There's lots going on at MarathonMum headquarters, which is why the posts have been less than frequent lately. Here's a quick roundup of all the things going on with me right now:
1. British Real Estate Transactions: Having bought and sold a house in the U.S., I can say the following with authority: The British real estate system is downright bizarre. We are in the midst of trying to sell our flat and buy another house (just down the street from this one). The important thing for my American fans to realize is nothing is definite until you get to the pre-closing, which is called the exchange, and happens about a week before the closing (called the completion). Consequently, you get to experience a new kind of hell, like we are at the moment, when you are days away from the exchange and the buyer wants some major last-minute concessions. We've already packed boxes and mentally moved into our new house and now it might not happen at all. Things are much more guaranteed in the U.S.: once your offer is accepted and you've placed your deposit, which happens three days after the offer is put in, it's much less likely that the transaction won't occur. I hate British real estate laws, I really do. We're trying to stay positive about everything at the moment, but it could easily go either way.
2. Running: I have been running, albeit not nearly as frequently as when I was training for the marathon. Last week I actually voluntarily did a hill workout, even though I have no races planned at the moment for the spring. Greenwich Park is great for hillwork, you can't believe the variety of hills from which to choose. Anyway, I was starting up one of the more perpendicular ones, when another bloke was starting as well. "Do you want to do them together?" Now, MarathonMum fans will know that I really hate running with anyone else, but I thought why not. When we finished the first one, he said, "Wow, you're really strong!" and then we went on to do four more. At the end I was ready to pass out and throw up simulataneously. Good times, let me tell you.
3. Go Nova! My alma mater, Villanova University, is currently ranked fourth in collegiate basketball in the U.S. Yeah!! They're having one of their best seasons ever. They're playing so well, I'm tempted to fly back and see a game, but of course, I have to contend with British Real Estate Laws and the possibility of moving. Tonight, Villanova plays Connecticut, who are ranked No. 1, so it'll be a Battle of the Titans. I'm trying to figure out if I can watch the game via the Internet, but I'm not really sure that I have the stamina necessary to start watching at 1 a.m. and stay up until 3 a.m. I might just have to read the recap tomorrow and cheer in my sleep.
4. Chicken Little: MarathonMum's family went out in force to see Chicken Little over the weekend. It got positive reviews all around, though Nicholas thought it was, "A little bit scary."
5. Finally, to all my family and friends who are buried under two feet of snow on the East Coast, remember the final rule: Have fun!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
Steelers Win!
The Pittsburgh Steelers became Super Bowl champions Sunday night after beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10.
But the win raises the inevitable question: If two Steelers fans shout victoriously in London, will anyone hear them?
The victory seems somewhat hollow today because there's no one else locally with whom we can celebrate our joy. That's the funny thing about sports teams victories: part of the fun is the community elation that comes along with any wins. You can dissect the game's every play with friends and conclude, "We won!" You can stop the postman and ask him what he thought of the game. You can look at the front page of every newspaper and see pictures of the game, and then read miles of copy in the sports section exploring every possible angle of the contest. You may even be able to smile at strangers, knowing they're happy too. Not being able to do any of those things makes the win a little less fun.
Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled the team got its fifth Super Bowl ring I just wish we weren't so "G.U." (geographically undesirable) today.
But the win raises the inevitable question: If two Steelers fans shout victoriously in London, will anyone hear them?
The victory seems somewhat hollow today because there's no one else locally with whom we can celebrate our joy. That's the funny thing about sports teams victories: part of the fun is the community elation that comes along with any wins. You can dissect the game's every play with friends and conclude, "We won!" You can stop the postman and ask him what he thought of the game. You can look at the front page of every newspaper and see pictures of the game, and then read miles of copy in the sports section exploring every possible angle of the contest. You may even be able to smile at strangers, knowing they're happy too. Not being able to do any of those things makes the win a little less fun.
Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled the team got its fifth Super Bowl ring I just wish we weren't so "G.U." (geographically undesirable) today.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Go Steelers!
Tonight is the Super Bowl in the U.S.
For my non-American readers, I might as well have just typed, "Xslkdhj lkjrt goiu Lkjerg Bpoer in the U.S."
Despite the American's media annual insistence that there is a global audience of many millions of people watching the American football game, it's just not so. Here in the U.K., there's a few freaks (read: Us) who are very excited about the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, but we are firmly in the minority.
To wit: Yesterday I had to drop something off at my friend's house. We were discussing what we were doing this weekend, and I told her we were staying up late to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. "Is that baseball?" she asked.
Let's face it, it's tough being a Steelers fan living abroad. When we talk about Big Ben, our friends think we're talking about a timepiece, not a quarterback. When we bemoan that it may be the last season for the Bus, they think we're talking about a vehicle that is red and double decker.
Nevertheless, Tim and I will be up late in our Steelers T-shirts ready to root our team to victory.
Here we go, Steelers, here we go!
For my non-American readers, I might as well have just typed, "Xslkdhj lkjrt goiu Lkjerg Bpoer in the U.S."
Despite the American's media annual insistence that there is a global audience of many millions of people watching the American football game, it's just not so. Here in the U.K., there's a few freaks (read: Us) who are very excited about the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, but we are firmly in the minority.
To wit: Yesterday I had to drop something off at my friend's house. We were discussing what we were doing this weekend, and I told her we were staying up late to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. "Is that baseball?" she asked.
Let's face it, it's tough being a Steelers fan living abroad. When we talk about Big Ben, our friends think we're talking about a timepiece, not a quarterback. When we bemoan that it may be the last season for the Bus, they think we're talking about a vehicle that is red and double decker.
Nevertheless, Tim and I will be up late in our Steelers T-shirts ready to root our team to victory.
Here we go, Steelers, here we go!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Happy Ground Hog Day
Happy Ground Hog Day!
Today is an important day on the calendar, because this is the day we find out if we will have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. This forecast will be done not by the Farmer's Almanac, the BBC or even the Weather Channel, but instead by a groundhog named Phil who lives in Pennsylvania.
This odd American holiday seems all the more strange when you have to explain it to your six-year-old son. It's one thing to be indoctrinated to the idea by your kindly second grade teacher Mrs. Feno and your classmates seem to think it makes all the sense in the world, but it's another thing entirely when you have to explain it, on your own, without the support of the local popular media to do so.
Sadly for us, Phil has told us today that we will have six more weeks of winter. I still don't know if the groundhog's progrostinations extend to the U.K. I hope not.
Today is an important day on the calendar, because this is the day we find out if we will have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. This forecast will be done not by the Farmer's Almanac, the BBC or even the Weather Channel, but instead by a groundhog named Phil who lives in Pennsylvania.
This odd American holiday seems all the more strange when you have to explain it to your six-year-old son. It's one thing to be indoctrinated to the idea by your kindly second grade teacher Mrs. Feno and your classmates seem to think it makes all the sense in the world, but it's another thing entirely when you have to explain it, on your own, without the support of the local popular media to do so.
