Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Chompers

One thing I've noticed about this whole without power deal is that it really stinks to brush my teeth with cold water.  I haven't complained much about being without power; I'm thankful for all the things we still have.  But, I must say, brushing my teeth the last few mornings when the weather has been in the 60s is not pleasant.

There are things that really benefit from being cleaned with cold water, for example: faces, hair, delicate laundry.  However, my teeth are another story.  It sends little pain tingles through my head and makes me nervous to swish the water at the end.  Now, I've never been a person that can bite into a popcicle or anything cold with my front teeth, but this is different.  I just don't feel like my chompers are getting as clean with the cold water.  And, I feel like my floss string is less maleable to maneuver around my pearly whites when it's cold. 

I'm a bit of a tooth/teeth fanatic (in the most extreme/fanatical sense) and I will freak out if I can't get my teeth clean or feel like they are free from 'stuff.'  I have irrational teeth fears stemming back from being a kid and I can't risk anything bad happening to these chicklets.  I'm not sure how much longer I can endure the cold-water-brushing.  I'm thinking tonight, I'll boil up some water on the grill before brushing.



I know, it's weird. But, these are the things you notice when you are getting ready for work in the dark and left to ponder what you can.  Here's to hoping this doesn't result in any crazy tooth dreams tonight.

Floss well my friends,
Whitney

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Where the sidewalk ends

When we walked out to assess the damage that Miss Irene left us, I heard the words to this poem go through my mind. 


Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

-Shel Silverstein


Although the poem is more lighthearted and happy than the photo, it occured to me that regardless of the damage to the beach this weekend, this will be a place that kids come back to.  Families will come back to help clean up.  They will celebrate Labor Day.  They will dig their umbrellas into the sand, breathe in the smells of salt and coconut sun tan lotion, and splash in the water.  Despite the fact that in parts, the sidewalk has literally ended, people will use that path to transition from the stress and damage of this storm to the memories and joy of our beach.   We will enjoy the last bits of sunlight each day before we retire into our powerless homes for the long dark night.  We will recall the sound of the waves crashing and use that to drown out the sounds of generators working to bring some power to those who need it most.

I'm so thankful that our friends and loved ones are all safe.  Although there  is damage, and in some places significant and life changing damage, we will move on.  We will rebuild.  We will salvage what we can.  While it is still so fresh and raw for many, I hope that the place where the sidewalk ends can eventually be turned into a place where something new begins.  

As I reviewed the pictures I took from the storm, I realized that some of them were beautiful.  That is not to take away from the severe damage that has been done to people's homes and lives.  I'm only asknowledging the power of mother nature, the strength of the ocean, and the humility of not being able to control it.  Here are some photos that I think showcase the strength and power of these forces:







Whitney

Friday, August 26, 2011

Fill in the blank, Friday

I'm copying Amanda, again!  Happy Friday, everyone. Be safe this weekend as Mean Irene approaches. 




1.   One of life's most simple pleasures is   sunshine. 

2.   Driving to work on 95 in the morning with people who ride 55mph in the fast lane instead of using it to pass makes me want to punch someone.  And this morning, I almost did punch someone.

3.  I like   CrossFitting because,    it's a great way to stay motivated by working out with a group of friends who push each other. 

4.    Fart  is a funny word.

5.  If I had to choose one beauty product to use for the rest of eternity it would be    Morrocan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream. This stuff rocks!

 
 
 
6.  I'm happy that    Mike is back to school so that I don't feel so frustrated whenI have to go to work and he doesn't!

7.  I would never     vote for Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachman. 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Come On Irene...

Image Credit: NASA

Well Friends,

It looks like Irene is heading our way.  Some say it's no big deal... the weather people are never right, others say we'd better get prepared to hunker down for a few days and ride it out.  Several predictions say that CT will experience near Cat. 1 winds/rain with Irene.  I guess we'll see come Sunday when she makes her arrival.

Last night Mike went to the store, we stocked up on food (some perishable despite my warning, and some non-perishable).  Mike has a plan, so he says, so I won't argue.  The last time Milford got hit with a big storm was Hurricane Gloria.  Mike talks about it like I talk about storms we had in Florida as a kid.  It's exciting and scary and wild all in one.  I just hope Irene isn't as intense.  I can handle the rain, and I can even appreciate the fun and excitement of a brief power outage.  And if there's no lightening, I'd even go out to play in the rain.  But I'd rather not watch my car swim away, nor see boats sailing up our street being pushed by the mighty ocean. 

