tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34681474770666312862024-03-21T15:11:57.942-04:00Michele's blog.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-30870474808084865232015-08-11T18:21:00.000-04:002015-08-12T15:17:52.076-04:0012 Hours of Great Glen<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not really on purpose, it seems this summer has been all
about trying to see just how much I can overdo it on the bike. The first big
test was the Ronde de Unreasonable, a 107-mile ride on pretty much every single
trail I know in the northwest suburban area, on CX bikes. I made the route by
putting three CX routes I’d created into one big ride. Ed and I used pretty
much every minute of daylight to get it done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then came team camp with the Ride Studio Cafe Expedition
team. My kids had been sick the week before and while they had recovered, they
were still contagious and we didn’t want to expose the babysitter we had
originally booked to watch the kids while I was away at the second day of camp.
So I woke up super early one Saturday morning, made it to the parking lot at
Kingdom Trails by 8:30 am, mountain-biked with my teammate Julie, met the rest
of the team to ride the Rasputitsa course, headed back to KT for another hour
with Julie, had dinner, then drove home in a rainstorm. I got home 5 hours
before Ed had to leave for his Xterra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then we went on vacation and spent 5 days riding at KT and
then did the JAM Grand Fundo. And I topped it off with the Rapha Women’s 100
for the biggest week of riding in my whole life at 28 hours. (I think my
previous record was something like 17.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(My best events are in the 12-second to 30-minute range, so
it’s kind of funny that I’ve started hauling all this fast-twitch muscle-fiber
uphill and through the woods for hours and hours and hours.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I signed up to ride 12 Hours of Great Glen as a co-ed
pair with my Hup United co-DS Chip Baker, I didn’t see that it was part of the pattern.
It would be around 6 hours of riding, and I’ve done plenty of 5- and 6-hour
rides this year. No big deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ha. Ha.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This ended up being the hardest race I’ve ever done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chip took one for the team and did the LeMans start. He
turned out to be the perfect partner for this adventure (of course Ed was my
first choice, but we couldn’t figure out the childcare angle). Chip and I
couldn’t be any more different, personality-wise, but we get along very well
and trust each other implicitly. I definitely saw a new side of him at this
race: 12 hours of 100% bizniz Chip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the start, I went back to the tent to eat some of the
great treats from the Skratch cookbook that Jon had made for us. There were 8 other teams in our field, including two teams of moms racing with their teenage
sons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had a smooth exchange and I went out on my first lap. I
hadn’t had a chance to pre-ride the course so this would all be a big surprise.
And it was – I haven’t done very many mountain bike races and this was
definitely quite different from southern New England. It was hilly, something
like 1200 ft per 9-mile lap, and there were a lot of fire roads and downhill
turns at speed (big weakness). Near the end of the lap, I came upon the bumpy
wood-stair descent known as “the Plunge.” I hadn’t seen it before and rode about
a third before I got off and walked. Then I decided to skip the floating bridge
as well. I probably should have tried to ride those before the race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chip and I kept taking turns. He was riding all out and
soundly beating my lap times on every lap. When I heard some of the expert
womens’ lap times (10-15 minutes faster than me), I started to seriously
reconsider my plan to upgrade this season. I was doing my best but never quite
feeling like I was racing. I did manage to ride the Plunge on laps 2 and 3, but
it was terrifying and I opted to walk on subsequent laps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While Chip was racing, I would go back to the tent to eat
and get ready for the next lap. It was nice to have Chip’s awesome family to
hang out with. We passed info through Pam, and Syd did her first bike race (24
Minutes of Great Glen) on my hardtail, which I had brought as a spare. She kept
thanking me and said it was life-changing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I got to ride much of my 4<sup>th</sup> lap with Jon, which
was awesome and was key for the later laps. I checked after that lap and found
out that Chip and I were in 5<sup>th</sup> place, pretty close to 4<sup>th</sup>,
but hopelessly behind 3<sup>rd</sup>. I was pretty happy actually – no pressure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was dark by the time I started my 5<sup>th</sup> lap, and
my helmet light failed (probably user error and I couldn’t fix it while
fumbling and tired) after about a mile. This made the rest of the lap difficult,
though I still had my handlebar light. My night vision is not so great though. I
was getting super tired and having trouble staying on the trail. I decided I
was going to quit. I heard Colin cheering for me as he passed in another
direction in the Blueberry Hill section near the end of the lap, which made me
briefly reconsider. But I was just done. I told Chip in the timing tent as we
made the exchange. He was totally supportive of course. He said he would do his
6<sup>th</sup> lap and then we would be finished. I turned in my RFID and
started to walk out of the tent so I could go feel sorry for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then someone called me over. It was Jim, a friend of Chip’s,
and (I realized later) on the team in second place in our category. He pointed
out that Chip and I had moved up to third because the other two teams had
stopped riding. I was feeling very sad about quitting so this gave me some
motivation to change my mind. I went to the volunteers and got my RFID back. As
Colin said during one of his many advice-dispensing moments during the race,
"Nothing is slower than stopping."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I went back to the Hup tent and read some hilarious
motivational texts that Ed had sent to me and Chip, coincidentally at the
moment I was feeling the worst on lap 5. I headed back out for my 6th lap in a
much better frame of mind (and with new lights) and had a good, though slow
ride. And remembering some of the spots I had gone through earlier with Jon
(and his good lines) helped keep me smiling and focused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After that I chatted with and helped out Jon for a bit, then
headed back to my tent to try to get some sleep. At that point it was probably
1:30 am. Around 6 am, a bagpiper started playing. I kept thinking that it would
stop, and then I started to wonder if it had stopped and if my brain was just
filling in the sound. But finally I got up to enjoy the performance in person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was remarkably cheerful considering how many laps he had ridden. That's why he's Hup's Most Valuable Camper, in perpetuity. Jon wanted to know how he was doing in his mini-competition
with Uri, so I left him a note after I filled up his bottles. (Jon later
prevailed, by two laps.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, this happened. I’m told it was <a href="http://velocb.blogspot.com/2015/08/12-hours-of-great-glen.html">Chip’s first podium</a>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I do this again? No. Maybe. But this was the last year
of 24 Hours of Great Glen, so I don’t ever have to decide.</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-79774399300632881472014-04-18T07:26:00.000-04:002014-04-18T10:27:20.682-04:00Women's Cat 1/2 road racing in New England<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Question posted on
Facebook: It seems that Cat 1/2 Women's fields aren't included in a lot of
races here in New England. Seeing races with a Cat 3/4 women's field only is a
little frustrating. What have other Cat 2 ladies done in order to keep racing?</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve seen many versions of this question over the years, but
didn’t feel like what I know is worth saying much about (even though part of my
day job is to facilitate knowledge-sharing) until I saw <a href="https://twitter.com/AJMoran2/status/456886288713400320">this thread
yesterday on Twitter</a>. Hmmm, maybe even though I was a terrible road racer
(but had some success in crits), I could sort of be a mentor. (<a href="https://twitter.com/efacc/status/456950092222959616">This comment</a> was
right-on.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is my perspective as a woman who raced 11 seasons on
the road, 9 as a Category 2 (1.5 seasons in Hawaii, half a season in DC, 9 in
New England). I won two Division 2 collegiate national championships in 2000 in
the criterium and team time trial. I stopped road racing in 2008 – once I
started a family, I didn’t have that much time to train and big packs started
to feel more dangerous. (I don’t want to find out how hard it is to care for
two small children with a broken collarbone or separated shoulder.) So now I do
cyclocross and some mountain biking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How do I keep racing
when there’s no Cat 1/2 women’s field? </i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Do a mountain bike race instead and support a
promoter who is offering a women’s field. Mountain biking is great training to
improve bike handling skills, and it’s a very supportive and friendly
atmosphere.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Try out track racing at Kissena or T-town. I
thoroughly enjoyed the two seasons I raced on the track in New England, and the
opportunity to practice sprinting and tactics over and over again paid off on
the road.<br />
<br />
Go to <a href="http://bostonroadclub.net/BRC/Wells_Ave.html">Wells Ave</a>. I haven’t
been there in years (perhaps the weekend car traffic is excessive now?), but I
remember it as being pretty supportive and safe. Even better, go with your
whole team. The best races I had with my teammates on IF happened after we had
been together for years and had stopped trying to come up with race strategies
before the race started. Instead, we were so familiar with each other’s
strengths and weaknesses that we could key off each other (and communicate) during
the race and know when to attack, counter-attack, and start a leadout.<br />
<br />
I don’t think that racing with men is a great
option, based on my personal experience. (Aside from Wells Ave. and the track.)
Men’s racing tends to involve a lot more incidental (or purposeful) contact
than women’s racing. After one terrible experience getting leaned on in a
corner by a guy with 70+ pounds on me, who starting yelling misogynist insults
at me when I asked him to stop, I decided it wasn’t a good option for me. (At
first I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I </i>had done something
wrong by getting upset. Later that day, I told the story to an official who
said I should have reported it right away and that she would have DQ’d him.)
Unfortunately, I know that my experience wasn’t unique, though I hope things
have changed in the 10 years since it happened. Of course your mileage may
vary, and racing with men may be a great option for you if you’re training for
a top-level women’s race with a huge field like the Liberty Classic. Or if you’re
braver than I am. Or if you have more physical mass and strength than I do. (I do
know some women who don’t mind or even enjoy racing with men.)<br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What else can I do
when I’m not racing on a particular weekend?</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not having an opportunity to race on the road
every weekend is not necessarily a bad thing. 30-40 races year-in and year-out
is a quick road to burnout and injury. Years of road cycling left me with some
really strong muscles but also really weak/tight ones, including the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">iliopsoas<b> (</b></span>hip flexors), gracilis
(inner thigh), gluteus medius, and vastus medialis (inner quad). I’m working on
this in PT now. Try some cross-training – hiking, swimming, yoga, etc. Use the
extra time you gain back from not driving for hours to sleep in, read, see your
non-racing friends, clean your house, and generally keep your life in balance
and your interest in racing fresh. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do a hard training ride with your teammates (for
the same reason I gave earlier for doing a training race). GPS and social sites
like <a href="https://www.blogger.com/strava.com">Strava</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/ridewithgps.com">RideWithGPS</a>
give us so many options for great ride routes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put together your own mixed-terrain cyclocross route/ride.
