A Captain's Lament

I've done 6 road relays so far. I LOVE them. Each relay results in new friendships, stories of silliness happening during moments of extreme exhaustion, tagging of vehicles, lack of sleep, starvation... so many stories! I wonder if I can come up with the epic story from each relay. Let's see:

• Ragnar SoCal 2014 -- definitely Tara jumping out at a stop light to tag the van in front of us!
  
  
  
• Ragnar NW Passage 2017 -- hahahaha so many things thanks to the rum at the finish line party. I was a complete stranger to this team, and ended up having the most fun ever! And can you really beat meeting strangers that you can talk with about Friends for hours and never get bored?!?
  
  
  
• Ragnar NW Passage 2018 -- the shit show relay. I enjoyed the moment when I was dying on my third run after we had NO break between our second and third round of running. All sun. No shade. All uphill. Almost 8 miles of it. And then there came the muscular shirtless dude. I had no shame in stopping to photograph the view and then sending it to my teammates waiting for me. 
  
  
  
• Hood to Coast 2018 -- stalking a team of older women that I then met at the finish line. And meeting so many awesome teammates that I will continue to race with. It was allll epic! Oh and we became famous on top of Mount Hood when we were interviewed for the Portland news!
  
  
  
• Ragnar NW Passage 2019 -- we locked the freaking keys in the van!! Lesson learned.
  
  
  
• Hood to Coast 2019 -- Hello? Is it me you're looking for? I will never hear that song again and not think of Lady Storm Squad.
  

For 2020 I was/am soooo excited. It is lined up to be the greatest summer of relays. Road AND Trail. We are freaking team number 1 for the very first Ragnar Oregon trail race! NUMBER ONE! Liz and I have done so much crafty brainstorming for our campsite. Yeah, we will actually have to camp! Like in a tent! On the ground! No comfy beds with private bathrooms and TVs. No way to charge our phones. Legit camping. Nine of us (8 runners and our volunteer) all living in a 17x17 square foot space. My running room is fully stocked with our camp supplies and decorations. I bought trail shoes that I've broken in. I have my outfits sort of lined up. The teammates.... freaking awesome. I am soooo looking forward to running with this group of people. I have raced with all of them before, some of them multiple times. This is THE dream team! 

And then the road relay. Another awesome collection of friends that have almost all raced together before. Family, friends, running family. This is slated to be so dang fun! My face already hurts thinking about how much laughter there will be in these vans. Hotels have been booked for months. Vans have been reserved. The running order has been made since 2019. I am so looking forward to van life and our van having a designated driver that will be sure to NOT lose our keys this time, and won't have to bother with running. I want to party with these people at the finish area. I'm ready to keep tabs on The Colonel. This HAS to happen.

So much planning, so much excitement, so much work done behind the scenes to get everything ready... and now it might not even happen. If you look at the official Ragnar Relay website and click on the Covid link you see a sad story of all the races that have been cancelled. Will the world clean up by my-July or early August? I don't even dare speculate. I've stopped letting myself be excited. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that Liz and I might have a whole extra year to work on our craft projects. Two races, 14 runner friends I'd run with. So much fun waiting.... and every day I obsessively check to see that status of our races and if they will be cancelled.

IT SUCKS!!

I just want to race with my friends!!! I'll keep being optimistic... I'll try super hard. However, if they do make the announcement to cancel one or both be prepared to see this girl with tears going down her face! And then be prepared in 2021 when we go BIG or go home!! These two teams are legit awesome already, and I cannot wait to race with each and every one of you!

My Covid-19 Vent Session

If you aren't talking about Tiger King or Covid 19 then what the heck are you even talking about? Well here are my random, stream of consciousness thoughts.

Listen, cool cats, they are ALL insane. Holy cow. It's like you think this person is the villain, but then realize wait, this guy is, but no so is he, and this dude, and that one. And her! Come on Carole Baskin, we know.... So many tattoos. So many piercings. So few teeth. This confirms my thoughts that it's not wrong to feel it is creepy every time I see a gaudy t-shirt with a tiger on it. If you haven't jumped on the Netflix train and watched this then just go do it. Immediately! Mom, I'm talking to you. I'll hook you up.

