Officially Mega-Jealous now

 Yesterday, they made it to the Jersey Shore!

This involved thin-crust pizza, from the little joint about a mile from my son's paternal grandmother's old home.  Red Star Pizza.

This pizza ruined me for life, once my hubby introduced me to it.  Ruined me in terms of what passes for pizza around here.  Valentino's, the local favorite, is very different from the classic tomato pies of the East coast.  Not that it's bad, and it is a childhood memory of mine, but it wasn't for my ex, nor is it for my son.

Fresh, hot, out of the oven, and my DIL to be took a video of opening the box!  Steam rising, audio of the ahhh's.

My son's dad did not travel with them, it was the three intrepid travelers, who were starting their path from Ithaca, NY to the Jersey Shore with 1600 miles already put on the car.

Carl is a good traveler, and they are good dog parents, stopping for frequent breaks.  The river photo is from Washington's Crossing State Park, the PA side, I think.  The beach photos are from Island Beach State Park.  And it may be concluded that the sand on Carl's snout is from that romping.  He was a happy pup yesterday, prancing up to the waves, and sometimes running back from them, too.

I could spend hours on that beach, and that's when I messaged Lacey that I was officially Mega-Jealous.

Today they are taking all that video back to DS's dad, so that he can have the same vicarious joy that I had, watching those waves roll in.  I got a huge sense of peace with the natural sound and sights.  Only way it could be better is if I was there, myself!

Life is good.  Take care of yourself and Spark on!

Spiedies - since Speded2 asked

 

Since speded2 asked in the comments to yesterday's blog:  

For those of us not from that area, what is/are Spiedie?

As with many regional specialties, the spiedie was introduced by the immigrants who settled the area.  In the case of the Binghamton, New York area, those immigrants were from Italy and Greece.  So think about spices you have enjoyed in Italian and Greek dishes.

Next, let's think about the meat of the sandwich:  meat itself.  Spiedies can be made with any meat, pretty much, it's the spicing and preparation that makes it a spiedie.  If you think about the Greek influence, you'd think perhaps lamb.  Yes, folks make lamb spiedies.  If you think about the hunting country (James Fennimore Cooper novels are the classics) of the Susquehanna valley, you can easily see this as a venison thing.  Yes, there are folks who make venison spiedies.  Also the more available in America beef, pork and chicken.

The meat is cut into chunks, about an inch to inch and a half in size.  The chunks are marinated in the sauces of the griller's choosing.  I used to make my own after I moved back to Nebraska, experimenting and trying to re-create the flavors I remembered.  I never quite succeeded, but I tried for several years.  Oil, some acid, and dry spices added.  I soaked the meat at least 24 hours in the fridge.

When the day for eating arrives, the chunks are grilled on skewers.  IMHO the best ones are grilled over charcoal.  Finally, this grilled meat is delivered to the eater on seeded buns (rolls).  Sides to taste, but you've got plenty of starch and protein in the sandwich itself, so veggies are a good fit, fresh or grilled.

As with BBQ or chili, there are cookoffs for spiedies.  One of the more well-known is held in Binghamton, NY, in August, along with a rock concert and balloon launch.  Here you go, a link:

Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally 2022

Vicarious Sentimental Journey

 Some of you may have known me long enough to have taken the vicarious journey in 2018, out to Corning, New York, to run a half marathon to my brother's full.  This week, I'm following via messenger photos as my son takes his fiance out to that old stomping ground, to meet his dad.  Carl is with them and today, the third day on the road, they arrived at some very familiar territory.

This is a clip from a video taken in 1999 of Diamond (the dog) and me, at the Trout Ponds in Newark Valley, NY.  Today I saw several shots from near there, starring Carl.

Clearly he enjoyed his romp in Diamond's old spots.

Here Carl climbs up the bank, having taken a little dip.

Our old house has been sided by the new owners since we left there, and since ex sold it.

My son narrated memories for his fiance.  I am so happy that she's into that sort of thing.

Before they got up to the little village where my son spent his childhood, he stopped for lunch at an old favorite haunt.  Part of his goal was to source the "secret sauce" from our old favorite Spiedie joint.  Lacey was treated to her first taste.  Thank goodness, she liked them.

She also was taken by his old middle school, from whence we all left for the great Washington DC trip when he was in 5th grade.

