Adaptations

I do not work on Tuesday or Wednesday. I scrubbed the sides of the the aquarium, siphoned out the water and replaced it with fresh clean water. The three catfish are smiling. I noticed that an animal had thrown up on our blanket, so gathered the linens and threw them in the wash. I vacuumed the carpets...upstairs and downstairs. I drove to my son's apartment to feed his cat Emma. Emma started her life at the mini golf where my son works, and is half feral. Normally she hides under the bed and growls at me. I called her today, " Where is that good little kitty Emma?" I trot over to my son's bed and peek under. Shortly after a small soft gray animal stepped out to be petted and began to purr. I petted her for awhile, bid her adieu, and drove to my parents' home. My dad said, "Is this my little helper?" so my mother peeled vegetables and we made a salad and cantaloupe. After lunch, I set up the card table and my mother and I played Words. Words is an adaptation of scrabble. I place letter tiles in rows facing my mother, and we each take turns making words from the letters. Today's words....Calcutta, saxophone, sparkle, metal, telephone. I choose some delicious vine-ripened tomatoes from my parents' garden and drive through the construction to my home.

Home Sweet Home

I am back from the lake and already I have managed to lose my sunglasses and lip balm. Crazy too, since at the lake everything was neat as a pin in my "condo" and aside from some basil and spinach, I did not lose anything. The week was a delight...I played cards and word games with my mother, walked her around the park in her wheelchair, made loads of popcorn, salads, and stir fry veggies and washed plenty of dishes. I read and swam and rode my bike. I brewed suntea and rode my bike to get ice and gallons of water. Am I glad to be home? Not sure. I cleaned like a beaver...the louvers in the blinds, the bathrooms, swept the kitchen floor and vacuumed. Apparently the "neat as a pin" concept has transferred to my house!

My Condo at the Lake

The Lake at the State Park

Planning

I wake up in the night and my mind goes into "plan mode." My husband, 17 year old daughter and I are driving about an hour and a half away to a softball tournament on Friday. I bought water and sports drinks, goldfish, fruit snacks and pretzels. I am making buckets of ice for the cooler. Trying to make arrangements for 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 rabbit and 3 catfish...hoping my son and daughter can take care. My husband and I will leave for home Saturday after the final game as I am scheduled to work Sunday. After work Sunday afternoon, I plan to come home drop off the car, and hop into the van with pop-up (tent trailer) hitched, and drive out to the State Park about 40 minutes away. My brother and mother and dad will be there, and I will provide much amusement as I attempt to back the thing onto the site. Never done that before and there is always the hope that my brother will take pity and do it for me. I am bringing a step ladder too so that I can reach the door on the ceiling (locks there for travel purposes). Dad and brother will probably get into the act and help me set up. Don't forget to put the jacks down this time, so tent trailer does not tip backwards. I am making lists and more lists..equipment, food, games, books, check air pressure in tires, running lights, brake lights... Can't wait to sit under a tree with a book and commune with the raccoons for a week.

Perfect Days

I woke up this morning to the ringing of the landline and then my cellphone. Suspecting that it was my little sister, I stumbled out of bed to answer it. My sister was on the other end with an invitaion to visit the lake for lunch and a swim. My sister and her husband live in a house on the lake. We chatted awhile while I enjoyed some iced green tea with honey. Later my sister made wraps and then we hopped into the boat for a slow cruise up the channel and into "the puddle." This was the name given to Little Portage by Nancy, my sister's mother in law. My sister anchored the boat we grabbed a "noodle" and jumped into the water. So cool and refreshing. I was so thankful last evening for a perfect Monday also. I was able to procure an elusive credit card number for a sympathy arrangement and place the order. With the exception of one contrary coworker, I enjoyed the company of the other workers at the flower shop. My brother in law complimented me on my form. I made a reservation at the State Park for next week. My favorite baseball team came from behind and won the game, with my two daughters cheering at the stadium. I chatted with my dad and all is well. Yes indeed...two perfect days!

