Puddle Dock

This weekend we went to Strawbery-Banke's Puddle Dock Skating Rink for the first time.  This was a big deal for a few reasons:

1. I don't skate.  And, when I do activities that might infringe on my running (i.e. I hurt myself) - I get angry nowadays.
2. I am a history person.  The creation of this Rink started much controversy because they just dug down to put the generators in, without taking care of the historic site that it sits on.  This is actually a post initofitself.  I could do a whole chapter of my book on this.  The reason why it was a super big deal, is that it is a historic site, a place that "preserves history" and they were ripping it up to make room for a "disney-like" thing.  I, a person who works for a history Museum, should shun this.  However, most people who know me know that I do also feel that if we don't give these history institutions room to be relevant and popular and bring in new audiences, they will not exist anymore.  A balance needs to happen. Anyway, that is the background on that.
3. Previous comments from friends about the place included: "packed in like sardines," and my favorite: "If your kids fall, tell them to curl their fingers under so that another person doesn't cut them off with the blades of their skates."  WHAT?

Despite those three things, we still went, and we had a great time.  We invited the Solsos, a skating family, to come with us.  This actually provided much comical relief for both them and us.  Joel Husband went around the rink once.  I went around three times, and only hugged the wall marginally.  Kim had her figure skates on and probably could have triple sow cowed around me, and Mat zoomed all over the rink.  Maddy, too - was speeding around and Joel Andrew, bless him, was trying very - very hard to keep up with her and falling everywhere.  Actually, Joel Andrew wins the Williams family award for sure, he stayed out almost the entire time, kept trying and did not want to be done.  James was cool after a few spins, then he wanted a snack.

The kicker was after most of the Williams quit, we found the snack bar - Fig Tree Kitchen, and grabbed a beer, a wine, and a donut and then sat and watched the Solso's expertly skate around with our Joelly falling behind them and trying to keep up.  

It was a great afternoon activity to do too just before the Pats game to get some energy out of all.  

Logistically, I would do it again.  You can rent skates here, and they have a warming room where you can feel comfortable leaving your stuff - though there are no lockers in this room.  The cost was about $50 with my family of four (rentals and all), and you can go on their Facebook page to see the current open times - check in advance because sometimes they do not have a free skate and they have scheduled shows and such.  

There are tables around to sit and have snacks, and Fig Tree Kitchen is the best - local, delicious, wine and beer and amazing hot chocolate too.  Try one of their quiches!  So, you could certainly make a day of it.  When we arrived it was not crowded at all, but within a 1/2 hour there was a line to buy tickets.  We arrived right at noon - my guess is it was the after lunch rush that was coming in, so get there early!

If I squinted real hard, while I was drinking my chardonnay, I could almost picture the European skating rink we saw in Vienna, which was in the center of town Park - had biergarden's all around it, and had various pathways to skate in and out of.  A great community place for gathering and having fun.  I think that was the whole idea behind why Strawbery-Banke added it.  That, and to make money.  I think they succeeded!

New Puppy

This weekend we met our new puppy.  Lord Wilhelm von Neuchswanstein Hall Williams. He is a German Shephard and we are all already fighting over him.  Well, not really all of us - just Joelly and I.

We went to this "puppy party" which was really quite stressful.  All of the people who had claimed a puppy were there, and a few others who were there just to meet the puppies and maybe consider it. I do not know how you can leave a room of puppies and not have taken one as your own, so those people who were only "considering" were nuts in my mind, but whatever.

So, there we were the fourth family in line for four male puppies.  All of the ladies were up for grabs, but as I mentioned before - after Otter, I have learned that I must be the only Bitch in this house, so we wanted a boy.  Ladies will fight with me, Otter and I used to argue, seriously argue.  She would make these teenage girl fighting noises back at me.  I'm looking for a big loveable male.

We learn about the four boy puppies.  They all have different color collars to differentiate them.  Black is already taken.  He seems cute enough, but we knew he was off limits so we didn't see to do anything about it.

Light blue comes over and says hello.  I'm excited to meet a boy, any boy.  All of the puppies seem enthralled with my boots that have fur that looks like theirs.  James and Joel are loving petting them, and then James gets easily bored, he is done, this is not for him, he watches a video on a chair to the side the remainder of the time.

Then pink comes over.  Pink (a girl) is working it hard.  Giving me kisses, rolling all over my lap. This is the problem with girl dogs, they are smart, manipulative and know how to use their charms when necessary.  I totally almost fell for it too.

Green keeps whizzing by us, and dark blue is a bit of a missing puppy.  But, there pink is, and red too.  Light blue will stop and hang out with us, maybe a few seconds with dark blue - and there is pink, and red.  Then we realize that the families are going to start picking - so bascially, our puppy will be the leftover male.  We do not get to pick.  We get what no one else wants.  Interesting.  I start to really pay attention to the conversations around the room now.

