Saturday morning, I ran my first road race in quite some time. The first, I believe, since a 10K two Junes ago. This was a 5K here in Tuscaloosa, starting downtown and winding our way around the campus quad and returning.
After three weeks of gorgeous spring weather, there was a threat of severe weather. It rained the night before, and the action was already underway north of us. We were also early to the race. It was an 8 am start, and we thought 7:30. So we drove home to get Ann's watch. Got back in plenty of time, so we were fine. Then my dear, sweet wife tripped and fell right before the race, skinning her knee. So karma wasn't on our side at the beginning. But there were some 900 entrants, and a really positive vibe. The mayor was there too-- it's his race.
I knew I wanted to get in there and mix it up some-- I've usually treated races as training runs. Here, I wanted to see what I could do-- to battle and compete. And I was able to do just that. My first mile was 9:20, the second was 8:40. I liked that I was able to pass a lot of folks-- I've been working hard on my runs and getting in better shape, and it paid off down the stretch. I tried to move over to pass a guy and he accelerated to stay ahead. So I knew it was on. I waited until I turned the final corner and put the hammer down. He covered it and stayed with me for a bit, but a few moments later I looked over and saw I'd pulled safely ahead. It felt great. We were both positive in the finishers' corral, and each thanked the other for the fight-- we both passed several others in the process, so it was good for both of us. My time-- 26:44. I am very pleased with this time-- a new personal record by over a minute!
Now back to that weather thing. The first fat drops of rain fell as I neared the finish, and the skies opened up not long after, with lots of folks still out on the course, including the First Lady. Many finished the race under a thunderstorm warning. I don't want to say it was heavy rain, but I think I saw animals getting on an ark. I am proud of Ann for putting in the time and doing the work and then competing as she did when things were not working in her favor, and for doing something that a lot of folks won't do.
We chose not to wait until the 10 am awards ceremony, and we went back home. I still had eight more miles to go, since I was due an 11-miler today as part of my regular training schedule. So I hit the treadmill and got the job done. 27 miles for the week, including 5 mile repeats Wednesday for speedwork.
I feel great about my running right now, and it's about time for a new training plan and a new goal race, likely a half marathon. And after today, I'm ready.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Atlanta
As mentioned, Ann and I celebrated (belatedly) the fifth anniversary of our first date, and the beautiful springtime weather continues in the South. I've lived through many spring seasons in Kansas and in different parts of West Texas, and I wouldn't trade any one of them for the weather I've experienced in the last three weeks.
So with that as a backdrop, I took off toward Atlanta to meet my wife. We were in the Midtown district, about two blocks from Peachtree Street, and a short run away from the Georgia Tech campus. Friday night, we ate at an outdoor restaurant-- good eats (sorry AB), featuring barbecued pork soft tacos. And we managed to find an Irish bar to consume large portions of chocolate milk. It was a great night to relax and be outdoors, and the crowd outside in the bar district reflected it.
There was also a Kelvin Sampson sighting at this bar. I assume it was, since I didn't ask for his ID. Ann saw him first, then I saw him when I went inside. Ann has no issues with these situations, since she's dealt with it before during her time in the hotel business. I keep my distance, figuring they came to this place (or wherever I see them) to spend some time out of character. But he and I did share a moment as I walked back to our table. I was walking toward him and he shifted his glance to me for an instant. As mentioned, I went on with my business, but he seemed like someone who has a lot of folks come up to him wanting something- a handshake, an autograph, whatever. He went back to his conversation when he saw me continue on my way.
Turns out, Sampson is an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. I ran ten miles in Piedmont Park Saturday morning and saw two guys running in Bucks t-shirts. I didn't know where KS was at these days, but it made more sense when we noticed that the Bucks were in town to play Atlanta in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Then it all made sense.
Speaking of the run and Piedmont Park, what a day. I actually ran eight at the park and two on the hotel treadmill. An awesome vibe-- some Atlanta skyline, much sunshine, and lots of folks walking about during a big craft show. It's hard to run seeing all these food booths, let me tell you. But the Atlanta Track Club put down a half-mile packed dirt track that's just awesome. I threw some minute pickups, comfortably hard pace, so my legs were pretty well shot the rest of the day. It was much different than running in the flatlands of Tuscaloosa.