Hapkido Demo

I have always been interested in vintage vehicles--antique cars, trucks and cycles. Yesterday was the road cruise. There was excitement in the air as all road cruise participants checked in at the headquarters (bowling alley). A stage was set up and sound equipment brought in. Hotdogs and sausages were grilled. Tables and chairs were arranged under the big tent. I was in the midst of the activity as the martial arts school was performing. The demo began with the prep kids, Little Ninjas and tae kwan do students and then moved to the hapkido class. Forms, techniques, sparring and board breaking was demonstrated. After the hapkido demo, martial artists demonstrated weapon artistry with the bo and sword. The precision team performed and martial artists broke cement blocks.

Giving up worrying

As you know, I have been trying to be supportive, encouraging, giving as opposed to selfish, and good tempered. On Sunday, my coworker did not set her alarm and missed her bus. She asked me if I would give her a ride to work. Now she lives 4 miles east of me and 2 miles east of the store. We got to the store with a minute to spare. My father called the store and asked that I buy some flowers for my mother and bring them by after work. I bought a coral rose and six carnations and took them to the house. Later in the afternoon, I received a text. Would I please make either pasta salad, deviled eggs or potato salad for dinner. I made pasta salad and deviled eggs. I prefer to bake the potatoes and refrigerate them overnight, so they will be cold and firm for potato salad and I didn't have enough time. I tell you this to show that I am making some positive progress. I still firmly believe that my boss should divide the available hours evenly between me and and the other full time workers. And no matter how often I tell myself that I have everything I need, I get caught up in the unfairness, the partiality. I also am trying to change my daughter's perception of me. I want her to remember me as a person with a good sense of humor, non judgemental and even tempered. She will be moving far away in a few months and I want her to take with her the picture of a warm, caring, loving, supportive mom. For the past couple weeks, I have approached daily living with a more relaxed attitude. For years, I have choreographed my life...work, chores, hapkido. I have spent time worrying. Well, I have decided to not worry...it serves no useful purpose.

Hapkido Training

I trained in hapkido last night for the first time in a week. I think learning hapkido is similar to trying to learn a foreign language. Somewhere in the dark abyss are the proper words or in the case of hapkido, the proper techniques. It makes me wonder if I'll ever become savvy enough to know them, or if this is the point where I should take up another sport--one that has delineated moves and so makes it easy to excel. Or to stay with hapkido because it challenges my mind and body. So last night we trained in cho mok makki or punching and blocking moves. The master corrected my punch because I wasn't making a proper fist. The first technique...step away, move head, block with arm, use other arm to punch into nerves of armpit. Second technique... slap at punching arm, x-stance, bows wrist to temple. Third technique, hoi jeon, keep hands open to block, then grab at wrist and elbow, pulling partner in and close, release hand and sudo strike to neck. There are ten cho mok makki techniques. On Saturday, the car dealerships by the dojang are sponsoring a car cruise. The demo team will perform at this event and some members will break boards and cement.

