winter olympics

I had a crazy nightmare last night. I was at a base camp in the mountains. Staying at a bougie ski chalet. Having the time of our lives. Hot cocoa. Jacuzzi. Lush. Selfies. Fur coats. Glam. Good conversations with exciting strangers who also love active living and travel.

Then it dawns upon me. Why I am there. I remember that I registered for a 100 mile ultramarathon. In the cold. In the mountains. I have to stay in athlete housing. Bunks. I am the only female signed up for this race. There are only 12 people doing the race.

I take all my luggage and put it on a bunk bed. I try to sleep. I wake up and go to the bathroom. Someone had moved all my stuff to a different bed. I had to find it in the dark. The night before the race.

I got up to pee again and someone moved my stuff again and this time, like musical chairs, there were no more empty beds because more people had arrived in the middle of the night. So I just went down to the lobby. 

That's when I realized all the gear I packed was for California weather, not cold gear. I didn’t even have gloves. I had a light jacket, not even a windbreaker. I started to really panic. I started beating myself up for being unprepared. I started thinking there was a very real possibility I would die out there on the mountain.

When the other participants woke up, one guy offered me his snow pants and I got a parka and some gloves from somewhere. I thought I could still do the race. I might not finish, but I wouldn't die trying. Then I find out they make you strip down naked and have all your gear checked to make sure you aren't cheating.

Mind you, I'm the only woman. So there I am, a crazy Nebraskan-Californian with back rolls and saggy boobs and a fat ass... dancing in front of the judges and other participants and spectators. I wasn't embarrassed about my body, I was embarrassed that I was so unprepared. And I didn’t want it to reflect badly on me, women, mothers, Californians, Nebraskans, Americans. It was humiliating.

Besides being stripped naked, our gear was inspected. The snow pants that someone had "kindly" loaned me contained illegal, performance-enhancing valves, which the officials cut out. So my outfit ended up with holes in it, and almost ended up getting me disqualified.

So then I was left at the decision point. Run the race with all the holy gear, or quit before I start. Then I woke up.

I think it was about the Winter Olympics. And exploitation of women. And misogyny. And working in a male-dominated field. And feeling stressed about my training cycle. And the upcoming marathon. And generalized travel stress, like for a destination race. Like worrying about having forgotten something essential. And wondering what my next big challenge will be.

Festivus

I'm actually kind of sick of all the social media posts about women doing all of the heavy lifting during the holidays. At some point, if you don't want to be the one doing all the heavy lifting, you have to put the burden down and do nothing. And wait for somebody else to pick it up, or make peace with the fact that not only do you not have to be the person to carry it, but actually, maybe it doesn't even need to be carried. Like, yes, if you don't do it, it won't get done. But also, maybe you can live without it. 

I'm saying this as someone who has been carrying a very heavy burden for the entire past few months. So heavy, in fact, that when I finally put it down, I'm almost catatonic. I'm having like a two-day migraine headache, and I feel like I physically cannot go on. My body is breaking down like my ribcage. And my neck.

I was listening to the Rise and Run podcast, and they mentioned the Airing of Grievances as a part of the Festivus holiday. I think it might be healthy. To prevent carrying these grievances into the new year. Our son, Albert, was upset that we didn’t do stockings on Christmas morning. I just couldn't swing it. I had stocking stuffers, but we never hung the stockings, so I mistakenly assumed Albert wouldn't expect one. 

My husband seemed to really get it. He realized he hadn't bought or wrapped any of the gifts under the tree. And he offered to do something to make a stocking for maybe New Year's Day. But to my knowledge, nothing has been done about it. And there will not be time. But he asked me not to do it because he feels bad about not doing anything else. I don't know.

We spent Christmas Eve baking. Sugar cookies, candy canes, fudge, peanut butter balls, and gingerbread. Mike delivered the plates to the neighbors. It was a good project for a rainy day when we couldn't do much else.

I don't know what more to do. Now I'm trying to decide whether to take Albert to the winter academy. It's a normal school day the week before they go back to school. Shouldn't I be jazzed to spend every possible moment with my kid? But it is tempting to go for it, since this break has been full of screen time, meltdowns, and sugar.

Clueless and Breathless race report

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

Along the LA River between Vanalden and Owensmouth. Start time 7am but we started early at 6:30am. The route is 5k from end to end. We didn’t do a 13.1 mile half. But it was okay. We did 20k. Weather was awesome. Cool and foggy.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSh5sgXCVWJ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

There were aid stations at mile at 0, 1.5, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 10.5, and 12 miles. There was an inflatable start line. There was a port-a-potty at mile 0. Aid stations had Electrolyt, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, water, Red Vines, fruit snacks, and doughnuts. The course was completely off-street on a bike path.

How did you train for the event

I am following the LA Marathon training plan level 3. We're halfway to the marathon, week 13 out of 26, so it felt right to do a half marathon. Last season, the Rose Bowl Half was postponed due to wildfire. I found it was a good idea to double up on Important milestones to have a backup. So this was my first half marathon race of the season but it was very laid back. We took a potty break mid-way through and I made some adjustments to my outfit. I did not care about the time for this event since it was not a full 13.1.

@fit4mom_west_sfv RunClub+ Session 6 #runclub #mamamagic #lamarathon2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSfyuKjko7U/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Gear and Nutrition

I started out in a tech t-shirt with my hydration vest. I ate some but probably not enough. My feet were giving me problems at three points during the race. Like mile 1, 8, and 11. Thankfully the race organizers let us leave stuff at the aid station, so I didn't carry my vest for the second 10k. I ate 1 package of BelVita cookies, 2 Gu's and 6 Clif bloks.

Specific experiences

I ran with my friend, we stayed together the whole time, talking and laughing. It made the race go by much faster. We put on the music from the movie soundtrack in the last 2 miles. 

Finish and associated emotion

I was SO happy to be done. I didn’t want to run a step further. The end-of-semester and holiday / birthday season is so stressful for me. I am behind on everything: rest, hydration, nutrition, and sleep. So I wasn't expecting a stellar performance. But it was actually painful. I hope new shoes will help. 

Overall evaluation of the event

Jed and Ted's Excellent Races are a monthly event bringing back vibes of the '80s and '90s with nostalgic movie themes. I would do one of these again. I would definitely recommend it for a first-time race for someone looking for a low-key high-fun experience. You get a bib and a medal. The organizers took lots of photos and shared them pretty much right away. Price $35. Totally worth it.

Sparkle Season

I am already exhausted. The pressure to create the holiday magic is so real. I don't know if it actually brings me joy or am I a product of my culture. Like, am I just acculterated to feel like I must do these things:

Bake cookies

Decorate a tree

Buy gifts for people

Wrap the gifts

Hang stockings

Get stocking staffers

Plan a holiday meal / menu

Plan holiday experiences

Watch holiday movies

Drink holiday drinks

All while teaching six classes, leading a run club, and doing normal stuff like laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, meal prep, and trying like hell to drink enough water and not forget to do anything important.

I surround myself with calendars and to do lists. I am literally terrified of forgetting something. Thoughts flit into my consciousness and then right back out again just as quickly. I can't write them down fast enough and I can't remember what I already forgot.

