An End is Here and So Is A Beginning

Ive been looking back over and sorting the photos I have from 2014.... Not an easy task... I took thousands...  And as I sort I realize that it was a VERY BUSY year.

School: Willow finished Jr High and moved on to High School. She is doing good there. Connor moved up into Jr. High and began an independent study program which suits him. There were field trips and graduation ceremonies. There were Science fairs and History Day Fairs.... It was a full of academics to say the least!

Extra Curricular:  We traveled a bit this year. Went up to San Francisco and saw  naked people riding bikes (A sight that has forever scared Connor!) We saw comedians and took in hockey games. We went camping. We got in as many visits with family and old friends as we could work in. Connor performed in his first play. Willow got her braces off. I started learning Bass over the summer. We broke many pairs of glasses. There was a road trip to Etna for funerals. The roommates moved out. We almost bought a house (It was a blessing it didn't work out!) We flew mom out for a visit for Christmas. She got to watch Connors play, helped teach him to hand stitch, Got to see the kids schools, enjoy gifts and relax with her zentangling while I whirled around the kitchen prepping 24 loafs of zuchinni bread for a handful of Greg's employees.  The year was uber eventful. And all told wonderful with much to be thankful for. 

Gregs Work:  I don't have the official break down yet but Id estimate that Greg spent 3 full months on the road over the course of the year. Seeing mostly the inside of hotel rooms and conference halls. He was going to run a half marathon but travel made it not possible. Meanwhile he got the plant better staffed to support him and made strides in putting down some of his load. With his free time he started an MBA program. He is doing great. 

Health: Connor was misdiagnosed with Turrets Syndrome this year but that diagnosis led me to the correct one of Aspergers. As I research, I realize he is doing well and we have him on track for a full life. He just takes some extra work and handling but I have that covered. Otherwise we are all in generally good health and have started going to a Chiropractor to make sure we stay that way.

Heartbreaks: We had to put our dog, Splash, to sleep this year. Speculations abound as to what happened to him. Regardless he is in a better place despite how much we miss him. He was my shadow.

Im not going to spend much more time looking out over "What has Been" other than to post the link to my year in review photo albums below.

Coming up this year.. More theater is in the works. I have enrolled both kids to participate in "Wonderland" in the Spring. We will heading to Marble Mountain with my cousin and his family this summer. Plans to go to a play in SF with other cousins need to be addressed.  Everything else will roll right on into the next year. Smooth... no hiccups. Keep on keeping on and all that.. next year will be great. 

As for resolutions... I have some  minor pixalation adjustments to make and I need to shift my antenna to clear some static but no major upgrades are planned. But if they happen.. so be it! All as it should be. 

2014 in Pics

Scenic Beauty from the Road 2014

Bringing it in ...  on a brisk night.. feeling the chill...under the stars... Subtle sounds in my ears.... and ice beneath my feet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! 

Singing In The Rain

Connor and I decided that once we finished math we are going to switch gears and immerse ourselves in our arts.

Seems a good way to spend this wintry day.

The Wind has been wickedly whipping its way round the house since about three in the morning.The sky to the North looks dark and ominous but our morning is starting out bright.. albeit blustery.

Clouds quickly scuttling by and gradually grey descends.  The rain starts. This incoming storm has been referred to as a "Storm of the Century." Really its just rain... copious amounts of long over due rain landing on crusty parched land. We will get a taste of the destructive forces of nature with this one... but still it is just rain. 

Weather happens. Be prepared.

After last weeks irritations...For they were really just that... (God bless my mom and Aunties hearts who, upon hearing  the news of our various trials, envisioned far greater calamity),, I look at the last weeks events as a bit of a fire drill.. Not something you really need to call home about until after you are through it. And then you call home and gauge your response. As far as how we did.. surviving a week of crazy inconvenience in the midst of the most time challenged week of my year... We rated fairly well prepared.  We have a generator. We have makeshift toilet and shower accommodations, candles etc. The one place I was short on was water. In this case an easy run to the store but it would not be so easy if there was a run on water. That's my first order of stocking up. That and gas. Take advantage of prices being low.

Anyway.. we managed well all told...   Its an old house (1960's) with most the inner working still the original. The troubles were expected. And if you know what is coming.. you can be ready to take it in stride. Overall Id give us a "B."

The troubles also got resolved in good time. The landlord jumped to it and got us as square as possible as fast as possible.The back yard is still a smelly pit but it is with great relief that the household operations are back on track and things are beginning to button up for the season.

