The Corona Diaries Week 20 - Mom Is Tired Of Camp Camp

Weirdly, time seems to be flying lately. For months it was     S     L     O     W     and now the weeks seem to hum along. Not sure if we are just getting used to it, or if the anticipation for school starting and other fall activities is making time move along again. It's not like "normal" - let's be real about that. But I kind of like it better.

One thing that helps is the volunteering with Open Progress which I mentioned before. I have moved up to Pro level and they asked if I was interested in becoming a volunteer leader to help with training and moderating in the slack support group. I said yes immediately. November is coming fast and it is so important to turn state houses blue, to elect democratic AGs and of course flip the senate and the White House. YOU CAN HELP TOO! Click here to learn more about it and to sign up. There is a lot of work to do and we can do it together!.

After two weeks of Art Camp and Science Camp, my camp fuel tank was empty so we had "Summer" last week. Harper got to watch a bit more tv and play a lot more minecraft. We had bike rides and bike play dates and even tennis a couple times.

The garden is still growing, I have zucchinis that are started but not ready yet, and cherry tomatoes that are started but not ready yet. The beans are getting tired. And for some stupid reason I had bought/planted bell peppers. But I had remembered doing it years ago and there being ONE pepper that grew. Same thing this time. I think also the bugs LOVE the bell pepper plant which doesn't help. So, one pepper grew and I was waiting for it to turn red because I don't like the green flavor.

And it finally did turn red. And Mr. Grasshopper seems to be enjoying it so that's great. Happy I can feed the world. Ugh.

Luckily Debra had a gorgeous tomato to share with me which I devoured.

While there is still much growling and hissing from Willoughby, the cats are getting along better and better. Sleeping near each other on the bed, being in the same room without fighting. It's nice. I know one day I'll catch them snuggling and that will be a banner day.

The most exciting day was when Kurt and I were both reading on the big bed and the cats were both there and then this happened:

We thought FOR SURE Willoughby would attack. But no! Progress.

Careful, there, Willoughby.

There was some bike riding around the neighborhood. Harper wanted to see the back alleys of Rancho Park. She found them very bumpy.

And we played Tennis! It was so nice to get out and do something sporty. Harper had a week of tennis camp last summer and I was looking forward to having her do more this summer, but this will have to do.

She did remember some stuff:

Tennis Tangent:

I was lucky to learn how to play tennis when I was about Harper's age. We lived on Oahu and Punahou had summer camps and I had tennis for probably a week(?). Back in the days when the racquets were made of wood and the kid's racquets had a short handle. I remember vividly being told we were going to learn how to volley. The instructor asked if anyone knew how and one kid raised their hand. The rest of us got behind him. Then we moved to Maui and we could sometimes play at the club. Jen and I would hit balls around. In the summer time when we had to go visit my dad and stepmom and older sisters, Jen and I would go the tennis courts at the Waikoloa clubhouse. I think my Dad and Stepmom were living in the condos there while their house was being built (this part is fuzzy). But I remember so clearly playing with Jen and she liked to play for real, not just rally around.  She loved yelling "Advantage Jen!"

I feel like we played a lot. We watched a lot of tennis too. Someone had a tennis racquet called Miss Chris after Chrissy Everet. (click for bigger)

All that to say I'm so grateful to have played so much as a kid (Thanks Mom!) because that muscle memory is STRONG. I might not be fleet of foot or have very good grip strength at my age, but my body knows where to go and I can build those two things again. It feels good and I want to play more - which we will as I've booked two more hours at the courts, one this week and one next. And I got lucky booking the court with one open side and one end has the cement wall that you can play alone against. This is helpful when Kurt and Harper are playing on the other side and I can play against the wall. Tennis makes me happy.

Speaking of Happy: Harper saved and earned money to buy a doll - this one to be exact - and she is sooooooo happy. She did promptly undo the detailed hairdo...as you do when you are eight. Now she's saving up for another one. I'll take pics of the doll this week. She's been playing with it non stop. I love that.

We had a bike play date with friends from school.

More backyard blow up pool time.

Then a park play date with masks and bikes and kites. I had to tell the three girls to not sit SO close to each other a couple of times. I apologized to the other moms there, but they were fine with it.

And Harper cleaned out her shoes. She still has plenty and then asked for more. Uh. No. If we were actually going back to school, then probably when the other shoes were fully destroyed, but now? Not so much.

Had some gourmet lunch one day.

I baked a bundt poundcake. OMG

There was a Saturday Night Gin and Tonic or two. Refreshing.

And that about sums up the week. xoxo