BoOk CLuB ReDuX.

I love BoOk CLuB. There's nothing like reading a book, getting together to chat, and enjoying food and drinks and friends.

But the busy-ness of life can easily distract from even the fun things. So earlier this year, I felt like our BoOk CLuB needed a little bit of sprucing up, an overhaul of sorts to ensure that it worked for everybody who wanted it to remain a part of their lives. It's such a fun thing for me, and I didn't want it to get lost in the madness.

We have friends who have moved over the past few years, and while we've missed them in BoOk CLuB, it's been really cool to have them stay in touch virtually. And of course, over time, we've met new friends who have interest in being involved with a group of reading friends. So the time seemed right to have new friends join us. This has expanded our group, of course, and it's also deepened our conversations. I love this. Don't look now, but we actually sometimes even talk about…the book.

And speaking of talking about the book, we came up with something else that's been really helpful. It's true that any given month can get crazy, leaving little time to read the book we've chosen. So we decided to have a session at the beginning of our time together where we do nothing but talk about the book. And if somebody hasn't been able to finish the book that month, they simply join us a half-hour later for food, drinks, and catching up. It's worked really well so far!

We've read some amazing books during this revamp, too. Books that have made me think and laugh. Books that I haven't been able to put down, no matter how tired I've been from all the busy-ness. And books that have even made me shed a tear, possibly two. Really good books.

We've spent the summer months sitting outside at Silo, sipping wine or fruity champagne cocktails. I feel so fortunate when my boys carve out time for themselves to have 'Boys Night' while I catch my breath with my friends. It's a luxury, to be sure, but it's become a necessity, too.

And looking ahead, maybe BoOk CLuB looks like a pot of homemade soup on a chilly fall night. Or a night at the movies to watch one of our books come alive on the screen.

Whatever it looks like, it's very much alive and well. And I'm all the better for it.

This life.

It's busier than ever, this wonderful life. I'm teaching and practicing and reading and playing and loving. Occasionally traveling, always growing. Surely eating and drinking. Not so often sleeping. But it's worth it. It definitely has a purpose. And it feels good.

It's fueled by this:

And inspired by this:

Lured to the Lake.

So it kind of happened like this.

A bunch of guys and a bunch of girls became great friends a long time ago. As far as anyone can tell, they started reshaping each other's lives no later than their high school days. And I think they have plenty of stories they could tell you to back me up on that one. Then away from home they went - to Athens and Blacksburg, to Chapel Hill and Charlottesville, and lots of places in between. The guys soon decided to take a turn as rockstars, and the band called Argus was born.

Now, just so you know, you're in one of two categories: you've either been to an Argus show already, or you just haven't been to an Argus show yet.

College days and road trips thickened the bonds that were, from all accounts, pretty strong to begin with.

Then flash forward a few years. Graduations, new jobs, and a serious relationship or two. Pretty soon, this same bunch of guys and girls expanded to include more girls and more guys. And the hits kept coming. Let me be clear - by "hits" I'm referring less to the Billboard charts and more to things like pleather pants. Sigh.

So it just so happens that I was lucky enough to merge into this wild and crazy bunch when I married the lead guitarist of Argus. It's true that People Magazine and E! Entertainment did not cover the wedding. But it was awesome just the same.

It took no time at all for me to realize that these friends were now my friends, too. And these are some really cool people. They're the kind of people you're genuinely happy to have your husband call his best friends. I think they helped mold him into the guy he is today, so I usually give them plenty of credit (read: occasional blame). Truth be told, I'm so happy my son gets to grow up with people like this in his life.

Speaking of that, what about the adorable Argus kids? First, a beautiful baby girl...then three more mini-rockstars came along in July, August, and September of 2011. If I didn't know better, I'd think the band had a plan. Another sweet girl joined the mix just this past summer with another little one scheduled to arrive next spring...and there are surely more to come.

So maybe now you can understand how it is that I found myself on the shoreline of Lake Lure, North Carolina, this past weekend. After months of planning, this super group of friends migrated from Colorado, Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina to convene at a big house on the lake.

What does a weekend like that look like, you ask? Well, it's hard to say exactly. But if I had to put it into actual words, I would say it looks like road trips in overstuffed Honda Pilots. And chaotic breakfasts with sippy cups and five pots of coffee. Like pumpkin beers in the sunshine overlooking the lake and distant mountains. It looks like paddleboats and open-water rescues. (Don't ask). And hikes and snacks with little kids and big kids. Like board games and puzzles and football. Like burgers on the grill and chili on the stove. It looks like late-night talks by the fire. Like guitars playing and babies singing along (wearing onesies instead of pleather). It looks like the good life. Like lifelong friendships. Like love. And like something you hope you get to do year after year after year. For a really long time.

