Coffee Concerns

Some say that knowledge is power, but I'm finding that it makes life a bit of a drag, at times. Ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes. I'm not sure if knowing is always a good thing. With this in mind, I've started to filter my coffee because I learned recently that unfiltered coffee can elevate your cholesterol. I was skeptical when I first heard this because it sounded like pop science being elevated by the media, but then after scratching below the surface, it kind of made sense. Enough to make me begin filtering my brew.

I make coffee with a pretentious Euro brewing device, and it comes out strong and bitter, just how I like it. The one drawback is that it there can be a little sludge, and now I've learned there might be cholesterol stuff in it. It's easy enough to make it Euro style and then filter the finished product before I drink it. I think that will give the same result as drip brewing it. The point is, I'm not going to go out and buy a coffee maker, so this will have to do.

Ignorance really is bliss, after all. Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Filtering my coffee because of cholesterol

Ticks Are a Drag and a Day on the Farm

Life is full of crazy coincidences, don't you think? I was writing a piece about the spread of Lyme Disease and climate change, and one of the cats came in from outside and our daughter called out to us that she had a tick crawling on her hand after she held the cat. How weird is that? The funny thing is, she was very calm and almost amused as she watched the tick crawl along her hand while mom and dad were FREAKING OUT trying to find a vesicle to put it in. We eventually put it into a vial of isopropanol, but kudos to A for being so calm and collected.

We spent a great day at GK&Ts, always fun, and I have to confess that I think me and GS have become chums. We commiserate on the difficulties of parenthood but can be cerebral and manly at the same time. What's cool about GS is that he is a student of life, he really enjoys learning about things around him, and he is a fountain of knowledge. I always learn interesting stuff from the guy, and his daughter plays so well with our kids. AND, they have a cool spread, with lots of animals and cool places to explore.

Speaking of which, I think GS is really getting it together in terms of his farm. Sure, there's a ways to go, but it's falling into place, and he's got the thumbs up from the missus, which is always a good thing.

Looking forward to cooler weather and less worries about the ticks. We've found a flea on the cats, as well, and wonder what that Frontline crap actually does.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.


Writing about Lyme and A catching a tick-she's calm and cool and we lost it
fun day at the farm, g is getting it together

Full Moon Fever and Revolutionary Road

Last night there was a beautiful full moon and I don't know why I'm mentioning it, but it was just a cool surprise. Kind of made my night, especially since the weather has been ice for the past two days.

The temp has been warm but according to the forecast things are supposed to get cooler and then it appears as if we'll cruise into fall. R was complaining that there was no real summer to speak of. The rains ruined a lot of things, not the least of which was our garden. Our tomatoes and potatoes took a big hit, which is a shame considering that R and the kids did such a wonderful job. It really makes you realize what farmer go through and how much goes into putting food onto your table. You just take less for granted, which is a good thing.

In terms of taking care of business, I got one of my assignments done with a thumbs up, and life is cruising as usual. We had horses yesterday and today we're off to the GK&T show, which always promises to be a good time. Bring some John Madden beef over and do some grilling while GS and I talk about manly issues. His farm is really taking shape.

I still have to deal with the curriculum, and time is running out, but at least it's on my radar. Have to start the gradual process of pooling together this year's portfolio, though I feel emboldened by our decision to answer to the state. Got to get as much done as possible before the big trip, which is another source of anxiety, like all traveling is.

I've been reading this great book, Revolutionary Road, and I'm really into it. I love the main character Frank, and the suburban hell setting that has huge undercurrents of turmoil beneath the beautiful veneer of suburban bliss. The reason I relate to Frank so much is because he reminds me so much of me. Full of unrealized promise while feeling smug and self righteous in the knowledge of that promise, even if it is all just talk and show. I feel like that describes my earlier life to a "t." I could charm and talk the best of them, and win people over to my side, but at the end of the day, what did it all amount to other than a bunch of talk? Who was I trying to kid. The interesting thing about it is that it was rooted in the insecurity of wanting people to respect and admire you for the things you want them to believe you can do yet never do. Is that crazy, or what?

I think the one thing that has saved me from this endless need for approval is becoming a father and letting go of myself. It's incredibly liberating when you turn the focus off you and attend to your children. Sure, it's hard work, and it ain't easy letting go of years of conditioning, but once you do, you realize that life isn't about impressing people (well, within reason) nor is it about winning their approval, it's about finding your thing, whatever it may be, and pouring yourself into it. In the end, that is my family. It's been a long road figuring that out, however, and there have been plenty of bumps and bruises along the way, but that's all part of the process. Without the process, the end result (at least the one we seek) would not exist.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Chris Martin for the pic

Two Days of Good Weather

I can't believe it, we've had two consecutive days of beautiful sunshine, and no humidity. We're on a roll, though I think it's going to rain tonight, but I'll take whatever sun I can get. It's been beautiful, and best of all, it's been warm but not ugly hot and humid. We had a nice day with DJ and horse riding, and mom came along for the first time to watch. A was thrilled to pieces, and because the weather was so beautiful, it was a wonderful experience for all.

