It's fall in Indiana where we live. The weather is getting colder, the trees are turning and the fields are being harvested. For the last two weekends we have traveled to Oxford Ohio for Miami University football and hockey games.
The first weekend we went we were getting onto I-70 to drive over to Oxford from Indianapolis. As we were starting our journey we read one of the digital boards over the highway telling us that I-70 was closed at a certain point in our route due to an accident. We decided to get off of the interstate in Greenfield that day and take Route 40 - The National Highway into Ohio. We had always talked about doing this but never made the time.
That weekend the trip was all right until we hit one of the towns near the accident on I-70. Then we could see that everyone had exited the interstate and had the same idea we did. Traffic came to a stop and moved at a crawl through all the small towns along 40. The trip took longer than we anticipated but we finally made it to Centerville and were able to take the back roads to Oxford.
After that experience we decided to take the same route again the next week. The next trip was totally different. Where there was traffic along 40 and all the small towns were backed up with people trying to avoid the accident the week before, this week we enjoyed a leisurely trip with minimal traffic.
Did you know there is a Cleveland, Indiana or a Dublin Indiana or a Lewisville Indiana? I did not until we got off the interstate and took Route 40 through all those small towns. We saw fields being harvested and roadside stands selling pumpkins and gourds. We stopped at one stand outside Knightstown to try and get a few additional fall mums. The mums had been killed by the frost the night before but I did score a few pumpkins and gourds.
It was a beautiful day to get off the interstate and take a much more relaxed drive across Indiana and into Ohio. We spent last Saturday enjoying football, fall weather and a great hockey game where Miami University beat THE Ohio State University.
It took me all of Sunday to recover from the festivities and travel. But, that is another post for another day.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Transitions
Ok, raise your hand. Who loves change? No takers? Personally I know change is a part of our lives. We can probably add to the old saying that we all face death, taxes and constant change. For me the most frustrating change is when one of my digital devices gets an "update" and suddenly everything looks different. It is especially difficult for my husband. We are both digital immigrants but he is probably more of an immigrant than I am.
So recently Bob and I were talking about what we would put on our Christmas card this year. We do one of those custom holiday cards with photos from the year we have just completed. Our card has included of both us and our son James with the NHL Stanley Cup. We have had photos of us with the USHL Clark Cup (both times when the Indiana Ice hockey team won it). It has also included photos of us with our son James and his family (including our grandson, Ronan the Magnificent).
We did not do a holiday card last year because it was in the middle of my completion of my doctorate and planning of graduation and a party. So this year we need to catch up.
This year has been a year of transitions. I finished graduate school and got my doctorate.
Our grandson Ronan is approaching three (going on thirty) and is making the transition from a toddler to a boy.
Two of our hockey players are in their senior year at Miami and will be graduating in the spring.
So you have a preview of what will be included in our holiday card this year.
As I said we live in a state of constant change. It is all wonderful because all of us have achieved goals we have set for ourselves. Yet it is also bittersweet because things will not be the same next year at this time.
For me (being someone who is a glass half full kind of person) I will be sad for the changes in our lives yet also I know that the future will bring new experiences and possibilities. We already have one hockey player wedding on our schedule for next year (TJ Syner is marrying his long time love). Ronan will continue to grow and mature and will be looking at preschool next year. Bob and I will continue to set new goals for ourselves and face (and enjoy) the changes in our lives.
Transitions may be something we really don't want but they are a fact of life. Who knows what the future may bring?
So recently Bob and I were talking about what we would put on our Christmas card this year. We do one of those custom holiday cards with photos from the year we have just completed. Our card has included of both us and our son James with the NHL Stanley Cup. We have had photos of us with the USHL Clark Cup (both times when the Indiana Ice hockey team won it). It has also included photos of us with our son James and his family (including our grandson, Ronan the Magnificent).
We did not do a holiday card last year because it was in the middle of my completion of my doctorate and planning of graduation and a party. So this year we need to catch up.
This year has been a year of transitions. I finished graduate school and got my doctorate.
Our grandson Ronan is approaching three (going on thirty) and is making the transition from a toddler to a boy.