I want the holidays to sparkle but I am not home enough to enjoy the decor. I have no idea what gifts I have already. I may have sent gifts to people. I bought holiday cards and stamps but I don't know when I will have the chance to address them, write a message, and put them in the mail.

My eye is twitching. It has been doing this for about 4 days. I'm worried it's due to stress and dehydration.

26 days until the marathon

I wanted to write a quick blog about how I'm feeling. Just one long run left before the marathon. I feel ready. I know what I'm going to wear. I know what I'm going to eat. I have my pace in mind. I've trained to climb the hills of the course. I'm done listening to doubters (including myself). 

I've had aches and pains in this journey. I remember one of the first things I felt was foot pain, like October or November 2023. I felt like I had a stress fracture in one foot. I remember googling "obese running problems" to see if there was any correlation between weight and running and foot injuries. What I found was that it was actually inversely proportional. Heavy runners tended to run slower and have fewer foot injuries. Lighter runners tended to do too much speed work too soon and get stress fractures. So I kept plodding along.

I don't know which of my runners it was that asked me, don't you have any injuries? and I remember saying, no because I do the proper stretching, strengthing, and rehab. But that's not entirely true. I got a mean case of shin splints around May and June 2024. It hurt so bad even to walk. I think it was probably muscle weakness in the calf that caused it. And I continued to stretch, and do strength exercises, and work through the pain, and buy new shoes! And more calf raises. And curtsey lunges without putting weight on the back leg.

I guess it was about a year ago that I went in and got assessed for new shoes. I was probably following a 5k training plan back then and didn't really look like a serious runner. Those shoes worked well for me and I ended up getting three more pairs of that style. I got reassessed last week and they recommended a pair of New Balance. More lightweight, more cushion. 

I remember it must have been around October or November when I started having pain in my psoas. Or hip flexor. I ordered a dance warm-up that I thought would help. I asked on the Coach's chat for the LA Roadrunners and they said it was most likely a weak muscle. And that the solution is not more stretching or foam rolling but more strengthing. So banded marches it is. What I ended up doing is attending Fit4Mom Stroller Strides classes and then swapping out the exercises I should be doing for my rehab and running strength instead of whatever the instructor tells us.

I don't know what day it was but one morning it was really cold. I had some knee pain. But I put on my knee-high leg warmers and ran anyway. As long as my knees were covered, it was okay. If the leg warmer slipped below the knee, it hurt a bit. I'm guessing it was Lassen (January 30th). Adding speed and treadmill and hills at the same time. Probably too much. 

I would love to write more about how I'm feeling, but I have to run to class. Enjoy this Venn Diagram I made about the similarities and differences between Motherhood, Marathoning and Teaching.

Christmas Eve

It's winter. I'm still overweight after getting back into running and training steadily for over a year. It's Christmas day tomorrow and I'm nervous. Did I do enough to make it magical for my son? Am I being a good wife? Have I been a good sister, daughter, and friend this year? 

Have I done enough to build muscle and bone, to slow the gradual progression into middle age? Is high cholesterol going to kill me? Is it related to perimopause? Should I be on a cycle synching diet? Am I doomed to gain and lose the same 70 pounds over and over each decade of my adult life? Was there ever any hormonal reason for my infertility?

Why are all the female characters in Taylor Sheridan's dramas totally psycho and sex-crazed? Is that really how men see us? Or is that how they want us to be? Are they powerful because of their sex-appeal or are the sex scenes just there to keep you engaged in a storyline that is littered with foul language?

At what point do you take away a child's access to the world wide web? How far can you go with gentle parenting until you don't punish your child at all? How can a child comprehend boundaries if they never have a consequence of crossing the boundaries? How many miles can a child walk before it damages their growth plates? How can I teach my child to make friends on the playground when I don't even want to?

How many more training runs can I do before my toenails fall off? No wonder I can't sleep. I am seriously worrying about a ton of crap. This is the stress of the default parent. I managed the holiday magic. I went to the things. I finished up my work. I made the lists and checked them twice. Are holiday cards obsolete? Are cards just clutter? Are our family photos someone else's junk mail? Are we trying too hard to shove our cute little ones in other people's faces? What's the point if you don't feel a sense of connection?

How many miles are on my last pair of shoes? If I just broke out a new pair, will they last me until the marathon? When will my chiropractor be healed from his hip surgery? Why didn't I ask for a referral to someone else in the meantime? When can I get a massage? How can we afford all the repairs from getting out car fixed? Should we just buy a new car now?

And let's not even go too far down the rabbit hole of the next 4 years. By the end of it, my son will be almost 9 years old. What do I remember about being 9? Not much. I guess I was a big sister. My siblings would have been 3 and 1 year old. Yep, definitely don't remember this time at all. My parents were probably just barely surviving themselves.

I remember wanting to be the good girl. Wanting to be helpful. Wanting to avoid drama. Wanting to fit in. Wanting to have less scarcity. Resenting my dog. Actually really hating the dog. Why? Why does my son take out his aggression on his stuffed animals? Why do parents take out their aggression on their children? Because it's easy, right? And there's a pecking order. That's nature.

I feel like I can't calm down sometimes. I feel like I'm doing some of this work alone. Parenting work. I feel like my husband is doing the minimum and feeling like he's doing so much. I feel like he chides me for spending money on stuff but then hides his spending on his stuff. Like yeah running is a fun hobby but also it's for my health. Do I need a sparkly outfit for race day? No. But do new running shoes protect me from injury? Yes. Some sports bras give chafe and I'm still trying to figure out how to avoid that. 

No I'm not a medical doctor. No I don't want a mammogram. There are tests that I would like to run on myself but they have to be ordered by a doctor and the last time I asked for this person's help with checking my hormone levels, they didn't help me with that. I wish there were a fairy godmother for health stuff. Someone who would walk you through the right steps to get the outcome you are hoping for. I guess for me that would be a peaceful home life with less mom rage and a healthy body that is not going to be ravaged by inflammation, cancer, or osteoporosis. I want to have peaceful, healthy relationships with my family members and work collegues. I want to be a part of my community and uplift others. I want to finish this marathon and see how I feel after that. I know reaching one's goal in life doesn't automatically make you happy. It is more important that you see yourself in a positive light every day, all through the journey, regardless of how you look or feel every day. I try to squeeze in my self-care in 5-min increments. Just a little here and there. Not too much late night doom scrolling. But some nights, like tonight, I wonder if I'm enough. When we pack up all the twinkle and sparkle of Christmas, what's left?? My son is planning the days around his desire to shop for mystery cars at Target. He wants to go there every day for the rest of his winter break and collect as many as he can find or carry. He also wants a Transformer Barbie House for Christmas and I have no idea what that is or if it even exists. I did not buy it buy it buy it.

