No Texting in the Outfield

"Wait how am I supposed to text with this thing on?"

On our vacation in Michigan, we piled my brother's kids and ours into the car and took them to play some softball.

We let the kids bat first.  My not-so-sporty kids were at least able to hit the ball.  Though the bat looked like it weighed more than my son and Jess and Alyss decided to ballet leap to first instead of run.

When it was the kids' turn in the field, I handed Jess my glove.  She put it on and looked down at her hands confused and asked, "Wait, how am I supposed to text with this thing on?"

I laughed but wondered if there is any hope for her.

Kathy :)

The Fog Lifting

Jess and Alyss playing with their cousins in Michigan

Ok so I've been kind of missing in action lately but I've really needed some time off to think and get some other things done.  I'm not sure if it was the death of my grandfather, to whom I was very close, or other stress, but ever since the end of  the A-Z, I felt like I was walking around with a fog in my head. I couldn't seem to focus on my writing.
But after a couple months off and spending a lovely week in Michigan with our extended families, the fog seems to be clearing. It was wonderful to be up there and have fun with the whole family, relaxing and listening to all the kids goofing around together.  

We went up to my grandpa's cottage which now belongs to my mom and dad.
It was odd to be there.  I thought there would be this big hole without him there.

His empty chair on the porch,
His empty fishing boat rocking lonely in the waves
The fire in the fireplace untended.

Our last morning there

His red and black plaid jacket still hung by the door.
But as his coat hung in our presence so did his spirit.
He was still there, just formless.
In everything he was there.

We could all feel him like he had never left.
Holding all of us together
In this place where we spent so much time with him,
His favorite place.

He was still waiting for us.
And he always would be.  



Our last morning there began with a mist rising from the glass-calm lake, then the sun rose and burned through the fog.
Allowing the light to shine down.


I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!
I miss all of you.  I think I will probably be blogging only twice a week for a while, until I get back in the swing of things.

Kathy :)

IWSG

It's time for the IWSG again, hosted by Alex.  It's a place to share our fears, insecurities and successes with the world. We post on the first Wednesday of the month.  If you want to join click here to sign up.

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because life has really gotten in the way. It has left me feeling mighty insecure.  If I listed everything on my insecure list for this week, your hand would cramp up from scrolling down, it might also be a bit too depressing.  And I don't want to ever be depressing.  One of the reasons I got into blogging was because I wanted to be a positive influence and spread joy.


SO today I'm just going to leave you with this picture of my son from his 9th birthday this week.

I hope you all have a great week!  Hopefully I will be back to blogging regularly soon.  Thanks for being my lovely followers and being patient with my crazy life.  

Kathy :)

Fun in Philly

The kids with Ben Franklin on U. Penn's campus

When the girls were little, we lived in downtown Philadelphia.  Now, whenever we get the chance to go back, we jump on it.  This year we spent a wonderful extended Mother's Day weekend there.

I love the city, it's not as big and intimidating as New York City but it has plenty of cultural and historical sites and more great restaurants than I could ever eat at.  

This trip, we spent most of our time on the University of Pennsylvania campus where the kids got to meet some of our old friends and even attend some classes.  

Having fun in class

After a class in Negotiations, Alyssa said, "That was a lot more fun than I expected.  I can't wait to go to college!"  

I just hope they didn't learn to many techniques on negotiating, because believe me they are already pretty good at it!    

Relaxing in the park

After a day on campus, we walked down to Center City and hung out in Rittenhouse Square.  We sat on a park bench and just watched the people go by.  Ryan's attention was focused on a woman twirling two glowing blue lights on some kind of string.  He was mesmerized.  We went over to check it out.  She showed him that there were two LEDs inside a silicone shell attached to a rubber cord.  Then she let him try it.  He swung them like lassos over his head and the blue light streaked around him.  He was thrilled, but we couldn't stay for long as it was getting to be time for dinner.         

Ryan learning a new skill

I've always loved the food in Philly.  There are so many different kinds of cuisine to choose from.  This time, because we are now mostly vegetarian, we stayed away from the Philly Cheese-steaks, (If you've never had an authentic one, you really should.  They are delicious!) but there were still plenty of healthy and delicious options.  

Enjoying mango smoothies before dinner

We found a great little Indian restaurant called the Philadelphia Chutney Company, where we shared two huge dosas (thin crepe like bread made from rice and lentils) filled with paneer, an Indian cheese, and lots of different veggies in a not too spicy curry sauce.  It was fantastic and even the kids loved it!

