Fire and Ice

Winter has been so tolerable this year, temps in the 50's, 60's even the 70's. And then this morning I woke to this...

A coating of frost on the car windows

I'm afraid winter has turned a cold shoulder to us and is here to stay my friends.

"Fire and ice

You come on like a flame

Then you turn a cold shoulder

Fire and Ice"

~Pat Benatar

Joining song-ography

Smile~

Kim

Things I've heard recently...
If you see a turtle on a fence post, somebody put it there. 


Wait, what??

Blowin' In the Wind

Been in a real funk lately. Not sure why. Not sure how to snap out of it.

Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery
Leon, VA

 

"The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the Wind"

~Bob Dylan

Joining song-ography

Smile~

Kim

Note to self:
Look into trip to Paris.

Changes...

Monocacy Aquaduct - Frederick, MD

Monocacy River, Monocacy Aquaduct - Frederick, MD

It doesn't seem that long ago that I could suggest to the kids that we get out of the house and do something, ANYTHING, a hike, a walk, anything and they would eagerly get ready to go, enthusiastically jump in the car and we would head out and have a great time together. Those memories still bring a smile to my face. 

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

 (turn and face the strain)

Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time"

Oh, how times have changed, those "kids" have become teen things and between homework, sports, friends, and just basic hanging around, the enthusiasm of getting out of the house for "no reason at all" has fallen by the wayside. It's in these ways that it breaks my heart to see them grow up.

C&O Canal - Frederick, MD

"I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through"

So...enter a beautiful weekend and nothing on the calendar (for the first time in I can't tell you how long). I hollered to the troops to get ready to go out for some forced family fun!

We headed to the C&O canal for a walk.

Just the four of us. 

There was A LOT of grumbling and backlash to this idea of mine. Heavy sighing, "why" questions, foot dragging, I swear I even saw tears. But they acquiesced. And we went. Begrudgingly.

Sibling Love

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

(turn and face the strain)

Ch-ch-changes

Don't tell them to grow up and out of it

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

(turn and face the strain)

Ch-ch-changes

Where's your shame

You've left us up to our necks in it

Time may change me

But you can't trace time"

There was a lot of pushing, shoving, name calling, and general tom-foolery. But if you listened very closely you could also hear some laughter, see some smiles and if you looked even closer you could see they thought my idea of getting out of the house "for no reason at all", just the four of us, was actually kinda fun. 

I did it, I was fun to be with. Score one for mom!

"Strange fascination, fascinating me

Ah changes are taking the pace I'm going through"

When it was all over, the rumblings I had heard on the way over to the canal were replaced with true laughter and smiles on the way home.

Monocacy Aquaduct - Frederick, MD

Honestly, one of the best days of my year life! I wouldn't change a thing!

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

(turn and face the strain)

Ch-ch-changes

Oh, look out you rock n rollers

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

(turn and face the strain)

Ch-ch-changes

Pretty soon now you're gonna get a little older

Time may change me

But I can't trace time

I said that time may change me

But I can't trace time"

Changes~

David Bowie

Smile...

Kim

Hooking up with song-ography over at You'll Shoot You're Eye Out

Never Going Back...

The Edison Eagle

Recently I was forced had an opportunity to revisit my old high school. Not that it was something I WANTED to do, but I HAD to do it. My son's soccer team was playing a game there. No big deal really, I actually thought it was kinda "funny" that he would be playing there. And then, the weekend came, the time was here, I would be going back to the school that I went to for four years out of my young life. Those four years that are supposed to be "the best years of your life". I was feeling...I don't know, apprehensive? I can't quite come up with the right word, so I looked it up. And this is what I found...

uneasy, worried, nervous, fearful, hesitant, frightened, concerned, angst-ridden, anxious, afraid, doubtful, jittery, jumpy, suspicious, uncertain, uptight, alarmed, butterflies, disquieted, foreboding, frozen, get vibes, have a hunch, have cold feet, have funny feeling, have stage fright, hung up, in a cold sweat, in a dither, in a sweat, jellyfish, lily-livered, mistrustful, running scared, scaredy-cat, shaky, stiff, troubled, weak, worried sick

Yep, that sounds about right, even in a dither, jellyfish, lily-livered sounds right.

