Man Logic

I've been married 20 years.  In all that time Mike has never really commented about makeup.  I figured he didn't really need to give it much thought.  But what he's thinking about it surprised me.  It's kinda sweet, in a weird Mike sort of way.  Here's the true story:

Mike comes into the bathroom while I'm doing my makeup. He pauses and asks, "What are you doing?"

"Putting on eyeliner, " I reply.

"Are you putting it in your eye or on top?"

"On top, by the lashes..." I'm wondering what the heck he's thinking.

"That looks dangerous."

"I'm not pushing all that hard." Really, he's questioning makeup? Like he's really thinking I'm going to poke out my eye with eyeliner. 

"If you ever become a paraplegic don't think I'm putting that on you."

a year in the making

Last Christmas Barb Hogan came to a holiday party with a Yule Log.  It was a cake, made to look like a log, that was pure sugary white chocolate heaven.  Well, for some reason, I decided that I was going to make one for Christmas 2010.  Last week Barb, again, brought a Yule Log to a holiday party, thus reminding me of my plan...So I asked for the recipe.  Barb complied and even got me the liquor needed ~ Janice gave me the cake flour and a jelly roll pan.  All set.

Now I remember why I don't bake (or cook).  It takes patience.

I followed the recipe very well.  Separated the eggs.  Beat this.  Beat that.  Folded in this.  Folded in that.  Greased this.  Rolled that.  Cooled this.  Heated that.  Melted butter.  Chilled butter.  Waited 30 minutes here.  Waited 30 minutes there.  Did GREAT...until the icing.  While it tastes out of this world heavenly sugary chocolaty...it won't harden so I can make it look like tree bark.  In fact, it kind of looks greasy.  I'm not planning on serving this Yule Log until Sunday so I have time for it to harden...I just hope it doesn't get gross by then, because it sure tastes good now.

The Rest of the Story (posted 12/27/10):
The frosting did stiffen up, but I was unable to run the tines of a fork through it in order to make it look like tree bark ~ BUT all but one piece was eaten/taken home by the Barton Christmas crowd.  So it was not a wasted effort :)  Janice told me not to feel bad that it didn't look as good as Barb's because Barb's even looks better than the picture on the recipe.

anticipation

Christmas always makes me feel like a little kid.  There's a certain magic to the holiday ~ don't we all still want to believe in Santa? 
The Bartons are all ready.  Decorations are hung.  Presents are wrapped.  Food is bought.  Menus are planned.
So why do I have such anxiety?  Did I get just the right gifts?  Will the boys love what they are getting?  Will they feel slighted because we didn't go broke buying and buying and buying?  Will they understand the love and the thought it takes to buy special gifts?  Will they understand the responsibility we are attempting to have in order survive the commercialism and the overspending?
I hope we are teaching them the value of giving from the heart.
I pray for peace in my heart and within my family.  Merry Christmas Eve Eve :)

Winter Solstice

The Darkest Day ~ as the Earth leans its Northern Hemisphere at its farthest point from the Sun.

The first day of Hope ~ as the days will be getting longer and we are working toward the warmth that the Sun will bring when we get close enough.

We celebrate this day with food, friends, and poems.  Here is mine from Anne Bradstreet:  "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

Happy Winter

The highlight of the poem readings: 

Winter 2010
by Gracie Cassidy (age 9)

Here it comes
There it goes
Everywhere is snow.
Cold, shaking
Snow days yesssss.
We go by fires, heaters
under blankets.
Cuddle up with dogs and cats.
Winter 2010
Hello and goodbye.

day two

a second snow day in a row.  Wow ~ it's just snowed and snowed for two days.  Sunday we had a dusting (that was getting rained on)  Today:

I love the snowy view out my back door.  The red barn surrounded by a white world.  It's calming and peaceful . I'm thankful for the roof and the furnace as it's 16° out there.

Yesterday the boys played in the snow at Cassidy's house and played PS2 (old school) Yu-Gi-Oh! ~ which is hysterical ~ hearing teenage boys playing a game they LOVED as 8 and 9 year olds.  We were lazy and Mike plowed and plowed and went to bed at 8:00.  I always feel bad being such a slug when snow makes his life busy and stressful. 

What to do on our last "free" snow day?  I suppose I have to do something around the house.  I think today will be chocolate covered bacon making day ~ Patrick is going to take some to math class.  "What's better than math?  Math with food."   

SNOW DAY!

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, arrives the snow." ~ R.W. Emerson

There are really no other two words that can bring such joy and excitement as those two.  A day with no expectations.  A day with no responsibilities.  A day to wear the jammies.  A day to catch up.  A day to be lazy.  A SNOW DAY!

Today is a day to watch this blizzard.  It is beautiful outside, but I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere!

perserverence

Three (maybe four) years ago a friend gave me a little bit of his Christmas cactus from a repotting.  For the first two years, it did not grow.  I mean, it really did not grow.  Not a single leaf was added.  It didn't die either.  Just two little shoots in the dirt not doing anything.  Then I tried fertilizing it.  And that worked ~ it actually started to have new growth.  So I did what any impatient person would do, I added more fertilizer.  And it started to die ~ oops (too much of a good thing...)  So I repotted it into cleaner/fresher soil.  That was Spring 2010 ~ and it has taken off.  As a Christmas Miracle, it has bloomed.  One gloriously pink flower (and even  few buds more).

There is hope for my indoor gardening skills.

blessing

Today I was sitting at my desk while my class finished up their journals and got out their vocabulary work.  There was quite a bit of activity in the class so I didn't notice Girton and Betty Smith at my door at first.  They caught my eye and it took me a second, but I realized why Betty was there; sure enough, there was Adam Smith ~ all grown up.  I had Adam in class when he was in first, second and third grades.  He was special, even then.  One of the smartest kids I've ever had ~ understood everything and remembered everything the first time he heard it. 
Now he's in the Army ~ Airborn.  I had him tell my class a little bit about his job and some of the things he's done.  He's on leave and then will be leaving for Germany for the next three years doing training. 
What a blessing to see a student so successful all these years later.  I do love being a teacher.

dreadmill

I hate running on the treadmill.  Ask me.  I'll tell you.  I hate running on the treadmill.  However, there is a reason there are treadmills.  The most obvious, it's northeast Ohio.  It gets cold and it snows and the wind blows.  I went to the Y today for this very reason.  I'm proud of myself because I went, and I even realized a positive ~ I can speed train.  It's that amazing + button ~ so I'm practicing running at 6:58 minute miles.  Today I ran 1/2 a mile at that speed...not to shabby.
But that positive aside, I still hate running on the treadmill.  There are all sorts of ways running on the treadmill can go wrong.  I don't run straight, sometimes I go sideways.  If this happens, I'll fall off.  I might notice my shoe untied and bend over to tie it ~ woosh, I'll go shooting off the end.  I might just burst out in song ~ "All the Single Ladies" makes me sing out loud.  I might fart...really can't recover from that one... And it's just not fun to run on the treadmill.  There are TV's to look at, but again, I have to look up and I might lose my step and fall off.  I can look at the block wall, oh boy.  I can look at the people running in front of me and think all sorts of not-nice things...and then realize the people behind me are thinking those same not-nice things about me.
I will run this winter ~ at the Y ~ on the treadmill, but my opinion will not change.
I hate running on the treadmill.

oh, Christmas tree

I Love Christmas!

