Kathleen the Speedy Queen!

Yesterday was Kathleen's first track meet. She's in "modified" track, whatever that is. She only competes against middle school age kids, I think, although some of those girls running yesterday were definitely older, and the high-schoolers were running races too. I was confused. One thing I do know--this kid can RUN! I can't get over how long and leggy she is. BF says she's fast because there's no wind resistance due to her being so darn thin...lol...I thought that was pretty hilarious. I don't think Kathleen found it quite so funny. Go figure. ;)

She ran in two events. She came in third in the 100m dash, and last in the 200. She said she didn't really know how fast to go in the 200, because she didn't really know how much energy to save up for the end. I think this first meet was good practice, because it all looks confusing to me! I don't even know how they knew where to go and when, there was so much going on. But I did manage to get some action shots! I just love the shot above...something about the line of her arm, her blowing hair, and her friend's smile and pose...they didn't even know I was taking their picture.

Here she is running the 100M dash. She's on the far left--you know, the skinny pasty kid...hee!

And there she is bringing up the rear in the 200M.
She said she's scary white, and I told her that a friend of mine dubbed me "Casper" in high school, so no worries--it's just heredity. Heh. At least she tans in the summer, unlike her mother. I just burn, peel and freckle. Nice.

I'm just so proud of her for being motivated enough to join track. She's really enjoying it, and she said that just being in the meet yesterday made her want to do better next time. I told her that the spirit of competition was definitely a good thing--it raises you up to the level of your competitors or beyond, , if you're doing it right...lol. Oh, and in case you're wondering, she gets her athletic ability from her father. I'm not taking any credit for that, no-sir-ee-bob.

Impossible!!

Seriously. How is it possible to go from this--

to this-- in the blink of an eye??
My baby turns 13 years old today, and I made sure to tell her that she's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn't have ordered up a better kid if I'd tried.

It's funny...I have a lot of pictures of her up in trees as a little kid. She didn't climb them...I would just prop her in there and say "hold on! say cheese!" LOL.

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl.

Stars On Ice

This past Sunday we went to see Smucker's (don't even get me going on where that apostrophe should be) Stars on Ice. Sasha Cohen is new to the group this year, I guess, and she is really great. The whole thing was WAY more entertaining than I thought it was going to be. It was a three hour show, and it flew by. Sasha did a no-skates ballet thing with two of the other skaters carrying her around that sounds weird, but was really beautiful. Oh, and you know how I have "boyfriends" in every walk of life? (Well--like on tv and movies?) I have a new one! My new professional skating boyfriend is John Zimmerman!I know, right?! He's a little pretty, but holy heck, when you see the man lift his partner over his head and spin her around, and those muscles workin'....helllooo! All of these guys are such unbelievable athletes. It's amazing to watch them work. It doesn't hurt that they're easy on the eyes, either. ;)

We finished off the evening with my sister, her husband, and my darling niece at a great downtown Albany micro-brewery, called The Albany Pump Station. Click here for a little history on the place. The website is pretty discombobulated...so finding a picture of the place was tough. It's an old brick building right near the river, and every time I go inside I imagine myself converting it into a home. It's that cool inside--and there's a fireplace in the DR! AND they have great beer (Kick-Ass Brown--YUM!), and some pretty good food. I had a turkey burger, and whatever they spiced it with was great.

Stay tuned for next week's house reveal!! I'm buying one, people! It's really happening!!