Grandma's Kitchen Table

So What's New Over There?

      Hot Apple Pie cooling on the stove top today.

      It's Wednesday afternoon, which means I am home cooking dinner for our priests, us, and one other family today.  Just stopping by to say hello and surf around the family/friends blogs a bit while it is cooking. 

      Matt had shoulder therapy early this morning, Alex trudged off for school in 7 degree weather to wait for the bus, and Mark headed north to Gary, IN for a deposition and won't be home until 8:00 from a long and tiring drive which wouldn't be all that bad if it weren't for the long and tiring deposition sandwiched in there also.  It hasn't warmed up all that much today (yesterday's temperature of 53 degrees was just a tease), so I baked apple pies as it seemed like a fine day to treat everyone and make the house smell oh so good...you know the kind of day where you walk in the door from the cold and everything inside is warm and toasty with a fire burning, dinner ready, and a nice apple pie sitting there just waiting to be appreciated.  It's good to appreciate the simple things in life every single day.  I can't think I would rather be anywhere else in the world this evening. 

      And, very soon after delivering the dinners about and picking up Matt from swim practice, you will find me camped in front of the telly cheering for the Hawks against the Boilermakers up the road a bit at Purdue.  So, what's going on over there?

New Scrapbook Page Total for 2008

      I'm back from our 8th annual all-chick-all-scrapbook Silver & Gold Weekend...and what a wonderful time I had the entire weekend!  I finished 63 scrapbook album pages, had a wonderful time away with the girls, and have now returned home to my wonderful family wonderfully refreshed and ready to get back into the routine of things around here.  Thanks Anne, Christie, Shelly, Abbie, Nancy, Linda, Karrie, Holly, Margy, Annette, Michelle, Laura, Francie, Shellie, Pat, and Mindy for all the laughs and fun this weekend! 

      (Oh, and no comment on the Hoo/UConn game...I am still pouting a little.)

     It's always nice to have a little group of flowers around, especially this time of year when there aren't any blooming outside...bright yellow ones always make me think of sunshine and I can't help but smile whenever I see them...little bits of all that sunshine right at my fingertips.   Not one beautiful perfect flower today, but three...a little group of smiling sunshine.  Always.

Thursday's Favorites Fare

New Best Times

       Dixie and I took this photo of my beloved moon two nights ago around six in the evening from my back deck, and it looked pretty much the same the night before that and last night, but it's been a crazy busy week, so this is the first chance I have gotten to post it.  So beautiful. 

       It feels good to be home today as I have been on the go non-stop lately, so just being home today and cooking feels great.  I even watched Martha without the tivo today...and get this, she gave away new laptops to all the studio audience...sometimes she just gives little things, and occasionally it is something major...I consider this pretty major.  Unfortunately, I was not in the audience today.  Laptops...who knew? 

      Matt had another high school swim meet last night down at the Nat...an invitational with ten teams, ours being the smallest with just one member, of course.  One member or not, he swam his two events, the 100 Free in which he came in second by a little less than two seconds to a junior who placed eighth at state last year, and the 100 Back in which he came in first by more than half a pool's length and for which he received one very cool first place medal.  He had two new personal best times by the end of the evening, and as we have been jokingly saying, "Two New School Records!"  (Which means that each time Matt swims, if he has a new best time, is a new school record as he is currently the only one swimming and there are no school swimming records except his...BUT, it is fun to say!)  And, here are some photos from last night so you can feel like you were there.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)Harrison and Ali were both there swimming for Brebeuf, our Catholic school rival, so that was fun...and Harry finished 3rd behind Matt's 2nd in the Free. 

      Oh, and before I go...don't forget:  TONIGHT IS THE HOO-HAWK GAME!  See you there!

Swimmer and Coach Confer

Matt (white cap) making the Sign of the Cross before mounting the starting block...something he always does.

Coach Roch looking on from the sidelines as Matt (white cap), Sean (Brebeuf winner of this swim), and Harrison all get ready to swim the 100 Free.

The 100 Back, Matt in the center lane took off and was way ahead with no looking back.

The finish of the 100 Back, Matt in the center lane finishes about half a pool ahead of all the rest...that was one really great swim!

One very happy swimmer, and one very happy coach after the 100 Backstroke swim.

The end of the evening...a very nice first place medal for the 100 Back; and a very nice second place ribbon for the 100 Free.  One very happy boy.  One very happy coach.  Two very proud parents.  One amazed brother.  One wonderful evening.  Go Matt, Go Guerin!

A fun shot of Ali in her towel waiting for her Butterfly race.

"I'm going to beat you in this race, Gerth."  "Tell your story walking, Wagner, I have it all wrapped up...all we have to do is beat Sean, however!"  Matt, in white cap, and Harrison, capless discussing the hopes for the upcoming 100 freestyle.  Sean (1); Matt (2); Harrison (3)...a great race!

