Puzzles and Cookies

We are having a great visit with Arron and Amy! We are also glad they can be with us while NYC get pounded by a bad storm, puzzles and cookies are better than reading the evacuation maps any day.

The Rest of my Week

We had a nice trip to NYC and back with a wonderful Thai feast, a run in central park and hike to a waterfall in the mix.

We came home in time to go to the public radio volunteer appreciation party. After a couple of hours in which I left my electronic communication devises in the car, I saw I had a text message on the phone. Amy had passed her NY bar exams!! BEST new of the week!

The next day was filled with too much anticipation for the ING NYC Marathon lottery. It took hours to finally determine that I had NOT been chosen this year and made for a crashing depression for the next couple of days.

Today we have put up the Maypole and now have a whole growing season to look forward to.

Love ♥ Love ♥ Love

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my good readers. This past week was filled with so much love from my family! Arron & Amy visited for a few days and we had a nice lunch with the grandparents before they had to go back to the city. Dad gave everyone vintage Valentines at the lunch table that warmed our hearts.

The winter temperatures also moderated to allow some much needed warmth and a bit of a thaw. This made the trip to NYC and back much less hazardous than traveling in the ice and snow.

Amy & Arron treated us to a lovely meal while we were in the city. We went to Hummus Kitchen and shared many tasty Mediterranean delights from their sample platters. The olives, beets, green tahini and tabouli all made beautiful samples on what looked like a paint palette of food!

We came back home last night to a house full of rambunctious cats. The boys wrestled all night in what I imagined to be blame battles over who did what to make Arron and Amy leave. I could just imagine Birbanto yelling at Miles, "You just had to smother Amy with love and she decided not to return." and then Miles would counter, "No, it was you that kissed her so hard that you almost chipped her tooth. You were also biting 'Earl'... I think maybe you tore Amy's contact lens too!!" *wrestle* *slam* *jet*

There were hunks of cat fur everywhere this morning but all was forgiven as they looked outside at everything the warm wind was blowing by. Their mock battles are fought for, over and out of love, best friends forever.

A Warm Spot in Winter

Crazy November

I will start with a Happy Wedding Anniversary wish to my favorite young folks. I know they will both enjoy this photo of their favorite cat and Dadzmo.Miles completely relaxed.

Nights have been quite chilly but days like today are warm enough to take advantage of airing out the down comforter and drying some laundry on the line. Not every day is sunny, warm or long enough to dry clothes fully but I got an early start today.

Fresh scents infused by nature!

The Passing of a Good Year

Here I am on Samhain (summer's end), reflecting on the solar year. Samhain is the Wiccan New Year and the Feast of the Dead. It is a time to honor and to say goodbye to loved ones who have passed on, especially if their deaths have occurred within the last year. Samhain is also a time for reflecting upon the last year, making plans for the upcoming one, and especially for banishing weaknesses or other undesired qualities within us.

The beginning of November 2009 was a low point for me. After a couple of years of sitting much more idle that I had been used to (along with general aging) I set myself up for and incurred a pretty bad injury. I injured my back just before a camping trip with very active friends.

I can remember being so depressed about the injury (and re-injury a couple weeks later) over the next few months. I was constantly sitting with a heating pad on my back. I missed a friend's birthday party and I was very worried about how I was going to be able to attend my son's wedding. Standing for periods of time were difficult, walking the streets of New York City were even harder and doing it in dress shoes was excruciating.

I healed and gained strength as December progressed but as the new calendar year approached I still had terrible fatigue in my lower back after walking only a mile. Family and some friends were very kind in celebrating our 25th anniversary but leave it to the tradition of New Year's resolutions to kick me into gear. In the dead of winter, I got myself out of the house every other morning for at least a 1/2 hour of cardio work. I am proud to say this has been able to continue to date.

Along with poor general physical fitness I also started to make a real effort to banish a lot of cynical attitudes I had taken on. I had been terribly embarrassed, months before I injured my back, when I accidentally sent a harsh and assumptive email to the person I was writing about instead of the person I was ranting to. I apologized, sincerely, and hoped they understood. Privately, I have never forgiven myself for immediately assuming wrongly about someone and still use it as incentive to keep my mouth shut and think carefully before thinking or writing. As Thumper's mother said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

I haven't been as successful with working out other unhealthy patterns. I have a lot less control over actions of those around me than I do with myself. Removing myself from negative situations doesn't always work out. I am doing my best to examine how I seem to get overly enthusiastic about hobbies, interests, friendships, and topics only to have them blow up in my face. As a wise Raven frequently reminds me, "Everything in moderation, even moderation."

