My Little Thespian

Here's a post I meant to get to last week, but getting ready for camping and then leaving civilization (well kind of) itself all came before the blog post. So here it is, 11pm after 9 hours of traveling home (actual destination time is only 6, but took an hour detour to see Mt St Helens and of course food stops). I am wide awake in bed, figured may as well make use of it and get this post up!

Since the end of June Logan has been rehearsing with the Wells House Players, Shakespeare in the park. This is her second year. They practice Monday-Friday 9-3 in Washington park leading up to three nights of performances at Ohme Gardens. I am always impressed with the group, Shakespeare is NOT easy. To perform it, is even harder. Lo struggled last year with comprehending what she memorized, which makes it difficult to perform. This year we she was more diligent in studying and had her lines down in the required time, only a week and a half out to replace a girl with a lead that quit. She has never had a lead, sure she's performed plenty but a lead in Shakespeare with only 10 days to learn all the lines. I had my doubts. She did not, I have never seen her take something so serious and work so hard. Her hard work paid of, at 12 years old she was truly a wonderful Julia of Two Gentleman of Verona. The cast was all about the same age, and all wonderful. Another memorable year in the books, and a very proud Mom!

 

Her loyal supporter

 

This was ne of her snapchats, I'd say they had fun

 

 

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Should've Read This in 1998

I have to say in my marriage from 1998 (when I got married) to 2007 (until I figured shit out) I may have suffered from the first part of this article.  I believed in marriage I should always be happy, that we both should be happy, but truthfully I should be happy.   I was in a constant state of disappointment when my mate would let me down.  You throw two small kids and owning a business into the mix there's bound to be disappointment in one another in something.  Lots of blame on both parts why things weren't going the way we wanted them too.  Usually it was a cumulative of things building, not parenting the way I thought he should, agreeing to do a project, but not getting it done in my time frame, it was anything big or small, I just thought when you were in a marriage life should be bliss, why should "I" be doing all the work. 
The light came on after a major crash in 2007.    One that forced me to really, REALLY think about what it was I wanted in a relationship and what I wanted out of life.  I also had to forgive.  I had talked with people that had been married for years, and I learned a lot.  I also learned that it wasn't always easy, but that is the beauty of a marriage.....the ability to work together through the difficult times, to always know you will work through things.  In 2007 I changed my perception of my marriage, and my life changed for the better.  I was happier, and prouder of the person I was.  I chose to accept and love ALL aspects of my husband.  I was more giving, without resentment.  Things that use to irritate me I was able to look at differently, and actually loved it, because we are two individuals.  We weren't the same person and didn't have to be, it was a change in perspective and a vision (from talking with others) of our future evolving.  I pictured us with our kids getting older, more independent, where we were able to take more time for ourselves.  I pictured the kids out of the house, and us visiting at college, I pictured holidays in which the kids came home with their families and stayed with us, and being me of course I pictured us traveling the world, all the while knowing and loving on a deeper more intimate level because of our time and experiences together.

Ok so my marriage didn't work.  I was married for 3 and half more years after I "figured shit out", I was happy and I thought we were happy.  Life seemed (and was) good to me.  We can't control another, and sometimes they don't figure things out, or at least the way we want them too.  It's ok, because I figured things out, and I am happy to be able to continue to apply that to my life and one day marriage again.
This article is great, one that all newish (not entirely new, because at that stage you can't possibly imagine not being blissfully happy) married couples should read.

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/06/the-truth-about-marriage-monogamy-long-term-partnership/

Books. I love them.

