P365 - 2013 - Day 304 - Happy Halloween 2013

P365 - 2013 - Day 304 - Happy Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween 2013 from The "Jersey" Devil, Bob Marley, and the genie. 

*Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in the trees "Tonight is Halloween!" - Dexter Kozen*

P365 - 2013 - Day 303 - Mischief

P365 - 2013 - Day 303 - Mischief

Making a little mischief the night before Halloween......  ;-))  Boo!

*I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. - J.K. Rowlings*

P365 - 2013 - Day 302 - home...

P365 - 2013 - Day 302 - home...

I can not believe that we are this far into the semester and we have been doing this slightly crazy schedule since August.  This week, for Tuesdays with My Wonderful Husband he sent me a photo of the hotel where he is staying.  His home away from his home away from home as it were....  ;-)

*Home is the nicest word there is. -Laura Ingalls Wilder*

P365 - 2013- Day 301 - I love Halloween

P365 - 2013 - Day 301 - I love Halloween

 

Tye dye, fabric paint, and of course duct tape... the tools of my Halloween trade.  These shirts will transform The Boy and The Bear into their Halloween disguises...  I may be working into the 11th hour this year, but I still got it.   Can't wait to see all three of them put together, marching in a Halloween parade at school!  I love Halloween.

 

 

*There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick or treater looking for a brightly lit front porch. - Robert Brault*

P365 - 2013 - Day 300 - Halloween save!

P365 - 2013 - Day 300 - Halloween save!

I was a clown, a puppy, an angel, a cowgirl, a witch, a cheerleader, a genie, a 50's girl, Dorothy, and a cat....through the years those were some of the costumes that my mom made for me.  She sewed them herself and it was never a question when I requested a costume that she would be able to make it.  I was blessed with some creativity of my own (if not the sewing skills of my mother - although she tried very hard to impart that knowledge) and over the years, I was an elf, a goddess, a baby, and a witch  - all thrown together on a wing and prayer - because along with being a touch creative I am a procrastinator who works best under pressure.  Then came my children and Halloween took on a whole new meaning.  I now realized that I was the mom and I wanted my children to be able to look back fondly on the costumes that I made for them just like I looked back on the ones my mom made for me.  I started slow...there was the skeleton costume that has seen two Halloweens.  I learned that you can make almost anything out of sweatpants, felt, fabric paint, and hot glue.  Then there was the mummy costume- which also saw two Halloweens - I tried my hand at tea dying fabric and again wielding a hot glue gun like a pro.  That was the year that I realized that sometimes it was the accessories that make a costume too... I made a pair of "witch" shoes and a broom that were my crowning glory that year.  There was the year of Scooby and the gang when I realized that some costumes can be simple and yet perfect.  There was the year of the monsters - Frankenstein and his bride...poster board, boxes, real screws, furry fabric and voila! you have heads and hair and scary monsters!  There was the year of characters - I made The Princess into her favorite doll, The Boy into his favorite cartoon character, and The Bear a mad scientist.  That year I discovered the benefit of second hand stores - the things you can find are just amazing!  Finally, there was the year of the decades - once again, costumes can be so simple sometimes... and yet so perfect.  I have taken this very seriously as you can see.  So this year, with all of the aforementioned packing and moving... Halloween has taken an unfortunate and unintended backseat.  I still have it under control but I felt like I had no great idea..... and the kids were behind schedule coming up with ideas.  I have been working on it slowly but surely and I still have a few more days so don't count me out.  But yesterday while finishing up the last of the re-moving of boxes, I found one of my old costumes that my mom made for me when I was in 5th grade.  The Princess has been unsure of her costume until now but when she tried on this costume, it fit perfect, she loved it, I had a major flashback of me in that costume in 5th grade, and somewhere my mom smiled at the thought of that costume being reused for her granddaughter.  I smiled too - even without my mom here to help she came through.  Thanks Mom - for always making me great costumes, for sharing your creative gene with me, and for coming through with a great Halloween save!! 

