'Cause the kids are in the pool...
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
More Notes for New Moms
Here's more from the moms:
Jen R: Not advice but something I loved. Buy a really good quality stroller, if a double stroller, get a side-by-side with a front swivel wheel. Go out and enjoy the neighborhood. Just to get away from the TV and go outside and breath. Spring/summer babies are born at the perfect time to start a good relationship with the outdoors!
Coleen: I wish I'd had this thread before I had Sean. :)
My best advice is not to be too hard on yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and trying for perfection is self defeating.
I read Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year of Life" before having Sean and at first I thought she was crazy to think (or actually admit) the things she did, but later I was grateful to know that at least one other mother felt the way I did when the baby cried and cried and I was totally sleep deprived and wishing I could put him back in the womb just for another week or so. ;)
Tamara: Thanks, Coleen! That's great advice.
I read Operating Instructions, too. That was a great book. (I'm just re-reading Bird by Bird right now.) You've got to love that honesty in Anne Lamott. She lays it out there, and the rest of us breathe a sigh of relief that we're not the only one hiding jealousy or frustration or feelings of hopelessness. And she has the guts and the wry humor to put it in a way that we can laugh with her and take ourselves just a little bit less seriously.
What's been neat about all of this is that all of the mothers sincerely want to help. There is so much comparing among other women-- who had the shortest (or longest) labor, who did or didn't get their figure back, who couldn't (horror!) breastfeed. It's so nice to feel such support from people for someone who is doing it for the first time. If I'd known this was out there, I might have thought more about having kids! I'm so excited about this little grandnephew. Since my sister and I aren't close, and my niece and I are, it's going to be fun to have a baby that I can spoil.
Jen P. Anne Lamott is one of my very favorite authors too. Operating instructions is a gift I usually give to new moms.
Tyla: There has been such an intense response to this thread that I've been thinking hard about what to add.
I guess, when it comes down to it, my best advice is to be very gentle with yourself when you're learning something new. It's really easy to look at the long days of feeling inadequate and miss the big picture...that this little thing, that demands so much, has been created out of what?... something bigger than I know how to comprehend.
The days are long, but the years are short. Appreciate the little things and know that each impossible moment will pass and things even out and you will catch your stride.
Ok. Enough with that...breast feeding a new born is NOT EASY for most! If it is easy for you...go with it. If it is HARD, then get help! Call a lactation specialist and get a nipple shield! Please, get a nipple shield. I used it with both of my children and they both "went natural" around 5 months. Smooth sailing after that. They got what they needed and I didn't have bleeding nipples. We both win!
Save your back and get an Ergo Carrier. Much better than a Bjorn.
I used cloth diapers. Use BioKleen detergent from Whole Foods or Charlie's on-line.
Also, expect your world to be turned upside down and get a good therapist!
Always ask questions! You will learn a lot when you start asking and stop complaining. I have learned from experience.
Join a Co-op nursery school when your child is old enough (3 years). The added work is worth it.
xxoo
Tamara: You are awesome, too, Ty! Thank you.
I have been so touched by all of your responses. Thank you so much.
Viva la Mama.
Jen R: Not advice but something I loved. Buy a really good quality stroller, if a double stroller, get a side-by-side with a front swivel wheel. Go out and enjoy the neighborhood. Just to get away from the TV and go outside and breath. Spring/summer babies are born at the perfect time to start a good relationship with the outdoors!
Coleen: I wish I'd had this thread before I had Sean. :)
My best advice is not to be too hard on yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and trying for perfection is self defeating.
I read Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year of Life" before having Sean and at first I thought she was crazy to think (or actually admit) the things she did, but later I was grateful to know that at least one other mother felt the way I did when the baby cried and cried and I was totally sleep deprived and wishing I could put him back in the womb just for another week or so. ;)
Tamara: Thanks, Coleen! That's great advice.
I read Operating Instructions, too. That was a great book. (I'm just re-reading Bird by Bird right now.) You've got to love that honesty in Anne Lamott. She lays it out there, and the rest of us breathe a sigh of relief that we're not the only one hiding jealousy or frustration or feelings of hopelessness. And she has the guts and the wry humor to put it in a way that we can laugh with her and take ourselves just a little bit less seriously.
What's been neat about all of this is that all of the mothers sincerely want to help. There is so much comparing among other women-- who had the shortest (or longest) labor, who did or didn't get their figure back, who couldn't (horror!) breastfeed. It's so nice to feel such support from people for someone who is doing it for the first time. If I'd known this was out there, I might have thought more about having kids! I'm so excited about this little grandnephew. Since my sister and I aren't close, and my niece and I are, it's going to be fun to have a baby that I can spoil.
Jen P. Anne Lamott is one of my very favorite authors too. Operating instructions is a gift I usually give to new moms.
Tyla: There has been such an intense response to this thread that I've been thinking hard about what to add.
I guess, when it comes down to it, my best advice is to be very gentle with yourself when you're learning something new. It's really easy to look at the long days of feeling inadequate and miss the big picture...that this little thing, that demands so much, has been created out of what?... something bigger than I know how to comprehend.
The days are long, but the years are short. Appreciate the little things and know that each impossible moment will pass and things even out and you will catch your stride.
Ok. Enough with that...breast feeding a new born is NOT EASY for most! If it is easy for you...go with it. If it is HARD, then get help! Call a lactation specialist and get a nipple shield! Please, get a nipple shield. I used it with both of my children and they both "went natural" around 5 months. Smooth sailing after that. They got what they needed and I didn't have bleeding nipples. We both win!
Save your back and get an Ergo Carrier. Much better than a Bjorn.
I used cloth diapers. Use BioKleen detergent from Whole Foods or Charlie's on-line.
Also, expect your world to be turned upside down and get a good therapist!
Always ask questions! You will learn a lot when you start asking and stop complaining. I have learned from experience.
Join a Co-op nursery school when your child is old enough (3 years). The added work is worth it.
xxoo
Tamara: You are awesome, too, Ty! Thank you.
I have been so touched by all of your responses. Thank you so much.
Viva la Mama.
Another One from the Vault
Gold Medal "Kitchen-tested"I desired the Simple Chocolate Icing from Ghirardelli, which is also from "the vault" and happens to be a cooked fudge icing. I like these cooked fudge icings, especially over a rich cake, because I can just pool it in the center of each layer and encourage it to drizzle attractively down the sides without fretting over crumbs. A sprinkle of nuts and you're done. Looks fancy, not that hard. I'm proud to say that I'm a person who can now make a birthday cake or pie without sweating over it. It most definitely won't be perfect, but it will be delicious!
FUDGE CAKE
(A Prize Chocolate Cake)
4 tbsp. butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups Softasilk cake flour OR
1 3/4 cups GOLD MEDAL "Kitchen-tested" Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups milk
4 oz chocolate, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Method
(Oven 350)
1. Cream butter, add sugar gradually, and cream thoroughly
2. (By the way, separate the eggs, set aside whites.) Blend in the well-beaten egg yolks.
3. Sift flour before measuring
4. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
Beat just enough to make the batter smooth (about 5 seconds).
5. Blend in the melted chocolate, vanilla and nuts
6. Fold in the egg whites, beaten until stiff but not dry
7. Pour into well greased and floured layer pans or large loaf pan and bake
Bake 45 minutes for layers, 50 to 55 minutes for loaf
Two 9 inch layer pans or one 8 x 12 inch loaf
Note: This cake has a delicious fudge-like flavor and consistency, and is complete without icing. If you prefer it iced, however, use a cooked fudge icing, a chocolate butter icing, a cooked white icing or any type desired.
