Tis’ the season.  Made it only halfway to our destination today. We are expecting 18 inches tonight in Wytheville, Virginia. Maybe well leave tomorrow. Maybe we’ll be here for a few days. It’s holiday travel fun.

Last year we went to grandmother’s house in Florida–crazy times. This year will be even more crazier; more people; more weddings; more, more, more.

Fall is a wonderful time of the year. Having grown up in Florida, I never had good memories of the seasons changing. It was always hot and hotter. We did have the hurricane season. That was always fun. This year’s fall has been beautiful. The colors are big and bright. And with fall comes the end of the quarter. And this quarter has been exceptionally difficult. It seems like every new term get more and more challanging. Soon it will be over and the holiday craziness will be upon us. Fun, Fun, Fun. 

Tonight, on the day before my birthday, we (finally) took the training wheels off of Jack’s bike. I say ‘finally’ because he’s almost as big as Dylan and did a great job. He only fell once and that was because his front tire got stuck along-side the cement walkway. It was a very exciting Friday night.

After the fall…

Today we held the first-ever street party for our street and neighborhood. Turn out was pretty high–not everyone on the street came but most did–probably around 50 people–many of them kids. We talked and ate and talked and had a bike parade. It was a nice way to start the year.

School also started again for all of us: Dylan started the second grade; Jack started kindergarten; Sherry started in the graduate program in geography; and I started my second year of Ph D school. Crazy. Teaching two classes in Journalism and taking a full load will make this quarter a bit of a challenge. We’ll see how it all turns out: only nine more weeks to go!

We went to Kelley’s Island this week for a little family get-a-way. It’s located in Lake Erie just north of Sandusky. It had beaches, boats, bikes, golf carts, bars and glacial grooves.  We went to the little history museum and the woman in charge didn’t look at us once; gave us a little ‘canned’ history of the island, told us we could buy the dvd, and scowled at the boys for touching things. I mentioned to Sherry how ‘chipper’ she was and had to explain what sarcasm was to the boys. They did have a good time playing at the ‘beach’ but I think the ocean smells much better.

Dylan was asking all day yesterday–non-stop–about a lemonade stand. We had fresh lemons, sugar and ice, so…we helped very little and he did the rest. He made six or seven dollars (hard to tell because he didn’t how much change he had when he started)–not a bad take for an overcast Sunday.

On the first day of my summer vacation I started ripping apart my bathroom. It might take all summer to finish rebuilding it. Let me just say that if your thinking about getting one of those “bath fitter” type of deals, don’t! Really. They leak and then it’s all down hill from there. I also built a deer fence for our garden. It’s very sunshine-y. The summer is moving right along.

 Once life has accelerated to light speed, it’s hard so slow down.

Angela and some strange doll.

Today at 3:23 pm it was official. My first year of ph.d. school ended when I sent my media law professor my law paper. This week I had two exams and one paper to turn in. Last week I had two other papers due. I think this was the hardest quarter of my life and I’m frickin’ psyched it’s over. It was also Jack last day at preschool which made me sad. My little boy is growing up. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing the best part of his life. So now the summer starts and everyday will be “fun-day.” I will be gutting and renovating my one and only bathroom and have to read about ten book. No-big-deal. I say “Let the games begin!”

We also made gingerbread men as a celebration for school ending and all of us passing.

Todays Memorial Day parade was a little sad: five veterans and five motorcycles. There were more spectators then last years. The Moonshine Festival, on-the-other-hand, was a little disappointing too. No moonshine either.

Moonshine Festival, New Straitsville, Ohio