"Green is Mean."  This is what Gail, the breeder, is saying over and over again.  "Green, that boy, is a mean one."  Um, wait!  Gail!  Stop telling people that, we will get stuck with Green!  I look at Gail after the 8th time she says it and say "what happens if we get green?"  She replies - "I would never do that to you, if green is left you get a female."  Disappointment rushes over my face.  What?  No!  We want a boy.

Now I am really on high alert for the people getting boys.  "Green doesn't seem so mean."  I try to interject.  The woman to my left starts telling us she wants a dog for rescue missions, she is a Vet Tech and she does back woods rescue training and drills.  She is a boy chooser.  She chooses green.  A wave of relief comes my way.  Now there is only one woman left, all by herself, here to pick a boy.  She is picking my family companion for the next 10-12 years, I realize.  I am not a fan of her.

Luckily, for all involved - the puppies have now ran around and enjoyed so much fun, that they just start to pass out anywhere they land.  Anywhere.  Gail grabs the two blue boys and hands them to this lady who has all the cards, and dark blue just immediately passes out.  The lady swoons, and it is all over.  Before the girl can even claim dark blue Gail has swept light blue out of her arms and into mine.  Light blue started to fall asleep in mine instantly.  And then I swooned. So predictable.  Then Gail says: "He is needy, but he is a good match."  I love Gail.

Joel Andrew asks if he can hold the puppy, and the rest is history.  We spend the next 40 minutes with light blue, our Wim, sleeping in Joel Andrew's lap.  He got up once, went to the grassy pad and peed, then came back and went to sleep.  I was proud.

Joel Andrew has already begun negotiations as to where the dog will sleep and whose dog it will really be.  I keep saying: "It is going to be a lot of work, you know."  He seems to know, and he seems to think he is ready.  We will see after a few days of picking up poop whose dog Wim really is..!

We get him in three weeks.  Can't wait!

A Morning with the Boys

It's a rare treat if it is a weekend, we are in Hampton Falls, and there is nothing pressing to do in the morning.  Like, super rare.  And, when this does happen, it reminds me of when they were real little littles.  When we stayed home a bit more and my guys would wake up super early.  I would pull them into my bed and snuggle with them, and if I was really lucky, they would fall back asleep in my arms.  At first their early wake up calls were torturous, but then the snuggling was awesome and I remembered to love the moments.

Now that they are bigger, they wake up (after the number I tell them to wake up, in this case 8) and then come into my bed and snuggle with me.  There is no more falling back asleep, and if it is the both of them that come in it usually ends in some kicking now -- but this morning it was just my Joelly and me.

He is such a mini-gentleman, he asked if "we could prepare breakfast together as a surprise to Daddy and James."  As we were getting up James met us in the hallway and recounted to Joel that "I was just in your room, I went to say 'Boo!' but you were not there to say 'Boo' back."  They laughed with each other - Joel tapped him on the shoulder and then they walked downstairs together.

Seems simple, but my guys are super big and this is a moment that makes me realize that.  Not babies now, buddies.  And, I love that they are buddies.

Not too big though, Joel Andrew just came up to ask me what I was doing and I asked him to make me breakfast too, and he said: "I can't reach the crossiants!"  Time to stop writing and time to start spending the morning with my boys.

An Evening with the Boys

I seem to do well when it is just me and the boys.  Sure, I phone in dinner generally, and sure - they watch TV while I organize the day - and sure I may put a movie on later.  But somehow, the quality time is much more quality.  Sadly, this is the best I do, but in reality, I think it is not so bad.

Tonight I asked the boys, what they want to be when they grow up:
(snapshot as of today, 4-1/2 and 6-1/2 - word for word)

Joel:
Animal Scientist
Policeman
Veterinarian
Fireman
Ambulance

James:
Vet
Fireman
Hospital
Police
Pizzaman*
Dancerman
Cookerman

Mommy (I was asked):
Travel TV Show Host
Art Curator

*James' asterisk was because after calling out Pizzaman he immediately said, and I quote (I wrote this down immediately): "Can you put the pizza man to the right?"  I inquired what he means by that and his response was basically, in the event he does not "do good" at the other stuff.  My son already has his fallback career.

We ate a "balanced dinner" of "Smorgaasboard".  It was lots of prepped foods, and they had to choose their plate but pick balance (not good or bad, but balance).  They did great.  Then, Joel said: "Chris uses a lot of spices in his cooking to balance out the taste."  I was flabbergasted.  Who is this Chris?  Joel reminds me it was a kid in the Rachael Ray's Kids Cook-Off Show.  Sometimes I think Joel Andrew has that ability to remember everything.

We then watched An American Tale.  I told Joel Andrew I watched this a million times when I was his age.  Then I explained hyperbole.  Then I could say the next line of the movie before it hit.  Maybe it was not hyberbole.

Anyway, now I want to travel the world with my boys.  I hope I get to go somewhere cool soon.

