Track-Region Meet

I feel like I'm at training camp--I'm going to have to do two-a-days until the blog is up-to-date!

Last Wednesday we had to interrupt prom preparation for the Region Varsity track meet. Brentwood's athletic director asked Girl to run in the 800 meters, which was an honor for her.

She wasn't happy with her time (perfectionist that she is) having just returned from Nicaragua (damn, that's another post....) and unable to train for a week....but she has 4 more years to qualify for state. And we were all proud of her! She ran a leg of the 4x400 as well--sub 70 seconds! And she has her final JuniorVarsity track meet of the season today.

I attended in my official capacity as the team's "Spike Goddess" (sounds so much sexier than "spike technician") and "cat herder"- tracking down athletes, getting them to their events in time, and generally making sure they stay out of trouble--mostly.

Very attractive pic of me eating cookies and GG staying out of the sun

Parents trying to figure out what's up

Boy qualified for state in 4 of his 5 events (to qualify, one has to finish in the top 4 at region). While he just missed qualifiying for the 100 meters- (which he ran in 11.7 seconds-a personal best), he will triple jump, run in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and run the 200 meters, in which he is REGION CHAMPION with a time of 24.04.

Boy receiving his Champion plaque

The Brentwood boys' team- just 8 guys-

were region runners-up, and Boy's friend and teammate, Dart, was high scorerer, and region champ in THREE events.

It just so happened that the meet fell on Boy's 17th birthday, so everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him after the meet was over. Embarrassed the hell out of him, but he took it in good spirit.

And so, off we head this week for the state track meet--Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The kids get to miss 2 days of school. Hope I can find a hotel!

I have my spike bag packed and my stopwatches primed!

I survived Prom

Best Junior Class in the World!

Ok, ok...I'll get back to writing about the last half of the Asia trip.....but I need to catch up on last week.

As you may have guessed, Junior/Senior Prom is a really really big deal around these parts. Take a broadway production, add the planning of a D-Day invasion, throw in some expensive ball gowns and tuxedos, and you get the picture. Planning takes up a great deal of the year, and these kids have been working toward last Saturday night since the past summer.

They chose their theme "The Golden Age of Hollywood" two years ago. I'd like to think that it helped that Brentwood's resident production designer/art director (oh, how I love a made-up title) also happened to be one their favorite class moms (do I have a big ego, or what?). So, design I did. And had a ball doing it. Of course, time became an issue (how could it not when I disappeared for 3 of the 4 weeks prior?), and certain elements didn't get done, but it was lovely, if I do say so myself. I just sketched and drafted- the building and painting of the set was all kid-power, with a larger-than-hefty dose of parental muscle.

Scaffolding gets erected so the walls can be lined and streamers put up along the ceiling.

The class has some very VERY talented artists. Hopefully you can tell from the tables that these are actually 6ftx9ft canvases of movie posters, painted by hand. They are works of art.

The little kids came through on Friday afternoon and got a real giggle out of Marilyn (the kindergarteners said "I can see her UNDERWEAR!!").

Movie posters and cutouts framed the entrance.

Some amazing dads figured out how to build a three dimensional replica of the famous Brown Derby restaurant, where the juniors and seniors had fun with the chocolate fountain.

An Oscar stage to make the Grand March entrance into Prom. Complete with sexy curved ramp. An engineering marvel.

Setting light levels for the stage nearly drove us crazy.

For those of you who know Grumpy Guy, the following video clips are for your enjoyment. He was trying to show some teens how to make a constant tension anchor knot...while he was on the ground and they were 25 feet in the air on the scaffold. It is typical GG.......

It was a challenge, but fun. To all the Juniors--I love you all!! You are my heart!

ps to Daddy D- I don't recall us having such elaborate prom decorations. But then, all I remember is a bunch of streamers, a band, some REALLY hideous tuxes and gowns-(you posted the pic on YOUR blog last spring) and a large quantity of vodka..............

Hit the Ground Running

Monday morning back in the real world....and I mean REAL world. All have survived in my absence...the house is still standing! Girl arrived home from Nicaragua a day late due to cancelled plane flights and got home at 2am this morning. She was wired and had to show Grumpy Guy and me her pictures. We didn't get to bed until 3:30, so I'm letting her skip school today.

I have to unpack and do some business...mainly file taxes. Then load up the car and head toward school and Prom Preparations for Saturday.

I'm still feeling the slow, steady rock of the Crystal Serenity. Bless her and all who sail on her.

I have so much to share about my trip, and will do so over the next days. But back to reality for now.

To my family on the Serenity....I love you. I miss you. EMAIL me!! And....HANG LOOSE!

Ok, Dude-Per Your Request

The message came through to me via an email to my mother. My brother, Dude, has requested I update my blog with more pictures. Ok, Ok—I get the hint. I’ve been meaning to write about Myanmar, but really needed some time to reflect.

Myanmar is not an easy place.

The Schwedagon Pagoda-largest and most beautiful of the Buddhist Temples in Myanmar


An upscale highrise apartment building in Yangon

It is a land filled with smiling Buddhists who struggle under an oppressive government led by a ruthless military junta. If I remember correctly, in 1990 the popular vote opted overwhelmingly for a change in government but the junta has to date refused to turn over power. The opposition leader, referred to very quietly, if at all, as “the Lady,” has been under house arrest or imprisoned for most of her adult life. I could go on and on and on.

How these people smile is beyond my western mind. Smiling always. And not a slight, nod-with-your-head greeting to a stranger—a big, beaming, full-bore grin from ear to ear. The Burmese people are happy.

How? They have to cram sardine-style into any public conveyance to get from place to place,

or they walk. The more affluent city family may have a bicycle, or even a motor scooter.

Whole families- 3, 4, or 5 at a time- can be seen riding on the back of one. The ground floor of their homes is usually packed earth. They have electricity on alternate days (if they are lucky).If they live away from a city, they have no electricity, their water supply is the local pond created when the fields were made into rice paddies, and their restroom is behind the hill behind the house.

The temperature at sunrise in April hover around 90F and go up throughout the day. They smile, they smile, they smile.

They are a dirt-poor people, who go without food in order to buy gold leaf to adorn their Buddhist shrines.

They live in silenced fear that the person standing next to them in line is a government informer. They can’t open up, they can’t speak their mind in public, they can’t complain. But they smile. They don’t have the simplest things I would consider necessary and basic for survival, and yet they are the most peaceful and kind group I’ve ever encountered. Really made me stop and think. I’m still thinking.

Dude- I meant to post pics, not get into deep reflection—so here you go…..this is for you!

An open air convenience store outside Yangon

The famous reclining Buddha with me for scale-taken by Gran as I was taking picture of her taking a picture of me.....

A birthday girl all dressed up to visit the temple

Another convenience store-there are lots of them around- very convenient

Another reclining Buddha--although this one struck me as more Mae West than calm and resting

Harvested teak awaiting loading onto ships

Buddhist nun at meditation

E alongside her Day of Birth shrine at Schwedagon--she's Monday, a Tiger

An d, lest you think I've totally lost my sense of humor, a sign outside the reclining Buddha temple just tickled me....

What To Do In Thailand

What Does One do in Phuket, Thailand? Well, in 6 hours, one…….

Rides an elephant

Sees cashew trees

Visits a bone of the Buddha

Takes a picture of a cute Thai girl so she can see herself in the camera

Goes to a baby elephant show

Watches someone ELSE get a baby elephant massage

And remembers that someone is always watching…….