For Sale: Training Wheels!!!

Okay. So I definitely cried for 4 or 5 seconds.......

We are so proud of Callum

Another huge milestone shared symbiotically by parent and child alike....

As a teacher now entering my 13th year of education, I can honestly say this was the easiest thing I have ever taught another 'student.' I took the training wheels off, told him to keep pedaling, gave him a quick push, and, roughly 6 seconds later, he was off.....

Today, I am off to Mathieu's to 'surprise' him by having a kickstand put on his bike. He is IN LOVE with the thought of having a kickstand on his bike!

Radio Romance Tour 2013

Almost six years ago, Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion compatriots came to the Bangor Auditorium to perform a live broadcast of the amazing Saturday evening program--Amanda (8.5 months pregnant with Callum) and I, of course, were there. Garrison Keillor is my favorite writer of all time, I think it is safe to say #strongstatements, and A Prairie Home Companion, as a program, ranks right up there with The Nutcracker and Pu Pu platters as one of my favorite things in the world.

Last night, we had tickets to see Garrison and company's "Radio Romance" tour of the summer--it wasnt the 'live' program, but, rather, just a summer long string of tour dates for a sort of 'concert.' We had severe complications with the babysitting situation (the show didnt start til 730...and it was an hour away in Bangor) and it looked like we were going to have to eat the money we spent on the tickets. Then, at the '11th hour' as they say, Amanda said to me "hey, why dont we just bring the kids?" And so we did. And it was one of the most delightful nights we have had in a long time.

Above, the kids get ready for the trip to the Bangor Waterfront Pavilion, where the show was. Please dont ask me why Callum Stuze was absolutely HELLBENT on adorning himself with pirate regalia (jacket, mask, hat, hook hand, etc). Just chalk it up to the fact that he is a five year old boy. Hey, havent you ever seen a five year old dressed as a pirate at a National Public Radio syndicated live performance? Yeah. See?

The concert venue was disgusting. It smelled like a rest area bathroom in August. The outdoor seats (I feel badly for the people with 'lawn' seats) were on this clay/crushed stone stuff. Gross. Muddy. Smelled like cesspool. But whatever. We got to see Garrison, Fred Newman, the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and more!!

 Here's the set: The show definitely is not for everyone--as with most things Amanda and I love, most other people our age dislike vehemently...haha. It is definitely strange to see a 'radio show' performed live in person. Very cool. Garrison's special guest joining him on tour is a young lady named Sarah Watkins, one of the three members of the famous Bluegrass band 'Nickle Creek.' Sara is a phenom fiddle player, and Callum and Maira were clapping along, drumming, and dancing in their seats....

Below, you can see a tiny speck of white--that is Garrison Keillor, resplendent in his white seersucker suit, BRIGHT red tie, and trademark bright red Chuck Taylors. One thing GK does very well is create ethos which each audience, depending on which city he is in--he told a lot of cool Maine facts that I didnt know, he wrote and performed two songs about Maine, and he wrote a beautiful poem about the state. He also performed one of his famous skits "The Lives of the Cowboys," as well as his trademark "News from Lake Wobegone," where, in last night's monologue, he CONTINUED to make the audience's emotions virtual putty in his hand, somehow weaving a description about a summer baseball league featuring Siamese Twin catchers, a Border Collie with a high slugging percentage, that same dog who peed on his rival's leg when both teams were shaking hands at the end of the game, and finishing it up (like I said, somehow) bringing the audience almost to tears with a gorgeous and heartfelt story about two newlyweds who were so in love that they forgot the vows they had written for each other and had to fall back on the 'traditional' ones. Sounds crazy. And it was. But it was utterly beautiful.

