The 43

My annual summer reflection on the solstice was delayed this year. Last weekend, Ben and I were in Montana, and the week after had been a jumbled mess of crazy hours, clouds a couple nights, and other priorities. But finally, on the last day of June, I'm knocking out this post. I looked at my summer post from 10 years ago , and I talk about how quickly time seemed to be going. Wow, I had no idea how fast it was going to get. We are five years from having both boys in college. Ten years ago, Michael was starting kindergarten. Everything in between has been a blur. I'm not going to try to strategize on how to make time slow down for these next few years. Ultimately, it's a little bit futile. I'm not going to define as these years as coming to a conclusion (even though that is what's ahead) as a continuation of what I've done -- what we've done -- all these years. One day leads to the next, to the next, to the next, until that last one. It might feel super ...

The week was long. The week went fast. Let's recap: Work was predictably busy after getting back from a couple vacation days. Our company schedules a certification day in which we are encouraged to amass HubSpot certifications as well as partake in other learning opportunities; that was Friday which kind of made the week not so crazy but is setting up next week to be busy. We pulled off a little better-late-than-never birthday party for Ben on Wednesday. It was fun and I actually got a good chunk of work done. Also got to watch Michael at work lifeguarding.  That same day, we saw my sister and her family here in SLC! They were driving through to a concert in Colorado and stayed at the KOA near downtown. We hung out for a few hours, the cousins swam and played basketball, and caught up after not seeing them I think in two or three years. The heat returned to Salt Lake City this week ... and after the chilly Montana weekend, I'm not that sad about it. The boys and I did yar...

A long day of driving and water. It's good to be back home. The weather continued to suck and seemed even colder this morning. Ben had two last races (the Sunday races are all finals, and he was a little sluggish for his first one. Then, he had three-plus hours before swimming again. I actually took an hour nap in the car so I wouldn't be so tired for the drive hime. When I came back to the pool, the waterpark had opened up for Sunday traffic and for the swimmers to enjoy. The temperature had not climbed above 60, the skies were cloudy, and there was a breeze, but that wasn't going to stop kids for trying the water slides. After some of our kids' last races, they would skip a cooldown but hit the slides instead, then pack up and depart for the long drive home. Ben and I had to wait, however. He swam the last race of anyone on our team, and the last race of the meet except for a bunch of 400 freestyles. And as he started ... the sun came out! He swam a great 200 ba...

Ben's throat felt better today. Whew! I was a little worried it might have been strep (it was swollen yesterday), but it might have just been an allergen. The morning started sunny, and I thought this would be the better weather we were hoping for. By mid-morning, it deteriorated again. Ben swam two races, rocked one and was OK in the other. For lunch, we went to Five on Fire, a fast casual Brazilian place similar to the Costa Vida concept. This was delicious and provided the greens I needed after eating horribly the last two days. The afternoon was again lazy: nap, cribbage, pool. We went to the finals to watch Ben's teammates swim. The weather still sucked, so the plan to open the waterpark for the swimmers and their families fizzled. Instead, Ben and I headed downtown and got pizza and a Caesar salad at Biga's. The food was yummy, and it actually warmed up enough to eat outside. We then met almost the entire team at the same ice cream shop as yesterday. This trip...

Summer has arrived, but it hasn't quite reached Montana yet ... Today was the solstice, but if felt more like April or October in Missoula for Ben's swim meet. This morning was officially cold, and everyone was bundled up. I'm not sure if the poor weather contributed to Ben's kind of average performance in the 50 backstroke. The way the meet was structured, all swimmers 13 and older are one division, and he needed to finish top 24 to make finals ... and he ended up 26th. But his time wasn't the greatest, and he really should have qualified. He did better in his other race but wasn't close to qualifying, so that left him without a swim in the evening session. The morning was interesting. The pool had no toilet paper in the men's locker rooms, and no male lifeguards to replace the missing TP. Ben did get a t-shirt after his second race that he legitimately earned after yesterday's blazing 1,500. I wish I could say the weather cleared up, but alas, it...

Ben and I are in Missoula! The drive wasn't too bad, just long. We stopped in Idaho Falls to get sandwiches from Walmart and fill up the gas tank. From there, it was a quick trip, slowed down by some occasional rain and construction. We listened to the "Have a Nice Day" '70s compilation I got from a yard sale. We checked into our hotel room at the Sleep Inn, and it's small but sufficient. It was chilly today in Missoula, but Ben swam a great 1500, securing the state qualifying time by 40 seconds. We picked up Freddy's for dinner and ate in the room. The day was long, but being on this trip feels great.

Three days of work with so much to do before Ben and I go to Montana. Granted, it wasn't all work. I did get a couple nice walks with the dog. The weather has been pleasant, though a little cloudy today. I've been trying to watch stuff on the DVR before we lose DirecTV. I'm packed and ready to go for our trip, and I really am happy to be getting the few days off.