High school was NOT the "best time of my life", in fact, it was a very hard time for me. Hard in every way imaginable. I was not a great student, I was not in the popular crowd, I was not a 'jock', I was not a 'burn out', 'nerd' or 'theater geek'. I was nothing, I was 'unlabeled'. I did not get asked to dances. I was awkward, taller than most and just awkward, I was invisible.

My locker was halfway down on the right (photo taken from the old "smoking section")

But, before I go too far into my pity party, I DID have some good friends that did have some of those labels and did get invited to dances, and weren't so silly looking. And they are still some of my closest friends to this day. I was in every way included in their lives.  And truth be told, I really did have some fun times. There were pep rallies, football games and there were some activities I was a part of.

Student section of the bleachers

So, I made the trip back to the high school that I graduated from many a few years ago, and I think I experienced each and every one of those adjectives listed above.

However, the school has changed so much in appearance that I found it difficult to "see my past" in those halls. Gone was my locker, gone was the "smoking section" that I had to walk through to get into the school, :)  but also gone were the bad memories. I actually remembered the happy times that were experienced there. I was able to see the school for what it was and what it is. And that is, a new beginning for students on the brink of their independence, ready for the best years of their life!

"And I'm never going back

To my old school"

"My Old School"

-Steely Dan

Joining Kathy at "You'll Shoot You/re Eye Out" for Song-ography.
Where song + photo = song-ography
check it out, some great and creative folks over there!

Onward Eagles!

Smile~
Kim

duun DUUN...

(duuuunnnn DUUN...)

Went to the beach one last time for a relaxing weekend with the girls before it gets too cold to enjoy the sandy shores. I was having a lovely time laughing with my friends and enjoying a beautiful fall day!

(duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn)

 when all of a sudden…THIS!

Yep, that was reeled in less than 50 yards from our chairs.

There has never been a better reason to stay out of the water (even ankle deep) than this. And all the more reason to head back to the condo and pour a(nother) glass of wine. 

Some things are best enjoyed on the big screen, not right next to me.

Until next year Ocean City, MD! (-maybe)

(and yes, Jaws was released back into the ocean after everyone on the beach took a picture of him)

"The Theme from Jaws"

-John Williams

Joining in with Kathy at "You'll Shoot You're Eye Out" for song-ography

Smile~
Kim

I can see clearly now

the rain has gone...

I can see all obstacles in my way,

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright, bright, Sunshiny day

(If is wasn't for all the power lines, these pictures would have been sooo much better. So I am choosing to see the "leading lines" in these pics instead!)

Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone.

All of the bad feelings have disappeared.

Here is that rainbow I've been praying for,

It's gonna be a bright, bright, Sunshiny day.

"I Can See Clearly Now"

by Johnny Nash

(covered by so many other artists)

We have needed rain for quite a while now, and we finally got some this Saturday. It turned into a double blessing as I was given a weekend off from sports to do with as I pleased. What did I do? Laundry, always laundry. 

Smile~

Kim

Hooking up with Kathy's Song-ography 

Shake It Off

WINTER COLOR

“SHAKE IT OFF!” I hear a dad in the crowd calling out to his son on the soccer field after he was pushed to the ground. Then, after the game ends, as our team exits the field, heads hanging low after a tough loss I hear a different parent telling his son to “shake it off, you played good game”. Soooo…what do I say to my son?

 “I didn’t think that game would ever end, now let’s hurry up, we need to get out of here before it starts snowing again.”

And we book it outta there. I know, maybe I shoulda said something in regards to the game and how well he played, keep his chin up, and all that stuff, but really, it’s supposed to snow/sleet again. 






