Recently we returned from our trip to West Virginia, where we spent some time camping. Camping is one of our favorite family vacations, and Blackwater Falls, WV is one of our favorite places to go. It is not an easy trip, however. Not just because we have to pack 300lbs. of camping gear and 5 people in our van, but the last third of the trip is over the river and through the woods by way of *lots* of switchbacks and elevation changes. I paid attention to the the signs this time - final elevation around the falls over 3,000 ft. above sea level. We live just out of the tidal basin that is Washington DC - yeah, pretty much *at* sea level here. And our daughter is prone to carsickness. And our faithful 13 year old van is prone to elevation sickness (or so it would seem - we always hold our breath that nothing will give way on the trip through the mountains).
So, one of my favorite ways to pass the time when I'm not driving is to read the street signs. I have often wondered whose job it is in any given area to come up with street names. Some of them probably made sense at one time - Old Mill Road - well, of course - at one time there was an old mill on the road and it was a good landmark. "Yeah, you just go down there by way of the old Mill road."
Some of the names are reminiscent of history - in Manassas there are lots of street names that refer back to the Civil War. One of my favorites that always gives me a giggle is Reb Yank Road - since I am originally a Yankee. Some of the names the locals just gave up and called a spade a spade - the main thoroughfare near our old apartment in PA just outside of Philly was, I kid you not, Street Road. First time I saw it I couldn't believe it. Come on, just a little creativity here? Somewhere on the PA turnpike (near Pittsburgh, I think) is a sign for Rodie Road. That one gave me the giggles too.
On the way up I saw a couple signs worth a laugh - like 3 Fox Lane. Why a number of foxes? Why only 3? Did they foxhunt out here at one time? And Lone Oak Road - among all these trees I see that one was a landmark? Really?
But the kicker came on the way back. Somewhere slightly west of Winchester, VA is saw a sign - in the middle of nowhere mind you - called....Glimpse of Heaven Lane!
You know, your first thought is, okaaaay....what was *that* person smoking at the time. It was this little lane that led up and over a small hill - okay - the view was fairly pretty, but a Glimpse of Heaven? Having just come down off a mountain with a spectacular falls that to me really *was* a glimpse of heaven - I found this truly puzzling.
I've decided that somewhere, in every city, town, and borough they have appointed a little old man or little old lady who sits in a tiny office at a tiny desk thinking up the most unusual street names they can to make a dull job more interesting - and to get a good laugh when the rest of us drive by looking puzzled. Because somebody decided there were too many Main Streets and First Streets in town, or something.
I mean, really - how else do you explain it?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Is it only me?
Or are there other folks out there who get stalled for dinner ideas in the summer time? It's ironic that in the winter, when I'm trying to juggle 5 schedules and everyone's appointments and barely have time for sleep, I *love* cooking. I spend my winter days dreaming of lovely soups and stews and casseroles that will nourish us body and soul. In the summer, when I have my time more to myself, and farmer's markets brimming with fresh produce - I not only don't want to cook, sometimes I barely want to eat.
Today, for example, it's almost 4PM and I've had the sum total of 2 cups of coffee, 1 small yogurt, and the half burrito I left in the fridge after yesterday's lunch. And, though I'm still slightly peckish, part of me can't think about food till it cools off some for crying out loud. August is usually the time I start fantasizing about moving to Maine, or Washington state, or North Dakota or anyplace that gets way too much snow in the winter but has temperate summers.
So anyway, I've been recycling dinner ideas all summer and have now reached my limit of pizza and salad, pasta and salad, tacos, burritos, hamburgers and hotdogs, and takeout. What I need is a my own personal food guru - someone who understands what children will actually eat - who could present me with a list of ideas for meals that don't involve 40 steps, 10 pots and pans, and 2 hours of prep work.
Maybe I'll take the kids out for sundaes and tell them it's Ice Cream for Dinner night - I'll be the most popular mom in the neighborhood!
Today, for example, it's almost 4PM and I've had the sum total of 2 cups of coffee, 1 small yogurt, and the half burrito I left in the fridge after yesterday's lunch. And, though I'm still slightly peckish, part of me can't think about food till it cools off some for crying out loud. August is usually the time I start fantasizing about moving to Maine, or Washington state, or North Dakota or anyplace that gets way too much snow in the winter but has temperate summers.
