Gal Pals

I went to the city yesterday, with gal pals. We left early, came home late. We shopped, yakked, had wine with lunch, yakked, went to happy hour, shopped, yakked and laughed a lot. It was fun, we need more field trips. Give us a little and we want a lot.

My shopping included a Mac makeup makeover and a kitchen cupboard makeover. No one bought the beautiful terrarium from Anthropologie, the car was just too full. It did make us swoon though.

We Remember

This past week Sam's unit had several jumps. The U.S. Army posted pictures on face book. There were some heavy drops such as a Humvee and of course, many soldiers. When pics get posted I am looking for Sam, no go this time. Sam was behind the scenes. One day he was on the plane but didn't jump as he was on duty as a medic. Lots of barf bags! It's pretty rough up there. They jump out in rapid succession. Sometimes chutes get tangled.

They have tons of gear on, sometimes Sam jumps with his medic gear, including a stretcher. As Sam says when he has a lot of gear, he drops like a rock.

When I see these soldiers, I think, they were all some one's little boy or girl.

On Saturday Sam was on the ground, as a medic, taking care of injuries.

On this tenth anniversary of 911 I remember with sadness all the lives lost and the loss of security we all felt then and continue to feel. The world changed that day.

I am thankful for all of our military, Homeland Security, everyone that fights against terrorists.

For the sacrifices, the risks and their deep conviction.

Sam has a number tattooed on his back.

It's the number of people that lost their lives on 911.

It's with him everyday.

As are the prayers of his family.

Angry Bees

Last night we went to the Hannegan Speedway to watch Max and Austin on the track. It was practice night and they were the newbies.

Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country.

Oh, I get it now. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.
There is a lot that I don't know about this sport. I have to learn new terminology and bike etiquette. Apparently, we were at a moto... I think. I have been at the soccer and football fields for the past 17 years. And just when I get that figured out, our youngest changes sports on us. So cut me a little slack here...

I learned a lot last night, including this is not a camera friendly place. That fence!

It's dirty and dusty.

It's hard work. I saw a lot of sweat.

I don't like the quads, they are too noisy.

The little bikers are really cute. The little guy that sings out loud as he rides is funny.

The whole track looks like a swarm of angry bees.

Austin, taking a break, finds the one girl in the whole place. Go Austin!

The boys told their moms not to come and watch. Hubby and I are not obedient parents, so we went anyway. Karrin came later. Next week, we are on it.

Afterwards, I get a text, "We are done. Thanks for coming."

You're welcome... from a Mom that knows best.

I am working on getting the video clip to work, hang in there with me. Can you find the guys? Me either. But they are in there.

Thursday Things & Thoughts

This guy got a promotion! Congratulations Sam, so proud of you! Today he is up in the air, on duty as senior medic.

In other news...

*We got a bid to have the poplar trees removed. Looks like they are staying for a while.

*Amazing weather we're having in the Pacific Northwest. I love September, fall light and the way it can be so warm during the afternoon and then cool down at night. Every evening is a perfect patio evening.

*Danny called on his first day of school at Grand Valley University. He didn't stop someone on the street to snap a first day of school picture like I suggested. He was afraid I'd blog it.

*Bike and Barge is coming to the museum today at 1:30 p.m. I have an idea that I'll be wanting to take a trip. Everyone is welcome.

*No running water in the kitchen yet. Hubby decided to fix the faucet, rather than replace it. We are waiting for a part. When I called Price Pfister the first time I got Miss Cranky Pants. She told me the part number didn't exist, I'd have to pay $29.95 in postage and blah, blah, blah.

I told her I better wait and try to find the correct part number.

I hang up.

Wait 5 minutes.

I call back and get Daniel, the king of customer service.

"No problem, why yes, that is probably the part you need, and your sprayer sticks, uhm, I'll throw in a new one, no postage due." He then apologized profusely for the national holiday that would slow down the mail and told me to have a good day. I love him!

Meanwhile, no running water in the kitchen means no baking, which means boughten baked goods. I cannot resist them, it's bad.

*I'm ready to let my flower boxes and patio pots die. I'm tired of watering and ready to move on. They got their last drink yesterday.

*Still working on the bedroom upstairs, the walls, trim, dresser and nightstand are painted. The progress is slow. I get sidetracked up there with cleaning, rearranging and going through closets. I'm thinking about having a garage sale this weekend... or not. I just can't decide.

*That's all, probably enough!

Novel Debut

In August I read three books by authors that were new to me and new to having books published. Not to say that they haven't been writers all along but that these are their first published novels. I tend to find an author that has written several books and then if I enjoy the first book I carry on and read their other books. I decided to go to uncharted territory in August. I'm not sorry.The Violets of March by Sarah Jio takes place in New York City, in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. I enjoy local books. A romance story with some family secrets, The Violets of March, took a bit to take off. The author seems to develop writing skill as the book progresses. I enjoyed the story line and the setting. Definitely a personal preference but I need a bit more character development early on in the book. The marriage Emily is leaving behind is set aside until the end of the book when she is ready to move on to the next guy, that doesn't sit well with me. Marriage is serious and no tears isn't convincing.

Overall a good story. I need to read, Years of Grace, a 1930 novel by Margaret Ayer Barnes, as it is important to the character and is tied in nicely in the beginning and the end. And it looks to be a good read too.
The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore is a story of adult children coming home. Ginny and William Owen's quiet life with their children grown up and out of the house changes as each of their three children come home to Vermont. Their oldest daughter arrives with a toddler and a baby, their son comes back with his pregnant wife and their youngest daughter arrives broke and with a broken heart. I enjoyed this story of their summer, their coming and eventually their leaving. As they should! On a side note, I'd forgotten how time consuming nursing a baby is, poor mama.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. The star of my summer! I loved this story. Vanessa Diffenbaugh wrote her book because of her own experiences as a foster mother. I've always enjoyed learning the meaning of flowers and this story takes it to a new level. The language of flowers is tied in with a foster child emancipated from the system at the age of eighteen. Our children leave home prepared, slowly and knowing that they can come back home. Foster children are shut out of the system at 18 with few options. The main character, Victoria helps others with their problems using flowers even as her life is falling apart. She uses flowers to communicate.

I have a hunch that The Language of Flowers will be a movie. It was one of those books that I didn't want it to end.

I wasn't looking for a theme between the three books, but really all three were stories of coming home. Enjoy!

Laboring

Labor Day weekend is traditionally a laboring holiday for us. We try to begin the clean up of summer fun and get our ducks in a row for fall.

This year is no exception. I still have Danny's bedroom/the guest room dismantled, our exterior trim still needs to be painted, there are weeds in the gardens that now have leaves falling on them, the kitchen faucet is under construction, the laundry is in back to school mode(unlike the laundress), one more cord of firewood needs to be ordered and I have ironing.

The September ironing that plagues me every year. Summer clothes that no one will wear until next year but it can't sit in the laundry room for a year. There's just not enough room.

A busy, duty filled weekend ahead of us. But I can live with that, just as long as I get a few more evenings on the patio. The evenings with the lights, the company and the heaters. I am so not ready to give up that bit of summer. The reward after a day's work, a bit of heaven, if you will.

Whether you are playing or working this Labor Day weekend, enjoy the last of summer!