Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings....these are pretty good favorite things, but they aren't necessarily MY favorite things.
So, I would like to share a FEW of my favorite things. I can't possibly share all of them, because if you know me at all, you know that I am not the world's most focussed human being and that I have lots of interests and "favorite things."
Again, if you know me at all, you know that one of my favorite things is to run in costume. Sometimes Glenda and I wear costumes in expected races...like being Jungle Cruise Skippers at a Disney World event, or at a Halloween race. Sometimes we wear costumes and themed outfits in totally unexpected places, where we are the only ones in costume. Either way it is a blast!
Some of the costumes and themes are pretty obvious, and sometimes they are obscure or not as clear to others...but clear to us. Like these Team snowbird themed outfits that include snowflake skirts and feathered headbands.
But what many people don't know, judging from the number of "where did you get that?" questions I get, is that I design all of our costumes (with huge input from Glenda) and create them (also with significant help from Glenda). Sometimes I sew the whole thing, sometimes I use both pieces I've made and pieces we've bought and often I start with basic running pieces and embellish them. The Jungle Cruise, Blues Brothers and Mermaid costumes all include basic shirts that have been embellished...I also made the mermaid skirts. For the Snowbirds I made the skirts and headbands.
I run about 80% of my races in costumes or themed apparel. And the act of creating costumes is part and parcel of the running experience for me. The act of designing and creating costumes that are recognizable or make us laugh is a super joyful one for me and a creative challenge. The costume (unless one of those that is an in-joke for us) has to be recognizable to other people at a distance, designed to fit our body types and most important of all RUNNABLE. That's what removes what I do from CosPlay, which is also cool...but not my particular thing. I've even had the opportunity to create a few costumes for friends who are not built like us...like turning a very tall female friend into a Christmas Tree for a holiday race or creating skirts for groups whose members vary a good deal in size and shape. I love it all.
I'm currently creating costumes for our races in February. Most notably for a Caribbean Running Cruise that includes 5 races of various types, where some of our favorites will reappear, but there will be new content too. We have done several running cruises now...and how could we disappoint by showing up without our suitcase of costumes? Just thinking about it makes me giggle.
I come by this particularly creative pursuit naturally. I learned to sew very early. My mother sewed a lot of my clothes. Then in my college years I got involved in theater (another favorite thing!), ultimately ending up with a Theater Arts degree and lots of costume experience (as well as acting and a little lighting, make-up and scenery work). I always sewed and did other crafty stuff, but it was only after I started running and then discovered that running in costume was a "thing" did the passion for costuming re-ignite.
To see more of our costumes http://www.suellenadams.com/running-in-costume/
Anyone who follows us (particularly Glenda) on social media, you know we have an affinity for rabbits. I love dogs and some cats too, but Glenda is allergic. When I little someone gave us a white rabbit and a guinea pig (at different times) and I loved them both, especially Sweetheart the bunny. So, I suggested bunnies and piggies when Glenda and I wanted a pet. We like and have had both...but are particularly nuts about our bunnies. Our current girl, Pontouf, pesters us for a slice of banana every morning and many loves at night. Her favorite place is on the couch next to Glenda in the evening, getting pets. She is getting older now and has had some health issues...but sweet and lovey.
And she follows 23 years worth of lovable scamps. There was Netherland Dwarf mix, weighing in at about 3 pounds, Boggle...and mini lop, Britches....and Florida white, Bebe (who was the size of a medium sized cat)....and mini-Rex, Devon (who got into everything)...and Satin Brothers, Rusty and Reggie. Each had a different personality, and all were "house rabbits" which means they were litter trained and allowed to roam in either all or part of the house. I don't know that I would recommend rabbits to everyone, but they are certainly perfect for us.
I guess it will come as no surprise to anyone that traveling is another of my favorite things. Whether it is a trek to France for my 60th birthday (race included) or a drive to Door County in northern Wisconsin...it is one of the joys of my life. Every time we get ready for a trip I wonder if I have lost my mind, because preparation is stressful...but once I get there, I forget all the stress. Travel memories are some of the best. I'd rather spend my money making these moments than buying just about anything else.
Glenda and I travel somewhere, whether close or far away probably about once a month. And our airline and hotel loyalty points definitely get a workout!
But that isn't the only way we travel. Sometimes we like to travel with friends. One of our favorites is Fleet Feet of Madison and Sun Prairie's yearly Destination trip. We have done 3 of these winter trips so far...and always look forward to seeing what is coming up. We have also done the less formal trips in the Spring and Fall organized by various members of the group. The neat thing is that we have met a few new runners and gotten to know our friends better. And sure, we run, but we also get in some hard core "chilling" like taking over the hotel hot tub.
We also enjoy trips with family. Sometimes the whole bunch of us, and other times just one or two. We've made travel memories with and for our parents, siblings, children and grandchildren...and look forward to many more. And it is wonderful to learn and see new things...or just goof off with family (like granddaughter Ellie above)
And finally (because I said a FEW of my favorite things)....let's talk "sports ball." I'll be honest...before I met Glenda and moved to Texas, I could not have cared less if Venus played Mars. Sports were only barely on my radar. I had been a huge ice hockey fan of the Waterloo Black Hawks, the semi-pro team in my town when I was in high school (I was once accused of having a hockey puck for a brain) and I had attended a few football and basketball (men's and women's) games in college (Go, Peacocks!), but after that I had mostly lost interest. But it didn't take long to reawaken when I went to my first University of Texas basketball game when dating Glenda.
So it started with basketball, at UT. Glenda's Bachelor's and my Ph.D. are both from that storied institution and we followed all the sports, with my favorites being men's and women's basketball.
By 1998, I was also pretty well entrenched as a UT football fan, attending nearly every home game when we lived in Texas...and traveling every year or so since to see them play.
But 5 years ago, we moved to Wisconsin to be near my family. My Masters is from UW Madison, so I was fairly ready to return to being a Badger, but it took Glenda a year or so to get on the bandwagon. Now we attend many basketball games, both men's and women's.
And I've kind of returned to my hockey roots, too!
And we've added a few other teams to our sports repertoire. Like the Milwaukee Brewers (here with my brother and sister-in-law)
The Milwaukee Bucks (thanks for the tickets Christian B!)
And, of course, the Green Bay Packers. (Here with friends Amy and Christian B.)
And here's a team that combines sports with two other of my favorite things...my granddaughter Maeve (red head second from right, standing) and my son Josh (coach, standing far right).
So, when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad...I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!
What are your favorite things??
No comments:
Post a Comment