I didn't have walnuts when I made the cake layers at home, but Grandpa (who by the way, spotted the clue and knew that there was a cake surprise in store for him) happened to have walnuts on hand in the freezer, so he suggested we sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top of the icing on each layer. Delicious! We served it with fresh sliced strawberries and cold glasses of milk. Happy Birthday!
PS- That little whisk-broom thing is a cake tester I received as a gift. Just a bundle of little tiny skewers for sticking into cakes. At the rate I'm going, it will last a lifetime.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Notes for New Moms
As some of you may know, my niece is about to have a baby. A boy. As the sole great-aunt, I can't wait! Over in facebookland, I asked my mom friends if they had anything they wished someone had told them, or any advice for new moms. I was so touched by their enthusiasm, tenderness and willingness to share that I thought I'd share their comments with everyone, just in case there are new moms or moms-to-be searching the internet late at night for some words of wisdom. Those of you not in facebookland (and you know who you are) feel free to comment, too. I'm printing all of these out in a consolidated format and sharing them with my niece. She's due any day.
Thank you moms!
MOMNOTES
Jen R: 2 things, Don't bother with the diaper genieb, it's a rip off and unneeded & Buy high quality nursing bras, so worth the money!
Sue: The wipe-warmer is a toss, too... And everyone will love the lavender baby wash- The target brand is just as good as Johnson & Johnson.
Karen: Large flannel "blanket" (about 45x45) was the best swaddling thing for us. Better than those fancy-shmancy velcro crazy things. Plus the flannel fabric folds up pretty small. I got it at the fabric store. Flannel generally comes 45 inches wide so I just bought enough for a square. My mommy hemmed mine for me. (PS Kayleigh, this is on its way.)
Jen P. I loved the wiper warmer. Get some cloth diapers as burp cloths they are cheap. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Get the baby out of your bed and sleeping thru the night asap. Its harder to do the older they get. Diaper genie sucks, cloth diapers suck too. Those nursing tanks are $50 but worth every penny.
If she hasn't had him yet, the drugs are good. Stay in the hospital as long as insurance will let you. That day I opted for no circumcision. Best choice I made. Their willies are perfect the way nature intended and 50% of the kids we know aren't. Nipple cream is awesome stuff. Lactation classes and consultants are wonderful things. Oh after three I have a book of advice.
Jen R: Damn, I wish I had known about Breast milk banking and donation. I moved when my daughter was less than a year and dumped a freezer full. Have your niece look into cord blood donation. I donated from both pregnancies.
Sue: Do not fear The Pacifier... and remind her to cover him during diaper changes or he WILL spray her.. the infant gowns with the drawstring at the bottom .. triple snap onesies for warmer weather... the vibrating infant seat (although they don;t SIT, they RECLINE..) I went through three of them. more to come, I'm sure...
Actually, for the first couple of weeks those little t-shirts are the best.. at least until the cord nubbin falls off. Not to worry if he goes through that flaky, peely phase about 2-3 weeks out- TOTALLY NORMAL. Remember, he's been soaking in water for 40 weeks or so.. :-) the same goes for little bumps on his cheeks (the cheeks on his face..)
Jen R: Here's one thing that a Mom passed on to me (and is a little more delicate) when I had my first child, right after birth, request a stool softner. You will not be released from the hospital until you have a bowel movement, and if you tear....I was so glad to make it easier on myself...Now, how was that for glamorous?
Catherine: The best advice I ever got was from a pediatric nurse who started a service here in Atlanta to help new moms. She now has published a book and started a website so she's available everywhere. Go to momsoncall.com. That book was my freakin' bible - I never would have survived without it. They have a video too that comes with the book that teaches you everything from swaddling to clipping baby's nails. If she follows all the instructions in the book to the letter, her baby will sleep through the night anywhere starting from 6 - 8 weeks. When you're a new mom, sleeping through the night is heaven. You will be her hero if you get her this book. (I bought this and sent it.)
Danine: I might be penning brief bits of advice - that seems to be how my brain is working lately...Thanks Tam for putting me on this advice list...
For the birthing mother - take the drugs...don't try to be a hero...I missed my opportunity with both kids and if anything - take the drugs for ME!
Desitin - the best stuff in a white tube...use it for rash or no rash...it's all purpose and has been around for ages!
Baby Bjorn - the most comfortable child carrier on the market...I had one with Annie (learned the hard way with William) and used it for hikes, shopping, housework...Bruce used it too - very versitile and machine washable!
Don't waste money on items to be used only once or twice...save the money for good diapers - Huggies were my brand of choice...
A good diaper bag is a must... Lands End and LL Bean have a good line...I had a few in varying sizes and later used them as over-night bags...
See if friends/family will organize meals for the new parents...I had a week worth the meals prepared and delivered by friends...I managed the day/time and menu...I didn't have to worry about food preparation - and this offered a chance for my friends to sneak a peek at the newborn!
Cloth diapers make the best burp rags and all purpose...I dyed an entire lot pink for Annie (but remember to wash separately as the dye will leach until final fading)...and on that note - Dreft - I used it religiously with my infant/toddler washings...
A port-a-crib is a nice gift...Doesn't need to be fancy...the less attachments the better...We used ours on vacations, sleep-overs, nap time...etc.
Join a "mothers club"...great for support and hanging out with women/men in the same adventure in life...Hmmm...I will be adding more for sure...my brain has ceased for the moment...cheers!
Kristin: Always remember that you know your baby better than anyone else or any book. Your baby may sleep through the night at 6-8 weeks, or not until 2 years old, and if the advice doesn't feel right, don't take it. NEVER, and I mean NEVER say, "my baby/child would NEVER do that!" while judging another--there is no faster way to get your baby to do such ... I give my vote for the wipe warmer and I still use the Ergo carrier even at almost 4yrs old. It was much more comfortable and easier on my back.
Karen: My other piece of advice: Compliment her on her parenting skills. When I first overheard my mom telling someone what a great and natural mom I am it absolutely made me swell with pride. She will get all kinds of parenting advice from all kinds of people. The most powerful thing you can do is to help her trust her parenting instincts - she will know Milo better than anyone else.
Sue: and THAT is the BEST advice yet...;-)
Danine: Oh yes - the experts will gather...Some have "suggestions" and some have "do-tions"...I remember my mo-in-law reciting passages from her ancient doctor spock book and it was law...My mom is the best...never criticizes, never compares...cheers!
Tamara: Thank you! You guys rock! That is why you are all great moms.
Jen R: Not advice but something I loved. Buy a really good quality stroller, if a double stroller, get a side-by-side with a front swivel wheel. Go out and enjoy the neighborhood. Just to get away from the TV and go outside and breath. Spring/summer babies are born at the perfect time to start a good relationship with the outdoors!
Coleen: I wish I'd had this thread before I had Sean. :)
My best advice is not to be too hard on yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and trying for perfection is self defeating.