That evening, Ann and I ate a wonderful dinner with my Uncle John and his wife Marianne. Terrific to see them. A great meal, some good wine and a lot of good conversation. One of the things I liked about moving down South is the chance to reconnect with family. We'd not seen other in nearly 16 years.
Sunday was church day, of course. Being married to Ann means no more 'off' Sundays just because we're on holiday. And this is a good thing. We attended the 9 am service at All Saints Episcopal Church. They advertise some 3,000 members, and it seemed as though most of them were there. Not true, of course, but a well-attended service. That there were five baptisms may have had something to do with it. An impressive church, to say the least.
Then it was another awesome meal, then back up to our hotel room to load up and head west back to Tuscaloosa. We listened to the Braves radio broadcast for a while, which made me wish we had a radio affiliate in our neighborhood. Just another great weekend
So with that as a backdrop, I took off toward Atlanta to meet my wife. We were in the Midtown district, about two blocks from Peachtree Street, and a short run away from the Georgia Tech campus. Friday night, we ate at an outdoor restaurant-- good eats (sorry AB), featuring barbecued pork soft tacos. And we managed to find an Irish bar to consume large portions of chocolate milk. It was a great night to relax and be outdoors, and the crowd outside in the bar district reflected it.
There was also a Kelvin Sampson sighting at this bar. I assume it was, since I didn't ask for his ID. Ann saw him first, then I saw him when I went inside. Ann has no issues with these situations, since she's dealt with it before during her time in the hotel business. I keep my distance, figuring they came to this place (or wherever I see them) to spend some time out of character. But he and I did share a moment as I walked back to our table. I was walking toward him and he shifted his glance to me for an instant. As mentioned, I went on with my business, but he seemed like someone who has a lot of folks come up to him wanting something- a handshake, an autograph, whatever. He went back to his conversation when he saw me continue on my way.
Turns out, Sampson is an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. I ran ten miles in Piedmont Park Saturday morning and saw two guys running in Bucks t-shirts. I didn't know where KS was at these days, but it made more sense when we noticed that the Bucks were in town to play Atlanta in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Then it all made sense.
Speaking of the run and Piedmont Park, what a day. I actually ran eight at the park and two on the hotel treadmill. An awesome vibe-- some Atlanta skyline, much sunshine, and lots of folks walking about during a big craft show. It's hard to run seeing all these food booths, let me tell you. But the Atlanta Track Club put down a half-mile packed dirt track that's just awesome. I threw some minute pickups, comfortably hard pace, so my legs were pretty well shot the rest of the day. It was much different than running in the flatlands of Tuscaloosa.
That evening, Ann and I ate a wonderful dinner with my Uncle John and his wife Marianne. Terrific to see them. A great meal, some good wine and a lot of good conversation. One of the things I liked about moving down South is the chance to reconnect with family. We'd not seen other in nearly 16 years.
Sunday was church day, of course. Being married to Ann means no more 'off' Sundays just because we're on holiday. And this is a good thing. We attended the 9 am service at All Saints Episcopal Church. They advertise some 3,000 members, and it seemed as though most of them were there. Not true, of course, but a well-attended service. That there were five baptisms may have had something to do with it. An impressive church, to say the least.
Then it was another awesome meal, then back up to our hotel room to load up and head west back to Tuscaloosa. We listened to the Braves radio broadcast for a while, which made me wish we had a radio affiliate in our neighborhood. Just another great weekend
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Brewpubs and Shalee Lehning
April 15, 2005 is a great day in world history. One that will be remembered fondly. But it became special because of events before and after that day.
At my church in Clay Center, I was the only person my age. Everyone else had already raised or were raising children. Nobody single and unattached. So my priest sent me into Manhattan where a 20/30-something group was forming, to give people like me others like me to spend time with.
One event was a white elephant party. I remember getting my gift swiped about three times, and I also remember a Ricky Martin jigsaw puzzle. I didn't remember the gal shaking the puzzle, practically begging to give it away. Later that spring, we colored Easter eggs in the basement of the church in Manhattan. The same gal that had the jigsaw puzzle was there that evening, as well. She knew I covered high school sports and asked me about Shalee Lehning, a K-State women's basketball signee. I had the privilege of seeing her play volleyball and hoops, and I said that Shalee would look great in purple, and that a good decision had been made (a real treat to watch her play at KSU, btw).