Some Things Old, Some Things New

  Matt and Coach Roch  

      Where have we been all weekend?  Well, that's NOTHING NEW...we've been at a swim meet.  (Actually we will have been swimming at meets for five out of six days come Tuesday...and by WE, I mean that Matt swims while Mark and I provide transport, and with Alex's help also, work the family sessions at the USA meet.)  I haven't written about swimming in a bit, so maybe this is time for a bit of an update.  Feel free to pass. 

      Currently we are swimming with our USA team as well as swimming high school seasonal swimming.  Currently we have aged up into the 15-18 year old age group for high school and the 15 year olds and over age group for USA swimming (senior swimming).  Currently we are battling shoulder problems and are in therapy three times a week.  Currently we are dropping time in some areas, adding in others...nothing new in that in an aging up year.  Currently our attitude remains positive and upbeat while progressing through our days beginning at 4:45 a.m. and ending somewhere near 10:30 p.m.  Swimming is not for the weak of heart, mind, or spirit (and I am thinking of adding "over 50" to that list). 

      Our high school swimming season has been a little wild.  First off, the IHSAA ruled that Matt could not have Ian as a coach as he was "associated with Carmel" and, while it would not matter in the long run if Matt was not a good swimmer, it did matter a great deal as Matt is state material and, since he is swimming for Guerin Catholic High School, he would need to be completely represented by Guerin and not anyone from Carmel.  Oh.  Now. You. Tell. Us.  So, in December we needed to "come up with a coach."  Come up with a coach???  Hmmm...so, I mentioned this to a group of us chatting about at Guerin one day and Chyrise, the Admissions Director at Guerin, said, "Oh, you know, my husband used to coach swimming a little."  I thought, but did not say aloud, "Oh, this probably won't work as Matt is used to TOP OF THE LINE coaches and has been swimming nine years, etc. etc. and this man is probably someone who coached a neighborhood swim team or something along those lines."  BUT, beggars can't be choosers mid-season and I said, "Well, let's talk to Greg (athletic director at Guerin)...."  In the meantime, Chyrise said to her husband, "There is this kid at Guerin who wants to swim even if it is without a whole team, so they need a coach, you think you could do that for him?  I think he swims a little."   We are laughing now was we look back and giving Chyrise a hard time about promoting Roch as someone who "has coached a little" and Matt as someone "who swims a little." 

      We met the first night with no expectations and found out that Roch has coached high school, USA, and college swimming; is a Masters swimmer; swam from the time he was very little at all levels and especially high school and college; has a doctorate and is as Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at a university; has a brother who has been head coach at a university for the women's water polo team for the past ten years, bringing all sorts of honor and fame there; and is sort of a Renaissance man when it comes to any number of sports...you know..."he coaches a little."  Understatement of the year. 

      When he met Matt and asked Matt to dive in and show him a quick 50...he turned to me with a big grin at the end of it, both thumbs up and said, "I've got a SWIMMER!"  It is a great match...the two have been motoring around as coach and team and having a great time.  Because Guerin does not have a full team, or a pool, we cannot attend or host dual meets, so we can only swim invitationals...and two were all we were allowed this year.  Doesn't matter...Matt has already qualified for sectionals and then we will see if he has a good enough time for going to state for high school...he is swimming against fresh, soph, jun, and sr swimmers, so maybe not this year.   But, we have a goal and we proceed forward.

      Photos are from the first invitational at Ben Davis High School when we showed up with our team-of-one and took first place in each event (in high school swimming, due to timing, you are only allowed two events per meet and relays...we do not, however, have four members for relays, so we are just allowed the two swim events per meet, not like the USA meets that last three days and the swimmers each swim 10-12 events plus relays).  When we arrived, the question was "Who is Guerin and are you serious, they just have one swimmer?"  At the end of the evening, it was "WHO is GUERIN and WHO is that SWIMMER???"  So Guerin is on the map, officially speaking, in the high school swimming world.  And, Roch?  Well, he was just very pleased that if he had to show up with a one member team, at least that one member made it worth his while! 

      And, now, here are the photos so you can feel like you were actually at the meet.  (Click on photos to enlarge; I could not get the captions to line up correctly, so most are off to the side of the photo and two are completely on the lines below the photos...I'll try to do better next time.)

Warm-ups, Thinking it Through.

Long reaches.

Into the wall.

Starting block prep.

Churning up the water.

"Whatever you say, Coach!"

Coach:  Pensive

Coach:  Apprehensive

Victorious!  Coach and Swimmer:  Happy and Excited for the Guerin Catholic High School Swim Team! 

Something New To Do -- Part 5

   Beautiful Film Week, Day 5. 

