Hello, reality.
I was heckled for only posting embarrassing photos of my family, and none of myself. So here ya go - apparently I'm confounded by my brother Tom's rocking dance moves.
I puked my guts out most of the 11+ hour flight from Frankfurt to San Fran and let me tell you, that was a party. The flight attendants let me sleep on the floor in the back, which was a bonus. Also, we flew over Greenland.
The coolest cruise photo is yet to arrive from my cousin Sara, but for the time being I like this one of my Mom and I. We are twins. Well, I'm about a foot taller.. maybe it's safer to say we often show up in the same place with the same stuff. Here we are in Corfu:
Now it's time for reality. In two weeks, I will start working full-time. In two days, or whenever I stop puking, Kona training really begins. I mean it this time. I have to say I'm more excited about the latter. The hiatus has been too long! After years of part-time employment, the husband is going to law school and I am going to be bringing home the bacon. That hiatus has not been long enough! I know, Poor Princess.. but I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to giving up my little Ironman hobby in favor of full-time environmental scientist, full-time mom, and full-time housekeeper. Who knows, I may find a way to keep it all up, but only if I can do so without cutting into what will now be limited kid-time. I can sleep when I'm dead.
Since arriving home, I have thrown up everything I have put in (even m&ms), realized I have no sitter for the next two weeks so all training must be done in the dark, have noticed an extra post-cruise layer around my middle portion (it could probably be melted down into one hell of a margarita), and have been inundated with work. Vacation is over. Life is on.. in spite of it all, it's great to be home!
so sorry about the full time work thing - i totally hear you...as a woman with kids, who doesn't have a wife(lol), housekeeper or nanny, i know that it is really tough to find a balance in getting everything done while spending time with your kids and staying somewhat sane. sadly, when we take on something else, none of our other responsibilities disappear. maybe mr.likeamother could take on the housecleaning if when he is going to school?
ReplyDeletei was always amazed when i was finishing my phd and teaching at the same time that the guys doing the same would leave home at 8 in the morning and return home 12 hours later, cause they were 'working' ....meanwhile, their wives were doing the childcare, cleaning and making them lunch/dinner etc. everyday - (my other full time job!) - i always thought 'wouldn't it be nice...'.
so i wish i had some kind of great solution or suggestion but i don't :(, just some shared commiserating!
Welcome back to reality! Glad you had such a great time on vacation. I loved the pictures!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the whole "full time working thing"...that stinks. Just think of it as paying your dues. When your hubby is finished w/ law school - he will take over the bacon making and be able to treat you in the matter that you are accostomed :)
Happy KONA training!
I really hate the whole reality thing myself. I think you deserve a $4 kombucha. That might help your stomach, ha ha!
ReplyDeleteLCotter
Law school, yuck-my husband is in his 3rd year (the last year-YIPPEE!!!). Make sure with all of the craziness you take a few minutes for you.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Good luck juggling - its a tough balance, and I think much harder for women than guys - I think we put a lot of expectations on ourselves to do it all with work/kids/training. Hence, I am in the same boat as you as U will be working almost full time when kids return back to school in Sep, but I am choosing to cut back on tri training/racing and just work on running till Jan. 09 so I spend quality time with the kids/family. I plan to reevaluate this life balance again in 6 months! You r such a speed demon though you might just be able to manage it all! best wishes...
ReplyDeleteRACH!! I have totally missed you. Sounds like you had an AMAZING trip in Europe! So cool! We missed ya in Van and Vic. It was awesome, but hopefully you will be at the next one. I am sorry about the work thing. I know, it is tough! But I know you will handle it so well. I am so ready to give mine up, 10 years of this 50-60 hour week stuff. Kind of sick of it....
ReplyDeleteE
You travel experiences remind me of my own with my family when I was a child - I was usually sick every time we traveled anywhere. So I know how it feels.
ReplyDeleteI even experienced it on a long flight about 12 years ago. It was so hard to find an empty toilet and when I was in there the other passengers would bang their fists on the door out of impatience. If I had been well enough I would have puked all over them.
In our family, my wife has never had to bring home the bacon. That was always my responsibility. I may have been a student at times or a full-time volunteer, or even training for the Ironman,but I still had to find the money to pay all the bills. Life was simple at times and never flashy or glamorous, but we managed and my wife did not have to concern herself about money. I am probably considered sexist and an old-fashioned overbearing tyrant and monster combined, but believe me while my wife may at times have had her hands full with the kids (which does happen for a few years at least), she never had to concern herself about how the bills would be paid. By having to worry about the bills, etc. myself for so long, at least now life is a lot easier as I have it well under control.
Hey Rach,
ReplyDeleteI am feeling with you how hard it´s going to be! Does the law school take 3 years? Too bad!
However... you have been to Frankfurt without telling me! Shame on you! :-)
I hope you feel better soon Rachel! Yuck - throwing up is the worst!! As for the full time work/kid and family time/housekeeping/training gig - if there is anyone that can make it work it's you! I think you will surprise yourself and everyone else!! And there is always coffee... :)
ReplyDeleteYour photos are amazing. What a great experience to share that with your family.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the balancing act-Like Beth said, if anyone can do it, its you!!
Take care
Welcome home! I hope you can get just a little time to recover before jumping in to working and training with both feet. Loved the trip reports and pics.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon!! I just went through a round of the puking. It is NO fun. Kinds bring home the craziest stuff from daycare. Good luck with your training. Lots of turbo trainer time.
ReplyDeleteWow. All I can say is I'm extremely impressed with you on the way you are about to juggle all of that. Amazing... You are the ultimate in mulitasking and few could even attempt to do that PLUS be soooo talented athletically.
ReplyDeleteRACH.. you are my new hero!!
I hope your IT band stays together for your training. You at least deserve that.
Nothing like getting off some vacation weight (like I believe you have ANY) with a little barfing....the vision of you, pale & clammy on the floor of an airplane is enough to send my germ-freak self over the edge. If you didn't have the flu already, I'm quite sure you gathered many strains of it off that floor during your slumber. The bright side is, you really pumped up that immune system!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any words of encouragement or experience to offer you about the work thing. I'm gonna be honest....that just sucks. However, I am a 'glass half full' kind of girl and I do swear there is something to the idea that the more you can squeeze on your plate of life during Ironman training, the better. It makes you tougher.....that is, if it doesn't kill you. But, you survived that whole trip so I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and lay my money down.
You're going to do it well while making us all laugh along the way.
Even if it does make you a pinch crazy. At the very least, I'll be entertained :)
glad to have you back. And see? Your kids are just fine.
XO,
P. Keebler
yeah. i think you need to work harder. maybe you should take on some more responsibilities....
ReplyDeletefeel better soon...i've heard that peanut butter cups soothe the stomach.
Oh NO! Darn it!! Seems like if it ain't your darn leg it's gotta be something... I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE what Phaedra said though, she is pretty keen... load up during the IM training and it will make race day a walk in the park!
Let me know if I can help at all, boat the kids to Kona for a weekend with me! ha ha...
Welcome home!