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August 10, 2005

Didn't leave my heart but I had a good time!

Handy trick I learned this week: when your pants get too tight to button up anymore, just take a rubber hairbob and thread it through the button hole and then take the two ends and hook them around the button. I'm using that right now. Unfortunately, I can't zip the zipper up, either, so although my shorts are technically hitched together my fly is wide open and I'm having to cover up with my shirt. So the problem is not entirely solved.

We spent the weekend on the California Coast, shuffling between Carmel, where my parents were vacationing, and San Francisco, where my brother lives. I got two decent runs in while we were there - the weather was great for running.

On Friday afternoon Andy did a run in Point Lobos State Reserve that he declared was the prettiest run he'd ever done. I missed out. I napped that afternoon and decided to hit the park first thing in the morning, but it turns out it doesn't open until 9 and we needed to be on the road to San Fran by then. So my dad and I ran the Mission Trail Nature Preserve, which is highlighted in this CNN.com article that came out last Wednesday (and that I didn't see until now!) Our run was pretty, but not as pretty as Andy's, and my dad was such a baby about running uphill the first half! He complained about it for the rest of the weekend! (It was kind of a pain.) I'm going to need to toughen that guy up. He's gotten too used to running in the flat parts of Phoenix! When they move out here I'll have to introduce him to some *real* hills!

On Saturday afternoon I made my first trip to SBC Park to see the Astros roll over and play dead to the Giants. I would have liked to see a better game, but I was secretly glad the Giants won; they're still one of my teams, and it's moderately depressing to be two (maybe three - I couldn't tell if my dad was pulling for them) little lonely visiting team fans in the far reaches of the park among a sea of depressed home team fans if the home team loses. This statement does not apply in September or October, however. Beth's entry from a while ago made me stop and count the number of MLB ballparks I've been to, and I think I better her by just one, although a lot of mine are repeats in the same city: Oakland Coliseum, Candlestick, SBC, Astrodome, Minute Maid, New Comiskey, the BOB (Bank One in PHX), and Fenway this past June. Actually, I *could* say I better her by two since I'm pretty sure I went to "The Maid" (I don't know if they actually call it that; I think that's hilarious) when it was still Enron. I must say, though, that if this were a real competition I'd have to cry foul; we Westerners are at a serious disadvantage to you East Coasters who can hit six parks in a weekend if you wanted to!

On Sunday Andy and I headed out from my brother's house and ran the three blocks to Golden Gate Park. The last time I'd run through the park was ten years ago during Bay to Breakers; I was *amazed* that I was still moving so well after already running 6 miles! These days I'm amazed at every run that still goes well (and it has been going well, except for the constant feeling that I have to pee.) We were just going to go out 20 minutes and turn around, but at about 17 minutes we spotted a directional sign for the Golden Gate Bridge and decided to head out that way (up 25th St.) We didn't really know where we were going, but one of the beauties of urban running is the abundant bus stops with maps (which, unfortunately, also tend to also come with random smelly dudes who may or may not be leering at your short shorts.) Another one of the beauties of urban running in a city with lots of renovation is an abundance of porta-potties which also came in handy. We made it down to the Presidio, ran on the beach to where we swore we should have been seeing the bridge but the fog was too thick, and then headed up a serious hill back up to the road and a scenic overlook where we *knew* we should have seen the bridge but we couldn't even see 20 feet in front of us because of the fog. So we gave up on the stupid bridge and headed back UP to the park. And back through the park, which by this time was crawling with people, including a group doing a race or time trial, and there was one fast girl in compression socks putting the hurt on a bunch of guys. I briefly wondered if it could be Liz, but according to her blog it was not. When we got back to the house we showered and my brother made brunch for all of us. Perfect!

Aside: Right now I'm listening to Boz Skagg's Lido Shuffle and can't help but think back to last summer's canoe trip - every time we'd shove off from a break somebody would always ask who needed one more [beer] for the road. And I couldn't help but follow up with "Lido ... whoaaaa-oh-ooooh" at the top of my lungs. Actually, there were two of us doing that. The other guy became a dad sometime earlier this year. Can't help but wonder if we'll have another canoe trip like that. Is canoeing sober fun? I would imagine so, but don't really have any experience with it.

Fun trip. I love San Francisco. I love hanging out with my family. The fog and cold wore on us a little; we were borderline giddy when we got back to the car in the airport parking lot at 4pm - now THAT is what August is supposed to feel like!

Posted by jenandmats at August 10, 2005 8:52 PM

Comments

Thanks for the "rubber hairbob" tip. I feel like I should be taking notes!

I'm glad you had a good trip out west. And as far as I know, Liz doesn't own a pair of compression socks! (P owns some, which he got for free, but I don't let him out of the house without long pants over them!)

I've only been to three MLB ballparks, and one was for a race, not a game. The advantage there was that I got to stand on the field. Pretty pathetic for an easterner!

Take care!

Posted by: Alison at August 11, 2005 6:07 AM

Oh you just reminded me of my trip to SF last year. It really is a beautiful place to run! But those hills!!!

Posted by: Nanda at August 11, 2005 11:20 AM

Okay - I have to stand up for myself. If we are DOUBLE counting parks, I can add Three Rivers (Pittsburgh's old park) and Tiger Stadium (Detroit's old park). Humph! :) Seriously though, living in Texas is rough. You're not really close to anything but the two in Texas and even those are probably hundreds of miles apart. Heck, we could drive up to New York and get two more lickedy split. You should have hit up Oakland's stadium while you were in San Francisco!!!

Anyway, so glad to hear the runs are going well and you had a good visit to California!

Posted by: Beth at August 11, 2005 6:03 PM

Hey Jenn!
I was just going to call you guys and looked at the time; 10 pm on Sunday. Kind of late to be calling a mom-to-be. It sounds like you are doing awesome per your blog which I had not read in a while.

Funny that you should mention the famous canoe trip. I told Larry at breakfast today that you guys were expecting and he almost fell out of his pleather chair at Jim's! He pleaded that in our drunken discussions in the canoe that you had been the most leery about becoming a parent. I don't recall such story - It was probably the white zinfandel boxed-wine talking. I don't think a sober canoe trip would be as much fun - who would activate the 80's karaoke machine???

Still anxious to hear how you are doing/feeling. Maybe Alison can tell you where to get the 'panel pants'?! hee hee. I'll give you guys a buzz in the waking hours. Can't wait to be an aunt!

Posted by: Hol at August 14, 2005 10:12 PM