Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Stealth Blogging
I think the only way I'm going to be able to blog on this trip is by getting quick sound bytes in when I can, so here goes. I woke up with a bad start this morning and had a splitting headache. That's always a bummer because you never really fully recover from those sort of things.
I'm drinking lots of water and I'll keep an eye on it. In the meantime, I voted this morning and then hit my first stumbling block-how the heck are you supposed to work the thermostat. We've never used it, so I was at a loss. I called Kurt and he said he'd check on it, but I think I may have gotten it right, by way of Kurt's tutelage, of course.
Packing light, almost getting it done, though I have this sinking feeling that I'm forgetting something. We'll soon find out.
I'm drinking lots of water and I'll keep an eye on it. In the meantime, I voted this morning and then hit my first stumbling block-how the heck are you supposed to work the thermostat. We've never used it, so I was at a loss. I called Kurt and he said he'd check on it, but I think I may have gotten it right, by way of Kurt's tutelage, of course.
Packing light, almost getting it done, though I have this sinking feeling that I'm forgetting something. We'll soon find out.
Election Day/Vacation Day
As luck would have it, we are taking off on our Big Trip on probably the biggest election day of that past century. Luckily, we'll be able to cast our vote before we take off, but it's going to be tight, it always is, and we're going to try to squeeze in our vote. But we've got to, and we will.
I wanted to maintain a blog on our trip and am going to try my best, but it's never easy, especially with kids around needing your attention, but I love the idea. We've been fairly slack in terms of preparing for this trip, and here I am, the morning of our departure and I haven't finished packing. Ruth is taking care of the kids' necessities, which she does so well, and I'm dealing with the entertainment.
It's been a bit of a scramble this past week, and I haven't been able to do everything I'd wanted to, but got to a fair amount. In the past I would have been rendered impotent by the sheer volume of things I had to do, but found great satisfaction in the simple process of just doing it, and subsequently getting it done. We actually managed to pull off most of it, and now I feel much better.
It kind of gets down to the issue of doing things or fretting about them, and a large reason why we travel. Let me be clear, traveling is hard, it takes a lot out of you and is challenging on a daily basis. But what you get out of it is immeasurable, especially for the children, and as I've mentioned in the past, they grow so much from the experience. Ruth and I are believers that the world is a wonderful place, worth exploring, and it begins when you're young.
So here's our itinerary for the day, which needless to say gives me a lot of anxiety, but the only way to deal. We've got to finish packing, vote, get the house in order and then take the bus down to Boston. Our plane leaves at 3:30, first to Philly, then to Madrid. We'll be wiped out, but have four days to acclimate and then off to Rome for five days, then back home. That's the extent of what I know, the rest is where the adventure begins.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
I wanted to maintain a blog on our trip and am going to try my best, but it's never easy, especially with kids around needing your attention, but I love the idea. We've been fairly slack in terms of preparing for this trip, and here I am, the morning of our departure and I haven't finished packing. Ruth is taking care of the kids' necessities, which she does so well, and I'm dealing with the entertainment.
It's been a bit of a scramble this past week, and I haven't been able to do everything I'd wanted to, but got to a fair amount. In the past I would have been rendered impotent by the sheer volume of things I had to do, but found great satisfaction in the simple process of just doing it, and subsequently getting it done. We actually managed to pull off most of it, and now I feel much better.
It kind of gets down to the issue of doing things or fretting about them, and a large reason why we travel. Let me be clear, traveling is hard, it takes a lot out of you and is challenging on a daily basis. But what you get out of it is immeasurable, especially for the children, and as I've mentioned in the past, they grow so much from the experience. Ruth and I are believers that the world is a wonderful place, worth exploring, and it begins when you're young.
So here's our itinerary for the day, which needless to say gives me a lot of anxiety, but the only way to deal. We've got to finish packing, vote, get the house in order and then take the bus down to Boston. Our plane leaves at 3:30, first to Philly, then to Madrid. We'll be wiped out, but have four days to acclimate and then off to Rome for five days, then back home. That's the extent of what I know, the rest is where the adventure begins.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Good Signs
Not to get too superstitious, but sometimes you just gotta embrace the bones when they come your way. I was kicking myself over the fact that we'd neglected to get flu shots, and though there are more than a few people who have issues over them, I wanted to get them before our big trip over the Atlantic. Planes are just cess pools for germs, and as I've mentioned in the past, the flu scares me. I knew DHMC was giving flu shots but didn't recall when, and lo and behold I found that they were having some big flu clinic on Sunday at the hospital. It just so happens that Ruth had to do some work and I needed to go to the library and the Coop to get some last minute things. Serendipity was shining down upon us.
