Category Archives: Family

Box wine and culture

Family, Fun, WV, ,

Last Sunday we attended Symphony Sunday, a day of showcasing local orchestras, ensembles, etc culminating in a performance by the WV Symphony.  The University of Charleston opens its beautiful lawn to the crowd of several thousand people to enjoy the performances.

Boats always anchor near the lawn to hear the music
but they have to dodge the gigantic coal barges that pass by...
One of the views from our seats...the WV Capitol

It rained in the morning so we didn’t even think of attending many of the events, but by the early evening, all was clear so we packed up our lawn chairs and headed to Kanawha City (the part of the city where the University is located).  We tend to sit towards the back of the group as our kids need room to fully appreciate the event.  Many people with kids hang out there and it usually works out pretty well.

The Symphony chose a “Wizard of Oz” theme for their performances and played many numbers that were in or referenced the movie.  It was pretty cool aside from the fact that there were quiet parts of several songs which were inaudible from the back.  As my father-in-law says in reference to the violins, “they need to do more sawing and less plucking.”  If they added one more row of speakers, I bet we could hear the plucking too!

The WV Symphony...we were waaay back
The Capitol was beautiful at night though I think they need to check on it...it seems to be leaning a bit

Anyhow, most of the performance was cool except for the pockets of white trash who decided to break out their boxes of wine and drink out of plastic dixie cups.  Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with box wine, but many of the folks put on airs of culture and high living.  As you might guess, they were as tacky and ridiculous as can be.  In my mind, I am thinking, “this ain’t high living…you fools are ignoring the music, drinking wine from a box and sitting on the wet grass in heels.  By the way, nice big wet spot on your butt…bring a chair next year.”    Folks came decked out in their Sunday best and did their very best to go on and on about their lives and generally make it hard to hear the music and even harder to ignore their inanity.

Ok, sorry…that all sounds like I didn’t have fun…I definitely did have fun.  We played some and we ate good ice cream and had a great time all together.  The WV Symphony is awesome and a great thing for the state.  The show always finishes with fireworks and that show was the highlight for most people there (based on the cheers).  It was a pretty cool show…a river barge floats into place on the river adjacent to the University’s lawn and we all get to see the show up close…

(Maybe the fireworks were my favorite part too…)

Garden…finally!

Family, Garden,

We always start the garden in early March by planting seeds…especially for tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli and peppers.  By the time May 10 (our somewhat official last frost date) rolls around, we have pretty good looking plants ready to go into the ground.  We plant by the signs too so we are particular about getting stuff planted at the right time.  We got our seeds planted at the right time and then we also go the plants stuck in the ground at the right time.  This year, we are participating in a test of “planting by the signs” sponsored by Blind Pig & the Acorn.  Basically we planted some squash seeds on the “right” date and some on the “wrong” date.  Lots of people are participating so it should be interesting to see what happens.

Anyhow, we got lots of stuff in the ground early in May but some stuff we have had to work on for timing reasons.  Two weekends ago we finally got the last of the garden planted.  Abigail was a huge help in getting our dry beans and pumpkins planted.  She marked our rows, planted some seeds, covered some seeds and laughed a lot.  It was a blast being all barefoot in the garden with my smelly little girl!

We checked the garden this weekend after a good rain and everything was up and looking good.  Emily’s Grandpa swears he went down in the morning one day before the rain and nothing was up.  A few hours later after the rain, everything had come up!  That would be cool to see!

So, we are planted and are mostly still weed-free!  Typically we stay ahead of the weeds pretty well so I think our time in the garden is about to increase like crazy!  No more clean fingernails or soft feet in our household!

Sometimes it sucks

Family

Sometimes I dislike being a parent.  I like being friends with people (well, sort of…I don’t really like people all that much honestly, but friends are usually good I have heard).  It’s easy to get along with most people.  I guess a big part of that is because I don’t have a gigantic vested interest in the details of their lives.  Surely I care about my friends, but they are all adults and make their own decisions.

I want to teach/allow my kids to make their own decisions, but sometimes that just doesn’t work.  It seems like Isaac and I have been fighting lately about homework (mostly).  He doesn’t really care if things are done or turned in, so long as he “gets it”.  Well, I “get that”, but there comes a time when one has to just do what is required.  Honestly, I think homework and the idea of proving one knows the material is a good thing.  So, we just clash.  You know, I think I hate to clash with the kids more than just about anything else in the world.  Some folks might think I am an antagonist (and maybe I am), but I always try to be patient, even in the face of smart-aleck  responses.  I am torn between teaching my kids to respect authority and allowing them the freedom to express their emotions however they see fit.  It’s difficult and I often wonder if I am doing anything right in this mess called parenting.  Sometimes, it just sucks.

