reunion

The three of us have been friends since high school cross country. The two of them, since we moved into town when I was in 3rd grade and they in 2nd. MVP lived about 2 miles towards town from us, and we'd pick her up in Claude, our 1977 Oldsmobile my grandfather gave us instead of take the insulting trade in the dealer offered him, and go where ever it was we were going. We all ran cross country together, although saying I ran is being rather generous. (My senior year of high school, I was the girl the whole field clapped for as I was the final competitor stumbling across the finish line, looking rather pathetic. I ran because my favorite elementary school teacher was the coach and he asked me if I'd join the team so he could have 5 girls to make it an official team. A high school of 1200 kids and we had to beg someone to be the 5th member of a team. Have I mentioned I came of age in a football town?) Anyhow, I digress. We've been friends for a long time, and she is the only friend I have left from high school who I actually talk to and meet up with.

Unfortunately, we don't meet up enough. She lives in Western Mass, we in Western Maine. It's probably a 5 hour drive, which, compared to what we just did is peanuts, but when you're trying to fit visits in around the rest of your life, is just a bit too far. Her boys are 10, 8, and 15 months... and we hadn't seen them since before the baby was born. I feel bad about it, but it is what happens, I guess. (She's told me not to feel guilty, but I was baptized Catholic and I think guilt comes with the blessing.) We talk every few months or so, and do what women who have been friends since before we were women, and wives, and moms do-- help each other through aging parents and overwhelming sports schedules and what to do when the freezer and the stove die after a financially taxing winter and how we can't find a pair of shorts that fit us right. You know, the important stuff.

When we talked this winter, it came out that we were headed to Bozeman at the same time they were ending a trip to Yellowstone with her brother in law's family. You mean we're all going to be within 100 miles of each other? Seriously? She and I decided to invite them to Dr. Sister's house, and because sometimes Fate is a good friend to have, it all worked out. We spent the Fourth of July together-- 3 high school friends, 3 husbands who have become friends, and 8 kids (11, 10, 9, 8, 8, 15 mos and 9 mos), playing and laughing and talking and eating like we do this all the time. We visited the Museusm of the Rockies, a MSU museusm that houses actual dinosaur bones. We had a good old fashioned cook out and watched the fireworks outside the local Ho-Mart.

You, my loyal readers, know how important people are to me. I came out here to see our family, and sure, while we're here, let's see come of the cool things around too. But pictures of Wm. Clark's signature won't help you when your kid is witnessing bullying at school and is having nightmares. I am blessed to have lots of people in my corner, and to be in the corner of lots of people. And I take comfort in the knowledge that the Cookie Monster Fan Club has survived time and distance and all sorts of life changes, and when we do all get together (the last time was 8 years ago, in my parent's living room) it's like nothing at all has changed.

No Sleep 'til BOZEMAN!*

I awoke to the awareness of WB not being squished beside me. One of the downsides to trying to sleep on the cheap is getting double bed rooms. WB and I enjoy our queen very much (hey, hey, this is a family show) but find doubles... squishy. But, for $50++ a night, what can I really expect? Anyhow, I hop up and get the day going. Only after we wake the kids and are heading out the door do I check my cell (another detail to cheap rooms-- no clocks!) and realize it's NOT EVEN 7 YET! Oy, today could kill me...

Drive through breakfast at the BK on the other side of the motel, and we're off. This is our first and only drive through meal of the trip, which is not as cheap as we could be, but a damn lot tastier. We drive across ND on I-94. 350 miles. Just under 5 hours, with one gas stop where (wait for it...) I WAS HANDED THE KEYS. Yes, folks, on our 3000-ish mile journey, I drove a whopping 150 miles. A few things about driving out here: the speed limit is 75. 75 is really bleeping fast. I guess that's really all I have to say about it. I was scared driving, and WB was scared riding (no slight on my abilities-- just he likes to be in control on the road and I don't). So when we crossed the boarder into Montana (!!!!!) and stopped for lunch in Glendive, he took the keys back as I happily passed them over.

At about 3:30 (mountain time--we'd crossed that line in ND) we stopped at Pompey's Pillar. It's a great National Monument with the only trail physical evidence of Lewis and Clark's incredible journey. We saw Clark's name carved in the sandstone, next to a bunch of other random Joe's and near native heiroglyphics. It was pretty amazing, actually. My students may see a Lewis and Clark unit next year...

Here is where the story gets a bit interesting. As we're leaving, we hear a crack of thunder behind us. "We're finished here just in time!" Back in the car, we leave the iPod off and search for NPR. We find a weather alert for Billings (where were we're going through to get here) announcing a serious storm that may have a funnel attached. Um, hello? See, as I was driving along earlier I announced that I don't think I'd ever like to be a storm chaser, because if the storm finds you, there's no place for you to hide. Right. Ok. Now what...

At this point the Boy in the backseat says "Are they talking about a tornado heading our way?" What followed was about 15 very stressful minutes where we pulled off in some town so small the left turn ended in a dirt road in 1/4 mile and the gas station didn't take cards. We got our last $20 in gas ($20.02 actually, because when it matters it's hard to hit it right on the head) and sat there for a few, trying to figure out what to do. We saw a storm chasing truck come to the intersection, drive a mile or so, and then pull over. "We could go ask him what he thinks...."

He had left by the time we got to him, but WB's assessment of the clouds said we should just push on and find an overpass to hide under if necessary. Not many of those around, but we'd think of something. The whole time we're trying to keep Boy calm in the back. WB is pointing to the trouble cloud-- a big C shaped bad boy that looked to be breaking apart. We get to the other side of Billings with no trouble, and Boy and I are audibly relieved. WB notes that he's pushing 80, just to be sure...

We land in Bozeman at 7, having tried to find dinner in Big Lumber but only saw what were probably great places that looked like you shouldn't bring young children in and expect them to be the same after. Dinner in a college town where they're used to people from away seemed the right plan for the day. Dinner at the local brewery was great (the wheat beer as good as the current one at SRBC) and we landed at my sister's a little past 8... to find them in a power outage. No showers or laundry, but the kids ran around outside and got re-aquainted. All is fine. As we were heading to bed, the power returned, and I jumped on the neighbors unlocked internet faster than you could say "good night!"

As I finish this, the box spring slid off it's boards and we went crashing. But we're ok! Bed fixed, WB asleep already, and I feel so much lighter for being able to share with you all. Thanks for caring enough to follow along. Sleep tight.

*again, who knows what print you'll get for this reference. But any and all of you who comment will get something. Many of you will end up with a mini-album by the time I'm done. Fine with me :)

a lot can happen in the middle of nowhere*

Due to lack of internet-ready rooms in Fargo, yesterday was a disconnected day. (Thanks, Beaner, for covering for me!) I could have walked around and found me some Wi-Fi, but WB encouraged the second margarita, so it was naptime instead. Here are the highlights, in case you care:

-- left Madison, WI on I-90/I-94 and made it around St. Paul/Minneapolis pretty easily... except for the weird jam heading out of the city. But we were playing Boys and Girls in America by The Hold Steady, so I was ok. (I'm too tired to link it now, but check it out if you like edgy punky stuff. I love 'em.)
-- drove across MN and saw a lot of farms. Girly started announcing white horse sightings. She has the cutest little voice...
-- drove by my Creative Memories warehouse in St. Cloud and a Budweiser plant. That made me want a margarita pretty badly.
-- made it to Fargo in time for dinner, and the Motel was right across from a Mexican place. Fate, or what?


*yes, yes, EVERYONE who gets the reference gets some picture I take. Either that or a burned copy of my favorite Hold Steady songs. Yea, I think that's the prize....

(I would ride) 500 miles*

WB revised our flight plan this morning, with our end point being Madison, WI. It was an 8 hour drive (not counting traffic in Chicago), and Gramma S. and my Fabulous Uncle graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, so a brief visit was almost mandatory.