Everytime I contemplate getting an antenna for my tv, so I could watch tv, I look at my unread books I realize there is no time for tv in my life.  I do enjoy when Lo and I start watching a series together on netflix,  but that's it.  I love books, more times that not actual books too.  I've put a few on my kindle app on my iPad, but I like the feel and smell of the actual book.  I've read a few really good ones lately so I thought I'd share.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.   This is a true story based on a history professor that is appointed the position of the US ambassador in Berlin as Hilter rise to power is escalating.    At times it was a little too detailed and a bit slow, but from a historical perspective very interesting.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain  about Hemingways  first wife Hadley, a story of love and heartbreak.  Now I want to read about his other wives.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Wow, that's about all I can say.  A thriller in a way, with lots of twists and turns.  Hard to predict which is what made it fun.  I read it in two days, needless to say I was super tired at work

Orphan Train by Christina Kline. Another enjoyable read.  Based on events of this time period, which I had no idea this Orphan train even existed.  Fast, fun , informative read

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs.  I read this because my daughter had.  Not the genre I would typically seek out, but ended up really enjoying to book, so much so I was glad to see they made a sequel!

I started Divergence because we have the series here, and was going to go to the movie.  Can't get into it.  It is meant for teens, but so was Hunger  Games  and I loved that, but I also think that might be a reason I'm not into this series, to soon to wrap my head around this after Hunger Games.....not to sure if I will revisit it in the future.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green. Another one I read because my daughter did and I wanted to read it before seeing the movie.  Beautiful and gut retching.  Loved it, but have your tissues handy.

Now I am reading Wild. So far so good!

That Day...

July 16th, the first and my last first date.  I still think about that date, I think about the phone call July 13th (at Lo's swim meet in Cashmere) in which he called and we made plans to get together.  I remember him picking me up, I remember sitting at Eagle Creek having a glass of wine and an hour long conversation thinking...wow...I remember stopping at Eurosports to check out the new bike shop before heading to dinner (yes that happened and it was wonderful), I remember walking around while we waited for our number to be called for dinner, I remember after dinner, just not having enough of taking it in with this guy, still not believing my luck to be so interested in someone, that instant connection that went beyond physical, so we walked around barn beach, I remember inviting him in after when we got back to my house, I remember him changing my flat in the shop with our glass of wine (I got a flat in the race earlier that day).  13 hours that first date was.  I remember not wanting it to end, replaying everything in my mind as I lay in bed, not being able to sleep, because this was unchartered territory for me.  I had never experienced on a first date (and as I've said before, between my divorce and meeting Rick I did have some pretty awesome first dates), what I experienced July 16th 2011.

Three years, minimal disagreements , no breakups, no third parties.   Crazy normal,  in the best of ways!

Here's a few (and yes I narrowed it down) of some of our highlights.  Please this is sappy so feel free to check back tomorrow with my book reviews and avoid a beautiful love story!

Our first trip to Hawaii together January 2012

Both our first time to the island of Lanai

Celebrating our 1 year biking San Juan Island

Ok this is not Rick and I but this was on our first trip to Vegas together (2012), at Interbike, he was kind enough to take a photo of Mario Cipollini and myself, that's a secure man!

Kona 2012

Many moments like this

Cycling in another of our favorite places Methow



Just one of the many trips to Bend

Happiest Place on Earth 2013

Love him. Methow skiing

2/2/14 ENGAGEMENT day!  Kauai 2014

Mt Rainer 2013

This is only the beginning..............

Kids and Nature

I think John Muir said it best when he said

I couldn't agree more, add my kids to that and life is pretty perfect. I've come to the conclusion that my favorite hike/trailrun in these parts is taking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to Lake Valhalla. It never fails. I always love every part of it. If my kids get to pick they both pick this one. I seem to find myself there three or four times each year. The season for this hike is relatively short. We went last weekend which is pretty early, and encountered intermittent spots of large amounts of snow mixed in with perfectly clear and dry trails. Shorts, tank tops were our attire yet standing on a huge snow field massively sweating. It was awesome. I was glad I opted to wear my Salomon speed cross 3, instead of my usual go to brooks cascadias. They have a bit more grip plus the gortex around the bottom was nice for all the snow.

