I am very happy right now. I don’t have big plans to announce, I’m just simply happy to be here, writing these words on my computer to all of you, knowing I have a triathlon days away, many job applications percolating out in the universe, relieved that our dog Guinness is old, but not sick, and thrilled that Marion had a great first day of work at his new job yesterday. It also feels like winter here in SoCal. Crazy, but true. It’s cold outside. Also, it has been raining, and will rain again later this week. Although, it should be dry on Sunday for my race out in Indian Wells, CA, but it’s nice to feel a shift in the weather, the change feels natural, I like it.
I think another reason why I am feeling warm and sunny on the inside, is because this past week was filled with quality time spent with the most precious people in my life.
Marion had a couple of weeks off in between wrapping Season 2 of Lost In Space, (which premieres December 24th on Netflix), before he started his new job as a Visual Effects Supervisor at Digital Domain, (mentioned above), a rare and awesome staff position located in LA. He will still need to travel for work here and there, (most principal photography for movies and TV is shot in Canada or Atlanta), but the years of us living in two separate countries for chunks at a time are behind us.
We didn’t do anything special, no quick get-a-way’s, we just spent more time together doing everyday things like, early bedtimes, running errands together, and a lot of sweeping, (two large, shedding dogs = a lot of sweeping), but there was a lot of magic found in those mellow moments, and I drank in every single one of them. For those Lost in Space fans out there, don’t worry, he will be able to work on Season 3, (if it gets renewed), just in a different capacity. I promise to keep you all in the loop once I know more.
Another highlight of last week was a visit from a fun houseguest, my sister Sarah.
Sarah and Blueberry bonding last Tuesday morning.
We do not get many visitors in our ‘hood, both because when my siblings visit it makes more sense for them to stay with my parents in Claremont, (Mom/Step-Dad), and/or Palos Verdes, (Dad/Step Mom), but also because I don’t invite them. Our house is old, small, and chewed up from over a decade of dogs running amuck, but we love it, and it sits a block away from a Trader Joe’s, (a hallowed location), it just doesn’t scream, AirBnB 5-Star rating. Nevertheless, everyone is always welcome to stay with us at our north San Fernando Valley cozy abode, I just don’t know why they would want to? But, Sarah did!! And it was wonderful to have her!
Next up, was a blustery, yet beautiful Thanksgiving at my Dad’s house in Palos Verdes.
Thanksgiving storms rolling through my Dad's backyard.
We had a larger roster than usual this year, (thirty-eight people, I believe), which with the inclement weather made things interesting. However, my step-mom, Sally, makes Martha Stewart look like a well-meaning intern, and transformed their garage into a gorgeous, festive, and intimate setting for all of us to enjoy a bounty of delicious food and even tastier company.
Enjoying our first, "Garage Thanksgiving."
The day passed too fast, and it was special for many reasons, but what shone the brightest was that it was my nearly nine-year old niece and God-daughter, Kate's first Thanksgiving in America.
If you read my book, 35 By 35: A Runner's Quest, you know that my brother Tim and his family had been living in Basel, Switzerland for years, (where Kate was born), and they just spent the last two years in London, but they moved to Boston last Summer, still far away from California, but we no longer have an ocean between us, which is a vast improvement. We’re practically neighbors.
My niece Kate being flanked by both of her Godparent's, as my brother Bo flew up from Mexico for the holiday. My sister-in-law Debbie made a perfect photo bomb, while my Dad, and brother-in-Law Curt's sister, Kathy look on in the background.
In fact, I wanted to squeeze out as much time as I could with Tim and his family over the weekend, so I spent a few hours on Friday playing a rousing games of Jenga and Life with Kate, and her big sister, Jenna, while absorbing the suddenly appropriate Christmas season, i.e. there was snow in the mountains above my mom’s house, (Mt. Baldy), and it was fair game to blast Christmas carols on my drive to and from Claremont on the 210 freeway.
The late November storm brought snow!! Over my shoulder, screen right.
Saturday started off with a frigid bike ride in the 40’s, followed by a fun, hard, yet unfeeling run because my feet were numb from the aforementioned bike ride. The day ended with a brand new delicious addition to my plant-based repertoire, but sandwiched in between were my favorite hours of the entire year.
Post Saturday morning cold ride and run. I can't feel my feet in this photo.
I don’t know about how you fellow parents feel out there, but that is by far the most important, and insecure role I play in my life. I have been at it for fifteen years as a step-parent, a delicate position, that requires a hardy disposition. Honestly, if Hannah came to us a few years from now to introduce her new boyfriend and daughter, I would tell her to run for the hills. I would not recommend anyone becoming a step-parent, because it makes an already challenging endeavor, (achieving a healthy relationship), a million times more complex. Thankfully, I have always been attracted to hard things, so choosing to be a step-parent felt natural from the start, and reigns as the greatest decision of my life, but man it has been tough. And this past year was possibly the toughest. Still, my perspective about parenthood has remained constant all these years, always be there for Hannah, whether she wants/needs me to or not.
Hannah is in college now, studying fashion and living in a hip apartment in downtown LA with roommates, a couple months shy of turning twenty-one, so her visits to our dusty home are scant, but treasured, and the one on Saturday was the most wonderful in a while. We laughed during lunch, and then talked deeper for a couple more hours after we arrived home, all the while I spent wishing I held a gadget to freeze time, yet felt relieved and renewed that past frustrations were quietly melting away.
It always amazes me how much I love Hannah, even though there is no shared blood between us, she is the person I think about every moment of the day, who I am the most proud of, and who I want to make most proud, (I love that she loves my Insta-Stories), but she is an adult veering off towards her own life, so I respect the space between us most of all. Still, I will always be there if ever, or whenever she needs me.
Also, another reason for my giddy mood is that my toe/foot situation has vastly improved since racing in Wisconsin in September, and I am hopeful that I will be able to give it my all this Sunday racing the half-Ironman in Indian Wells.
Furthermore, I’ve had my share of flats this season, so I hope to be clear of those as well. I will be frozen, no doubt, the water in Lake Cahuilla will be in the mid 50’s, but I’ve swum there before, and survived the glacial temps at Alaskaman, so I’ll be fine. Frigid, but fine. More than anything, I am looking forward to spending time with Marion, friends, teammates, Hillary and her rousing fam, doing what I love most, moving my body as fast and hard as I can through water, along roads, and across another finish line.
For those who want to follow along on Sunday, my bib # is 149.
I hope you have a spectacular week!!
The song and video pick this week is the new inspiring track from Mike Posner about his trek across America, Live Before I Die.