The Place You Love is Gone--Read this Book!

This book is so profound and well-written that I actually took notes while reading it. I read paragraphs twice and thought about the essence of each statement. I could see this used as a text in sociology and especially urban anthropology. An entire class could revolve around onerous nomenclature. Like this ....

You do not have to be a past resident of Akron, The catskills or New Jersey to appreciate the meaning of this book although I had so many "yes! I love that place" moments when reading about my hometown. I came to realize just how important those places of my youth are to me, those vestiges of my former self. Are they there to this day, or are they a WalMart? It's always a Walmart. So read Melissa's lyrical verse, settle in and get ready to remember all those places you touched as a child that are a part of your soul.

I especially like this part "imagine you wedding at the end of the birch allee." This is where I always dreamed of getting married as a child. This is where I came back to to get married. Stan Hywet was my castle just waiting for me and my knight in shining armor.

One of my favorite quotes: "Ephemeral, meaningless. But they amount to forces that shaped the rocky earth and waterways (the buildings and institutions and beliefs and histories) that made me. Guard against its theft, the past of the place that made you. At least notice it, if you cannot save it." On that note, what on earth! I heard that they are closing and possibly tearing down the Rubber Bowl. Wha? You can't take away my Rubber Bowl. This is where we played the turkey day football games. It spells out Akron and you can read it when you fly over it. The blimps pass by it. You can get custard across the street from Strickland's and be in a state of sheer bliss. Thieves! Stealing my memories, my joy, my hometown from me. I'm off to listen to some Pretenders.

They better not mess with the Civic Theater!

Halloween

oh blog how I have neglected you. Facebook has taken me away but I remembered you.

We did not take Halloween for granted one moment this season. It was jam packed with festivals, parades, costumes, trick-or-treating and a Day of the Dead party. Sigh. I hated taking the decorations down.

Here is my hansberger hamburger and my scary ghoul guy. I guess we have reached a crossroads of no longer allowing mom to make ironic or cute costumes. We must now be scary and masked. He freaked me out in that white mask. I think it was so scary because it was expressionless and vacant like customer service. but I digress..

We took a trip to Burt's Pumpkin Patch with the Boyers. Perfect day! Lots of pumpkins and strangely shaped gourds to play with. We had roadside barbeque, deep fried oreos and even stopped at the apple orchard before landing at Brick Store Pub. Couldn't have planned a day like that!

Marc and I dressed as Juno and Paulie Bleeker. It was hard not to laugh at ourselves. If only you could see my hamburger phone and jug of sunny D. When I stopped at the grocery store to buy ONLY a jug of Sunndy D and orange tic tacs, the clerk said "oh my. It is about your time!" I shocked her when I revealed that it was, in fact a kickball. We went like this to the Little 5 points parade.Where we saw people like this...

When this scary woman walked by I said "yikes, she's scary." The woman next to me gave me a gentle pat along with "don't worry darlin. Your baby's not going to come out like that." seriously. After the parade we headed over to 6 feet under, another tradition. I forgot how difficult it is to eat gumbo with a big ol belly.

Our Day of the Dead altar of remembrance

songs for my love

per request, Bub, here is my playlist for my love:



Avalon (Roxy Music)--this is Our song. It is necessary for us to dance to this whenever we hear it. Beware shoppers. This comes on a lot in the grocery.



Harvest Moon (Neil Young)--we fell in love in the fall and we both love this song. When it came time to paint our first baby's room, we wanted it to be perfect. We played Neil Young all night while we stenciled falling leaves on his walls.



Here Comes your Man (Pixies)--I always said that if we renewed our vows...which we will, in the desert somewhere...he could walk down the proverbial aisle to this. perfect! It could also be "Gigantic" because we have a big, big love.



Fragile (Sting)--he loves this song and always puts it on cd's (or tapes back*in*the*day) for me.



