The other day we were at the dinner table, finishing up a nice family dinner. The kids had carrots and hummus, one of their favorite veggie choices. Amanda and I had finished up and were just kind of chatting while the kids continued eating. My one son, Andrew, is world’s messiest eater… food finds a way from his plate to his lap, his face, the table, his clothes, everywhere… it drives us crazy. Of course, I’m in one of my moods where I don’t have a lot of patience for watching the food migration from his plate to the rest of the house.
As we sit I watch Andrew eat his carrots. He dips the carrot in the hummus, swiping it back and forth, twirling it, wiping hummus on the sides.
“Andrew,” I exclaim, all you need to do is scoop a little on to the carrot and take a bite. You don’t need to play with it.
He doesn’t get it; I’m not sure he even tried. Exasperated, I grab the carrot and show him how to neatly scoop just the right amount of hummus on the carrot for a well-proportioned bite of carrot and hummus. I’m not sure he appreciated the nuances of proper form I was demonstrating, even though I made him say to me he understood.
Two minutes later I’m watching the hummus tornado carrot dipping occur again… he did not understand the lesson I had imparted. I’m frustrated and exclaim again to him, “Andrew, just scoop it up and eat it. Don’t twirl it around… make it easy!”
Andrew looks down, then looks up at me. “Dad, I’ll make you a deal… you let me eat my hummus the way I want to, and I won’t bother you the rest of the night. Or, you can tell me how to eat my hummus but then I get to bother you the rest of the night.”
He’s a turkey! Lucky for me, my kids don’t take me too seriously. Amanda and I had a great laugh over it, I lightened up, and he continued eating his hummus the way he wanted.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Europe Wine Adventures: Closing out
Well, the last few days got a little busier and so I didn’t get a chance to update the blog. Now that we’re back, fully in the swing of life, I figured it was a good idea to get a close-out written out.
We stayed in another cute hotel in Keyersburg. Unfortunately, it didn’t have air conditioning. But, the town was cute and both mornings Amanda and I went out for a nice walk or run along a nice path. Our hotel room had a balcony and we enjoyed sitting out on that and drinking wine or eating a snack. We did go into Colmar one day, visiting little Venice and walking around. We also went to some nice tasting rooms. One was a large cooperative and we bought several of their wines; the other was a very small husband/wife shop where the young husband made some really good wines and we had fun trying to speak English/French with him.
Our last night was back in Frankfurt. On a side note, on the drive back I got the car up to 180 km/hr! Luckily, in Frankfurt, we were able to upgrade to a room with A/C as the temp was well over 100 degrees! Amanda and I caught the trams and trains around Frankfurt a bit but in the end went back to our hotel for dinner and cooling off in our room.
Some conclusions from this trip:
1. A week wasn’t too short… it worked out well. The costs are reduced since you’re not there as long; we were able to quickly adjust to the time zone change; and, we got a good dose of the culture. I could have stayed longer, but really enjoyed the week.
2. I could live there… I think. The people were very friendly and I love the small towns.
3. I love how close everything is in Europe. Coming from Alaska that is no surprise, but I’m ready to drive, train, whatever all around there.
We stayed in another cute hotel in Keyersburg. Unfortunately, it didn’t have air conditioning. But, the town was cute and both mornings Amanda and I went out for a nice walk or run along a nice path. Our hotel room had a balcony and we enjoyed sitting out on that and drinking wine or eating a snack. We did go into Colmar one day, visiting little Venice and walking around. We also went to some nice tasting rooms. One was a large cooperative and we bought several of their wines; the other was a very small husband/wife shop where the young husband made some really good wines and we had fun trying to speak English/French with him.
Our last night was back in Frankfurt. On a side note, on the drive back I got the car up to 180 km/hr! Luckily, in Frankfurt, we were able to upgrade to a room with A/C as the temp was well over 100 degrees! Amanda and I caught the trams and trains around Frankfurt a bit but in the end went back to our hotel for dinner and cooling off in our room.
Some conclusions from this trip:
1. A week wasn’t too short… it worked out well. The costs are reduced since you’re not there as long; we were able to quickly adjust to the time zone change; and, we got a good dose of the culture. I could have stayed longer, but really enjoyed the week.
2. I could live there… I think. The people were very friendly and I love the small towns.
3. I love how close everything is in Europe. Coming from Alaska that is no surprise, but I’m ready to drive, train, whatever all around there.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Europe Wine Adventures: More day 4
A couple footnotes to our adventure yesterday. As Amanda and I were driving along the route, we spied a castle up in the hills and, feeling adventurous, we took a diversion in search of the castle. As we wound our way up the hill we saw multiple parking spots and signs for a birding area. Turns out that was an eagle rehabilitation center. We finally arrived at a T with signs – to the right, Monkey Mountain; to the left, Haut Koenigsbourg. All my life I’ve been infatuated with monkeys, so we headed right, not knowing what to expect.
Monkey Mountain turns out to be a chimpanzee sanctuary. They have a large wooded area, surrounded by a fence, where multiple chimp families live and thrive. They eventually reintroduce these into the wilds of Africa and also use the area for behavioral research. Upon entry, they provide you with a small handful of popcorn and instruct you how to feed them and not to touch them… they take it as a sign of aggression.
Unfortunately, I can’t download the pictures I took until I get home. But, needless to say, it was very cool. The monkey’s are completely uninterested in humans – sometimes they’d eat, other times they’d care less. But, they were all over and we were able to observe babies, teenagers playing, moms and dads protecting their family… it was a very neat experience.
Then, upon departing, we went to the castle. The castle had originally been built in the 12th century but was in ruins. In 1900, the Germans commissioned a massive restoration project that took 8 years and completely restored it so that now it is a museum. We got some incredible views and it is impressive to be able to walk through living history. I took some good pictures of the armory to show my boys, as well.
Here are a couple pics of the castle and the cute little town we're staying in.
Monkey Mountain turns out to be a chimpanzee sanctuary. They have a large wooded area, surrounded by a fence, where multiple chimp families live and thrive. They eventually reintroduce these into the wilds of Africa and also use the area for behavioral research. Upon entry, they provide you with a small handful of popcorn and instruct you how to feed them and not to touch them… they take it as a sign of aggression.
Unfortunately, I can’t download the pictures I took until I get home. But, needless to say, it was very cool. The monkey’s are completely uninterested in humans – sometimes they’d eat, other times they’d care less. But, they were all over and we were able to observe babies, teenagers playing, moms and dads protecting their family… it was a very neat experience.
Then, upon departing, we went to the castle. The castle had originally been built in the 12th century but was in ruins. In 1900, the Germans commissioned a massive restoration project that took 8 years and completely restored it so that now it is a museum. We got some incredible views and it is impressive to be able to walk through living history. I took some good pictures of the armory to show my boys, as well.
Here are a couple pics of the castle and the cute little town we're staying in.
Europe Wine Adventures: Alsace Day 3 and 4
If you’re reading this, I appreciate it. But, mostly it is for me so it may get a bit boring. Here I am, cataloging 2 days of activities, and it is amazing what I’ve already forgotten from yesterday. Hence the reason for the blog… I want to get as much mileage as I can from these trips and writing down the memories so I can relive them is one of the ways to do that.
First, let me complain a bit… France is in the middle of a heatwave. Today it was between 90-95 Fahrenheit most of the day. 80 is nice, and would make Amanda happy, but 90 is hot. And, of course, none of our hotels have A/C. The room is bearable, but warm. On the flip side, I’m sitting on our little balcony, surrounded by flowers, looking ahead at the remains of a castle, surrounded by Alsatian hills and cute little houses on a quiet street. So, enough complaining.
Yesterday we decided to head into Strasbourg, the biggest city in the Alsace region. It has about a million people, I believe, but the main downtown area is pretty contained and surrounded by canals. We had directions to a place we could park and take the tram into the city; and, with our new found confidence in reading street signs, we were off.
Parking was a little challenging, as we drove through the city a bit looking for our pre-determined spot. Although we saw hints of it (on signs), we never found it; we were finally able to find a spot within walking distance of the city for only a few Euro more than we’d have paid for the other spot.
First stop was the cathedral, an amazing structure with beautiful flying buttresses, ornate gothic type artwork and inscribing around the outside, and tall spires. Amanda and I climbed up to the top of the observatory and got a birds-eye view of the city. From there we made our way over to Place Kleber, the shopping district, and then Le Petit France for lunch. We ate at a nice outdoor café complete with music from a couple street entertainers; followed by a showdown between the head hostess and the entertainers when they went to ask for donations from the patrons.
After most of the day in Strasbourg, and the sun, we felt a bit wasted. We went back to Obernai and our hotel and rested a bit. Then, we took a drive up the hills above Obernai; it was gorgeous. On the way home the Obernai Tourism office was putting on a little town square party. There was beer, wine, food, dancing, a polka band; so, of course we had dinner and stayed for a bit. By the end of that the FIFA semifinal game had started and we returned to our hotel room to watch it. Unfortunately there aren’t any sports bars or pubs to watch these kind of events. We found one place, but it was a restaurant with a TV and it was already full.