And the flu clinic was a party. There were so many people there, we saw friends and acquaintances, and there were tons of vendors giving out useful information not to mention treats for the kids. They had a blast, and I was so grateful that we got our shots. Call me paranoid, but it's one less thing for me to worry about. Thanks to DHMC for doing such a great job.
As I mentioned, we squeaked by with the homeschool board, but we learned some important lessons and now look to everything as some sort of proof of our efforts. It's kind of a shame because it's forcing me to take a utilitarian POV on the things we do, but such is life. And it doesn't take much, in the end. We were admittedly pretty slack in the past year, somehow we got too complacent and paid the price.
To complicate our lives even further, we are still trying to finish building that barn, and there are people waiting in the woodworks for our word to start working. They are ready, they just need the go-ahead nod from us. Unfortunately, the final word does not rest with us, it's with Bob, and being the go-between is a big pain in the "you know what."
I like the idea of Paul being the leader and just dealing with it, and maybe that will come about at some point, but he's got his own life to deal with. The nerve.
In terms of my dealings with the state, we've cleared waivers with homeschooling and submitted what we believe to be the required paperwork for the septic system. All we can do is sit back and wait.
Gotta run. I'm feeling stressed about our Trip, and I've got to direct my neurosis accordingly. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
And the flu clinic was a party. There were so many people there, we saw friends and acquaintances, and there were tons of vendors giving out useful information not to mention treats for the kids. They had a blast, and I was so grateful that we got our shots. Call me paranoid, but it's one less thing for me to worry about. Thanks to DHMC for doing such a great job.
As I mentioned, we squeaked by with the homeschool board, but we learned some important lessons and now look to everything as some sort of proof of our efforts. It's kind of a shame because it's forcing me to take a utilitarian POV on the things we do, but such is life. And it doesn't take much, in the end. We were admittedly pretty slack in the past year, somehow we got too complacent and paid the price.
To complicate our lives even further, we are still trying to finish building that barn, and there are people waiting in the woodworks for our word to start working. They are ready, they just need the go-ahead nod from us. Unfortunately, the final word does not rest with us, it's with Bob, and being the go-between is a big pain in the "you know what."
I like the idea of Paul being the leader and just dealing with it, and maybe that will come about at some point, but he's got his own life to deal with. The nerve.
In terms of my dealings with the state, we've cleared waivers with homeschooling and submitted what we believe to be the required paperwork for the septic system. All we can do is sit back and wait.
Gotta run. I'm feeling stressed about our Trip, and I've got to direct my neurosis accordingly. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Official State Pardon
We got our letter of acceptance from the state regarding homeschooling. I think they gave it to us begrudgingly, because our submission was still lacking in certain areas, but I'll take it. In the end, we are doing so much and trying to put it all into a single document falls so short of the mark. Either way, we'll do all we have to to placate the state, even if it seems silly at times. They make the rules, we follow them.
And I'll readily admit that they are very helpful and always willing to assist. In fact, as I mentioned, Karen Agnew even called me to tell me what I was doing wrong, and I'm grateful for that. Of course, now I'm completely neurotic about it and everywhere I look, I'm not only looking for some sort of homeschooling lesson, but more importantly, documentation that proves we actually did it.
It's a pain, but I understand the state's perspective. They've got to oversee all these people, and they have certain expectations. It's not unlike the caring parent. They're a pain, but they're only looking out for your interest, and it's not until much later that you really learn to appreciate it.
It has opened my eyes a lot to the wealth of possibilities out there, and that's always a good thing. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
And I'll readily admit that they are very helpful and always willing to assist. In fact, as I mentioned, Karen Agnew even called me to tell me what I was doing wrong, and I'm grateful for that. Of course, now I'm completely neurotic about it and everywhere I look, I'm not only looking for some sort of homeschooling lesson, but more importantly, documentation that proves we actually did it.
It's a pain, but I understand the state's perspective. They've got to oversee all these people, and they have certain expectations. It's not unlike the caring parent. They're a pain, but they're only looking out for your interest, and it's not until much later that you really learn to appreciate it.