Sadly for us, Phil has told us today that we will have six more weeks of winter. I still don't know if the groundhog's progrostinations extend to the U.K. I hope not.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
"Brokeback Mountain" and Me
I went to see the critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Brokeback Mountain today.
Am I allowed to say I didn't like it very much?
OK, the scenery was beautiful, even though most of it was filmed in Alberta, Canada and not in Wyoming, U.S. I though Heath Ledger did a fine job, even if he did spend a lot of the time mumbling. I thought the overall portrayal of the love story between the two cowboys was well done.
But overall, I have to say.... Eh. (As in, "Eh, I can take it or leave it.")
Somehow all the nice bits didn't come together, for me, to make a really great film. I think it's a classic example of loads of people telling you what a great movie/book/television show/play it was, only to find the product didn't really reflect the culmulative effect of all those positive reviews.
(On a personal note, I now have seen a nominated Best Supporting Actor for two years running. Last year, I saw Clive Owen (and walked just behind him!) when we went to see "The Producers." I saw Jake Gyllenhaall-- before he was really famous-- in the West End several years ago when he starred in "This is Our Youth.")
I read the original story in the New Yorker and liked it very much, but I'm not sure that they needed to make a movie out of it.
Am I allowed to say I didn't like it very much?
OK, the scenery was beautiful, even though most of it was filmed in Alberta, Canada and not in Wyoming, U.S. I though Heath Ledger did a fine job, even if he did spend a lot of the time mumbling. I thought the overall portrayal of the love story between the two cowboys was well done.
But overall, I have to say.... Eh. (As in, "Eh, I can take it or leave it.")
Somehow all the nice bits didn't come together, for me, to make a really great film. I think it's a classic example of loads of people telling you what a great movie/book/television show/play it was, only to find the product didn't really reflect the culmulative effect of all those positive reviews.
(On a personal note, I now have seen a nominated Best Supporting Actor for two years running. Last year, I saw Clive Owen (and walked just behind him!) when we went to see "The Producers." I saw Jake Gyllenhaall-- before he was really famous-- in the West End several years ago when he starred in "This is Our Youth.")
I read the original story in the New Yorker and liked it very much, but I'm not sure that they needed to make a movie out of it.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Happy First Anniversary
Today marks the one-year anniversary of MarathonMum. Happy Annivesary, loyal MarathonMum readers!
Sorry the posts haven't been as frequent lately, but MarathonMum and family are in the throes of moving house, and so many boxes, not to mention solicitors, estate agents and loan officers, are demanding my attention. I will try to improve my performance once we move, which hopefully should occur in about one month.
Sorry the posts haven't been as frequent lately, but MarathonMum and family are in the throes of moving house, and so many boxes, not to mention solicitors, estate agents and loan officers, are demanding my attention. I will try to improve my performance once we move, which hopefully should occur in about one month.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Nicholas' First Knock-Knock Joke
Nicholas and I were eating lunch when he looked up and said, "Knock, knock."
Now everybody knows that Andrew, his older brother, is really the knock-knock specialist of the family. But I also know that Nicholas wants to do everything that Andrew does, so I can't say I'm surprised that he's starting to tell them too. However, sports fans, let's remember that the joke teller is only two and a half, so I couldn't quite believe he was giving comedy a try.
"Knock, knock," Nicholas said again.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"Orange," he replied, pointing to his juice box.
"Orange Who?" I asked.
"Apple!!" and he started laughing hysterically.
Well, it's a start.
Now everybody knows that Andrew, his older brother, is really the knock-knock specialist of the family. But I also know that Nicholas wants to do everything that Andrew does, so I can't say I'm surprised that he's starting to tell them too. However, sports fans, let's remember that the joke teller is only two and a half, so I couldn't quite believe he was giving comedy a try.
"Knock, knock," Nicholas said again.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"Orange," he replied, pointing to his juice box.
"Orange Who?" I asked.
"Apple!!" and he started laughing hysterically.
Well, it's a start.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Rules
Our great friend Skipper is a great one for creating rules before we start something fun. Because Skipper is also "Mr. Safety", a moniker he takes very seriously, some of these rules are important. For example, when we all go out sailing, Rule No. 1 is Stay on the Boat. But no matter how many rules he gives us, Skipper's last rule always is, "Have Fun."
As any parent out there knows, rule-making is a cornerstone of our job. However, I have followed the Skipper's lead in that whenever I list rules for the boys, my last rule also always is, "Have fun."
Before we headed downstairs for breakfast this morning, the boys and I were snuggling in bed, discussing Sharon's health and the Alito confirmation hearings, (OK, not really, we were talking about the theme for Nicholas' birthday party-- four months from now-- and how Wallace and Gromit are great). I asked Andrew if it would be OK if Nicholas and his friend Ethan played with his new train set while he was at school.
"Sure, that's fine," he said. "But there's a few rules."
"OK," I replied, with some trepidation. "What are they?"
"Rule No. 1 is to put it back in the brown box when they're done. Rule No. 2 is to not lose any of the pieces. Rule No. 3 is to be careful. Rule No. 4 is to have fun."
When I stopped laughing hysterically, he added, "I knew you would like the last one."
As any parent out there knows, rule-making is a cornerstone of our job. However, I have followed the Skipper's lead in that whenever I list rules for the boys, my last rule also always is, "Have fun."
Before we headed downstairs for breakfast this morning, the boys and I were snuggling in bed, discussing Sharon's health and the Alito confirmation hearings, (OK, not really, we were talking about the theme for Nicholas' birthday party-- four months from now-- and how Wallace and Gromit are great). I asked Andrew if it would be OK if Nicholas and his friend Ethan played with his new train set while he was at school.
"Sure, that's fine," he said. "But there's a few rules."
"OK," I replied, with some trepidation. "What are they?"
"Rule No. 1 is to put it back in the brown box when they're done. Rule No. 2 is to not lose any of the pieces. Rule No. 3 is to be careful. Rule No. 4 is to have fun."
When I stopped laughing hysterically, he added, "I knew you would like the last one."
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Getting to Know MarathonMum
My friend Quigs sent me the following questionnaire with instructions to fill it out and e-mail it back to a bunch of people. I did this same questionnaire five years ago, but I thought this time I would share my answers with you, my loyal MarathonMum readers. Please feel free to send further enquires/comments via the link below.
1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:30 A.M. (I read until the boys woke up at 7:45 a.m.)
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, definitely.
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies?"Match Point" I saw it Monday, more on this later.
4. What is your favorite T.V. show? Lost, ER or West Wing. It's a three-way American tie.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee
6. What is your middle name? Anne
7. Favorite cuisine? Italian, though French is a very close second.
8. What foods do you dislike? Beef stew. It was my brother's favourite thing, but I hated the stringy beef. I still do.
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Sour cream and onion
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? John Legend.
11. What kind of car do you drive? 1995 BMW 518i Estate (that's a station wagon, for my American fans). GazerBeam, as they boys call him (named for his GB country sticker) was recently traumatized when hit by a bus while parked on the street. "Poor GazerBeam," the boys say.
