Upgrade commence

Turns out blogger is a simple program that doesn't quite offer me the options I am looking for anymore. Which is a shame. I really wanted to just come back in  and reset up shop. This has me considering what other methods of communications I should embrace in this  Mamaskylark Reboot. Come what may. 

The Quiet Return of the Lark

It was another one of those times. The ones filled with dread and anxiety. The ones in which your inner voice relentlessly tells you "Steel yourself. You knew that most likely you would be here one day. Steel yourself. No matter how it went down, this isn't going to be pretty and you will still feel shock. After that there are the formalities that will need to be handled. You've mentally walked through them a dozen times over the years..but the reality may be hard to contend with... Steel yourself. And after the formalities you need to be strong so others can be weak. Steel yourself. You will be needed. Steel yourself."  

 A wave of relief crashes in as the door to the bedroom opens without resistance. She hasn't tied the vacuum cord to the door knob nor around her throat. Her body is not blocking the door. That doesn't mean that the room wont contain another gruesome sight. But at least the most likely scenario has not been played out and shoulders loosen a bit. You look at the body curled under blankets on the bed. You watch for the rise and fall of breathing. Your ears strain in the quiet to hear.. something .. anything.. that would indicate that she was merely asleep. Inching closer to the bed there signs are not detectable.  "Steel yourself." Quietly and gently you begin to say her name in a attempt to wake her up. She stirs. SHE STIRS! 

Another wave of relief, this time coupled with gratitude, breaks. You back out of the room as tears begin to touch your cheek. Its time for a good cry to purge some of the sorrow and stress that comes with supporting a individual with metal illness, To purge your momentary fears, To purge the anxiety. 

==================================================

That was how my Saturday began. 

She would wake up a few hours later. There was a friends baby shower to attend. She couldn't interact with me. Withdrawn. A shudder of repulsion when I asked if she wanted a hug. 20 minutes later she phones. There was a car accident. She is understandably shaken up and the little bit of information I get suggests that she is at fault, the car is really damaged and she doesn't know if she can drive it and that she is stressed. I give her the best brief pep talk I can and I let her go. She has police and insurance to deal with.  Its not a far stretch to suspect that she had disassociated at the wheel causing the accident. Its also not a far cry to think it might have been on purpose. I pace the room, staying calm but none the less worried as I get dad on the line. Hes about an hour away and just about wrapping up his job and heading home. He can beeline it towards her location. I text her asking for  the location and she messages back that the car is fine to drive, she is okay and will be heading to the party after all. I say a prayer and let her go on her way then reach out to dad ask him to pick up some caffeine for me on the way home. . 

This day is a little more fraught with distress than most. But it is not unusual. Our daughter's moods are erratic, and each day brings with it a great many challenges. I am not one to usually discuss this part of my life. On the surface and periphery of my existence, these things are hidden behind smiles and glimpse of nature and my carefully framed surroundings. Its my way of highlighting what beauty can be found in a psychological warzone. Its my way of contending with and of beating back the sadness that sits constantly and heavily on my heart. As the saying goes "Its always darkest at the base of a lighthouse." 

But there is another reason that much of the time these things remain quiet. She feels violated when I mention how things are to anyone. To tell her that my mom, her grandma. is sending her extra love while she is in the hospital, is enough to make her hate me and to feel betrayed that I told someone about her. Even if that someone is a person who loves her and would do anything for her. Even if it is her Grandma. And since taking care of her and navigating her ups and downs encompass the totality of my life... well... there is not much else to write or talk about without stepping on delicate toes.

And so I have grown increasingly silent in my communications. All communications. My world is small. Its been C19 Lock-down SMALL for years. Truth be told, during the restrictions, I never even noticed a change in my life. Outside of starting up the business with Greg and eventually closing it down. Which is whole another story for another time.

Now that some of that unde3rstanding is out of the way and  returning to the story of Saturday, What was it that  made me instinctually expect the worst? Her sleep cycle was off. Asleep by 6 and awake at midnight. In the morning she was in a high energy state as she entered into her day of therapy. Afterward, she was dragging. Dagger eyes and unable to speak. This is a worrisome state but it was later that it dawned on me that I had  had a long overdue debrief with my favorite cousin and that he may have reached out to her in concern. Oh Shit! Did I set one of her many triggers in motion? 

We are now successfully past that moment and new medications appear to be making a positive difference in her overall functioning. As I reflect on the whole of it, I realize just how good it was for me personally to have that conversation with my cousin. It was healthy for me to discuss my life. I understand my daughters position, but I NEED my own outlet. Dealing with her is stressful and I need to be able to speak to that...or anything I damn well please. 

And so I am returning here to my first blog. I am setting it up so that only those with the link  may see it and that way I can share more of my life with those outside of my home that are important to me (That's you!) and whom upon request won't turn around and speak of these things to her.

Welcome to the return of my voice. Settle in and add your email address to the form on this page. Then my updates will be sent directly to your email. 

Much Love! 

Catching Air

Here it is. A new beginning.  The start of a New Year.  And with it the end of so much as well. Last year was oddly hard and filled with a lot of unexpected challenges. Of course we managed. We are hearty, adaptable and steadfast individuals, but I am glad the "lessons" are over. (Oh Lordy how but some of those "lessons" can be so hard they be like punishments!). Regardless, those  that have  presented themselves have been learned and finally left behind. And while these statements are clearly applicable to this last year, it MORE than applies to the last decade. And so, It is with gratitude, humility and grace that I say goodbye to the past... and EMBRACE THE FUTURE!!

The Germans have a phrase for the transition into the new year. I don't recall the actual words but it speaks to a month long celebration of "Sliding into the New Year" and boy are we doing that.

Weeeeeeee
Hands in the air like you just don't care.

Only, right now, rather than speaking to a purely metaphorical transition, I am experiencing literal butterflies as we drop from the heights with hopes of a happy landing. But hopes without action don't get you anywhere and I have reached a crossroads where I need to redirect my energies. Long story short, the collection of writings here represent the past. My past is not my future. My future trajectory is changing and I need to evolve with it. So ... please join me at my new blog at https://www.releasevalve.net/ where I will chronicle our New Adventures!

P.S.There is a sign up on that site, as well, to receive updates via email.

P.S.P.S. One last thing before I go.  Thank you for having been a loyal reader here. This is the main way I communicate to everyone from my mother.. to my dearest friends .. and to my neighbors. Having your presence on the other side of the screen has been heartwarming and a great support to me through thick and thin.  I send love to you all and hope that this year is as grand as possible.

Long Winding River

Whenever I sit down to the keyboard after a long hiatus, I am usually filled with a kind of dread. So much history to capture since I last wrote. I want to convey it all, down to the little details, which I can't possibly remember let alone capture, so then I stumble over what is important enough to write about. Where even to start? Where did I leave off?