As a kid, I remember sitting by the TV or radio and waiting for the updates.  Will it hit us?  Will it miss us?  Please give us a day off of school.  See, in Florida, there is absolutely NO chance of a snow day or a school delay.  We prayed for hurricanes and tropical storms.  Not the super damaging and deadly ones, but the ones that dumped enough rain and wind for the powers-that-be to decide that we shouldn't be standing at a bus stop.  Oh yea! Hurricane day!  We'd be stuck to the TV the day before listening to that shrill tone of the emergency broadcast system and looking at images like this:


and this:


Well... not much has changed.  I have the weather alert on my desktop at work, on my phone, and am listening to NPR all day waiting for updates.  Will it come?  When?  How strong?  And part of me takes pride in imparting my "I've done this many times before" knowledge on Mike as we prepare for Irene.  I too went to the store last night for batteries, candles, a bigger flashlight, and more water.  My camera battery is charged (because I will surely blog the photos I get) and we have cards and magazines aplenty to keep us entertained.

So, we'll move the grill inside, we'll take the patio furniture to the basement, we'll prepare the ice chests, and wait to see what this lovely lady brings us.  I hope you all are safe and that your friends and loved ones in Irene's path will be too.  And if I'm lucky, Mother Yale might grant us a Hurricane Day just to fulfill my childhood wishes. 

Staying tuned,
Whitney


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Plane vs. Train

This past weekend while traveling to and from Florida via what is now United/Continental (suck) Airlines, I realized something.  Flying is quite possibly the worst way to travel these days.  What was once the ultimate in vacation bragging rights as a youngster has become so frustrating and difficult that I'd really rather take a camping vacation driving for 16 hours to sleep in a pop up camper. 

In July, Mike and I had some pretty scary flying experiences, which I took as either his bad travel karma or just a fluke.  Having worked for Hole in the Wall for so many years and traveling so often, I've become used to the overshot runway braking method, the smell of exhaust filling the cabin because we've sat too long without moving, the irritable flight attendant who's just in it for the free flights. No big deal, right?  Well, boy have times changed.  I guess part of me still has a hope that the airlines might turn back to how they were when we were young.  Friendly flight attendants (aka Stewardesses back then), actual food and drinks served with ice that won't give you a G.I. infection, leg room.  Oh yea, leg room; I remember you.

A few key frustrations for present day flying include, but are not limited to:
  • Zone Boarding- does anyone understand the methodology behind this?  Why do they board the middle seats last? 
  • Adjustable arm rests- so when I'm wedged in between two people who are bigger than the seat and can't put the arm rest down, I'm stuck with their arm pit sweat dripping down my forearm and impressions of the contents of their pockets pressed into my thigh.  Gross! (This really happened to me!)  I paid the same price and got 1/2 the seat space and no arm space.
  • People who don't listen to the flight attendant's rules. On Sunday, a man next to me refused to turn off his electronic device and remove his ear phones.  The flight attendant asked 6 times, yes 6, and then threatened to have him removed from the flight before he unhappily pulled one headphone out of his ear. Jerk! I would have yanked him after the 2nd request, but that's why I'm not a flight attendant.
  • No more blankets and pillows on sub-3 hour flights. So, the plane is a balmy 50 degrees and I don't get a blanket?  It's not like there are a limited amount- there are literally NO blankets aboard. Really!?
  • Overbooking.  How does this even happen.  It's not OK with me to take a gamble on whether 10 people will no-show for a flight and then you bump innocent passengers because all 10 decided to show up. 
  • Beginner pilots make less that $25,000 a year!  Seriously.  We watched Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story last night (I know, I don't love him, but it was good).  One thing that stuck out to me was the revelation that most pilots are so poor that they have 2nd and 3rd jobs and many live off of food stamps and credit cards.  So, do I really want an underpaid, overworked, frustrated pilot in charge of getting me safely from A to B?  No thanks!
Grrrr!!!  So frustrating.  On Saturday night, hours before my 6am Sunday flight, Continental called to tell me they had taken the liberty of cancelling my flights due to weather (?) and rebooked me for two days later.  What?!  How can they do that.  How could they decide for me that I could just stay in Florida for 2 more days?  With this, I ended up getting re-rebooked for a 1 leg flight from Tampa to Newark and had to take an Amtrak train home if I wanted to get home on the day I planned to.  And- continental did not reimburse me nor take care of my Amtrak ticket.