This morning we got up and headed out for a run. On our drive yesterday we had found some trails and so we headed there to explore… what we found was a beautiful trail system designed for horses, bikes, and people. The trails meandered through wonderfully green wooded (and shaded areas) with little bridges crossing back and forth across a creek. It was nourishing for the body and soul as it was quiet and squirrels and birds flitted around us the whole time.
Obernai has a weekly market so before checking out we went up to that. Calling this thing a market does not do it justice; it is more like a travelling supermarket and tradeshow. People have these big trucks they drive in, full of clothes, and the open them up. The market filled many streets and had everything from clothing to kitchen gadgets to all the good food you’d want to buy for dinner that night. It was packed with people all over and I think we were on stimulus overload after going through half of it.
After checking out we headed back out on the wine route to Keyserberg, our next hotel location. The drive was surreal – cruising along narrow French roads surrounded by fields and fields of vines draped across rolling hills; about every 5-10 km there is another adorable little town with cobblestone streets that you navigate through, only to burst out of it back on the main road. Amanda says I went full French because I can’t help but cycle through the gears quickly to reach top speeds… the narrow roads only accentuate the feeling of speed and it is exhilarating. I can only imagine that’s what they French are thinking, also… otherwise, they wouldn’t tail me so closely if I drop below 100 km/hr!
We tasted some wines and had a classic Alsatian dinner, but I’ll have to write about that more later. Also, along the way, we found Monkey Mountain and a massive restored castle. But alas, the temperature has cooled a bit and I believe I’m ready to go to bed. More to come…
First, let me complain a bit… France is in the middle of a heatwave. Today it was between 90-95 Fahrenheit most of the day. 80 is nice, and would make Amanda happy, but 90 is hot. And, of course, none of our hotels have A/C. The room is bearable, but warm. On the flip side, I’m sitting on our little balcony, surrounded by flowers, looking ahead at the remains of a castle, surrounded by Alsatian hills and cute little houses on a quiet street. So, enough complaining.
Yesterday we decided to head into Strasbourg, the biggest city in the Alsace region. It has about a million people, I believe, but the main downtown area is pretty contained and surrounded by canals. We had directions to a place we could park and take the tram into the city; and, with our new found confidence in reading street signs, we were off.
Parking was a little challenging, as we drove through the city a bit looking for our pre-determined spot. Although we saw hints of it (on signs), we never found it; we were finally able to find a spot within walking distance of the city for only a few Euro more than we’d have paid for the other spot.
First stop was the cathedral, an amazing structure with beautiful flying buttresses, ornate gothic type artwork and inscribing around the outside, and tall spires. Amanda and I climbed up to the top of the observatory and got a birds-eye view of the city. From there we made our way over to Place Kleber, the shopping district, and then Le Petit France for lunch. We ate at a nice outdoor café complete with music from a couple street entertainers; followed by a showdown between the head hostess and the entertainers when they went to ask for donations from the patrons.
After most of the day in Strasbourg, and the sun, we felt a bit wasted. We went back to Obernai and our hotel and rested a bit. Then, we took a drive up the hills above Obernai; it was gorgeous. On the way home the Obernai Tourism office was putting on a little town square party. There was beer, wine, food, dancing, a polka band; so, of course we had dinner and stayed for a bit. By the end of that the FIFA semifinal game had started and we returned to our hotel room to watch it. Unfortunately there aren’t any sports bars or pubs to watch these kind of events. We found one place, but it was a restaurant with a TV and it was already full.
This morning we got up and headed out for a run. On our drive yesterday we had found some trails and so we headed there to explore… what we found was a beautiful trail system designed for horses, bikes, and people. The trails meandered through wonderfully green wooded (and shaded areas) with little bridges crossing back and forth across a creek. It was nourishing for the body and soul as it was quiet and squirrels and birds flitted around us the whole time.
Obernai has a weekly market so before checking out we went up to that. Calling this thing a market does not do it justice; it is more like a travelling supermarket and tradeshow. People have these big trucks they drive in, full of clothes, and the open them up. The market filled many streets and had everything from clothing to kitchen gadgets to all the good food you’d want to buy for dinner that night. It was packed with people all over and I think we were on stimulus overload after going through half of it.
After checking out we headed back out on the wine route to Keyserberg, our next hotel location. The drive was surreal – cruising along narrow French roads surrounded by fields and fields of vines draped across rolling hills; about every 5-10 km there is another adorable little town with cobblestone streets that you navigate through, only to burst out of it back on the main road. Amanda says I went full French because I can’t help but cycle through the gears quickly to reach top speeds… the narrow roads only accentuate the feeling of speed and it is exhilarating. I can only imagine that’s what they French are thinking, also… otherwise, they wouldn’t tail me so closely if I drop below 100 km/hr!
We tasted some wines and had a classic Alsatian dinner, but I’ll have to write about that more later. Also, along the way, we found Monkey Mountain and a massive restored castle. But alas, the temperature has cooled a bit and I believe I’m ready to go to bed. More to come…
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Europe Wine Adventures: Alsace Day 2
We spent the day, for the most part, kicking around Obernai and figuring out the wine route. First the wine route, or Alsace Wine Route (Vins d’Alsace). This road winds through the French countryside from Strasbourg to Colmar, dotted with small towns filled with winemakers. We set off south, from Obernai, and made it through about 4 towns.
The roads between the towns are nice, winding through vineyards and hillsides. Small towns are visible along the way, nestled in a sea of green patchwork fields. Up on the mountainside you can make out a castle, standing proudly at the highest point. Upon entering a town, the road becomes incredibly narrow and keeps me, as the driver, on my toes. Eerily, most of the towns we went through were very quiet and didn’t have a lot of cars or people.
Amanda and I stopped at a few towns and wandered around a bit, though. Tasting rooms are open, but not necessarily manned, so it takes a little bravery to wander in and see if it is a tasting room (especially since we don’t read French that well) and then find a host. I’m sure over the next couple days we’ll get a bit more comfortable with it, but initially we’re a bit tentative.
One winery we stopped at we tried the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Gris Barrique (which saw 5 months in smaller barrels). It was a great contrast. The regular Pinot Gris had a bit of residual sugar and full, soft fruits in the mouth; a lush feel and a little sweetness to carry the finish. The barrique-ed version had wood on the nose and in the taste. The fruit was definitely muted, but still present. Amanda likes the wood-presence and preferred the latter; and, maybe in the right setting I would, also. But as a nice summer white wine, the classical Pinot Gris was more my preference.
After a few other stops for tasting and pictures we went back to Obernai to find some food. We had lunch at a nice little café – some salads and a glass of wine. Then Amanda and I walked the ramparts, a wall around the city built in the 12th century. It didn’t take long to walk, but it was interesting. There are several places where the old wall has been incorporated into the structures of newer buildings; even some of the towers remain and have been used.
Tomorrow we’ll head in to Strasbourg to visit the cathedral, Le Petit France (for lunch) and probably a canal tour. Then, of course, we’ll have to figure out where to watch the Germany match… being so close to the German border, there are a lot of fans here.
The roads between the towns are nice, winding through vineyards and hillsides. Small towns are visible along the way, nestled in a sea of green patchwork fields. Up on the mountainside you can make out a castle, standing proudly at the highest point. Upon entering a town, the road becomes incredibly narrow and keeps me, as the driver, on my toes. Eerily, most of the towns we went through were very quiet and didn’t have a lot of cars or people.
Amanda and I stopped at a few towns and wandered around a bit, though. Tasting rooms are open, but not necessarily manned, so it takes a little bravery to wander in and see if it is a tasting room (especially since we don’t read French that well) and then find a host. I’m sure over the next couple days we’ll get a bit more comfortable with it, but initially we’re a bit tentative.
One winery we stopped at we tried the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Gris Barrique (which saw 5 months in smaller barrels). It was a great contrast. The regular Pinot Gris had a bit of residual sugar and full, soft fruits in the mouth; a lush feel and a little sweetness to carry the finish. The barrique-ed version had wood on the nose and in the taste. The fruit was definitely muted, but still present. Amanda likes the wood-presence and preferred the latter; and, maybe in the right setting I would, also. But as a nice summer white wine, the classical Pinot Gris was more my preference.
After a few other stops for tasting and pictures we went back to Obernai to find some food. We had lunch at a nice little café – some salads and a glass of wine. Then Amanda and I walked the ramparts, a wall around the city built in the 12th century. It didn’t take long to walk, but it was interesting. There are several places where the old wall has been incorporated into the structures of newer buildings; even some of the towers remain and have been used.
Tomorrow we’ll head in to Strasbourg to visit the cathedral, Le Petit France (for lunch) and probably a canal tour. Then, of course, we’ll have to figure out where to watch the Germany match… being so close to the German border, there are a lot of fans here.
Europe Wine Adventures: Alsace Day 1
A few months ago Amanda and I had a leisurely Saturday and, as customary in Europe, had a glass of wine with our lunch. Having our common sense dulled and our romantic idealism enhanced, we booked a flight on Condor Air from Anchorage to Frankfurt. My Mom and Dad graciously agreed to take the kids for the week and we were set.
