2008 ING New York City Marathon

The largest marathon in the world. And he did it with a finish time of 4 hours, 49 minutes.

We arrived Saturday at around 12p, earlier than expected because we were all too excited to sleep. We made it in just over 5 hours (would have been less without multiple potty breaks, including one in West Orange, NJ, and I gotta tell you, not much there, even a bathroom). We drove right into the city via the Holland Tunnel because we couldn't check into the hotel until after 3, and well, I am just impatient and wanted to see my sister already!

The boys pretty much hit it off immediately, which is great since they hadn't seen each other in anything other than pictures for three years. We even got to finally meet Adam, Ryan's only little blonde haired cousin. Ry and Adam, although the closest in age, had some issues getting along without physical torture, but Andrew, Alex and Ry got on like champs.

Since I knew Mark would be anxious until he had packet in hand (no packet, no race) I urged him and Al to head uptown to the Expo, after fueling up on more coffee, and Caren and I took all four kids to the playground - apparently a hot spot for Jon Stewart, but sadly, no sightings. He might be short, but I might have been climbing on him, not the playground equipment if he had been there.

NYC has some awesome packed playgrounds. The kids worked out their kinks, got to know one another, and even tried to teach Ryan how to toss a football. Sadly, he's not a natural and has been blessed with his mother's lack of co-ordination. Poor kid. I had to work really hard on my mother hen complex and back off and let the kid play. I am not used to so many people and my anxiety and over-protective parent radar was on high alert. Caren and I then took the kids all to Applebee's for lunch, then back to the apartment for a quick rest for Adam and I, while the boys destroyed the place.

Couple hours later, Mark and Al made it back, and although he was drooling, Mark did not buy anything other than a t-shirt. Pretty damn impressive for a man who owns an entire closet of nothing other than t-shirts. It was almost 6, and we were all tired, so Mark and I headed to the hotel. We were hoping to stop for dinner at something we found on the way back, but NY is not like Rochester. You don't stop unless you want to be hit, and even if you could find a restaurant there is no parking anywhere, unless you are willing to fork out $10 an hour. We had already paid $40 for parking at Caren's, so we ordered room service. Fine, except our first thing we saw upon entering the room was a roach on Mark's pillow. He slept alone.

Ryan however, decided he would not sleep until midnight, and kept me up by kicking me and poking me and talking to me. And then was up by 7:30, ready to go, with no chance for a nap on the horizon.

I got to Caren's about 8:30 this morning, at which time Mark was already picked up outside our hotel by a car from Al's firm, bussed to the hotel that the NYPD running club was leaving from, then transported with police escort to Staten Island, and was waiting patiently to be called to line up. He got up at 5am to sit around and wait til 10. Did I mention it didn't get above 40 degrees until after 10? He does this why? Meanwhile, we stayed and watch the start of the race, including the elite men and women, featuring this year's top female runner, Paula Radclife, aka Mark's other wanna-be girlfriend.

Caren and I headed to Starbuck's and grabbed real NYC bagel for breakfast. Ryan did a face plant immediately after leaving the building, earning himself a bloody nose and an M&M cookie. We decided the easiest route the uptown was via subway. Unfortunately the closest subway stop had no elevators for the strollers. Ever take four kids though a subway station? Yeah, I don't want to again either.

Ryan loved the trains, but not his crazy mom who wouldn't let him venture into the path of said oncoming trains. He was most unhappy to be bolted to the stroller. About 20 minutes later we came up right by the southern tip of Central Park and managed to make it to the race line as all the top female (minus Paula who had already won) and male runners were rounding Columbus Circle, the last turn before the finish line. They moved DAMN fast. You can see it on TV and comprehend it intellectually, but to see it in person was awe-inspiring. 12 miles per hour folks. Not on my radar as a remote possiblity without a jet propulsion pack.