So anyway, I've been recycling dinner ideas all summer and have now reached my limit of pizza and salad, pasta and salad, tacos, burritos, hamburgers and hotdogs, and takeout. What I need is a my own personal food guru - someone who understands what children will actually eat - who could present me with a list of ideas for meals that don't involve 40 steps, 10 pots and pans, and 2 hours of prep work.
Maybe I'll take the kids out for sundaes and tell them it's Ice Cream for Dinner night - I'll be the most popular mom in the neighborhood!
It's so hot today that....
Today is a good day for all those old jokes. The ones about frying eggs on sidewalks and such. I've often wondered, on days like this, how anyone - especially the women -survived days like this before the invention of air-conditioning. Since we live right around the corner from an old Civil War battlefield my mind occasionally strays to thoughts of life around here back then. Life without highways and traffic jams, without technology and hustle-bustle. And without air-conditioning. Ugh.
Now, it certainly can get hot and humid in Pennsylvania - don't get me wrong. Summers in the Philadelphia area are no picnic either. But, oh Virginia. Northern Virginia - being part of the whole wetlands system/flood plain that is also Washington D.C. - has a very special brand of heat and humidity. Along with all the other humid southern states, it's the sort of weather that saps the energy out of you (well, me at least) even if I'm not actually outside. And if you *do* venture outside, the air drops down on you like a soggy fur coat.
Perhaps it was not so hot then - before most of the trees were cut down to make way for Suburbia's houses and strip-malls. Perhaps it was not so humid - before the smog of the 3 major East Coast cities started wafting down here to hold that humidity in. On the other hand - perhaps it was. And I'd be stuck here wearing about a dozen layers of clothing, doing heaps of back-breaking chores, cooking over a blazing fire or wood/coal stove, with no relief in sight. No wonder (well-born) ladies used to carry smelling salts with them and take naps in the afternoon to get relief from the heat and all that heavy clothing.
I have a few things that need to get done today - but I think I can allow myself the luxury of a few long breaks with a good book. And I'll be thankful for air-conditioning.
Now, it certainly can get hot and humid in Pennsylvania - don't get me wrong. Summers in the Philadelphia area are no picnic either. But, oh Virginia. Northern Virginia - being part of the whole wetlands system/flood plain that is also Washington D.C. - has a very special brand of heat and humidity. Along with all the other humid southern states, it's the sort of weather that saps the energy out of you (well, me at least) even if I'm not actually outside. And if you *do* venture outside, the air drops down on you like a soggy fur coat.
Perhaps it was not so hot then - before most of the trees were cut down to make way for Suburbia's houses and strip-malls. Perhaps it was not so humid - before the smog of the 3 major East Coast cities started wafting down here to hold that humidity in. On the other hand - perhaps it was. And I'd be stuck here wearing about a dozen layers of clothing, doing heaps of back-breaking chores, cooking over a blazing fire or wood/coal stove, with no relief in sight. No wonder (well-born) ladies used to carry smelling salts with them and take naps in the afternoon to get relief from the heat and all that heavy clothing.
I have a few things that need to get done today - but I think I can allow myself the luxury of a few long breaks with a good book. And I'll be thankful for air-conditioning.
Friday, August 7, 2009
It's quite amazing what you find in your Edit box...
Since it's summer and I'm half brain dead with humidity induced stupor I've been going through my old posts box looking for the ones I started and never finished. It's quite the time capsule of my life and thoughts. I think I'll keep tossing a few out now and again - many were fun to go back and read even if my train of thought got interrupted by children. A few I'll at least put some logical ending on so that you don't end up wondering what the end of a sentence.....
Camp Adahi - another "found" post from 4/8/08
A couple of years ago, a high school pal of mine started a yahoo group for our high school graduating class, as a way to keep in touch, share memories, and stay informed of upcoming reunions. This week one of my former classmates sent an email that opened up the floodgates of my memory - the subject line, "Adahi" (pronounced ah-dah'-hee) sent my mind zipping back through time to sixth grade.