12. Favorite sandwich? Pret's Super Club.
13. What characteristic do you detest? Sexism, racism, snobbery, greed.
14. Favorite item of clothing? My black satin kitten heels with embroidered flowers from L.K. Bennett.
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where you go? Someplace I haven't been to before.
16. What color is your bathroom? White, with blue-aqua and green tiles. But that will soon change! (See number 30 below)
17. Favorite brand of clothing? L.K. Bennett for shoes. They can change a woman's life.
18. Where would you retire to? Mr. MarathonMum and I have fun with this question all the time-- France or Italy.
19. What was your most memorable birthday? My most recent one, given that it started at 12:03 a.m. with me cleaning up sick.
20. Favorite sport to watch? U.S. collegiate basketball. Go Nova!
21. Farthest place you are sending this? Worldwide-- on the World Wide Web!
22. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Loads of people. Who has time for this?
23. Person you expect to send it back first? Surprise me.
24. Goal you have for yourself? To write a great novel that (naturally) would be a best seller.
25. When is your birthday? Nov. 11.
26. When is your anniversary? Sept. 2.
27. Are you a morning person or a night person? Depends.
28. What is your shoe size? 9.5 (U.S.), 7/7.5 (U.K.), 41/42 (European, LK Bennett)
29. Pets? Do two sons count?
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? We will be moving to a Georgian house just down the road from us in Greenwich, London, next month.
31. What did you want to be when you were little? A doctor.
32. What are you today? I'm too conflicted with my current role to give a one-word answer to this question.
33. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Luckily for me, they're hard to find in England.
34. What is your favorite flower? Roses.
35. What is a date on the calendar you are looking forward to? Tim's birthday, because we should be moving then (see number 30)
36. If you could have one wish what would it be? For my family to be safe and happy.
1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:30 A.M. (I read until the boys woke up at 7:45 a.m.)
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, definitely.
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies?"Match Point" I saw it Monday, more on this later.
4. What is your favorite T.V. show? Lost, ER or West Wing. It's a three-way American tie.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee
6. What is your middle name? Anne
7. Favorite cuisine? Italian, though French is a very close second.
8. What foods do you dislike? Beef stew. It was my brother's favourite thing, but I hated the stringy beef. I still do.
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Sour cream and onion
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? John Legend.
11. What kind of car do you drive? 1995 BMW 518i Estate (that's a station wagon, for my American fans). GazerBeam, as they boys call him (named for his GB country sticker) was recently traumatized when hit by a bus while parked on the street. "Poor GazerBeam," the boys say.
12. Favorite sandwich? Pret's Super Club.
13. What characteristic do you detest? Sexism, racism, snobbery, greed.
14. Favorite item of clothing? My black satin kitten heels with embroidered flowers from L.K. Bennett.
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where you go? Someplace I haven't been to before.
16. What color is your bathroom? White, with blue-aqua and green tiles. But that will soon change! (See number 30 below)
17. Favorite brand of clothing? L.K. Bennett for shoes. They can change a woman's life.
18. Where would you retire to? Mr. MarathonMum and I have fun with this question all the time-- France or Italy.
19. What was your most memorable birthday? My most recent one, given that it started at 12:03 a.m. with me cleaning up sick.
20. Favorite sport to watch? U.S. collegiate basketball. Go Nova!
21. Farthest place you are sending this? Worldwide-- on the World Wide Web!
22. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Loads of people. Who has time for this?
23. Person you expect to send it back first? Surprise me.
24. Goal you have for yourself? To write a great novel that (naturally) would be a best seller.
25. When is your birthday? Nov. 11.
26. When is your anniversary? Sept. 2.
27. Are you a morning person or a night person? Depends.
28. What is your shoe size? 9.5 (U.S.), 7/7.5 (U.K.), 41/42 (European, LK Bennett)
29. Pets? Do two sons count?
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? We will be moving to a Georgian house just down the road from us in Greenwich, London, next month.
31. What did you want to be when you were little? A doctor.
32. What are you today? I'm too conflicted with my current role to give a one-word answer to this question.
33. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Luckily for me, they're hard to find in England.
34. What is your favorite flower? Roses.
35. What is a date on the calendar you are looking forward to? Tim's birthday, because we should be moving then (see number 30)
36. If you could have one wish what would it be? For my family to be safe and happy.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Quotes of 2005
I love the end of the year. The incessant round-ups of best quotes, best pictures, best news stories, best products, celebrity babies, celebrity weddings, celebrity divorces. Some people are so talented they appear on the last two lists concurrently (Renee Zellweger, take a bow).
For me, 2005 was a very good year. Here are some of the best, quirky, most interesting things I said in 2005:
"I finished the London Marathon!!" (April 17)
Crossing the finish line meant I could cross running a marathon off of my life list.
"Mr. MarathonMum got a promotion." (December 12)
Working 14-hour days pays off. Now he can work around the clock, with worldwide travel thrown in for fun.
"We unexpectedly sold our flat." (December 12)
Yes, December 12 was a big day. And yes, when I say "unexpectedly," I mean it. The estate agent called us out of the blue, saying they had a buyer who was looking for a flat exactly like hours. We tidied up a bit, but didn't give it much thought. An hour after he left, he made us an offer. Now we need to find a house!
"We can't use the car, because my car keys are in Italy." (December)
My car keys unexpectedly take a Roman holiday in Mr. MarathonMum's pocket.
"Happy 10th Anniversary!"
MarathonMum and Mr. MarathonMum celebrate 10 years of marriage. Hooray for us!
"We'll be in five different countries today!" (May)
MarathonMum and family travel through England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany en route to their holiday.
"You inspired me to run the marathon, because I figured, if you can run a restaurant empire and train for it, I can certainly do it pushing my 18-month old." (December)
MarathonMum swaps marathon war stories with Gordon Ramsay, who gave her a kiss and said (twice!), "Well done!"
"Wow, this Emmy sure is heavy." (August)
MarathonMum gets to hold a real Emmy, won by her friend, Ted Allen of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame.
"Baseball is a lot like cricket." (July)
MarathonMum's response to her five-year-old's question, "What's baseball, Mom?"
"How is Iran?" (April)
Mr. MarathonMum travels to the Axis of Evil for an OPEC meeting.
Here's to more great quotes, laughs and fun in 2006.
For me, 2005 was a very good year. Here are some of the best, quirky, most interesting things I said in 2005:
"I finished the London Marathon!!" (April 17)
Crossing the finish line meant I could cross running a marathon off of my life list.
"Mr. MarathonMum got a promotion." (December 12)
Working 14-hour days pays off. Now he can work around the clock, with worldwide travel thrown in for fun.
"We unexpectedly sold our flat." (December 12)
Yes, December 12 was a big day. And yes, when I say "unexpectedly," I mean it. The estate agent called us out of the blue, saying they had a buyer who was looking for a flat exactly like hours. We tidied up a bit, but didn't give it much thought. An hour after he left, he made us an offer. Now we need to find a house!