I really love Christmas.  The promise, the sparkle, the goodness, the partridge in the pear tree, Elf, the decorations, the magic.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the day to decorate the house (you can't do it before Thanksgiving...that's just wrong).  And for the first time in 21 Christmases ~ Mike helped without complaining.  Mike helped with a joyful heart.  Mike hung pine roping and lights on the fence in the BITTER cold.  We even put up the tree.  Lest you think Mike is the Grinch, he doesn't believe you should decorate for Christmas before December 1.  It has been the constant in our marriage.  I want the tree up and he refuses to help until December, so I've always gotten all the other decorating done, and waited until December for the tree.  Last year, Patrick was strong enough to bring the tree down from the attic ~ so the tree was up without Mike's help (before December).  I think the phrase, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" applies here.

But for whatever reason, I am thankful.

Patrick at 15 and Jacob at 12

It's HARRY POTTER day!

Happy Harry Potter day!

Back in 2001 Aunt Nita and I took 6 year old Patrick to the first Harry Potter Day Movie.  We'd read the books together and could not wait to see it on the big screen.  It's become a tradition to see HP with Aunt Nita ~ and we've added a few people along the way.  The first being Jacob ~ being that he was too little to go see the first couple in the theater ~  Today's group (minus Jacob) last assembled at Border's for the Midnight release of Book 7.  (Where we did not have to beat anyone up ~ thank goodness ~ but we were ready in case anyone yelled out the ending to the book!)
Today Patrick (15) will be driving us to the first part of the final movie.  Harry Potter has been the character of my kids' childhood.  It's exciting and a little sad. 

But today is HARRY POTTER day.  Have a happy one :)

give thanks always

A memorable Thanksgiving.  The one where Mike had to stay in bed because he got the stomach flu that Patrick had last week.  What a horrible day to be so sick.  The rest of the Madison Bartons went to Newbury and ATE and ATE.  I'm hoping that Jacob and I stay well...(mostly because I ate A LOT)

ooops, i did it again

I failed a test.
In school.
A real test.
Kind of a scary test, too.
I'm hoping I never have to go through the real thing ~
Because the consequences are pretty grave. 

We had a practice lock-down yesterday.  The fact that we have to practice lock-downs like we practice fire drills and tornado drills is a frightening commentary on American society ~ but that's another story. 
We're in our lock-down mode with the lights off, shades drawn, students hunkered down between my desk and the computers, silent as a class of mine can be.  And then it happens ~ the test ~  My assistant principal tests my door (locked) and then, as she's rattling the doorknob, yells, "Mrs. Barton! Mrs. Barton! Open the door!" 
I know I'm supposed to be quiet (and not open the door), but I can't help myself...I answer, (in a very whiny voice), "I'm not supposed to." 
At which time I knew I'd failed.  It's that whole quiet thing.  I gotta work on that.

and BINGO was his name-o

Bingo: the major fund raiser for our school district.  When your kid is involved in a high school sport, you are expected to work bingo ~ and they make it worth your while (sort of) by putting money into your child's "account".  I didn't have to pay anything for Patrick's soccer camps last spring, but I paid my dues, that's for sure.
Last evening was my second time working bingo.  We volunteers have to sell the instants ~ walking around hawking them by name, "50 cent fruits", "50 cent safari". Not all names are so benign.  Last year I had to sell ones, "50 cent fourplay" ~ it was wrong.  All day yesterday I was bemoaning my job-to-come and reiterating my "50 cent fourplay" embarrassment.
One of the $1.00 instants last night was called "Major Woody".  Fortunately you have to be on another level of the Bingo-levels-of-working to sell the $1.00 tickets.  None of what we sold last night had embarrassing names, but, of course, I didn't let that stop me.  While selling the "50 cent flashboard" I yell out, "50 cent fourplay".   Comments were made by the older lady I was walking by..."oh honey, we know what you're thinking about."  Why, Oh Why do I do this to myself? 

in the dark

cozy

peaceful

quiet

Not usually words used to describe a run, but I did something I've never done before, and those words fit.  I went running in the dark.  With it getting dark around 5:00 and my dislike (hate, hate, hate) of running inside on the treadmill, I drove up to Main Street and ran on the sidewalk.  I didn't have to worry about the traffic,  there were streetlights so I could still see the sidewalk, and I was almost invisible to the people driving by.  It was alone time in public.  It even started to drizzle (not something I usually enjoy) but tonight it just added to the peace and tranquility.  Me with nature.  I love to run.

65° and sunny

November

65°

Sunny

A gift after such a busy, crazy, never-ending week.

A day spent outside.

first a run

then cleaning up the flower beds

and helping the boys rake leaves.

Then time to laugh with old friends

(and laugh)

in beautiful wine country, Ohio.

I always forget that people come from all over

to visit the wineries in my backyard.

I love 65° and sunny November days.

Thankfulness

create in me a clean heart

It's been one of those days.  One of those disastrous days ~ not so much for the things that happened, but the attitude in which I approached everything.  grumpy, contentious, UGH.

My heart needs to be scrubbed of all the junk.  I need to focus on the important things ~ My wonderful husband who does dishes ~ My beautiful and intelligent children who bring laughter to the dinner table ~ My job which I find so rewarding on the days I focus on the positive and not the negative ~ My friends who listen to my complaining and still like me ~ My home that is a place of peace and love ~ My God who sees me for what I can be and loves me for who I am.

attitude IS everything

first snow

All week long the forecasters had been calling for snow Thursday night into Friday ~ and Mike was committed to attending Ledgemont High School's football playoff game at the field on Burrows Road.  The Redskins had gone 10-0 this year for their first undefeated season in history.  Once you've been a Ledgemont Redskin there's always a little bit of that in there.  He really wanted to go and witness this playoff game.  I whined all week long about it.  But Thursday he went to Ledgemont High School and bought two pre-sale tickets, knowing I'd have to go since we spent the money.
So we bundled up and drove into Thompson.  As soon as we hit the bottom of the hill by Ford Road ~ the rain turned into slush/icy rain/snow.  There we were; standing on the muddy cinder track watching the pre-game show at R.W. Sidley field at Ledgemont Local Schools.  There is something incredibly special about small schools.  Things are done as best they can be done ~ and often better than at larger schools.  The concession stand didn't just have warmed over pizza and soggy hot dogs.  They had three grills going ~ not only making good food, but keeping warm and putting that good grill smell in the air.  The band was very little ~ tiny even.  Without any trumpets and only two drummers they didn't even make much noise.  But they were there and were joined by the just-as-small Monroeville Marching Eagles to play the National Anthem.  (You certainly wouldn't see the Blue Streak Marching Band and the Perry Marching Band joining together on the field to do that!)  The Thompson and Montville ambulances were there ~ with the Thompson side turning on the siren for every Redskin score,.  Which was a lot, since they won 47 to 21.  The first playoff will in Redskin football history.

