Today is the last day of March and time to look back at how I did with my March resolutions, and I have good news to report.
Finishing the wrap for my Aunt Eula was my first resolution and I completed it mid-month. It turned out quite lovely (I will post more about it later, including photos); I got it in the mail last week and it safely arrived in Ohio. My cousin Pam needs to sew a label with Eula's name in it before she takes it to her at the assisted living facility.
The second resolution was to continue to exercise for 30 minutes, three times each week. I was ill with the Cold From Hell during the first full week of the month and only exercised once, but I met and exceeded my goal the other weeks. While I still have to force myself to get out the door, I enjoy the walk once underway and particularly enjoy the scenery as spring has come early.
The final resolution was to stop snacking and while there were some lapses now and then, I have made remarkable progress in limiting the amounts of snacks I consume. The decreased snacking and the exercise have yielded a tangible result: I have lost five pounds! I do want to lose more but it is certainly affirming to see my work pay off.
What is ahead for April? I am going to continue with the exercise and no snacking resolutions, and add portion control at meals. It is no surprise that I like to eat but I need to learn that I can enjoy just about any food I like, just in smaller amounts. Hopefully at this time next month, there will be even less of me!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Pirates of Punzance
Last Saturday night, Aidan attended a pirate themed sleepover at the North Area YMCA. We dropped him off at 8 pm with his sleeping bag, pillow and swimsuit, and picked him up the next morning at 8 am. In the twelve hours he was there, he watched movies, participated in a treasure hunt, made a team flag, went swimming (the pool had a huge inflatable pirate ship in it), ate snacks and managed a few winks of sleep. He had a great time and talked nonstop about his adventures on the way home.
When we picked him up, the team flags were displayed on the counter and we thought they were very fun and imaginative. Our friend Lisa is the director at that location, so I asked her what was going to be done with the flags; if at all possible, I wanted to get the one that Aidan had helped to create so we could display it in his room. Lisa said that there were no plans for the flags, made sure that she got Aidan's flag and then brought it over last evening.
Avast, me hearties and feast yer eyes on the Jolly Roger:
Aidan added a pirate pun to one corner:
Shiver me timbers!
When we picked him up, the team flags were displayed on the counter and we thought they were very fun and imaginative. Our friend Lisa is the director at that location, so I asked her what was going to be done with the flags; if at all possible, I wanted to get the one that Aidan had helped to create so we could display it in his room. Lisa said that there were no plans for the flags, made sure that she got Aidan's flag and then brought it over last evening.
Avast, me hearties and feast yer eyes on the Jolly Roger:
Aidan added a pirate pun to one corner:
Shiver me timbers!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The winter that wasn't
According to the calendar, today is the first day of spring. How can it be spring when we didn't really have winter?
According to the National Climate Center at Cornell University, the 2011-2012 winter season was the warmest on record since 1902 - the average mean temperature was 34.5 degrees. Not only was it warm, but we did not get much snow: Hancock International Airport received an inch or more of snow on only 15 days. To really understand how mild this winter was, consider this: as of March 14, we had received 50.6 inches of snow; in an average winter we would have received 111.9 inches of snow by that date and last year, we had received 174.2 inches of snow (source: GoldenSnowball.com)! So from last year to this year, the difference was an astounding 123.6 inches.
The upside of a mild winter is that James used the snowblower only twice, Aidan missed only one day of school, our heating bill was lower and I did not develop trigger finger from grasping the snow shovel handle. But those of you in milder climates might be surprised to hear that there is a downside: we did not have the opportunity to use our snowshoes at all, Aidan went sledding just once, we did not get to try cross-country skiing and Aidan did not get to go downhill skiing again. To put it bluntly, we feel a little cheated that we did not get to enjoy more outdoor winter fun.
The past two winters have been an amazing study of contrasts. Would it be too much to ask that we have an average winter next year?
According to the National Climate Center at Cornell University, the 2011-2012 winter season was the warmest on record since 1902 - the average mean temperature was 34.5 degrees. Not only was it warm, but we did not get much snow: Hancock International Airport received an inch or more of snow on only 15 days. To really understand how mild this winter was, consider this: as of March 14, we had received 50.6 inches of snow; in an average winter we would have received 111.9 inches of snow by that date and last year, we had received 174.2 inches of snow (source: GoldenSnowball.com)! So from last year to this year, the difference was an astounding 123.6 inches.
The upside of a mild winter is that James used the snowblower only twice, Aidan missed only one day of school, our heating bill was lower and I did not develop trigger finger from grasping the snow shovel handle. But those of you in milder climates might be surprised to hear that there is a downside: we did not have the opportunity to use our snowshoes at all, Aidan went sledding just once, we did not get to try cross-country skiing and Aidan did not get to go downhill skiing again. To put it bluntly, we feel a little cheated that we did not get to enjoy more outdoor winter fun.
The past two winters have been an amazing study of contrasts. Would it be too much to ask that we have an average winter next year?
