I belong to Planet Fitness, courtesy of a present from my son Tim who shelled out 99$ for a year's membership. Planet Fitness is about ten minutes from our home and offers a no nonsense inexpensive place to get into shape. The gym is two huge rooms that look in on each other and a smaller 30 minute workout room that usually just ladies use. They also have a tanning salon which makes me wonder about how fitness and being exposed to ultra violet rays can coexist.
The other funny thing is how many really really really buff women with fake boobs also workout there. I guess even fit women have body parts they do not like. Most of these women are competative in fitness contests and must feel the need for artificial enhancements.
Many very testosteroney men strut about and lift weights there as well and it has often felt intimidating to work out there. Not that anyone has ever been anything other than polite. But the place is normally packed with over a hundred people stretching and lifting and aerobicing. Seeing all these very althetic folks all in one place working on themselves can sometimes get discouraging when you still have 30 pounds to lose.
But I like the price, I liked the warm dry place to work out in the winter (particulalrly given this years rainfest.) Their airconditioning in the hot months is terrific and they do have normal size people there sometimes so that is nice. I try to stand next to someone fatter or way older than me when I am on the treadmill. This helps.
Still I would much rather be outdoors biking or walking and yes even running. What I have always wondered about however are those fitness classes which our inexpensive gym does not offer. Years ago I took an aerobics class for pregnant women when I was expecting Tim. But what I remember most about it was that I had to leave baby Mary in the daycare which totally traumatised me. (To be fair she never seemed to mind.)
Recently a new gym opened up in Carver. It is only two and a half miles away and boasts top of the line everything. It even has a huge stone fireplace, juice bar, and comfy leather furnature. Its members are a mix of weights and sizes and it does not appear too crowded. Plus it has great trainers who run classes.
Don looked into purchasing a membership for me but the price stopped him cold. So I have had to content myself with the more affordable gym which really is just fine. Although I do admit to a curiosity.
Wednesday night I got to indulge that curiosity by taking both a Spin class and a Body Pump class with a Brazilzian trainer who was a knowledgeable as he was goodlooking.
He taught both classes back to back and even HE admits to being exhausted. He said at one point during spinning he wanted to puke. This was said with some pride but the thrill of that alludes me.
I kept up during Spinning although it was hugely hard! They strap your feet in and it can be very nervewracking particularly the first few times you are required to stand UP on the pedals to climb the imaginary mountains.
Cannot say as I enjoyed the class although it felt really great to stop. But it certainly was a workout. But what I really liked was the coaching apsect of it. This is what I am missing in my typical workouts. Unless of course you count little Joe who has been known to give me a good tip or two that he learned from Cross Country. The trainer really knew when to shout 'chin up' or 'breath'. he also clearly explained what was expected or what it might feel like when you know you are ready for the next level.
After class he commented that it was probably too challenging a class for a newbie and I may want to come back on Monday evening. Since I was not yet sure how I was going to step on the gas pedal or brake in order to get home I had my doubts I would be back.
The Body Pump class which began about 20 minutes later almost finished me off. At its end, when I sat out in my car it took all I had just to life my arms up to the steering wheel!
This class was much more enjoyable however than Spinning and I was able to follow along. All those years of Richard Simmons VHS and tv aerobics classes prepared me for the quick change commands of the trainer.
There is a lot of housekeeping involved in this type of class. Each person has their own mat, step, bar bell, assorted weights and a set of dumbells. All of this crowds the floor around the exercisor and there is not an empty space in the room. Apparently this class is VERY popular and you have to register days in advance.
Same trainer and he would demonstrate upcoming moves for me and the one other newbie. It was a terrific workout followed by a brief streatching segment and I was wrung out completely by class end.
Less than 48 hours later I am one sore athlete! I will go back to the body Pump class however whenever I can score a free visitor pass. I am not sure you need the fireplace and leather furniture at your gym! But a trainer is certainly worth it and perhaps someday I can save enough for a private training session.
I do find workingout to be a solitary and rather lonely experience. I suppose in a busy life it kinda has to be. For starters we all have different goals and those goals change as you get more fit or as time goes by. Plus just trying to fit workingout IN every day is a monumental feat, let alone trying to coordinate 2 people's schedules. Still the class was very fun, that whole we are all suffering together aspect:>) I wish I had a training buddy.
I do get to fit in one of Deb's Yoga classes every once in a while. And running the Road Race with Heather made it extra fun. Also Madeline promises to give me more gym passes so I guess that will have to be enough.
I suppose I can also just look at my overall fitness improvements as then being able to participate more with others. Like being fit enough to canoe with Don or kayak with Maria. And in mid Augest I get to go backpacking with some of the old gang. None of this would I be able to do if I had not made the concentrated and oft times lonely efforts of improving my health. So that will have to be enough.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Great Read and a Confirmandee
'The Year of Living Biblically (by AJ Jacobs) is about my quest to live the ultimate biblical life. To follow every single rule in the Bible – as literally as possible. I obey the famous ones:
The Ten Commandments
Love thy neighbor
Be fruitful and multiply
But also, the hundreds of oft-ignored ones.
Do not wear clothes of mixed fibers.
Do not shave your beard
Stone adulterers '
This a is a great funny thought provoking book by an excellent writer. Nothing in it to be offended by as he takes it all as seriously as possible. OK not serious so much as with deep respect and curiosity. I loved this book and recommend it to all my youth ministry friends. Actually I recommend it to everyone. If you ever wondered about the existence of a God or why we do what we do, read this book.
Not only did I just finish reading this book but I also had the opportunity to buy an ice cream for and spend some time with one of my Confirmation kids. She just graduated high school and leaves for the Marines in a couple of day. She had invited me via Facebook to her going away party which was titled Sex Drugs and Rock And Roll. But I could not make it so ice cream seemed like a good second choice. I am sure she does not drink as she is under 21... I am sure she does nothing out of the ordinary when she sneaks out of her house, goes to the cranberry bogs at night for the occasional night time gathering of teens....
Her grandmother bribed her into going to Confirmation by promising her a cellphone and maybe a laptop? I don't quite remember. I do know she made her First Communion as a freshman wearing white and having much more cleavage than you would expect for a First Communion candidate. She felt she was doing it for her grandmother but she sure looked lovely and I sat right up front in support of her choice.
I am pretty sure she has not attended Mass since Confirmation although I have offered her a ride (Our Lady of Lourdes require all Confirmation candidates to sign in at Mass so we have a record of that.)
Every class she came she asked challenging questions. She always wanted to know why. why? Why? Why? Why do we do this or that? Why is it a sin? how come, how come?
I did not know the answers to all her questions but I loved when she would cut right to the chase, "OK Mrs. Blauss, now do you REALLY believe that? Do you really live like that?"
I think we have this vision of perfect kids filled with goody two shoes like devotion ready to be made more holy. It is much easier to have a class filled with kids who have been raised to be devout, who know their prayers, who have a good work ethic, who WANT this. I know her challenging questions made some of the adults concerned. I know some of her choices made more adults concerned.
I wondered sometimes if I was evergetting though to her and a couple of her classmates. Certainly her sneaking out at night gave me heart palpitations. And I will never forgert the illegal party when one kid passed out and another kid said, "what would Mrs. Blauss do?" and then made the decision to call the cops and diaapear as the cops arrived, thus saving their friend but avoiding getting caught themselves. I darn near died when they told me the story and assured them that Mrs Blauss would not have been out partying in the bogs to begin with. I was definitely a more devout good two shoes kinda kid. Still am.
But it brought home to me how important the message of faith is and how it has to be shared with all. If they had not shared this story with me I might never have known that in a small way I made a difference. Would it be better if she were not out drinking and getting into other mischief certainly not sanctioned by the church? Of course. But this is where she is on her journey and if we as a church are not prepared to meet her where she is then she will never hear the message.
On her facebook she often leaves status that are filled with teenangst, you know "I hate this place" "I cannot wait to get out of hear." and I imagine you all know kids like that. Maybe it is normal for most kids.
But I pray for her every day and I often counter her status with little comments of my own. I hope not goody two shoesy....I try to give her unconditional love or what the psychologists call unconditional positive regard. We all coudl use more of this on our lives. Plus, I like her. She is a great kid with a lot of potenttial.
So I wanted to take her out and get her icecream and remind her that the chruch is still here for her, praying and loving who she is right now. I also got her a little Holy Spirit pin and a Carver Tshirt. I do not know if she will wear them. But we all come from somewhere and whatever we go on to do, a person should know there is a place to call home.
She has plans this brave and challenging you woman. She cares about things and people. The Spirit moves in her although I do not think she can see that yet. She rolled her eyes at me when our conversation got to motherly. I do not even know if she has a mom I only know about a tough looking dad and a bribing grandmother:>) both of whom love her dearly. She has a twin sister who is choosing college and who is also an amazing person. But she remains in town where I can comment on her Facebook status and remind her that church is always there for her.
That Confirmation class was only 16 kids, the smallest Our Lady has ever had. They got stuck in a big change that swept through our CCD program and many kids from that year missed out. The remaining 16 were by know means saintly kids. (OK Julie and Emily are.)
But when they were Confirmed by golly they knew their prayers, they knew their saints, and they had a small inkling of why they were there.
Please pray for Shawna as she starts this new adult phase, that of a US Marine. Semper fi.
The Ten Commandments
Love thy neighbor
Be fruitful and multiply
But also, the hundreds of oft-ignored ones.
Do not wear clothes of mixed fibers.
Do not shave your beard
Stone adulterers '
This a is a great funny thought provoking book by an excellent writer. Nothing in it to be offended by as he takes it all as seriously as possible. OK not serious so much as with deep respect and curiosity. I loved this book and recommend it to all my youth ministry friends. Actually I recommend it to everyone. If you ever wondered about the existence of a God or why we do what we do, read this book.
