Growing up in the country was, in many ways, a gift. I am convinced that there exists no better place in the world for a young boy than the great outdoors; full of wide open spaces to run, forests to explore, trees to climb, and ditches and streams to wade in. The country side is a magical place where a young boy can put his imagination to work and live out big adventures every single day.
It is often the simple things that form the basis of our most cherished childhood memories. I remember with great fondness just lying down in bed on an early summer evening. With my head on my pillow I could gaze out my bedroom window at dusk, and see the patch of woods that was my backyard bathed in a glorious golden hue as the sun began to set. This was a special soft kind of light that only occurred at a certain time of evening at a certain time of year, and I believe that if heaven existed here on earth, this is what it would look like. I would look outside at those trees; those great Pines and Oaks and Ashes and Catalpas which provided food and shelter and shade to so many living things. I would watch the squirrels playing chase; zipping up and down and around a tree, now leaping to another and then another while the robins and blue jays and cardinals flitted from branch to branch. Down on the ground a rabbit or two would occasionally make an appearance, but they weren't as playful as the squirrels; the rabbits were always nervous and untrusting, staying on high alert as they nibbled their way along the edge of the tree line.
Slowly but surely the golden light of dusk would give way to dark, and now the fire flies would join the show, lazily flying this way and that, briefly turning on their glowing lights from time to time, just to assure me that they were still out there. At length, my eyes would grow heavy and I would succumb to the sweet promise of sleep, in the background a beautiful chorus of sound; the chirping of crickets, the croaking of frogs, the chatter of locusts, and the sweet singing of the birds...
These memories of childhood sights and sounds are strong and powerful and profound. Even now when I hear the call of a locust I am immediately transported back in space and time, to my little bed in our old country farm house; comfortable and secure, gazing out my bedroom window at all of nature's glory. And for that moment at least, all is right with the world.
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
I've not been writing much about my training lately, but I'm still at it. The last couple of weeks though, have found my training a little bit spotty. Last week I decided to take a "back-off" week - after having several good hard weeks of regular training I decided a light week was in order to get the batteries charged. So I took a couple more rest days than normal and backed off the intensity on a couple of the sessions that I did have. Then I got sick. Then my daughter got sick. Then things got crazy at work, and all told I went almost two weeks with precious little of the kind of intense training that I love and crave.
With that said, I am happy to say that some big things are happening at work. Some big new projects are coming in the door, representing some possibly great opportunities for me. At the very least, it means the company is still going to be needing engineers like me for a good while to come.
Things at work are getting busy. While that's great for the bank account and the family's financial security, it means the lunchtime training sessions are going to be getting harder to keep. Time to improvise! I envision myself focusing a good bit more on the skills training and the GPP (General Physical Preparedness). GPP is about keeping the whole body firing on all cylinders - combining cardio with strength endurance. I'm thinking that if I'm going to be training at the gym less frequently the GPP will at least help maintain the baseline, and I don't need any special equipment for it when training at home.
I see a lot of burpees, rope skipping, pushups, jump squats, bag work and running in my immediate future...
With that said, I am happy to say that some big things are happening at work. Some big new projects are coming in the door, representing some possibly great opportunities for me. At the very least, it means the company is still going to be needing engineers like me for a good while to come.
Things at work are getting busy. While that's great for the bank account and the family's financial security, it means the lunchtime training sessions are going to be getting harder to keep. Time to improvise! I envision myself focusing a good bit more on the skills training and the GPP (General Physical Preparedness). GPP is about keeping the whole body firing on all cylinders - combining cardio with strength endurance. I'm thinking that if I'm going to be training at the gym less frequently the GPP will at least help maintain the baseline, and I don't need any special equipment for it when training at home.
I see a lot of burpees, rope skipping, pushups, jump squats, bag work and running in my immediate future...
Nighty Night
That you'll always have a friend to protect you, in life and in your dreams.
Sleep well, sweet prince.
Fearless
To be a child means to have no fear; not of failure, not of long-term consequences. Not of societal expectations nor of arbitrary boundaries. To be a child is to jump off and expect to land on two feet.
~Sandman
The International Language
Regardless of language or geography, regardless of traditions or customs or societal norms, laughter is understood by all. A child's laughter is an invitation to other children - to come and play, to share, to run and jump and discover things together. Kids understand other kids, even if they don't share a common tongue.
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Sandinette has a bubbly personality, and she makes friends almost everywhere we go in the world. The lack of a common language doesn't seem to be important...
Costa Rica, 2011
We met this little girl in the supermarket. These two girls have the same name!
France, 2010
Here's Sandinette with the kids of the owner of the cottage we rented in Burgundy. They didn't speak a lick of English, Sandgirl not a lick of French. But finding a frog in the road is exciting in any language!
France, 2010
A seesaw in Colmar transcends language difficulties.
England, 2009
We met this little girl and her friendly family in a nice little pub in the Cotswolds. We parents enjoyed a pint or two together while the kids played tag. By the little girl's face, I believe there was some chocolate ice cream at some point.
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Sandinette has a bubbly personality, and she makes friends almost everywhere we go in the world. The lack of a common language doesn't seem to be important...
