Libby's Clothesline

Tradition and following the Teacher

2011-12-09T23:30:00.000-05:00

Another Christmas season is upon me, and I'm just not feeling it. It could be stress, I don't know. I feel as if my life is one fast merry-go-round that has no stop button. Christmas is my favorite holiday. We decorated our tree tonight, but deep down I wonder if it's a waste of time and resources. I know what experts say about creating family traditions. Pulling down boxes and boxes of construction paper projects, silly snowmen, and angels was always my favorite day of the year. It was like a treasure hunt to pull out each decoration or ornament and "remember." I watched my son do that tonight. He seemed to want everything out!

Maybe it's not Christmas I have a problem with so much as the merry-go-round feeling I have. I've had little time for quiet, play, or rest, and it shows. These past 8 weeks I have been rushing, giving orders, and keeping up with the routine, trying not to fall behind.

I'm bothered that I can't give my time, money, and energy to what matters most to me, my family, friends, and my favorite causes. I feel "guilt" that while I'm putting up a tree, there are children who are hungry and unloved, there are adults hunkering down by a small fire under a bridge, and there are people all around me who don't really know love at all or the true Creator of Love.

And yet, what am I doing about that? So we just go ahead and put up a Christmas tree, it's what we always do.

It's not enough to want to do something.

A short but compelling story in the gospel of Matthew chapter 8 came to mind as I was mulling this over.

18 "When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

While I believe there could be many possible applications of this small, but cutting tale, what stands out to me was how the man, a teacher, would not give up his "tradition," a human, earthly tradition, for the sake and joy of following Jesus, the ultimate Teacher!

What tradition will I, shall I, should I forego for the sake of following Jesus during this very "traditional" time of the year?

In Theatres: Jane Eyre

2011-04-16T08:45:00.041-04:00

I have been waiting with bated breath for Focus Feature Film's Jane Eyre to come to my area. And this weekend it did. If you are not familiar with the 19th-century novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, you are missing one of literature's long treasures. I say long because depending on the publisher the book runs into three and four hundred pages, a daunting read for our sound-bite age. To condense such a book into 120 minutes for screen is no easy task. But Moira Buffini, the screenwriter, and filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga did it beautifully. They found the essential story pieces and masterfully put them together, taking well-worked liberties to tell the story in a fresh way.

The acting was superb. Michael Fassbender, as the dark, moody, troubled Rochester, and Mia Wasikovska as Jane, the deep, beautiful, passionate soul, both brought energy and passion to the roles, instead of a tired, overdone performance as sometimes is seen when famous stories are made and remade. Dame Judi Dench (Mrs. Fairfax) always brings her centered professional presence to any film. I feared Fassbender would seem too young (33 in 2010), but he did not. And Wasikowska (a young beauty) was made to look every bit the plain, young (19) Jane that Jane is.

I was glad important dialogue was left in Bronte's words. My favorite dialogue from the book, in part, "it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs," was incorporated well. And lines and elements were added to fill in the gaps and develop the characters and story more fully within film's limits. In one of the last scenes Mrs. Fairfax's character is developed even more when she asks Jane, "Why didn't you come to me? I had money saved up." That look at her caring heart made some of her earlier words to Jane seem less judgmental and harsh, showing her true character. I loved that liberty.

The settings were marvelous. The cold stone prospects of Gateshead Hall, Thornfield, Lowood school, and Jane's humble home on the moors looked, felt, and "smelled" authentic. The settings were not comfortable, which suits my interpretation of them in the novel. And Thornfield seemed like a maze that one could never quite follow, adding to the spook factor and it's own characterization (more on that).

The film was spooky, and even I startled twice. The filmmakers brought the novel's Gothic elements front and center without making it weird and completely otherworldly. One method they used was to follow dark scenes with bright, sunny scenes. The house was dark inside and a hulking gloomy mass from the outside. The gardens were a bit overrun. The noises within, were not otherworldly, but not quite human. Viewers unfamiliar with the novel should be able to tell that there is an explanation to all the creepiness that is not just "ghosts." The film never gives quite enough information to pull the house or its mysteries into full view, not until it's time. I once read a critique that suggested Thornfield Hall was a character in the novel. I believe it is true in this film.

The ending offered as many questions as answers, such as when Mrs. Fairfax emerges out of Thornfield's ruins. (Where exactly was she living?). I like that she told Jane the tragic tale, not the innkeeper as in the book. And when Jane sees Rochester for the first time in a year and sneaks up on him, the scene retained the important romantic factor of her surprising him. Bronte drew that scene in a far more romantic way with Jane serving him water inside the house and continued on for a chapter or so to tell their happy ending. Ah well, we cannot drag it out in the movies.

Two big scenes from the novel were omitted that I would have loved to see how Fukunaga would have directed them: the fortune teller scene during a party, and the veil ripping scene, and yet the movie works just as well without them, as they are not essential elements for understanding the story in film. The backwards storytelling added mystery, and the flashback scenes were not jarring. Not going in a straight line made watching this familiar tale, less familiar and more intriguing. But the film also comes full circle, so if you are lost, at the end, which I'm not sure how anyone could be, you can connect the dots.

On the way out of the Eveningstar theatre the proprietor was asking, "How was it? I'm always nervous opening night." The answers included, "Excellent," "Wonderful," and "Very good." Understatements all. I would see it again right away if I could.

This is a very short review and doesn't touch on the other characters or the music, also all well done. See more about the movie here: Focus Features' Jane Eyre

Writing Clothespin: You Mean I Need Permission?

2010-08-09T22:22:00.000-04:00

I work as a copy editor, and if there is anything that drives my managing editor and I batty at work it is writers who copy paragraphs from the Internet or auction catalogs (we feature many auctions in our pages) and paste them into their articles and don't try to describe things in their own words. Better yet are the writers who pull entire paragraphs from Wikipedia without citing the source. All they have to do to satisfy us is include "according to Wikipedia." Further when a writer cites a source it is helpful for me to know where the piece of information came from so I can fact-check it properly. Our best writer by far always sends myriads of photocopied pages out of books, auction catalogs, business cards, etc. in with her stories. It's her professional way to not only give credit where credit is due, but to make my job a lot easier.

Often I need to call or e-mail a writer and politely ask, "Where did you get that from?" without insulting their intelligence or their hard work. If the answer is "Oh, so and so told me." Well, I need a name please. Or "I 'Googled' it. Didn't you find it?" Yup, word for word. That's when my job as a copy editor gets fun. I get to rewrite or add or cut up text with lots of red marks! One salvation for me is that our publication has many cut and dried technical or historical facts in its pages. Therefore most of what is written about can be verified in many places on the Web, especially topics related to history, and if I find something is copied word for word, which doesn't happen all that often, I rewrite it to reflect an more original arrangement while keeping the facts in order. On the other hand if it's a quote taken from a press release, and I haven't been provided a copy, I find that typing a specific phrase in my browser often leads me to the quote in another publication or the press release ifself. What then? If I find it multiple places, I go with it, making sure the words match, or if they are far different I rewrite so it won't be a direct quote. Putting "according to the company" or "according to the press release" is one sure-fire way to cover the information.

I remember one time we received a letter to the editor about a exhibition and book review our lead writer had done. Someone didn't get credit for something in the review. I cannot remember specifics now, but it wasn't good, and our writer had just totally overlooked the fact that this person deserved to be credited in the story, and as the copy editor on the story, I had no idea this person was so important. I don't know how it slipped by me, but I felt like it was the writer's job to fill me in. Regardless of where the error lay I wonder if that contact blacklisted our writer's number on their cell phone or cancelled their subscription to our publication?

Permission is also important when publishing names and numbers. We have a writer who writes a profile piece on a business each month and he always includes all the ways to contact the person(s)/business profiled. While fact-checking I often run into a discrepancey about a phone number or email address, so I often drop the subject of the article an email asking them if everything is current and are they OK with publishing all this info? Almost always something has changed. Just last week a man told me his cell phone is always OFF and in his car and he never uses it. So the cell number came out of the story. Once in a while a person's business is in their home, and they don't want that address out for everyone to see. They would rather have the cell number listed with a general state location, knowing that serious customers will call first. So it's important to ask.

Another instance of permissions came up last week. There was a story with a very indefinite reference to the writer's "friend." They had not mentioned the friend previously in the story and it was a bit ackward to have this mystery friend appear in the story suddenly. Who were they talking about? When questioned they had no problem supplying the information, but before responding to me they asked that person's permission to include their name in the story. Now that was impressive! And professional.

Permissions are very much a part of being professional. It gives writers credibility and respects the rights of others, not to mention the law in most cases.

Again, inspirational credit to Christina Katz! Thank you for the writing exercise!

Busy Writing?

2010-08-04T23:12:00.001-04:00

I only wish. For three years I have been struggling to accept the present "calling" on my life, which is as a copy editor and proofreader at a monthly publication about antiques. The other part of my life that keeps me busy is my family. My young school-age son and I spend every weeknight evening together, while Daddy burns the midnight oil putting the bulk of the food on the table. He does this after turning over paperwork at his new insurance agency during the day. Even now as I write, it is after my bedtime. I have to be up at 5:30 with a full day of reading ahead of me. It is obvious how writing has taken a backseat in my life. Look at this blog. My last post before last week was in January.

Before beginning my job I was "practicing" a lot more on my blog. I was brainstorming. I was working on short articles. I was seeking out publications to write for. Then I was called up with an offer to interview out of the blue. I had no idea there was a job available. When does that happen? (It was all about who I knew.) Because I was considering looking for something part time involving sandwiches or gas pumps, I looked at this as a God moment. The door opened, and I had to walk through it, especially as I had lamented many times that I had NOT interviewed for this very job ten years prior.

However, I have lamented my loss of time to write. When the writer's blues hit I look at my blessed employment as the opportunity to develop the other side of my writer brain, the editing side. I definitely use a different part of my brain to write than to edit. (Actually it takes more of my heart to write and all of my brain to edit.) I have learned that behind every good writer is a good editor. I get the chance to write brief book reviews for the publication, which gives me practice in brevity. Let's not forget honing my grammar skills. Some days I feel like I'm back in my college Technical Editing class or my high school college prep English class doing sentence maps. And although limited to antiques news, the subject matter is as wide-ranging as Staffordshire plates to Civil War carbines, vintage watches to Andrew Wyeth, Hepplewhite furniture to Art Deco. Antiques writing encompasses history, law, art, architecture, politics, profiles, books, and details, details, details, not to mention money. Some days it can be very boring (how many cherrywood high boys with carved knees can you read about before going a bit crazy?), but most days I am learning something new. So while I'm not busy writing, I believe I am busy storing up for my future in writing, and in the meantime I hope I can squeeze in practice time on lunch breaks, late at night when I can't stop the words from bouncing around in my head, and on blog posts.

Writer's Note: This blog was inspired by Christina Katz's weekly writing prompt. Check out her blog at http://christinakatz.com/

Bon Jovi in Chicagoland

2010-07-26T13:02:00.035-04:00

Just a Monday that I don't like and just back from Foxborough, Massachusetts, where the air was hot and heavy with humidity, the smell of alcohol, and the sultry steaminess of Bon Jovi and his comrades-in-guitars. It's a little hard for me to pull away from a weekend away and get back into my routine, especially after a once-in-every-three-years event like a concert featuring my favorite band. So what do I do? I start my internet up and get onto BonJovi.com and see a contest about what my ideal concert experience would be at their last show coming up on Saturday July 31 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Because my ideal concert would include a beach in Maine on a summer's evening, a lobster bake and cookout, 50 friends, and a lot of Bon Jovi unplugged, I will take flight there.

Speaking of which, I'd like to arrive by helicoptor please. After sitting on Route 1 in Foxborough for almost 90 minutes, there is nothing I hate so much as Boston area traffic, esp. after such a winning event as a concert. It sucks the excitement out of me. Make it easy and enjoyable to arrive and to break free.

And because I'm thinking beach, let's make Soldier Field a beach party on the 31st. Hawaiian shirts, surf boards, beach volleyball, sunglasses, sunscreen, and oh, throw in a big lobster feed prior to the show with the band complete with photo op. Let's push off the seating arrangements that we all haggle with our pocketbooks about and sit on beach towels. Every man for themselves for the best spot on the beach. Hey, Bon Jovi fans are fairly civil right? I think it would be fun.

Then sit back (hey, what am I talking about?), get on our feet and hear the classics--for a few songs, but mostly I'd love to hear the new stuff. While I love all the BJ classics, I think the last three albums have gotten the shaft from stations, as well as ticket holders in general. I would love to hear most of Lost Highway and the hits from The Circle and Have a Nice Day, particularly, "Memory," "Superman," "Welcome to Wherever You Are", and "Last Man Standing." Fill up the set list with the last three albums, and I'd be so happy. This new stuff is so fitting for today, speaks to me, and is just great song writing. Play us some of the most popular covers and get us jumping again, and end with a bang. Yes, fireworks are fun. I appreciate that the shows are always 2 1/2 hours straight music and not much talk, but I love to hear the guys talk and experience their comraderie. Add a little of that, and I think it'd be a near perfect ending to a tour. Oh, and keep Frank at the end. Love that touch always. It makes me smile.

Note: The photos that should accompany this blog would not

work for me and that was after trying on three computers!

This one was taken by me at Gillete on July 24, 2010, curtain call! :)

Keeping up with music as I get older...

2010-01-26T08:31:00.001-05:00

I love music. I love music that speaks to me. I don't love all popular songs and artists, but some. Give me an artist/songwriter with heart and I'm usually tuned in. But I find that even for those artists I do enjoy, I'm often way behind on who is doing what for new albums until I hear a new song on the radio. For instance last week in the car I heard John Ondrasik's (of Five for Fighting) unforgettable voice on the radio, I turned up the volume. When I got to my computer I find out a new album had slid out in December, Slice. I love the new single, Chances. Check it out here: http://www.fiveforfighting.com/. He comes to Boston on March 3, a Wednesday. These are times when I wish I lived "somewhere"--that is where stuff happens and it's more convenient to attend! :)

I have Bon Jovi's latest, The Circle, on my computer, but we can't seem to burn onto a CD right now. (When I say we are behind, we are behind, we don't own an IPod, and our computer is acting up!) So I haven't gotten to listen to the entire album in one sitting yet. The single We Weren't Born to Follow is fun to listen to as it's a typical Jovi follow-your-heart theme that is up for a Grammy. I still believe nothing will beat their last album Lost Highway for me. For Bon Jovi, it was solid all the way through.

I am looking forward to their concert in Boston in July and hope I get to peek in at some of the Grammy Awards this weekend, for which they are playing. (Vote for what you'd like them to play here: http://www.cbs.com/specials/grammys/polls/.) I was disappointed that nothing from Lost or Circle was on the ballot. It's My Life still seems to be their knockout tune, even though it's getting "older" [10].

My husband has been playing everything on our computer from Newsboys to instrumental hymns over the weekend in processing what is happening in our lives, around us, and in Haiti. I pulled out Bon Jovi's live album in the car and blasted that to and from an event this weekend. So lately we've been listening to a lot of music and I realize it's music now that we've grown up with or grown up into adulthood with. It makes me cringe to hear "our" music being played on stations that always played my parents' music or worse, not being played at all! Yikes--so, we're "OLD" now?!?! Yesterday in the car I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's The Great Adventure. Yup, that's old, like way back to college (circa 1993). Right now I have in my head Angel by oh, what's her name...Christian artist from down under, late 1990's, two albums under her belt? See, I can't even remember their names all the time.

So music, yes, music...it speaks to the soul, it makes you feel less alone, and it's darn hard for me to keep up with! :)

"Boycotting" Christmas

2009-11-16T22:35:00.007-05:00

So I am attempting to return to blogging. The advent of Facebook (and those of you in the Facebook world know what I'm talking about) slammed my blog into "so last year."

This blog is written in light of my recent status update that spoke of boycotting Christmas.

By now you have probably see the movie version or read (or at least heard of) John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, a funny story about a new empty nest couple who decide to skip all the traditions of the season and take a vacation only to be pre-empted by their daughter's surprise return home on Christmas Eve.