I make it a point to always find a positive in everything bad. It is getting increasingly difficult to do so, but I will again try.

I am MAD that schools have had to close. I feel bad for the kids. They miss out on time with their friends, time to learn, time to be kids.

I am GLAD that Katura's school is still going and we are lucky enough to have the right jobs that allow her to get to continue going. She only sees a couple of her classmates each day, but at least she is able to do that. That's more than most can say! Everyone at her school is going above and beyond and we are just so lucky!

I am MAD that she has to keep going there instead of being isolated at home. I want us all to be safe in our homes. And why does she have to "keep going"? Because apparently we are "essential".

I am MAD that nearly every phone call I have had this week has had the other person completely shocked that our building is still unlocked and open for customers to come in. I am MAD that we still have to handle money (which come on, that is ALWAYS dirty) and debit cards and encounter people at our office every day, when really they could do their business via the phone, internet and drop box. 

I am GLAD I have a job. I am now working full time hours every other week, and the off weeks I am off work and at home safely isolated. 

I am MAD that 1/3 of our "team" this week at work is out sick all week (WHAT?!?!?!! WHY??). It has been insane here!

I am GLAD that in my 14+ years I have learned how to do all the jobs and I am able to step up and help keep us flowing during these crazy times. 

I am MAD that so many people are still in denial and think they are special and immune. Just today I had a man in the definitely older demographic saying he thinks everything is being blown out of proportion. My husband knows 3 people that had/have it. One of them passed away from it this morning in a small town 30 miles south of us. It IS here.

I am GLAD that my house is taking it seriously. I haven't been in public, except for the lobby of Katura's school and my work, in weeks. 

I am MAD at churches that feel immune and continue to go on. Sorry, but you're not going to be spared just because you joined a large group of people on a Sunday. Watch it online. Be safe and smart. Care about yourself. Care about your family. Care about the world.

I am GLAD that a lot of us are following the rules. 

I am GLAD that places are closed.

I am MAD that more places aren't closed. "Essential" sure seems to be a gray area.

I am GLAD the Disney Parks and others like it are closed.

I am MAD that so many people flocked to the parks to be there for the last day knowing WHY the parks were closing. So irresponsible. 

I am MAD that my daughter is growing up learning so much about germs and washing her hands.

I am GLAD my daughter loves to wash her hands and that her school is the cleanest place in town with cleaning going on around the clock.

I am MAD that my daughter is home missing her friends instead of getting to see them all at school.

I am GLAD that she at least gets to follow along with friends on facebook and see what they are up to in their homes. Her eyes light up every time she sees Ezra's adorable face!

I am GLAD that we are seeing her friends and family IN THEIR HOMES!

I am MAD that I have 2 awesome relay teams I am looking forward to running with and there is a chance it might not happen.

I am GLAD that I have 2 awesome relay teams I am looking forward to running with and there is a chance they WILL happen!

I am MAD that I might not get to see Alanis in concert in June.

I am GLAD that I have seen her twice already, and hopeful I will again some day.

I am MAD that Enchanted Forest is closed. I go every year. I feel so bad for them. They are seasonally open, and this is their season. I do not want our little Poor Man's Disneyland to suffer because of this virus.

I am GLAD Enchanted Forest is always sharing photos of what is going on in the park as they prepare for it to open every year.

I am worried. It is everywhere. It doesn't discriminate against age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, political stance. We are ALL targets. I don't want to get it. I don't want my family to get it. I don't want you to get it. I have plans. I have a lot of fun plans coming up. So if we could ALLLLLL suck it up and stay the F home I would be very grateful and maybe not hate you. Those of you being defiant, I see it. Those of you that stay home - I notice, and my family and I thank you!

But not you, Carole Baskin.

Okay - and I am MAD about Good Doctor's season finale. I still just want some alone time to cry.