I read Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year of Life" before having Sean and at first I thought she was crazy to think (or actually admit) the things she did, but later I was grateful to know that at least one other mother felt the way I did when the baby cried and cried and I was totally sleep deprived and wishing I could put him back in the womb just for another week or so. ;)
Tamara: Thanks, Coleen! That's great advice. I read Operating Instructions, too. That was a great book. (I'm just re-reading Bird by Bird right now.) You've got to love that honesty in Anne Lamott. She lays it out there, and the rest of us breathe a sigh of relief that we're not the only one hiding jealousy or frustration or feelings of hopelessness. And she has the guts and the wry humor to put it in a way that we can laugh with her and take ourselves just a little bit less seriously.
Jen P: Anne Lamott is one of my very favorite authors too. Operating instructions is a gift I usually give to new moms.
Tyla: There has been such an intense response to this thread that I've been thinking hard about what to add.
I guess, when it comes down to it, my best advice is to be very gentle with yourself when you're learning something new. It's really easy to look at the long days of feeling inadequate and miss the big picture...that this little thing, that demands so much, has been created out of what?... something bigger than I know how to comprehend.
The days are long, but the years are short. Appreciate the little things and know that each impossible moment will pass and things even out and you will catch your stride.
Ok. Enough with that...breast feeding a new born is NOT EASY for most! If it is easy for you...go with it. If it is HARD, then get help! Call a lactation specialist and get a nipple shield! Please, get a nipple shield. I used it with both of my children and they both "went natural" around 5 months. Smooth sailing after that. They got what they needed and I didn't have bleeding nipples. We both win!
Save your back and get an Ergo Carrier. Much better than a Bjorn.
I used cloth diapers. Use BioKleen detergent from Whole Foods or Charlie's on-line.
Also, expect your world to be turned upside down and get a good therapist!
Always ask questions! You will learn a lot when you start asking and stop complaining. I have learned from experience.
Join a Co-op nursery school when your child is old enough (3 years). The added work is worth it.
xxoo
Tamara: I have been so touched by all of your responses. Thank you so much. This means a lot to me to know that you are here for my niece, with all of your tenderness, experience and good advice.
Viva la Mama.
Love,
Tam
Thank you moms!
MOMNOTES
Jen R: 2 things, Don't bother with the diaper genieb, it's a rip off and unneeded & Buy high quality nursing bras, so worth the money!
Sue: The wipe-warmer is a toss, too... And everyone will love the lavender baby wash- The target brand is just as good as Johnson & Johnson.
Karen: Large flannel "blanket" (about 45x45) was the best swaddling thing for us. Better than those fancy-shmancy velcro crazy things. Plus the flannel fabric folds up pretty small. I got it at the fabric store. Flannel generally comes 45 inches wide so I just bought enough for a square. My mommy hemmed mine for me. (PS Kayleigh, this is on its way.)
Jen P. I loved the wiper warmer. Get some cloth diapers as burp cloths they are cheap. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Get the baby out of your bed and sleeping thru the night asap. Its harder to do the older they get. Diaper genie sucks, cloth diapers suck too. Those nursing tanks are $50 but worth every penny.
If she hasn't had him yet, the drugs are good. Stay in the hospital as long as insurance will let you. That day I opted for no circumcision. Best choice I made. Their willies are perfect the way nature intended and 50% of the kids we know aren't. Nipple cream is awesome stuff. Lactation classes and consultants are wonderful things. Oh after three I have a book of advice.
Jen R: Damn, I wish I had known about Breast milk banking and donation. I moved when my daughter was less than a year and dumped a freezer full. Have your niece look into cord blood donation. I donated from both pregnancies.
Sue: Do not fear The Pacifier... and remind her to cover him during diaper changes or he WILL spray her.. the infant gowns with the drawstring at the bottom .. triple snap onesies for warmer weather... the vibrating infant seat (although they don;t SIT, they RECLINE..) I went through three of them. more to come, I'm sure...
Actually, for the first couple of weeks those little t-shirts are the best.. at least until the cord nubbin falls off. Not to worry if he goes through that flaky, peely phase about 2-3 weeks out- TOTALLY NORMAL. Remember, he's been soaking in water for 40 weeks or so.. :-) the same goes for little bumps on his cheeks (the cheeks on his face..)
Jen R: Here's one thing that a Mom passed on to me (and is a little more delicate) when I had my first child, right after birth, request a stool softner. You will not be released from the hospital until you have a bowel movement, and if you tear....I was so glad to make it easier on myself...Now, how was that for glamorous?
Catherine: The best advice I ever got was from a pediatric nurse who started a service here in Atlanta to help new moms. She now has published a book and started a website so she's available everywhere. Go to momsoncall.com. That book was my freakin' bible - I never would have survived without it. They have a video too that comes with the book that teaches you everything from swaddling to clipping baby's nails. If she follows all the instructions in the book to the letter, her baby will sleep through the night anywhere starting from 6 - 8 weeks. When you're a new mom, sleeping through the night is heaven. You will be her hero if you get her this book. (I bought this and sent it.)
Danine: I might be penning brief bits of advice - that seems to be how my brain is working lately...Thanks Tam for putting me on this advice list...
For the birthing mother - take the drugs...don't try to be a hero...I missed my opportunity with both kids and if anything - take the drugs for ME!
Desitin - the best stuff in a white tube...use it for rash or no rash...it's all purpose and has been around for ages!
Baby Bjorn - the most comfortable child carrier on the market...I had one with Annie (learned the hard way with William) and used it for hikes, shopping, housework...Bruce used it too - very versitile and machine washable!
Don't waste money on items to be used only once or twice...save the money for good diapers - Huggies were my brand of choice...
A good diaper bag is a must... Lands End and LL Bean have a good line...I had a few in varying sizes and later used them as over-night bags...
See if friends/family will organize meals for the new parents...I had a week worth the meals prepared and delivered by friends...I managed the day/time and menu...I didn't have to worry about food preparation - and this offered a chance for my friends to sneak a peek at the newborn!
Cloth diapers make the best burp rags and all purpose...I dyed an entire lot pink for Annie (but remember to wash separately as the dye will leach until final fading)...and on that note - Dreft - I used it religiously with my infant/toddler washings...
A port-a-crib is a nice gift...Doesn't need to be fancy...the less attachments the better...We used ours on vacations, sleep-overs, nap time...etc.
Join a "mothers club"...great for support and hanging out with women/men in the same adventure in life...Hmmm...I will be adding more for sure...my brain has ceased for the moment...cheers!
Kristin: Always remember that you know your baby better than anyone else or any book. Your baby may sleep through the night at 6-8 weeks, or not until 2 years old, and if the advice doesn't feel right, don't take it. NEVER, and I mean NEVER say, "my baby/child would NEVER do that!" while judging another--there is no faster way to get your baby to do such ... I give my vote for the wipe warmer and I still use the Ergo carrier even at almost 4yrs old. It was much more comfortable and easier on my back.
Karen: My other piece of advice: Compliment her on her parenting skills. When I first overheard my mom telling someone what a great and natural mom I am it absolutely made me swell with pride. She will get all kinds of parenting advice from all kinds of people. The most powerful thing you can do is to help her trust her parenting instincts - she will know Milo better than anyone else.
Sue: and THAT is the BEST advice yet...;-)
Danine: Oh yes - the experts will gather...Some have "suggestions" and some have "do-tions"...I remember my mo-in-law reciting passages from her ancient doctor spock book and it was law...My mom is the best...never criticizes, never compares...cheers!
Tamara: Thank you! You guys rock! That is why you are all great moms.