In short, this is a nostalgia trip for me, from a distance, through messages.  There are a whole lot more photos, and I'm not going to overwhelm the blog with them, but have to put in the father-son one she shared last night, when they drove on to Ithaca, where my ex now lives.

It looks like he's holding up well!  He is a few years older than I, concerned about his balance, and recently began to use a cane.

As a closing note, I'd like to give a "sentimental" pep talk:  whatever negatives there may be in life, if you can manage to focus on the good, focus on the love, and let it warm you, it is good for your health.

So take good care of yourselves, my dear friends.  Drink that water.  Eat enough of "the right stuff" to support your immune system.  And be as kind as you can manage.  Then at the end of the day, when you review its events, you can settle in to that well-earned rest.

Life is good.  Spark on!

My mom heart is singing

 

My phone rang last night during the news with my son's face popping up.  He wanted to let me know before it popped up on social media that he had asked his GF to marry him and she'd said "yes".  He indicated it might have been awkward had she said "no"... and I found out this morning why.

He said she was on the phone with her mom, and he had to fix supper and give the dog a bath, so it was a short phone call.

Her mom and I gushed at each other over messenger. We're both so thrilled.  The ring's gem is orange because that is DIL-to-be's favorite color.  He proposed on a date with 2's in it, because 2 is her favorite number.  Her mom confirmed these color and number preferences have been since she was very young.  I knew about orange as the color, I wasn't aware of the "2".  Learn something new all the time.

Anyway, this morning, DIL-to-be posted on FB the good news, and told the story of how surprised she was because at the dog park they first met at (in 2019)... he dropped to one knee and proposed.  She had no idea, he'd kept the jewelry choice and order a secret.  There is also a necklace that the ring fits into, if she wants to wear it differently.  I can see where that might have been one of those "horribly wrong" stories had she said no, but she's been so sweet and so committed and supportive of him all this time.

I'm proud of him... his dad could never keep this kind of a secret, but would drop HUGE hints and then insist the gift be given immediately!

Life's too short not to be happy!

They haven't announced a date yet, but have said it won't be until after he graduates with his MSW, which is planned for December.  

If I needed extra motivation to take care of me, isn't this a great one?

Life is good.  Spark on!

How do you discard a garbage can?

Friday:  I think I found out.  It's unpredictable!  If you WANT the garbage can to get hauled off, it almost never is.  But this morning, I put these two cans full of cuttings out?  And the cans went away with the brush and weeds!

Friday the HVAC folks sent a technician out to check my AC for the season.  It was only 54℉ outside.  The nice young man (named Francisco) pulled it off, though.  He asked what I usually set the thermostat to, and I told him, the default is 83, but I usually bump it down to 79.  He said, "Oh, you keep it pretty warm in here, then."  I explained about the two sides of the house and how if I made it too chilly in the parlor (where the thermostat sits) the other side of the house would be an ice cube!

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has that kind of a house... different rooms heat/cool at different rates.  I close doors to control it on the upper story.  I keep the thermostat higher in summer to control the family room and lower level.

Saturday:  Ever have one of those days when you just don't wanna?  That would be me, Saturday morning.  My attitude improved with an early afternoon nap, and I managed to do the cat laundry and a quick vacuum before the others arrived for the final "Fish Party".  This time it was blackened salmon and dirty rice, with garlic green beans.

The fish event was interspersed with sports spectator events.  It was World Championships for the Ironman long course.  I had a FB friend who was qualified.  As it turned out she did not finish.  From the tracking app, it looked as though the problem was on the bike leg of the race.  Sure enough, a couple of days later, I saw her post responding to all the "you OK?" messages from FB friends.  She tapped out at about mile 90 on the bike course.  There will be another race, better to make the choice to DNF than push to excess.

During dinner itself we had the Kentucky Derby coverage on.  We were done eating by the time the starting gate opened, and wow!  An 80-1 long shot named Rich Strike won it.  And was frisky and feisty after the race, to boot.  This was not your usual horse racing theme... this horse was not part of the original field, but had only been added in the last week, when another horse scratched.  I could not help but have images in my head of the women who first ran the Boston Marathon by joining in from the bushes... OK, I admit I have an odd sense of humor.

Happy Mother's Day:  I awoke Sunday morning to a gift in my Gmail inbox!  Remember last Summer when I took up kayaking?  

This morning's surprise was a gift card for the Lincoln Paddle company.  I now have the burr under my saddle (to rhyme with paddle) to resume this moderately active and very peaceful commune with nature for the new season.

