Back Home

The kids were away at camp all week and though it freed me up to do all sorts of things, it's nice to have them back home. We miss them when they're gone, though I'm sure they don't miss us, which is as it should be. It means they had a good time, and I can get some sense of this when we pick them up because they don't want to come home. Plus, once they're home, they not only talk glowingly about their week, but look forward to going back.

I was a little concerned about their week because it was an awful one for weather. The forecast originally called for sunny weather every day, and then within 24 hours it shifted to rain and clouds. We got hit with some sort of Nor-easter and it slammed us with rain, every single day. I was bummed, and even went so far as to email the camp directors to see how everyone was faring. I didn't want to be intrusive, and he was very cool about it, informing me that all was well. A little rain can't stop campers from having fun.

And, as usual, the kids came back with a bug, and now we have illness in our house. This actually happens every time they go to camp. I think with all the excitement and fun, plus being around all those kids, makes for a ripe environment to catch something. Now we are all recuperating from our crazy week and, of course, gearing up for hockey. The holidays are right around the corner, as well, so there's a lot to look forward to.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Caro-lines for the pic.

Family Night Out

We've been having fairly busy weekends doing this and that, and this situation will only increase when hockey season kicks into full gear, but for now we still have time to do things all together as a family. It was Saturday night and the women's hockey team was playing an exhibition game, but we decided to hold off on jumping into hockey since our lives will at some point be immersed in it. Instead we went to see a movie at the Hop. The movie is called Slingshot, and it was actually very interesting. It is about a guy named Dan Kamen who nobody has heard about, but that's the point. He invented the Segway and he's this millionaire inventor that lives in New Hampshire and flies a helicopter to work.

This guy Kamen is an engineer and inventor who has set his sights on solving the world's water problems. He invented a system that purifies the most polluted water into stuff that is clean enough to drink. It's basically a still that employs a low energy heat compressor, not unlike what we are looking at to heat the barn. What's interesting is that it uses technology that RR is involved with since they work on similar kinds of stuff. Kind of cool if you ask me.

This guy is a little eccentric but very smart, and clearly motivated to make a difference in this world. He's got the support of some big names like Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, so he's in good company. Whether or not he pulls it off, time will tell, but you have to give him credit for trying. It's nice to show the kids that you can make a difference and help people while doing something that interests you. A win-win situation if ever there was one.

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

Bonfire of the Vanities

We attended the big homecoming rally on campus and as usual it was quite the scene. Homecomings are a big deal at any college, but they take on a special meaning when you attend an elite institution like an Ivy League college. It really becomes a part of your identity if you wish, and a lot of people wish. It is interesting, however, how many people we know that are alumni of Dartmouth but didn't know it until we saw them in the homecoming parade. Go figure.

The fire itself is pretty amazing. They build this massive wood structure and then set it on fire. It's daunting to say the least, and being one to cut and split firewood, I can't help but think what a waste of good firewood it is. It's also a time for the freshman class to get together and be a little crazy in one massive group. It makes me realize that although these kids are clearly smart and industrious, in the end, they're still just kids trying to figure out life. They've got a leg up against their peers who don't attend Ivy League colleges, but they've still got a ways to go in life. They can just afford nicer clothes.

It was funny because we had planned on seeing the fire but had some time to kill beforehand, so we went to the bookstore and hung out. I wondered aloud if we'd see Mr. Hockey out there since he's an alumni, and left it at that. While we were having a treat and hot cocoa and reading magazines, we realized the homecoming parade was happening right outside the bookstore, so we went out to see it, and while we were watching, it suddenly dawned on us that none other than Mr. Hockey was standing right next to us. How funny is that? Of course we started talking about hockey.

After the parade, we made our way to the Green and watched them set all that beautiful wood on fire, then we headed home. It was a little nutty, I get a sense a lot of those college kids are a little sauced and it can get obnoxious, loud, and unruly out there. Am I getting old, or what? Personally I think I'm a little over all the pomp and circumstance of it all, but that may change next year.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Dartmouth College for the pic.

Rough Day and Turning To My Mentor

A couple of weeks back I had one of those Sisyphean days and it got to the point to where I needed help. We had a last-minute complication on top of our complications, so what did I do in my time of need? I turned to My Mentor, of course, and he was there for me. R had to go pick up A because she wasn't feeling well at her gig, and I had to be somewhere. I could have taken N with me, but that would have been hard for him. I tried to think who he could hang with, but our homeschool community has shrunk down to almost nothing at this point, so I called My Mentor to see if he was still in town. He heads up north for the winter, but as luck would have it, he was home and didn't have any flights planned. He said N could hang with him, so I woke him up (I hate doing that) and took him over with his laptop so the guys could hang with their computers. Thankfully, my interview was shorter than I anticipated, so N only had to hang for about an hour.