Not only did I just finish reading this book but I also had the opportunity to buy an ice cream for and spend some time with one of my Confirmation kids. She just graduated high school and leaves for the Marines in a couple of day. She had invited me via Facebook to her going away party which was titled Sex Drugs and Rock And Roll. But I could not make it so ice cream seemed like a good second choice. I am sure she does not drink as she is under 21... I am sure she does nothing out of the ordinary when she sneaks out of her house, goes to the cranberry bogs at night for the occasional night time gathering of teens....
Her grandmother bribed her into going to Confirmation by promising her a cellphone and maybe a laptop? I don't quite remember. I do know she made her First Communion as a freshman wearing white and having much more cleavage than you would expect for a First Communion candidate. She felt she was doing it for her grandmother but she sure looked lovely and I sat right up front in support of her choice.
I am pretty sure she has not attended Mass since Confirmation although I have offered her a ride (Our Lady of Lourdes require all Confirmation candidates to sign in at Mass so we have a record of that.)
Every class she came she asked challenging questions. She always wanted to know why. why? Why? Why? Why do we do this or that? Why is it a sin? how come, how come?
I did not know the answers to all her questions but I loved when she would cut right to the chase, "OK Mrs. Blauss, now do you REALLY believe that? Do you really live like that?"
I think we have this vision of perfect kids filled with goody two shoes like devotion ready to be made more holy. It is much easier to have a class filled with kids who have been raised to be devout, who know their prayers, who have a good work ethic, who WANT this. I know her challenging questions made some of the adults concerned. I know some of her choices made more adults concerned.
I wondered sometimes if I was evergetting though to her and a couple of her classmates. Certainly her sneaking out at night gave me heart palpitations. And I will never forgert the illegal party when one kid passed out and another kid said, "what would Mrs. Blauss do?" and then made the decision to call the cops and diaapear as the cops arrived, thus saving their friend but avoiding getting caught themselves. I darn near died when they told me the story and assured them that Mrs Blauss would not have been out partying in the bogs to begin with. I was definitely a more devout good two shoes kinda kid. Still am.
But it brought home to me how important the message of faith is and how it has to be shared with all. If they had not shared this story with me I might never have known that in a small way I made a difference. Would it be better if she were not out drinking and getting into other mischief certainly not sanctioned by the church? Of course. But this is where she is on her journey and if we as a church are not prepared to meet her where she is then she will never hear the message.
On her facebook she often leaves status that are filled with teenangst, you know "I hate this place" "I cannot wait to get out of hear." and I imagine you all know kids like that. Maybe it is normal for most kids.
But I pray for her every day and I often counter her status with little comments of my own. I hope not goody two shoesy....I try to give her unconditional love or what the psychologists call unconditional positive regard. We all coudl use more of this on our lives. Plus, I like her. She is a great kid with a lot of potenttial.
So I wanted to take her out and get her icecream and remind her that the chruch is still here for her, praying and loving who she is right now. I also got her a little Holy Spirit pin and a Carver Tshirt. I do not know if she will wear them. But we all come from somewhere and whatever we go on to do, a person should know there is a place to call home.
She has plans this brave and challenging you woman. She cares about things and people. The Spirit moves in her although I do not think she can see that yet. She rolled her eyes at me when our conversation got to motherly. I do not even know if she has a mom I only know about a tough looking dad and a bribing grandmother:>) both of whom love her dearly. She has a twin sister who is choosing college and who is also an amazing person. But she remains in town where I can comment on her Facebook status and remind her that church is always there for her.
That Confirmation class was only 16 kids, the smallest Our Lady has ever had. They got stuck in a big change that swept through our CCD program and many kids from that year missed out. The remaining 16 were by know means saintly kids. (OK Julie and Emily are.)
But when they were Confirmed by golly they knew their prayers, they knew their saints, and they had a small inkling of why they were there.
Please pray for Shawna as she starts this new adult phase, that of a US Marine. Semper fi.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
I finished 180 out of 217 who completed the course
Joe tells me my pace is a ten minute and 29 second mile. Last year I ran my first mile and it took 16 minutes and some seconds. He has plans on teaching me to run the sand hill drills they do for Cross country. He tells me not to look forward to this.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
31st Annual Carver Road Race
Of course for me the title should probably read the 2nd annual Carver Road Race. I just came back from my run and it was interesting although quite different from the first time I tried.
I did accompish my goals of not coming in last and running the whole way. I even finished nearly five minutes faster than last year! I also got to run with a friend as my sister in law Heather decided to try her legs at running. In two weeks she has entered the Falmouth road race (she works at a bank where there are a lot of runners so they sort of talked her into it.) She did great, finishing well ahead of me. (She also happens to be ten years younger and about 50 pounds lighter:>)
I did not feel like I heavily trained ahead of time, like I did last year, so I worried about how I would do. Apparently though once you are in shape you make small improvements in time and stamina -almost unnoticable, until you do something like run a race where they clock you!
The whole race I felt I ran quite steady but I could not seem to push myself to go faster. Certainly those last hundred yards when everyone is cheering at the finish a burst on energy kicks in and I did have a final burst of speed to cross the line.
But I was unable to carry out my plan of running the entire race by sprinting intermixed with a more steadier pace. Either my body or my mind, I cannot tell which, determined that a steady pace was all it was going to give me It was very nice not having the nervous jitters leading up to the race, although they did kick in right before the start.
It also helped to know where to go, how to get my runners number (10) and my free Tshirt, and how the whole thing operates. Last year I initially felt very self conscious, being the roundest runner there. But this year I felt from the beginning as though I was meant to be where I was. Plus I saw another woman rounder than me.
Being prepared for the cheering crowds was another nice thing. Last year although I found it flattering it was also very disconcerting, and it really through off my heart rate and therefore my breathing. The best parts are still the water stations along the route and the families that set up hoses and sprinklers to run under. I wish they did that EVERY time I ran by.
Don, the kids, my brotherinlaw Jack and little Jessica were all there to cheer us on, not to mention all the towns peaople and every kid I substitute teach for ("Go Mrs. Blauss, way to go Mrs. B.") Don is still my best fan however and after the race he gamely went back to find out my official time. When he discovered that through some sort of computer glitch it was not entered right he insisted they fix it and reprint the whole runner's list sheet which was VERY sweet of him.
I have another race scheduled in October in honor of a young woman from Mary's graduating class, who passed away. And in Novermber is a fun race around the resevoir at Edaville Railroad to end my race season in November. Perhaps I should find a few more races to fill out my dance card?
I look at marathons and triathalons and I think about these things. To try one, to say I trained for it and did it seems daunting but interesting. I do not know though. Don says I cannot bike race with my classic Scwhinn and I don't know if my back could take the hunched over position required for racing bikes. Plus there is the swimming. I am a strong dog paddler and cold water is a-ok but my shark fears could hold me back there. Still it is fun to try to imagine.
It is fun to contmeplate that I have 2, count them 2 road races under my belt now.
I did accompish my goals of not coming in last and running the whole way. I even finished nearly five minutes faster than last year! I also got to run with a friend as my sister in law Heather decided to try her legs at running. In two weeks she has entered the Falmouth road race (she works at a bank where there are a lot of runners so they sort of talked her into it.) She did great, finishing well ahead of me. (She also happens to be ten years younger and about 50 pounds lighter:>)
I did not feel like I heavily trained ahead of time, like I did last year, so I worried about how I would do. Apparently though once you are in shape you make small improvements in time and stamina -almost unnoticable, until you do something like run a race where they clock you!
The whole race I felt I ran quite steady but I could not seem to push myself to go faster. Certainly those last hundred yards when everyone is cheering at the finish a burst on energy kicks in and I did have a final burst of speed to cross the line.
But I was unable to carry out my plan of running the entire race by sprinting intermixed with a more steadier pace. Either my body or my mind, I cannot tell which, determined that a steady pace was all it was going to give me It was very nice not having the nervous jitters leading up to the race, although they did kick in right before the start.
It also helped to know where to go, how to get my runners number (10) and my free Tshirt, and how the whole thing operates. Last year I initially felt very self conscious, being the roundest runner there. But this year I felt from the beginning as though I was meant to be where I was. Plus I saw another woman rounder than me.
Being prepared for the cheering crowds was another nice thing. Last year although I found it flattering it was also very disconcerting, and it really through off my heart rate and therefore my breathing. The best parts are still the water stations along the route and the families that set up hoses and sprinklers to run under. I wish they did that EVERY time I ran by.
Don, the kids, my brotherinlaw Jack and little Jessica were all there to cheer us on, not to mention all the towns peaople and every kid I substitute teach for ("Go Mrs. Blauss, way to go Mrs. B.") Don is still my best fan however and after the race he gamely went back to find out my official time. When he discovered that through some sort of computer glitch it was not entered right he insisted they fix it and reprint the whole runner's list sheet which was VERY sweet of him.
I have another race scheduled in October in honor of a young woman from Mary's graduating class, who passed away. And in Novermber is a fun race around the resevoir at Edaville Railroad to end my race season in November. Perhaps I should find a few more races to fill out my dance card?
I look at marathons and triathalons and I think about these things. To try one, to say I trained for it and did it seems daunting but interesting. I do not know though. Don says I cannot bike race with my classic Scwhinn and I don't know if my back could take the hunched over position required for racing bikes. Plus there is the swimming. I am a strong dog paddler and cold water is a-ok but my shark fears could hold me back there. Still it is fun to try to imagine.
It is fun to contmeplate that I have 2, count them 2 road races under my belt now.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tim is 24
Tim is 24. Amazing to me that my Irish Twiins are now both 24. (Mary turns 25 in a month.) When we brought him home from the hospital and looked at our little family we thought we were complete, a mom, a dad, a daughter, and a son. Who knew there would be 2 more birth children, 3 adopted children, and over 40 foster children?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bravery
Today I went down a water slide into the ocean. I also jumped off a diving board into the sea. Today I swam out over my head in the ocean, a thing of great bravery when you consider that sharks lurk everywhere.
Weight Watchers has taught me to try new things. Some things, like broccoli, are pretty yucky. Other things like going down a slide into the ocean, pretty amazing. To be able to hoist myself up onto a dock with my smaller body and my stronger arms is a thing of wonder.