Today was a wonderful Father's Day, even if I almost did throw up ... To celebrate my day, I chose to hike to the Living Room above Salt Lake City -- a hike we've done before. Michael, Ben and I made the hike, and the day wasn't too hot, although it was sunny. Lori had made me McMuffins for breakfast, but I didn't feel overly full or gassy. Maybe I just didn't drink enough water, because the hike beat the heck out of me. The uphill is challenging for sure, but either because I'm out of shape, was tired, or wasn't sufficiently hydrated, my body seemed to rebel. I've stopped on uphills before, but I've never felt the need to sit down like I did today. And I never thought I was going to hurl like today. I started worrying that it would suck for the boys if their dad had a heart attack on a Father's Day hike. Michael was moving way too fast, like he wanted to get the hike over with. Ben was a little more compassionate. I knew if I sat down, getti...

Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Water, sun, and summer. Thursday, I tool Ben and two of his friends swimming while I mostly worked. Michael had basketball practice that evening out in West Valley, and a storm rolled in full of lightning and rain, though we didn't have to drive in it on the way home. Friday, I tried wrapping up the work week, but it was a slog. I did hang out by the JCC pool during Ben's late afternoon practice and jumped off the diving board for the first time this year (yes, I can swim). Today was blessedly relaxed, I canceled DirecTV yesterday but it doesn't shut off for a week, and today was dedicated to starting to watch the movies remaining on the DVR. I watched "Murder on the Orient Express," "Lucas," and "Band of the Hand." But the day was much more than that. I was up early and took Popcorn on a long walk. Later, I hit a few garage sales, then lounged in the backyard. We grilled flank steaks for dinner, and I took the...

This is how the days slip away during a summer. Last Wednesday was a busy work day mixed in with Ben's last day of school and other things, and I didn't have the energy to write in the evening. Thursday was equally as nutty between Michael's basketball tournament and a rat sighting in our backyards. Friday was full with more basketball. Ben had a swim meet Saturday; I had some other work to finish up over the weekend; and Monday and Tuesday I just forgot to write. So here it is, Day 12, which, on a 96-day summer, is already one-eighth of the season down in a blink of an eye. I'm not happy about that. The weather cooled off way too much going into last weekend, but the days have been pleasant and even warm the last two days. Ben swam OK at his meet; Michael had a great basketball tournament. I've been working outside again in the backyard, and it's been great. Michael and I cleared out the garage Saturday (no rats seen, but I put out some traps); I grilled th...

Today was gorgeous again, and I worked mostly outside. And, voila, I was more productive than yesterday. Unfortunately, I'm still grazing too much at home, even though I worked outside for some of it. This is not my ideal strategy with summer here and me wanting to lose a few more pounds of the gut. I just need to track again, but it's tough when there's a lot of food in the house (though our stocks are rapidly dwindling; Ben is on an eating tear). I took Ben to swim practice at Steiner, and though he swam inside, I worked outdoors and, again, was efficient. Working outside all summer will be nice. Ben and I watched the Cubs beat the Rockies during dinner. I took Popcorn on a good walk afterward. The breeze coming through the porch feels wonderful. Tomorrow is Ben's last day of the school year. Summer gets real afterwards.

Today was perhaps the nicest day of 2019 -- warm sun all day, and no late-afternoon storms. That said, it was a Monday for sure. I sat out and worked for some of it but never felt too productive. Ben had swim practice late and I missed most of the annual block party. Popcorn and I went for a long walk, and it's warm enough at 11 p.m. that I can sit outside without a sweatshirt to type this. I think summer is officially here ... finally.

Finally, a Sunday with few responsibilities and nice weather. I was out and about early, taking the dog for a walk around Sugar House Park while listening to songs from 1981 on Amazon Music. After getting home and showering, I took Michael to the JCC for a basketball training session. I lounged by the pool, and though I didn't jump in (I did cool off under the mushroom fountain briefly), it felt great to relax in the sunshine. After we got home, Lori, Michael, and I went to the Nike Outlet to get him new basketball shoes, then to TJ Maxx, Kohl's, and Harmon's. I grilled tri-tip for dinner and it turned out great. We watched the latest episode of "The Amazing Race." Ben and I played Ticket to Ride: Pennsylvania and cribbage to wrap up the day, just as a thunderstorm rolled through. The timing for a great Sunday was excellent.

Summer is starting late this year ... In years past, when I've blogged summer, I usually began before Memorial Day, inspired by nicer weather, green trees, and the imminence of my favorite season. This year, a combination of a few busy weeks of work and what has been the second-wettest spring in Salt Lake City history has pushed the start to June 1. Better late than ever, but that gives me only 96 days of summer to write about and enjoy. Day 1 was a nice kickoff. Lori and I went to Costco to start the day. We got there right as it opened, so it wasn't too crazy for a Saturday. Shopping without the boys was nice but, alas, still expensive. After we got home, I made a brief trip to Walmart for a few more groceries, then stopped by the state liquor store to get my assistant soccer coaches six-packs as a thank you gift. Today was the last game of the soccer season, and after looking like it might rain, the sun came out and we enjoyed warm conditions and a gorgeous day. We...