A Nice Score

Over where the kids do their editing work at the studio and they have a bench where people put their unwanted stuff, free for the taking. There is an eclectic mix of businesses in that building, so people with different interests and backgrounds occupy the premise, including numerous artists. On the free bench they usually have old books or magazines, but every now and then there's the random printer or tech device. I once saw a digital copier and was tempted to take it but wasn't sure what I'd do with it. Mom would not have approved. Sometimes I think I have a bit of that pathological hoarder gene going on inside of me.

Either way, I was dropping the kids off when I spotted a small radio and grabbed it. While we are not at a loss for radios in this house, I have for awhile wanted a small one for the kitchen that I can listen to while I'm doing my countless domestic duties. We have several boom boxes, the kids each have one in their rooms, I have one in the barn for that project, and one for the backyard for when I'm chopping/stacking wood. For the record, I bought all of them at the Listen Center and paid anywhere from $5-10 for each one. We also have a nice home stereo, but it's in the living room and in the mornings and evenings I can't really turn it up so I can actually hear it.

The thing about this radio is that it's a really cool one. It's made by Tivoli, and in addition to looking cool, it's got killer audio quality. The bass on it is amazing considering it's size, and when you crank up the volume, it really booms. I love this thing, and the convenient size makes it perfect for placement on the counter. I thought I read that it was weather resistant, too. I looked online and a new version of this will set you back about $200. Can you believe that? It makes me stoked that I got it for free.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Charles_Che for the pic.

Hockey Night

I have been working pretty regularly at the Inn and my shifts tend to fall on the same nights as A's hockey games. Consequently, I've missed quite a few, which is a complete bummer. Mom has made it to a lot of them because she volunteers to help out. What a trooper. This past week I was scheduled to work from 5-10, and I asked if I could be out of there by 10:00 so I could at least give A a ride home. This meant that mom would not have to drive to the arena twice, once to take her to her game, and the second time to bring her home. The reason for this was because N was sick in bed and she didn't want to leave him home all by himself in that state.

Anyway, I got to work and we whipped through our tasks, which is a bit out of character. We had to go offsite, which always makes us work late, but we cranked through it, and by 7:30 we were back at the Inn. Things were looking good. As 8:00 rolled around, there were only a few things left to do, and they didn't require my presence since the other guys were still going to be there. I asked if I could go, figuring I could make to the rink by 8:30 and catch the last two periods of A's game. When I got there, they were still playing the national anthem, so I knew I was going to be able to watch the whole game. I enjoy watching the kids play, and even though my back was killing me, it was fun. It was nice also that mom didn't have to come back to the rink for pick-up, and the girls won. A win-win-win situation. I love when that happens.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to John Diana for the pic.

Sunglasses Found

This is a minor event but is filled with good vibes and more examples of parental folly, namely that of yours truly. N couldn't find his sunglasses the other day and we went through the usual litany of questions as to where they might be (cue eye-roll from kids). I figured they were gone and that was the end of it. At the same time I had left my jacket at the arena and DW was holding onto it until he saw me again, which was a week later. I tossed the coat in the back of my car and didn't give it much thought. It's a lighter jacket and with the cold weather I'm not as inclined to wear it.

Well, we've been having a warm spell lately and I broke out the lighter coat. When I reached into the pocket, lo and behold, guess what I found? You got it, N's sunglasses. He was stoked to get them back and didn't belabor the point that I was the source of their disappearance. It makes sense that I was behind it because he is in fact a very careful and thorough person. He takes very good care of this stuff, and keeps careful track of where he puts it. This is in marked contrast with two other people in this family who tend to be a little more scattered and continually lose track of various possessions. I'll leave it at that.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Elysiebee for the pic.

Still On the Mend

Both of the kids are still on the mend and believe me, it's a complete bummer when your kids are sick. As delusional as it sounds, I wish it would never happen. Wishful thinking, I know. A&N have had a similar progression to their illness, though with N it definitely seems more severe. His fever was higher and more tenacious and he was bedridden for several days. A had a fever but she managed to go to school and only missed a practice, maybe two. Whatever be the case, I think N is better, and at the very least, the fevers have subsided. I'm guessing this is the flu.

This begs the question, is the flu vaccine a waste of time? I'm beginning to wonder, especially since some businesses, mine included at the hospital, mandate that employees get it. This reeks of corporate influence on policy, in this case the Big Pharma. I don't want to get into conspiracy theories, but sometimes it seems like we're required to do things that have questionable benefit while someone is clearly making money out of the deal. When a lobbyist gets the government to require that their product be utilized, you wonder whether the public's best interest is being addressed. Judging from countless previous situations, I would say highly unlikely.

Of course, next year we'll be standing in line to get our flu vaccines. What are you going to do?

