May memories

I want to remember two really beautiful and memorable runs from May. I've settled with myself that I'll never go back and catch up on all the runs, workouts, and things of interest. In fact, I don't even remember much I want to share. I did write a tiny snippet about the Maze, so I'm covered there.

Mother's Day morning, I ran with Gayatri and Elizabeth, who were kind enough to join me even though they did their long run Saturday. We ran 6 miles along the north side of the trail from 1st street to Longhorn Dam. Details fade, but it was a glorious spring morning. G-tree and Elizabeth talked of seeing a Swan family the day before, complete with 5 baby swans. "What are baby swans called?" we wondered as we ran toward the dam. I secretly hoped we'd see those little puffs of downy fluff. I don't think I have ever seen a baby swan.

On our way back, I spotted swans in the reeds along the riverbank. We crept in and saw 5 darling baby swans (cygnets for you precise folk). They were brownish-gray with small, black beaks. It was the sweetest scene as the family nestled in the reeds. I felt it was the perfect start to Mother's Day. I haven't seen the swans or cygnets again since then, but perhaps I'll look a little closer next time I'm on the northeast side of the trail. I'm curious to see how the babies have grown and changed.

Mother's Day we also set out to find some tadpoles at Barton Creek down off Lost Creek Blvd. Joshua and Elijah kept a tadpole a piece (along with an accidental minnow), and I took a tadpole to the preschool for the kiddos. If you've never watched a tadpole metamorphosis, then you might want to jaunt down and get yourself a tadpole. I was more interested and fascinated than the kids, I think. Elijah named his tadpole "Taddie" and Joshua named his tadpole "Morphy." On Father's Day, we took Taddie and Morphy back home to the creek because they were now froglets.

Tiny baby Morphy


Elijah holding Taddie


Now, the other run I want to mention is perhaps one of the most beautiful runs I've ever done. I mentioned before that David took me to Dallas for a short anniversary trip to see the LA Galaxy play FC Dallas. We drove up Saturday and ate dinner at a really yummy, recommended restaurant called Cafe Izmir. Maybe some of you have been there. Sunday morning we woke up and drove to White Rock Lake to run. It was fun for us to run together where David had run his sub-3 marathon. We started out together on the concrete and asphalt trail as cyclists zoomed by. This trail is clearly more popular for cyclists than runners.

Once David realized I would be safe running alone, he took off in a blur. I had already pointed out wildflowers and made us stop to smell them and get a closer look. The lake was very lovely. The sky was clear blue with smears of white clouds as though someone ran a icing-laden finger across the sky. I stayed on the pedestrian trail whenever possible rather than the asphalt road. It was mostly shaded and just lovely. Downtown Dallas peeked into view around turns and up hills (which there weren't really any hills).

I did and out and back run while David ran the whole trail loop. I had to stop again for some flower admiring. There was a thistle that was over 6-feet tall. The pedestrian trail went through some grassy areas with flowers that were over 3 feet tall, so it felt like I was running in a field.

My chest was bothering me where my bra strap lays, so I tucked my shirt under and felt better. I ran this way until shortly before meeting up with David back where we started. As I walked toward him I pulled my shirt back down straight, and he asked me, "What happened?" I looked down at my white shirt to see blood and sweat swirled around. I was surprised. I had no idea I had been bleeding. My new bra had rubbed enough to make me bleed, and I was able to sympathize with running men who have sweaty-blood driplets from their nipples.

Both the White Rock run and the Swan run were times I wish I'd had a camera. I don't do justice to the sereneness of those runs, but hopefully you've had a run just as stunning, peaceful, and full of beautiful nature. I think the White Rock trail would be perfect if it had an actual trail rather than concrete and asphalt.

So, I can't close this post without sharing a picture or two of the soccer game. It was really thrilling to see David Beckham play. If you can't spot him in the pictures, he's the one with the long-sleeved jersey. BTW, LA beat Dallas 5-1. Ouch!

Beckham Direct Free Kick (notice the time and score of the game)


Beckham on Defense

Fast and Fine

In the early morning sunrise, I met Ginny and Leslie for a Greenbelt run. The air was cool and refreshing, and the dew on the greenery along the trail sparkled in the sunlight and gently splashed against us as we ran by.

I adore that trail. I don't know why more of my friends won't run the trail with me. No one fell or got lost this time, so really, why not join me? I understand the desire to stay on the road for mileage, but my goodness, it's so dull sometimes. I am so happy that there are running buddies willing to try out the trail on a Sunday morning, so I don't have to run alone. It's hard sometimes to coordinate with my running spouse, and I appreciate those friends who will switch from the Saturday pavement norm to join me in the glorious nature spectacular the Greenbelt offers.