I could sit for hours trying to figure out my start, but I've returned to the board enough times to know that I really just need to jump in here and now and let the tale weave itself.

Its the eve of December. Where has the year gone? It has flown by and equally it has crawled along amid varying waves of challenging situations and new experiences.  We have weathered all that has transpired quite well and with our health very much intact. What a huge blessing.. to have your health.

Speaking of health, my business has not yet taken off. As time effects the path of the river, so has it effected the course of my business creation. I had big dreams at the beginning of the year which got rather sidelined with the shattering of my wrist and the demands of home. Despite that, I did manage to obtain my Integrative Nutritional Health Coaching Certificate, as well as, get certified as an International Health Coach. My wrist is now fully healed (hooray!)  and so my attention is turning back towards building the Here To There Health and Wellness Center.  But it is turning back with the inclusion of new circumstances (primarily the fact that Greg was laid off on November 2nd) and I (well really at this point it is "We") have yet to determine how this will effect its development.

Does Greg return to the corporate life? If so, that means, he lives away... at least until Connor finishes up school and  heads off into his life. Frankly that really isn't an option that we want to consider unless we have to. We have done the "moving for the job" thing. We've had lots of the "strike out on your own for an adventure" experience. We've endured months upon months apart for career/security. Is that the life we want to continue to live? Not really.

So that means something closer to home.. a step back in industry but ideally to a level that suits his desire to nurture individuals career growth...because ultimately that is when he personally thrived. Finding the right fit locally might be a bit of a challenge although opportunities are around. Plus I am now able bodied...my wrist has healed enough for me to return to lifting... And obviously typing... So I am capable and willing to fill in any wage gap through traditional means.

This idea feels quite comfortable. That is other than taking on the challenge of finding the right opportunities. Which, if we set our sails that way, I know they will readily present themselves.

Or.... We can step completely off the conventional path and forage our own way together.  We have been brainstorming the possibility of diverging into "something new" for a long time. And while we were setting our alarm for a year and a half off for such a drastic shift to happen, the universe made a time correction, because the wake up call came early... but not so early that we were unprepared. However, now our period of brainstorming has been greatly ramped up. In October, we began playing with the idea of opening a "Smash House" which is essentially a place that provides a physical outlet for stress, anxiety and anger. 

My original intention of the Here to There Health and Wellness Center was very nutrition centered. But Life threw me curve balls all year and so it really has not taken much form. Ultimately, it can become something different and more broadly health based and ultimately a smash house could prove therapeutic..not to mention entertaining.. It could be re-branding time. 

We have given ourselves until January to decide our way.. whatever that is.

Speaking of January, Willow is headed West to stay with my Auntie for a while. Her world has been small for a long time (out of necessity) but she is now ready to stretch her wings a little bit where she has a vast safety net of friends and family to support her growth and movement towards independence. She is returning somewhere she has called home and where she will be loved, cared for, and molded in just the right measures. God Bless my Auntie heart!  

Meanwhile, Connor has finished drivers ed. He is still working on his confidence and will aim to take the actual test in the Spring. Being on the student council he recently got to attend a Skills USA leadership conference which he really enjoyed. He is beginning to deepen his relationship with classmates outside of class and is becoming quite the young man. He is taking a class at the community college as well. It is a pass fail course which is in his favor as he learns the level of organization that college requires to be successful. 

It is 1 am as I write these final words and my eyes are drooping. It is time to turn in. Hopefully, I don't wait so long to catch up again!

Infused With Love

Hello All!

Holy Cow! Where did summer go??  To be honest, summer isn't really gone but compared to the big open sky and long hot days of the High Sierra Desert, the mildness and shortened season of the New England summer seems sleepy and cool. Already it is time to close the pool. Leaves are falling in the neighbors yard and my garden works to produce the last of the Fall Harvest consisting mostly of Brussels sprouts, leaks and butternut squash... not to mention the freaking monster cucumber plant. It was a surprise to find out that cucumbers are actually spiky fruits. I suspect we have about a month before the first frost.

Anyway.. despite its seemingly swift transition to fall, summer (August in particular) was chalk full of adventure and enjoyment. (Pictures to accompany this post can be found here as there are just to many to cut and paste.)

First, Greg and I went up to Montreal to see Iron Maiden.  The last arena rock show, we attended was Before Kids when we won tickets on a party bus in Phoenix to go see Megadeth...1998.  Now the bands of that era are gentrifying so I really don't expect to ever see another arena rock concert but after that absolutely amazing show, I don't need to. I've seen the best.

As for Montreal.. it is a beautiful busy city on par with San Francisco. It has a very impressive bridge which is called Pont Champlain. The city is divided into different districts. There is a banking district, a china town, piers and a gay town. It is strongly pedestrian and bicycler oriented and sports the the old world charm of very narrow streets. In other words, driving is insane and added to that, the rules of the road are not the same. For instance, right hand turns require a light meaning you can't turn right without a light even if it is clear to do so. A basic knowledge of french and or the metric system are helpful. There are a couple of reasons that I highly recommend visiting Montreal over San Fran but the biggest is that Montreal isn't a cesspool and you wont be trecking through human feces.

A few weeks later, I left the family behind to soak up some sun and get in quality time with my western roots. This was an important trip for a number of reasons. My grandparents are 90 now and their time on earth is dwindling.  Spending quality time with them was really my main objective. Grandma is in better health than she was a few months ago but when having a one on one conversation it becomes obvious that her stream of consciousness is far from linear as she jumps from topic to topic and back again. Grandpa's mind and body are as well as can be. He likes his whisky though. He likes it A LOT ..  a 5th lasts him 2 days. For someone who never really drank, it is significant. But he is very conscious of not drinking until he does whatever driving, appointments or errands he has to get done. So that is a positive.

Other than seeing the grandparents, I also got in super visits with a number of dear old friends who happened to converge with me. Elaine was visiting from Japan, Nell and David were in vising in Oregon and timed in a stop on their way home in Alameda. Sidney, Melissa and Terri  are all educators and the first week back to school is always a doozy but that didn't stop them (or their families) from joining in the various activities. I love these people. No matter where life takes us, we always pick right back up. They are very dear and I feel blessed to have them in my life even when time and distance puts them on the back burner. Sidney commemorated the event by gifting us wool socks that she had knitted. I will cherish them! 

I also took a brief dip in spiritual waters while visiting with the McNallans, Lisa and Megs. How wonderful to reconnect with these individuals who where instrumental in helping me connect to the wellspring of ancestral knowledge and understanding.

I joined the cousins for dinner and a movie. We watched the classic "Flight of the Navigator" The little ones have a huge selection of movies but this was not one they had seen before.

I drove to Bishop and converged with a couple of old neighbors, Matt and Kathleen. They now live in San Diego and were returning home from three weeks in Ogden UT where they were attending to Kathleens mom who had broke her back and then had a stroke. Despite the ordeal, they were in good spirits and brought me the joy of their smiles.