And Callum has decided on a new vocation: Replacing sound effect man Fred Newman after Newman retires. Newman, below, in the vest, is an amazing talent, creating all types of sound effects to complement Garrison's stories. When you listen to him on the radio, you dont get to see his dynamic body language and 'spunk' that he puts into all his 'radio acting.' Callum (and Maira too...but she was kind of tired) was virtually rolling in his seat with laughter as Newman made impressions of trains, whales, dolphins, Sea Lions performing Led Zepplin songs, seals covering Beatles songs, and, perhaps Callum's favorite, Ira Glass from NPR's "This American Life." Callum, since the show, has kept saying "I really really need to practice my sound effects later, okay daddy?" He also said he is a huge fan of PHC now! WOO HOO

A fantastic family evening. Blessed to have kids who can appreciate the arts like this. We left at about 920 or so...the show ended a little after ten. I splurged on a PHC hat...Amanda got a Radio Romance tour t-shirt....and Callum and Maira bought, perhaps, one of the only A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION frisbees in the entire Milky Way Galaxy.....

Franklin #4

Shut up. We were there for seven days and did a lot of stuff.

Here are Amanda and I, sneaking out for a half hour for a paddle-date. It was nice to get a few minutes just with Amanda. We explored the big island on the south side of the lake. I would like to own an island. Or at least a half an acre of land anywhere for that matter....


Here is the camp where we stayed....it is kind of obscured by trees and growth, but that was the way of old classic Maine camps. This way you get a nice breeze from the trees, and lots of shade from the leaves. You can always tell the new camps by the way they need to be all ostentatious and cut down every living thing so all the world can see their house and where they park their Lexus.....

A very nice dock and a path leading up to that meadow and blueberry field and then the cabin itself. On the left side, there is a nice outdoor porch. We didnt use that much or at all. In all honesty, if we werent down at the water we were inside....I have never been in a single place where there were more mosquitoes. Ever.

Bring it.

"Pirate Island" is what Callum and I called this large, obtrusive ROCK island jutting out  of the water smack dab in the middle of the lake. From end to end, the rock was about 15 yards, and only held about five people or so at a time. The locals had fashioned a really nice pole, flying the American flag...the pole itself must have been about 30 feet high to be seen all over the lake. At the end of the 'island' was a bolted-to-the-rock diving board. There were also some ropes bolted into the rock so folks could moor their boats (our canoe got the CRAP kicked out of it as I tied it up on the other side of the rock...the only place there was room...and the wind beat it against the rock constantly) and climb out of the water BACK onto the rock after jumping. Callum didnt jump (neither did I...I was too scared) but he loved being a pirate and climbing out of the water.....over and over again....

....here is a good shot of that diving board and Sally climbing out of the water after one of her jumps...

......and I'm out.....

Franklin #3

I love the smiles our kids have....they are very genuine and they make me happy......

Below is a little 'island' we'd paddle out to...we'd land the canoe on the other side, along some pebbles, and go climbing some of these huge rocks. Also, wherever there weren't rocks, there were wild blueberry bushes. Callum liked to pretend he was a pirate and he had buried treasure on this 'remote' outpost....

Hot Hot Hot each and every single day....the heat really has a way of draining everyone. Below, the kids take some time to relax in the cabin: Callum was playing 'sugarbugs' on his LeapPad, and Maira was reading one of the two books she was OBSESSED with all week (this one is OLIVIA MEETS THE PRINCESS and the other one was PENNY'S NEW DOLL).

 One morning, I found this cute little Eskimo boy asleep in one of the rooms, so I decided to lie down next to him.... I slept and slept and slept.....

Also, this Eskimo Boy never got out of bed before TEN each day we were there ....#hardknocklife

I wanted to paddle all the time--by myself, with Amanda and the kids, with the kids and no Amanda--so I took full advantage. No one else wanted to paddle with me, which was fine....lol...but it was great getting out on the water all the time.....

#Screens......

Franklin Pictures #1

above: The hill above the dock....there was the cabin....then a small blueberry field and meadow with a path going down hill....then the dock....the swim mat out a bit in the water....

Full of smiles and laughter.....

see the rock-island out in the background? The flagpole on it? You will see more of that later....

....one of the hottest weeks in Maine's history.....spending some time inside, by the fans, catching up on some reading......

"dont bother me...I'm d'ing screens....."

....one of the four times that week Lin went outside....jk, even.....a great hammock....a HUGE yard and field for some great wiffle ball games...