I am so DONE with this crappy weather. WHERE IS SPRING?

The countdown has begun, I hear them on the news saying, 18 more days ‘til Spring.

Ugh, and more snow is on the way? Really? I know that every year about this time, I cry “uncle” to old man winter as I am ready for spring to roll in. Yes, I know she will kick that old man to the curb when she gets here and bring with her warmer temps, later sunsets and yes, pollen. It all sounds so good right now, even the pollen. (And just so you know, I WILL complain about the pollen.)

So I guess what I really need is my dad to tell me, “Kim, shake it off, spring WILL be here before you know it!”

I hate winter, really I do…the haters gonna hate, I know!

Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

Winter, not the most colorful season.

Smile~

Kim

As I type this I am listening to the sleet hit the window, reminding me that those 18 days can seem like a lifetime.

Joining in on Song-ography with Kathy

This is the New Year

Another year you made a promise
Another chance to turn it all around
And do not save this for tomorrow
Embrace the past and you can live for now

“This is the New Year”

A Great Big World

I made a “resolution” this year to exercise more, really try to take some inches off.

I ended up watching a full day of Winter Classic coverage! WE WON! 

Because of that win, I got no exercise at all. I lost. And by lost I do not mean weight or inches.

Didn’t even make it one day.

So much for not saving it for tomorrow.

Happy New Year, Hope your resolutions made it longer than mine.

Smile,

Kim

 

Linking up with Kathy at "You'll Shoot You're Eye Out" for song-ography!

Commitment

I really wanted to head out and snap some new photographs to participate in Song-ography over at You’ll Shoot You’re Eye Out. I had made a commitment (to myself) I was going to try really hard to do this every week. I mean, come on, it’s once a week, I can do that! However, just as I was ready to commit to make it 2 weeks in a row, something awful happened. I have broken my camera. Yes, me, not my kids, ME. And I am sick about it. I am always so careful with it that when my kids ask to use my camera I ALWAYS tell them no at first and then I cave but with rules. And rule number one use the camera strap to prevent it from falling. And, although they now mimic my advice with me and may think I am a bit over-protective of the camera, they always oblige.

How then did my camera “break”? That Damn darn strap did it to me. It turned on me. It turned right around and used itself against me. As my camera lay on the table waiting to be lifted to my eye for the next event to be photographed (my daughter’s first homecoming), it hooked onto the drawer pull and jumped right out of my hand onto the floor with a loud crash. Followed by a scream, some words I shouldn't repeat and many tears.  I couldn't believe it. I have been so careful with it ALL THE TIME. And there it lay on the floor dented and broken…with the strap still attached.

So as I decide whether or not to have it fixed or ask for the latest model for Christmas, yeah right, I haven’t been that good. Especially my language as that camera hit the floor! Sorry Santa, I promise, I’ll never say those words again! I have dug into my archives to honor my commitment to myself and participate in Song-ography!

This week’s song, 

Everyday People

by Sly & the Family Stone

Everyday People Taking Everyday Pictures…

 …in front of the not so Everyday house

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington, DC

Smile,

Kim

A Pocketful of Sunshine

Friends...

Recently, I was able to get together with some friends from high school (No real need to go into how long ago that was, let's just say it's been a few years) and just as expected we picked up as if we were still in school. Chatting, being silly, and laughing...A LOT! 

Being around these "girls" again was like having a pocketful of sunshine, a break in the clouds, if you will! At one of those times in my life that a friend is great medicine. So thank you ladies for keeping it real and showing me that a true friend can always be counted on and will always be there.

I love you all! 

I've got a pocket, Got a pocket full of sunshine,

I've got a love and I know that it's all mine

"Hanging out"

"Break in the Clouds"

Pocketful of Sunshine

Natasha Bedingfield

Smile...

Kim

I am hooking up with Kathy at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" for Song-ography

 check her out here