When we visited Luxembourg several years ago we saw campgrounds along the Mosel and so our initial idea for this trip was to rent a Eurovan and camp. However, as we started researching more (after we’d already committed, of course) we found out we were going at the high season and campers were only rented for a 14 day minimum. Oh well, we booked a few quaint hotels, rented a car, and called it good.
July 4th - we departed Anchorage around 2pm. It was a great 9 ½ hour flight over Greenland to Frankfurt, Germany. While flying Amanda could see giant ice sheets breaking up down below; there was minimal turbulence and since we had an exit row, plenty of leg room. A friend of Amanda’s, travelling to Russia, was also on the flight and sat right in front of us.
Upon arriving we had to wait a bit for our car but eventually hit the road. Making our way out of Frankfurt was easy enough and the Autobahn was nice. Our top speed was 160 km/hr (almost 100 mph!) but the speed we could go fluctuated wildly – no need for cruise control! Although it only took us a bit over 2 hours to get to Strasbourg, it took us almost another 2 hours to find Obernai, the small town we are staying in for 3 days. We were beat – we got checked in and slept for a couple hours before heading out to dinner.
Our hotel is incredibly cute – there is an open-air courtyard with tables (where I sit as I write this) surrounded by all the rooms. Beautiful red and purple flours hang from all the windows and balconies and sweet Thyme plants are on every table. The village is a classic cobblestone street French village that has quite a bit of tourism. Lots of people come with their bikes and take day trips; Amanda and I followed one of the routes on our job this morning as we ran to Nidernai, the neighboring town. We ran through corn fields and the backside of houses with lovely French gardens.
When we visited Luxembourg several years ago we saw campgrounds along the Mosel and so our initial idea for this trip was to rent a Eurovan and camp. However, as we started researching more (after we’d already committed, of course) we found out we were going at the high season and campers were only rented for a 14 day minimum. Oh well, we booked a few quaint hotels, rented a car, and called it good.
July 4th - we departed Anchorage around 2pm. It was a great 9 ½ hour flight over Greenland to Frankfurt, Germany. While flying Amanda could see giant ice sheets breaking up down below; there was minimal turbulence and since we had an exit row, plenty of leg room. A friend of Amanda’s, travelling to Russia, was also on the flight and sat right in front of us.
Upon arriving we had to wait a bit for our car but eventually hit the road. Making our way out of Frankfurt was easy enough and the Autobahn was nice. Our top speed was 160 km/hr (almost 100 mph!) but the speed we could go fluctuated wildly – no need for cruise control! Although it only took us a bit over 2 hours to get to Strasbourg, it took us almost another 2 hours to find Obernai, the small town we are staying in for 3 days. We were beat – we got checked in and slept for a couple hours before heading out to dinner.
Our hotel is incredibly cute – there is an open-air courtyard with tables (where I sit as I write this) surrounded by all the rooms. Beautiful red and purple flours hang from all the windows and balconies and sweet Thyme plants are on every table. The village is a classic cobblestone street French village that has quite a bit of tourism. Lots of people come with their bikes and take day trips; Amanda and I followed one of the routes on our job this morning as we ran to Nidernai, the neighboring town. We ran through corn fields and the backside of houses with lovely French gardens.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Funny... and back
Holy Cow! It has been almost a year since I've posted here. I've been thinking a lot about it since I enjoy writing. Then, a funny story happened and I figured that was a good excuse to post on the blog.
Ok, so my one funny story… it just happened. I was tucking the girls in to bed… well, they went down to bed and as I came down they were telling me there was a spider. There was a small spider on the wall close to where Jenna’s head is at (she's on the top bunk). I told Jenna to go get a paper towel. “ohhh”, she says, cuz you know, it makes her nervous. She came back and I told her she had to get it, but get it fast otherwise he’ll get away.
“Ok, but will you throw it away?” she says as she’s climbing back up. I agree and she goes right after it and gets it quickly and wads it up and hands it to me. She starts crawling in bed as I’m squishing it up tight.
Then, I exclaim, “ah, it got out! It’s on your pillow, Jenna!”
She bolts! She scurries down her bed, puts two hands on either side of the ladder, swings her feet through, and launches herself off the bed, landing on the floor! I didn’t even have time to say “wait!” It would be like me jumping from 14 feet up! Of course she was fine and was laughing; I was cracking up… I couldn’t believe it. She's our natural gymnast.
Ok, so my one funny story… it just happened. I was tucking the girls in to bed… well, they went down to bed and as I came down they were telling me there was a spider. There was a small spider on the wall close to where Jenna’s head is at (she's on the top bunk). I told Jenna to go get a paper towel. “ohhh”, she says, cuz you know, it makes her nervous. She came back and I told her she had to get it, but get it fast otherwise he’ll get away.
“Ok, but will you throw it away?” she says as she’s climbing back up. I agree and she goes right after it and gets it quickly and wads it up and hands it to me. She starts crawling in bed as I’m squishing it up tight.
Then, I exclaim, “ah, it got out! It’s on your pillow, Jenna!”
She bolts! She scurries down her bed, puts two hands on either side of the ladder, swings her feet through, and launches herself off the bed, landing on the floor! I didn’t even have time to say “wait!” It would be like me jumping from 14 feet up! Of course she was fine and was laughing; I was cracking up… I couldn’t believe it. She's our natural gymnast.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Summer fun
This has been an epic Alaska summer - warm sunny days, relaxing evenings, and overworked days. Yes, nothing ever works out perfectly. For work, I've taken on some additional responsibilities which has required me to travel to Fairbanks on a regular basis. It isn't a bad commute, but of course responsibilities bring some pressure.
But, onto the more fun things. We planted a garden, a first for us. Although like everything I wish I had more time for it, I love the therapuetic aspect of weeding and taking care of it. And, it is amazing watching the things grow - green beans, carrots, lettuce. Yum! Stay tuned... we're focusing on the Northwest (wine and food).
We also took a great long weekend trip with our girls. Amanda, Jenna, Carli and me went to Portland, OR for a trip. Our girls are excellent travellers - no complaining, eat anything, go along with anything, entertain themselves endlessly and jump right in to new activities. In Portland we went to the Chinese Garden (peaceful and serene); Washington Park and with the roses (intoxicating); the Japanese Gardens (a connection to nature); and, Multonomah Falls (exhilirating). The girls climbed all the way to the top of the falls with us, showing their true spirit with cruising to the top.
We spent one day in the wine country, a full report which can be found on my sister blog (alaskagrapenuts.blogspot.com). I really (really) enjoy experiencing wine country and seeing the location the grapes are grown, meeting the wine makers, and tasting terroir.
Recently, we went dipnetting. This will turn out to be a bit of a lean year for us as far as reds go. I just had our last boat trip cancelled, so it looks like we'll have what we have. I'm hoping to get a bunch of Silvers between Valdez and some runs up some rivers or something, we'll see.
The kids have had a full summer. The boys went to Cub Scout camp and basketball camp. All the kids went to a church camp. Now, the raspberries are ripening and so a nightly activity is going to pick those.
This is a bit abrupt and quick of a report, but better than nothing. Summer in Alaska is light, full, and fun. I hope summer is treating you all well, also.
But, onto the more fun things. We planted a garden, a first for us. Although like everything I wish I had more time for it, I love the therapuetic aspect of weeding and taking care of it. And, it is amazing watching the things grow - green beans, carrots, lettuce. Yum! Stay tuned... we're focusing on the Northwest (wine and food).
We also took a great long weekend trip with our girls. Amanda, Jenna, Carli and me went to Portland, OR for a trip. Our girls are excellent travellers - no complaining, eat anything, go along with anything, entertain themselves endlessly and jump right in to new activities. In Portland we went to the Chinese Garden (peaceful and serene); Washington Park and with the roses (intoxicating); the Japanese Gardens (a connection to nature); and, Multonomah Falls (exhilirating). The girls climbed all the way to the top of the falls with us, showing their true spirit with cruising to the top.
We spent one day in the wine country, a full report which can be found on my sister blog (alaskagrapenuts.blogspot.com). I really (really) enjoy experiencing wine country and seeing the location the grapes are grown, meeting the wine makers, and tasting terroir.
Recently, we went dipnetting. This will turn out to be a bit of a lean year for us as far as reds go. I just had our last boat trip cancelled, so it looks like we'll have what we have. I'm hoping to get a bunch of Silvers between Valdez and some runs up some rivers or something, we'll see.
The kids have had a full summer. The boys went to Cub Scout camp and basketball camp. All the kids went to a church camp. Now, the raspberries are ripening and so a nightly activity is going to pick those.
This is a bit abrupt and quick of a report, but better than nothing. Summer in Alaska is light, full, and fun. I hope summer is treating you all well, also.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Miracle Kidney Kitty
A quick update on our cat, our resilient Chunk. He seemed to be on the way down and after the vet checked lab values, she said his only real hope was IV fluids. Given the emotional and financial cost of that prospect, we declined and took him home. At her insistence we took some fluids to put under his skin to ease the discomfort associated with kidney failure. Chunk, however, figured that was all he needed and since starting fluid therapy has bounced back nicely.
He definitely isn’t all they way cured and we know it is now a matter of time. But, that time could be days or years… and we should all appreciate the extra time we get with loved ones. He is very affectionate but with the same sense of attitude, especially after getting his fluids.
