Hannah's Camp Party

Last week we went out our friend Hannah's fifth birthday. It was held at her family's camp on Messolonskee Lake, and it was a ton of fun for everyone! Hannah and Callum are like 'birthday buddies,' since their birthdays are something like only five days apart....

Our friend Beth (Hannah's mom) is cousins with Haley, whom I taught as both a freshman AND senior. Haley is a super talented swimmer, actress, and artist, as seen by how she was so good at painting faces for all the kids at the party. Callum, obviously, wanted his face to be BATMAN!

 

A beautiful camp on Messo Lake! The kids spent the better part of the day in the water, and the adults hung out, chatted, drank good beer and wine, and used this 'fart maker' toy from the movie Despicable Me....well....actually...it was mostly just the guys doing it to the girls! Also, I should point out that Lisa, below, in the green shirt, was THROWN off the dock into the water with all her clothes on. There may or may not have been a ten dollar bet involved......

Haley and Maira sat for a long time painting Maira's face (butterflies) and, then, 'Baby Ashley's' face with...well...all sorts of designs.....the two played very well together!

A very nice sandy beach they had off their shore.....Maira and I hung out in the water for a while in her 'McQueen Float' while Callum walked up and down the dock all day collecting freshwater mussels, rocks, and other shells and stuff for our 'nature table.'

That bucket, pictured above, was filled by the end of the say with all sorts of shells. Callum LOVES his lifejacket, and wears it even when there really is no water involved....haha....for example, he loves to wear it in the sprinkler, etc.....

And this little girl LOVES the lake, her doll, her facepaint, and, basically, everything! Her language has, once again, EXPLODED, and she has all kinds of new things she says and does lately....one thing she always says to me whenever Amanda and I are having a 'discusssion' is HEY! DADDDY! (pointing finger) you be NICE to MOMMY!!! Also, whenever Callum bothers her, she calls him a 'BAD MEEE-AN' (man). It is hilarious....even though we tell her not to call people that.....

Baby Ashley after her face was painted.....Maira took this pic herself.....:

Almost discharged....

Got back from PT this morning....Carolyn, my therapist, told me that, after my next appointment on Monday at 830, she may discharge me....that is great news for me. I am nowhere NEAR being 'all better' yet though. Discharging me just means that I have full range of motion. I still have a ways to go on my strength, and I am still in quite a bit of pain most of the time. But I'm not complaining! I swear! It is a long process and I am enjoying the challenge.

Last night I got caught running in one of the most ferocious thunderstorms I have ever seen....it was truly a meditative and almost transcendent experience....I was already far from home, at the Quarry Road trails, because I was getting ready to run a race (the race was postponed because of the weather). In the process, I saw/found lots of ATV trailheads and parking areas so when Efth comes up we have something to do in between drinking....(I hope Jezsin and JJ come up too!)

Aaron Hernandez was taken from his house this morning in handcuffs, arrested in connection with some murder. Also, he was cut by the Patriots. How sad. Whether he is guilty or not, to have your life basically ruined forever must be devastating....he seemed to have it all and was on his way to being an amazing tight end for the team who will win this year's Superbowl. Oh well....

You know what is a very "Maine" thing to do? Name your kids some everyday/common name, but change the spelling to be original: Hayleigh, Bryenn, Tailor (seriously), Cyndee, Malynda. These are all serious names of people I know. That is all.

Here are some pictures from Lake George last week:

A gorgeous place....we were on the side with the 'sandy' beach for a change! The hilly area in back of us is all prime snowmobiling country.....

This picture is in honor of Jezsin Ponticelli. When we were younger, and at the beach, standing with our arms over our head like this was the universal sign that we were peeing in the water. I was, at this point, not peeing in the water. Dont worry. Oh my stars. No like. (why do I even bother....my mom dont read this blog....)

and also, 

Poor Amanda didnt get in any of these pictures.....but she wasnt swimming either....so she sat and took pictures....

Maira loves the water, and she LOVES sand. For approximately 18 minutes, she did nothing but carry shovelfuls of sand from the beach and dump them into the lake. This was repeated roughly 1283 times.....