But, the silver lining here is that I was reminded about how luxurious traveling via train can be.  I rode the Amtrak for almost 3 hours and I couldn't have been happier.  I would actually consider traveling via train more often in the Northeast.  I had tons of leg room.  My seat reclined all the way back into a nearly flat bed.  I had internet and electricity for my computer.  There was a bar and food car with reasonably priced items.  The Amtrak staff were so friendly and welcoming.  One gentleman who knew I was traveling to New Haven even made his way back to my seat to be sure I was awake as my stop was approaching.  So nice!  From now on, if I can take the train within a reasonable distance, I'm on it.  There's no point in flying to DC or Philly or anywhere up here if you can spend a bit more time and actually have a nice experience.  I hear you, Amtrak!

leg room!

wide, clear aisles

electricity and internet!

So friends, consider Amtrak or any train the next time you have to travel. 

Reconsidering the Un-"friendly skies",

Whitney

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A change is happening...

I think it's official; I like flowers.  I've spent much of my life hating and boycotting this ridiculous symbol of supposed love and care, of girlieness and obligation, but I think I'm officially converting.  This summer Mike and I planted some pretty flowers outside the condo to spice it up a bit, make it look summery.  Since the winter was so dreadful, I felt like flowers would be a nice touch.  Even though I didn't really like them or want them in the house, I thought they were pretty outside.




To be fair, I did both the planting and maintaining of the flowers, and Mike took care of his sea grass.  The sea grass is not doing quite so well.  Sorry Mike.  But after we planted these beauties and they began to bloom and grow and fill up the little spaces we cleared, I realized that I really liked them. I'd come home looking forward to seeing new opened rose buds and spend about a half hour dead-heading and watering and feeding all of the plants and flowers.  I read up about each type of plant to be sure I knew how to care for them.  And, I started bringing the blossoms inside to decorate our table and bookshelf.  I know... it didn't take much to convert me, really.

I've spent all summer taking great care fo these plants.  I've made sure they are hydrated, but not too much.  I have planted cups of beer in the beds to keep the slugs and bugs away (which really works), and I've weeded and weeded to keep them from being choked by the awful weeds that grow wild near us.  Success!  Or so I thought.  In mid-July, right before we left for Florida, the men who take care of the lawn for the condo complex weed whacked all of my flowers (except the rose bushes) to the ground.  Literally, to the ground.  They came through and just hacked them to pieces.  Now we are talking a lot of $ in flowers that were planted.  I came home from work to find them totally destroyed and all back to ground level.  All that was left were burnt ends where the sun had scorched the plants between the time they hacked them in the morning and I got home from the gym.   I nearly cried.  I had put so much love and time and effort into these plants.  I had once hated this kind of thing, but was really likeing them and enjoying the whole gardening thing.  I spent days trying to nurse them back to life- water, food, shade...  and it worked!



They made a comeback!  Event the seagrass is coming back.  I now leave a note on the wall outside scolding the lawn men about their mistake and demanding it never happen again.  I think Mike is embarrassed about the note, but screw it!  They tried to ruin my summer project.  How could you mistake hot pink dhalias and asltromerias as weeds and grass?  Morons!  So take that, lawn men.  My plants are strong and have deep roots.  You can't whack them down.  And, to add to their resurgence, a wonderful family of small monarch looking butterflies loves my wildflowers and they visit every day to collect pollen or nectar, or whatever they collect.  They are truly lovely.

So with that, I think it's official.  I'm a flower lover.  I even brought flowers in for my desk today.  They are pretty and I like having something summery and bright in here.


Well, that's my story for the day.  Hope you all have a great day!

Yours in pollen sneezes,
Whitney

Monday, August 22, 2011

Key Lime Pie...

I was at home in Florida this past weekend to lay to rest two very special people.  While the trip was a sad one, there were a few bright moments during the trip.  Sadly, I don't have pictures for all of them, but I'll do my best to describe them.

