That run was horrible. 'Nuff said.

Thanks for all the well-wishes, they worked because Brianna made the swim team! (well, she had alot to do with it too) She's a Seahawk! I am one proud mama! The coach was impressed with her right away - she did freestyle and backstroke (which she "learned" last night - basically Jorge told her backstroke is like freestyle, just on your back - um, yeah, something like that). The coach gave Brianna some pointers after she swam the first two lengths of backstroke and she applied what she told him right away. Practices start next month and she's extremely excited. We took her out to Red Robin to celebrate afterward.

I have a request: send Brianna all your swimming mojo - she's trying out for the Clifton Seahawks swim team today at noon - she's very nervous. We've told her that if she doesn't make the team, we'll just get her lessons and she can try again next year. The youngest kids on their team are 6 and they expect them to know two strokes (!) so last night we went to the Boys and Girls Club for their family swim and Jorge gave her some pointers on backstroke and she swam a couple widths of the pool after only a few minutes of instruction. When she focuses on something, she is a sponge for information, so we're hoping the coach will see that and let her participate. The team has actually won some competitions and travels to meets. This will be a great experience for her.

Tonight is the last night for family swim at the B&G club so I'll be a pool orphan after that. With 2800yds to go on the swim challenge, this is not a good thing. I have to chip away at that total and try to swim 2200 yds tonight so that Sunday's OWS will fill in the blanks. Trouble is, I'm wiped out from last night's swim... oy!

Oh and there's that whole running part of the challenge as well, which I haven't done in a week! YIKES! I'm not too concerned about it, though. I have a CRRC group run on Saturday morning again and I'm taking Bongo out later today since it finally STOPPED RAINING!

Ahh, the trip to Niagara Falls is but a chapter in our family history book now. Probably would qualify for inclusion in the "what were we thinking?" section. I have been home for a day and a half, but had literally NO ENERGY to re-hash the trip in any way shape or form, except for calling my mother, telling her we were safe and giving her the highlights. Sorry BT buds, but my mom out-ranks you - so you get the details a day after her.

How best to encapsulate this weekend's adventures into a blog entry is the challenge that lies before me. I'll start with the stats - get the bare bones facts out there.

Miles traveled: 900 round trip

Hours in the car: 25

Hours as a passenger: 21 (Jorge seemed to have trouble relinquishing his spot in the driver's seat!)

Gas: $250

Time at customs waiting to see if Marleny's brother could enter Canada: 1 hour

Time at customs waiting to see if Marleny's brother could enter the U.S.: 1 1/2 hours

Times I bit my tongue: 12 in the car, 25 out of the car, zero while eating

Highlights: (photo disclaimer - these were not taken by me or anyone in our party, our photos still have to be uploaded)

*seeing the falls, they really are impressive - these are the "American and Bridal Veil Falls"

Then there's the "Horseshoe Falls"

*Seeing fireworks over the falls the first night - very cool

*Riding the "Maid of the Mist" right up to the falls - you get doused with the spray and the sound vibrates in your chest. It is really the best way to see them up close. At one point of the boat ride as we sidled up to the Horseshoe Falls, Marleny's dad, Abelardo came running up to me (all 5 foot 2 of him, little brown Colombian that he is) with an ear-to-ear grin, beaming and exclaiming in Spanish that he had been dreaming of this day and how happy he was at that moment to be with his family there. I was touched that he 1. shared that feeling 2. shared it with me, being the gringa of the bunch and the one with absolutely zero blood ties to him at all (Brianna is at least related by blood to his grandchildren as they have the same father and she is after all, Brianna) 3. shared that feeling in spanish - because while I couldn't repeat verbatim the words he said, the moment transcended language and I understood everything

*Journey behind the Falls - you ride an elevator down and are able to look through portals and see the water crashing down. Its not for the claustrophobic-types but well worth the wait in line to see and experience. 

*Seeing Brianna bond with (Anita) her Abuelita (my MIL - who was pretty well-behaved herself, overall) and Marleny's parents, who truly treat her as one of their grandchildren

*Seeing Cirque Niagara: Avaia - its a Cirque de Soliel type of show with an Equestrian element, the music was awesome and Marleny surprised me with a gift of the show's soundtrack on CD simply because I mentioned how I was enjoying the during the intermission.

*The moment the group presented Jorge with a gift to thank him for coordinating and organizing the trip - their sincere appreciation for his taking on the burden of booking rooms and researching the tours and the show for everyone was obvious.

*Surviving the drive there and back home - LITERALLY - the return trip was doubled in length because of a fatal accident on route 81 in upstate New York. A husband and wife from Mount Laurel, NJ were killed, closing the road in both directions for six hours. We had to take a 100 mile detour (albeit through gorgeous farm country) that added a huge chunk of time to the trip. Even so, as hard as it was to be stuck in a car that long with people who live to complain and other discomforts - we are all back home safe and sound and that's what really matters.

we leave for Niagara Falls today at 6AM - pray for me b/c I have to spend 6+ hours in a car with my mother-in-law - well, maybe pray for her that i can keep my damn mouth shut!