Connors school workshops are over until January so my running to Watsonville is over for a bit. Now just to finish up the play. Which is going quite well. They are doing their 6th performance tonight. there are 12 total. Willow is knee deep in studying for semester finals. Greg is about a week away from wrapping up his first class.  This break we are going to explore sewing, both by hand and by machine. We are going to read some Joseph Cambell and explore the origins of myth. Winter break for the most part will be quiet peaceful drawn in time. With the exception of my mom visiting for an early Christmas celebration. I expect we will get out a bit then and New Years as well. I need to make those plans! Good times ahead!

s. 

Behind the Wheel and Seeing Double

Knock Knock 
Who is there?
Boo.
Boo Who?
Boo Woo.. I miss you! 
Yeah? Well, I have not been intentionally avoiding you. I have just been busy. And I miss you too.

And that goes for you and you and you.. too.

I dont know why the vid duplicated... You get what you get I guess..

At least its something.

make a circuit with me

I got a call today. And with it... a gentle scolding. "Why haven't you been in touch?" Great Grandma chided knowing full well that if I have been quiet, I have been directing my attentions to more home bound pursuits or problems. She understands, but at the same time, we have been missed.

 There has been a "shit load" I have been dealing with of late... a failing septic system being the major culprit in that arena. Its been a bit of a hassle but not much more.

praying mantis

Then there is the dog who ,by the vet's calculations, is now approaching 87 years old and who's age is starting to settle on his old skinny bones. Although his bloodwork and such say he is in excellent health for his age, he has lost almost 40% of his body weight. A change in diet and his weight has been holding steady at 56 pounds for the last two weeks but he was once 80 pounds and now he is nothing but saggy skin and bone and big brown loving eyes.  Arthritis, as well, is firmly introducing itself to his hips. When we walk he leans against me for support. It is a sad time watching the inevitable. Knowing all you can do for this gentle beloved is to make him as comfortable as possible.

 So my attention has been pretty much split between him and Connor's school. Which is going fabulously. He loves his time in the classroom. All of the students are quiet and respectful of the teacher and other students. And the classroom activities are more interactive. Students from 6th through 8th gather together 2 days a week. One of those days they take English class (which is essentially a school newspaper), performing arts class (they made masks and are now discussing how to assume a character and they are practicing a play) and lastly humanities (Which they cover a broad range of topics in from English to Science.)

The second day of the week is student council (all of the students paired up and worked up campaigns to run against each other. Connor didn't win the election but he did enjoy the exercise. This class is responsible for helping set the course for the schools extra curricular activities and field trips), Math (where they work on times tables and play math games) and pe (Which has him running a mile).

The other three days of the week look a bit different. An hour spent at the keyboard at home with an online math tutor (Its really a program that assesses and adapts to his progress. It works well for him. it is topic directed and gives him the ability to move at his exact pace. His initial assessment showed a knowledge of  26 percent of the topics. We just finished the first quarter and he is 48 percent complete. Anyway that is math.) Then we read and write book reports, study ancient civilizations and for pe we rock out with daily dance parties. Science for 6th grade is earth science. We have been observing how the suns coronal holes and sun spots effect the earth, (earthquakes, storms and communications blackouts) and we have been talking about the potential of a pole shift during our lifetime and the ramifications of that as well as the very plausible threat of an mini ice age.  Connor was not thrilled with these lessons. He said "I know why they don't teach this stuff in school." I asked him "Why?" to which he replied, "Because everyone would just kill themselves now."  I followed that line of thought up  with the "Why it is important to see every moment as a gift, See the beauty in each breath, Be grateful for you have a chance to experience because it can all be gone in no time" speech. He is still not thrilled.

He is also attending a youth arts coop two days a month and begins rehearsals for a Charlie Brown Christmas Play next week. We also make good use of the time we spend in the car (We were at Sis's bus stop waiting when I took this. I was not driving!)   and we have had some nice field trips.

Willow is doing pretty well at school. The work load and responsibility are a bit overwhelming
Shedoesn't want to talk about it much though.. she glares at me anytime I ask her anything these days,.. actually she glares at me anytime I ask her anything..  but  I know she is taking things in stride. Homecoming was a few weeks ago  and she had a blast. She isn't doing any extra curriculars just yet except her job animal sitting for the neighbors when necessary and the rare but special visit with her old girl friends. She is planning to join swim team next spring and her braces come off in two weeks!

