Freckle Friday...Miss Kitty

This is what I found the other day in The Compound. Sophia playing cowgirl again!  No horse this time, but Miss Kitty had a baby. 

She did not really like having a photog in her space, so she wouldn't look at me, but I still love the photos of her ignoring me.  A little foreshadowing of what life will be like when she's 16!

Do as I do; Not as I say!

As part of my last ditch effort to get medical appointments scheduled before our Cadillac insurance runs out, recently I've had our entire family poked and prodded by anyone who owns a blood pressure cuff.  

Last week the optometrist, yesterday the general practitioner, this morning the dentist, and tomorrow the veterinarian...and I don't mean for Piper. Lately, Owen has started eating like a horse! Rather than be sorry later, I thought I'd better get him checked out now. I don't want to be surprised with a kids whose  half Clydesdale after my good insurance expires! 

This morning's appointments was early enough the kids basically got up and ready as they would any school day. It was also late enough though once they were ready, they had about 30 minutes to play before we needed to leave.  Owen went outside to kick the football around, and Sophia did this... 

Newborn photo shoot! She even pulled in a bit of nature with the flowers. She move closer or further away to get the look she wanted. Propped with pillows & blankets to make it just right. I loved watching her try different compositions with her baby. She was pretty impressed with her photos. 

I get a kick out of seeing her mimic me. Luckily, she doesn't repeat much of the vile crap that, from time to time, shoots out of my mouth...yet. She is learning exactly the way I did. 

Shooting lots of photos - of things you love!  

For her...babies and flowers;

for me...her.

For your listening pleasure....

It's official, I have a new favorite band...Point Five!  In an effort to head off the nasty text message my brother Jed is going to send me, let me rephrase this statement. There is another band I love as much as Crimson Head.  

A few months ago, I spent some time listening to Point Five in a little open air session and was hooked. They are the nicest people, they sound great and, unlike Crimson Head, I know my ear drums are not going to explode if I stand too close to the speaker...although I know I'd receive top notch treatment in such an event. Two of the band members are doctors at an area clinic. 

Over the weekend Point Five had their CD release party.  The Midway Bar was packed Saturday night with fans ready to hear the set and grab the CD. I got mine!  It looks and sounds great. 

Take a look for yourself...

I think everyone should grab this CD. It's so easy to listen to. Sometimes when I listen to one band or singers all at once, by the third or fourth track, I'm tired of listening.  I feel like I need a break.  Probably my Pandora ADD rearing it's ugly head, but I have to say, I don't have the same reaction to Point Five's sound. The disc has been in my computer since Sunday and I've played it a bunch of times.  

I love Track 6 - Carpenter.  It reminds me of Trevor's late grandfather who built our home.  Track 11 is a cool version of Cyndi Lauper's - Time After Time, which really features Point Five's unique sound. My personal favorite, Track 8 - Witchia. Not sure what it is about it, but I love it.

I have to say my kids LOVED reading my name when I popped the disc out! Thanks to Point Five, my kids think I'm a "super cool, rock star mom."  I wonder how long that'll last?  I'd bet I'm "annoying, makes me brush my teeth & do my homework mom" by Friday!

Freckle Friday-Optimus Prime's got nothing on me...

This week, I spent some of my last hours as a University of Wisconsin-Extension employee at a Multicultural Awareness Workshop. This is the same workshop that, 3 years ago, changed my life. Workshops like this are what UWEX and Cooperative Extension are all about. Transformational learning. UWEX wants to give people a chance to transform through knowledge. To leave behind ideas, notions and stereotypes, that keep us stuck in one place. 

The Multicultural Awareness Workshop wasn’t mandatory, it wasn’t necessary, and honestly most of all, it wasn’t convenient. I signed up knowing I was going to have a nearly 4 hour drive one way, and I was still determined to go. I wanted to experience it again. I wanted to challenge my beliefs, reflect on my own culture and “try on” other’s experiences. A group who started out as separate as black & white, straight & gay, city & country, left united as transformed people. We left raw with emotion. We left ready for change. We left bound by acceptance. What I love most about this workshop is the security you have while exploring these deep, tangled and often painful concepts. UWEX provides a safe place for tackling tough issues that, because of their complexity, are often ignored. 

I came away with so many insights to ponder, and one stuck with me most.  A participant mentioned how she was starting to understand the “absolute safety of absolutes.” When someone is absolutely sure of something, they are safe. Safe from change. Safe from becoming enlightened. Safe from experiencing life on a deeper level. 