We woke up this morning to snow on the ground and leaves still in the trees.  This is the time that fall begins to battle with winter over our weather ~ and we all know how that ends.  I'm ok with that.  I think the snow is pretty even when I'm staninding on an old cinder track watching it come down on high school football players at a school where I used to work.  Maybe especially then.

old soul

I know this makes me sound like a crazy fool, but when I look into his eyes it's hard not to think I've known him forever.  My Tonka Dog is an old soul.  He is a sweet lovable big ol' dog and it's his job to take care of this family.  Every morning Mike's alarm goes off at a few minutes before 6:00.  This morning, when Mike didn't get up after his alarm went off, Tonka got up, walked to Mike's side of the bed and made sure Mike was awake.  He does the same for me if I lay in bed after the alarm.  But, because he's a good dog, if the alarm doesn't go off, he lets us sleep in.
After Mike lets him out, he comes back upstairs to my side of the bed and recently has started to bring me a bone.  He lays it on the bed and lets me pet him.  How funny is that?  By the end of the week I've got 4 or 5 bones scattered on the floor around my bed.  So I carry them back downstairs and put them in the dog toy basket for Tonka to use the next week.

I don't read dog stories anymore; I know how they all end.  For that very reason theses are the last two dogs I'll have ~ I hate the dog hair all over my house ~ I hate that they steal your heart and then tear it to shreds ~ but I love my dogs.

gather them in

This whole growing old thing.  I thought I'd conquered it.  I thought I had figured out how to do it gracefully.  I really thought I'd figured out how to stay young.

Since I turned 40 I've been confronted with that number.  With what that number means.  With the change that number brings.  And I thought I'd figured it out.  I thought I was ok with it.  I thought I'd fooled time.

But, even looking back at a few of these posts, shows me that I really haven't fooled anyone.

Another point in that directions ~ Friday at our annual MMS BOO-fete, Chad and I were talking about spelling, as is our running joke that he's a former spelling bee champion and they wouldn't let me in the competition room.  Our very young assistant principal says to me, "Did you have Chad in class?" 
Stab...Chad's 36.

It finally dawned on me that I can't keep going back to all those times I've been asked for my ID to convince myself (and everyone I tell) that I still look 21. ~ My new theory is that the youngsters working in these establishments have a running conversation ~ they pick people to ask for their IDs and watch the reaction.  Then they laugh about it (me) later in the break room. 

So, as in all of my times of inner turmoil, I turn to Bruce Springsteen.  In his recent interview with Brian Williams he talks about aging.  He feels that the band in better now than they've ever been.  He says, "If you do it right, instead of running from the years, you gather them in.  If you gather them in, something really wonderful happens.  Give me these years.  Gather all the time we can.  With the time we've got ahead ~ it should get better."

Gather them in.  Live and learn.  It's just going to get better.

everything I wanted

Today, my husband informed me, I got everything I ever wanted.  Which, as I think about it, is pretty much the truth.

It's October.  It could be cold and dreary.  It could be snowing.  But when I woke up this morning it was 61° ~ I knew it would be a beautiful day for a bike ride.  It was raining before church, but after church the sun was shining.  Mike put on the bike rack and loaded our bikes.  We drove to Chardon to the Maple Highlands Trail. 
What a cool thing, these old rail beds turned into bike paths.  They run though beautiful land, behind farms and industry.  It's a unique look at towns.  This one went over the Cuyahoga River and Taylor Wells Road with covered bridges!  We crossed some roads and ended up at the farthest trail head, Headwaters Park in Clairdon.  There, we made a pit stop.  I was so surprised when I walked into the women's outhouse and it looked like a real restroom.  There were recycling toilets.  Gotta love that improvement to outhouses!  It was a real toilet (clean, I might add) and did not smell.  The sign on the wall informed me that the system did not use chemicals or water and the waste was being composted below the building.  Mike did note as we were riding that Geauga County seemed to put a little bit more money into their bike trail than Ashtabula County did with theirs.  I bet the recycling toilet is a tad more expensive than the outhouses used on the Western Reserve Greenway Trail a few weeks ago.
As we were eating Mike's protein bar ~ which really isn't food  (I chewed and chewed and chewed my one bite.  It was rather like chewing gum.  The thing just wouldn't breakdown and let me swallow it.  Note to self: drink a little water before taking a bite of protein bar)  ~ he said, "Today is the day you got everything you wanted.  We're riding our bikes together and it's not competitive.  We're just having fun being together."
Very true, Mike, very true.
However, I must note that he pulled ahead of me on the trip back.  I kept up for a while, but he did beat me to the end.  I also have to admit, I enjoyed keeping up with him while I could.  I'm just as competitive as he is; I'm just not as good.

Painting the Picture

Today, as I was squeezing in my run, I realized how incredibly beautiful my route was today.  In my mind I can still picture it.  A scene is so much more than "pretty".  A scene is sight, sound, feel, and even smell.  How do you put all of that into mere words?  I'm envious of the people who can effortlessly paint the picture with their words.  I've been teaching word choice and "showing" with words instead of "telling" in my language arts class, realizing how difficult that actually is.  How do you turn all the senses into just words without it sounding cheesy?  I'll give it a try:

The sidewalk lies in straight squares disappearing into the row of trees to the left and yards to the right.  The sky is getting darker, but the patch of bright blue is not far off.  The wind is stronger since I've turned west and the wet decay of fall is all around.  I remember dripping in the heat just weeks ago along this same route.  I remember the bright blooms that would greet me at each landscaped yard.  Now my sleeves are long and the blooms are leaving with the first frost not far away.  Orange and red leaves litter the sidewalk next to their naked trees and crunch under my Mizunos.  The green and yellow leaves still hang on their branches and cover my head from the pitter patter of raindrops.  I jump over the puddles enjoying the cool of fall.

I wonder when I reread that if it will bring back the picture that I see right now in my head.  I think I'm better with a camera ~ what a gift to be able to use your words!

10/10/10

On the COOLEST date of the year we may have had the NICEST weather.  WHAT a GREAT day to be outside!  The skies were blue and the sun was warm ~ almost hot at times in the Muney Lot in downtown Cleveland.
Mike picked the best day EVER to have Cottage's Browns tickets.  We rode in with Chad and Nick and joined the CRAZIES in the Muney Lot, getting there by 8:30 and found the party was already in full swing.  We play 8 home games a year and people have old school buses, RV's, vans, campers, and an assorted lot of random vehicles all painted up Orange and Brown.  There were tents and tables and cornhole boards and grills all over.  People were flying their Browns flags and others were selling t-shirts, necklaces, hats, and orange boas.  The Boy Scouts were there selling something to the tailgaters and a little boy was selling his homemade ducktape wallets.  It's unbelievable that these people do this week in and week out and then spend more money getting bigger and better tailgating gear. 

To tell the truth, it is the best part of Browns games.  I can't remember the last time I went to a game and they actually won.  It's hard being a Cleveland fan...

