About Me

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I'm a 50 something daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother and friend. I have a husband and a son with my parents living in my basement. Keeping it together through menopause, the teenage years and the golden years. I hope you visit often.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Stories

On our recent vacation we had three generations together. Whenever that happens, someone usually ends up telling a story on someone else. Then "story hour" starts. Family stories are told from the point of view of the storyteller. That point of view could have been actually being present in the moment taking place, or being present at the table when the story was told. The first stories I remember were my bedtime stories. A ritual that I enjoyed with my son when he was younger. I would make up stories and tell Jake and my nieces. Gwen and Courtney would sit for awhile, then be done with it, but Meredith would sit with me for a long time and listen to the princess stories. She would be wide eyed and so captured by it. Jake always wanted stories about making things magical and colorful or inventions. The first family stories I remember were always told at the Holidays. In most families, one side will be more adept at story telling than the other. Not my family! I have great story tellers on both sides of the house. Several of my cousins can tell a story and make you feel like you are right there.  I have seen it pass from generation to generation. When I look at Jake and the girls I wonder who will be the best story teller. I also want to make sure that the family stories are passed down. It is a connection with the past that you don't realize you have until story hour begins. The stories might be a little bit overboard, but you get the picture. I think that stories add a layer to us. It's like a old, comfy quilt where each square was added by a different family member. It wraps us in laughter and love and it grows with each generation. I hope that you have a wonderful story quilt wrapped around you. Take Care!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

On our recent vacation to Orlando we decided to go to Universal Studios to see the Harry Potter exhibit. I must admit as I am getting older amusement parks are not my favorite things, but I am a big fan of Harry. My husband is a big fan of saving money. Which is why we sat through a 90 minute presentation for a time share we already own in order to get the $100.00 off Universal Studio tickets and the privilege of a one hour head start before the park opens. That was the reason that the alarm was set for 6:30am on vacation. After lots of coffee, getting two teenagers up and ready to go, we were standing in line for the Harry Potter ride at 8:05. We only waited 30 minutes to get strapped into the car and head off on our adventure. It seems the new rides are all virtual. You don't really go anywhere, you just sit, strapped in, in front of a big screen. The "car" you are in shakes, rolls, tilts and swings you around while the movie plays out in front of you. There are warnings everywhere about motion sickness, and for good reason. The way to keep from getting sick is medicine and just closing your eyes. I must admit I missed some of the movie because my stomach was telling me I really didn't want to see what was playing. The ride only lasted about four minutes. But it was long enough for me to get queasy and have a head ache. As we exited the ride through the gift shop, we noticed that the streets of Hogsmeade were filled. I mean there were people everywhere. There was a line to get into the shops! The wand shop had the longest line. We walked past  the Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, Filches Emporium and Dervish and Bangs. The windows were filled with cauldrons,  the screaming plants, robes and potions. We found a short line and bought butterbeer. You can get your butterbeer frozen or liquid with a foamy head on top. We bought one of each to share between the four of us. I liked both of them. Jake and my niece Meredith preferred the frozen and Lee was more interested in the fact that people were standing in line to get into a shop and how crazy that was. Butterbeer has been described as tasting like cupcakes and butterscotch or a cross between Dr. Browns cream soda and ginger ale. The amount of people who entered the wizarding world of Harry Potter was astounding. That section of the park was at capacity by 9:30am. We left Harry and entered into the rest of Universal. I must admit the magic wasn't there. After walking the crowded streets of Hogsmeade, seeing the crooked buildings and feeling like you really were in another world, going into the worlds of Dr. Suess, Marvel Comics and the Lost Continent can't compete with Harry. Maybe it's because those worlds are in my past and Harry is new. It was a fun, but tiring day. I hope that you can enter into a magical place and get away from the real world for a bit. Take care!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Buzzards of Hinckley Ohio

Today is a very special day in Hinckley Ohio. It is the day the "Buzzards," or Turkey Vultures return to Ohio. This is a real sign that Spring is right around the corner. Since March 15, 1957, "Buzzard spotters" have been watching for this great birds return. They start watching at 6:30am. at Hinckley Reserve in Clevelands Metropark. Armed with binoculars, warm clothing and hot coffee, these dedicated souls watch out for the first dark spot high in the sky. If you have ever seen a Buzzard fly it's a beautiful site. They are a large bird with a dark brown/black body and a red head. From a distance you can see them fly gracefully over head, looking for their next meal. They are not hunters, they are scavengers. They are unable to kill anything, so they look for road kill. Because of their size, they easily scare off other animals. This allows them to come in and take over, and have their meal. Although they are beautiful in the sky, they are ugly on the ground. They look big, awkward and just plain ugly. The Sunday after March 15th, is Buzzard Sunday in Hinckley. The festivities are celebrated with coffee and treats. Along with the budding flowers, trees and warm, sunny days, they are another sign of Spring. Here in Cincinnati we usually see the last Buzzard in December. A few weeks ago I saw the first one here. Now I see them everywhere, flying over head. I always wonder when I see five or six of them circling what they have found. They are a vulture after all. I hope you spot a sign of Spring soon. Even if it is an ugly bird. Take Care!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Backseat Driver