We made reservations for Franconia on our big birthdays, which happen to fall on the same day. You know what's nice? They remember us, and even know how many times we've been there and when we were there last, which happened to be on our birthdays, as well. This time we'll bring out tennis rackets and hit the courts, though I'm sure A will want to do some riding. It should be fun, though three days later we're leaving on our vacation. Wham-bam, then we're off.

I'm thinking I'm going to attempt to make contact with HH since AG seems to loathe me. I know I vowed not to be a nutcase about our kid's friends, but I still think this has potential, even if they are going through some heavy stuff right now. You never know, this could turn out to be a good thing for everyone. I've got to at least try.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Warming My Heart

Sometimes things happen in life that warm my heart, and of course they involve our kids. We were at a program the other day chock full of kids and I removed myself from the masses by sitting all by lonesome in the back. This gave me a great view of how the kids interacted without them having any sense of my presence, which is just how I like it. Anyway, what I saw warmed my heart-two kids were fighting for our daughter's attention. It started out innocently enough, but at some point I could see aggressive vibes coming through, and one of the girls went so far as to hug A and pull her close to her. This girl is a good friend, too, so it was nice to see friends standing by each other, if you can call it that.

We've developed a fairly fun routine that does not require a car, which is key for us, since we don't have the car on certain days. We ride our bikes to the rec center, and the reason this is cool is because not only are there a bunch of kids there, but we can play tennis or go to the stream, or play on the playground, and let us not forget going to the library. For a small town, there's a fair amount going on. And the kids jive with a few of the daycare kids, though it can be a tough crowd to break into. We saw A and I there, and they still seem a bit lukewarm and I wonder if AG is angry about the 4th, perhaps he felt we blew him off after he made the effort to be there. I hope not, and if so, I feel terrible because I asked them to come. We shall see.

I feel like we let both AG and HH down this past month, so I'm not sure if we can make contact and set up playdates, though is still think they're nice girls, even if they are lukewarm now and then. Not sure where that is coming from, but there is a lot of stuff going on in their lives. We shall see.

The nice thing about getting to downtown is that there are eating opps there, as well. and if need be, we can grab lunch and then get fudgesicles, which makes it all worthwhile.

Just wanted to mention that yesterday, Monday, was an absolutely fabulous day in terms of the weather. If all of summer was like this, I'd be grateful. Then again, summer is practically over, so it's not an issue. The day was sunny, warm but not too hot, maybe low to mid 70s, and breezy. Just beautiful. Finally got to open up the basement and let things dry out a bit. Not enough considering how much rain we've had, but I'll take it.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Marinka van Holten for the pic.

Projects, Tennis, and Garden Issues

The weight of responsibility is beginning to close in on me. I have several responsibilities that are in the pipes, and I haven't even begun them. Don't get me wrong, they aren't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, and you could say that I'm guilty of over-dramatizing things, but I still need to deal with them, and every day that I don't do them is another day that it bothers me. So what's the solution? Deal with them, stupid. Wow, I feel better already.

Okay, I can't dwell on it, I've got to just do it, so I will.

On a brighter note, we played tennis yesterday and the kids are definitely getting better. In fact, they show moments of brilliance now and then, at least in light of their age. Hitting a ball over the net for a little kid isn't easy, so you have to give credit where it is due. And, we have fun, though now and then the adults crave a little rally, but we'll survive. Ironically, it's nice to arrive at the court and see other people playing there because it's a chance to not only meet some of our neighbors, but ones that play tennis. An immediate connection. After tennis, I mistakenly thought BG's was closed so we headed over to Mike's and got our usual Fudgesicles, though the kids opted for Creamsicles. Both winners, if you ask me, and we've been lucky in that every time we've managed to get new jokes on the popsicle sticks. It's the little things in life that matter.

We've been eating our garden's bounty, and I have to admit it's nice having fresh veggies to eat. The kids love the peas, and we are on the verge of having a bunch of lettuce. In fact, our peas are on fire, so much so that it looks like they could potentially collapse the trellis and might benefit with more room to grow, but we can only make it so high. The beans, potatoes, and tomatoes are thriving, and it looks like we'll get the usual wave of cucumbers, though I never know what to do with those things. The corn is just getting by, and the pepper and and eggplant are non-existent. Not sure what else we planted, but it's been a difficult season with all the rain.