Of course, it is worth it, doing the best I can for the kids…I just wish they came with instruction manuals!

No sax but plenty of violins

Audio, Awesome, Family, WV,

Last night was the All County Strings Festival for Kanawha county. Many of the schools from the county sent their best string players to the Clay Center for a wonderful evening of music. Isaac was one of the students selected from his school…and he was so excited!

The funny thing is all of the lead up to the performance. We found out that he had “made the team” a few months ago so he has been practicing his pieces. The last few weeks or so, he has attended group practices where all of the kids get together and do their thing. Still, none of it really seemed to click with him that the performance was near.

We aren’t a dress-up sort of family so Isaac was pretty excited when he found out he had to have dress shoes, nice shirt and pants and a tie. We had all sorts of fun (and a small fight) about learning how to tie a necktie. I think he was unimpressed. Anyhow, with the purchase of clothes and hours (it seemed) of looking at himself in the mirror, it finally clicked that the performance was near. He has been super excited…so much so that last night, before the show, he walked around the yard playing his pieces for the neighbors to hear. It was wonderful!

So we all headed to the Clay center where the kids performed on the same stage as the WV symphony. I didn’t know what to expect but the kids (Isaac thinks there were 112 4th graders) all settled down when the conductor walked on the stage. As they started, I couldn’t believe the sound that came from those kids! They did an absolutely wonderful job!

Click for video

(or click here if the other link does not work on your computer)

Fifth graders played, then junior high students and finally high school students. The talent we saw last night was pretty amazing and all because the WV symphony sponsors a strings in the schools program in Charleston area schools. Bravo for music in WV and bravo to my budding musician!

Click for video

(or click here if the other link does not work on your computer)

A bridge

Adventure, Family, Fun, , ,

A few weeks ago, we went to Pittsburgh so Emily could participate in some training.  The kids and I basically tromped around the city on foot and saw some interesting things.  Of particular interest to me (and not at all for the kids) were the bridges.  Of course, Pittsburgh is famous for its bridges…the number of them if not the beauty.

So we walked from our hotel in the downtown area across several of the bridges and saw some pretty neat things.  I pretty much don’t think about bridges at all as I drive over them.  Rarely do I get the chance to walk on them so it was pretty cool to sort of explore the bridges in Pittsburgh with my kids.

The “art of steel” that holds those bridges up is really interesting and somehow appealing to look at for me.  Maybe it’s the guy in me who still likes to play with matchbox cars and tonka toys and the like, but I really liked standing on the bridge admiring its strength (I feel so inferior).  I guess I am pretty fascinated by the parts that make up the bridge…imagining the folks hammering and twisting and cursing the pieces into place.  Pittsburgh sort of means all that to me anyhow.

We also saw some more human things there including tons of gum and the graffiti that seemed too philosophical to be left as a scrawling on a wall…though more people probably saw that than if it had been written somewhere more “appropriate”.  We saw panhandlers on the bridge and the kids had some serious questions for me about their plight.

Once again, I am reminded to take time to smell the…uh…bridge?  Well, I guess I’ll stick to smelling the roses but if you get a chance, spend time exploring a bridge.  You won’t be disappointed!  Most of these pictures were of the Roberto Clemente bridge by the way….

The kung fu is strong with this one

Awesome, Family, Fun

Not long ago, Isaac earned his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. He has been going 3 nights a week to prepare for his next belt and this weekend, he tested for his green belt.  Like I mentioned before, it takes a certain kind of crazy to want your kid to learn how to fight, but I look at it as a confidence builder and a practical skill for defense (and that’s how his instructors view it as well).

Preparing for forms

There are several components of testing for the belts including forms (patterns of movements), terminology, board breaking and fighting.  Isaac broke his boards easily and knew all the forms and terminology he needed.  The fighting was a bit of a worry though as he has been a little more reserved and didn’t make contact like he should.

(click here for a different version if the above doesn’t work on your machine)

I was certainly surprised at his testing this weekend though.  His fighting has come a long way.  He had great confidence and speed and made good contact.  The boy will be fierce as he gets more training and more strength.

(click here for a different version if the above doesn’t work on your machine)

I am super proud and more than a little weirded out by it all, but I love the pride he takes in his art and himself!