Classic Summer

People make fun of me a lot--and rightly RIGHTLY so--for the fact that I was born at the wrong time and in the wrong place....I am definitely very old fashioned and like things that usually only 87 year old British men like. So, when it comes to summer, I like to think differently.

Is it bad that I have no desire to go to a Funtown/Splashdown place? Amusement parks dont really spike my tone. I like summer for the quiet beauty. Yeah, I know, lame. But really

My ATV is so unbelievably uncharacteristic of me for that reason: I love speeding around fields and through mud and woods and trails--even the other day, I had to winch myself out of a huge mud pit, and, although it was so aggravating and frustrating, I nevertheless enjoyed it. A little bit.

But for the most part, I like the simple things and I want to teach my kids the classic 'simple things' of summer....like I always hear parents and grandparents talk about. Like, we want to spend as much time as possible out on the canoe...and not merely paddling for distance, but, rather, exploring little coves, counting turtles, talking about the complexities of beaver dams, seeking out tadpoles, and picking water lilies (if you pick it at the right time, put it in a wine glass filled with water! At night, it closes up to go to 'sleep' and then, in the daylight, it opens and fills the whole wine glass.....a treat!).

Right now, for example, I am working on a project with the kids and our rose bushes: We are collecting rose petals that fall off the rugosa bushes, keeping them in a bag, drying them out, and getting ready to combine them with some other secret ingredients to make potpourri for the grandmothers (and moms too).....then, at the end of the summer, when the rosebushes yield the rosehips, we can collect them to make 'tea.'

I fully realize all of this sounds lame or hipster to people. Fair enough. haha

Both kids love composting, for example, because they think it is cool how the old food turns into new food for our garden. I like that they learn this....

When I was a boy, I used to LOVE collecting rocks...I thought I wanted to be a geologist....and now, teaching the kids about rocks, I see the same interest they have in rocks. And why not? Multi colored, textured, etc. Stuff kids love. We have so many damn rock collections....

I have a few books that are awesome for people with kids (or people without kids who nevertheless love summer). The best one I have been into lately is called THE BUMBER BOOK OF NATURE by Stephen Moss. A very cool 'guide' on how to enjoy nature and do all those cool things that I want to do like make elderberry cordials, antfarms, and wormfarms. Also, there is cool info on identifying all the 'secret' parts of streams and forests and mosses. Oh yeah...mosses.....the Goldsmiths are big into mosses this summer

Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE summer and, each year, count they days until winter returns. But, if I must live with summer, I would rather be outside in the great outdoors learning cool stuff and learning the tricks and beauties and opportunities and gifts, for free, that nature can offer. Especially in Maine. We are blessed to live in Maine during the summer.

Now, her are some pictures.....

A favorite book of the summer thus far is GREEN EGGS AND HAM. Callum had read it at school this spring, and we got it at the library the other day. He and (and sort of his sister) has A HUGE part of it memorized. So, the other night, for supper, the kids requested green eggs and ham to eat....I was happy to oblige....

They ate every last bite.....

Maira got her first haircut on Saturday last!! A very very excited little girl. She loves to get her hair cut, go shopping, have her nails painted, put 'makeup' on her dolls (washable crayons), and carry around a pocketbook. Quite a little diva. And, the other day when she saw Nannie, she was VERRRRY interested in Nannie's 'shiny rings and bracelets.'

.....that smile......

Quite a difference from CS, huh, who was scared....I mean MORTIFIED....at every new experience in his life??

Callum's 5th!!!

 Well, the birthday was on the 14th, and the party was the next day, but I am on vacation, so my #blogtiming is a little off. But what a great day!!! So blessed are we to have such a happy healthy little guy....and we are so blessed to have family attend! Nannie and Upbob made the trip and it was great having them. We will see Papa and Grammie next week. And Auntie KK and Uncle Anth and Jaqueson  will be in attendance in a couple of weeks for a good old fashioned visit.

Up in Maine, we are blessed too to have MeeMee and Grampy so involved.....and, how many kids can say their GREAT-grandfather has been to FIVE of their birthday parties?? And, as you can see in the pics, Uncle Jon and Aunt Kelsey rode the motorbike up, and Callum took a birfday ride.....

