Monument Avenue 10K and Monumental Wipeout

On Friday night, Nicole invited me to Yoga Wabi Sabi at this cool old warehouse South of the James. It was a really different experience, a pretty fun and healthy way to spend a Friday night.

These pictures aren't very good, but you can kind of get a feel for the space. She also projected funky photographs from a local artist on the brick wall the whole time.


After the class, there was food and tea. Next month there will be chocolate and wine - what better incentive to exercise than THAT?!?


Saturday morning was the Monument Avenue 10K. I would like to say I participated in the running, but really I participated in the watching and listening to music.

Courtney, Nicole, and Brian

Ledfoot was playing! It was a "reunion tour" of sorts, with a new guitarist, Jason, a new singer, Wendy, and a re-engagement of a previous singer, Jason

(Does anyone else hear "this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl" in their head right now? No? It's just me? OK.)

Most of the runners loved the band ....

... but there were occasional non-fans in the crowd.

Janeen ran! I don't know how she did it, but she did GREAT! We were so excited for her! Nicole and I went to Five Guys for burgers and fries with her afterward. We felt we didn't really deserve it - we hadn't earned it - but we ONLY went to support Janeen, naturally.

Female 10K winner!

10K winner! (by a LOT, it seemed)

Group dancing in front of the band

Ledfoot left to right: Courtney, Jason, Wendy, Brian, Bill, and Jason

Courtney taking a break. Too bad they needed the tent. Reminiscent of last year. (Kristen and her parents came out, too, but I forgot to get a picture!)

And now ... the costumes! This might be my personal favorite, Resume Man.

Michael Phelps

Uncle Sam

Indiana Jones

Octo-Dad

Robert Palmer and Girls

Rita's Italian Ice Guys

The Winner: Ms. Pac Man! The ghosts chased her (in full color) the first half, then the ghosts flipped the costumes and all wore blue as she chased them back toward the finish line. It was really clever.

And now ... today. I spent some of Saturday and most of yesterday working in the yard. I also spent some time fixing up my bike (air in the tires, batteries working in the lights, oil the chain, blah blah blah.) So naturally, I was excited to ride to work today, for the first time in 2009!

I wrecked. Wiped out. Crashed. (Funny, too, because my nickname in High School was Crash Kennedy because I drove my parents' Buick Skyhawk into the back of my own school bus. My Spanish teacher even called me Dona Choque.... but I digress...)

I hope at least someone saw me and got a good laugh out of this, so that it isn't ALL for nothing! Collateral damage: scraped bike, pair of pants I used to like, MINOR scratches to the gloves my brother brought me from Harrods (only because I had two pairs on; the outer pair were TOAST!), and a bloody knee.

I should look real sexy in a bathing suit this weekend when I go to Florida. My knee looks like a 10 year old tomboy.

Maybe Mom was right. Maybe she SHOULDN'T have let them use the forceps.

TGIF!

A short post to say THANKS MAURA for visiting on Tuesday! I had a BLAST!

Also, yesterday I completed this little "life experiences" thingamajigger. I saw this on Susan’s page, so I decided to post it, too, just for fun! It's certainly not the test of a fulfilled life, but it makes you dream.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Things you've already done: bold.

Things you want to do: italicize.

Things you haven't done and don't necessarily want to - leave in plain font.

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1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.

11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables. (VERY poorly, but I did it!)

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort.

25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. (Could have – Sophie and I decided it was prettier to watch the gondolas than watch FROM the gondola.)

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (Although money isn't what MAKES you satisfied, but yes, I have enough for myself and to take care of a loved one, if I had to, which is satisfying.)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.

58. Taken a martial arts class.

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.

67. Bounced a check.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House. (Behind the scenes, too! Thanks Brian B!)

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous.

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.

In conclusion: who WANTS to be stung by a bee?

Off to Yoga tonight (this is my 4th yoga class in one week, so I'm quite proud of myself!), watching a friend's band at the Monument Avenue 10K tomorrow morning, working in the yard most of the weekend ...

UPDATE FROM PRIOR VERSION OF THIS POST:

I WAS - possibly - heading to Broad Street on Sunday night to see the Rock of Love busses park. Again, this is a guilty pleasure that I should not support, but it's not like I'm buying a ticket to the actual CONCERT! I just want to watch the skanky ladies fistfight. Is that wrong? :)

Now I cannot indulge! Concert Cancelled! What a woos.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Richmond Goes Green

Well, for those of you who know me, don't close the window just yet! This isn't one of my Sustainability rants - it's about the luck of the Irish!

This weekend was a lazy, fun weekend around Richmond. On Saturday I took a Vinyasa yoga class (VERY humbling, again!), showered, and met KKidd at the recently-reopened-under-new-management Cafe Gutenberg. We were going to meet at Lulu's, but they are closed on Saturday afternoons. BUMMER.


After a haircut & color, I met Mo and Padma at my house for a long catch-up and dinner. We also watched TV, but that's tough to do with three chatty women in the room! I had a great time because we talked ALL politics and news. There aren't a lot of people I can do that with for hours and hours, and we all respect each others' views. I personally need that once in a while - it was refreshing!

I was mad that I forgot to take a picture though! We went for a walk down to Crossroads on a beautiful Saturday then had dinner afterwards; it would have been a perfect time for a picture!

