Happy Autumn!

Hip!

Hip!

Hooray!

There Was Maine

I thought I might not ever get back to this crazy blog thing, but the reasons aren't all bad. One great reason for being absent is that Neats and I actually stole away for three days in Maine to belatedly celebrate her putting up with me for 20 years of marriage (and a few before that). There was much eating and lazing about, but also some wonderful hiking in the woods up along the coast--and of course, plenty of colors to peep.

It is amazing how even three days seems like such a huge amount of time when you aren't responding to work and kids' schedules and all of life which seems to make the day fly by. It allowed us time to actually have long conversations and talk through life and our kids and the future in a way we felt we hadn't done for years it seemed.

And there was food and wine to slowly enjoy as we talked. If ever in Portland, which was our base, may I recommend:

• Fore Street
• Evangeline
• Street and Co.

And at some point, stop in for breakfast at Bantliff's Cafe (and yes order the Lobster Benedict). All of which is why you need to go for long walks during the day which feed your other senses. See.

Haiku Observations from a Friend

You know you haven't posted in a while, when you receive text messages like this one:

The blog languishes
Colored leaves let loose and fly
Shadows lengthen nows

All true.

Food Tyrant or Responsible Parent?

So anyone who reads this blog knows that I have some particular opinions on food. Some might say that I am even a bit of a snob about food--I like to think it is more about having a semi-refined palate. This most often gets played out in our household when I refuse to stop at fast-food joints when time is tight. The boys all know that I really, really prefer that we don't eat prepared, institutional food and have no problem sharing my opinions on this matter with others.

Now that said, I know that given schedules, it is sometimes almost unavoidable that there are times when fast-food is the answer, but the boys still relish the chance to point out that they got to indulge. As evidence, I offer up two exchanges from this week.

1. At a school event this week:

School Principal to the Engineer: Hey, there is that new Wendy's nearby. I stopped there and had those new spicy chicken nuggets. They were pretty good. Do you like those?

Engineer: My dad doesn't like us to eat fast food.

Nice. The eight-year old giving the school principal some nutritional education.

2. A Wednesday night (note that Wednesday's at our house are crazy as the boys go straight from school to piano lessons and then have to go straight to baseball practice--including a uniform change in the van and I race from work to practice):

The Captain to me after getting home at 8:30 pm after baseball practice (in a gleeful 5-year old voice): Hey Papa, guess where we ate dinner tonight? You're going to be angry! McDonald's!

Win some, lose some!

I Should . . .

Well it is autumn--best season of the year. Where the last of the harvest arrives and the colors change and thoughts turn to piles of leaves, stews, fires, jazz and red wine. Oh and all the $#%@# I have to get done. I have one day left of this weekend, here are all the things I should do.

• Harvest those last big basil plants, clean, dry and freeze pack it with parsley and oil for winter pesto.
• Move two smaller trees from backyard to front in place of the two saplings the deer have already eaten.
• Stake all (then) four smaller trees and net them to protect from the stupid deer (perhaps venison stew?).
• Change the header on this blog--I mean, c'mon it is really not summer now is it?
• Post something, anything, over on the family blog.
• Listen to that pile of new discs that just arrived--perhaps while getting the pile of uncased discs people have given me organized into cases with some art work.
• Mow the lawn (yeah, right).
• Continue to work on list of minor home repairs that need done--Spackle, touch up paint, order new front door hardware, etc.
• Call a variety of people back--all about the various upcoming visits that are scheduled.
• Try to ignore work.
• Review field assignments from The Engineer's baseball game yesterday (he and they rocked!) and put new assignments together for next two games.
• Watch final Tigers game of the season.
• Attend first play of the season at Imagination Stage with the family (pretty sure that will get done).
• Figure out a bit more about what Neats and I are going to do in Maine for our upcoming little get away (besides sleep).
• Oh, and of course obsess about the future!

Phew--better get another cup of coffee.