John…

I am exhausted and going to bed.  I just returned from seeing Elsa in “Fiddler on the Roof” at Castleton.  I have pictures and tales for tomorrow.

Good night.  love…d

Top of the Evening to you John…

I’m sure you would have found some Irish translation for this letter as you did the pirate speak.  I’ll pass in the event I could not turn it off.

Today felt busy.  I did needed things today and got the hose ready for the pool.  I went to walk with Jill and Dublin this morning.  This was Dublin’s first dog walk  with other dogs since his accident.  He is doing great and had so much fun with Chai and Satori.  I got home and was able to get water flowing into the pool.  Hopefully between tonight and tomorrow I can get the pool back up to being half full.  I trust the pool will not blow over now.

Gabe had an orthodontists appointment today to get his lacrosse mouth guard.  He will return to get testing to see if he needs braces.  His teeth have moved quite a bit however maybe they need a little help.  It will be his decision.  Kristin is getting braces on my birthday…what an April Fool’s Day trick!

I had teen yoga tonight.  It was fun.  I played celtic music.  They are strong kids.

Not much excitemment around here for St. Patty’s Day.  Gabe was all decked out in green.  I found one shirt that had a patch of green on it.  Most kids I asked today were not doing anything green.  No one really knew what corned beef and cabbage was…maybe that is good.  We had baked beans and perogies tonight that had potato filling.  That’s the closest I got.  I was thinking of having a Guiness but it seems too big to drink.  Maybe I will change my mind. 

It is funny-odd being in this homogenous culture in Vermont.  There are no real Greek…Italian…or Irish areas.  Living in Endicott and Pittsburgh we had such strong ethnics.  I had trouble pronouncing many of my friends last names.  I still like reading the paper at home to see those last names…many ending in “ski”.  Pittsburgh was the same way.  St. Patrick’s Day was a real celebration.  Here in Vermont we have the lake people…the mountain dwellers…the hikers…the bikers.  It is interesting these differences.  Not good or bad…just different.

Max called today.  He is in Delaware with friends for a few days for his school break.  They did go to a beach and he hopped in the ocean and thought of you.  Something he had to do.  They are being spoiled by friends’ parents and having fun.  They are off to see Watchman.  He is trying to finish reading it first.

Oh…Gabe and I stopped in and saw Dan at the “Long Trail Community Market” today.  He let us wander around and see the place.  Wow…it is so big inside.  He was giving details to Bill H.  He has much to do to change the atmosphere and I know he will do it.  Gabe & I did peak in the back freezer and saw the meat hooks.  It looked like a spooky movie scene.  I took some pictures however Gabe is using the upstairs computer so the picts will have ot wait for another day.

Time for bed.  Sleep well John under these stars.  May the luck of the Irish shine down on you.  love…diane 

      

Hi John….

How do you like the title of this letter?  Yes…Dan G. will be renting and living in the old Jonesville store and making it into a community market!  I am thrilled with his plans.  So here is the deal.  You know he started the Back Country Pizza business which has been doing well.  I heard he was cooking them at the Green Grocer’s spot.  When I heard that Chris was closing I emailed Dan the question “what was he  now going to do?”  He said he didn’t have a clue yet and he had just given his notice at his other job.  Then I get another email with his big plans.  He hopes to open May or June 1st.  He wants to create a community kitchen where others can come and cook or bake….test out recipes..or whatever.   As you can imagine there is a ton of stuff to do before he opens.  I offered my help and I’m sure he could use yours when you return.   This is exciting.  I’ll keep you posted on the details.  Oh, there is a space for rent upstairs that would be good for a massage or artist person.  That is the exciting Jonesville news.

I spent the morning cleaning the yoga space and the house.  I went for a short run with Chai.  Satori needs to give her leg a rest.  I left her home with a bone.  After that I went to pick up your newly fixed Prius.  They did a good job.  Gabe asked me a question that I still need to answer.  The guy at the shop didn’t know either.  So we have a $500 deductable on our cars in case of an accident.  Since you hit an animal it is only a $100 deductable.  Gabe asked what if you swirved to avoid hitting an animal and hit a tree.  What is your deductable then?  I hope the answer is still $100 or else the animals are at a disadvantage.  I will have to get that answered sometime.

I brought your summer tires and will get them on, have an oil change and detail the interior to your car.  That light tan fabric always looks so ratty.  I think a Spring cleaning is necessary for that car.  So when you return you will have a clean happy car.

I needed to call Shane today and ask for you driver’s licence for some paperwork.  I have many other numbers yet didn’t have that one.  I decided to call him later and in 5 minutes he called me.  This was the third time I ever talked to him and he called at the right time and had your licence number handy.  Interesting.

I did a few more small errands this afternoon and got home at 3:00.  Gabe & I played a little lacrosse.  I got better as we continued on.  It helps that I wear my glasses.  Chai and Satori loved chasing and stealing the balls.  At some point we walked over and looked at the pool and it was almost empty.  The bottom hose had popped out due to ice melting.  Ooops.  There is a big ice cude still in there however I need to fill it soon.  Gabe & I hauled the hose into the garage for overnight to help avoid it freezing more.  I will lay it in the sun tomorrow to try and melt the ice in the hose.  Maybe I can get Janet’s water into the pool tomorrow.  I guess I will also need to treat the water.

