THANKS MOM

“The more a daughter knows the details of her mother's life 

[...] the stronger the daughter.” 

~ Anita Diamant, The Red Tent

Dear Mom,

Thank you.  For always being one of my biggest supporters.  For believing in me, especially when I didn't believe in myself.  For worrying about me, particularly when I wasn't worrying about myself, but probably should have been.  For always helping me get where I needed to go, both mentally, physically and (until I could drive myself) literally.  For expecting the best from me because you knew you could. For letting me make my own decisions, even when you thought, or knew, they might not be the right ones.  For helping me get through it when they were wrong without saying "I told you so".  For always "getting it" or taking the time to figure it out when you didn't.  For going to every game, every meet, every banquet, every bake sale, every concert and every other (often painful) sports or school related event that I asked you to go to with a smile on your face.  For knowing that it meant so much to me that you were there, even though I probably did a crappy job of showing it.  For calling, emailing, writing or visiting for no particular reason, but just because you could and, more importantly, because you wanted to.  For loving my own kids as much as you love me.  For letting me know that you would do, literally, anything for me without having to say it.  For being you.  You are a rock star of epic proportions.  And I am insanely lucky.

Happy Mother's Day.

Love,

Listen to this:
Ten-Twenty-Ten - Generationals  

NO AGENDA

This past Sunday I woke up late.  Because I could.  And then I drank some coffee.  Then I did some other things of little importance.  Looming in the back of my mind was the fact that I wanted to get a short and easy run in.  I wasn't eager to go, per se.  But I wasn't dreading it either.  Let's just say it was on my "to-do" list and I was finding lots of ways to procrastinate.  In truth, I was tired.  I'd been with my LHS runners at the Weston Twilight track meet the night before, running around like a chicken with my head cut off for 6+ hours, and I hadn't gotten home until 11:30pm (which you know is mad-late for me).  I considered bailing all together on the run, but then, running often has a strange way of re-booting me for the rest of the day, so I knew I needed to just go.  Two hours and three cups of coffee later, I was ready to hit the road.  It didn't hurt that the weather was perfect.  Something I will never, EVER, take for granted again after this winter.  It was warm, with some good cloud cover, and a light breeze.  After a few heavy steps, I found my groove, both with pace and my music.  As I hit my second mile, I felt light on my feet in a way I haven't felt in quite some time.  I caught myself smiling at nothing in particular as I jogged pass the CVS window in Medford.  What, I wondered to myself, was going on?  And as I cruised along, it hit me.  On this particular day, for this particular run I had NO AGENDA.  I also had no time constraints, no pressure, no worries, no stress, no aches and/or pains, no race crowds to deal, no car traffic to weave through, no rain/wind/snow to bitch about, no....well you get the point.  None of it.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.  This run was just for me.  And it was f'in amazing.  I like to train.  I really like to race.  Sometimes, I hate them both, too.  That's okay.  Maybe only a crazy nut-job runner, such as myself, can appreciate this notion.  But, thankfully, there is something about just plain running that always brings out the best in me.  And I love that.  You get it.  Right?

Listen to this:
Champion - Donora  

REVIEW: DAVID WAX MUSEUM

Give me something

So good and true

So good and true

That it hurts 

~ David Wax Museum, 'A Dog in This Fight'

Last Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure of seeing David Wax Museum at the Sinclair in Cambridge.  I'll be the first to admit that it's not easy for me to motivate on a Tuesday night; particularly when I know the band won't be coming on until 9:30.  But, that said, lead singer Suz Slezak is a new mom and the baby is on tour with them, so what the hell do I have to complain about?  She's the one not getting any sleep.  I had no excuse, I had to motivate.  To make it easier, I called a couple friends who are always up for some good, live music, and dragged them with me.  We grabbed a quick bite at the Sinclair Kitchen before the band came on.  I should note that this is a fantastic restaurant, and even though the bartender didn't seem to like us (no idea why), we had an excellent meal.  Then we headed next door for the show.  The band dove right in with Vivian, an upbeat, donkey-bone enhanced (yes, Suz plays a donkey jawbone) ditty that makes you want to drop everything and cut a rug.  And from there, we were off.