We accomplished the goal. After showers and breakfast, we hit I-90 at 11 AM. Ohio went on... followed by Indiana and Illinois. Driving through the heart of Chi-town was not fun. Especially at 4:30 PM. We landed in Madison at 8 PM. The kids had earned a swim, and then we had dinner and found the campus. Sadly, it was 9:30 by then, and our tour would not make Dori or Camille's short list of greatest college tours ever, except that we went out of our way to take our kids to a campus at 9:30 at night. They saw the library... and some buildings we couldn't identify. I wish we could have poked around, but that will have to wait for another trip.

Tomorrow's destination is Fargo, ND. You betcha!

*Mike, I can't toss you an easier softball. Hit it outta the park already!

water, water everywhere*

Today started with a ferry ride across Lake Champlain. For the first time in days, we were treated to sunshine (sorry, friends...) which made the ride extra special. We crossed northern NY for most of the day, landing in Niagra Falls at about 6 PM. The town of Niagra Falls is, well, trashy. It looks like a run down industrial town that has no industry left. Niagra Falls State Park, however, is delightful: clean, easily accessible, and FREE! We walked around for about an hour and got some fun pics (those will be uploaded when I'm not typing at the dinner table in Erie, PA waiting for my pizza to arrive). (Which is just did.) The Falls themselves are quite amazing-- all they were cracked up to be. Ironicly, the American side is not as built up and touristy as the Canadian side. As we headed out of NY, we drove through scattered showers and were followed by some pretty cool rainbows.

So now we're eating (well, almost) and headed for Cleveland where Tom has another light on for us. Tomorrow is Road Warrior day: the hope is to go through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and into Minnesota. I-90 to I-94. Hey, ho, let's go!

Lots of love goes home to all you. We hope the sun comes out tomorrow!!!

*today's prize is a 4x6 of Niagra Falls if you comment to me with the reference. C'mon, people, I need some serious comment love!

go West, young family!*

We rolled out of town at about 5:15 (after running back home from bestfriends to retrieve the glove left behind. Baseball is serious stuff between 8 and 11 year old cousins who go years between catches.) We stopped for dinner in NH, at Crabby Jacks Mexican Steak House. Yes, I'm totally not making that up. It met our expectations just fine ("hey Mumma-- it's a Coke place!") The drive was uneventful except for the young male moose on the side of the road in NH. A bald eagle was circling overhead too... WB wonders what the totems would say about seeing both, together, with no one but us to witness?

We're stowed safely in Burlington, with the $2.99 internet access card. Only one machine can use it at a time though, so off I go to share.

Tomorrow looks like a ferry ride to NY and a stop at Niagra. I've never been, and am quite excited. No time to tour Burlington, but I'll be back. It's only 3 hours from home and has at least 1 cool college radio station. I do miss me some college radio...

Until tomorrow, gentle readers. Beaner and Nutty-- we love and miss you already!!!!!!

*a prize of a 4x6 copy of some cool MT shot I get to whomever can identify the reference!

ready to go?

We're mostly packed, last load of laundry drying (I didn't even consider hanging it!), and leaving kitchen clean up until right before we go. Anticipating leaving is the worst part of travel for me. I always get cold feet: never mind, I didn't really want to go anyway. I must admit, the rain is making it easier to just want to get out of dodge.

I hope to stay connected all the way. Maybe I should get a twitter account so I can text updates? Who knew I could be so modern...

covered in daisies

I've been taking shots of the kids in wildflowers for years. Usually I get them in the dandelions, but this year were too busy and it was too cold and rainy. Daisies are another favorite flower of mine, and WB mowed around lots of patches so I could fully enjoy them.

Before we head out on our trip, the kids are hoping to get some shots with Bestfriends, which I also usually do. It is definitely a goal for the weekend!

perfection

Second load of laundry, freshly cut grass, sun shining. What you can't see is the grilled steak and tomatillo salsa, fresh guacamole, and raspberry margaritas. WB and Girly played in the stream while waiting for Boy to return from mini-golf with his friend. Summer has arrived, even if only for a day. This is the day I will remember in January: hot, sweaty, and absolutely wonderful.

an inconvienent truth

I'm sitting here watching the first round of Wimbledon play, listening to the rain fall. I have been a faithful watcher since 1983-- I can remember my mom bringing her little B&W TV into the bathroom and watching as we cleaned-- but I don't ever remember watching the first round. So why this year, you ask? Because usually in late June it is hot and sticky and we're heading for a beach rather than huddled under a blanket on the couch. The sun is out in England-- fans are sweating in the hot sun, and no sign of the rain delays I'm used to seeing.

WB is headed to Auburn to look for light bulbs, a new blind to replace the broken one, a fleece for his dinosaur hunting class, and maybe some wood to build an ark, just in case.

full swing

We went to visit our friends on the coast this weekend. Such trips are a vacation event: we rarely can get together while school is in session, but summer and spring breaks are perfect for visits. It did not cross my mind that they were NOT on vacation yet! Monday is a half day for them-- a full week longer than we had to do! It feels like forever ago that we were at work... it really is quite easy to adjust to living like the rich and famous. I do like my life.

knives and forks

The school year is just waiting for the proverbial lady to finish her song. Workshop day tomorrow and then our little SAD will ride out the month and then cease to exist. The new RSU starts July 1, with all the hope and fear and potential and dread such a change brings. It's good it happens over the summer: we teachers are conditioned for changes to take place in July or August rather than January. I think everyone is nervous-- so many unknowns to work through, and the only way to answer the questions is to have them pop up as the year unfolds.

I do so love my job, whatever the outside structure around me looks like, and summer vacation is a part of that reason, but not just because I get to exist without an alarm clock for 10 weeks. We are all ready for some down time, and some time away from each other. We are ready to come back rejuvenated and refocused, with new goals to attain. Summer isn't just 'free time' for teachers; it is just as important-- maybe more so-- for students to get a break from the intensity of the year. Sometimes the big changes in thinking happen when you aren't thinking about it.

So farewell to this year, and to this district on it's way to becoming a region. We will be ready to come back and tackle the new year in the fall.

no, thank you

This was a big year in terms of the sunshines graduating. I had 2 of these guys for 3 years, 2 for 2 years, and 3 this year. Life in our fishbowl is cozy, so we all get to know each other well. Really well. I hear about their love lives and fights at home; I'm there when they get driver's licenses and get accepted to college. Two of them are parents, and I check in on my grand-students regularly. For them to finish, to "make it" to graduation, is no small feat. They all have their own issues, their own stumbling blocks. To see them overcome the odds and march with their class is beyond gratifying. The smiles on their faces are different from those in the Top Ten: you can see the relief in attaining a goal that was a struggle to reach. Some are going onto college in the fall, some are working and saving money to go eventually, and some may never go. That doesn't matter to me as much as the knowledge that they finished something that was hard to do, that took effort and commitment and self restraint.

They gave me all sorts of swag... coke, roses, lillys... and one of them, when I thanked him, got real quiet. "No, Buckaroo. Thank you."

My graduate wall is growing, and my drop out numbers declining. I miss them all when they move on, but so far, my sunshines come back and visit me regularly. Connections. I know they've mastered that concept.

It's time to end the skit now.

Dishwasher is out of commission now, too. I give up.

(Optimistic post about my sunshines tomorrow.)

theme of the year...

So for those playing along, we've had some financial incidents this year. Ovens, windshields, tires, batteries, water pipes... no need to rehash. Things got a little better, but the overarching emergency repair theme continues. The lawnmower is currently unusable, and has a few more weeks patiently waiting for it's appointment. The standup freezer has been making noises, and we were hoping it would hold off until it got a bit emptier, but no luck. When I called the kids this afternoon, Boy reported a red liquid coming from underneath it ("It looks like strawberry juice!") . I stopped for ice on the way home.

The good news is we knew it was coming, and the freezer wasn't packed full. I've got one cooler filled and the rest in the little freezer. I only had to throw a few things away, and 'had' to make a pitcher of daquiris tonight to deal with some of the (barely) frozen berries. The bad news is we really need another freezer, and now need to figure out what we want to get and where to put it. It should be bigger than what just died if we're going to keep buying cows. What was that I was saying about life getting in the way of paying down my debts?

next to last post about my seniors

All things must come to an end: this has been proven time after time. Sometimes you don't know you are doing something for the last time, and that can be a blessing. Seniors, however, know they will never do (insert task here) again. In some ways it's good to know-- you can fully appreciate what it means to be standing at the doorstep of your future-- but sometimes it feels to the rest of us like we're all treading water, waiting for the rest of you to just get out of the pool already and let us get on with our lives.