Jen R: Not advice but something I loved. Buy a really good quality stroller, if a double stroller, get a side-by-side with a front swivel wheel. Go out and enjoy the neighborhood. Just to get away from the TV and go outside and breath. Spring/summer babies are born at the perfect time to start a good relationship with the outdoors!
Coleen: I wish I'd had this thread before I had Sean. :)
My best advice is not to be too hard on yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and trying for perfection is self defeating.
I read Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year of Life" before having Sean and at first I thought she was crazy to think (or actually admit) the things she did, but later I was grateful to know that at least one other mother felt the way I did when the baby cried and cried and I was totally sleep deprived and wishing I could put him back in the womb just for another week or so. ;)
Tamara: Thanks, Coleen! That's great advice. I read Operating Instructions, too. That was a great book. (I'm just re-reading Bird by Bird right now.) You've got to love that honesty in Anne Lamott. She lays it out there, and the rest of us breathe a sigh of relief that we're not the only one hiding jealousy or frustration or feelings of hopelessness. And she has the guts and the wry humor to put it in a way that we can laugh with her and take ourselves just a little bit less seriously.
Jen P: Anne Lamott is one of my very favorite authors too. Operating instructions is a gift I usually give to new moms.
Tyla: There has been such an intense response to this thread that I've been thinking hard about what to add.
I guess, when it comes down to it, my best advice is to be very gentle with yourself when you're learning something new. It's really easy to look at the long days of feeling inadequate and miss the big picture...that this little thing, that demands so much, has been created out of what?... something bigger than I know how to comprehend.
The days are long, but the years are short. Appreciate the little things and know that each impossible moment will pass and things even out and you will catch your stride.
Ok. Enough with that...breast feeding a new born is NOT EASY for most! If it is easy for you...go with it. If it is HARD, then get help! Call a lactation specialist and get a nipple shield! Please, get a nipple shield. I used it with both of my children and they both "went natural" around 5 months. Smooth sailing after that. They got what they needed and I didn't have bleeding nipples. We both win!
Save your back and get an Ergo Carrier. Much better than a Bjorn.
I used cloth diapers. Use BioKleen detergent from Whole Foods or Charlie's on-line.
Also, expect your world to be turned upside down and get a good therapist!
Always ask questions! You will learn a lot when you start asking and stop complaining. I have learned from experience.
Join a Co-op nursery school when your child is old enough (3 years). The added work is worth it.
xxoo
Tamara: I have been so touched by all of your responses. Thank you so much. This means a lot to me to know that you are here for my niece, with all of your tenderness, experience and good advice.
Viva la Mama.
Love,
Tam
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Packing List Notes
Just a quick note on the packing list:
Because Maui is warmer, I could have left behind the 2 t-shirts, rain jacket, and I barely wore 2 of the 3 long-sleeve cover-ups.
I bought 1 strappy cotton dress
Also totally blew off running, so ditch the running shorts, running shoes and socks, and running bra! Never wore the 1 piece bathing suit, but I still swam a little.
I wore most of everything else once, but I think I can still shave down the list.
If you are a contact lens wearer like I am, and you have extra cases around, you can use them for things that you need small supplies of for a short vacation, like styling cream or foundation.
Also, if you are trying to pack for carry-on only, don't forget to put all liquids (and only the liquids) in a quart-size ziplock bag. Liquids are limited to as many three ounce containers as you can fit in the bag. The inspectors go by the ounces printed on the container, so don't do what I did and think that a half-empty six ounce tube of sunscreen will make it through.
(Bummer, because I can't get the same sunscreen here, and it's the only one that smells like a Hawaiian vacation.)
Because Maui is warmer, I could have left behind the 2 t-shirts, rain jacket, and I barely wore 2 of the 3 long-sleeve cover-ups.
I bought 1 strappy cotton dress
Also totally blew off running, so ditch the running shorts, running shoes and socks, and running bra! Never wore the 1 piece bathing suit, but I still swam a little.
I wore most of everything else once, but I think I can still shave down the list.
If you are a contact lens wearer like I am, and you have extra cases around, you can use them for things that you need small supplies of for a short vacation, like styling cream or foundation.
Also, if you are trying to pack for carry-on only, don't forget to put all liquids (and only the liquids) in a quart-size ziplock bag. Liquids are limited to as many three ounce containers as you can fit in the bag. The inspectors go by the ounces printed on the container, so don't do what I did and think that a half-empty six ounce tube of sunscreen will make it through.
(Bummer, because I can't get the same sunscreen here, and it's the only one that smells like a Hawaiian vacation.)
Shameless Plug
Hi there,I'm going tonight to see my friend Tani's daughter, Rosie Vaughn, perform in The Children's Hour at the Stockton Civic Theatre. Rosie happens to be the surly-looking little girl in the picture above. She has a (the?) starring role. If you've seen her youtube videos, you know that she is not always so surly looking and is a very good singer as well as an actress. I'm looking forward to the production. If you live nearby and get a chance, it runs through this Sunday. Mature themes, apparently, as well.
Timer just went off for the Chocolate Fudge Cake I am baking for someone's birthday this weekend. I'll let you know how that turns out in the next post.
For My Friend Randy Who Sends Me Random Ideas
What Are You Standing On?
I. What I am standing on
is an island
an island
so small
I can feel
each particle of earth
slip away
under the ridges
on the prints
of my toes.
II. What I am exploring
with my arms and legs
is warm
and large as a mountain
with head-high stalks
impeding every step.
I throw out a line
to steady myself.
The wind catches it
and I drift away.
I. What I am standing on
is an island
an island
so small
I can feel
each particle of earth
slip away
under the ridges
on the prints
of my toes.
II. What I am exploring
with my arms and legs
is warm
and large as a mountain
with head-high stalks
impeding every step.
I throw out a line
to steady myself.
The wind catches it
and I drift away.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
What It Was Like
Pre-race: I couldn't sleep past five a.m. for the four days before the race, so on race day, I got up at quarter to five and took a shower. Wasn't planning on taking one, but though I was up, I wasn't awake, and I needed the hot water. Fed the dogs. Made a smoothie, drank it, even though my stomach was jumping with nerves. Took my vitamins. Contemplated coffee. Made some, but didn't drink it. Thought through my race gear. Finally woke up Mike and Grandpa at 5:30 and we were out the door by 5:50.
Grandpa and I made it to the gates by 6:36, and the parking lot was already 3/4 full. As we drove in slowly past the "LOT FULL" signs, racers pushed their bikes like pilgrims through the rain to the check-in, lining both sides of the road. No smiles yet. I had to leave him at the car to wait for Mike while I made the long, long walk with my bike and gear to the transition set-up area. On the way, I heard someone say, "Are we crazy? Yes, we are."
Set up as best I could in the transition area, considering it was raining and nothing could be laid out neatly as planned. Checked in. Shared my extra safety pins and with a fellow racer. Chatted with the nice competitors next to me, male and female. Everyone was in a good mood in spite of the weather. Everyone except for the late arrival who shouted, "This SUCKS!" and ran, presumably, the two miles back to his car for the cursed missing piece of gear. And the woman who was sure that she could hang just one more bike on the teetering rack next to us and it would be just fine. (It wasn't.)
Wetsuit went on fairly easy. Wearing socks helps it over the feet, and having shorts and a rash guard on underneath allowed it to slide up much easier than that first naked, sweaty try-on at home when I was sure it was too tight and the wrong size. Cap, goggles, chip. Ready!
