Reading! Writing! Moving!

I have finally decided what my personal summer goals are! I have been so wishy-washy these last few weeks that I haven't been able to focus worth beans. Here are my goals and the whys:

1. I will read at least 75, but hopefully 100 pgs. everyday. At the end of the summer, I will post the list of the books I have read (though word count can mean ANY reading). I created this goal because I feel my brain turn to mush over the course of the school year in a way that makes it too hard to read more than a book or so a month by the end...and I am tired of that! Also, because there are so many books out there right now that I have been itching to get my hands on!

2. I will type no less than 3 pages every day. This one is easy--because I love, love writing and no one else is writing a book for me (update to come at the end of summer as well).

3. Make another United Way movie. Among other things I will do this summer, I want to put into pictures and words just how valuable the United Way is to our community and make a great plea for more support--both through volunteering and donations.

3. I will move for an hour every day with my kids. Walk, run, swim, superclean, whatever. I need to be a better role model and I want to find the permanent space in my life once again for exercise. I will try to blog about my luck/success/failure/challenge with all of these.

*** The sum total of all four goals is 3-5 hours per day. The rest will be reserved for everyday things like sidewalk chalk masterpiece making, gossiping, dreaming, TV, making cookies and other fine pleasures.

Odds n' Ends

Well, this has been an interesting week!

I am putting forth much effort on our Ionia County Teen Leadership Group, and have been so blessed to work with some amazing adults and teens on the framework. There is nothing I would like more for Ionia than to grow many more great leaders to improve our community in powerful ways. The framework is developing, albeit slowly. It's all going to be so good at allowing me to practice patience. =)

I also went with my grandma to her sister's funeral. It was hard to watch my grandma grieve. She sat next to her last remaining sister and best friend, in the front row, just sobbing. That alone made me ache-y sad and cry. The thing is, as I attend more and more funerals for aunts and uncles and grandparents, my shared history with the living dwindles. It really pisses me off, quite frankly--and scares me. Both of my grandmas are there for me when I need them. My parents live 650 miles away. So, guess who stepped up to the plate these last 11 years? I have keys and files and wills and directives "just in case" something happens to them, and they deal with phone calls to babysit, birthday parties to attend and help at, and spur of the moment ventings, etc.

As I sat at the funeral, I was thinking about what I would need to do for grandma if she should pass away someday. She never held a job, doesn't speak to her only (spoiled) child, my dad, and hasn't been on any committees. Ever. She has never even had a driver's license or a high school diploma. Strange thing, though. She is everything to me. When we were kids, she played croquet and cards and taught us how to make anything out of plastic canvas. She always had candy and nuts and made EXCELLENT food. If we were there when Wheel of Fortune was on, she would make us popcorn---Orville Redenbacher out of the frying pan and we thought she was pure genius. She doesn't understand why I am so damn busy on every little committee, and quite frankly, neither do I (I just want to do everything before I die). I love that she swears--though the F word will get you kicked you out of her house. However, I am her favorite. I know this. She has told me in a variety of ways throughout the years. I used the F word as a teenager and she said nothing. I have too many points to narrow this down, but I am so proud of the women in my family. They are plain, relaxed (well, except me), enjoy hobbies with needles, and will all have 2nd page obituaries, but I love every bit of them-- imperfect, frank, and quiet as they are. I know I will physically only inherit a cardinal collection and other assorted knick-knacks, but their personal presence is the only thing I want at all...

Next, I must say how proud I am of Ionia, my hometown. Just a few observances this week: our teachers and administrators kicked-off the IPS campaign yesterday by contributing nearly $9500 for the United Way--in just one hour!!! That first day already raised nearly $1,000 more than we have ever contributed as a district. I am nearly speechless(but you all know that will never be true). I am so, so proud of our United Way and all of the citizens who contribute, volunteer, and advocate. It's become a very special goal of mine.

Today, I attended an inter-agency fair at the High School. Many of our organizations were there--the food network, United Way, CPS, ICMH, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts, Commission on Aging, Food for Hunger, Eightcap, Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired...it just goes on and on. I have a TON of paraphernelia and brochures. If you are reading this and you are wondering if "there's a place that can help with that" in Ionia, see me. What a powerful thing to have so much opportunity in our little town--rock on!!

You know my next post will be on school...which I can't wait for! When you have three kids and two teachers in your house, this time of the year is NUTSO!!!!! LOL!!

New Goal

I am writing a book, starting today. I have three ideas for novels, and the one that is finished first will win (I hope). I have NO mentor, no one to talk to about how to go about this, and no freakin' idea how it will turn it out. I have a lot of hope, and that's it. I haven't even ever been to NYC. Random House told me to start at Writer's Digest to get an agent, so in a few months, when I am ready, I will start with that. I love writing and I want to do more of it. Period.

This random blog of mine will now be where I update my progress towards a permanent spot on the Barnes & Noble shelf. If I don't announce it, I won't stay on track...so here it goes!