Since whoever planned the marathon was oblivious to logistics, we had to walk around the outside of Columbus Circle to get to the park and under a Law and Order bridge (chunk chunk) to get to the viewing stands at the finish line. You had to have special VIP passes, which we did, and it was awesome because from out vantage point we could look out over all the incoming runners and see them finish, as well as the jumbo screen which showed people's faces as they finished.
We saw some hilarious runners, including one guy who skipped -you know, like you did as a kid - the whole race, one in a banana hammock (ala Borat), two Braveheart guys in kilts and face paint, Buzz Lightyear, Batman and Robin (from the 70's) and the Batman (from now), and one guy in a really and truly uncomfortable looking dinosaur costume. You couldn't pay me to run the thing in general, much less in costume. Given the cold and the chafing potential, the guy in the banana hammock may never be able to concieve children - or sit - again.

At about the 4 hour mark I started biting my fingernails. Mark, at the half way point, was on perfect pace to finish at four hours. As the minutes wore on I got slightly scared that I had missed him. There was soooo many runners it was a valid fear. He was wearing an NYPD bib so you'd figure he'd be easy to spot, but you never know. We also did not have the official clock for his start time so I couldn't be entirely sure where he was. (Every one started in waves this year instead of starting at the same time to cut down on confusion and traffic).

Just when I had myself completely convinced I had missed him, I heard Caren from the ground, who had stayed with Adam and the strollers, screaming for Mark. He saw her, but sadly did not see us. But I saw him. And I have to admit, I had to hold back a tear. I have never been so proud of him in our entire life together.

Can you spot him without help?
Yeah, I was there and saw him and still had a hard time picking him out. He is in he middle lane, with his hands raised, wearing the long sleeved black shirt. The noted finish time was not right given the staggered starts.

So he finished and we set on the debacle to find him. For everything they planned for the start of the race, having people who had just run 26.2 miles have to cross a huge bridge of stairs or walk several miles to get anywhere to even catch a cab is just pure insanity. Here's a pic I got from the bridge of all the finishers - for about a 3 minute time span. Get now why I was worried about missing him?
So after walking about another 45 minutes, Mark, Al, Alex, Ryan and I decide enough was enough and we caught a cab back to the apartment. Mark ordered a well deserved burger and we drove back to the hotel, where although Mark and I are ready to literally pass out, Ryan is talking and telling Mark all about his day. It's 8:45. He's gotten 15 hours of sleep in two days. I don't know how he's doing it.

Oh, and just to humiliate him again (after last years staged photo) here's one of him in his ice bath. Crazy man!Tomorrow it's some touristy things in the AM before we begin our trek back home. I will truly miss New York (City).

Trick or Treat and Have a Good Day, Thank You

Ry lived on a diet of pure sugar today. Literally. He refused to eat anything but the candy people kept giving to him, despite our asking them not to. I think breakfast was a package of M&M's and a Three Musketeer's bar, and then for a snack, a banana. He refused lunch. Ate two bites of dinner. I lost track of what he ate throughout the day. I know, I'm the parent. I can set the limits. But... it is Halloween and he did crash at nap time, and hopefully, will soon at bedtime because we're leaving for NYC at 6am. Fun, fun!

And with no further ado.... here is the cutest, and scariest, ghost kitty in all the land. It took me weeks of planning, organizing, buying, cutting, and finally, sewing to make it. Now, I know it's no work of art or anything, but I am damn proud. I think he looks pretty darn good.
He was new to the whole trick or treating, talking, and walking all by himself thing, having not said anything really last year and insisting on being carried large parts of the way. This year he had a script for each door, which was not prompted, but went something like this:

Ryan: Can I have some candy please?
Unsuspecting Neighbor: Why, aren't you cute?
Ryan: Trick or treat, can I have some candy please?
UN: Of course, pick which one you want honey.
Ryan: I want this.... and this.... and this....
UN: Oh that's so cute.
Ryan: Have a good night... Oh, and thank you.