Since I was down there, I planned to take a few moments to myself and spend the night camping, looking at the stars and decompressing. We all need time alone sometimes. It is important to our self care. My plans didn't work out as anticipated. I didn't stay the night because my gear wasn't quite adequate for the conditions, but I did get as much out of the break as I could and conducted a mini sweat lodge which was easy given the 95 degree temps.

During the trip I also dropped in on a few other friends that I wanted to give some appreciation too. A brief visit with Denise who was fighting Pneumonia. A stop in at work to give Heather E. a big hug. She has had a very troubled adulthood but has turned it around and is doing really well now. It did my heart good to see her. I stopped by the Pitts to with them happy birthdays but missed them. I also missed Dan Oster but got to see the golf and rec center he is developing.  And lastly I got in a decent visit with Vince. He may not have a mullet anymore but his heart is the same. He carries his hardships with a smile and a laugh and is a rockstar in my book. 

And before too long it was time for me to return home with far more luggage than I arrived with. My Dunkle gifted my with display of my Grandfathers WWII medals and a walking stick he had hand carved/created for my Uncle Don. Don was my godfather as well. They were both very special gifts. And my mom gifted me with health related books written in the late 1800's. I had always wanted them! In addition, she restrung my amber necklace and totally spruced it up. Then she scavenged through her closet and gave me a bunch of dresses. And Sidney gifted me with a pair of beautiful wool knitted socks.

It took a whole week to recuperate when I got home. It was mostly jet lag. Because I ate right the whole time, I went home tired but not falling apart as I typically have after such an adventure. It was a very full and satisfying trip.

Now on to the next adventures!

"Springing" into action

Has it really been that long? The last time I posted here was in October? It feels more like a blink than 3/4 of a year and yet so much has been processed, moved through and achieved.  Whew! It is nice to finally sit down and exhale a bit. 

As I start writing it is 8 am, 69 degrees and overcast with a big drench headed our way.  Its a perfect day to dedicate to some serious keyboard time. Plus.. I no longer have to worry much about any interruptions that require me to drive someone somewhere. 

That right, my daughter finally has her wheels on the ground. All 4 of them. Peaceful, radiant, grounded and ready to start expanding.  Im not just talking about her having her drivers licence either.  Her short life has  been spent fighting some serious ills. Autoimmune issues have crippled her and primarily attacked her ankles. She now has the tools to repress that. A year on her feet now and only one little flare when she ate a tomato. How huge it is to be mobile. But those terrible early years have effected her stride and carriage. I don't expect she will ever be a runner but Lord how good it is to see her moving and dancing. She has kind of put down the pole. I may have been judged by some for buying my daughter a stripper pole but it was therapeutic and allowed for her to support her ankles and develop upper body strength. An interesting aspect of both mine and Willows arthritis has been a developmental tendency to walk on our toes, thus feeding into how we carry ourselves. Anyway, shes moving on but the pole remains up for any of us wanting to take an occasional whirl. That of course has not been me lately but more on my wrist later. 

As if that has not been enough for her to contend with growing up, around jr. high she also started to display signs of what we only recently had diagnosed as the more extreme version of bipolar. It was not an easy thing for her (or any of us ) to contend with but she has made it through the worst and now, with the right supports in place, she is experiencing a previously unknown sense of peace.  

And Im experiencing tears of relief. 

My wrist is healing well. a plate, 8 screws and a pin all told. What an interesting process. I know that having this injury has sucked but it has also been fascinating. On so many levels. 

1. Just the physical process...How the body (and in particular the autoimmune system) responds to a physical trauma. I knew I was no danger so I kept myself very calm and managed the pain very well and just observed what my body was doing. Tylenol is amazing for certain pains. 

2. I was running backwards when it happened. And metaphorically this applied to the place I was at in regards to business development. I was working really fast towards an outcome I had not yet fully visualized.  It took falling down to turn my perspective around. I needed to slow down and work things backwards. All of that is coming along but more about that in a minute. 

3. Bone Doctors are the wood workers of the medical field. 

4. The pain of a broken bone is less painful than the pain of arthritis. This has been a humbling realization. And has given me a reference to understand the size and density of what I've had to packed around on my back. 

So rather than make this already long story any longer.. Im going to wrap up this topic and just say...  Ive unpacked a lot, learned a lot, processed a lot, released a lot, and am now ready to turn my attention to moving forward at a reasonable pace towards a goal that looms close. 

Now.. hehe.. to talk about the fun stuff. 

Where to start? There are two parts to the equation that need separate types of attention and development. The first is "Here to There".. the business itself. What is the outcome I want to strive towards? How do I support that with my steps now? And then there is the development of me as a coach and my programs. I had a hard time separating out the two initially. Now that I have, the processes have become clearer and simpler to contend with. 

So just some quick notes first... Sept 20 is the Here To There official opening. Sept 21 starts my first sessions. H2T will start as a membership based center. At the heart of our service lies the idea that "A persons journey to health and wellness begins first and foremost at home and around the kitchen table." As such, we will start by offering lifetime (For the duration of the business) memberships with enrollment in a three month " combative cooking" course. The current benefits to be received with this special membership is access to the centers physical resources (Art, sewing, reading/ meditation space, etc)  during posted hours.  Membership also entitles participants with deep discounts.  We are starting out small and running things out of the home but the plan is to eventually have an actual center  where we will host healing retreats and special events (Offering yurts and rooms) in addition to providing nutritional emotional and other forms of service. I also expect we will build in a hiking trail and maybe a disc golf course.  I also envision it as being self sustaining (Or as close as possible) with a few bison or water buffalo, goats, pigs and large garden. Plus just having all the benefits of Vermont at our disposal. I plan to create a heaven on earth. 

At the end of July I am sitting for an the International Health Coach Certification. I am working on my programs and getting the center set up. I have quite a bit  of studing to do. And a lot of other things.. best I wrap this up an get going. 

I had been thinking that I needed to leave this blog space for good as I moved forward with my new incarnation as Coach V.  However, after a false start and with a clearer perspective, I have decided that I am not moving from here. "Coach V" is here as a result of who I have been. This blog has offered me an outlet though all the hard times..not to bitch.. doing so would be counter productive.. but to celebrate the joy and beauty (and sometimes absolute weirdness) It has been my coping mechanism through it all ,as well as being a tool for me to share these moments with far flung family and friends.  However, I will be going through and archiving some of the posts before turning up the volume here. I may adjust the name a little as well.

Time to get some loose ends tied together. Time to grind.  But before I go.. Spring hasn't been all bad. It has also been quite beautiful!  Here are some photos!