We had some mud and puddles this time thanks to yesterday's storms. We had some enlightening conversation about right and left-brain and how your brain works while running on a trail. Fascinating! Anyone who's run on a trail knows that zoning out just can't happen, and I learned today that both sides of the brain work hard while trail running. So it's good for your soul, your body, and your mind to trail run.

We chatted the whole run and had a fun time. Ginny runs T/Th afternoon, so I told her she'd probably seen David there. She asked what he looks like, and I said, "He's fast and hot." LOL. But seriously, I never really use the word "hot" to describe anyone simply because that's not from my era (my boys use it and it's so hilarious to hear a 6 and 8-year-old describe girls as "hot"). David is hot, mind you, but I prefer to think of him as "fast and fine." You gotta say fine with a really drawn out "I"...fiiiiiine (and maybe nod your head a bit while saying it. Try it!).

The Saint is next week, and I think Leslie will join us for that fun run. We also talked about adding in a trail run at least once/month for a long run or even adding it as a secondary run during the week. If I see Lake Austin Blvd. any time soon, I think I'll yak. I get so tired of those same, tired run routes. I am sad that I missed the Grove route this week as I've never done that one (minus the trail part, of course).

Next week is also our last weekend in this house. I don't think it's quite hit me yet even though I've been packing and prepping. David's taking down the tree house. I'm a very sentimental person, and this is the house where my boys were babies. This is the house of Familyvance. It's going to be hard to say farewell to it. I am sort of hoping it's so frantic next weekend and on Monday when we close and move.

My boys got their first sunburns yesterday. I think by their age, I'd become an expert on sunburns. Joshua actually wants a sunburn. It's like riding the bus to school. It sounds so fun until you have to do it every day.

I have a "girls' only" blog topic that I want to post. I'll have to warn the men that if they read it, they might regret it! Coming soon...

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves

I'm a grammar nerd, and when I make grammar mistakes, I don't like it. I don't mind making them, but I mind that I don't edit them properly. Usually my errors are due to rushing through while typing or editing.

Anyway, yes, I'm a total grammar geek, and I'm proud of it. I recommend the above book for anyone with half a brain (you must have half a brain in order to giggle at all the horrible grammar mistakes).

Along this topic, David took me to Dallas in May for a belated anniversary weekend. We saw the LA Galaxy (David Beckham!) play FC Dallas. The field is in Frisco, and we planned to have lunch in Frisco before the game. We drove around looking for a place to eat. I told David we had to eat at this restaurant simply because they punctuated their sign correctly. Amen! The food was really yummy to boot (lol, soccer pun).

Poetry for a dad or two

For my dad:

"My Father"
by Yehuda Amichai

The memory of my father is wrapped up in
white paper, like sandwiches taken for a day at work.

Just as a magician takes towers and rabbits
out of his hat, he drew love from his small body,

and the rivers of his hands
overflowed with good deeds.


For my husband:

1723
by Emily Dickinson

High from the earth I heard a bird;
He trod upon the trees
As he esteemed them trifles,
And then he spied a breeze,
And situated softly
Upon a pile of wind
Which in a perturbation
Nature had left behind.
A joyous-going fellow
I gathered from his talk,
Which both of benediction
And badinage partook,
Without apparent burden,
I learned, in leafy wood
He was the faithful father
Of a dependent brood;
And this untoward transport
His remedy for care,—
A contrast to our respites.
How different we are!

Also for my husband:

"Anecdote for Fathers"
by William Wordsworth

I have a boy of five years old;
His face is fair and fresh to see;
His limbs are cast in beauty’s mould,
And dearly he loves me.

One morn we strolled on our dry walk,
Our quiet home all full in view,
And held such intermitted talk
As we are wont to do.

My thoughts on former pleasures ran;
I thought of Kilve’s delightful shore,
Our pleasant home when spring began,
A long, long year before.

A day it was when I could bear
Some fond regrets to entertain;
With so much happiness to spare,
I could not feel a pain.

The green earth echoed to the feet
Of lambs that bounded through the glade,
From shade to sunshine, and as fleet
From sunshine back to shade.

Birds warbled round me—and each trace
Of inward sadness had its charm;
Kilve, thought I, was a favoured place,
And so is Liswyn farm.

My boy beside me tripped, so slim
And graceful in his rustic dress!
And, as we talked, I questioned him,
In very idleness.

“Now tell me, had you rather be,”
I said, and took him by the arm,
“On Kilve’s smooth shore, by the green sea,
Or here at Liswyn farm?”