*Use your imagination, not to scare yourself to death, but to inspire yourself to life. - Adele Brookman*

P365 - 2013 - Day 299 - Moving

P365 - 2013 - Day 299 - Moving

We started moving stuff in May.... we decided to do it ourselves (with the help of some friends) and it took several trips.  I packed our house in PA - My Wonderful Husband loaded trucks, we packed cars, we unloaded, unpacked, stored, purged, and sold...  It was a process that took over a month all told.  But when we were done, we had about 1/3 of our belongings stored under the house, the kids rooms set up, and the remainder of things unpacked and put away.  When construction was delayed, we sat back and enjoyed summer.  Then the day came when the construction started and we slowly started moving things again...small things at first... the furniture needed to come off the deck and some decorations needed to be moved to safety from the banging.  Once the addition was framed, we received the (very short) notice that we needed to move out and move our things from the first floor.  So, we packed and moved our stuff once again...we were lucky enough to have neighbors willing to let us use their spaces for storage - so in the end our belongings were split three ways...but safely out of harms way so they could begin construction.  We thought at that point that we were done until the move back.  Wrong.  Once again we received (very short) notice that we needed to move our stuff out from under the house to make room for the plumber to work.  So, we packed, loaded, unloaded, and moved our stuff once again.  I am beginning to think that we are out to set a record here for most times moving in the shortest period of time.  It's like a game of Jenga or Tetris...where can the stuff go, how can it fit, can you get around it, and oh by the way - where is everything?  I should have drawn a treasure map to find it all...  I look forward to, what I hope is, the last move we will make when everything comes back inside our home.  Then, finally, I will unload, unpack, put away, set up, and sit down. 

*Anyone who looks for honey in the forest, must have the courage to face the bees. - Ejike Henry Akuniziri* 

P365 - 2013 - Day 298 - Tuckerton Haunted Seaport

P365 - 2013 - Day 298 - Tuckerton Haunted Seaport

Our kids have been lucky enough to meet some pretty great friends since we have been here.  Some of them got together for the Tuckerton Haunted Seaport.  It was a spooky night...but a fun night with great friends! 

*I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, then alone in the light. - Hellen Keller*

P365 - 2013 - Day 297 - PTA Dinner/Auction

P365 - 2013 - Day 297 - PTA Dinner/Auction

I feel pretty lucky to be a part of this school and community on LBI.  I was able to attend the annual PTA Dinner and auction and all I can say is wow!  What a great event, so well run and beautifully put together, a great show of, not just school spirit, but community support.  I was so happy I could participate...even if I didn't win any of those great prizes.... ;-) I did win a gift card to Barry's though - which will be a great treat for next summer.  But prizes or no prizes, I felt like I won - just by realizing once again what a great decision we made to move here. 

*Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress. Working together is success. - Henry Ford*

P365 - 2013 - Day 296 - We got our workout on!

P365 - 2013 - Day 296 - We got our workout on!

When I woke up this morning and heard the rain pounding outside, I sighed a heavy sigh and tried to talk myself into running in the rain.  I got the kids on the bus, got changed, put my sneakers on and decided to make a trip off the island first to run some errands.  I hoped that maybe the rain would let up by the time I got back and I would run then.  But, on the way, as if my friend read my mind, I got a text asking if I wanted to come work out at her house with our other friend.  YES!!!  They were patient enough to wait for me to make a return at TJMax (and a few purchases too...) and when I got back we got our workout on with T25.  It is amazing we were still smiling after that... It was a great workout, a fun hour with friends and a great way to get out of the rain:-)  Love these girlies!

