A big weekend

Memorial weekend was a big one for us.  It was also very HoT and HuMiD.  VERY.  Here's a snapshot of our weekend:

~a piano recital - almost 30 students . . . . an hour and forty-five minutes . . . . YIKES! but very nice, I have great students, who thankfully like piano music!

~a wedding reception.

~a new (used) car for Lincoln . . . . fun times, another Miata . . . . . his 50th birthday is coming up!

~yard work . . . . the yard is really starting to look nice. . . . we laid down some mulch and planted more perennials.  Over the last couple of weeks we've cleaned up and replaced old rotten wood with new brick pavers to encircle our flower beds.

~Memorial day concert in DC.  We left right after choir practice on Sunday and headed downtown.  They broadcast this concert on PBS every year and we've been to quite a few of them.  I thought BB King was dead . . . . but no . . . . I can say I've been within 10 feet of him and his band . . . . it was an excellent concert.  TV stars . . . American Idol singers . . . . General Colin Powell and more!    Did I mention it was HOT this weekend!!!!  we spent 9 hours out in the heat for the concert and then were greeted with our car whose lights had been on all day and had a dead battery . . . . . . . makes life interesting.

~Memorial day cookout for the neighborhood.  Yummy food and good neighbors and missionaries makes a great BBQ . . . . . if only it hadn't been so . . .. . . . . HOT!

Today I'm recovering from the weekend.  ha!

Playing Hookie

I just learned the other day that my daughter calls me "the school nazi."  I believe she is right, and it is something I can be proud of :). 

McKay has been pestering me, (as all my kids have pestered me through the years) to take him out of school for the Air Show at Andrew's Air Force Base (or Andrew's Joint Base as they call it now, we must be politically correct).  The airshow is officially on Saturday and Sunday BUT they have a special "practice" day for the military and their families and DOD (department of defense) employees.  Friday is really the best day to go as there is a much smaller crowd.

I told McKay no, he could go on Saturday when his dad was working the Air Show.  His dad told him yes, he could go and he would take him and drop him off at the show and he could wander all day by himself.

To make a long story short (because it is already long!) I decided that since McKay was going anyway, I would just go along also!  I invited my parents, who decided to take my niece Stevie, and then my brother-in-law decided to go also.  A party!

Playing hookie can be educational don't you think?

It has been raining a lot here, but the weather cooperated and it was a very beautiful and clear day . . . . . we saw lots of fun flying and parachuting shows.

Here we are taking a break for lunch  . . . . 

Standing along the flight line to get a good view of the headliner show, the Air Force Thunderbirds. 

McKay and Stevie . . . . . . see, they are learning a lot!

Stevie learned that you do not "eject" out of a helicopter.  I'd never thought about it either . . . . I guess if you ejected out of a helicopter you might hit the blades and become soup!  oooooooo Yuck!

Stevie getting ready to jump!

McKay did lots of flips . . . . . all the videos of the kids are flipped also . . . . I need to remember not to take videos sideways!

I love the way Stevie is standing in this pic . . .. . . .

McKay was in heaven looking at the weapons . . . . .

And this is a BIG gun!

My dad, his and Stevie's stance look the same don't they?

Lincoln finally joined us . . . in this pic you can see Lincoln, McKay, Steve, My mom and dad.

And finally, I had to add this picture to prove that yes, I was there too!

I guess everybody needs a little time away, even the "school nazi"!!!!!

Another Good Read

The book club book this month was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. 

This book is just what it says, bitter and sweet.  It is a story about a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl that develop a relationship because they are thrown into a situation where they are the only Asian kids in a all white school.  Their parents are determined that they become "American."  So determined, that Henry, the Chinese boy, is forbidden to speak anything but English in his home and his parents speak nothing but Cantonese.  He said from that day on his parents became "invisible" to him.  The story takes place during WWII and the children are torn apart by the Japanese relocation process.  It is a story of their childhood, and their adulthood and in between.

When I finally realized what this book was about I was very interested in it because I grew up very very near a Japanese relocation center.  I'm thinking the Japanese relocation camp (some called them prisoner camps, which was probably more correct) was less than 5 miles from us.  I didn't really realize what it was all about until my high school years, and then I started putting things together.  My grandfather had a long shed that he parked his combine, tractors, and other farm implements in.  He and we called it "The Jap House."  There were other homes in our area that were long and narrow, also made from the Japanese barracks that were sold after the internment period was over.  It's funny that I never thought about the name of our shed until I was older.  It actually was a very derogatory term "Jap." 

 

I've never seen one of these until
last night.  It was pretty cool. 
When the rice was done, she
shook it and the rice formed a
nice sticky ball.  GOOD RICE!



Of course I wasn't around when all this happened, I just saw some of the effects from it.  My grandfather would tell stories about it.  On our last visit to our hometown, the relocation center was one of the places I needed to take McKay.  The roads still exist between the barracks, the foundations are still there, and the memories.  It is a very solemn bleak place, nothing but sagebrush and alkali ridden land.  It was our home, it was their prison. 