There are 3 things that made today great.  However, due to the significance of the date, I will count them down, Top Ten Style:
10. I ate 2 1/2 Entenmann's crumb top doughnuts. (been eyeing that Entenmann table at Giant Eagle for a long time...)
9.  I learned they make whipped cream vodka.  How wrong is that?
8.  I took a nap, in bed.
7.  I got to hang with Mike all day long.
6.  Mike made the BEST macaroni salad ~ it tastes just like his mom's!
5.  The sun was shining ALL WEEKEND LONG.
4.  The boys cleaned the house while we were at the game.
3.  While playing cornhole, I SCORED on Nick Markijohn (more than once).  To explain:  He IS a "sponsored" cornhole player who has won a number of cornhole championships.  And, to make it even better, he was already mad because I called Chad (his usual and better partner) as my partner for the day.
2.  I BEAT my husband at cornhole.  He and Nick were playing against Chad and me.  And I scored against him a few times.  I guess my beating him was hard to take, because it didn't happen the next time we played. And probably never will happen again.  But that's ok, because it happened once.

and last, but not least, the TOP thing that made today great:
#1
Becky: "One beer please."
Beer Girl: "May I see your ID?"  (no better words could ever be spoken)
B: "Sure"  (because I happened to put it in my jeans this morning in case I died and no one knew who I was)
BG: "Wow, I never would have guessed that was your birthday."
B: "Thanks, that almost makes spending $8.00 for a beer tolerable."

I'm hoping she thought I was younger than the ID said and not older..but since I create my own reality, that's where I'm taking this story.

I {heart} technology

I remember my dad bringing home this amazing machine that plugged into our 19" TV with the turn knob dial ~ actually two turn knob dials, one for regular channels and one for UHF...that's how you got those really high numbers, like 12.  But this amazing machine hooked into the TV and put a game screen on with two slidey lines, one on each side, and a little "ball" that would bounce back and forth, and we had these little turn knob handheld controllers that moved the little slidey bars up and down so we could hit the little "ball".  Pong was the greatest thing to hit our house!  I think I was in third grade.
How far technology has come.  It never ceases to amaze me that the things I can't live without I couldn't even imagine existing 30 years ago.

• my Blackberry cell phone
• digital photography
• my lap top computer
• texting
• the Internet
• my activboard at school
• Invisible Fence
• wi-fi
• wireless printers
• my DVR
• I have an ipod smaller than any Walkman I owned that has over 2000 songs on it ~ with room for 10000 more...

Today, I tried to record the Today Show ~ Bruce Springsteen was being interviewed by Brian Williams, thank you very much.  For some reason, it didn't record.  Mike calmly suggests looking for it online.  And sure enough, one Yahoo search later I watch the 30 minute interview in its entirety. 
Technology is amazing.

Counting the Years

Another birthday has come and gone...I turned 42 on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.  42.  That sounds old, but I don't feel old.  I really don't mind being 42.  I proudly tell people how old I am; I've been carded buying beer more in the past two years than I have been in the last ten.  (I do have a theory:  The owners of big chains ~ Wal-Mart ~ Giant Eagle ~ are having their employees ask for ID of middle aged women so the middle aged women will buy more beer at their store.  And let me tell you, this is a good marketing tool.)
But back to 42.
I had a good birthday.  Mike gave me a very thoughtful gift...a waterbed for my head.  It's a pillow that has a pocket for water.  So far it's very comfortable and far superior to my Wal-Mart $5.00 pillow.  The boys made a coupon book filled with all sorts of jobs they can do around the house :)  I spent the day eating sugar.  I made raspberry bars for a birthday treat in my first period class.  JoEllen made me pumpkin tarts.  Julie and Darla bought doughnuts for our fifth period class.  Amy made cookies for lunch.  And I got quite a bit of chocolate throughout the day.  I really wanted to get DQ after dinner...but I was so full!!!  I need to mention how wonderful the doughnut tasted.  I don't remember the last time I had a doughnut.  I love doughnuts.  This one had chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles.  And it was fresh and gooey and delicious.  And I loved every second of eating it.  It's just wrong that a food can give me such pleasure.
We didn't do dinner or anything because Jacob had a B football game in Conneaut  ~ in the rain.  I guess it was kind of like a date...as Mike and I were walking into the stadium we were asked if we were with the team or parents.  When we said we were parents we were asked for money to get in.  Seriously ~ they charged for a 7th grade B football game.  I figure I can call it a date since it cost money.  As far as the football game, Jacob played well; he almost had an interception.  But we just went home and had dinner and relaxed. 
We take relaxation where we can get it these days.  Between football, soccer, and marching band we're busy everyday of the week!
So 42. 
42
I'm sure it'll be an interesting year!  As long as it's safe and healthy and gives me many laughs.

The Boss

It's been there for well over a year ~ I guess I can't run for fan-of-the-year ~ Anita, Kirsten and I finally went today to the Rock Hall to see the Bruce Springsteen Exhibit.

Did you know that they charge way too much for admission?  But they do give a "greater Cleveland" discount ~ so it only cost us $18.00.  We took a picture for a woman from Florida and rode in the elevator with people from New Jersey.  It's weird to see Cleveland as a tourist hot-spot!  Especially in late September.  I don't know why that seems so weird.  I like Cleveland and I'm glad others come here...
The Hall really is put together well and The Springsteen exhibit was worth seeing.  I found his music notebooks to be interesting.  It was very cool to see his words in his handwriting.  It made the very public songs much more personal.  How many times have I scribbled thoughts into notebooks complete with cross outs and doodles.  It would be hard to bare my soul, so to speak, to the world.  There were also many posters advertising his early shows.  "This Friday"  ~ now the dates are set months in advance and I have lots of time to anticipate a great show.  "Admission $2.00" ~ didn't I spend $102.00 to see the last show?  There was also the leather jacket he wore during Born to Run ~ it was SOOOO small. 

The exhibit is on the fifth and sixth floors with a circular staircase going up to the sixth floor.  On the walls are the words to the first verse of Thunder Road.  So, of course, we have to sing the song as we walk up!  And when we get to the top the MTV Unplugged concert is playing.  Red Headed Woman started just as we entered the floor.  It's fate ~ someday I will meet him, and it will be amazing.  (I'll have to practice a reaction so I don't just flop around.)

Happy Bruce Springsteen Day, Girls.  Thanks for a great time :)

Race Days

Since I ran the 1/2 marathon in May, I've decided my next goal is to run a 5K in under 22 minutes.  I just think that would be a really cool accomplishment, and honestly, a little harder than just finishing a 1/2.  I worked hard to run 10 minute miles when I first "re"started running a few years ago and I've gradually improved my time from there.  The very first 5K I ran was the 2009 Race for the Cure.  I did that in the very inexact time of 24:30 (I didn't have a chip so I relied on the clock...and I subtracted some for my delayed start.)
I ran the Pirate Triathlon this past July in 20:50 ~ but that was nowhere close to 3.1 miles.
A week ago, Saturday, September 11, 2010 I ran the Race for the Cure for the second time, and I bought the chip for a more exact time.
 an aside: Since my Mom's bout with breast cancer, the mission of the Susan G. Koman foundation has been near to my heart.  It takes money and awareness to bring good minds to research and find new and better treatments.  I am thankful everyday for the women who went before and were part of the research and development that allowed my mom to have a survival story.  I will continue to support the cause in the years to come.
So we signed up as a team ~ "Here's to the Girls!".  Some walked and some ran.