Writing Retreat on the USS Badger

This pic of Mike shows the hilarity of my day--he entered the "Badger Idol" and sang a sweet ditty to his wonderful wife Suzie! That's right--there's an Amish family, front and center, waiting for BINGO to begin again. LOL!

Pics: 1. This is the view of the bow from the Captain's Room.
2. I was thinking, "Uh-Oh..these people don't realize who they just let in charge of their ship!"
3. I got over my fear real quick and LOVED IT!
4. Self-pic on the starboard side...
5. View of the front of the Badger and the pile of coal in WI used to fuel it. The Badger is the only coal-powered ship in use in the U.S.
6. Neat piece of artwork...

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of driving to Ludington to board the USS Badger, meeting all new people, and ferrying to Wisconsin and back that day. What a nice, relaxing day! I wrote several pieces (mostly poems, but a couple of short stories and a "start", FYI) and couldn't believe my luck on a perfect, balmy summer day to sit on deck and watch the waves sway by...here's the coolest thing--our director was the wife of the captain. She secretly ushered us into the helm of the boat, way up high so we could have an even more astonishing view and learn about the inner-workings of the ship. I was just giddy the whole time! At the end of the discussion, he let me drive the ship! For those of you who can imagine, you need to understand the power of being at the helm of a 410' ship carrying two hundred vehicles and up to 620 passengers! Equal to that were the breathtaking 360 degree views of majestic Lake Michigan. As I was steering, the MI lakeshore came back into view. It was simply stunning.

Second to the experience of being captain, I fully relished the small amount of time in Manitowoc, WI. We ate at the courthouse pub, then pretty much rushed back to the boat, but there are so many neat art shops and unique locations there. I can't wait to go back one day.

Teachable Moment of the Day (x2)

#1 I slept in until 10:19 am. This is the only time I have slept in this summer. I then chose to not come downstairs until 2 pm. Don't get me wrong, I was doing stuff. I drank my coffee that my wonderful Paul brought up to me, and laid with the baby during his nap watching HGTV. The thing this taught me was that I need to do it again. =)

#2 After I got out and started weeding and fertilizing my lawn and flowers, Abby complained that she was bored, but no, she couldn't help me (naturally). I asked her to get on her bike and start practicing her riding. Now, she is a TOP student, dancer, and great at many, many things, but she is nearly 8 1/2 and can't (won't) ride her bike. I have been helping her for nearly 3 years...today I was tired of the cheering, polite prodding, and sensitive crap and told her to just get going. Actually, after about 45 min. of sweating, supporting her butt, and cajoling, I told her to learn how to do this thing or she couldn't go in the house tonight. I'm embarrassed to say that I said that, and I know it wouldn't have been something I carried through, but five minutes later........SHE RODE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET AND BACK!!!!!!!!!! With absolutely no reservation, I screamed and whooped it up all the way out to her!!
Because I want to finish my yard tonight, I went back to weeding. Several minutes later, Abby walks over to me and stated, "Mom, sometimes you just have to stop cheering me on and kick my butt. Good job!"
I am so proud!
Now off to the backyard again. The weeds are waiting!

32?

It feels like nothin to me. Just like when I was 31. And 28. Another day onward. I have never understood the question, "How does it feel to be another year older?"
How do you answer that?? More importantly, why would you bother to ask it???

I read this book, Water for Elephants, the other day. It made me think about getting old. Not older, no, OLD. I quickly quit that--I already miss that giddy feeling of childhood.

I quite like 32. I feel better than I did at 22, and I can confidently discern between who and what I choose or not. That feels freeing, mostly. Raising kids is wonderful. Working towards goals fulfills me. I hope this year continues to be a positive one!

An Interesting Kind of Week

This week began in an unsettling kind of way (read previous post for a small slice of insight), and ended very differently.

I taught at SWC (at State) for the first time and just loved it. I was incredibly nervous to start, but was so blessed with 10 hardworking, dynamic students and it just got better from there. Pure joy was ever-present in our little group! My kids were from Clare and Williamston and Korea and Taiwan, Ionia, Grand Ledge, and more. We traveled all over campus, discovered much about bugs and flowers and ourselves, fed ducks, ate ice cream at the Dairy Store, and had so much fun! Oh, and we wrote and wrote and wrote and published ourselves. I really cherish that experience. It is my element.

When I got home from the last day of this week's camp, my sister and her family were at my house. I was expecting this, but I didn't expect was the total recalibration of me that occurred during this long weekend. We did nothing dramatic--chatted a whole lot, roasted marshmallows, made good food, and had a couple of small family/friend reunions. Yet, as I sit here tonight I have made a revelation. Through talking to my female relatives--grandmas, sister, nieces, etc.--I am owned. I live approx. 642 miles from my mother and sister and nieces. Much of that distance is closed through phone, facebook, and email, but physical proximity matters. You can't replace the energy created when two people are in a room, except when they are together.
Sitting, cooking, and chatting over "nothing at all" with so many relatives who have been there my whole life was COMFORT. I didn't worry about saying the right thing or being a role model or acceptance for four straight days. I like that. Very settling, indeed. I am going to take this weekend as a birthday present. It is of the very best kind!