Is this book a must read?  For me yes, I've never read anything like it before, and may try to read more like it to get a better feel for the time.  It was a good read.

Side note:  For book club last night LeeAnn made the most amazing "sticky rice."  She soaked the "sweet" rice and then steamed it in a most amazing looking pot and basket, then served it with a sweet coconut milk mixture and mangos.  YUMMY!!!  I want one of those pots now!

What in the world?

There are two things that need ranting about here in Maryland . . . . both have happened this month.

1.  Medical marijuana was legalized (see the link) and is the 16th state to do so.

2.  Made it possible for ILLEGAL aliens to receive instate Maryland tuition.  (see link)

I find that I am more angry about the 2nd issue . . . . . . . . I find I am beyond words . . . . . . .

SERIOUSLY people?????  What kind of idiots do we have working for us at the state capitol?????  (I know I didn't vote for them!

Okay, maybe a couple of words . . . . . can you see a headache becoming a medical reason for marijuana?  okay, I know there are some mighty bad headaches out there, but wha?????

AND, as military members with residency in different states is already a questionable matter, I've had to fight for instate tuition for my children.  What is wrong with this picture???? 

Does this anger anyone else, or am I alone . . . . . ???

A good read

Ever since I was a child I have loved the movie The Sound of Music.  My daughter also loves the movie and we can sing every word of every song in it.  Anything done by Rogers and Hammerstein is a favorite of ours.  I just assumed that everyone loved these movies until I moved here and started trying to give my piano students some of the songs for their lessons . . . . I was apalled that not even my Catholic students had seen the movie!!! 

I've always wanted to read the autobiography of the family and finally did read it last month.  I don't know if you would like it as much as I, because I'm obsessed with the movie, but it was a good read.  One of the surprises for me is that this is a 300 some-odd page book and the story that we are all familiar with is done by about page 75.  Some of it is the same, yes, the captain really did call his children with a whistle! but there is a lot that is different.  They changed the children's names in the movie, a girl was the oldest, not a boy . . . . and when they escaped Austria it was not by walking over a mountain, they took a train to Italy.  Hmmmmmm. 

Anyhow, I was interested in the family's story, how they immigrated to the USA, how they made their living and how they lived their lives.  Maria has a sense of humor and she seems like she was just as quirky as the Maria in the movie.  I'm glad I finally got around to reading this one.

Happy Birthday McKay and other stuff!

Blogger hasn't liked me lately . . . . . . yesterday it was down, so even though I was prepared, I couldn't flashback on Friday and (and this has nothing to do with blogger) I haven't been able to find my camera cord to upload pictures to the blog.   I've looked high and low, low and high and can't find that stupid cord.  I'm blaming my boys, who have flown back to Utah . . . they must have packed it ;)  (gotta blame someone;)  After a process of shopping and trial and error I've finally found a cord that works with my camera.  Woo hoo!

Now on to business!

HaPpY BiRtHdaY McKaY!

He is the big 15 today!  And to prove he is growing up and things change, he is spending the whole day 9-5 at a lifeguard training class.  Poor kid.  He tried to get us to let him open his presents yesterday, but we wouldn't let him . . . . . we made him wait until this morning.  Later this evening we'll have a family dinner.  I'll post pictures later.

For now, I wanted to share his eagle project with you.  I haven't been able to post because of my lost USB cord and it was hard for me to pick just a few pictures and so I put together a slide show. 

McKay chose to do a "Christmas in April" home this year for his eagle project.  Christmas in April is an organization that fixes up underprivileged people's homes.  They need volunteers to head up the projects and they were gracious enough to let McKay co-captain a home.  McKay went to the meetings, got to choose the home by visiting them and taking pictures, decide what could be accomplished in one day, make materials lists, get the volunteers, and make it all come together in the end.  This actually was WAY MORE than a one day project.  When the "head" Christmas in April chairwoman asked McKay what was the hardest thing he did on the project was, McKay said "the planning."  So true, so true. 

It's kinda long, but hope you enjoy:

Now all that he has to do is his paperwork and eagle board of review and he should be finished.  I'll have to do the jig I promised when all is done!

Boy's visit - Part 2

The favorite thing we did while the boys were here was to go to Calvert Cliff state park and have a picnic, eat lunch, hike and search for shark teeth.  Even though shark teeth are found quite frequently at the cliffs we didn't find any.  The adventure wasstill fun!  We decided to eat first so we wouldn't have to carry the food with us to the cliffs.

On our way to the beach we saw turtles and baby turtles, woodpeckers, ducks and some other various and sundry birds.  Once we got there I looked down the beach and saw a lighthouse.  This park is also very close to the nuclear power plant in the area.  I believe there are 5 nuclear power plants within a 100 miles of where we live.

Justin searching for shark teeth.  There was a recent cave in of the cliff which made it more likely to find teeth . . ..

Grandma and Chancy.

Grandpa working the cliff.

Cousins . . . . . .

Although living together has caused Justin and Chancy stress, they can be found together a lot!

Everyone is hoping to get lucky!

