Friday is for family

Okay, so we're supposed to open water swim tonight, and we get some pretty hellacious storms blow through. We were watching the Richmond Tri Club website until 5:15 where they decided to try and squeeze the swim in between the storms. Brad didn't want to go, and I have to admit I didn't relish the thought of getting caught 15 minutes into the swim and have to deal with lightning. So we bag it and Brad wants to go on a family bike ride instead. Three of the girls, Brad and I get our bikes ready and off we go. I had no idea how strong that first storm we had was. There were limbs, leave and trees all over the place. But muddle on we do and go to the two littler ones elementary school. There we pretend to race like professionals around the drop off loop. We are all flying around the loop like maniacs having a fabulous time. Then we decided to do a little finesse work. We do a sort of obstacle course. It was loads of fun.

At one point I had to stop and watch Heather. Holy cow is she something. Almost 6 and she has the makings of an athlete of epic proportions. My other girls try and they do great, Heather, she has the natural ability. I stop and watch her weave back and forth like her daddy on the bike. Leaning this way and that, so absolutely comfortable like the fact she is riding a bike is no big deal. She is pretending that the lines in the parking lot are cones to swerve back and forth in between. There I stand, mouth agape in total awe. I shake my head and mumble to myself how I wished I could do something like that. My balance is nothing like hers try as I might.

We got home and all loaded up the family truckster like the Brady's in their station wagon to go get hot dog buns. My kids sit in our new van, mouth slack, drooling on themselves watching the three satellite TV channels we get, Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. They aren't this quiet when they watch TV at home. So off we go, and Brad asks, Where should we get hotdog buns? Canada?? Truly it has never been that quiet in my car ever.

We be grilling Nathan hot dawgs tonight for dinner. Not necessarily the best thing for you but pretty damn good taste wise. Reminds me of my grandfather Matesy, he used to love his "tube steaks" as he'd call them. We got him a hot dog griller for Christmas one year he liked them so well. What else could you get for a cantankerous old guy who pretended to like very little. A hot dog griller of course!

Did I mention how nervous I am about this flipping race?? I have never done an open water tri, so there's that, plus the distances are longer then what I am used to. 750meter in the water and 19 on the bike. The only thing that makes me happy about the distances is they are pretty darned close to the NYC tri distances save the 10k run. The bike is off by around 4 miles and the swim is a mile. I will be okay, I know, but if we did that swim tonight, I'd probably be more comfortable. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, but didn't. Instead of worrying, perhaps I will ask my husband, the frustrated bartender to whip me up another Black and Tan. After one more I will be just fine and Loving the Tavern Tri, no problem...