Monday, March 19, 2012
Bowled over
Who knew it could be so difficult to plan a small birthday party in March? Our first thought was to have Aidan's tenth birthday party at an indoor sports facility, where the boys could play soccer or some other sport. Great idea, except that because it is an indoor sports facility and March is typically a month with winter weather, the facility has league games scheduled and parties can only be held during the day, weekdays only. Harumph.
Our next thought was to have it out at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Great idea, except that March is maple syrup time and the ONLY month when they don't host birthday parties. Harumph again.
We then told Aidan he could have a sleepover with several boys. Before we could finalize details and invite the boys, an incident occurred during winter break where he had a sleepover with one friend that did not go well (the inspiration for the Works in progress post) and we told Aidan that it would be a long, LONG time before that boy would spend the night at our house. Harumph, harumph, harumph. And since that boy was one of the boys whom Aidan wanted to have at his birthday sleepover, he had a choice to make: hold the sleepover without that boy, or choose another option. Aidan choose to do something else, and we finally settled on a party at the local bowling alley. Even then, the first two days/times we chose were already booked, so we had to have it this past Saturday afternoon.
It turned out to be a very fun party. Here Aidan shows his bowling skills:
They took a break from bowling to eat pizza:
We served whoopie pies from Geddes Bakery instead of cake, and Aidan was thrilled to receive a Wii game, two Legos Star Wars kits and two Nerf guns. At the end of two hours, we bagged up the trash, paid our bill and were done. No muss, no fuss, and no pack of boys rampaging through our house. Not bad for a party with fourth grade boys!
Our next thought was to have it out at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Great idea, except that March is maple syrup time and the ONLY month when they don't host birthday parties. Harumph again.
We then told Aidan he could have a sleepover with several boys. Before we could finalize details and invite the boys, an incident occurred during winter break where he had a sleepover with one friend that did not go well (the inspiration for the Works in progress post) and we told Aidan that it would be a long, LONG time before that boy would spend the night at our house. Harumph, harumph, harumph. And since that boy was one of the boys whom Aidan wanted to have at his birthday sleepover, he had a choice to make: hold the sleepover without that boy, or choose another option. Aidan choose to do something else, and we finally settled on a party at the local bowling alley. Even then, the first two days/times we chose were already booked, so we had to have it this past Saturday afternoon.
It turned out to be a very fun party. Here Aidan shows his bowling skills:
They took a break from bowling to eat pizza:
We served whoopie pies from Geddes Bakery instead of cake, and Aidan was thrilled to receive a Wii game, two Legos Star Wars kits and two Nerf guns. At the end of two hours, we bagged up the trash, paid our bill and were done. No muss, no fuss, and no pack of boys rampaging through our house. Not bad for a party with fourth grade boys!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Strangers in a foreign land
I can't think of any smooth or clever introduction, so I will just blurt it out: we went to Monster Jam on Saturday night. Yes, that Monster Jam.
The local Boy Scout council offered discounted tickets and Aidan begged to go; it seems that many of his friends at school follow the "sport" and were attending. Our Scout tickets came with complimentary passes to the pit party that takes place before the event, where fans can see the trucks up close and get autographs from the drivers. So although the actual show started at 7 pm, we arrived in time to attend the pit party before it ended at 5:15.
The allure of the pit party was lost on us, since we know nothing about the trucks and personalities, but apparently it was wildly popular; there were so many people that management stopped selling the passes early in the afternoon:
We did, however, enjoy seeing the trucks up close and they really are monster sized:
James calls this photo proof that I attended the event:
After the pit was cleared, the trucks were moved into position and the various obstacles were created out of dirt and wrecked cars. It was interesting to watch the process:
And then the main event started. I had no idea what to expect but I was still surprised. It seems that there is a competition among the trucks where first they race, then they do freestyle moves using the obstacles. I should put the word competition in quotes because it was quite obvious that it was scripted and that Grave Digger was going to win everything. At one point, I turned to James and said (after he removed his earplugs), "This is professional wrestling with trucks!"
Here are two of the trucks during a race:
Despite the script and obvious outcomes, the sell-out crowd loved it. Yes, you read that correctly: the Carrier Dome was sold out, so we were attending the event with 38,000+ other people. It is the second year that Monster Jam has come to Syracuse and the second sell-out; the announcer said that they would return next year for two nights.
Not only did the number of people attending amaze us, but we were shocked at the amount of money that was being spent. All told, between tickets, parking and the modest food we bought for dinner, we spent around $100 - and we went on the cheap. We sat in the cheap seats and we bought no souvenirs and no snacks; I can't even imagine what those families with three, four and five children spent.
We told Aidan that our attendance was a one-shot experience. It is so not our thing and we found it to be laughable. But that said, it truly was a family event; there was zero profanity and nothing that was at all objectionable. The drivers played to their audience well and not only spent the entire afternoon signing autographs but were going to continue signing after the event. So kudos to them for recognizing what their fans want and giving those fans that and more. There are more high end entertainers that could learn that lesson.