I <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3253680">did this last year</a> and
enjoyed every minute poring over maps and friends’ Strava rides, as well as
exploring trails and ultimately hosting the ride for my friends. It helped keep
riding fun for me.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What could we do to
encourage 1/2 women to race locally and promoters to offer more races?</i> </div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span></span><br />
Here’s what Laura S. had to say (in a
discussion on Facebook) about contacting promoters: “<span class="uficommentbody">My suggestion when contacting promoters is to be
professional and courteous. I always hear from promoters that ‘women whine for
races and then don't show up and race.’ If you ask for a race and they offer
it, you had better be there!</span>” I haven’t had much success
personally contacting promoters, so I gave it up. And I try not to complain too
loudly about promoters. They’re mostly doing the best they can and I realize it
takes a lot of time and money to promote a race. I have no interest in doing it
myself. When a promoter does offer a field that includes Cat 1/2, support them
with your attendance and race hard.<br />
<br />
Serve on the <a href="http://www.nebra.us/">NEBRA</a> board or offer to help them as a
non-board member. I served in 2006 and learned a lot. I ran a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EZNRrssShVbCH9foAngUvBl3SXS9P9W7NzQILTWAa8w">women’s
racing summit</a>. We posted a list of female-friendly clubs and also included
rules in the NEBRA ranking system standards for promoters to follow regarding
women’s races. I know NEBRA continues to work hard to promote women’s racing in
New England.<br />
<br />
Here’s
something that Amanda Lawrence (now Rossolimo) and I did in 2004 that seemed to
help: we ran a <a href="http://forums.thepaceline.net/archive/index.php?t-1589.html">New England
Cat 1/2 women’s series</a>. We kept things pretty simple. <a href="https://www.hincapie.com/">Hincapie Sportswear</a> donated leader’s
jerseys. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotta">Serotta</a> donated a
custom frame for the winner. We gave a restaurant gift certificate to the first
place team. We contacted 15 promoters who were already planning on offering
1/2/3 fields and asked them to be part of the series. It cost them nothing and
helped encourage attendance at their races, so they were happy to participate. 71
women from 30 teams raced in series races. Keeping track of <a href="http://www.road-results.com/nebra">series points</a> is now easier than
ever, thanks to <a href="http://untilthesnowends.blogspot.com/">Colin Reuter</a>,
whom my friend Emily recently described as tied for her “favorite Internet male
feminist.” It’s not too late to try this again for the 2014 road season if
someone wants to take the idea and run with it.<span class="uficommentbody"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="uficommentbody">I was lucky
enough to get my start in New England racing through the <a href="http://collegiatecycling.org/eccc/wiki/">Eastern Collegiate Cycling
Conference</a>. By percentage of overall racers, they have 2-3 times the number
of women racing than USAC racing in New England. Collegiate cycling teams tend
to train together and have (usually volunteer) coaches – this really helped me
improve a lot in a short period of time. Shortly after I graduated, the ECCC
took a top-down approach and led the way among all collegiate conferences by
instituting equal series points for women (which was highly controversial at
the time). They also added more fields for women (the number of women’s fields
are now equal to the number of men’s fields – the hope being that if the ECCC
builds it, the women will come), including an “intro” field that features
experienced racers mixed in to instruct the beginners in a race situation. This
sort of thing is possible because with all the travel involved in collegiate
racing, everyone who is racing tends to arrive at the venue at the same time
and then stay all day long. There are some factors unique to collegiate cycling
that can’t be duplicated in senior/master’s racing, but some that can.</span><span class="uficommentbody"> </span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="uficommentbody">I hope this was helpful and
thought-provoking. Thanks for reading.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-9403156145488676932012-09-26T13:32:00.001-04:002012-09-26T13:32:41.064-04:00'Cross season is here againThanks, I'm sure, to Floradix, I felt ready to work out much sooner this time around than I did with Elliot. I've been swimming, taking spin classes at the local Y (on-site childcare!), and getting in rides on the weekend whenever I can. Ed is joining me at the races this year, which has been super fun and also adds a new element of difficulty -- getting the whole family out the door on time is more challenging than the race itself.<br />
<br />
We started out with Quad 'Cross. Ed has tons of fitness right now but at
the time hadn't ridden his 'cross bike much, so he would get ahead on
the power sections and then overcook the turns. I felt like my
bike-handling skills were lacking and got passed by numerous women on
every climb. But we were both happy to get back out there. After my race, one of the women I had raced with said, "I can't believe you fed your baby and then raced. That's awesome. You win!" That totally made my day.<br />
<br />
I also got to
use my new camera and my new telephoto lens ("the big guy") to get some photos during Ed's race. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQErkvDI_K2Le8RUeWtjdB7qvx2AlQeWXZFB-4_Rpr6G8k8I1QJDPPXRr92jikfmEDJmmf-gI3CBpRvYiuf02BfwG0P2Hg76xx4PZxA5ZmB1dDlXO9u9Kk5ZR6l24C95FsPDJXQu8NCA/s1600/img_6311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQErkvDI_K2Le8RUeWtjdB7qvx2AlQeWXZFB-4_Rpr6G8k8I1QJDPPXRr92jikfmEDJmmf-gI3CBpRvYiuf02BfwG0P2Hg76xx4PZxA5ZmB1dDlXO9u9Kk5ZR6l24C95FsPDJXQu8NCA/s1600/img_6311.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
We raced again this past weekend at Sucker Brook and were both really happy with how we did. I matched my crossresults.com seed and felt really great except when I was off the bike. Ed was seeded 54th and finished 15th. I was so proud of him!! My dad came along as well and took some photos of us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-fL6oP2yVjPGgvJJ1e8Q-nmGjCbOkc5B_b-3JqY0pf7JCJowurpSGDNzQ7YFFbfBkNYrYJ2dvnLTS7NOWGJDR8BULmm7mARteqXPuJOXvErEmbmuX5Xr1OO4CbEIBimnq4oZZ2xbkyc/s1600/sbc+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-fL6oP2yVjPGgvJJ1e8Q-nmGjCbOkc5B_b-3JqY0pf7JCJowurpSGDNzQ7YFFbfBkNYrYJ2dvnLTS7NOWGJDR8BULmm7mARteqXPuJOXvErEmbmuX5Xr1OO4CbEIBimnq4oZZ2xbkyc/s1600/sbc+1.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tFoLmYo30unPMVcbldZYQcvUb15zop2b0Tz0DBuw2axmHYA3CJ6klPLV9m9Ux6bC6FWdpF9s5NwF12wBpHU4AxelxOo3vRp9iHTzVyVmDHBPo1tN9xXLuf4r9Xt8-TMt5dM9hd7K9lQ/s1600/sbc+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tFoLmYo30unPMVcbldZYQcvUb15zop2b0Tz0DBuw2axmHYA3CJ6klPLV9m9Ux6bC6FWdpF9s5NwF12wBpHU4AxelxOo3vRp9iHTzVyVmDHBPo1tN9xXLuf4r9Xt8-TMt5dM9hd7K9lQ/s1600/sbc+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I think there's a possibility that this year I might exceed the 8 races I did last season, but we'll see. I'm going back to work in 12 days and I'm sure we'll all be super tired as a result. I can't believe it's so soon already!Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-29280826266819708452012-08-10T11:08:00.000-04:002012-08-10T11:08:03.994-04:00Summer funOne of the hardest parts about being pregnant (for me) is forgoing group rides, which is how I get a lot of my exercise and adult social interaction. I'm not quite back on the bike yet. Maybe next week? But I think about it all the time.<br />
<br />
My team, HUP, periodically hosts rides where we just go out in the woods and have fun riding 'cross bikes. Then we enjoy coffee at Ride Studio Cafe afterwards. This ride was in June 2011. I've seen a few others get organized since then and I keep wishing I could go!<br />
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I rode the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grandfundo.com%2F&ei=IyIlUNLKMLTC6gHvwYCgAQ&usg=AFQjCNG0036ISy_7hluG-BtiwQA2wUaYug&sig2=Ngr0jKXQCfOz9u4vRBAayA">Grand Fundo</a> in July 2011 with past and now again, current teammate Brenda. I was so unprepared but my friend Brad told me to go slow and eat real food. I followed his advice and made it to the finish just fine. It was so fun to ride with Brenda again!<br />
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I finished up the summer of 2011 with <a href="http://ridestudiocafe.com/studio-community/event-rides/tour-of-the-unattended-for-august-2011/">Tour of the Unattended</a>. My team, HUP, helped put it on, so I got to help select some of the stages. It was so much fun and amazingly, I won the Prospect Hill climb, probably because the strongest rider waited until after dark and wasn't sure where the finish was. I should also mention that there were only three or four women, but we still all had a lot of fun.<br />
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Here I am with the family at the Ride Studio Cafe-hosted after-party.<br />
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I hope to be back on the bike soon. I already registered for two 'cross races!<br />
<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-47991839123234079192012-08-04T09:58:00.002-04:002012-08-04T09:58:35.068-04:00Big House Project: Part 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, we have the conclusion of the big house project. It was mostly finished up last fall, but the final finishing touch was done this spring.</div>
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Ed did all the electrical work and the town inspector was quite impressed. :) </div>
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Ed finished up the railings.<br />
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Then, he started the interior finishing, with lots of supervision from Elliot. He looks so small in this photo. He would have been about 18 months old.<br />
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Dr. Horrible installed our insulation.<br />