Two of our hockey players are in their senior year at Miami and will be graduating in the spring.
So you have a preview of what will be included in our holiday card this year.
As I said we live in a state of constant change. It is all wonderful because all of us have achieved goals we have set for ourselves. Yet it is also bittersweet because things will not be the same next year at this time.
For me (being someone who is a glass half full kind of person) I will be sad for the changes in our lives yet also I know that the future will bring new experiences and possibilities. We already have one hockey player wedding on our schedule for next year (TJ Syner is marrying his long time love). Ronan will continue to grow and mature and will be looking at preschool next year. Bob and I will continue to set new goals for ourselves and face (and enjoy) the changes in our lives.
Transitions may be something we really don't want but they are a fact of life. Who knows what the future may bring?
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
All This for Four Feet of Pavement!
I live in the north so usually the orange construction barrels come out in late February in our area. This year the major street near our house was blocked off for construction in the early spring. The crews started taking out the medians and chewing up the pavement with large machines. We found out that they were installing bike lanes on this one mile stretch of a major north/south street on our side of town.
So for months we have endured closed lanes, two lanes of traffic compressed into one lane and barrels and road blocks. Then in April and May the rains came. We had one of the rainiest springs ever this year so road construction came to a stand still for weeks.
Once the rain stopped and the skies cleared the construction did not continue. We all watched for weeks as we were waiting in traffic in this area and there would be no one working. People began complaining and the powers that be in our city said that the construction had been delayed because of the rain. Sure, but for weeks after the rain stopped! There is nothing more discouraging that sitting in traffic day after day and there is NO ONE working on the project. Then we heard that the company that bid the job had to move onto other projects because of the rain delay. What! It seems to me that they would be required to finish what they started before moving on to other tasks.
The contractor secured a one month extension on the project, so something that was supposed end September 1 was extended until October first. Lately, as we get closer and closer to the beginning of October the activity has been picking up and lanes have been reopened.
Collateral damage from this project was our little side streets and the streets in our small neighborhood. As all these drivers sought to find ways around the traffic congestion they found our neighborhood and we were deluged with lines of commuters trying to get to work in the morning and get home in the evening. Needless to say that now our streets are all torn up and we are not even close to the list to get them repaved.
So as they are opening lanes we are finding new pavement, new lane lines and a four foot wide bike path. We went through months and months of congestion, traffic, accidents, horns blowing and people being generally nasty, as well as our now torn up streets for four feet of pavement for bike riders.
Was it all worth it?
So for months we have endured closed lanes, two lanes of traffic compressed into one lane and barrels and road blocks. Then in April and May the rains came. We had one of the rainiest springs ever this year so road construction came to a stand still for weeks.
Once the rain stopped and the skies cleared the construction did not continue. We all watched for weeks as we were waiting in traffic in this area and there would be no one working. People began complaining and the powers that be in our city said that the construction had been delayed because of the rain. Sure, but for weeks after the rain stopped! There is nothing more discouraging that sitting in traffic day after day and there is NO ONE working on the project. Then we heard that the company that bid the job had to move onto other projects because of the rain delay. What! It seems to me that they would be required to finish what they started before moving on to other tasks.
The contractor secured a one month extension on the project, so something that was supposed end September 1 was extended until October first. Lately, as we get closer and closer to the beginning of October the activity has been picking up and lanes have been reopened.
Collateral damage from this project was our little side streets and the streets in our small neighborhood. As all these drivers sought to find ways around the traffic congestion they found our neighborhood and we were deluged with lines of commuters trying to get to work in the morning and get home in the evening. Needless to say that now our streets are all torn up and we are not even close to the list to get them repaved.
So as they are opening lanes we are finding new pavement, new lane lines and a four foot wide bike path. We went through months and months of congestion, traffic, accidents, horns blowing and people being generally nasty, as well as our now torn up streets for four feet of pavement for bike riders.
Was it all worth it?
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
No more excuses!
