Hi John!

Gabe & I returned from the Burton US Open late last night.  Well, it wasn’t all that late..just too late to write.  As a matter of fact, we emptied the car, hugged the dogs, and went to bed.  Sue and Dylan invited us again this year.  Sue is great with figuring out all the details of what needs to happen when.  She is amazing.  We had a great time.  I loved my talking time with Sue.  Gabe loved his boarding and goof off time with Dylan.

The crowds seemed less this year and the party scene felt a bit quieter.  Maybe the economy?  It still was heavy in the steez factor.  I was the only person with a fleece head band and down vest (until Jane B. showed up).  I did have Gabe’s old torn blue Burton jacket so I wasn’t too far off.  My favorite activity was crowd watching.  I enjoyed watching the dynamics of families and kids. 

We arrived Friday morning and Gabe & Dylan took off riding.  Sue and I visited the publicity tents and then went for a snowshoe.  Both days were sunny and beautiful…a real Spring feel…actually it felt passed the beginning of Spring.  We spent the late afternoon watching the quarter pipe event.  This was right below the half pipe.  It was awesome to watch.  Big air was part of it.  Gabe reminded me how scary it must be because you are riding down fast into what looks like a wall of snow.  I won’t go into the body hits some of these athletes endured.  You would wince several times.

After the quarter pipe we stayed for the boys to watch the RJD2 concert.  They had interesting and disturbing old & new films playing while the DJ played the music…or created the music.  The crowd was younger at this point.

Saturday we dragged the boys out early so we would get a good parking place.  That was not even really needed like last year because they were still parking in the same lot an hour after we arrived.  Still is was good to get there early.  Again the guys took off and we shopped, ate and sat in the sun watching the half pipe finals. 

Oh, I did stop by the High Cascade tent and talked to Matt who was the counselor in Gabe’s chalet 2 years ago.  Nice guy.  It was good to talk with someone from there.  Most other camps you stop in and say “hi” at the end.  This one ends with most kids getting on a plane.  Gabe stopped over later to talk with him.

So that was our weekend.  Right now it is snowing and I woke up to an inch of snow on the ground.  Now I am going to unpack from the weekend and take the dogs for a walk.  Gabe will probably head up to Bolton.  Here are some pictures…

                  

Gabe, Dylan & Sue.That is where Sue & I enjoyed the sun while we watched.

Well I am off.  Talk later.  love…diane 

Hey John…

Yesterday was so busy I never got to really tell you about it.  I had a great talk with Homer.  I was thinking of calling him and low and behold he decides to give me a call before I could get to him first.  He leaves a beautiful heartfelt message which I have saved for you when you return.  We talked about all sorts of things, which is the way with Homer.  He has been so inspired and excited about doing his art out of other peoples stuff and creating joy for them.  I don’t think I could do his words justice.  I did like a quote he had by Marcel Duchamp…

I force myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.

I like that.  Mull that over for a bit.

He also got me hooked on The Daily Show by John Stewart while talking about AIG.  Don’t worry, by the time you read this it will be another investment/banking company that will be in the news.  It is only getting crazier out here…the walls are crumbling.  Anyways…I watched it on the internet and it is a riot.  OMG I cannot believe that we get the true news from a comedy show.  Only in America.

Here are some pictures from the “Long Trail Market”…

Dan the man.  

Those meat hooks I told you about…

After talking with Homer Kathy & I went to get your Prius.  It is all shiny and new looking.  I found this can of “new car scent” in the car.  I don’t know about the cleaning job…it didn’t smell before…the rugs were just dirty.  Hmmm…not sure about this cleaning job if they need to cover up the odor.  None-the-less…Gabe & I will be using this on the stinky Subaru.

Here are the pictures from Fiddler on the Roof.  I loved the musical.  It was fun seeing drama again.

Anne, Kathy, me & Betsy.  Just like the old MMU days of going to see kids in a play.  We had such fun being together.  This is the second week in a row we have gotten together.  It is so easy yet seems to take so long to make it work.  Notice Betsy & I have the same sweaters yet different colors.

Shy Ty…

Elsa and Paul…

Candace and Elsa…

Elsa and Andrew.  He choreographed the whole play and did an amazing job. 

So that was yesterday.  Here is Jessi and the end of my Thursday.  She came by to visit and we went grocery shopping together.  Thank goodness she came to keep me awake and focused at 10:00 at night.  We closed the store down at 11:00.

My day was filled with yoga.  I had my 8am class then my toddler class at 10:00.  Today I had a special event at St. Mikes with the CVU 10th grade.  I was one of a few yoga and meditation classes.  That was a nice way to end their event.  It was fun for me.

From there I got Gabe…stopped in to say hey to Hannah & Dave at Talent…Gabe got a much needed belt…went to the chiropractor…dropped Gabe at Bolton…cleaned and cooked…got Gabe…visited with Jessi.

There.  Can you tell I am tired?  That 1:30 am sleeping time is too late.  Well, it is almost 1:00 right now so I better get to bed.  I am up early tomorrow.

Much love to you John.   love….d  

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