Weight Watchers has taught me to try new things. Some things, like broccoli, are pretty yucky. Other things like going down a slide into the ocean, pretty amazing. To be able to hoist myself up onto a dock with my smaller body and my stronger arms is a thing of wonder.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Hill runs
Carver is a pretty flat town except for the occaisional sandpit:>0 I often run Forest Street which is three miles from the bottom of my driveway to the Forest street sign and back. This road is a tree lined stretch with a number of small hills.
But in prep for my big run on Saturday I thought I would do something different. Near the end of Forest street is Linton Ave. Tim says it is .2 miles. It is a fairly steep hill and it starts at the top of Forest and ends on Route 58. The road has no houses, one side is the Lakenham cemetary which has graves from the 1700s to present. The other side is an overgrown sandpit, covered with small trees, so that it blocks the view of route 58. Because there are no houses, running up and down it is not really odd. I mean you do not feel like anyone is staring at you or anything. On the otherhand it is close enough to civiliztion that you do not feel vulnerable.
I have 4 races this year so my plan is to add this 'hills' workout every once in a while to push my aerobic capacity, build speed, and increase my stamina. I think. I do not really know enough of the sports science reasons for doing this but if it good enough for the Marines and the Carver cross country team, it is good enough for me.
I packed along some water and figured out how to make the stop watch work on my phone. I parked the van at the entrance of the cemetary in the shade and put Joe in charge of timing me. His fever is gone and this is a rest day for him. He was eager to help and kept up a running commentary of all sorts of cross country tips for me, every time i passed him sittign i nthe shade. Men do like to be intructors!
I walked down the hill briskly and then ran up it as fast as I could. 5 times. Let me tell you it was darn hard work! I could run fullsteam about 50 strides or so and then my speed signifigantly decreased while I huffed and puffed like a steam engine! Obviously each run up hill took a couple of seconds longer than the previous. Interestingly I could go fullsteam for the same distance each time (except the last run when right from the get go I was signifigantly slower.)
Apparently I can only go anaerobically so far before my body puts up a fuss. In other words I am no sprinter:>)
I then did one full walk down and up the hill briskly. I finished with 4 run down the hills followed by 4 walk up the hills. Joe and I then happily explored the cemetary trying to find all the veterans, including some young men killed in the Civil War. We also found a couple who fought in the Revolutionary War! Our veterans still make sure those graves are lovingly tended and all had American Flags.
Growing up I had my parents distaste for graveyards. What was the point of taking up all that land for dead bodies? Kinda creepy! But my Mary has had us explore graveyards from the time she was a toddler and I now view them with comfort and affection.
I wondered about all those dead folks as I ran up and down the hill along side their final resting place. Did those boys going off to war practise marching up and down Linton Ave, in full army gear? One of my confirmation girls graduated high school with Julie nad she goes off to the marines in a couple of weeks. Sobering.
I did not look over the sandpit on the opposite side of the road to the icecream store below as the temptation of a cool icecream on a hot summer day would be too tough to resist.
I wonder about the race on Saturday. Will I be as nervous as last year? Will it feel differently? Running is still not the great joy for me that walking is. But boy do I feel muscles in my bottom and thighs right now!
But in prep for my big run on Saturday I thought I would do something different. Near the end of Forest street is Linton Ave. Tim says it is .2 miles. It is a fairly steep hill and it starts at the top of Forest and ends on Route 58. The road has no houses, one side is the Lakenham cemetary which has graves from the 1700s to present. The other side is an overgrown sandpit, covered with small trees, so that it blocks the view of route 58. Because there are no houses, running up and down it is not really odd. I mean you do not feel like anyone is staring at you or anything. On the otherhand it is close enough to civiliztion that you do not feel vulnerable.
I have 4 races this year so my plan is to add this 'hills' workout every once in a while to push my aerobic capacity, build speed, and increase my stamina. I think. I do not really know enough of the sports science reasons for doing this but if it good enough for the Marines and the Carver cross country team, it is good enough for me.
I packed along some water and figured out how to make the stop watch work on my phone. I parked the van at the entrance of the cemetary in the shade and put Joe in charge of timing me. His fever is gone and this is a rest day for him. He was eager to help and kept up a running commentary of all sorts of cross country tips for me, every time i passed him sittign i nthe shade. Men do like to be intructors!
I walked down the hill briskly and then ran up it as fast as I could. 5 times. Let me tell you it was darn hard work! I could run fullsteam about 50 strides or so and then my speed signifigantly decreased while I huffed and puffed like a steam engine! Obviously each run up hill took a couple of seconds longer than the previous. Interestingly I could go fullsteam for the same distance each time (except the last run when right from the get go I was signifigantly slower.)
Apparently I can only go anaerobically so far before my body puts up a fuss. In other words I am no sprinter:>)
I then did one full walk down and up the hill briskly. I finished with 4 run down the hills followed by 4 walk up the hills. Joe and I then happily explored the cemetary trying to find all the veterans, including some young men killed in the Civil War. We also found a couple who fought in the Revolutionary War! Our veterans still make sure those graves are lovingly tended and all had American Flags.
Growing up I had my parents distaste for graveyards. What was the point of taking up all that land for dead bodies? Kinda creepy! But my Mary has had us explore graveyards from the time she was a toddler and I now view them with comfort and affection.
I wondered about all those dead folks as I ran up and down the hill along side their final resting place. Did those boys going off to war practise marching up and down Linton Ave, in full army gear? One of my confirmation girls graduated high school with Julie nad she goes off to the marines in a couple of weeks. Sobering.
I did not look over the sandpit on the opposite side of the road to the icecream store below as the temptation of a cool icecream on a hot summer day would be too tough to resist.
I wonder about the race on Saturday. Will I be as nervous as last year? Will it feel differently? Running is still not the great joy for me that walking is. But boy do I feel muscles in my bottom and thighs right now!
A good nights sleep
There are a few things in life that I never ever take for granted. Perhaps it is the same for you as well. For instance I totally treasure my washer and dryer. We spent the first ten years of our marriage renting and therefore needing the Laundromat. We had at that time kids under nine years of age, sometimes as many as 8 small children at once with our birth and foster kids. We had 5 in diapers at the same time!
The work of going to the Laundromat, the expense, the effort, and stress was tremendous at times. I would hang damp clothes from large spitty radiators, or string a clothes line across the kitchen. Many early evening I would take a slightly frozen towel in from outside and it would crinkle and crunch in my hands.
Needless to say the very first thing I did when I bought my own home and moved in was sprawl across my washer and dryer and kiss them in utter gratitude! I refused to use the clothesline strung up from the back porch. Instead the first and last thing I did each day was move laundry through my lovely wonderful beautiful washing machine and dryer.
Another material item that I daily thank my lucky stars for is the Blauss mobile, our 15 passenger van, that has both heat AND air conditioning. We have had vehicles that did not have either. There is no colder place on earth than being in a van on the highway in February that does not have heat. Just as miserable is being stuck in traffic heading to New Hampshire in July with no AC and it starts to rain.
We also spent a couple of years driving everywhere in two vehicles because we did not all fit in one. Therefore when we finally got our slightly used 15 passenger econoline van, it was a great day in our house. I never mind that I need to park further from a store entrance because it is not easy pulling a huge vehicle into narrow parking spots. Also I cannot parallel park even the most compact of cars so who cares that I can not parallel park the Blauss mobile. it is a great van, comfortable, and most importantly it fits us all.
But perhaps the number one thing on my list that I would never take for granted but instead marvel at with hushed reverence THE RARE GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.
I feel glorious today, full of energy, calm, alert, cheerfulness oozing from every pore, all because last night I slept in blissful comfort from midnight to 6, then drfited back to sleep for the better part of the morning before finally arising at ten thirty.
The bed was a perfect comfyness, Donnie inexplicably did NOT steal the covers (truly a rare event), the room was cool and dry, the dogs did not thump overhead, kids did not battle over early morning cartoons, the phone never rang. More importanlty anxious thoughts did not intrude in the early morning hours so when I did briefly surface awake I could comfortably drift back off to sleep not fretting about money, the days activties, phone calls, etc.
It is amazing how peacefully the unfolding of a day can be after a good night's slumber. After all those years working nights, after all the hours up medicating foster babies who needed complicated feeding and nebulizing schedules.... to be able to drift off to sleep and wake up refreshed, truly refreshed, is a rare and precious comodity.
Good morning world I am awake and I feel great!
The work of going to the Laundromat, the expense, the effort, and stress was tremendous at times. I would hang damp clothes from large spitty radiators, or string a clothes line across the kitchen. Many early evening I would take a slightly frozen towel in from outside and it would crinkle and crunch in my hands.
Needless to say the very first thing I did when I bought my own home and moved in was sprawl across my washer and dryer and kiss them in utter gratitude! I refused to use the clothesline strung up from the back porch. Instead the first and last thing I did each day was move laundry through my lovely wonderful beautiful washing machine and dryer.
Another material item that I daily thank my lucky stars for is the Blauss mobile, our 15 passenger van, that has both heat AND air conditioning. We have had vehicles that did not have either. There is no colder place on earth than being in a van on the highway in February that does not have heat. Just as miserable is being stuck in traffic heading to New Hampshire in July with no AC and it starts to rain.
We also spent a couple of years driving everywhere in two vehicles because we did not all fit in one. Therefore when we finally got our slightly used 15 passenger econoline van, it was a great day in our house. I never mind that I need to park further from a store entrance because it is not easy pulling a huge vehicle into narrow parking spots. Also I cannot parallel park even the most compact of cars so who cares that I can not parallel park the Blauss mobile. it is a great van, comfortable, and most importantly it fits us all.
But perhaps the number one thing on my list that I would never take for granted but instead marvel at with hushed reverence THE RARE GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.
I feel glorious today, full of energy, calm, alert, cheerfulness oozing from every pore, all because last night I slept in blissful comfort from midnight to 6, then drfited back to sleep for the better part of the morning before finally arising at ten thirty.
