Liza Howard. Ultrarunning Mom.

Asa came home from school on Friday with a large purple bracelet around his wrist.

I made a big deal about it: “Oh, Wow!  What’s this?  What fun project were you doing in school today?”

Asa: Shrug.

Me: “Why do you have this around your wrist?”

Asa: “I don’t know.  But I can’t take it off.”

Me:  ”Why not?”

Asa: “I don’t know.  I asked my teacher if I could take it off and she said, ‘No.’”

Poor little kid!  I could just imagine the teacher taping the bracelets around all the kindergarteners wrists giving them detailed instructions about their purpose — in Spanish.  And Asa standing there hearing: “Mwah mwah mwah mwah mwaaaah.”  Then he plucks up his courage to ask her if he can take it off (in English) and she answers “No.”  Thank God for cognates.

He insisted on keeping the bracelet on until bedtime.  The boy might be monolingual, but he’s a compliant monolingual.  Eliot finally convinced him to remove it before his bath.  Turns out it was a note home to the parents about the parent orientation on Tuesday night.   Next funny story: Liza and Eliot at the all Spanish Parent Orientation.  Maybe we’ll come home with mysterious purple bracelets.

We all volunteered at the last Captain Karl’s race on Saturday night.  (Perhaps you were one of the runners Asa accosted at the Dome aid station?  ”But what else can I get you?  Do you want a frito?  Animal cracker?  Potato chip?  More water?  Are you SURE you don’t want anything else?”)  He taste tested everything to make sure it was good fare for the runners.

Overheard:  ”My husband and I are running this to celebrate our 22nd anniversary.”

“Congratulations!  So what’s the secret to a successful marriage?”  (She was taking her time at the AS.)

“Planning each others murders down to the rat poison.”

“Oh.  Well, have a great run.”

The rest of the weekend disappeared while I worked on a presentation for the WMI staff meeting about aid stations and hyponatremia.  I’ve got Tim Noakes’ and Waterlogged dripping out of my ears.  And then there was piles of work for the Running Camp.  See the cool registration button Tim installed for us.  (And then register.)  :)