Whale Tales

. . . these are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.

"There she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!"

from Moby Dick by Herman Mellville

The Atlantic Ocean is truly magnificent. I spent some time just being with the ocean on my visit to Cape Cod.

It is no secret to those who know me well, my love of whales. I finally got to board a sea going vessel and head out to Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary and view these magnificent mammals in the wild. The feel of the wind on may face as we glided through the ocean to our final viewing spot, was exhilarating and awesome!

While I find whaling to be a heinous occupation, and I understand it still happens in certain countries, I am curious and fascinated by the history of the whaling industry.

I have never read Moby Dick in its entirety, but I love Mellville and I am adding this title to my ever growing list of books to read.

I think I need another trip to Cape Cod to sit on the beach, listen to the sound of the surf, and read.

Strange Brew

"It's my last one, its a jelly" Bob McKenzie

I was invited to an awesome Strange Brew party this last Saturday.

It was an awesome party. I have never seen the movie, and I have to admit I laughed out loud!

I also ate and ate and ate! We started with pizza with canadian bacon and a beer. We moved on to a big bag, and I mean big bag of popcorn and beer. Then moved on to jelly donuts and beer.

Oh did I say we had a couple of beers?

Now, as my loyal readers, all two of you, know, I have been sticking pretty closely to a healthy eating South Beach plan. Well I indulged this weekend. Not only did I eat a jelly donut, I had two Krispy Kremes on Saturday and one on Sunday morning!

And I didn't stop there. We were celebrating the birthday of our host, my delightful niece and I had a piece of chocolate cake and a delicious cupcake made by Regena.

I don't feel guilty, but I now need to workout extra hard this week to work off those jellys. Beauty!

Embrace Change

"Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy." W. Somerset Maugham

Embrace change. Change, the season from summer (if you could call it that) to glorious fall. This is one change I love to embrace.

Driving to work this morning I was listening to a story on NPR about Elderhostel. They have decided to change the name to Exlporitas. What I found very interesting about this report was the people, "older" so to speak who are appalled by this idea, thinking it will bring in the 20 somethings and they would feel old around them.

While I seriously doubt that 20 something will flock to Exploritas, because they have their own networks of international youthhostels to choose from, and I am certain they don't want to be sharing with the old folks, the interviews with the older females who travel made me stop and think about myself.

I just said to Steve the other day, " I don't do change well". I mean , I was upset that Victoria's Secrect put some spandex in their new line of underwear! After wearing the first new pair, I was totally thrilled with the change. After hearing the interviews this morning, I have decided that I will from here on out embrace change! I will learn to love it and quit moaning and groaning about why things have to change.

So if you hear me complaining because some change has occurred, you have my permission to slap me back to reality and tell me to embrace the change. I don't want to be one of those old woman who complain about EVERYTHING because they are afraid of change!

It's Hockey Night in Urbana!

Yes September, the beginning of the ice hockey season!

It is time to rumble. I am looking forward to seeing how the team looks this year.

The Illini are ranked No. 2 in the ACHA this year.

Let the fun begin!

A Vacation at last

"Take rest:; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop ." Ovid

Finally, after a long time waiting, I have visited Cape Cod.

Steve, being the wonderful person he is took me on the most relaxing enjoyable vacation to the Cape.

I have seen whales in the wild. It was so thrilling. There is nothing like the Atlantic Ocean and being on a boat with the wind and the motion of the waves was both relaxing and thrilling. Days of picnics on the beach, walking hand in hand with the surf coming in at our feet, picking up rocks, lots and lots of waterworn pebbles that glisten in the sunling, igneous and metamorphic rock just waiting for me!

Lots of exercise to be had also, climbing 25 stories up the Pilgrim Monument to gaze at the panoramic view of Provincetown, not to mention walking barefoot in sand.

I got to eat simply scrumpous seafood, had my first whole lobster at the Lobster Pot. I devoured scallops and lobster and shrimp and mussels and oysters and fish!

Speaking of fish, stopped in at Capt. Kidd's in Woodshole, for lunch and had Bell Haven Ale from Scotland on tap with my fish and chips.

Enjoyed a lively time at Liam Maguire's Irish Pub in Falmouth. First night I had Sheperds Pie and the second visit to Liam's I had fish and chips.

I can now say that I have been on Martha's Vineyard. That was a fun trip over on the ferry then a day of walking. I have to tell you that we lunched at an Irish Pub, Danny Quinn's on the Vinveyard and I consumed a bowl of Guinness Stew with my Smithwicks!

Spending 9 whole days with Steve, just enjoying life, made me the happiest woman. It was terribly difficult to rejoin the working world, but alas it had to be done.

Fear of the unknown

One need not be a chamber to be haunted;

One need not to be a house;

The brain has corridors surpassing

Material place.

Emily Dickinson

Of late my dreams have been quite frightening. A little history; when I was about 16 I began to have nightmares. Nightmares so real that I would wake up screaming. My poor mother would jump out of bed, knocking her shins against the bed frame or the dresser, in an attempt to get to me, to see if i was being murdered in my bed!

A particular memory was a time that she came in my room and I was crouched by the bed, I told her "Get down they will get you". She was always so reassuring, she would wake me up and tell me everything was okay. My mom's name was Regena.

Fast forward to modern day, another Regena, my darling daughter, has taken up the task of reassuring me that everything is okay. Yes indeed, all these years later, I am still waking up screaming bloody murder! Regena thinks I need to see a sleep therapist. Perhaps she is correct, but I am not sure they could do anything for me. The last two weeks I have had a screamer, about 10 of the 14 days! Do I remember the dream, not usually, but I know it always involve my making the wrong decision.

Fear of the unknown, that nagging thing that you have to get around. I think my dreams are tied to fear of the unknown. Or it could be fear of making decisions, whether they be financial or decisions about what to do with my life, or fear of things that are to come. Now I have to have a needle aspiration of a cyst in my left breast. I have never had anything like this done ever, so I am a little nervous about. There is a slight fear that it will turn out not to be a cyst, but the doctor assured me he believes it is a cyst. So I am NOT going to obsess about the whole thing and just think about my upcoming trip to Cape Cod with Steve.

Hey, Regena will get a 10 day break from those screamers!

A Long time coming

"This time , like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well I am still here, believe it or not! I haven't had a chance to post all summer. You see I think I am having too much fun now. Well also I have been really busy at work.

Both girls have been home for the summer and I have been enjoying their presence, but Janet moved into her apartment on Friday, school started today and summer is winding down.

Steve and I have been so busy doing fun things and getting some work done in my yard.

I need to sit down and write again.

I have been sad that my pool closed for good. I haven't had a chance to swim all summer.

I am getting ready for a wonderful 10 day vacation to Cape Cod with Steve.

So, I am back. I am happy (even though the work being done in my building is sending chills down my spine and making my teeth hurt).