Not Quite an Irish Blessing

"So shines a good deed in a weary world." William Shakespeare

"But I can no longer content myself with what most people say, or with what is found in books. I must think over things for myself and get to understand them." Nora in Ibsen's Dollhouse

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men." Willy Wonka

"I'm such a girl for the living room. I really like to stay in my nest and not move. I travel in my mind, and that's a rigorous state of journeying for me. My body isn't that interested in moving from place to place." bell hooks


Here's to family willing to traverse the miles to visit,
to children in their second year of life,
to the cake and coffee consumed in our home these weeks,
to those who love us who are sights for sore eyes,
to cousins,
to the work that lays ahead of me,
to the sweetness of being in love--
may God bless those that take heart in Him,
convict those that take themselves seriously,
and keep knitting up our persons into something worth wearing.

Some Retrospection

"All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
I've been for a walk on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in LA
California dreamin on such a winter's day."
-The Mamas and the Papas

Five years ago I was in New York, hating the Fall. I just couldn't bear the thought of another icy winter (the one before had been pretty nasty, lasting well into April). So I spent my times listening to the Mamas and the Papas and doing a little California dreaming myself. As a Junior in college I was looking at an MA program somewhere-- anywhere-- in California. Thoughts of spending a few years studying in the sun were enough to get me through a very trying and cold semester.

Little did I know that the love of my life was just around the corner, literally a 2 minute walk from where I lived all Fall. Finding the person you want to be with your whole life changes a lot.

Suddenly New York didn't seem so cold and California didn't seem so important.

The point is, that Fall I had a very definite plan about what to do with my life. This isn't it. But it is so much better. Sometimes we make plans and they go smoothly. Personally, I find the best things in life are those that come by God's grace alone: unexpected love, unexpected babies, unexpected friends. For all the bumps in the road, the last five years have been golden.

Trip to Florida - Part III

We'd heard plenty about Ave Maria being in the middle of nowhere-- those saying this have obviously never been anywhere in the Appalachians! Yes, the town of Ave Maria was down a road without stores, and the nearest gas station is a good 15 minutes away, but we didn't find it to be as isolated as we expected.

The school and a shot of the homes surrounding the plaza

So Alan did all his official business at the school while Lucy and I drove around, walked through the "piazza" and shared a smoothie. I'm not much for places that are big and new, and those were the first words that came to mind as I poked around. Still, everyone was very friendly and I especially enjoyed visiting with one of the faculty members and his family.

Sunset in Naples

I just had to go the beach, so we caught the sun setting into the gulf. It was lovely. Then we ate a nice dinner, I reveled in all the North Eastern accents around us, and we turned in.

The next day Lucy and I went to the beach at Sanibel Island. What fun! You have to drive across a causeway to get there. We had a great view of the water and the mainland. Lucy had a great time digging in the sand, picking up shells, and pointing at all the birds. I haven't been to such a pristine beach in the US in all my life (Virgin Islands excluded).

My little Kentucky baby, loving the beach

By the time the afternoon rolled around we were all ready to head home. We didn't make it past Gainesville before needing to rest for the night, then sped home the next day (it was a very long drive).

It was really a perfect trip.

Trip to Florida - Part II

Epcot was more of the same: taking Lucy on rides, switching off for the big thrills, and eating good food. I hadn't been on Mission Space (a NASA ride) or Soarin' (an IMAX hang gliding extravaganza). Soarin' was amazing-- I felt like I was flying.

Lucy was very afraid of the Figment ride. Her favorite? Living With the Land, an educational trip through agricultural practices in America. I think it was the animatronic prairie dogs and buffalo that won her over. She yelled at some hydroponic sweet potatoes they were growing, and I assured her we still did not believe in genetic modification :)

In front of a samurai statue after a dinner of sushi, sukiyaki, and teriyaki

We dined in Morocco and Japan for lunch and dinner, and we weathered an afternoon rainstorm. Even though he got sick on the NASA ride, Alan enjoyed Test Track and Spaceship Earth. Lucy got to meet Minnie, I got to peruse the shops in the World Showcase, and we thankfully skipped the movies about Canada and Norway (sorry guys).

Me and Lucy and 2 giant balls of yarn from New Zealand

Leaving the next morning was a bit of a letdown-- as a kid we would stay in Disney World for so long I'd feel glutted on the place by the time we left. Still, we were anxious to get to Ave Maria, to see the gulf coast, and see if Florida was a place worth living in.

Trip to Florida - Part I

"Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
And make things better
We need a holiday." - Madonna

What a great vacation! We drove through Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, listening to the VP debates to keep us awake, and stopped in Chattanooga for the night (I must have sang the chorus to "Chattanooga Choo Choo" a hundred times). We loved Georgia's scenery and laughed at all the billboards for peaches, pecans, and fireworks. Lucy held up well even though the poor baby lived on teething biscuits and crackers for most of the drive.

Stopping for a bite in Tennessee

By Friday evening we were in Orlando. Hotwire actually came through: our $35 a night hotel room was great, the hotel rather lavish with several pools. We got dressed up only to eat at Shoney's (don't laugh!). Alan watched baseball, Lucy slept soundly in the pack 'n' play, and I woke up every half hour, too excited to sleep (remember the old Disney commercials?).

After Its a Small World, Lucy's favorite at the MK

The next day was fantastic. We hit the Magic Kingdom, only 2 miles from our hotel. We arrived just in time to see Mickey and friends open the park with all the Disney fanfare. Alan and I rode the 3 mountains (Splash, Space, and Big Thunder) and took Lucy on Pirates of the Caribbean and Its a Small World.

Lucy was great-- she slept on the slow rides, pointed on at all the animatronics, didn't flip out in the Haunted Mansions, and stayed in her stroller most of the day without complaint. She insisted on shouting "doe doe" at the dog in the Carousel of Progress, but other than that took all the excitement pretty calmly.

The barbershop quartet didn't show up, but at least Alan got his hair trimmed

We ate good food, people watched a little, and enjoyed the mosaic in Cinderella's Castle. Alan even got an old school haircut on Main Street USA. At 7pm the park was closing for most guests (they were having a Halloween party for those who paid extra) and I did not want to leave. I think I even scowled a little at the kids in costumes who were walking in as we were going out. So it was back to the hotel room for some sleep before our day at Epcot.

From Harry Nilsson

I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Thru' the pouring rain,
Going where the weather suits my clothes,
Backing off of the North East wind,
Sailing on summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone.