Why?

Why do some people have blogs that they never post to? C'mon. Post, already...

Catch the Fever - Running

I ran today for the first time in a long time. It felt great and sucked, all at the same time. It sucked because I have lost all of my stamina. It felt great to be able to do it again. I'm going again tomorrow. Cam has some training schedule for soccer, so I'll take her to the track and run, too. Then, I plan on having her throw shotput for a while. After that, we will head to the soccer field for her to work on goalie stuff. That ought to take up most of the day, actually. So, once again, I have the fever to run. Even after having this heel spur, or whatever it may be. It is definitely protruding more today after running. I don't care, though. I plan on running anyway. It's almost a sickness. Those of you who run will understand.

Sixteen

I didn't have time to post yesterday, my middle daughter's sixteenth birthday. So, today is her first full day as a sixteen year old. And she's not home. She's at Purdue. This is the first time she's ever really been away from home like that. She's stayed all night at a friend's house here in town, but not far from home. She sounded a bit homesick last night on the phone. But that's to be expected. She gets to come home tomorrow. I think she'll be ready to. She has learned how to do the shotput spin instead of doing the glide like she does now. The Purdue coach said it is too hard on her knees; she's too tall to be trying to get that low to the ground when she does the glide. So, she's learned the spin now. She and I are both excited about it. I hope it gives her more momentum to throw farther. I'm going to practice with her when she returns home. So, once again this week, I'll make the long haul to Purdue to pick up my sixteen year old. That sounds weird.

Anxious

I'm a bit anxious. My middle daughter is having a very big week next week, after having a whopper of weeks the last two weeks of her existence. Next week I will make a long haul to West Lafayette to drop her off at Purdue University. She will spend three nights and four days there at a throwing camp. (shotput camp) This is the first time she will have ever been away from home like that. I'm a bit nervous on many levels. First, I don't have a clue as to where I'm going. I have only been on Purdue's campus once, and that was with a group of middle school basketball girls to watch a tournament. I didn't drive; we took a bus. In addition, I don't want Cam to be scared or nervous. She'll have a roommate she doesn't know, and she will be far from home. She will also be spending her sixteenth birthday alone there. That kind of bothers me, but we are going to celebrate her birthday on Sunday of next week after she gets home. So, it won't go unnoticed. I wonder what she'll do with her nightly free time? Will she need money for anything? Will she be able to reapply sunscreen if they are outdoors? Will she get along with her roommate? Many questions run through my mind when I think about the whole thing. I know, deep down, that she'll be okay. She is my adaptive daughter. She will adhere to any situation thrown at her, so I think she'll be okay. I just want her to have a good experience. After all, the camp isn't cheap. I want her to walk away with real skills she can use to further her throwing technique and be even better at her craft. And, I hope I don't get lost. Garmin, don't fail me.

Skype

Last night I got to use Skype for the first time. I know, what an old fogey that I've never used skype. But, alas, now I have. I used it to talk for over an hour to Princess, my kids' old babysitter who now lives in L.A. It was great! It's like really being with someone, not just instant messaging back and forth, or communicating by email. It's like you are sitting right there in the living room with the person.
I got to meet her girlfriend, Erica. She's a cutie. And we got to catch up on all that's been going on. I can't wait to do it again, soon. I missed my Princess! And it was great to see her and have her see the kids (and Maddie).

The Pencil Dive

I was reminded of something very funny the other day:
my youngest daughter used to do this hysterical jump off the diving board when she was younger; she'd hold her arms up in the air, pointed in a V to the sky and would make herself do the "pencil dive". She thought she resembled a pencil, I guess with her arms at a point and her feet together. She would jump straight in, feet first, not arms first, which is how a "dive" should be. I laughed thinking about it. She does an actual dive now.

Grads

Yesterday we attended one of our best friend's daughter's graduation party. This is the second one I've gone to so far. Yesterday it really hit me that this time next year, my eldest will be walking across that long stage receiving her diploma. Even moreso, she'll really be "graduating" in December and will just participate in the actual graduation ceremony then in June. She'll have already had one semester of college under her belt by the time she gets her actual paper diploma. That, to me, is just amazing. I was a bit choked up yesterday just thinking about it. And I was the mom who swore she'd never cry at her kids' graduations. Yeah, that was me. But now, my tune has changed. I am more sentimental about it all. It makes me wonder if I've done right raising her; how my mistakes have impacted her; how my guidance has helped her, if any. It feels weird. It feels unreal. And I have a whole year to dwell on it. Great.