Senior Week, my friends. T minus 4 days and definitely counting!

money matters

I've been working on getting our debt under control. I can honestly say it's not horrible, especially by American standards, but its higher than I like. Things got a bit out of my control while I was SAHM'ing it for 7 years... we didn't have dental insurance, and I needed a root canal. The water pump died the Saturday of Memorial Weekend. Vehicles needed repair. Gas prices rose. We went to concerts and out to dinner. Typical Americans: we spend more than we have. But we're trying to get better.

I've been focused for a few years now on paying off that debt. Today I paid off the last of the couch purchase from last fall. While I was moving money around the accounts, I noticed the total of our loans. We owe less than $100,000 for everything: house, equity, van, credit cards. I'll be a lot happier when all we owe on is the house, but we're getting there. If the worst happened, either of our life insurance policies would pay everything off and protect those left behind.

The plan is working: pay off the credit cards and keep them paid in full monthly. Next comes the van-- 2.5 years left on that payment, which will most likely then be taken over with a truck payment for WB. 3 years from now, he'll definitely need new wheels. Pay on equity last, because the interest is deductible. Accounting for random life events, which happen more often than I care to think about, I'm hoping to be dancing in the streets in 2015.... which will be just in time to start paying Boy's college bills...

14 years

When Boy was in preschool, he named our excursion in honor of our wedding anniversary a Family Field Trip, as opposed to the school field trip he took to the bowling alley the week before. Since then, we've gone somewhere together every Memorial Weekend. This year we ended up at Pemaquid, where Boy enjoyed reading about the 1600s settlers, and Girly was thrilled to find dandelions turned to seed. It was a great day in a long list of great days.

Today, however, is the actual anniversary of WB and I binding our lives together. I'd be lying if I said it was always easy, but just because it's hard to do doesn't mean it's not worth doing. I can't imagine what life would be like without him next to me. Let's hope I don't ever have to.

oxymorons aren't genetic, either

I was there when she was born, and I know for a fact she did not come from my belly, but sometimes I swear she is my daughter. I just heard her talking about something being "usually unusual". I guess I'd have to call that unpredictably predictable!

rough one

Lots going on this week.... big drama from the main building, health and well being related to my sunshines, always track, and needing to put evidence in 36 font proving they haven't done well in school. I'm tired. Drained. Done.

Goal for now: survive the week and hope things look up next week.

from Amity

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Credit card.

2. Do you miss being a child?
Not really. But I do wish I knew the gift being a college student was when I was there. Hindsight really is 20/20.

3. Chore you hate the most?
Raking.

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
We had dinner after the wedding Friday at Liam's.

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
Met my Fabulous Uncle in San Fran.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Macgregor was Kindergarten, I think.

7. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Heading off on a romantic getaway.

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A nurse or a teacher or a Broadway star. But always a wife and mom.

9. How many colleges did you attend?
2. One undergrad, one grad. (Have taken random classes at 2 others though.)

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Track meet day-- must be functional, not cute.

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
At least something is making us serious about alternative energy.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
I wish it were Sunday....

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
"I hope there are no ticks in here with me..."

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Obama

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Too many times.

16. If you didn’t have to work, would you volunteer?
Without question.

17. Get up early or sleep in?
Always sleep in. Always.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Don't have a favorite... Hobbs of Calvin and Hobbs, maybe?

20. When did you first start feeling old?
When it ached to just stand there.

21. Favorite lunch meat?
Right now, salami.

22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Something I can't get anywhere else.

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No. It's comforting to move through many phases of life-- and love-- with one person.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about?
So why would I tell you if it's a secret? Honestly, I don't think I have a secret love of a movie. Top Gun, maybe?

25. What’s your favorite drink?
Depending on the situation.... Coke, DD Hazelnut coffee, JD, margarita, or mojito.

26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run in to?
Juno. He disappeared a few years after graduation... last I knew he was undercover for the military on international politician protection!

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
Since WB had it last, NPR. But I bounce between CLZ, JBQ (for the morning show, which I LOVE), and CYY when it comes in. I wish I could get FNX... then it would be there, all the time.

28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Six Feet Under.

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
That's a tough one. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?
I love my East Campus teacher friends and my Supers Office women!

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
Nope.

32. Last book you finished reading?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Finally!

Happy Mom's Day

I have 2 of the sweetest children in the world. Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, coffee topped with more whipped cream. (It was meant to be in bed, but I got up about 10 minutes before it was ready.) Homemade cards and lots of smiles. I do love my kids! I am lucky to be their mom.

state induced torture

I am the lucky person for my high school who gets to give the SAT make up exam. I think it is my least favorite day of the year. This year I have 9 kids in a room, all of whom hate school. Most struggle with reading, all with academic based thinking. Most years they just come in and start coloring. This year's group is actually trying. Those are the hard ones to watch. "Can you help me with this one?" No, hon, I can't tell you what that word means. It goes against my very fiber as a teacher to NOT help a kid with a question. But that's why I'm here... too document how much you don't know. Good times.

It's days like these that really make me question our public education system.

H1N1?

When I was in third grade, I got the stomach bug. This was a typical event for me-- I got at least one throw up bug per year. This one, though, lasted. A long time. I remember Mom setting the stove timer for 10 minutes, and I had to have a sip of flat Coke when it went off. I did that once-- and ran for the bathroom. I cried when it went off again. At that point, we got in the car and went to the doctor. I remember crawling in and just lying down under the coats while Mom checked in. Some lady who had just been called looked at me and sat back down. "Take her. Now." Mom must have teared up then-- I do now thinking about how I'd feel if I was dragging a sick Girly who couldn't even hold a sip of Coke to the doctor and a perfect stranger gave up her spot for us. It should come as no surprise that I did not return home that day, but went straight to inpatient. I spent a week in isolation because they had no idea why I got so sick. They did every test in the book and only could get as far as gastroenteritis: the stomach bug. My parents could only come in one at a time, and had to wear a gown. I think they had a time limit on staying, but that may have been self imposed because of my 3 younger siblings at home. When I was allowed to go home, it was a long time before I went back to school for a full day--I think I left at lunch for a couple of weeks. I was one sick puppy.

Wednesday night, I got the stomach bug. It's been about 4 years since the last time I spent a night puking-- my immunities have improved as I've aged. I have a little routine-- drink some water, pace around, wait for the hot flash... I don't like it, but it works. This time, in the dead of night, my sweat smelled like third grade again. It's amazing how smells can vault you back in time; I bent over to steady myself and was suddenly heading into that doctor's office again.

As the morning went on and I listened to the Today Show talk about the H1N1 virus sweeping the world, my feverish brain wondered if that is what I had 30 years ago. Either way, I have some real life perspective on what it's like to get a stomach flu that debilitates you. It sucks, without question, and if you are not lucky enough to have access to clean water, soap, medical care, and stomach friendly food, I can only imagine how much worse it would be. My heart goes out to such people.

I'm ok now. Getting better daily. A few people at SATs today asked me if I couldn't have just taken one for the team and gotten us closed down for a week. I tried to do my part, but it was just the plain old stomach bug, like people get every year. Those of us with access to medical care usually come through with a few days home sick from work or school. The sad truth is many people die every year from flu related complications, whether it's from lack of medical care or living in poverty or just being too young or too old for your body to handle the trauma.