Costa Rica, 2011
We met this little girl in the supermarket. These two girls have the same name!
France, 2010
Here's Sandinette with the kids of the owner of the cottage we rented in Burgundy. They didn't speak a lick of English, Sandgirl not a lick of French. But finding a frog in the road is exciting in any language!
France, 2010
A seesaw in Colmar transcends language difficulties.
England, 2009
We met this little girl and her friendly family in a nice little pub in the Cotswolds. We parents enjoyed a pint or two together while the kids played tag. By the little girl's face, I believe there was some chocolate ice cream at some point.
Traveling With Kids Tip 1 - Picnics!
Paris, June 2010
A beautiful day in a beautiful city. Sitting in the grass at the base of the Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic images on planet Earth. Sharing a picnic with great friends. Good food, good wine, good conversation...
...Epic Vacation Moment
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People are often surprised that we travel so much and so far with two young kids. It really can be tough but over time we've learned a few tricks to make it easier, and I thought it might be nice to share some of them.
Traveling with kids, Tip #1:
Picnics!
Lots and lots of picnics. This is such a no-brainer. What sounds less stressful? Sitting in a busy restaurant, trying to figure out what to order in a language you don't speak while your kids are fighting and fidgeting, or eating your lunch outside on a bench, watching the kids run around safely in the park, free to be as loud as they want? I thought so...
A few more reasons why vacation picnics with the kids are awesome:
Here are a few of my favorite vacation picnic memories:
A beautiful day in a beautiful city. Sitting in the grass at the base of the Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic images on planet Earth. Sharing a picnic with great friends. Good food, good wine, good conversation...
...Epic Vacation Moment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People are often surprised that we travel so much and so far with two young kids. It really can be tough but over time we've learned a few tricks to make it easier, and I thought it might be nice to share some of them.
Picnics!
Lots and lots of picnics. This is such a no-brainer. What sounds less stressful? Sitting in a busy restaurant, trying to figure out what to order in a language you don't speak while your kids are fighting and fidgeting, or eating your lunch outside on a bench, watching the kids run around safely in the park, free to be as loud as they want? I thought so...
- Picnics are usually a lot cheaper than eating out
- Picnics in the park or in the plaza or town square offer a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenery
- Shopping for your picnic can be fun - I love going to the supermarket in a foreign town and seeing how the locals shop. Its a great way to soak up the culture. It's also easier to buy groceries in the market than it is to order in a restaurant if you don't speak the language
- If the supermarket is not your thing, street food makes for a great picnic lunch - you know how I love my street food!
- Stopping for a picnic is a great relaxing way to break up a long drive
Here are a few of my favorite vacation picnic memories:
Iceland, 2011 We stopped for a bite to eat on our hike to the Svartifoss waterfall
Burgundy, 2010 Crusty bread, hams and cheeses, fruit and yogurt on a nice grassy spot in the Burgundy country side
Vienna Austria, 2007 On a park bench in Vienna. This was the little guy's first trip to Europe. And no, that's not his beer...
Tuscany, 2005 Sandinette was an only child back then. This was a beautiful spot to stop and soak up the scenery
Of course, sharing a picnic with old friends makes it 100 times better...
Paris, 2010 Our good friends, the Knoepfle family. They came over from their home in the Black Forest of Germany to share a few vacation days with us in the City of Lights.
Stay tuned for more Traveling with Kids Tips in future posts...
Winter Day Dreams
It was a cold one this morning.
Every weekday morning I walk the kids to the bus stop. Unless it's pouring rain, I make it a point to walk and not drive - saves the gas, and its good for them. Even if its cold - builds character... We stood and waited in the dark with the other kids and parents, hands in pockets, coats pulled up against our necks to protect against the cold wind. It felt like quite a long wait before the bus finally came rumbling down the road, but I'm pretty sure it was right on schedule.
As I made the walk back home after a hasty send off, I couldn't help but daydream about warmer climes...
Give me someplace tropical, with palm trees and a sea breeze. Surround me with people whose language I don't speak, give me food I can't find at home, and make it so damn hot I sweat just sitting there. A cold cerveza would be nice too.
There's no better feeling in the world than stepping off of an airplane into tropical heat., especially when it was cold as hell back at home when you left.
Sigh...
Every weekday morning I walk the kids to the bus stop. Unless it's pouring rain, I make it a point to walk and not drive - saves the gas, and its good for them. Even if its cold - builds character... We stood and waited in the dark with the other kids and parents, hands in pockets, coats pulled up against our necks to protect against the cold wind. It felt like quite a long wait before the bus finally came rumbling down the road, but I'm pretty sure it was right on schedule.
As I made the walk back home after a hasty send off, I couldn't help but daydream about warmer climes...
Give me someplace tropical, with palm trees and a sea breeze. Surround me with people whose language I don't speak, give me food I can't find at home, and make it so damn hot I sweat just sitting there. A cold cerveza would be nice too.
There's no better feeling in the world than stepping off of an airplane into tropical heat., especially when it was cold as hell back at home when you left.
Sigh...
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