Friday was tough.  We had my Mema's service in the morning and I was a mess (so was everyone else).  Following that, we had my Uncle Tommy's service.  It was a somber day filled with memories and reflections and love.  I've said it before, but it's funny to me how so many emotions can be wrapped up in an instant when it comes to family and those you love.  At the same time that we were crying, we were also laughing and filled with warmth as we talked about them, the time we had with them, the wonderful memories.  So while it was sad, I actually felt better being with my family to celebrate Mema and Tommy.  And, when we drove home after a steaming hot day, smelling of sweat, BBQ, and salt tears, a double rainbow appeared.  My Sister-in-law and I looked over from the back seat of the car and there it was.  And both rainbows were complete from side to side.  I wish I could have captured a photo of them, but I think that even a photo couldn't match how beautiful they are in  my memory.  I'd say it was a good ending to a hard day.

On a lighter topic- I also took advantage of this quick trip home to nab some of the world's best key lime pie.  I know, the first thought through your head was probably..."Oh, I've had the best key lime pie" or like Mike says "Hooters has THE BEST key lime pie!"  In all seriousness, I'm sure your key lime pie is nice and all, but I know it's not the best.  Why, you might ask?  Because the best key lime pie comes from JJGandy's in Palm Harbor, FL.  It's been prooven.  And you know you can't fight science.  Seriously, you can't.  It's science.

JJ Gandy's has been around since I was a wee little lassie growing up in Palm Harbor (Just north of Clearwater).  They make their pies for most of the local eateries in town, including many of my favorite seafood joints.  They have a little shop in an industrial park that you'd never notice if you weren't looking for it, but you'd be missing out if that actually happened. 

There are a few key points I want to mention about real key lime pie for you non-Floridians:
  1. Key Lime Pie should be yellow, NOT green.  If someone serves you green key lime pie, kindly decline their offer. I'm not sure what they've served you.
  2. Key lime pie is made with real lime juice from real key limes- not your margarita limes from the grocery store. If you're going to go with a bottled lime juice, http://keylimejuice.com/, this is the ONLY acceptable kind ot use.  Nellie and Joe's is the best, and the recipe is on the back of the bottle. Always prepare a day ahead of when you want to eat it.
  3. Key lime pie is set on a graham cracker crust- not chocolate grahams, not another kind of cookie, and not a flaky pie crust.  Again, if you are served any of these, DO NOT EAT!
  4. Key lime pie is not fluffy.  Some people mistakenly ad egg whites to 'give it a little something,' this is WRONG!  It should be dense and creamy. No fluff!!!!!  Beware.
  5. Key lime pie has real whipped cream on top- not CoolWhip or Ready Whip.  Real whipped cream.

And the best part about JJ Gandy's?  If you call ahead by a day, they will flash freeze a pie (or several) for you, pack it up in icy gel packs, and make it plane-ready.  Yep. I took home a 10in. pie on the plane and train yesterday.  I packed away all of the 'go to' items one might need in their carry-on to make room for this:


This bag made it safely, and still frozen from Palm Harbor to Tampa Airport, Tampa Airport to Newark Airport aboard a Continental flight (more on that tomorrow), from Newark airport to Penn Station train station aboard Amtrak, and from Penn Station to New Haven Station, and on to Milford where we ate it immediately.

Gel packs on top and bottom- the center was still frozen when we ate it.

Yep- this is the place

Something this perfect is begging for a fork!

So, I know you thought the key lime pie you had last week, or the one your mom gave you a recipe for was good... but I'm sorry to tell you it's not this good.  You'll have to visit Palm Harbor to see for yourself.  Or, if you're lucky and live nearby, I might invite you over for a taste. 

PS- for all my crossfitting friends, this is NOT Paleo, but it's soooooo worth it!

Yours in key lime dreams,
Whitney

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Treat Yourself Tuesday

Trader Joe's has won my heart, again.  And again, and again.

I've written a previous treat yourself tuesday post about the benefits of all things coconut: coconut oil, and the SoDelicious products.  But, this past week I was pleasantly surprised to find that my Trader Joe's (yes, I claim it as my own- I'm sure other people in Orange, CT do too) finally got the non-dairy coconut milk in.  Woohoo!!!  I love this stuff. 


Here's what TJ's has to say about the new product:

Coconut Milks (Unsweetened & Vanilla)

We've been cooking with coconut milks for a long time (mmm, curry), but pouring it into a glass and enjoying it with cookies - this is a relatively new concept. One we like a lot. That's why we worked with our supplier to create our own non-dairy beverage Coconut Milks. They're made from the finest coconut flesh that is finely grated and steeped in hot water before being strained to squeeze out the essence of the pure white pulp. The result is a lightly coconut-flavored, delicately sweet beverage that is soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and practically free. Well… almost. We're selling each 32 fluid ounce carton of Unsweetened Original or Vanilla Coconut Milks for $1.99.


