Too Hot in the City

Whoever thought a 5K in the summer was a good idea should have their head examined!  Especially when the directions say to wear this costume or that costume during the "Fun Run".  Seriously??  First of all, there is nothing "Fun" about running in the extreme heat, especially when you are dressed as a diva like Cyndi Lauper (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!).  I knew you could tell by looking at the picture but I just wanted to clear up any misunderstanding.

The Riverfest Rock and Stroll "Fun Run" is a great race.  The course is mostly flat, except for the bridge, and there are some aide stations along the way.  The directions ask for you to come dressed in a costume.  Guess who my son was??

My cousin and her girls dressed as Elvis at three different times in his career.

And who did Bestie Boy choose to be?  Willie Nelson, of course.

This past weekend was the Race to Emerald City - another 5K "Fun Run".  At 85 degrees and 90% humidity, it was ANYTHING but "Fun".  I finished and the time wasn't terrible, but it was work.

I enjoy a good road race when the temperature and humidity behave.  The Harbortown 5K in Memphis had perhaps the ideal conditions - cool temps, flat course, mostly shade, no mosquitos or dogs, people with sprinklers set up to shower us along the way, and Jello shots.  You heard correctly - Jello shots at mile 2.5.  That is my kind of race.  Consequently, I achieved a personal record that day. I am sure it was the Jello shots.  They should be at every race.

(notice smile?  Good Weather!)

Looks like the racing may be over for the summer.  I much prefer to exercise in the nice, air-conditioned fitness center.  The call of the road will have to wait until fall when the "Fun" will be back with the "Run".

Digging Into Reading at Fletcher Library

Summer reading programs offer a great break from the heat and provide a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn some really cool stuff and escape the TV monster.  The theme for the summer reading program at CALS this year is "Dig Into Reading", so kids are learning about mining, fossils, caves, buried treasure, food that comes from the ground and lots of other neat stuff.  Well, if it is 'neat' and 'cool' I have to be a part of it!

Today I presented a program at Fletcher Library in Little Rock.  It focused on the STEM areas of archaeology and earth science with a little PIRATE thrown in as an extra perk.  The kids dug up fossils and other buried treasures from a tub of sand and then mapped where they were digging up the items.

I had come expecting 30 children ages 6 - 8.  What I got was 48 children ages 4 - 6!  Can you say 'monitor and adjust'?  But you know what? These kids were some smart cookies.  I explained how to use the brushes to GENTLY remove the sand in order to not disturb the fossils and how to map them on the grids I gave them (can you tell I was expecting older kids?).  They did a great job and several even noticed how their maps were "upside down" from the child across from them.  This led to a great opportunity to discuss how the way you hold a map can determine if you get lost or not and the idea of perspective in drawing.  When we put the maps on top of one another, they matched up and the kids had that "Aha" moment we educators LOVE!

Now I know I usually talk about Bestie Boy in my entries.  Well, here is my Bestie mention.  Who did I want to call first when I finished doing the program not once, but twice because there were so many children there?  BESTIE!  He was happy for me because he knows how important these kinds of programs are to me.  Just another example of activities we can do separately, but rejoice in TOGETHER.  (Because if Bestie had been there when 48 squealing 4 - 6 year olds entered the room he might have had a coronary.)

So what is on the plan for next week at the library?  Foods that grow underground!  The kids will get to plant a seed and taken it home with them and they will learn about potato 'eyes' and then get to use a true balance to determine the mass of several root crops.  If you have a child ages 6 - 8 (or 4 - 6) and want to attend, the program will be Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m.  Hope to see you there!!



The Bestie Boy on Father's Day

This past weekend was a time to say thanks to fathers everywhere for all they have done.  The kids and I decided to take Bestie Boy to the lake for his gift.  Throughout our married life, Bestie Boy has either had a boat or been shopping for a boat until we got a pool at the previous house.  Time spent at our own pool equaled less time spent at the lake, so the boat was sold (and the money used to pay tuition for college child #1).  Since there has been no boat in his life for several years, the kids and I thought this Father's Day gift would be perfect for the Bestie Boy.  We also decided to keep it a secret.