*I don't work hard because I hate my body.  I work out because I love it. - Unknown*

P365 - 2013 - Day 295 - Fish out of water

P365 - 2013 - Day 295 - Fish out of water

(Guest Blogger - it is Tuesday - My Wonderful Husband)

I suppose everyone goes through a time when they question their career choice.  I have reached that moment in my life. - a moment where I don't dislike my job but I wonder what life would have been like had I chosen a different path.  In many ways I have always felt out of place in academia - something like a fish out of water.  So as I set out for my weekly trip  to campus I thought about other career choices.  I love being at the beach and in the ocean, but I can't seem to figure out a way to make a living as a surf instructor.  But at least I get to do that all summer.  I love being on the soccer field but making a living as a youth soccer coach would be difficult as well.  But again, I am lucky enough to be able to coach my daughter's team.  Then as I walked around campus today I realized another place that I love - the college campus.  I love the aesthetic beauty of the campus, the energy of the campus community, and the students.  I thought about my classes yesterday - the laughter during a simulation game that we played, the great presentations from my juniors and seniors, the intellectual curiosity exhibited by them all.  I began to realize that I am pretty lucky to be in this profession and work at this institution - even if I am a fish out of water. 

*And what, Socrates, is the food of the soul? Surely, I said, knowledge is the food of the soul. - Plato*

P365 - 2013 - Day 294 - eeekkk!!!

P365 - 2013 - Day 294 - eeekkk!!!

After a week of no activity at the house, the siders arrived this morning!  I was so excited I could barely contain myself.  It is going to take the whole week to get it done.....but here's a little sneak peek.  eeekkkk!! 

*Make sure that you dream in color! - Unknown*

P365 - 2013 - Day 293 - a force

P365 - 2013 - Day 293 - a force

This soccer season has seen some changes for the Leonard family.  All three kids are now playing travel ball, we have been all over the state for games, some games are at the same time and ultimately this also means that My Wonderful Husband and I can not always make it to every game.  Add to that a cold that kept me home and that pesky moving our entire main floor a couple of weeks ago that kept me from everyone's games.....That has been the hardest part for me.  That being said, I have missed The Bear and The Princess' last few games.  I caught up with The Boy yesterday at his tournament, but since I couldn't be in two places at once missed another of The Princess' games.  Today, I was finally able to see one of The Bear's games and as always I love to watch my kids play and today's game was another great one!  The Bear scored two beautiful goals and assisted on another.  In the end it was a 6-1 victory for his team.  This kid is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field - there aren't many opponents that can knock him off the ball.  He plays with a joy and a passion for the game and truly has fun out there.   I am so proud of him!

 

*We should make the most of life - enjoy it. - Cristiano Rinaldo*

P365 - 2013 - Day 292 - you will have to go through him

P365 - 2013 - Day 292 - you will have to go through him

The Boy and his soccer team had a tournament on Saturday.  It was a Halloween inspired tournament and they were Minnions.  But costumes or no costumes, these boys played hard as always.  This season The Boy has been playing defense - left back - this is a departure from his days playing for The Cosmos as a top goal scorer.  At first, he was a little unsure of this new position.  But quite quickly he adapted - if you ask him, he will tell you that his Daddy was a defender too - he has started to feel at home back there and like everything this kid does, he takes it seriously and plays with his whole heart.  As I have said before, I love to watch my kids play soccer and the two games at this tournament were no different.  I watched my "Littliest Leonard" tear up the field, run down the opposing team, and clear the ball impressively.  If you ask him to, he will proudly show you his bruises and scrapes which he wears like a badge of honor these days.  He'll even tell you the tale of the elbow that caused it or the slide tackle that inflicted it.  He is in.  He is all in.  He is a defender.  If you are trying to get down to his goal, you will have to go through him first.  Good luck with that.... No wonder he was so exhausted on the ride home. 