Stevie, showing off some unbroken sea shells that grandpa dug out of the cliff.  He found one shell that had both sides still in tact.

Steven, performing surgery on a clay clump full of shells.

You can't be boys with a beach full of rocks and not throw a few and skip a few across the water. 

I had to get this picture of Justin and the sign . . . . . the story of his life.   If it is forbidden, let it be done!  (although everyone on this beach who were looking at the cliffs disregarded this sign!

It was a nice day!

The boy's visit

Justin and Chancy's seasonal job came to an end in April and since they were both unemployed we decided to have them come visit for three weeks.  They helped us by watching McKay and by doing some odd jobs around the house and yard.  It was really good to see them after not seeing them for over a year. 

We tried to keep them busy, but I know they were bored to death.  When they were kids when they'd tell me they were bored I tell them it was because they were "boring."  Aren't I a nice mom?

We are all amateur bowlers and got quite a few gutter balls.  We should have had them put up the gutter guards!

Chancy and Justin.

We played hearts one night.  Justin plays hearts on the computer but Chancy said he hadn't hardly ever played it.  Shortly after making this statement, he ran the hearts (very hard to do) and gave us all 26 points (the goal is to get the lowest points possible) while he got 0.  Right, Chance, Right, you've not played  much!!!!!!  It must have been beginners luck.

We had the family over for a barbeque.  This is Lincoln and my dad.

It's always good to get together with family. 

Grandpa and Justin. 

Noah, McKay and Zane

I had to get this picture of everyone using their cell-phone, ipads and blackberries.  Too funny!

To be continued . . . . . .

Costa Rica - All good things must come to an end

Our next stop was the town of Jaco, Costa Rica, which brings me to why we went to Costa Rica. Lincoln's brother works for a ski resort that when the season is over they send their upper management employees on a real, honest-to-goodness paid vacation.  Not only do they get paid while on vacation but their vacation is paid for.  He made the offer to us to come and share it with them.  Our only expenses were transportation, activities and some of the food.  An offer we could not refuse even though it was bad timing for us. 

In Jaco, we stayed at the owner of the ski resort's vacation home.  It was very nice, and we mostly took it easy while in Jaco.  What we DID do was:

EAT! When we ate out I tried not to eat anything that we would normally eat at home.  I really enjoyed their "typical" dish which included rice, beans, a couple tortillas, a small salad, fried plantain, a fried egg and a choice of fish, chicken or beef.  It's called a Casada.  "What we Costa Rican's eat everday," they would say.  The best Casada I think we ate was also the cheapest in a little hole-in-the-wall place!

Starting with myself and moving right around the table are Lincoln, Donna, Marshall, Celesta and Jeff.

We bought some fresh fruit for breakfast in the morning.  This fruit was REALLY fresh and not imported.  The pineapple and watermelon were to die for.  The mango's and avocados were also excellent!

The house in Jaco was by the beach.  Unfortunately the beach was a very dangerous beach and we couldn't swim.  There were no life guards, and swimming would have been truly at our own risk.  There would have been no one to come and rescue any stupid swimmer!

Lincoln and Marshall tried to get in the water, but one of the locals came out and soundly scared them to death about getting in.  The sand on the beach was black (not white like we are used to).  Very interesting. 

One of the waitresses we had told us about a beach where there are monkeys that watch people and then when they (the monkeys) thought they could get away with it, they would steal the stuff left on the beach.  I guess once a monkey grabs a hold of something they DO NOT want to let go of it!  (which story I will use in my sunday school class this week!)

We did a lot of shopping for souvenirs in Jaco.  There were security guards everywhere, guarding restaurants, guarding parking lots, etc.  At the bank, you couldn't even get in the building unless a guard let you in.  And at the ATM you had to swipe your card in order to get into a private booth where you could make your transaction.  I actually liked the privacy and security . . . . . but on the other hand it made me nervous that I might get mugged once out of the booth!



This is an example of some of the homes we saw in Costa Rica.  There are a good many of the people that are VERY very poor.  I wanted to get a good picture and so we stopped the van and and I got out and walked up to it to get a better picture.  As I walked up I could hear loud Mexican music coming out of the house.  It sounded pretty jovial to me, but is so sad.  They must have electricity.  See the antenna?  We were told that during the rainy season (coming up) that many of these homes are swept out to sea and you might even see washers and driers out on the beach.  I guess they rebuild every year? 

I supposed this was their outhouse???  I'd imagine it's pretty hot and stinky in there . . . . eeeeeeewwww!

For some reason I like this picture.

A large termite nest.

At our shuttle bus stop.  We had about an hour ride back to the airport . . . . . . so sad that it was over.

The shuttle bus driver made several stops on the way back to San Jose.  He pointed out this Macaw.

We also stopped on a bridge where their were several alligators hanging out.  I'd say their were about 10 of them down in the river. 

The driver was really working it trying to get a good tip I'll bet!  This turtle was crossing the road and he had to stop and show it to us.  He spoke very little English, or I would have told him we have turtles where we live! 

The End!  but not soon forgotten!