The bed was a perfect comfyness, Donnie inexplicably did NOT steal the covers (truly a rare event), the room was cool and dry, the dogs did not thump overhead, kids did not battle over early morning cartoons, the phone never rang. More importanlty anxious thoughts did not intrude in the early morning hours so when I did briefly surface awake I could comfortably drift back off to sleep not fretting about money, the days activties, phone calls, etc.
It is amazing how peacefully the unfolding of a day can be after a good night's slumber. After all those years working nights, after all the hours up medicating foster babies who needed complicated feeding and nebulizing schedules.... to be able to drift off to sleep and wake up refreshed, truly refreshed, is a rare and precious comodity.
Good morning world I am awake and I feel great!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
did you know?
Did you know that you can take your memory card out of your digital camera and put it in the Wii console and then watch your photos on your big screen tv? Did you know you can then fool aorund with the photos adding special effects and put the whole darn thing to music? Did you know that when a feverish boy needs to sit quietly on the couch, this is an ingenius way to entertain him? Did you know that you can laugh so hard that you can pull a muscle? did you need to be reminded that these are the good old days?
The aggravation list
It is funny how aggravations pile up like thunder clouds. Poor Joe is sick as a dog, four days after a healthy physical. His temp soared over 102.5 last night, his head and throat ache and he has a stiff neck.
I found out I owe Tupperware 20 dollars because I put my hosts name and street addy but my town and zip code in. I discovered the error at two minutes to midnight and if I delayed in sending in the order the guests would not get that months specials. So I tried to fix it myself and then sent in order. First thing Monday morning I found out the error cannot be changed via the computer. (How can that be you ask? Well I asked too but of course got no answer.) Apparently it can not be changed before the order is filled, why? I do not know. It can only be changed once the filled order goes to Fedex. Does that even make sense? Then I get charged.
It is raining and my poor cucumbers are miserably pathetic while the damn zucchini is threatening to take over the world.
Oh and I think I have had my first hot flashes, for the past 3 mornings at around 4:30 a.m.
And I am up 7.8 pounds for a total of 70.8 pounds lost...... And and and, what else? Oh ya Joe has neither strep nor meningitis (although his poor neck is stiff and sore). He does have a flulike virus poor little guy. But since it is raining I guess he isn ot missing out on anything fun.
Ok that covers my own various moans and groans, feel free to add your own.:>)
I found out I owe Tupperware 20 dollars because I put my hosts name and street addy but my town and zip code in. I discovered the error at two minutes to midnight and if I delayed in sending in the order the guests would not get that months specials. So I tried to fix it myself and then sent in order. First thing Monday morning I found out the error cannot be changed via the computer. (How can that be you ask? Well I asked too but of course got no answer.) Apparently it can not be changed before the order is filled, why? I do not know. It can only be changed once the filled order goes to Fedex. Does that even make sense? Then I get charged.
It is raining and my poor cucumbers are miserably pathetic while the damn zucchini is threatening to take over the world.
Oh and I think I have had my first hot flashes, for the past 3 mornings at around 4:30 a.m.
And I am up 7.8 pounds for a total of 70.8 pounds lost...... And and and, what else? Oh ya Joe has neither strep nor meningitis (although his poor neck is stiff and sore). He does have a flulike virus poor little guy. But since it is raining I guess he isn ot missing out on anything fun.
Ok that covers my own various moans and groans, feel free to add your own.:>)
Monday, July 20, 2009
4 days to my Road Race and weight loss woes
I should say 4 days to my second road race, since I am a veteran now. This year my younger (by ten years) sister in law is running it with me. She is one of those gorgeously slender, tanned, eats rights, exercises daily -kind of people. I am not sure she REALLY knows what it is like to CRAVE M and Ms or anything but I love her in spite of her flaws;>).
She has never run a race and has only recently gotten into running. Naturally she is faster than me so we shall only start the race together. Still it is rather flattering when she says I inspire her.
Meanwhile I am up 8 pounds, steadily gaining since the beginning of July. I missed 2 Weight Watcher meetings and my careful habits are slipping. It is funny but left to my own devices I would eat only one fruit or veggie a day and although I have been exercising it is by no means vigorous.
Isn't it interesting that for as much as I love the benefits of my weight loss, more energy, smaller clothes, better health, etc etc it is still such damn hard work to keep going with it. Doesn't really seem fair.
So I have only 70 pounds of weight loss not 78... Today as I did my last long run day before the race I felt good but was slooow for me- 45 minutes to run 4 miles. I did not push myself it is true and I certainly could have run further. But Wednesday I plan a hefty hill work out so I did not want to have twinge-y muscles.
I am sitting here dripping sweat into the computer keyboard while the kids pack the van for an afternoon at the pond. While at the pond I am going to swim laps because I still hope to swim across the pond (1/2 mile) by summers end.
I have big plans for my new improved body. But I am hungry and this diet is tough stuff. I know it is not suppose to be called a diet it is a lifestyle change. But my body craves meat and potatoes and in large quantities and that is it. I need to teach it to crave small quantities and crave fruits and veggies.
There are many people in this world with true painful suffering. Every day I am grateful for my life. But the cold hard fact for me is this: Dieting is very very very very hard.
She has never run a race and has only recently gotten into running. Naturally she is faster than me so we shall only start the race together. Still it is rather flattering when she says I inspire her.
Meanwhile I am up 8 pounds, steadily gaining since the beginning of July. I missed 2 Weight Watcher meetings and my careful habits are slipping. It is funny but left to my own devices I would eat only one fruit or veggie a day and although I have been exercising it is by no means vigorous.
Isn't it interesting that for as much as I love the benefits of my weight loss, more energy, smaller clothes, better health, etc etc it is still such damn hard work to keep going with it. Doesn't really seem fair.
So I have only 70 pounds of weight loss not 78... Today as I did my last long run day before the race I felt good but was slooow for me- 45 minutes to run 4 miles. I did not push myself it is true and I certainly could have run further. But Wednesday I plan a hefty hill work out so I did not want to have twinge-y muscles.
I am sitting here dripping sweat into the computer keyboard while the kids pack the van for an afternoon at the pond. While at the pond I am going to swim laps because I still hope to swim across the pond (1/2 mile) by summers end.
I have big plans for my new improved body. But I am hungry and this diet is tough stuff. I know it is not suppose to be called a diet it is a lifestyle change. But my body craves meat and potatoes and in large quantities and that is it. I need to teach it to crave small quantities and crave fruits and veggies.
There are many people in this world with true painful suffering. Every day I am grateful for my life. But the cold hard fact for me is this: Dieting is very very very very hard.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Music in the car.
I have spent a good deal of this week driving back and forth to Whitman-Hanson so Nikki could attend basketball camp. Because Don's cousin is the coach she is allowed to go free which we so appreciate. Thanks cousin Jimmy.
In between dropping her off and picking her up there have been other appointments,
4H events, doctors, etc so I have done a lot of driving about or trying to come up with ways to kill an hour or two before having to drop off or pick someone else up.
Those times have included a trip to Hanover Mall (got lost twice and ended up in Rockland even though I KNOW where the Mall is) a couple of woodsy hikes, a cemetary walk, a grain store run, etc.
Also for most of the week I have not been alone. Joe, Jamie or both have kept me company through out. Obviously Nikki is along for part of the ride but both Julie and Corey have managed to be in the car as well. (College boy had to be gotten at the train station as he too has doctor appoinments this week!)
This has meant that at any given moment cruising in the car has included a different front passenger. As you know the front passenger controls the music unless the driver has any real objections.
No one (well no KID) wants to ride with Tim as the driver because he will only allow 2 stations, the one with the Red Sox on it or the one with soft rock. Thats it.
Don also has preferences although other than usually banning the Hip Hop and Rap, he does not mind kids choosing. But since he is the main driver on weekends and evenings he often expresses his own preferences and woe to the child who tries to turn off a Beatles or Crosby Stills and Nash tune!
I usually let whomever pick whatever. Now with the exception of Tim I am probably the least musical person in the family. Everyone else (except Tim and I) play intruments and they all have their own musical gadgests, CD players, MP3, Ipods, and the like.
Everyone also has their own favorite style of music. But they are surprisingly intolerent of anyone elses style. Left to his own devices Don will usually have some southern rock on or 70s rock. He also for many years had the country stations on and even went through an unfortunate period of loving popular Christian rock. He is more tolerant than the rest of other people's musical preferences although he will almost always turn a Motown song off and he is not interested in hearing ANYTHING loud. (And I have already mentioned his negative reaction to Hip Hop and Rap.)
Julie wants Beatles, or Eagles or current rock songs. She also has a preference for those girl angst songs like Eminescence and Jewel. But she will scream if she hears one note of a Miley Sirus tune. Corey will listen to top rock and more obscure current bands and had an early preference for Eminem. He wants the music loud and has a long list of bands he will not tolerate. Jamie and Nikki ONLY want Hip Hop and Rap. Joe wants Jazz or Classical which all the other kids hoot over.....
So one way driving is one style of music while others complain. The next leg of the trip is a different style, and on it goes. I have listened to more music this week and more complaints about the music than any radio executive has ever had to deal with!
You realize that left to myself, I do not normally even turn the radio on, or I find myself listening to news, public talk radio, etc.
But when a kid is in the seat next to me I enjoy listening to them sing or finding out what they think about a particualr song or band. I can remember Corey being a little annoyed when he was in Middle school that I knew ALL the words to the Eminem songs. Kinda takes the fun out of being rebelious when your mother is along for the ride:>) But now he accepts that although his mother is a bit strange she will at least listen to what he likes.
Nikki and Jamie are mortified if I sing out loud to any of the music and heaven forbid they have a friend in the car at the time! I think their music preferences have more to do with what they think cool kids like than any real interest, but we shall see. Julie usually hold my hand when one of 'our' songs come on and both she and Corey are happy to sing with me or tell me what the lyrics mean.
