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