I’m sure of very few things, one thing I know for sure - my 4 years with UWEX has made me a different person.  It has transformed my life in more ways than I can count. I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the work I’ve done.  My job with UWEX is over, but my work helping others to transform through learning is just getting started. 

This poster torn out of Teaching Tolerance magazine hangs above my desk.

18 holes and a camera...

Saturday Trevor and I, along with his Uncle Dale & Aunt Chris, golfed in the Gridiron Club fundraiser.

It was a lot of fun! 

Which says a lot for Dale & Chris because, typically, I'd rather have another episiotomy than play a round of golf with Trevor!  He's really good and I really suck. So after about 500 swings and 1 hit ball, I usually just give up on the golf and just try to perfect my Mario Kart skills in between holes. 

It was a beautiful day so of course I took my camera. I got this cool photo of Dale & Chris as they headed to the back 9.  I love the colors, and wanted to share it with all of you on this drizzly morning!

Have an above par week! 

Julie

Freckle Friday-Homecoming Edition

Today reminds me of one of my favorite pages from my favorite little book:

Daily Affirmations for Parents by Tian Dayton.

Cultural Traditions

I share spoken memories with my child. 

"Today I will share something of my cultural tradition with my children.  Each of us comes from somewhere and that somewhere we come from is part of what forms our culture.  Even if my background is not lustrous in any way, it is part of who I am, and who I am is all that I have to give my child.  My child loves hearing stories about me when I was young; it is meaningful to him in ways I can't even imagine and it creates an intimate sharing between us.  I still remember stories that my parents shared with me about their childhoods.  They created mental pictures.  

These are all a part of the cultural tradition I share with my child."

Lenny Bruce once said, “I hate small towns because once you've seen the cannon in the park there's nothing else to do.”

Well Mr. Bruce has never been to a small town at homecoming time then. Last night, no one was hanging out at the park looking at our tank! Everyone was on downtown watching kids of all ages celebrate their school spirit and MP pride at the annual Homecoming Parade. 

 Beads and face tattoos are all part of the homecoming tradition, but so are pink coats over Pointer blue garb when the weather is just too chilly for t-shirts.

 

Families gathered together to celebrate the evening before the big game.
Thanks to Sara Heisner for snapping this photo of us...future photographer I think!

Mud Dog football players marching down the parade route looking tough and ready to play a little smash mouth.  Although Owen would love to blame the blood running down his leg on an awesome tackle, we are pretty sure the tradition of scab picking is responsible for that....boys are gross!

Another part of our family culture is sometimes having to wait while Dad goes to work.  Sometimes people need help, and he is the guy to know. Although, we missed most of the pep rally, the kids got a treat from Atomic Ice. Another example of wonderful small town living is that the girl was closing up the ice cream shop as we walked past, but was sweet enough to let us in for a minute to scoop up two Cookie Dough cones.

I hope one day my kids will tell their children stories about homecoming parades, ice cream cones outside of the Red Rooster and Dad going to work to keep the residents of High Street nice and warm on cool September evenings.

A couple of weeks ago, I snapped a few photos of The Compound's kids decked out in Pointer blue and white, and this is my one of my favorites. Living in The Compound is another big part of these guys' culture. I wonder what kind of mental pictures will be created by these crazy Compoundians when they share their stories someday?!

"Eternity was in that moment."

William Congreve

"A lifetime. That's what we have."

Monday I read about Anna, a blogger, who recently lost her 12 year old son in a tragic accident. I, like hundreds of women bloggers connected through Blogher, Twitter, and Triberr, went to her blog to leave my condolences. When I arrived at her page, I saw her beautiful boy and her recent posts and again my heart sank. I realized my ties with Anna don’t end with just being bloggers. We have a boy & a girl 3 years apart. She blogs things like the first day of school photos. She ponders life’s goofy questions to her readers: Do I read the US Weekly magazines found in the beach house bathroom? 

Her life until just days ago was so much like mine, but now she’s in the middle of a terrible nightmare.  A nightmare, most of us are lucky enough to completely avoid.

I try hard everyday to be grateful, present and in awe of my mundane yet extraordinary life. Some days I do better than others. Let’s me be honest, some days I fail miserably, but I try. Reading about this lovely little family, who without reason or warning were dealt a devastating hand, makes me want to try HARDER. Seriously, I want to tattoo a reminder on my forehead: Enjoy today, Fondly remember yesterday, and Soak it all in! We have NO idea what tomorrow will hold so EMBRACE LIFE when you can. Love your kids, love your family, love your neighbor...love yourself.