By the way, Callum was dressed up like a magician and performing a magic show before blowing out his candles on his homemade racecar cake.....

Below: George contemplates IT life....Upbob and Andy discuss the PGA tour....and Nannie, upset at the fact that I had been sitting and relaxing for almost four minutes, tries in earnest to give me orders to do something......lulz....

#bffs #oneofonlythreeinexistence #whoisthisboystandingwithme #booster. Also, I swear I was not drunk during the taking of this picture. AND, a rare picture of Nannie without a diet Pepsi or seltzer....

Callum had a 'cars' pinata (inspired by Jackson's cool pinatas) and the kids had a blast! The damn thing was hard to break, I'll tell ya!! I had take a few 'swings' myself....also, for an interesting side-trip into the pinata world, check out Jason Ponticelli's FB page (friend him if you arent friends with him....kid will accept....he is the village bicycle of FB) and see the homemade pinata he and JJ made for JJ's birthday coming up!

I love little girls! See how they all hold hands all the time for no special reason? More people need to do this. There would less problems in the world. From left to right: Hannah, Abby, Emily, Maira ( in her 'pretty dress' and boots...)

enjoying some shade....also, I need to prune that rhodo....

Here is Callum on his SECOND ride of the day with Uncle Jon....for this ride, Callum surprised us....he just kind of disappeared, and the next thing we know, he and Uncle Jon were riding down Weeks St by our backyard....and dont worry....they stayed on sidestreets and kept it in second. Callum asked if we could get a motorcycle soon. I wonder if he will settle for a Vespa.....

Summer Running.....

....had me a bla-aaaast... (get it?? Like the Grease song?? No?? Okay.)

The summer is young and the Goldsmiths are already two races deep in this silly running stuff. This afternoon our friend Beth messaged me telling me about this summer race series at the Quarry Road Rec Area in Waterville (I will have to do a whole post on the quarry road some time...I have written about it before with regards to snowshoeing, skiing, etc....but it is a VAST expanse of trails and connector stuff in Waterville). Every Tuesday night there is a kid's 'fun run' followed by a loner 'adult race.' The race tonight was four miles, and next week will be five, the following will be six, and then they start back at a 5K again....get it? The kid's race is a mile, and so tonight we went and he did it with his friends Hannah and Emily. He had a blast!

I did not participate, as difficult as it was for me--I am taking a whole week off from running, and I am getting back on my road bike for the first time since October/Surgery/Recover/Etc. It might not seem like a lot, but taking six days off from running, for me, is incredibly difficult. Since my surgery and subsequent recovery, I am starting to realize how passionate I am for running, and what a roll it plays in my life not only as an excellent physical exercise, but also as a spiritual meditation. After the kid's race ended, and as I watched the adults all line up for the four mile trail race, I got REALLY jealous that I couldnt run tonight, and my competitive nature (which I thought was nonexistent) was rising like mad. I didnt just want to run....I wanted to RACE. And I have never wanted that.  It was kind of funny actually. SIDE NOTE: My road bike scares the crap out of me...with the skinny tires....the lack of shock absorption....the speed....the clipless pedals...I am more afraid than usual that I am going to fall and kill my shoulder again. But whatever....

Last Saturday, the day of Callum's birthday party, began with Callum running the Summer Heat 5k and 1 Mile Run Run (like he did last year). He ran the mile in 10:16, which I think is awesome!! I ran the 5K trail run afterwards, and got virtually the exact time as I got last year; with all the rain, the trail conditions deep in the woods were ATROCIOUS. I love seeing the passion Callum has for running, and I love seeing the way Maira loves cheering for her brother. Maira, too, enjoys 'running,' but have you seen how short her fat little legs are?? It must be so hard for her....

I am hoping that running will continue to be a Goldsmith Family Affair and that the kids (and AManda hopefully) embrace running--a truly minimalist sport you can do anytime, anywhere, and without a bunch of money wasted on fancy gadgets and gear. Just go outside, move your legs, breathe deeply, and reap the rewards.....