*The vision of a champion is someone bent over, drenched in sweat, to a point of exhaustion when no one else is watching. - Anson Dorrance*

P365 - 2013 - Day 291 - A professional photograph

P365 - 2013 - Day 291 - A professional photograph
*Photo credit - J. Peterson - his work can been seen in The Sandpaper's Liquid Lines column : http://thesandpaper.villagesoup.com/p/liquid-lines/804302*

My Wonderful husband's phone started going off almost as soon as he got home from work Wednesday night.  I tease him about this a bit... "Who's texting you now?"  "Is it going to be epic or something?"  But in all seriousness, I don't mind at all and I love that we now live here and he can get those texts about an upcoming swell and meet his buddies to surf.  He really has so much fun surfing - and for all he does for me and the kids, he really deserves some good waves with friends.  So, the plan was set...he was going out surfing Friday after the kids went to school.  He was staying close by, so after my run I jumped on my bike and rode down to check it out hoping to get a picture of My Wonderful Husband on a wave.  I hung out for awhile with my feet in the water and my butt in the sand....it was a beautiful day at the beach and I was just enjoying soaking up the late October sun while I watched the guys surf.  I tried to get a picture or two, but my little camera was no match for the sun and the distance they were out, so I decided to give up and head back home.  On my way back I saw a photographer set up near the dunes snapping photos.  I went up and talked to him and it turned out that he is a photographer for the local paper - The Sand Paper.  He takes surfing pictures for a column - Liquid Lines.  We got to talking - that's something I love about this island... it's full of friendly people.... he offered me his email to get in touch to see if he got any photos of My Wonderful Husband.  I took him up on his offer and did email him.  He then sent me about 60 photos of My Wonderful Husband surfing and they were awesome!!
I asked permission before using this photo...so here's a professional photograph to add to P365!  Thanks so much!! 

 

*The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun. - Duke Kahanamoku*

P365 - 2013 - Day 290 - Best decision we ever made

P365 - 2013 - Day 290 - Best decision we ever made

This week was National School Lunch week and today we were able to go in and have lunch with the kids. Luckily, it happened to be a Thursday so My Wonderful Husband could come as well.  It was another opportunity to go in to the kids' new school and once again we left with smiles.

 It is no secret to anyone that I was unhappy, frustrated, and down right fed up with the school the children attended in PA.  Among a host of ridiculous, closed minded, and questionably legal decisions made by the school district and the administration of their school, there was a pervasive attitude of hostility in the building.  Overall, parents were unwelcome and viewed by the principal and several teachers as a threat.  Instead of embracing the community of parents and realizing that together we could have moved mountains, they kept parents at arms' length and discouraged any involvement whatsoever.  I felt like a criminal when I walked in the building.  With the exception of a few good teachers we were lucky enough to have, I felt that teachers were encouraged by the administration to build a wall that parents could not scale.  Asking questions was frowned upon - you were made to feel like a trouble maker if you questioned anything that went on in the school.  As I said, it is no secret - I was disgusted and ultimately unwilling to let my children's education continue to be held hostage by a school and district that did not feel that it takes a village to raise a child and who viewed parents as an inconvenient part of the educational process. 

 Since our first experiences with our new school, I have breathed a sigh of relief.  This is what is normal to me.  This is what I expect from a school.   For the years we spent in school in PA I kept trying to convince myself that every school is different, all the while knowing in my heart, that something was wrong.  That feeling has been confirmed over and over in our positive experiences in this school... something was wrong before. But, finally, something is right.   Today we felt welcome and we were greeted warmly by teachers and staff alike.  At conferences this week - along with all of the glowing and positive things the teachers had to say about our bright, friendly, well behaved children - they said that they have seamlessly fit right in to the school community as if they had been here their whole lives.  That is exactly how I feel.  We are finally home.  Best decision we ever made. 

*When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school.  And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school and the schools they go to are better.   - Henderson and Berla*

P365 - 2013 - Day 289 - reminded me why I run

P365 - 2013 - Day 289 - reminded me why I run

I didn't run the LBI 18 mile this past weekend. There were several factors - The Bear had a soccer tournament, I was sick for the whole week prior to the run, the wind was straight out of the North that morning, and I just didn't feel that I was ready.  That was not easy for me to admit.  I was disappointed in myself, but I know I made the right choice.  The next day, I got back in the saddle and ran with a friend that was here for the weekend (I love our runs!) and today I decided to run on the beach.  It was a perfect way to start the day - just me, the waves, and the seagulls....it reminded me why I run.  Not just to "train", not just to compete (with others or myself), not just to stay fit....but because it just makes me happy. 