     My fifth film submission for consideration is High Society.  One needs to have something wonderfully silly, laid back and just plain entertaining after a long week, right?  High Society meets all this, and more, just beautifully. 

      The film was released in 1956, I believe, and has the most fantastic cast:  Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, and Louis Armstrong doing Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, all the way through with a Cole Porter score...what's not to love about this movie?  I watch it every time it is on and even own a copy of the DVD...how silly is that to work around watching it when it is on the television when I own the DVD??? 

      So, for a fun Friday night when you can kick back and just let the film and music flow over you without having to think and ponder and scrutinize, High Society is my fifth submission for Beautiful Film Week...watch it and let me know what you think!   (I could not find a trailer to link you to a clip, so you might want to search on your own, as the one I did find at Star Pulse worked for me, but not when I tried to paste it in the linking section here.)

Something New To Do -- Part 4

BEAUTIFUL FILM WEEK, DAY 4.      

      My fourth film submission for consideration is Out of Africa.  It's long.  It's been out there for years and years (best picture 1985).  But, it is beautiful.  When the Baroness Blixen wrote her account of her time in Africa as a plantation landowner, farmer, wife, mistress, and friend, it was indeed a novelty.  The good Baroness wrote about things that weren't really spoken of in polite society, it's true, but it is also true that she opened up the entire continent of Africa for readers who would never go there.  Through her eyes and experiences, the reader came to know Africa like it had never been known before or since. 

      The film captures it all beautifully and I always find myself totally succumbing to the cadence and beauty that unfolds scene after scene after scene.  Even now, I can hear "I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills..." and be totally swept away in anticipation of watching it again.

      You can watch the trailer here if you would like a little preview, but it captures so little of the real essence, that I hesitate to even post the link.  Watch the film, and if you like it, read more of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen's pen name)...I think I have read almost everything she ever wrote and have never ever been disappointed in a bit of it.

Something New To Do -- Part 3

BEAUTIFUL FILM WEEK, DAY 3.      

      My third film submission for consideration is Message in a Bottle.  Love the scenery, the actors are well matched to their roles, and I like movies that don't always take you where you think they are going to take you...this is one of those films. 

      I think the beautiful part of this film, besides the actors and scenery, of course, is that while we embark upon life feeling it will take one direction, sometimes in fact, it takes quite another, that direction in turn taking us somewhere we didn't know we wanted to go until we discover maybe, after all, it was exactly where we wanted to go.  The resulting beauty that comes from knowing that while we are not always in control of the ending results, we might be meant to revel in the beauty of the process (or something along those lines as I don't want to give too much away if you haven't seen it yet)...therefore, Message in a Bottle is my third submission for Beautiful Film Week for showing us that we should appreciate the bursts of beauty we are given along the way...or maybe I just like films where you don't guess the ending.  Watch it and let me know what you think! 

      You can watch the trailer hereif you would like a little preview, but it really doesn't do the film justice.

Something New To Do -- Part 2

      

        Beautiful Film Week, Day 2. 

      My second film submission for consideration is The Illusionist.  Not only does this movie have an intriguing plot line, mystery, romance, and a great wrap-up, it is filmed in the most beautiful lighting that you can imagine.

      Truly, each scene is very rich and deep with the lighting source focused in ways that remind you of a fine still life oil  painting mounted in a museum gallery.  Every scene.  All through the movie.  It is absolutely beautifully presented...therefore, The Illusionist is my second submission for Beautiful Film Week...watch it and let me know what you think! 

      You can watch the trailer here if you would like a little preview.  One of my all-time favorite movies.

Something New To Do

       On Sulu Designs' blog here she posted today, with others doing the same, an entry for Beautiful Film Week - Day 1, and I was taken with the idea, so I am going to play along this week and share a few of my favorites also.  Anyone else want to play? 

      My first submission for consideration is Sweet Land which I saw once just a little while ago.  I loved it so much that I wanted to wait a little before I saw it again because it was an emotional story on film and you all know me...I don't do emotion well.  I am now, however, ready to see it again.  It is really a beautiful story, set in southern Minnesota about Norwegian/German immigrants beginning in 1920...it is a love story, beautifully told.   Here is a site for the trailer for it, but you truly need to just rent it and watch it all curled up with a lovely fire blazing in the fireplace, a cup of hot cider, and maybe your Granny's hankie in some parts...it is very moving.  The photography is really lovely as well, and the actors incredible in their parts...what's not to love?  So, Sweet Land would be my first submission for Beautiful Film Week.  Let me know what you think after you've seen it! 

New Thoughts on Baby Hawks!

