Saturday Exploring

This is the view from where Boogs goes to school, its about 2 miles from our home. Nice view seems slightly wasted on a daycare-but hey, here there are nice views everywhere.
After taking the above shot, we headed downtown to the Farmers Market and spent our only cash on a bag of tiny little apples that were perfect for kids. Then we headed across the street to the marina. Here is Boogs looking for fish. We saw a GIANT one swimming by, that in my opinion, looked a little mean. I wouldn't want to swim with that guy.
Then we walked down to one of our favorite little beaches. Kiki and Boogs thought it was funny to kick the water and nearly fall in. When Jim stopped them, Boogs threw himself in the sand in protest.
Afterwards we attempted to take some pictures. They didn't cooperate with the smiling and looking at the camera, but finally with the promise of skittles, I got them to both at least look at me.
Then, after nap we went exploring at the Historic Barns by the old State Hospital. Jim found a track and they were intently trying to discover what sort of animal left it. Kindred decided it was a fox, then walked over to a hole next to the fire hydrant and declared that one as belonging to an elephant. That made us laugh.

This is the first time in three weeks that Jim has actually been home on the weekend. So we try to make the best of it by enjoying the beautiful fall day.


The above picture is a little pool near a creek that we stopped at. This is just before Boogs walked right into the creek, falling into the water up to his thighs. He cried and asked for a towel, which we didn't have. We had been walking for about 15 minutes at that point, so I took out Kiki's fleece coat and turned them into makeshift pants, then we trekked back to the car.
After getting new pants, socks, and shoes we went to the park by our home and had some last minute fun. On the way home we detoured, rented Incredibles and Iron Man and I made dinner for the boys. Jim and I were looking forward to a juicy hamburger, but as I began cooking I discovered we had no burger. So I quick made the boys food, went to the store and gathered stuff for Sundaes. When I got back they had Chocolate Peanut butter Rice Dream with caramel sauce, with Reeses Cereal, Gummy Bears, and Reeses Pieces. Yum!

Iron Man was excellent, the burger that we ate, with rice cheese, was excellent, my Coke Zero was Excellent and spending time with Jim for once was the most excellent.

Hope everyone's weekend was just as fun!

The Great Geo Cache Adventure!: Putting the X in excitement

After JimmyEW and I had our marriage meltdown we were asked by our Sage what we did for fun. We stared at him blankly. I stammered. JimmyEW stuttered. The answer of watching TV and pretending to win the lottery were just really lame answers. But truthfully, it was all we had. We had nothin else. Nothing.

That really bothered us. So we canceled cable, began talking a heck of a lot more, read aloud to each other at night and even began writing together. It was wonderful. One day I mentioned to JimmyEW that I'd like to look into Geocaching.

Main Entry:	geocaching
Part of Speech:	n
Definition:	a type of scavenger hunt for waterproof containers bearing treasure using the containers' exact geographic coordinates and Global Positioning System devices
Example:	Geocaching can be a lot of work, especially in a remote urban areas

Above from Dictionary.com... and uh... isn't "remote urban" kind of an oxymoron?

You can go out looking for caches or go out hiding them. When you find it, sometimes its nothing more than a log book and sometimes its an ammo box filled with Treasure. If you take something, you leave something, its the rule.

It reeks of adventure and if there is one thing JimmyEW and I like, it's adventure. We also like photography and what a great way to find a new destination to shoot, while working to together to uncover treasure (if you call treasure lip gloss, nail polish, lighters, stickers and whatever else people throw in there treasure).

The best thing about Geocaching is that it refers to non-cachers as "Muggles" so you get an actual reason to be a non-Muggle and to refer as other people as Muggles. As in, "There were too many Muggles around for JimmyEW and I to find the cache in Lay Park." You must beware of Muggles, if they see you find the cache they may go back and loot it. Darned Muggles.

Like a lot of things, Geocaching was just an idea that I thought we'd get to one day, but then my totally awesome church challenged everyone to take a loan of $25 and see what we could make of it to bring back.

After much thinking, JimmyEW and I decided to make a Geocachers Calendar for our general area, taking pictures of 12 already cached locations and only putting the Waypoint names on the first day of that month so if someone wants to go there, they have to log into http://www.geocachers.com/ for the coordinates to find out where it is. From there they could just go and enjoy or they could get adventurous, by a devise and go on a hunt!