It has opened my eyes a lot to the wealth of possibilities out there, and that's always a good thing. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
To Flu Or Not To Flu
We haven't been on top of our flu shots as we have in the past, and with our big plane trip coming up, I can't help but think it might not be a bad idea. Of course, the time is past where we can schedule a visit with our doc, but as luck would have it, DHMC is offering shots today for kids and adults. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, and am grateful for the stroke of good fortune. You have to celebrate those sort of things, because they don't come around too often.
I hate to be a fear monger, but the flu really scares me. Maybe some people should spend less time so intimately with birds, it seems like it would serve their own best interest.
It's three days and counting until our Big Trip, and yesterday Ruth and I talked at length about the value of travel and why we choose to partake in it rather than buying lots of stuff, i.e., cars and toys. The reality is, we love to travel and see new places, but it's an incredible experience for both parents and kids. Let's face it, life is hard, it's so easy to get sucked into our routines and to forget about engaging our minds and, as corny as it sounds, our souls in the everyday happenings in our lives. I fall into it all the time, we are so busy, so tired, and so stressed out that we've lost sight of the important things in life. We take them for granted because we're so worried about the quotidian things, and rightly so.
But if there's one thing I've found, it's that things are never as bad as they seem, or should I say, as bad as we make them out to be. And the only way to get a grip on life is to start breaking away from your routines, take some chances, realize the risks are not life threatening, and start thinking about it some more.
It's hard to really convey in words, but suffice it to say that travel forces you to think more about life, because it is hard. Much harder than getting off the couch and out the front door. It is this process of forcing you to deal with things that you'd otherwise avoid all together that really makes one grow. Take language. How many of us put much thought into speaking? When you travel, you have to think about every word, and let me tell you, it's exhausting, but at the end of the day, you realize you can do it, or at least try, and suddenly you have a new appreciation and understanding of something you give literally no thought to each and every day.
And that's just one small thing. Either way, our kids love to travel, they look forward to it, it's such an adventure for them. I hate to admit it, but I approach each trip with trepidation, and if not for my family, I literally wouldn't go anywhere, but it's so much fun and such a great experience.
Keep in mind, I've never gone on a trip where things didn't get difficult or go wrong. It's just part of the journey, and since we opt to avoid pre-fab trips like cruises or resorts, it does get a little more tricky, but that's part of the process the we choose. We want a more genuine experience. Fancy hotels can be nice, but when you really get down to it, when you stay at places like that, it really becomes a generic experience that you could emulate anywhere, even in your own home town. You have to sweat a little to get the true experience.
One thing I find a little awkward is talking about our trips to some of our friends who don't travel. In fact, many of our friends have never left this country, and I hesitate to reveal that we're going off to Europe, again. Not that they care, they're all busy people with rich lives, but it is sort of funny. We live a frugal life, constantly challenged with only one car while borrowing expensive equipment that we don't actually own.
Let's face it, we do things the hard way, but that's our choice so we can actually live the life of our choosing. We could both work full time jobs and have lots of nice stuff, but we'd have to farm our kids out to daycare and then send them off to school, and that's just not why we became parents. In the end, I know nobody cares how we live our lives, but I know people gossip and wonder, only because I do it myself.
Whatever. To each his own. Three days and counting, I feel the stress building, though I feel much better after talking to Ruth about it. Sometimes you need to be reminded of why certain things in life are important to you.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
I hate to be a fear monger, but the flu really scares me. Maybe some people should spend less time so intimately with birds, it seems like it would serve their own best interest.
It's three days and counting until our Big Trip, and yesterday Ruth and I talked at length about the value of travel and why we choose to partake in it rather than buying lots of stuff, i.e., cars and toys. The reality is, we love to travel and see new places, but it's an incredible experience for both parents and kids. Let's face it, life is hard, it's so easy to get sucked into our routines and to forget about engaging our minds and, as corny as it sounds, our souls in the everyday happenings in our lives. I fall into it all the time, we are so busy, so tired, and so stressed out that we've lost sight of the important things in life. We take them for granted because we're so worried about the quotidian things, and rightly so.
But if there's one thing I've found, it's that things are never as bad as they seem, or should I say, as bad as we make them out to be. And the only way to get a grip on life is to start breaking away from your routines, take some chances, realize the risks are not life threatening, and start thinking about it some more.
It's hard to really convey in words, but suffice it to say that travel forces you to think more about life, because it is hard. Much harder than getting off the couch and out the front door. It is this process of forcing you to deal with things that you'd otherwise avoid all together that really makes one grow. Take language. How many of us put much thought into speaking? When you travel, you have to think about every word, and let me tell you, it's exhausting, but at the end of the day, you realize you can do it, or at least try, and suddenly you have a new appreciation and understanding of something you give literally no thought to each and every day.
