Lenten Journal, Week 5

Week 5 with the Thankfulness Journal for Lent is easier, throwing a vacation into the mix.  I am behind posting, just returning from Mexico.

3/21/12 I am thankful for

bringing all needed documents to the accountant, and hearing the taxes will be finished in time.

Welcoming book club after frustrating clothes shopping.  Wine and Rob Lowe much enjoyed.

Winning the “quintessential 80’s hair cut” photo at book club.  What fun I had looking through my old photo albums to choose a photo.

True 80's hair, while in England.

3/22/12 I am thankful for

DEVON!!  Happy 14^th birthday!

A meeting postponed results in outdoor lunch with Colette on a gorgeous day.

Birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory.  Yum!

3/23/12  I am thankful for

completing all vacation prep shopping, packing, errands, bank runs, work with a few hours to spare.

Theresa, for inviting us for dinner the last night in town.

Kerry’s spirit.

3/24/12 I am thankful for

leaving the country.

The smell of salty air.

Soft, white sand beneath my toes.

3/25/12 I am thankful for

no alarms for several days, no dogs jumping on the bed to awaken us.

Fresh sliced fruit and chocolate croissants.

Sky color = water color.  Amazing.

 3/26/12  I am thankful for

friends arriving, finding us on the beach.

Unending cocktails.

Watching my girls get massages on the beach.

3/27/12 I am thankful for

early morning walk on the beach, camera in hand.

finally, a drink at the poolside bar.

Group dinner, on the outdoor patio, divine.

C

Montreal Boot Camp

C’est tres chaud au Montreal.  HOT-HOT-HOT!

The great way to explore Montreal is with the Bixi rental.  Bike stands throughout the city, you rent from one location, then simply drop off the bikes at your destination at another stand.  Brilliant, along with the multitude of bike paths throughout the city thoroughfares.  In two days, we saw more of Montreal than most tourists see in a week, and learned just how hilly this city is in parts.

Our first day we rode to the summit of Mont-Royal Park on a steamy, hazy day.  On our journey we passed through Chinatown, the city centre,  McGill University  (VERY steep hills) on our way to the summit of the park, overlooking the city towards the St. Lawrence River.  We then visited St. Joseph’s Oratory, walking up the 300 steps to the basilica, one pilgrim kneeling her way up while saying the rosary each step.  Bless her patience on a 90-degree day!  2.5 hours biking, about 8 miles walking including our evening out.

Yesterday we biked to still-standing by sad looking Olympic Park remains then returned the bikes for a 4-hour exploration of the incredible Botanical Gardens.  Indescribable heat, indescribable beauty.

Stunning!

My dream yard--brought tears to my eyes.

Waterfall in Chinese Garden

We saw all types of people who live and visit this city, invisible to those who only follow the tourist routes: the pinstripes, the dock workers, the 10-am beer drinkers, the haggard, the joyous, the crackheads, the explorers, the day campers, the bikers, the goth, the hidden, the am shower-takers-in-the-fountain-wearing-bra-and-shorts, the squeegie beggars, the fashionistas, the hikers, the photographers, the lost, the innocents wallowing in a pool off the deck, the phone talkers, the ipod listeners, the man in the wheelchair scooter–just how and why was he just watching us in the abandoned grassy area, the taxi drivers, the sweaty paper delivery man, the drug dealers and users, the hippies, the found.

We hiked, we biked, we climbed steps, we breathed in deeply in air conditioning, we ate hungrily after our sweats, we explored, we drank beers et du vin apporter to the restaurants, we shopped, we opened our eyes to the forgotten corners of the alleyways and quais.  An incredibly cosmopolitan city with many areas of outdoor cafes and clubs (I think we saw ALL of them in 3 days), we could barely skim the depth of it.  A return trip is needed for that.  And the purchase of some man-capris, which abound here.  C

Family Vacation #1

Now that the kids are 10, 12, 15, it’s so easy to remember the vacations when I had to pack everything including their suitcases, car seats, diapers, bottles, toys, and then have to listen to the unhappy screams that emanated from the back seat or–worse yet–the plane seats with kicking and tantrums, unable to move.

Now they can pack their own luggage with Ipods and laptops and legos and books and snacks. We let them help decide where we should spend the day, how we should spend our money (on clothes at the nearest university), where we should eat.  They have their new annoyances of car game hitting while watching cars–don’t get that at all, grunts, bouncing basketballs at all the wrong times, a little too much pop candy music, but they can at least keep themselves busy in the car or in the air for awhile. And they don’t kick the seats anymore.

But, it’s great to get off our tight schedule of sports and work and school, to catch up and laugh and play games and watch movies and talk, even if after several days we are ready for some time withOUT the kids, that time will come before we know it.  And the silence will be deafening. C

Konerko Rocks!