The warmer months this year brought on new challenges which I feel I met head on. I was prepared for being guardedly more healthy without unrealistic expectations. Some challenges, the physical ones, I took in stride and accepted my limitations and even failures. Many interpersonal challenges I thought I would have to deal with never really presented themselves. Once I was prepared to try to communicate with a friend with whom I had lost touch but the moment didn't allow for it. I resigned myself to let it pass and move on.

During the summer I think I failed most with trying to breathe life back into some of my interests which had waned. Partly is was because the time was filled with so many other wonderful moments with family. Another factor was a general clashing of ethics that made it very easy to back away from the reoccurring disappointment.

As the wheel turned to Autumn, despite some noise from an old toxic friendship or two, I have been very excited to have found a nice balance. Part of this was getting up to date with a physical and all of the follow up testing that was required. I am pleased to know that all of my physical quirks, like my heart, are all things I can deal with. My doctor assured me that I had no physical limitations. For the first time in about a decade I feel like I have a handle on things for myself.

I have less time to invest in things that don't benefit myself and family. It feels good to share gratitude with those who have supported me rather than pouring endless energy into activities, groups or individuals that felt like an emotional abyss or vortex sucking away my life's energy. I am still enthusiastic about activities but am not whole hearted into becoming a part of any group associated with them. I appreciate many people but realize I often don't make a very good friend because have a habit of feeding into very unbalanced friendships.

I have had more victories than failures this year and can look back on my choices with satisfaction. I apologize to anyone who has been neglected or been left in the wake of this personal transition. I am sorry to let some hobbies go but the time and energy that has been freed up has more easily allowed me and my family to flourish. I will try to be mindful of this next year and hope to enjoy the same satisfaction again.

Brava Amy Chen!

A very nice review here.

Summer's End

A quick trip to take A&A back to their home after a long and wonderful visit in PA. We went to the Jekyll & Hyde Club as opposed to the pub we went to a few years ago. Good times then a run in the park along side the ING New York City Marathon Tune-Up racers in Central Park the next morning.










Above are photos of the trip but the outstanding memories of the summer include:
toasting with pickles on a stick
the scent of wet bamboo in the bathroom
spinning on a single point trapeze
coffee in cat mugs
Jimbo the driving king!
watching flourishes added to juggling clubs
Casie's little butt, "rarrr!"
Apricot Wheat running out seconds after we sat down
birthday songs, short and long
Trevor... "..., keep the peace."
hot sauces; meek, firey and foaming
biking & DDR
limes
Shia LaBeouf's head
"I NEED this!" (glowing razor)
a new ab regiment & a way to attack a "let down"
crackerfuls (one in the drawer made me tear up this morning)
the evil un-Queenly Queen
Arron doing Harry doing Paul... "belittling you! hah hah hah!"
feather boa (you gonna just sashay outa here with that?), lavender wand, diva compass and butterfly tiara ("AUGH!!"<<< Birbanto)
Chef Jim serves up another meal of perfection - corn bread in a skillet, Uncle AB would be proud (oui chef)
Cracker Barrel(hehe - Macaroni Grill) & Waffle House!
Miles in every bag
Mr. B being busty and scared
Mooch hissing!
fairy floss for breakfast
garden offerings and a harvest's end
our best friends

Miles and more Bags!

Birbanto added some more photos. Miles had a lot of bags to explore this week.

Hot Time, Summer in the City

A trip to NYC in August. It wasn't as hot as you might think. We had a mellow visit and a super yummy meal.

A break 1/2 way to the city.

A little bridge on the way.

Tobyhanna Falls.

A picnic near the falls.

When you are famous and live in NYC, you have personal Pez designed after you.

City cat.

Harry's, al fresco.

Beautiful summer meal.

Central Park, Strawberry Fields.

Upper East Side near the Guggenheim.

The Grange Fair (Centre Co. Burning Man)

Throngs of individuals are drawn together annually in Centre Hall not so much for creative expression but still one last hurrah of summer. Rather than make the trip to The Burning Man this year, we opted for a local venue.

Just like @ Burning Man, there are many creative dwellings. Some reflect the starry skies, each show individual personalities.

Walking down the esplanade mixing in anonymously is a little more challenging for some.

Merchants show off their wares.

Deities and religious icons make regular appearances.

A large variety of food vendors .

Even drugs of all kinds, be wise and wary.

This charming couple chose wisely, no deep fried cookies on a stick for them.

Plenty of things to bring a genuine smile...

...again and again.