.....more to come.....

Franklin Maine

Last week we were on vacation at a camp on George's pond in Franklin Maine. SO many things about which to write...so many treasures and so many wonderful moments....there is no way I could encapsulate them all into a blog.....but I thought I would try anyway.....

The cabin on George's Pond is the oldest home in Franklin Maine. Franklin Maine is up north of Ellsworth, headed up 'downeast' to Machias and Cherryfield. The sign entering Franklin says that it is the "Christmas tree capital of the world," but I didnt see any trees of this nature; instead, Franklin is PRIME blueberry barren country (the low bush, wild blueberries grown on these little shrubs that barely get off the ground.....)

Franklin is hard-core ATV country, as the "Sunrise Trail" (a HUGE hundred mile plus trail) heads right through. The streets are very ATV friendly, and there are amazing amazing trails and roads heading all over through the woods. I ran for six days straight, at least 40 minutes per run, and I never saw the same route twice---absolutely amazing!!

The lake was absolutely gorgeous, and Callum spent practically the whole week in the water, graduating to swimming WAY out to the swim float/mat/raft in just his swimmies. He also got in some great kayaking and canoeing with me. I got to paddle at least twice per day, which made me very happy...

Two eagles nest right around the cove from where we stayed--the male and the female. All day they circled the lake and our camp, sometimes very low, and we got to watch the show.....also, they were noisy eagles (what an eerie eerie sound!)

Amanda and Lin got to go to Shirley's, this yarn store ***ORTIZ TAKE NOTE!!*** they have been going to since Amanda was zero years old. Shirley's, I guess, is a famous store selling all kinds of craft notions, gifts, and more. I was happy they got out....

Lin also discovered Scotty's, what is apparently an amazing amazing used book store. I didnt go, because Lin wouldnt let me come (wink, wink, Lin...haha). Now George has to keep consulting and working for another four years because of the bill Lin racked up at the book store.....

Maira played babies all week--a few times with Grampy, a couple of times with BaBa, and a LOT with MeeMee....here, at camp, she discovered the beauteous majesty of 'powder,' and now wants to put powder on all (yes, all) her dolls each night before bed. Also, she makes lists, aloud, of other people she wants to 'powder' when she sees them, including her friends Hannah, Emily, and Abby. She also cant wait to 'powder' Auntie KK's new baby....

#Screens spent the week making hyot spyots with his smyart phyone and hiding behind his headphones with his cute little yaudio byook by Clive Cyussler. He also bought a plunger one morning. And he put out cheese too. And spoke of his "lo-mein exploits." And worked until 3:37 AM. Gorge, let's play Spy Ally soon, okay??

Callum, Maira, BaBa, and Sally played mini golf at Pirate's Cove...it was Maira's first time and she loved it. I went and cheered people on, but did not play mini golf, because I am human being with some code of basic decency. The kids got 'pirate hats' after, and, almost as if she were waiting her whole life for someone to put a pirate hat on her head, Maira IMMEDIATELY raised her right arm ans shouted ARRR MATEYS!!! at the top of her lungs....she then walked through the parking lot and went up to strangers saying the same thing. I have never seen her do this....

SO many more memories that we got to cherish with our children this past week. This was probably one of the best vacations I have ever had; I havent even used that superlative yet, but, now being a couple of days removed from Franklin, I am beginning to think it is true. Utterly beautiful place...and so much solitude. Mark my words: Sally and Jard will buy a camp, somehow, for our kids to have and pass down. Retreats are awesome.

Now if Amanda could have just brought me to Helen's.......

(okay...and now I will go post some pictures...not a lot of them were taken....we took mostly video...which we will put on DVD soon)

Favry Family Visit, and some other things.....

...such as hanging out in the 'pool' with Hannah and Emily....one of the true joys of being a teacher is being able to sit underneath a shady tree, on a Tuesday at 1pm, drink an iced cold beer, and hang out with some friends while their kids and yours splash around and keep each other company. I only wish we had room for a bigger pool. If we ever move, a pool will be as much a prerequisite as the wood stove/hearth....