Ever since I was a child I have been told that I am too quiet. My mother said I needed to get over my shyness. I was too brainy and did not join in with other children. She tried to help me overcome my quietness by dropping me off at several week-long camps, or taking dance lessons or pushing me into the spotlight with music lessons. I know she meant well but I continued to be quiet and "too brainy" by her description.
As I became an adult and continued my journey through education and psychology I later realized that what she called shyness was really introversion. What she called shyness was really my need to draw my energy from quiet activities, reading, needlework, gardening and walking my dogs. I am really not that terribly shy, I am just not a person who needs to be in the spotlight all the time. I find my self a good second in command, the person behind the person. I also can take the lead, I do it several times a week when I am teaching college classes.
There is now a movement, started by author Susan Cain, for those of us who are introverts. After completing her book "Quiet" and making the promotional rounds about her research and writing Susan Cain started the "Quiet Revolution" where she talks about all things that make those of us who are introverts the way we are. In spite of our need for quiet pursuits we make good leaders (we are better listeners) and we don't shy away from making decisions, we just put a little more thought into them than someone who is more impulsive.
Susan Cain's talk, The Power of Introverts, on Ted.com (http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts) is one of the most watched videos on that web site. I often show it in the psychology classes I teach when we are covering the topic of personality. Invariably I will get an email from a student after that talk thanking me for helping them to not feel like such a freak in this world filled with extroverts and those who draw their energy from crowds.
I am coming to realize that those of us who are introverts really enjoy finding someone with similar traits to ours because other like-minded and quiet-seeking introverts are not trying to suck all the oxygen from a room with their expansive personalities.
So no more excuses. I am the person I am, quiet and all. I am no longer going to feel like I have to explain or pretend to be someone I am not just to fit in. If the extroverts don't like it they can just keep talking to each other.
As I became an adult and continued my journey through education and psychology I later realized that what she called shyness was really introversion. What she called shyness was really my need to draw my energy from quiet activities, reading, needlework, gardening and walking my dogs. I am really not that terribly shy, I am just not a person who needs to be in the spotlight all the time. I find my self a good second in command, the person behind the person. I also can take the lead, I do it several times a week when I am teaching college classes.
There is now a movement, started by author Susan Cain, for those of us who are introverts. After completing her book "Quiet" and making the promotional rounds about her research and writing Susan Cain started the "Quiet Revolution" where she talks about all things that make those of us who are introverts the way we are. In spite of our need for quiet pursuits we make good leaders (we are better listeners) and we don't shy away from making decisions, we just put a little more thought into them than someone who is more impulsive.
Susan Cain's talk, The Power of Introverts, on Ted.com (http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts) is one of the most watched videos on that web site. I often show it in the psychology classes I teach when we are covering the topic of personality. Invariably I will get an email from a student after that talk thanking me for helping them to not feel like such a freak in this world filled with extroverts and those who draw their energy from crowds.
I am coming to realize that those of us who are introverts really enjoy finding someone with similar traits to ours because other like-minded and quiet-seeking introverts are not trying to suck all the oxygen from a room with their expansive personalities.
So no more excuses. I am the person I am, quiet and all. I am no longer going to feel like I have to explain or pretend to be someone I am not just to fit in. If the extroverts don't like it they can just keep talking to each other.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Rest in Heaven, Cowfan!
Things have been a little sad recently. My husband and I learned that one of our longtime friends died recently.
Bob(my husband) met Ty while Ty was still in college. He asked my husband for a job working at the concerts my husband produced. Bob hired Ty as a runner, someone who works the day of show getting items for the band and their road crew. From that beginning Ty became a friend to both of us for over 30 years.
Ty had nicknames for everyone. Bob was "the Bald One" and I was "C-Mac" He was in our lives through jobs, the birth of our son, the ups and downs of his life, the birth of our grandson and my graduation with a doctorate. The last few years Ty fell on some hard times, often struggling financially. Several times Bob would see Ty riding his bicycle and give him a ride to where ever he was going. We knew he had cancer and was getting treatment.