Holiday Half Marathon Race Report

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

Pomona Dragstrip hosted the start/finish line, registration, bib pickup, and gear check. This year the weather was really good. It was kind of foggy in the morning and that was good because the humidity held onto some warmth. It wasn't as cold as it could have been. It was not super windy. There was no precipitation. After about an hour the sun came out. The 10k, 5k, and kids race were on Saturday, December 14th. The half marathon was on Sunday, December 15th. We stayed at the Sheraton Fairplex hotel from Dec 13-15. We splurged on early check-in and late check-out.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

I peed in a corner right before the race because the line for the bathrooms was super long. But that was kind of my fault because I left the hotel at 7:00 a.m. and the race started at 7:30 and it was about a half an hour walk. The walk from the hotel to the starting line was really good to warm up. 

I wore a sweatshirt, fleece pants, scarf, hat, and gloves. But then I took those off at the gear check. It was super easy to check my backpack. They provided plastic grocery bags if you needed it.

They didn't really do waves at the start line. Pace leaders were in the corral. They counted us down 5-4-3-2-1-go and everyone just started running. I barely had time to start my Strava and music. It was the most stress-free start line of the whole year.

There was a good amount of shade on the course, especially going around the reservoir. It was a lot hillier than I remember, but that made it really pretty too. The segment along the airfield between mile marker 5 & 6 was the worst for me because the road wasn't completely closed so they had us on a narrow shoulder with lots of rubble. I almost tripped. No fun but it was only a mile and the rest of the course was great. Between mile markers 12 & 13 was probably my favorite. It was a closed street. Finishers were backtracking to cheer us in. I was singing and trying to soak up the fun of the last mile.

How did you train for the event

I did my best to follow the F4M half marathon training plan, the runDisney Galloway marathon training plan, and the Roadrunners plan for the LA Marathon. I missed a week of training due to the ear infection I got right before Thanksgiving break. I still don't feel 100% from that. Luckily I have an appointment with a specialist on Wednesday. As it turns out, the doctor said my left ear was still infected on December 18th (after the race) and didn't clear up until December 30th when I saw him again for a follow-up appointment. It looks like I skipped 11 training runs out of the 39 I had on my training spreadsheet (28%) so it's no wonder I wasn't at my strongest on race day.

Your gear and nutrition

I brought a hat to wear, like a running hat with a visor. But my head got too hot. I ended up wearing my junk headband and gooder sunglasses.

My hair was up in two French braids and that really helped me stay cool. I'm glad I decided to wear shorts and a tank top with removable sleeves. I kept the sleeves on the whole race because it was chilly in the shade. I saw my "sparkle twin," who was also wearing the sparkle snowflake skirt. I ended up finishing the race with a bunch of really strong moms, strong teachers, and strong students and it was really beautiful. 

@hamerk02 Miles of Smiles #holidayhalfmarathon ♬ original sound - Kayla A. Kaiser

The SRLA kids were cheering for Elsa or asking me if I were dressed up as Elsa, which I was. So fun that people recognized it.

My Muzen speaker died around 3 hours. My sister recommended I get a second vest and second speaker for the marathon. Then have Mike meet me somewhere mid-race and swap out. That made sense.

My fueling strategy was pretty simple. They had water stations mile 3, 6, and 9. So I took a Gu at every water stop. I did ate two electrolyte chews pretty much every 30 minutes. I've never done that before but I do think it helped. Like every time it felt like my body was starting to get crampy, I would chomp two of those. They're pretty easy to take without water because they're not sweet. And it seems like they work right away. I also ate two fruit strips around mile 6. And one stroopwaffle around mile 10. There was a water stop at mile 12 but by then I was out of fuel. Actually I had a Clif bar and an Rx bar but they were in the back of my running vest. I also put my dead speaker back there at mile 10. Since I had no water bladder back there, I needed some weight to balance the vest. If all the weight is in the front pockets it digs into the back of my neck.

The only mishap I would say is that I normally run with a hydration bladder. The one that I've been using has like a slider to close it, that is a separate piece not attached to the rest of it. And I forgot that slider at home. But it ended up being okay. I just grabbed one or two cups of water at every water stop. And it seemed like they had plenty of water stops. I didn't see a ton of mile markers in the first 5 miles. Maybe I just missed them. I kind of enjoyed knowing when we were at 3, 6, 9, and 12 miles. It made the time pass faster.

Specific experiences

It was really fun that the course for the half marathon went right by the hotel. So I got to wave to my son and my husband who came down to the gate and my son was screaming Mommy I love you. The 3-hour pace leader was really cool. He had on a Santa hat and a Santa beard.

Finish and associated emotions

I wanted to cry a little at the finish because I feel like I have been training for a long time to get to this point. Maybe I am already looking forward to having an off season. I know I still have a long ways to go to be ready for the full marathon. But it was rewarding to hear that my husband is proud of my training. He said some people only train up to an 18 mile long run prior to the actual marathon. Since I did 15 miles today, that impressed him.

Overall evaluation of the event 

I would definitely do this event again. If I feel up to it, it would be fun to do either the Golden Snowflake Challenge (5k on Saturday, Half Marathon on Sunday) or the Triple Snowflake Challenge (Half, 10K, & 5K for $140).

Race Spending

$80.50 for registration for the half marathon on June 5th

$16.90 for the kid's race (day of event)

$486.33 for the hotel (Sheraton Fairplex Suites & Conference Center by Marriott)

$20 for parking at the hotel

$688 for registration and lodging

We spent about $608 on food and entertainment. Dining at the Fairplex is really expensive and we bought hot cocoa, hot coffee, ice cream, churros, burritos, french fries. Imagine what you would buy at any fair and that's the type of food we bought. We also treated our friends to a nice dinner in the hotel (room service). There were many times we got food from the in-hotel restaurant. The good thing was that we didn't leave the hotel once we arrived. We had only a tiny fridge and a microwave in the room, we brought about 3x as much food as the size of the fridge. So we did keep the food we brought in a cooler and replaced the ice about every 8 hours, but it would have been better to stay at a hotel with a full-sized fridge. Although it was VERY nice to be able to walk to the race from the hotel. We also walked to the Imaginarium, which was a holiday light display and carnival. It costs about $20 per person to get in. It was definitely festive and Albert had a great time with all the photo ops. I would highly recommend that experience for people of all ages and abilities.

Finally, I spent about $200 on race costumes and gear for training. I got a Tinkerbell sparkle skirt and a matching visor. I got the snowflakes sparkle skirt you can see in the photo above. I found the "Let It Go" tank top on Poshmark. And I got a couple of shrugs, legwarmers, and knit shorts from a company called Move Dance. They've been super helpful in getting out in the cold for the morning training runs.

So altogether that means we spent about $1500 on the entire race weekend. How does that compare to other race weekends we did in 2024?

$1466 Disneyland 5k (with two park days)
$284 LA Big 5k (no hotel)
$522 OC Marathon (without running the race)
$640 CdM Scenic 5k
$1063 SMC Classic 10k/5k (with no hotel)
$1075 Mission Inn Run 

$1499 Holiday Half Marathon

So it looks like the Holiday Half was our most expensive race weekend of the year. I think that's partly because it was also my husband's birthday weekend and we splurged more than we would have otherwise. Also, we didn't entertain friends at other race weekends besides the Mission Inn Run so that was an added cost, but also a totally fun way to spend the evening. And we went to the Fairplex for the Imaginarium, which was a pretty epic addition to the weekend. Even without those extra fun things, the hotel itself was I guess pretty pricy. And I forgot my husband's swimsuit so we never went to the pool.