*That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success.  They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.  - Kara Goucher*

P365 - 2013 - Day 288 - Tuesday Break

P365 - 2013 - 2013 - Day 288 - Tuesday Break

This Tuesday, My Wonderful Husband was home from work and so his view is my view and our view was a half day of school for the kids which meant the boys playing across the street with a friend and The Princess' friends playing here.  Everyone had a break this Tuesday - My Wonderful had a break from work, the kids had a break from a whole day of school, and I got a break from schlepping everyone to soccer practice since they all went with their Daddy.  I really enjoyed this Tuesday break.

 

*Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear , and not bothering. - Pooh's Little Instruction Book*

P365 - 2013 - Day 287 - the view

P365 - 2013 - Day 287 - the view

Lately, the sky has been nothing short of amazing at sunset.  Last week, we were in the park at practice and saw the most unbelievable sunset that lit up the sky in shades of pink, orange, and purple.  I wished we had been home so that I could see it over the bay and get a picture.  So tonight, as we were sitting down to dinner (all 5 of us because My Wonderful Husband had the day off and was home!), I saw the sky lighting up again.  I ran as fast as I could to get my camera and get outside.  I didn't quite get the picture over the bay, but got close enough.  This was the view from the upstairs deck of our home away from home. 

*When the sun is setting, leave whatever you are doing and watch it. - Mehmet Murat ildan*

P365 - 2013 - Day 286 - celebrate

P365 - 2013 - Day 286 - celebrate

The Bear had a weekend soccer tournament - two days - three games...one win and two losses -all hard fought.  The Bear scored three goals in the three games - one on a header right into the goal.  Super proud of him and his team.  What better way to celebrate than with a trip to the Chegg? 

*There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate. - Robert Brault*

P365 - 2013 - Day 285 - wind

P365 - 2013 - Day 285 - wind

It's that time of year.... the lights are blinking.  But they were also swinging.  The wind was pretty crazy.  As I was getting ready to go to bed, I looked out the front window and thought these lights might just swing right onto our front porch!  We were serenated and rocked to sleep all night by the wind....

*Close your eyes and turn your face into the wind.
Feel it sweep along your skin in an invisible ocean of exultation.
Suddenly, you know you are alive - Vera Nazarian*

P365 - 2013 - Day 284 - ready to see this all come together

P365 - 2013 - Day 284 - ready to see this all come together

I have been an active part of this house renovation from the word go.  I have seen the plans, poured over the contract, visualized the finished product in my mind's eye.  Rationally I knew this was a big project.  But you can convince yourself of anything during the months that you are waiting for a project to start.  This whole week was eye opening for me.  While I knew it was a big project, I was still in shock and awe when I saw it all executed.  Walls to studs, ceilings being ripped out,  an electrical walk through giving me the ability to pick every single light switch and outlet, and many more choices to be made.  We have built houses before - we have built three houses actually - but I didn't see this in that way for some reason.  In actuality we have more say in this then we did in those house builds. It was exciting and slightly overwhelming.  So, My Wonderful Husband and I set out for the plumbing supply store and the flooring store.  We picked everything for the bathrooms and then picked out the flooring...an unplanned necessity - but when I saw this wide plank floor, I was ready to see this all come together!

*Man can not discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. - Andre Gide*

P365 - 2013 - Day 283 - "teenager"

P365 - 2013 - Day 283 - "teenager"

Ten seems to be the new sixteen around here.  One minute I am wondering where my sweet little chubby faced toddler went and the next I am wondering where my actual 10 year old went.  Eyes roll, doors slam, she monopolizes the phone, drama is her middle name, and this "teenager" clearly has all of the answers these days.  I opened her door to find her in the universal position of teenage age girls around the world and realized that it has begun and I am in for a wild ride. 

