Home At Last

We did some shopping. Granny and Grandpa found some shoes for Aus! Yeah!
Shopping wears a little guy out...thank goodness for Brother's shoulder.
The guys did a lot of fishing.
Grandpa had to put the worms on.
Aus got a new hat.

AJ played and played and played in the pool.
We rode the jet skis.
Even AJ went for a ride. (he likes the green one better...go figure)

We didn't have nearly enough pool toys.
AJ played with his 'boats'.
"Brother" in the pool.

Granny's tree needed watering.
AJ caught a fish. So did Aus.
AJ learned how to use the camera.

"Next Morning"

He's stopped saying it...."wipes tears"...he now says "tomorrow morning".

Didn't realize how sad it would make me...

Sweep Technique

In this photo Ed is just approaching the catch. He has a common fault here. Notice that his left shoulder (outside shoulder) is lower than his right shoulder (inside shoulder). This commonly happens when someone is trying to gain the extra 2-3 inches in length and is not quite flexible enough. His inside elbow has a nice soft bend to it and he is beginning to relax his outside leg to allow the torso to rotate and swing through. These are good things.Here he has just taken the water at the catch. His shoulders are beginning to level out and nearing the correct level. Notice the torso rotation and the relaxed outside knee. His inside arm should hold the softness from the above picture.Ed is now into the meat of the drive. His shoulders are even and he has moved his legs back into line with his shoulders...the position of power. His arms are straight and he is moving the boat with the power in his legs.Here he is nearing the release and is transferring the power to his back and arms. His outside arm may be a tad high. This is often caused by anticipating the release and trying to keep the outside elbow in the correct position. The elbow should travel in line with the end of the handle.The blade has now left the water and this is the beginning of the recovery. Notice the proper position of the outside elbow and the levelness of the shoulders.Notice that the knees have already broken but the shoulders are still over the hips. Try to lead out with the hands and hold the knees until the torso swings over.

Here is the middle of the recovery. Notice the great posture, great hand position and the outside elbow is level with the end of the handle.

Random Photos From My New Fancy Camera...and a pic of Gus's new look

One of my Blackeyed Susans
Jack, a willing subject but a bit over exposed.
Gus has a new haircut. He looks a little funny but he feels better. He had some mats on his flanks and wouldn't let me touch them...
I'm so proud of my lemon tree...doesn't it look great!
My baby rowers...not sure why they are so blue...may need a filter or just need to learn how to use the camera.
Isn't Maggie a happy girl!
Rescue's fav spot in the garden. My love.

More On Courage...

I cannot take any credit for this post but it is something that goes with my Courage post.

Please take a look at The Ronneblog.

It really is all about the love...

Thanks GB....

What Was I Thinking...

You know...it occurred to me...just now at 12:44am. That perhaps I should have chosen a career path (or two) that allowed for more sleep.

(and I've just noticed that my blog clock is off...an hour...hmmm)

Some Thoughts About Summer

I've thought a lot about this summer and the different path the Juniors have taken.

I was concerned, early on, about the lack of competitive opportunities and the great distance we'd have to travel to Nationals. We had a small group that was to make the very expensive trip. A small group to do the hard work.

We decided not to go. To stay home. Maybe we'll try the Head of the Charles in October...

As we have moved into July (and it seems like it gone very fast!) I have begun to feel good about summer. It's been relaxed. We've had time to spend in singles, we've rowed the four...Ed has rowed with the kids. Everyone has had a lot of coaching and really improved.

Remember when we were kids (my generation....) summers were long days spent sleeping 'till noon. Sunny afternoons at the pool or Sherwood beach. Hanging out with neighborhood friends as the evenings cooled.

Seems like today kids are scheduled, camped, sports teamed, activitied half to death.

What happened to summer?

I didn't realize how much I missed it.

Don't Blow Your Fingers Off

A mindless meme

I was tagged by My Cousin Rebecca to do this multi part meme!



INSTRUCTIONS:Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:

1. The Buzz Queen

2. Tiggerbob's Temporal Typings

3. Skittles

4. Rebecca of Sunnybrook

5. Just Another Drill



Next select five people to tag.

1. Donna RonneBlog

2. June the Celestial Teaser

3. Duane when he's ready

4. I guess I need more blogger friends

5.



Then answer the following questions:



What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was enrolled in Paramedic School. Working for an EMS service, poor and tired and ever hopeful. Coaching a small group or rowers.



What were you doing 1 year ago?
Getting my kids ready to Compete at US Nationals. Everyone was working hard and looking fast.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Chips and homemade salsa
2. Ice Cream, of course
3. Blueberries
4. Apples and peanut butter
5. Tortillas and cheese

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1. The KU Alma Mater
2. The Alphabet song
3. The State Song
4. Happy Birthday
5. Silent Night
(I thought it was more appropriate to name songs I can sing solo...well, not really sing since I can't really sing but...)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Fund a Juniors rowing program
2. Spend time traveling with my family
3. Fund college accounts for my stinky nephews
4. Travel around training coaches
5. Pay off all my debts

Five bad habits:
1. Eating out instead of eating what I have at home
2. Not putting stuff back where I got it
3. Snooze button...need I say more
4. Talking over people....working on it
5. Not listening well....also working on it

Five things you like doing:
1. Spending time with my family.
2. Coaching
3. Reading in the hammock
4. Watching mindless TV (sorry)
5. Traveling

Five things you would never wear again:
1. Stirrup pants
2. A wedding dress (IF...I ever do that again, I'm getting married in shorts)
3. High heels...don't really see the point
4. A unisuit
5. Toe ring

Five favorite toys:
1. My laptop
2. My camera phone
3. My bike(s)
4. Rescue's frisbee
5. My stroke watch ( a coaching thing)

Just Cause It's Fun To Be A Fire'man' Today

Young Rowers

This morning I had the pleasure of coaching a brand new, young sculler. A rower with great potential.

I don't coach new rowers very often and today it was just me and him. This kid is smart, very coachable, asks GREAT questions, understands that he is a visual learner, talked about going online and looking at rowing video...it was so much fun!

Watch for this young man...he's our only boy so it's easy to know who I'm talking about.

I'm Gonna Need A New Name Tag

To go with my new promotion!

Now they actually let me hold the title of driver!

And I get a few more cents a pay check!

Yipee for me!

I will be leaving my guys at Station #10 and that will be really hard. They have been my family for the last 8 years...maybe someday I can get back there. And hopefully I will land at a station with guys as great as mine.

I won't know where I'll be permanently for several weeks/months. The bid process takes a while and I will rove until then, filling openings at various stations. If everything goes the way I hope I should at least be able to stay on second shift but...one never knows.

Now, not only will I have all the rowing club stuff in my car but I will also have all my fire gear!