I would say this race was a great way to end the 2024 race season. Because this was my build-back year, it felt major to have reached a half-marathon distance. Maybe I did it too quickly, maybe I could have waited longer to make my way back to running. But one thing I will say is that I'm grateful that I registered for TWO 10ks and TWO half marathons. Because the excessive heat interfered with the Santa Monica Classic and now the wildfires have postponed the Rose Bowl Half. It was a big boost to my confidence to have two chances to succeed at each race distance as I build up to a full marathon. I had considered registering for the Citrus Heritage Run and the Palm Desert Half, but I let them pass by. I decided that there would be other years for those events. A new date hasn't been set for the Rose Bowl Half, but I'll write more about that in another post.

lost my hearing

In a strange turn of events, I have a double ear infection and I can't hear. It started off pretty innocently, just a little runny nose. I kept up with my training. I remember doing my 10-mile training run and wondering if it was the right thing to do or not. That was Sunday, November 10th (10 days ago). I did do two 2-mile runs the following week, but it was a taper week and it got pretty cold. Later on Thursday, November 14th, I started to lose hearing in my left ear. By Friday, November 15th, I couldn't hear in the right ear either. I tried to rest all day Saturday, thinking it would clear up. But after sleeping most of the day, both ears were still plugged up late Saturday afternoon. We went to urgent care around 4:30pm and returned home at 8:30pm with antibiotics. People have been telling me that it should resolve after a couple of days. So now we're on day 4 of taking amoxicillin, and I still can't hear. 

This semester came in so challenging. I got a change to my teaching schedule on August 9th. That was the Friday before my kiddo's first day of TK. Within a few days, he came down with COVID. Then my husband and I got it too. I was behind from the first week of classes all the way until about week 4 or 5 (end of September). After things settled down, I got a bit sad because we had low participation for RunClub. Just when I thought that was canceled, it was back on!

Being without hearing for a week has been odd. I feel like I'm forced into a meditative state. I can't be entertained by podcasts or music right now. It's a lot of work to have a conversation or watch TV because I have to read the subtitles or people's lips and really strain to pick up what they're saying. So I'm really in my head. What's nice is I've found a bit of gratitude there. It's the lead-up to Thanksgiving now. I'm in the home stretch of the semester. I don't have to hear the students ask me what each piece of glassware is. I don't have to listen to my kid whining. I can't hear the brakes on our minivan squeaking. It's all diminished. And what remains is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the people in my life.

It's that time of year where we trim the tree and send out holiday greetings. I did get to send a few care packages to loved ones in advance of the holiday break. I bought holiday stamps at the post office. I cut up photos of kiddo to include in the cards. There are just so many steps to sending these out, but I'm ready this year. I'm ready for the end of this year. I'm looking forward to the Holiday Half Marathon. I'm looking forward to the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. I'm taking these setbacks (like this double ear infection) in stride because my training has been strong up until this point. I'm on track to submit grades early. Amazingly enough!

I've been working on my holiday bucket list. Or should I say, a list of holiday traditions that are meaningful to me. Given that we only have a few weekends to plan stuff, I want to make sure we're prioritizing things that are meaningful and not just "staying busy."

Nov 23 - Birthday Party 10am - noon
Nov 24 - Grand opening of Boeckmann park 11930 Mason Ave Porter Ranch 2-6pm (11 miles)

Nov 28 - Thanksgiving
Nov 30 - Holiday Train / Downtown Disney
Dec 1 - Pick up Fitlicious / Hot Chocolate Run (13 miles)

Dec 7 - Discovery Cube?
Dec 8 - CicLAvia + GH Holiday Parade 1:30pm - 4pm (14 miles)

Dec 14 - kids race
Dec 15 - Half Marathon + Chatsworth Holiday Parade noon-5pm

Dec 22 - Discovery Cube?
Dec 23 - 15 miles

Iceoplex Winter Wonderland 
Dec 23-Jan 5 
three sessions (9am-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm-10pm)

ALL ABOARD! We got our tickets for
Saturday, November 30 - Anaheim (A.M.)

Welcome Event: 8:30 a.m. at Anaheim Station. Train Departs: 10:00 a.m.

Discovery Cube

🍪Cookie Decorating – Guests will learn about primary and secondary colors and decorate a cookie to take home

🎅Visit Santa Claus: November 23-24, 29-30, December 1, 7-8, 14-24. Appearances from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

👨‍🍳Meet a Pastry Chef! Gingerbread demonstrations on November 23-24, 40, December 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, January 4-5. Demo times: 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Westfield Topanga Village Snow falls Friday-Sunday evening Dec 3-23. 6, 7, 8pm.

Other ideas for the holiday list:

Yolanda Lights FREE

Baking gingerbread house

Sending holiday cards

White elephant @ CSUN

Holiday lights bike ride

Boat Parade Newport Beach

Rose Parade Bike Ride

Election Day

It's the 2024 presidential election day. There were many other things on the ballot, but the race for president looms large. This is a historic moment where America gets to decide between another white male or a highly qualified Southeast Asian black woman. It definitely feels like a referendum on our culture. Can we accept a woman in the highest office in our nation? Or do we want to re-elect someone who was already impeached twice? Incredibly, we have to put a woman against an epically lousy candidate. I keep trying to put the election out of my mind, and then when someone reminds me it's election day, it's like BAM, I snap back to the real possibility that America might choose a crime boss over a Barbie.

I remember the presidential elections that have happened in my lifetime:

• 1980 - Reagan v. Carter / Mondale
• 1984 - Reagan / H. W. Bush v. Mondale
• 1988 - H. W. Bush v. Dukakis
• 1992 - Clinton / Gore v. H. W. Bush
• 1996 - Clinton / Gore v. Dole
• 2000 - W. Bush v. Gore
• 2004 - W. Bush v. Kerry
• 2008 - Obama v. McCain
• 2012 - Obama v. Romney
• 2016 - Hillary Clinton
• 2020 - Biden / Harris
• 2024 - Kamala Harris

I wonder what my son, who is now 4.5 years old, will remember about this election. We did watch the live debates at home with him. And we voted around the kitchen table all together using our mail-in ballots. And we went as a group to drop off the ballots at an early voting center on campus a week early. Being Los Angeles, they had a photo-op set up for us and a volunteer took this picture. I feel like I remember President Reagan, so maybe my son will always remember President Harris. And he will have a different idea of what women can accomplish. 

I remember Bill Clinton and his sex scandal. And people say that's why they couldn't elect Hillary even though she was smart and qualified. They say his behavior was somehow her fault or had tarnished her reputation irreversibly. But what can they say about Kamala? She is very good at her job and has none of the tarnish that people claim poisoned Hillary Clinton's campaign. Don't even get me started on Lock Her Up and Those Emails.

"Leave the door open and the ladder down" ~Bernard Kinsey

I can say Biden did a very good thing by serving one term, which was fairly uneventful, and then holding the door open for Kamala. It's like he "teed up" and let her swing for the fences. I don't know if that's a golf analogy or T-ball, forgive me, I'm not a sports person. 