Without belaboring the details of why, after last Christmas I was feeling stressed and cranky, and my husband and I said something has to give. My Mom and sister agreed. Although they wouldn't be joining us, we talked seriously about going away for Christmas next year. The back-up plan in my mind was to keep our feet firmly planted on the home court all day on Christmas and have people come to us. But starting a business last February has tied up all our extra cash flow and therefore, short of a Christmas miracle, we will be enjoying Christmas at home this year, and by home I mean, HOME. And my family who we usually visit with Christmas Day are OK with coming over and making it more casual and relaxed for everyone.

Reduce Stress...Do Less. In my household because of our crazy work schedules we are always talking about how to do less and make the most of our family time. Starting in October I usually begin my mental Christmas shopping lists and planning lists for get-togethers and cooking. I do this because I so enjoy Christmas and have wonderful memories of food, presents, and events from childhood. While there is nothing wrong with this planning that has helped me enjoy the holidays more in the past, I started to hyperventilate a little. When would I find time to do all these things?

I had a little heart to heart with myself and decided I didn't need to go to the Early Bird Sales in town the first weekend in November, nor did I even need to start asking people what they wanted for Christmas. I also started to panic about where I am going to put all the toys that my child will receive since his toy bins and closet are full, full, full. Do we really need more stuff in this apartment? Do we really need to buy, buy, buy because it's what we always do?

I realized I could chuck the lists until maybe after Thanksgiving, which I feel in our culture often gets shoved aside for more commercial seasonal pursuits. Why is it that Thanksgiving seems like something we get through to get on with the REAL holiday? All day on Thanksgiving the commercials advertise early sales at 5 a.m. or even starting at midnight. Ahhh...stop...enough all ready, aren't we already thankful for what we have? Why do we need to have more? Sorry Kohl's, but your bottom line is not my concern...ever! Now if getting up at those hours to save a little on your bottom line is important to you then so be it, but I just don't find anything exciting about shopping with the masses at 5 a.m. I'd rather sleep in and enjoy the day off relaxing with my family.

So, every year, and this year is no exception, I ask "What is it that I really want my Christmas celebrating to be about?" These are the answers I got: Giving, relaxing, relationships, making memories, Jesus.

Giving... to people and projects that have less than I. That is the spirit of the season is it not? Also I have a real drive to teach my child the importance of this. There are a multitude of ways we can do that. And right now, this week, is one phenomonal way. Operation Christmas Child. Check it out here. A friend and I are also brainstorming ways to give back rather than give to ourselves at an annual gift swapping party. Project Angel Tree, Toys for Tots-like programs, and donations to a teen rehab center or nursing home have been some suggestions. I don't say this to toot my horn, I say it because we are all aware of the need. If you feel the same way, it might be possible to convince your party to swap the gift-getting tradition for a real gift-giving tradition.

Relaxing...I enjoy cooking when I have time on my hands. I start purusing cookbooks in October for my holiday baking. I dog ear and stack up cooking magazines. But when it comes to the day of cooking I usually go for baking something with the ingredients I have on hand. I realize I don't really want to spend my entire Saturday baking 3 kinds of cookies or making a cheesecake, dinner rolls, and a fancy appetizer. At that point I say to myself, "What's wrong with box brownies, gourmet store-bought rolls, and chips and salsa?" because at this busy point in my life, I'd much rather be coloring line art Santa Clauses or listening to "Little Drummer Boy" over and over and having a marching band through the house with my child for baby Jesus.

Relationships...Which brings me to relationships. If they are truly the most important thing in my life, then I should make them more important than baking, shopping, and whatever else is on my must-do list. And frankly when I let go of my list for the little moments of coloring, listening to music, making sugar cookies for the hundredth time because my child wants to then I feel peaceful rather than frustrated and enjoy spending that time making a memory that's important to him and becomes important to me too.

Making Memories...Isn't that what all the frenzied activity of the holidays is suppose to be about--memories? But somehow without a minute by minute journal and camera in hand, the memories start to blend together. My husband and I have talked about making some gatherings into mini-events, not gift swaps, with minimal planning involved. I admit some gift swaps, especially ones involving white elephant gifts have produced hilarious memories. One such memory is the year my uncle brought a bright blue handknit sweater with reindeer on it and all the men had fun stealing it and wearing it around proudly. (There are pictures somewhere...). This year my cousin had a great idea of gift cards for the swap, particularly to a favorite restaurant. That turns the gift into an event. Some of my best memories in recent holiday history have been buying tickets to the Bob Marley (the comedian) holiday show for my immediate family. And last year when my father-in-law turned 70, instead of party hats and joke gifts, we went out to a local Ethiopian restaurant. (Ethiopia figures heavily into family history.) Indoor carting and bowling have figured into our brainstorming for some get-togethers this year.

If events are too pricey, time to get creative and get on line for ideas. Last year at the the first ever McKague-Miner party we played a hilarious game involving a duct-taped gift and work gloves. These are events that I'm sure I will ever forget, while many years I can't even remember what my husband bought me for Christmas.

Lastly, for me Christmas is mostly about Jesus. The gift of faith and a relationship with HIM is what Christmas and any celebration is really about for me. Christmas is a time to recognize that gift to me...the baby in the manger, who has brought me peace for times when all around me is not peaceful; who has brought me joy, when things are bleak; who has brought me love, when I wanted to hate. If I can't spend time celebrating that in quiet, prayerful ways or in worshipful and giving ways because I'm so busy with my Must-Do List, then for me, it's a wasted holiday season, and I might as well boycott it.

Winter Clothesline: Needing Hope

2009-01-27T20:43:00.006-05:00

I have the winter blahs. I know because I don't feel like moving. I only feel like eating. And I feel like curling up in bed and reading books for days. There is something about living in this northern climate during deep winter that should benefit us, like a tax break, a bail out, a stimulus package!!! (Just kidding) We are 2 feet deep in snow, with another foot or so expected tomorrow. My road is rutted ice. The sidewalks in town are treacherous. And the only entertainment at home is one station through my recently acquired digital converter box that I didn't get a coupon for, nor does it work most of the time! (Well, I exagerate. It's not the only form of entertainment. Radio, DVD player, VCR! Rescue Heroes The Movie is wearing on my nerves though.)

I don't want to hear any more news on the news. I don't want to know about any more tragedies, accidents, people getting sick or dying, people doing wacko things, job layoffs. I don't feel like getting heated up over school consolidation votes, the economy, Obama's new policies. It's all too much. Everywhere I turn it feels like the world is really ending soon, and I sense everyone around me, including me, needs an infusion of hope and energy!

So what did I do this evening when I needed to pick up from dinner, but just couldn't seem to? I prayed, "God, you are our hope!" And I prayed for this country and for people who are really hopeless in dire situations, and the government, et. al....

Patrick came down from his bath and we ate ice cream (to soothe his oncoming sore throat and to satisfy my carb-craving.) Then I got busy. If I didn't move, I wouldn't move. Dishes, trash, laundry, entryway floor.

I took the trash (which is piling up and piling up) out to the shed. When I stepped back out into the dark I realized it was so very quiet. Not a breath. Not a sound. Wait, yes, a neighborhood dog was whining quietly to be let in. But that's it. Not even the sound of ice fisherman or snowmobiles on the nearby lake. I looked up and presto! Bright white stars. A large one right over my house. Orion. Clusters. Gorgeous.

"God, you are in control!" I thought.

I stood and breathed it in for a few more moments and then went inside and called for Patrick to come look at the stars.

"The heavens declare the glory of God" and give me hope that His reign is still sovereign, even in the dead of winter.

Patrick's Body Art

2008-12-03T21:01:00.006-05:00

Patrick has a love of anything he can use to decorate himself with. Up until today it's been temporary tattos and stamps. Every time we go to the library he wants a "tatoo," actually a stamp that the librarians willingly give to kids on their hands. The last time we were there the volunteer and I both agreed that when he turns 18 (or whenever) he'll be getting himself a bonified tatoo.

So tonight I come home to see this:

Patrick has never been one to get into things, make a mess of something he shouldn't have, stick his fingers in light sockets, you know that kind of stuff that makes parents have meltdowns?

It was actually worse than this before I saw him, and there's more you can't see--pen marks on his legs! At bathtime I found remnants of red around his temples and ears.

I think he told me he was trying to make himself into the Hulk or some latent superhero.

How this happen? Perhaps that's a question for Daddy.

Very funny!

Fall Clothesline: New Friends

2008-11-21T23:49:00.005-05:00

Patrick is loving school this year. Once the first three-week transition was over, he's enjoyed school. He hates to leave his toys, but once he's there, he's golden. It helps too that this year he's in the same classroom, with kids who have moved up from the younger class, basically his peers in the age group who he should have been with all along had we registered him earlier last year. But it all worked out in the end. After getting over some noise fears on the playground (there's a shooting range a half mile away and a construction business next door), he blossomed into a group-play participant.

The recent and really very cute stories coming from the classroom help are about the boy-girl pairings at free time.

Well, let me start over. Patrick has been playing with his baby, my Cabbage Patch from the 80's. He is in good shape and has been a part of the animal menagerie for over a year. He's always given them all cursory hugs or tosses now and then, and often sets them up for camping out on the floor for protection. But about 4 weeks ago he started holding the baby, kissing the baby, changing the baby, putting the baby down for a nap, feeding the baby, brushing the baby's tooth (all pretend mind you) and, get this, saying, "Mama, we need to have a baby sister."

AH. OK.

So once or twice he's wanted to take the baby to school. One day he stayed in the backpack, but this week baby came upstairs and stayed in the crib until play time. That was the day I learned about playing house with the girls, and boys. It's incredibly cute (wish they'd photograph it fo me), and I'm incredibly glad that society's sexism is totally beyond 4-year-olds. Most of the kids in his class have younger siblings, so many of them are pretending they are caring for babies too. He's learning so much from the girls! Apparently they are very "strong" girls, according to the teachers. I've met them, and they are, but also very cute.

Case in point. We went to an open house at Healthy Kids a few weeks ago, and he spotted two of these very girls. They were very absorbed with the zoo animals and didn't see him for some time. Patrick, when he's with me, acts very shy, and wants me to interact with people for him. We sat down near them at the playdough table, but he wasn't into it. He wanted those friends to spot him. Oh boy when they did it was an avalanche of girl excitement. "Patrick, I just saw you at school. What are you doing here? How did you know I was going to be here? You didn't did you. This is so exciting!!!" and on it went. What a reception they gave him! I was wholly proud to see he was well-liked.

All week he has been talking about playing with babies with "Au-de-ry." Girlfriend? I say not! But girl friend, yes definitely!

Fall Clothesline: Winter Already?!

2008-11-21T23:13:00.007-05:00

It's time to throw out the pumpkins. They are frozen mush. The annuals are finally dead. I can fit in a walk only at lunch time because it's dark at 4:30 when I get home. It was 16 degrees farenheit this AM. I wish we had a wood stove. "Wreaths for sale" signs are popping up. It must be winter?

I went out shopping last Friday night, and finally saw for myself the slowdown in the retail sector of business. I walked into Old Navy and did a triple take. "Whoa. What happened here?" I had to ask someone, and I was right, the store was smaller. "Half" is what the woman said.
Granted it was 11 p.m., but when we pulled into the super Wal-mart,the lot was surprisingly empty. The three of us (Mom and unnamed friend) looked at each other with "What is up?" looks. Unnamed said, "Did doomsday happen, and nobody told us?" It was nice to shop uninterrupted, even though I somewhat hate shopping in general. But if it has to be done, it better be done efficiently.

Shopping also afforded the boys their second Friday night "Boys' Night" in a row, for which they went bowling. I think we have a tradition here. I may never bowl again.

Anyway, with the holidays upon us, it feels like "so much to do, so little time" until January when there's nothing to do except stay inside, write thank you notes, pray for good tv reception, and eat homemade soup. Welcome to Winter.

Facebook has been occupying my on-line time lately, and it's been great to catch up with college friends--Hi Friends! So despite all my lame excuses, here are some photo updates from the last month:

Patrick received this very nice hand-me-down lightweight snowsuit that's a perfect Halloween dress-up for a non-creative-with-her-hands-person like me:

Dinner at an African restaurant with the Miner clan for Grampa's big birthday!

My birthday was on Tuesday. We had a nice family dinner (and presents) at home! We got a family picture too. I've been working on Snapfish calendars for the grandparents' gifts, as well as obsessing over a photo for Christmas cards this year, and realized we had no threesome photos. Better start using that automatic feature with the timer more next year!

Before age 3 Patrick had some great photos. (What am I talking about? He rarely has a bad photo.) What I mean to say is his expressions were always so natural. Now that's he's camera-trained he has the usual pasted on "Cheese" face that he holds for two-seconds-not-enough for the flash. This week I got a few great "real" shots. This being my favorite!

Autumn Clothesline: Soccer

2008-10-09T21:37:00.009-04:00

Soccer photos from week three.

There's only one week left.

But tonight the weather was absolutely delightful.

I love Indian summer. (Wait, is that P.C.?)

The line up...waiting for instruction.

Patrick's school buddy from last year to his right.

This was only about a third of the kids in his age group that night.

Goalie!

Soccer Star!

Autumn Clothesline

2008-09-23T01:34:00.003-04:00

Boy, have I been feeling nostalgic. For more on this see my latest post on Frontporch Conversations. We went apple picking last week. I bought a pumpkin from a favorite roadside stand on Saturday. I made an apple crisp. I found a beautiful red leaf on my lawn this evening. And I'm freezing! It must be fall. Patrick still wants to wear short to school. He compromised today with some sporty ones with elastic bands that he could pull up to his knees "like soccer guys". Oh, yes, and he's doing soccer. I'm now a "soccer mom." Well, sort of. I have a child that officially plays soccer in some kind of official soccer program. Does that qualify? I haven't actually taken him or been to one of these events yet. Daddy gets the blessed pleasure, but this week for sure, come gas or no gas in my car, I will be there. Last week I had a complete fiasco that had nothing to do with the gas shortage this week in Nashville. It had to do with debit cards, banks, and blessed computers not working right. You can dream up the rest. It made me horribly late for sitting at my debut as a soccer Mom, and I was extremely upset (to say the least). If that was you I either honked at or yelled at or did something else uncharacteristic I apologize. I've said my penance already. It wasn't that I was so proud of my new role, as I was excited to be with my family and watch my boy, who has been declaring himself "bigger now" or a year [to play], have fun in his debut in organized sports. So this is truly big at 4 and a half. Photos to come.

Summer Clothesline: One More Thing (i.e. Vacation Update!)

2008-09-23T01:10:00.012-04:00

I need to fill you in on Yogi Bear. Yes, not that Yogi. (I saw that in the paper --how sad and nostalgic is that? And I'm in Red Sox Nation here.) So here goes:

YOGI!

What do I have here in my pic-a-nick bas-ket?

The Way Cool Kiddie Pool that Patrick warmed up to on the very last evening!

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Ashland, NH August 2008

Cindy Bear was Patrick's favorite! She was the only bear he wanted to color a picture for and put in her mailbox. I think he may have had a crush.

The Flume Gorge--Patrick was happiest climbin all those fun stairs.

Paul took some awesome photos!

The long carry down and around.

Yes, we went on that! Cannon Mountain.

View from Cannon Mt--Vermont, NH, NY...something like that!

Patrick wouldn't rest until he had played multiple rounds of miniature golf?

"What is miniature golf, Mama? Tell me 'bout that. I never heard of that before."

He got pretty expert on his bike on all that handy dandy pavement.

Should you need more? There all right here on my laptop! I ain't posting no more, so you'll have to call to make an appointment!

Hope your summer vacations were as memorable as ours. And why wouldn't it be especially if it involved a family camping resort with kitchy decor and all the Yogi, Bobo and Cindy Bear a kid could want and more?

Summer Clothesline: The Photographs in my Head

2008-09-16T21:02:00.008-04:00

With the cool air settling in (my thermometer registered 42 degrees the other morning at 7 am) I'm mentally fighting fall. It seems like someone stole summer. I had to stop one day and really remember what I did this summer. It has been busy with some unexpected twists, but it's also been memorable for many reasons, some of them journaled on this blog previously.

