We had a great and busy weekend. We went to the BBQ of the century (ending with shots of Patron for some and Maker’s Mark for others). We went to the pool on opening day. They boys and I had dinner with my father. Saturday, we went to Tersiguel’s for a birthday lunch for Andrew’s mother.

It was all fun. But today, we wanted something different. Something for just Andrew and me and the boys that we could do together. Something fun and something we could talk through and just be together.

So we went to Sugarloaf Mountain. It is a Registered Natural Landmark because of “its geological interest and striking beauty.” We parked and chose the green trail for our hike. It was steep. But we all could do it. We saw a snake eating a frog. Way cool. Gross, but cool. Then we came upon a stone path…made with big flat stones in different shapes. One boy called out, “this one looks just like Tennessee.” And then it grew. Each stone was identified as a state. Or, if it just couldn’t be a state, I’d hear “this one is George Washington!” Can you imagine a rock that looks like G.W.? It was a stretch. But the states were pretty darn accurate!

So we kept going. We saw people with rock climbing equipment and watched a bit. The boys climbed on rocks all along the way. It was great. We reached the peak.

And we looked each direction. It was beautiful and peaceful. And it seemed that we were the only people there. (we weren’t.) But I looked at Andrew and the kids with the sun shining on a beautifully perfect day at the top of a mountain. And I felt joy.

We decided to hike the red trail down. It was shady and gradually sloped. We looked for walking sticks and talked and laughed. We held hands and took our time. We hardly passed anyone.

Then, we spotted a big family walking toward us. They had pit bulls (I saw the dogs from way back, fortunately – one of the boys is really not comfortable around dogs) so we backed off the trail to let them pass. One of the kids commented that they were smoking. I think he noticed because there was a sign at the beginning of the trail explaining that the fire hazard was high today. Another commented that the cigarette smelled funny. Sweet, I think he said.

Yup. I guess they were getting back to nature, too.

OF NOTE: When I referred to Andrew’s mother, I meant to say “my mother-in-law” — some think that the way I wrote it seems impersonal. I defintely did not mean it that way!

Doctors said sexually transmitted diseases among senior citizens are running rampant at a popular Central Florida retirement community. A gynecologist at the community near Orlando said she treats more cases of herpes and the human papilloma virus in the retirement community than she did in the city of Miami. She mentioned also that some of the patients have been shocked to hear the diagnosis.

A doctor blamed Viagra and a lack of sex education and of course the added bonus of no risk for pregnancy for the huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases there. The best part of the article is the community singles president’s quote: “All I can repeat are the things I have heard which are things like, ‘Should I bring the little blue pills over tonight?’”

I just had to share. Incidentally, we did a research project a year or so back that uncovered the huge problem of STDs among seniors. Nice, albeit creepy, to be in the know!

Enjoy your holiday…..

Around and around and around she goes. Where she stops nobody knows. That’s what I was thinking on the Cyclone last night. Fortunately, this was before the cheesestake, wings and fries. Unfortunately, it was after the first Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

It was truly freeing (the ride, not the lemonade). My thoughts were flying in and out as the wind was rushing around me.

You see, last night, Kristin and Mr. Kristin took us to Six Flags America. It was a corporate event. All the food and drinks were free. Really! We took no kids. Nada. We had fun, though I admit, it was a little odd being at an amusement park without them. As we passed (or rode) a ride, I’d think about which of the kids would enjoy it.

The park was not at all crowded. So there was virtually no wait for rides. There was, however, a wait for food.

A few highlights:

• Kristin got an 82 on that thing where you hit the hammer really hard on the metal plate. You know the one? Jeff got an 81. Poor Jeff. They both won blow-up hammers, so you could say that they’re both winners, right!?

• At the age guessing booth, she guessed I was 36. And I have a stuffed Homer Simpson to prove it.

• Being out with friends on a weekday at an amusment park with no kids and no curfew. Now that’s a highlight in itself!

My parents and my hub came to the Installation Dinner to support me as I was “sworn in” as president of NCJW Howard County. It was a great meal. I’m excited for the upcoming year.

Of note, Trapeze (where the dinner for 60 was held) has a great wine selection!

