18 days, 15 states, 3700 miles

The main reason that 2013 was dubbed "The Year of Stupid" was my decision to sign up for a 70.3 before I'd done a single triathlon. Stupid. Not only did I sign up for this massive race, I did so in a state very far away, requiring a lengthy drive (or plane ticket and the cost to ship my bike). As long as I was driving to NC, why not visit my friends and family up the east coast too? Stupid. So began the road trip to end all road trips.

Here was my route:

Stops included:

1. Champaign, IL
2. Columbus, OH
3. Durham, NC
4. Washington DC
5. Shrewsbury, MA
6. Tenafly & Leonia NJ
7. Toledo, OH

I hardly took any pictures on my trip. I decided I'd rather be in the moment than behind a lens. And it was incredible.

I had a rough year at work, and I needed to "run away" for a while. This trip ended up being exactly what I needed - not so stupid after all.

Hoping the rest of summer can continue to help me recover from the year and get if not excited, at least ready, for next year.

love-love

Three of my favorite yearly sporting events take place in the summer, all three of which are tennis championships.

French Open (May-June)
Wimbledon (June-July)
U.S. Open (August-September)


I am a mediocre tennis player. I started playing under the tutelage of my dad when I was just a wee thing, and by the time I got to high school I was pretty good. Mostly I liked being part of a team. (That's me on the left. With frizzy bangs.)


I worked hard enough to play on the team in college, but I wasn't naturally talented. And I crack under the pressure of competition. In college I would get so nervous before matches I would make myself sick. I was tough on myself to the point that I had a constant bruise down my right calf from smacking myself with my racket. I lost sleep. And yet I wasn't completely dedicated to work hard enough to get much better.

When I watch the six weeks of slam events in the summer, I do not fantasize about playing in those championships. I could never ever no matter how hard I had worked, would never ever have been able to do that. Nor would I want to have done it. So I just enjoy the tennis.

I'm currently searching for a hitting partner. I don't like to play matches, which most people do. I only like to hit. It's a better workout to just continually hit back and forth, and my serve sucks. I admittedly still have occasional and spontaneous moments of brilliance on the court, but mostly I just try hard to get the ball back. And I could join a league, but leagues are for play. No, I just like to hit. No winners, no losers.

Tennis, anyone?

first ave.

High on the list of places I would miss terribly had I been forced to move away from Minneapolis for a job is First Ave. What a great venue. I celebrated finishing the draft of my dissertation on Monday with a show, with Romantica opening for Twin Cities legends, The Jayhawks.

romantica.


the jayhawks.


gary.
We got there early and staked out great spots in the second row. So awesome. The only problem is that I forgot how sore my neck gets staring up for three hours when you're that close. But how could that not be worth it?!?

trivia

I think that grad school has made me dumber.

On a semi-regular basis, some grad school and other teacher friends of mine get together for trivia on Monday nights at a bar we frequent even more regularly. I needed a break from my computer, and I decided to take it with a beer and trivia tonight.

We were wretched. We missed all of the current pop culture questions. First lines of classic movies? Terrible. The last round was all about D-Day. I think we got two right. Oddly enough, there was even a question about the college where my dad is a professor. And I had no clue. What has happened to me?

I'm completely out of touch. And all my brain power is being spent on this stupid paper. There's apparently no room left for American history or movie lines.

All I know how to do is teach kids to read. And how to teach teachers to teach kids to read. Granted, these are important. But, man, I really could have used a $30 gift card!

Maybe next week.

VDay

A friend of mine was involved with a performance of the Vagina Monologues last night, as part of a V Day and Take Back the Night events in the Twin Cities as well as a fundraiser for Women's Advocates, St. Paul and Women of the DR of the Congo.

It was amazing. Devastating and funny and traumatic and sad and silly all at the same time. There were a few brave and supportive men in the audience. A great line: If your vagina could talk, what would it say in two words? Slow down.

The level of sexual violence against women in this country and elsewhere is astounding. The "V' in V Day stands for Vaginas, Valentine, and Victory. Victory against violence, victory against shame, victory against silence.

glee is back!

I have an unhealthy relationship with the show Glee. I just love it, and am very excited for the new season to start tomorrow. It indulges the part of me that always wanted to be on stage, and instead I'm in the pit. I still love it in the pit, but there's a latent show girl in me somewhere.

NPR had a story on songs that should make it in to the show. I completely agree with all of their suggestions, especially Paramore's song Miracle. I have a few requests of my own.

More Than a Feeling, Boston
You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi
Video Killed the Radio Star, The Buggles
Save Me, Jem
Let's Go Crazy (or anything else), Prince
Maneater, Hall & Oates
When You Were Young, The Killers
Africa, Toto
Bring Me to Life, Evanescence
Love is a Battlefield, Pat Benatar
I Want You Back, Jackson 5

Fun, right? Yeah, they should give me a job.

Last Gasp Cast Bash

There are moments that make it impossible to deny the high level of nerdiness in my life. One such event is the annual final cast party for the opera. The climax of the evening is the alternate lyrics show. Folks from the cast, crew, and orchestra rewrite the lyrics to songs, poking fun at each other, the show, the conductor, current events. It is an evening of clever jokes, puns, and lots of laughter.

Last night's party was no exception. At the end of the night, my cheeks hurt from smiling, and my abs were sore from laughing so hard. The orchestra put together a song making fun of our status as the hired help, and added kazoos (always good for a cheap laugh). It does indeed solidify my status as a complete nerd, but I'll take it. Next year's show is Pirates of Penzance. And I can't wait.

No running water??

When we discussed a cabin weekend, I had no idea that the cabin in question had no running water. I don't consider myself terribly high maintenance, but I do enjoy a flushing toilet and the ability to wash my hands. On the drive up, we feared the worst.

In all, it was a lovely weekend filled with the warmth of a wood-burning stove, snowshoeing in the sunny weather around the lake, lots of food and drink, card games, and tons of laughter. Running water would have been great, but it was such a great weekend I hardly missed it.

I did enjoy my shower upon returning home, though.