I just don't know if some people in our country can tolerate this challenge to their self-image. There is a real toxic masculinity in our culture; forget about microaggressions. There is straight-up racism, sexism, and violence against women. I wanted to write out my own personal thoughts for my future self, or for anyone who finds this after I am gone. On this day, before the results are announced. I feel very guarded. I don't know who to trust. I feel like there is a simmering violence that is hiding in the shadows and waiting to be invited out into the open. I feel unsafe when out running; I've already seen one pickup truck following me. I don't know what type of rage will be unleashed on ALL WOMEN if they don't get their way or if there is any challenge to the patriarchy.

I won't stay up all night to see what happens; I doubt we will have a clear answer today. But I know what I'm hoping America chooses. It will be amazing to make the Barbie movie a reality. But I'm also accepting alternate possibilities. America may decide that we're not ready for a Barbie president. America may decide that if Barbie is fairly elected, we cannot abide it. I am fearful of these possibilities. But I'm trying to live and record how I feel at this moment.

runDisney debrief

This being our first runcation of 2024, with the added pressure of bidding farewell to our annual park passes (magic keys), we were bound to have some hiccups. The RunDisney 5k runcation also had lots of quality moments.

$108.99 per 5k x 2 adults +

$35 per kids run

$252.98

$629.48 hotel (because I made the mistake of choosing flexible rate instead of pre-paying) which includes two nights of parking at $20/day.

We had the car packed the night before, except the coolers, which made it easier to get up and go. We left our house at 5am to avoid hitting traffic through downtown LA.

Thursday 1/11/24

• 6am arrive
• 7am security
• 730am coffee
• 8am DCA rope drop
• Monsters Inc
• Cars Land - Junkyard Jam
• Bakery Tour
• Little Mermaid 
• Pixar Pier walkthrough
• 1030 Baymax bread + mac
• Grand Cal (nap fail)
• Disneyland hotel + Expo (nap)
• Check-in to La Quinta 
• Target run
• 6pm asleep

Friday 1/12/24

• 3am wake
• 4am security
• 5am race
• 6am finish
• 7am Grand Cal to change
• 8am Disneyland rope drop
• Castle walkthrough
• Carousel
• 9am Coffee
• Pirates
• Adventureland Treehouse
• 10am Beignet + mint julep
• Canoes
• Pretzel cart
• 11am Alien pizza planet
• 1pm Grey stuff
• Castle photos
• Disneyana
• Strawberry popsicle
• 2pm Character pics / hugs
• 3-6pm nap at hotel
• Dinner and walk to CVS
• 9:30pm fireworks from room

Saturday 1/13/24

• 6am wake
• 7am breakfast
• 8am pack car and checkout
• 9am activities zone
• 10am race
• 11am Chicken nuggets

Next time we would make a box of macaroni and cheese and split it in half. We would take half with us and leave half in the fridge so that we can eat it on the trip and right when we get back. Having the pre-made meals with meatballs slider sandwiches and meatloaf made us very happy eating dinner in the room every night. We definitely could have split the pasta at Alien pizza planet, it was too much for one person. Our goal was to keep spending under $100 per day and I think we achieved it.

Thurs = $94.50

• Coffee and cake pops $15
• Garden Walk parking $28
• Bing Bong candy $7
• Bakery Mac lunch $12
• Bread cart Baymax $12
• Target fruits and cars $31.50

Fri = $98

• Genie+ $24
• Coffee $7
• Fruit cart $4
• Beignet all day $12
• Pretzel cart $7.50
• Pizza Planet $32
• Red rose $6
• Popsicle $5.50

Sat = $82

• McDonald's $32
• CVS $50 ($20 tip for hotel)

I will add our packing list here. 

Backpack/diaper bag (take it into the park)

• three hats
• three sunglasses 
• change of clothes 
• flour sack towel
• Think sunscreen bag
• five diapers x3
• wetbag for dirty laundry
• battery + cable
• glasses lens cleaner
• bubble fidget toy
• bubble wand + bubbles (SUPER CLUTCH) I refilled this 3x
• batteries + screwdriver
• Tow Mater + remote control (SUPER CLUTCH)

Diaper change kit (take it into the park)

• two diapers (didn't need as many diapers b/c potty training)
• wipes
• poop bags

Overnight Duffel Bags (leave it in the car or hotel)

• first aid kit
• 10 toy cars + cars book
• vitamins/medications
• phone charger
• Ponchos (didn't use)
• Stroller rain cover (didn't use)
• Slippers / Flip Flops (ALBERT STOLE MY COZY SOCKS)
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Walking shoes (wear it)
• Yoga pants or shorts
• Comfy Bras
• Jacket / coat
• underwear, clean socks
• PJs for mom, dad, Albie (MIKE STOLE MY PJ PANTS)
• Eye mask / Earplugs Anti-snoring device (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Toiletry bag w/ toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, face lotion, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, baby body wash, dental floss, deodorant
• Albert Pajamas (3)
• Albert Jacket / coat
• Albert Shirts (3)
• Albert Long pants (2)
• Albert Socks (4)
• Swimsuits (did not bring, but wish we had)
• Pool floatie (did not bring, but wish we had)
• Swim diapers (did not bring, but wish we had)

Running stuff (leave it in the car or hotel)

• Running shoes
• running socks
• Running shorts
• Running pants
• Running skirt
• Running belt (did not use)
• Running jacket
• Running watch charger
• Sports bra
• Tank top 
• Ibuprofen
• Bounce Back Bliss 
• Winter hat and scarf
• Gloves
• Throwaway sweats
• Fleece Vest (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Running underwear 
• Flip-flops aka recovery shoes
• Ziploc bags, quart size (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Arm warmers (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Electrolyte tabs (did not use)
• Kleenex (did not bring but wish I had)
• Anti-chafe (did not bring, but would have needed if it had rained)
• trash bag / mylar blanket
• Extra safety pins
• Foam roller (did not bring, did not need)
• Bandaids (I put one on a toe but it fell off)
• glow sticks (did not bring, did not need)

(non-insulated) Snack Bag (leave it in the car or hotel)

• Ramen noodles
• Easy Mac (SUPER CLUTCH)
• cheez-it
• Ruffles (SUPER CLUTCH)
• raisins
• milk (SUPER CLUTCH)
• juice
• goldfish
• cheerios
• pretzels 
• three fruit pouches
• Dish Soap

Insulated Coolers (leave it in the car or hotel)

• cucumber, carrots (SUPER CLUTCH)
• apple
• bell pepper
• grapes
• hummus  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• granola bar
• protein bar
• plastic silverware, knife  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• reusable straw  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• string cheese
• hard-boiled eggs  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• bagel + cream cheese (oops forgot to bring this)
• Meatloaf  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Turkey meatballs  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• Slider sandwiches   (SUPER CLUTCH)

BOB stroller (take it into the park)

• Minnie ears
• sippy cup  (SUPER CLUTCH)
• 40 oz Hydroflask
• 34 oz Ceres Chill

As you pack, consider the following:

1. What foods do you need as fuel?
2. Are your headphones and music devices charged with entertainment downloaded?
3. Are your clothing items washed and ready?
4. Do you have all of your water bottles?
5. Are you going to be racing with your stroller? If so, have you checked it for needed maintenance?
6. If you are racing with your kiddos, do they have all they need to be packed, such as snacks, water, and entertainment? 
7. According to the forecast, do you need to pack any additional weather clothing for race day?
8. Does your event require pre-registration?
9. Are you familiar with the race path?