The Swim: 58 degrees. I still feel just a tiny bit sick to my stomach when I think about the start of the swim. Gray sky, drizzling rain, hundreds of yellow-capped penguins all standing barefoot on cold, squishy mud, hopping from foot to freezing foot. Thinking about stretching but shivering instead, chanting, Start, Start, Start inside our heads. Then, according to the rules at this particular race, we ambled forward in rigid and reluctant groups toward the shore and walked in, starting in "waves".
I was in the third wave, having waited just long enough to see which buoy to swim to first (and watch one freezing, Speedo-clad contestant back-stroking back to the shore). All I could think of for the first four minutes was "WHAT the hell am I doing? WHY did I get myself into this? This is NO FUN. This is STUPID. I am STUPID. This is f**&%%ing COLD." But I kept telling myself that it was a fifteen minute swim and no matter what, it would be over in fifteen minutes. As I neared the first buoy, I started to get out of the crowd and into a rhythm. It still felt like it was really far from one marker to the next. Time was slowed way down. It was reassuring to hear my watch go off at the first five-minute interval and realize that I was swimming the first leg of the triangle steadily and hadn't frozen or hyperventilated. I passed people, and people also passed me. I felt strong for the rest of the swim.
A tri-curious friend asked if I got "beat up" on the swim. I did not, and I don't think anyone else did either. Because of the wave starts, the more aggressive, time-driven people have a chance to go out first. Everyone in the wave gets the same start time, so everyone starts when they start, rather than feeling that they are losing time by not leaving the shore immediately. So yes, people touched each other, ran into each other a little, but it was good-natured and thinned out by about midway. It clustered up a little around each buoy and at the end, but no one got hurt as far as I know. A couple of people got too cold and had to be towed or escorted back in. Did I mention that the water temperature was 58 degrees? When I was out, I was just glad to be out and headed for the bike. My feet were so cold as I trotted up the ramp (wasn't really a run, but faster than a walk) that I didn't notice the rocks, the bruises from which a massage therapist found on the bottoms of my feet on Monday.
Later that day, I wondered if I could have gone harder or faster, but it was hard to tell exactly how hard I was working, between the water temperature, the people, and the adrenaline. My muscles told me the next day that I worked plenty hard.
Bike: In retrospect, this was the most fun part. Probably because I feared it the most, and I took it easier because of the wet pavement. Took me a little longer to get my wetsuit off and get geared up than I'd hoped. I missed the neatly laid-out towel o' gear that I had planned for, due to the still-drizzling rain, and I had to fish a couple of things out of my bag. But all went well for the most part, and off I went, loaded up with enough snacks and fluids for an ironman.
I got a tip prior to the race that I should wear a nylon swim cap under my helmet to prevent the cold wind from whistling through the holes. I popped it on as soon as I took off my yellow race cap, but forgot to readjust my ponytail from "goggle-holder" position. This is the reason I look like a total loony toon in all of the pictures of me on the bike.
I had a really good time riding, knowing that the dreaded cold-water portion of my day was over, and there was nothing but dryness and a shower in my future, so first of all, I am smiling in all of the pictures. But the black cap is creeping forward over my face, and the helmet, which never quite settled over the button of my wet ponytail, is following it. So I look a little like a kid who takes the short bus, minus the elbow pads, plus the fancy bike and neon yellow windbreaker. I was one of, I think, three people in the race in a neon yellow wind-breaker. (I love that damn windbreaker. It's light as a feather, rain-proof, and keeps cars from hitting me.) Mike photographed all of them approaching, just in case it was me.
About halfway out, I saw the leaders zooming back down the hill to race central. They all looked like lean, powerful, biking machines. I beamed encouragingly at their blurs as they passed and tried to keep my cadence up.
There were a couple of women who made little circles with me, falling back or moving ahead of each other according to our strengths. A big girl in red zoomed by me on the flats, then fell back on the hills. Another woman in a black one-piece tri-suit huffed and puffed and dropped and ascended, eventually leaving me behind. At one point, I was overtaken by a jingling, squeaking, clanking apparition of a man on a very old bike-- in a tri-suit so worn and threadbare that it could have been painted on. From the back at least. Thank goodness I didn't see the front.
Except for the helmet slowly slipping over my eyes, and the constant debate about whether or not to disobey Mike's specific request NOT to take my windbreaker sleeves off without stopping the bike, I had a great, steady ride, not falling down (goal number 2) and coming in, in the end, in just about the time I'd estimated. There were a couple of times I started thinking that I actually liked triathloning, and wondering what I'd do differently in the next one, and I had to remind myself to BE HERE NOW, doing this one.
The Run: This was my shortest transition, as it only required the removal of the helmet and windbreaker, and the change from biking to running shoes. Got a little stuck getting the windbreaker off, since in my indecisiveness I had partially unzipped it and disconnected the sleeves from the body. Note to self: do not do this in the future. Much easier to get sleeves off if attached. I was momentarily trapped in just the sleeves, which would have meant running in a fluorescent yellow shrug. Stylish, but not necessarily practical. Eventually I got it off.
I should mention that Mike had (amazingly and skillfully) successfully located and transported Grandpa to a spectating spot less than ten feet from where all this is taking place. The two of them coached me brightly through the transitions from the sidelines under their umbrellas, through rain and shine. Mike reminded me of the items in my checklist (Got your water? Gloves? Want a Coke? Did you eat something?) and Grandpa just beamed and said, "Good job, Tamara!" (About the time I came in for the run, the event winners were being announced over the loudspeakers. Such is sprinting.)
It felt good to be near the end, but time was still going slowly and fast at the same time. I had done a few bike to run transitions to practice, so I expected my quads to feel numb and stump-like. But I had taken the uphills in such low gears, with such high cadence, (and so very, very slowly) that they felt ok. It was my calves that started to complain and wimp out on the first long hill. I stopped briefly and stretched. People were conking out around me. I soon discovered that the energy gummies I had stashed in my back pocket were slapping around and annoying me, so I tried to give them to anyone who even hinted that their pace might slow. I gave a few to an older woman who seemed to have a half-walk, half-fun strategy, and finally handed them off to a nice man who told me I was a lifesaver. Each time I stretched, I could not get my calves to fully un-knot themselves. (This is not an excuse.)
As we approached the last hill before the turn-around, I fought the urge to stop or to walk. Until I saw everyone else (at this point, it's everyone else who is in the middle of the pack) slow down and some walk. My goals at the start were: 1) finish, 2) don't fall down, and 3) have fun, so although I had thrown some last-minute sub-goals on there, like 3a) no walking, I decided that I had a better chance of making the first three if I threw that one back out. The battle really is in the head more than in the body. So I walked, very fast, mind you, and while attempting to stretch my calves, the last ten yards to the water station, took a cup of water, drank half and dumped the rest on my head, and turned to run all the way back to the finish line. How thoughtful of the race organizers for making sure the last portion of the run was downhill.
The Finish: Rather than encouraging zooming all the way in to the weirdly off-kilter finish line via the smooth and downwardly sloping pavement, the organizers also thoughtfully eliminate potential speed-related accidents by adding in a section of up and down, twisting, soft-soiled pathways en route. So in the pictures, you can see me running picturesquely through the dusky countryside, sort of unevenly thumping and bumping. I was wishing I had the juice to finish spectacularly and sprint in with big strides eating up the distance, but it wasn't going to happen. I kept running, though. As I approached the line, I DID IT! I DID IT! started to ring in my mind, and I saw Mike behind the line, behind the camera, and I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of myself for doing something that I've always wanted to do, but never believed that I would, or could.
