Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Our crib has finally arrived! Thanks again Grandpa, its modern and perfect and I can just picture Little P sleeping soundly (hehe). Grandma Sam and Auntie Carson also sent a box full of delightful gifts from Mexico, lots of baby sleepers and cozy sock and other fun stuffs. Auntie Barb sent us a lovely surprise of homemade baby burpers, bids and a diaper bag. I especially love the brand “Make it a Martini” stitched on the inside! Thank you all so much!!
Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Brendan and I decided a few weeks back that we were going to take off the day before my birthday to watch Stage 3 of The Tour of California come through Palo Alto. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Lance Armstrong and test my skills at being a sports photographer (insert LOL here). I woke up feeling a bit nervous as I haven’t been on a bike much since last June when I shattered my back taking a spill on a borrowed cruiser bike. When Brendan and I set out on that fateful day we actually tried to rent a tandem bike for our ride down to the lake front – but the shop was closed so we decided against it. To this day we joke that we should have just waited until the shop opened and just maybe I would have kept myself from that terrible fall that day. I still get these random flashbacks that leave me a bit unnerved. So… I heard Brendan tinkering in the yard and looked to see what he was doing and he so thoughtfully was putting together a tandem bike! Off we went…
Glorious tandem! (Notice the baguette peaking out of the backpack)
We rode up about 10 miles, climbing most of the way. It felt good to be on a bike again, even though my big belly was getting in the way. A couple weeks back we scoped out a spot to stop for our picnic – it had a great view from above and on an a steep enough incline where I could get a few pictures in before the bikers had time to pass us. We unloaded our tasty goods and chatted up a couple other spectators.
Baguette, cheese, olives, salami, wine!
Hill of Content Australian wine – I couldn’t resist a sip!
All the while I kept wondering why Brendan had this funny grin on his face, one I had never seen before. Out of nowhere he reached down to grab something out of his pack and turned around and said, “Will you be my wife?” I had to ask him to repeat himself and I was a bit shocked. After a minute of reality setting in, I, of course said “Yes!”. We have talked for a long time about getting married, but for some reason it took until that moment to really sink in. “Wow, Holy Smokes! This is so cool. I will be Mrs. Gibson!” How proud I am to be able to say that. I am a very lucky girl to have found someone as special as Brendan.
There is that smile, how could you not love this? Yes! Of Course!
We stood for about 10 minutes smiling at each other wider than either of us had before. I am sure the people around us were wondering what was up. Then we heard the motorbikes coming up the hill and we knew the lead riders were on their way. It had started to rain a bit at this point so I got my camera ready for action.
Lead group
Peloton – All the red jersey’s in front are Team Discovery
Lance! And he is suffering or at least it looks like he is. He is the guy in front with the red jersey and yellow glasses. Click the images to view larger versions.
Close up of Lance and his team
Team Garmin
As quickly as they came through, they were gone again. It was thrilling to be so close to some of the world’s most amazing athletes. Brendan and I packed up our gear and waited for a break in the very long line of spectators descending the hill and we were off again. This time with my fiance and beaming at the diamond on my left hand as it caught glimpses of the sun all the way home.
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
They say that you should expose your unborn baby to music. They say that she will associate the sounds with happiness and allow you to bond with her in a special way.
On Thursday night we exposed our little girl to the improv jazz stylings of Sonny Rollins out in Berkeley. Sonny Rollins, for those of you who are not Jazz Purists like Alex and I are, is probably the most legendary jazz saxophonist around. He’s 80 years old, so he has the necessary credibility. In his earlier years he was playing and collaborating with Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk, so he has the connections. And he can play.
The old man took the stage at the Zellerbach Auditorium accompanied by a bassist, drummer, percussionist and guitarist. He stood out the front, shuffled around in his big red smock, wild silver hair and beard. The band took a back seat physically, but not surprisingly were given their chance to shine through long solos.
The music was mostly jazz. Not standards, and sounded updated from what you would have heard in a 1950’s Harlem gig where he started out. It even drifted into Samba for one of the songs. Though the songs changed tempo, they all shared a similar style, with Sonny repeating a saxophone riff while the band worked off him. As I said before, he can play. It didn’t sound like a wheezy 80 year old man blowing those notes. He did sound like a wheezy 80 year old man when he spoke, so it was best when he played.