Multitasking like a Mad(Wo)Man

At my desk, fingers clicking relentlessly at the keys of a laptop which sits directly in front of me. A piece
of paper and pencil sit to the right ready to capture any notes I might need to take from the videos that
stream off the laptop that sits to my left. This is going to become the norm in the coming months. Every
spare moment committed to my desk.. to the future. But I will get to what that looks like momentarily.

45 in the Rearview

My life has been an adventure. I can’t begin to believe all the things I have done and seen and experienced. Highs and Lows alike. It has been amazing. It has been challenging. Holy Cow! And here I am only half way done. Assuming I live to 90 and based on genetics it seems highly likely. And I am ready to take the
future on.

Two years ago .. I could not say the same. Since we returned to the states, many have noticed that I have sort of disappeared from social networking and from connecting regularly with family. Being on the move like we have been, the computer has been my lifeline and some have found my disappearance
concerning. But the truth is that my attention has been uber focused at home; At getting us moved; At getting us settled; And most importantly at getting us healthy. Moving is hard and the level and extent to which we have moved in the last 20 years (every 2 to 4 years and the distances… egads!) had taken a
toll on all of us. And especially so on my daughter and I, whom have unfortunately inherited arthritic conditions (Only recently diagnosed) which have made our journeys all that more painful and difficult.
T
he process of getting from here to there has been enlightening. It has given me great insight into how the medical system operates; it’s limitations and its miracles. It also illuminated how the different specialties and services work to try and support one another. And I also became acquainted with some
of the shortcomings of the system. It has been its own education and journey.

45 and Beyond

I am relishing a rather pain free existence these days. It is a different place to be in. One that has opened up the possibility of me returning to the work force. In the last few months, I have been in deep contemplation of my direction and my course… putting my intention to return out there and feeling out
the suggestions the universe throws back at me. In doing so, I have stumbled upon my fate. A direction that I can utilize my Psyc. Degree. That I can work independently at. That I can draw from my wide ranging and diverse experiences. That I can assist and grow others. That actually embodies all that I am and draws together all my tangent interests. I have found my career bearings. I am in enrolled in the Institute of Integrated Learning for a certificate as a Health Coach. Ill be certified in June. This certificate will count as 90 credits towards my masters at SUNY if I decide to do that later. (Although at this point I
can’t imagine that I will.) In the background I have begun developing my business plan. I have determined my business name. I have purchased that website domain. I have begun building my business website. And the list goes on. Soon all of that will emerge in a visible format. Not yet but the
clock is ticking.

First.. Breath. Breath. Breath. Type Type Type… Drive Drive Drive… Run Run Run…Drive Drive Drive…Repeat

Much love to you all! I will see you on the other side. Im climbing a rather large mountain but the sites are going to be outstanding.

Derp

I know I have been silent waaaay to long when all of a sudden my phone starts blowing up with those "What Up, Sis?" texts.  And then I sit down here and realize that it really has been well over a month and I had promised that I was going to try to be more communicative. I shame myself as half-heartedly as I shame Dunken when he  noses around the counters and does what comes so naturally in his doggy nature.

I had to stop right there otherwise Toby would have gotten me like he did earlier:

I don't know where he learned such behavior! 

 Dunken, did I mention him my last post?  I think so but it was just at the beginning of his stay.  So.... Dunken.

Dunken is our most recent family addition (And probably the last one for a while). We though Rosie could use a friend. She is such a sweet girl and even though I am home quite a bit my attention is not always focused on her and it seemed as though she was feeling a little lonely. So we shopped around the local rescues in search of a dog who's energy was compatible with hers and the household.  Dunken seemed like a good fit and (despite a note in his file that he had a history being aggressive towards males) we brought him home.  We have all had to make a few adjustments to our routines to adapt. Primarily we recognized pretty quickly that his "aggression to males" was centered around the kitchen and dining room and really was a food aggression which is more easily provoked by males.  He is fine by my side when I am cooking and never shown any issue with me but when others come to dinner he gets put up. Over the course of the time  he has been with us (And with consistent training) his reactions have become less intense and he no longer acts when unprovoked and he warns us well in advance. Beyond that he is calm and quite the gentleman. He doesn't get on beds or couches. He uses his voice appropriately. He doesn't torment the cat. I could not be much happier with his company. He is quite the character. And Rosie seems a little more content.

In other somewhat animal related news:  I mentioned some where that I wanted to start dressing Rosie up. Was it here? I don't know. I finally got her skirt made. She is both regal

and sassy!!

Speaking of dressing up.. It was a stormy day and I was cleaning house. I picked up this necklace of Willows and was admiring it because it matched my bracelet.

 Then I detangled it and an idea was born... "Rosie Remakes." The following is some rough cut of Rosie and my staging part of an iconic scene from my childhood favorite "Neverending Story" Be forewarned. It is a very rough cut but I think it does well enough at simply capturing the scene. And Rosie could not be better cast as Bastion.  After all he looks like a girl.

Which brings me naturally to Connor.

He has been busy this summer with theater (As well as growing. He is now 5'11"). Last week he wrapped up an intensive summer 3 week summer musical theater program with three presentations of "The Little Mermaid." It was a well done play and Connor did fantastic in his roles. One of his roles was that of a soul at the feet of Ursula. He really embodied the role. I can't take any photos of the production but here are some  Trailers that were put together for promotion. You will see Connor a time or two.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9-zBxadYso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFlYp-sHcQo

Connor is now at the beginning of preparations for the Fall Presentation of "Legally Blond" His main role is as a Professor. However, he will be in the background of much of the rest of the play. Earlier this week he and I joined with some others and helped build the platforms for the performance.

As for Willow? Well... she has been... Well let me put it to you this way:

She hasn't fallen overboard, shes working for a living (or starting to) and riding the currents as they come. In other words, she is doing quite well. She started a full time position at a day care learning facility last week. She works with the little little ones and is enjoying it. Her body is managing as well. While patting babies to sleep does require stamina, it isn't as exhausting as hefting around 50 pound bags of flour. Her hours will shrink some when she starts school after Labor day. That doesn't mean there has not been any fun this summer. We did go see Old Crow Medicine Show and she has been working on art, dancing and other projects.

Greg... Everything is pretty much the same old same old with Work and all. When he isn't working or recovering from work he is usually working in the yard or the garage. We are currently planning out a vegetable Garden. And deciding what to do with Gregs car which needs a new engine again. He and I did take a break from the rigmarole and had night out. We went to Boston, got dressed up,

had dinner at the Chart House and then watched a rock band play on a boat as it was cruising the harbor at sunset.

What else has been going on? Enjoying lots of Vermont from the road. Peach Picking. Blueberry picking. I have been putting on the miles. But now, with school and jobs happening and life is starting to settle into some nice patterns, I .
 I intend to pull together some scenic footage from behind the wheel. In the meantime I will leave you with this gem.