I can start belittling myself, for the short distance, or the fact that I took the hills easy or walked a little, or any number of things, but the fact is, I did it. I never thought I could, and I did. It wasn't easy, it was hard. The training up to that point took commitment, and faith that if I just did a little bit, every day, I could do it. And I did. And that is something to be proud of.
Grandpa and I made it to the gates by 6:36, and the parking lot was already 3/4 full. As we drove in slowly past the "LOT FULL" signs, racers pushed their bikes like pilgrims through the rain to the check-in, lining both sides of the road. No smiles yet. I had to leave him at the car to wait for Mike while I made the long, long walk with my bike and gear to the transition set-up area. On the way, I heard someone say, "Are we crazy? Yes, we are."
Set up as best I could in the transition area, considering it was raining and nothing could be laid out neatly as planned. Checked in. Shared my extra safety pins and with a fellow racer. Chatted with the nice competitors next to me, male and female. Everyone was in a good mood in spite of the weather. Everyone except for the late arrival who shouted, "This SUCKS!" and ran, presumably, the two miles back to his car for the cursed missing piece of gear. And the woman who was sure that she could hang just one more bike on the teetering rack next to us and it would be just fine. (It wasn't.)
Wetsuit went on fairly easy. Wearing socks helps it over the feet, and having shorts and a rash guard on underneath allowed it to slide up much easier than that first naked, sweaty try-on at home when I was sure it was too tight and the wrong size. Cap, goggles, chip. Ready!
The Swim: 58 degrees. I still feel just a tiny bit sick to my stomach when I think about the start of the swim. Gray sky, drizzling rain, hundreds of yellow-capped penguins all standing barefoot on cold, squishy mud, hopping from foot to freezing foot. Thinking about stretching but shivering instead, chanting, Start, Start, Start inside our heads. Then, according to the rules at this particular race, we ambled forward in rigid and reluctant groups toward the shore and walked in, starting in "waves".
I was in the third wave, having waited just long enough to see which buoy to swim to first (and watch one freezing, Speedo-clad contestant back-stroking back to the shore). All I could think of for the first four minutes was "WHAT the hell am I doing? WHY did I get myself into this? This is NO FUN. This is STUPID. I am STUPID. This is f**&%%ing COLD." But I kept telling myself that it was a fifteen minute swim and no matter what, it would be over in fifteen minutes. As I neared the first buoy, I started to get out of the crowd and into a rhythm. It still felt like it was really far from one marker to the next. Time was slowed way down. It was reassuring to hear my watch go off at the first five-minute interval and realize that I was swimming the first leg of the triangle steadily and hadn't frozen or hyperventilated. I passed people, and people also passed me. I felt strong for the rest of the swim.
A tri-curious friend asked if I got "beat up" on the swim. I did not, and I don't think anyone else did either. Because of the wave starts, the more aggressive, time-driven people have a chance to go out first. Everyone in the wave gets the same start time, so everyone starts when they start, rather than feeling that they are losing time by not leaving the shore immediately. So yes, people touched each other, ran into each other a little, but it was good-natured and thinned out by about midway. It clustered up a little around each buoy and at the end, but no one got hurt as far as I know. A couple of people got too cold and had to be towed or escorted back in. Did I mention that the water temperature was 58 degrees? When I was out, I was just glad to be out and headed for the bike. My feet were so cold as I trotted up the ramp (wasn't really a run, but faster than a walk) that I didn't notice the rocks, the bruises from which a massage therapist found on the bottoms of my feet on Monday.
Later that day, I wondered if I could have gone harder or faster, but it was hard to tell exactly how hard I was working, between the water temperature, the people, and the adrenaline. My muscles told me the next day that I worked plenty hard.
Bike: In retrospect, this was the most fun part. Probably because I feared it the most, and I took it easier because of the wet pavement. Took me a little longer to get my wetsuit off and get geared up than I'd hoped. I missed the neatly laid-out towel o' gear that I had planned for, due to the still-drizzling rain, and I had to fish a couple of things out of my bag. But all went well for the most part, and off I went, loaded up with enough snacks and fluids for an ironman.
I got a tip prior to the race that I should wear a nylon swim cap under my helmet to prevent the cold wind from whistling through the holes. I popped it on as soon as I took off my yellow race cap, but forgot to readjust my ponytail from "goggle-holder" position. This is the reason I look like a total loony toon in all of the pictures of me on the bike.
I had a really good time riding, knowing that the dreaded cold-water portion of my day was over, and there was nothing but dryness and a shower in my future, so first of all, I am smiling in all of the pictures. But the black cap is creeping forward over my face, and the helmet, which never quite settled over the button of my wet ponytail, is following it. So I look a little like a kid who takes the short bus, minus the elbow pads, plus the fancy bike and neon yellow windbreaker. I was one of, I think, three people in the race in a neon yellow wind-breaker. (I love that damn windbreaker. It's light as a feather, rain-proof, and keeps cars from hitting me.) Mike photographed all of them approaching, just in case it was me.
About halfway out, I saw the leaders zooming back down the hill to race central. They all looked like lean, powerful, biking machines. I beamed encouragingly at their blurs as they passed and tried to keep my cadence up.
There were a couple of women who made little circles with me, falling back or moving ahead of each other according to our strengths. A big girl in red zoomed by me on the flats, then fell back on the hills. Another woman in a black one-piece tri-suit huffed and puffed and dropped and ascended, eventually leaving me behind. At one point, I was overtaken by a jingling, squeaking, clanking apparition of a man on a very old bike-- in a tri-suit so worn and threadbare that it could have been painted on. From the back at least. Thank goodness I didn't see the front.
Except for the helmet slowly slipping over my eyes, and the constant debate about whether or not to disobey Mike's specific request NOT to take my windbreaker sleeves off without stopping the bike, I had a great, steady ride, not falling down (goal number 2) and coming in, in the end, in just about the time I'd estimated. There were a couple of times I started thinking that I actually liked triathloning, and wondering what I'd do differently in the next one, and I had to remind myself to BE HERE NOW, doing this one.
The Run: This was my shortest transition, as it only required the removal of the helmet and windbreaker, and the change from biking to running shoes. Got a little stuck getting the windbreaker off, since in my indecisiveness I had partially unzipped it and disconnected the sleeves from the body. Note to self: do not do this in the future. Much easier to get sleeves off if attached. I was momentarily trapped in just the sleeves, which would have meant running in a fluorescent yellow shrug. Stylish, but not necessarily practical. Eventually I got it off.
I should mention that Mike had (amazingly and skillfully) successfully located and transported Grandpa to a spectating spot less than ten feet from where all this is taking place. The two of them coached me brightly through the transitions from the sidelines under their umbrellas, through rain and shine. Mike reminded me of the items in my checklist (Got your water? Gloves? Want a Coke? Did you eat something?) and Grandpa just beamed and said, "Good job, Tamara!" (About the time I came in for the run, the event winners were being announced over the loudspeakers. Such is sprinting.)