There were no snacks at the kids race. No food available for purchase. In the future I would have advised myself to bring snacks. Anywhere you take a toddler, you must bring snacks!

Here's a clip of me happily running 

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxiKZr-V72pgFt03MdQ3G3ydbjtIYkOmr6?si=Z1WIs_taQuNiHs0y

If we're talking strictly money, it was a lot to spend on a runcation. Based on the cost, I think we can try other destinations and get by at a lower cost.

I will say that it was worth all the money to get me off the couch and back into training mode. I'm super proud of myself for the growth that I experienced through this process. I'm so grateful to RunDisney for providing a training plan. I'm so grateful for the Rise and Run podcast for keeping me inspired by interviewing a bunch of Disnerds that are also runners. It got me really looking forward to the event, which got me out training. It's about progress, not perfection. I didn't do every single thing in the training plan, but I did improve. And I'm motivated to keep going, so that says something.

I was able to get a new pair of running shoes. I actually had my foot assessed at Fleet Feet in Encino. The ones I bought last, my "winter whites," were great and got me through the Disneyland 5k. But I needed a second pair to start rotating in. I hope these can take me to the next finish line. I ended up with a size 9 instead of 8.5 and a wide instead of medium.

I put together an Amazon wish list of stuff that I like for running. 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2QFV2N9VEFW0Q?ref_=wl_share 

I wanted to hit "publish" on this blog before February, so here goes... Woo-hoo!

runcation

I see a runcation in our future. This is where your vacation is planned around a run. To extend the distance covered in my workouts, I mapped out possible courses.

CSUN runDisney training 5k - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1lRAyXTnYRC1nJS-4xYMXE9b5cCxG9rE&usp=sharing

Topanga runDisney Training 5k - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1VXMuw9fTsV56tawq7dtORRGs1_0Dgtg&usp=sharing

Mason runDisney 5k training - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1KzsxlSCtFftcqmGQaE1Q59eLsIy3sa0&usp=sharing

Chatsworth runDisney 5k training - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1qIv3rFuuqsAgwZriCePSGntBLbVy1xo&usp=sharing

Porter Ranch 10k runDisney training - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1rBG6BKEq64goG8jPOXmxxn6BTHBEj7Y&usp=sharing

I learned that what looks good on Google Maps maybe not practical, for example some streets have no sidewalks and some unincorporated areas don't have curb cuts for your stroller.

I want to go to REI to get some Clif Shot Bloks or maybe just order them from Amazon.

I learned that the Versa 4 doesn't create a map, nor does it connect to GPS, when you set it to "walk" unless you very quickly hit the "^" on workout and change the settings. So when I did the practice of the Mason route, it didn't use GPS to track distance so I'm guessing the distances on the route sheet are all wrong.

So I think the distances I tracked on the Cue Sheet for the Mason 5k are not correct because I haven't calibrated my Fitbit by walking or running on a track. I'm having trouble finding a track (whether indoor or outdoor) to use.

Cue Sheets https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ob-scNq3CWe8fmXwi2f_BMB09rMG-5fJsrNtOQ3bYSQ/edit?usp=sharing 

I feel the winter solstice coming. The days are oh so short.

We are planning to ride the Holiday Lights Ride with Walk Bike Glendale tomorrow. It's Mikey's birthday. 

fun month, boring month

Our new strategy for saving money is to have one month of splurge and one month of save. We call it turning the tap on and turning the tap off. But let me tell you, after a splurge it really hurts turning the tap off.

I think we got into this pattern during May 2023 (fun), june (boring), July (fun), august (boring), September (fun), october (boring), November (fun), december (boring), January 2024 (fun!). Extending that out, it tracks that Albert's birthday and the expiration of our Magic Keys falls in a fun month (March 2024). 

Fun = Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov

Boring = Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec

Well, it's hard to have a boring month in December because of Christmas and Mike's birthday, but we have been experiencing some staffing shortages here at work so this year we are definitely planning to stay locally here. It's interesting that September 2024 is a fun month, we'll see about doing the Disneyland race that month. Maybe we won't do it. Maybe we'll do some other one. Maybe we'll just train for it and then just enjoy running for the sake of running.

November 2023 was fun. We went to San Diego. But I'm too tired to write about it today.

I'll leave you with these two photos. First one is a selfie at the Village after I did a run that felt like 5 miles but was actually only 1.5 miles. The second one is my official school headshot. I think the lighting captured my double chin perfectly but I'm trying to just accept that it's what I look like right now and that's why I'm trying to get back into running.

I recently purchased a few items that I hope will be helpful for my return to running. 

• New Shoes Brooks Ghost 14 White/Purple/Coral
• A Jacket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WPFTLDL
• Compression Socks from Sparkle Athletic
• and NurseMates which I got from Buy Nothing
• Reflective Visor from Sparkle Athletic
• A light vest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3NM7PDM
• Two running skirts Magical Shapes and Baby Pink

I extended my training program through to the start of next school year 2024-2025. I don't know if I'm totally nuts, but I do know that I've been wanting to do a runDisney race for a long time.

Tinkerbell Half Marathon Sun, Jan 20, 2013

I got my first pair of ears and sparkle skirt from Poshmark on Dec 27 and 28, 2021. I found my second pair of ears on the ground crossing the street leaving the parks. I got two more pairs of ears on Amazon in April 22, 2023 to prepare for taking my sister and niece to the parks in May 2023.

First mouse swag Dec 29, 2021

I guess we got our first Imagine Key Pass on Apr 20, 2022. That year Albert was 2 years old, so we only needed one pass to get in both of us. When we renewed our passes it must have been in March 2023 because Albert turned 3 and he needed his own pass. Then our passes expire March 19, 2024 unless we renew them.

Our first Disney trip with Albert May 2022

Aug 22-23 2022 + Sept 12 (Dad had a 3-day SoCal resident ticket) 1 ticket = $249

Dec 14-15 2022 (Mike's 50th Bday Extravaganza) 1 ticket = $159

Jan 12-14 2023 (Mighty Ducks Day)

Mar 20 2023 (Albert's bday + spring break + food & wine festival) lots of rain

May 15-16 2023 + May 22 (downtown Disney only)

Aug 21 2023 (Hurricane Hilary)

Oct 2 2023 mom's day out

• see also https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/08/folding-stroller.html
• and https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/09/acceleration.html 

Nov 8 2023 (Veteran's Day)

and that brings us up to date. So I'm also too tired to do a financial analysis of whether we got our money's worth out of the magic key. the 2022 price was $400 and the 2023 price was $450 (we bought them on Nov 16, 2022) and the so-cal resident 3-day ticket was $249. We shall see.

holidays collide

We had a fantastic day at Disneyland, doing less and enjoying more. The temperature was just about perfect. We parked at the Toy Story lot for $26.50.

