Morning Fog

Nicole had a screening procedure at 6:45am this morning and I used the time to get a three mile walk. Some soccer clubs were taking advantage of the last of the early summer light to play some games. It's warm and humid now but feeling more like Fall this weekend. Nicole's procedure went well and doesn't need to starve herself for two days for another 5 years.

Rugby Workouts

We got some Fall feeling weather on Sunday which was perfect for some early training. We are just hoping a rugby season happens this year. Dylan is ready.

Butterfly Effect

Running happy.

Turbulence

It's been a difficult month in a general status of the world kinda way. The pandemic still has us in its grip, the political world is as messed up as it's ever been and violence is everywhere. I haven't posted much this month because we aren't traveling very much and the days tend to be a little repetitive. We are getting to the gym, going on runs, working out with our teams and seeing some friends but the general flow is a little messed up. Let's hope September brings some cooler air and sense of hope for the future.

Arms

Nicole and I have been working out with a trainer the past few weeks and she has helped us find muscles we didn't know we had. That's her smirking at Nicole doing some curls.

Champs

Sam's 7's team won their tournament yesterday. It's was much cooler than the tournament in Florida in June and Sam played all 7 games opposed to the 3 plays, one catch and a pulled hamstring of Orlando.

Socially Distant

Sam and I toured Bloomsburg University and talked with the football department. Great program, good school and nice Pennsylvania town. We dropped the masks for a few minutes to get the picture in Husky Stadium.

Kitty

This is one of the other three wild animals we are watching this week. This is the only one of the three cats that comes out when we arrive to walk the dog.

Oh Deer

This guy was waiting for Nicole in our driveway this morning at 5am. His spouse was across the street.

Grange Movement

Sent from my iPhoneNicole walked while Dylan practiced in Great Falls this morning and happened upon this community building built on 1929 as part of the Grange Movement. Basically a building designed to promote family and community. It's listed as a National Historic Landmark and still in use today.

Doggie Daycare

We are watching this energetic dog for the next 10 days at his house. It's to big and excitable to stay with us at this point. He was here for a bit yesterday and we may try again at some point. He's a beast.

Night Runners

Nicole's, heat beating, early runs continue with the Mom's group.

Tennessee

Nicole ran across Tennessee. At least the miles it would taken to actually make that happen. Another virtual race under her belt and another t-shirt.

More Remote Learning

Edison move away from the 2 days of in school learning to an all remote start to the year. Everyone in this household is pretty disappointed but let's hope things change after a month or two. They are going to sports practices a couple times a week which gives hem some time with other kids but loss of high school bonding is a shame. Lots of preparation for the upcoming SAT and work on finding the right schools next year is keeping us busy this summer.

Practice Jersey

Dylan looks good in his new Saint Johns rugby shirt the coach gave him last week. He also added a sticker to his favorite water bottle. Could he be a Johnny next year? Time will tell.

Till Next Time

11th year at Kavanaugh's is a wrap. Mostly great weather with a little rain.

Cousins

Finn had to go home early for some hockey workouts so Mae had the boys all to herself. She looks a little scared.

Hmmmm

We told him he could wear that shirt to dinner but he opted not to.

Book Ends

The weather was perfect for some fishing and boating today. Calm and warm with tons of sun. Not a lot of fish but the swimming was refreshing.

Baby Fishes

Not many big but a lot of small dudes.

Graduate

A mini graduation party because we hadn't given Finn his gift yet.

Northern Night

It takes a while to get dark up here in the summer but it's pretty when it's calm.

Ship Wrecked

Some beach fun before dinner on our first day up north.

Early Flight to Minne

The plane was half full and we had first class basically to ourselves. Good to get out of town for a while.

Incoming

I just wanted to show the ball coming into his hands that preceded the picture below. Good concentration.

Pulled Hammy

Everything was looking good during warm ups. Sam was running well and making his catches but on play three or a two day, 6-7 game tournament he caught a ball for a 7 yard gain and went down with a pulled hamstring. He tweaked it a few days ago in practice but we thought he rested and stretched enough to play today. Needless to say but we are both disappointed but he has another tournament in three weeks, let the rehab begin.

Juneteenth Celebration

Sent from my iPhoneSam drove into the district to join the BLM Juneteenth celebration last night. It's good to see he was properly masked.

Capitol in Crisis

Sent from my iPhoneNicole's early morning runs results in some good light photos.

Another Sign

Maybe a Biden 2020 sign is next.

Working from Home

The benefit of working from home is mid-day catch with the football.

Back at it

Gyms in Virginia opened back up yesterday and I got my first good weight lifting done in the past 90 days. Looks like Marsh and my friend Anthony are back at it in Minnesota too.

Day 11

Lots of peaceful protesting happening in Black Lives Matter Plaza. This could go on for a while.

BLM Plaza

Dylan and I visited the new Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of the Whitehouse where the big bunker baby lives today. It's turned into quite a community art project.

Back at it

The fields are open for small groups. It's nice because they are giving out permits to organized sports like soccer which would then dominate the fields all day long. This way Dylan's was able to do some kicking and work out with his coach Scott and his son Nathanial.

Equal

Hung on the high school last night. Pretty reasonable request.

Graduation Parade

The seniors got the short stick this year. In an attempt to create some fun, they had a parade around school and some parking lot festivities tonight. Hopefully we have some more traditional activities for Sam and Dylan's senior year. It was good to go out and cheer the seniors tonight and see some of the kids before they go off to parts unknown.

Cardiff Metropolitan

Dylan has spent 5 hours over the last couple weeks zooming with academic and athletic representatives at Cardiff Metropolitan. https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

He would be a greener recruit for the rugby program based on UK students having much more experience but they have been impressed with the conversations and are encouraging him to come to Wales with a £2,000 sports tuition grant. The school itself is priced similar to in state tuition in Virginia but with the advantage of being in Wales. 

Dylan loves the idea of going to an international school and we can't wait to visit later this year. 

Sent from my iPad

Second Offer

...via PhotoToaster, using these settings.

Sam got his second athletic scholarship offer from a division 2 football school. Alderson Broaddus University is in West Virginia a little closer to home than the first school offer at Fairmont State. Go Battlers 

https://ab.edu/

Sent from my iPad

Tame Impala

A friend Dylan painted this copy of a Tame Impala album cover and gave it to him las week. It's on his bedroom wall now m

Last Dance, Last Fire

Episode 10 of the Bulls documentary and a final fire of the season late in May. Already looking forward to October for more fire and some basketball.

The Rock

Nicole went back to the scene of the crime in the daylight to snap this picture. Her and Dylan painted this rock in the middle of the night earlier this week.

Birthday Morning Run

Nicole got some early morning shots of the city on her birthday run with the girls.

Runner Girls

Attacked the driveway this morning. This time it didn't immediately rain.

Mother’s Day Walk

Nice day for a family walk.

Rugby vs Football

Some football and rugby ball throwing after the rains stop. Twice the typical rainfall in the last couple months. It's good to see a sunny day every once and a while.

Day Whatever

Another COVID-19 day and another walk. This trail was devoid of leaves when we first walked it back in late March.

Eagle Scout

An eagle getting ready for a day of hunting during one of Nicole's early runs.

Safe Tree

Trying to walk just about every street in a five mile radius of the house and finding some peculiar things.

Big Chicken

We continue to look for new walking routes in our general vicinity. We found this giant chicken as we walked a whole new street. The walks are great but we are running out of new streets.

Social Recruiting

One way to get a kids attention.