So I can't get over, tonight, the fact that today,leap day, is, essentially an extra day of LIFE. I know, I know, that in the linear nature of our existance, I will only have so many days,and that this one isn't an extra, but is merely a space along the way. But in the context of 2012, I get one extra day to live it. In my first year of my forties, I get 24 more hours. Hmmmm, might have been better last year, whilst I was holding on to the bitter end of my 30's, but you know, really, 40 so far has been just fine, so I will take the gift as it is presented to me today. The past is the past,the future uncertain, but today is the present, after all.

...took a little time today to write a little message for Tim's Grandma Colby. We are having a 90th birthday party for her tomorrow, and all the grandchildren got Pandora charms to represent their families to give to her. The write up explains our charm. Overall, there are 11 grandchildren...10 great grandchildren...let's just say she's gonna have to keep up her weight bearing exercises for this bracelet! Happy Birthday Grandma! We love you!


“The River”

We see you in many ways, Grandma, and enjoy you at many times and in many places, but the place we really see you is at the river. At camp. It is a place of chaos for sure, when we have gaggles of people and all their stuff there! But it is also a place of rest, of peace. A place to have fun, to fish, to play. It is a place we come to be together and to sit, for a small moment, in awe of all that a family can be. People often hear of our antics at camp, and of how many people will be descending upon a tiny group of islands to share a humble abode for a few days. They see the pictures. They marvel at who we are as a family, and at what our family does.

Are they confused? Probably.
Are they envious? For sure.
Should they be? Yes!

WE have a wonderful family, and a wonderful place we get to share. It is all because of Grandpa, and because of you. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts, and when you look at your Happy Fish charm, think of us, and of camp, and of all that it means to us, to you, to us all.

Such peace...sitting here...finishing my morning coffee out of a mug. The kids are off at their grandparent's. The only noise is quiet banter of morning TV talk shows. The sun is streaming through my window, glinting off the snow, and the droplets of water coming off the bay window roof. It is soon time to get moving. It is time to get dressed. As much as break is meant for rest, it is also time to accomplish some stuff, while we have some time. But for now, I just take in the peace, and quiet, and stillness, of some time, at home, alone.

Feeling listy today...February break has just begun and it was SO needed. Today, Devin had a bowling tournament...varsity bowling team, yep, that's how we roll here...and so he was off in Rochester, Tim was working on the house, and Gwynn and I got to go to lunch and shop.

1. I feel so lucky to have a girl who likes to play with her mom. Lunch was fun. Shopping too. Then, tonight as I cooked dinner, she was alongside me, baking a dessert.

2. Got a new book today...French Lessons by Ellen Sussman. I was re-reading French Women Don't Get Fat yesterday...goodness knows why. Inspiration to do SOMETHING to take off the 5-8 pounds that have been hanging around since summer? Who knows. But again, it points to my French thing...going back to the travel poster on the back of my childhood bedroom.

3. Tonight, planning to watch some "Downtown Abbey" with Tim , streaming on Netflix. OK, Francophile obsessions paired with BBC drama? Maybe I am just on a European bent.

4. I never cook small anymore. You should SEE the tuna noodle casserole I have in the oven right now. It will be hard to pare down when we don't have kids at home anymore. Or will it? We got to reminiscing, over a great dinner this past week, about meals we used to cook when we were first together, without kids. We made this great egg bread. We made this yummy Bisquick Spinach casserole. We made a lot of Tuna Helper. Maybe what I made tonight is just the "I know how to make it homemade and healthy for my kids" phase of this, born of the necessity to feed a hungry almost 14 year old boy. It is also the economical phase of things I guess...quantity over quality? Perhaps the eventual evolution will be individual seered tuna steaks and a noodle side when it is just cookin' 4 two! Then again, we will be paying for college...

5. What is ahead for this week? Who knows, who cares. But I have a new book, some good food, wine and beer and yummy mixed drink options at the ready. We have some family stuff on the docket, some kid free time planned, a possible outing with friends, and show tickets for next Sunday. Les Miserables. ACK! LOOK! The FRENCH thing again!

Whatever it all ends up being, it is February Break. The break with NO holiday attached. The break just for breaks sake.
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!