We only have 6 weeks to finish this gig, so we bought a GPS lickedy split and started doing some research. Then on Friday JimmyEW and I went on a cache hunt that took us through three counties, down two or three perilous seasonal roads in our Chevy Aveo (ack! Off roading in an Aveo is scary!), and snooping around an old ancient 1866 Graveyard.

It took the entire day and we didn't find every cache but we had fun. We found some of the harder ones, but some of the easy ones we didn't find and are suspicious the Muggles got to them. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that we were joined in a great adventure together.

And that is what brings me to my real point. Yes, I have one. I just want you to think about what you do with your partner for fun? If your answer was as pathetic as ours, you might want to sit down and come up with some good ideas, because if there is one thing I know, if you don't work at it then you lose that connection and become strangers.

You see this a lot with empty nesters and new retirees who are sick to death of the stranger in their house. They've poured themselves into their job or children for so many years that they've lost touch and forgotten about each other. At least that is what I've read in Reader's Digest at the dentist office.

So let me ask you, what are some things you do to have fun with your spouse. If you're single, sorry this post didn't really apply, maybe just take notes for later.

For pictures of our adventure, scroll down. And for more tips for WFMW, go see Shannon!

JimmyEW and I at our first successful find... of course we just had to go into the visitors center and ask for it. We did take something, we found a Life is Good sticker and traded with a pretty cool lighter. I don't smoke but I thought anyone could find themselves in need of fire one day, and maybe my contribution would help.

This is JimmyEW at a looted site. Nothing there, and logging on later proved that Muggles, in fact, had gotten to this one first.

Below is near the site of the hardest cache we found.

And here are two of my favorite shots. One is while lost in a forest (but are we ever really lost?) near that graveyard. I laid on my back and took a picture looking up at the trees. I love it.

This other is very close to where I live, you have to go down some trails and then you find yourself here. I never knew it was there. Beautiful isn't it?
If you're interested in buying a calendar for $15 let me know, these four pictures are featured. Of course it wouldn't make much sense for you to buy one unless you happen to live in or visit Michigan.... but I happen to know some Michigan Geobloggers out there. ;)

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So. Not. Cool.

This! This is what I saw out my window this morning. On April freaking 12th. A far cry from the beautiful weather six years ago. ~sigh~



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Tune Tag and I WAS a Hairy Mo Fo

Ashlee tagged us but since we had a heavy week of posts planned we haven't had a chance to get to it till now. The tag is all about music, your five favorite songs and why...so here we go!

Beautiful Day by U2: (HB's choice) Tom and I had been dating for about five months when I went to Jamaica with my friend Joy. I had a great time, but really looked forward to seeing him when I got home. I had butterflies in my tummy on the entire four hour drive from the airport to Traverse City because I was so excited to see him again. The song Beautiful Day kept playing during the drive back-and it was a beautiful day. Sunny, beginning of spring and I was going to be seeing Tom again. Now whenever I hear that song I think of him and the beginning of our relationship. (Now everybody say it with me: "Awwwwww")

No Shoes No Shirt No Service (HB's choice) When Logan was about two, Tom bought a Kenny Chesney CD and Logan proceeded to fall in love with this song. He would SHOUT out the words "No shoes! No shirt! No problem!" as loud as he could dancing as close to the speaker as he could get. A-dor-able and he still loves the song.

Kind and Generous (Sassy and HB's pick) This song always reminds me of my sisters. My sisters and I falling in love as Natalie Merchant sang on stage at Lillith Faire and then later all of us dancing in a circle with knocked up HB at her wedding. Good memories great song!

Sugar High: (Sassy's pick) This song reminds me of my recent discovery (not re-discovery) of my love for my husband. We were both just so happy and excited about this newness that this song just really captured our excitement for each other. This may seem somewhat confusing since i say recent yet I've been married for over 10 years, but I'll be writing about this for Valentines Day. Since you've probably never heard it or of it I'm going to post a Youtube video since Pandora doesn't have it :(

And

Dust in the Wind: (Sassy's song) If you don't know this song then wow... go find it and listen to it. This song I heard for the first time as a frightened little girl. I was prone to reoccuring nightmares (still am) and was terrified of night. Terrified. I laid awake and finally I decided to turn on my clock radio and this song came on. Something about this song made the cold heaviness melt away and I could suddenly breath again.

So there you have it! We're not going to tag anyone specifically so anyone who reads this can play along, but be sure to comment here so we can come read yours!

Thanks for the fun game Ashlee!!

...speaking of Ashlee...

