Six O Six

In 1977, a group of lawyers decided to meet at 6:00 AM each and every day to run. They run between 4.5 - 5.5 miles around downtown Annapolis and the Naval Academy. There is no formal registration and everyone is welcome to join them. (tourists show up too!) They run through snow and rain, as well as the occasional blizzard and hurricane. The only change occurred when the starting time allowed a six minute grace period for the late stragglers ~ hence the name "6:06" was born.

The 6:06'ers embrace a joyful spirit of running. In the early hours, they not only share miles, but stories, jokes, and friendship. There have been pranks along the route and infamous nicknames for group members. One of the founders, Gill Cochran's mantra is, "If you run alone, it's a chore. If you run with a friend, you can run forever."

Check out their website at www.sixosix.org I love how they state their pace: "all paces are represented and welcome" I wonder if that includes my pace?? ;) One day, we will have to go to Annapolis and set our alarm clocks extra early. Maybe 5:30 AM (!) just to get on our sneakers and meet up with the 6:06'ers. And, yes, Mike is welcome to join us.

The poster below hangs in the running store in my town. The quote by Steve Prefontaine is a favorite of mine. His story is amazing, but another day, another blog. Gotta run...

tb

ps - - chrysalis? Seriously?? I will assume you are just joking with me.

Photo Friday No. 8

Still Snowy in

New Jersey

Dinner with Girlfriends in

Pennsylvania



SMARTS

Happy Tuesday.  We are officially back to the grind ... work, school and homework!

A couple of years ago we made the decision not to send Matthew to kindergarten as a five year old, when most kids start.  He would have been one of the younger kids in his grade.  Sometimes parents are faced with tough decisions.  Our decision was carefully calculated based on the following pro/con list relative to starting kindergarten on time:

Pros                                                                             Cons
save ~ $7,000 a year in daycare cost          late June birthday
he'll be bored another year at daycare        he's a boy

The simplicity of the list is glaring.  I'm not sure how the cons won out especially with $7k involved.  But they did.

Fast forward and Matthew is now in first grade.  He constantly says "I hate school" and I constantly reply "but Matthew, school loves you".  Which it does.  Weekly spelling words have been easy breezy for him (I'm guessing because he is now older for his grade).  He would study the words one night ~ 100% on tests.  Until his teacher approached us and asked if Matthew was interested in doing the "challenge" words.  Matthew said no, we said yes.  Three challenge word spelling tests under our belt.  Not easy.  Multi-syllable words with tricky silent letter combinations.

To study for the challenge words, we have a system.  There is a great app on the iPad that I highly recommend: Spell Board (by PalaSoftware).  A dry erase board would work just as well, or a pencil and paper (but the iPad is fun).  For two nights, we do the iPad and then for two nights I quiz him and he practices writing the words.  We probably do about 25 quizzes in total.

Fresh off the long Christmas break, Matthew receives his challenge words for the week.  I get home from work yesterday and take a look at the list (kind of with some excited anticipation ~ I actually enjoy doing these with him).  My eyes quickly scan the list ... then come to a sudden stop.  There must be a mistake ... what is that word.  Clearly too difficult for a 1st grader.  So out loud I try to pronounce the word and stumble, alot.  Almost in unison, the 6th grader and 1st grader not only correct my pronunciation but tell me what the heck the word means.  Yikes!  I was taken down a notch.  I am clearly not "Smarter than a 5th Grader" or even a 1st grader.  Sister, since you were the english person and I was the math person, do you know this word?

chrysalis

tracy

Baby Steps

I needed some time to reflect on the arrival of the new year. 2011 is here, ready or not. Truth be told, I was trying to juggle the joy of the holidays with the pain of the clean up: presents to be put away (but where??), the tree (daunting at best), and the leftover wrap, returns, exchanges, thank you notes, etc. You can see why it is hard to look forward when the Ghost of Christmas Past is holding me back.

A new year is a fresh start on many levels. Doesn't everyone love a second chance? I can be a better sister, wife, daughter, and mother. I can read more books and try new recipes. I can exercise daily, make that twice a day.;) I can eat healthier by eliminating sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and anything that tastes good. {And, I can drive myself crazy trying to do all of the previous for more than a week, let alone an entire year.}

OK this is what I can do.