I read Patrick a book tonight called Pictures from our vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins. At the start of the trip the Mom gives both children a instant camera so they can photograph the vacation however they want. They take a few pictures in between the travelling, rain, and family reunion. In the end, on their way home, the children realized that they didn't take too many fantastic photos of their vacation, but the little girl determined that the best ones were in her head.

I just attended a funeral for my aunt, the wife of my uncle who unfortunately died in May. It is a shock, and uncanny. As is often the case at memorial services, photo albums and photographs were there to glance at or browse through. They had entire albums of old photos of Faye with her family, her children, her friends, all with funny hairstyles and clothes, but mostly they were of memories. Her children shared many beautiful memories of their childhood and adulthood with her. I was able to envision some of them even though I wasn't a part of them. For them, these stories will be best remembered in their heads, and in their retelling.

I try hard to create happy memories with my family. Not every day turns out picture perfect, but if the memories are mostly of love and fun, that's really the only thing that matters, no matter how fast the summer, or a lifetime, goes.

Summer Fun part 2!

2008-08-23T18:47:00.009-04:00

More updates!

Last weekend Patrick got to go to his first baseball game of the Portland Seadogs, the minor league team linked to the Red Sox. After a harrowing thundershower during which we sat in the car reading books with the radio on, the sun came out and we got to enjoy a late start game.

In the car during the thundershower putting on a good front for the camera. Patrick did more of the same ear warming at the game. (Stop stomping, People!)

Finally a bit relaxed watching baseball.

We're learning he doesn't like a lot of noise or really loud noises. So probably the fair was a bad idea too, especially after a long day, and we assume from his behavior that evening that he hadn't taken a nap at camp. But we did see some cows, play some games, and ride the train. Patrick's reaction seemed to be "I want to go out there!" (away from the cows, inside a building, anywhere it seemed not loud). He relaxed with the games when he could put his throwing arm into use until he (Paul actually) won at skeeball, and the guy turned on the siren to announce a winner. Then he was terrified, and running away again. On his train ride he was crying the whole time!

In the parking lot, there were helicopter rides. We didn't go, but took a picture anyway.

By far it was the wrong activity at the wrong time of day. But after we left, unbelieveably he said, "That was fun." I wasn't so sure it was.

One happier picture after a ride down the Super Slide with Daddy--Fun!

Life Pins: Summer Fun (and trying to fit it all in!)

2008-08-20T22:24:00.012-04:00

I realize this blog has been neglected for almost a month. I literally crashed and burned after the shower, but recovered quickly to try to fit in some summer fun. Unfortunately the first two weeks of August proved to be quite rainy with a day or half day of sun scattered in there! Now the air is getting that end of summer coolness to it, and I can't believe one more weekend until Labor Day (and my vacation!) Ahhh... So needed. We'll be going to visit Yogi Bear for a few days, and I sure hope it's fun (and not rainy). I'm also trying to determine how to fit in those final beach days, ice cream outings, that overdue playdate with a buddy heading to Kindergarten, and time with family that I didn't get enough of this summer. What to do? The weekends are running out. I guess we have good weekends coming up in September and October.

Until then I have a few photos to put on here, some that were pre-shower, of our summer fun, when we found time to fit it in. This double income-1 kid-gig is certainly a challenge, and I was trying to decide tonight if I've let it make me better or bitter...hmmm...there are definitely some good things and bad things about it. Mostly I feel like I've missed a year of Patrick's life. Being at home full time is pretty intensive, and kept me very in tune with my child, which I liked. Being at work full time and still a Mom is also intensive in different ways and it takes more planning and determination to connect with my child. But looking at the memories we do have I realize that I haven't missed all of it thankfully! And we have vacation coming!

Patrick at Boothbay Railway Village (field trip).
Covered his ears the entire ride.

Patrick in his early 1900's fire vehicle.

One thing we did that Patrick just loved was the Wednesday night Family Nights we had at church a few times with a cook out and games. The first night they played family-style, all-skills-welcome whiffle ball. Everyone batted until they hit. Patrick was in heaven. It was his first time playing with any large group, and he did great, had a good attitude and everyone was impressed with his serious attitude and his form and attempts. He's definitely going to be a ball player I tell people. The other pics are from the day camp field trip to Boothbay Railway Village, a favorite from my childhood.

Some of the things we've done that I didn't have a camera for included a rainy walk about the Salt Bay (that was in desperation after over a week of rainy days), a midnight (well, it was 9:30 and dark) walk to sky gaze, baseball, playground, ice cream, book sale, North Nobleboro Day and chicken dinner with Nana and Papa (and a fun bag of kids' meals toys for 25 cents), an afternoon playing with the cousins (while Daddy golfed and Mommy didn't make a cake for the shower), picking black raspberries (can anyone else attest to the bumper crops of berries this year or what?), library visits, starting to ride a two-wheeler (with trainers), and a walk to see the shell middens. What fun!

Golfin' with Daddy

Life Pins: Showers

2008-07-29T19:57:00.010-04:00

You know who makes these things successful? Not the weather. It was hot, but the wind was like a hurricane gale. Not the food, which was excellent, thanks to everyone! Not just the planners, but the people who come and make it all worthwhile. Many people had not seen my sister in years, and they came not just with one present but many! Anna is so loved! She got a mega- stash. As we were loading up her mother-in-law-to-be's car I said, "If the car gets searched, they'll wonder what Linens 'N Things you just raided."

Here's some highlights of the event!

Anna--stunning bride to be!

Anna with best friend, maid of honor Natasha!

Wins Best Gifts Awards! (They didn't come together.)

Mom and Anna-Banana!

Anna's Fans

Addendum: I must say, in case anyone was offended by the handcuffs, that one of the nicest gifts Anna got (and very thoughtful) was a set of place settings for a Chinese themed meal complete with placemats that looked very silky and chopsticks with holders. Neato! Thanks to everyone who came and sent gifts and helped with food! It was fun! See her wedding web site on my favs and friends list. We are 30 days and counting!

The Story of the Cake that Wasn't...And Then Was! (a continuation)

2008-07-29T19:45:00.004-04:00

So after finding the flour, writing my blog, and finally relaxing enough to sleep, I did so. I actually felt stress free and rested Sunday morning. After a bit I called my Mom and told her the story of the flour. She laughed and laughed and then she (Mrs. Do-It-All Herself) said, "I'm going to make that cake. You make the frosting. And somehow this will work out. It won't take me but 15 minutes. Except I have to call Hannah [mother in law] to borrow some flour!"
"Mom, are you sure we want to tempt Fate?"
"Sure why not? And if it doesn't come out, we have the other cake to fall back on!"
So we laugh some more, and I set to work making the frosting. And I was so glad I did! It was VERY GOOD! (I still have some if anyone wants to come over and help me lick the bowl!)

So, the end of the story is I got my cake afterall, it looked goofy, but tasted great, and we ate all of it, plus more than half of the Hannaford cake, which was actually pretty good too. With between 30-40 people at the shower I was glad we had two cakes instead of one!

Butter yellow mocha-strawberry topped homemade cake!

Two-day store bought goofy cake!

The Story of the Cake that Wasn't (A True Story!)

2008-07-26T23:16:00.007-04:00

So, this weekend is my sister's bridal shower, and I have been "heading it up" so to speak. I had today to finish up the details, mainly make the cake and other food items I'd left for myself to do.
So after getting the boys safely off to their playdates I got out my recipe book and the bag of flour to find I only have 2 cups worth of flour. I looked at the clock, looked at my to-do list, and said, "Aw, Maannn... now what?" and decided God was telling me to buy a cheesey store-made cake. It really seemed to be my only option.

I had set out to order a cake, but when the local store didn't make mocha frosting I said, "I can do it myself." I totally bypassed traditional cake baking places because of the price (NEVER AGAIN!) Besides, I like to make cakes, even if they usually come out funny looking. It was going to be a butter yellow cake with mocha frosting topped with strawberries. Shouldn't be too hard right? Except no flour. So I mentally succombed to the fact that I'd have to buy a less than perfect cake (in my mind) because we're just eating it anyway.

I finished what I needed to do at home and went to the store. The choices were completely awful. Mostly they were chocolate cakes, mostly with white frosting and ugly colors like bright green, purple, blue and red together, and swirls. Yuck. Since Anna's colors are brown and purple I choose the only marble cake with some brown do-hickeys and had them write something really original on in it purple frosting "Anna & Ken". Whoopee!

I continue my shopping feeling very disappointed and dazed, but come around enough to think that some balloons may make up for it and lift my spirits. I buy the balloons and the cake, and walk out of there trying to tell myself it's all ok.

I head to the shower destination stopping off at my grandmother's to use the food processor. That was for "Oops!" number two. The hummus recipe needed a food processor. The blender just didn't cut it. (By the way, the next strike-out was the homemade salsa--I had a habenero instead of a jalapeno. The chain has pulled jalapenos thinking they carried salmanella, so I opted for cherry red peppers instead!)

After I arrive at shower location with nasty grocery store cake in hand I'm able to feel convinced by my grandmother and sister-in-law that all will be well and that everyone loves these cakes, and they actually do! We cut veggies, laugh, and commiserate (well, I pull my hair out a few more times) and finally take a swim (it's at the Pond).

The "oopses" don't stop there though. The next big "Oops" is I leave the lower cow field gate open (the pond is attached to a farm) and forget the drink hat I needed for dinner at my Mom's. (My brother covers me at this point.) So dinner at my Mom's....I'll fast forward here. asdgdgkjeiogeijsklgjidejgskgsdigkjeiaigehjagjakjgdkj...You get the idea.

We get home. Paul says I have a message, but doesn't tell me from who. He has me worried that someone died. It's the grocery store. They have my wallet, and no my husband can't pick it up! Ok, great....tooooo....tiiiirrreeeddd...tooooo....thiiiinnnkkk.

I try to sleep, and all the arrangement and foibles of the day are swirling in my head. I get up to do my morning to-do list tonight. I go downstairs. I open my pantry. I see flour. Huh? I see flour? Yes, I see a big 10 pound bag of flour! Yes, FLOUR! The cause of this whole upset to my day.

For some reason God wants me to go back to the grocery store tomorrow, and for all of us to eat 2-day-old grocery store confection.

And then I check my e-mail and I get this oft-repeated spammed email (cut short for the sake of time and sanity--mine and yours.)

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you.

Really? Ok, I'll take that.

Now isn't that a funny story? I thought so!

Life Pins: Gratitude When You Don't Feel Like It!

2008-07-22T10:29:00.005-04:00

We all have read about the benefits of gratitude, and it's wonderful to be around those who are grateful especially when they have every reason to not be. It's something we've been talking about at home a lot lately, and although it's easy to talk about, it's not always easy to practice. We are a bit out of practice, but doesn't practice mean something will get easier?

Ok, so here's my gratitude list, even if I don't feel like it always, about working, summer camp and shift changes.

Summer Camp:
1. Patrick is getting a lot of play time with friends inside, outside, and upside down.
2. Patrick gets to swim in a kiddie pool every day.
3. Patrick doesn't have to listen to me ask him to pick up toys, eat, etc. He gets fun-loving silly reminders from his teachers instead.
4. Patrick appreciates his toys more at home not having them to play with all day long.
5. Patrick sleeps really good at night!

Job:
6. My job helps pay for childcare.
7. I get to read about some really interesting stuff at work (i.e. history, old toys, and paintings)
8. I still have a flexible schedule.
9. I'm honing my editorial skills.
10. I get the joy of hearing funny stories about Patrick when I drop him off at school, like how he ate all of his teacher's blueberries at lunch one day!

Shift Change:
11. Paul is home by 2:15 and can pick Patrick up from camp then.
12. Then they can go play or do errands, like groceries, which helps all of us to eat!
13. The new schedule means we all have dinner together.
14. Patrick likes "Mommy, Daddy, and me being all home together."
15. More family time means more memories.

Lastly, Anna comes home this weekend!

I Thessalonians 5:18 (The Message)
16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Life Pins: New Routine, 3 Weeks and Counting!

2008-07-22T10:18:00.003-04:00

We hit 3 weeks into the new routine and I can say that it is getting easier. For the first time yesterday I actually felt happy dropping Patrick off knowing that he was going to have such a fun day at summer camp. The temper tantrums have subsided, and he's taking naps out of pure exhaustion, and we're all getting to bed a bit earlier too. Paul is pitching in with getting dinner ready, and we may be settling into the new routine. How long it all lasts is anyone's guess because life never stays the same.

All this isn't to mean that I don't still feel twinges of stay-at-home mommy nostalgia. Like this morning, about a half hour ago, I was raiding my lunch for a mid-morning snack, and suddenly missed my sit-down snack time at home with Patrick. What to do? Cry? (It makes me feel more sad.) Whine? (No one likes a whiner.) Mope? (Easy to do when my office space is quiet.) Complain? (It makes things worse at home.) Sigh? (Ok, that may be allowed a couple times.) Get distracted? (Yes.) Be grateful. (Definitely a good idea.) I've done three of the above, and now, thanks to your reading eyes, I can get back to work.

Life Pins: I need to vent a little!

2008-07-09T22:58:00.003-04:00

Can I just say I hate change, even ones that are suppose to be good? Without change life would be so utterly boring I suppose, but this one has me thrown for a loop! We have gone in one year from me being home full time to me working, and Paul working nights. Then add Patrick going to school for the first time 3 mornings a week. Now we are at both of us working days, and Patrick is going to school (summer camp) 5 fives a week from 8-2:30. I get home later than that

I hate it. Well, there's some good things about it, but all I know is I feel so sad. I've had total withdrawals from being a full timer at home hanging with the boy. It's been hard on him too. But he does enjoy being with kids his age and has grown socially and is learning. I'm just completely selfish and want more time with him before he doesn't want to hang with Mama any more, or not as much. It kills me in the mornings when he asks, "Mama can you play with me?"
"I want to, but I have to go to work, and you have to go to school right now."

This morning he said "Work is bad, Mama!"

Yesterday, day 6 of the new routine he had tears. Big ones. I've had tears everyday up until then, and then again tonight. The temper tantrums and tears he has at night are indicative that this is hard on him too. He's overtired and testing us too we think. It's awful. We were just into a groove, and then we decided to change everything again!!!

I'm depressed, and even though I work for a great place, I'm very tired, esp. after the first two weeks of the month. I do nothing extra with my time. I go to work, play, do housework, and it still feels wrong, no matter how much I make time with Patrick a priority.

I found it took him about 3 weeks to adjust to going to school. So another week and a half and maybe things will be better, but I'm already to throw in the towel on this one! I wish I could be home more, or at least he could be with one of us. Then we sacrifice being together in the evenings to eat dinner as a family.

These are the complaints of a middle class working American, who is very grateful to have a wonderful job to help with living expenses, but who's heart is torn every day with wanting to be more available for my child.

Next time I'll put my smily face back on.

Summer Clothesline: How we spent our weekend in photos

2008-07-06T21:45:00.009-04:00

Swimming, camping, hammocking, playing, and celebrating Nan's 80 years.

We attempted to go to fireworks, which was a literal bust because Patrick, as I was as a child, was terrified, and didn't calm down until he was in the car where they weren't so loud, and didn't completely relax until we were riding away from them! I felt completely upset that we even tried to go because it was so unnecessary for him to be scared, and I knew he would be! At least he fell asleep easily, and it didn't keep him up all night.

The other mishap was losing him briefly at the pond. He was having fun chasing around his older cousin, and I was in the tent and when I came out no Patrick, no Rachel. I panicked. I've heard too many 4th of July horror stories locally. Last year, a child drown, the year before a child was lost in the woods. It reminded me once again how vigilant we have to be as parents, even when there are 15 other adults around. It doesn't mean they are watching your kids.

Thankfully I found them in a farm truck munching on popcorn with looks on their faces like, "What's wrong?"

Overall the water temperature was just perfect and the wind blew enough for some sailing and the sand was just right for throwing and building with and making roads. We drank enough pond water and we have enough dirt in the hair to prove it. Happy Birthday America!

One of the "Rocks" we sit on

Patrick & big cousin Rachel

With Uncle Ben

Reading Books

The Birthday Girl (born on the 4th of July!)

Summer Clothesline: Lobster Fears and Touch Tanks.