We were all excited when we got our drivers license. In the 70's when I got my license, the requirement was a two week class I took in the summer, then on your 16th birthday you got your drivers license. Now there are a lot more requirements. Before you turn 16 you start taking classes, then you have so many hours of driving at night, during the day, with someone over 25, with and without passengers. It all seems so complicated. It could all be so simple. Just put my Mom in the backseat. At 78 years old, Mom knows she is the best driver on earth. The worst driver, in Moms opinion, would be my Dad. He can't possibly make it without Mom telling him what lane to be in, what the speed limit is, and which exit to take. Mom and Dad are in Florida right now. Yesterday I spoke with Mom on the phone. The conversation went something like this. "Hi Mom, how are you?" "We're fine, on our way to Orlando...get in the right lane...how are you?....Don, that's your exit!" "Mom, have you made it to the airport to pick up Gwen and Chris?" "Yes, we have them in the car, say Hi to Aunt Kim....you better watch your speed or you'll get a ticket...the weather is warm and sunny." It is always interesting to talk with Mom while she is telling Dad how to drive. She flows very easily from one conversation to another. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy to follow. The only time there is a problem is when she is on speaker and I am driving, then I feel the need to do what she says, even if she is telling Dad and not me how to drive. In three years Jake will be of driving age. Lee and I talk about who will teach him how to drive. I think we should just put Mom in the car. She's going to tell him how to drive anyway and he would be learning from the best! Take Care!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Magic of Spring

March is always a month of change. As the snow melts, magically you find that daffodils, tulips, crocus all are peeking up through the cold earth. The gold finches are turning from brownish green to bright yellow. The song sparrow is singing loudly now in the mornings. Gray cloudy days give way to bright sunny days. Although it is still cold, we don't mind it as much because of the sunshine that comes with it at this time of year. Spring Break plans are being put in place. Lots of cars headed to Florida to soak up the sun and play on the beach. When it's our turn, we will head down to Orlando to visit rat world, I mean Disney. Disney is a magical place. Any other place that had a giant rodent would not be a vacation destination. Unless it is a critter getter convention. Once there we will stand in line to get in, stand in line to ride the rides, stand in line to get food and for women, stand in line at the bathroom.  A place where  a man would put on a hat with ears and walk around with a big, goofy smile on his face and not have a beer in his hand. The song It's a Small World will run over and over in your head until the end of April. Every ride ends in the gift shop. That is the only way out! Get off the ride and walk through the gift shop. They have everything! You can get towels, golf balls, stuffed animals, candy, anything that can have a logo printed on it, they sell it. You can have sets of golf balls! Golf balls with the main disney characters, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto or you can have golf balls with movie characters, like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. I can see it now. You are getting ready to tee off on the first hole. You reach in your bag and pull out a ball. You check with your foursome to make sure you can tell your balls apart once they are in flight. "Today I'm planning on using Minnie." For some reason, unless your golf partners are under the age of 10, that seems like an unlikely statement. Then there is the fact that you paid $20 for three character balls. Disney is truly a magical place. You are under some sort of spell that causes you to buy things you would never dream of, but it seemed like such a good idea at the time. Maybe it's the magic of Disney, combined with the magic of Spring. After a cold snowy winter like this year, we give into the magic of the warmth of the sun, big blue skies and the feeling of awakening from a long winters nap, refreshed and happy. Maybe even a bit goofy. Whatever your Spring Break plans are I hope that you find the magic. Just look outside and you will see it. Take Care!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Vampires, Mummies and Ghosts

I was listening to Jimmy Buffet the other day. He has this song called Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost. It made me think of a story. My Mother loves scary movies. The old fashioned kind, Dracula, the Mummy, those types of films. My cousin Steve was over for an overnight with my brother Greg. They were about 13 & 12 years old. We raised pigs, and Gregs job was to go out and make sure that the pigs were in the barn at night. That night on TV was the old black and white movie Frankenstein. Mom let us stay up and watch it. After the movie, Greg and Steve had to go out and put the pigs away. It was a warm dark, summer night about 11:00pm. The boys went out to do their job, joking around as boys do. Mom decided it would be really funny to scare them. She got a sheet and went out the front door. Mom was standing by one of the sheds, trying to get the sheet over her, when the boys came around the corner. She didn't even make a sound. They took one look at the ghost and screamed! One of them threw the crowbar that was in his hand, which thankfully missed Mom, and they took off running towards the house screaming. Greg was in the lead for a few seconds, only to be passed up by Steve who was at a full speed run. I was standing in the doorway and just got the door open in time for them to dive through it. I got knocked over and Greg and Steve were laying on the floor half laughing, half crying and yelling for Mom. Mom was standing in the back yard laughing. It was the perfect scare. Looking back on these stories are fun. They make me realize that a little thing like movie night can become a great family story. I hope that you have some memorable movie nights. Take Care!