I just wrote a whole post about my brilliant daughter and her ability to get 79.8 and thus Bs (and 89.8 for As) without even seeming to sweat. .. and then it got eaten by WordPress. Darn it!

It was an excellent day rushing hither and yon to DC, MD, VA and I hope tomorrow is another one …

And I hope that first post still exists somewhere!

my beloved mother in law not only reads this blog, she volunteers with Florida democrats (we need the help!) and with the local community theater in her town. I haven’t volunteered in a long time; I hope I get back to it someday but right now resting is what sounds best!

Maybe things will be different if/when I am able to retire! It was a day full of biking but I’m almost home!

I traveled for work (very, very rare these days) last weekend to New Orleans. It was a five day trip that I booked — for a 5 hour meeting. It was an EXCELLENT meeting — it was so powerful — and I could have flown in Saturday morning and home Sunday evening. I would have preferred that; I missed my husband, I missed our teens, I missed the sights and sounds and smells of home.

But! I did eat beignets three times at Cafe du Monde, I did bond with a bunch of peers from across the country, I did get to ride in the Bicycle Second Line in New Orleans with a brass band leading us on a 10 mile ride around the city! So, those are all excellent.

But! When I am out of town for even one day; the ‘make-up’ of missed meetings lasts alllll week; and Tuesday is/was a real bear. My colleagues were interested in some of the ideas I brought back; I got an actual grant I wrote (second time EVER); and I am letting go of four direct reports (all people I respect and admire!) to a colleague and taking 2 of his direct reports.

It’s all good; I’m just sitting at my kitchen table working at 7:13 p.m. But now it’s working for fun — updating my little blog– and then I get to log off and go read. Home again, home again: YAY!

I’m staying in New Orleans for work and having so much fun but Im rooming with three people from California so breakfast for them is lunchtime for me!! But I begged so we’re heading out now!

it’s been a great day after a peaceful night. I slept like a child on a hard mattress, which I love, then walked to get beignets, walked to the sculpture garden, and have been hanging out in a bike shop below the bike group in New Orleans who is hosting the meeting, reading and dozing.

their bike shop is about 20 times as big as ours, with a sitting area with a leather couch that is (the sitting area) as big as our whole shop.

I wish there was more talk about bike stuff; but it is Halloween in New Orleans and there are 20 of us here and we will figure it out!

boarding now for my flight to New Orleans after an excellent, sustaining, successful day of meetings. It started when my kids were young but continues to this day … I call planes ‘plane spa’ and love them even if I am in the back row, middle seat. I can nap! No one can reach me! I read! It’s just awesome.

this is a work trip, ish, and I don’t usually travel for work, so it’s kind of fun. Of course I’m getting beignets and of course I won’t go out on New Orleans Halloween (I drank my way through New Orleans in college and no need to do it again, thank you).

My daughter’s birthday was excellent yesterday; loved her gifts; loved her fancy dinner; loved her friends. Still stunned 16 years have gone by; still hopeful she is resilient and/or learns resiliency. Shes rowing 5k by herself this weekend, as is her brother! Go kids go; that I’ll be sorry to miss.

Okay, in the plane hallway … plane spa begins!

My beloved first daughter turned 16 today. We reminisced about the years … well, my husband and I did. The other two kids said memories and I said, ‘and what did daughter do?’ And they both said: she was there. So, you know, teens. I worry about this kid so much; 16 and in her second year at a high school surrounded by kids she doesn’t know and sloooowly making friends and struggling under the weight of 3 AP classes and one junior level science class. But my youngest struggled for 2 years in her school and now is surrounded by friends at all times. I know this one will get there; I just wish I could smooth it over, make ‘it’ easy. What is it? Life, I guess. An author at blog I read (and love: Cup of Jo) just talked about how she lets her kids be upset so they learn self-regulation. And it’s such a good idea! And I want to say I do it! And … I don’t think I do. Hell i struggle with self regulation; I hope my children deal with sadness and hardship (that life inevitably offers) better than their father and I do.

anyway. She’s 16. She’s out to dinner at a DC sushi restaurant with one friend from 3rd grade and one new friend. I just finished my run and I’m writing in my blog. We’re all going to be fine.

At the oral surgeon’s …

Allyson is inside right now, getting 9 (NINE) teeth removed. She had to be put under, which required a shot, which she has a serious phobia about. Jason and I both came; and I tried to tease her as they talked about her tiny, tiny veins but finally one tear just wordlessly fell; then another.

my girl. No idea what caused this; she’s hated shots since she was born. I know she’ll be fine, but the in between, the right now, just sucks.