I've now used both versions pictured above (in one week!) and they are great.  If you aren't a traditional 2% milk chugger and you use milk as an ingredient instead of the main course then you will love this  stuff.  It's non-dairy and gluten free for those who have some lactose troubles, and soy free for the ladies which is the way to go these days.  It's a small way that you can cut out some unnecessary fat and gunk from your diet and replace it with something a little better.  I'm not saying it's a perfect product, but it's definitely better than real milk or dairy in a lot of ways- less fatty than almond milk, and so much better for you than the bad, bad soy products out there. 

Here are a few ways I've used these:
  • coconut pancakes
  • in the batter for french toast
  • mixed in with my eggs while I scramble them
  • in coffee- I prefer the vanilla one for this
  • in cereal
  • in any recipe calling for milk (like cupcakes!)- you may need to experiment a bit to get the consistency you're looking for, but I've had NO problems. 
  • Cold in a glass... mmmm, milk!
  • In curry (I like Thai style curry)
  • In homemade milk shakes and ice cream
So, have you tried it?  What are you using it for? And, if there isn't a Trader Joe's near you, go with the SoDelicious brand.  It's slightly more expensive, but still less than a gallon of milk and totally worth it. 

Dreaming of coconut,
Whitney

Monday, August 15, 2011

Stop and smell the rain

Seriously, forget the roses; the rain is where it's at!  Last night, sweet Milford got pummeled with rain.  I don't mean the "Oh, hey, it's really raining" kind of rain.  I mean the "Oh my word, should we bring the patio furniture in and put towels by the door because the water is somehow finding it's way in" kind of rain.  Whoa!  It was a serious rain storm- no lightening, no thunder claps, just rain. 

I like the variety in rain.  You've got your light misty rain that sort of exists in all directions because the drops are so light and whimsical that they don't actually 'fall' anywhere.  Then you've got the big drops, the small but rapid fire drops, sideways drops, drops that bounce back up from the ground and get you twice, drops that are sporadic and if you dare, you can walk inbetween them if you move around enough.  Rain is like personalities... it changes depending on mood, weather, and direction.  But not last night.  Last night in Milford we had legitimate sideways, near hurricane force rain.  It was crazy.  Mike wanted to keep the windows and doors open to hear it.  While I'm usually all about listening to the rain too, this kind of rain was so strong that it rained into our house.  Doors and windows closed.  Sorry Mike.


It rained so fast and for so long that there was no where else for the water to go.  We were flooded in the back yard and the water was creeping up the first front step. Yikes!  I kept listening for the flood siren down at the beach because I was sure the ocean was about to overflow it's salty waters onto our street.  'Dear Mother Nature, my car does not like salt water so please keep it down at the beach and not on our street.  Thank you.'  It worked.  No salty streets to speak of.

And then... at 11pm (I was asleep for an hour), I heard glass shatter.  Mike (still awake and watching random Sunday night TV) sprung to action and checked it out.  Sadly, he found our sweet neighbor on his front steps sweeping up glass that blew out of his hand as he carried his recycling to the curb.  I asked if Mike helped (as I would have), but he didn't.  He said he sneakily opened the door to spy and then shut it at the sight of sweeping.  Ugh.  Poor neighbor.  But, I think I might have waited on the whole recycling to the curb thing.


And then at 12am... the power went out.  This didn't bother me much until the house got hot and sticky.  Windows opened right away then.  Mike got to use his military grade flash light that has the little colored circles for different signals. Although, I'm not sure who or what he was intending to signal with the colors.  He did some further investigating around the house to be sure it wasn't just a tripped breaker (sp?).  It wasn't.  Milford was O-U-T of power.  Back to sleep for me... and candlelit overnight adventure for Mike.  I went downstairs around 2am to find him with 6 candles and lanterns lit, playing games on my computer until the batteries ran out.  Windows open, rain inside. Why not?