One thing Ty did annually was host a NFL weekly football pool. Bob participated in it annually and it made the football season more fun for him, matching wits with Ty and others in the pool on who made the best picks for the week. When Ty did not send out his announcement for this year Bob was worried that his cancer had come back. I did some research on Facebook and found out Ty had died on August 10. He died surrounded by people who loved him. Somehow through the vagaries of the workings of Facebook I did not see all the posts about Ty's final days, passing and memorial service. So Bob and I are mourning his passing ourselves.
I know that as Ty stepped from this world into Jesus' arms in heaven he was no longer in pain or suffering from the affects of cancer and its treatments. It's a sad NFL season for Bob and anyone else who knew Cowfan (Ty's name in the pool).
Rest in Heaven, Cowfan! Know that you are loved and remembered fondly, especially on football Sundays when the NFL is playing. We will miss you.
Bob(my husband) met Ty while Ty was still in college. He asked my husband for a job working at the concerts my husband produced. Bob hired Ty as a runner, someone who works the day of show getting items for the band and their road crew. From that beginning Ty became a friend to both of us for over 30 years.
Ty had nicknames for everyone. Bob was "the Bald One" and I was "C-Mac" He was in our lives through jobs, the birth of our son, the ups and downs of his life, the birth of our grandson and my graduation with a doctorate. The last few years Ty fell on some hard times, often struggling financially. Several times Bob would see Ty riding his bicycle and give him a ride to where ever he was going. We knew he had cancer and was getting treatment.
One thing Ty did annually was host a NFL weekly football pool. Bob participated in it annually and it made the football season more fun for him, matching wits with Ty and others in the pool on who made the best picks for the week. When Ty did not send out his announcement for this year Bob was worried that his cancer had come back. I did some research on Facebook and found out Ty had died on August 10. He died surrounded by people who loved him. Somehow through the vagaries of the workings of Facebook I did not see all the posts about Ty's final days, passing and memorial service. So Bob and I are mourning his passing ourselves.
I know that as Ty stepped from this world into Jesus' arms in heaven he was no longer in pain or suffering from the affects of cancer and its treatments. It's a sad NFL season for Bob and anyone else who knew Cowfan (Ty's name in the pool).
Rest in Heaven, Cowfan! Know that you are loved and remembered fondly, especially on football Sundays when the NFL is playing. We will miss you.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
"Dear Prudence"
The title of this blog post has nothing to do with the content. Saturday night we took several friends to see the Classical Mystery Tour at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie. Classical Mystery Tour is a Beatles tribute act. Dear Prudence is one of the Lennon/McCartney songs they played that night and it is one of my favorites. (from The Beatles White Album, 1968)
This evening was similar to the evening I described at an earlier concert. The crowd was huge, the place was packed with Beatles fans. Near us there was a table of people in their late 60's (I would guess) who all came in their tie-dyed garb. They had tee shirts and dresses that were tie-dyed and the women even had flowers in their hair (tie-dyed of course).
Much of the crowd spent the concert in front of the stage dancing and enjoying the show. There was one elderly man (dressed like the captain of a yacht, complete with hat) who danced the night away with several women. He seemed to have one lady who was his favorite dance partner and then other ladies joined him throughout the night. Were they a group of friends who had attended this event together or were they just a group of people who found each other that night? Whatever the circumstances they definitely enjoyed the evening. There was another woman who danced alone, delighting herself and her audience. Later a man joined her. I wonder if those two knew each other or just met up and enjoyed dancing the night away to Beatles tunes. The romance writer in me wants to think they were strangers who found each other on a summer night to the background melody of Beatles' love songs.
I love to watch the crowd at a concert. This night there were families, with young children all the way to seniors who probably saw the Beatles live (as I did). There were probably people who were there at Woodstock, or who at least were old enough to have been there. We had a wonderful time meeting up with friends and enjoying an evening of fun, food and friendship.
The night was hot and sultry but the music was sweet and the dancing was lovely.
"Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?" (Lennon/McCartney)
This evening was similar to the evening I described at an earlier concert. The crowd was huge, the place was packed with Beatles fans. Near us there was a table of people in their late 60's (I would guess) who all came in their tie-dyed garb. They had tee shirts and dresses that were tie-dyed and the women even had flowers in their hair (tie-dyed of course).