Run = Cupcake.

Early run this morning before heading into a rainy (second cup of coffee) kind of day.

And I got to cap off an enjoyable Thursday by visiting with my buddies at BoOk CLuB tonight. This is how we roll:

A little bit of book, a little more wine, and a whole lot of yummy.

Sure makes that early morning run a little more worthwhile...

rare treats!

Date morning. Warm drinks and delicious pastries from Camino Bakery. Just with my best (big) guy.

Rare treat indeed.

Living. And Telling About It.

So...what if 'Shots & Stitches' were to morph into something more like 'Shorter Shots & Sweeter Stitches?'

And the reason I ask is because I realize I haven't blogged since, you know, last April. Which was one of three times I blogged all. year. long. Is it that blogging is less important to me now? No. Well, I mean, yes. But no, not exactly. Not completely.

If you go back to when I first started these writings, I was a PA practicing in orthopedics, reading books, drinking coffee, running races, loving my friends, and hanging out with the coolest guy I know. Flash forward a few blog posts (and years!) later, and I'm a PA practicing in anesthesia while trying to teach other people how cool it is to be a PA, too; still reading books and drinking (more) coffee; running (fewer) races; forever loving my friends (in spite of our crazybusy lives); and now hanging out with the coolest two guys I know. See what I did there? Did you see that?

I got older. No, wait! That's not it.

I'm just...living. But without telling about it. And even that's probably not exactly true, if you decide that Facebook and Twitter constitute 'telling about it.' Me personally? I do think that counts for something. But I was thinking that maybe if I let myself 'live and tell about it' in shorter spurts, maybe (just maybe) I'll be able to add a little blogging back into the balance, too.

So you should consider yourself warned because it's probably gonna look kind of crazy.

Like mochas meet Legos. Like BoOk CLuB meets New Balance. Like 'Real Simple' magazine meets takeout-Thai. Like Sesame Street meets Downton Abbey.

Oh, it could so happen. And I hope it does. Because I really want to live and tell about it.

Heigh-Ho.

Back in 2010, I took an epic journey. And it was pure magic - all 13.1 miles of it. I'd never before experienced anything quite like it, nor can I say I've done anything like it since. After all, how often does it actually snow in Orlando, Florida, on the day of your first half-marathon?! And ever since I crossed the Finish Line at Epcot on that freezing cold January morning, I've been longing to do another Disney race.

So a couple of 10Ks, a few 5Ks, a half-marathon (for two!), and one sweet baby boy later, I'm going back. As of today, I'm signed up for the 2013 Disney World Half-Marathon...and listen up, Orlando - it's not just one but two Payne sisters toeing the line!

So bring on the miles and the magic, Mickey Mouse...we're coming back for MORE.

Spr-ing.

Winter was mild. Not only in temperature, but also in the pace of life! And spring, by comparison, promises to be very full and warm. In fact, spring has indeed sprung.

Sprung what, you may ask? Adventures galore! And a bunch of gerunds, apparently.

We've been play-ing: Leap Frog and Little Tykes know how to entertain 8 month-old boys. 35 year-old boys, too.

And travel-ing: Lots of trips to see Meme and Granddaddy in Virginia. And Erich took a whirlwind tour of Washington, DC, a few weeks ago. Our journey to Toronto and back, by way of Cleveland and Pittsburgh, is next on the agenda. Not to mention the beach later this summer and race madness later in the year.

And cook-ing: Enchiladas and Southwest turkey burgers - we lived to tell of both dinners! Working at getting a few new recipes under my belt.

And work-ing: Teaching and clinic - most balanced I've felt professionally in a long time. (Read: ever).

And read-ing: The Hunger Games with the rest of the free world (so, SO good). The Kitchen House and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, both entertaining reads. Next, a long-overdue date with Henrietta Lacks.

And (trying to get motivated to do more) runn-ing: I really think I must sign up for a fun race. Maybe two! It's no fun to get back in shape without a dangled carrot. Might need a little magic...

And imagin-ing: (See below.)

And plott-ing: (See above.)

And schem-ing: (You get the idea.)

And buy-ing: I was surprised to discover the timing was right for a beautiful (nearly) new Honda Pilot to join our family! Her name is Chuck Yeager, Charley for short. This particular Pilot hasn't broken the sound barrier. Yet.