In careless mood he looked at me,
While still I held him by the arm,
And said, “At Kilve I’d rather be
Than here at Liswyn farm.”

“Now, little Edward, say why so:
My little Edward, tell me why.”—
“I cannot tell, I do not know.”—
“Why, this is strange,” said I;

“For, here are woods, hills smooth and warm:
There surely must some reason be
Why you would change sweet Liswyn farm
For Kilve by the green sea.”

At this, my boy hung down his head,
He blushed with shame, nor made reply;
And three times to the child I said,
“Why, Edward, tell me why?”

His head he raised—there was in sight,
It caught his eye, he saw it plain—
Upon the house-top, glittering bright,
A broad and gilded vane.

Then did the boy his tongue unlock,
And eased his mind with this reply:
“At Kilve there was no weather-cock;
And that’s the reason why.”

O dearest, dearest boy! my heart
For better lore would seldom yearn,
Could I but teach the hundredth part
Of what from thee I learn.


One last poem for fathers that I find amusing:

"On the Birth of His Son"
Su Tung-p'o (c. 1070, trans. Arthur Waley, 1919)

Families, when a child is born
Want it to be intelligent.
I, through intelligence,
Having wrecked my whole life,
Only hope the baby will prove
Ignorant and stupid.
Then he will crown a tranquil life
By becoming a Cabinet Minister.

Saturday Morning Adventure

I couldn't let this morning's run go into the queue for this very back-logged blog. Barb and I met at 6:30am at Barton Springs to run on the Greenbelt. We looked forward to a nice change of scenery, and I wanted to practice for the Saint in a couple of weeks.

How can I express how pleasant it is to run off-road? I have tried to convince running friends to join me, but few have taken me up on the offer. It's so wonderful to be running along side greenery while hearing birds chirp and smelling the occasional flower blooming. It's also very fun and exciting to run on the Greenbelt.

We started off well enough with a map and some directions from Andre. Andre was starting later and he's faster, so I figured he'd pass us along the way and make sure we were on course.

Things went well until we were about 2 or more miles in and got a little lost. Once we saw the trail, we realized how obvious it was. But we were looking down and chatting, so we ended up on some high rocks. I heard feet running nearby, but I couldn't see anyone. I knew whoever it was I could hear was running on the trail we wanted to be on. I yelled at Barb, whom I couldn't see thanks to tons of huge rocks. I even told her that I thought it was Andre running by, and I'm pretty sure it was. Andre did indeed keep us on course.

The next excitement came when we approached detour signs to steer folks away from a washed out foot bridge. Maybe we are directionally-challenge (well, I know I am), but we got on a wrong trail here, too. We were being attacked by huge horseflies, and Barb cracked me up when she said, "These horseflies are so huge, they have saddles." That image still tickles me. Our wrong trail sent us to an office building, and I could hear the 360/Mopac interchange. Turns out that the office building is where Andre works. Too bad he didn't leave a note on the wall by the trail telling us we had gone the wrong way. ;o)

We had to turn back at this point without getting to 360 - time and water was running out. On our way back, Barb tripped on a very rocky section and fell really, really, really hard. It scared me how hard to she fell (she was behind me but the sound of her fall was not a good sound). Fortunately, she was okay...a skinned knee and a sore back. A little rest for us for Barb to get her bearings, and we were off again.

We are happily running along, chatting about how fabulous it is to live in Austin and have such a great place to run. A man approaches with three dogs, and only one dog is on a leash. I'm in front, which leaves Barb a little blinded. One of the unleashed dogs is small and in front and heads past me. I hear a horrible screech that I thought was from the dog, but in fact, it was from Barb. The dog had jumped up at her, and she thought it was a wild animal attacking her from the bushes. We had a good laugh about it once she was calm. I offered her to go in front, but she said she was fine.

Happily we are running again, albeit I'm going slower and slower. I catch my toe on the tiniest of rocks and fall really far for a really long time. Even Barb thought I fell in slow motion. I fell on a soft part of the trail, and skidded into the greenery. Another good laugh for us after we made sure I was fine and hadn't landed in poison ivy.

Soon thereafter, Andre and Paul come running past us. We chat with them for a minute or two about our adventures thus far. Andre confirms that it was them that ran past when we were lost in the high rocks. They speed off in search of a cool (and free!) swim at Barton Springs, and we slowly follow for our turn to dip our legs on the cool water. Of course, we went to the always-free part of the Springs.

Lessons learned:

Bring more water
Apply bug spray
Pack a tiny, but useful first-aid kit

We had so much fun. I hope more friends will run with us next time we are on the Greenbelt.