It felt good to be near the end, but time was still going slowly and fast at the same time. I had done a few bike to run transitions to practice, so I expected my quads to feel numb and stump-like. But I had taken the uphills in such low gears, with such high cadence, (and so very, very slowly) that they felt ok. It was my calves that started to complain and wimp out on the first long hill. I stopped briefly and stretched. People were conking out around me. I soon discovered that the energy gummies I had stashed in my back pocket were slapping around and annoying me, so I tried to give them to anyone who even hinted that their pace might slow. I gave a few to an older woman who seemed to have a half-walk, half-fun strategy, and finally handed them off to a nice man who told me I was a lifesaver. Each time I stretched, I could not get my calves to fully un-knot themselves. (This is not an excuse.)
As we approached the last hill before the turn-around, I fought the urge to stop or to walk. Until I saw everyone else (at this point, it's everyone else who is in the middle of the pack) slow down and some walk. My goals at the start were: 1) finish, 2) don't fall down, and 3) have fun, so although I had thrown some last-minute sub-goals on there, like 3a) no walking, I decided that I had a better chance of making the first three if I threw that one back out. The battle really is in the head more than in the body. So I walked, very fast, mind you, and while attempting to stretch my calves, the last ten yards to the water station, took a cup of water, drank half and dumped the rest on my head, and turned to run all the way back to the finish line. How thoughtful of the race organizers for making sure the last portion of the run was downhill.
The Finish: Rather than encouraging zooming all the way in to the weirdly off-kilter finish line via the smooth and downwardly sloping pavement, the organizers also thoughtfully eliminate potential speed-related accidents by adding in a section of up and down, twisting, soft-soiled pathways en route. So in the pictures, you can see me running picturesquely through the dusky countryside, sort of unevenly thumping and bumping. I was wishing I had the juice to finish spectacularly and sprint in with big strides eating up the distance, but it wasn't going to happen. I kept running, though. As I approached the line, I DID IT! I DID IT! started to ring in my mind, and I saw Mike behind the line, behind the camera, and I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of myself for doing something that I've always wanted to do, but never believed that I would, or could.
I can start belittling myself, for the short distance, or the fact that I took the hills easy or walked a little, or any number of things, but the fact is, I did it. I never thought I could, and I did. It wasn't easy, it was hard. The training up to that point took commitment, and faith that if I just did a little bit, every day, I could do it. And I did. And that is something to be proud of.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Genovese (Genoese) Minestrone
This is a soup from The Gradual Vegetarian, my college go-to cookbook, that got me through many a foggy and fund-less Santa Cruz winter month. This recipe serves approximately 4. I almost always double it now.
Genovese Minestrone
1/2 cup split peas, washed and drained
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 small zucchini squash, sliced
1 cup chopped escarole or spinach, washed and drained
1/2 cup cooked or canned white or kidney beans
1 celery rib, chopped
1 tomato, quartered (optional)
1 bay leaf (totally optional)
1 tsp oregano
1 cup cooked macaroni
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese
if you have pesto on hand, which I often do, I stir a heaping teaspoon into each hot bowlful and serve with crusty bread.
Bring split peas and 1 quart water to a boil. Heat oil and saute onion and garlic. Add other vegetables and herbs and saute briefly. When the peas are falling apart, about 30 minutes after they start to boil, add the sauteed vegetables and cook another 15 minutes. Add the cooked macaroni, taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with parmesan cheese, and/or pesto.
Genovese Minestrone
1/2 cup split peas, washed and drained
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 small zucchini squash, sliced
1 cup chopped escarole or spinach, washed and drained
1/2 cup cooked or canned white or kidney beans
1 celery rib, chopped
1 tomato, quartered (optional)
1 bay leaf (totally optional)
1 tsp oregano
1 cup cooked macaroni
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese
if you have pesto on hand, which I often do, I stir a heaping teaspoon into each hot bowlful and serve with crusty bread.
Bring split peas and 1 quart water to a boil. Heat oil and saute onion and garlic. Add other vegetables and herbs and saute briefly. When the peas are falling apart, about 30 minutes after they start to boil, add the sauteed vegetables and cook another 15 minutes. Add the cooked macaroni, taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with parmesan cheese, and/or pesto.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Packing List for a Tropical Vacation
On to the next thing...
We're off on our annual anniversary trip next week. This is my complete packing list from last year's post-vacation post. What I took really worked. I used everything and it fit in one bag. Thought if anyone else was taking a trip this summer, it might come in handy for you, too.
My packing list:
flip flops (black- worn to airport, too)
tevas (for rugged terrain- black)
running shoes (not necessary if you don't run, or substitute a waterproof running shoe for both teva and running and save more space. If you plan to horseback ride or lava hike, be sure to take at least one covered shoe.)
hat- soft, packable (neutral tan color)
at least 2 swimsuits (mix and match is best- dark colors)
(I took 1 one piece suit for surfing- light blue print)
rashguard
board shorts
cotton shorts, knee length (dark brown)
2-3 cotton tissue t-shirts, short-sleeved (sea-blue, white, green)
1 loose fitting cotton t-shirt with surf logo (light blue)
1 light tissue cotton or performance t-shirt, long-sleeved (white)
cotton capri/pants (white)
knee-length comfy yoga shorts (black)
thigh-length comfy yoga shorts (black)
long-sleeved Indian-type cotton blouse (light blue)
long-sleeved sheer pretty print blouse/cover-up (green, brown, blue, tan)
sleeveless cotton yoga/athletic top (brown)
3 cotton camisoles (white, black, sea-blue)
(underwear, at least one pair for each day of the trip before wash day mid-way)
1 dark bra, 1 beige, 1 running bra
packable rain jacket (grass-green, super-light, packs to 2x4x5")
light wrap/sweater for the evening and the airplane (mine is bright blue)
1-2 pairs running socks
1 pair short black sockettes
My top five items:
-thin-strap black flip-flops with arch support (here's one source, mine are Reefs)
A little bit of arch support is crucial for day-to-day comfort. If the shoes are too spongy or thick, I also find that the rebound affects my knee injury. In Hawai'i, flip flops are appropriate for all but the most dressed-up affairs. I find thinner straps more versatile.
-knee-length, non-shiny yoga-type shorts (black)
-light-colored, long-sleeved Indian cotton blouse (light blue)
-reef-safe and UVA/UVB sunscreen
-at least two swimsuits (two-piece, mix and match)
What I wish I had:
Halter-style, good coverage beach/casual dress (maybe this one, maybe not, I wanted something soft and drapey)
Environmentally friendly mosquito repellant
Short skirt, wrinkle-proof (Prana makes this cool brown one.) It isn't really necessary with all of the other bottoms I brought, but I find I lean more towards pants and shorts, and sometimes I like to look a little more girly.
reef booties- easy to walk to rocky snorkel spots and comfy on the feet-- super dorky, though
What I brought that I didn't use:
2 pairs cotton shorts (light stone)
1 band-collar long-sleeved cotton shirt (white)
tan leather flip flops- these just weren't as comfortable as the black ones
printed cotton dress- wasn't very flattering on
nightgown
I wore a comfortable black cotton top with a light sweater (also black- travel can be dirty) and jeans for the drive to and from the airport, and I always bring a wrap of some kind because the plane gets cold. I take a structured purse/tote with a zippered middle pocket for the plane, and carry a small zippered wallet instead of a purse throughout the trip. When I don't wear shoes with socks to the airport, I bring little black sockies to slip on through security. These little sockies have also come in handy as indoor slippers and even reef booties to save my feet from fin rub blisters.
