Finally got a tree and into the spirit!

Emma meets Karch

It’s not every night my fortunate 8-year-old gets to practice her multiplication tables of 12 - she got all the way up to 272 before taking a break - while being encouraged by the most decorated volleyball player ever and one of the best human beings I’ve ever been around in USA Volleyball Olympic women’s coach, Karch Kiraly. He even asked Emma all about “The Baby-Sitter’s Club” book and how the gals might work to become better baby-sitters by learning from those who do it so well, and Emma named our former nanny, dear Lena. Oh, and Karch challenged Emma to get past 3000 by 12s during the NCAA Regional final between Texas and Stanford. Blessed to have been assigned to cover a great sport with such amazing people!

Travis visits!

 These two accompanied me to the pool and were patient and supportive while keeping me company to bring my 2017 swim mileage total to 539 on Saturday morning. Then, of course, a stop at Crispian Bakery since Travis had to see all our regular haunts during his quick visit from Toronto! 

(Silly photo bomber Paul in the second picture has swum a couple hundred 

of those miles with me since we became regular swim partners in April).

Below is Cookiebar for ice cream after Cambodian dinner Friday night!

We miss Travis already. He made up a game called "ladder rack" where you call every ladder rack you see on a truck. Like slug bug for ladder racks. I still am doing it even now that he's gone.

DeMarcus Cousins photo bomb

This showed up on the AP wire, never the plan to be in the picture.

Sailors!

Emma and her teacher, Mr. Dodson, on Halloween!

Warriors nights

 New Warriors sideline reporter Kerith Burke is a great Coug! Sweet, talented gal.

 With great friend Al Attles, who coached the Warriors to a championship the year I was born in 1975. He had been in the hospital and this was his first night back last Wednesday, a day after his 81st birthday. He played in Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game and had 17 of his own on 8-for-8 shooting. 

https://apnews.com/5c4da7c4001446858196785a45403c27/al-attles-has-seen-some-history-making-scoring-performances

https://www.apnews.com/688930d213fb45518c4823d882273697

Player development coach Chris DeMarco

500 miles!

 On Friday, Nov. 10, I hit my 2017 goal of 500 miles. My post from then: 

Goal for 2017 of 500 miles in the books this morning, with a swim that began in the soothing rain! Thankful for health and dear friends who swam alongside me day after day all year, and of course those wild geese flying overhead honking - my Dad sending his love and cheers.
Regularly swim in this lane for dear friend Arnie Fong, who died this time last year after a short fight with pancreatic cancer. I promised to keep his lane warm, and do so daily.
Now, with seven weeks to go, I’ll push on and try for 550-560, if the tired shoulders and cramping calves don’t fail me first.
(Thanks, Paul, for the surprise video this week).

Here's to my Dad: Peter, Paul and Mary's "500 Miles"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADN1lLEp3H0

 

Girls outing to Pacifica with Avee and her dad

A fun "work" day

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q-MURg9_ya5fqqugM1XCh5zPm37Zgpen/view

Lake Chelan

 Such special Grandma and cousin time at the lake this year! 

Even the cold water didn't stop the fun of boat races and silly faces.

Reunion ... 10 years later

 Ten years to the day after he broke Hank Aaron's home run record 

on Aug. 7, 2007, Barry Bonds was back at the ballpark. I got the only interview with him

before he did a TV spot hours later. But our chat led to this exclusive AP story. I worked hard on this tricky working relationship over many years. Each interaction presents its challenges. 

The previous time I saw him at a Warriors game, he told me: "No interview, Janie. I've been inviting you to go cycling for two years and you haven't held up your end of the bargain." To which I said, "Barry, I need a chaperone to be alone with you." And we parted ways. When I saw him this time, he told me how much he respects me for ALWAYS standing up to him when others don't.

https://apnews.com/07b6207ec9d44421a5af04a5f65a8ea4/Home-run-king-Bonds-says-he-wishes-he'd-played-1-more-year?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Sports

Team Congdon! Third place!

 Team Congdon is thrilled with a third-place finish in the Chelanman Olympic triathlon, honoring our special grandfather - who used to plan family Ridge to River teams and rode the Seattle to Portland well into his 80s - and entire family. 5 am wake-up call with gorgeous lake view. We all well eclipsed our goal times for a 2:31:16 total with transitions (me personal-best 27:16 mile swim, cousin Karen Conger 1:13 27-mile bike and brother Evan 48-minute 6.2-mile run on very hot morning). Personal physical therapist Petra at the end is nice perk.
Micah Rieke coached us via text for weeks and day of. FUN!
Oh, and rockstar Eric Hagen shaved 9 minutes off his best half-ironman time in 5:24.

 The bottom of the lake was lined with yellow rope, which I followed on the way back

from the far buoy so the second half of the race. So cool!

 Grandpa Gordon would have been thrilled!

Even a personal physical therapist, Petra!

NBA Finals ... champion Golden State Warriors. Fun season!

 

 LeBron, who would be your two choices for 3-on-3 teammates for the Olympics?
He was great.

 My neck was sore for a day after this chat with KD.
Below, chatting with Draymond Green about 2016 Game 5 suspension.

 Steph, may I please have your phone number? Thank you. 

Got an e-mail out of it to get in touch with him.

When he came off the interview podium after the Game 5 clincher, he stopped, shook my hand and said, "Thanks, Janie, appreciate you." All class.
Such a fun year!

Rachel's all-time favorite, Isiah Thomas. When I told him Evan dropped our camera after a photo with him years ago in Seattle after the Pistons played the Sonics, he said, "Let's send him a video."
I was so giddy all day I could HARDLY write. I texted Rach, Evan, Jennifer Saunders.

NBA Finals MVP, former Sonic, Kevin Durant.

Emma's favorite, Zaza Pachulia

 Warriors defensive guru and very nice man, Ron Adams.

 Ann Killion, SF Chronicle columnist

 One of our freelancers, Chris Biderman

 People sent me a lot of these.

I take advantage of the time waiting for Warriors practice to end - wall squats, dips, push-ups. 

Anyone can join in the fun. Some think I'm a little crazy. No way!