So, for the time being he’s doing well and we are grateful and happy to have our friend still with us.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Reprieve
A quick update... we took Chunk into the vet. His kidneys were in full on failure mode. Blood test showed values off the charts. His only hope was going to be staying in the clinic for 3 days with an IV. We decided against that and she sent us home with some fluids to put in him. She said kidney failure is quite painful for cats and that this would ease his discomfort.
Well, over the weekend he has improved quite a bit. He is eating and drinking regularly and seems to be getting around ok. He curled up with me on Saturday for a little nap and has been out and about quite a bit. Even though the end must be inevitable, it is nice that he isn't so sick right now.
Well, over the weekend he has improved quite a bit. He is eating and drinking regularly and seems to be getting around ok. He curled up with me on Saturday for a little nap and has been out and about quite a bit. Even though the end must be inevitable, it is nice that he isn't so sick right now.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Not ready
Here it is, 2am in the morning, and I have cold sweats and shakes, yet I'm fairly certain I'm not sick. Last night I noticed that Chunk, our cat, hasn't eaten for a couple days... maybe more. He'll eat tuna, but not dry food. And, it is obvious things aren't right with him - he's skinny and not quite himself. We, unfortunately, are used to these signs.
Chunk is our oldest pet... we got him about the same time we got Rosa, from the humane society in Roseville, MN. We went there and had picked out one cat to adopt when Amanda spied some kittens and picked out this gray and white one. She couldn't put it down and we decided he had to come home with us, also.
His name was originally Theo. But, as he grew, he quickly filled out, realy filled out, and we often remarked on his "chunkiness." Well, that seemed to stick and he became Chunky or Chunk for eternity.
About 8 or so years ago we learned, through a blood test, that he had kidney issues... maybe he'd start having kidney failure or maybe he just has small, grape-size kidneys. I always thought he'd be the first to go. But, over the last several months we've had to say goodbye to his buddies Rosa and Cody... he's stayed strong... until now, it seems.
When he was young Amanda would often come to bed after a shower with wet hair. He loved that and would paw at it and try and bite it. Over time, though, sleeping on her head was his favorite spot. She would talk about how he was "out of control" last night with taking over her pillow. But, she couldn't resist his soft paws on her neck.
Once, in one of our road trips up the highway, he got his bell rung pretty good. We were driving the big old Ford fullsize van up. We had stopped at Liard hot springs for a dip. Amanda had the side doors open and, as she was finishing up, slammed it shut. It would have closed nicely, except Chunk's head was in the way. She shreeked (I mean, she had slammed it). Chunk fell over, his eyes floating in his head. I picked him up expecting to see brain matter falling out; but, his head was intact. I put him back down where he wobbled a bit and then fell over again. We held him for a while - he looked really dizzy - until he got his bearings. He turned out to be just fine, but always seemed a little sweeter to us after that incident.
I woke up tonight and pet Chunk. It was clear his energy level is down and immediately I knew I wasn't going right back to sleep. I am not ready for another pet to die, not yet. I'm not sure I ever would be, it just seems to be happening on too regular an occurence these past 10 months.
Chunk is our oldest pet... we got him about the same time we got Rosa, from the humane society in Roseville, MN. We went there and had picked out one cat to adopt when Amanda spied some kittens and picked out this gray and white one. She couldn't put it down and we decided he had to come home with us, also.
His name was originally Theo. But, as he grew, he quickly filled out, realy filled out, and we often remarked on his "chunkiness." Well, that seemed to stick and he became Chunky or Chunk for eternity.
About 8 or so years ago we learned, through a blood test, that he had kidney issues... maybe he'd start having kidney failure or maybe he just has small, grape-size kidneys. I always thought he'd be the first to go. But, over the last several months we've had to say goodbye to his buddies Rosa and Cody... he's stayed strong... until now, it seems.
When he was young Amanda would often come to bed after a shower with wet hair. He loved that and would paw at it and try and bite it. Over time, though, sleeping on her head was his favorite spot. She would talk about how he was "out of control" last night with taking over her pillow. But, she couldn't resist his soft paws on her neck.
Once, in one of our road trips up the highway, he got his bell rung pretty good. We were driving the big old Ford fullsize van up. We had stopped at Liard hot springs for a dip. Amanda had the side doors open and, as she was finishing up, slammed it shut. It would have closed nicely, except Chunk's head was in the way. She shreeked (I mean, she had slammed it). Chunk fell over, his eyes floating in his head. I picked him up expecting to see brain matter falling out; but, his head was intact. I put him back down where he wobbled a bit and then fell over again. We held him for a while - he looked really dizzy - until he got his bearings. He turned out to be just fine, but always seemed a little sweeter to us after that incident.
I woke up tonight and pet Chunk. It was clear his energy level is down and immediately I knew I wasn't going right back to sleep. I am not ready for another pet to die, not yet. I'm not sure I ever would be, it just seems to be happening on too regular an occurence these past 10 months.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Family Road Trip 2009
Amanda and I have taken several vacations alone, something that we’ve enjoyed and have appreciated the alone time. However, as our kids have gotten a bit older we’ve realized we really wanted some family vacation time. I know, a few years ago I would have thought we were crazy; but, thankfully, we all change.
We cashed in a bunch of our miles and flew down to SFO – we called the Bay Area home from 2000-2003 – for the start of a drive North to Seattle. We flew in late Friday night/Saturday morning and drove down to Mountain View to stay with some friends. One fun note… on the leg from Seattle to SF the plane was fairly empty and Alaska Air bumped our family of 6 up to first class. The boys and girls each got their own seats and lived it up having snacks and root beer floats.
Day 1: Saturday
We spent the day with Kate and Simon and their twin girls Beth and Amy. We met them through the twin connection and they became great friends sharing many hikes around the Bay Area as well as very memorable camping trips to Big Sur and Northern Tahoe. This trip was very relaxing as they have created a back yard oasis with a fire pit, trampoline, guinea pig, and a couple “free range” chickens.
Day 2: Sunday
One of Connor and Andrew’s best friends during our time in California was Brandon Young when we visited our good friends Chris and Alice, Brandon and the boys picked up like they’d never been apart. We played basketball, Wii, and the boys got to have a sleepover with Brandon and his younger brother Bryce. We had a nice dinner alone with Chris and Alice, thanks to some brave babysitters willing to take on 10 kids (ours, theirs, and the Young kids).
Day 3: Monday
We hit the road North driving through SF, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and up to Arcata, where our hotel reservation was. It was a gorgeous drive as we started getting into the Redwoods. Unfortunately, the road was a bit windier than we anticipated and without Dramamine the boys couldn’t take much of it. Connor got pretty sick and Andrew hung on, but didn’t feel well. The girls did great just playing in the back of the van. That evening we went out for pizza at a classic family pizza restaurant – video games, grimy tables, serve your own soda – the boys even mixed their own concotions at the soda machine.
Day 4: Tuesday
After leaving Arcata we continued up the coast to Crescent City (I think it was) and then headed over to Grants Pass to hook up with I-5 and a nice easy drive into Eugene. The weather held for us – no snow in the pass and very little rain. The roads weren’t too curvy, either, and so the boys enjoyed the drive a bit more. The girls have the back seat to each other and just play with their toys and have fun for the entire drive. If Jenna gets tired she just naps for a bit, wakes up, and then starts playing again.
We arrived in Eugene late Tuesday afternoon – a typical damp, gray, and somewhat chilly Eugene afternoon. We took a nice walk around the neighborhood with Jasmine to try and loosen up after sitting all day.
Day 5: Wednesday
Wednesday was a nice relaxing day, especially knowing we had no where to go and no serious agenda. Betsy had planned a dinner for us with Dan and Bob. Dan has a vineyard with primarily Pinot Noir grapes and makes small quantities of his own wine as well as selling a lot of his grapes to other wineries. Bob and his wife have a small importing business bringing small-production French wines into Oregon. It was fun to talk to them in general and also about wine and the wine business. Stacey also made the trek down from Portland to spend the night which we appreciated.
During the day we did a few errands around Eugene making our regular pilgrimage to Trader Joe’s and a good lunch at Café Yumm. That afternoon the kids decided they wanted to stay with Betsy – she was very gracious to even give them that option – and Amanda and I went to visit a few local wineries.
We went to King Estate, a large winery most known for their Pinot Gris. We bought a couple bottles of their Pinot Gris and also did a Pinot Noir flight and decided to take home a bottle of the winemaker’s signature Pinot Noir. King Estate is an absolutely beautiful setting, even in winter. I’ve been on their tour before and it is nice, but wasn’t being offered.
Next on our list was Silvan Ridge/Hinman Cellars. They are a relatively small tasting room with some Pinot Noir and Shiraz (we only did the red tasting list). They were solid quality wines but not exactly blockbuster for my palate.
Finally, we hit Sweet Cheeks. They are so named as their tasting room sits on the intersection of two hills which, when viewed from a distance, looks like some “sweet cheeks.” The tasting room has this great soap stone wood stove. There was no fire burning, not even any coals left, but the stone was still very very warm. Their wines were good. They had a sweet Riesling they had just bottled that was excellent – sweet but with some nice acidity that prevented it from being too syrupy. We bought a couple bottles, one to enjoy with Amanda’s sisters. Later, at a wine store, we ended up buying a bottle (on recommendation) of their Pinot Noir infusion which is Pinot and Cab Franc… should be interesting.