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My dad came to visit last summer and helped with the drywall.<br />
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More insulation, this time underneath.<br />
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Drywall almost done.<br />
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We continued the tile from the kitchen into the addition. The bright orange dining room has since been painted a more subdued creamy tan color. I miss the orange but we'll bring it back by changing out the curtains and the seat covers.<br />
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Ed finished up the deck railings as well. We've been paralyzed by indecision when it comes to deck furniture (everything seems to look really cheesy or costs more than furniture that is inside our house), so this is a bicycle track and soccer field at the moment.<br />
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Here's the sunroom, completed.<br />
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The kitties love this room.<br />
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We love IKEA, obviously. These are Billy bookcases set up for winter coat and toy storage.<br />
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This was the final project, closing the gaping hole over the fireplace. After hours of searching, I found the right piece of art at art.com and Ed mounted it on wood and hinges.<br />
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We love the fireplace, but getting it hooked up was such a pain. Ed spent a lot of time calling the gas company and I had to resort to Twitter to get them to finally come out and hook up the gas. The whole process took four months. Monopoly. <br />
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As a reminder, here's what the house looked like before -- basically the same as when we bought it.<br />
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Here's the after:<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-62149870618287864992012-07-28T09:04:00.000-04:002012-07-28T09:05:03.040-04:00Resemblance, part 2I did a <a href="http://mingshan2.blogspot.com/2009/12/resemblance.html">post about this for Elliot</a>. Here's one for Anja.<br />
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Anja:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzGIwEN2usPAFtukrgVZVgN57fDrofCebPoQCuuvFOgVgjs3RfMrnrcG073dExZz5pa1iTaQgjR_krwb6E9llCYnzba76PqV8_-rOk0gOPjefNPBrqlme8v-_uPn9TsHz16h1ZlcJPnI/s1600/anja+ed+just+born.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzGIwEN2usPAFtukrgVZVgN57fDrofCebPoQCuuvFOgVgjs3RfMrnrcG073dExZz5pa1iTaQgjR_krwb6E9llCYnzba76PqV8_-rOk0gOPjefNPBrqlme8v-_uPn9TsHz16h1ZlcJPnI/s400/anja+ed+just+born.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Me:<br />
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Anja:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFBX5ohNvjYChNo_2rtKmcHrwzUEVG540LdqX2l_8eCZmlVKrTIUBl2jEhanIFmOfwZqh1cf1auT61z-m1dqut83fz50wT1xHqPslWWVWohU6SSAjT3MO2ksodV4aCkpJOxrCV18lXKg/s1600/anja+7_27_12+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFBX5ohNvjYChNo_2rtKmcHrwzUEVG540LdqX2l_8eCZmlVKrTIUBl2jEhanIFmOfwZqh1cf1auT61z-m1dqut83fz50wT1xHqPslWWVWohU6SSAjT3MO2ksodV4aCkpJOxrCV18lXKg/s400/anja+7_27_12+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ed:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxipTLonNu77boUu-J299YEyhIKcLsdzKA8VcxSHPed2t36gjPgI7YbTdSABO54qbsHSWJxD_CqOUqfDPy5QyBJ-UqporSQ0eu9Ua3oolRWgs3ayK2LvJ3Jv6nkjwxt7CrV7JMzxNGDiw/s1600/ed+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxipTLonNu77boUu-J299YEyhIKcLsdzKA8VcxSHPed2t36gjPgI7YbTdSABO54qbsHSWJxD_CqOUqfDPy5QyBJ-UqporSQ0eu9Ua3oolRWgs3ayK2LvJ3Jv6nkjwxt7CrV7JMzxNGDiw/s400/ed+baby.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-9747261095330997742012-07-25T13:42:00.000-04:002012-07-25T13:42:51.754-04:007/21, or The Cat Who Killed My Blog<p>I didn't mean to stop blogging (I enjoy having it for myself more than anything else -- I've always assumed that my readership is very limited). But it happened because we got super busy last summer and I got out of the habit. But I mean to start again.</p>
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<p>Our beloved cat, Betty, accidentally got out on May 31, 2011. We got her back on July 21, 2011. We were having lots of work done on the house and the storm doors were off. She's very social and was standing next to Ed while he waved goodbye to me and Elliot that morning. Elliot was waving especially vigorously and Ed had the door open, waving back. Betty, who was not trying to get out, got too close to Ed's legs and she went the wrong way when he tried to shoo her back in.</p>
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<p>We called up a pet detective right away, Danielle Robertson of compassionatepetservices.com. Here's the summary of our story that's on her site:</p>
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<p>"Betty is an indoor-only cat who accidentally got out at the end of May. She is a skittish, formerly feral cat, and I knew it would be difficult to recover her, so I called Danielle within a day. She told me exactly what to do and came out to my home to assist with searching and setting up feeding stations with motion-activated cameras. She improved my posters and helped me figure out where to place them. We were in touch throughout my search and I appreciated her calm and scientific approach. We got a picture of Betty in my next-door neighbor’s yard one week after she was out and then didn’t see her again. After a month had gone by, Danielle helped bring in a colleague with a search dog, who did a track that led us to expand our poster/flier area (consistent with Danielle’s recommendations based on Betty’s personality, background, and the amount of time she’d been out). That led to a credible sighting about 1/4 of a mile from my house. We set up a feeding station and got Betty on camera 4 days later! We botched our initial trapping attempt (we were using a drop trap instead of a cage trap since Betty is trap-shy, and didn’t get enough tension on the string). Betty stopped coming, so we took the trap away. Once she was eating at the spot regularly again, we put it back, heavily camouflaged with foliage, as recommended by Danielle. On July 21, my husband took food to the trap and Betty was waiting. She ran off when he approached, so he put the food under the trap and waited in the car for her to come back. When she did, he pulled the string on the pull-stick and trapped her. We are so happy to have her home and she is back to snuggling everyone in the family. We absolutely could not have gotten Betty back without Danielle’s calm guidance and arsenal of cat-recovery techniques. I would recommend her without reservation to anyone who needs help finding a pet."</p>
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<p>Anyway, it was a grueling 52 days. Looking for a cat is a part-time job and Ed and I both sacrificed a lot of workouts and sleep to make sure we were doing everything we needed to do. Once we had Betty back, we took it easy for a few weeks, and by then I was emotionally drained and out of the habit of blogging.</p>
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<p>But that brings me back to 7/21. This year, on July 21, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Anja Marie. We are absolutely in love. Having done this once already, I am much more excited about relaxing and enjoying my maternity leave -- whereas with Elliot, I wasted a lot of time feeling anxious about not being productive and getting stuff done around the house. July 21 will always be a special day in our family -- it's the day that two of our beloved girls came home.</p>
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<p>I have a lot of catching up to do on the blog, so despite what I said about relaxing on my maternity leave, I'm hoping I will have a few spare moments to start writing again.</p>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-20940734308097092142011-08-04T19:36:00.002-04:002011-08-04T19:42:24.457-04:00Marlborough TriThe same weekend we went to Rialto, Ed competed in his first triathlon of the season. He won his age group!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTjxWVFf68xzLe0LbYR3pthV-pAMPjf-DEZSuS4I9YtrAby9no0JlThwxJhQ3H_DgoAXVkIjkfRVCYqD7LUWeEbClzuVy76N16Zk1hEGTW6yrCB6vCpWI6xScu3Gq1v3tSujhBqMGklI/s1600/marlborough2011podium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTjxWVFf68xzLe0LbYR3pthV-pAMPjf-DEZSuS4I9YtrAby9no0JlThwxJhQ3H_DgoAXVkIjkfRVCYqD7LUWeEbClzuVy76N16Zk1hEGTW6yrCB6vCpWI6xScu3Gq1v3tSujhBqMGklI/s400/marlborough2011podium.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637149317831641922" /></a><br /><br />Three generations celebrating. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVhNgiKnODQExiuMtCzfw2BcxJeQcRPkLRlnLjFLtgHVOZeue91M0ZX74lQLMuTcVMFn_uQSZxDSho0PhSYJwrOAaPlZ5VJD-2CjX-kWWaK3X6mQH0nvvFtXKCq9iLhwI8LD-ya02nuc/s1600/p7109823.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVhNgiKnODQExiuMtCzfw2BcxJeQcRPkLRlnLjFLtgHVOZeue91M0ZX74lQLMuTcVMFn_uQSZxDSho0PhSYJwrOAaPlZ5VJD-2CjX-kWWaK3X6mQH0nvvFtXKCq9iLhwI8LD-ya02nuc/s400/p7109823.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637149315631171042" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-46759257882257038782011-07-18T18:14:00.000-04:002011-07-18T18:14:00.158-04:00Backyard funEvery time Ed tried to turn the water off, Elliot said (and signed, for additional emphasis), "More, more!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KLnZfPWZ19i70hUNDUMLwbCwsp9PacLAk4u7hPVLE5uaeHBi0Xi-6U2MebfID2MuRCu8bZiTC8BqBfl4swuS0UUeB-ZiOFeV0iJltsNYniCkdgsPKDZpxKw_Edxv14i8VEb45hAmffg/s1600/hose3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KLnZfPWZ19i70hUNDUMLwbCwsp9PacLAk4u7hPVLE5uaeHBi0Xi-6U2MebfID2MuRCu8bZiTC8BqBfl4swuS0UUeB-ZiOFeV0iJltsNYniCkdgsPKDZpxKw_Edxv14i8VEb45hAmffg/s400/hose3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630774719810485314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpHCOOW4updJyUaYji5ONFrCX4kUq4LE9njWSYF8JCbIOE1EgqIifgzEKl3Td2ihcs-JFCg8J4sTgjLgpKJG4lzFN1LvKQE8HltEFvKe66YKPYdJQ-dpNkoQ2CpVeiHuwXjimTX3oYTI/s1600/hose.