I guess whether it's H1N1 or the Flu of 1918 or just the common variety, people are going to get sick. Most of us will be ok, and it is a tragedy when a few are not. The germs will keep trying to outsmart us as we're trying to outsmart them. Another version of the circle of life. I'm glad I outsmarted whatever it was that got me in 1978... and I hope I never have to do it again.

baby steps

I love all of my sunshines. A lot. Even when they make bad choices. Some might say especially when they make bad choices. I want what's best for them, but that is not always what they choose. I am hopeful that as time passes and the numbers of sunshines who pass through my door increases, the message will resonate with more and more of them. Until then, I will continue to tell them when they make a bad choice, and that I care to help them learn to make a better one next time-- even if it's a big, bad scary choice that was made. It doesn't matter to me that they may have already graduated-- I don't let go easily. Just ask my fourth grade teacher who still gets a Christmas card from me. Baby steps, mixed with tough love, for all of us.

scrounged

As you all I'm sure know, I'm not proud when it comes to stuff. I love it when I get hand-me-downs for me, and if I need something and no friends are cleaning, I go to Goodwill first. Last fall, the town trimmed a few trees on the road near our house. We thought they'd been harvested by their landowners, but when the snow melted away this spring there they were. I waited a full month for their rightful owners to harvest... but today I gave in to my frugal side. This is probably a few day's worth of wood-- a drop in the bucket of what we'll need-- but free is free, right? On a walk this afternoon I noticed that an old tree that fell down last year is rotten at the ends, but the trunk may be salvageable. I think I'm going to talk to those neighbors and see if they'd be willing to let us clean it up in exchange for the usable wood. Now if I could just run a chainsaw...

when I was a kid

We didn't have internet, so it didn't matter if it was down for half a day. What did we used to do to get our news? Oh, right, watch tv only at noon and 6.

Glad to be back.

because I can't not play along...

from SJ, Katie, and WB

A - Age: 39

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: raking

D - Dog's name: no such creature lives here

E - Essential start to your day: hitting snooze at least once

F - Favorite color: turquoise

G - Gold or Silver: gold

H - Height: 5'2" (?)

I - Instruments you play: once upon a time piano and clarinet.

J- Job: alt ed teacher

K – Kids: Boy (11) and Girly (9), plus bestfriends 2, and all my students...

L - Living arrangements: with my family, living the American Dream...

M - Mom's name: Ann

N - Nicknames: Nanny, Buckaroo

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: oh, too many... week in 3rd grade, again in 5th grade, a night with Girly for her asthma...

P - Pet Peeve: when I order a Coke and am asked "Is Pepsi ok?" Um... NO!

Q - Quote from a movie: "High school are your prime suffering years" --Uncle Frank, Little Miss Sunshine

R – Robot or Human? now this is a pathetic question...

S - Siblings: two sisters and a brother

T - Time you wake up: 7:00 on school days... but that's not always when I get up...

U- Underwear: bikinis

V - Vegetable you dislike: beets. I think it's the only one I just won't eat.

W - Ways you run late: getting distracted... often by one last check of email, blogs, and FB...

X - X-rays you've had: I think it would be easier to list those I've not...

Y - Yummy food you make: why make it if it's not yummy?

Z - Zoo favorite: not a big zoo fan...

conquering demons

Girly was more than a little bit scared about going to any gymnastics competitions. We're not totally sure why, but she is definitely closer to WB's introverted nature than my extroverted. Because of her extreme resistance, we took the choice away from her and made her go. The only way she'll know what to expect is to do it, and she might as well learn about meets now rather than when (if?) she makes the competition squad.

She was very close to losing her breakfast before her first event, but her coach was standing right there next to her, and you could see her face relax after finishing that first event. By the end, she was glad she'd gone. She even won her level on floor exercise, and came in second in her level for their All Around scores!

I think what I enjoy most about parenting these days is watching them grow. She was really out of her comfort zone today, but she found the inner strength to suck it up and get through it. She could have melted down-- many other kids might have-- and she could have just dug in her heels and told us no. But she knew she had to overcome this hurdle, and she did. We are so very proud of her. It was a good day to be a Girly!

Weezer knows best

When you’re on a holiday
You can’t find the words to say
All the things that come to you
And I wanna feel it too

On an island in the sun
We’ll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can’t control my brain

When you’re on a golden sea
You don’t need no memory
Just a place to call your own
As we drift into the zone

On an island in the sun
We’ll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can’t control my brain

We’ll run away together
We’ll spend some time forever
We’ll never feel bad anymore

On an island in the sun
We’ll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can’t control my brain

We’ll run away together
We’ll spend some time forever
We’ll never feel bad anymore

Hip Hip

We’ll never feel bad anymore
no no
We'll never feel bad anymore
no no
We'll never feel bad anymore
No No
We'll never feel bad anymore

No No

you know it's time for vacation

... when your patience is shot

... when you flip out at the drop of a hat

... when you don't care enough to flip out anymore

Oh yea. I'm there.

deep thoughts

So much rattling around in my head that I'm having a hard time making sense of it all. Random events lead to startling understanding, but how to share the knowledge without scaring or offending everyone is the challenge. Kids feel so much pressure... to be cool, to be smart, to resist authority, to succeed (and succeed and succeed)... and what they really need is to... what, exactly? Therein lies the million dollar answer. As I see it, everyone (and I'm not just talking kids any longer) needs to learn something different. Some need to learn to let go, others to work so hard at something they collapse in relief. Some need to laugh more while others need to give in and let the tears fall. Sometimes the hoops are there to jump through and other times they need to be thrown aside and a new path forged. How do you know when to rebel and when to sit quiet... and how do you help someone figure that out for himself-- even when that person is you?

That's where my head's been at... How about the rest of you?

This one's for the Jug O' Water

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?! 'Have you ever kissed someone? Missed someone? Told someone you loved them? Drank alcohol?' 49 questions for the people who are a little older...Tag me when you finish. I'm too self absorbed to pass these stupid things up.

What bill do you hate paying the most?
The ones I forget are due.

Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Little Dan's BBQ

What do you really want to be doing right now?
laughing

How many colleges did you attend?
One. I got my master's from a different college, but I only took one on campus class (the rest were distance learning classes housed at local schools) so I don't consider that attending.

Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Cause it was right near the bathroom door.

What are your thoughts on gas prices?
That this correction has been a long time coming and we really need to get off our addiction to this limited supply resource.... but it's nice to be able to afford to drive around to see family.

First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Why is JOAD so stinkin' early on a Saturday?

Last thought before going to sleep last night?
my body is older than my mind

Do you miss being a child?
I sometimes miss the freedom to just go play when there's work to be done, but usually you couldn't pay me enough to do it again. Except college. I'd go back and take random classes and live in the dorms in a heart beat.

What errand/chore do you despise?
Raking the lawn.

Get up early or sleep in?
sleep in. I still think school should run 10-4.

Have you found real love yet?
yup.

Favorite lunch meat?
right now I'm on a salami italian kick

What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
I try hard to avoid Ho-Mart. They treat their employees like crap, no matter what their fancy ad campaign makes you think. Look out for the little guy!

Beach or lake?
isolated lake, but I wouldn't turn down a trip to the beach

Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
not at all! You learn a lot about yourself and a lot about what forever really means.

Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
I haven't seen either yet. Plan to 'Flix 'em both eventually.

What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Oh man... today I think Peter Sagal.

Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
too many times. *sigh*

Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
no, but I do have one.

Ring tone?
vibrate or the closest thing to a boring old ring

Ringback tone?
I don't even know what this is.

Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
some might say the shower, but I was just economizing my time.

Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Why CA? I would like to go back to San Fransisco and see it right. 24 hours with 4 kids was not enough time.

Do you go to church?
Not anymore.

At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Neither. I love teaching and I love my husband. I guess a new friendship could be fun, but honestly, I have some pretty rockin' friends taking care of me already, so...

How old are you?
39.... although I really think of myself as 34 max.

Do you have a go to person?
yup-- depends on the situation who gets gone-to first.

Are you where you want to be in life?
Sure am.... except for the debt. Working on that.

Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?
I remember a lot of live action-- Sesame, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers, HR Puffenstuff, Land of the Lost, Sigmund the Seamonster, Electric Woman and Dinah Girl, Oh Mighty Isis.

What about you do you think has changed the most?
Contentment

Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
Not a chance. Not even the second best.

Are there times that you still feel like a kid?
Sure, but less and less often.

Did you ever own troll dolls?
Yea. My mom did too.