You and I will walk together again

We have added a new member to the family. His name is Duncan. He is a hound dog hailing from South Carolina. He was given to a high kill shelter when his family moved and "rescued" just minutes before he got the needle. Hes 4 years old. Curious and quiet yet active (compared to Rosie) but calm. We got Rosie's approval first. She is very grateful that we didnt bring home Taz.. Who was a total spaz (I could not walk him without a harness) and he chewed Greg's glasses off his face. He was too much for Rosie and she wanted nothing to do with him. But Duncan she can tolerate.

Why did we get another dog? Despite my being in and around the house all day, Rosie has felt lonley and understimulated. I think this will help her out. Plus we helped save a life and.. the more the merrier.

And Toby? How does he feel about all of this? Well Toby is less concerned/scared than when we introduced him to Rosie. Toby is most annoyed by the fact that Duncan can reach his food dish. Duncan had a long body and a hounds keen nose. Those combined means he is good at finding food. However, he has yet to learn not to get up on the the counters.

Let the training begin.

So where were we?

So where were we, again? I am afraid I have a lot of catching up to do. Not only here. But just about everywhere. It was a busy sort of rush for a while now (I'll get to all that here soon) that has abruptly dropped off and given over to lazy long hot days where getting caught up is a challenge when the pool gleams blue and the heat is exquisite. Play Relax Sleep Dream Cook (At the conclusion of all the events listed below, the Rheumatologist suggest that Willow and I switch to a Lectin Free diet so I have been focusing on learning some new recopies). Those have been the main activities over the last week. I know that such a state can't last though and work needs to get done. So I am starting with what seems like the biggest chore ahead of me.  Whipping out a blog really isn't that big of a job but the sheer volume of activity I have to unload is rather ..well.. massive. And the photos ..etc .. to go through.. So I will post a quick link below to an all encompassing photo album. The text below will match up to the sections in the album so you will have to switch back and forth for the full effect.

As We Approached The End 

I had a little bit of fun while creating Willows graduation announcements. One was of Willows head floating on a Roman column. Anyway, I thought this one summed up our recent silence during the last few months well.

DMV:
So I think I last left you with the kids getting their learners permits. These pictures were taken at DMV. I took the third on just because he looked like he could have been a rocker in the 80's but the glory days are gone now, the tour bus has been emptied and now he has to learn to drive. It made me nostalgic..for Reno... Not really. But I did chuckle and I took a picture. The tattooed Roadie/rocker look is not unusual here.   Anyway, since then, Willow has taken a drivers ed course and just finished this past weekend. She has some time to put in with me first but by fall (at the latest) she will be licensed and on her own way.

Birthday Party Downtown:
Connor has made a decent little group of friends. For one of those friends birthdays, a "scavanger hunt" with a group of about 12 was had downtown. It was a cold rainy day. Items on the list where like: get a picture of a shopper in a band t-shirt (made that guys day), play duck duck goose, and so on. These pictures are a few choice moments from a fun afternoon.

They Might Be Giants:
The first concert of the Season: They Might Be Giants. We took Dylan (the fiance) with us. It was his first concert. The local venue has that good old bar feel and there are no seats but they allow all ages and just monitor who buys and is drinking. TBMG was enthusiastic and as ironic as ever. They opened with a song about wishing it was already the end of the show and that they were home in bed. And I don't doubt them. To still be rocking that hard when you are in your ..60s? Dylan enjoyed it. We all did. About a month later (and unfortunately with no photo documentation) Greg, Willow and I saw Ben Harper. It was Willows first blues experience. She didn't appreciate it as much as us old folks did.  Ben is still fantastic. And the lighting and stage arrangement was subtly done to evoke the sensation of a boxcar.  Sailing down the tracks it cast its light (just as Bens music/truth/being does)  out on us.. an ever changing scenery of swirling and swaying.  We have a few more concerts on the books to attend this month.

One Season Ends Another Begins:
The last of Cons Ice skating lessons for the Spring Season came to an end. Instead of taking pictures of that, I went to the beach (right outside the door) and enjoyed the first real day of Spring.

Prom: Dylan and Willow decided to attend only one of the Proms. They were a beautiful couple. According to Willow .. apparently there is no award for Prom King and Queen anymore. And they didn't play any slow songs.

Grad Challenge: Grad challenge is a year long project that seniors work on. Its a project of their choosing from which they must learn and demonstrate and discuss at the end of the year in front of a room of other students and parents. Part of the project requires internship and interviews with professionals .Willows Project was about starting her own business. Despite my desire to observe her presentation, I was asked not to as it would make her more nervous. She made it through it, barely. She had had a wardrobe malfunction and her professional skirt tore. She swapped it out for a semi casual dress with spaghetti straps. They almost failed her for seeing bra straps. Thank Heavens they didn't because she was super ready to be out of there.

Honor Society Induction: Willow was inducted into the Technical National Honor Society. She was part of the candle lighting and lit the second candle for Honesty. The first candle was lit for skill, however, the girl lighting it really didn't have any. It was rather sad.

Sick Puppers and Other Animal Tails:  Rosie got sick, or wasn't feeling good. She didn't really eat well for a month and then just would not get out of bed.  We are not quite sure what was going on with her. She had a run of tests. Her liver is small but functions fine. Her cortisol levels were a little elevated. We ran some extra tests to rule out bad things that that might mean. She is on a diet to loose some weight. But otherwise she seems to have returned to her natural state. Oh and the whale tails? That's this landmark/art thing here. Its also a dog walk area. There are no real stories about Toby. He is a lover, though.

Auditions Rehearsals and Performance: Connors friend had a dance recital. My previous experience with recitals was each class would come in and do something they worked on and then the next and so on. This was the story of the Beauty and the Beast and the dancers from all the classes wove through the story in a synchronized fashion. It was more of a theatrical dancing performance. The pictures are from that. The end of the school year got especially busy for Connor. On top of finals, he also had the Summer theater production (Little Mermaid Musical) to try out for as well as the Fall Theater Production (Legally Blond the Musical). This meant memorizing lines and dances for both in a relatively short intense period of time. He was cast in both. He has a few weeks off before he gets to work. And it is a lot of work.  And it will be non stop until November starts.

Dylan Graduation: We went to Dylan's Graduation. He attends a small mountain school. Last year 5 of the classmates who would have graduated this year died in a car crash. Much of the ceremony was about remembrance. Afterwards Willow had a chance to meet most of his family.

Mom Comes to Visit:  It was great to have mom here. The first morning I had this desire to grab her toes. I didn't of course but took a picture instead. She dropped right into the rhythm of our lives and the hustle of the last week of school. It was extremely pleasant but also very odd to have the laundry always done and ironed as well as having the kitchen cleaned without so much as lifting a finger. During her visit, I suppose we both had a little bit of a reprieve from our normal activities.   