In fact, we've been hit with the potato famine. The same fungus that devastated Ireland is making its mark in this area, and all of Vermont from what I can gather. Our tomato and potato plants have this blight on them, all due to the weather. So much darn rain, and worst of all, no end in sight. Yesterday we had sunny weather and we had to take full advantage of it just to dry out a little. Rugs, car, clothes, shoes. It's been a brutal summer. If it would just dry out for a period of time then it would reduce the problem, but we have yet to have two to three good days of dry weather, and it's begining to worry me. Makes me think we need a dehumidifier, which wouldn't be a bad idea now that I think about it.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Goodbye July

It's difficult for me to believe that July has ended and we've had all of two or three days of hot weather. The rain has been incredible, simply non-stop, and I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever get a break. I don't mind the cooler weather, it's the rain the brings me down, everything is so wet, though it inspires us to stay inside and play with Legos, which is a great thing, even if we lose the use of our rug.

Getting out and about, however, can be a bit challenging. The other night we went to pick mom up from yoga - she usually walks to and fro - because the rain was so heavy, and we were early, so we waited in the car and because the rain was so heavy, we couldn't leave the windows open. The car got so hot and steamy and uncomfortable, I kept thinking, "Man, we need some sun." Sorry to whine.

With the first day of August comes the promise and optimism of getting lots of projects done, and there are many. I chickened out, in the interest of time, and took the lawnmower in rather than attempt to rebuild the carburetor. That may never happen with me, but if it does, it is for another time. There's too much going on and our lawn is a complete disaster. I've learned the neglect only exacerbates the problem, and by not mowing it, the weeds will only thrive. The grass in our yard is most definitely a long term project, but the sooner I get on it, the better. The rain isn't helping.

This month, and hopefully this week even, I've got to get the homeschool administrative stuff together and get it in. The main priority is enrolling the kids for the 09-10 year, but also getting together portfolio materials. And let us not forget the standardized test coming in Fall.

I finally got to meet the legendary NT, S's mom and town resident extraordinaire. Such a neat and interesting person, it was nice to finally meet her. She actually wrote the play that the kids in town performed a few years back, and I asked her if she'd do it again. She hinted she might, but we shall see. I'd be happy to help her, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The reason we were over there is because A's guitar lessons are at her house, her teacher KR is renting a room over there. It seems like an interesting place, lots of people coming and going, and a really unique location. They are also holding kids survival camp (NT's daughter H is running it) and I initially wanted to have our kids in it, but the timing wasn't great-right on the heels of their Montshire camps, and I tried and tried to get more info but nobody returned my calls. Oh well, what are you going to do.

Anyway, when I dropped A off for her lesson, the kids were on their last day of camp, and A got to see some of her friends. They had built a cobb oven and made pizza in it, and I thought how cool is that? Just the sort of thing our kids would get a huge kick out of, and the camp is so close it would have been nice. I asked if they were doing it next year and H said yes, so we'll look forward to that and plan our summer camp schedule a little better, though it can be really crazy. Part of me, however, had this fear that I'd see YKW there, or at least YKW jr., but fortunately it wasn't the case.

We spent a nice day at home, with the weather being so poor it's good just to hang. The kids did spent a lot of time amusing themselves with playdough and legos, and then they moved onto the hardest puzzle I've ever tried - mind you, I never indulge in puzzles, so it doesn't take much to challenge me. We received a puzzle from the National Geological Service that is a topographical map that's been made into a puzzle. It's cool, but amazingly difficult. Over the course of the last month, mom and the kids (and occasionally dad, though I tend to be a bit of a liability) have been pouring over it, and the kids really get a kick out of trying. Could be a good future endeavor for the family. They actually finished the thing yesterday afternoon, and I was so proud of them. They really worked hard on it, and as I mentioned, it wasn't easy. Unfortunatlely, we're missing one piece, which are currently searching for. It's not too distressing, because it adds a little character to the thing, and it doesn't diminish the effort and achievement of the activity. Such is life.

We also restrung A's guitar, which is kind of cool because it's one of those things that you don't think you can do by yourself and in the end is not rocket science. Plus it gives her a sense of coolness that her instrument has new strings. Maybe it's time I did mine?

Their interest in the BBC typing game has been rekindled, not sure where the inspiration came from but they can spend hours on that thing. It's nice because it really challenges them and encourages them to take the proper steps to learn to type, and it shows. It worked out well because while they were typing, my mentor came by and we talked real man stuff. The project of a lifetime is moving forward, and I need to be prepared.

Finally, I got to speak with our good friend, LD out in SF. She's not been feeling so great lately and I regret that I haven't kept more in touch, but now that we've bridged the gap, I'll make sure that doesn't happen again. Besides, her man is one of my best friends, not to mention one of the people I respect the most in this world, even if he acts like Peter Pan.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.