Also, look how big our rose bushes are getting! This little pool was a great gift Nannie!

The Favrys came up this past Saturday for the day, and we had a great visit. A very hot day, so we went for a ride into Disgusta to show the FavryFolks the Maine State Museum--this place, as I have written about before, is freakin awesome. Jackson loved seeing the 'animals' and the old cars and boats in the basement. There is an 'at home in Maine' exhibit on the top floor of the museum...it shows various 'home scenes' of Maine (kitchens, old barns, bathrooms, etc). Maira's favorite thing there is a living room scene....there is a wood stove in the living room, and there is a kitty sleeping underneath the stove. She is OBSESSED with this fake animal (but not as much as she is obsessed with the 'baby' at Nannie's house and how Nannie 'wont let' her taque it home!)

Oh, and this is Callum's first "selfie." He is getting ready for a #facebookworld. Next, he will be in the bathroom, in his underwear, taking a pic in the mirror. Like all the gurlz do. Also, in this pic he looks nineteen years old. Look at those shoulders? #tightendmaybe #navalacademyfouryearstarter

Here we are, post pool and sandbox, enjoying some Cappza's pizza! Cappza's is probably the best pizza in Maine, but we never go cuz you have to sit at two traphic lites to get there....#firstworldprobs...

As you can see, Callum has a new 'signature' for all his photographs.....and Maira did not want to take part in this photo, cuz she was at her 'little table' enjoying her thirteenth piece of pizza, even.

Maira was VERY concerned about where Auntie KK's baby was--she cannot comprehend the fact that the baby is 'inside' Auntie's belly....it was so cute...she was lifting up Kristin's skirt, her shirt, etc, trying to 'find the baby.' As I said, she was very, very, concerned. And now, even still, she walks around the house and arbitrarily asks "where is Auntie KK's baby????" and she looks underneath couch cushions and under the table, etc. Very hilarious.

And, finally, some new gifts from Karl and Jody Andresen! Senor's very first ever/soon to be famous children's Adirondack chairs! Karl, one of the most altruistic people we know, and a man full of 'Yankee Ingenuity,' never lets anything go to waste; he scours the earth (or at least central Maine) in search of wood pallets. He cuts up the pallets, bada-boom, bada-bing, and POOF: Adirondack chairs. Up until Callum and Maira's were made, he only made them for adult sizes.... arent they cute? He does a great job. Using the same free pallet wood, he also makes birdhouses, and mini picnic table condiment holders. Pretty neat. And Lupine has taken up residence in one of these chairs outside. #obviously

Maine Public Radio Geek

Everyone knows I am an NPR nerd, and this is part of what makes me such a despicable person....haha. Suzanne Nance is a wonderful and beautiful woman who is in charge of all the music programming for MPBN.....and, in addition, she hosts the morning classical music program each weekday from 9-12. During the summer, especially, I listen to the program a lot, while I am doing chores around the house, getting the kids set up for the day, or building things with blocks....

On Monday, as I was listening in the car after dropping Callum off at Pirate Camp, I heard her say how she was 'dedicating' this morning's program to all the teachers and principals of Maine for all their hard work and dedication. I thought this was nice. In addition, she said that she would try to make all that morning's pieces 'school' or 'teacher' themed; one of the pieces she was going to play, as she said, was Samuel Barber's "Overture from School for Scandal." This piece is a special piece to me for many reasons, and I decided to write her the email below:

*******

Dear Ms. Nance:

I just wanted to chime in and say thank you for dedicating today's morning music to teachers and principals! I am an English teacher at Winslow High School in central Maine. I grew up in Mass, met a 'MaineGirl' and never looked back. I love it here. At school, I teach all seniors, and I quite often have your morning program on at school. I figure the kids need some good classical music appreciation these days, right? My students know what a big fan I am of yours! In addition, how wonderful for you to play Barber's "School for Scandal" piece--my wife is a classically trained oboist (we both went to UNH) and, while I was 'falling in love' with her, she played that beautiful oboe and English horn solo in the piece. That little solo got me 'hook, line, and sinker,' as they say.

