Friday, September 4, 2015

I like series.
Movies - Harry Potter, case in point.
Sports - still a Patriots fan.
Books - current one, At Home in Mitford., by Jan Karon.

It's a gentle series revolving around the life and times of an Episcopal priest living in small town Maine.
I know - it may sound small and uninteresting, but for me,
it's like sitting with a friend, and hearing the news,
good and bad of our families and friends.
If I have a choice of listening to The Donald spewing idiocies,
or listening to how Esther is fairing with her respectable mayoral bid
as the incumbent - I'm going Mitford all the way.

I believe there are eight books in the series, and I'm in book four - A New Day.
Yes - there is a Christian bent to it, but more than that -
there is a play on the goodness of people, with the evil in the world to challenge their goodness. Sometimes the characters fumble, but there is proof that friendship and love can buoy you.

Yesterday, a line stuck with me.
It was in the middle of a prayer by Father Tim that said something to the effect - " Lord, we could spend all day thanking you, but instead we're going to enjoy the company of these good people, and the meal they have prepared..."

I feel that way often.  I can spend hours counting all the blessings for which I can be thankful.

Blessings aren't always wonderful - sometimes they are are plain awful - but they lead to good. During those terrible times I am thankful for those who lend support.
I'm thankful for my kids.  I have four of them.
Each of them, all adults now, bring so much into my life.
They make be laugh, be honest, work hard, rest harder,
and toss out the life line when I need it.
My mom is in hospice.  This is an odd blessing.
In it's awfulness, my children have rallied around me, each in their unique ways.
It's something for which I'm truly thankful.

It's a good thing I had four of them.
I told you I liked series.

Mom 

***For more info on the Mitford series - here's where you can go:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/44044-mitford-years
http://www.mitfordbooks.com/

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Cycles

Remember autumn?
The bad news when you live here in the Northeast, is that you are sad when you realize that the last bike ride you took, was the last fresh air bike ride for...well, quite a while.  
This happened to us way back in October.  
I was chilly at 60 degrees temps.  Pfft!  
That cycle was over.

Sure there are the diehards cyclists you see throughout the winter...
out there, bundled up, and peddling between snow pile and road sand mound, 
but really - why?  
(Yes - I know you could say - why not?  
Because it's freaking cold and dangerous!)

This year, not even the uber dedicated cyclists are out.  
There's no room on the roads. 
Snow after snow storm has dumped road blocks of snow.  
There are snow monsters, snow walls, and snow edifices.  
With temps marking "Feels like: freeze your butt off degrees", 
they are just not going to risk it.

Feels Like...
It is right around this time of year we plan our spring training ride.  
A hopeful part of the cycle.
My favorite place remains the Palm Desert area.  
You can count on the weather, and the roads.  
But this year I'm thinking someplace new.  
I'm looking all over the place...mostly stateside.  

Tell me - where is your cycling mecca?

The good news when you live here in the Northeast is that you are happy for the strong back and shoulders from all that snow shoveling...it will make staying on the handlebars easier.

Glass half full people!