Talking to the Owl

I’ve been so busy having fun that this poor blog has been neglected.  I won a silver medal at the fencing tournament this weekend and I couldn’t help but post a picture of it on my beautiful new baby. 

My better half has a perspective on our recent trip to Missouri.  We had such a fantastic time visiting our old friends.  Late Night Hacking has some great pictures of our adventure. 

One of the best parts of our trip was “Monster School”.  There was a little maze at the St. Louis Science Center with colored walls.  The goal was to get an idea of how colors mix, but it was much more fun to run through.  My friend and I kept trying to walk through the maze and the little monster’s job was to push us out.

Beware of Monsters!  Happy Halloween!

I lost a heartbreaker yesterday 15-14. I gave up a 14-12 lead and we went into overtime with two double touches and had the bright idea to do a fleche with no set-up. Buzz!  Sudden death!  He went on to take second in the tournament. Ah victory- how fickle a lady you are!

In retrospect, I did a lot of things wrong.  I got to the tournament at the last minute, so my warm-up wasn’t complete.  Next time, I’ll call a friend so we can both push each-other to get on the road at a decent hour.  Then, when I get to the tournament, I’ll have someone to warm up with. 

I fell asleep in the pools and even lost a bout 3-2 because I just wasn’t attacking enough.  I lost badly to a fencer who didn’t extend his arm to attack.  What ever happened to my counter-attack? 

I can say that, yes, a bad day fencing is still a little better than a good day working.  There’s always another tournament, and I’m always getting better.  There were a lot of other fencers yesterday who didn’t win either.  Just wait until next time!

Summer’s gone too soon.  On Friday we were on the beach, kicking the water with bare feet one last time.  The water was still and warm and even the breeze felt like summer.  Every time I walk along the beach, I wonder why I don’t do it more often. 

The trees in the distance were just starting to spot gold and red.  Days are warm, but the nights are cool.  I can smell the dusty oak smell of the woods through the open windows as I lie in bed.  Little Sylvia’s now 4 years old and her sister looks at me with big eyes and smiles.  Time passes its sweetness and loss as I wonder where it all went.

Just today we tagged our tree for Christmas.  I felt a little silly to do something Christmas so soon, but we’ll be busy all October and come November the trees will be all taken.  As it was, only three of perhaps ten lots were open and they only had Douglas Fir.

I can say as I look back, I’m just really happy.  It was nice to have a whole weekend spent with the family - no fencing, no yoga, no drumming class.  It’s funny how easily happiness comes when I just simplify my life by letting stuff happen and stop thinking and wanting this or that experience or thing.

It’s strange for me to on one hand to note that I’m happiest when I just experience life, and then on the other, feel guilty for not having a set of goals.  I guess that is just my mind at work, always afraid of being bored, always afraid that if I just live life, then I’m somehow missing out on some opportunity and I’ll look back in ten years and wonder why I’ve wasted so much of my life.  When I look at the photos and see how happy everyone is, I see how silly that thinking is.  Time with my peeps is never wasted.