I don't remember how long after, but I shot an e-mail to this person, asking her to meet me for a beer at Little Apple Brewery, a favorite place of mine. I thought it'd be safe-- if she wants to, she'll say so, and if not, she'll not reply and the game goes on as before. She accepted, and we set a date for a Friday night. I had softball games to cover that night that ran into extra innings, but I did make it in time for a Wildcat Wheat or three. I remember hearing her tell stories of the things she'd done and the places I'd been and thinking I had no chance. But she invited me to her place for dinner the next evening. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, after all.
The Friday night was April 15, 2005. And the rest has become a happy history of Ann's and my life together. She understood this thing way before I did, and was very patient while I figured out what was going on.
So April 15 has become a red-letter day that we celebrate as much as our anniversary of June 27. Well, I don't know that actually, because we've not celebrated an anniversary yet. I just know that LABCO became our favorite hangout (though the smoking ban put in effect helped wth that), and the church basement in which we colored eggs was the same church basement in which I waited for our wedding to begin.
Great times then and now. Hopefully more to come.
At my church in Clay Center, I was the only person my age. Everyone else had already raised or were raising children. Nobody single and unattached. So my priest sent me into Manhattan where a 20/30-something group was forming, to give people like me others like me to spend time with.
One event was a white elephant party. I remember getting my gift swiped about three times, and I also remember a Ricky Martin jigsaw puzzle. I didn't remember the gal shaking the puzzle, practically begging to give it away. Later that spring, we colored Easter eggs in the basement of the church in Manhattan. The same gal that had the jigsaw puzzle was there that evening, as well. She knew I covered high school sports and asked me about Shalee Lehning, a K-State women's basketball signee. I had the privilege of seeing her play volleyball and hoops, and I said that Shalee would look great in purple, and that a good decision had been made (a real treat to watch her play at KSU, btw).
I don't remember how long after, but I shot an e-mail to this person, asking her to meet me for a beer at Little Apple Brewery, a favorite place of mine. I thought it'd be safe-- if she wants to, she'll say so, and if not, she'll not reply and the game goes on as before. She accepted, and we set a date for a Friday night. I had softball games to cover that night that ran into extra innings, but I did make it in time for a Wildcat Wheat or three. I remember hearing her tell stories of the things she'd done and the places I'd been and thinking I had no chance. But she invited me to her place for dinner the next evening. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, after all.
The Friday night was April 15, 2005. And the rest has become a happy history of Ann's and my life together. She understood this thing way before I did, and was very patient while I figured out what was going on.
So April 15 has become a red-letter day that we celebrate as much as our anniversary of June 27. Well, I don't know that actually, because we've not celebrated an anniversary yet. I just know that LABCO became our favorite hangout (though the smoking ban put in effect helped wth that), and the church basement in which we colored eggs was the same church basement in which I waited for our wedding to begin.
Great times then and now. Hopefully more to come.
Ball games and ghost stories
Monday, I went on a road trip for my job at the census bureau, driving to Ethelsville, Alabama. On highway 82, near the Mississippi state line. A very small town that doesn't even have a stop light. And I know because I looked. A lot.
But anyhow, I went to the community center there to pick up some paperwork. As with most things, the timeline didn't go as planned, and I had a chance to survey my surroundings. The center was very old and very small. I didn't think that to be out of sorts. But the center seemed to take me back to when it may have been built-- maybe the 1940s or 50s. There were a few stacks of old Baptist church hymnals there, whose hymn numbers didn't match what I am accustomed to as an Episcopalian. I found myself wondering about how many people looked at these songs over the years. Who they were. The hope it gave them. It makes me think about the people who came to the center and looked at those songbooks and heard church music on a now-dusty piano back in the day. There was a picture on the wall from 1971 showing who donated what amount. Some donated a buck, others ten, the banks a little more. But it totaled $650 and they found a place that sold them a Steinway for that amount. 40 years ago, this is what they were trying to do. I'm sure the center still gets used often, but it seemed to be a sad building in a town that's off the beltway. Surely if I spoke to an Ethelsville resident I'd get a complete picture.