Ashlee challenged us to blog about a part of our body that we hate and since I can't just take a picture of my entire body (how sad is that) I decided to pick my legs/knees.

My knees are ugly and look knobby and more like boy knees. But while contemplating this challenge I thought about how I hadn't shaved my legs for about 2 months or more....well, thats not entirely true, I shaved one leg about a month ago then gave up when the razor died.

But I wondered...could I really see my legs through all the hair? Maybe while my hair was growing my legs mysteriously became beautiful? I wasn't sure so I decided I better shave them to find out, just in case they weren't ugly anymore.

As much as I say I don't shave for the extra insulation from the Northern Michigan cold, I really don't like hairy legs that much. I'm just lazy. And it actually causes a problem like on days when I don't have clean pants yet can't wear a skrit becasue my braidable leg hair will poke through...or when Sister HB's male friend tried to gallantly help me get my boot on while I was holding my sleeping baby. I suddenly became shrew-ish, insisting I had it covered because I was afraid he'd see my leg hair and throw up in his mouth. They were that bad....see below.

NO that is NOT a man's leg, it is my very hairy knobby knee with that lumpy fleshness above it (or below it because the picture is kind of upside down)

I got three razors just in case. My favorite of the disposables is the middle one but the other two are there for the first go round. Like using scissors before you use the clippers.

To shave, which I am by no means an expert at because I only tend to do it a few months out of the year, I like to use soap, don't know why- just always have. My soap is Dove Cucumber something and I love the smell of it. You should check it out!

I decided to try to go with my fav razor, you can see it's cutting a nice little patch through the hair, but will it last for both legs?

EW! Sorry to subject you with all this hairiness!

Finally after about a good 15 minutes I am clean shaven. Lets check out and see if I still hate my knee.

Aw, Shucks...still there. Oh well...

My Jimmy Eats World still loves them and after 10 years had no clue about what I was talking about when I was describing what I don't like my knees.

It's time for your Lent Family Devotional,

brought to you by Sister H.B.



GOD GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE!

I John 5:13-15

All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life. We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.

My Night at the Homeless Shelter

I'm sitting here at my desk listening to freezing rain as it hits my window. We are in for quite a storm tonight. While the world outside my window is dangerous and wet and cold with blowing and drifting snow, I am warm and cozy inside my home. My fire is lit, I'm wearing my favorite snugly robe and I just finished a delicious homemade dinner.

Others are not so lucky. I met many of them a couple weeks ago when I had the privilege of serving at our city's homeless shelter.

When people think of Traverse City, most people imagine the beautiful beaches, Cherry Festivals, Sleeping Bear Dunes and unique downtown shops. They don't consider that we also have our own homeless population.

While Traverse City has a homeless shelter, it doesn't meet the needs of our community. To solve that problem, a group of people developed a program called Safe Harbor that provide sanctuary to the homeless. Safe Harbor rotates among a network of local churches each week from November until May. Each participating church recruits members to prepare meals, visit with the guests, clean the facility, serve meals and spend the night to ensure the safety of all.

The night I spent was eye-opening. I learned that people are the same no matter their circumstances. They have hopes for their future, they dream about a better life. They follow sports and news. And they listen to a little ZZ Top. Like Disco Don.

When I arrived, Disco Don came up to my car listening to his ipod and doing a little dance. (And, yes. I said ipod, because everyone needs their tunes.) Disco Don offered me his ear buds so I could enjoy the song he was boogieing to. I politely declined, explaining that I could hear it just fine from where I was. He then said to me, "You know Ma'am. I love Jesus. And I like my smokes. And I love God, but I like to drink." I smiled and said that I also love Jesus and enjoy a drink every now and then and he danced happily away.

I also met a man and woman who are planning to get married in April. They were talking about the details of there wedding: who is going to be Best Man, what kind of dress she wants to wear, hoping their friends will be able to make it. Why had it never occurred to me that homeless people meet, fall in love, and plan a future together? Just like you and I.

Then there was Philip. Philip has nicely trimmed hair, white, straight teeth. He's smart as a whip and very well-read. He discussed the primaries, gas prices and shared his opinions on many other subjects. His clothing was clean, brand-name and he was very well-mannered. And yet, he has no job, he has no car, he has no home.

I met Carol who was certain all of the women at the shelter were conspiring against her. She refused to sleep in the same room as them because she feared for her life. Instead she made up a cot outside the parish library and stayed there all evening. Even to eat her meals.