She’s a good kid

Family, , ,

We celebrated Abigail’s birthday last weekend.  It’s hard to believe she is 7 years old!  I think she is really much older.  You see, she asked everyone to bring things for the animal shelter instead of bringing presents for her.  We never suggested it or even mentioned that they need stuff at the shelter.  She decided completely on her own to ask for donations.  So, everyone who came to her party brought things for animals including leashes and collars, dog and cat food, cleaning products, and cat litter.  She was delighted as she delivered it to the shelter yesterday.  I am so proud of my big little girl!

Delivery time!

She still had a big time at her party too.  We rented a shelter at a local city park and she invited family and some  friends.  There was a playground nearby so they stormed the castle and launched off in space ships and taught school, all in the jungle gym.  We jump-roped and hula-hooped and played whiffle ball.  It was a great time and Abigail told me it was her best birthday ever!

My birthday is a ways off yet, but I think I may follow her lead…it’s hard to beat a good game of whiffle ball!

How I ended up with a day-old kitten

Awesome, Family, Fun, Nature

I walked Ginny at 6 am today and we did our normal route round our place – down the sidewalk to the front yard, around the back, then into the house.  The kids were about to get up and we started our mad-morning routine getting ready for another day of school.  Kids were fed, teeth were brushed and lunches were packed…and out the door we lit at 7:10 am.  As we headed down the same sidewalk Ginny and I had walked, we came upon a wet, slimy looking pile of…fur.  Or at least I thought it was fur.  Anyhow, I figured a rat had given birth or something.  I decided I’d just pick it up and bury it.  I bent down to have a closer look and discovered it was a kitten…and it was alive…sort of.  I picked it up and ran in to get a box.  We put it in the  box and jumped into the car hoping the heater would warm the poor little wet thing.

Sure enough, as Isaac held it on his lap, is started to move a little more.  It really didn’t move by normal definitions but it did meow like crazy.  I didn’t think for a second that it would survive another 30 minutes but we headed to the vet to see what they said.  I had planned to leave it with them and let them “take care of things”…and the kids would know that the vet had done everything they could.  Right in front of the kids and the cat and everyone, they basically told us it would not end well and that they wouldn’t try.  Gee whiz, now the kids knew what would happen and they were having no part in that.  “Please Dad, can we try to save it?”  I asked the vet for some milk replacer figuring it would be a nice (read cheap) gesture.  I promised the kids I would do everything I could to save the poor little kitten.

I dropped the kids at school and proceeded to work with my tiny box of kitten.  It meowed and cried and gave it all it could.  I got to work and one of my co-workers helped me clean it up, cut the umbilical cord (yes, it was still attached!), and start feeding.  I still didn’t think it had much of  chance, but as the day went on, this little thing has perked up and squalls and crawls and bawls constantly!  I am amazed at this little critter and think it may have a chance.  We’ll feed it every 2 hours and watch as this little thing shows us what it is made of…

Taking a shot

Family, Fun, WV, ,

WV has a program called Archery in the Schools, sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources.  Just over 50 schools from across the state field teams where students stay after school and learn about archery, practice technique, and try not to completely destroy the nerves of their instructor.  Their best archers go to the state tournament held in Charleston.  Last weekend Isaac shot for his school.

Isaac attends a pretty small school.  Their team sets up their shooting range  in the cafeteria, which, of course, is pretty small.  Apparently they can only shoot at a distance of 10 meters.  Isaac practices a lot and has become a really great shot at that distance.  He just seems to have an eye for it.

As a little side-step, it sort of cracks me up that there is a school sponsored “weapons in the classroom” program state-wide.  Anyhow, Archery in the Schools is a fantastic program and lets a lot of kids participate in a sport who otherwise may not be able.  The Civic Center in Charleston was packed this weekend with kids from all over the state.  These kids were a great bunch but most were not your typical jock.  Many came in camo and boots and looked like they were ready to go out in the field immediately after the competition.

Isaac’s school shot in the first group.  Each archer got a practice round of 5 arrows at 10 meters followed by 3 volleys of 5 arrows each which were scored.  After the 10 meter shoot, the students shot the same way from 15 meters.  Click this link to see a video of Isaac shooting.  He is target #2.  I love the sound of all the arrows hitting the targets!

Isaac shot his 10 meter round and did absolutely fantastic.  Remember I mentioned that they could only shoot from 10 meters at his school?  Well it showed in the 15 meter competition.  At the 15 meter range, I suppose Isaac got only half what he got at 10 meters.  He was pretty disappointed.  His grandparents just bought him one of the competition bows so I suspect we have a good bit of shooting ahead of us this summer…at 15 meters.

And who says they don’t teach the metric system in schools…