On Sunday, I met Janeen and Nicole at Bamboo Cafe for Richmond's 24th Annual Church Hill Irish Festival!

Patrick Henry looking down from St. John's Church to watch the band with us.

Some kids were cracking me up trying out the Irish dances on their own on temporarily abandoned stage.

St. Patrick - shopping at one of the vendors with faux beard & flip flops.

One of the many, fantastic live acts, The Atkinsons.

Some of the local color.

Blissful (and brave!) dancers in the crowd.

One of the braver dancers... we were pretty sure her courage was artificially fueled. :)

Nicole and Janeen

Last stop before heading home: GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!

Babysitting in Cary, NC

Matt and Christie took a well-deserved weekend for themselves in Virginia Beach, and imported Aunt Crazy to babysit. It was so much fun!!

Unfortunately the weather was not great (40 degrees and rainy) and Lauren was sick, so we really couldn't leave the house too much. Fine with me! We stayed in our pajamas and played, watched movies, and generally goofed around.

Mema and Kyla in Mom's neighborhood on Monday

Kyla working hard on Mema's computer

Lauren in Mema's playroom

Poor Lauren had a virus, but she was such a good sport we weren't sure it was as serious as it was. Luckily when it hit it's peak with a whopping ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE degree fever on Sunday night, Mommy and Daddy were home. Good thing, too, because when Aunt Crazy saw her that way, she almost passed out cold. How do parents do this???

Anklebiter Invasion: Part Deux

Last week was a lot of fun! The snow gave the whole city a new look.

I had my usual fun tutoring the Luals (although it was UNusually easy after 3 days out of school!), and then came Thursday. KKidd planned a unique night out for us in Mechanicsville, VA. After work we met at Alexander's Antiques Auction, where we were introduced to a NEW WORLD! There's an entire culture, language, protocol, etc. out there associated with the antique furniture biz. It was a blast to watch, except it was a little sad, at times. Some of the most amazing furniture went for low, low prices. I guess it's just a sign of the times.

After watching the auction for a while, we walked over to Carena's Jamaican Grille for dinner. It was really, really good! I had never had coconut creme brule before - delish!!

On Thursday night I got an e-mail from a good friend that he'd be in town the next day to see JMU play in the CAA tournement. I have no idea if I even said that right because I know ZILCH about sports, but hey! Geoff was coming to town!

Gary (Geoff's friend) and Geoff fill out the alumni application (read: FREE TICKETS.)

Gary and Geoff

Then suddenly... after a week of adult companionship... SLAM! More kiddies back in town!
This time my friends from Falls Church, VA and Pasadena, MD came down to visit. I have NEVER have a bad time or even a so-so time with this crowd; it is ALWAYS fabulous! With the addition of the 75 degree weather this weekend, however, it was a super duper fabulous visit!

Ben on Saturday morning

Lindsey and Ben have been buddies from the start. Here Ben feeds her some grapes from his breakfast platter.

Saturday was a lazy day of hanging out and catching up. While we waited for Ben to wake up from his nap, we hung out in the backyard. Here's Karen and her twins.

Spies and Lindsey

Moge and Emma

Bill and Samantha

Bill eating Samantha's pretzel

The kids in Shields Market

We had to hit the Market because I sorta forgot that kids don't eat whole grain breakfast food ... oops! Wonder Bread and Frosted Flakes to go, please!

When Ben woke up, we walked up the street to the Children's Museum.

Bill, Karen, Samantha, Emma, Lindsey and Ben.

Bill saw this sign on the way ... it made us laugh. No wonder the cat ran away!! (We think "buncher" is supposed to be "butcher.")

Ben staying busy at the water exhibit.

Me and Spies on the giant banana. Yes, of course I was singing Gwen Stefani in my head. :)

B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Emma on a Brontosaurus

Lindsey hatching.

Samantha on the Brontosaurus.

Ben and Moge

Lindsey giving me the "get that camera out of my face Kennedy" look.

Emma looking frustrated that the radio won't come on when she presses the button.

Disgruntled waitress Samantha.

Ben and his purple balloon.

Samantha and Emma putting together the nation's next Stimulus package.

Bill has Emma stand on the feet. Looks like she's three feet tall!

Emma changes the tires while Samantha runs diagnostics.

Princess Emma - I had to put a few of these in here because she's so darn cute.

Princess Emma ponders commands to the kingdom.

Checking out the throne.

Everyone gathering at the echo thingy out front.

Walking back via Monument Avenue.

Bill and I snuck out on Saturday night during bath time so that we could hit at least one Richmond bar. I wanted him to see the Byrd Theatre, so we hit Double T's BBQ across Cary Street for a beer. ONE beer.

How was I supposed to know that one beer was 34 ounces??

When you order the Big Boy at Double Ts, they ring this bell. Love it.

Breakfast on the Breakfast Platter - can you tell the real eggs from the ceramic ones? We added the leftover steak from the night before, which made it the first time Alison had steak and eggs for breakfast.

My baby-proofed house.

Breakfast al fresca.

Everyone grabs their chocolate bunnies ... time to say goodbye.

It seems like just yesterday that Moge, Spies and I were planning a spontaneous ice skating trip at the Archives on a weeknight because we were all hanging kidless. Now look at them! :)

Bye Spies and Staegers ... Until next time!