 My birthday was at the beginning of the month. Mom sent me flowers. I also got some from Greg and the kids then Greg took me out to the Fish House and we had a fantastic meal followed by a much needed and long overdue dip in the warm waters (Did I say warm? It was a heat wave and yes the water was warm. So warm in fact that the area had some great white visitors. A baby was spotted exactly were I was swimming the very next day. Mama was up the beach about 10 miles!). I also got tickets for several sharks games this season. Including two games against the Hawks. Birthday month has rolled over into birthday year this year. And speaking of Stanley.. He has lost some of his tail feathers but he is still king of the roost..


                                                    



Greg has dropped the half marathon race. Travel with work has made his training a challenge and rather than risk injury, he  would rather prep for next year when he can be competitive and well prepared. I think this was a smart move especially since it is official and he begins his Masters program next week. As for work, he is now finally able to relax a little. He has hired the support he needs and the training is going well. So well in fact that before too long, this guy might just be able to step right into Gregs shoes. Then where will we go? We have some serious speculations but only time will bear out that.       Halloween.. This year Con wants to be CP3O for Hmmm... Time to start fabricating.

  

trading stories with the leaves

Connor had his first day on campus this week. Despite being nervous and somewhat spastic, he kept more calm and collected than I have ever seen him when faced with some new excitement. And, although it wasn't quite what he expected, he enjoyed it. School is going well on all fronts for everybody.

Meanwhile I ran a few errands and went to the local lake park with Splash.

Tranquil and Serene. Or so it would seem. But Pinto Lake is anything but.

If I were to humanize it I would have to call it a beautiful but deadly killer sporting a Virgin Mary tattoo. This is the most toxic lake in the state of CA. Seriously. Or it was as of January this year. It seems that ag run off coupled with surrounding septic system drainage and geological characteristics have made it a perfect breeding ground for a particularly poisonous form of algae to thrive which has killed livestock, pets and sea otters. I think I will heed the signs and will absolutely and positively not swim nor will I go anywhere near the water for that matter.

A verdant green sentinel standing watch by the signs warning of the waters deceptive appearance.

                 

At its base was a hollow. It reminded me of a scene in the never ending story where Atrayu finds himself meeting the gmork ( I find myself referencing that movie on occasion. another for instance.. just last night watching Snow White and the Huntsman I cried out "ARTAX!" when Snow Whites horse hit the quicksand. And then later, I was pointing out that a turtle was Morla"...

Anyway.. there was this cave-y part under the tree and I crept closer.. The Gmork doesn't scare me!.. and took a picture into it. The flash went off and I assumed the entire picture would be totally washed out due to over exposure. I was not expecting to find this in my gallery when sitting down to write this blog.  But this is what I caught. I have not made any alteration to this image at all.

 Do you see what I see? The perfect eye staring out from behind green hair?  I could study the face and rock hand forever but in the end I assume it is a... Teenage Mutant Ninja Tree Spirit!!  (Now that song is going to be stuck in your head FOREVER!)

And what about this Virgin Tattoo I spoke of? Pinto Lake is one of those wondrous places where the Virgin Mary appears on a tree.  There is a shrine to "Our Lady of Watsonville"  I didn't know the history at this point and from a distance it looked like a flower vender.  A bit closer I saw the candles. At that point we veered away, to let those paying homage do so without intrusion.

Eventually we found ourselves on the baseball field bleachers. Splash sleeping at my feet while I drew an anarchy promoting elf princess in my notebook.  (Connor and I recently took in an art lesson drawing elf faces. I thought Id practice. )

 Interesting place all told with great trees. I suspect I will hang out there on occasion and probably start practice my disc golf.

On a side note..Tune in!! Now that I have upgraded and rejoined the digital world, I have stumbled upon the TuneIn App. This little guy will bring you radio stations from all over. Yes, I said radio.. commercials and all.  But it brings me KRML a local radio station which I can't get at home any other way. This station has been my relief during local car drives and has given me ample good new music to chew on but in the car its hard to pick up title and artist info for me to add important Pandora stations.That is no longer the case. For Streaming Music KRML has just about replaced my pandora. I have yet to dig deeper on the app but it looks like I can get my hockey updates through it as well as consolidate some podcast listening through it. Adding a little sweetness to my ears.

Talk about up and running

This just in..  Greg and Willow are signed up for the Big Sur Half Marathon in a few months. Its training time!

P.S.

It dawned on me as sleep settled in last night that I forgot to mention a few other notable items. First off Greg is enrolling back in school and is pursuing an MBA. Which is pretty awesome.

In other news, I cut my hair all off. Well not all off. Willow says I look like my mom. Which the resemblance is there. However, when I look in the mirror I can't help but see Barry Manlow hair and immediately start singing "Mandy."It should not surprise that Ive started avoiding mirrors. :-P

And off to school we go..