Take each day one at a time. Savor the moment. Small steps forward ~ big things are built just a little at a time. Make short lists, even if it means making new ones again and again. Find joy in the ordinary (& sometimes, the extraordinary). I think I am liking my new year already. I am not sure if I will "get it right" this time around, but I hope the memories will be magical.

And, in this spirit, I will leave you with this; a poem from over here -------->>>>

that which is everyday
is instinct & grace

by Kylie Johnson

tb

10:10

A new year, I think it makes sense to start planning.  Goals, objectives, how to "get it right" this year.  But it usually takes me a bit of time to transition.  I just cracked open my 2011 planner and started to mark down what I know so far.  Funny how similar the years look on paper ~ we kind of do the same stuff year after year.  However, before I completely jump into 2011, I have to somehow acknowledge the past 56 weeks.  After a super quick analysis, I am going to give 2010 a thumbs up!

this T's Top 10 of 2010:

(in no particular order)

turning the big four-oh (grey hair included, I guess) :

travel (especially out west to Colorado and San Francisco) :

a new ride (plus the dealership rocks, they offer a "car spa" ~ genius ~ 
$99.95 for wash, wax, leather treatment, etc.) :

patio project (outdoor living, finally) :

girls weekends (several of them ~ NH, LBI, ANP) :

concert attendance (Counting Crows & Lady Antebellum) :

half marathon (respectable finish) :

blog (we actually did something we talked about ~ kind of wish it were
the tree tray?) :

yoga (the start of something good?):

Pittsburgh trip (one night with hubby in a brand new, high end modern hotel that we really couldn't afford ~ but we did it anyway!):

* * *

Besides all the things that were done and accomplished in 2010, I had some "light bulb" moments along the way.  An idea or realization that makes me look at things differently.  Hopefully with these new thoughts in hand, I can try to "get it right" this year.  Wish me luck sister!

Tracy 

ringing in the new year

The Sisters Mulleavy

Back in 2005, I vividly recall reading about two sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, who embarked on a journey together...there is nothing like a sister story mixed with fashion and film to capture my attention. Pay attention ~ you will be digging in your closet when you're done reading this!


After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, Kate and Laura collaborated on a collection of ten pieces displaying their signature mix of hard and delicate elements. The Mulleavy sisters called their special brand of magic Rodarte. While I couldn't confirm this, I remember reading this first collection was created in a paper doll format ~ how could I forget something so creative and unusual?


The sisters packed up their dolls and Rodarte doll clothing (I am imagining this!) and flew off to NYC. As California natives, Kate and Laura had never been to New York before and didn't know a soul in the city. They phoned Women's Wear Daily to request a meeting. (btw WWD never takes cold calls) Of course, WWD loved Rodarte and immediately put it on their cover. I also read Kate, Laura, and Roadrte captured the attention of Vogue's Anna Wintour. The Mulleavy sisters were on their way...


Since the line's inception in 2005, Kate and Laura have collaborated with Gap and Target. Rodarte is worn by celebrities --> Emma Watson, Kirsten Dunst, Cate Blanchett, and Michelle Obama. Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman wore it to the 81st Academy Awards. In addition, the sisters won several awards in the industry. What next??


The talented sisters have Oscar buzz surrounding them lately. Who better to create the forty tutus for Dan Aronofsky's Black Swan? Already friends with Natalie Portman and fans of horror films, Kate and Laura were a perfect match. This was their first experience creating costumes for a film. While I look forward to seeing Black Swan, I especially look forward to seeing those tutus! All forty of them.


While I don't have a tutu, I do have a little Rodarte in my closet by way of Target. It is navy, tulle blouse with bows to tie at the neck and wrists. See? Hard and delicate. I love wearing it ~ always one of my favorites. I believe you have the same Rodarte piece in your closet too. Now, you can enjoy wearing it even more. Hope you can find it!

Tricia

1.1.11

 

Happy New Year

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance

for us to get it right."  Oprah Winfrey