It reminded me of a time in 1987 I believe, when I was an equipment manager for the Andress football team. We'd beaten Ysleta 10-9 on a late figgie. Our work was done and David and I walked across the quiet field in an empty, darkened stadium, though the guest 9, home 10 was still up on the scoreboard. It made me think of all the games the stadium had seen, and if it had a voice, the stories it could tell. The great games. The times kids from Newman Elementary next door came and ran on the track (and the time I skinned my arm). The times when we could get discounted tickets from Newman, when I was in second grade, and the time it rained buckets on us.
That was then, though, and I wonder about the stories that could be told now. The Carlsbad game in 1988 when there was a thunderstorm that took out some of the lights and forced a stoppage of play, after which we came back and won. A 38-game district winning streak. Battles against Irvin for the helmet. Beating Midland Lee 10-3 in 91 or 92, and tying them 21-21 in the playoffs that year, advancing on penetrations (before overtime became the rule). There are countless others, but I've been away for too long to know much.
Anyhow, a couple of good runs so far this week. A four on Monday at the UA rec center after work was a good one-- the Twins/Red Sox game was on, and it ended just about when I was finished. I find delight in watching ball games while running on the treadmill. Makes the time go by, and I try to 'race' the game. An 8-mile tempo run yesterday (six miles at 10:06 mile pace), and a three coming up this morning before I go in to work.
Saturday, a ten-miler is planned in Atlanta, Georgia. Ann is there for a professional conference, and I'm heading over Friday morning at the start of a three-day weekend. Really looking forward to it. The run, of course, and all it entails, but I'm especially ready for a night on the town with my wife Friday, plus a chance to see my Uncle John, dad's brother, whom I've not seen since 1994. He was unable to make our wedding back in June, for medical reasons, so I'm really excited to get together with him and his wife Marianne. I doubt we can catch up in an evening, but we're gonna try. Plus, the First Lady hasn't met these folks yet.
So there's much to look forward to.
But anyhow, I went to the community center there to pick up some paperwork. As with most things, the timeline didn't go as planned, and I had a chance to survey my surroundings. The center was very old and very small. I didn't think that to be out of sorts. But the center seemed to take me back to when it may have been built-- maybe the 1940s or 50s. There were a few stacks of old Baptist church hymnals there, whose hymn numbers didn't match what I am accustomed to as an Episcopalian. I found myself wondering about how many people looked at these songs over the years. Who they were. The hope it gave them. It makes me think about the people who came to the center and looked at those songbooks and heard church music on a now-dusty piano back in the day. There was a picture on the wall from 1971 showing who donated what amount. Some donated a buck, others ten, the banks a little more. But it totaled $650 and they found a place that sold them a Steinway for that amount. 40 years ago, this is what they were trying to do. I'm sure the center still gets used often, but it seemed to be a sad building in a town that's off the beltway. Surely if I spoke to an Ethelsville resident I'd get a complete picture.
It reminded me of a time in 1987 I believe, when I was an equipment manager for the Andress football team. We'd beaten Ysleta 10-9 on a late figgie. Our work was done and David and I walked across the quiet field in an empty, darkened stadium, though the guest 9, home 10 was still up on the scoreboard. It made me think of all the games the stadium had seen, and if it had a voice, the stories it could tell. The great games. The times kids from Newman Elementary next door came and ran on the track (and the time I skinned my arm). The times when we could get discounted tickets from Newman, when I was in second grade, and the time it rained buckets on us.
That was then, though, and I wonder about the stories that could be told now. The Carlsbad game in 1988 when there was a thunderstorm that took out some of the lights and forced a stoppage of play, after which we came back and won. A 38-game district winning streak. Battles against Irvin for the helmet. Beating Midland Lee 10-3 in 91 or 92, and tying them 21-21 in the playoffs that year, advancing on penetrations (before overtime became the rule). There are countless others, but I've been away for too long to know much.
Anyhow, a couple of good runs so far this week. A four on Monday at the UA rec center after work was a good one-- the Twins/Red Sox game was on, and it ended just about when I was finished. I find delight in watching ball games while running on the treadmill. Makes the time go by, and I try to 'race' the game. An 8-mile tempo run yesterday (six miles at 10:06 mile pace), and a three coming up this morning before I go in to work.
Saturday, a ten-miler is planned in Atlanta, Georgia. Ann is there for a professional conference, and I'm heading over Friday morning at the start of a three-day weekend. Really looking forward to it. The run, of course, and all it entails, but I'm especially ready for a night on the town with my wife Friday, plus a chance to see my Uncle John, dad's brother, whom I've not seen since 1994. He was unable to make our wedding back in June, for medical reasons, so I'm really excited to get together with him and his wife Marianne. I doubt we can catch up in an evening, but we're gonna try. Plus, the First Lady hasn't met these folks yet.
