14 (and a wednesday weigh in)

Today marks our 14-year wedding anniversary.

I spent most of the morning dancing with my children, while wearing my wedding dress.


After having been shoved in a bag in our attic for the past 14-years, I pulled it out this morning, shook it a few times, and tried it on. I then cued up our wedding music and waltzed out to the kitchen where Charlie and the children were eating breakfast. All of them, save Henry, nearly choked on their waffles when they saw me with my veil and 8-foot long train humming Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.

Seeing me in my wedding dress, very well might have been the highlight of our children's young lives. They went absolutely, totally NUTS. As did Charlie when he saw that my dress still fits. Well, almost. If you don't count the zipper. But how necessary is that thing, anyway?

Without a doubt, the best decision I have ever made in my entire life, was the decision to marry my husband. He is the most gentle and compassionate man I know. He is full of life, has an unwavering sense of optimism, and makes me laugh every day. I could not ask for a better partner in life, or father for my children.


I truly love the man with all of my heart and although I said I didn't want anything for our anniversary, the iPod shuffle (Product) Red he bought me TOTALLY ROCKS. He just went out running and was wearing it when he left. Yeah, I'm beginning to wonder if this is yet another of those LOOK WHAT I GOT YOU!! gifts that is ultimately a gift for him?

While I walked around the house, interested to see that my bridal train does a better job cleaning our floor than our broom, Charlie wasted no time downloading all of the songs on to the shuffle, that I had pulled together for the bust-a-move workout CD I created last week.


Which, I'm a little concerned that if I send a copy (or most likely, copies) of my compilation CD off to people, it might constitute copyright infringement.

Am I being too uptight? Or a law abiding citizen?

Please, someone read this and tell me what you think.

This week while swimming in our community pool, I discovered that the vast majority of the population do not understand pool etiquette. When I swam laps on Thursday, Friday and again on Tuesday, people would wander in to my lane. They'd just stand in front of me as I was swimming along - or - they would jump in to my lap, just before I'd complete a flip turn.

Granted, it's summer. But we live in an area where school is in session year-round and I go earlier in the day when there are very few people. Even though the pool is wide open and there is no real "deep" end, people seem to converge on my little 25-meter lap.

Why is that?

And why can I not simply ask that they just stay out of my little lane?

Why must I stop swimming, stand up, pull off my goggles, put my hands on my hips and say "Hmpf!" and expect that they will immediately understand my frustration? They don't. They just keep splashing and ask if they can play with my kick board.


As for the triathlon, I don't think that swimming will be a problem. Nor am I worried about cycling. I am worried, however, about running. The running part is truly going to kick my ass.

I am not a runner.

I can't even pretend to be.

I figure I'm going to be so tired after having swam and cycled, I'll be lucky if I don't do a face plant on the run. But at least Charlie will be there to tell me that I've got my helmet on, should I forget. Unless of course, he is too busy listening to his my new iPod.

How are you doing with your goals?