"We can't use the car, because my car keys are in Italy." (December)
My car keys unexpectedly take a Roman holiday in Mr. MarathonMum's pocket.
"Happy 10th Anniversary!"
MarathonMum and Mr. MarathonMum celebrate 10 years of marriage. Hooray for us!
"We'll be in five different countries today!" (May)
MarathonMum and family travel through England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany en route to their holiday.
"You inspired me to run the marathon, because I figured, if you can run a restaurant empire and train for it, I can certainly do it pushing my 18-month old." (December)
MarathonMum swaps marathon war stories with Gordon Ramsay, who gave her a kiss and said (twice!), "Well done!"
"Wow, this Emmy sure is heavy." (August)
MarathonMum gets to hold a real Emmy, won by her friend, Ted Allen of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame.
"Baseball is a lot like cricket." (July)
MarathonMum's response to her five-year-old's question, "What's baseball, Mom?"
"How is Iran?" (April)
Mr. MarathonMum travels to the Axis of Evil for an OPEC meeting.
Here's to more great quotes, laughs and fun in 2006.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Best Perk of the Job
Last night, as I was doing my final pre-flight check for the boys (i.e. making sure they were all tucked in with blankets covering and Blanket and Tigger in their co-pilot positions), Andrew woke up-- sort of-- and saw I was there. Without saying a word, he leaned over the side of his bunk bed, gave me a kiss, and went straight back to sleep.
Being a mother is the hardest job in the world, but perks like that make it worth it.
Being a mother is the hardest job in the world, but perks like that make it worth it.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Winter Movie Reviews
For those of you weighing what film you'd like to see next, I'm including Nicholas' thoughts on the winter blockbusters. Please note: when he says, "Great!" he jubiliantly raises both arms over his head and smiles. When he says, "Scary!" he furrows his brow, scrunches his nose, and frowns. He may be only 2 1/2, but the boy knows what he likes.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: "Harry Potter - Scary!"
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith: "Star Wars - Scary!"
March of the Penguins: "Penguins - Great!"
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "Wardrobe - Scary!"
King Kong: "King Kong - Very Scary!"
Nicholas came to his conclusions on the first two having seen the advertisemens on the sides of buses and in tube stations. His review for the latter three are more credible, having viewed "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Sunday and having seen the trailer for "March of the Penguins" and "King Kong" while waiting for the film to start.
Now those who have seen Nicholas on the town know that he is a superstar when it comes to the popular media. On Saturday, when London was blanketed with posters for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," Nicholas would spot one from 50 paces away and yell, "Wardrobe!" While I had my doubts that he would enjoy the movie, I thought his older brother, age 6, would love it. How wrong I was.
I spent most of the movie with not one, but TWO young boys clambering over me in attempt to hide. Nicholas kept saying, "Scary!" but not once did he ask to leave or even cry. From the very start of the movie, when Nazis are dropping bombs onto London, Andrew was saying, "I don't like this movie. I'm scared. I want to go home." He kept saying that even after the bombings had stopped and the children are being evacuated via a train. ("Now, look, they're at a train station," I said. "There's nothing scary about that. We do it all the time.") It took me about 20 minutes to talk him down from the ledge, and even then, he didn't seem to enjoy himself very much (though he stopped asking to go).
However, when the action would heat up, he'd say, "Cover my eyes Mom! I don't want to see!!" Which, of course, I did, but then he would move my hands so that he could still see, but the hands would still be on his face so he could move them back, if need be.
After more than two hours of this, the movie ended, at which time Andrew turned to me, "That wasn't so scary, Mom."
Perhaps seeing a scary movie as a six-year-old is like childbirth: once it's all over, you forget the pain and the fear.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: "Harry Potter - Scary!"
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith: "Star Wars - Scary!"
March of the Penguins: "Penguins - Great!"
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "Wardrobe - Scary!"
King Kong: "King Kong - Very Scary!"
Nicholas came to his conclusions on the first two having seen the advertisemens on the sides of buses and in tube stations. His review for the latter three are more credible, having viewed "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Sunday and having seen the trailer for "March of the Penguins" and "King Kong" while waiting for the film to start.
Now those who have seen Nicholas on the town know that he is a superstar when it comes to the popular media. On Saturday, when London was blanketed with posters for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," Nicholas would spot one from 50 paces away and yell, "Wardrobe!" While I had my doubts that he would enjoy the movie, I thought his older brother, age 6, would love it. How wrong I was.
I spent most of the movie with not one, but TWO young boys clambering over me in attempt to hide. Nicholas kept saying, "Scary!" but not once did he ask to leave or even cry. From the very start of the movie, when Nazis are dropping bombs onto London, Andrew was saying, "I don't like this movie. I'm scared. I want to go home." He kept saying that even after the bombings had stopped and the children are being evacuated via a train. ("Now, look, they're at a train station," I said. "There's nothing scary about that. We do it all the time.") It took me about 20 minutes to talk him down from the ledge, and even then, he didn't seem to enjoy himself very much (though he stopped asking to go).
However, when the action would heat up, he'd say, "Cover my eyes Mom! I don't want to see!!" Which, of course, I did, but then he would move my hands so that he could still see, but the hands would still be on his face so he could move them back, if need be.
After more than two hours of this, the movie ended, at which time Andrew turned to me, "That wasn't so scary, Mom."
Perhaps seeing a scary movie as a six-year-old is like childbirth: once it's all over, you forget the pain and the fear.
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Christmas Nativity: The Show Must Go On
Parents of primary school children are flocking to assembly halls this month to see the English Christmas tradition that is the nativity play.
My American friends need to know that in this country there's no pussy-footing around Christmas. EVERYONE, regardless of religion, nationality or preference, is understood to be celebrating Christmas. If you're not, or even offended by it, well, that's just too bad for you, as far as the English are concerned. In the U.S., on the other hand, people bend over backwards not to offend anyone, so it seems that there's less and less "Merry Christmas" greetings these days. Even Banana Republic, in an effort to include everyone, says, "Happy Winter." What's so happy about Winter? It's cold, you get frostbite, there'a real chance you'll break a limb on the ice. But I digress.
English primary schools traditionally mount a Christmas nativity play. Now some schools, it has been reported, have stopped doing this. Our school has not. I have to say, the first time I heard that they did a nativity play in a public school, it struck me as odd. But now I'm completely assimilated, so it doesn't bother me in the least (though I wouldn't go as far to say, "that's just too bad for you if you don't like it).
As with any quality production, the backstage drama was nearly more interesting than the play itself. Abby, the original actor chosen to play Mary, caught a terrible case of stage fright, so Poppy, her understudy, was brought in to play the part. Poppy stole the show and I'm sure she'll go on to great dramatic things. Meanwhile, Jack (the most shy boy in the class), turned white as a ghost and nearly lost his lunch when asked to be a Three King. His mother had take him home early that day, such was the pressure of appearing as a king. They picked someone else. When asked what part he had, Isaac, another Year One student, told his mother, "I'm a nothing." He was, in fact, a supplementary king. We are also lucky enough to be Close Personal Friends with the actor playing Joseph, though we were not lucky enough to get an autograph. Andrew, clapping off the beat ("It looks like he got your rhythm," Tim said), was chosen to be in the choir.