So there's much to look forward to.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Alabama Sunshine
Spring has officially arrived in Alabama, and it's positively gorgeous outside. The weather forecast calls for more of the same. Temps in the 70s, light winds and nary a cloud in the sky. It's vastly different from the springtimes of my younger days-- much wind and much blowing dust. It reminds me of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and a great quote: How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this? 
Today I went and ran a four-miler at about 10 am. It would've been a crime against humanity to run on a treadmill, so I ran on the University of Alabama campus (I *did* like what the scale told me today, too). I took 2 1/2 circuits of the quad, about .75 miles around, and was just stricken by how beautiful it was out. Yes, I had my ipod going, but it was some of my favorite music. There was a 5-k race earlier in the morning (the First Lady and I are running in one on April 24), there were parents taking pictures of their small kids near the flowers at the base of Denny Chimes, kids were giving tours of campus, the SAE frat types were preparing for a shindig later in the day, construction work at the Pike house was going on, people were playing tennis, and there were ultimate frisbee games going on. There were so many people having fun or doing their thing on what was a great day to be outside.
So I joined the fun.
I went to my first Tide softball game and saw a big win, 12-1 over Northwestern. The softball team was one of the last three teams standing at the College World Series last season, and they're off to a great start this year. The facility is incredible, and so is the fan support. Ann has a student on the team, and the kid homered twice. Man, can we swing the bat. Five bombs on the day.
During my run I saw the soccer team would play at 4. Since the softball game ended early, I went over to the rec fields to watch some of the action. What appeared to be a big tournament was in progress, with club-level teams from across the South playing ultimate frisbee on several different fields, plus the Tide lacrosse team playing Georgia State. And the sun was still out. Man, what a day. Then it was over to watch the soccer girls go at it against Mississippi State. We scored twice and hit two crossbars in the first 15 or so minutes. We were ahead 2-1 at half when I'd had enough sun for one day.
Then it was off to a nice meal with Ann and then a trip to a yogurt store I'd never been to. You serve yourself and add whatever toppings you want, they weigh it and you pay accordingly. It was good yogurt, better since I added cookie dough chunks and houndstooth chips (only in Tuscaloosa, I tell you...) and there was a cool vibe in there too.
It was just a great day to be alive, and I'm thankful to have sense enough to recognize it and to have been a small part of it. Sunday is church and Sunday School, so there's a lot more to look forward to. Oh yeah-- more of the same weather is expected. Who knows what I'll find.
Today I went and ran a four-miler at about 10 am. It would've been a crime against humanity to run on a treadmill, so I ran on the University of Alabama campus (I *did* like what the scale told me today, too). I took 2 1/2 circuits of the quad, about .75 miles around, and was just stricken by how beautiful it was out. Yes, I had my ipod going, but it was some of my favorite music. There was a 5-k race earlier in the morning (the First Lady and I are running in one on April 24), there were parents taking pictures of their small kids near the flowers at the base of Denny Chimes, kids were giving tours of campus, the SAE frat types were preparing for a shindig later in the day, construction work at the Pike house was going on, people were playing tennis, and there were ultimate frisbee games going on. There were so many people having fun or doing their thing on what was a great day to be outside.
So I joined the fun.
I went to my first Tide softball game and saw a big win, 12-1 over Northwestern. The softball team was one of the last three teams standing at the College World Series last season, and they're off to a great start this year. The facility is incredible, and so is the fan support. Ann has a student on the team, and the kid homered twice. Man, can we swing the bat. Five bombs on the day.
During my run I saw the soccer team would play at 4. Since the softball game ended early, I went over to the rec fields to watch some of the action. What appeared to be a big tournament was in progress, with club-level teams from across the South playing ultimate frisbee on several different fields, plus the Tide lacrosse team playing Georgia State. And the sun was still out. Man, what a day. Then it was over to watch the soccer girls go at it against Mississippi State. We scored twice and hit two crossbars in the first 15 or so minutes. We were ahead 2-1 at half when I'd had enough sun for one day.