We started in Tomorrowland Pretzel Cart for $7.50 because our kiddo loves driving cars at Autotopia. Then we went to Mr. Toad's wild ride for the same reason. Fantasyland Fruit Cart sold us 2 juice boxes for $5, and then we spent $21 on the grey stuff, tater tots, a lemonade, and a hot coffee. Albert didn't eat the tater tots, but he did eat the cucumber we had brought, and we used the diaper changing station there, which was great.

We found a cool spot inside the castle to watch a short film. Following the Disneyland Band from the castle down main street was so fun. We spent $13 + $29 + $31 for toys (cars, remote control Mater, and a new bubble wand) and then headed up to the Magic Key Terrace for our special lunch ($55).

We enjoyed a leisurely 1.5-hour lunch on the patio and spent $20 on special gold medallions. Then we walked through Pixar Pier and got the Magic Key exclusive FREE tote bag for Viva Navidad. We saw a show called Operation Playtime! Featuring the Green Army Patrol.

We decided to go back to Disneyland to catch some rides, and we met a lovely man who suggested we participate in the Flag Retreat ceremony. Albert dashed in and out of every gift shop in Grizzly Peak, looking for more cars; thankfully, we didn't find any. We did find Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Chip and Dale. Albert got a wave from Dale and a hug from Chip, and he was so excited about that. We did buy a frozen fruit bar over there, and Albert ate it along with some raisins we had brought.

We went into Trolley Treats before leaving DCA ($42) and I picked up some things that will help give me the energy to finish up the semester of grading. Churro toffee! Most of the holiday eats are available on Nov 10th, but the following items started Nov 3rd, so we went ahead and brought them home to enjoy over the next several weeks.

• Minnie Santa Hat Apple: Green apple dipped in caramel with two marshmallows ears enrobed in milk chocolate, rolled in red sanding sugar, and embellished with white M&M'S chocolate candies and a white chocolate Santa hat with a bow
• Minnie Santa Hat Cereal Treat: Mickey-shaped cereal treat dipped in milk chocolate and decorated with red sanding sugar, green M&M's chocolate candies, and a Santa hat
• Holiday Milk Marshmallow Wand: Marshmallows dipped in caramel and then milk chocolate drizzled with green and red chocolate

After the flag retreat ceremony, we went to New Orleans Square, where the fog was put on the Rivers of America. We didn't see any show there, but they were practicing for something. The Pirates of the Caribbean line was only 20 minutes, so we did that. Always love that ride!

Finally, we decided to get dinner at Jolly Holiday before heading home ($39). Albert had the Mac & Cheese, Mike had the Roast Beef sandwich, and I had the Jolly Holiday Combo with grilled cheese and tomato soup. I added the Pumpkin Chai cream puff to say farewell to fall. It was actually so good. Mike got a coffee from Refreshment Corner ($3) for the drive home,e and we listened to the Ragtime piano player right there on the patio. It was great to sit there with other families. All the kids were screaming, and all the parents were exhausted, and it was dark; the lights in the trees were twinkling, the balloons were lit up, and so was the Christmas tree. The joys of that visit were in the simple spending time (and money) together and having moments of stillness without having to go-go-go.

We kind of decided to let our Magic Keys go, we will not renew them when our renewal window opens. I love and enjoy being at Disneyland but also it is expensive and we're not rich. We can spend that money elsewhere for sure.

Albert has an obsession with pressed pennies. We had to buy a set of 8 near It's a Small World, another set of 3 on Main Street, and 3 in Adventureland ($11). So the money we spent that day was $300 exactly. It's not so much the cost of the Magic Keys, which are expensive, though; it's more about this additional spending for one Disney day. Even though we didn't stay at a hotel, we spent a ton of money on the treats, food, and toys, and Albert is getting even more and more into shopping. We must be careful about bringing him places or get better at saying no. I don't want my kid to end up very spoiled (and it might already be too late). We plan on doing more straightforward, free, and local things until we get our balance on the credit card back down to zero and until we can rein in our monthly expenses. We are still determining when or if any opportunity may arise to buy a condo in the current complex that we live in, but if it does, we want to be ready when that happens. If we can buy, our mortgage plus insurance plus HOA fee will be so expensive we'll have to cut corners to afford it, so we'll start now. It's hard to put a price on joy, but we can find just about the same amount of joy doing stuff like walking around our neighborhood for free.

New Semester, New Wardrobe

I had started making purchases for this semester before it started, so here's a list of what I bought in order of how much I love it and how much it has helped me.

Kelly Bag with matching Pumparoo $39 = new $160. This is a game-changer. I would say if you're thinking about getting a pumping bag but you don't know how long you'll be pumping, this one is awesome even for just going to work. The pump compartment is a cooler so I can put my lunch in there and not have to take a separate bag. Then when I get to work, I flatten that compartment and put all my work stuff in there and it all fits. Then at the end of the day, I put all my dirty dishes in the main compartment and it all fits. Amazing! If I were to change the design at all, I would love to have a chest clip and some reflective details, but I'll work on adding that stuff myself.

Simple Joys by Carter's Baby Everyday Diaper Backpack, I got this off Buy Nothing for Free = $50 new. This is my new fav diaper bag. I love how it clips on to the stroller. I love the wipes pocket on the side. It's a great park bag.

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Women's Size Totally Shaping Pull-On Skinny Jeans
Levi's $111 for 4 pairs (size 20) definitely follow the size chart, do not go by what size Amazon recommends for you! I had to send the first pair back for a refund. So far I haven't put them in the dryer but husband did and it didn't seem to ruin it. The waistband wasn't exactly right, but it got into place once I put them on. I can't speak to durability at this point since it's only week 2 but I can say that I don't dread getting dressed in the morning. I throw on one of these and go.

Latched Mama Snuggle Up Nursing Sweatshirt 2x/3x $58. I am using this WAY more than I thought I would. I absolutely love it and so does Albert. I can put him in there either forward or rear facing. It's been colder than usual with some days in the 30s and I can wear him to school so he stays nice and warm and cozy and I don't have to worry about him freezing in the stroller.

I never regret anything I buy from Latched Mama. I'm already using the vest daily and I love it. I did get some holiday-specific stuff which I packed away until next year. I do feel like a crazy person for it, but also I get so many compliments on the snuggle-up.

I can't believe I almost forgot to write about these new shoes. I love them so much. I realized after a bit of shopping that it's better to know the number of this year's (latest) model and then shop specifically for last year's. That's how I found the Ghost 14 for the cheapest. The other two are "this year" models, but I couldn't find the previous year models in my size. They were sold out.

One of my colleagues asked me, "where are your crazy pants?" I guess I was becoming notorious for the LuLaRoe pants with wild prints. I don't mind, of course.