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpHCOOW4updJyUaYji5ONFrCX4kUq4LE9njWSYF8JCbIOE1EgqIifgzEKl3Td2ihcs-JFCg8J4sTgjLgpKJG4lzFN1LvKQE8HltEFvKe66YKPYdJQ-dpNkoQ2CpVeiHuwXjimTX3oYTI/s400/hose.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630774148657150162" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5lhux7lq8Qtkg3jDEXl0zQCHCRhk3_jyz-w7AHOq0SFLzH6sVjtAfRmFhQ1wzGpz8HGx2e1t_j9Is7rqo7i6ErFi4l1SCobp6Py8L6Q63VYDqvYEm0N0DPNIrSvgSjNirRB3g1e-vic/s1600/hose4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5lhux7lq8Qtkg3jDEXl0zQCHCRhk3_jyz-w7AHOq0SFLzH6sVjtAfRmFhQ1wzGpz8HGx2e1t_j9Is7rqo7i6ErFi4l1SCobp6Py8L6Q63VYDqvYEm0N0DPNIrSvgSjNirRB3g1e-vic/s400/hose4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630774146068741026" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-37732319594553960952011-07-09T17:43:00.011-04:002011-07-11T11:59:13.461-04:00Biking, grilling, eatingElliot and I attended a reception for <a href="http://www.pmc.org/profile/TR0095" target="_blank">Team Rialto</a> at <a href="http://ridestudiocafe.com/" target="_blank">Ride Studio Cafe</a> in May. The event included a raffle to raise money for the Pan Mass Challenge, and I was lucky enough to win a copy of a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Chef-Cooking-Rialto-Restaurant/dp/068816837X" target="_blank">cookbook</a> by <a href="http://www.rialto-restaurant.com/chef_jody_adams/" target="_blank">Jody Adams</a>, the chef/owner of <a href="http://www.rialto-restaurant.com/home/" target="_blank">Rialto</a>, and two spots at an upcoming cooking class. Elliot's Grammie came from CT to spend the day with him so Ed and I could attend the class. It was so fun -- Jody is a great teacher and the food was, of course, amazing. <br /><br />We started the day with a short bike ride to the <a href="http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=56" target="_blank">Cambridgeport Farmers Market</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ib2G_Gy8ZegJqIVEH51EITikDqQGaHToMDhql2tjET92W2jxb8u2ZS7rkI_1YuiTLD6QT4EvQxM67-b75-eTcH8xHPwgTFGqoRfSBuLaFb3E7WpeXOcATB5MKeD0vFqDoYtnpd-L8RM/s1600/rialto1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ib2G_Gy8ZegJqIVEH51EITikDqQGaHToMDhql2tjET92W2jxb8u2ZS7rkI_1YuiTLD6QT4EvQxM67-b75-eTcH8xHPwgTFGqoRfSBuLaFb3E7WpeXOcATB5MKeD0vFqDoYtnpd-L8RM/s400/rialto1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627472164484800738" /></a><br /><br />Rialto kindly provided us with sparkling water, coffee, and scones to enjoy while at the farmers market.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFtgvP5egUD2e_eOvbs3JVN9XbPAZdc4FlSHhyLTgdPIkTTCR5WtV_opQnbew6keXHNSDGwEJFuIt5ikmaJRRxtX_5uwq7_iPi9H5T5hTc-_alk1tc-kJvke2Q4ZiMDS0PXMEPwoRK8/s1600/rialto0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFtgvP5egUD2e_eOvbs3JVN9XbPAZdc4FlSHhyLTgdPIkTTCR5WtV_opQnbew6keXHNSDGwEJFuIt5ikmaJRRxtX_5uwq7_iPi9H5T5hTc-_alk1tc-kJvke2Q4ZiMDS0PXMEPwoRK8/s400/rialto0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627472165319394450" /></a><br /><br />There was no shortage of beautiful produce and flowers. Ed bought fruit and cheese to take home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yERQMr5HMSCCtB9lv6K59Gv8qqQnzxoMJJ0wgCFsfjmHb6pdt4Mm95ho3Bd0JIPZv9V7iyF95BAqBVU3P5kHM_r4a1PCLzXT2UaKLuKWf7DipJ1m2toY-nhZwJ0jXEsrc-7UStYnnKo/s1600/rialto2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yERQMr5HMSCCtB9lv6K59Gv8qqQnzxoMJJ0wgCFsfjmHb6pdt4Mm95ho3Bd0JIPZv9V7iyF95BAqBVU3P5kHM_r4a1PCLzXT2UaKLuKWf7DipJ1m2toY-nhZwJ0jXEsrc-7UStYnnKo/s400/rialto2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627485529808258034" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvF4s6K2HRZnthKWtvLYCsjuEQPnddNtVoH-qv2tvebvbdbje7zpj18779XELvw9o95yNWYjuqxYSn2mmc0UYEeeFU6p2T8usZQeQEDZxl96H8Rhjfg2c9Ew6fM6hEPF-c0WAicoKuQk/s1600/rialto3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvF4s6K2HRZnthKWtvLYCsjuEQPnddNtVoH-qv2tvebvbdbje7zpj18779XELvw9o95yNWYjuqxYSn2mmc0UYEeeFU6p2T8usZQeQEDZxl96H8Rhjfg2c9Ew6fM6hEPF-c0WAicoKuQk/s400/rialto3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627485535959390162" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-R_qs05Le3LpalJ1LXRvB3fOKAo3GcQHq3Ol-aIYxtlJ2T9jdFNHQ9GVigm0PhyphenhyphenUG9cNbEjb3pMFZMiMbGmQ5CYMUBLg7cne5n_YkY0fYOPGdV3iJdnhACWdc-CaXGupZzQwggGVWYE/s1600/rialto4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-R_qs05Le3LpalJ1LXRvB3fOKAo3GcQHq3Ol-aIYxtlJ2T9jdFNHQ9GVigm0PhyphenhyphenUG9cNbEjb3pMFZMiMbGmQ5CYMUBLg7cne5n_YkY0fYOPGdV3iJdnhACWdc-CaXGupZzQwggGVWYE/s400/rialto4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627485537422759778" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlYppScXnu426C989VbCPzl7qMlhIQEYv8uGo33-N3q4uppjsY9d9YhBixt3Q-9gTg9AawftblpqLHOSRxNungsNV-1ufKX7WEA7Vbsz7q8XLYclVG_FaqMPRugAFioYqnInrrCvt16k/s1600/rialto5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlYppScXnu426C989VbCPzl7qMlhIQEYv8uGo33-N3q4uppjsY9d9YhBixt3Q-9gTg9AawftblpqLHOSRxNungsNV-1ufKX7WEA7Vbsz7q8XLYclVG_FaqMPRugAFioYqnInrrCvt16k/s400/rialto5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627485541831347106" /></a><br /><br />Jody picked out some fruits and veggies for the class members to enjoy later that afternoon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHiOktXysvg7Arxs4mLZTIeqy70WbAxBVfeViZDxUvzdpt1d1IEirrRGx5UOGtzvuQZAunX6ZvVZlRlQwM8Wmdfb0bsaeTmFKXNi0fNZuG4Dho39q7IbucPU2zXmQyXQK99-QP6zYW6o/s1600/rialto6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHiOktXysvg7Arxs4mLZTIeqy70WbAxBVfeViZDxUvzdpt1d1IEirrRGx5UOGtzvuQZAunX6ZvVZlRlQwM8Wmdfb0bsaeTmFKXNi0fNZuG4Dho39q7IbucPU2zXmQyXQK99-QP6zYW6o/s400/rialto6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627472003910724370" /></a><br /><br />Once we were back at Rialto, Jody and her sous chef, Cory (?), began demonstrating/preparing a meal of grilled summer vegetables with romesco sauce, grilled lobster with an avocado/tomato/corn salad, and grilled fruit with summer sorbet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ItqCqqQt8lszNlkiodhi62siRk2uNwrQqBPw4FP_i4ty9CLjd207gkGYJmK7eDXNIjowhlmTLExhFWqKuNE8j_Ni0v-eLtzfFLpZw5mE73g4NAyH7Xj2qO79S17dfINtTiJ8VJI5vU/s1600/rialto7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ItqCqqQt8lszNlkiodhi62siRk2uNwrQqBPw4FP_i4ty9CLjd207gkGYJmK7eDXNIjowhlmTLExhFWqKuNE8j_Ni0v-eLtzfFLpZw5mE73g4NAyH7Xj2qO79S17dfINtTiJ8VJI5vU/s400/rialto7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627472000295375106" /></a><br /><br />I'm not much of a cook and so was relying on Ed to listen to the lesson while I snapped photos (around 300 for the day!). But one thing I learned is that everything tastes better with olive oil and salt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF48Y7iTzaHgEWeRfuP8SveSWGFZ7s1SW9hrLl7wgQCWpl_vl_MawZGQZbP5dFLIlevTdRWhidEtAZ3B0nO57vffG9DEI6z_F5APCTEu8hUtDoI12VNTRT-9DMQIknCm7lu7DUPByucw8/s1600/rialto8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF48Y7iTzaHgEWeRfuP8SveSWGFZ7s1SW9hrLl7wgQCWpl_vl_MawZGQZbP5dFLIlevTdRWhidEtAZ3B0nO57vffG9DEI6z_F5APCTEu8hUtDoI12VNTRT-9DMQIknCm7lu7DUPByucw8/s400/rialto8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627471996001348850" /></a><br /><br />Peppers on the grill.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qbtd_pLaoyljr8lf4ppwxjMinCLM4mEsWn0GLmoVQOgAY7tcb1aAguyAn8MWMj4dTiL2zuHgV9Agwxam17k5nfRTvxAGaMP1vbyzr6-QZ-cnWY92YR3nPkRAeiCdFdUDKl-z55PN-QU/s1600/rialto9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qbtd_pLaoyljr8lf4ppwxjMinCLM4mEsWn0GLmoVQOgAY7tcb1aAguyAn8MWMj4dTiL2zuHgV9Agwxam17k5nfRTvxAGaMP1vbyzr6-QZ-cnWY92YR3nPkRAeiCdFdUDKl-z55PN-QU/s400/rialto9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627471783956183010" /></a><br /><br />Did I already mention that olive oil makes everything taste better?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgZu7b0N-LaD0f2BZrloKCGm6EMRKxnIvg9tMaMi6aJvOnpy1KGg9ogbuXRGAKQZQ0vUsQDSLQxoiqe8Abdj4R10Ad3gbV6Y_MJ1mEhyhusoBKWjENSUd9FaJlkJ53CIzayt3WaTd_Aw/s1600/rialto10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgZu7b0N-LaD0f2BZrloKCGm6EMRKxnIvg9tMaMi6aJvOnpy1KGg9ogbuXRGAKQZQ0vUsQDSLQxoiqe8Abdj4R10Ad3gbV6Y_MJ1mEhyhusoBKWjENSUd9FaJlkJ53CIzayt3WaTd_Aw/s400/rialto10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627471781601576466" /></a><br /><br />The grilled veggies:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkpOdDxFIda5qZmUsZE_CnAvE-XEIw7V284cCWWD3Ara_f1K_-UEd3ywIJSa2ZXGZr33ylEnoOYiwJdK4OdBQMj31YlI8yvmJpKFe4sI-JtGy6L3RsCWThsY3sWvDzaWLPtFKjaFxS9E/s1600/rialto12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkpOdDxFIda5qZmUsZE_CnAvE-XEIw7V284cCWWD3Ara_f1K_-UEd3ywIJSa2ZXGZr33ylEnoOYiwJdK4OdBQMj31YlI8yvmJpKFe4sI-JtGy6L3RsCWThsY3sWvDzaWLPtFKjaFxS9E/s400/rialto12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627487363219845058" /></a><br /><br />The lobster:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpxh2aBy27-hJLpxgBYrVX9fh1p0Uk-ZMPqqBREXCTkYEQxS3ErIsrvW-_xQiwEaewGP0l_744csC0zSNvX346DKGFNnxcMMt-49SzUa1h2YgUB6_8MJXmazp-zWiUhAZ7XNndE43wr8/s1600/rialto11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpxh2aBy27-hJLpxgBYrVX9fh1p0Uk-ZMPqqBREXCTkYEQxS3ErIsrvW-_xQiwEaewGP0l_744csC0zSNvX346DKGFNnxcMMt-49SzUa1h2YgUB6_8MJXmazp-zWiUhAZ7XNndE43wr8/s400/rialto11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627487366833093666" /></a><br /><br />The dessert:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0Nlh9-KpkDM2NpZKtswsMAU6LDSojm1pRnDgrbDXeAS2sdapFTsfF0XNFkxmMQAiF_72fkTSHmEiupWT1bLx6jeTCj6ffJIy2hYrwlB83Hudg4Lc_uuBDtKMC5qKOrcxfV0PbHyCNMU/s1600/rialto13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0Nlh9-KpkDM2NpZKtswsMAU6LDSojm1pRnDgrbDXeAS2sdapFTsfF0XNFkxmMQAiF_72fkTSHmEiupWT1bLx6jeTCj6ffJIy2hYrwlB83Hudg4Lc_uuBDtKMC5qKOrcxfV0PbHyCNMU/s400/rialto13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627471769870312706" /></a><br /><br />Thank you so much to Rialto and Ride Studio Cafe for this great raffle prize. Ed and I had a great time. It's been a while since we've gotten to go out for a classy meal without Elliot and we thoroughly enjoyed it!Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-82776465641092424252011-07-06T06:07:00.003-04:002011-07-06T17:10:40.478-04:00Waffle 'cross!Waffle 'cross is back! Hup United had it's 'cross kickoff the Sunday before last. Yes, 'cross season is still a long ways off. But we like to ride 'cross bikes early and often.