Willows First Graduation and Connors Impact Project Night:  Both of these events occurred on the same night and so we had to determine how best to tackle the evening. What do I mean first Graduation? Well... the whole thing is a little complicated. Willow was enrolled in one HS but attended the Culinary Tech Program at the another. This Graduation was from the Tech School. I went to this event (Dylan was able to join us there) and the pictures are from that.  While waiting for the event to begin, I sort of got side tracked with the colors and textures at hand. Willow received a Chefs hat along with her diploma.  Meanwhile, Mom and Greg attended Connors event. All the freshman are expected to do an Impact Project. Much like the Grad Challenge, this is a self chosen area of interest that the student wants to learn about and demonstrate that knowledge. Connor's project had to do with plastic pollution. On this night each of the students stood near their poster Board and discussed their project with curious parents who circulated around. On another Note Connor also received the Excellence Award for his "House." "Houses" are a strange arrangement that the High School has adopted. Apparently it isn't an uncommon structure in other states but it was new to me. The incoming freshman are split into 4 different groups. These groups are called Houses. The first year of HS the freshman take all their core classes in the House and with the same quarter of the Freshman population. I could go on more but I wont. Long story short only two of these awards were handed out in each House. Nicely done Con.

Get Your Sing On Mom! These clips speak for themselves. Willow and Grandma had some special bonding times.

 New Wheels:  Part of Willows Graduation gift was a bike.

Convocation: Another long ceremony. What is the point of this one? Oh.. the handing out of awards. The Choir sung well.

The Second and Final Graduation: And finally the cycle of ceremonies came to its conclusion with a procession of bagpipes and a wave of red. Joining us was a friend of Willows who lives on the other side of the lake. Oh my gosh, Kim was a joy to have along with us. Willow was unexpectedly (Although with her the unexpected is always to be expected) expressive with her post certificate pickup dab. After the ceremony she could not get out of there quick enough. I don't have any of the typical Mom/Grad pics but I did get a few nice Mom/Daughter shots.

Lobsta on Da Lake: Willow had to work after her ceremony so she was not able to join us for a lobster and dancing cruise of the lake. We were happy to have Kim join us in her place.  Connor had one of his auditions the following day and quickly realized that the moves he needed to practice timed up well to the music that was playing.  The greatest dance hits of the 70s  seemed to be the Dj's preferred playlist. And so Connor was giving off a true stayin alive vibe.  The sights were spectacular. And the company fantastic.

Surprise:  Saturday Morning, I took Willow to Drivers Ed. While she was gone, our longtime family friend, Melissa arrived from her cross country red eye trip. Willow was not expecting her and it was great to see Willows glee at seeing Auntie M. I didn't capture that. But it was great.

Celebration: Willow had a few friends over for a BBQ and Pool Party. It was an afternoon of Mermaids, Margaritas and Merriment.  I also think I should turn mom into a meme.

Our Flurry of Activity Winds Down and Company is Enjoyed. (So are the Pool and the Garden): This is just sort of an odd assortment of moments. The Doll mysteriously kept changing positions. I didn't have cat scratch fever afterall but I did have Poison Ivy. And it was unpleasant. We saw Willow at work and enjoyed the fruits of her labor.

And So It Ends
School is over. Everyone has gone home.

Sweet Relief!

Today we celebrate two young people who will be taking to the road. Congrats on the learners permits guys!

Keeping Pace; Winning the Race

Early morning sunday. The yard begins to brighten as the slowly rising sun draws itself to peek over the horizon. I am not offered a  spectacular view of the sunrise or sunsets at our home but I know them for what they are worth and i can embrace that beauty with my eyes closed. So rather I watch shadows stretch and listen to birds sing as I sip my tea and welcome the day.. come what may.

Connor had a decent week. His big news is that he was accepted into the pre-tech program in engineering and industrial arts. What that means is that he will be spending next year focusing on a vast field and then as a jr/senior. He will take a more specialized set of courses intended to move him towards college and/or his future career. That boy is doing quite well and is on track.

This week the kids will be taking thier learners permit tests. Fingers crossed for both of them but I think they got this. Yikes. According to plan, Within a year or so my driving duties are going to ..poof.. disappear.  Then I write promote publish and produce in ernest. That's the plan anyway. And steadily I am starting to gain some speed.

It was a long week for Willow. There was a state level competition she was involved in called Skills USA. It was a two day seminar and overnight stay with interviewing, resume and technical skills being tested.
She says it was the most difficult thing she has ever done. She hated it. Wanted to throw herself over the banister. But she endured and saw it through. So in our book she is a winner.

Friday we finally got Willow into the rheumatologist. Although not everyone who has the genetic marker will demonstrate illness, she is showing signs. Her ankles are most definatly in part due to arthritis.  There are other signs too. A battery of blood tests where taken and then the dr. will make a final diagnosis and we can start working on breaking her out of the pain cycle and finally get her where she can move more easily. The discussion offered hope. We will see what our next steps are.

That wasn't all this last week has had in store for the young lady. She picked out her prom dress and also registered for her fall classes. She is coming along.

Yesterday

I raked half... well it might feel like i did that much but no... it wasn't even a quarter.  I raked up an eighth of my yard. Today temps climb to the 50s. Then plummet overnight as a bitter arctic cold washes over us.

I have to get to the yard now.. While it's still cold enough to keep life moving and rising slowly to the surface. Easter Sunday was quite apropo: A day of rebirth for so many and an usherer in of the Spring Season, also the day I sniffly got in the car with willow and she asked me if I was crying. When I looked at her puzzled, she said "Allergies Already?" And she is right. The snow just melted.

Buckle up boys, I'm calling my dr today to get a fresh inhaler. I'm prepared this year. It's not going to lock me down! Kick it's A##!

Threading a needle..

Taking a breath. A deep one. This promises to be quite a long wrap up.
The month or more since my last posting has been quite the event filled one.

Greg is still in the job running?? He was one of two potentials but seeing as we have not really heard anything.. we are not counting on it. In the meantime there has been an org restructure which will give Greg a clearer understanding of his position and line him up with a boss who he knows he can work much smoother for. So he is feeling a little more on his feet in that regard.

We made it through the hot water heater replacement, a/c installation and water abatement process. In many ways I am quite relieved that the bottom rusted out when it did, that we caught it quickly, and that it did not happen when we were away.

Speaking of being away, the family went to Boston at the start of the month to take in a Blackhawks vs. Bruins game. The  kids and I drove down and back in the calm between two Nor'Easter storms. Greg had been in Tennisee the week before and due to the storm, it made more since to fly directly to Boston and meet us there.

 Let me take a moment to address the winter weather. It seems extreme to those from home but to put it in perspective, even though winter is truly a thing here, I have never once heard it announced that "Chains or Snow Tires" required. Generally speaking ALL cars in the New England region put on snow tires in the winter and road maintenance is amazingly coordinated. That being said, Greg got a lesson in being stranded due to the weather, which is a story I will wrap back around to.

