We once drank from the wine of youth

We have had some interesting events happen here.. Im not sure if I need to call it a theft or if I call it weird animal nature... About three weeks ago, Greg realized that we didn't have any white eggs being laid in our coop anymore. That was just about the time I realized that our 3 white laying hens had transformed into 3 adolescents and 2 of them are roosters. As they roam I can't say that some some flock changing didn't occur .. but it is weird.

And while Im on the topic of weird.. This was seen in Monterey while we were driving. Willow snapped the pic. The guy was getting on a bus. 

And speaking of oddities seen in transport... Only in Reno.. will you see a VERY hefty couple on a scooter with a 5 year old riding the tank. Is that legal? The bulk on the bike weighed down the engine substantially and so they were putting along in the bicycle lane.

What? Reno? I was in Reno again? Yes. For one night only.  My long time friend D. called frantic. Lots of big gloomy events had been clustering around her .. In a matter of 6 days.. 10 deaths within the families of her inner circle... Her office flooded (It was the only one) due to unusually intense thunderstorms. A tree in her backyard was struck by lightning. A coworker slipped at the grocery story hit his head and went into a coma. And she had several projects with major approaching deadlines underway. I in the meantime was struggling with something big and immediate that she could help me with.. so when she unexpectedly called Friday morning.. well the timing could not have been more perfect.. and within a few hours I was on the road. I arrived at two and proceeded to help her until the janitors kicked us out of the school district offices at 10:30. That place is haunted. Seriously. By an electrician who died there.

 Anyway, it was really hot and muggy and I am hoping I don't have make another trip to the desert again this summer... although for D Id do it a heartbeat.

After work we picked up a bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers and went to her place for something akin to dinner and when her boyfriend came literally stumbling in at midnight we played a game of badminton in the dark. Nobody won that game.

 It had been a long day and so we all turned in although the heat was not conducive to any kind of serious rest. And after tossing and turning at 5:30 I was up and on the road home and D was back to the office. She made her deadlines and I made it home and made my deadlines as well. We were "Under the Gun" but neither of us got shot. It was a good day. (I hear Ice T playing on the soundtrack of my mind and I giggle)

P.S. We got the house after a bid war. Its moving fast. Faster than typical. Its a flip and the bank wants out ASAP. This week inspections. If all goes well.. We will have the keys soon. School starts the 14th. Hot Damn. I got stuff to do.

Home again! .. Home again? Jigagy jig

Just Returned from 8 day spent nestled  among the towering pines that thrust majestically and defiantly from the rocky slopes of the sierras. 

The sites at plasses resort at silver lake are packed rather tight together. So the Fourth of July it was truly overpacked and crowded. It was noisy. The Nevada yahoos in the next site over where constantly hollering at their many dogs from which I gathered that Halo and Vicky where the worst offenders. Seriously those were thier names. Anyway.. Transitioning from the temperate coast  to such radically swinging highs and lows in temperature plus adding so much elevation was enough to knock me reeling for a bit while I adjusted.  It took a good three days.. Just in time for the crowds to melt away.. For me to switch from getting settled to becoming relaxed.  That initial transition would have been much harder still, if not for good friends and warm sleeping bags.  Two sites over.. Just passed the hollering and cussing and revelry exhibited by the forementioned yahoos..  camped Terri, Adam and family for the night. We shared meals, conversation, s'mores and the like before turning in for what was perhaps one of the most uncomfortable nights ever. One that left me weepy with over exhaustion. Our sleeping bags were too thin. I knew they were and brought supplemental blankets. But we were also using cots for the first time and I had not considered that there would be no insulation from underneath. Simply stated we froze. Fortunately, with Terri and Adams departure we were gifted some marvilous sleeping bags for a night before heading into cc  for a little family birthday party celebration. While there we returned the borrowed bedding and picked up our own. Once I managed a few good nights sleep my recovery was  eminent!

Other than our quick jont down to the city and the kids staying a night with mom, we pretty much spent our time around the lake and camp site, swimming, canoeing, hiking, playing board games (settlers of catan being the game of choice for all!) fishing, kicking the soccer ball, spiking the volleyball, throwing some shoes, drawing, napping and reading. It turns out that ,although active, our play was far more leisurely than I had anticipated as our oldest member had a difficult time keeping up and sad puppy dog eyes begged for more time lounging around. Well splash is now going on twelve (84 human equivelant) so we took it easier for him. 

I mentioned a canoe.. While we were there some friends whom we had met at school last year, stopped by for a visit and a beer. They have a cabin not to far and were there at the time. They left us thier canoe to play with. As has never happened before we packed up and brought home more than we took with us to begin with!  