<br /><br />Here's our <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/817832" target="_blank">route</a> (just the part from Ride Studio Cafe and back). <br /><br />So many Hupsters!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRO5T2EYmAdbA_UcW3g2FX30-Ziapv1Rm153pER_VJ_yywjc67bI8gOLpUQkzdUqTGgy6655PqVeCDfzwaxhwqwYEJUTjTYxRCORz25U7Nz1qobl9zGfBDnzzPB0-dEzKgS7YytFl9QA/s1600/waffle+june+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRO5T2EYmAdbA_UcW3g2FX30-Ziapv1Rm153pER_VJ_yywjc67bI8gOLpUQkzdUqTGgy6655PqVeCDfzwaxhwqwYEJUTjTYxRCORz25U7Nz1qobl9zGfBDnzzPB0-dEzKgS7YytFl9QA/s400/waffle+june+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625208049842224978" /></a><br /><br />Sweet trails in Concord.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NHaTGde-M3qeRPWUpm_ez0oSWTNrhnRtCjgjGPKemGRj8ZLBxLEjz3b1v6GUWxKtdUOqFGMKB9TMR1sqyKjSp-X7oDYHJMq-O5rz7B9vyOh2kmo6SmpuSHKQTDPPFGlgzq-ae-BPHKU/s1600/waffle+june+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NHaTGde-M3qeRPWUpm_ez0oSWTNrhnRtCjgjGPKemGRj8ZLBxLEjz3b1v6GUWxKtdUOqFGMKB9TMR1sqyKjSp-X7oDYHJMq-O5rz7B9vyOh2kmo6SmpuSHKQTDPPFGlgzq-ae-BPHKU/s400/waffle+june+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625208042161004546" /></a><br /><br />Heading into trails in Lexington.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71HPOf2Y6C38QYGRxsTwEgra2dt0BK4kOxPcHPKoOzn3VBY50VMWwFHCG9oCTFzHO4_1MtvVTmEUPh2olgQfzb6ES6c3ByAuvimaZRo5wvfJpB7fKnd-4n7z5zyeVwDzuxb4g9-Bswow/s1600/waffle+june+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71HPOf2Y6C38QYGRxsTwEgra2dt0BK4kOxPcHPKoOzn3VBY50VMWwFHCG9oCTFzHO4_1MtvVTmEUPh2olgQfzb6ES6c3ByAuvimaZRo5wvfJpB7fKnd-4n7z5zyeVwDzuxb4g9-Bswow/s400/waffle+june+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625208007232043570" /></a><br /><br />Mud!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRYLAONaL3E-cYzO5iYv6KDYHS3NzJeLud2MXmxYX7M62gaFk936XKErHet2gOADWtKpVQFyoXW2JV51Txmn7EUuTwfu5AjbarrsVKazf7HLg70ljufmBbThk2LHRqDYee6CtAQ0-Eqs/s1600/waffle+june+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRYLAONaL3E-cYzO5iYv6KDYHS3NzJeLud2MXmxYX7M62gaFk936XKErHet2gOADWtKpVQFyoXW2JV51Txmn7EUuTwfu5AjbarrsVKazf7HLg70ljufmBbThk2LHRqDYee6CtAQ0-Eqs/s400/waffle+june+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625207997624872402" /></a><br /><br />Happy Hupsters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBJ3Mt00KJy-Eltx2E-kaz7YLQ96LQ3pqRj-lQz0_2dMhGNdwMQQbYBuWejZsBNDGzdG_pFK1y_m7RvhKJRPuR1pfwwGxQy4-z6agWd1cGUKPMM6NUhGvEJAayZeVxPFbBlR16YICWMY/s1600/waffle+june+6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBJ3Mt00KJy-Eltx2E-kaz7YLQ96LQ3pqRj-lQz0_2dMhGNdwMQQbYBuWejZsBNDGzdG_pFK1y_m7RvhKJRPuR1pfwwGxQy4-z6agWd1cGUKPMM6NUhGvEJAayZeVxPFbBlR16YICWMY/s400/waffle+june+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626349611785352754" /></a><br /><br />Après-ride at <a href="http://ridestudiocafe.com/" target="_blank">Ride Studio Cafe</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0lb1CMalAymrsP7h1G-LabTgboaEK9g6FLHb5HtLWr9S0phxbTXIIGED7mBVXOUUAYSC0D9KVyPDwbXBmKRTSaYsXJLor69l7jtmC1i6O76zwNuOTGwLZzf70ffVSuDf9Ay89l1J1rE/s1600/waffle+june+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0lb1CMalAymrsP7h1G-LabTgboaEK9g6FLHb5HtLWr9S0phxbTXIIGED7mBVXOUUAYSC0D9KVyPDwbXBmKRTSaYsXJLor69l7jtmC1i6O76zwNuOTGwLZzf70ffVSuDf9Ay89l1J1rE/s400/waffle+june+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625207994148760946" /></a><br /><br />Plans are already afoot for the next one...Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-7654455454477046632011-07-05T06:02:00.000-04:002011-07-05T06:02:00.888-04:00Ed's birthdayWe celebrated Ed's birthday a few weeks ago with our friends, Rach, Josh, and their son Elijah. Rachel made a super yummy dinner and baked a tremendous chocolate cake in the only bundt pan she owns. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzm4o4XRs6i4vKbiESBwSxH4iJgeNt3uAB101weIeXIe1iaJ1OD97V4tdzoZMTKu1MOOYsFb4vaNJR7lUQq0naulJNKeJbYdKntAqV9uL_EZ1NbHVKGJqdXLIiUw0zNZQpL0jiDHGpoI/s1600/ed+bday+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzm4o4XRs6i4vKbiESBwSxH4iJgeNt3uAB101weIeXIe1iaJ1OD97V4tdzoZMTKu1MOOYsFb4vaNJR7lUQq0naulJNKeJbYdKntAqV9uL_EZ1NbHVKGJqdXLIiUw0zNZQpL0jiDHGpoI/s400/ed+bday+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625204189686631762" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-13632876914322190542011-07-04T09:58:00.000-04:002011-07-04T09:58:00.659-04:00TrikesIn early June, Elliot enjoyed "riding" his trike near Horn Pond with his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabash#Hawaii" target="_blank">calabash cousin</a>, Elijah. So fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtVHd0vRqN2furzCZ-j27TNuac3lF8GcqbuUytXQ4hyphenhyphen-kKN2IVma69_2WQz6icuUqRnk_S6LOsPefInmMAGPISu-n23LDx1KLh1c5EYHcS4wQivcmE4PYuD-9afemfRoJZiWDLXmqdm0/s1600/elijah+elliot+trike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtVHd0vRqN2furzCZ-j27TNuac3lF8GcqbuUytXQ4hyphenhyphen-kKN2IVma69_2WQz6icuUqRnk_S6LOsPefInmMAGPISu-n23LDx1KLh1c5EYHcS4wQivcmE4PYuD-9afemfRoJZiWDLXmqdm0/s400/elijah+elliot+trike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625202873467841778" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-40873908889685840082011-07-03T14:43:00.005-04:002011-07-03T14:57:59.478-04:00ReunionI'm so behind with everything right now. Will try to quickly catch up with blog posts...<br /><br />We spent part of Memorial Day Weekend at Yale for Ed's reunion. We had a great time catching up (him) and meeting new people (me). We stayed in a dorm (not so bad, really) and Elliot enjoyed playing with the other toddlers at Camp Bulldog. And I do love returning to New Haven, of which I have very fond memories from when Ed and I first met and, 2 years later, started dating.<br /><br /><a href="http://carillon.sites.yale.edu/" target="_blank">Carillon</a> tour and private concert:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJPFpxTZtRcBKpjS-hphw1Zq_qwkbGCh9IjlTJxAnczOs63w0EmCr-JtZ4nb4J854_W5DL2e5Kd_pvFTgeeQkEpnwy2xQJIZMhYVX3rZ78G7PjzuUTnEQ3Y68c187kYj44sgE4o6xvOk/s1600/yale1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJPFpxTZtRcBKpjS-hphw1Zq_qwkbGCh9IjlTJxAnczOs63w0EmCr-JtZ4nb4J854_W5DL2e5Kd_pvFTgeeQkEpnwy2xQJIZMhYVX3rZ78G7PjzuUTnEQ3Y68c187kYj44sgE4o6xvOk/s400/yale1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625200660092641522" /></a><br /><br />Drinking cups and singing at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mory's" target="_blank">Mory's</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAPwB3xJBkDIKy6B_q-dZ53jLUM3LLEzraGB-NElsYPEuBD7fQnwINPTJ53eaQQfSy9RhyphenhyphenizxEJC3oUMYUMWQAUaUMHoInYdtpO1RwI07lgLtRRY2l3adWgxIgCnEP8aaS1jNWAurkPU/s1600/yale2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAPwB3xJBkDIKy6B_q-dZ53jLUM3LLEzraGB-NElsYPEuBD7fQnwINPTJ53eaQQfSy9RhyphenhyphenizxEJC3oUMYUMWQAUaUMHoInYdtpO1RwI07lgLtRRY2l3adWgxIgCnEP8aaS1jNWAurkPU/s400/yale2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625200648309468178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ8drzQEySrlaABeyThOnrQYlEFka9ZLLyrbaOWIHpN-u20YLIxrJ4bMbs61uu7tp-x2GeDclAxpdzq1dCe4gMbKIYmLZZ4QPt0WjE7m42bkxOPNtrR3E3atoc3LDOOeBZ3VxVtSv1Qc/s1600/yale3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ8drzQEySrlaABeyThOnrQYlEFka9ZLLyrbaOWIHpN-u20YLIxrJ4bMbs61uu7tp-x2GeDclAxpdzq1dCe4gMbKIYmLZZ4QPt0WjE7m42bkxOPNtrR3E3atoc3LDOOeBZ3VxVtSv1Qc/s400/yale3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625200639604816626" /></a><br /><br />Yeah. This basically could not be any different from my experience at a large, cheap, commuter state school.<br /><br />Ed singing "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_College_Years" target="_blank">Bright College Years</a>" with some of his closest college friends:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RF3_ubsAiazcL5Wqs8e6ZBqi62BFKfkd_nlNzNU3d3kc6PfqYAaUJCYz-nE2_yVDpHXLJJxmrb3jKaPXZeVpkeGIt0ua9jTByKAC_gShFewoqN_O-nkO8XkUN7uKslJGIPfTvwfJ-HM/s1600/yale4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RF3_ubsAiazcL5Wqs8e6ZBqi62BFKfkd_nlNzNU3d3kc6PfqYAaUJCYz-nE2_yVDpHXLJJxmrb3jKaPXZeVpkeGIt0ua9jTByKAC_gShFewoqN_O-nkO8XkUN7uKslJGIPfTvwfJ-HM/s400/yale4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625200636359232850" /></a><br /><br />People hanging out after the class dinner (I was testing out my new portable DSLR tripod):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyS4Dx6w43sSXgkIyC6V00ZHWGo1P1RRmdjlIFthcJM_vDyvOTqu5mdp9LAxN4GUSy8m34Oggf0VUdBNrBUaYWTivjxIi_-nC7ye2egl90eqENYXJD-D_qwbRJWa1h2Cdq1RTEiVXEXE/s1600/yale5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyS4Dx6w43sSXgkIyC6V00ZHWGo1P1RRmdjlIFthcJM_vDyvOTqu5mdp9LAxN4GUSy8m34Oggf0VUdBNrBUaYWTivjxIi_-nC7ye2egl90eqENYXJD-D_qwbRJWa1h2Cdq1RTEiVXEXE/s400/yale5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625200632028728162" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-39950183628357215552011-06-19T19:20:00.002-04:002011-06-19T19:22:45.645-04:00Father's DayI'm so happy to be celebrating Father's Day today with Ed! Here are my guys dressed up for Ed's cousin's wedding yesterday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AYTB3hIq4KhHhl7fEAEC9vRE2PnBbTGWjCJ-G_EAPHPeGi1DHaHqgC7FaqMVbNqeZi-mGjn3e1bfoHNL8bo_KC3KuXC1y7YfeMPTTyZTM9ZMM9EPwUL4XMQsbVnb-4H_eF6Jz4hqC9s/s1600/seersucker3+4_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AYTB3hIq4KhHhl7fEAEC9vRE2PnBbTGWjCJ-G_EAPHPeGi1DHaHqgC7FaqMVbNqeZi-mGjn3e1bfoHNL8bo_KC3KuXC1y7YfeMPTTyZTM9ZMM9EPwUL4XMQsbVnb-4H_eF6Jz4hqC9s/s400/seersucker3+4_6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620075283593184114" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-75990319486726728922011-06-11T12:42:00.006-04:002011-06-11T18:20:12.435-04:00Big House Project: Part 10We're now at the point where our contractor has just a few small jobs left before we have the town inspect everything and Ed can start on the interior finishing.