In a couple of days, I will be married to a fifty year old. What? How did that happen? In my eyes, Marion will always be the thirty-four old hyper-positive, bouncing ball of energy with great hair that I met on April 26th, 2004 on my first day of work at the visual effects facility, Digital Dimension. Back then we called it, “The other DD,” because the behemoth in the industry was Digital Domain, “the real DD,” and we were just a small shop in the valley creating CG snowballs for Buddy the Elf to save the day in Central Park. Today, over fifteen years later, Marion is supervising a new Marvel show at the real DD, his signature positive energy is still intact, (just with grey hair), and Elf is a Christmas classic. Ferris Bueller was right, life moves pretty fast, especially when you share it with a kind, handsome, and enthusiastic, middle-aged, terrific Texan.
Marion's favorite pastime, and probably what he will be doing all weekend.
I am starting off 2020 with a bang by snatching up “Wife of the Year,” because I will be celebrating a boisterous breakfast birthday bash for Marion on Thursday, and then quickly zipping south on the 5 Freeway to attend TeamHPB Smasfest Camp for six days in Encinitas, CA. Yep, the timing is a bit of a bummer, but Marion encouraged me to sign up months ago, (even though I was hesitating the because of the glaring conflict), he is my greatest supporter for all of my life pursuits, which he solidified Sunday night, “You would be a basket case all week around here if you weren’t at camp, so go crush it and have fun.” Indeed, he knows me very well. Don’t worry, I have BIG plans to celebrate his BIG birthday, just a little later in the month.
Moreover, this triathlon camp was especially intriguing because it will be brand new for everyone, (even Hillary and her coaching team), which is daunting/exciting, but will certainly will boost the bonding barometer because we will all be braving the daily adventures together for the very first time.
Yours truly with first time camper, yet seasoned TeamHPB athlete, and Encinitas local, Alex Watt.
Nearly every single hour between 2:30P on Thursday, 1/16 and 3P on Tuesday, 1/21 is allotted with some sort of heartrate increasing activity that involves bicycles, running shoes, and wetsuits. Yes, there is a Swim/Run day. I predict skinned knees and laughter that morning, it should be fun.
Two of our fearless leaders and coaches, Hillary Biscay and Alyssa Godesky, moments before our trail run at the camp in Tucson last April.
This will be my fourth TeamHPB Smashfest camp, and even though I guarantee there will be many empowering and embarrassing moments, it is an incredibly supportive and inspiring environment to learn and grow from, because we are all in it together, (campers and coaches alike), and will all be stronger on the other side of it.
My teammate and powerhouse, perennial camper, Jan Lohman and I after the Mt. Lemmon ride and run at Winter Smash camp, January, 2018.
Furthermore, I am certain that I will be a very happy, (albeit exhausted), camper driving home to her fifty year old husband next Tuesday night.
That reminds me, a little head’s up about next week’s blog, it will be a miracle of mental and physical fortitude if I write and publish a post on Tuesday. If history is any indication, I will be running purely on ambition and delirium by that point in camp, so if I do post something, it shouldn’t be missed, and if I don’t, I promise to post an action-packed opus on Thursday, 1/23.
In the meantime, please send Marion birthday wishes this Thursday, light a candle for me and my fellow campers to survive the looming six days of smashfests, and enjoy the long, MLK observing holiday weekend.
The song and video choice this week celebrates what I have been doing a lot of recently, Runnin' by Naughty Boy and Beyonce. The song is cool and the video is beautiful. Enjoy.