2008-07-06T21:31:00.009-04:00

Going on a crab hunt, but I'm not afraid!

Patrick was just really getting into his school year routine when it wrapped up for the summer. The last week they had a couple of field trips. One to the beach, and one to a small aquarium with touch tanks. Patrick did not want to find a crab at the beach. And at the aquarium, although Patrick didn't quite dare touch, I think it helped him a bit with his fear of lobsters, or at least I was hoping it would.

His question of the summer at the pond (our summer retreat) is:

"Mama, do lobsters live in here?"
"No"
"Mama, why don't lobsters live in here?"
"Because they like the ocean where it's salty and cold."
"Mama, are there lobsters in here?" [points to the pond]
"No Patrick. They wouldn't like the pond because it's too warm."
"Mama, why do lobsters have those things [claws]?"
"Because God made them that way."
"And if I put my finger in there it might hurt me."
"Yes, but you'll never put your finger in there, so it won't hurt you."

The poor kid is a grandson of a former lobsterman. Former is a good thing too because Papa was hoping to have a little helper right off! Don't ask me where or why he has this incredible fear of lobsters, but he's definitely figured out there's something scary fascinating about them, especially their claws. He loves to watch them in the tanks at the grocery store, but thinks of them as he's heading off to sleep wondering if any are in the house.

I don't know if the 30 pounder at the aquarium did anything to calm his fears either! I forgot to get a picture of that one.

A small female shark in a touch tank

A lobster another child was holding from the touch tank. It didn't motivate Patrick to touch.

No Daddy! I won't touch it! (a starfish):)

Spring Clothesline Update: Bowling Birthday Blowout

2008-06-27T08:01:00.008-04:00

Ok, so June is almost over, the 4th of July is upon us, and I'm still wrapping up May. I've been MIA due to wedding shower planning and the nicer weather as discussed in a previous post!

I've had these posts written down for a month, and just having a minute now to post them.

We ended May with a bowling birthday blowout.

Bowling--candlepin (I bowled 77, not bad I think!)

Birthday--4-year-old friend Faith

Blowout--the photo says it all--the only relativity to the rest of the day was it happened across from the alley during the bowling birthday, and created quite a stir.

Patrick loves anything to do with balls, so the bowling was right up his alley literally! When they shut the lanes off after an hour he wanted to do more.

But he played pool with Daddy instead.

It certainly was a fun day that ended with dinner at one of our former favorite haunts in Hallowell, the Liberal Cup. Great food in a fun tavern atmosphere!

Spring Clothesline Update: Smells Like Lilacs followed by Strawberries

2008-06-27T07:39:00.007-04:00

I love lilac season. It's far too short. In May for about 10 days the breeze is filled with the intoxicating sweetness of purple and white...if purple had a smell it would be lilac. Funny how I don't have a lilac bush that's blooming. I had one outside my window growing up and that's why I love it so much.

I fill my house with lilac as much as I can during it's short visit from the bushes at my grandparents' homes. My grandmother told me this year that when they were blooming my grandfather, not a "flower" guy by any stretch, would keep a fresh lilac in his truck because he loved them so much, (and it was a cheap air freshener.) He was someone who not very warm and fuzzy, but liked the simple things. A good meal was as good as any fancy Christmas gift and even better...because the gift would be hoarded away, while the meal could be eaten right away. He didn't waste anything...part of his upbringing in rural Maine during the depression. But the story of the lilac in his truck surprised and delighted me because it showed his softer side and revealed his Yankee ingenuity at the same time.

Thankfully the lilac season is soon followed by strawberry season. I actually found some very very small ones growing on my lawn last evening! Tomorrow I plan to pick and hopefully eat many over the next few days!

Spring Clothesline: Being with nature

2008-06-05T12:31:00.007-04:00

"Modern men and women have lost their connection with Creation. We're always insuated from it by shoe leather, cotton-polyester, glass, metal, plastic, HVAC, and screens of many kinds! One of the things I most cherish about Jamaica was the joy of living with open windows, with birds singing, with spiders building their webs, with lizards darting across your path, getting wet when it rains. These are gifts from God, and I can't help but believe our souls are starved for the company of God's creatures." *

For the very reason stated in the above quote I love(d) the month of May and the urgency it brings to get outside. Finally, everything in nature comes fully alive and I can leave my winter cave and reconnect with it again. I spent 40 whole minutes one Sunday morning just sitting outside. I was tired and needed to hear birds, breeze, insects and soak in the quiet.

Somehow I never get enough of these moments. As a child my favorite at-home summer thing to do was take my books, pen and paper, Bible, and blanket and just sit in the backyard reading, writing, and listening. I realize that I am made for more than the busyness of my life. I'm made for the work and life I have, but it's busyness without quiet is futile.

How can we get more quiet moments in nature? I've heard about the book Last Child in the Woods, and although it sounds a bit more academic than I enjoy for my reading list, I think I would concur wholeheartedly with it's message. We've been spending many more hours outside and I can't complain. Winter comes far too soon and too fast here and being out with the bugs, grass, and blue sky is all I dream about then. So embrace the opportunity you have to be in nature wherever you are, whenever the season is right. Your soul will be more at peace and more in touch with itself and God.

*A New Kind of Christian by Brian D. McLaren

Boys to Men: A sign of things to come?

2008-05-27T21:40:00.003-04:00

This was the latest new experience Patrick had this weekend:

He loves bikes (seeing them that is!) and when this showed up in the yard (on the neighbor's side) he got to try it. It goes really slow. It's a battery powered children's go-cart basically, but Paul said the look on his face was priceless at first (I was upstairs grabbing the camera!) I don't think he'll be doing this too often without us right there as he landed in the bushes on this run, but it sure was fun for him.

Memorable Memorial Weekend

2008-05-27T21:11:00.008-04:00

Sort of! After my uncle's sudden passing last week, my grandfather attempted to run himself over yesterday. (Not really, but he did anyway.) Thankfully he's OK! It could have been a very different week if his guardian angel had called in sick. It scared all of us, and we are glad he's recovering in the hospital with just some broken ribs and bruises.

It's been one of those weeks. After the stress I'm ready for some "nothing to happen" time.

So tonight, after a muggy day and some cooling rain, Patrick and I took a walk, and he actually wanted to go in the stroller. So he did, and before I knew it he was asleep! He was busy all day helping daddy clean our my grandmother's porch that he's fixing this summer. And he did a great job at the dentist as well. So it was a tiring day as you can see.

He also helped daddy dig a rock out of the road, and he helped dig this hole at the pond yesterday, which he thought was perfect for copping a squat.

Overall I can say Memorial Day was Memorable.

Girls' Night Out: Selah and Getting Lost

2008-05-19T17:16:00.006-04:00

My friend Leigh invited me out to something special this weekend, which was a surprise until two days before. We drove about 2 hours to see SELAH in concert at a church in Bangor. It was incredible. They can SING!

On the way home we decided to scrap the internet directions because they took us through timbucktoo (not hard to find 'round these pahts), but we couldn't quite remember if the guy we asked for directions to 1 told us to take 95 N or S. Then when we took the right one to get on 395, we didn't find the correct exit for Route 1 (we both say it wasn't well marked). So we took another way (64) to get to 1 (after stopping to buy a MAP!) and ended up slightly more north on 1 then intended, but probably it was all the same distance anyway right? (a 3-hour drive is the same as a 2-hour drive too isn't it?) Oh well, you get us out of our territory, and forget it!

Anyway, Todd Smith of Selah and his wife recently lost a child. His wife's blog is beautiful, if not totally heart-wrenching, but if your so inclined it's here. I'd never gone to a Selah concert before, but it was awesome. Many hymn "remakes" and they sing "The Broken Road" and "You Raise Me Up". They were very real, as Leigh put it.

Life Pins: Boys to Men & Work, Oh Boy!

2008-05-05T21:30:00.006-04:00

Boy, has my boy shown all the traits of masculine identity in the last year, ever increasing this spring.

James Dobson in Bringing Up Boys says this, "At about three to five years of age, however, a lad gradually pulls away from his mom and sisters in an effort to formulate a masculine identity." (2001, pg.58).

Of course he and his daddy spent lots of time wrestling too. "Pile drivers", "body slams", and "Patrick sandwiches" are all catch words to this "boys" game. Patrick says in his best WWF voice, "Momma! Wrestling is just for boys, not garils." I couldn't agree more.

When we had a cleanup day recently at his school he really really wanted to go to the dump with the guys. When they left, he opted to show Mommy his classroom, and play a little baseball with mom and an older boy. He kept asking when they would return, and was so happy to see his daddy return in the truck, and we learned there was no room anyway for his car seat. Ah, yes, I love watching it happen, this gender identity.

So, tonight we spent hours enjoying the warm weather (not to mention black flies) while Patrick dug dirt, put it in a pail, dumped it on the lawn, spread it out, and repeated it 50 times at least in an effort to built a road. He dug, dug, and dug, dumped, spread, dug, dug, dug, dump, spread.... It was wonderful seeing him so content playing outside, "working" he said.

Not long into the process our landlord and son show up to do some raking. Patrick's guy antenae go up, and he suddenly wants to interact with the guys, prodding Mommy to make conversation, and throw him the ball so "that boy can watch him hit." He loves to play and show off and do guy stuff with the guys. Well, he was very focused on having them watch, but I told them they were working and if we played in the middle of the yard they could see. He had fun hitting in their view. Later when I was starting to wash up the toys, I found his rake and sent him to help them. He got right into it, at least helping pick up leaves into the wheelbarrow. I kept asking if he wanted to go in and he was adamant that he "wasn't done working yet." He stayed out with them until I insisted we go in, and they were leaving anyway. It was so fun to watch him work this evening.

Spring Clothesline: Don't forget about bugs!

2008-05-02T22:00:00.002-04:00

Argh. Black flies and ticks. Why can't they just go away! Isn't there some organic kind of pesticide that will wipe them clean off the face of New England. Living near so much marshy woods, near a very large lake with deer everywhere, is just wonderful. Last year I got through the year with few black fly bites and no sign of a tick.

Tonight, the neighbors and I were outside while the boys played and talking about ticks and how we hadn't seen any, wondering if it was too chilly, etc. We go in, we're eating toast, drinking cocoa and discussing Patrick's fear of heaven when I noticed something black on that wonderfully, blessedly blonde hair.

"Patrick I have to get a bug out of your hair."

1st attempt, I lose it.

"Patrick come over here, hold still, so I can get this bug."

2nd attempt, child gets impatient, moves away.

"Patrick, sit still" I scoot him back towards me, "ah, argh, ek."

3rd attempt

I'm yelling, "Patrick hold still!, HOLD STILL."

"Mama, stop it!"

I keep trying with the frantic "Hold still" and finally capture the little bugger and dispose of it nicely.

Thankfully it was only crawling, not sucking, and maybe not even the lyme-carrying kind, but remember to:

check, check, check--everyday!

The Incredible 4-Year-Old Mind

2008-05-02T21:46:00.002-04:00

I've heard from friends, relatives, and strangers a like that there's no such thing as terrible 2's until the 3rd year. At least that was true for me. 4 is seeming like a dream in some ways, but the independence is an adjustment for me, as well as the QUESTIONS. I always knews I'd just love this stage. We discuss everything, multiple times.

Today he was asking about heaven again, and said he was scared of it, and didn't want to go there. I explained that it's suppose to be very pretty, happy place and lots of people he knew would be going there. So the spiritual questions have started and they are humbling. We had the complete attention of this little brain at church on Easter when a video clip was shown. The woman crawling to Jesus with bruises really got to him. We explained it like this. "There were some bad guys. They hurt the woman. Jesus helped her, and the bad guys went away." This went on for weeks. It was disturbing to him, but in language he understood, he could process it. Phew! I hope we passed that one. Then when some crosses flashed on the screen he was full of questions again. And he always is concerned if something is going to be "scary." So he asked, "Is it scary, Mama?"

Yeah. Well. What do you say? What an opening? How to do it without terrorizing our sensitive child.

"Yes, it would have been scary if we had been there. But the cross tells us that Jesus loves us and died for us, and that we can be forgiven for the bad things we do," was basically our answer.

Another day we started the heaven conversation something like this.

"Where is Jesus, Mama?"

"In heaven"

"Where's heaven?"

"Way up in the sky"

"Oh"

"Someday Jesus will come down from heaven and we've fly up and he'll take us to heaven."

He was concerned.

"Will we fall Mama? I'm scared."

Great, just great...my mind flurrying to backpedal to override the fear.

"Well, Jesus will get us there."

"Will he hang on to us Mama?"

"Yes."

So, there you have it, my example of the incredibly honest mind of a 4 year old. I love it.

Does anybody do May Baskets any more?

2008-05-01T23:20:00.005-04:00

That was what I asked myself this week with May Day on the calendar. Then I reasoned, well, why don't I? And I didn't, but all I had to do was say the word and the two PM's were making one up to bring to my workplace. I knew it was coming, and when I heard the infectious laughter outside I knew it had arrived, although from my office in the recesses of the building I didn't hear the doorbell. The girls downstairs did though and one did go running, but couldn't catch 'em. I did though, and everyone got a kick out of it.

When my father-in-law remarried, his bride choose May Day for their wedding day. It fell on a Monday night if I remember right, but it didn't matter. It was mostly a family affair and closest friends anyhow. But we did have a May pole. ("THOSE PAGANS!" someone is probably rasping under their breath. Well...it was all in joyous fun, just as the Christmas tree is.) It was a crepe paper mess for sure.

The May basket stirred up office reverie about May baskets for about 5 minutes. I love the idea, and glad we could do something fun today.

Life Pins: What a Bargain!

2008-05-01T22:55:00.004-04:00

Since not much is a bargain these days (and I don't count Wal-mart as a bargain folks! We're paying for it in jobs and other ways that seems irreversible, but that's too heady for me to write about) I was thoroughly thrilled to come across a few awesome bargains last weekend.

First off, I "was on a mission" according to my husband, and me and missions don't happen that much. But yes, I've been on a mission to clean up, clean out, and declutter. Thank God that barn is big (the one that holds all the stuff we no longer really need, probably never will again, and needs to be sold to the highest bidder.)

Anyway, our place has two wonderfully big closets, but the office one has been overflowing for a year with boxes of office stuff that you couldn't even access without pulling out 5 boxes, digging around for 15 minutes, never finding what you were looking for anyway except a whole bunch of useless stuff. It was totally disorganized, and not me at all! So my plan has been to buy used bookshelves to put in there for the office stuff we really need. Plus PM really wanted another bookshelf, but alas we are out of wall space! So it's the perfect solution.

It's not quite lawn sale season here, but I did find one lawn sale and BINGO, they had bookshelves. We opted for the $10 composite wood Wal-mart brand over the $65 not in great shape homemade one, and continued on to our original destination, St. Philip's Episcopal Thrift Shop, sometimes known as "Whale of a Sale" across from the Lincoln County courthouse in Wiscasset. And boy did we luck out. No bookshelves, but the very first thing we see is a dishwasher staring at us when we entered the lobby with a beautiful $30 tag taped to it. Heaven!
Now when you've learned to live without a dishwasher you become pretty adept at washing dishes fast, but you're washing dishes like ALL THE TIME, and the KITCHEN'S NEVER CLEAN, and YOUR HANDS TURN TO SANDPAPER, so we didn't hestitate one nanosecond, and that tag was in our hands.

The next thing we find out is that it's the shop's anniversary sale day, and they are happily handing out smallish black plastic bags and saying, "Fill them with clothes for a buck!" Well, you can get a lot into those bags--exactly 3 men's khaki pants, 3 women's shirts, 1 women's shorts, and 1-24 month boy's pants. AHHHH...just what I needed. To top it off I got a used pair of sneakers the day prior for 9.99 at my local consignment shop, and all from monies I'd earned there.

The crazy part of this was we were able to squeeze Patrick, the dishwasher and bookshelf into the back of the Volvo. Wish I'd had my camera, but sorry, just picture it, and you'll be so proud of my super-duper packer husband. The only thing we needed was a different adapter for our sink faucet and soap, and we were in business. Cha-ching.