<br /><br />As a reminder, this is still what the addition looks like from the front:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jjyWPN__4BhisK4vjH9-cVA0NJ3CsawHiVSZnaKxmYkZKqBkjscnzvT0H3AvRUZUkh3VlJ3VZ0yv7J0wI8Fxr2RhppGsqOeIl9mCx8qJ1YCxpnqF8UOf90M4VAgozVJfZ7Yz6mgN080/s1600/steps5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jjyWPN__4BhisK4vjH9-cVA0NJ3CsawHiVSZnaKxmYkZKqBkjscnzvT0H3AvRUZUkh3VlJ3VZ0yv7J0wI8Fxr2RhppGsqOeIl9mCx8qJ1YCxpnqF8UOf90M4VAgozVJfZ7Yz6mgN080/s400/steps5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933170530317138" /></a><br /><br />Our contractor has changed out the doors on the addition, giving us a clearer view of the backyard. We've started to envision what might go in this space. We're thinking about a bench (possibly built-in) along the wall that faces the front, a small couch facing the fireplace (you can see the bumpout in the left of this photo), and two long, skinny tables along the back wall where we can drink coffee and/or eat breakfast while looking out over the deck and backyard. We're trying to maximize the available seating. Once Ed has cut a wide doorway from the addition to our kitchen, this will be a lovely space to hang out with friends.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZLSt2XXWuU0kLCVp10eB-s-59_2nM8zHfBwKV6oi4Cml26xphF8bM2TZDIde0uJLkRjhaXoticjXeHYPMpr9UFFYrAWyPvMhLe2pgvY7BaQo5FloyfH3JaOKAp0CCHihbInYCNkXI68/s1600/status10_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZLSt2XXWuU0kLCVp10eB-s-59_2nM8zHfBwKV6oi4Cml26xphF8bM2TZDIde0uJLkRjhaXoticjXeHYPMpr9UFFYrAWyPvMhLe2pgvY7BaQo5FloyfH3JaOKAp0CCHihbInYCNkXI68/s400/status10_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617007434537466578" /></a><br /><br />The post covers are on and the railings and balusters are waiting to be installed. Unfortunately one small part was not correct and should be in next week, when the railings should be done. The three stairways from the deck and addition are also almost done.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdugA87rYdtEf8tFGEzeu-KBgN333so0r5Tuh6aPQaMEjYzkoYPWBkvwQs7guaPkloqysDGMm6mZZ6eq1kvYl8uukQQEwTmdSFChURSpm0WCPraO_sozQt2CSzatj7KsKeJN-TV5G6cI/s1600/status10_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdugA87rYdtEf8tFGEzeu-KBgN333so0r5Tuh6aPQaMEjYzkoYPWBkvwQs7guaPkloqysDGMm6mZZ6eq1kvYl8uukQQEwTmdSFChURSpm0WCPraO_sozQt2CSzatj7KsKeJN-TV5G6cI/s400/status10_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617007446798606802" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICn1vx1-8pTWDO3guq6APvE7RyVwo_fZHJp2EpRj3sO5mSRIGcJ9ZRbYf9ATn8n81mzN0k3iNwURN4f4G0aQN16h-3xP2p8bOK_7pvjljJXHbvleoqGZeOcwaYa7cyKPYx9CWRjv9LgU/s1600/status10_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICn1vx1-8pTWDO3guq6APvE7RyVwo_fZHJp2EpRj3sO5mSRIGcJ9ZRbYf9ATn8n81mzN0k3iNwURN4f4G0aQN16h-3xP2p8bOK_7pvjljJXHbvleoqGZeOcwaYa7cyKPYx9CWRjv9LgU/s400/status10_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617007439535287634" /></a><br /><br />We're also thinking of adding a patio in the backyard once the deck and addition are done, with some more seating and a small fire pit.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-37392321884252589912011-05-16T07:33:00.005-04:002011-06-07T11:30:43.060-04:00Mother's DayMother's Day rocked. We slept in (we all had minor colds and I was coughing quite a bit, so I skipped the group ride I had planned to attend). Then we took Elliot out for his first ride in the trailer. This is a Chariot Cougar that Ed has been taking Elliot out running in for over a year, so Elliot got really excited and pre-boarded before we had even changed into our bike clothes.<br /><br />Our first stop was the bike shop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5MpNen6kOgyTf5XA8mX9buGRpKTF6ODE_BttG-dNXrcRJ_12xa4htzm73pczYNiMRNQTsYL3rhzRFec1DUr2sL3NkDXYU_6_V2gxcn4cMkV6zi3RVkTvtMk1sUAUo0URLRCwPfZPy04/s1600/mothersday1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5MpNen6kOgyTf5XA8mX9buGRpKTF6ODE_BttG-dNXrcRJ_12xa4htzm73pczYNiMRNQTsYL3rhzRFec1DUr2sL3NkDXYU_6_V2gxcn4cMkV6zi3RVkTvtMk1sUAUo0URLRCwPfZPy04/s400/mothersday1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935837937219938" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzzlVPZq6wP-WBqhrLERUchdpHp0dAn1Pk9B1QrO7a3ca0zVNom9yi4IFpel2zwmbs_7AxE_kSZtsM3HXxvS1gglpRgsuxzVtqc2RZeiZpDlMVPe-9aKDs5-05dQex_HGHNcZWS-la14/s1600/mothersday2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzzlVPZq6wP-WBqhrLERUchdpHp0dAn1Pk9B1QrO7a3ca0zVNom9yi4IFpel2zwmbs_7AxE_kSZtsM3HXxvS1gglpRgsuxzVtqc2RZeiZpDlMVPe-9aKDs5-05dQex_HGHNcZWS-la14/s400/mothersday2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935834088343954" /></a><br /><br />Then we stopped for yummy sandwiches and coffee at <a href="http://www.truenorthcoffeecafe.com/" target="_blank">True North</a>. It is far cooler than that awful web site would lead you to believe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulye9Q6x03aK7R6h3-Iy8RsJBD4vyYnMpiyDV-Myg2Y4YLiGBqpyQcGHArrLl-w0-X32MkdDFqzVHNk14ZiRaPEPKJ16FyT9acTMDfrLwRhrAd9wOzx77Ch6svAL6aZUXTl0bCwM6EAQ/s1600/mothersday3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulye9Q6x03aK7R6h3-Iy8RsJBD4vyYnMpiyDV-Myg2Y4YLiGBqpyQcGHArrLl-w0-X32MkdDFqzVHNk14ZiRaPEPKJ16FyT9acTMDfrLwRhrAd9wOzx77Ch6svAL6aZUXTl0bCwM6EAQ/s400/mothersday3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935756934620226" /></a><br /><br />Our final stop was the park near our house. I'm sure none of the other people there thought it was weird that we were playing with Elliot while wearing lycra and bike shoes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Yws9KPmEaj5P0wdS-54DAPt95a2Y3Km07lcR5-FeSgSzx6i8uEdrv8qCyu9MiMks0YlzXw9tAQOJeDa7L1UCMmTi1Khyphenhyphen-A0vnxCquVvtr27BVIQtiYexnjshUWoKzs1PiwQhiF452I/s1600/mothersday4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Yws9KPmEaj5P0wdS-54DAPt95a2Y3Km07lcR5-FeSgSzx6i8uEdrv8qCyu9MiMks0YlzXw9tAQOJeDa7L1UCMmTi1Khyphenhyphen-A0vnxCquVvtr27BVIQtiYexnjshUWoKzs1PiwQhiF452I/s400/mothersday4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935753842519298" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMlK9_5hS3mgusQSBy9BXh7imCE-gEMjKJejcozc2lXs4jNBOghBkLUmycgXiN0SUAhZOJ4u-MoHIzlJdHzjh3WaHFcG8TK_wJh8oDTMRy-R33EC94JDtTh9d_Gq_hSlr5sb9kJ8d2eU/s1600/mothersday5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMlK9_5hS3mgusQSBy9BXh7imCE-gEMjKJejcozc2lXs4jNBOghBkLUmycgXiN0SUAhZOJ4u-MoHIzlJdHzjh3WaHFcG8TK_wJh8oDTMRy-R33EC94JDtTh9d_Gq_hSlr5sb9kJ8d2eU/s400/mothersday5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935752801167618" /></a><br /><br />Inspired by <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/kids-parenting/homemade-gifts-for-mom-00000000057435/index.html" target="_blank">this article</a> in Real Simple, I got some nice stitch-bound sketchbooks for Elliot to fill over the years for us. Here's the first page of my "mom book." <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw_8wTpy0t5w56gRtH1vhyjPt_AlfHgZQF35rLulTrmxGfM7fkF4TQnz3qZXcVSKTHY_Cv7RmdIXSXdxTRAasJBFJi36feiZTY3ZGxZbNdF57hcYk51yOzxjAet7JSmKSwovGwPJrN-0/s1600/mothersday6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw_8wTpy0t5w56gRtH1vhyjPt_AlfHgZQF35rLulTrmxGfM7fkF4TQnz3qZXcVSKTHY_Cv7RmdIXSXdxTRAasJBFJi36feiZTY3ZGxZbNdF57hcYk51yOzxjAet7JSmKSwovGwPJrN-0/s400/mothersday6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935750021663362" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mQ1C3_vNY43IrlSjojLB0HADyJTag31jHDLBeVRqRQTOouebEEDA8llnTokvnWVTMFjtfzZJ3S8XKvszpsJ1IMUlndr_wuyLwe2mFDu1FMznco1P90z2upBw_m_e6P86wgtEgHpB798/s1600/mothersday7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mQ1C3_vNY43IrlSjojLB0HADyJTag31jHDLBeVRqRQTOouebEEDA8llnTokvnWVTMFjtfzZJ3S8XKvszpsJ1IMUlndr_wuyLwe2mFDu1FMznco1P90z2upBw_m_e6P86wgtEgHpB798/s400/mothersday7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606935750330776114" /></a><br /><br /> My first thought: Wow, this is the best thing ever!! My second thought: How will I ever match this for Father's Day?Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-53850350785229215582011-05-15T09:17:00.004-04:002011-05-15T09:33:02.311-04:00Big House Project: Part 9At the end of April, Ed hired a stone mason (the same one that dug and poured the footings for our sun room/deck) to redo our front steps. They were concrete and were just a little lopsided, with a small platform that would make it difficult to install railings to bring it up to code.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0tY3I7w8SnoQ3w1HkNT7C_GoyKrMRuzHWsFPnCDEsrs6vaje-u4jdTXYaHMnBawFGD0S0xppWP_rrnEFFaESB_LTY5m5hhUJMfjtQCn2mpL9RLvQBml8jFE5KKm2bnxUv32-Ti2qdE4/s1600/steps0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0tY3I7w8SnoQ3w1HkNT7C_GoyKrMRuzHWsFPnCDEsrs6vaje-u4jdTXYaHMnBawFGD0S0xppWP_rrnEFFaESB_LTY5m5hhUJMfjtQCn2mpL9RLvQBml8jFE5KKm2bnxUv32-Ti2qdE4/s400/steps0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933284433810290" /></a><br /><br />First, the crew jackhammered away part of the original steps. (And prior to this, David's crew had finished up their remaining tasks, including putting up the shutters. The porta-potty and dumpster were removed. It took me two days to notice.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBn8wHmmtrdkJ33YQOifUrEsd1NV_o8ADZSHevGwln5E0VmTCFAVAXo8imVCD8Y2qKp_XPLPi5rid-yw8wfu0cTbEMTLRQsyZ-JKSSOoFU27IedmzxVIgPjXAzQiQ2DYdsOEsw9fVTjQ/s1600/steps1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBn8wHmmtrdkJ33YQOifUrEsd1NV_o8ADZSHevGwln5E0VmTCFAVAXo8imVCD8Y2qKp_XPLPi5rid-yw8wfu0cTbEMTLRQsyZ-JKSSOoFU27IedmzxVIgPjXAzQiQ2DYdsOEsw9fVTjQ/s400/steps1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933285345971666" /></a><br /><br />Then they put in New England fieldstone and bluestone treads.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D8lJN9ZeOpWu_l9NhLADD2rTVi0xtPtBaNlm7M_J9tXcOpCGax0X56pA_tRZu7Eqqwi6tpZbZNxbq2RES59rzpTcJv16BvKtT5mnL7lMg59O9g4rYXv4v313cLuM_BiD-It4CTTq1G0/s1600/steps2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D8lJN9ZeOpWu_l9NhLADD2rTVi0xtPtBaNlm7M_J9tXcOpCGax0X56pA_tRZu7Eqqwi6tpZbZNxbq2RES59rzpTcJv16BvKtT5mnL7lMg59O9g4rYXv4v313cLuM_BiD-It4CTTq1G0/s400/steps2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933183130751602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6Ujok5vKRZYbJaTBHusuykC45ABAXANF9hMBC62o8IWsLcl8iybfc8iCteeLgLKptZTfW-RC9bIaR1nbyAqPrV-jF8glCa34jP6EZ_9KT1jm0IdBk_dSRIjVV-Oa0uXFdqMrI3V7WWs/s1600/steps3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6Ujok5vKRZYbJaTBHusuykC45ABAXANF9hMBC62o8IWsLcl8iybfc8iCteeLgLKptZTfW-RC9bIaR1nbyAqPrV-jF8glCa34jP6EZ_9KT1jm0IdBk_dSRIjVV-Oa0uXFdqMrI3V7WWs/s400/steps3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933174929998770" /></a><br /><br />Mortar.