Did you have a pager?
Never. Don't think I'll ever have one.

Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Usually someone else's house. My parents were too strict.

Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Oh my yes. Goody goody all the way. Hard working, took school seriously, but also liked to have harmless, clean fun. You betcha.

Who do you think impacted your life the most?
No one person has impacted me the most-- but everyone has impacted me in some way.

Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
A whole bunch. Mrs. T. Mr. Bissell. Lib and Cas. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton. I really could go on...

Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
Daily, but not in the way you might think. I use them as teaching tools, and they're often about the stupid things I did or the moments that have helped shape me into who I am today.

hello....

I've noticed the RVBs in general have been quiet lately. Rough time of year for all of us, I'm sure-- I know it is for me. I guess I'm just here to say I miss all of our online conversations and I'm looking forward to when we have more energy to chat using our keyboards again.

another quick SJ quiz

Eerily true...

You Are Chirping Birds You are a very caring person. You especially feel for innocent beings, like animals and children.
You are keyed in to the world and very peaceful. You believe that everyone is connected.

You remain focused and in the moment. You are not easily distracted.
You have a good memory, especially for things that you hear. You listen carefully.

after a day about literacy

How about a top ten list of influential books? In no particular order...

1. A Wrinkle in Time/A Wind in the Door/A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Madeleine L'Engle
I loved this series. I don't remember when I first got turned onto these books, or how many times I read them, but read them I did. I wanted a Charles Wallace for a brother and to date a Calvin. Now that I think about it, I might have married a bulkier version of him.
2. Ramona Quimby, Age 8- Beverly Cleary
The Ramona books were the first books I remember wanting to get the next one to read.
3. The Diary of Anne Frank- Anne Frank
I must have been in sixth grade or so when I read it. I think it was the first time I came face to face with life being unfair, for no reason other than sometimes it is. Harsh lesson to learn, but an important one.
4. Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great- Judy Blume
I read all the Judy Blume books, and got all the messages she was sending. Reading that even bullies are vulnerable was a nice bit of information to have in my hip pocket as I headed to junior high.
5. The View From Saturday- E. L. Konigsburg
I didn't stumble upon Konigsburg until I was a mom, but if I had as a kid, I'd have loved her in the same way I did L'Engle. This has become my standard gift to all my sixth grade kids.
6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy- J.R.R. Tolkien
I resisted reading this, out of pure stubbornness, until I was in college. I only read it cover to cover that one time, but I am so glad I gave up the battle and just read this brilliant book.
7. The Fionavar Tapestry- Guy Gavriel Kay
This was another adult find, and one that I can't wait for the kids to be old enough to read. I think Boy especially will love it. Even if there is a dwarf named Matt...
8. A Song of Ice and Fire- George R.R. Martin
This could be the only author whose webpage I check daily for updates on the release of the next book in the series. Tackling this is a serious commitment, but oh, what a story...
9. The Harry Potter series- J.K. Rowling
I'm late to this party, but not because I didn't believe in the series. Girly is now reading the fourth book, and she's almost ready to pass it onto me. I didn't want to have read them before reading them to her, but her reading skills surpassed my ability to keep my eyes open for bedtime reading. And to have American children waiting in line at midnight to get the next book, well, how can any teacher not love that, even if they don't love fantasy?
10. The Cat in the Hat- Dr. Seuss
My earliest book memory is of my sister and I squished into the living room chair together, and I would read to her. I would start off with the title-- "The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss"-- and she would reply without hesitation "on the loose". I still can't read any of his books without hearing the litany echoing in my mind.

strong genes aren't always a good thing

So I've had this random joint pain in my left ring finger. It'll render me useless when it happens-- this horrid, sudden, jolting pain that usually causes a naughty girl word to leave my mouth. I went through about a week last fall where I couldn't get through making dinner or doing dishes without having to stop a couple of times... and then it just stopped. Poof. Gone. I'd sort of forgotten about it. And then this week I was reminded of how annoying it is. Yesterday as I was attempting to find the acupressure point to relieve the pain (and the point I found made it MUCH worse, which is not typical for me) it occurred to me that my mom might have some insight. She has osteoarthritis. Her hands are covered in swollen joints, and it's probably gotten bad in the last 5ish years. She confirmed today that she started getting pain like this in her joints about 15-20 years ago.

My very limited understanding of genetics tells me osteoarthritis is a dominant trait. My great grandmother was afflicted, as well as my grandmother and my mom. At least one of my uncles. It does not surprise me that I carry the gene-- this many family members afflicted must mean it's dominant. Which means pretty good odds that at least one of us will have it, if not a majority. (If you're lucky, hoyden, you're able to dodge this bullet.)

I imagine I'll make an appointment with my dear friend whose Magic Hands have helped me through back pain and infertility (another family trait I inherited-- this one from my dad's mom. It's a miracle he exists, and a weird bit of genetics that such a trait would be passed on, but I digress) and I value his insight onto this chapter of my medical history. I'll ask my doc about it the next time I go in. I'll have to read up on this, and what I can do now to make things better in 20 years. It could certainly be worse. But as long as I'm able to hold my grandchildren someday I think I'll be ok. I'll certainly be reminded that this is how Grandmas in my family look :)

end of an era?

Normally, when anyone asks (see Facebook) "What's your favorite sport to watch?", my answer is "NCAA Mens College March Madness". For reasons unknown to me, that has not been true this year.

I've thought about this all weekend, and there may be a few things going on. First, I was busy all afternoon Thursday. Not home until 7 PM... meaning I'd missed a lot of the early games. And I am tired-- bone tired-- daily, meaning I was not about to stay up until midnight watching Cinderella. Friday turned into another late afternoon-- home at about 7 after Friday DT and then a spontaneous dinner date with WB. The kids were with bestfriends, so I could watch some L Word without them seeing things they shouldn't. By the time they went to bed, I just wanted to finish that disk... so no games Friday. By then I was out of the pattern of games all weekend. Hmmm...

More importantly, I think was not being involved in a live pool. I'm in Don's FB pool, but I can't find the link half the time and I didn't write my picks down, thinking it'd be easy to find online. Silly me. I did not talk to anyone about it all month-- no students interested, no one in my building to chat it up and get excited. I like watching college ball for sure, but I think I really like the trash talking with my friends. Having a group to rehash the upsets with-- and to see who was damaged by the upset and who is back in the running for bragging rights. No hype this year is definitely a factor.

I could just take the sisterly way out and blame hoyden for letting me know about Dickie V's true personality. That knowledge is a factor-- I used to love watching his excitement, and learning he's a jerk takes the fun out of it for me. While that is a tempting solution, it's realistically a combination of it all. We'll see what happens next year... I may just need to start a pool to bring the fun back into March.

sigh

I understand the teen years, and I even sort of get being a disgruntled teen boy who does not like school and accepts getting detention as part of their right of passage... but man, sometimes, I just want to get their attention and get them to understand that they're really only hurting themselves. No, it's not fun for me to be here, and I don't like being sworn about, but I'm getting paid to monitor them. I signed up for this, so I'll get by. But man... come on guys, catch the clue. Just suck it up and move on.

4:45. Finally.

Happy St. Patty's Day

guess I never thought of it like that....

perspective

Everyone plays their part, but honestly, I don't know how she plays hers.

I get to see kids whole, and growing, and learning, and leaving me for better things. I don't know if I could have endured all of that studying myself to still not have the answers.

eating through the holidays

It is well documented that I enjoy eating. I also enjoy preparing food, classic as well as new recipes. As a result, we often celebrate major and minor holidays with our own low key versions of Festive Meals. So far this year we've had hoppin' john for New Years and long life noodles for Chinese New Year. Jambalya for Mardi Gras. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we have corned beef for St. Patty's Day. Because of crazy work commitments, we had it today.

