First, the sports report. Race results: We had fun. The numbers look slightly
discouraging, but the bigger picture looks encouraging -- that means everything
that looks bad has a "But--" attached.
Hardcore and I think we came
in 5th of 6 -- we're not entirely sure whether the results we'd seen had the age
handicaps added in. So we weren't last, but more importantly, we were with the
pack. And this was despite my crabbing on three consecutive strokes about
300 meters in -- I just couldn't seem to get my oar straightened out. So we just
need to work on my finishes and on our endurance, but it is very encouraging that
we were staying with the other (bigger) rowers throughout.
Rudder,
who would have preferred more people to compete against, came in second of two in
the Men's B singles, to a rower who was not only skilled but very large, and who
had already won the (younger) Men's A category.
I came in last in my
singles race, but only by about a second and a half, not much over a race that
lasted over 4 and a half minutes. I crabbed again -- I really do need to
work on getting the oar out cleanly, but again, it felt good, and I was happy to
just be close to the other rowers.
We won medals for being the first
(read: only) lightweight finishers in all three events.
Rudder got
his semi-usual post-race migraine on the way home, which sucked because I had to
drive most of the way and do all of the unpacking and take the trash out.
It sucked worse for him, or course. We think he just needs to eat more before
races.
Next, the fashion report. I got home to find most of the items
I had ordered from J. Crew sitting on the porch -- thank goodness my neighbors are
honest (or don't seem to have any desire for black-market size-fours). J. Crew has
wonderful petite sizing that enables me to have their low-riders actually sit
where their supposed to, low on my hips instead of up above my belly button like
most stores. Unfortunately, they only sell petites mail-order, so I can try them
on in the stores.
I got the brown pants I'd been wanting, in a shade
called desert that bears no resemblance to my local terrain. A little bright as
browns go, but I don't think they'll be too hard to match with tops, and the snug
fit above the knees should be made comfortable by the stretchy fabric. In an
effort to stay comfortable as the climate dial goes to "broil", I also got some
straight legged capris, in a mid-calf length that I think will look professional.
The odd thing about these is that the rear pockets are capri length also --
they're only about 2" deep, for some odd reason. Strange.
In the
category of "even more shameless indulgences, I also got a pair of jeans I really
don't need (hipster flares, not too flared and very snug in hips and thighs),
because all my most favorite jeans are getting a little ratty. That still makes it
hard to justify new ones, of course, since all the newer ones are sold already
looking ratty. It's even harder to justify since I've been trying to dress up a
bit and only wear jeans on Fridays.
Even harder to justify (and even
cooler) is the white lawn cotton prairie skirt with lingerie tucks at the yoke and
a ruffle and a fine, tiny fringe at the hem. They call it a gypsy skirt, but I've
got it on today, stylishly teamed with a snug cap-sleeved stretch denim shirt with
mother-of-pearl snaps and scalloped pocket flaps. Don't worry, the cap sleeves and
tiny fit keep it from looking like a cowgirl costume. Now all I need are just the
right sandals.................