I went on to join what has now become a son-centered family gathering with his girlfriend and her parents.  It was cloudy in the morning, but they had set the time for 3 p.m.  Turned out to be perfect.  Cloudy, not too hot, not too chilly.  Burgers and dogs and good conversation, hard to match that.  Carl antics as well.

 

There was a surprise visitor: a Baltimore Oriole (the bird, not a ball-player).  It was hopping from branch to branch of the big shade tree in the backyard.  All the humans were peering up at the tree, to see what the feathered friend was up to.  Carl wanted to know what we were looking at, but when he couldn't figure it out, barked at it anyway.  The bird was unimpressed.

The gather was topped off at the end by a Bourbon cherry pie, ala mode, of course.  End of this week "the kids" are heading East, along with Carl, on a long road trip.  The plan is to see relatives and sights.  Son's old stomping grounds of the Southern Tier of NY, and the Jersey shore are on the agenda.  He plans to introduce his girlfriend to his dad.  I'm looking forward to hearing how things are in the tiny little village where the mythical son grew up, and what Carl thinks of Diamond's old park.  

Monday:  Time to take care of Dexter's oil change needs.  I walked around the block while they serviced the car.  20 minutes and out, and I was ready to collapse in a heap, having reached my limit of people for a week!

I indulged in a nap, and that makes all the difference.  I finished Monday working on laundry while I kept tabs on "The First Lady".  The first two episodes are streaming for free, but it's a Showtime series, and I have kept Showtime from having followed another series or two. At the Sunday family gather it was recommended by the other mom in the group.  I'm through the first 3 episodes as of Tuesday, and I agree with her, it's very good!

Tuesday:  Woke up feeling yucky, but I took my allergy meds and another home Covid test (negative) and decided I was OK to go workout with the trainer.  As anticipated, I started feeling better once the decision to go was made and once I got moving.  I wore my mask again, just in case.

It's primary election day in Nebraska, and boy, am I ever ready for the mud-slinging commercials to die down a bit!  Like many people in our country, I have become deeply skeptical of the negative ads.  Some of the "positive" ads give me enough reason to vote against a candidate, I don't need the negative ones! 

Even if we differ as far as our policy preferences, we're all just people trying to live our lives.  We work our jobs, balance our budgets, love our kids and pets and desire a safe and secure world.  We grieve for one another, those near and far whose lives are threatened whether it be from poverty, violence, sickness, or war.  We strive to do our part to make things better, even though we may differ in what we believe will make things better.  Giving one another the benefit of the doubt and the grace of kindness, we'll get through whatever challenges life throws at us.

Local covid report:  it's ticking up, in case counts.  Not a whole lot, yet, but enough to be a trend.  Public health has pushed the risk dial up into the "low yellow" range.  Guess "spring break from Covid" is over.  We had five weeks of green, for which I am grateful, and I tried to take advantage of a little more freedom.

Pep talk time, weekly edition:

Remember (self, and others) to take care of that one and only body you've been issued in life.

• Hydrate
• Nourish your body and mind with the things that make you FEEL good, not just that tickle your taste buds.  If you pay attention you can get both of these in the same foods!
• Do active things that keep your limbs and heart functional and your mind engaged.
• Make sure you're checking in with folks who are supportive of your efforts.  Everybody needs a cheerleader or two in their lives!  To get some, be one!
• And at the end of the day, let it all go... you've done what you can for today with the energy budget you've been given, so let yourself rest.  

Life is good.  Keep on a-Sparking!

🔥💖

And Spring continues

Feeding the bees, that's me.  And that's my yard, last week.  Sunday, the dad of the young man who usually mows my weeds came and subbed for him.  Turns out my regular mower is now working at the Fleet Feet store, and on Marathon Sunday, of course he was tied up.

The dad hard at work, Sunday afternoon.

I went out and we chatted.  These folks are such good neighbors.  They help with snow, they help with grass, they are "dog people", having adopted Willow in the past couple of years.

Since Sunday, we've had clouds, rain and "below normal" temperatures.  We needed that moisture, and are grateful for it.

On the damp Monday morning, the dandilions have been decapitated.

Tuesday brought the usual personal trainer session.  I may or may not have let slip my reveries about getting in shape for another event at some point in the future.  The motivational struggle was mentioned:  "If I find myself self-sabotaging, maybe I don't want it as bad as all that."