 *Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. - Anne Frank*

P365 - 2013 -Day 282 - A house full of music

P365 - 2013 - Day 282 - A house full of music

The Bear and The Princess have decided to start playing an instrument.   I understand that for many of us this was a rite of passage so to speak.  I also understand that their gene pool contains some pretty exceptional musical talent on their Daddy's side.  At the same time, I remember my own foray into the world of musical instruments..... I was a flute drop out.  I played for a few years (sort of - since much of the time I was unsure of the notes).  Clearly my children did not get their musical talent and desire from me.  ;-)  That being said, The Princess chose her instrument weeks ago - she decided on the trumpet.  But The Bear was a bit more indecisive - he finally went with the clarinet.  The rental finally arrived this week and we has been practicing ever since.  Looks like we are going to have a house full of music. 

*Music is an outburst of the soul. - Frederick Delius*

P365 - 2013 - Day 281 - Thai Tuesday

P365 - 2013 - Day 281 - Thai Tuesdays
(Guest Blogger - My Wonderful Husband)

There is one, and only one, downfall from our move to the beach--there are no good Thai restaurants there.  I am not a big fan of all Thai food but I really like some good Chicken Pad Thai.  There was a fantastic Asian restaurant in Chambersburg that had great Sushi (for my beautiful wife), Pad Thai and Chinese food.  Unfortunately that closed before we moved--yet another reason to leave Chambersburg.  Since being at the beach My Beautiful Wife found a good Sushi place but there was no luck finding Pad Thai.  So if there is one silver lining to my travels back to Shenandoah it is Thai Winchester--an absolutely fabulous Thai restaurant with the best Chicken Pad Thai I have ever tasted.  It is now somewhat of a weekly ritual on Tuesday afternoons to grab some take-out from Winchester Thai prior to my travels up to Shippensburg for my night class.  Let's call it "Thai Tuesdays!"  

*I get way too much happiness from good food. -Elizabeth Olsen*

P365 - 2013 - Day 280 - Day 1/Phase 2

P365 - 2013 - Day 280 - Day 1/Phase 2

In construction terms, today was Day 1/Phase 2.  The contractors are inside the building - I repeat the contractors are inside the building!  With us and our belongings out, they started bright and early and tore down the old exterior wall.  The house is torn apart and down to studs and bare bones in most spots, but it already looks great!...great being a relative term I suppose.  I can see the plan coming together.  I see holes for windows, walls are opened, I see the family room now...it may be day 1 but a lot happened already.  These guys are no joke...they move fast.  I realized today, as if I hadn't already really known this, that this is a big job.  We are rebuilding the first floor.  I had pangs of anxiety when I saw this mess...but I swallowed them and convinced myself that it will be worth it in the end.  There were some kinks that had to be worked out today...not all made me happy...but I keep telling myself that it will all work out in the end.  I don't exactly know how long this will take...it may take longer than expected...but I promised myself and My Wonderful Husband and I promised each other that we will not go nuts about it..we will roll with it.  We will enjoy it as much as possible and we will remember that this too shall pass and it will all be worth it in the end. 

 

*Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient and the best things come to those who don't give up. - Unknown* 

