CLOSING

In case you didn't hear, our local family owned sporting goods store is closing.  The store was founded in 1946 and the owners have decided to retire.  They wrote a very gracious letter on their website and announced a liquidation sale.

I have to admit that over the years I didn't buy too much ski gear there.  The carefully selected items and brand names were on the high end and a bit too expensive for me.  But I did like to browse and I bought my goggles, Kate's ski coat and Jack's ski helmet there.

Mike is not a shopper at all.  He buys only if he truly needs something.  Quite different from me and I'll say you as well sister.  A couple of weekends ago we were heading out to dinner with the kids.  Mike had the great idea of stopping by this store to see if there were any good bargains.  I of course was totally on board.

So we get to the store and Mike heads to the ski gear.  And me ... my eyes lit up when I saw they were selling their fixtures ... score!  I was like a kid in a candy store.  I walk over to Mike with a pile of fixture type stuff in my hands and he just looked at me.

• two very large Voncom advertisement posters (snowboarder brand) they are so cool ... heavy vinyl with wood dowels on the top and the bottom
• a couple of wire "in" baskets 
• a very cool lucite sign to be used as a very large paperweight
• I wanted to buy a filing cabinet because it was super cheap but was too lazy to shove it in the mini van

They had an awesome industrial cabinet with drawers filled with maps.  It had a big SOLD sign on it.  Dang, someone beat me to it. 

ty

The Home of the Brave

"Freedom is not free." ~ Korean War Memorial, Washington D.C.

One of my family's favorite quotes..not only on Memorial Day, but each and every day. Coming from a family of Navy and Army veterans, we are of the patriotic, flag-a-flying, knows all of the words to the national anthem type. In addition, we have kids with birthdays on July 4th and July 5th. Enough said.

Happy Memorial Day.

Tricia

Photo Friday No. 26

Kate's Birthday Card (waiting to be mailed) in

New Jersey

Industrial history in

Pennsylvania

CELEBRATE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

KATE-KATE ROLLERSKATE!

Cousin Emma's sentiments were along the lines of ... they are both the same age now but she is still older (did she stick her tongue out after saying that?).  Too cute.  And as Kate would say, cousin Emma has a birthday getting ready.

We are outside enjoying a beautiful, warm spring night.  Gifts this year included soccer stuff,  barbie goods and bathing suits.  She is running around in her new bathing suit with socks and soccer sneakers kicking new soccer ball into new soccer net.  What a site.  Celebrate my dear Kate and enjoy your special day.  

In the words of Buddy, "Five years old now, your're big stuff."  Well said! 

Love,
Me

It's Good to be Green

"You are by accident of fate, alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet. Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something." ~ Carl Sagan

These words ring in my ears as I watch the wild weather on the news - Alabama, Missouri, and even Pennsylvania (!) - it makes me wonder. I think about our beautiful, miraculous planet Earth. I think about us clogging her with our endless waste and pollution. How much more can she take?

Going back to that little blue book, "How many people does it take to make a difference?", it states:

"When you're confronted with a problem, don't get down - get excited, get involved. A problem is an opportunity to do something generous or positive for the world."

Here is my example --> I have made it my mission to use those reusable shopping bags each time I grocery shop. Simple. It took some time, I must admit, but it has finally become a habit. (cheer!) Each time I come home without a single plastic or paper bag, it feels good. My next goal, is to tuck one in my handbag (fancier one) and pull it out at the mall. I have way too many of those paper shopping bags from clothing stores. Another habit or two perhaps? ;)

"Green is not a thousand conscious choices every day. It's not just a philosophy, it's a commitment and a way of life. It is being part of the solution."

Tricia

ps - again, thanks to the little blue book for the above quotes..check it out for yourself!

FEAR

Did you see the news this morning?  The absolute terrible tornado that wiped out Joplin, Missouri.  The power of nature and the quickness with which it can strike.  I will admit that I have a fear of tornadoes.  Every so often I have the dreaded tornado dream.  Probably watched The Wizard of Oz way too much as a youth.

So Jack had a baseball game tonight in a town about 10 minutes North of us.  The skies were grey all day but the rain let up late afternoon so game on.  About three innings in, Kate decides she has to go to the bathroom.  No modern facilities, only dreaded port-o-pots.  I have put my foot down and just won't do them.  So I put her in the minivan and we drove home. 

Just as we arrive home it starts raining but not terribly hard.  We were going to stay home but Kate insisted on going back to the game.  So we hop back in the minivan and drive.  The skies are now black and just as we pull into the parking lot there was a huge bolt of lightning.  All at once, the kids clear the field.  Everyone piles in the minivan and we head home.  We were chatting about the tornado in Missouri and named every single state not to live in if you dislike tornadoes.  Such as Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, etc.

We get home and grandma calls!  "Did you hear there are tornado warnings?"  That means a tornado has been spotted.  Yikes!  We turn on the TV and they announce all the cities and times that the weather is expected in that area.  Turns out at the exact same time I drove back to the ball game is when the tornado was expected in that town.  OMG.  Note: Pennsylvania was not on our list!

I had two hysterical kids (one calm kid) and we grabbed our old cats and went in the basement.  Mike was in the garage with a neighbor keeping an eye on the sky!

Tracy

"Toto, I have a feeling we're

not in Kansas anymore."

- Dorothy

The End

It seems the world was scheduled to end yesterday. At 6 PM to be precise. I guess that means I am blogging from heaven? I guess you are reading from heaven too.

On a serious note, as the end of the school year approaches, I have been thinking about endings and beginnings. I lament the close of a chapter in the lives of my children..growing up just another inch. The ritual of the kindergarten graduations, end-of-year celebrations, and teacher gifts. While there is comfort in the routine, there is also sadness with the marching of the clock. On the flip side, there is joyful anticipation of a memory-filled summer on the horizon. The lazy pool days and sunny beach days.

Life is filled with endings and beginnings. Big ones and little ones. I read somewhere that the little ones are practice for the bigger ones. Makes sense, but I don't think my practice is going well. Endings always tug at my heart. Remember when mom and dad sold the house we grew up in? Even though I was married with my own house, I blubbered like a baby as I walked out of that house for the last time. I left my key on the counter with a note that read, "Good-bye house. Thanks for the memories."

As a lover of quotes, this comes to mind: "When a door closes, a window opens. However, we are so busy looking at the closed door, we never bother to look out the open window." I think I should add this to my practice notes and keep practicing.

tb

PS my photo is from three years ago & it tugs at my heart