      How about those Baby Hawks tonight?!!  Can't wait to see the press on tonight's game against MSU at Carver...MSU still 6th in the country...uh, I don't think so...the day just keeps getting better and better!  Colts followed by the Hoos tomorrow afternoon...but back to those Hawks...who saw that coming?  What's next for Todd and the boys?  Too soon to tell, but we will certainly enjoy tonight's victory...Go Hawks!

I Knew It Would Be A Great Day

       I knew it would be a great day and it was...just perfect.  I love my children, don't take this wrong, but it is always rather a nice treat to just be out as a couple.  Mark and I were married for 14 years before the boys came along.  Fourteen years motoring with just the two of us was an awful lot of date days...so these last 15 years were a bit of an awakening as to how children necessarily become a priority and date days became fewer as a result. 

      Still and all, finding time for just motoring about as a couple always has been, and continues to be, the absolute best...I think I have fallen in love with this man a million times over the years and sharing a slice of lemon glazed cake for dessert late this afternoon at a restaurant, I have to say, makes it a million and one.  I wish I could say I deserved all this...but the truth is, I don't...I have never done anything in my life that came close to deserving this kind of love. 

      So, what movie did we see?  We saw "Charlie Wilson's War" and it was great...we both enjoyed it very much, of course we are both history nerds lovers, but I think it has enough of a variety in it that would appeal to a wider audience...well, maybe...there were only 9 other people in the theater...which wasn't a bad deal since we had the back row center seats and enough privacy for a few stolen moments...ah...young love, old love, what does it matter?  Date Day:  It's a very good thing.

Thursday's Favorites Fare

     Steak Stew in the One Scoop Birdy Bowl from Little Flower Designs.

READING:   Just browsing through library books of photography about how to take better family/people/everyday type shots with more interest, etc.  This led me to a never-ending internet menu of sites devoted to this, so have been spending the week studying up on these suggestions/ideas.

POOLSIDE READING:  Carolyn Hart's mysteries.  (Am too cheap to buy Sue Grafton's newest, so am patiently waiting on the hold list at the library for T is for Trespass...maybe soon as I have been waiting quite a bit now.)

LISTENING TO:    Tom Petty...Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are going to do the Super Bowl halftime show...now we're talkin'! 

COOKING THROUGH:   Some of the blogs I check in on now and again have been featuring interesting and inspiring recipes, so I am giving those a whirl this week.

FAV NEW FIND:    Little Flower Designs where I found this oh-so-cute One Scoop Birdy Bowl pictured above with today's lunch in it.  Most days here I eat soup and salad for lunch.  (Okay, most days anywhere anytime I eat soup and/or salad for lunch...I am a creature of habit, what can I say?)  A regular soup bowl or cup and a salad plate full of greens can be a pretty big lunch...but with this little One Scoop Birdy Bowl, the soup portion is just right! (And, for those of you who love portion control...get thee over to Linda's and order a Birdy Bowl or two for yourself!  Perfect size.) Now, if I can just get Linda to make me a One Toss Birdy Salad Plate, I will be all set! 

FAV THING TODAY:   Hands down, no question, my absolute favorite thing today was a chatty telephone call from my Uncle Larry in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  I know, I know, I usually am not that fond of the phone, but there are special people and occasions when I LOVE that phone.  It was just so nice to sit and chat and catch up with family news, etc. and it absolutely made my day.  What a gift!  Isn't it great things like this happen?  Absolutely favorite thing today.  Absolutely.

SCRAPBOOK PAGES THIS WEEK:   Well, this week I began packing up my supplies, photos, and memorabilia for the scrapbook weekend this month.  I love this weekend each year when I have been known to crank out about 80 pages in the space of two days.  Now, mind you, I am not one of those architecture, build-a-page type of scrapbookers...I don't do a lot of fancy stuff or art work or stickers or things like that...just the photos, the stories/words/memories and once in awhile something of whimsy.  Last year I did almost an entire year's worth to get caught up.  This year, the plan is to get the high school memory books going for both the boys, and to finish the Italy travel pages which still need bits and pieces here and there.  So, this week I am organizing, sorting, and getting all the pre-planning done. 

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS LIST PROGRESS:  I made it to Book-It; went to the Mall shopping with a friend for one hour and fifteen minutes (purchased the calendar page inserts for my Franklin Covey day planner, so it was not a total waste unproductive...I did love the company, however); let the boys decorate, organize, etc. in the new Game Room about 80% of the time...I did suggest a few things which they agreed were good, but other than that, I did not go in and line things up and/or change them around; learned how to check messages on my cell; signed up for the photography class; signed up for the knitting class; answered three phone calls without going through the message machine, and let several emails sit for a day or two before answering them.  Growth:  who knew?  The power of a list.

GOING TO:   Have the entire day Saturday with Mark...Matt will be at an all-day choir retreat and Alex will be at scout camp...a whole day from 9-4 that we can just float about doing whatever comes to mind that we want to do...I think there is a movie in the mix somewhere...date day instead of date night...what's not to love about a whole date day?