Blackhawks and Boston.. Willow has been having trouble with her ankles and has been going to PT regularly to fix her issues and get her truly mobile.  That weekend she was in more pain and wearing her boot brace. That kept her down a little. But shes a trooper and she did her best to make the most of it.

  I didn't really take any scenic pictures this trip but that doesn't mean I don't have any stories to tell. The first was a little traumatic and has left Connor with little desire to ever attend another game. As we were filing our way around the arena to find our seats, Willow and I in the lead followed by Connor and Greg pulling up the rear. I caught out of the corner of my eye, a man standing near the inside wall.  As I passed I heard say something like "Oh its you." I turned to look and he ducked behind me. I assumed he merged into the throng and kept going a ways. It turns out he thought he recognized Connor. The drunkard stopped him and put his hands on Connors chest. Greg of course stepped in and shoved the guy off. So that is how our experience started. But that was not indicative of most of the fans that we met. Actually, the Bruins fans are genuinely hospitable. Many were interested in why we were Blackhawks fans and had no problem offering up a friendly discussion. I actually found that  to be true  of the locals in general and not just those at the game. The couple sitting next to us were a kick. Under their Bruins Jerseys they were wearing Hawks gear (See her green peaking out?)

 and they celebrated every goal scored. Later after the game and as the family was in the rooms re-cooperating/napping, I found myself at the bar. Where I met another season ticket holding couple and had a nice chat. She was in tech and he was a police officer. It was a nice visit but I realized that I need to be able to better answer the question of "what is your book about?" I stumble to qualify it for people. I will be working on a summary soon. This last picture is was the floor of the elevator in the hotel. I laughed every time I saw it but it made Willow uneasy.

Greg had a meeting scheduled in Boston  early that  week and opted to stay in town rather than drive home and back (Its about 3.5 hours) So I dropped him at his hotel. Its a short walk to the office from there so not having a car didn't seem like that much of a challenge. Well after we left the storm hit and he was stuck at the hotel. Which didn't have a restaurant. He hiked 2 miles in blizzard conditions with 60 mile winds to the only open restaurant ( a pizza place) for lunch and ended up hitting the snack machines for a tide me over dinner. On top of it all, the meeting ended up being cancelled and he came home after a long hard road trip.

The next weekend was the presentation of the Student directed plays. It was a week of long rehearsals followed by 3 productions which wrapped up Sunday. Connors character was a psychic who used his amazing sense of smell to determine who the murder was. This part was not far in keeping with his natural personality, appreciation for velvet and flair for style. Approx. 7 years prior to the date of opening night, I took this picture of Connor:

Can you guess which of these characters was played by Connor now? 

 Rosie after seeing these photos wanted to get in on the action. 

She has quite the stage presence. 

The week after the play was a decent one. Greg was home all week and the weather was nice. Thursday night however Connor fell down some stairs and bumped himself pretty darn good near his kidney. His broken hobbled gate suggested I take him to see urgent care. 

Just to be on the safe side since we were going to be on the road Friday night, Connecticut bound. He got the green light and directions to keep moving. So off to the 2nd Annual Gamers Convention at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Convention Hall and Arena. It was interesting to see and compare to Reno and Vegas. Casinos are casinos. Smoke and noise and colorful people watching. It was a pretty one and well thought out in terms of movement from area to area as the traffic paths accommodate non gamblers as well as gamblers. A lot more craps games then I am used to seeing. I think there almost as many crap tables as 21. Toward the end of our stay Greg dropped 60 on a table which kept him playing for 2.5 hours and when he was done, he had doubled our money. I wandered and drank and sized up the action. But that was towards the end of our stay.. Here is the beginning:

We loaded up the kids in two cars. We took a friend of Connors. Her name is Elsa and she reminds me in many ways of a teenaged Terri. I get a kick out of her. We also took Willows boyfriend Dylan. Dylan is a senior that lives down the road about 45 minutes. They were paired up somewhat surprisingly when two cousins (or maybe it was friends)  one from each of the schools were visiting and it dawned on them that the two might click. And click they have. Dylan is a sweet young man with a poets soul and a quick smile. He is quiet but a deep thinker. He reminds me in so many ways of a young Lystra. I know he will grow into a fine man.  So that is the cast of characters. We arrived late and got settled in. The next day we were Convention bound.. 

 So you may be asking, what is a gaming convention? It is like a comic con only based on games. All sorts from Board to Video games. Past and Present.

 There were gaming competitions (after we left we realized that there was a COD tournament Sunday that Greg could have had some fun playing in but we no know that that might be a possibility next year) and vendors selling everything and everything from clothes to toys to games to anything that represents a character or  a game. People wore costumes and others gathered in small circles to play Magic or other card and board games. It was smaller than we expected but it was good. While we were there My old friend  Aimee and her family met up with us and we had a nice lunch and got caught up.  It is always to wonderful to see her. She has not changed much but she has changed a lot. I suppose we all have. Anyway, its possible that we may get together again for Willows graduation or maybe towards the end of fall for a little vacation in Maine.

Anyway, we  wrapped up at the convention in the afternoon.

 We returned to our hotel room where, expect for a break for dinner, we campaigned until 9:00.

It was a good weekend and Sunday morning we pulled it together and the kids and I drove home and Greg went back to Boston for a meeting at the beginning of the week.

So March was very busy. We don't have much else going on now except getting through the rest of the school year. Willow is starting to have senioritis a little but is still moving forward. Drivers permit  tests for both the kids will be in April.  Willow is looking for a job or internships to fill in some of her free time. Anyway.. life goes on and as I look out I see that today is utterly gorgeous. I think its time to walk the dog.

Love you all!
Vic

Nothing New, Thank Goodness!

Ankle Update:

I took Willow to the Specialist and we were able to see the X-rays and discuss the results. Everything actually looks pretty good structurally speaking. So I will be lining her up with Physical Therapy (and possible aqua PT) and hopefully train it and strengthen it and get her walking pain free again. 

Fortunately, because Willows dancing requires far more upper body strength than legs, Willow can continue to practice her dancing. 

She would eventually like to transition over to Ariel ribbons. There is a class at the same studio and once her ankles are strong we can look into it for her. 

Basement:

No real damage except to some carpet. Our Insurance will replace it.  We stayed at the hotel for a night. Willow needed to wash the color (It is a really flattering red) out of her hair and it just seemed easier to manage the dog from someplace that seemed less chaotic plus she is very effected by the drone of the loud fans.  We are now "roughing it" at home and with the electric kettle hot water isn't that far away. Its better to be home and Rosie has grown accustom to the sound.

The HVAC guy is in the basement as I type this. Our system is a little more complicated than is normal. The home assessor for the insurance claim said he has never seen one like it. It is oil fed and is a part of the furnace. (Not to worry we still have heat)  Anyhow, it is a process but it is getting expertly done. And while they are at it I am having them replace the AC. It is from the 1970s and doesn't work anymore and you cant get replacement parts. Although it is an additional cost (Although saving some because we can do both at the same time), the benefit to my asthma and disposition during heat are worth it. 