Day 6: Thursday
During dinner last night we sort of invited ourselves out to Dan’s vineyard. He took us on a tour showing us his barrels, his winemaking equipment, and the vineyard. He does a great job taking care of the vineyard, and it shows… there is something calming and enjoyable about being at the top of a rise and looking out over a field of vines.
That afternoon we went driving around Eugene, walking around the U of O campus, and visiting a downtown wine shop. We picked up a couple pizzas for dinner.
The wine shop was combined with an ice cream stand, a coffee stand, and a café with wood-fired pizzas. So, while we picked out wine we had them make and pre-cook a couple pizzas for us which turned out to be very tasty that evening.
Day 7: Friday
Friday was the drive to Seattle. We said our goodbyes to Betsy, which was a little tough on everyone. The boys are always a little sad saying goodbye to people, so they got a little down. The surprise was Carli, though. Typically she’s pretty self-contained, not really letting others affect her emotions much. However, as we pulled away we heard a sob in the back… Carli was crying about leaving and deeply affected, and not because others were crying. While it was sad, Amanda and I were actually encouraged that she’d made such a strong emotional bond and was letting herself feel the heartache of leaving. We considered it a breakthrough.
On the way up we stopped in Portland to visit Stacey at her home. She made us a wonderful whole-wheat macaroni and cheese, which we all loved. It was a nice stop and, although brief, a good time to catch up on things. Unfortunately, we left just a little later than we wanted and then I think took a wrong turn. So, leaving Portland we hit some traffic. Luckily it wasn’t too bad, I guess, as far as traffic goes. But, for these Alaskans, we were definitely reminded how much we don’t like cities.
We arrived in Seattle and immediately went to the high school to watch Drew play in his first varsity game. Unfortunately, his team didn’t do so well. But, we all enjoyed the high school games. We also fulfilled our promise to the kids of getting a Jamba Juice.
Day 8: Saturday
Saturday the highlight was catching up with some very dear friends from high school, Heather and Jeni. Heather was one of my best friends during high school and also spent quite a bit of time in Eugene, during my college time there. However, over the years we lost touch with each other for various reasons and hadn’t talked or seen each other for probably about 10 years. She now has a beautiful 1 year old daughter. Jeni was a high school friend and also lived right around the corner from me in Eugene one year. I had recently seen her at our (gulp) 20 year high school reunion. However, on this visit I got to meet her two children, who are 5 and 3. And, of course, they got to meet our 4 children. In some ways it seemed like not much time had passed, that we were just out of high school and starting to pretend to be serious about life, but not completely bought in to everything we’re doing; but, just that we’re supposed to be doing it. I guess in some ways it was kind of reassuring; I didn’t feel old, but actually younger. I really appreciated the opportunity to renew those relationships, to see the evidence of time passing, feel and see the confidence that 20 years of real-lfe experiences bring, but also feel a sense of youth.
That evening we had a nice dinner with the Caraway’s and then spent the evening hanging out at home with the family. We have known Todd and Diane since they only had 2 kids (they now have 5) and were young in marriage and life and we were in our first year of marriage (now coming up on 15). We have stayed in touch with them through their moves and all of ours. I lived with them for 3 months while finishing school and we have visited them several times over the years. This visit, however, was the first we’ve done with our entire family. Their twin girls quickly adopted one of our girls and took care of them during our stay. Caleb and the boys immediately hit it off. Spending time with the Caraways is like spending time with a family that is in some ways completely different, but that we’re all completely at ease with. Todd remarked on the same thing – it just feels so comfortable to walk in to their family and make ourselves at home. Their friendship is very valued and I can easily imagine spending time with them 20 years from now.
Day 9: Sunday
Sunday we woke up and took everyone out for a walk. There is a beautiful walk in the forest by their house that has wonderful, quiet trails that wind through rainforest like trees. We said our good byes to the family, made a final quick run to Trader Joe’s and headed to the airport for our flight home.
The kids were excited to come home, I think. Amanda and I were, also. It was a wonderful trip… everything I had hoped and expected it would be. One thing the kids wanted to do while on vacation was see a movie, which we didn’t get to, and so I owe them that. But otherwise it was a success and hopefully goes into our family memory bank forever.
Now if only I'd get some of the pictures up...
We cashed in a bunch of our miles and flew down to SFO – we called the Bay Area home from 2000-2003 – for the start of a drive North to Seattle. We flew in late Friday night/Saturday morning and drove down to Mountain View to stay with some friends. One fun note… on the leg from Seattle to SF the plane was fairly empty and Alaska Air bumped our family of 6 up to first class. The boys and girls each got their own seats and lived it up having snacks and root beer floats.
Day 1: Saturday
We spent the day with Kate and Simon and their twin girls Beth and Amy. We met them through the twin connection and they became great friends sharing many hikes around the Bay Area as well as very memorable camping trips to Big Sur and Northern Tahoe. This trip was very relaxing as they have created a back yard oasis with a fire pit, trampoline, guinea pig, and a couple “free range” chickens.
Day 2: Sunday
One of Connor and Andrew’s best friends during our time in California was Brandon Young when we visited our good friends Chris and Alice, Brandon and the boys picked up like they’d never been apart. We played basketball, Wii, and the boys got to have a sleepover with Brandon and his younger brother Bryce. We had a nice dinner alone with Chris and Alice, thanks to some brave babysitters willing to take on 10 kids (ours, theirs, and the Young kids).
Day 3: Monday
We hit the road North driving through SF, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and up to Arcata, where our hotel reservation was. It was a gorgeous drive as we started getting into the Redwoods. Unfortunately, the road was a bit windier than we anticipated and without Dramamine the boys couldn’t take much of it. Connor got pretty sick and Andrew hung on, but didn’t feel well. The girls did great just playing in the back of the van. That evening we went out for pizza at a classic family pizza restaurant – video games, grimy tables, serve your own soda – the boys even mixed their own concotions at the soda machine.
Day 4: Tuesday
After leaving Arcata we continued up the coast to Crescent City (I think it was) and then headed over to Grants Pass to hook up with I-5 and a nice easy drive into Eugene. The weather held for us – no snow in the pass and very little rain. The roads weren’t too curvy, either, and so the boys enjoyed the drive a bit more. The girls have the back seat to each other and just play with their toys and have fun for the entire drive. If Jenna gets tired she just naps for a bit, wakes up, and then starts playing again.
We arrived in Eugene late Tuesday afternoon – a typical damp, gray, and somewhat chilly Eugene afternoon. We took a nice walk around the neighborhood with Jasmine to try and loosen up after sitting all day.
Day 5: Wednesday
Wednesday was a nice relaxing day, especially knowing we had no where to go and no serious agenda. Betsy had planned a dinner for us with Dan and Bob. Dan has a vineyard with primarily Pinot Noir grapes and makes small quantities of his own wine as well as selling a lot of his grapes to other wineries. Bob and his wife have a small importing business bringing small-production French wines into Oregon. It was fun to talk to them in general and also about wine and the wine business. Stacey also made the trek down from Portland to spend the night which we appreciated.
During the day we did a few errands around Eugene making our regular pilgrimage to Trader Joe’s and a good lunch at Café Yumm. That afternoon the kids decided they wanted to stay with Betsy – she was very gracious to even give them that option – and Amanda and I went to visit a few local wineries.
We went to King Estate, a large winery most known for their Pinot Gris. We bought a couple bottles of their Pinot Gris and also did a Pinot Noir flight and decided to take home a bottle of the winemaker’s signature Pinot Noir. King Estate is an absolutely beautiful setting, even in winter. I’ve been on their tour before and it is nice, but wasn’t being offered.
Next on our list was Silvan Ridge/Hinman Cellars. They are a relatively small tasting room with some Pinot Noir and Shiraz (we only did the red tasting list). They were solid quality wines but not exactly blockbuster for my palate.
Finally, we hit Sweet Cheeks. They are so named as their tasting room sits on the intersection of two hills which, when viewed from a distance, looks like some “sweet cheeks.” The tasting room has this great soap stone wood stove. There was no fire burning, not even any coals left, but the stone was still very very warm. Their wines were good. They had a sweet Riesling they had just bottled that was excellent – sweet but with some nice acidity that prevented it from being too syrupy. We bought a couple bottles, one to enjoy with Amanda’s sisters. Later, at a wine store, we ended up buying a bottle (on recommendation) of their Pinot Noir infusion which is Pinot and Cab Franc… should be interesting.
Day 6: Thursday
During dinner last night we sort of invited ourselves out to Dan’s vineyard. He took us on a tour showing us his barrels, his winemaking equipment, and the vineyard. He does a great job taking care of the vineyard, and it shows… there is something calming and enjoyable about being at the top of a rise and looking out over a field of vines.
That afternoon we went driving around Eugene, walking around the U of O campus, and visiting a downtown wine shop. We picked up a couple pizzas for dinner.