Early Sunday morning, we told Bestie to get dressed and get in the truck because we were heading for an adventure.  I had put ice chest, clothing, towels and other lake essentials in the back of the truck earlier while Bestie slept in.  He gamely got in the truck and we headed out.  He began to suspect we were headed to the lake when we exited the freeway at Cabot and followed the signs that said 'Heber Springs', but he still didn't know he was getting a boat for the day.

At the marina, they put us in a boat that has a 115hp motor.  Now, Bestie is 51 and he is not the svelte young man he used to be, but we were determined the 115hp would get him up on the slalom ski.  We commenced to drag him around and force gallons of lake water down on him, but to no avail.  The 115hp motor would just not pull Bestie out of the water (God love him).

Now, if you have never been to Heber Springs Marina, I suggest you go there.  The people are so nice and Greg is the best.  After I explained the problem I was having with my Bestie, he was quick to let us trade up for a 150hp to see if that could get the job done.  Bestie braved the water again, this time giving me a pitiful look.  I returned the look with an evil laugh and putted off to let the rope stretch out and provide a straight shot to pull him up.  After a couple of tries he made it!  Two years with no skiing was almost too long, but Bestie gave it his all and skied for as long as the water was smooth.

I don't know about you, but I have figured out that all men are actually just boys in larger bodies (Bless their hearts).  This was no exception.  As I watched my Bestie, I would see a little smile on his face as he drove the boat around to all his favorite marinas and looked at other boats (a favorite past time).  I could see the little boy he must have been-the smile that constantly pulled at the corners of his mouth and crinkled his eyes.  He may be 51, but he was back to being 10 that day.  I was the proud momma of two boys that day - my own son (age 19) and my husband (really 51, but age 10 again for that 1 day).

As mothers, we know the joy of seeing our children enjoy a gift we have given them.  As a wife, I knew that joy this weekend and seeing Bestie enjoy this gift was just as good as seeing the kids enjoy theirs at Christmas.  But this begs to question - what do we get him next year to top this??

The Empty Nest

So, here I am.  A 48 year old mother of two college students.  Can someone say, "Empty Nest"?  This past year I moved my daughter into her first apartment, moved my son to his first dorm room, packed up our house of 13 years and moved to a much smaller home, and started a new job in a new program in a new town.  It has been the year of NEW for the Chaney family.  In all this, you can imagine there was a little bit of stress involved.  Thank goodness I am surrounded by caring and loving people who listened to me vent and provided that shoulder to lean on.

Since I am now an empty nester hanging with my bestie boy (husband) in a WONDERFUL old neighborhood, I get to do some really neat things: walk to restaurants, explore hidden parks, renew my interest in running and biking, read all those books I planned to get to 'someday', volunteer more, go on epic motorcycle rides, and do all those activities I wanted to do before but couldn't because I was "MOMMY!"  I am still a mom, but my children are more self-sufficient now and enjoy their independence (most of the time) so now I am also "Kelly" - something I haven't really had the freedom to be for 23 years.

I have friends who are worried about their impending "Empty Nest" time.  They fear there will be nothing to do when they are 'couple' and not full time parents.  This was a fear I had too.  I am married to my best friend and we enjoy the company of each other, but I knew I would get tired of him if we were together nonstop - that happens even with best friends.  It took honest conversation for us both to understand there would have to be times when we did things on our own or with others in order for us to continue to be interesting people to each other.  My bestie boy loves sports and will attend sports events or listen to sports or watch sports on TV without me and that is fine.  I love shopping and pageants and bestie boy is more than happy to let me do these activities without him.  When we are together, we have things to talk about that we did on our own.  I don't really care about the games he saw, but I love hearing how excited he gets talking about them and the emotion he puts forth describing that perfect (or terrible) play.  He listens to me talk about my girlie stuff and is supportive of what I want to do in pageant world.  It is a great situation for us both.

My suggestion is - DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE EMPTY NEST!  Use this time as a way to reconnect with your partner AND also as a time to reconnect with yourself.  All those things you wanted to do but never had the time, take the time now.  Be with your partner some and be by yourself some and watch how your relationship becomes even richer.

Me and My Bestie Boy Enjoying One of HIS Activities