At the start of the run.....hanging out, talking with friends....also, notice the nice new orange three sided tent in the background....the XC team bought this to set up at our meets so we can get our COleman stove going, have cocoa, hide from the rain and wind of the fall, etc etc. #nice

myeah......

Callum post race, with his medal. He got second place. 

Birthday party post to follow, but check out the racecar cake Amanda made from scratch!! Very awesome. I love the way Amanda always makes a homemade, original cake. (Truth be told though, the frosting was from Hillmans. Amen to that!)

How great is it.....

to be right here....in this chair....in this very moment? Well, in case you dont know, it is freakin awesome. So I am glad Amanda captured this picture. And I didn't even have to pay off the kids to do this....haha....

 

These were taken a few days ago, while I was sitting in my chair icing and dozing off.....we read for about a half hour or so. It was grand.....

 

And today is father's day, so I thought it would be appropriate to post me and my little friends having some fun! Today after church they took me for breakfast at The Flatlanda, a place Jahn is banned from for life by Jaquie......but that is anutttha story.....

 

 

Callum had an excellent birthday party yesterday, and I will post on that tomorrow. But last Sunday the GOldsmiths headed out for their maiden canoe trip of the season, and I am just getting around to posting these now! I was just happy to be able to lift the canoe on and off the car (but it will be a while before I can do it myself I think!)

We made our way over to Messalonskee stream and just went for about a half hour or so....we saw four turtles, a beaver, and a monstrous beaver dam. It is a great place for seeing wildlife. Often here we see Great Blue Herons as well......

Callum, who used to REFUSE to get his picture taken, has thrown us another curveball by now LOVING to get his pic taken....but you can totally see why.....

Also, our old canoe is looking pretty good for being 9 years old, huh??  Her name is Scamper, by the way....

Oh, and below is NOT some new avante garde exhibit at the art gallery....this is what Maira now spends the majority of her time doing: Putting her babies to 'bed' and feeding them and changing them and nursing them (both of the milk variety and the 'back to health' variety with the help of her doctor kit). So if you come over, be careful where you step....

 Happy father's day to all those blessed to be a dad!

tumultuous week....

Just a week of a lot of transitions......

The weather doesn't help....SO. MUCH. RAIN. It just doesn't 'feel' like it should be mid June. We have had three 'warm' days of summer like feeling...and the rest just kind of feel like bleh....

Tomorrow is my last day of school for the year.....even though my seniors graduated, I have been at school each day, as busy as ever....I have been taking a course on the Internet on the Fundamentals of Coaching....it definitely was not FUN but it sure was MENTAL, even! Actually a very tough course....but now it is over and I am 'nationally certified' or whatever bureaucratic thing they say I am....

But this year has definitely been the strangest most 'different feeling' over my teaching career; even when the seniors graduated, it just didn't 'feel' like graduation time. And, now, it just doesn't 'feel' like the end of the school year. It is weird. This year was tough in a lot of ways--my teaching load increased by A LOT before I entered this year. Plus, I had an intern who designed a lot of stuff, which, in turn, took away a lot of material I usually cover. Then my shoulder surgery limited A LOT of my lifestyle--I missed more school this year than I have in the past 6 years combined, I figured out. Crazy.....

Maira didn't really have any big milestones as she isn't old enough to be 'involved' in stuff yet....but Callum had, today, his last day of preschool and his last teeball game of the season. Two big endings today; I am not sure he understands 'closure' and things ending yet. And, tomorrow, he turns FIVE years old!! I cannot believe this. He has his little party this weekend, and then, in a couple of weekends, he goes down to 'the city' (what he calls BOSTON) to go to either the Swan Boats or the NE Aquarium with Nannie.


.....

 

 

Amanda and the kids got me a great birthday cake for my birthday a couple of weeks ago....forgot to post pics of this stuff....

oh hey....

Just a Beautiful Little Girl.....

Obviously I am biased, but I just think Maira is so beautiful; she is so full of such rich expressions and emotions, and she is really changing/developing lately in terms of her personality. Today marked an interesting milestone, for example. Up until today, when she would pronounce her name, she would call herself "Rara." Today she said MAIRA for the first time. It is still fun to listen to her speak, because, at only 2, she still hasn't mastered the "K" sound yet, and words like LOOK! and MILK are uttered as LUUT! and MILT. It is very funny.....