I love honoring different cultures through food. I think it has to do with tradition combined with ingenuity. Someone had to figure out how to make this incredibly tough piece of meat enjoyable. Or how to take the scraps from the Main House and feed your entire family well enough that they can go back out and work in the fields without collapsing. What do you do when okra is the only vegetable that grows in your area-- and it is slimy and unpalatable? People figured it out, and became known for those dishes. And it seems right to celebrate their talent by attempting to recreate it ourselves.

more random acts of geeky

Today is the second Friday the 13th in a row. I asked my class (thanks to SJ's recommended site) why it happened. They all freaked out about having to think. I wanted to cry. I mean really, aren't questions like this more fun than bisecting angles?

When I was delivering mail to my fellow East Campusites this afternoon I noticed a bulletin board showing we've had 8 left handed presidents. I made a comment about saying it would be interesting to compare that percentage (18.6) to the general population (7-10). She looked at me knowingly and said "... blog post?"

It's a good thing I'm comfortable with my geekyness, because there is no hiding it.

Of course, I now feel I need to compare other world leaders handedness and add it to my stats...

***UPDATE***
I asked Boy and Girly the same question on the drive home today. It took some work, but Boy got to "because it is divisible by 7"! I lead him into why the 7 was magic, and what the pattern was, but I was very pleased that my biologicals didn't give up when it got hard. Having a math geek for a mom pays off eventually.

Geek 101

One of the resonating memories of my childhood is sitting at the dinner table figuring out the Punnett Squares on the likelyhood any of us received any given trait and the percentage breakdown of our heritage. Tonight, the darlings asked what percentage German they are. Finally! Some fun family math to pass our evening. Unfortunately, the WB side is not as simple as mine, so we're dealing in approximations, but our best guess is about 25% German, 25% Italian, 33% British Isles (with the details a bit hazy) and 17% random. As WB noted, "... a bunch of these guys were sailors, so who really knows..." They're glad they have enough Irish in them to claim a real part in St. Patty's day (which we celebrate, as we do all cultural holidays, with food), and I'm just so excited to play math games.

You just don't get any geekier. I know.

happy blogiversary!

For the past year, I've been putting my thoughts and observations out here for the world to see, and a bunch of you have actually read them. This has been the most consistent writing I've done since required high school journaling, and I think I now understand why McCann wanted us to write daily. So thanks for being my audience. And see you tomorrow.

generation gap

If I survive the next 10 years of parenting it will be a miracle.

"These pants are uncomfortable under my snowpants!" (stomp, stomp)

Her goal was to be allowed to wear the definitely-not-school-appropriate sweatpants with the too-small-shirt that shows her belly. Um... no. She changed her pants and put a sweatshirt on, but made sure we all knew just how unimpressed she was.

This could get ugly.

*sigh*

Upon being asked how the hot chocolate at skating was:

Girly: "It was good!"
Boy: "It wasn't awful, like I thought it would be."

What can you do? I guess it's just a part of who he is.

SAT prep

The BoDeans are to The Medium as The Hold Steady are to Saving Grace

m&ms are to coke as corn chips are to whiskey

REM continuing without Bill Berry is as BNL continuing without Steve*
*I hope

yankee ingenuity

In our continuing quest to keep the home fires burning, we need more wood-- turns out 10 cord cut and split is not enough to feed the furnace. So, a few dead trees around need to come down. Getting them down is the easy part... getting them to the furnace takes a bit of effort. I don't mind putting them on the kids sled and dragging them back a piece or two at a time, but WB got the idea to build a better sled. So he did. We had some old cross country skiis around, sans bindings, and he created a base from left over pieces of 2x4s. All he had to buy was screws. I love that kind of project: it works, it's recycled, and costs less than $5.

20 albums.

Think of 20 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world.

1. Concert in the Park, Simon and Garfunkel
This was the soundtrack to Sunday mornings. The 6 of us squished into the Olds, heading to Holy Cross.
2. The Joshua Tree, U2
The first album of which I anxiously awaited the release date. I stayed up until midnight to hear BLM play it in it's entirety. I didn't love it at first, but it grew on me. When I went to see my Fabulous Uncle, he took me to Joshua Tree National Park (National Monument when he took me, yes Carrie) and showed me THE tree. Amazing.
3. Green, REM
REM is my band from high school. I loved all their albums... until the 90s. Then they made me mad.
4. Welcome Home, 'Til Tuesday
My sister and her best friend and I listened to this album a lot. I played it for Mike the summer after we met. It was the first time he'd ever heard of them. It was not the last time I introduced him to something new.
5. Home, BoDeans
I found this band somehow-- I think through my friend Cathy? When I moved here I said something about it being good work, to which Nicky replied 'if you can get it'. I knew I'd found a fellow fan. I first met Normie and Alicia riding to see the BoDeans with Nicky and Devon.
6. The Breakfast Club Soundtrack, various artists
We quoted this movie, a lot. Truth be told, still do.
7. Essential, Divinyls
This band came to me through Tom. I instantly fell in love.
8. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
The Official soundtrack to One Act Festivals. In Southern Maine in the 80s, anyway.
9. Staring at the Sea: the Singles, The Cure
This bridged One Acts in high school and freshman year of college.
10. The Innocents, Erasure
I learned of Erasure through my friend who was also involved in Theater UMF. I had a crush on him, but I figured out later he was gay. I think I really just liked him because he wasn't pushy and liked good music.
11. Upstairs at Eric's, Yaz
Julie, my fellow RA, turned me onto Yaz. I found out later that Vince Clark was also a member of Depeche Mode (who makes the list of significant songs but not albums) and Erasure. I love it when I'm consistent.
12. Greatest Hits, james
Kiya mentioned hearing a james song in the X Files Lightening Boy episode. Dave knew the band, so then I needed to. Another one of instant love. Now the kids love them, too.
13. Mutiny, Too Much Joy
This is the soundtrack to doing the nursery in our first house.
14. Stunt, Barenaked Ladies
The first BNL show we saw... which lead us to the next 2 albums. BNL is to my transition to parenthood what REM was to high schoool. Those years of not sleeping come rushing back when I hear these songs.
15. Lost and Gone Forever, Guster
The kids first rock concert included Guster, Ben Folds, and Rufus Wainwright. Another band linked to parenthood-- and the good and bad it brought into our world.
16. All You Need Is Live!, Cowboy Mouth
A great live band. I was singing Let It Go in my head while the maternity nurse was putting on the relaxing yoga music during Cate's delivery. I needed something with a lot more energy to get the job done!
17. Wonderlick, Wonderlick
The parent band, Too Much Joy, is WB's all time favorite. I prefer the mature version. (For the record, Girly is entering the Hearts and Stars phase...)
18. Who The Hell Is John Eddie?, John Eddie
When I think about Mike and Katie dating, I think John Eddie. Debbie and Rick, too. But not them dating :)
19. Hot Fuss, The Killers
The kids loved this album too. All These Things That I've Done means we're in the van, headed somewhere.
20. Boys and Girls in America, The Hold Steady
My newest craze. They're all about dangerous sex and drugs-- totally opposite me-- but something about the storytelling mixed with the raw, straight up sound makes my day. One of my students took my advice and gave 'em a listen. The cycle continues...

life happens while you're making other plans

Yesterday turned into one of those days that you just have to figure out.

I had a student who needed a 'cookie' from a tree for a science project, but didn't have a chain saw. Well, he could have found one to use, but he was using that as the excuse to not do the project. Anyone who knows me realizes why I immediately jumped in and offered the use of our chain saw and to come cut one of our trees. He jumped at the chance to help us: since the project is due Friday, days to come cut were limited. Yesterday was it. I got him home, found the tree to cut, donned the snowshoes to get through the ocean of snow in the back yard... and got a phone call from my mom. Mom, upon the advice of my brother, had taken a snowboarding lesson at Sunday River. The lesson went well... but her practice runs on her own, not as well. She'd broken her wrist and needed help. Um... right. Let me make a plan and get back to you. Boy was cross country skiing at BMOM with his after school group. Girly was in tears because she didn't get into art club. I had a student running a chainsaw in my yard. I was supposed to be filling MEA stress bags. No one home at Bestfriends-- either one. Good times.