The local Boy Scout council offered discounted tickets and Aidan begged to go; it seems that many of his friends at school follow the "sport" and were attending. Our Scout tickets came with complimentary passes to the pit party that takes place before the event, where fans can see the trucks up close and get autographs from the drivers. So although the actual show started at 7 pm, we arrived in time to attend the pit party before it ended at 5:15.
The allure of the pit party was lost on us, since we know nothing about the trucks and personalities, but apparently it was wildly popular; there were so many people that management stopped selling the passes early in the afternoon:
We did, however, enjoy seeing the trucks up close and they really are monster sized:
James calls this photo proof that I attended the event:
After the pit was cleared, the trucks were moved into position and the various obstacles were created out of dirt and wrecked cars. It was interesting to watch the process:
And then the main event started. I had no idea what to expect but I was still surprised. It seems that there is a competition among the trucks where first they race, then they do freestyle moves using the obstacles. I should put the word competition in quotes because it was quite obvious that it was scripted and that Grave Digger was going to win everything. At one point, I turned to James and said (after he removed his earplugs), "This is professional wrestling with trucks!"
Here are two of the trucks during a race:
Despite the script and obvious outcomes, the sell-out crowd loved it. Yes, you read that correctly: the Carrier Dome was sold out, so we were attending the event with 38,000+ other people. It is the second year that Monster Jam has come to Syracuse and the second sell-out; the announcer said that they would return next year for two nights.
Not only did the number of people attending amaze us, but we were shocked at the amount of money that was being spent. All told, between tickets, parking and the modest food we bought for dinner, we spent around $100 - and we went on the cheap. We sat in the cheap seats and we bought no souvenirs and no snacks; I can't even imagine what those families with three, four and five children spent.
We told Aidan that our attendance was a one-shot experience. It is so not our thing and we found it to be laughable. But that said, it truly was a family event; there was zero profanity and nothing that was at all objectionable. The drivers played to their audience well and not only spent the entire afternoon signing autographs but were going to continue signing after the event. So kudos to them for recognizing what their fans want and giving those fans that and more. There are more high end entertainers that could learn that lesson.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Double the fun
Aidan is eagerly counting down the days until his tenth birthday on March 26. At breakfast this morning, he told me: "Ever since I was 5, I've been looking forward to turning 10."
"What is special about turning 10?" I asked.
He smiled, wriggled his eyebrows up and down a la Groucho Marx and replied, "Double digits!"
"What is special about turning 10?" I asked.
He smiled, wriggled his eyebrows up and down a la Groucho Marx and replied, "Double digits!"
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Selfishly relieved
A collective sigh of relief was heard at out house last week - and many others - when the announcement was made that Aidan's school will not be close after this school year. Like many school districts, the Baldwinsville Central School Distict has a budget gap - $4.3 million in our case. One idea being considered to save money is to close one of the five elementary schools. Enrollment has declined over the years, and we have lost the equivalent of one school’s enrollment, so it makes sense to close one. The two oldest schools were up for consideration, one of which is the school that Aidan now attends and the other school was the one he attended when we first moved to B'ville.
The sensible, tax-paying side of me agrees wholeheartedly with closing a school; although the savings of approximately $1.3 million does not close the gap, it makes progress toward closing it. But the emotional side of me did not want Aidan to have to change schools AGAIN. When he started attending his current school, he said to me that he hoped he could stay there and not have to change schools again. The prospect of having to tell him that his school was closing made my stomach and heart ache.
So the announcement that no school will be closed after the 2011-2012 school year was welcome news. The Board of Education decided that the time frame for closing a school next year was "not adequate to create a transition plan for students, staff, and the community". Very true, but I do think they need to start NOW in planning for a closure and transition, so they will be ready for the 2013-2014 school year. And Aidan will not be affected by that decision because in B'ville, students move to one middle school for grades 6 and 7.
While I am all for cost-savings and doing what makes good fiscal sense, I am still selfishly happy that Aidan will not be affected. What does that make me? Some may say a hypocrite but I say a concerned mom.
The sensible, tax-paying side of me agrees wholeheartedly with closing a school; although the savings of approximately $1.3 million does not close the gap, it makes progress toward closing it. But the emotional side of me did not want Aidan to have to change schools AGAIN. When he started attending his current school, he said to me that he hoped he could stay there and not have to change schools again. The prospect of having to tell him that his school was closing made my stomach and heart ache.
So the announcement that no school will be closed after the 2011-2012 school year was welcome news. The Board of Education decided that the time frame for closing a school next year was "not adequate to create a transition plan for students, staff, and the community". Very true, but I do think they need to start NOW in planning for a closure and transition, so they will be ready for the 2013-2014 school year. And Aidan will not be affected by that decision because in B'ville, students move to one middle school for grades 6 and 7.
While I am all for cost-savings and doing what makes good fiscal sense, I am still selfishly happy that Aidan will not be affected. What does that make me? Some may say a hypocrite but I say a concerned mom.
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