When I sat down to talk to her, she asked me about the business I am in (real estate) and proceeded to tell me how standards and practices of the real estate and mortgage industries need to change. She explained in great detail how she knew there is a recession around the corner and offered her suggestions as to how it can be avoided. And yet, she is homeless.

I met mothers and father. Grandparents. A young gentleman who works hard every single day but just can't seem to get ahead.

Another of the guests goes out every night around 10pm and spends three or four house collecting beer and pop cans to return for money.

I met very young adults who have family in town. And yet, they are homeless.

As I sat in my chair during my "awake" shift in the early hours, I listened to the quiet (and sometimes loud) snoring of these men and women who through some bad habits (drugs and alcohol), poor choices (drinking under age, not paying tickets) and other more complicated reasons (mental illnesses) do not have the blessings that I have.

It is my belief that our purpose in this world is to serve others. Whether it is our own families, a depressed co-worker, a sick neighbor, the homeless. We can"buy a man to fish" or "teach a man to fish", we just need to get that guy a fish.

Our challenge is to touch people's lives. In whatever way we can, every single day. And then go home and shake our groove thang like Disco Don.

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Desperate Housewife In Search Of

a recipe. And I know I'm not a housewife, but I am a desperate woman whose family will be hungry today.

I saw the perfect recipe in Blogville yesterday and I'm hoping you can help me find it. I thought I saved this talented writer's blog to my favorites so I could easily refer to it today. I didn't. I'm an idiot. But, you would have found that out soon enough anyway.

This recipe includes ground beef and canned minestrone soup. Now, I know it doesn't sound all fancy as is, but she had some other tastiness thrown in and then recommended still other variations to prepare it.

That is what I was planning to serve for dinner today with some delicious crusty french bread and a beautiful salad. And wine. Always wine, no?

And baby, it's cold outside. Our winter wonderland up here in God's Country aka Traverse City, Michigan got hit with some snow. We were going to play outside today and then come in to warm up with some nice, hot, hearty soup.

So please. For my son. And my husband. And, well for me. If you have seen it, know the blog of which I speak...help a sister out. I'll owe you one.
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Fashion Non-sense Part Duh

Yesterday was full of big yucky badness, but I'll save that blog for my Monday blog. But in the meantime please enjoy this little picture i snapped after picking up the kids from daycare.



This is another example of Northern Michigan fashion flub. Yes ladies and gentlemen (do any guys read this blog besides my husband?), that man is outside his trailer shoveling in nothing but his pants boots and a wife-beater! Is he crazy? At least he had enough sense to wear boots but come on, a tank top? You're not THAT acclimated! I know people make fun of northerners because of our tendency to wear shorts and t-shirts in 50 degree weather, especially after a long winter. 50 is warm I tell you, but its January and it is totally NOT 50 degrees and look at the snow on the ground. Now I know it's pretty intrusive for me to take his picture without his knowledge and stick it on the net, but he's in public so that's fair game right?


Someone get that boy a coat or at least a long sleeved t-shirt. ...but, I do have to confess that I myself was not wearing a coat at the time I shot this but instead a long sleeve shirt and a very thick and heavy cardigan. So who am I to judge? Have a happy Saturday!

Fashion Non-Sense

Do you ever wonder about why some people wear what they wear and why they do it?? I'm sure we've looked at a sect of people who are unlike us, Goth kids, punk, Hip Hop, Preppie what have you and thought to ourselve "I can't believe they left the house wearing that". Well today as I pulled into the library I had a similar thought. There was a young man wearing the clothes that you would see someone trying to represent the Hip Hop culture wear. I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about, the baggy pants. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against someone having their boxers hanging out, heck if my sweater wasn't long enough to cover my ass many people would have the misfortune of seeing my own butt crack (thanks to a too big belly and a too flat butt). But this guys pants weren't just exposing the top of his boxers but were all the way down past his butt to the top of his thighs.

He was shuffling along on his way in, I thought briefily the shuffle was because if he walked normaly his pants would be in danger of completely falling down. I think I noticed him actually holding them up with one hand. But really, the overwhelming thought in my head was OMG this is Northern Michigan boy and ISN'T YOUR ASS COLD?? Seriously, Hip Hop aside and ignoring the origin of the baggy pants being from prison culture- what about having a cold ass? At what point do you compromise your need to represent with the need to keep your ass warm?

Oh well, as I walked in I saw him seated by the phone and he unmistakably made a cat call whistle as I walked by. Are you kidding me? With the way I looked lol! Oh well, at least my sweater was covering my ass-crack.

Over and out!