My Imagination Is Not Normal

Way back when, my grandparents owned a beautiful house on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. The house was literally 20 steps from door to lake. They had a dock that my sister, brother and I had to get permission to go on when we were little. As in, picture us standing on the grass, edge of toes on the dock, "May we please come on the dock?". This is how it went every time we wanted to get onto the dock and see the boat or jump off.

My Dad or my Uncle would take me water skiing early in the morning before the lake filled with boaters. I loved water skiing, must have been that need for speed and all. What I did not like was falling. Hey, you fell, you got water up your nose, but then you had to WAIT. It was the waiting that I truly did not like. Waiting meant you had to look out for other boats while you bobbed in the water and waiting meant an easy opportunity for whatever lived below to nibble on your legs and toes.

I read a lot when I was younger and my imagination was HUGE! I could only imagine the type of large catfish, sea turtles, whales, what-have-you living in that (fresh water) lake. So when I fell from water skiing, I would kick a lot and pretty much make a raucous so no 'undersea' creatures would swallow me whole.

As I grew up and would visit other lakes, I would have the same fear. At my friend Melissa's house on Sebago Lake, we would swim out to a raft and jump off it for hours. Yes, there was rumored to be some gigantic fish living under that raft, though I never saw it. It kept me moving once I jumped in the water, though. Line at the ladder? No worries, I would leap up onto the side of the raft. No sense in giving that fish any opportunity of my toes for lunch.

So, yes, I still have a fear of middle of lakes and make sure I am in constant motion or with a bunch of people when I am in the water. Today, BB and I were floating(not swimming) on a lake. We were on floaties, me on my stomach, him on his back with our feet dangling in the water. (The greenish, murky, deep water...)

Well, he learned that
a. I can move really quickly when I need to.
b. That I have a large imagination of underwater enemies.
c. And that when a fish bites my toe (and yes, one did), my reaction is the funniest thing ever.

Just add a few more gray hairs to my head...

Frag'n Friday

TGIF because I have a lot of random things to say. I was looking at the photos I have taken in the past week or so on my phone and it was a treasure trove of randomness. See for yourself...

*Dairy Queen in Yarmouth this week. Hats off to the clever employee who came up with this sign. It sure turned a lot of heads!!

*One of my teacher colleagues is having a baby in August (but I think July). Another teacher made her this diaper cake and inside it was even more treasures!! I know what she can do in her retirement!!

*I guess there is an unwritten rule in my house about cutting brownies; you start at the side. Evidently, with boys, it is every man for himself and if you want the best brownie, you go right for it.

*Thanks to an article in Real Simple this month: 

*2 towns are building a new High School and combining districts. All the students and staff got to sign the top beam of the building last week!

*I started seeing a lot of bubble wrap around the classroom in the past month. I couldn't figure out why until I saw this....

One of the girls would bring her banana to school wrapped in bubble wrap so it wouldn't get bruised in her backpack.

*School ended Tuesday and summer school begins on Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the look on one particular student's face when I wear this t-shirt. I have been drawing "the turtles" for him for a few months now at school. They are his latest love.

*The tradition at our elementary school is for all the teachers to come out of the building on the last day and wave to the kids as they leave on the buses. The buses even do an extra lap with horn honking and fan fair. This was my first year participating and I think I heard a collective, "phew" from the teachers when the last bus was out of sight.

*Have a great weekend!!

June: It's Flying By

So, it's been a busy month. I might argue that June is the busiest month of the year. We still have 2 days of school left. Can I complain? Not really because when we had those 2 or 3 snow days this winter I was so happy to have a surprise snowy day off. I knew I wasn't going to be happy about it in June, but back in February, I was skipping around the house. Quite honestly, no matter if we had snow days or not, going to school after Memorial Day sucks. The teachers are pretty much done and the kids are really done. At least we have had a lot of outside time this week!!

This month we have,

celebrated my nephew's first birthday,

celebrated my brother's 40th birthday, (my uncle's birthday and Father's day!)

cheered B on at her 8th grade dance,

had our first outdoor dinner of the summer at Hazel's shanty,

been to Provincetown

and all the other daily stuff, like way too many end of the year projects, exams and such. I have also been thrown into the divorce process (don't recommend it) and have a new boyfriend (that I recommend). I still have a big effing smile on my face and we are going on 2+months.  I don't see myself getting tired of that any time soon.

Sharks are Taking Over the Park

A brilliant person in Chatham (probably during the long winter months), decided it would be fun and profitable for people to buy "wooden sharks" and decorate them, place them in the park downtown and then have a big gala to auction them off!

So there are 50+ sharks in Kate Gould Park. People, groups or stores sponsored the sharks and local artists decorated them. B is standing next to the shark that was done by a High School Senior for the store my mom works at. It is definitely one of our favorites!

There are so many fantastic sharks, each of them a bit different thanks to the different mediums and artists.

The shark with the pink boots was sponsored by the Women of Fishing Families and 3 of the women from the group were the artists for it. 

You can still come see the sharks in the park until June 28th. After the 28th,  they will be relocated around town. In August, you can try to bid for one! Who wouldn't want a pretty shark in their yard/house?!

Frag'n Friday

Lots of bits and pieces for a very rainy Friday...

Love Mrs. 4444's new button!!!



*I can't believe it is Memorial Day weekend already. The streets are already starting to get busy with traffic which ultimately says, "summer is here".

*I love Kindergarten. Case in point:

 Translation: What is your favorite food? Corn on the cob, don't forget the butter!

*I know the best family to stay with your kids when you go away (without them, yes, I went away without my sidekicks for 2 nights!!). The Hines family showed up last Friday with a box of Sharpies, a box of nail polish and a bunch of waxing strips. Kurt is an artist and drew tattoos on everyone and then waxed every one's eyebrows. The girls were in Heaven!!

*This is my favorite bridge in the world. It leads to Maine.

*Here is a picture of me on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, ME which just so happens to be my favorite place in the world.

Why do I look so damn happy in this picture? Because I am in love with the person taking it.

To be continued....

A Blond Listens to the News....

I haven't admitted or written about a "blond moment" in a few years, but I had one yesterday. If you want to read the 2 others that I speak of, you can go here and here. Go ahead, I will wait.....

Funny, right?

Anyway, yesterday I was at work and my friend Faith got a news flash on her phone that said this,

"A crash caused extensive travel delays for people trying to get off Cape during the midday hour. A trailer carrying a bobcat rolled over on the westbound side near Exit 4."

To give myself some credit, I went to Bates College where our mascot was a bobcat and an alum posted this picture on Facebook the other day...

So yes, I thought a bobcat was loose on Cape Cod. 

Last year, we had a bear on Cape Cod, I felt it only right to now have a bobcat loose....

Sweet 16

My baby is 16 today.

16.

Really.

While I try to wrap my head around that, let me say a few words...

K, I have enjoyed watching you grow and learn and find your way in the world. You are a beautiful young woman on the inside and out. I could not be more proud of you and all your accomplishments, whether on a horse, on a stage or just hanging on the couch. I am grateful that you are my daughter.  

Happy Birthday Beautiful Bunnay. Love you millions.