to photograph it and here it is:

I love it! I kind of want to give my mom the purple one now and keep this one. This is what the purple one looks like.

It's beautiful, I'll give you that, but it is not as light and shimmery as the sea silk and definitely doesn't drape as well. My sister is now hinting that she wants one too. Someday . . .

And now for something completely different

Since I last blogged, I have been making progress on lots of projects. After I made the baby bunting for Leah, I couldn't help myself and had to make something else for her. I ended up making the Koko Kimono from Minnies and a pair of matching booties. My sister loved it so much, she put Leah in it right away for her first walk.



Here's a closer picture of them.




I also finished (finally) the lace stole I was making for my mom for Hanukkah. I know I'm late, but I know she won't mind when I bring it next week.



My sister is already asking for me to make her one now. I think she's going to have to get a new project b/c I am sick of that pattern! I think two of them is enough!

I also started working a cute summer sweater for Alex. It will have a ruffled bottom and ruffled cuffs. It's a quick knit so I may even finish it before her birthday party next week.



Finally, I have started working a large throw made out of Manos del Uruguay. The colors should go pretty well w/ the colors in my living room. I don't have a picture now, but I'll post one as I make more progress. I have a bunch of tanks and shells to make, but I am waiting to do so until I take a class in mid-April on fitting your projects to fit your unique body type. Since I am the epitome of a pear shape, the shoulders always come out too big. I'm hoping this class will help me fit my tiny top w/ my rounder bottom.

Hope you've enjoyed show and tell for the day.

Camp

I went to camp for 10 years. Ok, 11, if you count the summer I went to girl scout camp. I loved camp. Camp allowed me to venture out and learn how to be my own person. I was no longer sheltered by my family, but instead made a whole new family. I went to Pinemere Camp in the Poconos. It was not your typical camp. It was quite rustic. My first year there in 1980, they had just opened the pool. Before that, all swims were in the lake. We still used that lake for paddleboards, swamping canoes, disrobing (a life-saving technique - don't let your mind get dirty), polar bear swims, etc. This camp was great b/c it wasn't a sports camp and for me, that made all the difference. My days were spent figuring out how to spend more time flirting w/ the boys. We went on day-long and overnight canoe trips along the Delaware, had Friday hikes down the street or up the side of Camelback Mountain. It was a Jewish camp; we kept kosher, said prayers before before meals, the sh'ma at flag raisings, and had Friday night and Saturday morning services where we wore whites.

One of my favorite camp memories was Saturday morning sing. After services we all gathered around the lower maple tree and sang folks songs. I can sing these songs in my sleep. As I got older, a few Grateful Dead songs made their way into the song list, but certain songs remained. Hey Lolly, The Cat Came Back, This Little Light of Mine, Rattlin Bog, Frankie and Johnny, Mountain Dew, the list goes on and on.

Camp was not about the accommodations or the equipment or sports. Camp was about friendship and to this day I can get together with my camp friends and it is as if no time ever passed.

I write this b/c Pinemere lost a very dear friend last week and his funeral was today. Bob Miner was Pinemere in my mind. He had been a figure there since 1958. It was Bob's values and traditions that really made Pinemere what it was and still is today. A testament to how much Bob touched our lives are the number of friends and family that gathered today to remember him. One of the most touching parts of the service was when his son played the first parts of a CD that Bob recorded; camp songs that I hadn't heard in years. As the song, Freedom/Come & Go With Me played, soft mumblings were heard until the whole room was singing, "Come and go w/ me to this land/ Come and go w/ me to this land." It was a fitting was to pay tribute a man that made a lasting impression on generations, including me.

Bob w/ members of my CIT year at our 20th reunion - August 2007.

Leah Reese

My second niece, Leah Reese was born today at 8:14 am. She weighed in at 7 pounds and 20 inches long. Mom, dad, and daughters are all doing great. Leah was content to sleep the day away. Isn't she precious?

Alex, Leah's big sister, was so excited to meet her.

She even held her a couple times. I'm not sure if she was more excited by her little sister or the Aladdin DVD her sister "gave" her. ;-)

Busy bee

Aside from the fact that I have been a slug due to this cold, I have been very busy on the knitting front. My mom put it in my head to make a baby bunting for my sister's new baby (arriving on Tuesday!) to come home from the hospital in. I found a cute pattern that converts from a sack to pants so you can use the car seat. I had originally bought a cute pastel yarn, but it striped and didn't look so good. So then I settled for a more neutral cream. I got the cutest ladybug buttons, but they appear to be too small. Here are pics of the bunting w/ the small buttons.

I went to Rosie's to get bigger buttons and all I could find were these clear pink ones. Not as cute as the ladybugs, but at least my little niece won't pop the buttons off!
Of course, my new little niece needs a matching hat to wear home from the hospital . . .

And booties for her feet . . .
I was going to also make little mitts to match, but decided not to. Let's just say I went a little crazy outfitting the little bugger. Of course I won't be there when they bring her home from the hospital in it, but my brother has promised to be the photographer that day.

National Geographic Photo Awards

My friend Lynn just emailed me these photos that won National Geographic photo awards. These are a few that I think are just fantastic. I'd like to take pictures like these some day . . .

I love the reflection in this photo:


They almost look like giants . . .



And my favorite is . . . .

I think this one is just amazing. I love how at first glance it looks like a herd of dark horses. Then, upon further examination, you realize that the photo is actually of a herd of zebras and what you thought were the animals is actually their shadow. Fabulous!

Someday when I decide to explore my love of nature photography I could hope to produce something like this . . . Someday . . .