Perfect Blue Buildings (Counting Crows)--almost all of the songs on this album make me smile for him. We lived in Nashville during this musical period and we even met Adam Durtiz on the street. We were complete dorks as we tried to not be impressed by him. Still makes us laugh. He was reading a book and marc asked "whatcha readin?" I laughed and then said the profound "hey, we're walking with you to go see you."



In God's Country (U2)--The Joshua Tree is always our out west soundtrack. As we traverse the desolate highways and dirt roads to get to whichever gulch, river or canyon we are excited to hike, we listen to this ans smile. "Desert sky. Dreamed beneath the desert sky..."



#41 (Dave Matthews Band)--sighh



The Scientist (Coldplay)--because I would do it all over again...go back to the start



When the Stars Go Blue (Ryan Adams)

Into Dust (Mazzy Starr)

The Luckiest (Ben Folds)--because I am

Take this Rain (Jackson Browne)--because he can always make everything better

Snow (Gustavo Santaollala)--just does

These are days (10,000 Maniacs)

Charlotte Sometimes (The Cure)

The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)

why no postings?

It is nice to know that people actually care about my postings. You know that saying "if you don't have anything nice to say.."? It seems like the phone keeps ringing with bad news. I can't post that on a blog about good things, right? In my prayers right now: the Hansen family, the Hudnall/Haygood family, the Golobic family and the Kenner family. good thoughts. good thoughts. good thoughts.

Williamsburg

Don't you wish you had one of these at home sometimes? I had such a flashback moment when I took this photo, as I remember standing in the same spot when I was 10 (only I was sporting a more bad news bears look). My kids both said "man it's hot here" which is also what I remember most about my trip to Williamsburg as a kid. good times. Soon after this we bought a fife and carried on down the road. Then we headed back to 2008 where there was air conditioning and strange people in way too much clothing didn't stop you to say "good day my lady."

someone can read my mind

Shut the front door! A chocolate pig with bacon inside. Get thee to Vosges chocolates now. Last year my sweet husband bought me the chili/dark chocolate skull and I was shocked by it's beauty. But this....this is so lovely. Sorry vegans. Bacon is truly the dealbreaker with me and becoming a vegetarian. I don't have the will power.

deep greens and blues are the colors I choose..

I was singning along to James Taylor yesterday when random thoughts came into my peaceful mind. First, how lovely those lyrics are-- "deep greens and blues are the colors I choose. Won't you let go down in my dreams..." J T always makes me feel like fall inside. Mountains, cool air, falling leaves. His songs remind me of college, falling in love, hiking, hanging out with my dad as a child and dancing with my children. He always puts a smile on my face.

I also thought of the little boy for whom I was a nanny when I was in grad school. This dear sweet boy is now 6 feet tall but back when we spent our days focusing on fun, he was just an adorable munchkin. We would sing and dance together every day and he had great taste in music. He knew all the words to the aforementioned song and we both would giggle when he sang along to "thinking about women and glasses of beer." He was the ring bearer in our wedding and will always have a special place in my heart. My first little boy. Here's a photo of him fixing my dress for a wedding photo. He was always by my side in those days.

you had me at sauerkraut balls!

I recently finished a great book which had me waxing nostalgic for my hometown of Akron. Even if you have no love for blimps, DEVO and the pretenders, you should read David Giffels' All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House for his wit and wisdom. While wasting time on the internet, I stumbled upon an interview with him and now I love him even more. If you are interested, you can find it here: http://www.cautionarytale.com/questions/giffels2.htm

Maybe someday I can write a book describing Akron the way Willa describes the plains. What would I have to include? hmmmm. Cadillac Hill, the Go-Go Goodyear sign, the big Ol Indian in Fairlawn, Stan Hywet, Glendale Cemetery, Luigi's (cheese on my salad? was that rhetorical?), DEVO, the Soap Box derby, Chrissy Hynde, and yes--sauerkraut balls.

something silly is good

I love this poem. always have.

PUT SOMETHING IN

by Shel Silverstein

Draw a crazy picture,

Write a nutty poem,

Sing a mumble-jumble song,

Whistle through a comb.