 

 

I posted this picture (below) because I think Maira looks just like her great-mee mee, Edna, who died when Callum was about three months old....does anyone else think so?

Maira is very very much into her 'babies' and hardly goes anywhere without her dolls, a fleece flower blanket (so she can cover them up) two bottles (in case they get hungry) and some books to read to the babies. She is VERY serious about her mothering when it comes to these babies--she puts them down to sleep on the couch, covers them up, and tells EVERYONE to be QUIET!! If you mess with any of her dolls, she gets very possessive....but not like a kid gets possessive if you touch their mere 'toys;' but, rather, the way a mother might get possessive if you mess with her babies.....

She loves to put her babies in a chair and read them THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR and THE OWL BOOK. It is hilarious. Last week, Amanda finally unpacked a box that had been sitting in our garage since January (I know...I am so mean....) and some of Amanda's childhood dolls were in there....Maira immediately adopted them as her own, and put them on the swing to get some sun....

and took care of them.....

So let's see....this upcoming week is my last contractual week of school, as the underclassmen finish finals on Thursday and we have a PD day on Friday....

we took our inaugural canoe paddle of the season today, and we enjoyed a nice stretch of Messolonskee stream....saw four turtles and a beaver and a beaver lodge....

tomorrow Callum undergoes his first 'surgery' for a a few cavities to be filled....he will get some 'laughing gas' and hopefully all will go swell....

Graduation pictures that didnt get posted with the last post....

 

 

 

.....getting ready to eat at the class night banquet.....

 

.....one of the senior tables as the parents filter into the gym for awards.....

....Lori and I saying 'goodbye and good luck' to the seniors as this was the last time we addressed them, officially, until graduation at Colby....

....graduates congregate in the Colby ice hockey arena before lining up to march into the gigantic field house gymnasium (a couple of thousand people showed up for graduation...)

....Molly Schassberger and I pose for a picture after all of the craziness of the evening....

.

Graduation: Article in "The Morning Sentinel"

This is part of the article that appeared in the newspaper on the day after Winslow's commencement.....I know Amanda posted this on FB for some to see, but I wanted to 'archive' this on the blog, if you will, so I could see it would be there for years to come.....

*******

WATERVILLE -- Don't be afraid to know that you don't know everything you need to know.

click image to enlarge

Megan Samsouci smiles as she gathers with her graduating class in the Alfond Ice Arena before commencement ceremonies at Wadsworth Gymnasium at at Colby College in Waterville on Wednesday.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seaman

click image to enlarge

Friends and family take photos of the Winslow High School class of 2013 as they march in to Wadsworth Gymnasium during commencement ceremonies at Colby College in Waterville on Wednesday.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seaman

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

 

That was part of the message Wednesday night at Winslow High School's 111th commencement exercises by guest speaker and high school English teacher, Jared Goldsmith.
"You don't -- and you never will -- and that's the beauty of life. You do not know everything and that's okay," Goldsmith told the graduating class of 2013 at the Harold Alfond Athletic Center at Colby College.
Goldsmith said it is important to remember the class motto: We go unafraid.
"I hope that you go through life unafraid to know that you're not going to know everything, ever," he said. "The mark of wisdom is to be okay with that. Figure it out or ask for help."
With that, Goldsmith moved to an electric piano and sang a song for the 90 or so graduating Black Raiders, their assembled families and friends. The song, which he composed himself, "You Never Know," is a humorous collection of memories and stories about members of the class.
"You never know how it goes," was the melodic refrain. "You never know how it can be. You never know for sure now."
Graduation got under way Wednesday with a grand processional of the graduates, marching to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" performed live by the Winslow High School Band. Graduates, all wearing black caps and black gowns with orange stoles and orange carnations, were led into the hall by flag bearers and class marshals.......

*****and then the rest of the article centered around the graduates, etc....

It was a beautiful evening at Colby College.....and now that it is over, I feel a definite sort of malaise/exhaustion/relief/Idontknow....