The wine shop was combined with an ice cream stand, a coffee stand, and a café with wood-fired pizzas. So, while we picked out wine we had them make and pre-cook a couple pizzas for us which turned out to be very tasty that evening.
Day 7: Friday
Friday was the drive to Seattle. We said our goodbyes to Betsy, which was a little tough on everyone. The boys are always a little sad saying goodbye to people, so they got a little down. The surprise was Carli, though. Typically she’s pretty self-contained, not really letting others affect her emotions much. However, as we pulled away we heard a sob in the back… Carli was crying about leaving and deeply affected, and not because others were crying. While it was sad, Amanda and I were actually encouraged that she’d made such a strong emotional bond and was letting herself feel the heartache of leaving. We considered it a breakthrough.
On the way up we stopped in Portland to visit Stacey at her home. She made us a wonderful whole-wheat macaroni and cheese, which we all loved. It was a nice stop and, although brief, a good time to catch up on things. Unfortunately, we left just a little later than we wanted and then I think took a wrong turn. So, leaving Portland we hit some traffic. Luckily it wasn’t too bad, I guess, as far as traffic goes. But, for these Alaskans, we were definitely reminded how much we don’t like cities.
We arrived in Seattle and immediately went to the high school to watch Drew play in his first varsity game. Unfortunately, his team didn’t do so well. But, we all enjoyed the high school games. We also fulfilled our promise to the kids of getting a Jamba Juice.
Day 8: Saturday
Saturday the highlight was catching up with some very dear friends from high school, Heather and Jeni. Heather was one of my best friends during high school and also spent quite a bit of time in Eugene, during my college time there. However, over the years we lost touch with each other for various reasons and hadn’t talked or seen each other for probably about 10 years. She now has a beautiful 1 year old daughter. Jeni was a high school friend and also lived right around the corner from me in Eugene one year. I had recently seen her at our (gulp) 20 year high school reunion. However, on this visit I got to meet her two children, who are 5 and 3. And, of course, they got to meet our 4 children. In some ways it seemed like not much time had passed, that we were just out of high school and starting to pretend to be serious about life, but not completely bought in to everything we’re doing; but, just that we’re supposed to be doing it. I guess in some ways it was kind of reassuring; I didn’t feel old, but actually younger. I really appreciated the opportunity to renew those relationships, to see the evidence of time passing, feel and see the confidence that 20 years of real-lfe experiences bring, but also feel a sense of youth.
That evening we had a nice dinner with the Caraway’s and then spent the evening hanging out at home with the family. We have known Todd and Diane since they only had 2 kids (they now have 5) and were young in marriage and life and we were in our first year of marriage (now coming up on 15). We have stayed in touch with them through their moves and all of ours. I lived with them for 3 months while finishing school and we have visited them several times over the years. This visit, however, was the first we’ve done with our entire family. Their twin girls quickly adopted one of our girls and took care of them during our stay. Caleb and the boys immediately hit it off. Spending time with the Caraways is like spending time with a family that is in some ways completely different, but that we’re all completely at ease with. Todd remarked on the same thing – it just feels so comfortable to walk in to their family and make ourselves at home. Their friendship is very valued and I can easily imagine spending time with them 20 years from now.
Day 9: Sunday
Sunday we woke up and took everyone out for a walk. There is a beautiful walk in the forest by their house that has wonderful, quiet trails that wind through rainforest like trees. We said our good byes to the family, made a final quick run to Trader Joe’s and headed to the airport for our flight home.
The kids were excited to come home, I think. Amanda and I were, also. It was a wonderful trip… everything I had hoped and expected it would be. One thing the kids wanted to do while on vacation was see a movie, which we didn’t get to, and so I owe them that. But otherwise it was a success and hopefully goes into our family memory bank forever.
Now if only I'd get some of the pictures up...
Monday, December 29, 2008
Like father, like son, like grandson
Sunday morning the family goes to church. We arrive a bit early as Amanda and I are teaching one of the Sunday School classes. The kids are running around for a while, but then people start coming in and the place starts to fill up. We spend a little time getting our classroom set up, asking the boys to help us out. I run out to get some extra cups and, as I walk into the foyer, I get to witness my son Andrew, in the middle of the room, tucking in his shirt. Unfortunately, he comes from a line of Walch men who show little discretion... his belts undone, pants unbuttoned and pulled down a little bit, and he's getting the shirt all straight before buttoning himself up. Of course, I rush him off to the side a little bit, off the public stage. Although I probably should have been a little embarrassed for him, I really wasn't. He obviously wasn't. And, I doubt my Dad would have been.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Fun with twins
This morning as I'm hustling to get 6 kids out the door to school, I have this play out...
Andrew is standing on the steps, fully dressed in snowpants, coat, etc. Connor tells me he doesn't know where his snow pants are.
"You need to find them, Connor" I say. He starts looking around only because he knows he needs to do something. I resume getting myself ready to go.
Realizing he isn't making any headway and my irritation is increasing, I ask him, "What did you do with them after yesterday?"
"I think I hung them up," he says.
"Well, then they gotta be around here somewhere!" frustration rising in my voice.
Anxiousness is brewing for him now, knowing I'm feeling rushed to get going. He renews his efforts of looking around even though he knows it is futile.
It is time to go and I've boiled over. "CONNOR, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM YESTERDAY AFTER YOU WERE DONE PLAYING?!!?"
"I hung them up, Dad"
"THEN WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Andrew took them"
My mouth drops. Andrew has been watching this whole interaction, his brother nervously hunting around and not ratting him out... just standing there probably hoping beyond hope that a pair of snowpants will drop from the sky.
"Andrew, are those Connor's snowpants?"
"Yes"
"Where are yours"
"I left them at school"
Yes, my friends, they look out for each other to a fault.
That was the beginning of the day. Now, they are both sick, throwing up. Connor at least had dinner, which was a pasta sauce with some carrots and brocolli. I made him try one piece of brocolli. He tried shoveling his carrots off to the side but I caught him and made him eat a carrot, too.
2 hours later he's got his head in a bucket. He pukes up all of dinner and, just as he finishes a big one, he lifts his head up, barely above the bucket, and says to me, "It's because of the vegetables, dad"
He is persistent, that's for sure.
Andrew is standing on the steps, fully dressed in snowpants, coat, etc. Connor tells me he doesn't know where his snow pants are.
"You need to find them, Connor" I say. He starts looking around only because he knows he needs to do something. I resume getting myself ready to go.
Realizing he isn't making any headway and my irritation is increasing, I ask him, "What did you do with them after yesterday?"
"I think I hung them up," he says.
"Well, then they gotta be around here somewhere!" frustration rising in my voice.
Anxiousness is brewing for him now, knowing I'm feeling rushed to get going. He renews his efforts of looking around even though he knows it is futile.
It is time to go and I've boiled over. "CONNOR, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM YESTERDAY AFTER YOU WERE DONE PLAYING?!!?"
"I hung them up, Dad"
"THEN WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Andrew took them"
My mouth drops. Andrew has been watching this whole interaction, his brother nervously hunting around and not ratting him out... just standing there probably hoping beyond hope that a pair of snowpants will drop from the sky.
"Andrew, are those Connor's snowpants?"
"Yes"
"Where are yours"
"I left them at school"
Yes, my friends, they look out for each other to a fault.
That was the beginning of the day. Now, they are both sick, throwing up. Connor at least had dinner, which was a pasta sauce with some carrots and brocolli. I made him try one piece of brocolli. He tried shoveling his carrots off to the side but I caught him and made him eat a carrot, too.
2 hours later he's got his head in a bucket. He pukes up all of dinner and, just as he finishes a big one, he lifts his head up, barely above the bucket, and says to me, "It's because of the vegetables, dad"
He is persistent, that's for sure.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lots of ups and downs
Well, it certainly has been a little bit since I last updated this and oh so much has happened. Our summer was fun, but very full, and we had a few heartaches along the way.
We moved into our new home, really my old home, but now our new home. The process was somewhat anxiety-laden since we sold our house and had a pretty quick turnaround on that, plus we had lots of family visiting during that time. We really like it here, though, and have started settling in. Having more space is definitely nice when kids come over to play. And, now that it is winter, I finally get to put my car in the garage.
Unfortunately, one of our cats, Cody, got really sick. He finally got to a point where it was obvious he wasn't comfortable and we decided to take him in and put him down. We suspected kidney failure; even though he was young, he had all the signs. That was a hard thing, especially after losing Rosa not long ago. Cody did have a bit of a thing for Rosa, though, and would typically curl up with her, so maybe he wanted to spend more time with her.
On the positive side, Amanda completed her second half-marathon and I completed my first marathon. Given the hectic summer we had, we were both proud of ourselves and I was very happy with my time... I did just about a 10 minute mile for the race.
Amanda and I also did our annual Seldovia trip. The berries were out in full force this year and we loaded up on Salmon and Blueberries. We'll make our Seldovia jam and enjoy that this winter.
Now, in mid-October, it is winter here. So, we're hunkering down and looking forward to some cozy fires. More on that to come.