"Dontcha Just Love A Bargain!" (apologies to Reny's & Marden's.)

Spring Clothesline: What a spring!

2008-05-01T22:27:00.006-04:00

Ahhh...wasn't that two weeks of straight sun and warm air wonderful? Now, where'd it go? It feels like fall. Are we having a cold front coming down from Canada? What's happening, Joe Cupo?

I know. All is not lost.

My braincells have been too tired to blog lately, so here's my catching up! Thanks to Steve, we are now geocaching, without the GPS, but soon enough. I say let's go Letterboxing, but the gadgit is too appealing to one third of this family unit, so a-geocaching we will go anyway until such times as procuring the said instrument is possible. In the meantime we've had fun trying to find the cache anyway, and have been successful two times. Patrick loves seeing what's in the box to take, and even though our first outing I fell HARD on my butt on a slippery rock, we will continue walking, looking, and enjoying the outdoors.

I thoroughly enjoyed the last two weeks at work because I had two long weekends back to back. Dontcha just love those obscure bank holidays, such as Patriot's Day for those of us in Maine and Massachusetts? LOOOVVVEEE IT! I'd forgotten how wonderful those days off were because post-baby everyday looked the same for a very long time. Then the next weekend I had a scheduled day off. We visited the Bristol-Pemaquid area 3 times during the week!

The first visit was on a SWELL day at the lighthouse. A day when the ocean looks calm but underneath it's rolling along, and crashing on the rocks to prove it. We had fun watching and avoiding the waves. The next visit the ocean was back to it's choppy self.

We had two campfires (s'mores included), no floods, and thank goodness the big birthday month of April is over! We ate enough cake to feed a herd of cattle.

And my peepers are louder than ever. Did you know it all has to do with mating? Of course! :)

Happy Spring!

Da Boys at Pemaquid Lighthouse

Spring Clothesline: Spring Fever

2008-04-14T10:29:00.006-04:00

Here on the midcoast the snow is finally melted. Not so sure about my southern relatives' snowpiles though. Three weeks ago they still had feet and feet of snow. Last week I started feeling the spring fever coming on. All the vestages of spring were arriving. The birds were chirping happily. We had the window open in the office every day. I saw daffodil stalks peeking up in my yard. The ice cream shop opened. I opened my door one evening and heard a couple of peeper frogs in the bog near my house. It was near 60 one day, and I ate lunch outside. All this produced that giddy "it's spring" feeling, but by the time I would get out of work it was starting to cool down.

One such evening I really wanted to get out and do something. I recently was reminded about Fort Edgecomb on Davis Island just north of the Wiscasset bridge. So we headed out with a picnic supper, and froze. It was frustrating. The wind off the river chilled the air probably to 10 degrees cooler than the registered temperature. Boy, was that a disappointment. But as I'd never been there the inagural visit introduced me to yet another nearby "spot" for the upcoming warmer months. To shake the disappoinment off , the following evening Patrick and I visited the playground. Over the weekend we tracked our first geocache (minus the GPS to do it). It was cool and overcast, but still good enough for a walk.

It felt good to hang my winter coats up in the closet and move the furniture away from the French door. To really top it off we dug out the grill to cook chicken and steak over the weekend.

On My Shelf: Becoming Jane

2008-04-14T10:21:00.003-04:00

Being a Jane Austen fan I couldn't pass up the chance to rent Becoming Jane this weekend. It felt like reading or watching one of her novels, but I thought it was better.
Overall the movie was very well-done, and Anne Hathaway was a convincing Jane.
I read an extensive biography of Jane Austen some years ago and I'll have to dig it out to see how closely this movie version fit with some aspects of her love-lost story in the movie. The ending was a poignant. Warning: It doesn't end like her books. But overall Jane was a character who stayed true to herself and the social, cultural and moral requirements of her day.

Why does our romanticized view of love always end tragically? Is it because we believe love is not love unless it's unfulfilled by difficult or tragic circumstances or the design of our society, culture and families?

I found a web site devoted to all things Becoming Jane. It's a good site, esp. for fanatics!

Remembrances

2008-03-29T15:45:00.004-04:00

In November I shared with you about some people I knew who were grieving deeply for the loss of their child. They have created a memorial about their little angel that includes some safety information, a petition, and a place to share your stories of loss of a little one. It's a beautiful website. I pray their loss will not be in vain. It's wonderful to see them using the memory of Eddie to influence others for safety of all children.

This Morning's Forecast

2008-03-26T07:42:00.005-04:00

An inch of snow and a smattering of Robins!

How good it is to hear robins!

Update: The high reached 52 at my house! Spring is finally arriving!

Celebratory Moments: One more party, one more photo

2008-03-22T23:01:00.003-04:00

Patrick enjoyed three birthday parties this year! Okay, maybe that's a little insane, but it's because we have many family members, not enough room in our apartment, and everyone lives quite spread out. So we did the LAST one tonight with his cousins in the south, where they have, yup, a ton of Rescue Heroes. Patrick is in 7th heaven there playing in the "loft". No pics of that, but I did get one of him and my "runny" cake.
Must be the organic peanut butter I used...hmmmm...

(Pic on the way!)

My sister sent two great pics.
Here's a nice one: And the other is on a previous post.

Happy Easter!
He is Risen!

It's all about the Heroes

2008-03-19T21:57:00.007-04:00

Rescue Heroes that is! Through phone conversations, Anna and Ken learned that Patrick is a huge Rescue Heroes fan. Unfortunately, the minions of "good, non-violent superheroes" are going by the way side to Planet Heroes, or so my Toys 'R Us consultant tells me. That's okay though because eBay, flea markets, consignment shops and doting Uncle Ken has helped us out greatly in that department. Not only did I find the Rescue Heroes aircraft carrier, but Ken and Anna found a clearance airplane. Patrick was in 7th heaven all day long. And Uncle Ken scored big time! (Can you tell we approve?)

Patrick (sitting on the boxed plane) with Auntie.

Ken, Anna, and Patrick putting it together (A man who reads directions!)

Happy Rescue Heroes Kid!

Life Pins: Congratulatory Moments

2008-03-19T21:36:00.009-04:00

Wedding bells will ring in our minds all summer as we are in wedding planning mode for my sister and Ken. I am so happy for my sister, although, we're not too sure about her going to the other side. Ken, to my brother's chagrin, is a Yankees fan. They touted their shirts all weekend on their visit this last week to celebrate her birthday.

It was Patrick's birthday last week as well. Four seems big, but not as big as five will seem next year.

On the homefront, we've been watching the movie Fly Away Home. It's a tear-jerker, but for me, not for the "environmental theme" of the movie, that's a backdrop in my opinion. It's the confidence the father gives the daughter to fly alone, literally. It's also the importance of family and coming of age, surviving loss, and of taking care of others. I realize that I need more confidence, but also I need to give confidence to others. What can each of us do today to instill confidence in someone we love?

Winter Clothesline's Cold: 8 more weeks (at least) til spring!!! :)

2008-02-29T11:28:00.003-05:00

The forecast is looking bright
And we're going to enjoy it, right!
With more winter in our cup
for probably 8 more weeks, things are looking up!

We're all in this together...

And here's a very funny essay to make it a little easier.

I Love Maine Winters by Lill Hawkins

Be sure to link to her sequel essay as well that's in the article.

Life Pins: God's Promise #2

2008-02-23T20:57:00.006-05:00

Since having a child I have really appreciated this verse:

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those who are with young."
Isaiah 40:11

I sure have needed God to lead me in my parenting,
and often I feel I still haven't gotten it right.
I remember in the first two years having days
when I thought I was going to pull my hair out
because I didn't know what my child was fussy
about, or how I was going to get dishes, laundry,
cooking done, or have time to myself.
In those moments if I just stopped and talked to
God about it, or just said, "Help", I'd often, in my silence,
find the answer staring me in the face, or after a while
the day would be easier. Often it took just realizing that if
I put "first things first", which maybe meant just stopping everything
and focusing completely on Patrick, rocking him, feeding him,
playing with him, giving him what he needed, and then looked after
any thing else, my day would go smoother.

I need this promise just as much today, and for the future as I did then.
Because I hear this parenting thing doesn't get easier, it just gets different!

Winter Clothesline's Cold: Mid-Winter Getaway!

2008-02-20T07:28:00.015-05:00

Ok, I'm so excited! I heard chickadees singing their twe-ep the other morning, and the birds in general seem to be a bit more active in the mornings than usual. I've seen them at my feeder off and on, but something about hearing what I refer to as the Anne of Green Gables bird, just means spring...is...coming...someday!

Ahhhhh...

Ok, everyone, it's mid-February, post-Valentine's, with about 4 weeks to the official start of spring, which means at least 8-10 more weeks before it starts to get really warm probably, so I hope you've gone on, or can plan, a get-away!

We used to go away every February, even if it was just Kennebunk, York, or Newport, with the occasional week-long visit to Florida thrown in there.

Last year we visited Chuck, April, and Abigail (which means it's been a year, so she's a year, Happy Birthday, Abby--send us pics!) in New York.

So this past weekend we headed to the big city of Portland. Yup! Big getaway I know, but it's called living on the cheap, cheap, cheap! All that I required was a pool, a drive to the Atlantic, and eating out at least once!

We visited the Children's Museum, Asmara, an Eritrean restaurant in the heart of Portland, and two favorite Cape Elizabeth ocean spots,Kettle Cove (next to Crescent Beach), and a place next to Two Lights State Park near the Lobster Shack, with Jameson's Tavern thrown in there for good measure.

Last night I hit McDonald's with a PlayPlace with my friend and her son. We had it to ourselves, and after exercising my child's play muscles by climbing around with the boys until they weren't saying it was "scary" any more, they were like little monkeys climbing up the tube and coming down the slide on their own, static-haired and smiling.

If you haven't gone on a getaway for a while, may I recommend it? Even if it's just to your favorite hangout for coffee, the library, a drive on a sunny day, or your local McDonald's. When you come back, it may not be spring yet, but maybe you'll feel a little more prepared to sit inside for a few more weeks.

Winter Clothesline's Cold: Ok, Yup, It's Still Winter!

2008-02-10T18:08:00.006-05:00

The proof is in the pudding, or in the skies. It has been precipitating on and off for over a week, with more scheduled for today. As I always have said, if it's winter and it's going to be cloudy, it may as well snow.

Snow is good for snowmen.

An hour later he was slightly listing, and it started snowing again. Hopefully he'll firm up as the temperature drops through the evening.

At least we have Valentine's Day to look forward to. The best gift ever: Having my son say, "Momma, I love you."

Life Pins: Tribute to a Life Well-Lived

2008-02-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

This is important to me, and those who knew him-- the links to the obituary of an excellent example of a family and business man, who was civic-minded, caring, and a very intelligent individual with good values and an honest reputation. Thank you Sam, for contributing to my life in such an important, albeit, indirect way. Without you, Sally and MAD, my childhood would have been far different than it was! I am sorry we will not be able to continue to enjoy your quick wit and wealth of knowledge for the rest of our days.

The Bee
Portland Press Herald

MAD, one of Sam's legacies

Winter Clothesline's Cold: Where's the Beach?

2008-01-24T21:29:00.000-05:00

Winter, January and February in particular, are such waiting times! Such cold, long, days. I wish I was a hibernating bear. Today on my daily lunchtime walk to the post office, I thought about skipping "lunch" and just walk. The damp "Amsterdam" day, as my co-workers referred to it, was biting, and I did my usual power walk to the PO, and back to get some air, and came inside shivering. Not a good beach day.

A few weeks ago my friend Kim said her daughter had been asking to go to the beach. They live on a lake, so fishing, swimming, and boating are a big part of their lives in warmer weather. It sounded familiar when about a week later my son asked to go to the beach. Fortunately the day was mild (maybe 35 degrees) and sunny, so after church and a peaceful nap we did just that--headed to the beach for a late afternoon/sunset walk. It was chilly, but it was heaven.

The pounding waves of the ocean were startlingly loud to our winter ears used to the hum of the furnace and tv. Their gentle cadence warmed our souls after a few minutes though. The houses around the cove were stark, empty, dark...they looked lonely and like they were waiting too...

I cannot explain it--I would live at the beach if it were mostly mine and not crowded with tourists all summer. I don't like to leave too soon. I could sit for hours simply watching the ocean.

Two days ago out on an errand Patrick says "Let's go sliding". That was SLIDE, not SLED. "OK!" So we stopped at the nearest playground, ice skated on the snow, and laughed down some turns on the slide. Flurries of snow were tickling our faces.

Tonight, in real agony of wanting summer, we dug out the bathing suits and headed to the local pool. I know in winter this is not so unusual for some. The local school has a swim team that was beginning practice as we left, but for me and my friends who joined us, it was a chance to get out and beat the damp 20 degree day.

How do you wait for beach weather?

Life Pins: Laughter

2008-01-15T15:16:00.001-05:00

"I love to laugh
Loud and long and clear
I love to laugh
It's getting worse ev'ry year

The more I laugh
The more I fill with glee
And the more the glee
The more I'm a merrier me
It's embarrassing!
The more I'm a merrier me!"

As I mentioned before in my post, "Christmas Hassle : Then why do it?", I bought tickets to a comedy show for my family this year. How I needed to laugh, and how I did. I laughed for an hour-and-a-half, non-stop, no joke! I found out that I have severely under-worked stomach muscles. It was awesome.

Not only did I leave the show lighter, merrier, and happy, but also more determined that I'm not going so long without laughing again.

What are those stats about children laughing a certain number of times a day and adults only laugh how much? I guess it's an amazing 300 to 15. I think that's a bit high, even for my 3-year-old, and it's way too high for me, but it makes sense that they laugh more. They are less worried and more in touch with what makes them happy. Likewise, when I get out and do something childlike I usually have fun. When I get out of my own way and enjoy a sunset, the outdoors, or hit the beach I may or may not laugh, but I always feel better. And if I find something to laugh about, all the better.

The lyrics above are from a scene I love from Mary Poppins, one of my all-time favorite movies. It's when they visit the lonely Uncle Albert who is suspended in mid-air laughing hysterically. Now that's what I'm talking about. If laughter can do that then why do we need drugs, alcohol, food, sex, whatever to make us feel better? We all just need to laugh a little more to feel lighter, freer, and make life work a little easier.

Find a way to laugh. I sure need to more!

Want more? I googled children and laughter and came up with many hits.
I really liked this article from the Austin American-Statesman on parenting and laughter.

Promises, Promises: A Rough Start to the New Year?

2008-01-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

So much for wishing folks a "happy" new year. Not to be negative here, but I have a number of friends having quite a time of it already, and it's only day 9! It reminds me that none of us know what a day may bring. I had a few days of happy and not-so-happy surprises in 2007.

It's amazing the lie I've believed all my life about happiness. As a child I always thought that being an adult was the best life, and of course always looked forward to when I was all grown up. Although I was a fairly happy child, of course I believed adults had it better. As adults we all now know how untrue this child-like rationale is. What parent doesn't bemoan bills, work, and car repairs to their children, reminding them how lucky they are that they are still kids? Still I think back to my first years as an adult...college, marriage, etc...everything had a next phase to look forward to, something that would bring me happiness. Well, I've found that while each new stage has brought various happy occasions and things I'm happy about, I've also learned that life seems to get harder too for some reason. I know you all know what I'm talking about here. Why is that? It seems so unfair, until I realize I was believing a lie that said the next stage will make you completely happy! As my delusions have been washed away to reveal the reality of life, I guess it's also worked on my character somehow...it's what makes us all wiser, strips off the peripherals of our lives, and maybe will bring us the happiness we all seek. I don't yet know.

So then I think what is the delusion...where does it start? Am I promised Happiness? That's it. I believe I am promised happiness, that I am owed happiness. As I was pondering this I realized that in my experience and my head knowledge of the promises of God I cannot see that God promises anyone happiness, or happiness on my terms. When I start demanding that life work my way and that's the only way I will be happy, then I start to believe I am God and that I can be in control. Discontent is now my soul bearer, not happiness.

Happiness is the promise of the American dream, a dream I think we in America feel we are owed no matter the cost, even if it costs us our health, our families, our sanity...and maybe even our happiness. To make a generality, most Americans have a Happy Life as compared to many in the world. It's just a matter of perspective, how you define "happy".