But the battle over who controls the music dial rages fast and furious at our household. I think the kids are lucky to have a musician for a Dad because before they were ever born they were serenaded on the guitar. Also Don's interest in Jazz, Blues, Southern Rock, Classical Rock, and Country at least exposed them to many styles no matter how intolerant they CURRENTLY are.
But sometimes my head really is still 'ringing with the amplifiers' and the fight over what to listen to and what constitutes 'good' music.
Perhaps the solution is to sneak out once in a while all by my lonesome and savor the blissful 'sounds of silence"!
In between dropping her off and picking her up there have been other appointments,
4H events, doctors, etc so I have done a lot of driving about or trying to come up with ways to kill an hour or two before having to drop off or pick someone else up.
Those times have included a trip to Hanover Mall (got lost twice and ended up in Rockland even though I KNOW where the Mall is) a couple of woodsy hikes, a cemetary walk, a grain store run, etc.
Also for most of the week I have not been alone. Joe, Jamie or both have kept me company through out. Obviously Nikki is along for part of the ride but both Julie and Corey have managed to be in the car as well. (College boy had to be gotten at the train station as he too has doctor appoinments this week!)
This has meant that at any given moment cruising in the car has included a different front passenger. As you know the front passenger controls the music unless the driver has any real objections.
No one (well no KID) wants to ride with Tim as the driver because he will only allow 2 stations, the one with the Red Sox on it or the one with soft rock. Thats it.
Don also has preferences although other than usually banning the Hip Hop and Rap, he does not mind kids choosing. But since he is the main driver on weekends and evenings he often expresses his own preferences and woe to the child who tries to turn off a Beatles or Crosby Stills and Nash tune!
I usually let whomever pick whatever. Now with the exception of Tim I am probably the least musical person in the family. Everyone else (except Tim and I) play intruments and they all have their own musical gadgests, CD players, MP3, Ipods, and the like.
Everyone also has their own favorite style of music. But they are surprisingly intolerent of anyone elses style. Left to his own devices Don will usually have some southern rock on or 70s rock. He also for many years had the country stations on and even went through an unfortunate period of loving popular Christian rock. He is more tolerant than the rest of other people's musical preferences although he will almost always turn a Motown song off and he is not interested in hearing ANYTHING loud. (And I have already mentioned his negative reaction to Hip Hop and Rap.)
Julie wants Beatles, or Eagles or current rock songs. She also has a preference for those girl angst songs like Eminescence and Jewel. But she will scream if she hears one note of a Miley Sirus tune. Corey will listen to top rock and more obscure current bands and had an early preference for Eminem. He wants the music loud and has a long list of bands he will not tolerate. Jamie and Nikki ONLY want Hip Hop and Rap. Joe wants Jazz or Classical which all the other kids hoot over.....
So one way driving is one style of music while others complain. The next leg of the trip is a different style, and on it goes. I have listened to more music this week and more complaints about the music than any radio executive has ever had to deal with!
You realize that left to myself, I do not normally even turn the radio on, or I find myself listening to news, public talk radio, etc.
But when a kid is in the seat next to me I enjoy listening to them sing or finding out what they think about a particualr song or band. I can remember Corey being a little annoyed when he was in Middle school that I knew ALL the words to the Eminem songs. Kinda takes the fun out of being rebelious when your mother is along for the ride:>) But now he accepts that although his mother is a bit strange she will at least listen to what he likes.
Nikki and Jamie are mortified if I sing out loud to any of the music and heaven forbid they have a friend in the car at the time! I think their music preferences have more to do with what they think cool kids like than any real interest, but we shall see. Julie usually hold my hand when one of 'our' songs come on and both she and Corey are happy to sing with me or tell me what the lyrics mean.
But the battle over who controls the music dial rages fast and furious at our household. I think the kids are lucky to have a musician for a Dad because before they were ever born they were serenaded on the guitar. Also Don's interest in Jazz, Blues, Southern Rock, Classical Rock, and Country at least exposed them to many styles no matter how intolerant they CURRENTLY are.
But sometimes my head really is still 'ringing with the amplifiers' and the fight over what to listen to and what constitutes 'good' music.
Perhaps the solution is to sneak out once in a while all by my lonesome and savor the blissful 'sounds of silence"!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sharks in water
There was a SHARK swimming about six feet away from some kids at Hummarock beach yesterday in Marshfield a SSSHHHHAAAARRRRRKKKK. The life guard cleared the water.
Everyone makes fun of my shark fear but I am telling you I am going down one of 2 ways. I will either be eaten by a shark or struck by lightning while sitting on the toilet.
A shark a shark a shark. oh boy.
Everyone makes fun of my shark fear but I am telling you I am going down one of 2 ways. I will either be eaten by a shark or struck by lightning while sitting on the toilet.
A shark a shark a shark. oh boy.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
When Marriages Crumble
Yesterday I was reading a little blurb online that Jon from Jon and Kate Plus Eight was photographed with a pretty young thing, just the 2 of them, on vacation. Last month his wife, without him, was photographed on vacation just her and all the children.
On his reality show, before further episodes were suspended he said that he was 'proud' to finally stand up for himself (against his overbearing wife) and stand on his own 2 feet, do something for HIM for a change. His wife filed the divorce and he is vacationing with a younger woman.
I am not passing judgement on any of this, although I think perhaps someone should! I am writing it down to help sort my thoughts. You see a number of recent marriages around us seem to be crumbling lately. It is much easier to contemplate some reality stars train wreck of a life than consider for a moment that people you love and care about are doing the exact same thing.
I wish that I could write out some of the things I have heard and seen lately but I do not want any of it to get back to those around me who are already surrounded by pain. I am just trying to understand.
One of the people losing their marriage commented that the phone doesn't ring anymore and that person feels like they are losing their family AND their friends. But I can understand why friends are drifting away.
First of all once you start having kids many friendships are because you have something in common, spouses and kids. Change those dynamics and friendships change. Next some friends choose sides. It is hard not to. For instance it is much easier for me to see the woman's point of view, even if it is skewed by anger and disappointment.
Then their are those Xes or soon to be Xes who badmouth all the time. One of my kids friends mom is a single parent, twice over. There has never been an exchange EVER between us that did not include her bashing one or both her Xes. Yet as she rails on all I can think is A. What does it say about her that she picked 2 such lousy men? and B. How can she continually badmouth the fathers of her kids, infront of them? I avoid this woman at all costs.
What is it really like to have your whole world, the dream you had of your adult life, fall all around you and know you are responsible for it? It does take two although I know one friend whose spouse was at least 98% of the problem:>)
Of the marriages falling apart that I know of, people are invloving themselves with other people- not in the marriage, after they have decided to separate or divorce.
Every expert talks about divorcing people needing time to heal and all insist kids need LOTS of time. Yet these people, these good parents, caring humans, upright citizens are making a very public diplay of the mess of their lives.
Reality show Jon seems like such an ass. But the people I know are NOT. Yet they seem to be committing the same painful mistakes as our reality star. How can you end one relationship, legally, morally, logistically, while in the beginning of another one? How can it make sense to you?
Troubled marriages can be contagious. If you hang around with someone who is miserable, always badmouthing, you find yourself badmouthing too. I think that is why my troubled married friends are finding themsleves losing friendships. The people around them are trying to protect their own relationships.
There is nothing like a long happy (at least from the outside!) marriage ending to make you realize how truly vulnerable and fragile lasting relationships are.
I am not certain where I am trying to go with this post. I know of no one who went into their marriage 'believing' in divorce as a solution. Yet is seems like the one that is right for them. But it is hard to tell. So much of how they go about this appears to be in ways that bring maximum pain- to themselves most of all.
A number of people I know talk about some things in marriage being 'unforgivable.' This sobers me. Just what would be unforgivable? If something your spouse does is unforgivable cannt your child do something unforgivable too? Cannt you yourself do something unforgivable? What then?
I have no road map for other people to live their lives. I believe I love the people around me and accept them for who they are, even when I cannot understand their thought process or why they choose to do some of the things they choose to do.
Certainly I have been married long enough to know that marriage can be back breaking heartbreaking frustrating HARD work.
But love is a decision and each day the decision has to be made anew to love. What happens however when the other person wakes up and decides to make a different decision?
On his reality show, before further episodes were suspended he said that he was 'proud' to finally stand up for himself (against his overbearing wife) and stand on his own 2 feet, do something for HIM for a change. His wife filed the divorce and he is vacationing with a younger woman.
I am not passing judgement on any of this, although I think perhaps someone should! I am writing it down to help sort my thoughts. You see a number of recent marriages around us seem to be crumbling lately. It is much easier to contemplate some reality stars train wreck of a life than consider for a moment that people you love and care about are doing the exact same thing.
I wish that I could write out some of the things I have heard and seen lately but I do not want any of it to get back to those around me who are already surrounded by pain. I am just trying to understand.
One of the people losing their marriage commented that the phone doesn't ring anymore and that person feels like they are losing their family AND their friends. But I can understand why friends are drifting away.
First of all once you start having kids many friendships are because you have something in common, spouses and kids. Change those dynamics and friendships change. Next some friends choose sides. It is hard not to. For instance it is much easier for me to see the woman's point of view, even if it is skewed by anger and disappointment.
Then their are those Xes or soon to be Xes who badmouth all the time. One of my kids friends mom is a single parent, twice over. There has never been an exchange EVER between us that did not include her bashing one or both her Xes. Yet as she rails on all I can think is A. What does it say about her that she picked 2 such lousy men? and B. How can she continually badmouth the fathers of her kids, infront of them? I avoid this woman at all costs.
What is it really like to have your whole world, the dream you had of your adult life, fall all around you and know you are responsible for it? It does take two although I know one friend whose spouse was at least 98% of the problem:>)
Of the marriages falling apart that I know of, people are invloving themselves with other people- not in the marriage, after they have decided to separate or divorce.
Every expert talks about divorcing people needing time to heal and all insist kids need LOTS of time. Yet these people, these good parents, caring humans, upright citizens are making a very public diplay of the mess of their lives.