May the Fourth be Wednesday?  Well at least, May the Fourth be with you!  Wednesday dawned gray and misty.  I have a guy coming to give me an estimate for backyard volunteer tree cleanup.  I want to know how much it will cost but also how much / what kind of work they do.  Can they also remove the fence parts?

Anybody wondering about that pesky insurance bill?

Here's how it turned out!  I did not find it in all my paper chasing.  But I did get the piles reduced and filed, and some "delayed decision" papers shredded.  Did you know if you defer a decision long enough, it dies on the vine?  I went through all my junk and trash folders on my e-mail.  I went ahead and scheduled the payment for when I paid it a year ago (I knew the amount, it's a static payment), and then, like magic... the bill came in the mail last Saturday!  I'm just going to blame the post office for it's changed delivery practices.

The great yard project of 2022

As planned, the guy came over to estimate clearing out the volunteer trees, long grass and weeds in the backyard.  He estimated phase I, and I booked it.  Yes, it's an arm and a leg, and will get worse before it gets better.

Phase 1 will be getting the volunteer trees out and the long grass and weeds cleared, and discovering the underpinnings, so we can develop a vision for the next steps.  Phase 2 will potentially involve a stump grinder (also take down the stump in front yard, from the tree I had taken down last year).  Phase 3 will be the repair/replacement of the fence.  

Wish me luck.  And expect progress photos, of course.  

I'm still piecing at the overgrowth, along the parts where I'm not hiring it done.  

Wednesday afternoon was our regular "sister walk" after the Ace got off work.  We swapped stories of our respective spectator experiences from Sunday, and how stiff we both were on Monday and how we're recovering.  We are grateful that we do these Wednesday walks, because if we didn't... who knows how much more fitness we might lose in our now "old-er" years.

That's about it from here.  Hoping y'all are having a good week.  If you're in drought territory, hope the clouds and mist from here is spreading your way, too.

Life is good.  Spark on!

💖🔥

After Boston's marathon comes...

 The Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon sponsored by Ritchie Bros.

The name has changed, the event is the same.  Sponsorship changed the naming rights.  The two previous directors retired, the pandemic caused it to go virtual for a year, the number of runners dropped, and the course changed a twinge.  But it's still the first Sunday in May and this year, anyway, Mother Nature outdid herself.  Cool and sunny, not too bad a wind.

I left my house at 7:30 or so.  The first runners had started downtown at 7.  I easily got into spectator position 2 and a quarter miles away before the first runners showed up.  I was able to explore the route change at the turnaround (mile 19.5), which I heartily approve.  The new route is safer for the runners and allows some convenience for migrating spectators, too.

I am out of practice with longer walks, but this felt very right.  I found like-minded souls out there cheering folks along, and I made my personal turnaround point a public library that has long been one of my running landmarks (and a nice potty stop, too, if I time my runs for when it's open).  I was tracking some local running friends who were doing the half, but in position "live" to cheer on the full marathon runners as they neared the turnaround.

Look what a pretty day we got!

Partway through, I swapped text messages with my kid sis who was in position at the half marathon portion of the course.  I saw the leaders before they got this far, and hung around to catch my dentist's husband, who ran his 26.2 miles in 3:08, the 34th overall (632 runners), and the 29th man (438 men running).  I don't know his age, so don't know if he got a Boston Qualifying time, which is what he wanted to do.

Here's what the turnaround looks like this year.  I am so pleased they have enough room now!

There is two way traffic, and it used to be "out on the street, back on the bike path" and was quite hard to manage with a single volunteer (which was me one year) when the pack arrives and some of them are almost punch drunk at almost mile 20.

After Dan (the dentist's hubby) was headed well on his way into the last 10K of the race, and I had walked down and got those photos at the turnaround, I decided I'd had enough, and meandered on home.  Got home about 10:30 a.m., which is not that different than if I had done the half marathon myself and the drive home.  However, I only covered 5.2 miles, as opposed to 13.1.  😁

Don't know about y'all, but doesn't going to an event get the juices going?  The wanna be out there's?  I knew I was done having children when I could hold someone's new baby and not get the "wanna-baby" feelings.  I'm not sure I am over eventing yet, even though it has been a couple of years and I have a few more pounds on the frame and a good deal less fitness.

Hmmmm.  Thinking ahead. 

Life if good.  Spark on!  💖🔥