PRAYING FOR:    As I go through my address book today, noting new addresses from Christmas cards and letters, I realized just how many loved ones have had changes this year...births, deaths, marriages, divorces...a lot of changes in my book.  So, I am praying for those near and dear dealing with all these changes, both happy and sad, please join me with your own journey through your own address book and pray for those in your life who are experiencing these kinds of changes also.

New Digs

       Before the transformation:  the old schoolroom with the new couch moved in already...just a matter of moments before it's Out with the Old and in with the rest of the New.   Next photo is left side of the room.  And, the last photo, with Vash claiming a seat, right side of the room.   The bookcases are built in all across the backside of the room, so those remain.  This weekend I will sort through all the books, helping many find their ways to new homes with homeschooling friends.

       After dedicated efforts by the guys over the weekend, the old schoolroom, aka the Men's Den II, aka now The Game Room, is pretty much finished...I believe there are going to be some additional wall items (please, I had nothing to do with the location of those speakers mounted on the wall...it's their room, what can I say?), by way of travel photos they want to enlarge, frame, and hang, but by and large, that's all that's left to do. 

      Matt looked me in the eye and said, "Mom, this Presidents' border thing is history...say goodbye, if you must, but it is coming down."  Sigh.  It's like ripping down a little of my soul...we were all so excited about how it looked when we put it up in the schoolroom all those years ago...time marches on.  (With me generally kicking and screaming, well, at least in my mind, not actually doing it for an audience and all.) 

      Maybe time to listen to the Dead's Touch of Grey..."I will get by...I will survive..."  (Of course, Jerry is dead now, so maybe that is nothing I should be associating this with.)  Anyway, when the new artwork, photos, etc. go up, the Presidents will all be coming down...anyone want them?  Email me now, if so...otherwise...it's time to move on.  I will get by.  I will survive. 

      ADDED NOTE:  Thanks for the emails: the bulletin board, chalkboard, and The Presidents have all found new homes.

Birthday News

       Today's photo comes from the Archives Division...Susanne Hayes, David Burrack, Kenny Kamper, Elaine Koch, myself, and Jon Reed at the Starmont prom way too many years ago!  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

      My best friend from my school years is turning 53 today.  Susanne and I met in the second grade in First Communion class and as the years progressed, we were pretty much inseparable...where one of us was, the other was not far behind.  We went to different colleges and now live way too far apart...Kansas City, Missouri not being all that accessible on a daily basis to Indianapolis, Indiana.  There are not too many childhood memories that don't contain a near and dear link to her...and through the years, despite her love of shopping, we still maintain enough of those two giggly school girls to remain in touch and rejoice in one another's newsy bits. 

      Susanne just returned from a two-week trip to Haiti with a mission of people who performed surgeries and eye care for the underprivileged there...that is so like her, using her vacation to help others.  I am always so proud to know her, she accomplishes much with her life. 

      Happy Birthday, Susanne!  I could have chosen a hundred photos, but I thought you would get a kick out of this one because that sideways look of yours has always been my favorite and 90% of the photos I have include THAT sideways look at the camera, and also because it also included Elaine (who always threw a great slumber party) and David (who was always willing to be involved in any endeavor we were embarking upon)...good golly, that was 35 years ago or so...how did we get so old so fast???  So, as always, from the poem you wrote on my 16th birthday card..."Happy Birthday to My Best Friend...I hope our friendship will never end...."  Happy 53rd Birthday, Sue! 

Nothin' New Around Here Today

      Pippin, Mark, and Vash thinking of ways not to be too productive yet today.  (Sorry about the frightening green eyes on the dogs as I haven't figured out how to adjust the camera settings yet to avoid that...maybe this week.)  The most popular guy around the house this morning...he's sorta great at cuddling.

      We are having kind of a lazy Sunday morning...raining outside and kinda dreary, inspiring no one to be too keen on getting outside to remove the outdoor Christmas lights.  Schlepping about reading the newspaper and playing with the dogs seems a much better choice, don't you agree?  (That's good if you agree because maybe our neighborhood homeowners association will let it slide and refrain from sending any  notes like this:  "We hope that you all had a very nice holiday and now that vacations are over, we trust that the Christmas lights will all be down as soon as possible.  Thank you for your attention to details.") 

      Busy afternoon as we have one to get to Driver's Ed (last class, yeah!), one to get to choir rehearsal, Mark and I get to go to Katie and Gary's Open House yearly bash, and then we get to retrieve said younger members from said locations before heading to church, followed by Life Teen, and the very disappointing realization that SCHOOL STARTS BACK UP AGAIN TOMORROW.  (Actually I am looking forward to aspects of that...one can only be footloose and fancy free for so long before the guilt sets in.  I took these two weeks off to be with the family, so I am missing my usual rounds of volunteer work, friends, chores, etc. etc. and am looking forward to getting back into my routines.  And, oh, yes, indeedy, Alex really needs to be back in school with more people to bounce off of each day.)