Reality show Jon seems like such an ass. But the people I know are NOT. Yet they seem to be committing the same painful mistakes as our reality star. How can you end one relationship, legally, morally, logistically, while in the beginning of another one? How can it make sense to you?
Troubled marriages can be contagious. If you hang around with someone who is miserable, always badmouthing, you find yourself badmouthing too. I think that is why my troubled married friends are finding themsleves losing friendships. The people around them are trying to protect their own relationships.
There is nothing like a long happy (at least from the outside!) marriage ending to make you realize how truly vulnerable and fragile lasting relationships are.
I am not certain where I am trying to go with this post. I know of no one who went into their marriage 'believing' in divorce as a solution. Yet is seems like the one that is right for them. But it is hard to tell. So much of how they go about this appears to be in ways that bring maximum pain- to themselves most of all.
A number of people I know talk about some things in marriage being 'unforgivable.' This sobers me. Just what would be unforgivable? If something your spouse does is unforgivable cannt your child do something unforgivable too? Cannt you yourself do something unforgivable? What then?
I have no road map for other people to live their lives. I believe I love the people around me and accept them for who they are, even when I cannot understand their thought process or why they choose to do some of the things they choose to do.
Certainly I have been married long enough to know that marriage can be back breaking heartbreaking frustrating HARD work.
But love is a decision and each day the decision has to be made anew to love. What happens however when the other person wakes up and decides to make a different decision?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Mammograms, getting lost, falling roofs, rising costs, and bunny love
Today I got my mammogram done. (All normal as far as I know.) I had made the appointment way back in January as part of my New Years Resolution of Feeling Fine in 09. It just took this long until they had a free spot to fit me in.
I was rather anxious last night and this morning about it. I know lots of woman feel that way but perhaps not for the same reason. I have only gotten one other mammogram done back when I turned 40. It too came out normal.
The results I expected to be fine so that is not really what had me concerned. Nor did I particularly dread the procedure itself. I am not squeamish about doctor things and have no particular problem stripping down so the mammogram itself holds no particular fears.
The fact that I had to find the place (The old Goddard Hospital building in Stoughton) and drive on the highway to and from it alone is what made me go so long between mammos. I hate driving on the highway. I am not overly fond driving on the byways for that matter!
I get lost easily and although I often know where I am I can never remember how it relates to anyplace else. So although this part of Pearl looks familiar I do not know what streets it connects to or where it ends at.
This morning I had to call 3 different people- first Good Samaritan, then Woman's Imaging, then my Doctor- to figure out just where I needed to be. THIS stresses me out.
Plus I think I had residual effects from Corey's near miss at Northeastern yesterday. Someone from the University FINALLY called today at 11 to let us know what happened and what the college plans were. I gave the lady (from Res Life, she was very nice) a polite but angry earful. There was no reason why NU should have waited 26 hours to communicate with parents. There should've been something on the website or sent to parents immediately. BTW not only do they send an email reminder when the bill is ready. But 2 days later they send a follow up to say if you have not gone online yet to check out the bill. So they know if you LOOKED at the dang thing. They certainly could have kept us in the loop yesterday. I think I got to her when I said my son was losing phone charge and had no way to charge his phone and although I was quite calm while I could speak to him I could not remain calm if I lost my only form of communication with him!
She agreed to pass along the concern. Anyway last night each kid was escorted to their room by safety officers so they could grab essentials and then put up in another dorm. They were supplied with toiletries and bedding.
Today they are being told that their temp dorm is to be their room until the end of the summer. Each kid will be given crates and will be allowed escorted into the building to pack their belongings. Professional movers will them move all the stuff to their new digs.
I knew they would be taken care of and I am certainly grateful that I did not have to drive in there and move him! But as a parent I expected to be kept in the loop. Since NU had time to fire off a paragraph in the first 2 hours to the media, they sure as heck had time to notify 60 families!
Anyway the stresses seemed to be pressing today. But playing with baby bunnies with Joe while Jamie baked us zucchini bread proved to be VERY soothing. My 4 little dwarf babies have all been sexed and named. Jamie and I will each keep one. The little buck 3B's Kirk is going to Mary's friend. And 3B's Wilma will be sold at the Marshfield fair in August. Joe's babies are now 3 days old and their colors are becoming more distinct. We spent sometime pouring over rabbit color genetics trying to guess what color possibilities there are and what we may have.
I sat under the shade of the grape arbor grooming rabbits and Joe set up the bunny playpen under the shade of the lilac bush to give buns turns exercising on the green grass.
Stresses are many here in Blauss world. Lily the ten year old Beardie maybe dying. Champ the 14 year old Beagle certainly is. Bills are mounting and various financial needs get shuffled and partially paid. There are personality clashes between a few children here that wear on the rest of us! (I put that politely as sometimes they read my blog. but THEY know who they are.)
We know a number of friends whose long term marriages are crumbling or going down in a blinding flash. People around us are losing their jobs and Don's company hangs by a thread.
But today in the garden we harvested snap peas and zucchini and ate homemade food (that was partially home grown!) We played with the animals and the neighbor kids came over to clamber about in the tree fort, play ball, and argue through manhunt. We spotted a deer in the yard and baby bunnies were endlessly amusing.
I often awake in the early morning and fret about bills and responsibilities. But I made good my promise of finding moments to just sit back and enjoy and appreciate.
I was rather anxious last night and this morning about it. I know lots of woman feel that way but perhaps not for the same reason. I have only gotten one other mammogram done back when I turned 40. It too came out normal.
The results I expected to be fine so that is not really what had me concerned. Nor did I particularly dread the procedure itself. I am not squeamish about doctor things and have no particular problem stripping down so the mammogram itself holds no particular fears.
The fact that I had to find the place (The old Goddard Hospital building in Stoughton) and drive on the highway to and from it alone is what made me go so long between mammos. I hate driving on the highway. I am not overly fond driving on the byways for that matter!
I get lost easily and although I often know where I am I can never remember how it relates to anyplace else. So although this part of Pearl looks familiar I do not know what streets it connects to or where it ends at.
This morning I had to call 3 different people- first Good Samaritan, then Woman's Imaging, then my Doctor- to figure out just where I needed to be. THIS stresses me out.
Plus I think I had residual effects from Corey's near miss at Northeastern yesterday. Someone from the University FINALLY called today at 11 to let us know what happened and what the college plans were. I gave the lady (from Res Life, she was very nice) a polite but angry earful. There was no reason why NU should have waited 26 hours to communicate with parents. There should've been something on the website or sent to parents immediately. BTW not only do they send an email reminder when the bill is ready. But 2 days later they send a follow up to say if you have not gone online yet to check out the bill. So they know if you LOOKED at the dang thing. They certainly could have kept us in the loop yesterday. I think I got to her when I said my son was losing phone charge and had no way to charge his phone and although I was quite calm while I could speak to him I could not remain calm if I lost my only form of communication with him!
She agreed to pass along the concern. Anyway last night each kid was escorted to their room by safety officers so they could grab essentials and then put up in another dorm. They were supplied with toiletries and bedding.
Today they are being told that their temp dorm is to be their room until the end of the summer. Each kid will be given crates and will be allowed escorted into the building to pack their belongings. Professional movers will them move all the stuff to their new digs.
I knew they would be taken care of and I am certainly grateful that I did not have to drive in there and move him! But as a parent I expected to be kept in the loop. Since NU had time to fire off a paragraph in the first 2 hours to the media, they sure as heck had time to notify 60 families!
Anyway the stresses seemed to be pressing today. But playing with baby bunnies with Joe while Jamie baked us zucchini bread proved to be VERY soothing. My 4 little dwarf babies have all been sexed and named. Jamie and I will each keep one. The little buck 3B's Kirk is going to Mary's friend. And 3B's Wilma will be sold at the Marshfield fair in August. Joe's babies are now 3 days old and their colors are becoming more distinct. We spent sometime pouring over rabbit color genetics trying to guess what color possibilities there are and what we may have.
I sat under the shade of the grape arbor grooming rabbits and Joe set up the bunny playpen under the shade of the lilac bush to give buns turns exercising on the green grass.
Stresses are many here in Blauss world. Lily the ten year old Beardie maybe dying. Champ the 14 year old Beagle certainly is. Bills are mounting and various financial needs get shuffled and partially paid. There are personality clashes between a few children here that wear on the rest of us! (I put that politely as sometimes they read my blog. but THEY know who they are.)
We know a number of friends whose long term marriages are crumbling or going down in a blinding flash. People around us are losing their jobs and Don's company hangs by a thread.
But today in the garden we harvested snap peas and zucchini and ate homemade food (that was partially home grown!) We played with the animals and the neighbor kids came over to clamber about in the tree fort, play ball, and argue through manhunt. We spotted a deer in the yard and baby bunnies were endlessly amusing.
I often awake in the early morning and fret about bills and responsibilities. But I made good my promise of finding moments to just sit back and enjoy and appreciate.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Corey is fine
Matt's IM to Mary: "So you heard about the roof collapsing on Corey's dorm this morning."
Marys IM response: "WWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT?"
Matt's IM reply: "Guess you didn't."
I know those tall silent types have a shorthand way of speaking. but the rest of us would prefer a little more information please when announcing possibly upsetting news:>) In Matts defense he heard about the roof collapse when Corey left HIM a funny message and so he just assumed Mary already knew.
Marys IM response: "WWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT?"
Matt's IM reply: "Guess you didn't."
I know those tall silent types have a shorthand way of speaking. but the rest of us would prefer a little more information please when announcing possibly upsetting news:>) In Matts defense he heard about the roof collapse when Corey left HIM a funny message and so he just assumed Mary already knew.
One of those phone calls
Corey has inherited my mother's calm in a crisis. A cool head and the ability to have simultaneous thought is a must in a crisis. A sense of humor helps as well. My mom was great in an emergency. She passed that skill on to me and it seems Corey has inherited it as well.
Back in high school when his lung collapsed that second time he thoughtfully waited until his track coach gave the team lecture. Then he quietly asked to borrow a phone. "Ya I need to tell my mom to come pick me up. She is gonna wanna know that my lung is collapsing again."