We moved into our new home, really my old home, but now our new home. The process was somewhat anxiety-laden since we sold our house and had a pretty quick turnaround on that, plus we had lots of family visiting during that time. We really like it here, though, and have started settling in. Having more space is definitely nice when kids come over to play. And, now that it is winter, I finally get to put my car in the garage.
Unfortunately, one of our cats, Cody, got really sick. He finally got to a point where it was obvious he wasn't comfortable and we decided to take him in and put him down. We suspected kidney failure; even though he was young, he had all the signs. That was a hard thing, especially after losing Rosa not long ago. Cody did have a bit of a thing for Rosa, though, and would typically curl up with her, so maybe he wanted to spend more time with her.
On the positive side, Amanda completed her second half-marathon and I completed my first marathon. Given the hectic summer we had, we were both proud of ourselves and I was very happy with my time... I did just about a 10 minute mile for the race.
Amanda and I also did our annual Seldovia trip. The berries were out in full force this year and we loaded up on Salmon and Blueberries. We'll make our Seldovia jam and enjoy that this winter.
Now, in mid-October, it is winter here. So, we're hunkering down and looking forward to some cozy fires. More on that to come.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mid-summer update
Well, in Alaska mid-August is really the end of summer. But, with the way this summer has gone, we’re going to have to try and milk a few extra weeks out of it. I think we’ve had only a handful of days that have reached 65, let alone 70 degrees. We’ve made the best of it, however.
I’ve been training for a marathon, which is this week. As you’ll see a bit later, some life events came up that superseded training and so I’m not as ready as I had hoped, but I’ll still attempt it. I did run a half-marathon and did quite well finishing in just over 2 hours. I also did my first open-water triathlon. My sister Sara and I flew up to Big Lake and did the Big Lake Triathlon. It is a sprint-distance tri with a 900 yard swim. Overall I did real well in that finishing in 1 hour 27 minutes and feeling really good.
We also moved homes – the big event that caused my training to stall out for a week. Our house sold and closed a little faster than we had expected… we were grateful it sold, though, and happy to move on to the next chapter of our lives. So, we’ve been living out of boxes while we get the bedrooms ready and hopefully things will be somewhat organized and ready for the school year.
Amanda’s parents came up for a few weeks. Her dad, Vern, came along on our annual dipnetting trip and saw the bountiful harvest come in. He’s really enjoyed the fruits of that trip – smoked salmon, canned salmon, and fresh salmon filets. We also did a halibut charter and got about 100 pounds of halibut. So, we’re feeling pretty good about our freezer situation for the winter. Amanda’s sister, Lana, also came up for a visit. Even though the weather hasn’t been great we’re hoping she has a good time and comes to visit more often.
The kids are gearing up for the school year – the boys for 2nd grade and the girls for kindergarten. They are all excited, as are we. Our schools start early here and unfortunately we’ll have to pull them out for a couple days right at the start to do our annual Valdez camping/fishing trip… but, priorities, you know! We’ll head down there for Labor Day weekend. Last year we had about 25+ people come down for a big potluck. This year I imagine the number will be a bit smaller, considering the price of gas, but we’re still hoping for a good turnout, and some good fishing.
I’ve been training for a marathon, which is this week. As you’ll see a bit later, some life events came up that superseded training and so I’m not as ready as I had hoped, but I’ll still attempt it. I did run a half-marathon and did quite well finishing in just over 2 hours. I also did my first open-water triathlon. My sister Sara and I flew up to Big Lake and did the Big Lake Triathlon. It is a sprint-distance tri with a 900 yard swim. Overall I did real well in that finishing in 1 hour 27 minutes and feeling really good.
We also moved homes – the big event that caused my training to stall out for a week. Our house sold and closed a little faster than we had expected… we were grateful it sold, though, and happy to move on to the next chapter of our lives. So, we’ve been living out of boxes while we get the bedrooms ready and hopefully things will be somewhat organized and ready for the school year.
Amanda’s parents came up for a few weeks. Her dad, Vern, came along on our annual dipnetting trip and saw the bountiful harvest come in. He’s really enjoyed the fruits of that trip – smoked salmon, canned salmon, and fresh salmon filets. We also did a halibut charter and got about 100 pounds of halibut. So, we’re feeling pretty good about our freezer situation for the winter. Amanda’s sister, Lana, also came up for a visit. Even though the weather hasn’t been great we’re hoping she has a good time and comes to visit more often.
The kids are gearing up for the school year – the boys for 2nd grade and the girls for kindergarten. They are all excited, as are we. Our schools start early here and unfortunately we’ll have to pull them out for a couple days right at the start to do our annual Valdez camping/fishing trip… but, priorities, you know! We’ll head down there for Labor Day weekend. Last year we had about 25+ people come down for a big potluck. This year I imagine the number will be a bit smaller, considering the price of gas, but we’re still hoping for a good turnout, and some good fishing.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Tri-family fun
2 weeks ago was the Eagle River Tri, which I did. It was my third year doing it and each year I think I’ll be able to spend more time training; it doesn’t happen. This year was no exception… I didn’t do any swimming and very little biking to prepare. My training has been focused on running – I’m hoping to do a marathon in August. So, my only goal going into it was to beat last years time, which was about 1:31.
When the results came in I was toward the very bottom of my age group. The only 2 below me were one that was a few minutes slower and one that didn’t finish. However, here is what I LOVE about individual events like a tri – I was extremely excited. My overall time was 1:27:17! I was on a high for the next week… it felt really good. Although, now I’ve got a new time to beat for next year, and of course, I have great plans for training.
Actually, I think what contributed to a somewhat dramatic improvement this year is general fitness level. My running is definitely taken up a notch this year and so, overall, I think I am in better shape and able to push myself a bit more. I also think that with this being my third year, I’m more comfortable with the course and pacing myself in swimming. Also, I knew I could push myself a bit harder during the bike since the run was my best event.
However, the real fun came after the race. The boys participated in the kids version of the triathlon – 1 lap in the pool, a 4 mile bike ride, and then a half mile run. I stayed with Connor; Amanda stayed with Andrew. They did great! Connor was smiling and waving at people as he ran; they really enjoyed it, which is the point. Several of their friends at school were also doing including their cousin, Kiera. It was really a great thing to be a triathlon family and I’m sure in a couple years the girls will be jumping in, also.
When the results came in I was toward the very bottom of my age group. The only 2 below me were one that was a few minutes slower and one that didn’t finish. However, here is what I LOVE about individual events like a tri – I was extremely excited. My overall time was 1:27:17! I was on a high for the next week… it felt really good. Although, now I’ve got a new time to beat for next year, and of course, I have great plans for training.
Actually, I think what contributed to a somewhat dramatic improvement this year is general fitness level. My running is definitely taken up a notch this year and so, overall, I think I am in better shape and able to push myself a bit more. I also think that with this being my third year, I’m more comfortable with the course and pacing myself in swimming. Also, I knew I could push myself a bit harder during the bike since the run was my best event.
However, the real fun came after the race. The boys participated in the kids version of the triathlon – 1 lap in the pool, a 4 mile bike ride, and then a half mile run. I stayed with Connor; Amanda stayed with Andrew. They did great! Connor was smiling and waving at people as he ran; they really enjoyed it, which is the point. Several of their friends at school were also doing including their cousin, Kiera. It was really a great thing to be a triathlon family and I’m sure in a couple years the girls will be jumping in, also.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Balance
I read a great statement that basically said life, like wine, is all about balance. As I explore and expand my knowledge and appreciation of wine, I believe understanding balance is a critical, if not the most critical, aspect of wine. It isn’t just about the varietal – Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc. – and it isn’t just about the style – fruit forward, old world, sweet, dry, etc. It is about balance. When I appreciate a wine a lot has to do with the setting, my mood, the food, the time of year, the people, all the things that go into the experience of drinking and enjoying the wine. And with all that, the balance of the wine seems to be a consistent appreciation aspect of all wines.
Similarly, life is about balance as well. Do me a favor… form a mental picture of something in balance. For me, it is a point with a plank balanced on it and a ball bearing on top of the plank. The fulcrum point is a triangle, made out of titanium, polished perfectly. It is a 2D picture. The ball bearing is titanium or platinum… something steely and reflective. They start out perfectly balanced… the ball right over the fulcrum point, steady, not moving.
What does it take to make the ball move? Can you even perceive a change in the angle of the plank when the ball starts rolling? When the ball moves further from the fulcrum, the plank starts moving. To bring the ball back to center, it takes more dramatic moves from the plank; overcompensating, catching the ball as it careens from one side to the other, trying to find the way back to balance.
In life we strive for balance, at least Amanda and I do. We want to enjoy life to the full, in all its wonder and multiple facets. But, to do that, there has to be balance. One aspect can’t outweigh the others. When it does, our life is out of balance and we feel it. Contemplate this – think about the intricacies of relationships, of life choices, of career, spiritual life, family, personal growth, personal enrichment, marriage, parenting, family fun, and on and on.
Now, think back to your mental image of balance? If it is anything like mine, it doesn’t take much to start the ball moving off the center, to lose balance. It isn’t the big decisions or actions in our lives that disrupt balance; it is all the small ones. If we make a small move that disrupts balance, catch it early, the adjustments are easy. But, if we make big moves, regaining balance is harder, takes more dramatic movements, and will result in several over corrections before we’re able to start bringing it back in order.