The trail is great (when it's clear of snow) for almost anyone. I think (aside from the beauty of this hike), my favorite part is the spot down at the lake. I love not being rushed and taking our time there to enjoy. If your lucky enough to get an early start you get to be the only ones at the lake. Definitely one of my favorites places to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The 4th (well actually the 5th)

Last weekend Rick and I road tripped down to the "Palouse" (I can say that now that I've spent more than 3 hours there), for those out of Washington State I am refering to Pullman Wa (home to WSU) and Moscow Idaho. Ricks oldest sister lives in Moscow and they have a beautiful family farm in Pullman that her son was getting married at. I had the pleasure of meeting his nephew and future bride shortly after we started dating when they motorcycle toured parts of Washington coming over the North Cascades Highway. I instantly liked them, such a cool young couple. They were engaged 11/11/11 at 11:11, so I have been very much looking forward to this wedding for a couple of years now!

I love weddings. Perhaps it's because I appreciate love more now. I look at two promising young people committing their lives to each other. That will share all life's ups and down together, they will grow, and they will love differently than they do now, not in a bad way, just a way that matures with time. I love it all.

These two are such insightful young people, I wish I had been like that in my twenties. They are also very much full of life and are two individual people that respects each other's individuality.

Weddings give me time to reflect, think and envision.  I guess the benefit to actually failing at a marriage (clearly speaking for myself), is choosing to take the time to reflect and figure out what didn't work. For me, it's that I was never me. The last four years this has become apparent. I was in a relationship for 14 years, one that started when I was 18. I melded myself to one person. Everything I did, he did, and everything he did I did. I didn't have a group of girlfriends I was close to and he didn't have guy friends. We had a few friends together, if there was a get together or getaway  he went with me. We never developed who we were as individuals. I met the group of friends I have now late 2007, I had no idea the benefit to having true best friends. Friends you love, friends that you can spend time with, just the girls. I didn't even realize all of this until meeting Rick. He has some pretty solid friends. Ones that make him happy to be around, in return this makes me happy. It's also beneficial, I have no desire to ride my Mtn bike for 8 hours, but he loves it, because we respect and love each other (as individuals) I love when he goes and does this and grabs a beer with the guys after. Just like I know he has no desire to see a concert in Central Park, but I have girlfriends that would gladly jump on a plane for a weekend to NYC. Discovering who I am has been one of the greatest journeys. I am a much better mother because of it, and I know I will be a much better wife.

I'd say my ex and I were young and this is why it didn't work, but that's not true, there are plenty of young couples that work. We didn't work because we didn't have the confidence in ourselves (and likely each other), to be our own person.

Looking at Mitch and Laura, they are the real deal. Seeing their excitement to start their lives together fills my heart with all the possibilities for them, as well as for Rick and I. It was such a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL, wedding. True to their personalities! I sat back and enjoyed most of the ceremony, so there's only a few photos, but I think you'll get the idea!

Love, it is a beautiful thing!

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Vaca Highlights

Bend was great.  It always is.  For Rick and I this was our 5th or 6th trip there in the last 3 years.  Its kind of that ideal place for us.  We both love it, enjoy all there is to do, (or even not do, sitting on the deck surrounded in trees drinking coffee).  That along with the kids love it and we get to visit our good friends.  Can't think of a better place to go. 
I ran everyday, the boys mountain biked (thank you Rick for showing the boys some of their favorite trails yet), afternoon's were spent by the pool lounging reading, eating, the boys tubed the river and of course we ate amazing food at all our favorite places!
Highlights

The only downside for now I am bound by a parenting plan, so the kids need to be back for visitation with their dad on Tuesday at 5....when this is no longer the case (yes still 6 years away), we will be staying more than 5 days!

Independence

Another year, another Franklin Street parade. I love that my neighbors down the way do this EVERY year for the last 30. Obie now has 5 parades in him, pretty sure he love parade day!

 

 

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