I have a long way to go in realizing and embracing that life isn't always going to be easy, happy, or worry-free, but I can carry the promise of eternal life and God's presence with me into the New Year, no matter what may come today.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Book of John 3:16

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Book of Matthew 28:20b

Life Pins: Resolutions

2008-01-01T21:41:00.001-05:00

Resolutions sounds so academic, so cliched too. I, at times, have made resolutions. I have often made common ones, like read my Bible regularly, exercise more, eat better, etc. Already this year, without realizing it, I am worrying about my to-do list, organizing my apartment, and going back to work after a nice Christmas break.

Call me a pessimist or a realist, I don't know, but I feel it's unrealistic to set a goal and expect to keep it up for an entire year without fail, so in recent years I've railed against a New Year's Resolutions list. I guess having a child has taught me to change my plans minute by minute some days, making goal-setting hard to stick with. If I get one thing accomplished that I wanted to or needed to in a day, I'm doing awesome!

But I digress. Without realizing it I have made myself some goals, shall we say, for the next few weeks at least.

1. After feeling like my New Year's Eve was filled with simply, and depressingly, reflecting on the past, I realized that what I really need this year, is some promises. I need God's promises. I need some hope for that better year I am talking about. So I think I may start finding and focusing on one promise a week, or maybe a month, from God's Word.

2. I'd really like to start buying more organic and all natural products. I said earlier I wanted to shop my local co-op, and although I haven't made it there yet, I am beginning to realize that while my life currently cannot become completely "off the grid", granola, organic everything, I can try new products and new ways to buy things I need, even if it's one thing a month!

3. Laugh More! Post on that to follow

4. And for the record, exercise more!

Happy Goal Reaching!

Laundry List: 2007 in Review & Looking to 2008!

2008-01-01T15:36:00.000-05:00

Have an awesome 2008 doing whatever God has in store! Isn't it exciting?!? After this year, we are all glad that a new year, and hopefully, better year is ahead of us. We know there are no guarantees except that God is in control.

Shall we recap?

1. We moved in, out, in, out, and in (not out again yet).

2. Bonnie (our second cat from way back in Farmingdale) didn't look both ways on East Pond Road.

3. We got a fish to replace her.

4. Libby started work doing something she actually went to school for--English skills.

5. Paul started work doing something he's now going to school for (sort of)--boat design.

6. Patrick started school doing something he knows how to do real well--playing, playing, and more playing!

7. Our church got a new pastor (he's swell, and so is his family!)

8. Libby got paid to write a short article.

9. The '04 Volvo sold...FINALLY!

10. And finally, NO, we're NOT pregnant again, or planning to be right away!

Everything else, well, was just too eventful to publish, but things are looking up.

Happy New Year!

Santa Post-View

2007-12-30T08:52:00.001-05:00

The look on the face says it all! I just couldn't wait for Christmas day with Patrick. I knew he was going to be so into it.

After muffins and reading from the big old family Bible (we determined it was presented to my husband's great grandparents about 100 years ago), we had our gifts. We really enjoyed our Christmas morning, and his new train. We spent the rest of the day with family, eating and opening gifts.

Christmas is always a day to look forward to. Christmas is always a day I'm glad ends well too. When it's over I like to review and write it all down, and think about what I'll buy for gifts next year. But mostly it comes down to being together with people. That for me is Christmas. If we didn't have one gift this year, but could be with my family and that was it, I would have been happy. I saw a news headline last week that said, "Parents feel guilty not being able to buy Christmas gifts". I know there have been times when I felt bad that I couldn't buy as much as I wanted to, but now I'm used to it and choose to buy less. I had to shake myself silly that year and say, "Hey, now what's it all really about?" It was freeing to realize that it didn't matter if I couldn't buy huge gifts for everyone and that it would be ok.

I feel there's a very sad gap in our culture for a lot of folks. This gap is partly created by the belief that our world and lives are only about the material things we can possess. The spiritual side of life is lacking for many people. This affects how some people approach Christmas, and I feel makes those struggling to make ends meet feel even worse about a holiday that's about hope, joy, and eternity!

With oil prices so high and the generally bad economy, I really fear for people who are desperately trying to just meet the basics on limited incomes. Some people are turning to crime, some are suffering quietly. Where is their hope? Whether it's no presents under the tree or needs for food, warmth and clothes, I pray that the hope I have in God causes me to not only count my blessings, but share my blessings in practical and spiritual ways with people who are lacking.

It's my wish that each of us with the hope of God living in us will be aware of people around us who are struggling to live, not just not have any presents this Christmas, and give them something more to hope for than a full tree for next year, that is the promise of spiritual rebirth that came wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Luke 2

Santa Preview

2007-12-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

Santa fears aside we got a photo with Santa, a toned down grandfather who agreed to play Santa at Patrick's preschool. Books were on order for the day, and every child was brave enough to visit with him. I think Santa's back and lap had give out and he decided not to pick Patrick up. The room was overwhelming with two people calling to him to look and smile for pictures, plus just the buzz of all the kids and parents. But Patrick was thrilled with his Curious George book.

Patrick still has Santa anxiety (WHO DOESN'T?). Last week he asked me as we drove by a waving Santa selling trees at the local VFW if he can talk and does he have a mouth? My sentiments exactly! It was always that beard that freaked me out...where's Santa's face anyway? Who is behind all that white curly hair? I mean it's just not natural looking. I think kids kinda know something's not right, but hey I'm glad for the kiddos that really get into it.

As for Santa fears, one year when I was big enough to not really be scared I dreamed (or did I?) that Santa had fallen asleep on the floor at the end of my bed. When I woke up that Christmas morning and got to courage to move I timidly looked over the edge and he was gone!

Winter Anyone?

2007-12-22T14:46:00.000-05:00

A day late posting this, but this is what is looks like outside my doors:

2 foot icicles

Snow up to our knees

Snow Barbeque

Yes, it is finally winter after fall has already enjoyed dumping about 2 feet of snow since Thanksgiving, or before? I can't remember. It's all running together for me here. Aside from not being able to see when I pull out of my driveway and slogging through slush to do errands, I'd say it would be perfect for cross country skiing, if only I knew where my skies were!

Our Christmas Card

2007-12-20T22:25:00.000-05:00

As I was saying...I'm scaling back this year, so here's your personal Christmas card...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ALL GOD'S BEST FOR YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

Christmas Hassle : Then why do it?

2007-12-13T21:22:00.001-05:00

Oh it's the most wonderful time of the year-- for complaining. I haven't heard too too much of it, but we all do it because it is a very busy time of the year and there's enough stress for everyone to have three bites of or more. Personally I'm tired and just want to get to Christmas so I can start enjoying it, dang it, and so I can stop thinking about what in the world am I going to buy my in-laws?

I liked this essay by Susan Nye, "Christmas is What You Make It". My thoughts exactly!

I heard a radio personality whining about Christmas, and I wanted to reach into the radio, shake her a little and say, "Then why do it?" No one is forcing anyone to celebrate Christmas, buy presents, make cookies, trim a tree, spend a fortune. So why do it?

The part I dread most about Christmas is organizing the schedule. I'm the big sister...I have inlaws...we have best friends coming from New York...we have two traditions with two other families, so there is definitely a lot of friends and family to fit in. But I do it because I want to. It's important to me to fit in everyone somewhere in the week. One year we stayed home, and everyone came to us. It didn't feel quite the same, but it was kinda nice too. Some year we'll have a place that accomodates that again, but until then I am going to make the best of the busy week and enjoy the company, comraderie and relationships, because come January we'll all be hibernating again.

Every year I get a little less commercial. I start thinking in October what I really want to buy everyone. What would they like? What do they need? What can I afford? I don't enjoy shopping if I don't know what I'm looking for, so I don't do it!

Every year I get a little more stingy, and I like it. Did you hear the reports on Black Friday? Someone had $450 worth of merchandise in their cart and they were so pleased with themselves. I'm not sure I even spend $450 each year, unless I include extra groceries or whatever! It's shocking what gets spent on Christmas gifts. And I wonder, do they do it because they love it or because they have to?

I'd rather give what I spend to children in Africa or wherever, but I do get something for everyone on my list because I do enjoy giving, and I see it as only fair. Gifts are a great expression of love for some people. When my Gramma couldn't afford presents a couple of years, it about killed her. To her, Christmas gifts are love. Shopping was always very important to her.

I've been shopping once. I've shopped twice online and twice over the phone, and one more quick trip to my local businesses and I'm done! I've done something this year that I've never done in a holiday season since it has existed in Maine--I've avoided Wal-mart. I hate them anyway. They want to take over the world, they are overstocked on a lot of junk no one really wants or needs, buy toys from China with lead paint in them, and the lines! Forget it. It doesn't bring me or anyone else joy--except maybe the Waltons.

Don't get me started. This year I'm going to my local co-op. (Possibly more on that later.)

So my gifts are Snapfish calendars, tickets to a comedy show, and on sale gifts I know people will like. Plus I shopped early for the kiddos, stuck with a budget for most people, and bought one big thing for my child. I couldn't be happier! No one needed another pair of socks from me. Nope. We need to laugh. I hemmed and hawed, about the tickets but finally decided to just go all out and do something different to make a memory. This year, my family needs it. We don't need Wal-mart, we don't need another flannel shirt or footed pjs, we need to laugh, we need to connect as a family, and we need to do something different.

The other thing I did this year, is give a little more than normal to charity. Try it, you'll like it.

Also I'm not baking for a week so I can gain more weight. Harry and David is piling up at work. Since someone else is doing the confectionary baking for me, why ask for it?

You are forewarned, if you come up to me and start complaining about how much you hate this and that, or you're so busy with that and this, I'm going to ask you , "So why do it?"

If doing those things stresses you out, just isn't meaningful or Christmasy to you, check it off your list for good. Make Christmas the celebration, or not, of what you want it to be.

I really liked it when I heard my cousins saying last year that on Christmas they were taking the kids on a winter hike and then settling in for a simple day at home. I'm not sure when or if many gifts fit into the equation, but for them that was important. Making it a day about being together. Hurray for them!

Let me know, after January 1, what you did to really enjoy your holidays this year.

Life Pins: All I Want For Christmas is T-I-M-E

2007-12-04T22:56:00.001-05:00

"Priorities and Getting Them Straight" was my first title for this post. But as I finished up the above post, and came back to this one, I realized what is really grating on me about Christmas, this and other years, it's TIME. Christmas take a lot of time to prepare for, and just to do. It's time hopefully, well spent for you and me.

But tonight, right now, all I really want for Christmas is MORE TIME with this little angel boy:

Right now it seems I'm always pretty tired on my shift with him. He's tired as he's given up naps, and we usually sit around, play, "watch something" (in his words), I conjure up some din-din, and we hit the hay, or he does, fairly early. 5:30 a.m. comes around, and he's up with me wanting me to "Play with me". Ok, ok, I've got about 5 minutes, and then I have to get ready for work. So, I often feel sad that I can't "play with me" right then. Oh, how I would love to. I remind myself that homecoming comes earlier in the day for me than for that most in the work-a-day world.

I don't want to complain about work. I like my job. It's a great fit for me, flexible, great benefits, etc, but right now Patrick is 3, almost 4, and he won't be saying "Play with me" for the rest of his time at home. I also really miss going out with him to playgroups, library story hours, even grocery shopping. It seems any errands I do now cut into my time with him, so I avoid them at almost all cost, even if it means we run out of milk. I don't mind some of the the housework piling up, but also some of it needs to get done. I hate the 15 minutes I have to take to wash the dishes. But it must be done eventually.

Now, why do I work? We won't get into it all, but right now I need to work. I'm sure I've posted on it before anyway. So I'm lucky. I have the best of both worlds, sort of. This Christmas, why I needed to downsize my shopping, buying, baking, and activities, is mostly because I want TIME with the 'lil guy.

I have been worried about the holiday week, wondering how I'd get to enjoy any down time with him while we are dashing off here and there to every gathering possible, until I just realized that at all but one of those events he'll be with me. I have the best opportunity possible to do many special things with him while we are all on break. I want to make the most of that TIME and just enjoy being with him, every minute I get.

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is time with my boy.

Two Weeks of Laundry Piling Up!

2007-12-04T20:11:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love it when your dirty laundry is piling up? Or clean laundry for that matter? If it doesn't get washed, dried, folded, and put away within 1-2 hours-- fagehdabouit! Sometimes some of it gets put away. Most of the time we are digging through the laundry baskets looking for that blue shirt or missing sock. I have a huge basket hamper (it's almost taller than my child) for my laundry that we purchased for about $50 at an antique shop years ago. I can't deal with the dinky ones they sell everywhere, and that I grew up with. With two people's changes of clothes they are full, then we start the laundry piles and trails through the house. And with all the baskets full of clean laundry, there's no place else for it to go. Disgusting! So I need a big one. We can stuff a lot of laundry in there. That's the way my life on this blog seems to be. I'm digging for something good to talk about while all the dirty laundry is piling up higher and higher.

So, my birthday, yaddie yadda...I got my Bon Jovi cd, so I was happy!

Lost Highway is pretty Bon Jovi-esque, but gotta say I still love it. I really can't believe Jon wrote "'Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore". Wow! I thought it had to be a remake. This album definitely has a lot of country influences, from the sounds to the themes, and try Leane Rimes as the dueling female in Stranger, and Whoops!--we've gone country rock. Really, I do agree with the guys, it's a natural fit at this point. Hair bands are gone, and their hair has gone with them, and their lives and styles are so much more focused now. They will never be given the credit due them because I know they aren't all that original, but that's ok. They put on one heck of a show, and without a good show, (i.e. Without a paying audience) you're nothing as an entertainer. Ok, enough rambling about my favorite subject.

So, we put up the Christmas tree, yaddie, yadda...ok who doesn't do this? It was uneventful for once. Even with a large tree tied to the top of a Volvo XC.
I was able to ignore (for the most part) my other half's ability to be completely obsessive about the placement of certain decorations and the height of the angel. The best part of it--talking to the guy who sold it to us. Very friendly, yup not from around heah, from away, so that explains the friendliness! (And if you're not sure what I'm getting at, click this, scroll, and read "Relationship Strings".). We got a short walk on a frigid, sunny day, and came home with a cute pic of Daddy and Patrick pulling the ole girl in. I'm fairly easy to please aren't I?

So, we've already been to a small Christmas party, yaddie yadda...ok it was really nice, put on by my nearest and dearest friends, and we had a nice time. The kiddies played well together, and we ate well and played some fun party games...dress up Daddy as a Christmas tree (courtesy Family Fun magazine) and ye old Yankee Swap. The top gift--a handheld blender that Will opened and traded, I traded for, and the spouse of the theft victim traded back for. So, we got into it. We did end up with one nice snowman kit with felt hat, carrot nose and corn pipe included!

Speaking of snowmen, it dropped about a foot on us in Maine yesterday. I know, I know...yaddie yadda...who in the northeastern or midwestern part of the country didn't have some kind of icky weather? Well, it's absolutely gorgeous out there. Something about the first snow, with Christmas coming, just made me feel content today. It could be the snowed in, not going anywhere feeling, I don't know. We all had the day off yesterday as a result of the weather, and getting up today for work just felt exciting! I always loved that--getting up and going out again after a big snow. It feels like an adventure, and a reunion all at once. Everyone has their snow shovelling, power outage, and harrowing travel stories. When I worked at a printing manufacturer a few years ago, shifts were never cancelled due to weather, so once everyone got in for the day, we buzzed about how long it took to get in, how much we're going to get, are we going to get to leave early? is school cancelled yet?, etc. And when the day was over it was like walking into a wondrous and peaceful snow palace soon to be filled with exhaust from everyone starting their engines. Then the party would begin-- scraping the windows, throwing snowballs, making sure you didn't slide into the boss's car...OOPS! Something about first snow just has an adverturesome feel to me. When it's March, and everything is gray and slushy, then I'll have something different to say, but for now I feel content with the snowy world outside.