Kirsten, Craig, Jen, Brynn, Anita, Becky, Amy, and Heidi

 We went to the Survivor Ceremony before the race, which is quite emotional, so you start this race with tears and not so much adrenaline as you might want.  And it's so crowded...we ran on the sidewalk just to get around people to start the race.  But it was a beautiful day in Cleveland, Ohio and I ran the race in 24:17.  I was pretty happy with that improvement.

This past Saturday, September 18, 2010 we entered the Northshore Border War Triathlon as a relay team.  We being Trisha swimming, Helen riding, and me running.  Mike also has a team ~ and wouldn't you know it, we were the only two relay teams in the whole event!


Helen, Becky, Trisha before the race

 We placed second and won a valuable trophy.  The best part ~ I ran 23:53.  I'm chipping away at the time.  Dad says I need to run one mile daily at 6:00 and then I can easily run three miles in under 22 minutes.  I think I need to plan my training and see what I can do.  This might be exciting.

it must be me

Two days in a row with weird people experiences...

Today was Time Warner Cable technical support.  Our cable running through the DVR has been weird the past week.  On some channels the picture is kinda "pixelated".  There are whole lines/squares/rectangles of random colors and the sound goes like the computer is buffering.  It only happens on some channels and some are perfectly fine.  I called last week and they rebooted the DVR.  That didn't work so I called back today.  Steve from India listened to my explanation, but I couldn't tell if he understood me or not as he made no affirming sounds whatsoever.  He rebooted my DVR and had me check all the cables.  Because I can't stand the silence I start giving him updates as the thing reboots, "There are 3 squares.  Now 4."  etc.  I get the feeling he's not real chatty (my big hint was that he wasn't talking back to me) so I stopped giving updates.  Just as the thing is done, he asks, "What is on the TV now?"  I tell him it just finished and the TV picture is black.  I then realize the DVR has powered off, so I ask, "Should I turn the DVR power on?" 
No reply
So I ask again.  "Yes."  he says, rather sharply.
I do and then go on to explain that channel 3 is still showing that "pixelated" picture. 
No reply
I change the channel and tell him that channel 4 is working, but channel 5 is bad.
No reply
I continue the reporting of the different channels.
No reply
I ask if there is something else I can try.
No reply
"Do I need to get a new DVR?"
No reply
"Hello?  Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you."
"Well I just was wondering because I asked a question."
No reply
"Should I return this DVR?"
"Yes, you need to go to your nearest Time Warner Cable office and take your DVR."
"And they'll give me a new one?"
No reply
"When do they open in the morning?"
No reply
"Hello?"
Nothing.

Very helpful, Time Warner Cable.

Purple Circle

When you go out into the world you experience some really odd things.  It seems that I have many weird experiences at the grocery store, and today was no exception.  I do have to put in the disclaimer that I think people probably talk about me to their spouse when they return home from the store because I do walk away from my cart and leave it in the middle of the isle.  I even talk to myself about the stuff I'm looking at ~ sometimes I've even had cross words for myself because I've forgotten something WRITTEN on the list and had to go all the way back to isle 2.  So I get that I'm just as odd as the next guy, but...
Today, I finish shopping, pick a lane, unpack my cart and wait, because the guy was rather slow ringing me out...putting the Gatorade into bags...which was annoying, but certainly not a new experience.  The first for me was the little old man behind me.  He unloads his cart not using the plastic stick to indicate where my stuff ends and his starts.  That's really not a big deal because I know what I bought and he knows what he bought, but he didn't respect my space.  There's the belt, the computer screen, the credit card machine and the little check signing tray.  The person unpacking can have the belt, but the current customer gets the computer screen on ~ am I right?  This guy must not have taken that class in grocery store ettique school because I'm standing at the check signing tray waiting for slow guy and old guy's cart is INCHES away from bumping me.  I'm trying to watch the computer screen and make sure stuff isn't rung in more than once (because that does happen: "I only had one Gatorade."  "Really?  Oh yeah."  If I hadn't been watching that time it would have cost me $7.49.) but now I have to lean over his cart to see.  In fact, he has a better view of my purchases than I do because he's right in front of the screen with his cart still between us.  At this point, he's trapped himself.  He's come in so far, the woman behind him starts to put her stuff on the belt.  He can't go forward without hitting me and he can't go back without hitting her.  I wanted to laugh at the craziness of the situation, but I couldn't think of a polite way to laugh at the impoliteness.  When my order was finally rung up and stuffed into my cart, I had to stand in the next checkout lane and lean over the guy's cart to sign the credit card machine. 
My purple circle got no respect.

Hot Summer

This has been a HOT SUMMER ~ and, as August
comes to a close and school starts, it's hard to keep

Gerbra Daisy

my garden going like it's May and just beginning.  A few posts ago I posted a picture of a Daisy starting to bloom, and here she is ~ standing tall ~ in the BRIGHT August sun.
So I've got week one of school under my belt and as I look week two in the eye this Sunday night, I see lots of soccer and football and marching band on top of homework and lesson plans.  Here's to the end of all day gardening (well an hour and then time enjoying).  It's been a great summer and I look forward my fall garden days when I can transplant the things I want to.  That's what I love about my gardens...moving and changing and anticipating next spring.

Reason # 128

Why I love my husband #128

I really am cheap. I don't tend to shop for myself too much. (Although I've gotten better at it as I've started to make more money!) Usually when school starts I try to purchase one or two new outfits to replace the stuff that's worn out, but this year I kinda thought I'd skip that and just save my money. But yesterday, the Last Summer Sunday Mike says to me, "Want to go school shopping?"

He is too sweet. We went to Kohl's and I got a skirt, pants and 4 or 5 new shirts. So exciting to have new things to wear for a new year. To brag about my husband a little more ~ he is the best shopper. He picks stuff out and wants to see each thing I try on. AND he's honest about how things look ~ without hurting my feelings!

But the BEST are the shoes I got for $4.99.

Very cute ~ and fun to wear! Let the new school year begin!

Big Day

8/19/2010 ~ The day Patrick turned 15 1/2.

He had Band camp and Soccer from 8 until 3 ~ so I picked him up at 3:00 and off to the DMV we went. I remembered his Social Security Card and his Birth Certificate and they checked him all in. Then they asked him to take the vision test. He couldn't see row A2 or B2 or C2 and then he says, "Oh, my right contact fell out during band camp. But I can see with my left." And he passes the vision test.

He is off to the computer to take the official driver's test...and he is kicked off at question 35 with a 75% passing score. He has his temporary driver's license.

But he couldn't go drive right then (Hello, route 20 is REALLY busy) because we had to work the concession stand at the football game...from 4:30 to 8:30....somehow the time wasn't mentioned to me when they asked me to work. So at 8:30 he drove around Square's Acre ~ past Judy's House ~ which seemed kinda nostalgic to me.