Do a loony-goony dance'

Cross the kitchen floor,

Put something silly in the world

That ain't been there before.

*whoever came up with the beard font succeeded. Loooove it!

good quote

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote! So simple and so powerful at the same time. I suffer from an affliction of past blunders recall. I worry about stupid things I have said and done and never quite get over it. I should have done this... I could have done this... I find quotations powerful in moments like this. There are post its all over my desk, calendar, mirror... Doesn't really matter who said it sometimes either. As I look around, there are biblical quotes, presidential quotes and the words of many authors and poets. Sometimes though, all you need is good ol Bob Marley to put it all in perspective.

I'm off to be with my sons who are growing up so quickly before my eyes. Gotta make some eggs for sweet William. "oh and make them smashed by the way" he says. (thinks that means scrambled?)

Ellet High School

A friend from high school created a site where our class can connect, show photos and chat. It has been really neat to check it every once in a while and see who has joined. I love perusing the photos of everyone's children and seeing how the years have been to my former schoolmates, many who were in school with me from grade school through high school. It is great to see my best friends on it but I talk with them anyway. It is great to see those who moved away. It is a gift to have Stacy back in my life, accessible at any moment. It is wonderful to see the ones labelled as nerds in high school with the tables turned. It is touching to see photos of our classmates who have passed away. It is fabulous to see those in the closet in high school comfortable to be out and proud with all of us. What is not great is how it is starting to feel like high school all over again. Selecting friends on the site means not selecting friends. Dishing about the past means reliving things that were painful and sad. Many of the people on the site are mere strangers to me because I left my hometown after high school. Even though I grew up with these people and spent more time with them than my family (think about how long a school day is. this is a frightening revelation as a parent), I don't remember them.

*lovin that 80's hair, huh?

so small

After running they day before Carolyn, Chad and I rented a car and began driving south towards the town of Seward. Upon arrival we met up with Tommy and Sarah and hiked up to Exit Glacier. Wow! There really aren't words to describe what it was like standing before such an immense and foreign object. It looked like a prop for a movie. I mean, just like a science fair project with blue food coloring added for a realistic touch it stood there before us. The following day we headed out early for an 8 hour day of sea kayaking. Out into the deep blue (well, it was actually grey) sea we went with a warning from our guide that we could only survive for 90 second in the water when we capsized. Um, you mean "if?" The day was spectacular, the views were unlike anything I have ever seen. We saw 5 bald eagles, shouting each time "bald eagle!" We stopped at north Beach for a bit of lunch and hiked up to a waterfall. The forest floor was covered in ferns and salmonberry flowers. I munched on fiddle heads as we hiked down to the beach. For a few minutes we laid back on the grey wacky rock (official name) which was smooth and absorbed the heat of the sun. Carolyn and I could help saying "remember that time in Alaska......?"

As we fought against the waves in the middle of paradise, I felt so connected to the earth and yet so irrelevant. I was so small in such a big sea with such big mountains rising around me. Truly humbling. I wish my kids and husband could have been with me to see the beauty and experience the exhilaration of the moment but at the same time felt empowered to be doing something as myself.

marathon dancin

and then we danced! As with the course, there were moose along the way. We even saw a scary roadrunner but that is a memory we would all like to forget.

Mayor's Marathon

We did it! This past week our Team in Training Team ran for Kate and many other honored heroes. 980 people raise 4.4 MILLION dollars! wow. The race was amazing. It rained at the beginning and was cool throughout. For the first time ever, I think I had that runner's high that everyone always talks about. It could have been that I was running with Kate's amazing spirit in my heart or that I was running alongside my dear friend and incredible advocate, Carolyn. It could have been the forests we ran through that were lush and vibrant, filled with huge ferns and wildlife. It could have been the fun I was having with Laura talking about bacon and kickball. It could have been the feeling in my heart cheering on our friend Sarah, a recent survivor who was running with her husband Tommy, a soldier who fought for our freedom and came home to take care of the love of his life. It could have been the thoughts of Kenny, our friend who was running in memory of his sweet little boy Collin.