Ryan's favorite food is sushi, so one night we ate at our favorite little sushi place, Mizu Sushi Bar.  We had our fill then walked around some more.  (I just love all the walking we do in Philly.  Living in the suburbs in Ohio, we have to drive everywhere.  It's nice to be able to walk a couple blocks and get to just about anything!) Then we decided to treat the kids to dessert, so around 9:30 pm, we took them to Devon Seafood Grill, where we ordered, the most delicious carrot cake, apple turnover, and mango sherbet along with some coffees.  We had a wonderful evening full of conversation and laughter, but we were too stuffed to finish everything.

Mother's Day morning I was treated to a breakfast at Rachael's Nosheri which maybe wouldn't even catch most people's eye, but it is one of our favorite little breakfast spots.  It's really just a simple diner, but their food is excellent and much cheaper than any hotel breakfast.  They have the best challah bread French toast I've ever had and the kids love the chocolate chip pancakes.         

Mother's Day Breakfast at Rachael's Nosheri

Walking down Walnut Street shopping area

We didn't even make it to the Art Museum or Old City, where Independence Hall is, this time.  There are so many great things to see and do there.  

So if you get the chance to visit Philadelphia, take it and enjoy all the charm this wonderful big-little city has to offer.  

Kathy :)

Best/Worst Movie Remakes

Best/Worst Movie Remakes

When Hollywood runs out of ideas, they remake older films. Sometimes this works, and sometimes it fails miserably. 
List the best remake you’ve ever seen and the worst. 
Added bonus – list the worst and/or best song remake you’ve ever heard!

Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, Stephen Tremp, Livia Peterson, Father Dragon Al.  



Best Remakes:


The Karate Kid 2010-
Though I enjoyed the original back in 1984, the story was ready for a remake.  The new version, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith is a refreshing take on the original story line.  Being set in China brings a wonderful new perspective. I especially love the scene where master and student visit the ancient temple, it gives the film an entirely new character.





Worst Remake

Dinner for Schmucks 2010- 

I never saw the original French film called Le Diner de Cons (1998), but honestly I don't think it could be worse than the remake.  With Steve Carell, I was hoping for a night of laughs and while it was mildly funny, the movie resorted to bad taste and stupidity.  And often I'm a fan of stupidity, I love Dumb and Dumber but this one just didn't do it for me.  





What remakes are your favorites?

Kathy :)

Have a great weekend!

IWSG

Happy May 1st everyone!  We are finally getting some springy weather around here.
I can't believe April and the Challenge are already over! I hope everyone had a great time.  I did!

Being the first Wednesday of the month means today is the IWSG, started by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today I'm feeling pretty good, because during the craziness of the A-Z Challenge, I decided to send out a query for a magazine article.  The guidelines said they wouldn't contact me unless they wanted to use my article.  But the next day I got an email from the editor saying thanks for the query and if they "decide to use my good idea," they will contact me again in sometime in May.

I was so excited!!!!! I Jumped up and down and pumped my fists in the air, just because I got a reply.  Now maybe it was just an auto reply that they send to everyone, but I don't care. I choose to think it is a good omen!!!

How are you this week?  What are you excited about and what are your fears?


Kathy :)

Z is for the End

PT’s 91 Years of Wisdom

This year, I had a terrible time trying to figure out what my A-Z theme would be.  I finally decided that this year, I would honor my beloved 91 year old grandfather, Paul Titus, or PT as his friends called him, who passed away on February 8th.  He lived a wonderfully full life and was always trying to challenge my brothers and me to think out of the box.  So for this challenge I thought I would share little bits of his wisdom that he tried to bestow upon us.  

But I also want to highlight the wonderful bloggers in this community who have published their books.  So everyday, I will give a quick  shout out to those works with titles beginning with the letter of the day.

Gramps's favorite place; the lake at sunset

There aren't any words that begin with "Z" to go with Gramps, but there was one word that he and I made up together.  

"Sikeemuzzah" - It didn't really have a meaning. We used it as an exclamation. Then we would continue speaking in our own nonsense language, and somehow we knew what the other person was saying.  

We had so much fun together and I'm thankful for every minute I was able to spend with him. I still have times when I think, "Oh I have to call and ask Gramps how to fix that towel rack in the bathroom," or "I have to show Gramps a picture of my blooming orchids." Then my heart sinks, because I know I can't.  

I know he was ready to go. He wondered for years why he was left on this Earth for so long without Grams. And now he is finally with her, but it doesn't make the loss easier for us who are left behind.

****


I wish you all could have really known Gramps, I'm sure he would have loved talking to you virtually. He would have marveled at the thought of making friends all over the world. I think part of the reason I enjoy getting to meet all of you is because of the curiosity he inspired in me to learn about others.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts! I didn't get to as many as I would have liked but I will continue to visit people on the list.

Gramps and our family

I hope you all enjoyed this year's A-Z Challenge as much as I did and congratulations to everyone who completed it!!

Kathy :)