yes, michelle, i was so excited to hear that hannah is saying "up"!!! (matt actually was, too). i can NOT wait to see that banana in august!!!! and even a 2-word sign---doing "more book" (which i bet she did :)--when i read about that sweet baby, i actually squealed and clapped in our guest bedroom here--what a nerd auntie i am!!!

i actually got up with matt this morning and took him to the train station, since i had to take the jetta in for service. yikes! what a sleep head i have become this summer. i usually am up by 7:30 or 8:00 every day, but i'm going to have to start training my body to get up at 6:00 again, since my first teacher day is august 31st. but let 's not talk about that right now!

did matt or i mention that we're having a rock star party with our friends on saturday? we're all dressing up as rock/pop stars and getting together at a couple's house, having some food and drinks, taking plenty o' pictures, and then going out into public!!!! we'll probably go to pacific beach, because there are some fun places to dance there. our costumes are supposed to be kept secret until the actual party. and if no one can guess who you are, there is going to be some sort of penalty such as buying everyone else drinks or having to do something embarrassing in public. no one from the party reads my blog, so i'll tell you all about my costume: cyndi lauper. because girls just wanna have fun! i have a perfect strapless, teal, fluffy, 80s dress to wear. along with fishnet stockings, red 80s pumps, giant earrings, loads of bracelets, and wild makeup. yes! the only thing i haven't worked out is how to get the orange hair. it will be either by buying orange hairspray or maybe even a wig. i'll let matt tell you about his own costume--his will be hilarious!

mare, speaking of triathlon training, i need to get up and go swimming tomorrow morning. i've been a huge slacker on the swimming portion of my training, i must say. i'm averaging about one practice/week. thankfully, the swimming part of the race is not that long. maybe if i swim tomorrow morning my reward can be surfing later on. i think yes on that self-discipline reward. i bet the new michelle can relate to this bargaining going on in my head and on my blog! one thing motivating about going swimming is the lifeguard who sings at the top of her lungs (off key, by the way) to bad whitney houston songs. that, alone, is both entertainment and motivation to get moving!

can't wait to see england/scotland pictures from edwards family members!!!!!
the weekend is almost here-yay!

i don't believe something like living for myself...
-denison witmer

amazing surf sessions two days in a row....
perfect weather, perfect waves--3-4 feet and glistening (except for some 5-7 footers, with which i was quite uncomfortable).
harr and i went up to enicinitas to surf yesterday--he did pretty great for his first time. we were exhausted and starving by the end and then met up with matt and we all went to the padres game, which was fun! and then on for a drink at the W outdoor beach bar. i was supposed to take harr to the train station at 10:00 today, but when i went to wake him up he reported that he was going to be able to stay until the afternoon. therefore, we naturally decided to have a repeat of yesterday. first stop: subway (which we took down to the beach and ate at our outdoor restaurant called the beach!), second stop: ocean waves--oh my, so perfectly formed and spaced!, third stop: collapsing on my towel on the sand, and then repeat stops 2 and 3 several times. the last time i went out i got pounded by some 6-7 footers, including one that flipped me under the board. the fin ended up scraping the back of my thighs, which are now swollen and bruised. ouch. i guess i'll take a break for a little while.
oops, sorry to cut this short but the amazing race is on--i must go!