You certainly know the story, so there's no point in recounting it. Off-tune singing and ambivalent dancing featured prominently in this year's production, but there still wasn't a dry eye in the house. The actors and performers received a standing ovation when it was all over. Then they had to go back to class.
My American friends need to know that in this country there's no pussy-footing around Christmas. EVERYONE, regardless of religion, nationality or preference, is understood to be celebrating Christmas. If you're not, or even offended by it, well, that's just too bad for you, as far as the English are concerned. In the U.S., on the other hand, people bend over backwards not to offend anyone, so it seems that there's less and less "Merry Christmas" greetings these days. Even Banana Republic, in an effort to include everyone, says, "Happy Winter." What's so happy about Winter? It's cold, you get frostbite, there'a real chance you'll break a limb on the ice. But I digress.
English primary schools traditionally mount a Christmas nativity play. Now some schools, it has been reported, have stopped doing this. Our school has not. I have to say, the first time I heard that they did a nativity play in a public school, it struck me as odd. But now I'm completely assimilated, so it doesn't bother me in the least (though I wouldn't go as far to say, "that's just too bad for you if you don't like it).
As with any quality production, the backstage drama was nearly more interesting than the play itself. Abby, the original actor chosen to play Mary, caught a terrible case of stage fright, so Poppy, her understudy, was brought in to play the part. Poppy stole the show and I'm sure she'll go on to great dramatic things. Meanwhile, Jack (the most shy boy in the class), turned white as a ghost and nearly lost his lunch when asked to be a Three King. His mother had take him home early that day, such was the pressure of appearing as a king. They picked someone else. When asked what part he had, Isaac, another Year One student, told his mother, "I'm a nothing." He was, in fact, a supplementary king. We are also lucky enough to be Close Personal Friends with the actor playing Joseph, though we were not lucky enough to get an autograph. Andrew, clapping off the beat ("It looks like he got your rhythm," Tim said), was chosen to be in the choir.
You certainly know the story, so there's no point in recounting it. Off-tune singing and ambivalent dancing featured prominently in this year's production, but there still wasn't a dry eye in the house. The actors and performers received a standing ovation when it was all over. Then they had to go back to class.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
St. Andrew's Day
Happy St. Andrew's Day!
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, singers and old maids. The Scottish flag is the Saint Andrew flag.
Saint Andrew, a fisherman, was the first apostle. His brother was Peter.
St. Andrew's Day is celebrated every year in Scotland.
St. Andrew's Day is celebrated every year in our family as a way to mark of the days until Christmas, but also to recognize the Andrew we've got. "St. Andrew" brings the boys new books.
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, singers and old maids. The Scottish flag is the Saint Andrew flag.
Saint Andrew, a fisherman, was the first apostle. His brother was Peter.
St. Andrew's Day is celebrated every year in Scotland.
St. Andrew's Day is celebrated every year in our family as a way to mark of the days until Christmas, but also to recognize the Andrew we've got. "St. Andrew" brings the boys new books.
Monday, November 28, 2005
The Battle of the Books
I guess I no longer need to worry about if I looked fat when I appeared on nationally on television in the U.S., as the only things you got to see were my hands when I was covering my eyes during our water tasting. (For those of you catching up with the rest of the class, MarathonMum and Mr.MarathonMum were filmed over the summer doing a water tasting as part of a CBS Sunday Morning segment on our friend Tom Standage).
Oh well. Hopefully the report will help sell more of his book, "The History of the World in Six Glasses." It seems that it has. A quick check on Amazon.com shows that it has shot back up the charts to No. 63 in books. Well done, Tom!
To compare, I checked the current sales status of another book by a friend, "The Things You Want to Eat" by Ted Allen, which is No. 1,729. You may know Ted better as the food and wine expert in the U.S. show, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Ted's book is also an excellent book, with a particularly good recipe for blue-cheese butter, which actually was something I made for Ted years ago, and it made the book. So while we helped Tom with "research" by drinking, we helped Ted with "research" by eating.
So with the Christmas shopping season in full swing, if you need some gift ideas, both books are great. But only available in the U.S. (or shipped abroad via Amazon.com).
Oh well. Hopefully the report will help sell more of his book, "The History of the World in Six Glasses." It seems that it has. A quick check on Amazon.com shows that it has shot back up the charts to No. 63 in books. Well done, Tom!
To compare, I checked the current sales status of another book by a friend, "The Things You Want to Eat" by Ted Allen, which is No. 1,729. You may know Ted better as the food and wine expert in the U.S. show, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Ted's book is also an excellent book, with a particularly good recipe for blue-cheese butter, which actually was something I made for Ted years ago, and it made the book. So while we helped Tom with "research" by drinking, we helped Ted with "research" by eating.
So with the Christmas shopping season in full swing, if you need some gift ideas, both books are great. But only available in the U.S. (or shipped abroad via Amazon.com).
Friday, November 25, 2005
We're Going to be on TV!! (Hi Mom!)
Many moons ago, when the weather was hot and clothing was light, the CBS Morning Show, an American news show, interviewed our great friend Tom Standage about his most excellent book, "A History of the World in Six Glasses."
During the day-long filming,MarathonMum and Mr.MarathonMum participated in a water tasting. This was something we first did a year ago, as part of Tom's research for his book. The idea was that no one would be able to differentiate between the tap water and the water in fancy bottles you pay over-the-odds for to drink.
While I didn't identify the tap water, I was able to taste a difference between brands. This surprised me, not least of all because I really did think that water was water was water. But now I know better. In the first tasting, the one water I couldn't bear to finish was the tap water (though I failed to guess that it was the tap; that should have been a tip-off). My favourite at both tastings was the Fiji water, which is delicious, but I would never drink it on a regular basis, given the environmental cost of getting it to me, delicious though it may be.
In any case, they filmed our tasting. I enjoyed the first tasting much more, probably due to the fact that I didn't spend the whole time thinking, "How will I look on TV? Will I look fat? Will any ex-boyfriends see me?" I doubt that the tasting will feature prominently, particularly since they spent the whole day filming Tom and only an hour filming us.
In any case, if you'd like to see us, the story will be on Sunday morning. Check local listings.
During the day-long filming,MarathonMum and Mr.MarathonMum participated in a water tasting. This was something we first did a year ago, as part of Tom's research for his book. The idea was that no one would be able to differentiate between the tap water and the water in fancy bottles you pay over-the-odds for to drink.
While I didn't identify the tap water, I was able to taste a difference between brands. This surprised me, not least of all because I really did think that water was water was water. But now I know better. In the first tasting, the one water I couldn't bear to finish was the tap water (though I failed to guess that it was the tap; that should have been a tip-off). My favourite at both tastings was the Fiji water, which is delicious, but I would never drink it on a regular basis, given the environmental cost of getting it to me, delicious though it may be.