Life Pins: Needing Hope

2007-11-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

Today I found out that my brother and wife's friends lost their one year old over the weekend. I have been heartsick for them all day. I do not know them well, although I have met them on two occasions. I cannot imagine the pain, anger, guilt, and all the emotions that are flooding them. I cannot imagine the grief. I have yet to experience grief like that.

I long to be able to reach these folks with some words of hope, but my mind and heart struggle for just the right words because there are not really any right words at this moment for them I'm sure.

I have had my own grieving experiences recently and in the past over different circumstances, things that that have left me feeling hopeless for a time. We all carry pain over past circumstances, while some of us may be sitting ducks in the valley of the shadow of death waiting to be pulled, or wondering if we'll ever be pulled, from the pit of despair. Illness, death, sudden tragedy, divorce, abuse, difficult financial, marital, family circumstances...whatever it may be, we've all got something, and we need to feel hope in order to carry on in life.

Last spring a woman came to my church to speak about her greatest grief and how she has dealt with what she phrased as her "new normal" in life. A gifted professional speaker, Carol Kent, shared candidly about her pain after she learned her son had killed someone. She has written many books, two that speak directly about her situation, about how she is living life after this tragedy. For anyone needing some hope, I urge you to find and read Carol Kent's story, As I Lay My Isaac Down and A New Kind of Normal. She is real, she understands deep pain, and she offers choices we can make and the truths we can rely on to help deal with our own tragedies.

Life Pins: My Thankful List

2007-11-21T19:46:00.000-05:00

1. Patrick
2. Family
3. Holidays
4. Days Off (which are not the same as holidays!!)
5. Bonus checks
6. Generous employers
7. Bonuses and paydays on the same day before two days off!
8. God's provision out of nowhere
9. Bedtime
10. Walks
11. Health
12. The healthcare we have in this country
when we need it(even though it's getting a bad rap--at least we have doctors, medicines, hospitals!)
13. Food, clothes, shelter
14. Friends

15. That I have a future and a hope
16. Books
17. Fun blogs
18. Memories
19. Birthdays
20. The end of the 3 day cake run at work (my birthday, Lee's birthday, and Sarah's last day cakes!), and I LOVE cake, but enough...my stomach can't take any more! :)
21. Welcome surprise visitors
22. Invitations to parties, brunch, dinner
23. Unexpected mail
24. The beach (I know it's November, but I love the beach. Maybe I can fit another visit in to one this weekend.)
25. Days when something seems right
26. Being published (see link P.S. Writing Services)

Relationship Strings: Broken People

2007-11-20T20:18:00.001-05:00

I'm so thankful for my closest friends. The ones I will keep for life. We have slowly been learning to share our true selves with each other, even if it means being vulnerable about where we are broken. We struggle with deep, tough issues. We have parenting woes, challenges, and joys. We have problems in our marriages. We question things about our faith, our church, and how the Christian life is to be expressed authentically. We struggle to feel we fit in or belong anywhere. I am so thankful for my friends who are willing to share their broken places and their victories with me.

I have discovered that loneliness is my biggest enemy. I have also discovered that I cannot undo that loneliness until I become real with people, a very hard thing to do, but I'm learning. I have discovered I can do this in only the safest of groups which are few and far between, but sharing with one or two people with whom I am safe, and where I can linger there without judgment, is such a blessing. If you do not have any group or friend like this with whom you would even begin to be completely honest with, then start looking. Don't become clingy and needy, just keep your eyes, ears and heart open for a genuine caring person who you admire and get to know them, and be open to letting them get to know you. You will be blessed by it. I have yet to completely conquer loneliness in my existence (can it ever be completely erased?), but I am grateful for my real friends with whom I can be real.

I am continually amazed by the grace of some "secular" artists, writers, and general people in the world. I wish I had more grace to extend to everyone in my life. These song lyrics remind me that no matter how anyone appears to have it altogether, or seems to have it all, no one really does. And this song reminds me that everyone has a need for grace, a need to be accepted with their brokenness and all.

But before I share these lyric I will take a sideroad. There has been some discussion surrounding a new sign outside a local church forbidding smoking on the property. I am thankful the senior leadership doesn't agree that this sign should be posted here. If any place should be a place of grace and acceptance for broken people, it is the church. If any place should be a place to ask questions, it should be the church. If any place should be a place of acceptance for people and their hurts, habits, and hangups, it should be the church. Our mistakes and sins God will deal with and forgive, but unless someone is able to feel acceptance by His people, how will they ever feel accepted by God?

My favorite secular songwriters have done it again...said what the church needs to continue to say:

Welcome to the party
Come on in and disappear
You're feeling like a stranger
But all your friends are here
Little lines and cracks
Around your eyes and mouth
Something's trying to get in
Something's trying to get out
It's okay to be a little broken
Everybody's broken in this life
It's okay to feel a little broken
Everybody's broken...
When you wonder why you're breathing
Know you're not alone
It's so hard to believe
What's easier to doubt
You're trying to hold in
What you're dying to scream out...
You're alright
It's alright
It's just life...

Everybody's Broken
Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Falcon

My church will be opening the doors to their new Celebrate Recovery program on December 6. A Biblically based 12-step program, it's open to anyone and everyone who is seeking help for habitual problems in their lives. Check it out. It may be in a community near you!

This Week's Laundry: More Firsts & Celebrations

2007-11-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

Laundry, laundry and more laundry. It seems like the more I do, the more I do...hmmm.
It's the one thing that never stops. Laundry and dishes. But I am so thankful we have machines to do the work now, although I am sorely lacking a dish washer at the moment, and the dishes are piling up as we speak. Ah well, I can dream about having a dishwasher again, and be so thankful for a husband who does take his turn.

Just as my laundry and dishes are never done, the things I want to blog about are piling up.

Last week was a big week. Not only was Patrick coming off his fire safety and prevention week at school, where I think, they had a fire drill, and played with fire trucks. All I know is all he talked about were the firetrucks! One day on the way to somewhere he asked in his somewhat confused three-year-old way what our address was.
He started off with asking "What's this road? I eventually deciphered he wanted to know what road we were on and then he asked "where's my home?" It was so cute. I suppose they had been talking about 911 and needing to know your address. He tried hard to say the whole street address (it's a long one).

Anyway, back to last week...he visited the dentist, had school pictures, stayed an extended day at school, talked to Santa (HUGE) and really got into celebrating Mom's birthday.

The dentist visit was his first real cleaning. He even let the hygenist scrape the stains off his teeth! Daddy said he sat so well and only sat up once. When the hygenist said, "Where ya going?" He said, "Me just seeing."

The SANTA thing...ok, this kid hates masks or full body costumes, loud noises, baptisms at church, and parades. I really love to take in some holiday type events. Last year when I took him to a Christmas concert that had a fully dressed Santa and Frosty I probably made the biggest mistake of his life so far. He didn't get over it for months. And this concert happened to be at our church, and so church since last December has been rife with childhood fears for him. (The biggest and latest fear--developed in May--was baptisms!) Well, I really wanted to try the local tree lighting yesterday. I knew they would probably escort a local Santa with a firetruck or two, and crossed my fingers that Santa wouldn't be obnoxious and that they wouldn't wail the sirens. My wishes were granted. Although Patrick wouldn't let us cross the street once the big guy arrived, he let us stand there at a very safe distance. Eventually we decided to leave, and we walked over to say goodbye to our friends and their 3-year-old, who was talking a blue streak with Santa and getting more lollipops out of him. Daddy very gently and slowly made him way next to this boy and right in front of Santa, and before I knew it Santa was talking with Patrick and handing him a lollipop. When they returned to my side Patrick had a big look of wide-eyed relief, threw his hands in the air and said, "That guy didn't hurt me!"
It was an amazing relevation for him, and me! Whether it was the peer or pop influence I'm not sure, but I was glad we went after all.

Lastly, yesterday was my birthday, and all weekend Patrick wished me a Happy Birthday, asked when we were going to Nana's for the happy birthday party, and even sang me "Happy Birthday" when we got up yesterday. He was into it and conceptualized in his way, that it was a special day for Mama. Oh, how I love this "freudian" stage in his life. I savor it.

The Clothesline Topples

2007-11-19T19:36:00.000-05:00

My clothesline is no more. In one of the November gales the rotted post could take no more and began to list harder. When it became apparent that it was now a danger to the life and health of my child to have dangerously listing cross-shaped 2 by 4's in his play area, I took measures to ensure his safety. By lightly pushing, I toppled it it clear down. I cut the ropes off and now we appear "iconically" Christian with our one blue cross standing tall on the side lawn.

Bye, bye clothesline!

Hello, dryer, that I have to run for a full 80 minutes to ensure full drying!

Picture to come...someday!

Relationship Strings: Love & Laughter

2007-11-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh." --Agnes Repplier

I agree. Laughter really does make life sweeter, more bearable, and relationships FUN. I can't honestly say when the last time was that I laughed really really hard, especially with my husband or closest friends. I've had a few episodes at work, looking at some funny auction web sites and a Wes Cowan divas page. When you work in the "serious" business of talking about antiques, it is just so funny to us that someone has created a fan club for an antique professional. Wes owns a large auction house, appears on PBS The History Detectives, and is apparently considered quite "hot" by a following of women in California. We all got quite a kick out of this one day at work. Also on the late-night Friday night I work once a month, usually my co-worker and I get punchy at some point during our 7-hour stretch. It doesn't help when I'm so tired that I stumble around like I've raided the liquor stash and step on the power strip to the computer, shutting it down and making the night ever longer. I am hoping to have a real good laugh again soon. I sure know what the Adultitis experts would say about that! If you need a little laugh, at least check out www.auctionauction.com for a hilarious dancing auctioneer. I hope to post for you our fun "JOE" from work who has been everything from a pilgrim to a cowboy these last few months. That is our lightness at work along with the occasional funny web site. Until then, find something to laugh about and please share it with me. If you can't think of anything, check Robin's blog. Her parenting stories and children's antics will surely bring a smile to your face. Until Then, Happy Laughing, and please share the Love!

This Week's Laundry: Fall Firsts and Field Trips

2007-10-30T23:36:00.000-04:00

The winds of autumn have been blowing my empty clothesline and my life has felt a little cold and frazzled lately too, therefore, no posts. But we have enjoyed some firsts this fall with Patrick; namely, field trips, dressing up, caramel apples and playing in the leaves. He didn't need to be told twice to come play in the leaves. (Although Mommy worried about ticks--eck!) It wasn't too hard for him to pretend to be a "worker guy" or what we are trying to pull off as Bob the Builder for his preschool party. With overalls and a toy tool belt that came with knee pads and suspenders we just gave him the tools and he did the rest.

He's had two field trips with another planned this week. The first was a fall walk on Dodge Point, the same place we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked for hours one Sunday not long ago. They gathered leaves, acorns, bark. Daddy went along, with all the Moms.

Last week I took my day off to go with him to the pumpkin patch and met some of the kids and a couple Moms. With both Daddy and Mommy there (Daddy being photographer extraordinaire) Patrick definitely clung to Mom, sat with Mom on the wagon ride, and preferred Mom, except to body slam Daddy a couple times. It wasn't Patrick's normal preschool day so we hung around and he played with the farm worker's son and I got to talk to one of the Moms, who decided to let her kid skip out the rest of the morning to go shopping. Consequently we all ended up shopping together at Eddie Bauer outlet and the boys had fun running through the store and hiding in clothes. Of course we tried to be "good" Moms and not allow this and it was all fun and games until someone got hurt. But that's par for kids I suppose.

So now it's on to the holidays. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but I just can't get excited about Halloween, I could skip it altogether. I know that it's just good, plain fun for the majority of the population. I just can't get past the past namely, it's origins, but maybe I'll be able to loosen up more and let Patrick trick-or-treat when he's a bit older. It's not the sugar or dressing up that bothers me. I don't do "scary" and don't like ghosts, goblins, and witches. I did trick- or-treat and was a witch a time or two and I'm not totally corrupted from it. Regardless, I'm Christmas shopping, listening to Christmas music and cleaning the house and thinking about the tree. And realizing that Thanksgiving is only 3 weeks away! 3 weeks! How October blew by.

Turning Summer into Fall, part 2

2007-10-08T15:17:00.000-04:00

First, check out my updates to an earlier blog with my dragon pic and a link to David Trottier's web page. Go there to see the dragon if nothing else.

Ok, on to Autumn. I'm beginning to think it's now my favorite season. I love summer, being barefoot and all, but it can get unbearably hot for a couple days, unforgivingly busy, and sometimes downright disappointing if it rains too much.

Fall usually hits the mark right on for us in Maine. Not only do we tend to have a little tourism reprieve, it's harvest time, fairly mild (60s-70s), but cooler overall, and we get to enjoy a little extra color before the gray winter sets in.

But I do so enjoy getting back into a more homey routine. You could say I "nest". I like being in more, cooking more, baking pies or watching my husband destroy the kitchen while he bakes a pie, and making that annual pilgrimage to the nearest apple orchard. This year, Biscay Orchards.

The temperature was just right-- 65 with sun and a little breeze. Macs and cortlands were on the trees and although we didn't find the biggest apples on the lot, I just enjoy getting out as a family and doing something rather then sitting around doing nothing. Doing "somethings" for me is very important and makes a day special. I know that being together is often special enough, but doing special things makes being together memorable and beats, what Kim and Jason call Adultitis. If I don't get to do one special thing all week, then I start to feel anxious, ancy, lonely and sad.

A special thing may even include renting a movie. Often in the frigid nights of winter instead of spending much money on going out my husband and I used to just rent movies. I particularly like going on walks, and if possible down a special wooded trail or on a rail-trail, which we did this weekend at Dodge Point in Newcastle!

Summer is filled with many of the same special things--beach, pond, grilled hamburgers, more pond and maybe another beach thrown in there. I love it, but it's an all day thing, and makes the summer seem so busy. Walks, movies, and apple picking can take 15 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes can add a lot to relationships that need some fun downtime.

So summer turning into fall is turning into more opportunities for family time-- together time and I love it.

This Week's Laundry: Turning Summer into Fall part 1

2007-09-30T15:02:00.000-04:00

It's Fall. It didn't feel like it on Wednesday. It was high 80's and humid and I hung my laundry out thinking how smart I was...until it started thundering and raining...for two days! So I finally gave up and brought the laundry in and threw it in the dryer. Oh well. I did get to enjoy the beach one last time with Patrick two days before "Autumn" (the last day of summer here was rainy) and today we rang in the Autumn coolness with a walk and a favorite Fall pilgrimage to the apple orchard.

First, THE BEACH:

Living in a coastal state I have heard of rogue seagulls, seagulls swarming a (stupid) beachgoer who decides to mass feed some gulls, I even posted some pics of seagulls at the annual alewife run in the spring fighting each other for fish. I've heard stories of seagulls swooping down to steal a little girl's cookie out of her hand, and of course we love to call them "rats with wings" around here, but I had never experienced or observed the brazen acts of deliberate scavenger behavior as I did last Friday by a pair of gulls.

When we arrived the beach was minimally filled, maybe 25 people, mostly retired folks enjoying the peace and quiet of a beach after school's in. But peace and quiet it was not because this miserable gull whined and nagged at us as soon as we sat down. (I'll call her "Nagger")

I wasn't quite sure if Nagger was sick, calling to another gull or what, but she walked near our post and kept getting closer. Then she went up to a male (I'll call him "Matey") and started whining at him and pecking at his beak. Matey did nothing--shied away a bit, but didn't peck back or fly away, just tolerated her.

(HMMMM...Marriage Jokes anyone?)

So then I thought this was some kind of fall mating thing, but NO! Once we had eaten and walked down to the water with our pail I noticed the two gulls scoping out our blanket and lunch bag a little closer. I let them carry on for a few moments because I was curious to see what they would do. The lunch was in a zipped bag. We hadn't left anything open except a can of lemonade. Unbelievably Matey was able to put his beak into an opening between the zipper and bag and pull out a bag of chocolate covered fruit and slung it onto the sand!

(Sorry no pics for that one!)

I'd watched enough so we ran and shooed them off and put the lunch bag into my larger tote bag where I thought for sure they wouldn't even attempt to retrieve it. But sure enough a while later we were digging in the sand 12 feet or so away from our post and along come Nagger and her faithful Matey peeking into the tote bag!