The plan came together as the path of least resistance: finish the tree project, get Boy, bail on the volunteering, and head to the mountain to grab the patient and drive her to Biddeford. Gramma decided the kids needed food first, so she treated us to a sit down meal (I was expecting drive through, but I guess she didn't want to try to eat in the car or something. I see the logic in that.) Girly and I rode with Mom in her car, WB and Boy followed in the van. We dropped her at about 9 in Biddeford, chatted with Dad for a few minutes... and turned around and headed home. The kids slept, thankfully, and we got home around 11. Not bad, all told.

Mom is probably at the ER now. I haven't heard any updates, but there was a chance of surgery and pins. It could have been worse. But it does get me thinking of the medical future potential. We've hit the age where our parents could require as much assistance as our kids. WB's dad had a hip replacement last year. Mom's wrist. I hope we stay in the physical realm and don't have to deal with any mental issues, although I do worry-- Parkinson's on WB's side, Alzheimer's on mine. It could certainly get worse. I hope it doesn't.

stop yelling at me!

The one feature of my van that really leaves me less than thrilled happens every spring. When it snows or rains and then gets really cold overnight, the van doors freeze shut, and no one is strong enough to wrestle them open. So, when someone tries to open the door and fails, the van yells at us until it warms up enough to get it open. Yesterday was one of those mornings... and the kids had to climb in and out through the trunk. The interior lights stay on, and the beep of warning starts. And continues. Not fun.

The only solution I've found to be effective is to ignore the screaming van and drive into school, with the heat on full blast. That starts warming the seals from the inside, and then when I arrive I climb up onto the roof and use the window scraper to release the seal from the outside. I'm sure I look insane-- but if I can't stop the beeping, then I am truly going to go insane.

I don't mind winter-- but the transition season is what gets me. I can live with it constantly below 32, and enjoy it when it's routinely above 40, but this in between stuff is for the birds.

winter wonderland

I'm not sure if these pictures show it clearly, but that's a lot of bleeping snow out there. WB's best guess is in the 18" range... the kids lost my yard stick earlier this season, and it still hasn't been located, so it's all about perspective. It took us about 2.5 hours to dig ourselves out. WB plows with the 4-wheeler while I work on shoveling and cleaning off the cars. Today I had to strap on showshoes to make the path to the compost and the electric meter. I haven't had to do that in a long time.
One of the local 'kids' decided to attempt our neighbor-on-the-hill's driveway-- right after the town truck left a bank as high as my waist. It didn't take long before he was asking to borrow a shovel, and it took him lots longer to return it. He did get himself out, claiming to have "learned my lesson". I, however, am certain he'll attempt it again next storm-- boys with big trucks don't take defeat easily, even if it is at Mother Nature's hand.
We are heading into the traditionally snowiest part of Maine winters. I hope today was the worst of it, if only because I don't know where we'd put another foot and a half of snow.

Thanks, Krazy Karoline!

Such talent my sister has... and we are lucky to be the recipients of her skills. Thanks for the prezzies!

from Katieland

Because I always enjoy playing with my friends.

1. A is for age: 38.. and rapidly approaching 39!

2. B is for beer of choice: Sam Adams Winter White. It should be out soon, if it isnt' already...

3. C is for career right now: alt ed teacher

4. D is for your dog's name? I have no such creature. Nor do I desire one.

5. E is for essential item you use everyday: my glasses!

6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: The Closer or The Medium. Depends on which day you ask.

7. G is for favorite game: Trivial Pursuit. Which I still don't own.

8. H is for Home town: Peru or Biddeford, depending on who you ask.

9. I is for instruments you play: used to play piano and clarinet.

10. J is for favorite juice: Not a big juice fan.

11. K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: none, although there are a few sunshines I'd like to motivate...

12. L is for last place you ate: home

13. M is for marriage: can't imagine life without him.

14. N is for your full name: MummaNanny... the one that makes me happiest.

15. O is for overnight hospital stays: too many... 3rd grade for dehydration, 5th grade for unknown stomach pain, birth of both kids, and one night as the mom of an asthmatic 4 year old. That was the scariest trip.

16. P is for people you were with today: Weather Boy, Boy, and Girly

17. Q is for quote: I get by with a little help from my friends

18. R is for Biggest Regret: not visiting SF with my fabulous Uncle

19. S is for status: happily married

20. T is for time you woke up today: 9 something. The power went out, so the details were lost in translation.

21. U is for underwear you have on now: Cotton

22. V is for vegetable you love: so many... right now I'd be happy to have some brussel sprouts in the house.

23. W is for worst habit: watching too much tv

24. X is for x-rays you've had: just had my feet checked. Surgery on the second foot when we have the cash... and I agree to be laid up for 6 weeks.

25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: left over fish, mushroom risotto and brown sugared acorn squash

26. Z is for zodiac sign: Ares.

You like me, you really like me!

I was awarded the When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade Award by Julie, who is a famous writer of romance novels who grew up around here. Her dad cleans my teeth, of all things. At least he's not my GYN, I guess...

Anyhow, turns out other people see me as a half-full kind of person. And now I get to highlight some other half-full peeps, too. What a great job for a vacation Saturday.

It works this way:

1) Link back to the person you received the award from, and

2) Nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award.

I lemonade the following:

1) Weather Boy

2) Katie

3) Mike

4) Beth

5) Amity

6) the glass is pretty full

7) Krazy Karoline

8) SJ

9) Sara
10) Phenomemom

And, while having lunch today, WB noticed a drink special for a Lemonade Martini. I passed, as it was a bit early in the day to be that tipsy, but I guess we all know what my word of the day is! Now that you mention it, I believe I have a lemon in the fridge and some booze in the cupboard...

Hope... forshadowed

The West Wing is one of my favorite all time series, written by one of my favorite all time creators. If you have never seen Sports Night, you owe it to yourself to 'flix it. I swear, the man may like his nose candy, but he knows how to write a brilliant script.

Today I caught a few episodes rerunning on Bravo. It was during the election campaign at the end of Bartlett's administration. An aging Vinnick had just earned the Republican nomination; Josh told Leo he was sticking by Matt Santos, a young, Spanish American with limited Congressional experience who was refusing to end his campaign. The young, inexperienced, smart, well spoken Dem beats the aging, conservative, upper class white Republican. Um... wow. No wonder I had so much hope last November.

where's the pea?

(No, we do not spoil our kitty... why do you ask?)

reality

So my dear hubby WB wrote about a new Food Network "reality" show. It got me thinking about the kinds of reality shows I enjoy. It has been well documented that I do not enjoy Survivor, and have not watched since the first season (although WB did for awhile, but he's done now too. Yea me!) The Mole was cool, but once Anderson Cooper left, it went downhill. Amazing Race isn't bad, but they started losing me with the eat-a-ridiculous-amount-of-gross-food challenges. Plus you can predict the pairings-- family members, dating and always fighting couple, gay guys, etc. But the ones I really love are the creative ones. Top Chef is also a good way to pass some time, but Padma drives me insane and Tom is a bit too much like Eyeore for me to get sucked in. My all time favorite, of course, Project Runway. I love it all-- the flamboyant personalities, the crazy garments (on the models AND designers!), the "make it work" need to not disappoint Nina. I find it fun, and dramatic, and a real representation of the unreal desire to break into fashion designing, where it is hard to predict why you are in one day, and out the next. And I like that you win based on talent, not based on forming alliances and scheming to get people voted off. Now, if the producers would stop fighting over PR leaving Bravo and heading to Lifetime-- talk about reality tv!-- I could get my fix on.

ridiculous

Last night, International Date Night, WB and I had not planned a date. The odds of us finding a sitter with Valentine's being the first Saturday of Feb vacation were not on our side: we figured we'd have a VD observed sometime later. The Kids had come over in the afternoon because their mom had worked the night before. Boy 2 hatched a plan to have our kids sleep over there, and through the wonder of vacations, it happened. Suddenly, WB and I were alone on VD... and we jumped in the van and headed for the movies.

Now we have never been a big movie-going couple: even when we were single, dinner and a movie but a dent in the wallet. During the sleepless baby years, I couldn't stay awake long enough to watch the rented movie, never mind get to the theater and get my money's worth. Recently, though, we've become Saturday night NetFlix watchers. For $10, we watch 4 DVDs. That is a cost/enjoyment ratio I can support.