      To finish off here, I am adding this to my list of Things I Don't Really Want to Hear or Know About:  I asked Matt if he had all his school uniforms ready to go, gym uniforms, etc., and he said, "Yep, all ready to go.  And, by the way, Mom, you have got to lighten up about that gym uniform thing because I am the ONLY one I know that has a clean gym uniform every day.  Some of those kids didn't wash them a single time yet and some only took them home over Christmas to get them washed for the rest of the year this one time."  OMW...these are not things I can even fathom.  Can you even IMAGINE this?  Wait, don't answer that...I don't even want to know.

Thursday's Favorites Fare (Oops, it's Friday)

       Rebecca decorating cookies this morning with her mother Katie rolling them out in the background.   If you look on the cookie sheet, you can see my special "IU" decorated cookies (that's why they invite me to help:  my cookie decorating skills always add a little something...well, something).  This is a Purdue household, so they humor me by letting me use the state cookie cutter in the first place, and by letting me decorate them with red and white.  Rebecca made a yellow Purdue cookie next to them for balance. 

READING:   Shhh...don't tell Mark this, but he got a wonderful new book for Christmas by Graham Robb entitled The Discovery of France:  A Historical Geography, from the Revolution to the First World War that he has been conveniently leaving by his chair each day as he leaves for work, and I have been reading it on the sly, careful to stay just up to the point of his bookmark so that I don't turn the fresh pages or dislodge that new book smell, etc.  It is really good...and kindoffundon'tchaknow to be scoring history on the sly like this. (There is a bad girl inside, not far at all from the surface.  For shame.) 

POOLSIDE READING:  Carolyn Hart's mysteries.

LISTENING TO:    Peter Frampton.  Someone has to do it every little bit or so. 

COOKING THROUGH:   Alice Waters' new cookbook The Art of Simple Food.  So far, I have done the early dressing and sauce chapters and done some checking around for a different CSA this year.

FAV NEW FIND:     My favorite new find is a knitting class for beginners.  I am finally going to learn how to do this in a class situation...I am figuring knitting would be a good thing to do at swim meets with all that sitting around time between swims.  I gave up on it over the summer as we were on the move too much, but I am thinking these next couple of months will be prime time for learning how to knit.  Can you even believe I am still thinking about doing this?  Me either.

FAV THING TODAY:   My favorite thing today is making and decorating sugar cookies with Katie, Rebecca, and Meredith this morning for their party this Sunday.  They host this Epiphany party each year and one of the stars of the party is over a thousand or so cookies, all different kinds and styles, all on trays circulating about...all homemade from tried and true (and some secret) recipes.  With Gary at work, this is a household full of girls and pink, so I always like to be invited to come over and help with some of the cookie process. 

SCRAPBOOK PAGES THIS WEEK:   Okay, I did not actually scrapbook any yet this week (not a good start to my page-a-day resolution...) but I did get all the photos sorted and uploaded to the photo shop we use and they are ready to be picked up tomorrow, so I can work on them over the weekend.  I am counting that as a step in the right direction.  (Yes, it does SO COUNT!)

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS LIST PROGRESS:  I just got the list, so I don't really need to have made any progress so far, right?  See, I told you all you should not have made that list for me...now I feel obligated to attempt at least some of it. Compulsive people are like that don'tchaknow. Probably should attempt some of the ones on the "not keeping" list also.  We'll see.

GOING TO:   Sunday is officially Epiphany, the Twelfth Day of Christmas, so in addition to the regular type things, all the Christmas/holiday decor comes down and gets packed away, and this year for the first time in I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, we DO NOT have a swim meet this weekend and we can go to Katie and Gary's big annual Open House party and see a lot of friends and make some new ones!   

PRAYING FOR:    My friend Anne as she struggles to cope with her life without Rich...for her birthday today, the first that she has celebrated without Rich since they were 17 and fell in love in high school...for all spouses who are struggling this year finding their new paths without the other.  Please join me.

Who Knew?

      Wow...did you see those hobbling baby Hawks soaring against the Hoos last night?  Who knew...who knew?  All the polls have them down at the very bottom with very little confidence of any sort of rise...and they may still be right about that, injuries on the Hawk side being what they have been to date and the fact that they have a new coach and a young team...BUT, last night's game was worth watching until the final buzzer...I just love games like that.  Well worth staying up past my usual bedtime. 