Might I make one 'shamless' request? Since you are such a great radio personality around here AND a performer, do you have any 'photos' that you autograph for your fans? Or even an autograph on some MPBN stationery or something? Again, I know this is a shameless request, but I figure since today's show is for 'teachers' I might as well take a shot...haha! I would hang it in my classroom and I would treasure it! If so, my address is 123 Fake Street, Anytown USA, 01234

Thanks Ms Nance for all you do. Staying home all summer with our 5 and 2 year old is such a treat, and we have built many lego towers to your morning program!!


All the best

*************

Well.....before she played this piece, she actually mentioned both me AND my email on the air (moments after I sent it to her!).....she read excerpts from the email, and emphasized to the audience how I 'fell in love with my wife' while listening to the oboe and English horn pieces of the music. I was thrilled!

Here is a photo of  Suzanne:

And here is a link to Barber's piece. You should really check it out.....or at least the first few minutes or so...up to when the first oboe solo is....the piece is very dynamic for its many moods and rhythms....and it has lots and lots of energy before 'resolving' into the English horn and oboe solos.....and, what makes this even more amazing, is that Barber composed this in graduate school when he was 21 years old...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QresB7D6KDU

What to do during a VERY rainy summer!

Well...books are always a good idea...and Callum and Maira always tend to enjoy books more in the summer, when we are all home more. Above, Callum 'reads' ARTHUR'S HALLOWEEN to Maira. This is probably Callum's favorite ARTHUR book, and he got it at The Record Connection: The Record Connection has TONS of awesome used books, and if you live around here, you should go check it out! Books, CDs, records, and more! And Bob, the owner, is a splendid human being. And Callum and Maira NEVER pay for books there!

And, below, enjoying "Daddy's chair" and the nice to "Ott Light." This green recliner chair belonged to Nannie and Upbob and 'I believe' they had it at Foundry Street, a place at which we havent lived since about 1991....I took this chair to college, etc. I love this chair. I spent a lot of time there post surgery!

One can also go pick strawberries in the rain, because at least it isnt crowded there! We found ONE U-Pick strawberry place....the upick farms are hard to come by. Forty dollars later, we had TONS of strawberries. More than what is pictured below. We tried canning four quarts of they, but they didnt work out very well. I think freezing they is the way to go. I dont really like strawberries....I want to go blueberry picking. That is my favorite fruit! And very Maineish....

And if all else fails, go outside and play in the rain, right? Especially if you have cool rain boots and cool umbrellas shaped like frogs and such......We have had so much rain this summer. It was sunny this past Saturday, but, before that, it had rained since the previous Friday. Days and Days of consecutive rain. No tomatoes this year I guess......

Another cool thing to do in the rain is to have puppet shows. Lydia sent the kids some great books on how to make puppets and how to do uniquely fun things in the summer. IN ADDITION to that, of course, she sent ME Bob Dylan marionette that she made. Lydia is an artist. Below, Callum practices "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall." #topical

And when it rains, we always know that EVENTUALLY the sun will come out. So, that being said, we prepare for things. And one of those things involves building an awesome birdhouse in which our feathered friends can live. BaBa got Callum a 'make your own' birdhouse kit for his birthday, so one morning we put it together. Oh, and Maira helped....

Yeay Callum! Great job. Today I picked up some water sealer for it, and then Callum wants to hang it on the oak tree out front. Callum is very smart and intuitive and excellent at building things and putting things together....

Bostn Part 2

After a long day in Boston, we put the kids to bed, and went to go meet Efth and Elwyn at the Stoneforge for a drink or two....we had not seen them since their wedding in May, so it was great to catch up and get the 'inside scoop' on their honeymoon, wedding, and the τέλειος that went on in Bora Bora.....