In any case, they filmed our tasting. I enjoyed the first tasting much more, probably due to the fact that I didn't spend the whole time thinking, "How will I look on TV? Will I look fat? Will any ex-boyfriends see me?" I doubt that the tasting will feature prominently, particularly since they spent the whole day filming Tom and only an hour filming us.
In any case, if you'd like to see us, the story will be on Sunday morning. Check local listings.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today is my most favourite holiday in the entire year: Thanksgiving.
It is a quinessentially American holiday, and you don't have to buy any presents or send any cards. The only things you need to do today is be with family and friends, be thankful/happy and eat well. (Done, done and done, I say.)
Here in London, we usually do a big blow-out all-day party on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, since today is not a holiday here, obviously, but this year I'm taking the year off. I decided to give myself a break from the one month of planning, the one week of cooking and the one day of stressing. Instead, we're going to have a small party with just the four of us.
The boys were enthusiastic about having a Peanuts Thanksgiving (i.e. popcorn, sandwiches and jelly beans), but I vetoed that idea. We will, in a nod to the genius that is Charles Schulz, be having popcorn as a side dish.
After dismissing the sandwiches-and-popcorn menu, the plan was to buy a chicken and make all the usual side dishes, but when it came time to pull the trigger at the butchers, I just couldn't do it. So rather than buying the 10-pound free-range turkey that would have cost me $65 (no, not a typo), I went for the smaller turkey breast, so we can still have sandwiches and turkey pot pie tomorrow.
Enjoy Thanksgiving everyone. Remember the cardinal rule: If you're not overeating, you're not doing your job.
It is a quinessentially American holiday, and you don't have to buy any presents or send any cards. The only things you need to do today is be with family and friends, be thankful/happy and eat well. (Done, done and done, I say.)
Here in London, we usually do a big blow-out all-day party on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, since today is not a holiday here, obviously, but this year I'm taking the year off. I decided to give myself a break from the one month of planning, the one week of cooking and the one day of stressing. Instead, we're going to have a small party with just the four of us.
The boys were enthusiastic about having a Peanuts Thanksgiving (i.e. popcorn, sandwiches and jelly beans), but I vetoed that idea. We will, in a nod to the genius that is Charles Schulz, be having popcorn as a side dish.
After dismissing the sandwiches-and-popcorn menu, the plan was to buy a chicken and make all the usual side dishes, but when it came time to pull the trigger at the butchers, I just couldn't do it. So rather than buying the 10-pound free-range turkey that would have cost me $65 (no, not a typo), I went for the smaller turkey breast, so we can still have sandwiches and turkey pot pie tomorrow.
Enjoy Thanksgiving everyone. Remember the cardinal rule: If you're not overeating, you're not doing your job.
Monday, November 14, 2005
I'm Talking To You Cordless!
That's what Lance (played by Anthony Andrews) says to Gib (played by John Cusack) as Lance floats in the fraternity swimming pool atop a raft while holding the cordless phone in "The Sure Thing."
At the time of filming, the idea of not being tethered to a phone on the wall or table was a revolutionary concept. Cordless phones were used by the rich or the gadget prone. However, and now I'm dating myself, the film is now 20 YEARS OLD (yes, I'm shouting because I've just had one of those moments where I thought, "Really? 20 years?? And I can remember who I saw the movie with?"), and now everybody has a cordless phone. We haven't used a cord on a phone in at least a decade.
Today, on my computer, I am talking to you cordless, thanks to my ultra-cool birthday present, the iBook. I am back in the warm embrace of the Apple Family, a very happy place I had to leave seven years ago when our relocation forced us to begin using a PC. Now I have to relearn all the Apple tricks (they're coming back to me slowly) and cast aside all of my bad PC habits (right click, I'm talking about you). I also have the tedious job of transferring over files, photos, e-mail addresses and other essentials into this computer, but the hassle will be worth it.
Now I can take the computer anywhere in the house and enjoy cordless goodness. I can multitask to the highest degree; the kids can watch Sunday morning cartoons while I read the New York Times on the sofa. Twenty years from now this will not be such a revolutionary concept, much like using a cordless phone is today, but for now, I am chuffed.
At the time of filming, the idea of not being tethered to a phone on the wall or table was a revolutionary concept. Cordless phones were used by the rich or the gadget prone. However, and now I'm dating myself, the film is now 20 YEARS OLD (yes, I'm shouting because I've just had one of those moments where I thought, "Really? 20 years?? And I can remember who I saw the movie with?"), and now everybody has a cordless phone. We haven't used a cord on a phone in at least a decade.
Today, on my computer, I am talking to you cordless, thanks to my ultra-cool birthday present, the iBook. I am back in the warm embrace of the Apple Family, a very happy place I had to leave seven years ago when our relocation forced us to begin using a PC. Now I have to relearn all the Apple tricks (they're coming back to me slowly) and cast aside all of my bad PC habits (right click, I'm talking about you). I also have the tedious job of transferring over files, photos, e-mail addresses and other essentials into this computer, but the hassle will be worth it.
Now I can take the computer anywhere in the house and enjoy cordless goodness. I can multitask to the highest degree; the kids can watch Sunday morning cartoons while I read the New York Times on the sofa. Twenty years from now this will not be such a revolutionary concept, much like using a cordless phone is today, but for now, I am chuffed.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Today in History
1620
The Mayflower Compact was signed by Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. It would provide the basis for all governments of the American colonies.
1831
Former slave Nat Turner was executed.
1889
Washington became the 42nd U.S. state.
1918
The Allies and Germany signed an armistice ending World War I.
1921
The Tomb of the Unkown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery in the United States.
1968
MarathonMum was born in Morristown, N.J., U.S.A. (Other famous people born today: Feodor Dostoyevsky [1821], General George Patton [1885], Kurt Vonnegut Jr. [1922] and Leonardo DeCaprio [1974]).
1992
The Church of England voted to ordain women as priests.
2004
Yasir Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, died in Paris. Mahmoud Abbas was elected to take his place.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
A Warning to Parents
Today's post was made possible by the generous support of Meg in South Carolina who sent this to me and to Google, who made it so much easier to post photos on the blog (have you noticed an increase in photos? Doesn't it make the blog more fun?)
Helpful French Phrases (in light of the current situation)
Handy French phrases if you plan to be in France soon:
* Ou sont les pompiers? - Where are the firemen?
* Avez-vous un extincteur? - Do you have a fire extinguisher?
* A quelle heure est le couvre-feu? - What time is the curfew?
* Pourquoi brulez vous ma voiture? - Why are you burning my car?
* Avez-vous du feu pour allumer mon cocktail molotov? - Do you
have a light for my petrol bomb?
Thanks to Tim for this contribution to MarathonMum.
* Ou sont les pompiers? - Where are the firemen?
* Avez-vous un extincteur? - Do you have a fire extinguisher?
* A quelle heure est le couvre-feu? - What time is the curfew?
* Pourquoi brulez vous ma voiture? - Why are you burning my car?
