The day after I was cleared to exercise again was a court holiday, Cesar Chavez day. (Don’t hate me just cuz you don’t get ethnic days off.) The stepkidlet left early for class as I was in the kitchen, and I suggested kayaking at the lake when she returned that afternoon. She loved the idea, and Beau said he may join us after his workout scheduled for noon. Turned out Daughter’s last class was canceled, so she was home by noon. She didn’t think Beau would make it since his workouts are sort of a career thing as he’s a basketball person, and his workouts take practically a full workday. (He didn’t get out of the gym until 5pm, so he did miss the lake, altho he stopped by afterwards.) Daughter meanwhile had also invited one of her best girlfriends, Kylie. So basically, I was going to end up kayaking with my stepdaughter and her boyfriend and/or her best friend. When did I start being one of those parents that hang out with their teenage kids’ friends? Maybe I should invite them all to go clubbing with me with the promise that I will buy them beer. =P (I mentioned this to them at the lake, and they both thought it was really funny, until Kylie told a story where a schoolfriend’s mom really DID offer her to share a bong. Kylie told that mom uncomfortably, “No thank you, I don’t do that.” I’m not gonna be one of THOSE moms.) It turned out to be a beautiful day, 90 degrees out and sunny. We all soaked up the Vitamin D, drifting in our kayaks, dangling our toes in the water.

The day before, Mr. W and I scored free tickets from a coworker of mine to see “Wicked,” and he had texted Daughter something like, “Nyanny nyanny nyah nyah, guess where I’m going after work.” “Wicked” is one of Daughter’s favorite Broadway musicals, if not absolute favorite. So while we were at the lake, to get him back, I had Daughter take a photo of me in my kayak. I sent that photo to Mr. W via text along with the message “nyanny nyanny, look where I’m at!” Mr. W was meanwhile at mandatory training in downtown Los Angeles, 50+ miles from home. He wrote back, “You suck. Who are you with?” I guess it was pretty obvious I wasn’t alone, cuz you can see both my hands in the photo on my kayak. Right on cue, Daughter then sent him this photo:

We (those of us on the lake and not at work) got a good laugh. And okay, I admit, there is ONE advantage to the iPhone: front-facing cameras so you can see what you’re taking a photo of, and be sure to get in the frame.

After an hour kayaking, we all decided the perfect way to end our day of leisure is to go to Coldstones for ice cream. I almost bought an entire cookie dough ice cream cake, thanks to college roommie Diana, who DID end up buying an entire Coldstone ice cream cake to enjoy over the course of a few days with her new hubby. But Daughter (thankfully) talked me out of it. She said I should just get a small thing because she knows I don’t normally eat ice cream, and I’m just having cravings, and the moment I get some ice cream in me, I’m gonna be over it. So to not go overboard. I was SO GLAD she had some sense that I didn’t have at the time (I must’ve been out of my mind with heat exhaustion and a blood sugar low), because I took her advice and she was right. Halfway into my small-size mint ice cream with waffle cone mix-in, I was sure I was about done. I’m so glad I didn’t have to figure out how to store an 8″ ice cream cake in the freezer that I’m gonna feel guilty about for the next month.