On Sunday, it was off to visit Papa and Grammy, and the kids had a blast seeing them. The highlights of Papa's house are always the three cats-Jesse, Kody, and Smoky- and the great aquarium Papa has. All the grandkids seem to love this! But now Papa has a new 'toy' in his repertoire: His 'lift chair.' This is the greatest invention for my dad ever, since, with his hips and knees, he has trouble getting up. This is like one of those craft-o-matic contraptions that lifts from the back to get you off #thatswhatshesaid. Callum had a blast  'riding' Papa's new ride....Maira was a little reticent #wordsPapawilllookup.

We had a nice visit, talking about Boston, trying to ruse the cats, showing off our bat-puppets, eating snaques, and just hanging out! Oh, and dont forget eating Honey Dew donuts at Papa's table!

 Then it was off to Fresh Catch for lunch...oh wait....there was one more stop: Callum unabashedly asked Papa if he could take him to 'that toy store' for a 'new digger.' The Village Toy Shop is an amazing store with amazing toys....but very expensive. But Papa was happy to oblige Callum and Maira. Callum picked out a new "grader" digger to go with his other fleet of trucks from that store (bulldozers, logging trucks, cement trucks, firetrucks, plows, etc). Maira chose a new 'cutting board' and fruits and vegetables for her kitchen. They are wooden and connected with velcro and Maira has been transfixed by them!

And thennnnnn it was off to Fresh Catch. I got my token fried oysters which were, as great-Papa Goldsmith would say, 'fair.' They were lacking the sweetness I expect, but the same is true of most of my relationships.....The only thing Callum wanted was LOBSTER. No fries. No onion rings. No rice. JUST a lobster. He ate every. single. piece. Including some body pieces I picked off for him #shadesofLin. Here is a quick 'photo essay' of Callum and Papa and their lobster.....

 Papa brought up a good point: Why is CALLUM the one wearing the bib? Papa did all the work!!! Haha...

Then we made our way baque to Maine, stopping for a pit stop in Kennebunk. The kids wanted their picture taken with the BIG MOOSE on the northbound side rest area. Maybe Jaqueson will get his taken too on their way up this weekend. Then we can have a collection, even!! (I love how Callum has his arm around his sister....we didnt tell him to do that....we love this)

Boston Visit Part 1

This past Saturday, the Goldsmiths headed down to Mass to visit Nannie, Upbob, Papa, and Grammy. It has been my mom's lifelong dream to take the kids into Boston to go on the Swan Boats. So, finally, we took a gamble with the weather, and came down! We took the commuter rail train from Mansfield, hung out in the city for a couple of hours, did Swan Boats and sightseeing, and came back!

Both Callum and Maira LOVED taking the train--it brought back some memories for me, as I used to take the purple line EACH and every day (with my mom) when I worked in Boston #reasonsImovedtoMaine #justkidding #butreally. A very nice ride with some happy kids (and a happy Nannie)

We took the train to Back Bay station, got off, and made our way up Boylston Street towards the Public Garden and Boston Common. So much to see! Copley Plaza, waterfalls, beautiful churches, freaky people, the Prudential Center and Hancock building close up, and more! This was the kids' first time in the city. And Amanda has only been in the Back Bay region once with me....I love 'showing' people Boston.....such an awesome city!

Nannie and Callum walking on the bridge over the 'lagoon,' where the Swan Boats, real swans, and ducks live......me, being the dendrophile I am, loved all the beautiful, rare, and unusual trees in the Public Garden; there were so many varieties of Weeping Willows and Elms....trees you dont often see....

Amanda looking super hot in her sun-dress (and I dont mean TEMPERATURE hot, even!!!!). Oh, and Puppy accompanied us on the ride, as if you couldnt guess that...

Nannie bought both kids a stuffed animal swan, which both kids love and carry with them everywhere. Callum named his swan 'Swanboat' and I havent seen him without it. Both of our kids need psychiatric help with their stuffed animal addiction.....

And, after a frozen yogurt break at Pinkberry at the Prudential Center, we made our way back to Mansfield, where we met with Upbob at Bertucci's for some dinner. Just look at that beautiful smile......hahaha

On Sunday, we met with Papa and Grammy for a nice visit, and those pictures will make up Part 2 of this post tomorrow! Time to go make dinner.....