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu-2zKrStwG38rpnOXaRHLLEiHI82pgh08mmGBJ6gnKnJ6iI7gc1FLJhm1UAJPaIxnJ12ietRtUAOmlqrEsdngq5Y1E_Ku-Prayy9tempKsj2mWq4UFmKhQIe_O4jlA195_fS_acOPmY/s1600/steps4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu-2zKrStwG38rpnOXaRHLLEiHI82pgh08mmGBJ6gnKnJ6iI7gc1FLJhm1UAJPaIxnJ12ietRtUAOmlqrEsdngq5Y1E_Ku-Prayy9tempKsj2mWq4UFmKhQIe_O4jlA195_fS_acOPmY/s400/steps4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933177816697618" /></a><br /><br />It makes a huge difference, but it will be easier to see the overall effect once the columns. railings, new front door, and storm door have been installed (probably by Ed).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jjyWPN__4BhisK4vjH9-cVA0NJ3CsawHiVSZnaKxmYkZKqBkjscnzvT0H3AvRUZUkh3VlJ3VZ0yv7J0wI8Fxr2RhppGsqOeIl9mCx8qJ1YCxpnqF8UOf90M4VAgozVJfZ7Yz6mgN080/s1600/steps5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jjyWPN__4BhisK4vjH9-cVA0NJ3CsawHiVSZnaKxmYkZKqBkjscnzvT0H3AvRUZUkh3VlJ3VZ0yv7J0wI8Fxr2RhppGsqOeIl9mCx8qJ1YCxpnqF8UOf90M4VAgozVJfZ7Yz6mgN080/s400/steps5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933170530317138" /></a><br /><br />Everything takes longer than planned, which my project manager experience has taught me to expect. :) In the meantime, our fireplace bumpout is proving to be an excellent place to store Elliot's stroller and tricycle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OWQomlvfzvXUCpkQGZzK_OwQj_0xUUSH390TjMzi1-jyC-MW61F1WeUSYIsAssKpm8J_S0D-RpW0-_DdeNYjOirg2ymIAToItMilI9bXQtWAzZbYdAjdrNj5hqPWBK_QgWBUF9Rq0OI/s1600/steps6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OWQomlvfzvXUCpkQGZzK_OwQj_0xUUSH390TjMzi1-jyC-MW61F1WeUSYIsAssKpm8J_S0D-RpW0-_DdeNYjOirg2ymIAToItMilI9bXQtWAzZbYdAjdrNj5hqPWBK_QgWBUF9Rq0OI/s400/steps6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606933166674445602" /></a><br /><br />(That adorable little Adirondack chair was something Ed found in someone's trash while he was out running when I was pregnant. The previous owners painted "Edward" on it.)Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-22662930718327445562011-05-14T17:26:00.005-04:002011-05-16T13:32:11.712-04:00Big House Project: Part 8Sometimes, things go wrong. Sawzall happens, folks.<br /><br />After a long winter's break, Bob's crew (working on the addition) returned in early April to reroute the ductwork from our microwave/hood. Fortunately, Ed was home. I called him that morning to let him know that Elliot had a fever and we needed to pick him up from day care. Ed said, "Bob's dad just accidentally cut through some wiring."<br /><br />So I took care of the little guy and Ed spent his day repairing the wire between two sockets in our bedroom (above the kitchen). Then, later that night, Elliot and I were in the living room and I heard some yelling from the kitchen when Ed noticed that THERE IS A HOLE IN OUR MICROWAVE.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35FKYCKiJu6R9oz_dUXIrHHBhLWs5WBWt7NNFwzW72DOH2FfIDi0tsFZAQ-uZejEsw6UjOuAHs89kNIdXKnzSHOyHj6vTtbxF-axJxHn3zkzzNDMAtNsmBbmycFTS5wcU4S7dq2GkYaI/s1600/microwave+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35FKYCKiJu6R9oz_dUXIrHHBhLWs5WBWt7NNFwzW72DOH2FfIDi0tsFZAQ-uZejEsw6UjOuAHs89kNIdXKnzSHOyHj6vTtbxF-axJxHn3zkzzNDMAtNsmBbmycFTS5wcU4S7dq2GkYaI/s400/microwave+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606688628312513426" /></a><br /><br />Long story short, Bob was super apologetic and his father later dropped by to apologize in person (and pay for the microwave). The model we have has been discontinued, but I found a new old stock one from an appliance store in Buffalo (via eBay) that will match our other appliances. A happy ending. :)Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-86713249242361735162011-05-08T21:20:00.004-04:002011-05-08T21:28:46.253-04:00Grammie's birthdayWe spent last Sunday in Connecticut celebrating Elliot's Grammie's birthday. Elliot's Auntie Liz and Uncle Brandon drove from Brookilyn to meet us.<br /><br />Elliot helped make the cake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rC1W3ji9njxAs3gfcjKoU3RY6CrQwadsvRYXg2p2ejgY1ywiTWc1UhxvPvM_OBnPY5zcL3TzPlTP4OUPWhW_CaBCli5yTpcAz1q0bx9zKooY-ePW36Zwld1ifCzA8RpvXcolcjttLkY/s1600/p4308589-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rC1W3ji9njxAs3gfcjKoU3RY6CrQwadsvRYXg2p2ejgY1ywiTWc1UhxvPvM_OBnPY5zcL3TzPlTP4OUPWhW_CaBCli5yTpcAz1q0bx9zKooY-ePW36Zwld1ifCzA8RpvXcolcjttLkY/s400/p4308589-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520556640215714" /></a><br /><br />He blew bubbles with Auntie Liz and fingerpainted with Grammie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7_duWlJyaIpv5yEuhGcN9zy34IKRfp_NMZcHlNGEt1TjZ3dfbmYq3eCSfzk1Kdr4lD1DAAK5nKlwLQbmkBj-jN_T_B_SBFxpBPm9zuq2Lj3lNqxNQBuEIiymbPDaQeaPa7U7Qo8QtT4/s1600/p5018692-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7_duWlJyaIpv5yEuhGcN9zy34IKRfp_NMZcHlNGEt1TjZ3dfbmYq3eCSfzk1Kdr4lD1DAAK5nKlwLQbmkBj-jN_T_B_SBFxpBPm9zuq2Lj3lNqxNQBuEIiymbPDaQeaPa7U7Qo8QtT4/s400/p5018692-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520555931767378" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqqAiV1usM2IiOPAi5c3vNnkU8N08WVGwJXyv95bLAxdK2-mmFCTop3zXrjLj7no_wh2-YyQzbbg2hiJFcZg08dQFJhhsot8lfAmrqtirzg1ZBYDZvp4kwXGbmbgB3yq38eHtxZysDKc/s1600/p5018712-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqqAiV1usM2IiOPAi5c3vNnkU8N08WVGwJXyv95bLAxdK2-mmFCTop3zXrjLj7no_wh2-YyQzbbg2hiJFcZg08dQFJhhsot8lfAmrqtirzg1ZBYDZvp4kwXGbmbgB3yq38eHtxZysDKc/s400/p5018712-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520559282179298" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgl56n2BRqimufqzEemxYAFyIGyFaok3Xq1npt9TyuHFGuI0yT1zxrLXezxxWju_2PyPtfUMdlD8DuvrT9ywmsS6vzkILjP5djpd2MnwXSBZIlFmw5i5QrDSfrdT1DcpAb2zr-5of3UY/s1600/p5018759-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgl56n2BRqimufqzEemxYAFyIGyFaok3Xq1npt9TyuHFGuI0yT1zxrLXezxxWju_2PyPtfUMdlD8DuvrT9ywmsS6vzkILjP5djpd2MnwXSBZIlFmw5i5QrDSfrdT1DcpAb2zr-5of3UY/s400/p5018759-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520562523344626" /></a><br /><br />Grammie's cake! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGosM2onknu66JC1UY2MJde_vyjVNP-tinmqs1TtZl9fZeyXlGou7VZYO5Pewb2Yjaff_ymAc5u_zis6qyNkE5bgr7oVLGohA0hKPF30J7_G9VG9sww6VpO8Na_sCQZhDOyPum4Nzh690/s1600/p5018790-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGosM2onknu66JC1UY2MJde_vyjVNP-tinmqs1TtZl9fZeyXlGou7VZYO5Pewb2Yjaff_ymAc5u_zis6qyNkE5bgr7oVLGohA0hKPF30J7_G9VG9sww6VpO8Na_sCQZhDOyPum4Nzh690/s400/p5018790-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520559539731458" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-s9EX4LsE2YRRPlVMnbPWV1e56XeILbPTM45pH1RkWSJwsq9va54e3Ocjm-qTpM-QvAO63qz4bTB3YKn0fIjPbSFnga4rCLgyRE-ovtebRn_ukM0gOPLVMTN3S5Nr__68WKrje2e9HaU/s1600/p5018796-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-s9EX4LsE2YRRPlVMnbPWV1e56XeILbPTM45pH1RkWSJwsq9va54e3Ocjm-qTpM-QvAO63qz4bTB3YKn0fIjPbSFnga4rCLgyRE-ovtebRn_ukM0gOPLVMTN3S5Nr__68WKrje2e9HaU/s400/p5018796-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520654805845826" /></a><br /><br />Elliot loves to spin in chairs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4D5MwQwf4Rt5y2wAgJriJ9Kb0ebqvqmA8tlrrZ_aeuybfYYiy0VTuwn7aiZ0K5Tx-l-PSBR9CyzJXEYyZLGFbAr3bKsgktDlkgVgDHuupI1YBTzJmK1KZFjFyIJLEif5-Ig9EwkYNtY/s1600/p5018802-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4D5MwQwf4Rt5y2wAgJriJ9Kb0ebqvqmA8tlrrZ_aeuybfYYiy0VTuwn7aiZ0K5Tx-l-PSBR9CyzJXEYyZLGFbAr3bKsgktDlkgVgDHuupI1YBTzJmK1KZFjFyIJLEif5-Ig9EwkYNtY/s400/p5018802-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520659832399218" /></a><br /><br />Auntie Liz and Uncle Brandon have a little doggie, Micah, who is just the right size and temperament for Elliot to "walk." <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHVVEPswjUo6_WGzM9-A9b79BQHn0VzaXGidZATscHPFq6KzI2Xel2RDkNHIPRr14EM3bISykBTZYAVNIW5veCy5EuCI1ZaQb4WOaIVErLaMRKgW6Nh3FF6QEwqfTo4T9Ha-R1aYhB6A/s1600/p5018807-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHVVEPswjUo6_WGzM9-A9b79BQHn0VzaXGidZATscHPFq6KzI2Xel2RDkNHIPRr14EM3bISykBTZYAVNIW5veCy5EuCI1ZaQb4WOaIVErLaMRKgW6Nh3FF6QEwqfTo4T9Ha-R1aYhB6A/s400/p5018807-L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604520657808378418" /></a><br /><br />A very fun day was had by all. Elliot was so tired that he slept the whole way home, which is quite unusual.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-61702347134721255892011-04-25T18:03:00.004-04:002011-04-25T18:03:00.390-04:00It only took 99 tries (literally)Pro tip: If you think you might want to get a passport for your child, do it before he/she starts walking and thinks that your camera is the ooooonly thing he/she wants to touch RIGHT NOW. GIVE ME THE CAMERA, LADY.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESMs_IpRuPw5eQmneR57oZH88DkkDvMSa1VocL-tLD60tpA9jok7L17t0JvL9ChImREcbBaaqEhM9iXO35rBL3ukExvZpwfqNQtGIgQZTkxg7Vr2gdfVC6l3uUxqIzui4wsfP4kIKydQ/s1600/passport+single.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599522070071948898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESMs_IpRuPw5eQmneR57oZH88DkkDvMSa1VocL-tLD60tpA9jok7L17t0JvL9ChImREcbBaaqEhM9iXO35rBL3ukExvZpwfqNQtGIgQZTkxg7Vr2gdfVC6l3uUxqIzui4wsfP4kIKydQ/s400/passport+single.jpg" /></a></p>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-65290156794131602802011-04-17T13:53:00.006-04:002011-04-18T10:51:29.069-04:00Ride #3Things are getting off to a slow start this year with riding. We kept getting sick and sadly, were not ready for the <a href="http://roseyscot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ronde de Rosey</a>. Looked like a lot of fun though! My second ride of the year, a month ago, went pretty poorly. I totally fell apart 2 hrs in to a 4hr+ ride (stupid) and ended up urging my companions to go on without me. I would have called Ed to pick me up had I not left our only car capable of transporting both a baby and a bike in Lexington. Ride #3 finally happened yesterday. My team's new kits just came in, so I arranged to meet up with <a href="http://velocb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chip</a> and his friend Steen at <a href="http://ridestudiocafe.com/" target="_blank">Ride Studio Cafe</a>. After espresso and croissants (and picking up my bag of awesome kit), we headed out on <a href="http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm" target="_blank">Battle Road</a>, which is maybe even more fun on a road bike than a 'cross bike. Tomorrow is Patriots Day, so it was crawling with minutemen and redcoats. <br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYWbi6U_I3FwLfzNR_sD5anCynGftch_RU67QKKiq_-RyI1IjCw1g7og5AwZbYbUpsfoXMlC4KGQpkiMpNq9ZifJ46XBQAnLc9SD_W58pCfA3uUHYV_dzMkgZ0pLF1cCOGRdm3eruw6k/s1600/battle+rd+chip.