So... that's my story.  The rain was good.  It was strong and I think it super hydrated my flowers, among other things.  It was beautiful to listen to and this morning everything had that fresh, clean, rain smell.  I appreciate that smell.  And, I appreciate that the rain stopped long enough this morning to let me walk with my coffee from the car to my office before it began again.  There is nothing worse than the strategic drop that finds the sipping hole and splashes the coffee all over your white shirt. I have experience with this.  And, I hear more rain is on the way.  And, I read that we are on a flash flood warning.  'Dear Mother Nature, this is my second request, my car also doesn't like flooding.  Please don't make me swim home.  Thank you!'  I'll keep you posted!


Yours in soggy flip flops,
Whitney

Friday, August 12, 2011

Merging... it's not a hard concept

First and Foremost- thank you for your kind and beautiful words about my Mema.  Today is still hard but I'm focusing on celebrating her and all that she meant to me.  xo

Today, to change gears a bit, I'd like to discuss the concept of merging, or a merge, or a merger.  I don't think it's a very difficult concept.  So, why can't most drivers figure it out?! 

Merge:
verb (used with object)
1. to cause to combine or coalesce; unite.
2. to combine, blend, or unite gradually so as to blur the individuality or individual identity of: They voted to merge the two branch offices into a single unit.

verb (used without object)
3. to become combined, united, swallowed up, or absorbed; lose identity by uniting or blending (often followed by in  or into ): This stream merges into the river up ahead.
4. to combine or unite into a single enterprise, organization, body, etc.: The two firms merged last year.
Now that I live in the 'burbs, I must drive to work again.  While I don't mind the 20 minutes of Whitney time in the car, listening to NPR and contemplating what I will have for lunch, if I will go for the Hazelnut coffee at Nica's, and how hard the WOD at the gym will be, I find that I get so frustrated with the bad drivers that I actually don't enjoy my drive time.  To me, driving is not a hard thing to grasp.  Unlike other things in life, driving offers very clear, specific rules with very strict consequences for breaking them (tickets, crashes, no license).  Chances are if you're driving, you had to pass some form of driving test in some state in which you had to study these rules and instructions.  So why do people file that away and pretend there are no rules when they get behind the wheel?
Back to my original annoyance today- merging.  As said, it's a simple concept.  It works like a zipper, people.  You go, I go, you go, I go.  Or- left lane, right lane, left lane, right lane.  It's a give and take.  It's not a two-for-one deal, and it's not a ride-the-bumper-of-the-person-in-front-of-me-so-those-merging-people-can't-get-in deal.  They have a right to get in; they are yielding to you, but that doesn't mean you block them, it means you safely make room for them to MERGE.  This is a concept that the lovely people of New Haven, CT have yet to grasp.  Especially those who travel the I-95/I-91 merge in downtown.  You know who you are, people!!!  If someone has their blinker on and is patiently waiting for their turn to merge, don't be a jerk.  Let them in.  I'm not saying you have to let the whole line of traffic in, but if each driver does their part in letting one person in, we would not be sitting for 20 minutes a day to move 1/2 mile while you all fight over who gets to come in or not.  Driving is not a club; you do not have the right to decide who 'gets in' and who doesn't.  I get it, you're in a hurry, but the whole not letting someone in concept wastes more time and jams up more traffic than if you'd just let someone in and keep the flow of traffic moving.  You do this to yourself. Duh!


And for the truck drivers out there... you also know who you are.  I'm talking big rigs, not F-150s here.  Just because you have a big bad truck and you think you own the roads doesn't mean that's actually true.  Don't use your truck as an intimidation tool.  You too should obey the traffic laws and allow others to merge.  I know that you are a slow starter and therefore people jump in front of you because you can't get up to speed as quickly as they can, but don't take that out on all of us.  You do not intimidate me and just because you think that moving your front tires into my lane will make me stop and let you in, doesn't actually mean that will happen.  I'm not afraid.  I will hold the line.  I will drive around you as you illegally try to push into my lane without a signal.  You my friend, are the reason people disobey the merge concept.  You frustrate people.  So stop!  Use a signal, wait your turn, and I will gladly let you in. Don't be pushy- we appreciate the goods and supplies you are carrying. 
Ok- how's that for a soapbox on a Friday?  Have a wonderful weekend.  Drive safely, please.  And remember... mind the merge.  Sometimes I think I could have been a highly successful traffic cop.  It's never too late, I suppose.
Yours in peaceful driving,
Whitney