P365 - 2013 - Day 279 - Home Sweet Home Away from Home

P365 - 2013 - Day 279 - Home Sweet Home Away from Home

This construction process has been a long time coming...we have waited and waited.  But when it finally started it moved at a pace I wasn't expecting.  I am not complaining because I know that it could have been the opposite.  The only thing is, I sometimes feel like I am either the last to get the memo or decisions are just being made on the fly... remember how the deck demo just happened one day?  Well, two days ago, we were informed that they would be moving inside to start in the interior demo and work and oh by the way can you be out by Monday and clear the entire first floor?  Oh?...oh...yeah...sure... no problem.  Do you sense my motto coming into play here?  What choice did we have?  We have waited for this to happen.  We had a loose plan in mind.  We didn't want to lose the contractors while they had time to do our project so we moved out.  We cleared our entire first floor, emptied our kitchen, and moved a block over into a neighbor's house who was kind enough to allow us to stay.  Oh and My Wonderful Husband dropped The Bear at his soccer game and drove an hour plus to bring The Boy to his.  I stayed behind once again and finished the mammoth job we started in the morning.  As always, My Wonderful Husband and I are an awesome team - he did the major heavy lifting and I was the brains of the operation ;-)  haha... and I finished most of the job when he left with the kids and he completed the heavy lifting when he got back.  Essentially, almost everything we just moved in June was moved again only to be moved (along with everything else we stored) again at some undetermined later date when the construction is done.  Easy peasy.  sort of...ok maybe not peasy...  but we got it done and here we are now, one block over (where I can keep a hawk's eye on the construction) - Home Sweet Home Away from Home.  

*If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with. - L. Frank Baum*

P365 - 2013 - Day 278 - The Princess and her team

P365 - 2013 - Day 278 - The Princess and her team

The Princess and her team of Superstars were in a Halloween tournament - they were, what else? - Superstars and their coach (aka My Wonderful Husband) was their agent or manager.  The girls did great winning each of their games.  The Princess had a total of 10 goals in three games!  Great job!

*The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. - Phil Jackson*

P365 - 2013 - Day 277 - I got it. I'm on it. No worries.

P365 - 2013 - Day 277 - I got it.  I'm on it.  No worries.

Some days test the resolve of the strongest person...and certainly make it hard to remain "zen-like".  This was one of those days.  This was the day that we needed to get out of the house for the day with the dog so that the contractors could put in windows in the existing house.  No problem.  We had a plan.  I didn't plan on being sick all day the day before however, so getting ready this morning was a challenge.  But one I readily accepted.   I also didn't plan to have to make 8 costumes for my daughter's Halloween soccer tournament for the next day.  But, again, challenge accepted.  I got it.  I'm on it. No worries.  That seems to be my motto these days.  The fact that I haven't fallen into a puddle of inconsolable mush over the past (let's face it) year is beyond me... but I got. I'm on it. No worries.  And on I trudge.  Now, I want to be clear that it was no major hardship to get out of this house on this day.  My Wonderful Husband was home and he, The Pooch, and I were able to spend a lovely day at the home of a great friend - a beautiful home with a beautiful view of the ocean that certainly made this much easier.  If I had to make 8 costumes, what better place to do it?  So, all was going well - construction was moving along, costumes were getting done, I was medicating my cough, and we were able to go back to our house at the end of the work day.  Great.  Since I was still feeling under the weather, I decided to miss The Princess' soccer game and stay home to rest.  Here's where the day took an unexpected turn that tested my motto (I got. I'm on it. No worries.)  Shortly after My Wonderful Husband left with the kids for the game, the lights dimmed, the stove snapped (loudly), and smoke shot up the back of it.  Using my amazing powers of deduction, I figured this was bad.  So I called the fire department and what was going to be a night of rest quickly transformed into a stressful few hours of police, firemen, and the electric company.  Bad wires, sizzling cables, broken stove, broken television, and a brand new air conditioner that was no longer running. As it turns out, a power surge entered our house frying the above mentioned appliances.  After a brief nervous breakdown, I returned to my motto.  I got it. I'm on it. No worries.  Electrician came by to make sure we are safe and sound, air conditioner was repaired, and I will attempt to submit claims for everything.  I was never so thankful to be sick and never would have thought it was a good thing that I miss one of my kids' games.  But I am extremely thankful in this case and know we are very lucky that I was home when this happened so that nothing worse happened.  I had an angel or two on my shoulder and it's because of them that I got it. I'm on it. No worries.