      Hoos meet the Hawks again on January 23rd, this next time in Hooville, so we will get another look at just how much better Freeman can look between now and then and hopefully Jake's ankle will have heeled nicely...maybe a trip home to Carmel to rest for Jake, but probably not.   The Hoos looked fine, but definitely some room for shoring up the weak spots.   While the road is always tough, and for some reason the Hoos never play well at Carver, a three point win isn't where I thought they would end up at the end of the evening...I thought it would be more like a 23 point win.   It was a fine game and a fine night. 

      No picture today in this post as I could never hope to capture what moved me this morning, so do this:  read and then close your eyes and envision your own photo.  This morning, on the early a.m. swim practice run in the dark, the newly fallen snow was absolutely gorgeous.  They say Eskimos have a hundred different words for snow and its various forms and descriptions.  If so, I wish I knew the name for this kind of snow...the kind where it sparkles like a million tiny diamonds whenever light shines on it...can you picture it?  I am sure you have all seen it and know exactly what I am talking about...so just close your eyes a minute, picture it, and appreciate just how sparkly, beautiful, and magical it always is to see it.  Are you there yet?  Isn't it pretty?  See, you didn't need a photo at all today, you have it right there with you. 

      Go out and make it special...do something really nice for someone for no apparent reason at all. 

New Year's Resolutions...And NOT

      It's not a party until the Kazoos come out...Alex and cousin David celebrating at Grandma and Grandpas.

      Okay, okay, stop with the emails about the New Year's Resolutions...Cease, Halt...mistake to suggest that, definitely.  You all are very funny...very, very funny.

Here are the ones I am going to try to keep from all the suggestions:

1.  Challenge of a scrapbook page a day (total at end of year to equal 365 and can include gift albums, etc.).

2.  Two retreats a year:  One in January and one in August.  Chicks only.  (And, no silly comments when I am the only one NOT drinking or eating chocolates and Doritos at the August one.)

3.  One non-complaining, non-only-visiting-the-bookstores, non-rolling-of-the-eyes-and-sighing-and-asking-how-much-longer trip to the mall with girlfriends a month, to last at least one hour.

4.  Lunch A-Z with Margaret...to equal the 26 letters of the alphabet and eating at a restaurant with a name starting with the letter next in line and ordering something OTHER than just soup or salad.  (And when we get to the "X," I don't have to go into any place that begins with X or XX or XXX, if you get my drift.)

5.  Make every attempt to go to Canada for the Shakespeare trip with Shelley, Katie, Michelle, Jeri, etc. etc. and to go bowling with Katie while in Canada.

6.  Attend every Book-It this year.

7.  Attend every Mom's Night Out this year.

8.  Attend as many IMA events with the ICHSA as possible (can't promise all as I have to pick up Matt at school during that time until  he gets that license in August).

9.  Get together with my sister, KJH, more often in non-life-threatening weather, Iowa being what it is and all during snow, tornado, and flooding times.

10.  Be less compulsive about neatness and things lining up just so, especially when working with Paul at swim meets at the greeters table because this drives him (and probably everyone else) nuts.

11.  Read at least one book a month that people actually can identify, is somewhat fun, acceptable conversation for cocktail parties, and has no redeeming value whatsoever other than just reading it for fun and because everyone else is reading it.

12.  Have more patience with Alex's requests.  (Okay, this came from Alex, so I am not sure how much this one really counts, but I will say that I am not the most patient of souls when it comes to some of his requests, which I find hard to believe are not in Ripley's Believe It Or Not selection of outlandish requests from 15 year old boys.)

13.  Take a photography class with Cindy (and anyone else who wants to go with us).

14.  Figure out how to use that cell phone answering message thing.

The ones I am NOT keeping:

1.  Buy more junk food.  (This is form Mark and Alex, and they had no real hope of this anyway.)

2.  Don't put out fresh linens each day.  (From my friend Sue who is always trying to get me to be more green...and I just can't see me doing this one...really, some things I just can't see me even trying to do and this is one of those things.)

3.  Learn to like chocolate.  (Numerous requests...what is the deal with this anyway?)

4.  Learn to drink coffee.  (Ditto:  number 3.)

5.  Spend less time in museums and more time shopping and lunching with us.  (Numerous requests, and my standard reply is always..."Be careful what you wish..." as I am not a cheerful shopper.)

6.  See movies, even if they are really sappy or you might cry.  (Numerous requests, why, I ask, is this a good thing?)

7.  Stop being so organized and just show up sometimes without a plan of action.  (Way too many requests from my go-with-the-flow fun-loving girlfriends!)

8.  Don't answer email so fast as I can't keep up.  (Numerous requests...I might try this one, it just drives me nuts to have things hanging about just waiting to be finished...maybe, maybe...)