So we shooed them away again. "Go catch a fish you lazy birds!" Patrick was beginning to see the game in this and every time he saw them he started running at them. They continued to eye us and our stuff and this time I put my fleece jacket on top of everything in the tote, and wrapped the handles around each other securing the bag further. Did they leave it alone?

Ah. No. But this time I was ready with the camera to gather the evidence. Matey tried twice to pull my fleece out of the tote to get to the lunch bag stuffed underneath! Amazing! Brash. Bold! And he succeeded in getting the fleece out! Then it was all over. We yelled, screamed and ran them off and they didn't come back.

(And no pic...)

About this time an older gentleman came on the beach and sat further down from us and "had mercy" on the poor starving female and flicked her crumbs every once in a while. It was nuts. I mean, she wasn't hungry, she was FAT! And she had her little honey-do "Matey" doing all the dirty work! Unbelieveable.

It made for an interesting day, maybe not as enjoyable, but something laughable at least. They were fat, lazy and obviously starved because it was end of the season.

And that was how we spent our last day at the beach!

This Week's Laundry: Blue Angels & End of Summer Sickness

2007-09-20T20:18:00.000-04:00

We're three weeks into preschool and Patrick has picked up a virus. So far the only obvious symptoms are lethargy and fever. He slept over 15 hours last night and today!
So no school for him tomorrow.
We took in a possibly landmark event last weekend here in Maine...perhaps the final visit of the Blue Angels to Brunswick Naval Air Station for EVER! Well, I'm not nostalgic about things like that, but since I've never been to a show officially (only seen them from afar) we decided to fight the "100,000 people expected" warnings and did a first as a family and a first for both Patrick and I: fight 100,000 people to see some scary cool tricks by America's finest pilots. It was awesome and loud--thank goodness for ear plugs. We missed most of the exhibits because we went on Sunday, the best of the 2 days last weekend, and the last day of the show. When we got home we looked in our program and realized we missed seeing about 20 planes parked on the further end of the base! We waited around an hour after the Angels got done to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary and then we go to go closer to the Angels' planes and got pictures that made it look like we are 18 inches away, the closest they fly to each other apparently. It became a day-long event with 2 hours of sitting in traffic just to get in and out of the base. But we weren't coming or going south, where the true highway bottlenecks were. Everyone was pleasant, including the people waiting in front of us to see the P3 Orion while Patrick was having the biggest, I mean biggest, temper tantrum of his life. The highlight of the day was the bottled water and hotdog sitting on the truck's bumper in front of us all the way out of the base. It was fun laughing with the people in the lane next to us until somebody got their attention enough to tell them, and they threw it in their truck. Party poopers! Other then the tantrum, Patrick slept for an hour in his stroller, didn't overreact to the noise, had his first sno-cone and some fries and got to pilot the Orion! It was a great day, a very touristy thing, and now that I've been there done that, I don't know if I'd do it again, but it was cool!

Other than that I'm realizing we have two official days of summer left. The cooler temps make me want to hunker down and bake pies but I know that I need to get out and enjoy the fall weather I love. It's just too bad I know most of this weekend will be spent watching The Santa Clause, Patrick's latest favorite flick, because he's so sick. Oh well. We'll all get lots of rest I guess.

Life Pins: My Questions

2007-09-14T21:28:00.001-04:00

In my daily email from Kim and Jason.com there was this quote. While all the quotes and comics are great on their daily email, this talks about where I am right now and I don't want to forget it. Go Oprah!

"As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around." Oprah Winfrey

I wonder about some "first times around" and what if I had done things differently way back when? I know there's not a lot of point in reliving the past or obsessing about mistakes or decisions and their outcomes, but I'm questioning a lot of things about my life lately. I'm also at a crucial place in deciding how I want to raise Patrick and decisions about my career. While I want to get it right the first time, I realize there's grace. But I also realize in my early 30's my life is at least a third of the way over, if NOT half or less. That pushes my thinking about my life, what I want it to mean, and how I want to spend it into high gear. It's keeping me awake at night and causing sleep deprivation. I don't want to waste any more time on dreams or ideas. I want to live them out. Taste them, wear them, do them, and not let "what could of, should have been" be in my vocabulary any more. But which way I choose to go has risks and benefits that are not clearly revealed without taking the step. I'm at a standstill, daring myself to jump.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Relationship Strings: Imagine 60 or 70 Years?!?

2007-09-09T20:08:00.000-04:00

Recently I saw a photo of a couple who had just celebrated 70 years of marriage! It must almost be the record, if it's not the record in our times. My grandparents are working on 60. Today we celebrated with them. Their anniversary is actually in December, but since they are snow birds, we have to get our celebrations in with them before October 1 when they are outta here! They had 5 children and live on the same farm property they bought from my great-grandparents very early in their marriage. While the second generation is busy working, taking care of parents and kids, they managed to pull together a little party for the family and a few of my grandparent's friends. It was a bit stressful and I worried it would come together, but I applaud my Mom for taking on the major responsibility of pulling it together so well. It's always worth the effort to honor someone, especially parents and marriage.

Saturday was an unusually hot September day, but Sunday it decided to rain. My grandmother really wanted the event at "the pond", where we have most of our family events in the summer. The pond is a small 50-acre or so pond called Sidensparker. The farm owns frontage on this small summer haven and in 1997 a camp was built there. Over the years there have been a number of weddings, showers and picnics, and for the well-planned, important ones my grandfather has always been the naysayer, "What's your plan if it rains?" So for back up he usually gets the Masonic Hall key. Well, for once my grandfather was right (and I hope he didn't rub it in too much after 60 years.) The weather report and skies were not favorable and a tarp over the porch was planned. We got it up in time for the nice, light drizzle. And in time for the lobsters. My uncle, who runs the farm's egg business now, backed one of his box trucks up near the food and hoisted a picnic table into it to drily seat 6 or 8. The dozen or so of their friends snuggled up on the porch and ate lobster, corn and the various salads on their laps! I thought, "Oh, geez, what do they think of this?"

But I know my grandparents are well-liked. They know everyone because they have lived in the area most of their lives and come from large extended families. For the record they attended their 12th funeral this morning since being home for the summer. That they know enough people to go to 12 funerals in a season just says a lot about them and their commitment to honoring relationships. All this to say that long-term relationships are so important, and celebrating big moments are just as important. Unfortunately a few of the family had other important events to attend, such as a wedding. But it's wonderful that so many people could attend and honored my grandparents.

As for 60 (or 70 or possibly 80?!) years, I wish I knew their secret because it's wonderful thay they've provided a solid springboard for all of us. The second and third generations have run into their own squabbles, hurt feelings and falling-outs with each other, but my grandparents have been the consistent rocks, and loved everyone the same. There's not much that can be said to contradict the traditional values that have allowed that.

So it wasn't your average fancy 60th anniversary party sparkling with diamonds and fancy finger foods, but you know what? No one left early, or complained. (Who can complain when lobster is on the menu?) A number of them just raved at how much fun it all was. And my Aunt said, "This is the picnic we'll talk about for years." And we will too.

Hanging with Patrick: Pre-preschool

2007-09-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

Summer is almost over and perhaps what we hang on our clotheslines have begun to look different. Instead of bikinis, shorts and tee shirts, maybe there is a fleece or sweats thrown in there, especially for those of us in the four seasons areas of the globe.

I'm a fan of chick flicks, one of them being the 1998 film, You've Got Mail. If you remember it's all about an e-mail relationship. In one e-mail, Tom Hanks' character, Joe, writes, "Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.".

Bring on the sharpened pencils and changes.

I have been an emotional wreck about this BIG transition for my 3-year-old. I know a lot of people sending their kids off to their first year of college and we are all riding emotional roller coasters. I couldn't help thinking all last week how I was missing his "last week of summer ever before school". Well, maybe I'm overreacting. It is just preschool, but it marks the end of being a baby and toddler and moving into the world of the big kids, and not being home all day any more. After crying a lot this weekend, today I'm still nostalgic, but feeling excited about the new routine. Now I just pray that all the excitement Patrick has had will pan out and he will really like school. He's never been away from us in a structured setting for more than an hour. But I have confidence they will keep him so busy and entertained that he won't even realize the time passing or that we aren't there. I know he will love it.

Without belaboring the milestone this marks I felt I wanted to do something to celebrate. I decided to take it easy and just enjoy the evening with him. After an early dinner it seemed like a good night to go out for ice cream and to the playground. So we did that. Round Top ice cream was near empty, where a week ago it was buzzing with tourists and locals. School has begun. I'm glad that summer isn't officially over for a couple more weeks and we can still make great memories in this new stage of our lives no matter the season or changes we face.

Hope your school days and fall routines are happy ones!

This Week's Laundry

2007-08-27T22:55:00.000-04:00

...is ALL DONE, thanks to my husband, and it's ONLY Monday!

Hanging Out with Patrick:

My Pride and Joy! I get the night shift in our household. I sure miss the all day and night shift, but that's another blog. If you know anything about me at all or read my other blog you'll know I love to be near the water.

On this absolutely gorgeous late summer day in Maine I just couldn't stay in this evening and watch every Pooh video imaginable, which is what, I think, he wanted to do. I opted for the ocean. Patrick fell asleep, but aha! I was prepared with my bag of books, notebooks, drafts, etc. I worked on a story that I've been doing for about a year, and also my The Freelance Writer's Bible* exercises which I really enjoy, and reading over notes, jots and tittles from the last year.

I enjoyed watching the Atlantic and people in between snores from the back seat and scribbling away in my notebook. And this is what I saw: kids running up and down the hill behind the lighthouse with their kites 10 feet behind them and Dad yelling, "go, run, yea!" over and over again. Grown sons with their aging parents and terrier from New York on vacation. One son had the dog, the other, Dad, who with small, slow steps and his son's arm got to enjoy the views. Two ladies in lawn chairs reading and chatting. A foreign Dad running with his daughter chasing his son and calling to each other. Sea roses in bloom. Blue and green every where. The ocean calm. Warm. Sunny. Just enough breeze. Perfect. One last August hurrah in Maine.

Relationship Strings:
On the way out, I saw the infamous FREE cardboard piece with piles of junk on a front lawn, right next to The Ducks sign. The lounge chairs caught my eye, so we turned around and went back. Just as I pulled in, another vehicle did and out jumped a Dad and his two girls. They were there for the "dragon", which I hadn't noticed the first two times by. The girls told me excitedly they knew these people and could come see the dragon whenever they wanted. Patrick decided he did indeed want to go see this dragon, even though he said, "Dragon, scare me?" a couple times. Of course, I had no camera. I debate this every time I leave the house, camera? no camera? I opted no camera tonight figuring I had enough so-so pics from the summer. Now we're driving back to S. Bristol later this week to shoot the dragon.

It was big, made of aluminum, chicken wire and something else, painted in authentic green with appropriate red and black, had lighted eyes and breathed smoke! The maker, maybe the women's son? told me he made it for Halloween and it had seen some parades and a local Harry Potter event. It was fun. So here we were 4 adults, 3 kids, not knowing each other chatting and laughing about a dragon and all the things the kids were saying on this women's front lawn. It was a moment out of a magazine for me.

When do people really take time to chat just because they are there. I certainly don't get enough of this kind of "community", albeit small talk with strangers, for my liking. For one thing, I'm a wallflower, but I miss community. I miss front porches. I miss neighborhood picnics. Heck, I've never had one before, so I guess I can't really miss it then. It made my night when I drove off and the sweet woman waved!

This is now the Relationship Strings part of my blog and it's mantra will be "Relationships are Important". Even if they are strangers talking about a green dragon. Incidentally I did not take the chairs. They reclined back so far I didn't know if they would stop. I did find three Tom Clancy hard backs and some glass bottles that I knew would interest my husband. Apparently the girls had scavenged all the FREE stuffed animals the day before from this lawn and the Dad was bemoaning how if I'd only come the day before I could have been so lucky to win the singing frog we were listening to just then.

*The Freelance Writer's Bible is by David Trottier, a writer and teacher and this is probably his text book. I love it! I bought it at my friendly, local Borders.

The Clothesline: Memories

2007-08-08T22:34:00.001-04:00

The clothesline is a familiar object that conjures up the fluffy teddy bear on fabric softener commercials and nostalgic footage of running children and smiling mothers putting out the laundry. A clothesline is an ordinary object that doesn't receive much attention except when I see clothes hanging on them as we are driving. "I can't believe people hang their underwear outside for everyone to see, " I often say. The response I get is usually, "Well, everyone already knows what underwear looks like." "Yeah, but not HIS underwear!" (Did you know yesterday was National Underwear day? My favorite radio station morning deejays on Coast 93.1 {www.wmgx.com} talked all about it on my ride to work: the underwear stats on who wears what and they revealed what they prefer for underwear. I mean, I would never say that publicly, especially on the radio! It was funny though. They are funny! ) Okay, I admit it I'm a prude!!! It never ceases to amaze me that in rural Maine, where people tend to have 1-100 acres of land to their name and they still string the laundry off the side or near the front of the house for everyone to see. It's even funnier when the tightie whities are neatly strung side by side sharing clothespins!
Don't get me wrong I love clotheslines and the memories they conjure up. My mother had one and still does. She uses it too. Her clothesline was, and is, in the backyard, and she never strings the unmentionables up end to end, thank goodness, although I'm sure doing so maximizes drying efficiency. One of my jobs as an older child was to hang out and bring in the laundry. I believe our first clothesline was a metal round-about with the plastic lines. Later someone built one out of wood with rope for line. As a kid I loved the smell of fresh clean laundry and running under and through the sheets, towels, and "dungerees" flickering in the wind. Because Mom worked, the laundry often went out before 8 and came in sometime after 5, which often meant the clothes were dried to a nice, crisp, board-like feel, not the soft, breezy laundry you see in commercials. Consequently, when I met my husband and he began visiting on weekend he had a few too many rough towel experiences and one year for Christmas everyone in my family received a new green towel as a present. To this day he doesn't like the idea of hanging laundry on the line for that reason-- board-like, thin, sandpaper towels. I think fabric softener and bringing the laundry in as soon as it's dried would do the trick, meaning you have to be home to bring in the laundry. I'll have to test it someday, when I have more time to BE home! Happy Laundering!

GoodBye Yahoo!

2007-08-06T12:35:00.000-04:00

Please read my former blog at Yahoo 360, if you're so inclined.
If you have to create an account or sign in, I apologize.
That's one reason why I'm using Blogger now.
You can find it at http://360.yahoo.com/miner_libby.
Have a fun day!

No Time to Do Laundry

2007-08-04T22:35:00.000-04:00

Not exactly true (my dryer is running as I type), but I've had no time to hang laundry here. I have so many ideas for my blog too.

Summer is a great time for hanging clothes on the line. Fortunately, there is a homemade clothesline in the yard of our duplex. It's getting to be somewhat dilapidated. The leaning cross-shaped posts' blue paint is peeling. The lines are dingy and the clothespins (included) are not plentiful and many have snapped in my hands. But I vowed to use it more after receiving an unsightly piece of mail from our power company. The $212 electric bill sent us reeling and shutting off lights, unplugging clocks, and turning down our water heater (an electric one!) It was the highest bill we'd ever received, even after living in two big houses.

I don't always have time to hang stuff up. I originally had said "no way", having some irrational fear of ticks finding their way from the leaf piles and forest just a yard or so away from the line into our clothes. Then it was pollen season. And then there were rainy days. Now it is August, the month in which summer does come to stay in Maine, and would be a good time to use the clothesline, don't you think? Yet, my dryer is running up the electric bill again.

I hope to use this clothesline more often too when life slows back down; after the busyness of summer wanes into fall and we drift back inside.

No Formal Introduction

2007-07-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

I was going to begin my blog with a more formal post about clotheslines, but since I've got to get this blog up and running, I'm going to post something good that happened to me today and it's all a result of THE INTERNET!

I won something from KimandJason.com, the "Escape Adulthood" web site. You're going to love the site and blogs. Have you heard of them? Are you looking for something positive on the Net? Then see http://kimandjason.com. Jason's blog for 7/24/07 tells what and how I won. Check out the rest of Kim and Jason and what they are all about.

Happy escaping!

Libby