Speaking of water your poopometer’s light is totally out.  I tried another batery and it still did not work.  Maybe something got dislodged accidently due to traffic in and out of the house.  Not sure.  I’ll investigate that also tomorrow.  The good thing is that we are trained now…at least I am. 

Yoga tonight felt good.  Great to practice with such good friends.  You are missed there also.  So today marks 3 weeks since you left.  I imagine you are really in your groove now…and passed the honeymoon stage.  I send my love and energy your way.  I imagine you could use a boost right about now.  Much love…d                 

Hey John…

I wonder is you know it is the Ides of March?  The day marked by Julius Caesar’s death…made famous by the big Shakespeare guy.  Or the day in the Roman calendar dedicated to Mars.  I also think it may be Rafe’s birthday…and close to Pat R.’s birthday (he will be 21!).  I actually think Pat’s may be tomorrow.  Happy birthday to you two.    

The morning was spent at home doing the normal nondescript yet necessary stuff.  Mundane may be a better word yet I don’t view those activities as drudgery as mundane feels to me at times.  I need a better word.  I spent the morning reshaping and cultivating our living space.  That sounds more positive. 

So, I made some bread for Martha to thank her for Friday.  However the upstairs computer is doing a major repair scan right now so I may be making a few more loaves unless it cleans itself up.  I did the water softener, vacuum, and got your snow tires out of the basement.  Yucky jobs.  I cleaned up the pictures on my camera.  Okay I have had that camera almost a year and I now have decided to look at the pictures I have taken.  I am still trying to wrap my arms around this digital picture thing.  I think if I get some made up I will feel better.  I like the tactile aspect.

Last night Gabe & Trevor were too full to eat the focaccia I made so I turned it into an apple cinnamon breakfast focaccia.  I sprinkled it with raspberries and chocolate chips.  It had a brown sugar and butter glaze.  You would have liked it.

The boys headed to the mountain at about noon and I delivered bread to Martha & Joe.  Joe was the last to see you leave Vermont and he had a sense that you had a hard time walking away…almost like he could have pulled you back.  I like that he was sensitive to that.  That must be a good attribute for a TSA guy.

I then went to Jen L.’s house to take a walk and play pool.  It was another warm sunny day.  We are getting spoiled and hopefully this will help dry out some of our dirt roads.  She taught me 9 ball.  I won at 8 ball and she beat me at 9 ball…but who’s counting.  I just love their house.  It is so inviting to go there.  I saw Avery as I left.

I got Trevor, Kristin and Gabe from the mountain,  Gabe and Trevor went out to spray paint project x for pond skimming and Kristin joined Maureen & I for a dog walk.  Satori was romping as we started on the trail and Kristin had to take her back because she was limping so bad.  Once home though she was her normal bouncy self.  We continued on and had a good time.  Ruby and Chai enjoyed the quieter time.  As I was hooking Chai up I was marveling that she didn’t even skip a beat not having Satori with us.  She didn’t see Kristin go back with Satori.  For all she knew Satori just disappeared.  I know Satori would have been looking for Chai.  Chai was probably happy to have just me.

Hey…I use to think that putting pictures into the blog would turned off my spell checker but I’m wrong.  The first few paragraphs the spell checker worked and now it is off and I have not put in any pictures.  I have no clue why it turns off.  Hmmm.

A bit of sad news.  It appears that Trevor and his family will be going back to Texas at the end of the month.  I…he…we are sad.  I understand that they must do this however I am sad for Gabe to lose Trevor.  They are such good friends and have such a bond.  Gabe has seen Sam leave…Ian and now Trevor.  These are very important people in Gabe’s life.  I know Gabe will manage and grow in some aspect.  This will form who Gabe will be.  Everything that happens to us causes some evolution and growth.  Yes yes..I understand all that.  I just feel that Gabe has had more than his share.  Then again…who am I to say how much his share ought to be.  It’s not like we get a certain allotment. Oh well.  I can still be sad.  For now I want to support Trevor and help him as he prepares to leave Vermont.  I offered to have a party here for him.  We will see.

As I went up to the mountain to get the kids I was scanning the radio to avoid the fund raising (sorry NPR).  I came upon Astrias playing just like Sam played it.  I was so excited to hear this I had to call someone so I called Gabe…then the Kenneys.  I have never heard it on the radio before.  It made me happy to feel that connection.  Just as I pulled in front of the deli to get Gabe…seriously right as I stopped in front the last note was played.  Thank you Sam.

I’m off to bed.  Hey…I smell a skunk outside.  A sure sign of Spring.  I hope the smells around you are more pleasant.  I know I know…you like the smell of skunk…you would say it is sort of smells like coffee.  Whatever.  love..d