9.  Learn to like Mexican food.  (Three requests...I honestly never knew this was a problem, but apparently it might be something to consider.)

10.  Read less.  (Yeah, right...not happening, but good try.)

11.  Answer phone during IU basketball games.  (Again, good try, not happening.)

12.  Answer your phone.  Give that little message device a vacation once in awhile.  (Almost everyone had a form of this one...I can't see this one happening anytime soon...the problem is that once you pick up the phone, sometimes it can be a very long time before you can get going again and I just don't have the much time always, so it just seems simpler and kinder this way.  On the other hand, I don't mind leaving a message for you on your answering machine...so that's good.) 

13.  Let someone else drive as we always feel guilty that you are the one who always drives.  (Five requests...you know, this is probably one of those things that would take years of therapy to overcome...it seems much simpler to just drive myself.)

14.  Just give up sometimes...not everything can be fixed.  (It's hard to just give up.)

15.  Be less of a "tight-ass" about things.  (Okay, now this one I do agree with, but I can't see this happening...I would need to be someone completely different...someone carefree who doesn't worry and can ride in a convertible with the top down and not worry about her hair or bugs in her teeth and just enjoy the sun and the wind without sunblock and ponytail holders and a scarf, and big sunglasses, and toothbrush and toothpaste in tow, and a clean blouse in case a bird flies over and deposits little mysterious things, and maybe an extra pair of slacks or jeans for the same reason...you get my drift:  I am not all that spontaneous and carefree...but there is a part of me that WISHES it were so...and I love that you all are and enjoy that about you immensely!)

16.  Write about sports less in your blog.  (Two requests...I will try, but I can't promise.)

NEXT TIME I WILL JUST MAKE MY OWN LIST...THANKYOUVERYMUCH.  Actually, none of these things, with the exception of the Mexican food thing, surprises me at all...nor anyone who knows me, I am sure.  It will be sorta fun to see if I come anywhere near any of these things.  I guess that is the fun of it, right?  It is fun, right? Just checking. 

Happy New Year

      The Indianapolis Museum of Art today.

      Happy New Year!  So far, it's been fun.  I like 2008 very much.  Only one glitch:  a small one, kinda funny.  The guys wanted to go to the Auto Show today (this is a yearly tradition somewhere in the six day run or whatever it is that it is in existence here), this not being in my plans for the day EVER, they all thought it would be nice to have a run-by the IMA to have another look at the Roman Art exhibit before it leaves next weekend...do they all know how to make my day or what?  Anyway, I said, "You know, that's very sweet, but I don't think the IMA is open on New Year's Day."  Apparently Mark was under the assumption that it was only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and said, "Really, I'm sure it is open on New Year's."  I figured, okay, anytime anyone wants to get anywhere near that museum, I am not going to question much. 

      We drove two cars since the guys were going on to the Auto Show from there.  Matt could practice driving in Indy so he and I headed out right behind the other two, those two coming in first at the IMA, calling back on the cell phone very apologetically, "We were wrong, the IMA is closed on New Year's Day."  I just chuckled, dropped Matt of at the front circle drive, and thought, "Wow, I have the whole place to myself...I can go home or I can wander about the grounds in my lone ways that I love."   The IMA is situated on 152 acres of gardens, etc., and the goal was not to do it all obviously, but I had the best time strolling about for an hour or so...snow lightly falling, the grounds totally vacant, the Lilly House looking spectacular in the newly fallen snow through the falling flakes, and me just able to wander and think what it must have been like back in Lilly's day...so peaceful and nice and beautiful.  A gift.  For me.  How special was that?  Sometimes things just come when you least expect them. 

      So now I am home alone with one of my new Christmas books, a warm cozy fire, and an afternoon to just appreciate all that is good in my life.  Here is a photo Matt just sent to me from the Auto Show from his iPhone...the two boys in a Cadillac convertible that they think would be a great purchase...Alex is in absolute heaven at an auto show, as you can imagine.  And the convertible?  Not happening...but dreams are fun, especially for 15 year old boys about cars.

      About that New Year's Resolution List that I am "supposed to be posting" like everyone else:  It's not happening.  I don't make New Year's Resolutions for one thing, and for another, the last thing you all want with an obsessive compulsive person like myself is for her to have one more list of things to check off.  So, I have a better idea:  you all can make a list for me...what do you think my New Year's Resolutions should be?  We'll make a list from those, okay?  I did, however, enjoy all of your lists...my favorite being CC's, of course, as we all had a great laugh:  "You know all those things I do to get myself into trouble all the time?  Well, my resolution is to stop doing them."  Ah, CC...we all count on you to keep life entertaining...and at 54, none of us can be sure we can see the proverbial old dog learning new tricks.  We love you just the way you are...always. 

      Happy New Year everyone...may every wish on your resolutions list come true!