After all we Returned dirty, grimy and smelling of campfire. Returned rested and refreshed yet somewhat battered and broken (bruises from adventures and perhaps a fractured hand bone or two of Greg's from our play) Returned ready to.. hit the ground running.. Change.. Nothing stays the same.. (Had to musically interject there).. Anyway.. Unloaded.. Unpacked.. Cleaned up.. Caught up... Almost..

Doing loads and loads of laundry 

at the moment.

A link to the pictures to come in a day or so.. When I'm not sitting at the laundromat or running willow to school to pick up things for next year.. Or.. Or.. Or.. It will be soon. 

And that's not all my news. Really. There is more. While we were gone a house came on the market less than a mile from Greg's work and even closer to willows bus stop. We looked at it immediately upon our return and put in an offer yesterday. It already had received one and the owners are looking them over tonight. We should know which they will accept by Thursday.  Fingers crossed. It's not in the sunny city but .. Eh.. After a little over a week battling the elements.. And getting in a huge dose of vitamin D.. I can deal with that.. As long as it has a tub and a non satellite internet connection..  Fingers crossed! 

Sun sun sun.. Here we come

Both because hot temps and cold alpine waters are not that far around the bend.. IDetails afterwards but preparations underway... 

And also because, we have been house hurting in a much sunnier though very close city. Yes. City. To be able to take a bath again.. We currently have a huge jacuzzi tub but our septic system is taxed by normal activities and sits there taunting me daily.  And To have an unlimited stream! Such luxuries! Not to mention less driving to the store. And to get Out of the ongoing gloom. Trade in continual cold coastal breeze and fatique inducing fog for the toasty healing rays of the sun and the hustle and bustle of life... Even if warming up a bit means a greater chance at being caught in crossfire.  Yes. I can handle moving back the city...  Or rather the fringe. Ain't no shame in Laying low on the upper west side.   

And until all this plays out.. Well .. we are keeping all sorts of busy and bored in equal measure. The parents are busy .. the kids are bored. Must be summer!  

There and back again.. coming round full circle

 I returned this weekend to the land of my conception, the land of my birth, the land of my blood, to celebrate my roots and recognize those that have come before.


My beginnings lie to the North where the sleeping giant, Mt. Shasta, looms topless.

My beginnings lie with mountain men, loggers and hunters/trappers. Country folk through n' through.

 I come from strong hearty rural stock. How rural? Etna currently has a population of 775 and is an hour from the nearest "Real" hospital. Which explains why I was born across state lines. And why my parents later moved to Eureka. The nearest town of consequence, Yreka, is a half hour away and, well, to put the size of that place in perspective.. the police station and library are one in the same.

Anyway.. my great aunt on my fathers side, the last of her WWII generation siblings, was laid to rest this weekend and being that grandpa's ashes had not yet been placed next to grandmas it seemed a convenient and practical time to see to him at peace as well. That event was fraught with a little unexpected excitement. An elder cousin passed out in a manner that appeared to be a heart attack and had no measurable pulse on three different occasions while family attempted revival. Unresponsive female at the cemetery.. the paramedics thought the call was a bit of a joke at first.  But it wasn't funny and an ambulance from urgent care in Yreka was soon on its way. My cousin was released within the hour as they could find nothing wrong with her. Crazy eh? 

In the meantime, mom, Will and I arrived (our first girls road trip) and joined up with the remainder of the family and enjoyed a meal at Etna's finest dining establishment as determined by cousin Jeffs Yelping. Although a little driving around sightseeing might have proven it to be just about the only dining establishment in Etna. I have to admit that the food was far better than the fish tasting waffles and stale croissant sandwich that we experienced at eh purple plum in Yreka. Ick.

The Etna Brewing company was on the street where I spent my infancy. 

It was on the street my then 8 year old cousin fell off his bike riding down the hill to see me. Funny he remembers.. I don't!  Anyway the next generation of cousins now have their own memories of that street.  

At the grown up table, mom reconnected with family long separated by distance, divorce and death. The trip was a treat for her.

Other cousins were there that I didn't hit with the flash as I spent my time digesting rapid discussions of local attractions and other bits of family gossip. It was a fine feast. After all was consumed, we split up and all began our various journey's hotel/home ward. Before leaving, however, Willow, Mom and I made one final stop.

This now dry riverbed was once my fathers favorite place to fish and it was here that we released the last of his ashes. (The majority are in a veterans cemetery near Redding). He will be swimming with the fishies through the land he loved when the rains come. As it should be.