And that's just one small thing. Either way, our kids love to travel, they look forward to it, it's such an adventure for them. I hate to admit it, but I approach each trip with trepidation, and if not for my family, I literally wouldn't go anywhere, but it's so much fun and such a great experience.
Keep in mind, I've never gone on a trip where things didn't get difficult or go wrong. It's just part of the journey, and since we opt to avoid pre-fab trips like cruises or resorts, it does get a little more tricky, but that's part of the process the we choose. We want a more genuine experience. Fancy hotels can be nice, but when you really get down to it, when you stay at places like that, it really becomes a generic experience that you could emulate anywhere, even in your own home town. You have to sweat a little to get the true experience.
One thing I find a little awkward is talking about our trips to some of our friends who don't travel. In fact, many of our friends have never left this country, and I hesitate to reveal that we're going off to Europe, again. Not that they care, they're all busy people with rich lives, but it is sort of funny. We live a frugal life, constantly challenged with only one car while borrowing expensive equipment that we don't actually own.
Let's face it, we do things the hard way, but that's our choice so we can actually live the life of our choosing. We could both work full time jobs and have lots of nice stuff, but we'd have to farm our kids out to daycare and then send them off to school, and that's just not why we became parents. In the end, I know nobody cares how we live our lives, but I know people gossip and wonder, only because I do it myself.
Whatever. To each his own. Three days and counting, I feel the stress building, though I feel much better after talking to Ruth about it. Sometimes you need to be reminded of why certain things in life are important to you.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Post Halloween
We did the Halloween bit last night, and it's something we look forward to for the entire month prior. How can you not love Halloween, but it is a good barometer of your children's growth, because at some point they just want to move onto something else. Not that we're there, yet, but somehow the whole deal just left me a little flat.
First off, it was crowded, and there were a lot of older kids, which lessens the experience for me. Some of these kids sure seemed old, but I guess when you're living in a small town, what are you going to do. Secondly, our kids didn't get to see any of their friends, for some reason we missed them all. Usually we run into them at the Woodstock Inn, but they weren't there and I wonder if they even made it. And finally, the kids just seemed somewhat uninspired. Sometimes I wonder if we should take the Amanda approach and just avoid the whole thing.
The kids really look forward to it, though, and I remember that it was a special night for me growing up. Audrey was bummed we never saw Clara, and I was surprised by that, but it also worked out, because Nicholas had a buddy to hang with. Otherwise, I fear that the older kids would have bailed out on him, but you never know. In a way, the dynamic Waldorf trio didn't completely materialize, but that was to be expected.
Either way, it's done, I'm bummed it wasn't as fun as the past (it was cold, as well!), but that's a model for life. You get the highs, and you get the lows. At least now we can focus on other matters, like our trip. There are still a ton of things to attend to, and we've got to put some thought into it, all the while dealing with our lives at home.
In a way, I might need to give up on dealing with house issues because I've got to deal with this trip. So much to do.
Gotta run and collect my thoughts. I've still not heard from the travel writing gigs but am more determined than ever to keep a travel blog.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
First off, it was crowded, and there were a lot of older kids, which lessens the experience for me. Some of these kids sure seemed old, but I guess when you're living in a small town, what are you going to do. Secondly, our kids didn't get to see any of their friends, for some reason we missed them all. Usually we run into them at the Woodstock Inn, but they weren't there and I wonder if they even made it. And finally, the kids just seemed somewhat uninspired. Sometimes I wonder if we should take the Amanda approach and just avoid the whole thing.
The kids really look forward to it, though, and I remember that it was a special night for me growing up. Audrey was bummed we never saw Clara, and I was surprised by that, but it also worked out, because Nicholas had a buddy to hang with. Otherwise, I fear that the older kids would have bailed out on him, but you never know. In a way, the dynamic Waldorf trio didn't completely materialize, but that was to be expected.
Either way, it's done, I'm bummed it wasn't as fun as the past (it was cold, as well!), but that's a model for life. You get the highs, and you get the lows. At least now we can focus on other matters, like our trip. There are still a ton of things to attend to, and we've got to put some thought into it, all the while dealing with our lives at home.
In a way, I might need to give up on dealing with house issues because I've got to deal with this trip. So much to do.
Gotta run and collect my thoughts. I've still not heard from the travel writing gigs but am more determined than ever to keep a travel blog.
Until the next time, thanks for reading.
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