Much of the crowd spent the concert in front of the stage dancing and enjoying the show. There was one elderly man (dressed like the captain of a yacht, complete with hat) who danced the night away with several women. He seemed to have one lady who was his favorite dance partner and then other ladies joined him throughout the night. Were they a group of friends who had attended this event together or were they just a group of people who found each other that night? Whatever the circumstances they definitely enjoyed the evening. There was another woman who danced alone, delighting herself and her audience. Later a man joined her. I wonder if those two knew each other or just met up and enjoyed dancing the night away to Beatles tunes. The romance writer in me wants to think they were strangers who found each other on a summer night to the background melody of Beatles' love songs.
I love to watch the crowd at a concert. This night there were families, with young children all the way to seniors who probably saw the Beatles live (as I did). There were probably people who were there at Woodstock, or who at least were old enough to have been there. We had a wonderful time meeting up with friends and enjoying an evening of fun, food and friendship.
The night was hot and sultry but the music was sweet and the dancing was lovely.
"Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?" (Lennon/McCartney)
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Summer with my Grandson
Recently my husband and I visited Nashville TN again to see our grandson. This time we planned a four day visit over a weekend so we could spend time with him and give his mom a break over a time when his dad (our son) was out touring with Jamey Johnson.
The first day we spent it at the pool. We swam, splashed, and he had a great time throwing everything in the pool so we could fetch it. That included goggles, flip flops, shoes and sunglasses. We drew the line when he tried to throw his beloved cowboy boots in the water.
"Ronan, No! The water will ruin your boots. Put them back in the your bag."
He finally realized that we were serious about the danger of water for his boots so he did put them away as we finished our swim.
Then we had lunch at Sonic and he had a great time eating a hot dog. (hot dog in one hand, bun in the other). A police officer came to our area to eat lunch so Ronan struck up a conversation with him. He also scored some tater tots from the officer. He was so successful with meeting the police officer that he starting yelling "Hi!" to everyone in the cars that pulled into the drive in. He did not understand why people were not trying to be as friendly as he is.
We also spent one evening eating watermelon on the porch. My husband and I had stopped by a road side vegetable stand and bought some produce including a beautiful watermelon. Ronan loves watermelon! We cut come pieces and ate them on the front porch. At the end of the evening all of us were covered in watermelon juice. It was delicious and fun.
Ronan ate his watermelon and then finished mine and his mother's. He was covered in juice and sticky from head to toe!
Grandchildren are so wonderful. I have joked that one thing that makes them wonderful is that you can give them back to their parents. This past weekend during our visit I realized that the other thing that makes them wonderful is that with us he can explore and do things which his parents may not allow. Is that not what makes grandparents wonderful also?
The first day we spent it at the pool. We swam, splashed, and he had a great time throwing everything in the pool so we could fetch it. That included goggles, flip flops, shoes and sunglasses. We drew the line when he tried to throw his beloved cowboy boots in the water.
"Ronan, No! The water will ruin your boots. Put them back in the your bag."
He finally realized that we were serious about the danger of water for his boots so he did put them away as we finished our swim.
Then we had lunch at Sonic and he had a great time eating a hot dog. (hot dog in one hand, bun in the other). A police officer came to our area to eat lunch so Ronan struck up a conversation with him. He also scored some tater tots from the officer. He was so successful with meeting the police officer that he starting yelling "Hi!" to everyone in the cars that pulled into the drive in. He did not understand why people were not trying to be as friendly as he is.
We also spent one evening eating watermelon on the porch. My husband and I had stopped by a road side vegetable stand and bought some produce including a beautiful watermelon. Ronan loves watermelon! We cut come pieces and ate them on the front porch. At the end of the evening all of us were covered in watermelon juice. It was delicious and fun.
Ronan ate his watermelon and then finished mine and his mother's. He was covered in juice and sticky from head to toe!
Grandchildren are so wonderful. I have joked that one thing that makes them wonderful is that you can give them back to their parents. This past weekend during our visit I realized that the other thing that makes them wonderful is that with us he can explore and do things which his parents may not allow. Is that not what makes grandparents wonderful also?
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