The ride home was uneventful .. except for all the animals I killed. There was a bird, a squirrel and a lizard. At least I avoided the 4 deer that ran out in front of me each at a different time. I think I counted over 100 deer total. It was a pleasant trip drive all told. 10 hours each way. over three mountain ranges and back, under the lingering light of the summer solstice.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IheODRwalEw&feature=kp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQe3DKDQRRs

finding a moments pause

           Where have you been?

Who me?

            Yes you!

Well I have not been sitting in front of a computer monitor, I can assure you of that!

           

            Well obviously. If you had, I would not be asking where you been.

True Dat. Appointments, limited data stream and the constant need to entertain or line up entertainment for the children has kept me busy of one sort or another. That is not to say it has all been work. I have also been sleeping in late and lounging round with books.  With June gloom here most days are dreary and cold and my inclination is to stay curled up as much and as long as possible.  

Anyway, I am not dead. 

Do you know who is dead? My grandpa... but then he has been for a year and a half now.  Weird topic change I know but that turn of events has been on my mind all week as I got word on Monday that there will be a service for him and my Great Aunt (I know she has been gone a while herself) this weekend in Etna as their ashes finally get laid to rest beside my grandmothers. Rev your engines...Looks like the girls (Mom,will and i) will soon be putting some miles on the chub tub. Whirlwind weekend ahead. Should be ... interesting. 

Bass lessons have halted this week. My teacher is camping. But before he left he loaded me up with homework. Wants me to polish up the songs I have been working on, learn "come together" and for a midterm Im to write my own 3 minute long piece.  Egads. When he said step it up.. he meant it. 

Our own camping trip looms near. Really looking forward to long and leisurely days (a brief period of which will be shared with T. and her family. :D) 

As much as I would like to stay and keep talking at you... chores and such clamor for my attention. Many things to do before I hit the road.

Busy but doing well.. thanks!

The first week of school off has not been much of a vacation. At least not yet. During the rush of the last few weeks, the normal stuff got shifted and put off so there was much to do in the way of catch up. Having moved through the majority of that, I/we have been faced with the big question of what to do about school next year for Connor. This has required a concerted effort, appointment and research. And after much deliberation, much discussion and much assessing, Connor has chosen to not return to the classroom next year and has accepted the challenge of independent study.  Yep. homeschooling again. This time, however, we are not going with a online based program but we are working with a school district and he will meet with a teacher weekly and other students for group study on a regular basis. It will hopefully give him the best of both worlds. He did fair in the classroom this year but was constantly irritated and frustrated by inattentive, disruptive and impolite or pestering classmates. To the point of angry tears on too many days. His little nervous system is soooo very sensitive that it doesn't take much to throw him off. And so we adjust our sails.

Hows the house hunting going? That seems to be a question many people are wondering. So on that score.. We are currently going through a full financial audit with the underwriter before we actually start. The reasons for this are two fold. First off, after the foreclosure, just to verify that other than needing an FHA loan, we have no issues. And secondly, to determine if we have the liquidity in our retirement and such to cover a down payment. Anyway, by the middle of the next week we should be ready to start looking. Preliminary searches of the MLS do not look good however. There are very few houses listing and those that are out there get snatched fast. And I am anxious to get started. And so under some  perceived pressure I begin to panic. But I stop and remind myself that it will all work out in its right time. This is out of my control and I put it in the hands of what I call the Universe and mom calls God. In the meantime Ill let you know when we are actually looking and ready to jump.

Now its bass lessons (we have moved on to smashing pumpkins.. triplets are like skipping and the strokes... to learn to pick)  haircuts, necessities shopping and preparations for a movie marathon Willow is hosting for a bunch of her classmates over the weekend.  Dinner with Gregs secretary and meeting her new serious bow. Out for my friends birthday. Next week I should be able to stop and turn more of my attention homeward. Get out in the yard and the sun. I hope some of the june gloom blows away!

Cousin Jeff phoned out of the blue and we met up for lunch yesterday with his daughter Anna and then we toured Gregs plant. It was lovely.

Malificent.. fantastic movie. Anansi Boys.. Neil Gaiman is a mighty story teller.

And I am off..

smiles and hugs

Break on through to the other side

Summary and pics for the last few weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r0y4UAYmXg

For summer fun, I have charged the kids with making their own movie. More to come on that later.

For graduation willow now has a phone. I got rid of mine.. well .. downgraded to make it possible. We are now talk and text only. But then that is all we need.  

Time now to recharge the old battery, do some camping,  find  a house,  move,  get the kids set for school and find a job. Summer will be over before you know it and Life just keeps going.

And with that I am going to sit for an hour and do nothing but play a game... because maybe now finally I can.