Quite the crazy morning, if you ask me, but we got through it. It really does take a village, doesn't it?

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

Not Sure What To Do With Myself

Now that the market is over, there are huge tracts of time that have opened up. We're talking weekends and weekdays that are now available to fun stuff like cut firewood and build a barn. Those two things alone are full time jobs, on the condition of course that I know what I am doing. Ignorance definitely holds you back.

I must say, by the time the market ended, we were pretty burned out and in need of a break. It's too early to say whether we'll do it again, but for now, I'm hoping to make the most of the time that is now available. That boils down to two things - barn and wood. There are assorted yard chores that need to be attended to, mainly mowing and raking, but now that fall is here, at least the grass is slowing down... finally. I was reading that raking the leaves, which for the record is the job I loathe the most, is not necessarily the best thing for your yard.

According to this article, while you don't want massive piles of leaves covering the grass, a layer is not bad if you just mow over it and turn it into smaller bits. It actually fertilizes the grass. This is probably wishful thinking for someone who really doesn't like raking, but I'm going to give it a try. Around the trees I'll rake the massive piles, but otherwise, I'm going to leave the stuff (no pun intended) and mow it into bits. Even just thinking about an easier solution to raking makes me feel better. We'll see how things look in the spring, after the snow has melted, especially since leaves take a long time to break down.

The wood pile has hit a lull, as can be expected. I am about 40% done with year 2, though I think (hope?) that I have cut enough blocks to finish it. It always takes more than you think. In terms of the barn, I can work inside pretty much all winter. I might need a space heater to survive, but my new goal is to get all the insulation in and prepare to drywall and do the floors. If I can accomplish all that by spring, we are in pretty good shape for the final stretch, I think. My Mentor can verify that, or remind me that I don't know what I'm talking about. It wouldn't be the first time.

As the saying goes, time is on my side, so I'd better make the most of it. Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Pookie and Schnookie for the pic.

More High School News

There are several high schools that we are looking at as possible destinations, and like many things in life, sometimes having options makes it harder. Life is so much simpler when they just tell you what to do, but is simpler better? Not always?

I arranged to meet with the principal of Woodstock and went over to meet with him. I have to say, not only was he a really nice guy, but he was smart and very well-versed in all things education. Very approachable and willing to talk to me about the possibilities, and there are a lot of possibilities. Some of them I was aware of because we know a few people who homeschool and attend high school. Basically the principal told me on the one end you have students going full time, and on the other, students who take no classes but play sports. Our options would fall somewhere in-between.

As I mentioned, we know people who cover those different options, some of whom take no classes but play sports, and others who do a hybrid program of homeschooling, high school classes, and community college classes. We are intrigued by all the possibilities. Whatever we end up doing, it was nice to talk to the principal, especially since he's a nice guy. I'm sure we'll talking to many other principals in the near future.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Krzysztof Pacholak for the pic.

Not Quite So Painful

A day or so back I was whining (what else is new?) about my chainsaw woes and how bummed I was about all the money it was going to cost to fix it. I even regretted taking it in because I realized after the fact that I probably could have taken it to one of my logger friends or My Mentor (who is experienced with logging) and they might have been able to have fixed it, or at least given me more insight into the problem. Instead, I took it to Joe's and before I could grab the thing back the guy had the tag on it and took it out back to the mechanic. Done and over. He even mentioned that the problem I described could have meant a broken seal, for which the repair costs the big bucks. Total bummer. I decided that if that was the problem, I would simply take the saw back home and wait until spring, when I would really need it... and would have time to save up the cash to pay for it.

They said it would take about a week, but of course I called after a couple of days to plead my case. They understood, they are cool guys and probably deal with broke losers like me all the time, but they are a business, and one thing you learn when you're training to be a real man is that the cost of labor kills you. I think they sensed my neurotic frugality and told me they'd call me when the estimate was done.

On Friday they did in fact call, and the news was good. They said the repair cost was $20, and now I have the saw back with a little more time before the snows come. This means I just might be able to finish the second wood pile after all. Don't want to count my chickens just yet, there's a fair amount that needs to be done, but at least progress can continue. I love when that happens.

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