In general, the clothes I took were neutrals, with accents of light and dark blue and some green. My light long-sleeved tops were hip to fingertip length for butt coverage. Camisoles and undies or short yoga shorts double as jammies. Short yoga shorts went over suit bottoms to and from the beach.
I try to bridge temperatures by bringing light-colored, long-sleeved items and a few dark-colored, short-sleeved items, so that if it's a little chilly, the sun will warm me up, and if it's a little warm, I'll reflect the sun's rays and stay covered and cool. The temperature when we were in Hawai'i was very moderate, 70s to mid-80s, so I used the long-sleeved pieces more than I might have in hotter weather. The t-shirts I took were inexpensive tissue-tees, in colors that I think are flattering on me.
The only jewelry I took was my every day wear: silver hoops and a weighty silver choker with a white mother of pearl pendant.
On many days, I wore my swimsuit top throughout the day, so make sure yours is supportive and flattering, and take at least two so you'll always have a dry one. Big prints are more obvious than solids or narrow stripes if they show through a shirt or cover-up. I like a halter style that ties. If you're driving around the islands, you may change elevation and temperature, so I always threw the rain jacket, an extra layer and the tevas or tennies in the car just in case.
Don't forget: sunglasses, sunscreen, music (airplane headphones if you have them from another trip), a good book for downtime. Waterproof bandaids and antibiotic ointment. Hand-sani.
Remember, when you are curious, compassionate and joyful, you look your best. (Thanks, Susan Sarandon for that quote.) Have a great trip, wherever you go!
We're off on our annual anniversary trip next week. This is my complete packing list from last year's post-vacation post. What I took really worked. I used everything and it fit in one bag. Thought if anyone else was taking a trip this summer, it might come in handy for you, too.
My packing list:
flip flops (black- worn to airport, too)
tevas (for rugged terrain- black)
running shoes (not necessary if you don't run, or substitute a waterproof running shoe for both teva and running and save more space. If you plan to horseback ride or lava hike, be sure to take at least one covered shoe.)
hat- soft, packable (neutral tan color)
at least 2 swimsuits (mix and match is best- dark colors)
(I took 1 one piece suit for surfing- light blue print)
rashguard
board shorts
cotton shorts, knee length (dark brown)
2-3 cotton tissue t-shirts, short-sleeved (sea-blue, white, green)
1 loose fitting cotton t-shirt with surf logo (light blue)
1 light tissue cotton or performance t-shirt, long-sleeved (white)
cotton capri/pants (white)
knee-length comfy yoga shorts (black)
thigh-length comfy yoga shorts (black)
long-sleeved Indian-type cotton blouse (light blue)
long-sleeved sheer pretty print blouse/cover-up (green, brown, blue, tan)
sleeveless cotton yoga/athletic top (brown)
3 cotton camisoles (white, black, sea-blue)
(underwear, at least one pair for each day of the trip before wash day mid-way)
1 dark bra, 1 beige, 1 running bra
packable rain jacket (grass-green, super-light, packs to 2x4x5")
light wrap/sweater for the evening and the airplane (mine is bright blue)
1-2 pairs running socks
1 pair short black sockettes
My top five items:
-thin-strap black flip-flops with arch support (here's one source, mine are Reefs)
A little bit of arch support is crucial for day-to-day comfort. If the shoes are too spongy or thick, I also find that the rebound affects my knee injury. In Hawai'i, flip flops are appropriate for all but the most dressed-up affairs. I find thinner straps more versatile.
-knee-length, non-shiny yoga-type shorts (black)
-light-colored, long-sleeved Indian cotton blouse (light blue)
-reef-safe and UVA/UVB sunscreen
-at least two swimsuits (two-piece, mix and match)
What I wish I had:
Halter-style, good coverage beach/casual dress (maybe this one, maybe not, I wanted something soft and drapey)
Environmentally friendly mosquito repellant
Short skirt, wrinkle-proof (Prana makes this cool brown one.) It isn't really necessary with all of the other bottoms I brought, but I find I lean more towards pants and shorts, and sometimes I like to look a little more girly.
reef booties- easy to walk to rocky snorkel spots and comfy on the feet-- super dorky, though
What I brought that I didn't use:
2 pairs cotton shorts (light stone)
1 band-collar long-sleeved cotton shirt (white)
tan leather flip flops- these just weren't as comfortable as the black ones
printed cotton dress- wasn't very flattering on
nightgown
I wore a comfortable black cotton top with a light sweater (also black- travel can be dirty) and jeans for the drive to and from the airport, and I always bring a wrap of some kind because the plane gets cold. I take a structured purse/tote with a zippered middle pocket for the plane, and carry a small zippered wallet instead of a purse throughout the trip. When I don't wear shoes with socks to the airport, I bring little black sockies to slip on through security. These little sockies have also come in handy as indoor slippers and even reef booties to save my feet from fin rub blisters.
In general, the clothes I took were neutrals, with accents of light and dark blue and some green. My light long-sleeved tops were hip to fingertip length for butt coverage. Camisoles and undies or short yoga shorts double as jammies. Short yoga shorts went over suit bottoms to and from the beach.
I try to bridge temperatures by bringing light-colored, long-sleeved items and a few dark-colored, short-sleeved items, so that if it's a little chilly, the sun will warm me up, and if it's a little warm, I'll reflect the sun's rays and stay covered and cool. The temperature when we were in Hawai'i was very moderate, 70s to mid-80s, so I used the long-sleeved pieces more than I might have in hotter weather. The t-shirts I took were inexpensive tissue-tees, in colors that I think are flattering on me.
The only jewelry I took was my every day wear: silver hoops and a weighty silver choker with a white mother of pearl pendant.
On many days, I wore my swimsuit top throughout the day, so make sure yours is supportive and flattering, and take at least two so you'll always have a dry one. Big prints are more obvious than solids or narrow stripes if they show through a shirt or cover-up. I like a halter style that ties. If you're driving around the islands, you may change elevation and temperature, so I always threw the rain jacket, an extra layer and the tevas or tennies in the car just in case.
Don't forget: sunglasses, sunscreen, music (airplane headphones if you have them from another trip), a good book for downtime. Waterproof bandaids and antibiotic ointment. Hand-sani.
Remember, when you are curious, compassionate and joyful, you look your best. (Thanks, Susan Sarandon for that quote.) Have a great trip, wherever you go!
Monday, May 4, 2009
I Did It!
Forget what I said about the lake being totally fine. It was 58 degrees! Of course, that meant that it didn't matter that it rained on us, which it did right up through the middle of the bike. I reached all of my goals: 1) completing my first (sprint) triathlon, 2) having fun, and 3) not falling down. Hooray! More on the philosophical aspects of this whole thing later on. Thanks to everyone, on facebook and otherwise, who cheered me on from near and far! I appreciated every word. (PS- I came in 17th in my age group (right in the middle), fifth among chicas my size, and I was the only one in my age group and class.)
(I do not always look like such a dork-- I wore a nylon swim cap under my helmet, and it slid too far forward at the end. I remembered to bring my spare tire, too.)
(I do not always look like such a dork-- I wore a nylon swim cap under my helmet, and it slid too far forward at the end. I remembered to bring my spare tire, too.)
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