Burr

Bryce and I did a triathlon today! We did the Santa Cruz Sentinel, which involves swimming 1.5K around the Santa Cruz Pier [seen above in the background behind the white cap wave (men 35-44) racing into the ocean], biking about 25 miles up and down Highway 1, then running 6 miles along a cliff overlooking the Pacific. Three months before, Bryce couldn't even swim more than a couple laps in the pool without stopping to catch his breath, and I hadn't done a triathlon (or been in good enough shape to do one) in 6 years. So, we started training in June. We were both nervous. The water was downright frigid, and there were some small mishaps - like my contact falling out (and resting peacefully in my goggle) during the swim. But, we both did better than we expected, with Bryce finishing in less than 2.5 hours, and me managing to run the entire 6 miles without walking. (I had lower expectations than Bryce.) Now, all I want to do is sit in front of the TV and zone out. For the full blow by blow thanks to our cheerleader and photographer Christina, see our Sentinel photo album.

Change the margins

My sister sent me this website, and it really makes a lot of sense! Like the author of this campaign, I change my print margins whenever I print a longer document to save paper. But, I had never thought to try to petition Microsoft so that they change their default settings! Imagine, changing the default from 1.25" to .75" on each side increases print space by 17% (you'd have 7" of printing width, instead of 6"). That would result in 17% less paper wasted! Phenomenal! Ok, ok, that statistic doesn't work because you're not always printing FULL pages of text to the point where changing the margins would save a sheet of paper - but, you get the point. Sign the petition! Change your default margins (see instructions here)! Stop wasting paper! (And while you're at it... if you've got a doublesiding printer, default that to doubleside and you'd save even more paper!

My adorable niece

This is my niece, Charlotte. The last time I saw her was June, and she was just starting to say some words and learning how to walk. Now, she's running around and can even recognize me in pictures and say "Aunt Britt"!! By the time I see her again at Christmas, she'll probably be doing pre-algebra - she's changing so fast! Thanks to Anita for sending me (and the rest of our far-flung family) photos so we can keep up!

81 hours to the weekend

Bryce and I went to the City early to give blood.  I have a hard time getting up early, but I was rewarded for my pre-dawn awakening. Our BART train was driven by my favorite driver. Ernie has a calm voice and will always tell you exactly how many hours there are to the weekend as you pull into the City, right before he reminds you to gather all your belongings and what side of the car the doors will open on.  I can’t describe it, but somehow this guy’s voice just makes my day start out right.

 

Sunset all day

Thanks to a couple of forest fires about 200 miles away, the sun looks eerie around here! The sunset last night was amazing.  I stole this photo from sfgate.com (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/06/MN45S0CTR.DTL)

Disappointment

I realized as I was driving over to rehearsal that I was really excited to be back playing percussion again. I walked into the rehearsal space, and noticed... hmm... no percussion instruments. Turns out that I misunderstood and given that percussion just sits around and counts rests, the conductor intelligently only calls percussion for the last few rehearsals before the concert. So, I won't be needed until October. Sigh.

Nervous

I'm off to my first rehearsal of the Oakland Civic Orchestra tonight. I haven't played orchestral percussion in 5 years. Hope I can still count rests!

(Orchestral percussion is sitting around counting rests for about 10 minutes for every time that you crash the cymbals together or hit the bass drum.)

I spy with my little eye...

Bryce and I spent the past week canoeing on the French River near Sudbury, Ontario. This was a great trip with 7 days of leisurely exploring the river, spending each night in a well-developed campsite. Most sites had a latrine (a wooden box that is sort of a mini-pit-toilet, with the exception that you're completely exposed while you're doing your business.) We went with Clare and Steve, and their kids Toby and Irene. There were 2 canoes, each with 2 adults and 1 child. Many rounds of "I Spy" and the alphabet game were played. (I spy with my little eye, something that starts with R. A rock? Your turn. I spy something that starts with T. Trees? Your turn....) For more pictures than anyone can digest, you can follow this link. I'll have an abridged version up soon.