Chicago Curse

Viva went to Chicago for Heavyweights for the second year in a row. And yet again, Chicago got the better of us. Although this year we were much more prepared for the jet lag by getting in earlier, staying at a hotel closer to the fields, sleeping in beds, getting to the fields over an hour early and getting a good physical warm-up, we still did not play up to our potential. I've been struggling to determine why we played so poorly after such a good trip to Colorado. I think despite being physically warmed up, we were just not mentally all there. So small mental mistakes by everyone added up to an overall poor Viva showing. Not to mention we were missing some key players. I would guess this will be our last trip to Chicago… at least for a few years! We did manage to come back against a team in a very upwind-downwind game and score the upwinder when we HAD to, or else lose! So we ended up 5th overall out of about 20 teams. Hopefully sectionals and regionals will go better when we have our full roster in our own time zone…

Mini-Pack: Sized Small, Medium & Large

Yup, my mom definitely has a mini-pack. These pups are hysterical. They each have a very distinct personality and they all HATE being left behind (whether you're leaving the house or just going to the bathroom). People say that usually when you have more than one dog, the dogs become "dog dogs" as opposed to "people dogs". Well, that is certainly not the case with this trio. As soon as anyone leaves the room, they run to the gate and anxiously await your return. They are insanely playful... at times so much that you may think WWIII has landed in the living room!

All three dogs have attended obedience school. And what cracks me up is that my mom hasn’t changed one bit with her new “children”… just as she proudly displayed my “happy grams” in 1st grade… she now has a fridge plastered with her pups’ certificates for passing puppy class, and the 1st and 2nd grades! I have definitely learned that life is incomplete without a dog (or three!). It is just impossible not to be happy around these little ewoks. I wish there was some way for Ella to meet those three. I'm sure they would just love each other! Too bad you can't reserve a seat on a plane for your dog... I just don't have the heart to put her in with the baggage! One of the downsides to living so far away.

Frog Blog

I discovered this frog at my dad’s house hanging out on a mantel and just had to take its picture. I’m not sure why I was so intrigued by this frog in particular… it’s one of many in my dad’s collection. I suppose I just liked its goofiness amongst all the other beautiful works of art on display… a “diamond in the rough.” Mostly, I like that both my parents have an affinity for frogs and extensive collections, so I thought I’d share one!

A random childhood memory relating to frogs just for fun… when I was learning to read and had just learned the “-ing” ending, I could not for the life of me read the word “frog”… I would start to sound it out… “fr-, fr-, fr-…” but always return to “FRING!” and that darn “-ing!” ending. Finally, my mom couldn’t take it any more and shouted “it’s FROG dammit FROG!” and I’ve never forgotten the word since… thanks mom J

Growing Up Part 2

Ella isn't the only one growing up around here... last week I traveled back to my home town (Bethesda) for the wedding of my childhood friend, Tal Alon (now Gospin). And for the first time in five years saw both her and Sally Glynn (now Hauser) at the same time! We went together to get manicures (my first one since my high school prom in fact!) and spent some nice time hanging out and catching up. Sally is expecting a baby boy in December and is just glowing from head to toe! It's hard to believe that 10 years have passed since we were just graduating high school... and that I have known those two for 16 years!

The ceremony was beautiful, both Tal and Dan seemed magically happy together, and Tal’s parents were beaming happiness from ear to ear.

In addition to getting married this year, Tal graduated from medical school and got accepted to a residency program at Columbia University in Manhattan, her first pick! 2006 will be quite THE year when all is said and done... I WILL finish my master's degree this December, marking this as my last year of school (ever?!)... my sister, Talia, WILL finish her record album...Mike will start a program in sustainable business.... Eva had a baby boy... Sally will have a baby boy... Ella, Dante and Max joined the family... Mom became a "survivor"...the list goes on and on!! Good thing there are still a few months left to the year to finish!