* Avez-vous du feu pour allumer mon cocktail molotov? - Do you
have a light for my petrol bomb?
Thanks to Tim for this contribution to MarathonMum.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
The New York Marathon
On Sunday, 35,000 runners hit the streets of New York's five boroughs to participate in the New York Marathon.
While I loved running the London Marathon in April, and it will always be special to me, the New York Marathon is the one I grew up watching on television. I still distinctly remember the race in 1982, when Alberto Salazar won in 2:09.29 and Grete Waitz prevailed in 2:27, because I went out later that day to run my first 10k race. I was 13 years old. I don't remember my time, but I do remember that-- crucially-- I didn't come in last in the race.
I felt a slight bit of jealousy when I looked at the pictures Monday because I remember the euphoria of having finished a marathon. (The euphoria, of course, was followed by a week of not being able to walk correctly and eight lost toenails, but that's neither here nor there). Also, running in New York in early November is probably perfect-- good weather and the leaves are changing colour.
Now I think it's important to inform all of the MarathonMum fans out there (all three of you-- thanks for your support) that I will not be entering this year's London marathon. [If you listen carefully enough, you will hear my mother's sigh of relief worldwide.] There are several good reasons for this decision, chiefly that my personal trainer (now 2 1/2) is getting too heavy, vocal and strong-willed to push for the one-hour training sessions that are necessary to get the job done. When I say vocal, I mean to say that we'll be heading out for a run and he'll say, "No run! Park! No run! Park!", and then he'll point in the direction of the park, in case I'm mistaken about what he's talking about.
I thought about entering the lottery and then deferring for one year if I was lucky enough to get a spot, but in the end I decided not to do that either. I thought, first, since I was really lucky last year and got my spot through the lottery, it wouldn't be fair to the other 80,000 who weren't so lucky last year and were trying again this year. Also, since I knew I wouldn't be able to train pushing the 2 1/2-year-old, it also didn't seem fair to enter with the intention of deferring. I did decide, however, to take the £31 I would have spent on my entry and send it to my marathon charity, CAMFED. The money will be better spent by helping a girl go to school in Africa then receiving a London Marathon fleece (what you win if you don't get a spot) that I don't need anyway.
But all of this brings us back to the issue of the New York Marathon. Every year, the race is held in early November. As luck would have it, my birthday is also in early November. I have decided [listen for the drums rolling in the background], that I want to run the New York Marathon for my 40th birthday in 2008.
Anyone who would like to join me is more than welcome. In the meantime, I will continue to train in the hopes that the fantastic base I will have built up by then will bring me home to the finish in a respectable time.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
More Halloween
Responding to public outcry (OK, one person asked), here's a picture of the boys with Andrew's No. 1 girl Ella dressed in their Halloween finery. For those not familar with the Pixar's ouevre, Nicholas is Jack-Jack, Andrew is Mr. Incredible and Ella is a (non-Pixar) witch. Intense social obligations this week-- Nicholas had two birthday parties in one day!-- prevented me from posting this sooner.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Happy Halloween!
As an American child, Halloween is simply one of the best days of the year-- right up there with Christmas. You get to dress up as whatever you want (pending parental approval, of course), take in some fresh autumnal air, then knock on doors, say "Trick or Treat!" and people give you candy. It's so beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it as adult.We are, however, not in America. This fact is never so apparent when holidays like these roll along. Now, to give credit where credit is due, the British are trying. Every year, Halloween seems to be getting bigger and bigger, along with the cries about the creeping Americanization of the culture. Our first Halloween here, in 1999, I couldn't even find a pumpkin for my infant son (now the strapping young lad in the middle above). Now, with U.S.-based Wal-Mart owning Asda, one of the largest supermarket chains in the country, it's becoming much easier to find the crass orange-and-black accrutremonts that are essential for enjoying the holiday.
But it's just not the same.
In an effort to maintain a high level of fun and frivolity on our family's life, we hosted our Fifth Annual Halloween Bash on Sunday. We ate pumpkin cookies and pumpkin donuts (the shape, not the flavour), played Pin-the-Nose on the Pumpkin and enjoyed other seasonal (for the U.S., anyway) goodies. [Kudos to Ella (far right in photo) and Kirstin, who have attended every Halloween party we've had here.]
This afternoon, we will attempt to do some trick or treating. But don't be fooled. This is not the fun event of mapping out where all The Really Rich Families Lived so the quality of candy improved. Instead, I have asked many friends and acquaintances if they will be receiving trick-or-treaters today. Some did say no, but I don't hold it against them, because really, it's not a British thing. An older British woman said to me once, "It's just like begging for candy." Looking at it that way, I'd have to agree.
But the boys and I will do our best to make our little corner of London a little like the U.S.-- for today, at least.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Wallace and Gromit Fever: Catch It!
The boys and I are under the spell of Wallace and Gromit at the moment, the Most Excellent Dynamic Duo now at a cinema near you.
It is half-term week here (for all of you non-Brits, that means all the schools nationwide are off, meaning the streets, museums and parks are filled with those under five-feet tall). To celebrate its first day, we set off to our newly reopened cinema Greenwich Picturehouse to see "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Ware Rabbit."
It is a brilliant film, with loads of funny gags that amuse 2-year-olds, 6-year-olds, and 36-year-olds. Nick Park described it as, "A horror film for vegetarians," so it's even seasonally appropriate, with Halloween less than a week away. Crucially, it passed the Nicholas test, which means the 2-year-old sat still through the entire film, a feat repeated only one other time, at "The Incredibles."
Monday's outing was the 6-year-old's third (!) viewing of the film (one at a Leicester Square special showing and another at a birthday party) and he said, "It was great! My favourite bit was the big burp!" Outsize humour always appeals, no matter what the age.
We spent the morning watching the three previous Wallace and Gromit outings, ("A Grand Day Out", "A Close Shave" and "The Wrong Trousers"). You have to love movies where the dog sits in his chair reading, "Electronics For Dogs."
Wallace and Gromit Fever: Catch It!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
A 9.33 mile for Andrew!
Andrew made his debut on the running circuit today, clocking an impressive 9:33 mile!For months he's been asking me if he could do a race with me, and finally, I found one: a one-mile race at the Millennium Dome. I asked a friend, who is (a) a doctor (b) a mother and (c) a runner if it woud be OK to have a six-year-old race one mile, and she said it would be no problem. (As it happens, we saw kids younger than Andrew racing too. So maybe my worrying was for nothing).
It was a beautiful Sunday and he was eager to get started, asking me about every two minutes if it was time to go yet. I kept telling him not to start by sprinting, to take it nice and easy. I also told him if he ever got tired, we could walk. But he only asked to do it once, at the very beginning.
When we got to the finish line and I saw his time, I couldn't believe it. I was mentally predicting a 12- or 15-minute mile, so he came in well under my estimates. As we were picking up our finishing certificates, an older woman saw Andrew's time. She turned to her friend and said, "Did you see that? That boy ran a 9:30!"
I couldn't help but say, "He's awesome, isn't he??"