It was a very surreal feeling to hop out of the driver's seat and into the passenger. He went nice and easy and then I said, "ok, you're going to take a left turn here. Put on the blinker." and he had no idea where the blinker was. How silly of me not to go through all that!! We stopped and looked at all the buttons. He managed to push the tow package button and I couldn't remember where it was to turn it off! I don't think I've ever used that one.

He did very well, except that he tended to drift to the right and I would leeeaaannnn left...

After our Square's Acre circle we switched places back and I drove to Bluestone and we switched again. He drove the last mile home down a dark and rather busy Middle Ridge Rd. He turned into our curvy driveway and started to pull into the garage.

Conversation:

me, "Are you sure you want to pull into the garage?"

P, "Sure"

"Really, I hit the thing like once a month and you're ready to do it on your first day?"

"Point taken." And I parked the Yukon :)

I did VERY well and I was proud that I didn't scar him on his first experience!

Let the driving begin.

Garden Geek

I can't help myself. I am drawn to my flowers. They are a reminder of what is beautiful in this world.

These bloom so beautifully every year ~ despite the fact that no matter what I do, the leaves get powdery mildew. I'll keep working on that one, but I'll enjoy these blooms as they come.

Impatiens remind me of my mom. She always planted them along the front walk and in planters. They were at the center of one of the three times I've ever heard my mother swear. It was the week before my wedding and Mom was out mowing the grass. She comes stomping into the kitchen madder than I'd seen her in a long time and she says, "Damn, mower." My world was rocked. Grace swore. It must have been a horrible disfiguring accident caused by a lawn mower. "The steering went and I mowed over all my impatiens." Granted, she would not have been as upset normally, but THE WEDDING was in a week. I searched all over for good looking impatiens to replant them ~ not an easy task in the middle of July. I think I found some, and she replanted them and it must have been ok, because the wedding went on.

These Blanket Flowers are really interesting. I bought these once, and they reseed and regrow each year. They are not quite weeds, as they don't always do well when I relocate them ~ but they come back each year and bloom all summer long. (and they do ok when the dogs run them over too)

And finally, after a few weeks of no Gerbera Daisies, one is blooming. What a beautiful sight.

Stuff Breaks

Mike went down to the basement yesterday to put softener salt in the softener. While there he noticed the water tank was only about half full. This is rather odd because our well keeps that thing full. We go to the Cassidy's for swimming and lunch and when we get back Mike checks the level again. Still about half full. Oh No. Water is not coming in from the well. Luckily we have a "back-up". ~ (much like Jacob playing Up and Down the River) ~ Mike turns on the timer for the second well, and it brings in some water. We decide to take very short showers and not use any more water than necessary ~ who knows how long it will before before we can get this figured out. Worst case scenario: it's run dry. At this point I'm looking up in the sky to see if that black cloud is back...

This morning it wasn't much fuller than the night before ~ so we figure the "back-up" isn't really going to keep us in the water we'll need. Mike manages to get a hold of the well guy that the Cassidys used when their well went bad last summer. He was able to come around noon.

Luckily the well had water in it ~ but the pump was bad ~ broken shaft. So we spent $830 on a brand new well pump. Aren't you jealous you don't have a new one too?
Stuff breaks...and you have to fix it.

August Beauty

"I most often find

that happiness

is right where

I planted it."

0% chance of rain

Yesterday was the Old Fashioned Days kick-off parade. All week long, looking at the weather forecasts had shown a great chance of rain on Thursday. But Thursday morning we wake up to wet ground and the Holly Strano telling us that it was going to clear in the morning and we were going to have a beautiful, less humid day with no chance of rain. Great! The band had 4 days of practice and was ready to march. At 5:15 Jake picked up Patrick and Mike and I left the house to pick up Jacob from football practice. When we got to the corner of 528 and Middle Ridge we see that the traffic is backed up heading into town. We make the decision to not come back that way after we get JB. As far as parking, we don't have many options if we don't go 528, but it's a beautiful evening and we decide to park at Amy's house, about 1/2 mile from town. As we're walking toward town, I realize that 1/2 mile seems a lot shorter when I'm running! It was quite a hike to the parade.

The parade was it's usual hour long, but with much fewer twirler/dancer groups! Maybe only 8 or 9. The band was great and I think the whole town was there. I ate my cheese-on-a-stick and funnel cake (with powdered sugar AND cinnamon sugar) and the boys had their lemonade. As the parade was ending we see a blackish cloud descending from the northwest. We tour the square and make our way to the dunk tank to meet Tammy and figure out how we're getting the boys to their campsite. When I meet Tammy it's starting to drizzle just a bit. We figure out the logistics of travel and head our separate ways. We're walking back to our car in the slight drizzle when we see it ~ "Oh, no! It's a WALL," Patrick says. Sure enough, a WALL of rain is just feet in front of us. We just get SLAMMED with water. It was just like a movie...water coming straight at us. It's swirling and coming sideways like buckets were just being thrown at us. We all start to run, trying to keep our phones dry! Mike gets really ahead and I stop under a tree to wait for JB who is really far behind. A lady opens her front door and motions for me to come up on her porch. I do, how nice! and wait for Jacob. He shows up asking why we didn't wait for him! Finally Mike and Patrick pick us up in the truck. It was UNBELIEVABLE! WE WERE DRENCHED!

The Scar

Over the weekend we went to the Gabor's property for their annual picnic/vacation celebration. The kids all had their tents set up in the woods. (The girls on one side of the pond the boys on the other.) That Sunday afternoon the kids were playing hide-and-seek tag. They played for quite a while and Mike and I went for a hike. When we came back we see Patrick has clotheslined himself ~ ran into a tent rope ~ hit him right in the throat. He's got a pretty good rope burn up his neck. He said he saw one rope and ducked but got the second rope.
Then we see Jacob. He too has been clotheslined...right across the eye. He was so lucky that it didn't get his eye. He put some ice on it and continued to have fun. When we got home I catch him looking at it in the mirror. He's making sure there's still blood showing ~ and he says, "I think this part (pointing to the left of his eye) is going to scar. Cool."

Give a Dog a Bone

Here's my Fonzi Dog. We think he was born November 2007; he joined our family in March 2008 ~ so he's almost 3 years old. He's a crazy little dog. He weighs about 50 pounds ~ but has no qualms taking on our 70 pound Tonka Dog. He's got a cute tail that curls up and it wags a lot (just like in this picture.) His ears usually perk out ~ but he couldn't figure out why I wanted him to be still and take his picture, so they aren't out in this shot. He chases everything ~ motorcycles, garbage trucks, runners, chipmunks, groundhogs, deer, but he especially likes shadows. He'll lie in the sun during the day and wait for a bird to fly over so he can chase the shadow. If you throw a ball he'll chase the shadow and almost get bonked in the head when it lands. When I give the dogs bones Tonka likes to lick his and bury it. Fonzi will chew and chew and chew all day long. Tonka sometimes gets an upset stomach when he chews a bone, but never Fonzi.