The drummer was wild, his whole body moved to the rhythm as he played and he was grinning like a crazy man. I’ve rarely seen anyone get so into the music. The other band members, though amazing players, were much more subdued. Of note, the guitarist was able to fill in the whole sound with his playing which could sound like a piano, or more guitar-like with a George Benson-like tuning.
We don’t yet know if our baby gained from the experience, or whether she will grow up to be a virtuoso. Alex reports that she especially liked the bongos, so maybe she’ll just join a drum circle…
Friday, May 7th, 2010
I just jumped out of bed fully expecting my little shadow to follow me through the house. Tick, tick, tick, tick. But there was just silence, I even turned around to check if she was there. I think this will the hardest part, Haley was everywhere I was for the past 16 years, and now she is gone.
It was a late August day back in 1993 when I did a quick stop at City Market in Durango to pick up some toilet paper. There was a desperate man and his daughter sitting outside the door with a large box and a few people gathered around. I took a look and found this tiny little black puppy all alone huddled in the corner. I asked what her story was, apparently she was found on the Navajo reservation with the rest of her littler and she was the runt, all the other puppies had been taken. I told the man I’d be right back and ran in the store, bought some toilet paper and a bag of puppy food and that is how our life adventure started.
Haley was everywhere I was because she HAD to be. There was no leaving this dog behind. She had a reputation for being very difficult. At the time I was in school so I would have to leave her at home and as I walked up to school I could hear her scream in sadness behind me. My neighbors didn’t think too kindly of that so I then tried to bring her up to school and tie her under a tree while I went to class. That worked until one day she broke free and she was running through the halls of the Business Building trying to find me. What was I going to do with this critter? I used to think – maybe there was a reason she was the last one left in the box?
The only choice I had was to tire this girl out. We spent many, many long days on the rivers, mountains and hills surrounding Durango. One summer I took up kayaking and I bought Haley a life jacket so she could swim and run along shore beside me. She would fly off the river banks and paddle up next to me where I would lift her up on top of my boat. She loved to sit there with me. We’d run the hills around Durango, she always out in front and always looking back to make sure I wasn’t too far behind. Once the mountain passes would open after the winters, I’d ride my bike and she’d run along side me, sometimes for 20 miles. And skiing, she was a snow dog and loved to ski. I’d strap on my skins and hike up the hills and she would snorkel through the snow behind me.
Boating the Animas at the yurt put-in – 3 years old.
Skiing with Haley in Park City – 14 years old.
She was a master escape artist. She could find me ANYWHERE. I had to come up with interesting ideas when leaving her alone. On the way to a friend’s house I left her in her kennel in my room. She somehow managed to break out of the kennel, break the screen to my window, jump out a second story window, run 7 miles into town where my car was parked at a friend’s and when I walked out to my car to return home, there she was sitting right on top of the hood. I couldn’t lose this dog even if I tried.
13 years old springtime in Durango.
When Haley turned 10 she turned into the best dog, she mellowed out enough to where a 5 mile run was enough to satisfy her daily exercise needs. She opened up to people and became more trusting. But she always held on to this obsessive need to be near me at all times. She started to really slow down about a year and a half ago when I moved to Park City. The past 2 months she really slowed down and her health had taken a turn. She had a lump on her leg that was cancer and I knew it was just a matter of time. I told myself that when she stopped eating bacon, then I knew it was time to let her go. A week ago she stopped eating, I kept hoping she would find the kibble in her bowl appealing again, but the cancer had grown, possibly to her stomach. She wasn’t going to eat again and she was in pain. She had started to dig a hole in the back yard. I really knew it was time when this dog, who had religiously slept at my feet every night chose to sleep outside in the cold in this hole she had dug. I made the call to my vet, the hardest call I have had to make. I was to take her in to the vet in the morning.
That was yesterday, its been a day without her. I woke up this morning and I told Brendan that I think I finally know how she felt all those times I had left her, that deep sadness and longing to be with me. I understand now Haley Monster. I miss you so much. You are everywhere. And I wouldn’t think twice about taking the last puppy out of the box again.