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596613505070060402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYWbi6U_I3FwLfzNR_sD5anCynGftch_RU67QKKiq_-RyI1IjCw1g7og5AwZbYbUpsfoXMlC4KGQpkiMpNq9ZifJ46XBQAnLc9SD_W58pCfA3uUHYV_dzMkgZ0pLF1cCOGRdm3eruw6k/s400/battle+rd+chip.jpg" /></a></p>After that, we did most of the <a href="http://crw.org/cgi-bin/cues2htm.pl?id=285" target="_blank">CRW Thursday night loop</a>. It was windy and I am terribly out of shape, so the route markings enabled me to keep Steen and Chip, who aren't familiar with the area, heading in the right direction so I could suck wheels. Fortunately, they were quite gracious and waited for me after each hill. <br /><br />We've been having lots of gorgeous, sunny days lately, and Ed has set up the Chariot as a trailer so we can start taking Elliot on rides. So I hope that soon, riding my bike will become such a common occurrence as to not be worth mentioning in the blog.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-76556061191124787552011-04-12T18:41:00.004-04:002011-04-13T12:01:19.787-04:00Elizabeth ParkOn Saturday, we met up with Ed's mom and sister, Paige (who was visiting from LA), for a lovely day in Elizabeth Park in Hartford. We had brunch in the morning at the <a href="http://www.pondhousecafe.com/">Pondhouse Cafe</a> and went back for tea in the afternoon. Yum. (My two favorite "meals.") The weather was perfect and we had a lovely afternoon. Elliot loved riding around on his push-trike and throwing sticks. He's becoming quite a runner too. We all took turns chasing him down and keeping him from: interfering in other people's games of catch, "helping" out in the kitchen of the cafe, and making faces through the cafe windows at patrons. <br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnpljlx-RC4O4sLd-eWi-3J_Arf3UFr_I0QNfwPGJ9JtvLZMSU4tRCTIqw91tHEqFCQJxAewZVjuuCKlD0CmUQAahj7wQRtCrYimJVxyMwqveuxxFysklRuH1rhThC2p1Wf_HdFYI1Wg/s1600/trike.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784961099964626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnpljlx-RC4O4sLd-eWi-3J_Arf3UFr_I0QNfwPGJ9JtvLZMSU4tRCTIqw91tHEqFCQJxAewZVjuuCKlD0CmUQAahj7wQRtCrYimJVxyMwqveuxxFysklRuH1rhThC2p1Wf_HdFYI1Wg/s400/trike.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhIfEjat_7kiAcb1RiVdVDwfiWmlW-Pg2XVQmFgRUAG0wRFhxedHd4NB9gkDXHmxNZ_KmQVaRNDyJeCjiwDZndzyHEwCXQtEWZEhbXr6Ua_iwMMN764iI94PFf77UhyphenhyphenjpZcGdq4wd34s/s1600/walking.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784906712515698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhIfEjat_7kiAcb1RiVdVDwfiWmlW-Pg2XVQmFgRUAG0wRFhxedHd4NB9gkDXHmxNZ_KmQVaRNDyJeCjiwDZndzyHEwCXQtEWZEhbXr6Ua_iwMMN764iI94PFf77UhyphenhyphenjpZcGdq4wd34s/s400/walking.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4ys1suXUU1dwD4k-EHtGj_pBGtkuZ09YzV74u8q2OF5cDf-yQC4xny7CveJ8vOGq1m0fL2svXZLkbqVLqyl47P0oolj8pr7qqyW1IRyQ4nPp_otHLIPgAr-2-qizChnF85BF0jK4_9o/s1600/auntie+paige.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 334px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784895069897106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4ys1suXUU1dwD4k-EHtGj_pBGtkuZ09YzV74u8q2OF5cDf-yQC4xny7CveJ8vOGq1m0fL2svXZLkbqVLqyl47P0oolj8pr7qqyW1IRyQ4nPp_otHLIPgAr-2-qizChnF85BF0jK4_9o/s400/auntie+paige.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyjnzW1U0cUmfEyx6t4IfLgJbwUed6PwifpkAIchBpS9CYhVWbo1u0DO9wzfn8HAM4DbZfemjZYDYyEQ0dlO5bDl6GMXi4y1Mk74qdbZAVe55z_i-MSXb9pJ1z2jf6PK8ih3M-MZ8gL8/s1600/grammie.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784894607961922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyjnzW1U0cUmfEyx6t4IfLgJbwUed6PwifpkAIchBpS9CYhVWbo1u0DO9wzfn8HAM4DbZfemjZYDYyEQ0dlO5bDl6GMXi4y1Mk74qdbZAVe55z_i-MSXb9pJ1z2jf6PK8ih3M-MZ8gL8/s400/grammie.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpyPuStV_aw_iatuMsVl8dJRvdR_7kIFk433HncCtinKDZKWpTl9OfEnn6t-JLk1T9TlLnUKiLjGH6wDkfTsDZML4iMGhWX49RUX06B3poc3HtXdOe02XUoGWHMBu8xw3cKZhPZBGwgk/s1600/mom+dad+elliot.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 396px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784887641975714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpyPuStV_aw_iatuMsVl8dJRvdR_7kIFk433HncCtinKDZKWpTl9OfEnn6t-JLk1T9TlLnUKiLjGH6wDkfTsDZML4iMGhWX49RUX06B3poc3HtXdOe02XUoGWHMBu8xw3cKZhPZBGwgk/s400/mom+dad+elliot.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvMTv0CA3jXKVzaiNofz6V4A_OS_T5zYrsMv9WFfGEaoslwIDdhO5tB_mJ3AKtD0tO4UgfMpLQTm5__mL4qu8IElRe7vlrkFyZ9XgH5HSSyvaqw7Ipb1fe5_3LnxG_HEUKWDj4FVJ9rQ/s1600/bench.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594784888371806098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvMTv0CA3jXKVzaiNofz6V4A_OS_T5zYrsMv9WFfGEaoslwIDdhO5tB_mJ3AKtD0tO4UgfMpLQTm5__mL4qu8IElRe7vlrkFyZ9XgH5HSSyvaqw7Ipb1fe5_3LnxG_HEUKWDj4FVJ9rQ/s400/bench.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p></p>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-76437483198751430372011-04-08T18:41:00.002-04:002011-04-17T14:09:24.394-04:00A trip to the park and new tricksThe sun was out on Saturday, so we took Elliot the park near our house. He loves the swing. And the wood chips. <br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO_eCXDOQsEMOCNYrfZG4VfRxakHP19bt_1MHwc3lLaRXi9wbqCQHtX-hE6elcZruIuCXdrBjQcum5yah3cKJyYMn9-HPvE6Jpu715b1RRVOsrH0M8p0Ax7_axA9PnHRFM-xqGhebPKw/s1600/stroller.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593036103711584930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO_eCXDOQsEMOCNYrfZG4VfRxakHP19bt_1MHwc3lLaRXi9wbqCQHtX-hE6elcZruIuCXdrBjQcum5yah3cKJyYMn9-HPvE6Jpu715b1RRVOsrH0M8p0Ax7_axA9PnHRFM-xqGhebPKw/s400/stroller.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuwDKvlSS-GvdrrTgT3PNLd0T3dOVSzxUuBzxZ1LjuX3eoMl70S2m-GqIx0cZOsL_2Co5gHzVXuwJjFoYk88DEi94wi1RZ3OO_DSo1-t67dw-pfJU-W45nuumqlqyMqUk7A-lua1NV_8/s1600/wood+chips+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593036108741528738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuwDKvlSS-GvdrrTgT3PNLd0T3dOVSzxUuBzxZ1LjuX3eoMl70S2m-GqIx0cZOsL_2Co5gHzVXuwJjFoYk88DEi94wi1RZ3OO_DSo1-t67dw-pfJU-W45nuumqlqyMqUk7A-lua1NV_8/s400/wood+chips+1.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVur0FjaYY3lHH6X-tFOzc3B6Hn5bYlVU9wXhamTKQdv5joqdy1Uh5b4Ky-EhTlMy6EBNZdMFxsPUVRaCe4FUyOm1GzUwSxzJVDP6oDRTKGakWae1M1srZde4IB4woaxty2tglhmSqfk/s1600/wood+chips+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593036111039727826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVur0FjaYY3lHH6X-tFOzc3B6Hn5bYlVU9wXhamTKQdv5joqdy1Uh5b4Ky-EhTlMy6EBNZdMFxsPUVRaCe4FUyOm1GzUwSxzJVDP6oDRTKGakWae1M1srZde4IB4woaxty2tglhmSqfk/s400/wood+chips+2.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZtUPXWL7wQ_A3z4y7wTMzSOkURN8phnlGYv_LlUrndOQh6Jc2klcPdCshCwne5ES8lh3x3gi5QzJRAKsNaGR4CXT5wR-neEtqogkGevsfDbDZ3N_VL_3iHAyMwxE_1FcY7u9xNCxLPQ/s1600/swinging.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593036113659202530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZtUPXWL7wQ_A3z4y7wTMzSOkURN8phnlGYv_LlUrndOQh6Jc2klcPdCshCwne5ES8lh3x3gi5QzJRAKsNaGR4CXT5wR-neEtqogkGevsfDbDZ3N_VL_3iHAyMwxE_1FcY7u9xNCxLPQ/s400/swinging.jpg" /></a></p>Elliot seems to be pretty normal for his age, but he's the only child I've spent much time with, so each new skill he picks up just blows me away. Here's some of what he's been up to lately: <br /><br />- "cooking" for Grammie with his Ikea play kitchen, serving her, then "washing" the dishes <br />- he sort of says "mama," "dada," "up," "down," and "cracker" <br />- he asked for "more cheese to eat" yesterday using sign language <br />- he understands how to pet the cats gently and he laughs and laughs while he does it <br />- he likes to pretend to turn our dining room light on and off by pointing to it while Ed works the remote <br />- once, when I was sad because he had temporarily misplaced an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/IMAGINE-MUSIC-BOX-by-Kikkerland/dp/B0018O9LJI" target="_blank">awesome toy</a> from his Auntie Heather, he looked at me very sympathetically and then gave me a big hug <br />- he likes to clap for himself when he's finished something (like a meal)<br />- he helps me put wet clothes into the dryer and generally likes to assist with everything we do <br />- he brings his <a href="http://www.scootababy.com/" target="_blank">Scootababy</a> to Ed and says, "Up!"<br />- every night, he pulls a stool up to the sink and brushes his teeth with us -- he gets upset when we make him stop<br />- he likes to hold Ed's iPod up to his ear and say "hai-yo!"<br />- he waves bye-bye to the phone after friends and relatives call (we put them on speaker for him)<br /><br />So again... I realize this is pretty normal, but all this new stuff is amazing to us first-time parents. :) Elliot is more and more fun every day.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3468147477066631286.post-48550644345585034982011-04-07T22:42:00.001-04:002011-04-07T22:42:56.352-04:00Our little nerdlingElliots honors Prof. Einstein:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOn_5O2D6k-csfL1J10S0fmTM_HZ5n5vN-VHv5KY6X6Y3HIFG8O_Qw6yw9wnsqJsBmq97MzrbiIKWtNsDHPgCoHjc7g5xwAIMAbJunU3D5dEcsBE-geObsR3Pfy9KqXHPDE_1znr1nzg/s1600/prof+einstein.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOn_5O2D6k-csfL1J10S0fmTM_HZ5n5vN-VHv5KY6X6Y3HIFG8O_Qw6yw9wnsqJsBmq97MzrbiIKWtNsDHPgCoHjc7g5xwAIMAbJunU3D5dEcsBE-geObsR3Pfy9KqXHPDE_1znr1nzg/s400/prof+einstein.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593035086974998210" /></a><br /><br />And builds molecules with his Daddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf59p-vY8ixIGBn3WRPYwq9ngYvp36t8Ppc-NM3YAZ2Qyi1t_fALTNw7PQXjXsOP57IArUtyyft-XvTSODVRJ008AzqIxHQ2k62MLNX4ju7GMuvTx5-32dRPOqUYNYDI9W1sZGpIuCBzA/s1600/molecules.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf59p-vY8ixIGBn3WRPYwq9ngYvp36t8Ppc-NM3YAZ2Qyi1t_fALTNw7PQXjXsOP57IArUtyyft-XvTSODVRJ008AzqIxHQ2k62MLNX4ju7GMuvTx5-32dRPOqUYNYDI9W1sZGpIuCBzA/s400/molecules.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593035086983968146" /></a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08110456184406428535noreply@blogger.com0