Then it was off to a nice meal with Ann and then a trip to a yogurt store I'd never been to. You serve yourself and add whatever toppings you want, they weigh it and you pay accordingly. It was good yogurt, better since I added cookie dough chunks and houndstooth chips (only in Tuscaloosa, I tell you...) and there was a cool vibe in there too.
It was just a great day to be alive, and I'm thankful to have sense enough to recognize it and to have been a small part of it. Sunday is church and Sunday School, so there's a lot more to look forward to. Oh yeah-- more of the same weather is expected. Who knows what I'll find.
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Long and Winding Road
The First Lady (wife) and I are in West Plains, Missouri for the night, as we head home from a whirlwind trip from Tuscaloosa to Cassville. There is no easy way to get to Cassville from T-Town. Once we get west of Jonesboro, Arkansas, the highway becomes very hilly and very curvy, making it difficult to make any time. I-40 is fine, of course, but the roads we've been on in the northern part of the state are not very straight.
So we left Thursday morning and got to Cassville about 6:30 pm. My wife's aunt Jean died earlier in the week, at the age of 85-- she's the woman for whom my wife is named. I could not do the deceased justice, but in a very short time, I've learned she is a very remarkable woman who worked hard to make her corner of the world a better place. A 50-year cancer survivor, Sunday school teacher and successful businesswoman are just a few of the things that describe her. There did not seem to be much grief; she had been ill for a while, and my read is that her family is relieved that she is not suffering anymore.
And I once again said hello to her husband, Emory Melton, a six-term Missouri state senator. He and his wife were married nearly 61 years. He also seemed to 'wear it well,' though I can't say I know him well. But I wish I did. At the first of the year, I mentioned I finished the biography of Harry Truman, another great Missourian. I wish Emory would put some thoughts of his on paper, so I could learn about and from a great man. Ann's and my challenge is to write to him regularly. I hope we meet this goal.
Attending a funeral today meant I missed my appointment with the GRE test. This is something I'm OK with. Sometimes there's a greater good, and there are some things that are more important than others. I did learn some things while doing all that studying and writing. I'm reminded of a decision-making process a friend of mine used on me when I was facing a choice: what will I remember most in five years? It crystallized the choice for me, and I don't regret coming for one second. It means we're approaching another fork in the road (always take it, btw), and we'll think a little harder on the graduate school idea, or maybe even getting another undergraduate idea. GRE was a bit of a hasty decision back in January. Maybe this lets me take a little bit of a better shot at the target and to figure out what I truly want to do.
Now it's Friday night, and we finish our trip Saturday. And I don't regret the decisions. I even relish the chance to meet more of Ann's family and to become more connected with them.
So we left Thursday morning and got to Cassville about 6:30 pm. My wife's aunt Jean died earlier in the week, at the age of 85-- she's the woman for whom my wife is named. I could not do the deceased justice, but in a very short time, I've learned she is a very remarkable woman who worked hard to make her corner of the world a better place. A 50-year cancer survivor, Sunday school teacher and successful businesswoman are just a few of the things that describe her. There did not seem to be much grief; she had been ill for a while, and my read is that her family is relieved that she is not suffering anymore.
And I once again said hello to her husband, Emory Melton, a six-term Missouri state senator. He and his wife were married nearly 61 years. He also seemed to 'wear it well,' though I can't say I know him well. But I wish I did. At the first of the year, I mentioned I finished the biography of Harry Truman, another great Missourian. I wish Emory would put some thoughts of his on paper, so I could learn about and from a great man. Ann's and my challenge is to write to him regularly. I hope we meet this goal.
Attending a funeral today meant I missed my appointment with the GRE test. This is something I'm OK with. Sometimes there's a greater good, and there are some things that are more important than others. I did learn some things while doing all that studying and writing. I'm reminded of a decision-making process a friend of mine used on me when I was facing a choice: what will I remember most in five years? It crystallized the choice for me, and I don't regret coming for one second. It means we're approaching another fork in the road (always take it, btw), and we'll think a little harder on the graduate school idea, or maybe even getting another undergraduate idea. GRE was a bit of a hasty decision back in January. Maybe this lets me take a little bit of a better shot at the target and to figure out what I truly want to do.
Now it's Friday night, and we finish our trip Saturday. And I don't regret the decisions. I even relish the chance to meet more of Ann's family and to become more connected with them.
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