It was a gorgeous, sunny Phoenix afternoon to enjoy  Camelback Ranch,  the new White Sox and Dodgers spring training facility.  Why go to a regular season game again, I wondered, after the game (though my Sox lost 4-1 to the Colorado Rockies).  For $8 lawn seats, we sat on the grass directly behind the bullpen–and I mean RIGHT behind it.  The players were friendly, and the kids could see and hear how fast the relief pitchers throw the ball.  Amazing.

With no commercial breaks, the game time is cut about 30 minutes, the giant beers stayed cold, there were accessible bathrooms, many vendors, and the kids could run around the grass–when the over zealous guardsmen weren’t watching our every move, and we had 7 kids with us, what could we really do?!

The kids ran over for autographs as the players left the field. Josh Fields came back from his exit as my son asked him to sign his shirt.  And while many of the players ignored the tiny voices yelling “can I have an autograph?), Paul Konerko signed again and again, with a couple newcomers.  You rocked!  We appreciated it, even if you were done before you got to my kids.

There were many empty seats, but we found more than  worth the $8 lawn seats and only $5 parking right next to the stadium.  We’ll be back.  Go Sox! C

Miniscule and Massive, Simultaneously

Riding on a ship with no land in sight, surrounded by the turquoise blue then steel-grey waves, a watchful warming sun and swiftly moving breezes, we saw no land for twenty-four hours. 

Gazing over the endless waters, an occasional ship in the far off distance, that ride made me think about  how truly small we physically are.  A speck. Of no significance.  Flick this boat like a fly and we disappear.

But I turn away from the waters, towards my group of friends, for the final day of the trip still laughing, joking, dancing, swimming, sitting, reading, sharing, sleeping. Truly joyful, as we live  in each moment, strangers picking up our energy and  sharing it with their groups, passing it around. 

And I realize that while we may be miniscule in the view from the clouds, in our small sectors, with our friends and family and fears and lusts and mysteries and goals and wonders, we do have an impact, we do love, we do have a reason to be, to laugh, to cry.  Our spirits, when we share them, are wider than the oceans, taller than the clouds.

And we should be so thankful, and are so lucky when we can experience freedom with the ones we love most.  Thanks girls, for another amazing holiday.  C

Our San Diego Excursions

For those who asked me what to do in San Diego, it is a candy store of adventure: playlands, beaches, shopping and  phenomenal sunsets for those who seek it. The entire western border of beaches, tidepools,  dolphins riding waves with surfers unending beauty itself.

We stayed in a lovely condo in Oceanside, about 40 miles north of San Diego, right on the beach.  My son and several of his cousins ventured with the dads to Legoland–as Bob calls it “Crack for Kids.”  Being the Legomaniac, he was obsessed.  Kids over 12 might be bored, but the younger set can play for hours with the legos, ride the rides, see the amazing Lego exhibits.

Everything was set for the Lego innauguration.

 

 

You could spend each day at a different park, with an unending budget–which we did not have.  We made the right choice and spent the day at San Diego Wild Animal Park, since there is nothing like that around here.  On the tour around the park you feel like you are seeing the animals in the natural habitats, as you learn about how many are endangered or almost lost from civilization.  All the kids and adults loved it!

There were also mini-habitats for birds and monkeys.  And fun (shhh..they’re educational) programs.

 

The older girls wanted to shop, shop–ick. But they found a couple stores in La Jolla to spend their money in, after I made them hike in Torrey Pines State Reserve.  Not the most spectacular place I have hiked, but pretty enough, with relatively easy, but hilly 1 hour hikes. 

jumping tide pools

But even with all the explorations we did, the kids really wanted to just head to the beach and play in the sand, find shells and rocks, jump the waves, grab the waves, play volleyball, and hang out with each other and us.

We adults looked forward to the evening sunsets on the deck, drinks in hand, an array of food and cameras spread on the table.

sand time!

view from the deck!

It was a wonderful place to visit.  Hope you enjoyed your 70th, mom! C

Busy Getting Ready to Relax

Wow–almost two weeks since I have posted an entry.  It’s been way too crazy getting back into the swing of things post holiday time.  Thankfully, work is plentiful this month, but the kids are in new after-school routines we are still trying to memorize.

My questions for the day—why is it so busy getting ready for a vacation?  Hmm… 3 kids, 2 dogs, one house, one job, daily snowfall, volunteer work, holiday wrap up are just a few things I can think of. 

And how long until my plane lands in San Diego, where the high temperature on Thursday is bound to be higher than -1?   C

Recipe for a Most Excellent Holiday