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Brendan and I took a hike up Windy Hill after work today. This little girl is getting big, 2 pounds now and gaining 6 ounces a week. Last night I had to wake up at 2AM and snack on some dried mangoes and bananas as I was STARVING. And she sure does like to kick. The kicking is getting quite strong and at times will make me jump in my seat. Its hard to believe we have 14 more weeks left to go.
Its been a tough few days. On one hand we are super excited about this new life that’s brewing. But our sweet little Haley Monster is quickly fading. She has stopped eating and her fire is gone. I have been trying to spend as much time with her as I can. Lots of ear scratches and kisses. I have been sleeping with her at night in the living room and last night she had enough energy to come over and give me a kiss. I am hoping for another one tonight.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Little P’s room is now painted a lovely shade of blue. I am so excited to start getting her room put together. Grandpa Ippolite called today and said he would like to buy P’s crib as a present. Thank you Grandpa!! I have just the perfect one in mind.
Haley Monster loves to sit in the corner of Little P’s room and watch me wander about. I wonder sometimes if she knows what is coming and if she is holding on to make sure we are all ok. She has been touch and go lately. Some days are hard, but days like today she is the sweet little curious Monster I have known for almost 17 years. Today we had a nice slow walk down to the Willow Store to grab some snacks and she must have smelled every rose on the way there. It might take a long time to get there, but I cherish these moments we still have together.
I finally unpacked the last of my boxes and found my most favorite item, my beautiful Canon 5D. It has been gathering dust these past couple years, but I am psyched to start getting back into taking pictures. Here is a pic of our dining room, I love the colors – brings in some sunshine on a rainy day like today.
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
The Tour of California is coming next month, so to prepare, I am trying to ride all of Stage 3. I’ve done the Tunitas Creek climb in earlier adventures, so wanted to tick off the 84, Pescadero and Bonny Doon climbs.
I ticked off the first two. Then I got a flat.
Of course I didn’t bring a spare, a pump, nor a patch kit. I was able to limp the bike down to highway 1, where I still had no reception. Perhaps luckily, I was able to find a phone booth, but it was provided by AT&T as well.
The Gazos Grill helped me out with my communication and dietary needs. Still, Alex wouldn’t pick up the phone, so I was left wondering whether my support crew would be able to back me up.
90 minutes later I was thinking about hitch-hiking to Santa Cruz when I saw a Prius almost crash into the back of a Passat. My support crew made an entrance!
Support crews need to exercise as well. Late in the afternoon we drove up to Skyline to find some hiking trails at Windy Hill. I provided Cougar bait while Alex and I hiked a long circuit until dark.
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Alex and I spent Friday night up in the city. Alex’s friend Meghan got us invites to watch “Alice in Wonderland” at the Dolby facility. While the story was a bit Disney, the visuals, and (obviously) the sound, were amazing.
On Saturday we headed south for the Sea Otter Classic. I have become a roadie, and needed to get some cred by not riding my girlfriend’s bike…
Halfway down we saw what we thought was a Farmer’s Market on the side of the road so decided to stop in for some Orange juice. We thought it was a bit funny that all the vendors had Volkswagens, and that no-one was selling Orange juice. We did however find out that we probably can’t fit a baby seat in the back of a Karmann Ghia.
We checked out the festival at Laguna Seca for a couple of hours. It was a bit full-on, so we headed to Carmel-by-the-sea to show Haley the ocean for the first time.
Alex gave our baby girl some sun.
And then on the way back we stopped at Carmel-by-the-sea town for some more baby shopping followed by seafood dinner at Moss Landing north of Monterey.
Monday, April 12th, 2010
I haven’t been able to find any good mountain biking yet, so I have taken to getting on the road by taking Alex’s bike, squeezing into some Lycra and riding west.
Palo Alto is impressively setup for road cyclists. There are plenty of bike lanes. The traffic lights can sense bikes waiting, and the Santa Cruz mountains between here and the coast have a multitude of low traffic cycling loops. I have a couple ridden and mapped out:
and
I plan to join a group ride at 6:30am tomorrow morning. (Now that I’ve posted it, I have to do it, right?) The pros may laugh at my borrowed girl’s bike, mountain-bike apparel and lack of peleton savvy, but when it comes to that first climb…