My cousin came by today with her baby son, Reece. (The boys decided he should have their train table since they don’t use it anymore.) So Reece was jumping around. Playing with stacking cups and a plastic hammer. He was so happy. And so very, very busy. And loud. Loud in a very happy, yet exhausting, sort of way.

When I had a baby his age, I was pregnant with another. When my second was that age, I had a toddler and was pregnant. And somehow, the happy noises, the constant motion didn’t bother me. Yes, I had my moments. But basically, it was fine. Great, in fact. But when Reece left today, I was tired.

My home life is hardly restful. We have baseball games almost every night this time of year. Tonight is the enrichment fair. All the boys have book reports due this week, so that adds to the regular homework gig. It’s a lot. But I’m used to it. Just like I was used to having toddlers and babies. I remember people asking how I managed with three little ones. I replied that you just do. Sort of like now. I just do.

Which brings me to work. Some weeks, there is just more that needs to be accomplished than is humanly possible. Or so it seems. But it’s hard to say no to that wonderful client who needs a rush job. And the regular work can’t slide. And which long-term project can get sidelined to make way? None, it seems. But somehow, it always gets done. Sure, it can be stressful. And of course, I tell myself that I need to work on my ability to say “No, that 20 hour project can’t be done in 10.”

But you know the saying that if you want something done, get the busiest person to do it? It is oddly true. Stress aside, some people just get things done.

And as exhausted and demanding as that can be, I do get this rush from delivering what I promised, when I promised. And I admit, I like being able to beat the odds. It makes me feel like a winner.

A tired, but happy, winner.

I just read Gnightgirl’s weekend post. It was excellent reading about how nice her day was yesterday. It motivated me to stop and smell and listen. To appreciate today.

• The grill is lit and we’re having a real summer meal – burgers, grilled asparagus, tomatoes.
• The boys are out back on the hammock laughing and playing together.
• The sun is shining and the wind is blowing gently.
• The scent of the lilac bush near the back door fills the house.
• There is a huge bucket of tulips on my kitchen island. In all different colors.
• The kids worked on their book reports this morning, so we get to goof off this evening together.
• We’re having strawberries for dessert. With sugar.
• Andrew brought me an amazing glass of wine to sip while I’m blogging.
• He took the boys to Over the Hedge this afternoon so I could finish some work for NCJW. I did. I finished.
• Last night we went to a Frederick Keys game. It was a blast.
• I love my life.

I hope your weekend was as nice as mine.

I learned a lesson from Reed today.

He had been having trouble hitting the ball. He was worried he wouldn’t hit it hard enough. Or that he’d swing and miss. Or foul out. He was stressed.

Tonight’s game was not convenient for me. I was very busy. I had deadlines and conference calls. Not to mention a friend of a friend who was depending on me for something that it’s hard to imagine how I got involved with in the first place. But I wanted to get out. Get away from the computer. Make that I needed to get away from the computer.

So we picked up a gourmet Subway dinner and went to the game.

Reed had an awesome hit in the second inning. I mean awesome. The kind where all the other dads come to congratulate the kid’s parents. You know what I mean.

So after the game, Reed told me how he did it. He played his favorite music in his head and relaxed. Then came the pitch. And wham. Just like that. You should try it, Mom.

I think I will.

Today I went to a luncheon. Go to many luncheons? Yeah, me neither. But every year, the organization to which my mother devotes much of her time has a big donor luncheon. This was their 49th such event. Let me back up a little. The organization is called Mildred Mindell Cancer Society. Mildred was the sorority advisor for a group of high school girls in Baltimore. She was well-loved. When Mildred was sick with cancer, my mother was one of the young nurses who helped care for her. So were lots of women that my mother knew back then and that I now know. Mildred died. And the girls from the sorority joined together and started this group in 1957. They started the organization to raise money. Sure, there were people raising money to find a cure and all that. Even back then. And moreso now. But these women decided that there were comforts and needs that cancer patients had that just weren’t handled. Wigs, medications, rides. You get the picture. And for many years now, these women have raised over four million dollars for just that.

We know from Bowling Alone and from all the nonprofit trends and volunteer trends out there that membership organizations are losing members and aging. And though the Mildred Mindell group has some young members, I’d venture to say that my mother is the median age. (I won’t say how old you are, Mom. But I’m 44 and she was a couple years out of nursing school when I was born!) So realistically, this organization should be faltering.