And try-ing: Refer to 'cooking' and 'running,' in particular...

And (finally!) blogg-ing: What a busy spring so far!

And lov-ing: These guys. How can you not?

To Do.

So I'm spending this late-morning/early-afternoon gift of 'me time' doing things I love:

Drinking coffee and organizing and plotting & scheming.

It's not as lame as it sounds. (Ok, maybe it is. Wait - that's why they call it 'me time,' right? Right?!)

Anyway, it will come as a surprise to no one that I love to keep a 'To Do' list. And these lists are great reminders of just that - things I need to do. The problem is, there are certain things I put on my 'To Do' list that always get shuffled to the bottom. Other things take priority (and rightly so, most of the time). In other words, these things I need 'To Do' take (necessary) precedence over the things I want 'To Do.' And all too often, the things I want 'To Do' never get 'To Done.' Still with me?

But every once in a while (if we're lucky), we get a day to catch our breath and take a break from checking all the items off the top of the 'To Do' list and revisit the long-lost items closer to the bottom. Thankfully, in addition to revolutionizing humanity with his dreams of peaceful equality, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has afforded me just such an opportunity today.

So after our morning routine of oatmeal and playtime and Sesame Street, I sent the boys off on their adventure in the mountains and poured myself another cup of coffee. (What joy and leisure in a second cup of coffee!) And as I took a closer look at my 'To Do' list, organizing my music collection surfaced at the top. For some time now, I've been wanting to shift older CDs over to my iTunes library, creating a central place for all of my music, both new and old. But that sort of thing takes time, you know. And in the world of professional moms, time is a hot commodity! So I decided this late-morning/early-afternoon was the perfect time for just such a task.

And what a fun task it's been! My collection of music is sort of eclectic, to say the least. It's where Coldplay meets Mindy Smith. Where Josh Groban meets Brandon Heath. Where the Avett Brothers meet Julie Andrews. Where Bon Iver meets Reba McEntire. And where Weezer meets the Muppets. (No, seriously).

So now that my tunes are all together in one (shining happy) place, I can enjoy my music in the car, in the house, or on the run. It's the little things, really.

And speaking of being on the run, that's where the plotting & scheming comes in. There are a few winter and spring races tempting me...like this one...and this one...or maybe this one. Or we could even do this one again...so many options! The trick (for me, at least) is that I need some sort of motivation, usually in the form of a race I've registered for, to get me out the door for a run...especially when it's cold outside. So we'll see. The promise of future adventures is thrilling! Now I just need to figure out which one(s)...

I know, I know.

Add it to my 'To Do' list.

Cutting.

What a time we've had over the late fall and early winter. It seems there's been quite a bit of working, traveling, jogging, juggling, balancing, grieving, rejoicing...and an awful lot of cutting going on lately.

Making the Cut

Thanks to the generosity of my parents, who agreed to occupy (read: snuggle and spoil!) our son, the Grants and the Bus Crew were able to run one of our favorite winter races a few weekends back. I really do love the Mistletoe 5K! The route winds its way through our own neighborhood, plus it's hard to beat the sights of people running in reindeer antlers and jingle bells. And it was such a clear, cold morning, which makes for great running weather. I'm certainly not all the way back into running shape, but I did manage to beat my own self-imposed time cut, and that felt invigorating as we move toward 2012...

Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

As Fischer grows older, I hope to renew our tradition of heading west and cutting down our Christmas tree at a tree farm along some snowy ridge in the North Carolina mountains. But for the past two seasons (early pregnancy haze in 2010 and infant son logistics in 2011), the very nice guys at Rash's Tree Patch have cut our Christmas tree for us. And this year we bought our first tree as a family of three, you know! The addition of the ornaments and lights has Fischer completely mesmerized...

Cutting for Stone

One of the (many) cool aspects of having a book club is creating new traditions together. Last year, we celebrated the holiday season with a cookie swap (my first!), and it took no time at all to decide we'd love for that delicious tradition to continue. Although this year's cookie swap was put on hold until the New Year, we've already chosen our first new book for 2012, Cutting for Stone. I can hardly wait to start reading...so few things I love more than a good book!