Joel just came in to tell me his reading time is over, it is 8pm. He is awesome.  He read about cage diving for Great White Sharks.  I told him I would never do that, and he said he would take me snorkeling to see "whale Sharks because they are the friendliest."  I have a smart guy. - Two smart guys.

2016 New Years Resolutions

1. Keep up with the Running.  Try very hard not to get hurt.  Add yoga.  Don't get too stressed out about time.  Run 5 1/2 Marathons, and try for 20 1/2 Marathons before I am 40.  *Think* about trying to get a 1/2 marathon in each state down before I am 50.  Sometimes it is terrible, but you've worked hard, dammit.  Run, enjoy, and eat.
2. Oh yeah, about that last thing...  The majority of my run notes always noticed when I was carrying a few extra lindt balls from the night before. Perhaps it is time to get the every day eating in check.  No worries, no dieting here people.  Just eating well - and by well I mean the good for you stuff that also happens to be good.  More cooking, more colors, more thinking before eating. Stop the binge eating past 8pm.  I think I can never cook orecchiette pasta with sausage and kale again.  Shameful things happened this week.  How will I control this one?  
3. Writing. I always wanted to write a book about my experience in the Museum world, entitled: "Gig in the Basement."  It would follow my misadventures through raising money, dealing with donors, with quirky volunteers, weird town rules, printers that speak Russian, and more.  I think I should start to write that book.  But it should really only be a chapter or two for the Museum part, and the rest should be other things -- and it should be for the boys.  Maybe, now that we are all older, I can revamp my blog to serve this purpose.  And eventually publish it into a Staples-printed book for the boys.  Perhaps this should be a goal. Quite lofty. And, can't really talk about some of the Museum things yet online and all- I have a career here people...  Maybe I can share some of the stories...!
4. Hobby Closet.  I have a closet in my office.  It is *the* space in my house that has all the crap I'm not sure what to do with in it.  Failed knitting attempts, high school t-shirts I was supposed to turn into a quilt. Many, many cameras, a sewing machine, pain for the dollhouse, I can go on and on.  I need to clean this sucker out.  Test each one, throw out all the things that do not seem feasible and focus on the one that works.  
5. Read. I missed reading.  Read one book this year - and started many, many more.  Lets start - more finishing, people.
6. Visit.  Aunt Pat.  Twice.  Come on.  My only relative besides my parents.  And, I haven't seen her in over a year.  She lives 4 hours by car away.  This is ridiculous. And all my fault.
7. Drinking.  Yep.  Maybe I do not need a bottle of wine all the time.  Maybe if we start drinking at 11am, we do not need to go full throttle until 11pm. It is time.  I need to reign it in.  The problem, I have likened the ability to have a glass of wine at the end of the day as a relaxation method.  (do I sound like an alcoholic?).  What I mean is, if I am not longer going to be having a glass of wine at the end of the day, then what will relax me?  TV is too boring.  Reading and hobbying, though on my list here - don't really jump out at me as fun, can't wait to do that at the end of the day things.  Even running is never going to replace wine for me.  As with running, I know this is a mental game.  I can play it.  But I also am smart enough to know there is a physical side too.  What happens if the 2015 resolution of learn how to sleep better (i.e. drink more was my tactic that worked) - how will I sleep now?  This will be the hard one.  But, if I can solve this, perhaps lots of other good things will follow?  
8. Less phone.  I turned the notifications off my phone and it is actually quite liberating. No phone in the car, no phone while I should be talking to kids, no phone at dinner.  This will also be epically hard.  Start small, right?
9. See more movies.  And, old fun ones I may have originally missed.  Selma and Louise; Point Break; what fun stuff can the kids and I watch?  Can we make a Chunky's date once a month too?  
10. Just overall try to be better - less wine, less phone, get rid of binge eating. Keep running, bring back reading, visit with family, enjoy my boys. Sounds easy, right?

Snip-its

James Morris is now building really complicated legos (8+) effortlessly.

Joel Andrew earned his water bottle by earning 25 cents each time he fed Angus over the last few weeks.  The Water bottle was $10, and he looks at it has his crowning achievement. That's a lot of feeding Angus.

Long Time No Post

So, I don't think I followed up on the holidays, or anything that has been happening, so I will sum it up in a few sentences.  Really busy, lots of visiting with friends and family, lots of sheets washes, lots of chardonnay, and lots of fun.

This was the year that Daddy made a scavenger hunt/shoot out in the basement for the boys with the nerf guns and large paper cut outs of dinosaurs and others.  It was the Christmas Red stayed with us, and we had the whole family for dinner in the kitchen.  We are learning how to tamper down on presents.

The boys are back at school, and are doing well with skiing. We are trying to get up every weekend we can, which so far is every weekend.  Need to write posts on Joel's ski class and James' ski experience but not now, now have to get ready to catch bus.

In bigger news, David Bowie just died and Donald Trump is first in the primaries.  The Town is trying to push through renovations again.  This is for the benefit of me reading this (when it is in my copied) book in 5 years.  I wonder how I will react to the Trump statement.