Meanderings 82 (a few quick thoughts)

1. Any time you hear of anyone wearing something (a shirt, pants, accessory, etc) you always hear language involving a separate verb and then that item--like 'He IS WEARING a HAT" or "She HAD ON a dress." UNLESS, of course, you are talking about spectacles (not glasses, mind you...just 'spectacles.' People who wear spectacles are called "bespectacled" people. Why do they get their own word? We dont say he was 'behatted" or "bepanted" or nuthin....What is so great about spectacles?

2. Some colleges have a "marriage studies" program major at their college. I have also seen "family studies" and "marriage ethics" majors at colleges (I googled this....and I wonder what.in.the.hell. you can do with one of these majors, but that is besides the point). My point is that when these people fulfill their major, they are given a BACHELORS degree in this. See the irony here? A BACHELORS in MARRIAGE ETHICS?? Doesnt really instill a lot of trust, does it? And how come girls dont get bachelorETTES degrees, even?

3. Many people forget that the traditional 'graduation hat' worn is actually derived from a mortar board (used by masons, etc to mix cement and mortar for bricks and stuff). So, symbolically, these hats/mortar stuff inspire "intelligence" and "wisdom." So, why then, do we call "dumb" people "blockheads?" I think about these things during all the time I spend alone....

4. Another English language funny-thing I have been thinking about lately: In our language, the words RESIGN and RE-SIGN look almost IDENTICAL to each other (obviously except for the dash). However, they are complete and total opposites of each other when it comes to meaning. See what I mean?

So I guess that is all for now. Oh yeah, except for the fact that the other day Joseph's Market had on their electronic sign that they were open regular hours on New Year's Day. Just so you know. This is also the same sign that, last year, advertised "boneless bananas" for 79 cents a pound....

One exhasting week.......

....and tomorrow is the grand finale: COMMENCEMENT!!!! The week started on Sunday, with the Baccalaureate Service at St John's Church in Winslow...then yesterday was class night banquet and awards....and then tomorrow evening at Colby College is our wonderfully classy commencement! Above, two of our National Honors Society volunteers get ready to serve a room full of hot, thirsty seniors some deliciously fancy fruit punch out of a fountain!! Fun!! Yeah!! Punch!! Even!!

I thought that last year, when I advised the junior class, and ran the prom, that things were busy. NO WAY. Senior year is wayyyyy more busy. You are in charge of all the little minutia that is involved with getting these kids successfully out of WHS. You deal with LOTS of money, lots of piddly little problems, lots of dress code issues, and many many other things.

I hired Amici's Cucina, this FANTASTIC Italian Restaurant in Waterville, to cater our affair. Chicken Broccoli Pesto Penne...Baked Ziti....Caesar salad that would raise the hair on your head....great stuff all around!!

Have I mentioned how HOT it has been since Sunday when this whole 'week' started?

Here's some kids last night at class night.....I taught every senior in the building (with the exception of 5 who took AP English and didnt have me for English, speech, or creative writing)

 and some more kids last night, waiting for the awards ceremonies to begin. You may remember Molly, in the blue dress at the front, who often babysits for the kids, and more importantly is Callum's valentine and birthday sharer!

One of the things I KNOW I am going to have trouble with is the sentimentalism of having my kids graduate high school to leave for the Naval and Air Force Academies (haha). I get emotional because Callum's final TEE BALL game is coming up for crying out loud! To that end, one of the things I have a greater appreciation for is what the parents do for their kids at class night: They have a 'parent chorus,' and they sing songs for their children....and, as you can see, they have a TWO sided 'pic on a stick' where, on one side, there is a baby picture of that kid....and on the other side there is that particular kid's senior picture. Kind of emotional. Shut up! It is!!

And speaking of emotional,  here we are (co advisor Lori and I) addressing the seniors at the end of the affair last night. Tomorrow, as elected commencement speaker, I will give my speech/song....so I had better go work on it!!

After tomorrow's festivities, I will go home, have an iced cold beer, and hopefully watch the AMAZING Boston Brooooons take a 3-0 leads against the Penguins. GO BRUINS!!