Cutting a Tooth

Two nights ago, Erich and I had the pleasure of hosting Argus (his band) & Co. for a practice in our own living room! Prior to their wonderful show last night with Small Town Gossip at the Community Arts Cafe' in Downtown Winston, the guys and their families got together to reminisce with a side of jam. Noisy fun with guitars, singing, laughter, and even babies cooing makes for wonderful memories, especially here at Christmastime. Arabelle was so inspired that she rolled over for the first (and second and third and fourth!) time. Not to be outdone, Fischer cut his first tooth! So surreal to feel that tiny razor-sharp edge along his soft little gumline. Sweet boy...

The Deepest Cut

It's been well over a year since I wrote of my friendship with Starnes and our multi-faceted adventures Shaking & Baking together. I quoted Kahlil Gibran back then, and it (of course) remains true: "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." And so it was with the deepest of sorrow that we sent the beloved Mayor, her father, to his final resting place just over two weeks ago. If you know us at all, you might have guessed that we somehow found each other just before his funeral service to share a wordless fist bump. Which was my way of sending her on to deliver his eulogy, now maybe my favorite oration of all time. I mean, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Winston Churchill were pretty good...but they didn't know Charlie Fish. The sorrow, it's really very deep. And so I look forward to all the joy we'll be able to contain in time.

Cut (& Paste)

Lastly, I'm always so inspired by Kristin Armstrong's writing. I've often said that while Lance is kinda fast on a bike (legitimacy to be determined), she is by far my favorite Armstrong. Her words are simple, profound, and (for me) so often right on target. Her Christmas entry this past week was, as usual, a delight for me to read, and so I've decided to share it here, too:

Some holiday hints from Kristin Claus...
Do not count calories. Do not wear a watch. Try doing what other people feel like doing rather than being compelled to always make the plan. Stay in pj's as long as possible each day. Getting coffee, bagels, donuts or tacos in pajamas is not only socially acceptable, it's encouraged. Get down and look at your children when they talk to you. Or if they are getting taller than you these days, look up. Make eye contact. Cook someone's favorite meal. Or cook your favorite and invite people over. Sit by the fire and leave your cell phone in another room. Watch Christmas Vacation. Make pancakes with holiday M&M's in them. Go for a walk if you have a houseful of different ages. Turn all the lights out but the tree and sit there, at least once, late at night and recall what you are grateful for. Try to make peace with (instead of sense of) the things you don't feel as grateful for. It's not a hassle to make a fire in the fireplace, it's an invitation. Pet your dog, especially right behind the ears the way they like it. When you grab your last minute stocking stuffers from the drugstore (admit it, I'll see you there), pick up a couple scarves, socks, or fleece blankets to hand out to homeless people when you drive by – let your kids do the honors and feel warm inside. Think of someone you know (maybe not even very well) who has had a tough year this year and pick up the phone or put pen to paper and wish them a happier new year. Let the kids frost the cookies, trash the kitchen and get high on icing. The people who bug you are in your life for a reason, you may as well love them because they have something to teach you. Don't assume people know you love them, be clear. Make love to your love, you are not allowed to be too tired, busy or grinchy. You are not too old or jaded to believe in magic.

Everything you need is right here – want what you have.
~ Kristin Armstrong

Fall Start!

Sipping coffee this morning, which is both a pleasure and a maternal necessity...it's almost impossible to believe that September is here!

I love all things autumnal. The hint of a chill in the air, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves, the whistles of football practice, the addition of pumpkin flavoring to my caffeinated indulgences...all of it.

It's also my favorite time of year to run. I've learned that I don't relish the heat when it comes to running...the colder, the better. And so it is that last night I found myself going for my first post-pregnancy run, Starnes by my side (as it should be). It hurt a little less than I thought it would...and it might have only been two miles...(two miles that conveniently ended up at Bob's Big Gas Subs and Pub where they just happened to need two willing girls to partake of the season's first Dogfish Head Punkin Ales). But hey, it's a start! And I suppose that's how I suddenly find myself signed up for the inexplicably longer (?!) Salem Lake Trail Run at the end of this month...

It's different this year, in all the right ways. Here I sit, coffee still at the ready, but now with my baby boy sleeping soundly in his sling while I blog about running and friends and coffee and living. Definitely an improvement on an already sweet life.

So this fall brings with it the usual pleasures - college football (starts tonight, holycowyay!) and Pumpkin Spice Lattes (coming Tuesday, holycowyay!) - but new and improved versions of fun, too. The Autodrop Invitational launches one month from today...autumnal goodness on a bike. That crazy endeavor comes just one week after the 3rd Non-Annual City Loop Mafia 100K...always an adventure, firmly anchored by friends and chili and beer and football. And my 10-year college reunion at William & Mary is right around the corner (Confusion Corner, that is)...I can hardly wait for that special weekend in October with all my friends (and all of our husbands and babies!) in Colonial Williamsburg. And to be sure, we'll end up hiking in the mountains with a baby (and his Bjorn) in tow. Good times!