The coach stared for a moment at Mr Cool and decided it could not have been too serious and that Corey was exaggerating. I mean who says their lung is collapsing without at least a LITTLE drama or concern?
The hospital staff too marveled at his calm. One of the doctors in particular who deals with collapsed lungs was amazed at how calm and collected he was even during the most exquisitely painful parts of the procedure to stick a chest tube into his lung.
So this morning when Corey beeped in with call waiting before nine in the morning I knew something was up. No college child calls before noon unless they are in the need of money or rescue.
"Ya mom I am fine. About 20 minutes ago I was woken up by a huge crashing sound and dust and stuff coming in through my window." (He is on the third floor, the 2 floors above him are empty as they are renovating those floors and the roof.)
"Then the cops came banging on my door. I answered in my boxers. The guy was like 'ya you gotta evacuate the roof is collapsing.' We went out the back and I looped around to the front. The whole facade is on the sidewalk and there is like 90 cops, fireman rescue guys and workers. I said to one of them. I better call my mom she always hears about these things. "
We then had the typical mother and son conversation. Were you hurt, how do you feel, what do you think? Where are your friends? did you eat? You are missing your first class? Let your prof know please....
Most of the dorm was empty but he headed over to touch base with the RA. When he can go back to his room, if that is even safe either to sleep or to get his belongings remains to be seen. He still has a meal plan available to him so he does not need the food in his kitchen or anything.
He does not want to come home but he has called me a handful of times over the last hour just to let me know hat he is doing and what is going on. Part of me wants to drive into town and make him sleep here tonight. But he is a man now and a competent one. He jokes about the situation but is respectful. He marvels that no one was injured below on the sidewalk. 20 minutes later and kids would have been pouring out of class and this would be a different story.
My mother would be proud to see how her grandson is turning out. As for me it feels good to know that for as grownup as he is he still wanted to call his mom to let me know he was ok.
My son my son...
Back in high school when his lung collapsed that second time he thoughtfully waited until his track coach gave the team lecture. Then he quietly asked to borrow a phone. "Ya I need to tell my mom to come pick me up. She is gonna wanna know that my lung is collapsing again."
The coach stared for a moment at Mr Cool and decided it could not have been too serious and that Corey was exaggerating. I mean who says their lung is collapsing without at least a LITTLE drama or concern?
The hospital staff too marveled at his calm. One of the doctors in particular who deals with collapsed lungs was amazed at how calm and collected he was even during the most exquisitely painful parts of the procedure to stick a chest tube into his lung.
So this morning when Corey beeped in with call waiting before nine in the morning I knew something was up. No college child calls before noon unless they are in the need of money or rescue.
"Ya mom I am fine. About 20 minutes ago I was woken up by a huge crashing sound and dust and stuff coming in through my window." (He is on the third floor, the 2 floors above him are empty as they are renovating those floors and the roof.)
"Then the cops came banging on my door. I answered in my boxers. The guy was like 'ya you gotta evacuate the roof is collapsing.' We went out the back and I looped around to the front. The whole facade is on the sidewalk and there is like 90 cops, fireman rescue guys and workers. I said to one of them. I better call my mom she always hears about these things. "
We then had the typical mother and son conversation. Were you hurt, how do you feel, what do you think? Where are your friends? did you eat? You are missing your first class? Let your prof know please....
Most of the dorm was empty but he headed over to touch base with the RA. When he can go back to his room, if that is even safe either to sleep or to get his belongings remains to be seen. He still has a meal plan available to him so he does not need the food in his kitchen or anything.
He does not want to come home but he has called me a handful of times over the last hour just to let me know hat he is doing and what is going on. Part of me wants to drive into town and make him sleep here tonight. But he is a man now and a competent one. He jokes about the situation but is respectful. He marvels that no one was injured below on the sidewalk. 20 minutes later and kids would have been pouring out of class and this would be a different story.
My mother would be proud to see how her grandson is turning out. As for me it feels good to know that for as grownup as he is he still wanted to call his mom to let me know he was ok.
My son my son...
Corey is fine
Nothing like getting the phone call from your college boy who says "I am fine mom but my roof just collapsed. I figured I better call you because you always here about these things."
Partial Building Collapse Closes Huntington Ave.
BOSTON (WBZ) ―-
Click to enlarge - Smashed concrete littered the sidewalk outside 337 Huntington Ave. Monday morning.
WBZ
-
Click to enlarge - 337 Huntington Ave.
WBZ
Scaffolding and concrete began falling from a Northeastern building at 337 Huntington Ave. around 8:30 a.m., according to EMS.
There are no reported injuries.
Police have shut down both sides of Huntington near Mass. Ave. as a precaution.
It's not clear yet what caused the collapse.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
kids available
| 25 kids sit in DSS offices through out Massachusetts every day waiting for a temporary placement. A few thousand MORE in MA are free for adoption but most are over age 6. In spite of federal laws prohibiting kids remaining in limbo (Fed law says birth parents have 15 months to get their lives together with one 3 month extension.) Yet the average kid in MA waits 5 years to be freed for adoption. Sibling groups cAn be difficult to place. Below is a lvoely little fAMily from Montana. But there are other kids much closer to home waiting for forever families. Case #: SBFT015203 Status: Active | |||||
| Name | Age | Gender | Race | State | |
| | |||||
| Markayla | 9 | F | African American/Black | MO | |
| Deanna | 7 | F | African American/Black | MO | |
| Deandrea | 4 | F | African American/Black | MO | |
| Dean | 3 | M | African American/Black | MO | |
| Willie | 1 | M | African American/Black | MO | |
| Markayla is the typical “big sister” of this bunch. She enjoys assuming the “mother” role during sibling visits. Markayla is an energetic and enthusiastic... View Detail >> | |||||
Baby Days
Today I have the fun privilege of caring for eight month old Baby C, a friend's little foster son. He is the cutest little curly haired, black button eyed, little bow mouth, creamy dark skin....oh I could go on and on and probably shall.
C is not like most baby's and I keep trying to tell my smitten children that he is false advertising. He goes to anyone, loves to sit on your lap, and never cries. Ever. I have had over a dozen infants, and even Julie who was pretty close to perfect was still not as content as he.
As I drove Julie over to Hanover today (where she was helping the Edwards reorganize their library) I was very conscious of my precious cargo in the back seat. I could not believe all the people who braked quickly or pulled out in front of me. Don't they realize I have an important person sitting backwards -facing in his car seat in the rear of my wagon? They really should be more careful.
It felt wonderfully strange having a baby on board. I have had as many as 6 in car seats before and I do not think I felt strange about it. But it has been a while. Too long.
As we sat on the living room floor, with the baby on a soft blanket Joe watched for a moment and asked, "Is this what you do all day when you take care of a baby?"
"Pretty much, " I laughed, "It can be hard to get much done when you have a baby around because you never know when they might need something. Plus you don't want to miss a thing!"
We all stared happily at the baby some more and then Joe said, "Ah doesn't it get boring?"
"Of course not" I replied. "Every moment is a new discovery!" But then I thought about it for a second. I really did love it all, the baby paraphernalia, the feedings, even the diapers. I loved the new changes- some small, some momentous. I loved learning the baby's rhythms and helping them incorporate into the family. Or helping the family adjust to baby.
But I can remember my sister in law, home with her newborn climbing the walls.(The mother climbing the walls, not the baby:) She shortened her year long maternity leave, after only 3 months because she was going stir crazy with boredom. Or my friend Reenie who felt desperate and trapped in the House, wishing she could bathe her three year old uninterrupted and feeling upset when the newborn demanded to be tended too.
At that time Reenie pulled away from friends, having 2 little ones felt like too much but how do you say that to someone? I did not realize it and thought she was just moving on, the inevitable growing apart of old friends. Had I only known I would have been in heaven giving her a break and allowing her to spend a little quite time with her curly haired daughter.
We are all so different, our temperaments or expectations. Every parent has a slightly different style and every kid brings their own personality into the mix. Some parent child matches are perfect fits and others are a bit ragged.
Plus everyone prefers different ages. Some love the magic of new life, others robust toddler hood. Still others want them to be able to get in and out of their own car seats (That is when Don really starts to like them.)
I have friends who enjoy other peoples children but have no desire for any of their own. Still others who are not even comfortable around anyone shorter than them. (One of my most favorite quotes of all time from a childless friend, "Why would I wish to converse with someone who has their own hand print on their face?"
You know from all my blabbering how much I like all the ages. When the school calls with a substitute teaching assignment I get excited no matter what the age.
But infancy and toddler hood is always like a prayer to me, thrilling, challenging, physical, emotional, spiritual.
Lugging the car seat, remembering to warm up the bottle, washing the teething toys, trying to navigate a bathroom run, a quick load through the wash, and how to prepare supper while holding a baby on my hip...
I know we need to make money to pay for the noisy messy children we are already raising. Also, I do have perfect recall of the pain and suffering entailed in working for the Department of Social Services. I am well aware that we are all squished in this house with its one toilet and leaky shower.
But I want want want want so badly to have another baby, a whole house of them. You may think I want to adopt and while that would be just fine, a temporary foster care placement is the same. It is the living in the absolute present moment with a baby that I adore. That singular moment when they discover their own hand, or do their fake laugh, or curl their toes in an effort to keep balanced while first sitting.
I understand that the lure of children does not exist for some people. I also understand that certain ages or abilities can be more appealing than others. I even get that you can love your children and not feel the joyful compulsion to be there for their every moment.
But I do not understand why I cannot continue to do this job I love above all else- The over and over ever present miracle of tiny human beings. I want to foster again.
C is not like most baby's and I keep trying to tell my smitten children that he is false advertising. He goes to anyone, loves to sit on your lap, and never cries. Ever. I have had over a dozen infants, and even Julie who was pretty close to perfect was still not as content as he.
