Earlier in the week, I didn’t have much energy after the hectic Sunday afternoon rowing races and the previous days of polluted air, which seeped into the older house where I was staying. Just finishing my normal workdays took more effort than usual. Going out after work to row with my husband on Wednesday, I wasn’t able to do much.

By this afternoon I was starting to feel more like myself. One day can make a big difference.

Word-art that says, "Every day is a new beginning. Breathe, trust, and take the next step forward."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

July 21, 2026 · 2 comments · Categories: Musings · Tags:

Last weekend’s rowing regatta in Michigan, which was supposed to run from Thursday through Sunday, got overcome by events when hazardous smoky air from wildfires prevented any outdoor activities in the area on Thursday and Friday. Here’s a photo of the smoky air as seen from the front window of the Airbnb house where my husband and I were staying with another couple.

Photo of smoky air outside the front window of a house in Michigan.

Strong southwest winds pushed the smoke out of the area on Saturday, but our races were scheduled for late afternoon. By then it had gotten so windy that racing had to be stopped for safety reasons because lots of boats were flipping, so we had a third day with no rowing.

On Sunday, there was a full day of racing with our Saturday races squeezed in at the end. Some smoke blew back in and made the air hazy, but it wasn’t bad enough to be hazardous, just mildly irritating to the eyes and throat. We won some medals, though there was less competition because some people went home early. I’m glad that we had one day to race; it’s a long break until the fall season begins.

I’m traveling again this week for the last rowing regatta of my spring/summer season, a relatively short drive north to Michigan. The weather forecast calls for hot and mostly sunny days. The races are held on a lake, and I hope it will be calmer than last year’s windy conditions. But if not, my husband and I feel more confident regardless, and we plan to enjoy whatever comes.

Word-art that says, "Chase the sun, catch the joy."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

During my lunch break today, I did a ten-minute online yoga session. It wasn’t really a workout, but was what’s called a restorative practice, with the focus on breathing deeply and evenly while doing some gentle stretching movements. I noticed afterward that my Garmin tracker showed I was more relaxed and had a lower heart rate, so the yoga session must have had the intended effect.

Word-art that says, "Breathe deep & let go of what you can't control."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

This is a three-day weekend for many people in the United States because of the Independence Day holiday. I’m planning to watch the City of Dayton fireworks show but otherwise will be taking things easy, without more travels. Sending happy weekend wishes to all!

Image of fireworks and American flags.

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

The road trip to Oklahoma City went smoothly, with no delays other than my husband having to work later than expected on the day we left. I have no complaints about that because the company pays him well and that’s how we can afford our travels. We arrived early Friday afternoon, as planned, with the mini trailer parked just after the course opened for practice rowing.

Photo of SUV and mini boat trailer parked at the Stars & Stripes regatta in Oklahoma City.

The weather during practice was good, but a look at the forecast showed it wasn’t going to stay like that. Storms and high winds were on the way. My husband said he was staying frosty anyway, just chilling, and wasn’t going to let the predicted bad weather worry him.

The morning races were delayed because the storms overnight had blown away the lane marker buoys. We ended up racing in a different part of the river with no lanes, and there was a strong wind the whole time, with occasional fierce gusts. And, just as soon as the sun came out, it was broiling hot.

Even so, we succeeded in rowing at a steady pace and not letting the weather unsettle us. We got far enough ahead of the boats next to us that having no lane markers wasn’t a problem. After the morning races, we collected our medals, went back to the Airbnb to rest and relax in the air conditioning for a few hours, and returned for a 500-meter dash before packing up. Frosty and fun!

I’m traveling again with my husband this weekend, on a road trip to Oklahoma City for the Stars & Stripes regatta on Saturday; it’s a fun one with rowing races followed by kayak and dragon boat races, shorter sprint races at sunset, and then a fireworks show.

Getting ready to leave for a long weekend always feels a bit hectic, but I’m looking forward to quiet mornings on the road as a time to reset and breathe easier.

Word-art that says, "Mornings are not just a new start, they're a quiet chance to begin again. Take a breath, move gently, and trust the pace you're growing at. Today is enough. So are you."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

At the end of the workday, my husband and I got a call from our daughter in Auckland. She was out walking her dog in the morning. When she lived nearby, she used to call often, but now it’s not as easy because of the time difference. She sounded a bit homesick, chatting about things she liked to do in June around here. We wished that we could see her in person, but we were glad to hear her voice anyway, and the simple gift of a call made today a good day.

Word-art that says, "Grateful for the gift of today."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

June 17, 2026 · 3 comments · Categories: Musings · Tags: ,

The very competitive Head of the Charles regatta had its lottery this week for 2026 entries, and my husband and I were successful with our mixed double, so we’ll be returning to Boston in October. For us, it’s just for the adventure because rowers come from all over the world who are much better at the sport than we’ll ever be. We enjoy just being there for the spectacle.

Last year, our double did not get in, but my husband rowed his single, and I came along for the road trip and took some photos. The river was calm and sunny when the singles launched in the early morning, although it got windy near the start of the race.

Single after leaving dock at Head of the Charles 2025.

Of course, it’s an outdoor sport and we’re not always lucky with the weather, but I expect to have a fun time regardless. My husband is very enthusiastic about the trip; he already has rebooked the Airbnb where we stayed last year and is making arrangements to carry boats for other rowers. That helps us too because, with more boats on the trailer, we get a better parking space at the regatta. Now that we’ve done this a few times, the logistics are much easier to manage.

Today was just another ordinary workday—and in everything, it was good. I woke up feeling healthy and cheerful. Because my husband and I both work from home, we always keep each other company during the day. I took a break to go out for groceries and quickly found all the items I wanted.

Although it felt hot and muggy when we went rowing after work, some rain blew in and cooled things off, and we didn’t mind a few sprinkles. After all, it’s an outdoor sport, and we’re glad to be able to enjoy it.

Word-art that says, "Find blessings in everything."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”