A Short But Sweet Visit

 I picked up my daughter Glenn and her friend from the train station at 5 pm on Weds. and dropped them off at the Hartford CT airport about the same time on Saturday. It was a lovely visit, but very short, and I had to share her time with her father. I've forgotten how very weary I've grown of that necessity. I did manage to get a picture of my girl and her friend in the garden with me. That was a win as she hates pictures. My drone helped me out there. She spent a few days in Virginia as a bridesmaid at her best friend from High School's wedding. Then she and Candace spent a few days in NYC visiting with college friends. I got the tail end of the visit and plans were made for another visit soon.

Me, Glenn, and Candace. The black shirt theme was a coincidence.

I enjoyed lots of chatting time with her though, which is always delightful. She even threw in some unsolicited hugs for me and told me how much she misses me. My heart melted. The nonstop rain showers and thunderstorms kept us close to home except for their trip up the Northway to visit with Dad.

We hosted a nice dinner party with her stepmom and another close friend. We made gourmet pizzas, green salad and a charcouterie board, followed by a luscious berry crumble for dessert. (Do I still refer to her as daughter's stepmom now that dad and stepmom are divorced?) In any case she is a very nice person and we've made arrangements to go see John Legend at Tanglewood in September. There is definitely a level of oddness to the fact that I'm now friends with my ex-husband' s newly ex-wife, but, there we are. 

On my way home from dropping them off, I drowned my sorrows in a coffee ice cream cone and visited with this llama. I also came across a flock of turkeys in the road who were in no hurry to cross. It was a melancholy drive for me.

Today dawned cool and clear so I had a coffee with Annette on the back deck. Then I set off on a bike ride into town, but got blocked off by road work in 2 places which meant I had to bike up 2 additional hills. Very suddenly, the air got noticeably hazy and smoky and hot. I noticed it was harder to breathe climbing up hills. Luckily I brought extra water and stopped to drink twice. My lungs definitely felt the hazardous air, so I cut the ride short and got back to the air conditioned house, where I hung out for the rest of the day.  The headache has begun as well, which seems to happen when the Canadian wildfire smoke descends. The air went from Light Smoke (56) to Unhealthy (155) in less than an hour.

2023 Biking Challenge (1000 miles and 2+ rides per month)

Jan: 1/8 - 18 miles; 1/29 -12 mi

Feb: 2/14/- 14 mi, 2/15 - 16 mi, 2/20 - 21 mi

March: 3/21 - 14 mi, 3/31 - 11.5 mi

April: 4/4 - 20 mi, 4/27 - 15 mi

May: 5/9 - 20 mi, 5/11 - 15.1 mi, 5/14 - 19 mi, 5/21 - 30.1 mi, 5/26 - 7 mi, 5/27 - 8 mi, 5/28 - 20 mi

June: 6/3 - 20.3 mi, 6/6 - 15 mi, 6/8 - 15 mi, 6/9 - 23 mi, 6/14 - 15 mi, 6/15 - 21 mi, 6/16 - 10 mi, 

6/22 - 10 mi

July: 7/8 - 30.25 mi,  7/17 - 11 mi

Total Distance: 432.25 miles