And who knows? Maybe another half marathon looms somewhere in the distance...flanked as usual by all kinds of other crazy adventures with all kinds of crazy family and friends...mmm, lovely lovely fall...

Beautiful Boy.

July 24, 2011. 10:33pm. Fischer Keaton Grant enters the world - all 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 21 inches of him!

Instant love.

Beautiful boy.

Nesting and Resting.

It's really hard to believe that we're only 32 days away from Baby Boy Grant's due date!

In the past few months, we've been so generously showered with love and gifts, set up a fun nursery, and even found time for a little traveling, lots of long walks, and some adventurous bike races. What a crazy fun life!

Time is really flying, too. And while these last few weeks may creep past slowly, the first 36 weeks of this adventure have been a whirlwind. I think the overwhelming fatigue of the first trimester plus the energy boost of the second trimester (which has thankfully carried over into the third trimester!) has resulted in a whole lotta necessary restin' and livin' - but not a lotta bloggin'. Life with our family and friends has happened, too...celebrations for some, heartache for others. And those things are reserved for real life, not the virtual world.

BUT. As we transition into this next phase of having a sweet little boy around to make our happy life that much more beautiful, I'm in hopes that we'll continue to share our adventures as we go...

For now, we have only one week until the Tour de France makes its Grand Depart from Vendee. Erich and I love this time of year! It's nearly time to hedge our bets on who will take the maillot jaune...the polka dots...the sprint on the Champs...and most importantly, Grant Family bragging rights for another year! And who knows? Maybe we'll be pulling all-nighters with bottles and diapers as Phil and Paul call the action from the Alps or the Pyrenees.

Until then, on with the nesting and the resting...

Motion.

Where did the rest of 2010 go?

I could have sworn it was right there. And then it was just...gone! The last thing I remember was crossing the Finish Line of the Battleship Half-Marathon with Starnes in early November. Well, that and the Mellow Mushroom pizza and the celebratory Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale that night.

And then the V. sport health training camp in the mountains a few weekends later. And coming home and taking a positive pregnancy test. (Wait, WHAT?! Beautiful). And going home to Virginia for Thanksgiving. Before heading to New York City in a daze of decimated appetite and fatigue.

And then celebrating Christmas with family in North Carolina and Virginia...with more than a foot of snow on the ground! And then ringing in the New Year by walking the Running of the Lights at Tanglewood at midnight with our buddies.

And just like that?! It was 2011.

Fortunately, Erich has kept me balanced in terms of resting (a.k.a. hibernating) and moving throughout the winter. We've tried to go for walks every other night when possible, even at times bundled in North Face from head to toe. And we'd signed up for the Hot Chocolate 10K in Asheville long before we knew I'd be running for two. So I was pleased to be able to run (with plenty of walking) right past the Finish Line and into the Early Girl Eatery for brunch!

To be sure, the winter has been cold and dark. It's tough going to work when it's dark, coming home when it's dark, and still staying motivated to move. Anywhere. Even from one side of the couch to the other. But it's true what they say - the second trimester is quite different from the first. Other than a bout with a wicked upper respiratory infection, my energy is on the upswing. And just in time for the sun to come out!

It's a lot more fun to move around outside when the temperature is above the 20's (Fahrenheit). And I find myself even contemplating a 5K or two. And maybe even fantasizing about a 10K in the fall. Hard to imagine not just one but two Grants waiting for me at the Finish Line. But doesn't that sound like something worth getting into motion for...

And speaking of moving, that's just what the littlest Grant decided to work on this past weekend. Not just moving around, which it's been doing for weeks now...but moving so that we can feel it. From the outside world. Absolutely surreal!

So Erich is training full-force for the Battenkill. And I'm quickly moving out of hibernation mode back into the real (much faster-moving) world. And the tiniest Grant is...well, just completely on the move!

The moral of the story? Rest is wonderful. Priceless. Essential. (And something to be treasured dearly, from what everyone tells us)!

But motion is a beautiful thing, too...

Change.

The last two months have brought with them a little bit of everything. Travel. Adventure. Tears. Laughter. Questions. Answers. And Change.