Innovative transportation to inspire you to take the experience home with you and carry you through out the rest of the year.

Fun with the El Seez

This Land is Your Land

words and music by Woody Guthrie

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Chorus (2x)

©1956 (renewed 1984), 1958 (renewed 1986) and 1970 TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (
BMI)

May Moments

We celebrated the coming of May with our good friends Asrai & Ravenboy. They opened their home to us as they have for so many other special holidays. Maga11 watched the cats to make the trip possible.

We got into the city just a bit early and stopped to check on our Peter the Fisherman letterbox since no one had logged it successfully in over 6 months. It was doing just fine and we were so glad this special carving is still out there for people to enjoy.

We made our way to the east side to find one of the best surprises; we scored on street parking for the whole weekend right in front of their apartment. No double parking to unload the car, no hefty garage fees, no toting stuff for block when it was time to go home. We were able to check n the car every time we left the building and it was perfect all weekend.

Ravenboy is having a slightly invasive procedure done today to remedy a floating bone chip (or maybe a jelly bean) in his one ankle. We wanted to lend him some support and give him our love during the last few days of his wait. Ravenboy had to go to work for some final physical therapy while he is on workman's comp and we spent the first part of afternoon with him and Asrai downtown at the Union Square green market. They treated us so well; Lunch at Curly's was a real veggie treat!

We sat and laughed together in the warm evening, just catching up and sharing thoughts and ideas we have going on. These good folks always have something going on. Asrai is literally juggling circus jobs and planning for directing kids' summer camps (circus arts and ballet). Raveboy has been busy with multiple art projects while he heals his heel. He is hoping to have a prolific ballet season at the Met this summer before joining Asrai for teaching at summer camps.

RGBisMe and I had brought along our active wear to sneak in an early morning workout in Central Park. The 6 mile route I chose was already busy with bikers and joggers by the time we got to the Engineers' Gate. RGBisMe borrows Raveboy's really cool bike to ride with me as I tried out the 10k loop around the whole park.

The morning was perfect and it seemed to have brought out the maximum number of people. It was amazing that no one bumped into anyone else as we navigated the main road around the park. Bikers, joggers, runners with strollers and dogs were all running in every direction. We enjoyed seeing them set up the rest stations for the Revlon 5k that I had almost signed up for. I ran the course (and more) backward before we made a wrong turn somewhere and found ourselves back at Tavern on the Green for a second time. RGBisMe got us straightened out and we finished by buzzing up a slight uphill before crossing behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art and ending where we had started. My 10k time was ok (for me) and I know that I will be able to make it to the end of the Women's Mini in a month.

The afternoon was spent catching a ride on the Metro-North to take a peep at some abandonments along the way. Old buildings with an amazing amount of character are just north of Yonkers. The ride on the beautiful first of May was all along the Hudson River. We saw many signs of new growth including baby Canada Geese swimming along with their parents as we traveled to Croton-Harmon and back. The lengthy relaxing ride was just what my tired legs needed after a long run in the park.

We had a meal at one of our favorite spots in NYC, Harry's Burritos before we slowly made our way across the park and back to the apartment. On the way we checked on our Imagine letterbox then went on to show Ravenboy and Asrai one of our favorite sculptures in the park. It was one they had never noticed before because it is not on a route they regularly walk. We discovered it years ago as it was a virtual geocache destination. Still Hunt is a sculpture that is easy to miss because it is perched high above the jogging path. Ravenboy and I decided to have a ride on the cat.

Another great evening of visiting and chatting followed. They treated us to fresh fruit and home made caramel dip both evenings. We wagged our tongues until we tired but didn't want the evening to end because we knew we would depart the next morning. Leaving such thoughtful, fun loving, kind and intelligent people is hard for us. To have good friends that are close family is the best. We are supremely lucky that we live close enough to visit them but miss them so much for the months we aren't together. They are such a special couple.

The next morning, RGBisMe and I rose early to check on our Up in the Air letterbox and swapped out it's logbook. By the time we returned, Ravenboy and Asrai were just getting up. We took a leisurely walk to a very cool restaurant, Yorkville Crêperie. On the way, we snapped some photos to submit to the Moment in May. The idea was to take a photo at 15:00 UTC (11 AM for us). I loved the idea of sharing just a slice of our life just at that special moment.

I was lucky enough to have a lot of colors of the flowers in the markets to inspire me. Everything was green and lush as we walked through Yorkville. For just the few minutes prior and after 11AM, I snapped some photos before we enjoyed our final brunch together. Thus, I am sharing in my blog our Moments in May.