Giant Squid!!!

We had a foggy week at the beach, but sometimes those can be great fun. Like when you're talking a long walk, and in the distance you see a great big lump washed up on the beach.

"What's that, Dad?"
"I don't know ... it's really foggy today. What does it look like?"
"Oh, my ... Dad! It's a GIANT SQUID!!"
"Do you really think so?"

We got a little closer, and our squid turned out to be an uprooted tree, but it was still an adventure to explore! 

Born in the Sign of Water

I was born in the sign of water. Growing up, and even still, I could spend all day in the ocean. When I went for a swim, all my friends would be in and out of the water after a short dip. I lounged in the ocean for hours, no matter how cold the waters. I would come out of the surf, cold to the core of my bones, retreat to the cottage and spend long minutes under a steaming hot shower head. Hot and Cold. Zen, and the Art of Swimming -- perfect balance. 

Footsteps

"Daddy, I like walking with you on the beach, because you show me where my footsteps should go." 

Throw Away!

This is a picture of the inside of my Freezer. Not a REAL freezer, like my father has in his basement, but instead that tiny portion of the refrigerator where the ice cube maker is. It has enough storage space to freeze a couple weeks worth of meals, less because we tend to pack it full of the frozen pre-made meals variety (hot pockets, crispy chicken strips, frozen pizzas, etc.) ... and this package of frozen hamburger.

I discovered it in the freezer this morning, and it made me laugh. I guess I should be comforted that my wife thought I might poison myself by taking out this frezzer-burned slab of meat, thawing it, and then eating it. Or maybe she was worried I would poison the kids. :-)

Anyway, the idea of taking some food out of the freezer that has clearly "gone bad", labeling it "Throw Away", and then putting it back into the frezzer (rather than simply throwing it away) struck me as immensely funny this morning.

Road Side Assistance

Cousin Nicholas has one of those nifty battery-powered cars that the kids all love to drive around the yard. It's been broken for awhile now, but the kids take turns pushing each other around in it. Finally, cousin Jael decided enough was enough ... and got out to take a look under the hood. Made for a cute pic! 

More Signs of Summer

I think I like summer the best. Favorite memories are mostly centered around summer: vacations at Higgin's Beach, driving across country (twice!) in a tiny Volkswagon bug, working as a life guard and later the Waterfront Director at Camp Sargent, trips to the carnival or amusement park (Old Orchard, Canobie Lake Park, or even the traveling variety). In the summer time, days are longer, nights are shorter, and that suits me just fine.

Summer can be brutal on my computer equipment though. We don't have air conditioning in the house, other than in the kids' bedrooms, and I hate turning on the gaming machine when the humidity and heat are high. But that's ok -- I prefer spending that time at the park with the boys, riding bikes, playing some backyard ball tag, or swimming in the pool.

Are you ready for a real laugh? I was listening to NHPR on the drive home the other night, and there was a story about a Kickball League in Manchester, part of the World Adult Kickball Association (gotta love an organization called WAKA!). It sounded like a blast, and I think I'm going to try out for one of the teams. Kickball ... LOL! I can't wait!!

The Three Mousekateers

Cousin Nicholas had a birthday party last week, too. In the goody grab bag were these mouse glasses, modeled by Brad, and cousins Jenna and Jael.

When did this goody grab bag thing begin anyway? When I was a kid, I remember having birthdays for ME! I got all the presents. Me, Mirna, moi. These days, when I bring my kids to the birthday parties of their friends or cousins, every kid walks away with a bag full of candy, small toy prizes, etc. What's up with that? When did that thing start? Maybe my parents did it for my birthdays when I was very little, but I don't remember it. Is it only something that happens for "little kids" birthdays? At what age do you stop giving out goody grab bags?

Did people stop coming to my birthday parties because I didn't hand out goody bags?