My workout pants that I love are
CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling High Waisted Yoga Pants with Pockets Workout Leggings Camo - 25 Inches Camo Multi 16 25'' X-Large

They also make shorts
CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling Long Biker Shorts - 10'' High Waist Workout Yoga Gym Running Spandex Shorts Side Pockets Stone-Washed Indigo X-Large

I have both 10" inseam and 8" inseam. I kind of like the shorter ones because they let my knees cool down. But both are great! People in my life keep complaining about their yoga pants and I can't say enough good things about these. I've had the pants for 2 years and I wash and dry them with all my other laundry (no special treatment) and they are so durable.

November 2022 thoughts

11/2 - Wondering Wednesday - What to do while kiddo is sleeping in? When to send them back to daycare after a few sick days? How long will they continue to fit in the stroller? Mombrain is working overtime this morning!

I did a COVID test yesterday. It was negative, so at least we know it's not that. He has one molar left (top right) that has yet to erupt but he hasn't been asking for Tylenol so I didn't think it was that. He asked me to read him a book about being sad. It was powerful because he doesn't talk yet and maybe that was his way to communicate. His dad took the day off to stay with him because daycare drop-off was such a struggle that I gave up. I dropped LO at DH's office after trying and failing to convince LO to put on his mask FOR AN HOUR. DH has never done drop-off, not even once. So if he takes kiddo back over there, this will be a first.

I found the weight limits on our BOB Revolution CE 2011. There's a default position up to 40 lbs. Position 2 is for Child 41 to 70 pounds. So we have a ways to go. Our kid is light (28 lbs) but tall so his head hits the awning. I guess that's why I thought he might be getting too big. I have a folding wagon with a removable canopy, which allows for much taller kiddos. A snack tray in the wagon would be nice. I also would love if it had the push bar handle instead of a pull handle.

11/7 - November is moving faster than October. October moved faster than September. I barely remember August at this point. I'm so grateful.

We finally have a return to menstruation. It's been 32 months of breastfeeding, which has saved our family $424 in feminine hygiene products. So we celebrated by getting Sprinkles strawberry cupcakes which were delicious and look like boobs.

Also I am celebrating that I AM NOT CRAZY. I was having hormonal rebalancing that made me sad and IT WAS REAL and it will get better.

https://swnsdigital.com/us/2019/11/new-research-reveals-how-much-the-average-woman-spends-per-month-on-menstrual-products/

I bought ~$100 of stuff at the SCV KIDS Online in Valencia in September. I bought ~$100 of stuff at LA KIDS Online in Burbank in October. One of the things I bought was a lot of fake succulents. I stuck them into my vertical garden because my real succulents weren't looking too hot. I think it looks absolutely great. I'm happy we are going to see Thomas the train this weekend to celebrate Veteran's day and spend the day with Albert's grandparents. We are also planning to sell some stuff at LA KIDS San Fernando Valley in Woodland Hills in December. If I can secure a consignor number tomorrow at 10am. Not that I'm trying to make a ton of money, but it would be nice to clean out the garage of stuff that we aren't really using. Some things are just a "miss" in terms of what Albert likes.

11/15 - Oh the money I've spent on vitamins! I seriously wish it would be covered by insurance or just shipped to you (government issued). Right now I'm taking postnatal, vit D, vit B12, Calcium-Magnesium, and lecithin. It's $1.20 per day. It adds up. From kiddo's DOB until now, that would add up to $1,171.20. I had it in my imagination that we could take a nice vacation for the price of these vitamins, and yes, it's true. That's not including the prenatal vitamin, vit B6 and digestive aids I was taking during pregnancy. Like, it feels sad to spend our hard-earned money on this. Like, earning money at all feels sad. I feel sad every time I leave my kiddo behind while I go to work. I feel sad that a mother's work isn't really recognized in our society. I feel sad that there aren't a lot of postnatal visits for the birthing parent. I feel like pelvic floor PT and talk-therapy should be compulsory. And complimentary. I probably feel sad because I'm going through weaning blues. There are symptoms associated with weaning like dizziness that nobody warns you about. I got a whole book on weaning and it's not even mentioned. I feel sad that my non-teaching days are treated like "days off" but they're not really days off, I still have a ton of student work to grade. I'll be over here crying in my tea buried under a mountain of ungraded papers.

TLDR: My kiddo is home sick today.

11/17 - Another day, another daycare battle. I do my best to comply with the mask policy, but now there are signs posted saying the kid cannot enter the classroom OR THE HALLWAY unless they are wearing a mask. Masks are optional in the atrium where sign-in happens. I am so sick of battling my kid to put his mask on.

We had just gotten into a good groove where I take him into the classroom, he washes his hands, we say goodbye and he puts his mask on WILLINGLY. Prior to last week, we would have a battle in the hallway because he couldn't go into his classroom without a mask. Now he can't go into the hallway so we have to battle in the atrium. I ended up carrying him out to the car to "start over" and I had him put his mask on outside before we went into the atrium because it was just so embarrassing to have a screaming kid in the big open indoor area.

I think one of the most unsettling things about the pandemic was the changes in policy. Like when we get used to one thing, then the policy changes, we just have to adjust and it sucks. And it seems arbitrary, we don't always get to know the "why." The kids don't wear masks while sleeping or eating, which they do right there in the classroom. Honestly I don't even know what this battle is about. I just know that if I'm not willing to do it, we'll get kicked out of this daycare and it is well-priced and conveniently located.

I hate that I'm the one consistently doing dropoff and I'm the one fighting this battle and it feels personal that they changed their policy, like it's just to keep us from struggling in the narrow hallway, which was awkward. I find it so challenging to negotiate with Marchling. There's no incentive that I can think of, he's not persuaded by stuffies wearing masks, friends and family members wearing masks, he's not interested in food or toy rewards. All he wants is cuddles and that's not helpful when I'm trying to drop off and get out of there. Lingering definitely made the problem worse.

I honestly don't know how the other parents bargain with their 2-year and 3-year olds. How do they ALL behave so well and we're the only ones who can't seem to get with the program? Sigh... parent-teacher conference is Dec 2nd (two weeks from now) so maybe that will shed some light on these issues we're having. I'm exhausted.

I tried discussing masking in the car. I think I need to start talking about it more and just start him wearing it sooner. What ultimately worked was to reward him with a surprise car.

Mike does pick up and he says half the kids are running around indoors without masks in the afternoon. I just hate that drop off is already so traumatic. Like, who cries at pick up? nobody. Who cries at drop off? many of them. Then to make the mask a thing that happens when we say goodbye to mommy... I just hate it.

Yeah, I had hoped it would prevent the spread of colds, but kiddo has been sick twice this semester so it's not like it's completely preventing the spread of diseases. It almost seems like a test that I'm failing, but that's probably just my insecurity as a FTM. We don't do punishment like time outs and such. My kiddo is generally happy and agreeable and so sweet. This mask thing is like WHY is this the hill we need to die on?

11/21 - Kiddo loves sour cream dip. I asked him last night what he wanted for dinner and he said "dip" and did a hand gesture like dipping a chip. It was so cute. At daycare dropoff this morning, it sounded like he said "love you" and did an open arms gesture. Kind of like blowing a big kiss. We're still speech delayed and the only word we hear regularly is "car" so it's always a milestone when we hear other sounds.