Maybe this visualization exercise and contemplation didn’t help you; but, ever since hearing that statement I’ve been thinking about it. I feel relatively centered right now, but my desires and ambitions tend to pull at me. The imagery of balance and maintaining or keeping a balanced life really helps keep those desires in check. Plus, contemplating the balance of my life in respect to the balance of a wine adds depth and appreciation to both.
Similarly, life is about balance as well. Do me a favor… form a mental picture of something in balance. For me, it is a point with a plank balanced on it and a ball bearing on top of the plank. The fulcrum point is a triangle, made out of titanium, polished perfectly. It is a 2D picture. The ball bearing is titanium or platinum… something steely and reflective. They start out perfectly balanced… the ball right over the fulcrum point, steady, not moving.
What does it take to make the ball move? Can you even perceive a change in the angle of the plank when the ball starts rolling? When the ball moves further from the fulcrum, the plank starts moving. To bring the ball back to center, it takes more dramatic moves from the plank; overcompensating, catching the ball as it careens from one side to the other, trying to find the way back to balance.
In life we strive for balance, at least Amanda and I do. We want to enjoy life to the full, in all its wonder and multiple facets. But, to do that, there has to be balance. One aspect can’t outweigh the others. When it does, our life is out of balance and we feel it. Contemplate this – think about the intricacies of relationships, of life choices, of career, spiritual life, family, personal growth, personal enrichment, marriage, parenting, family fun, and on and on.
Now, think back to your mental image of balance? If it is anything like mine, it doesn’t take much to start the ball moving off the center, to lose balance. It isn’t the big decisions or actions in our lives that disrupt balance; it is all the small ones. If we make a small move that disrupts balance, catch it early, the adjustments are easy. But, if we make big moves, regaining balance is harder, takes more dramatic movements, and will result in several over corrections before we’re able to start bringing it back in order.
Maybe this visualization exercise and contemplation didn’t help you; but, ever since hearing that statement I’ve been thinking about it. I feel relatively centered right now, but my desires and ambitions tend to pull at me. The imagery of balance and maintaining or keeping a balanced life really helps keep those desires in check. Plus, contemplating the balance of my life in respect to the balance of a wine adds depth and appreciation to both.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The wrap up, finally
In Paris we had a poor Internet connection. In Amsterdam the weather was nice. We came home and life took over. So here I am, finally doing a synopsis of the last week of our trip.
Luxembourg – great country. We stayed in Echternach which is a cool little town. The main street was a shopping street with an outdoor gelato stand (yum!), wine shops and a market. We went to dinner at a pizzeria the first night and while out and about the next day we saw the restaurateur; he recognized us and said hello. That’s the kind of town it is.
Luxembourg the country has all sorts of recreational activities from biking, adventure sports, and camping. We took a couple drives up the river through beautiful vineyards, visited a couple wineries, and saw a couple castles.
From there Amanda and I took a train to Paris. We got to see the Paris Marathon, which as pretty inspiring. Our favorite scene was at the finish, at about the 2:35 mark or so, a blind runner (with a running partner) came in. We were positioned right on a curve and as they went around the curve the partner just nudged the blind runner to keep on the path – it was surprisingly moving.
The next day we went out for a run and came across a bunch of police activity at the base of the Eifel Tower. As we waited around we realized the Olympic Torch was going to be coming through (or down). So, we waited around and were rewarded with seeing the torch come down the stairs of the tower and run off (to further controversy, it turns out). We didn’t have our cameras but ran into an American student studying art for a bit there who got some pictures for us (www.andybloxham.com). Turns out some of his pictures even got on CNN, including one of the back of my head! Check it out at: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-9544.
After two days in Paris we did hit a bit of a low spot, emotionally. Our room was really really small, even by Paris standards. The weather was cold and a bit rainy. The Parisian culture is quite a bit different and takes a little bit of getting used to. And, Amanda and I got in a bit of a fight. We got over that quickly, though, and actually enjoyed the last couple days there in Paris. We got into more of a relaxed mode, I think, and enjoyed what we could despite the weather.
After our time there we took a train back to Amsterdam. The weather turned nice and we met back up with Randy and Sandy to share travel stories. We had some amazing dinners – the diversity in food choices, really good food choices, is wonderful in Amsterdam. Amanda and I rented bikes and toured Amsterdam that way, which was a blast. I decided if I went back I’d stay further out of town and rent a bike the whole time I was there.
That was the end of our Europe trip – it ended on a high note, for sure. However, we were ready to be reunited with our kids. When we got home all of them were very excited to see us which, of course, made us feel warm and special. And, I think we’ve decided that will be the last major trip we go on without them for a while.
Luxembourg – great country. We stayed in Echternach which is a cool little town. The main street was a shopping street with an outdoor gelato stand (yum!), wine shops and a market. We went to dinner at a pizzeria the first night and while out and about the next day we saw the restaurateur; he recognized us and said hello. That’s the kind of town it is.
Luxembourg the country has all sorts of recreational activities from biking, adventure sports, and camping. We took a couple drives up the river through beautiful vineyards, visited a couple wineries, and saw a couple castles.
From there Amanda and I took a train to Paris. We got to see the Paris Marathon, which as pretty inspiring. Our favorite scene was at the finish, at about the 2:35 mark or so, a blind runner (with a running partner) came in. We were positioned right on a curve and as they went around the curve the partner just nudged the blind runner to keep on the path – it was surprisingly moving.
The next day we went out for a run and came across a bunch of police activity at the base of the Eifel Tower. As we waited around we realized the Olympic Torch was going to be coming through (or down). So, we waited around and were rewarded with seeing the torch come down the stairs of the tower and run off (to further controversy, it turns out). We didn’t have our cameras but ran into an American student studying art for a bit there who got some pictures for us (www.andybloxham.com). Turns out some of his pictures even got on CNN, including one of the back of my head! Check it out at: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-9544.
After two days in Paris we did hit a bit of a low spot, emotionally. Our room was really really small, even by Paris standards. The weather was cold and a bit rainy. The Parisian culture is quite a bit different and takes a little bit of getting used to. And, Amanda and I got in a bit of a fight. We got over that quickly, though, and actually enjoyed the last couple days there in Paris. We got into more of a relaxed mode, I think, and enjoyed what we could despite the weather.
After our time there we took a train back to Amsterdam. The weather turned nice and we met back up with Randy and Sandy to share travel stories. We had some amazing dinners – the diversity in food choices, really good food choices, is wonderful in Amsterdam. Amanda and I rented bikes and toured Amsterdam that way, which was a blast. I decided if I went back I’d stay further out of town and rent a bike the whole time I was there.
That was the end of our Europe trip – it ended on a high note, for sure. However, we were ready to be reunited with our kids. When we got home all of them were very excited to see us which, of course, made us feel warm and special. And, I think we’ve decided that will be the last major trip we go on without them for a while.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
It’s a discovery
That’s what he said at breakfast. We just happened onto this hotel in Valkenburg, on our drive from Amsterdam to Luxembourg. And it was a discovery… it was a small European boutique hotel meets South Miami Beach experience, but they were much too coordinated to actually put out a pink flamingo. The Hotel LeTo is run by two men and they definitely have a unique decorating style. The front courtyard area has 2 giant lamps for street lights. The hotel is painted yellow and blue (there are lots of primary colors used throughout) and the windows have yellow or blue lace curtains. In the bathroom the towel hooks are the rear ends of dogs with tails to hang the hooks on to. There are Betty Boop statues in the lobby as well as several variants of purple, red, or yellow trendy but cheap looking chairs. I mean, everywhere you look there is something odd and new, yet somehow it all seems to follow a décor and it all goes together… it is so random it almost has an order and pattern.
What sealed the deal was the breakfast. We expected cereal, yogurt, juice, and bread. But, we came down to a table set for four, several kinds of juices, a huge bread bowl, eggs, banana fruit smoothies, fresh fruit, and supreme service. The table took the décor to a whole new level – all the silverware was cute little figures, the coffee and tea pots were weird garden-type creatures that poured coffee out of their mouth, and the egg holders had craftsy-like knit egg covers. It was an entertaining breakfast ensemble and made for a great start to the morning.
For the rest of the day we went and visited the caves which have drawings from hundreds of years ago, include clandestine worship areas (including a confessional carved out of the stone) and tributes to the WW2 liberation forces. During the Christmas time they host a craft fair in the caves, which must be incredible.
What sealed the deal was the breakfast. We expected cereal, yogurt, juice, and bread. But, we came down to a table set for four, several kinds of juices, a huge bread bowl, eggs, banana fruit smoothies, fresh fruit, and supreme service. The table took the décor to a whole new level – all the silverware was cute little figures, the coffee and tea pots were weird garden-type creatures that poured coffee out of their mouth, and the egg holders had craftsy-like knit egg covers. It was an entertaining breakfast ensemble and made for a great start to the morning.
For the rest of the day we went and visited the caves which have drawings from hundreds of years ago, include clandestine worship areas (including a confessional carved out of the stone) and tributes to the WW2 liberation forces. During the Christmas time they host a craft fair in the caves, which must be incredible.
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