E.B. White’s wise spider says it best as she passed away: 

“How very special are we...for just a moment...to be...part of life's...eternal...rhyme.” 

Charlotte was lucky, she had an entire lifetime to come to this realization. I hope we all have the experience Charlotte had - to live a wonderful, full life helping and teaching others to live their best life. And then, when it’s time, be able to leave this earth with peace and enlightenment.


 Not everyone is as lucky as Charlotte, the time to live life, help others, and find peace is now. A lifetime doesn't always mean a longtime - so do it now!

But first go here and leave a message for Anna and her family. Send them love, prayers and peace for the loss of their sweet son, Jake.

Freckle Friday: Nathan Lane's screams are the soundtrack to my nightmares...

I'm tired of The Compound. 

Currently, the tall yellow house in The Compound is a modern day version of this place....

Do you recognize this house?

No? Maybe one of these photos will jog your memory...

Every fall we find some of these nasty little creatures trying to shack up with us.  We typically put traps with peanut butter out for a couple of night in a row, get 2 or 3 mice and don't have any other problems.

Well, this year, the rodents have raised the stakes.  Seriously, The Compound has mutant, mind-reading, medical school mice!  They are tap dancing around the traps, predicting every move of our poison and leaving trails of poop that spell things like SUCKER and NICE TRY DOUCHE!  

Just when we think we've seen the last of them, they leave new poop in a new place, and we start the madness all over again!

The worst part of this ordeal - Trevor was gone for 5 days of the mouse spottings. On Sunday I had a small stroke, when I opened a kitchen drawer and a mouse lunged at me. Yes, I know for sure it was a lunge. I'm well aware of exercise formations because if I wasn't I wouldn't know how to accurately and completely avoid them, alright!

 Having no husband in The Compound, I was forced to hire a local (right-winged, woman-hating) exterminator.  I think the mice were probably in the cupboard laughing their furry asses off, that Miss federally grant funded paycheck recipient and Miss women's lib lady had to listen to this dude.

See I told you these mice are crazy smart.  They understand the direction of my moral compass! 

If it sounds like I'm freaking out, it's because I am FREAKING out.  Christopher Walken was at our house I Sunday, and still this morning on Freckle Friday...this appears on the counter!

So goodbye Compound, I'm leaving for the weekend. I'm gonna do some shopping, take a bunch of beautiful pictures, and hang out on the shore of Lake Michigan.  I'm gonna catch up with a friend, learn from an amazing photographer and allow my brain to enjoy some mouse free thoughts.

If the mice are not completely gone by the time I'm back- then you're all invited out on Sunday night for

The Compound's 1st Annual Marshmallow Roast.

Bring a long poker...it's gonna get pretty hot!

My back to school wish...

I am wishing both of them a successful school year...

 

Owen is not gagging, he was seeing his breath. It's a little chilly here this morning!

Success

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

and a most successful life.  

Freckle Friday: Giving credit where credit is due...

Last week, Owen was asked to give a speech to about 80+ staff members at our school district's back to school breakfast. He was more excited than I thought he'd be to get up early and address a large audience. He worked hard planning and writing the speech. Then he practiced in front of anyone that would listen...including the frog.  His hard work paid off; he did a great job welcoming and inspiring our teachers. He thinks, he may have made our new administrator cry. (Watch him in the background, and see for yourself.)  I know I cry every time I watch it. I'm so proud of him.

I'd love to say Trevor & I are the only influences that made him such a sweet, intelligent and poised boy, but his words are true...his "teachers' positive energy" had a little something to do with it.  What he doesn't learn in The Compound he learns from the wonderful teachers in our district. Yes, I'm a partner in this guy's education, but for 8 hours of those 180 school days, I'm the silent partner.

So the extreme pride I have for this up and coming public speaker, I hope his teachers feel too!  To Miss Cindy, Miss Julie, Mrs. Busch, Mrs. Heins, Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Weigel, Mrs. Radtke, and soon to be Mrs. Grimm, he is the kid he is today, because you played a part in his life. I know that, and I'm happy to share some of the credit with you. I'm not forgetting all the special's teachers, support staff, summer school teachers, and other school staff either...you are all responsible for his success too!

That said, you're all due to chip in for his college tuition, and it's looking Ivy League -- so you better start saving your pennies! ;)

Have a great weekend.  See you at school on Tuesday!

Julie