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Janie Louise Brice

Today will be a hard day. Today will be one of toughest in memory.  Today, in the wee hours of the morning, Janie Louise Brice made her way to heaven.  A true angel made her way home.  Born on December 21, 1921 this petite red-head, mother to my Aunt Patty and My Mom, Susie, graced this earth for almost 90 years.  She lived through joy, pain, love, sorrow, war and peace.  She raised children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, each with a special connection and bond to her.  She was a small, soft spoken lady, but she was the matriarch and the leader.  She was the example we strived to live up to.  In later years she was a homemaker and had a heart filled with pride for her grand children and their accomplishments.  And, she wrote notes and cards often to be sure we knew how she felt about us. 

My Mema and I shared so much more than a birthday.  As her only granddaughter, we shared a special bond that can not be understood or explained.  This woman shaped my life and was a driving force in helping me become the person I am today.  For those of you who have known me a while, you know how special Mema is to me.  This grandmother of five never missed a game, a swim meet, a graduation, a birth, a birthday, a wedding, or anything.  Nothing could keep her away from the joy of her grandkids.  All five of us are better people because of her.  The lessons she taught us, whether intentional or not, will remain wiht us always. We will pass them down, we will pass them down, share them often, and remember her with a love deeper than any other.

A few things about Mema worth knowing:
  • She was a true lady- in every sense of the word, she was the picture of grace, beauty, manners, and love.
  • She took pictures of everything. Everything. She literally photographed our entire lives and wrote specific details, dates, times, and people in every single image she captured. We have a photographic history of our family.
  • She put mayonnaise on grilled cheese sandwiches before she grilled them.  I love this.
  • She worked on a farm during WWII while my Papa was overseas fighting.  She wrung the necks of chickens unsuccessfully and eventually befriended the farm owners and grew as close to them as family.
  • She is mother of 2, grand mother of 5, great grandmother of 8.
  • She retraced the McLean and Brice family histories all the way back to Scotland and England and created elaborate family trees.  She met long lost family members and kept ties with them for years to come.
  • She knew how to drive and drove all over the country- at a time where many women didn't drive or desire to, Mema would drive anywhere and everywhere.
  • She was an incredible seamstress- she made dresses and outfits for my Mom, Aunt, and me and they were beautiful.
  • She taught me how to play solitaire- with real cards, not on the computer.
  • She fed and befriended multiple generations of red-tail hawks and they ate chicken gizzards from her hand. Generations of hawks came to her front yard instinctively to snack on gizzards and fish guts.
  • She could out fish most men- and then turn around and prepare that fish for the most delicious dinner you've ever had.
  • She made my favorite side dish- lemon jello, pineapple tidbits, and shredded cheddar cheese.  I requested this at every family outing.
As the tears flow down my cheeks and I feel my eyes swelling slightly, I'll leave you with some photos of this most amazing woman.  I am so thankful for 31+ years together, for shared birthdays, for road trips singing to country music, and for her love. 


Papa, Mema, Aunt Patty, and Baby Susie (my Mom)

Baby Whitney

Mema and Lil Whitney

Getting dressed

Watching grandkids on Christmas morning

Mema and Baby Evan

She made me dresses and outfits

She drove us to cousins weddings far away

Papa, Mema, and Evan

Mema and Papa on their Anniversary

Birthday time! I think this is our 20th.

Meems and Paps

High School Graduation- 1998

Our 21st Birthday- Strawberry Daquiris

Hug your family today, or call to tell them how much you love them.  Hold on to your memories and reflect on them often. 

With love,
Whitney


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

We fundraised, we swam, we conquered!

We did it!  We did it!  We set out to swim across the sound and that's exactly what we did.  Despite some rough weather and a few touch and go moments, we swam our hearts out, we left it all in the water, and stood proud at the end holding our 'Seagurls' sign on the finish dock.

We boarded the ferry from Bridgeport, CT to Port Jefferson, NY at 6am.  When we arrived in Bridgeport, the sun had not even graced us yet.  It was early. The kind of early that seems more like the day before hadn't ended yet.
We were nervous, but we were ready.  And having Lindsay's Mom, Sister, and Aunt, along with Alison's step-mom on the ferry with us helped to ease the nerves and reminded us why we were swimming.  It was good.  I was emotional.