The band is comprised of the husband and wife duo, David Wax and Suz Slezak along with David's cousin, Jordan, and a few other members who filter in and out depending on the song.  Their music is primarily folk rock with Mexican Son and Americana influences.  Between the trumpet, Suz's shell and violin, the mandolin and the accordion, it's a total harmonic explosion.  Within minutes, I felt like I had been transported to Cuba and was listening to the band outside at a street cafe under the night sky.  The chemistry between David and Suz was tangible and it coolly seeped out into the crowd, steadily bringing our buzz to a new level with each song.  Suz's voice is so smooth it almost drips like honey.  Her sweet, songbird vibrations are the perfect accompaniment to David's deeper and sometimes rusty, drawl.  From their manager, Nate Erwin, I later learned that the band originated in Somerville, MA and that David and Suz met when they started playing together.  As I mentioned, they now have a 5 month old little girl who happened to be sleeping in the green room as they played.  I know this because about halfway through the show, the band paused between songs and Suz slipped out, letting us know that she was going to quickly check on the baby.  No joke.  Clearly, the baby has no problem sleeping through noise as David and crew immediately jumped right back in with Yes, Maria, Yes at full volume, happily keeping the rest of wide awake and on our toes.

After the show, I got to spend a little time with David and Suz.  I'm going to have to agree with Jason over at the No Surf Review who claims that they "may well be two of the chillest, most grounded, most genuine people in the music industry."  They love to play, they love their band, they love each other and they love the crowd.  And all of that showed on Tuesday night.  It was one of the most eclectic, high-energy, knee slapping, foot stomping shows I've seen in a while and, as I often am at the end of a good live music session, I was legitimately sad when it was over.   I think I can say the same for the ladies who came with me.  (for the record, it was midnight when we left, which is crazy late for all three of us)  After the last song in the set, as we waited for the encore, someone shouted, "God bless live music".  Amen to that.

Listen to this:

Harder Before It Gets Easier - David Wax Museum 

APRIL SHOWERS....

I'm pretty sure it's spring here in the Boston area.  It doesn't quite feel like it yet, but it....um...well, it smells like it?  Okay, a bit of a stretch, but I'm doing my best here.  Is it strange that I was wearing a down coat, wool hat and gloves at our track meet yesterday?  A little.  Regardless, it is, indeed, May.  And the sun will show itself eventually.  So on to new things.  With the Boston marathon behind me, I can re-focus a bit now.  This month I'll be dedicating the majority of my time to my family, my job, my friends....basically my life beyond running.  My husband is turning 40, my LHS runners have some of their biggest meets ahead of them, and my own girls will be ripping it up on the soccer fields and finishing up at school.  All good stuff.  Sure, I'll be out on the road.  But for a few weeks, at least, I'll be running for the simple joy of it.  No training.  No racing.  Just cruising and taking a much needed break from the rigors of daily workouts.  It's going to be a great month, don't you think?  Here's what I have on my "to-do" list. 

MAY 'TO-DO' LIST

LOOK! Stuff is blooming.  For real.

~ Stop and smell the flowers.

~ Throw a huge shin-dig for my husband's 40th.

~ Brace myself for the end of school. (less than 5 weeks...what??)

~ Catch up and hang out with my neighbors at the Edgehill wall.

~ Guide my high school runners through the end of their season.

~ Go see David Wax Museum at the Sinclair in Cambridge.

~ Visit with the in-laws and cousins on Cape Cod for Memorial Day week-end.
~ Celebrate being a mom.

~ Pray for warm weather.

~ Run just to run.

~ Sleep late on Sundays.

~ Sit back, relax and listen good music. 

Hold tight, everyone.  May flowers are coming!

  

MAY MUSIC OF THE MONTH

SONG:

Move - Pacific Air  

ALBUM:

Distraction - Bear Hands