Monday, October 17, 2005
I Will Run A Year (Nike Run, Part Two)
My Personal Trainer has made his own running pledge for the next year, so I guess I'm going to stick with it. (The shirt is clean, in case you're worried that he put on my stinky post-race shirt.)The funny thing about Nike's pledge, "I Will Run A Year," is that I've already done that. I started running again in earnest for last fall's Nike run and kept it up since then, even finishing the London Marathon in April. But even though I'm disappointed by yesterday's result, I will keep running. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal.
I felt better after talking it over with my friend Kate this morning. Now Kate is a phenomenal runner and more amazingly, doesn't brag about it. To wit: she finished the New York Marathon in under 4 hours. If I had done the same, you can bet that I would have tatooed my time on my forehead. But I digress. Kate said she doesn't get too wrapped up in her time, she just tries to enjoy every race she enters. Under those guidelines, I DID have a good day yesterday: (1) I passed lots of people, particularly at the finish (2) I had my family-fan club cheering me on for the race (3) The weather could not have been more perfect.
So I Will Run A Year (and also figure out how to finish a 10K in under an hour in the process).
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Run London
On a picture-perfect October morning, my family and I headed up to Victoria Park so I could participate in Nike's Run London 10K race. The accompaning fan club was a (much welcome) last minute addition to my plans, so we didn't actually leave the house until just over an hour before I was due to start.
We got to Bow and walked about 20 minutes from our DLR stop before we got to the park. ("My legs are getting tired!" Son No. 1 kept saying.) As luck would have it, the entrance we used was at the start line. This was a very good thing, given that it was 10:27 a.m. (I was due to start at 10:30 a.m.) and a sea of red shirts was waiting for the race to start. I had to run down a bit and up again to reach them, and I was all the way at the back, but at least I got there. The gun sounded and we slowly made our way to the start, but once I got there, I realized I needed to reset my watch so I could time myself. "This is really something I should have done about an hour ago, I know," I said to the steward.
The one good thing about being all the way in the back was I spent the entire race looking for someone further up who I wanted to pass, and then worked my way up and got them. I'm happy to report that every person (I did not discriminate on the basis of gender), I picked out for passing, I did pass. Of course, I was able to pass about 15 people in the last 200 meters of the race, because my Fan Club was there to cheer me on and I wanted to impress the boys. Some things never change.
I also ran without my iPod, which made me feel a little bit naked, but I do think it helped me run a better race. I feel that I was able to concentrate better on the task at hand, rather than singing aloud to Aretha Franklin.
However, even with all these things in myu favor: beautiful weather, an enthusiastic fan club who I passed SIX TIMES (Yeah!) during the race, a high level of concentration and basic kick-ass passing, I am incredibly disappointed to say that I STILL HAVEN'T broken the one hour barrier. I feel utterly deflated and dejected that I didn't. (But, I was slightly faster than the 10K I did in July, so maybe that's some improvement. Or I'm clutching at straws).
There will be more races and other opportunities to run faster. I would be happy to list a litany of excuses as to why it didn't happen, but there's no point. There's always next time. It still was a great way to spend a Sunday morning.
We got to Bow and walked about 20 minutes from our DLR stop before we got to the park. ("My legs are getting tired!" Son No. 1 kept saying.) As luck would have it, the entrance we used was at the start line. This was a very good thing, given that it was 10:27 a.m. (I was due to start at 10:30 a.m.) and a sea of red shirts was waiting for the race to start. I had to run down a bit and up again to reach them, and I was all the way at the back, but at least I got there. The gun sounded and we slowly made our way to the start, but once I got there, I realized I needed to reset my watch so I could time myself. "This is really something I should have done about an hour ago, I know," I said to the steward.
The one good thing about being all the way in the back was I spent the entire race looking for someone further up who I wanted to pass, and then worked my way up and got them. I'm happy to report that every person (I did not discriminate on the basis of gender), I picked out for passing, I did pass. Of course, I was able to pass about 15 people in the last 200 meters of the race, because my Fan Club was there to cheer me on and I wanted to impress the boys. Some things never change.
I also ran without my iPod, which made me feel a little bit naked, but I do think it helped me run a better race. I feel that I was able to concentrate better on the task at hand, rather than singing aloud to Aretha Franklin.
However, even with all these things in myu favor: beautiful weather, an enthusiastic fan club who I passed SIX TIMES (Yeah!) during the race, a high level of concentration and basic kick-ass passing, I am incredibly disappointed to say that I STILL HAVEN'T broken the one hour barrier. I feel utterly deflated and dejected that I didn't. (But, I was slightly faster than the 10K I did in July, so maybe that's some improvement. Or I'm clutching at straws).
There will be more races and other opportunities to run faster. I would be happy to list a litany of excuses as to why it didn't happen, but there's no point. There's always next time. It still was a great way to spend a Sunday morning.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
If this is a trend, I'm not interested
The most e-mailed article in the New York Times for the past two days has been, "A Fast Track to Toilet Training for Those at the Crawling Stage." The story details how a new movement is emerging in the U.S. to teach children how to use toilet before the age of one.
The article says, "A growing number of parents are experimenting with infant potty training, seeing it as more sanitary, ecologically correct and likely to strengthen bonds between parent and child. About 2,000 people across the country have joined Internet groups and e-mail lists to learn more about the techniques of encouraging a baby - a child too young to walk or talk - to go in a toilet, a sink or a pot."
Are you kidding me?
Now, I would be the very first to say that I detested potty training, and if I could outsource the job, I would. (When my husband and I were talking about the job once, I said that and he responded, "I agree," to which I said, "You did outsource it. To me.") I waited for as long as I could to teach Son No. 1, and I only finally did do the job because he was starting nursery school in two weeks and had to be potty trained. There's nothing like a deadline to get a journalist working. (He mastered it-- for the most part-- in one day).
The article has created quite a flurry of responses in the bulletin board devoted to the story, with more than 2,000 postings on the subject.
I say if it works for you, then go for it. But I have to wonder, who is trained at 7 months old: the child or the parent?
The article says, "A growing number of parents are experimenting with infant potty training, seeing it as more sanitary, ecologically correct and likely to strengthen bonds between parent and child. About 2,000 people across the country have joined Internet groups and e-mail lists to learn more about the techniques of encouraging a baby - a child too young to walk or talk - to go in a toilet, a sink or a pot."
Are you kidding me?
Now, I would be the very first to say that I detested potty training, and if I could outsource the job, I would. (When my husband and I were talking about the job once, I said that and he responded, "I agree," to which I said, "You did outsource it. To me.") I waited for as long as I could to teach Son No. 1, and I only finally did do the job because he was starting nursery school in two weeks and had to be potty trained. There's nothing like a deadline to get a journalist working. (He mastered it-- for the most part-- in one day).
The article has created quite a flurry of responses in the bulletin board devoted to the story, with more than 2,000 postings on the subject.
I say if it works for you, then go for it. But I have to wonder, who is trained at 7 months old: the child or the parent?
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