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Dean for the pic.

Positive Light

This has been a complete bummer of a winter regarding one of our favorite things: snow. I think we've had one snowfall, and that was early in the season. Otherwise, it's been zilch. I've never seen anything like it, not that I'm a seasoned New Englander, but I'm working my way up to it. Needless to say this has compromised our favorite activity, skiing/snowboarding (is that two activities?). I shouldn't complain because we have managed to hit the slopes, and it hasn't been that awful because there's enough snow to ski, but I would say at least half the runs are still closed.

There are many ironies to this situation. First off, in the drought plagued west where they get little in the way of precipitation they are getting slammed with storm after storm. Why can't any of those clouds come to us? Secondly, there was one major storm that came our way and it managed to dump 2 feet of snow on Boston, New York, and DC, but we didn't even get a minor flurry. Thirdly, and this is the most painful, this was the year that were really ready for winter. Not only do we get free skiing at the local hill, but the kids had all new snow equipment, A with her new snowboard and N with his new skis (he got a new board but I got is used, he's more of a skier). I think A used her board twice before coming down with the flu, and N has used his new skis once before the same fate befell him.

With all that's going on, is it even possible to paint this in a positive light? Actually, being the eternal optimist that I am (yeah right), it is. Even though this winter has been a disappointment, to say the least, the lack of snow has removed one significant burden from our lives, and that's shoveling snow. Since we heat with wood, every time we get a lot of snow, I have to spend (though now the kids help) at least an hour shoveling out the cars and making a path to the woodpile clear enough to push a wheelbarrow through, which not an easy thing when you're sick and injured. We've also saved money on plowing the driveway, and driving is not as much of a scary proposition with the roads being dry and clear. This makes my job as poster boy much simpler. Finally, since we're a hockey family, a lot of our time is spent inside the ice rink, where weather conditions are not as much of a factor.

Now don't get me wrong, I really hope we get a big snowstorm (or 2 or 3) but for now, there's so much going on and we're all in some state of illness or chronic pain, I won't complain too loudly. Once we're all back on our feet again, however, I say bring it on... please.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Chris Bainbridge for the pic.

More Good Help

Before the kids got sick, and I guess afterward, they were helping me out a lot around the house, and believe me when I tell you that the extra help is extremely welcome on a number of levels. Of course it's great for my tired old ass to get some assistance because not only am I falling apart at the seams, but I just never seem to have enough time. Even when I can get it all done, it means running at warp speed at all times and never getting a break, which can get old fast.

The kids are not only very capable of doing various chores like filling the wood/kindling boxes, shoveling snow, and making meals, but they are more than willing to lend a hand. Dare I say they welcome the challenge and maybe even enjoy it? That might be pushing my luck, but all in all, I've yet to meet with resistance, or for that matter disdain, for my requests for help. Perhaps they just sense that I'm stressed and would lose it if they gave me a hard time, in which case they are just being smart and tactful. Or they may be sympathetic to their whiny dad. Whatever be the case, they do a wonderful job, and it's good for them to take some responsibility and lend a hand. It builds character, teaches them responsibility, and it helps out yours truly. Definitely a win-win situation. I love when that happens.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Melesse for the pic.

No Thank You

Now that we are deep into winter, dare I say on the downward slide, spring is looming on the horizon and that means many things, including the big decision about doing the farmers market. We just received the application in the mail. Personally, and I think I speak for this entire household, this is a no brainer - no thank you! I have zero inclination to do the market again, at least not at this juncture in my life. We have talked it over and the feeling is shared by all of us. Then again, we feel this way every year. In years past we've submitted the application late because we ruminate back and forth over whether or not to do it, and every year we hear the calling of capitalism. Hopefully this year will be different.

Truth be told, I really don't think it's worth it. The amount of work is enormous, and it really takes up your entire summer. Plus, we always get slammed with bad weather in June, and the market has been dropping off each year. This is not just my imagination, when I've spoken with other vendors, they agree that the crowds have gotten smaller each year. I think people are suffering from farmer's market fatigue.

Plus, when you do the math, it doesn't completely add up. I used to think the college campus was an ideal environment to sell prepared food, but it's not necessarily the case. The students are required to buy a meal plan, and the college really sticks it to them because it is a for-profit entity. The food service is there to make money, and it seems like exploitation to me. Not only do they pay an arm and a leg for tuition, but on top of that, they have to pay top dollar for their meals, and believe me, the food on campus is expensive. Whatever be the case, why would you pay for food at the farmer's market when you're getting stuck with an outrageous food bill? I for one would eat every meal on campus.

I could carry on and on about this, but in the end, my hearts just not in it. I've reached an age when I need to start listening to that voice more often. We'll see where it goes.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Chris Haines for the pic.