Softball Travel Team

Last summer, my daughter wanted to play on a softball travel team. Unfortunately, she was too late registering for the Storm, the team with all her friends. She registered with The Aces. My husband knew the coach, the games were played at a local high school and the team was quite successful, accruing many wins. Being too old for the Aces, this summer, she registered with the Storm...so this is our first summer of travel softball. I went to the initial two games and didn't really see anything unusual about being a travel softball parent. The second tournament came along, think it was an afternoon game at the Dust Bowl. I call the sports complex this, because it was so dry everything was covered in dust...the bleachers, the plates, my pizza. Pitcher's mounds was a good 4-5" below the playing surface. However, I knew I was not a proper travel parent the minute I saw all the foldable red wagons. As I lugged the cooler, chairs and my purse to the field, I noticed other parents calmly pulling their little red wagons filled with coolers, chairs, umbrellas, squirt bottles, sunscreen...all the accoutrements one needs for a weekend at the ball park. Now comes an AWAY tournament, one that we have to TRAVEL to...about 52 miles from home. I decide, since work is slow and that I'm not needed. to take a vacation day, and experience some mother/daughter time. Daughter and I both goofed up the time we had to leave, so left late, and the first thing I do was forget about the construction and try to drive in the wrong lane. Two seasons here..winter and construction. We get off the expressway are driving along, wake up my daughter and say..."the park we just passed...is that it?" We turn around and I enter the park and pay the parking fee. Then we lug baseball gear, a cooler, a chair with canopy, my purse (in case daughter wants a tee shirt) and my Asus tablet (too hot in car) to the field. We play the first game, losing 6-1 which is very very good! Then lug all the stuff back to the car to wait for the next game, several hours later. We lose the second game, 6-2. Off for dinner and then a drive to the high school field for the 3rd game where pitching was bad and we lose 9-4. We would have caught up if we hadn't timed out. It is quite late, and I had planned to drive home, but since I have my toothbrush and contact solution, figure why not crash on the couch at the house where my friend and her daughter are staying and watch the first game on Saturday. Early Saturday morning, I do up dishes, and then head back to the field and lug the gear once again. We are playing the undefeated first place team. My daughter has a good at bat--fights through 11 pitches before line driving one to the pitcher. We lose the game 14-0. At this point, I make arrangements for her to ride home with a friend, because I have to drive home, shower the softball sand and sweat off and go to work, where it is deader than a doornail. My daughter plays the next game--gets hit by a pitch, bunts, and gets a single. She catches for her friend who has a sore arm and gets mowed down and lands on her butt. But the team secures its first win 7-6. I am getting this travel team thing down. One more tournament in a couple weeks. Go Storm!

Precious Rain

In the early morning, I saw lightning, heard thunder, and sensed the sweet smell of rain. I really thought it would never rain again! I had awoken to clear blue skies for weeks. The grass was brown and prickly. Another shower came in the early afternoon, and the dry earth drank deeply of the precious liquid. I stood in the window at the flower shop and watched the rain come down.

Celebrating Dad's birthday

My father was born on July 3, 1926. Really a great time to have a birthday, because we could combine fun time at the lake with a big birthday cake and sparklers. This year, I found a card with a dachsund on the front. The message on the front "This card is short on words," (then open the trifold card and the body of the dog grows), "but long on love." Seems to be a dog theme this year because my brother and my dad's sister gave him cards with dogs! My father has discovered political audio books, so his gift was a political memoir. I went for a visit....my mother became irritable so I invited her for a walk. Actually I walk and she rides in her wheelchair. We headed around the block, and as we were heading for home, who should be cruising down the road but my dad on his blue electric scooter. We greeted a neighbor as he headed off to work. Mission accomplished....mood much improved. A very happy birthday Dad!

Family Reunion

My mother grew up with her 10 brothers and sisters in a little town, she called "The Burg." Her three older brothers and sisters are deceased, so at 84 she is the eldest. Every year the family gathers for a reunion. This year, it was my mother's turn to oganize the event. My sister reserved the pavillion, mailed cards to famiy members, shopped with my dad for food, condiments, paper products, candies and nuts. My brother went to the house and drove the pick up loaded with supplies to the park. My husband, oldest daughter who flew in from DC and I met my brother early Sunday morning and started putting tablecloths on the tables. I was the official "greeter and onion and lemon slicer!" I looked over by the grilling area and saw my cousin and my uncle flipping burgers and turning brats and hot dogs. Everyone brought a dish to pass--potato salad, beans, coleslaw, veggie trays, fruit, cakes, brownies, pies, and cookies. All of my parents' granchildren were there except for two. I saw my nephew for the first time since his accident two years which left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. He told me about the basketball team he is on and dining at different restaurants. I never miss my family's reunion because one never knows if this might be the last time to share a laugh.