Wow...Camp Adahi. It was a landmark field trip for every 6th grade class that went through Stony Creek Middle School. It was the Holy Grail of field trips - 3 days and 2 nights away from home, during the school week, for the entire 6th grade. It was held near the end of year, sometime in May, but the teachers started talking it up at the beginning of the year. In fact, the 5th grade teachers would mention it now and again.
The funny thing is - it wasn't that far from home. Out of curiosity I Googled it (Camp Adahi is part of the PA Camp Fire program) and found out to my utter surprise the camp was only 10-20 miles from home. It's in Mohnton, PA, 10 miles outside of Reading, of which my hometown was a suburb. I drive farther to church every Sunday than this camp was from my house. I guess anything seems farther when you're riding there on a school bus.
Anyway....the camp was set up in the usual way such camps are. There was a main building/cafeteria/gathering room not far from the main parking lot where we ate all our meals and had our whole group sessions. Over a footbridge and up the hill into the woods were the campsites. There were cabins, platform tents, and covered wagons. If I remember correctly, the girls got the cabins and wagons, the boys got tents (and maybe cabins). I was *so* jealous of my best friends who got the wagons - until the first night, when the temperature dipped down to 40 and it rained!
It was my first time camping, and my first time away from home (that wasn't a sleepover at a friend's house). My mom had volunteered as a chaperone for part of the trip, and even though I was kind of embarrassed I was really glad she was there that first night.
After I got settled in though, I discovered I really liked camping - my folks were always *so* not camping-type people (My dad always said he'd done his time without all the modern conveniences and was perfectly happy to stay put in his air-conditioned house and sleep in a comfortable bed.) So this was my first opportunity to experience it. Obviously it struck a chord in me, as 2 of my favorite summer jobs I worked at summer camp. And I married a man who loves camping and so now we go camping as a family.
Must be all that Celtic blood (1/2 Welsh and a small part Scottish) I inherited in my DNA. I've always felt very much at home and at peace in a forest....
Wow...Camp Adahi. It was a landmark field trip for every 6th grade class that went through Stony Creek Middle School. It was the Holy Grail of field trips - 3 days and 2 nights away from home, during the school week, for the entire 6th grade. It was held near the end of year, sometime in May, but the teachers started talking it up at the beginning of the year. In fact, the 5th grade teachers would mention it now and again.
The funny thing is - it wasn't that far from home. Out of curiosity I Googled it (Camp Adahi is part of the PA Camp Fire program) and found out to my utter surprise the camp was only 10-20 miles from home. It's in Mohnton, PA, 10 miles outside of Reading, of which my hometown was a suburb. I drive farther to church every Sunday than this camp was from my house. I guess anything seems farther when you're riding there on a school bus.
Anyway....the camp was set up in the usual way such camps are. There was a main building/cafeteria/gathering room not far from the main parking lot where we ate all our meals and had our whole group sessions. Over a footbridge and up the hill into the woods were the campsites. There were cabins, platform tents, and covered wagons. If I remember correctly, the girls got the cabins and wagons, the boys got tents (and maybe cabins). I was *so* jealous of my best friends who got the wagons - until the first night, when the temperature dipped down to 40 and it rained!
It was my first time camping, and my first time away from home (that wasn't a sleepover at a friend's house). My mom had volunteered as a chaperone for part of the trip, and even though I was kind of embarrassed I was really glad she was there that first night.
After I got settled in though, I discovered I really liked camping - my folks were always *so* not camping-type people (My dad always said he'd done his time without all the modern conveniences and was perfectly happy to stay put in his air-conditioned house and sleep in a comfortable bed.) So this was my first opportunity to experience it. Obviously it struck a chord in me, as 2 of my favorite summer jobs I worked at summer camp. And I married a man who loves camping and so now we go camping as a family.
Must be all that Celtic blood (1/2 Welsh and a small part Scottish) I inherited in my DNA. I've always felt very much at home and at peace in a forest....
Found an unprinted post in my edit box
I wrote this post on a school morning back in February. It never got "finished" but is an interesting glimpse into one of my not-quite-typical-but-not-atypical mom mornings....