My last post detailed my issues with which (if any) half-marathon to choose for the fall/winter season this year...which was a real, credible dilemma at the time (one I've since resolved - but more on that later). The next weekend was spent hanging out in Winston with my college buddy, Shelly, while Erich and Barry headed to the Empire State for a Battenkill adventure. Good times!

After a great book club with the girls, complete with delicious food and wine (and the occasional mention of a book for good measure), September took a really different turn on its usual road to autumnal happiness. The inexplicable losses of two of our friends' fathers in the span of just 9 days changed, well...everything, really. Plans. Perspectives. Just...everything.

In between two funerals, Amy and I tackled one of our favorite races, the Salem Lake 10K. We weren't really planning to do that race at all. And we certainly weren't really trained for it. But it just didn't matter. That particular trip around the lake was about something very different from heart rates and split times. And it might have been our slowest - and best - one yet.

I celebrated my 31st birthday with a few of my favorite Canadians. Bonding with Janet's beautiful new daughter reaffirmed two things I already knew: 1.) She's a tiny kindred spirit. And 2.) I should probably give up having a kid before I even start because I'm pretty sure I can never make one that cute. It's so odd and wonderful to watch one of my best friends be a mother. It's like...we're growing up and stuff. So, so much love. And way too little time.
In the middle of the Canadian invasion, we also hosted a party for the City Loop Mafia following their (non) annual 100K. Pedaling their way through The Dash as the leaves are just starting to turn...and then gathering together with mafiosa family and friends for chili, beer, and college football...that's a tradition I hope we hold on to for a long time to come.

And then in between clinics and Erich's trip to Baltimore to present his latest research, we made time for a deep-fried Reese's Cup at the Dixie Classic Fair. And a winter weather prediction at the Woolly Worm Festival...followed immediately by Brunswick Stew and homemade apple butter at the Valle Country Fair. And what fall season would be complete without a trip to Colonial Williamsburg for a walk down Duke of Gloucester Street and a little Tribe football action? Long story short, I met the Griffin; the Tribe sealed their 1-point victory in the final 30 seconds; and going back home again never really gets old.

So now it's...now. A few days status-post Halloween party (Flo the Progressive Insurance Girl + Iceman from Top Gun = 4ever). And just a day and a half of clinic left to round out the week. Then Starnes and I take off on Saturday for a girls-only road trip to Wilmington. She committed to the Battleship Half Marathon long ago. Before the fall got so chilly. And so hard. While I'm certainly not trained up for a half-marathon, I've decided to tackle it with her, allowing for plenty of walking. And soreness. And hard-earned fun! In true half-marathon fashion, I've summoned the winter to join us. So the forecast low of 35 degrees on Sunday morning (in Wilmington!) should really surprise no one. If you think about it, that's actually quite balmy compared to 31 degrees with freezing rain and snow in Orlando for my first half-marathon. Seriously?! Seriously.

Even today as I write this, the rain has been falling, and there's a noticeable drop in the temperature. The leaves, once brilliant orange and red and gold, now letting go of their branches and drifting to the ground. The pattern of living in this particular fall season has felt something like that to me, I think. So many experiences, both happy and sad. Beautiful, vivid colors...and letting go. Some things have changed forever...precious new life and deep, painful loss. Other things have changed just for now, much like the trees. And then there are those few, invaluable things that never change...like unseasonably wintry half-marathons. And friendship. And love.

A Pastry and a Quandary.

So I sat on the front porch this morning with my husband, sipping Mello Velo coffee and munching on cinnamon rolls. Beautiful way to relax on a weekend morning. We talked about his upcoming trip to New York to recon the Battenkill route for April 2011...talked about his slaughter of the Tour de Gaps...talked about a screen door for our front porch...and talked about how sore I am from my measly 2.3 mile run yesterday. All of this, of course, just adds to my dilemma over whether (and where. and when.) to do another half-marathon.

For the record, I think it's totally reasonable to hash out the pros and cons of doing another half-marathon over a cinnamon roll.

My dilemma is this: there are plenty of half-marathons out there, some close to home and others far away. Some flat, some hilly. Some in the warm temperatures, others where it's cold. But it's a daunting process to train for months at a time. No matter what. So I find myself agonizing over which one to choose, thinking that will somehow make it all easier. I know - that sounds crazy, even as I type it!

One race that has lots of potential is the Battleship Half on November 7, 2010. Wilmington is beautiful and flat, and now my buddy Starnes has signed up for this race, her first half. So I'm awfully tempted to sign up, too. My main hesitation is that a.) it's on a Sunday (no rest for the weary) and b.) November is soon! Still, it remains near the top of the list...mostly because Starnes and I look like this when we run together:

You're scared now, right? Yeah, well...ummm...you should be.