Thank you to everyone who was with me in spirit. Thank you for your encouragement, love and hope. Thank you for giving for such an important cause. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and I will continue my support.

netflix picks

I love Netflix. Movies delivered to your door quickly, no late payments and until today "movies you'll love." This is a dropdown box that because of movies you have rated, has choices for you that you are supposed to love. Today I had this:

Jillian Michaels: Cardio KickboxBecause you enjoyed:

Angela's Ashes
Felicity: Season 1
Entourage: Season 3: Part 1

I will enjoy Cardio kickboxing because I enjoyed Angela's ashes and Felicity? Where does poverty and despair in Ireland meet kickboxing? Perhaps in college where you are trying to find yourself. Should I be a doctor or an artist? Nah, I should kickbox.

will's funny word

we played the funny word game at dinner last night (at depeaux yum!). When I asked Will which word makes him laugh, he said "bean smaggler." Don't ask him what it is because he will tell you firmly "someone who smaggles beans."

*if you google it, all that comes up is "did you mean bean smuggler?"

funny words

last night we had dinner with friends at a Lebanese restaurant. Everything we ordered made me laugh despite how delicious it was. I can't say "muhamarra" without pronouncing it like an old movie villian. and how fun is "shwarma?" We then began to ponder funny words. My sweet husband recalled that my favorite funny word is snorkel which made me laugh more. The following words make me laugh. Send me those that make you giggle (in itself a funny word) and I will make sure to say them frequently in your presence and add them to the list.

funnies:



the name of everything in IKEA

ointment-

hirsute- you don't think it's funny? then you don't know what it means

gruntled- is this what you would be if you were pleased?

besmirched

fisticuffs (I read a lot of historical fiction)

scofflaw (see previous)

moist- even funnier with "towelette")

falafel

shellac

shag- carolyn's fav

smorgasbord- no matter how much food is there, I will laugh

flummox

calvalcade- call em in and make me laugh

wharf- good thing I don't have a boat

gubernatorial

nougat- makes Beth laugh

tittle

barnacle- especially when found in the wharf

nozzle

shababeek

new additions from my friend, Geoff:
Galumpki- funny and delicious
quaff
uff da



*if only you could have been with me for the spelling bee finals. Ben and i watched in entirety. He giggled a lot as well. We were sad that head in her hands girl didn't make it very far.

yesterday

just when you second guess your parenting skills, something extraordinary happens. I was watching bits of "Hard Days Night" with my boys when they both pointed out each Beatle by name....mentioning George Harrison first even. good stuff.

the super 70's

My kickball team has been trying to come up with fun/amusing names and during the process I realized how much of an age difference we have. I am not sure what the final name is but "Kickin it old school" was a finalist. Funny, because I truly have kicked it old school.

I had this poster on the back of my bedroom door, my bedroom that was painted purple...with purple shag carpet. I would gaze at is before donning my pink satin jacket and bell bottom courderouys. Then I would pull back my Jan brady hair in some cool ribbon barretts and get my roller skates out. My favorite tv show? toos up between the Land of the Lost and probably Fantasy Island. Hop on my banana-seated bike to the store for penny candy. Just had to take a few bottles back and maybe I could score a pop and some zotz or a candy lipstick or two.

yep, that's me in the Holly Hobbie dress (it had a matching bonnet). kickin it old school

mmmmm bacon

http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/02/27/bacon-cups/

Holy mother of all things wonderful! Look what I found. Bacon as art. Bacon as a vehicle. If only I could drink from them.

speaking of good parents...

speaking of great parents, check out this groovy dude. yep, that's my dad and I spinning (or cooking in large pots) at Disney. His hair is fabulous.

