VT Dad’s fight vs. inertia & flab

Today, 2/25,  is Pixie’s birthday.  I just wanted to wish my friend in sunny San Diego, "Happy Birthday."
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/pixiglittrpants/

If anyone wants a good read, I suggest you travel over to Stormisini’s most recent blog titled balance:  http://blog.bodybuilding.com/Stormiorsini/2009/01/27/balance/

Michael

Tonight my eldest son had a rehearsal from 7:00-9:30 PM, with an orchestra of adult musicians.  He was recommended by the conductor of the youth orchestra, as this orchestra was looking for an English horn player.  It took 45 minutes to drive each way to the rehearsal.  I sat alone, reading accompanied by classical music.

Today my daughter was playing outside with her friends.  Next thing I now, they’re wanting raakes for leaf raking.  They had a blast.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK!!!!!!!!!!

Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!

ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVE  
Please Read all the way to the bottom. The subjects covered affect us all.

They’re written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words.  Enjoy…….

I’ve learned…. That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I’ve learned…. That when you’re in love, it shows.
I’ve learned…. That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.
I’ve learned…. That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I’ve learned…. That being kind is more important than being right.
I’ve learned…. That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I’ve learned…. That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.
I’ve learned…. That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I’ve learned….. That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.  
I’ve learned…. That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I’ve learned…. That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I’ve learned…. That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.
I’ve learned…. That money doesn’t buy class.
I’ve learned…. That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I’ve learned… That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I’ve learned…. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I’ve learned…. That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I’ve learned…. That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I’ve learned…. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I’ve learned… That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I’ve learned….. That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I’ve learned… That life is tough, but I’m tougher.
I’ve learned…. That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I’ve learned…. That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I’ve learned…. That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I’ve learned…. That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I’ve learned…. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I’ve learned….’ That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.

ALSO . . . .
I’ve learned…. That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.
I’ve learned…. That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

To all of you…. Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.

It’s National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND, even if it means sending it back to the person who sent it to you. If it comes back to you, then you’ll know you have a circle of friends. HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!!!!!! YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED! Now send this to every friend you have!! And to your family. This was sent to me by a friend.

Our visit to Princeton was brief.  The weather was fabulous.  We had a wonderful time.  Most importantly my daughter seems to really be enjoying herself.  Her are a few shots of the family, and Princeton.  Unfortunately neither of my high school aged boys were able to visit their sister.

Today was Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, and a fast day.  As been my tradition, for my last 3 years I’ve chosen to walk to Synagogue.  These past 2 years my littlest one, age 9, has joined me on this walk.  All three years as we were leaving our neighborhood, one of my neighbors have offered us a ride.  We were dropped off ~1&1/4 miles from the synagogue, and resumed our walk.  My daughter spotted with fascination the colorful maple leaves on the ground.  She picked up one brilliant leaf, then another, and the rest of our walk became a scavenger hunt trying to fill out the entire rainbow with the colorful maple leaves.

After playing basketball this morning I went with my family to the county fair.  My wife and I had a great time looking at the exhibits.  My youngest 2 kids had a great time riding the rides.  I was proud of myself for my restraint.  I had a vegetarian taco salad for dinner, refraining from the normal fried fair fare.  My wife and son went home at ~7 while I took my youngest to the Jonas Brothers concert.  It was a great show, but teenage girls can hit high notes that even would give K9s headeaches.

Before the conference even started my youngest joined me at services at the conference site, where she met a 7 year old that was attending the conference with her grandmother.  They hit it off, my daughter had fun, and she decided to attend the conference.  The grandmother attended kid friendly workshops, bringing along her grandaughter and my daughter.  My daughter had a blast at the conference.  On Wednesday afternoon the 2 young ones joined together to belt out 2 songs at an open mike during the lunch hour.  Later that evening they were the only 2 kids in a 36 member chorus made up of conference attendees, onstage in front of an audience of 1200+.  Later they volunteered to play air guitar during another song.  What an experience.  How cool is that.

It’s officially summer in Burlington, VT, Ben and Jerry’s free outdoor movies are back, Tuesdays at dusk through August 19th.  Tonight was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  It’s a fun night, a free movie and an ice cream treat.  Unfortunately, they were unable to get the third reel up and running tonight.  As they sent us away with their apologies, they gave everyone coupons for free cones.