But we usually pay to see one movie in the theaters each year. It's not like we've made it a formal plan or anything-- it just seems to work out that way. WB wanted to see Slumdog Millionare, and decide it could be our VD date. The kids left at 5:50, making the 9:15 showing our only option. I hadn't gotten cash or anything, but figured the $13 in my wallet would be sufficient. Imagine my shock when it cost us $16 for two tickets! Ridiculous! Thinking back, I don't remember the last movie I paid to see during the 7 o'clock hour, never mind the late show. I'd rather see a matinee for less money than say I saw the same movie at night for more money. (Yes, I know, I'm cheap. All good Maine Girls are. :) Now I remember why I rarely see a movie in the theaters-- sticker shock. Ridiculous.

Now, it should be said that Slumdog was very well done, and while parts of it were shocking and parts depressing, parts were uplifting too, and it was well worth seeing. I would feel better about the price if the studio execs would do something radical, like say give 1% of 1 day's take to something-- reducing the national debt, buying paper for a public school, giving to a food pantry-- but I don't think even Obama can bring about that kind of change. So, until I forget the shock of a full priced ticket again, I'll be waiting to see the rest of the Oscar nominees on video.

in which my luck might be changing

Last night I was pulled over for having no left headlight nor rear left license plate light. The officer was very nice, and only gave me a verbal warning. Girly was a bit concerned, but it all worked out as it should have. I didn't even have a panic cry reaction! So it only cost me the embarrassment of being pulled over and the price of a couple of new lights. I'll take it over that plus a ticket any day.

enjoy every sandwich

As my friend SJ mentioned earlier, today started by shaking many of us up. I saw the accident, probably within moments of it's happening. I had one of those "this isn't good" feelings, and it was sadly right on. By 8:30 my mom heard the description on the news and called to confirm it was someone else. Other friends called or emailed later in the morning to check in. Many of the kids in my room are affected by the deaths; students and staff across our district are affected as well. We'll feel the vibrations from this for a while.

I've had lyrics from a couple of BNL songs running through my head. There's a line in Helicopters that starts "This is where my life changed in a day". I remember back to another tragedy that happened during my first teaching life, and how that family's life changed in a day. In a second. What if's surround everything... and there is no way of knowing why. How can this be part of a Master Plan? I can't believe all this pain is for the Greater Good... but it makes even less sense if it has no meaning at all.

Another song is about a fatal car accident. The refrain repeats "You're the last thing on my mind". It's a haunting song that always gives me chills, and I hope it never has any bearing on my life. You never know when it's your turn, however, which is probably a good thing. My dad stole a line from his friend, and I've heard it many times: there's not much you can do when it's your turn, but I just hope I'm not sitting on the plane next to you when your number's up. I'm sure it will be a while before I come down the hill and look right and not see the image planted in my head today. Like SJ, I'm thankful that this was not our fate today, and like the rest of the community my heart breaks for the families left behind.

Warren Zevon was dying of cancer the same summer Devon was, and his experience is, in my head, linked to hers. On his final Letterman appearance, Dave asked him if he knew anymore about life and death than the rest of us. His answer was that we should enjoy every sandwich. Today I was reminded of that, again.

be who you are

I went to high school with the gay guy in this video. I think he was in my sister's class, and I haven't thought about him in 20 years. I didn't know he was gay back then, but it wouldn't have mattered to me then nor does it now, except to say I'm excited that he survived our very white and very straight community and was able to get out and be himself and live his dreams.

desperate times

call for desperate measures! I found this log on the side of Rt 2 today on our way home from the Bangor Auditorium. So, I turned around and went back for it. It's bigger than it looks-- Girly rode next to it as it went all the way to the back of my seat! It was also very pitchy-- I bought a bottle of rubbing alcohol when we stopped in FarmTown for groceries. We were safely in the breakdown lane, so no logging trucks were going to kill us. It may only get us a day of heat, but that's one more day than we had-- and a free day at that!

oh what the heck... what's one more?

A List -- Scattegories Style

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and randomly tag 10 people (including me). Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. . .nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have Fun!!

1. What is your name: Rachel
2. A four Letter Word: read
3. A boy's Name: Ryan
4. A girl's Name: Rebecca
5. An occupation: researcher
6. A color: red
7. Something you wear: ring
8. A food: raisin
9. Something found in the bathroom: rolls of tp
10. A place: Reed State Park
11. A reason for being late: resting
12. Something you shout: rats!
13. A movie title: Running Man?
14. Something you drink: rum
15. A musical group: Replacements
16. An animal: rat
17. A street name: River Rd.
18. A type of car: Renault
19. Something scary: republicans
20. Ice cream flavor: rum raisin

another one

Also stolen from Facebook. Posting here is double duty-- anyone not on FB can read, but those of you on get it twice. I don't care which one you read :)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Mom just liked the name Rachel, Margaret is for my Dad's mom, grandmother, and great grandmother. They were all Margaret someones, and called the someone. Logical Mom decided to just name me what she was going to call me.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
"Ok, Buckaroo, thanks for being my teacher." Graduation. Gets me every time.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I have horrible handwriting, but it is distinctive.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Tunafish that I've made with good mayo. Otherwise, I'm in a salami phase.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
All kinds. 2 I carried, 2 who I treat like I carried, and a whole bunch I teach all day.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Who, me?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
oatmeal, but only sometimes. I really dont' like cereal.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No and I hate wearing shoes that have ties

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
chocolate chip cookie dough

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
probably their eyes-- I've never thought about it.

15. RED OR PINK?
turquoise over pink.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
that I can be overwhelming to shy people.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
living, my uncle. no longer living, my grandmother.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
tan pants and socks.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Jon Stewart

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
turquoise

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
anything baking, especially if vanilla is in it.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Mike


26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
NCAA Mens Basketball tourney. Love Dicky V and the Cinderella teams!

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark Brown... turning gray :(

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. Tried once, hated the experience. Love my glasses.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Suspenseful, sure, but never scary.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
something from NetFlix.... NYPD Blue Season 1, Disk 1 I think

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Green turtleneck sweater

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer, but I don't hate winter.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for a high school adult book club

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
haven't had one since forever

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Lie To Me. It wasn't great, wasn't awful.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
laughter and love yous

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
California

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Sure. All kinds... :)

46 WHERE WERE U BORN?
Bangor, Maine

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
First time in anatomy lab my freshman/his junior year of college. For real, when he was coaching middle school soccer at school and my teacher friend made me say hi.

more from SJ

One Word... Or Maybe Two

Fill in the blanks and share, borrowed from Facebook.

Where is your cell phone.....coat pocket
your hair .........brown
Your father? ....... well read
Your favorite thing? …. modern comforts
Your dream last night?.... can't remember
Your favorite drink? ........... margarita
Your dream/goal? .......... financially solvent
The room you are in? .... living room
Your fear? ......... being hated
Where do you want to be in 6 years? right here
Muffins? ............. Yes!
One of your wish list items?......... no debt
Where you grew up? ........... Biddeford
The last thing you did? ...... checked Facebook
What are you wearing?....... favorite sweatshirt
Your TV?........... flat screen
Your pets? .......... kitty
Your computer? ...... school owned laptop
Your life? ......... great
Your mood? .......tired
Missing someone? ...... always
Your car? ........ toyota minivan
Favorite store?..... Goodwill!
Your summer? ....... freedom
Your favorite color? ........ turquoise
When is the last time you laughed? ........ hour ago
Last time you cried? ........ January graduation
Three of my favorite foods? ......... low salt chips, mexican, veggies
Three places I would rather be right now? .... Bozeman, MT, a friend's kitchen, warm beach

I give up

The washing machine died in mid cycle tonight. Soaking wet clothes, full of water, and dead. No idea why.

I am going to cry.

***UPDATE***
The little thingy that lives in the lid that pushes the button on the machine to tell it it's safe to agitate because the lid is down is gone. WB rigged something up to get it through. It was 11 PM when we discovered the problem. At least it's a relatively easy and inexpensive fix.