Job Search

Greg's interview went well. He has a return interview on Monday. Of the 7 or so candidates provided by the recruiter, he is the only one that has been moved on. He is excited by the prospect. We will see how it shakes out. 

Anything else? 

I met some volunteer moms of 9th grade boys in connor's core when I helped with the Teacher Appreciation luncheon. That was good. It was sort of a hard day at the school though as one of the 9th grade boys had died unexpectedly over night. Teachers are amazing for everything they do. 

Connor's play is on the horizon. Here is a picture of him from dress rehearsals:

He also started some figure skating lessons as well. (I need to look and see if there is a ice dance squad/club if such a thing exists.. Or maybe Connor could start one?) Regardless he enjoyed his lesson. His instructor is a Senior at UVM studying Environmental Science. I think they will work well together for awhile. 

When it pours.. it floods.

So the windshield on my car cracked this winter. Sub 0 temps combined with hot air possibly was the cause. I dropped it off yeaterday at 7:30 am. Its still not done. The calibration system wasnt working. I went down this morning and I was provided with a rental. 

I got home to willow trying wash dye out of her hair in shower without hot water and a basement that had flooded out. The bottom of the hot water tank rotted out. An abatement team is on its way and a new hot water heater has been ordered and should be installed tomorrow. I think we will stay at a hotel tonight.

Getting the boot

What can I say about this girl?! She was standing at 8 months, walking by 9, running by 9.5 . Holy Moly this girl has been wanting to be on the go forever. Somewhere along the line - early on and often - she fell. She twisted her ankle again and again and again and again. Injuries never recovered from. Dr.s and a medical system not equiped to help. Add to it that she has the extremely strong genetic predisposition to this arthritis thing where your immune system turns on your joints and starts to take them down and out from the inside. In kids seen most often in the ankles and knees. Most likely a factor for her to. And it has slowed her down. And kept her slow. And she has hated it and she has struggled and then the god awful German Dr. Saying "oh its because shes fat loose weight then come back". Bullshit. Now Finally help. Xrays and a specialist. She may need surgery. If not now it's a guaranteed eventuality and necessity in the future. The amount of immobility in her foot has been such a handicap to her for so long I am so sad she has struggled so long with it. 

And I am so proud that she is such a trooper.  She has the inner fire, tenacity and resilience of an Ox. 

Her appointment is Wednesday.  Fingers crossed for a swift recovery. 

In the still of the night

It is very still outside. Fluffy white powder drifts and dances on light wafts of breeze. Im tucked in bed .. alone .. well not alone. Hello Mr. Keyboard.

I am also waiting for Rosie to decide to join me. She has been keeping watch for Greg and she may not leave her post anytime soon. Night times belong to daddy and he is not here. Her eyes ask questions I can't adequately communicate an answer for.

Greg left today to take care of business in Montreal for a few days. He truly is an Ox plowing powerfully forward making progress even against the strongest headwind.  Although I hope he is using this evening to catch up on on some much needed sleep. The timing of his drive was perfect seeing as tonight a storm is rolling through and expected to drop near a foot on us by morning. The roads should be decent by the time he is heading back.

We already have been notified by the school that there will not be any school tomorrow. And let me tell you they don't cancel school for a meager 3 inches around here. Just in case, I hit the store today and filled the larder. Tonight is odd but welcome. I know tomorrow I will be sleeping in and have no where I have to be but here. Which means I can stay up a little later tonight and Clickity Clackity away.. at least until my battery dies.

Connor came home today with.. food poisoning? the beginnings of the flu? I don't know. His complexion is washed out and he is complaining about stomach and body aches. It could be that he worked himself up over hambuger he ate today which was juicy and pink. Could be it was cooked medium .. or maybe not.  Then again, the flu is going around heavily. It already went through our house.. mildly..  and he isn't showing signs of a fever. Regardless, its a nice thing that he gets to stay home tomorrow. It looks like next week he may be starting some ice skating lessons (assuming he isn't sick) He has his four short lines memorized for the school play and rehearsals are long for four short lines, but he is having fun. The play runs March 16-18 so we are still a little ways away yet.

Willow is also grateful for school being out tomorrow. Beyond being excessively sore from her dancing, she is doing fairly well. She recently had a reaction to some medication that sort of threw her into a tailspin but we got her fairly well evened out. And although we might still be in for a little turbulence, I (fingers crossed) see her learning the controls pretty swiftly. At the end of February she is heading to New York to meet her boy friend's Mom. That is kind of a big deal. 

What else is going on? I have probably half an hour of battery time left and, by golly Mr. Keyboard, I am going to make the most of it with you tonight, even if I am at a loss at what else to say. Hmmm...

March is a crazy busy month. Full of adventure. A trip to Boston. Connors already mentioned play. A trip to a convention that has Cosplay. I am considering the option of participating. Seeing as the theme is gaming I was leaning towards Tetris. Its olds chool and moves rather slow, at least to start.. like me. But then again,  one might see it about paying homage to walls. :/   I could also go the Anime route but I don't know much Anime these days. There was one show I liked, however,  I have much to consider.. like the fact that we will not be staying at the convention hotel but will be staying at a nearby Hilton with a shuttle bus service. It makes financial sense but if we are running back and forth outside, I don't think being dressed as a Japanese Goddess is the way to go.

I woke up today with a bit of inspiration as to the direction I want my next tattoo to go in. I am of the belief that tattoos are extremely symbolic and special and I literally tend to wear who I am on my sleeve. So I have been considering what animals I have a connection with and one animal emerges again and again.
I have saved one.
I have killed one.
I was gifted some.
I have bestowed some.
I've hatched some.
I have raised some.
I eaten some (not the one I killed, it was sick.)
I have buried some.
I have wrestled one.
And like this animal, I am loyal.
I am migratory and I navigate well.
And according to my children, I can be be quite scary.
I think the Goose may make for a decent totem.
I know that is not the only element that will be incorporated but it is a start.

Speaking of drawings and art and OMG! next week is Valentines. I used to put together these mixed CDs for friends at Valentines.  As I am just realizing this impending deadline.. I don't reasonably think that I can get around to it this year. Oh well, my friends know I love them anyway.

The battery warning light is flashing (Its not really a light, more like an annoying pop up) and telling me that I need to plug in or perish. While I could get up and pad along the cold hardwood floors to retrieve my power cord, my bare feet are asking to stay tucked in and warm. And really I have said all I am needing to say for now.

Sweet dreams and stay warm..which I hear is easy if you are in Nevada right now. I think I would be very uncomfortable and hot at those temps. But then again I took the trash out to the curb this am is a short sleeved dress and slippers and thought it very pleasant out for 27 degrees.