And then, of course, there's Disney. Ahhh, good ol' Disney. With snow and sleet and freezing rain, Disney was so very good to me the first time around. Crazy, epic adventure - start to finish. And part of me really, REALLY wants to do it again. Shelly and I had an amazing time, and I sort of find myself wanting to relive it all. But Florida's certainly not as close as Wilmington. And Orlando could be 85 degrees come next January (you never know). Then again, Wilmington doesn't have Donald Duck waiting for me at the Finish Line...

See what I mean? Dilemma! I'm really not sure I can decide. Seriously.

I think the whole point is that a half-marathon still intimidates me. So I want the perfect scenario so I can try it again...and I keep thinking that if I pick exactly the right race, that will somehow make it less, well...scary.

Hey, in other news, football season is upon us. Maybe I don't do either race, but sit on the couch and watch College GameDay for four straight months instead?! Possibly the best solution so far.

Somebody help?

V. sport health!

After lots of talking and plotting and scheming, V. sport health seems to have come to life!

It's a new adventure for us - training plans, nutrition guidance, medical coverage - lots of work and hopefully a ton of fun.

Follow along on Twitter and Facebook!

The idea is to Play Hard. Eat Well. Be Happy.

Simple enough, right?!

Le Tour de Vie.

Ever since the 3rd day of July, Erich and I have been faithfully watching the Tour de France, almost as if it were our job. And, to be perfectly honest, we've watched at times instead of actually doing our real jobs. But if the peloton is under the flamme rouge with 1K to go...and the patient is waiting in the exam room (very comfortably, I might add)...another 90 seconds surely couldn't hurt, right?!

This race is impossible to watch without feeling all sorts of various emotions throughout the three-week journey. Anticipation before the start of the Prologue gives way to heart-pounding excitement as the first stages get underway, complete with nervous crashes and photo finishes.
This year's cobblestone stage added a whole layer of complexity, certainly for the cyclists, but also for the fans. On that day, the race was already over for many - and the foothills of the mountains had not yet come into view. Of course, there's always sympathy for those who are injured or ill, forced to retire from the race long before Paris. And then as the riders climb the tallest mountains in the Alps and the Pyrenees, the strategy and suspense build dramatically.

In addition to all of my usual thrills from watching Le Tour, I added frustration and a touch of anger to my repertoire of emotions this year. A very questionable attack at a pivotal moment left the subsequent race leader, Alberto Contador, in the yellow jersey...and in the hot seat. My blog can be anything I want it to be, but a forum for the discussion of cycling ethics it ain't! At least not for today. That aside, suffice it to say I felt strongly about the outcome, and it will be talked about with other Tour lore for a long, long time to come. Rightly so.

What I'm left with as the race quickly approaches its grand finale in the City of Love is a deep appreciation for the beauty of the French countryside, as well as for the sport of cycling itself. And I was thinking lately how this race is really a pretty good analogy for life. That probably sounds cheesy, but hear me out.
There are the easy days, right? Super flat road ahead, beautiful scenery, no hills to climb, wind in your hair, feeling 'no chain.'

There are lessons, many of them hard to learn. That cheating gets you nowhere, not really. That the guy in front of you owns you. And that turnabout is fair play. Always.

And there are days with a seemingly interminable climb before you, where the finish line is impossible to see. And maybe just when you think the end is in sight, you encounter a switchback, completely changing your direction and forcing you to 'grab another gear,' just to hang on. And then there's everything in between. Where, truth be told, most of us probably spend the vast majority of our time. Nothing that seems insurmountable...yet nothing without some sort of little wrinkle, just to keep us from becoming too complacent. And I suppose you have to have a little bit of everything - the easy and beautiful, the epic and hard - even the occasional crash - just to remind you that you're alive and serving a purpose. All the time soldiering on toward the Finish Line of a job well-done. So as the peloton charges over the line on the Champs Elysees this Sunday, I will surely miss the race, the drama, the views, and the beloved old Brits. But this year's Tour de France has brought with its usual suspense and thrills a stark reminder that perseverance is worthwhile; that honor outweighs a trophy; and the time-honored truth that in the end, the good guy always, always wins.