And I thought that they were. But this group, at 50 years old, is far from collapsing.

The luncheon was nice. We had chicken and tuna salad, nice bread and a great dessert. There were h’or doerves first. You could buy a glass of wine. (I did.) I like a lot of my mom’s friends, and the conversation was light and lively. And many of the women dragged, I mean brought, their daughters along.

Today, they awarded $106,100 for DVDs, for teen awareness programs, for support groups, for summer camp for kids with cancer (so they can be kids – not kids with cancer for a week), for medications, for wigs and turbans, for taxicabs to chemo, for pain medications that aren’t covered and just can’t be afforded, for a new infusion bay with internet access and HDTV.

A woman who had been president in 1985 passed away this year after a 15 year battle with cancer. Her husband and four grown daughters spoke. Words can’t express the emotion in the room. She had been a friend of all the women there. My mom, a board member for many years now (and president, 2004) presented the donations that had been made for my grandmother when she died last summer.

I’ve been involved with charity work for a long time. But this isn’t a charity group. This is a community of women so filled with love and empathy that there is no way it won’t continue to grow and prosper.

They are living their mission: Participate and cancer ends.

The surveys and studies can’t tell you everything. Sometimes, amazing people just buck the trends.

There aren’t many things I appreciate more than really great bed linens. While I am frugal about a lot of things, I buy 1,000 count cotton sheets for my bed. Always white. That way, I can use Clorox Rain Scent bleach in the wash and get that special hotel smell and feeling.
Which brings me to the weekend just passed. The YWCA had an online auction to raise funds for the YWCA Week Without Violence. (You may know that I’ve worked as a consultant for the organization for some time now.)

One of the items was two nights at an inn in Pennsylvania – in a dinky little town called Leola. Funny thing is, Andrew and I stayed there before. And it is wonderful! Talk about nice linens! And, I might add, the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in. So, we bid on it.

As luck would have it, we won. The money went to charity and Andrew and I went to Leola! My in-laws live 20 minutes from there (how fortunate!) and they offered to amuse the boys for the weekend. So…

We packed up the champagne, some fancy clothes for a dinner out and we headed out on Friday. Kissed the kids and left. (See that room in the photo? That’s the one we had! Straight from their website.)

It was hard going to dinner at Mazzi Friday night. All I wanted to do was lay on that wonderful bed. But I did. I motivated and it was perfect. Saturday was antique shopping in Adamstown. Then, as you might have guessed, a nap in that wonderful bed. Then a light dinner and movie and, yes, more sleep. Sunday morning was the toughest though. Knowing that when I got out of that bed, and that was it for a long, long time made it very difficult to motivate.

But I did.

All this makes me wonder about a few things.

1) Why don’t I just get a bed that comfortable for my house?
2) If I did, would I sleep all the time? That would be a downside of that decision, obviously.
3) When did doing nothing become fun?
4) What is it about my makeup that has me so obsessed with sheets and pillows and comfortable beds? Seems a little off…
5) When can I go back?

This is my 10th mothers’ day as a mom. The boys (with someone’s help, I’d imagine) got me a gift certificate for a Beyond Suburbia package at the spa. It sounds just remarkable. I can barely wait.

But even more wonderful are the things that the boys wrote for me. I feel so warm and gooey inside. Here are some highlights:

• “I love you because you are HONEST, you are KIND, you are HELPFUL. And lastly, you are PEACEFUL.” reads a card that one son wrote.
• “I love you most for taking care of me and tucking me in at night,” writes another.
• “I believe that my mom deserves the Time for Kids mother award because she does so many things for me……she pulled a tick from around my neck and it was painless.”

And they made me some wonderful things, too.

• One son made me a pen, with a plastic lacing (it’s called gimp around here) casing. He worked really hard on it.
• Another made me a wooden tulip for my desk.
• Another packaged bath salts with a beautiful note.

And while I type, my biggest boy (Andrew) is making me soft shell crabs and shrimp for dinner. Yum! He even brought me a glass of wine while I blog. What a guy.

But what I really appreciate the very most is that my sons and my husband treat me this way all year long. I feel like the luckiest woman alive today.