We rode for about 35 minutes to Port Jefferson.  It's amazing to think that big vessel was rapidly making it's way across the very route that would take us 8+ hours to swim back on.  In hindsight, I think maybe going the night before would be better. That way you aren't faced with your fears so close to the time you take the plunge.  (As an aside- my stomach is in knots as I write this, recalling my nerves and fear).  We met Mike, our wonderful boat captain and Amy's husband, at Port Jeff and made our way to 'Take Time' a.k.a. Boat #33.  She was a good boat and she served us well.


Soon after, we were boarded, we hung our hand made signs cheering ourselves on, found our sea legs (whether we were ready or not) and we were off.  Lindsay was first in our rotation followed by Tracie, Alison, me, Amy, and Kirsten.  We were a strong team, and we were ready for this challenge.  We took turns swimming 15 minutes each.  As it turns out, the open water is quite a challenge and it's a bit unnerving to be out there much longer than that.  Crazy thoughts and imaginations run through your mind.  You feel all sorts of unknown things brush up or slither by your body.  You see things that you swear are jellyfish or shark fins, but are actually bubbles your hand makes when stroking, or buoys in the distance.  It's incredible the things your brain can convince you of when your are out of your comfort zone and just a little scared.  Luckily, we took turns cheering each other on from the boat and identifying the foreign objects for each other as the vantage from the boat made recognizing seaweed vs. man-eating-fish much easier. 


Lindsay on the first leg

Lindsay and Tracie at the exchange

Getting ready for my first time in

George- our wonderful navigator and boat owner
I decided to back stroke to get acclimated and calm down


Pat and Mike- our heros, drivers, pep talkers, and support.


Freezing after the first rotation. Brrrr...
 We swam and swam. 15 minutes at a time, we slowly but surely clicked the miles away as we headed toward CT.  We made every time check-point, and we never skipped rotation.  We drank gatorade and coconut water, we ate snacks, we applied and reapplied sun screen, and we played some great music to keep us motivated.
It wasn't an easy challenge and as the day wore on, the weather began to change.  Gone were the calm waters and warmth of the sun and high winds and tall waves entered.  The last two rotations were hard.  I nearly cried.  The waters were fierce and angry and the wind was pushing the boat faster than we could swim beside it.  It's much more challenging to swim in a straight line when the 3-5 foot waves are carrying you up and down with them as if you were on a rollercoaster.  We also drank copious amounts of salt water. Mmmm...

In the end, we were no match for mother nature and as a team, we decided to pull our swimmer in, at the end of the 6th rotation, with 2+ miles to go.  We had come so far, but the waters were scary and it was becoming more difficult to make progress.  Just minutes after we made the call, the race officials got word from the Coast Guard that the weather was too dangerous to continue, and they called off the race.  It was bittersweet.  We wanted to finish, but we wanted to do it as a team and mother nature had other plans.  I am thankful we were safe, and that no one was hurt.

As we motored in to the harbor, we passed other boats also collecting their swimmers and falling in line behind us for the finish line.  We approached the roar of the crowd at Captain's Cove and decided at the last minute to jump off the boat and swim to the finish as we had hoped.  We rushed to the back of the boat, jumped into the dirty water, and sprinted to the finish dock.  The harbor water was a mixture of motor oil, gasoline, and saline- which made it hard to breathe, see, and swim. But alas, we did it.  We stood proud atop that dock and hugged each other. 



We did it.  It may not have been exactly as we planned or envisioned, but we did it.  We were a team, we made decisions as a team, and we finished as a team.  Go Seagurls!!!  Our cheering section of loved ones were screaming our names as we swam in. They made posters and ran down to greet us.  It was so moving. 
And afterward... we ate. Boy did we eat.  And drank, we drank fruity, foofy drinks and treated ourselves.  We were slimy, and salty, and grimy, but we were done. Challenge met.
Yes- I ate this! And it was good.

I'll settle for pretty flowers if I can't get a smile for the camera

our friend Jesse finished in a 2-person team in 7:55hrs.  Awesome.
And so in summary, it was an awesome day.  I learned alot about open water swimming, about training, about myself, and about teamwork.  I will be back next year to face the challenge again with Lindsay and the Seagurls.  And... incase you didn't hear- we raised $12,000 for St. Vincent's Hospital!!!  Our little team brought our A-game and I couldn't be more proud.  We rocked this swim.

Whit and Lindsay


Yours in great pride and humility,

Whitney