As I drove Julie over to Hanover today (where she was helping the Edwards reorganize their library) I was very conscious of my precious cargo in the back seat. I could not believe all the people who braked quickly or pulled out in front of me. Don't they realize I have an important person sitting backwards -facing in his car seat in the rear of my wagon? They really should be more careful.
It felt wonderfully strange having a baby on board. I have had as many as 6 in car seats before and I do not think I felt strange about it. But it has been a while. Too long.
As we sat on the living room floor, with the baby on a soft blanket Joe watched for a moment and asked, "Is this what you do all day when you take care of a baby?"
"Pretty much, " I laughed, "It can be hard to get much done when you have a baby around because you never know when they might need something. Plus you don't want to miss a thing!"
We all stared happily at the baby some more and then Joe said, "Ah doesn't it get boring?"
"Of course not" I replied. "Every moment is a new discovery!" But then I thought about it for a second. I really did love it all, the baby paraphernalia, the feedings, even the diapers. I loved the new changes- some small, some momentous. I loved learning the baby's rhythms and helping them incorporate into the family. Or helping the family adjust to baby.
But I can remember my sister in law, home with her newborn climbing the walls.(The mother climbing the walls, not the baby:) She shortened her year long maternity leave, after only 3 months because she was going stir crazy with boredom. Or my friend Reenie who felt desperate and trapped in the House, wishing she could bathe her three year old uninterrupted and feeling upset when the newborn demanded to be tended too.
At that time Reenie pulled away from friends, having 2 little ones felt like too much but how do you say that to someone? I did not realize it and thought she was just moving on, the inevitable growing apart of old friends. Had I only known I would have been in heaven giving her a break and allowing her to spend a little quite time with her curly haired daughter.
We are all so different, our temperaments or expectations. Every parent has a slightly different style and every kid brings their own personality into the mix. Some parent child matches are perfect fits and others are a bit ragged.
Plus everyone prefers different ages. Some love the magic of new life, others robust toddler hood. Still others want them to be able to get in and out of their own car seats (That is when Don really starts to like them.)
I have friends who enjoy other peoples children but have no desire for any of their own. Still others who are not even comfortable around anyone shorter than them. (One of my most favorite quotes of all time from a childless friend, "Why would I wish to converse with someone who has their own hand print on their face?"
You know from all my blabbering how much I like all the ages. When the school calls with a substitute teaching assignment I get excited no matter what the age.
But infancy and toddler hood is always like a prayer to me, thrilling, challenging, physical, emotional, spiritual.
Lugging the car seat, remembering to warm up the bottle, washing the teething toys, trying to navigate a bathroom run, a quick load through the wash, and how to prepare supper while holding a baby on my hip...
I know we need to make money to pay for the noisy messy children we are already raising. Also, I do have perfect recall of the pain and suffering entailed in working for the Department of Social Services. I am well aware that we are all squished in this house with its one toilet and leaky shower.
But I want want want want so badly to have another baby, a whole house of them. You may think I want to adopt and while that would be just fine, a temporary foster care placement is the same. It is the living in the absolute present moment with a baby that I adore. That singular moment when they discover their own hand, or do their fake laugh, or curl their toes in an effort to keep balanced while first sitting.
I understand that the lure of children does not exist for some people. I also understand that certain ages or abilities can be more appealing than others. I even get that you can love your children and not feel the joyful compulsion to be there for their every moment.
But I do not understand why I cannot continue to do this job I love above all else- The over and over ever present miracle of tiny human beings. I want to foster again.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Blog catching up.
So,this week, up in the wilds of New Hampshire, without a laptop (since mine is dead dead dead) I well and truly missed blogging. I missed blogging almost as much as I missed the sun. We headed to our favorite vacation place in all the world Eastern Slope Camping Area on the Saco river for a Monday through Friday camping trip. In tents of course, actually more like a tent city.
This was my 37th year making the trip and we were curious to see what changes the new owners wrought. There may very well have been changes but they were certainly hard to see with the curtains of rain that fell almost continuously.
It rained, it poured, it rained sideways, it poured, it dripped, it drizzled, it poured some more. Our feet became so sodden and pruny in shoes that never dried that it is a wonder we do not all have foot rot.
There were no day hikes as it never stopped raining long enough to tackle any part of the Appalachian trail. There was no kayaking, the Saco river raged and roured over both camp beaches and at one point flooded the entire ball field and play ground. As a matter of fact as we packed out to leave on Friday (the first day we saw sun) kids were rafting in the outfield. The river was far too dangerous to kayak in its angry state. This meant no swimming as well since there needs to be a beach to swim from. Even the famous rope swing tree was up to its lower most branches in rushing river water. There were needless to say no cliffs to jump off from either. The water was almost level with them for most of our stay.
So no hiking, kayaking, cliff jumping, swimming, river walking, jogging, or rope jumping on this adventure vacation. Not much in the way of bike riding either since most of the camp roads were puddle filled or washed out completely.
I walked each day, usually timing it in the lull between rain storms. But I certainly did not get the workout I expected on this vacation we were all so eager to take.
Does this mean the trip was a washout? It may sound so but in reality we had a marvelous time. The steadily rising river was fascinating to watch. The kids loved hearing stories about my first camping trip there back in 72 when the entire campground was flooded so deep all the canopies were under water and you could raft down the roads. We went to the movies one afternoon leaving Donnie a precious few hours all alone at the campground. We saw the movie UP which was a great family movie.
We hit our favorite stores like Cool Jewels, the 5 and Dime and Zebs. We even discovered a new one run by Adama an African women of the Igbo (pronounced Eebo) tribe of Nigeria. She told us fascinating stories and gave Julie and Nikki free bracelets. She even gave Donnie a free carved hippo because he admired the carvings through out her store.
We had a campfire each night (Hanlons and Blausses can get and keep going a fire in ANY weather.) Donnie played his guitar and we all sang. I went through a whole bottle of Absolut which I have never done before in one trip. Normally a bottle lasts me close to a year:>)
We popped Jiffy Pop popcorn and the kids feasted on penny candy and Don and Jamie were in heaven with trips to the Bavarian Fudge store. There were new friends to make and puddles to splash in. (There was not one moment when Joe was completely dry.) The girls had fun taking long gloriously toasty showers without fear of anyone interrupting them.
We tried out the new Tupperware which was great for keeping the salt dry and flowing, the chips crisp and salsa fresh, and the bread from getting smooshed.
We played cards, and DS games. We checked out campers and planned which one we will get when we are rich. We read and worked in puzzle books trying and failing with those damn logic problems that look so easy but always catch us.
We did miss Mary and Corey who could not be with us. But other than missing Mamie and Corky we all had a good time. The kids were remarkably friendly towards one another especially in all that wet weather, you would've thought they would kill one another. But for all their exasperating flaws they really do know how to come together when it counts.
Four nights in close quarters, sharing the tents with each other, eating all squished together under one canopy. It could have been a wet and miserable time. Instead we laughed and splashed and put another log on the fire.
This was my 37th year making the trip and we were curious to see what changes the new owners wrought. There may very well have been changes but they were certainly hard to see with the curtains of rain that fell almost continuously.
It rained, it poured, it rained sideways, it poured, it dripped, it drizzled, it poured some more. Our feet became so sodden and pruny in shoes that never dried that it is a wonder we do not all have foot rot.
There were no day hikes as it never stopped raining long enough to tackle any part of the Appalachian trail. There was no kayaking, the Saco river raged and roured over both camp beaches and at one point flooded the entire ball field and play ground. As a matter of fact as we packed out to leave on Friday (the first day we saw sun) kids were rafting in the outfield. The river was far too dangerous to kayak in its angry state. This meant no swimming as well since there needs to be a beach to swim from. Even the famous rope swing tree was up to its lower most branches in rushing river water. There were needless to say no cliffs to jump off from either. The water was almost level with them for most of our stay.
So no hiking, kayaking, cliff jumping, swimming, river walking, jogging, or rope jumping on this adventure vacation. Not much in the way of bike riding either since most of the camp roads were puddle filled or washed out completely.
I walked each day, usually timing it in the lull between rain storms. But I certainly did not get the workout I expected on this vacation we were all so eager to take.
Does this mean the trip was a washout? It may sound so but in reality we had a marvelous time. The steadily rising river was fascinating to watch. The kids loved hearing stories about my first camping trip there back in 72 when the entire campground was flooded so deep all the canopies were under water and you could raft down the roads. We went to the movies one afternoon leaving Donnie a precious few hours all alone at the campground. We saw the movie UP which was a great family movie.
We hit our favorite stores like Cool Jewels, the 5 and Dime and Zebs. We even discovered a new one run by Adama an African women of the Igbo (pronounced Eebo) tribe of Nigeria. She told us fascinating stories and gave Julie and Nikki free bracelets. She even gave Donnie a free carved hippo because he admired the carvings through out her store.
We had a campfire each night (Hanlons and Blausses can get and keep going a fire in ANY weather.) Donnie played his guitar and we all sang. I went through a whole bottle of Absolut which I have never done before in one trip. Normally a bottle lasts me close to a year:>)
We popped Jiffy Pop popcorn and the kids feasted on penny candy and Don and Jamie were in heaven with trips to the Bavarian Fudge store. There were new friends to make and puddles to splash in. (There was not one moment when Joe was completely dry.) The girls had fun taking long gloriously toasty showers without fear of anyone interrupting them.
We tried out the new Tupperware which was great for keeping the salt dry and flowing, the chips crisp and salsa fresh, and the bread from getting smooshed.
We played cards, and DS games. We checked out campers and planned which one we will get when we are rich. We read and worked in puzzle books trying and failing with those damn logic problems that look so easy but always catch us.
We did miss Mary and Corey who could not be with us. But other than missing Mamie and Corky we all had a good time. The kids were remarkably friendly towards one another especially in all that wet weather, you would've thought they would kill one another. But for all their exasperating flaws they really do know how to come together when it counts.
Four nights in close quarters, sharing the tents with each other, eating all squished together under one canopy. It could have been a wet and miserable time. Instead we laughed and splashed and put another log on the fire.
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