This man is amazing. Great person, great father. I always knew I was loved and that I could be anything I wanted to be. I have always felt comfortable talking about everything with him. This photo was taken after he came back from Vietnam. I can tell by the necklace he is wearing. It holds something special that a villager gave him. While he was there he helped build an orphanage for the children who were alone. my hero. His name is Walter, Ben's middle name.

frustration

I had a moment with a mom in the parking lot of a mall today and I can't seem to get it off my mind. When we were entering the mall, a little boy about 3 years old came running out crying---you know that cry where they breathe in really hard and their chest rises and falls and it goes on after the crying is over. Many moms tried to help but it looked like he was following someone so we all watched and waited. Then he ran into the crowded, hot, saturday afternoon mall parking lot wailing and turning in circles. My heart fell and my legs started to run. As a man who was closer tried to help him, all of us moms stayed at watch to make sure he would do the right thing. Inside the mall a mom strolled towards the doors (seriously, she was taking a Sunday walk looking for her lost child). As she opened the doors the little boy's eyes widened and he ran for the comfort of his mother. Whew, I thought. He is safe. Here comes the horror of it all. She grabs him and slaps him then pulls his arm tightly and walks away with him. There was a collective gasp, but no one did a thing. nothing. I couldn't help but run to her. I stopped her and said "you hit him? he is lost and you hit him? He was wandering the parking lot crying for you and you hit him?" She walked away. My sons said "mom, people are staring at you. This is a little embarrasing." All I could say was "she should know that she was being a bad mother. She should know we are watching. He should know that we are watching." I hope someone is telling him he is loved at home because my heart is breaking for his little soul. I hope my children understood from that moment how much they are loved and kept safe.

my friend Shannon made me a gorgeous frame with this quote which is fitting for today: "Our children are watching us live, and what we are shouts louder than anything we can say" --W. Peterson

origami sweetness

Will has an art camp this week with my friend Whitney who is donating the funds to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society to support her San Fran run this fall. He had such a good time yesterday, especially with the shrinky dinks. This morning he asked when they would get to origami, his newest passion. "Do you think we will make birds? I would like to make some to put on top of presents because then people would get a present on top of their present. I would like to make one for Whitney to thank her for doing art with me. I could write the words on the wings for her." sigh.

to donate to her run http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/nikesf08/wblackmore

silver comet trail

does this butt make my butt look big?

Sunday we biked the Silver Comet Trail on a gorgeous albeit hot day. The kids did great biking 10 miles. It was great to work different muscles after running so much the day before. We loved getting ice cream at the 4 mile mark. Ben had some mighty fine bike etiquette. I can't believe I am the mother of someone old enough to say "on your left."

A Will moment: on the drive we were looking up at the clouds. I noticed one that looked like it had a wondow in it. Will said "Yeah, the people who go to heaven always turn into clouds."

*today is my wonderful dad's birthday. Happy birthday silly goose, love peanut.

14 miles and a birthday party

today we had the most fun time (well afterwards it was fun) running 14 miles. The best part was seeing our inspiration, Kate, at the top of the hill as we finished. Yep, that's why I run. Carolyn, Laura, Craig and I suffered through the sweltering heat and humidity and talked for 2 hours about nonsense. What we learned and will share with you now is that no matter how sweet it is that you get up early, fills jugs with water and sit in the sun cheering us on with vaseline, sunblock and tissues, hose water still tastes, in the words of Hannah, "donkey." Descriptions from our team of the water today at a particular stop: donkey, algae, bathtub water, giardia infested, diarreah inducing, yucko, gross, warm, funky, bugsprayish and from the lone must be thirsty girl who has very bad plumbing at home "tastes good to me." We are grateful for water stops though. Water stop-Bob's water was something fine.

afterwards, we celebrated Kate's 6th birthday and had a super time watching her open presents and eat cake. Craig made sure she and he were sufficiently covered in hello kitty tatoos. Then the Hansens and the HBergers had a yummy brunch (yes, with bacon). great day.

how did we get from this little angel to this so quickly?

my son has a crush. I think it is mutual. seriously, can't you see it in this photo? I'm saving this for the rehearsal dinner. where does the time go?