How Many Perfect Days Left this Fall?

It is a picture-perfect day here in Boston.  The kind of day to go ride 50 miles.  Or go to an orchard and pick apples.  I'm talking no clouds in the sky, a slight breeze, beautiful sunshine and about 60 degrees.  A little nip in the air this morning, but just perfect today.  Unfortunately, still recovering from the rib injury makes the 50 mile ride not a smart idea.  Even climbing a ladder and reaching for apples is probably asking for trouble.

But, I had a great day today.  This morning, Juliet and I took Elin to a little one-hour "play group" at Isis -- the local "maternity" and children's store nearby in the mall.  This was the first of twelve "classes" -- there were about six children all 10 to 12 months old in the class.  I was the only "dad" there -- maybe it's not cool if you're a dad to go to these kind of things?  I won't miss it!  It was fun.  Though I'm still trying to figure out if this is mostly for the kids, or the parents.  There was a bit of "group therapy" on children's routines, nap-time, bedtime, bath-time; how the children are doing with naps, etc.  We sang songs, the children got to play little instruments, and play with toys.  It was only about an hour -- probably just about perfect.  Every Saturday for the next twelve weeks.  Cai Cai (our nickname for Elin -- it means "guess guess" in mandarin -- she was named this while Juliet was still pregnant, before we knew whether she was a boy or a girl) really enjoyed herself!!

After "class" we walked to the local espresso cafe a few blocks from home (not the "chain" but a local place which we really enjoy).  Cai Cai fell asleep in the stroller ... so instead of hanging out in the cafe, I got my latte and we just walked home.  She was crashed in the stroller in the funniest position:  one leg over the bar across the stroller, and her head resting on the bar.  She looked like a pretzel the way she was twisted on her side, I couldn't imagine how she could possibly be comfortable!!

While it's beautiful out today, the days are getting shorter and winter is definately on its way.  It now gets dark around 6:30 pm; in fact, it's now about 5:15 and already the sun is starting to set and there is that nice yellowish-golden glow from the autumn setting sun.  Tomorrow is going to be a nasty day -- looks like rain all day long.  Keith is going to do the Nantasket Beach Triathlon -- a short swim in the ocean (1/3 mile); 12 mile bike, 3 mile run, supposedly on the beach.  It is probably the last triathlon on the east coast (at least that I'm aware of) and he wants to do it, even if it is pouring rain.  He doesn't care.  I am going to go to the Patriots game, so won't watch his tri.  Funny guy -- he said "I don't think there are any sea walls to fall off there, dad...."   Hahahaha.  Nice guy.

The perfect day today; and the forecast for tomorrow (total ugliness:  rain all day) makes me wonder just how many "perfect" days we have left this year?  Not many.   It's almost October; and while we've had some nice days in October the last couple of years, it is just inevitable that "perfect" (or even "good") days left this year for outside running and riding will be pretty limited.  I do distinctly remember that we have had several really nice Halloween evenings the last three years, at least.  Every Halloween since we've been in this house we have sat on our front steps, ordered pizza, opened a bottle of red wine, and shared with our next door neighbors while the kids came around trick or treating.  But, October is when it starts to get cold and nasty; we've just been lucky on Halloween the last few years!

I am healing ... definately getting better.  My ribs are no longer tender to the touch, or being "pressed" on.  However, there is some soft tissue soreness still underneath and below the ribs.  My physical therapist said the bones will heal in 4-8 weeks; but if there is any "connective tissue issue" (I liked that) that will be 10-12 weeks to heal.  That said, I can tell that each day I am getting a little better.  Today I swam in the Endless Pool for the first time in three weeks (YEAH!!!!)...VERY slowly, and only breathing comfortably out of my right side (which is the side where I broke my ribs, which makes sense), though I did try to breathe out of my left as well (not enough strength to pull with my right arm/back AND breathe out of the left side).  Really stretching in the water and making myself as "long" or "tall" as possible is still a little uncomfortable, so I just tried to focus on my stroke form and entry.  I did about 30 minutes at 3/4 my normal pace, and did ok.  I also got on my bike on the CT ... and while the aero position was not comfortable for an extended period of time, I was able to ride for 45 minutes, get the old HR up past 130, and average about 175 watts for the full 45 minutes.  I would sit up about every 5-7 minutes and get up on the bars.  Definately progress; but still too early to push myself.

I will definately post some pictures now that I have sort of figured out how to do that.  My blog layout is ugly.  I'm such an amateur at this, but I will figure it out.  My profile picture is like 1,000 times too big here, and I cannot figure out how to size it down some.  Unfortunately, I don't have the most current pictures of Elin on this computer, so I will update this blog later with recent pictures of her and Juliet.  Maybe even of the one of her crashed in her stroller today, walking home from the cafe after her little playgroup!!