Maybe my favorite lesson from this year's race has been the subtle illustration of how things can change so quickly, even on what would seem to be the most routine of days. A flat tire here, a clipped pedal there - and the race changes, for good. So what I take away from it all is that it's probably best to live every day with eyes wide open - not only to avoid the cracked cobbles and the oil slicks and the dropped chains - but also to keep from missing the breathtaking vistas and the fields of sunflowers all around you.

Maybe Diane Ackerman said it best: "I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."

Vive le Tour! And Vive la Vie...

Everything and Nothing!

You know that thing where you look at your life and you think you're way too busy...but then you try to figure out what exactly it is that makes you way too busy - and you come up empty? Except you know that can't be true because you always feel busy?! Right. So that's how I feel lately! I haven't even blogged about it all, which I really like to do. But I can't say for sure why that is...except that it's because I've been busy...but I'm not even sure just what it is that I've been busy doing! See what I mean?

Maybe recounting the past few weeks in bullet-points will help...

On Memorial Day weekend, Erich, Amy, Aliza, and I worked on medical coverage for a bicycle race in High Point, North Carolina. A weekend filled end-to-end with adventure, complete with a guy who fractured the greater trochanter of his femur in a bike crash...and capped off with the birth of Baby Sydney, the beautiful daughter of my all-time favorite Canadians.

Then we traveled to Boone the next weekend for an overnight stay in the mountains before E's bike race at Roan Mountain. Gorgeous views - perfect getaway. We cooked out with the Bus Crew later that night when we got home (after the obligatory huge nap)...nothing quite like sitting on a patio with good friends in the summertime...

We visited my family in Virginia the weekend before Father's Day, which was nice and relaxing. Dad and Erich went for a spin on their bikes before meeting up with the rest of the family for lunch at my grandparents' house...followed closely by the USA v. England World Cup soccer match...and then a delicious cookout with Mom and Dad Saturday night before driving back early Sunday afternoon in a classic summer thunderstorm. Good times!

Oh, and right in the middle of all of our weekend trips, Starnes and I launched into our next training plan. I guess I thought the only thing crazier than doing a half-marathon at Disney World would be to sign up for a second half-marathon at Disney World. That's the idea, at least...and it's the carrot I'm dangling to make myself get out in all this heat and humidity and put one foot in front of the other...in slightly faster succession than a walking pace (I mean, for some people). At least it feels good (well, sometimes awful) to be back out there again!

And then there was Argus. The band gathered in The Dash this past weekend for an acoustic show at Krankies Coffee Shop. The most fun for us, really, because we had so many of our friends gathered in one place (our home!) for a ton of fun. After suffering through the Clemmons Rotary 5K early Saturday morning, I was ready to hang out at our house for the band's rehearsal (a.k.a. cookout and jam session) prior to the show later that night. And I have to say - the show was awesome! To be sure, I must have a built-in bias. But there were plenty of people there to show their love, and the guys returned the favor by offering up some great music. Our Sunday was mostly about rest and recovery before heading into yet another busy week...

And the madness continues. Erich and I have tossed around the idea of backpacking and camping this coming weekend. Though admittedly, hanging out at our house and just catching our breath would totally suffice, too. I guess time will tell!

Always, always, always an adventure on the horizon...

Mochas & Schemes.

The last few weeks have been blissfully quiet. Nothing too pressing, just the everyday routine of working in clinic, hanging out with friends, and making the world go 'round.

Our book club met this past Thursday night, which is always a ton of fun. We discussed our latest book, Apologize, Apologize, and caught up on each other's lives over some brie and some fondue and some Riesling. Ahhh, just as it should be...

So this past Saturday morning, I woke up early-ish (for a Saturday, I mean) to meet up with my buddy, Starnes, for some girl time. We originally tossed around the idea of going for a run, but with the sky threatening and the coffee brewing, we elected to head straight for Starbucks instead. Naturally.

The morning was quiet, for whatever reason. We had our laptops open, and Sarah McLachlan's Greatest Hits album was playing in the background. It wasn't too long before the cloudy skies opened up. But we were so happy to catch up and hang out together that the rain just sort of added to a super-cool, much-needed morning. And so it was, over a caramel latte and a white chocolate mocha, that we started to plot and scheme.

Some small plans, you know. And some bigger plans. Even some of our biggest plans yet. Medical coverage for bike races. Maybe a half-marathon somewhere down the road. Lots of travel ideas - some well within reach, some a little more like a fantasy (yet). But I can tell you this - our Google Calendars (and our hearts) were completely full by the time we packed up.

A mocha or two, a few plots and schemes, and a little more Shake.and.Bake. Look out, World!