Yesterday I gave the dogs bones. Fonzi chewed his all day long. When he came in the house he left it on the porch, right outside the sliding door so he knew where it would be when he went back outside. At bedtime he came to bed like always and slept on his blanket on the floor. He usually jumps on the bed, but not always. Around 2:30 I hear him whining. I realize he's on the other side of our bedroom door. He must have gone downstairs and the door swung too far for him to get back in. So I let him in and he immediately jumped on my side of the bed. I shooed him off, but as soon as I laid down, he was curled up right next to me. I kinda scooted him over because a 50 pound dog is rather uncomfortable to have smooshed up against you. Around 4:00 I'm awakened by a warm wet...Fonzi THREW-UP all over the bed AND ME! There was no warning dog puking sounds...just warm and wet and stinky. SO VERY GROSS! I get up and have to strip the bed and wash off. As I'm stripping the bed I notice a spot on the carpet. While I'm taking the sheets and blanket downstairs, Mike cleans the carpet and I notice another spot downstairs. It's then I realize that it's not puke ~ it's poop. The dog had uncontrollable, explosive diarrhea all over me.

Damn Dog.

Pirate Triathlon

Today was the Pirate Triathlon at Fairport Harbor. A few months ago Helen Curtindale got the bright idea that this would be a lot of fun to do as a team. (She was right) She wanted to bike the 10K, I'd run the 5K, and Tom Hunter said he'd kayak.
Throughout this process of figuring out if we were going to do this and who would do what I asked Mike if he wanted to bike and I'd run and we could find someone to swim. No, no, he didn't want to do that. But after I agreed to be on Helen's team, he decided he wanted to do it too. So Terry Byers said he'd swim and Jake Byers said he'd run.
Mike has been very excited/nervous/anxious about the whole thing as this was his very first race of any kind. Being that it was my third such event I was the old pro (HA). We got there (early) and as I was standing around I see these hats...and I looked to the heads...and it was the Morgans! Of course they dressed up and if there had been a contest, they would have won :)
It has been SO very HOT and HUMID this past week but the weather forecast all week called for a cold front to push through Saturday and much cooler and less humid conditions on Sunday. Well, the front didn't roll though until 7:45 am Sunday. The race was delayed while the lightning flashed over the lake and the wind picked up along with the waves. But it did clear, and they cut the swim/kayak portion to only go east in the water and run back to the transition area.
It poured during the kayak portion and during the bike portion. Erin and I tried our best to keep our shoes dry by standing under a tree (and Erin put her parrot over her shoes). Helen beat Mike back to end the bike portion and I was off ~ I even passed a few people on the big hill up High Street. Jake Byers smoked past me during the end of the first mile, so Mike's team beat ours. (We did it in 1:23:30) The run was great ~ it wasn't quite 3.1 (I checked google maps and it's right around 2.8 miles) but I did it in 20:55. Not too shabby for this 41 year old.
They made us all write our age on our right calf ~ and it was kind of fun to pass much younger people!

Plus Size ?!?

The Today Show, just this morning, had a "Plus Size" model on the show. She's a size 10. She's considered a PLUS SIZE model. What is wrong with the world?

So I worked out and am currently eating Rice Crispy Treats. Fortified cereal ~ that's kina like health food.

20

20 years ago I married my best friend. I do, in many ways, feel like I won the lottery. We've had our ups and downs, of course, but through it all, we've grown closer. I can't imagine sharing life with anyone else.

summer song

"In summer, the song sings itself."

~William Carlos Williams

My favorite Black-Eyed-Susans.

A happy flower that grows like a weed, spreading happiness wherever the wind takes her.

This is the flower of summer.

Another Milestone

Today Patrick started Driver's Ed.

I have a kid who will be driving very shortly.

I am having trouble putting all the feelings running through me into words. I am so proud that he is growing into such a fun, responsible young man. Some moments I look at him and I see my little boy and I want to be able to pick him up and swing him around...then I realize he's 6'2" and besides being impossible, he'd kill me.

Two years ago, when we first got the jet skis, I was sitting behind Patrick as he drove the ski. Control freak that I am, I was yelling, "Slow Down", "Don't turn so sharp"... I could hear myself and how horrible I sounded, but I couldn't stop it either. I had a vision at that moment of how it would be teaching him to drive a car. I don't remember either of my parents yelling at me when they taught me to drive...I had good roll models ~ and I'm hoping I can do the same.

Patrick came home from Day #1 of Driver's Ed with a pamphlet for Mike and me. Here's the advice from the "Teaching Your Teen to Drive" pamphlet:

"Provide solid cues such as: "Let off the gas and begin to brake" instead of panic-ridden versions such as: "Slow down! Slow down!" and "Hit that brake before you hit something else!""
(Was the pamphlet rider sitting on that jet ski with me?)

"Stay calm, and try not to laugh at inappropriate times. New drivers are likely to make mistakes and are very sensitive to the additional parental demands that you're exerting."

So, here we go. In a month Patrick will be 15 1/2 and be able to get his temps. In February he'll be a full-fledged driver. While that makes me happy (so much less carting around!) it makes me realize how quickly he's grown up. I miss that little boy. I want to be happy for where he is, and I am ~ I really am ~ but, wow, that kid stuff FLEW by me. And that is just a little bit sad.

The Roller Coast of America ~ Ride On

Yesterday we went to Cedar Point. I haven't been there since the Magnum XL200 was a new ride...and it's 21 years old. I remember being afraid to go on it because the hill was SO big and the drop was SO steep! Then, later in the day when I'd finally worked up the nerve, it was closed due to high winds. (which went to show me how scary it was that WIND could blow it off the track) I thought I had just gotten too old to enjoy roller coasters anymore. Which was sad...because I LOVED to ride roller coasters.
My children had never been to Cedar Point. We'd been as crazy as crazy could be riding the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake the summers before it closed. How I loved the Big Dipper ~ but that's a story for another day. But they had never shown any interest in riding the "scarier" roller coasters at Geauga Lake ~ so I wasn't going to take them to Cedar Point...the Roller Coast of America. At the ages of 15 and 12, they got their first trip. Now Cedar Point has many, many new rides that are much higher and faster than the Magnum...