Some neighbors got more than they bargained for in the form of a three-year-old's interrogation tactics. See this to illustrate my point, of which this was only one and not the funniest (alas, mommy is slow with the camera in the dark):



Eventually, after about 25 houses, Ryan was getting tired and the sugar high was wearing precariously thin. Here's a sad ghost kitty *whine*.
So, despite his protests, we wrapped it up and headed home. Surprisingly our pumpkins were still intact. No flash works well (see, I am learning bare bones camera basics).
The beagle was made to participate, whether he liked it or not.
The final collection of loot.
All in all, it was a great year for the Ghost Kitty. Boo meow.

Pumkins and drunken-ness don't mix

Amy came over last night for dinner and pumpkin carving.... what we didn't factor in was the 3 bottles of wine we'd consume with dinner, prior to carving. Knives and alcohol are a bad combo. We had fun either way though. Or, Ryan had fun while three adults wondered what happened to the joy they remembered from their childhood. Cleaning the gunk out of pumpkins is much worse than I remembered, and I did it last year so there is no reason for it. I guess my memory is worse than I imagined.

The finished products:
The first shot of Amy and I together. We've known each other over 6 (7? - damn memory) years and no pictures. So, I had to go put on some make-up to be presentable for pictures. I rarely wear it, so never occurred to me to prep for poking little knives into the flesh of an orange orb.
Ryan and Daddy pose with the pumpkins after a bath. Ryan was more obsessed with the candles in the pumpkins than the pumpkins themselves. He asked about them for days. Incessantly.
Just to make Amy feel shorter (she's really only 4'9" and I'm a giant) I basically had to bend in half in order to take this.
This is what happens after a few bottles of wine and no nap...
After Ryan went to bed, Mark pulled out tequila for shots. I'm still wondering, with my pounding head, what the hell was he thinking?!

Ryan's First Race

Ryan ran his first ever race on Saturday. He was super excited for it and talked about nothing but that for a week in advance. It was part of a race that Mark runs annually to support Hospice. He ran the ten mile, Ry (and I) ran the 1/4 mile.

At the starting line, Ryan was not so sure of those obnoxious parents around us who I don't think understood "fun run" and pushed us out of the way to get to the front of the line. The kicker was the mom who ran her 4 year-old through the entire race. Way to allow your child the experience.


So off the starting horn went, and slowly, so did we. He did great for the first 500 feet or so, and then looked up at me as if to say, 'mom, what the hell are we doing?" Although I did not have a good answer for him, I encouraged him to keep running and focus on the "fun." He wasn't having it until we rounded the third corner and he could see the finish line, then he took off.



The running gait is something new for him, and completely hilarious. He gets so excited and pumps his arms so hard he looks about to take off. After the race... of course comes food, and dancing? He thought the music was awesome and treated us to a dance (sorry it's sideways, I didn't realize it when I hit record).

Who I am voting for and my life as a grandparent

For those who didn't know, yes, I am an Obama supporter. Should not be a shock. I just got my t-shirt in and I've never been so excited. Ok, yes, I've been more excited, but not in the last few weeks. The fact that it (only mildly) irked Mark made it all the better. I think he may be voting with me this time though... we shall see.

I briefly mentioned Ryan's invisible friends before but he's gotten outright hilarious about them lately. He has Katie, an occasional friend, who went home to be with her mommy yesterday because she was hungry. His other friend, (Wonder) Woman is his favorite. She never leaves him. In fact, he informed me last week that he and Woman had a baby, named Iya. Iya has her own room that he painted purple and he helps feed her. Apparently he's a good and conscientious daddy. He wanted to get a pitcure of him with his "girl," so here they are. Isn't she pretty?
The even funnier part was after I snapped the photo he wanted to see it and looked at the camera, asking me completely seriously, "Where is she mommy? I don't see her!" God, I love this kid.

He also wanted a picture with his new "ghost kitty" which is exactly what he wants to be for Halloween. I've been working on making his costume so I'll post pics after I have it done. I know, it's just a white sheet, but this is a big deal for me. First time I've ever made anything for him. I want it to be perfect.