*All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

-J. R. R. Tolkien*

P365 - 2013 - Day 276 - Welcome to the Surf Shack

P365 - 2013 - Day 276 - Welcome to the Surf Shack
(Guest Blogger - My Wonderful Husband)

Growing up I often heard about men and their garages.  It was the old school man cave--a place to keep your tools, work on whatever you were working on, and escape the insanity that might be brewing in a house full of your wonderful, but crazy kids.  Our last house had a massive garage--the type that others would envy.  The problem is that I am not that handy.  I used that garage to build the occasional surf rack, my youngest son's bed frame, and other odds and ends, but nothing major.  I certainly did not use my garage to work on our cars--that would probably result in them not running.  So when we decided to move to our current house that lacked a garage, it was no big deal.  But what I realized is I still need that place of storage--not for my tools or my lawn mower (no lawns at the beach), but for the surf gear.  So today I transformed the shed that used to store tools, beach chairs and other odds and ends into a full-blown surf shack.  The result, a place for surfboards, wetsuits, boogie boards, skim boards and anything else ocean related.  Now this is my kind of "garage," one that every house near the beach needs.

*A man's home is his castle, but his garage is his sanctuary. -Unkown*

P365 - 2013 - Day 275 - October Flashback 2005

P365 - 2013 - Day 275 - October Flashback 2005

The October Flashback picture from 2005 documents the day when "Brown Dog" entered our family.  I love this picture...Brown Dog is all shiny and new...but the look on The Bear's face says it all.  This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  This dog has been with The Bear through thick and thin from the time he was just  over 2 1/2.  Brown Dog was with The Bear during his hospital stay in 2009, he has guarded him at night, he has worn capes to be super Brown Dog, he has been to Disney twice, gone for car rides, and generally been a steadfast friend.  These days, he  does not sleep with The Bear at night anymore but he is never far and has earned a place of honor at the head of The Bear's bed where he continues to guard his buddy day and night. 

*Wake in the deepest dark of night and hear the driving rain.   Reach out a hand and take a paw and go to sleep again. - Charlotte Gray*

P365 - 2013 - Day 274 - Tuesday nights

P365 - 2013 - Day 274 - Tuesday nights

After last week's look at Tuesday through My Wonderful Husband's eyes, I thought it might be cool to make this a regular part of the remainder of P365 2013.  Tuesdays with My Wonderful Husband, if you will...  ;-)  This will require My Wonderful Husband to take a picture of the day every Tuesday until the end of the semester....  This Tuesday's installment is a drive by picture (ok actually he stopped the car to take the picture... actually in full disclosure, he turned around to go back and get this picture before leaving campus for the night).  On Tuesday nights this semester, he drives up to Shippensburg to teach a night class and then heads back to VA to be ready for Wednesday classes and a drive back home later in the afternoon.  Yes, that is part of his schedule this semester. It's crazy and a little exhausting and hopefully the last time he will be doing this.  The lengths that this man will go to make sure that we are financially ok and allow me the continued opportunity to stay home with the kids, is nothing short of amazing.  He is the hardest worker I know and I am so lucky to have him...and I can't wait for him to get home.  xo

*A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are for what you have. - Unknown*

P365 - 2013 - Day 273 - I was tired all day

P365 - 2013 - Day 273 - I was tired all day

I was tired all day.  The Boy had been up the night before with a runny/stuffy nose which in turn meant that I was up too.  So, I was tired all day.  The Boy came home from school pretty exhausted and not feeling up to soccer practice.  So he stayed home and with the night off I tried to get everything done earlier than we normally can with practice.  The kids were all in bed by about 8:40 and within minutes I grabbed my book and curled up in my own bed as well.  Before this clock read 9:00, I was turning off the light and putting my book away.  I was tired all day and I needed a good night's sleep. 

* You never get tired unless you stop and take time for it. - Bob Hope*