I finally rode the Magnum, as you can see in the picture, and I loved every minute. (each of the 4 times I rode it) But the greatest roller coaster face is Jacob's in this picture. It says it all. (by the way, he rode it 3 times)

Some amusement park observations:

1. Bikini's are not a good fashion idea for most everyone.
2. Roller coasters made of wood are by far the truest roller coaster experience EVER. The Gemini is still a great ride, but you have to learn to brace yourself so your body doesn't get too beat up. The Blue Streak was our first ride of the day and our last. While there is no replacement for the Big Dipper, (whose hills and turns I know by heart) these two help me remember why I loved it so. The Mean Streak was closed, so we didn't ride every coaster ~ but that's the only one I missed.
3. Fridays are a good day to go. Most ride lines were 15 minutes or less (many were walk-on). We only waited 30 minutes for the Millennium Force and the Top Thrill Dragster, and we waited an hour for Maverick
4. Roller Coasters made popular in the 80's and 90's that take you upside down are the WORST. The Corkscrew just bangs my body and head and gives me a headache. Same with Raptor and Mantis. I liked the feeling of standing up and having my feet dangling while falling down the hills, but I couldn't take the head banging.
5. I LOVE THE MILLENNIUM FORCE and THE TOP THRILL DRAGSTER. They were the smoothest and fastest and most AWEsome rides. The Millennium takes you up so so so high and just lets you fly down. Lake Erie and the park looked so beautiful from that high up. (rode it twice) The Top Thrill Dragster is A-MAZE-ING. Mike really just made me go on it. To say I was nervous is a gross understatement. While standing in line you read a sign that says, "Occasionally the ride fails to clear the top of the track. If this occurs the car will slowly return to the launch position." Seriously...I would wet my pants. But we watched it go up and over many many times all day long, so I hoped my ride would follow suit. The worst part is sitting in the car waiting for the launch. Then it launches and it is truly incredible. I can not put into words how much of a fun adrenaline rush that is. You shoot straight up and arch right over. You are then looking straight down at the ground and you just FLY. I only did it once, but I would have loved to do it again.
6. Some people live to ride roller coasters. While I think it's a lot of fun. I'm not going to carry around paper to record how many times I've hit a ride. There was a guy in front of us in line for the dragster; he'd ridden it 138 times. To judge, he was weird.
7. 12 hours at Cedar Point may be 15 minutes too long.
8. You have to be rich to eat and drink...Mike thinks yesterday cost as much as our Alaska trip.
9. Once you are gross and sweaty, it just doesn't matter anymore!
10. I am not too old to enjoy roller coasters. Ride On!

waitin' on a sunny day

"I'm waitin', waitin' on a sunny day
Gonna chase the clouds away
Waitin' on a sunny day

Hard times baby, well they come to to us all
Sure as the tickin' of the clock on the wall
Sure as the turnin' of the night into day"
~ Bruce Springsteen

This came on the radio today (E Street Radio). It was a live version, so the crowd was singing the chorus and Bruce had two little girls come and sing the chorus also, just like he did back in November in Cleveland. It brought tears to my eyes. With everything going on: Church drama, keeping Northshore afloat, Cottage struggles, affording college, my toenails being ugly... This "Hard times baby, well they come to us all" line just hit me. How true. My problems are no greater than many people's ~ they are probably less than most.

So I'm waitin', waitin' on a sunny day.

I'm actually claiming every day as a sunny day. Thanks Bruce.

Black Cloud?

These are our jet skis. We bought them used and got a really great deal...so it's really ok that the one on the left has never worked and is not worth fixing even if we could. See, Polaris doesn't make jet skis anymore so getting parts is a problem. But the one on the right runs and we have a really cool, two-ski trailer.

But to tell the whole story, I have to back up. Over the winter there was a HUGE GIGANTIC MONSTROUS black cloud over our heads. The upstairs furnace quit working. $$$. My washer and dryer (three years old) both started acting funny. The dryer was making horrible metal scraping noises as it ran ~ and the washer had knobs that didn't work and it wasn't agitating anything but me. Then the refrigerator started freezing everything. I figured if a fridge is going to go bad, freezing is the way to go, but we had to keep turning it off so stuff could thaw out. So out came the guy from Fred's appliance. $$. The washer and dryer were SHOT ($$$$) but he could fix the fridge. ($). So over the course of three weeks all gets fixed and/or replaced. We even had to return the brand new washer because it broke the first day home... Can you say, "Black Cloud"? I was afraid of what was going to happen next.

So when the blender that I got as a wedding present didn't work, I didn't think too much about it. Black Cloud or no, blenders don't really last 20 years. I threw it away and figured I'd do without the smoothie. Then the TV in the kitchen wouldn't work. At this point I'm really about ready to give up. I can't afford to replace the TV even if Matt Lauer and I have a standing coffee date every morning. Then the toaster wouldn't toast. "Wait a minute," my smart husband says...and he resets the GFI on the outlet in the kitchen. Out to the trash I went to retrieve my blender.


All this being said, let me go back to the jet skis. Mike went out this spring to put the battery in the one that runs. It goes in easily, gas is full, and the machine starts right up. Then it dies and won't start again and is reading a low something message on the display. Done. We know it's not worth fixing. They sit in the driveway for a few weeks. Mike talks to the guy who fixes jet skis and asks him to take a look to see if they are worth buying for scrap. Jet Ski Man calls Mike and tells him it runs fine. He just needed to turn on the gas.

Reason to Smile

When I look out my window today I don't see this sight. The grass is brown and the plants are drooping. We haven't had significant rain in a while and today marks day 4 of over 90 degrees. But, kind of like everything in life, there is always another day. In June I had these gorgeous daisies. I still have these daisies, and they will be gorgeous again. I water through the dry spells and remember how they looked on these, the hottest of the hot days, when they are saggy and sad.

And that is a reason to smile.

Dead Fish Day

I am sad. I am sad about things at church. I am sad that I don't always have the right answers. I am sad that I don't know what to do right now.

I am sad that when I went to feed my fish I found two floating on top. I am sad that while I was scooping them out (and throwing them into the woods ~ nice and ceremonially) I found another dead one, and another, and another, and, yep, another. I had six dead fish.

I have one live one.

SO...I decided I better change the water. I reached in and pulled out the pump and filter...and I found a dead snake on the filter. That was pretty gross.

My fish pond. Dug by my son and my husband as part of the 21 days of Becky...back in 2007. I bought 10 goldfish (30Cents each). Within the first two weeks three died, but those seven... Those seven were hearty buggers. They survived three winters covered with snow and ice and freezing temperatures. They survived hot summers and scummy green water. Until today. Dead.

Should I buy the live one a friend? He's so big and a 30Cent goldfish would be so little (and probably not 30Cents anymore).

As I was refilling the pond with the hose my Tonka dog stood on the edge and drank...as soon as I turned off the hose he jumped on in. He knows how to cool off on these 90 degree days! Maybe Tonka dog will be Nemo's friend.

Spring Flowers

“Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without
feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.”
― Lindley Karstens

I love to dig in my gardens. You couldn't call them beautiful gardens or even pretty gardens. They certainly aren't "well-planned" gardens. They are just flowers that I love growing where they grow. Here we have spring favorites...

Yellow Columbine ~ reminds me of Colorado. It grows wild in the mountains and can be found during any trail hike. It's such a complicated flower for it's small size and it grows so well in my shady yard.

White Peonies ~ My Grandma Allen grew these all over her backyard. In my memory they are literally everywhere in the yard. She had this great tree stump that made a Y. My Grandpa nailed a board across the top of the Y and it was a great seat. You could sit and look at all the Peonies. These flowers make my soul smile.

Giant Red Poppy ~ The first great flower of spring. They are SO BIG and SO RED. They grow so tall on their thick green stem with the huge bud of promise that one morning just POPS open and you have the most magnificent flower. They don't last long and I tend to take lots of pictures to remind myself of their glory.