The Weekend

It was a nice weekend. Rick and I looked at houses a bit. We've been hesitant to look too much before the condo sells, but we're really ready to get going on the move. We also went to the Stagg's mission homecoming. They've been in Cambodia the last 18 months (I visited them last year-see Asia trip blog). So good to have them home! And so fun to see friends from the old neighborhood. The bloggable experience came on Sunday evening when we went to my parents to celebrate Kira and Will's birthdays.

You know how you're in a room when a bunch of conversations are going on, then everyone seems to stop talking except one person and you just get a slice of that dialog. Here's what we heard.

Asher (age 8) to Zane (age 12), "It's really cool how you have a lot of money and stuff so it will be easy for you to get a wife."

Upon further discussion, we found out they were talking about the video game Sims.

Earth Day

This evening on NPR they were reading poetry for Earth Day. Springtime is nice, but Springtime poetry puts me over the edge (in a good way). As I listened, the long day, itchy shingles, and drive home all melted away, and I was left feeling happy and thankful. I decided I needed to come home and post my own Springtime favorites in honor of Earth Day.

Apparently, some of my favs were posted here when I was searching for last year's official poem of Spring. It's definitely time to find this year's official poem. Here is last year's winner. Below are a few other favs that were winners in past years.

First a couple from ee cummings

in time of daffodils(who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why,remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so(forgetting seem)

in time of roses(who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if,remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek(forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me,remember me


and and ee cummings classic...

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of allnothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

And just so you don't think I only like ee cummings poems, a little Wordsworth.

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began,
So is it now I am a man,
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

OK- send me your submissions for this year's Official Poem of Spring.
FUN!

What's for Lunch

With the downturn in the economy, not to mention the extra few lbs I've put on since the wedding, the past couple of months I've given up eating out for lunch when I'm working. Instead, I have my daily peanut butter and honey sandwich with a side of organic greens while sitting in the office. This week I splurged and bought this

Organic, raw honey with hint of pomegranate. YUM.

I also splurged and bought the Easter version of this
But don't tell anyone. :)

Feeling My Age

I'm loving the Spring weather. Rick and I took advantage last night and did our first official bike ride this season. It wasn't too hard core, pretty mild actually. Just out past the airport and back.
It was so nice to be riding again. The trip was pretty uneventful, except my shoe broke and I couldn't clip in most of the way back. I guess that is what the first ride is for, figuring out what needs to be fixed/adjusted for the season. We'll get everything in order and ready for Dustin's birthday ride on Friday (come on weather hold out for us!)

The previous evening Rick and I did a short run on the track at the rec center while the boys were in a class (Le Parkour- I'll have to blog about that later. It's really cool). So we were already a bit sore when we started the bike ride. Maybe it helped to have that little bit of break-in to Spring training, but I am so sore today. It's like I'm feeling every day of my 40 years. Rick and I were laughing walking down the stairs at the condo last night. We were all contorted trying to find the best way to take each stair with the least amount of pain.

It's supposed to rain today. I'm hoping it's just a day of bad weather then back to the sunshine. We were thinking we'd like to take mountain bikes to the bird refuge this weekend. Good times.

Advice

Hey my friends. I need advice on two items.

1) I'm wanting to get rid of chemicals at my house. Any suggestions on natural cleaning products. I'm thinking vinegar/water solution is the answer to a lot. I've read that it may not be good for tile/grout and granite. Suggestions? Also, any ideas for laundry and dish washing?

2) We are heading to Florida for a family vacation next month. We will be staying in Orlando. I know all of you are travel experts and can advise me wisely. Is two days enough for Disney? We are assuming it won't be too crowded mid-May. Has anyone toured Kennedy space center? I think there is a shuttle launch while we are there. Any good suggestion of a good spot to see it? Does anyone know about SCUBA diving in the area? I'm thinking we will have to drive down to West Palm Beach to find decent dive sites. What else is good to see/do? I'm open to any and all suggestions.