It's 9:30AM. Since going to bed last night around 11PM this is what my night/morning has looked like:
11:15PM Hear the baby wake up and go padding around his room. He's done this ever since we took the side off his crib (it turns into a toddler daybed) and it's not unusual to find him asleep on his blankies in a different part of the room each morning.
11:25PM Ask husband to go check on baby - he says Connor's asleep on his brother's car pillow on the floor w/ his blankies. Settle in to read book - husband goes to sleep.
2AM The book is really good so I'm still awake (this happens if I accidentally pass my sleepy point). Charlotte comes into our room wanting to crawl in bed with us (which I'm trying to discourage but am usually asleep when she does this). I tell her no and go tuck her back in bed.
2:05AM Get back out of bed because Charlotte is screaming that she wanted her door left slightly open. Grrrr. Crack door open. Go back to bed.
2:45AM Finally able to put book down because Charlotte sounds quiet and go to sleep.
3AM Charlotte comes back into the room complaining she's too hot AND too cold. What?!? I tell her that's ridiculous and send her back to bed. I finally fall asleep.
6:30AM Husband leaving for work, Charlotte awake and bounding around (how, I have no idea), Chris is awake and whining through the door that his nose is running and he can't go to school today. Kiss husband, ignore Charlotte, tell Chris to go back to bed for now, pull covers over head and wait for alarm to go off.
7:15AM Drag tired self out of bed, find clothes for me and kids. Spend 15 minutes trying to get Charlotte to put her clothes on because she's jumping around pretending to be a kitten.Throw together backpacks and get her settled down with breakfast.
7:50AM Go back upstairs to begin wrenching Chris out of bed. Find Connor awake and happy sitting on the floor w/ blankie. Chris is a lump in the bed.
7:55AM Chris marginally awake and groaning that he can't go to school and would I please stick a thermometer in his mouth and take his temperature. Get thermometer, take temperature, no fever. (Because my kids have a flair for drama you only get to stay home if you've got a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, raging cough, or spots) Tell Chris he must get dressed. Get Connor some Cheerios.
8:10AM Hand Chris a pop tart. Shovel 3 kids into coats, hats, gloves, etc. and get everyone in the car (yes, I drive them to the bus stop - it's a very busy intersection and it keeps the kids corralled and out of the weather).
8:20AM Get halfway up the street towards the bus stop and see that Charlotte's bus is already there nearly 10 minutes early - aaack! Park and run her to the bus.
8:25AM Get Chris on his bus.
8:30AM Get home, feed cat, clean up Cheerios Connor spilled on the door mat before we left, tape up Christmas tree box and shove/drag/carry down to basement, fetch cat from basement 3 times, fetch baby out of basement twice, put coffee on.
9:30AM Finally get to sit down w/ 1st cup of coffee.
Yep, that was my morning so far. Not completely typical (I usually get a little more sleep than that) but not atypical either.
On mornings like this I wonder what God is thinking as He looks at me running around like a nut case. No matter whether or how much I plan, everything never runs smoothly. Even on mornings when we've all had enough sleep and everything is all ready to go, someone has a last minute emergency.
Sometimes I wish we didn't have to live so much by the clock.
It's 9:30AM. Since going to bed last night around 11PM this is what my night/morning has looked like:
11:15PM Hear the baby wake up and go padding around his room. He's done this ever since we took the side off his crib (it turns into a toddler daybed) and it's not unusual to find him asleep on his blankies in a different part of the room each morning.
11:25PM Ask husband to go check on baby - he says Connor's asleep on his brother's car pillow on the floor w/ his blankies. Settle in to read book - husband goes to sleep.
2AM The book is really good so I'm still awake (this happens if I accidentally pass my sleepy point). Charlotte comes into our room wanting to crawl in bed with us (which I'm trying to discourage but am usually asleep when she does this). I tell her no and go tuck her back in bed.
2:05AM Get back out of bed because Charlotte is screaming that she wanted her door left slightly open. Grrrr. Crack door open. Go back to bed.
2:45AM Finally able to put book down because Charlotte sounds quiet and go to sleep.
