Brace Face for Life!

(should have been posted on 8/29)

Okay, okay. So maybe the title of this email is an exaggeration and a bit dramatic, but that's exavctly how it feels. And if I am in 7th grade then I'm going to act like it (just a little) and be dramatic and whine.
I went to the orthodontist today with the hopes that this would be it. The last official appointment before the braces come off. Wrong. Again.

His stated- "end of summer" prediction was off. Way off, in fact. In no calendar or mind that I am aware is October the "end of summer". In fact, I am quite sure that is actually full blown fall. In my world that is when leaves are "on fire" in the midwest and new england, when the temps finally fall below 98 in Phoenix, and when I can't keep windows open all the time in Seattle. It's fall. Not summer.

And for me this year, October is the start to a new school year. My first day of school since I was in college. In fact, it is edging on almost 8 years since I have had a first day of class (whoa!). And I really didn't want to start the first day of school with braces. Dang!

He promises that I will be brace-free before my first day of school, but I am not going to hold my breath. I think I'd suffocate.

Home Sweet Home

(should have been posted Saturday, 8/27)

Yay! After a month on the road I am home.

While I loved my time with friends and on the beach, it is so very nice to be in my own place.

I got to check out my garden, visit my favorite flower vendor, and buy some fresh Yakima fruit. Yum!

Tomorrow, I have a date with my couch. It's supposed to be sunny outside, but I am still scarred from the gross Phoenix temps that reached a maximum of 117 on Friday. No gracias! Instead of enjoying the gorgeous sun, I am going to enjoy the cool breezes through my open window and catch up on the DVR! Nerdy- sure. Lazy- you betcha! But, it will be amazing!

The Mexicans got it right

As I continue to spend time on the surface of the sun...er, I mean in Phoenix, I have made the decision that the Mexicans got it right. We should close up shop, hide under our sombreros and take a siesta in the mid-to-late afternoon.

It is too damn hot outside.

For real.

I had to do a walking tour of my campsite this morning and at 10am it was already a scorching 107 degrees outside. As we walked the contact was literally melting in front of my eyes and my arm pits started to resemble something out of a high school gym class. I mean, GROSS.

Any concept of a "dry heat" flies out the window after it reaches 110 degrees. And on top of that, August is the peak of monsoon season which brings in moisture. It's not Florida moisture, but it's muggy outside. Again, GROSS.

I am ready for my siesta.

Coffee Talk

I know I have taken some time away and have a few backlog posts to post, but in the meantime...

I am currently on the surface of the sun (or Phoenix) and needed to work from a coffee place to get some caffeine and organize my route ideas before heading out on the road to make an amazing route.
Of course in my grand tradition of coffee location experiences, I found a seat next to a "Chatty" table. Normally, I have the ability to tune out these chats while I am working. In fact, that seems to help me focus. (I think it's because I did my homework at the kitchen table as a kid.). Anyway, today, I found the only available plug next to the chattiest of chatty tables! The women seated there were clearly working on something. As I listened, they were too loud to ignore. I realzied they were planning a 5K walk of some kind. My interest was peaked.
And as I continued to listen, my heart rate picked up and my level of annoyance became "grated". The woman who was the chairperson literally had NO clue what she was talking about. And my inner control-freak wanted to make a full appearance. It took everything in me, not to interject and tell her exactly what she should be doing.
As my blood pressure reached high, I decided I needed to relocate before just shouting at the woman....
Maybe I need to lay off the caffeine. Yikes!

My weekend

This weekend was (is) the Michigan 3-Day for the Cure event. I have jokingly referred to this as my "middle-child" event. (Sorry middle kids) But in my experience, middle-kids tend to be more mellow than the oldest and youngest, so they might get a little ignored sometimes or forgotten about.

Although Michigan is my first event, it has been pushed to the back of my to-do list...it's easy, it's low-key (up until it needed serious attention two weeks out). But in the interim, I missed the loveliness that the Michigan event offers. The route was beautiful-- quaint downtowns, a mix of trails and neighborhood. Good stuff.

And then add the AMAZING community spirit--for real. It is was insane! Downtown Plymouth looked like it does during an art fair. But it was all for the walkers. No art, just walkers. Smiles and cheers everywhere. Incredible!

Friday began with the makings of a perfect event- low humidity, low temps, bue skies with some clouds. We were looking forward to a nice weekened with the "low-key" kid.

But Mother Nature had a different plan.

The command staff watched a radar like it was an overtime sporting event. All eyes glued on the streak of red, yellow and green. Slowly asessing the situation and the elements we could control and calculating risk-- do we keep people outside? do we move them into the school? how bad is this thing going to get? If it's just a bit of rain, they can hang out. It'll be fine.

The sun was shining and we started to tell participants about the weather- to redcue panic in the slight chance for .

As we were telling them about a slight chnce for a thunderstorm, the scary black cloud was creeping up behind the trees, bringing its menacing lightening and loud thunder claps. And a deluge of rain.

The team burst into action to get participants to safety and out of the elements. It was a sea of orange jackets. we called in the buses, opened the school and sent the team in to prep for an overnight stay. And then it was over.

The rain was gone, the lightening and thunder with it. In it's wake, was a soaking wet staff, soaked and annoyed walkers, and a soggy campsite. But with all that wet, came a sigh of relief.

And a little celebration with McDonald's.....

and good friends.

I don't get it.

This is a random thought...

Yesterday, I went into a bathroom stall (a flushing toilet is a luxury when I am on event) and was the first person in the bathroom. Within 2 seconds another woman came in and went into the stall right next ti mine. The bathroom was empty except the stall I was in. Really? Was it necessary for that lady to take up space in the stall right next to me??

It's weird. Or maybe it's just me...

A Cardi saves the day!

Today I learned two very important fashion lessons:

1- I am so very happy that I do not have to wear a suit and heels to work everyday (or ever, really)

2- A cardigan can make almost any outfit "business casual".

Both lessons were learned while in impromptu meetings at Ford Motor Company. My contact called and asked for a last minute meeting. I was in the area, but was only in scouting gear (comfy car gear, not business wear). So, I told her I was "casual" because they do have a buidling dress code. When I showed up, she looked and me and said I would fit right in. I was wearing jean capris that have fashionable tears (no skin is revealed), a cute shirt and a cardi. I think the cardi is what made the outfit "appropriate".

Yay for the favorite Cardi. (It really is too bad that Old Navy had those annoying commercials last Christmas. It took a little of the sparkle away...made them annoying.)