3AM Charlotte comes back into the room complaining she's too hot AND too cold. What?!? I tell her that's ridiculous and send her back to bed. I finally fall asleep.
6:30AM Husband leaving for work, Charlotte awake and bounding around (how, I have no idea), Chris is awake and whining through the door that his nose is running and he can't go to school today. Kiss husband, ignore Charlotte, tell Chris to go back to bed for now, pull covers over head and wait for alarm to go off.
7:15AM Drag tired self out of bed, find clothes for me and kids. Spend 15 minutes trying to get Charlotte to put her clothes on because she's jumping around pretending to be a kitten.Throw together backpacks and get her settled down with breakfast.
7:50AM Go back upstairs to begin wrenching Chris out of bed. Find Connor awake and happy sitting on the floor w/ blankie. Chris is a lump in the bed.
7:55AM Chris marginally awake and groaning that he can't go to school and would I please stick a thermometer in his mouth and take his temperature. Get thermometer, take temperature, no fever. (Because my kids have a flair for drama you only get to stay home if you've got a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, raging cough, or spots) Tell Chris he must get dressed. Get Connor some Cheerios.
8:10AM Hand Chris a pop tart. Shovel 3 kids into coats, hats, gloves, etc. and get everyone in the car (yes, I drive them to the bus stop - it's a very busy intersection and it keeps the kids corralled and out of the weather).
8:20AM Get halfway up the street towards the bus stop and see that Charlotte's bus is already there nearly 10 minutes early - aaack! Park and run her to the bus.
8:25AM Get Chris on his bus.
8:30AM Get home, feed cat, clean up Cheerios Connor spilled on the door mat before we left, tape up Christmas tree box and shove/drag/carry down to basement, fetch cat from basement 3 times, fetch baby out of basement twice, put coffee on.
9:30AM Finally get to sit down w/ 1st cup of coffee.
Yep, that was my morning so far. Not completely typical (I usually get a little more sleep than that) but not atypical either.
On mornings like this I wonder what God is thinking as He looks at me running around like a nut case. No matter whether or how much I plan, everything never runs smoothly. Even on mornings when we've all had enough sleep and everything is all ready to go, someone has a last minute emergency.
Sometimes I wish we didn't have to live so much by the clock.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Out into the fray
It's hard to believe the time has come around again so quickly. What time would that be? Time to venture out into the frenzy of the dreaded "school supply shopping"! I'm not sure what the experience of parents elsewhere is, but in our neck 'o the woods (read: Northern VA) each school sends out a list of specific school supplies that must be purchased for your child and delivered with them within the first few days of school. It's much different that what I remember as a child - where I went with my mom and chose the supplies I would need for the year. Brand new Trapper Keeper (not allowed now), new pencils and pens, assignment book, new backpack if necessary, etc., etc.
Now, I go armed with my "official list" and buy exactly and only what's on it. And all the supplies go into a general pool so that my children are unlikely to use the supplies I've actually bought. Whose idea was this anyway? Honestly, if needy kids need supplies I'd rather by my child his and then buy a set for a needy child - rather than my kids getting the notebooks and folders that fall apart 2 months into the year.
Anyway, I digress. The real fun comes in trying to match what the teacher wants with what the stores actually have. For example, every list of every school for every grade asks for several of those ordinary black 'n white composition books. The kind that have been around since our grandparents were kids. You would think they were made of gold the was the stores never buy enough. Last year I had to try 3 stores before finding them. And please provide several boxes of sharpened pencils. Guess what? They (rarely) come that way. I would even be willing to sit and sharpen those several dozen pencils if i could find a sharpener that works!!
It's like the stores and the schools are on purpose at odds with each other. Okay, find 4 non-grommet pocket folders. All the folder have grommets in the spine. Find 2 red pens (can only purchase a dozen). Supply one zippered pencil pouch - may as well be looking for the Holy Grail. Find 2 boxes Ziploc bags, 3 boxes tissues, hand sanitizer... go find other department.
Someone should turn this into an Olympic event and get some real moms to show everyone else how it's done.
Off I go, then - into the fray...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)