Life in Birtville: October 2011

Ahhhh Fall! My favorite time of the year. The school year starts, temperatures drop, humidity starts to go away, the leaves turn, and I could go on and on. This is my favorite time of the year. Since I last updated everyone quite a bit has happened in Birtville. Taylor has started her Senior year in High School, Shelby is a Freshman and playing on the Varsity Field Hockey team, and doing very well I might add. Justin will be moving to a new home around the first of November. Adam is teaching 3 classes this fall as an adjunct and while he loves it, it's still not something full-time with benefits but someday something like that will come along. Art is taking courses towards a graduate certificate in Human Resources, which raises eyebrows with all of us who live with him, and I continue my daily, no minute by minute struggle with my weight, being able to move, and blah, blah, blah.

In July, we did our yearly trek to Boston to see the Red Sox play. While it was on one of the hottest and muggiest days of the year, we still had a great time and got to see all of our favorite players from Josh Beckett, to Youk, to Pedroia, Varitek, and of course Jonathan Papelbon. They won which made the nasty hot and humid weather all worth it. Steve and Theresa also brought a couple of Shorty's and Tay's girlfriends with them, Mikayla and Leah and an awesome time was had by all.

Shelby, Leah, Mikayla, and Taylor getting ready to head to Boston

With Art in the subway in Boston

At Quincy Market

At "Dick's Last Resort" in the marketplace

Justin with his "condom" hat

FENWAY!!!!

Seattle Mariners at batting practice before the game

So even, as hot as it was, you can see we all had a very good time. Shelby and Taylor spent the last week of July here in Birtville and we had a ball. We did our yearly "Harry Potter" movie, saw a play at the Maine State Music Theater, shopped, and did all the things that we like to do. And to make matters even better, Shortbus didn't get motion sick AT ALL! A plus in everyone's thoughts, but mostly hers.

In July, I also gave up the ghost and let my SAAB, my little car of almost 12 years go to the great used car lot in the sky. While I had full intentions of purchasing a Toyota RAV4 or Highlander it didn't turn out that way. While I like both vehicles and the Highlander was sooooooooooo comfortable, I happen to get behind the wheel of a little 2011 Prius. You know, Toyota's hybrid? Not only did it feel like me, it gets anywhere between 40 and 51 MPG of gas! It's awesome! and I love it even more when I pull into the gas pumps.

"DIL" Julie turned 30 this year...Happy Birthday, honey!

August brought busy times for all. My yearly CT scan, which was negative by the way, and I'm now starting my fourth year cancer free. Had a great lunch with a nursing school friend from Concord Hospital School of Nursing. And while I didn't finish that program, Jan and I have remained very close over the years.

She hasn't aged a bit!

Jude and Jett had birthday's in August. Jude turned 6 and is starting kindergarten, while Jett is now "free" and will be doing something 1 day a week this fall while Jude is in school. Jude loves school and Julie says he seems to be enjoying it. Hockey has started and of course he is playing.

Brothers

Jude, age 6, first day of kindergarten

Getting off the bus

Along towards the end of August, just prior to the start of another school year, I had the opportunity to get better acquainted with the lady that was to become my co-worker in the nursing program. We are working well together and definitely like our new digs in what used to be the bachelor officers quarters at the now defunct Brunswick Naval Air Station. While it stilll looks an awful lot like a Navy base, it's very, very quiet here. Only a couple of families remain while the Navy is finishing up the deomissioning of the base.

Building 512

New digs

New office

September was pretty uneventful with everybody doing fun things. Steve and Theresa took the girls to concerts in Bangor, my sister Wendy finished a job and has started a new one, and life goes on. Now, to October. Art and I and the boys spent Columbus Day weekend in NYC. Justin had never been and while the rest of us have, it's been a long time. We only had two days so we made the most of it. Saw many things, some new and some the good old stand by's. One thing that was decided though, we had a fantastic time and can't wait to do another family trip soon!

I think we had some favorites--Bodies the Exhibition, a broadway play that proved that Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) can sing and dance extremely well, a significant walk through the Highline Park. Adam was able to take all kinds of pics and at some point over the next year I"m sure he's going to put them on disk so I can share them on here. We walked and walked and I have to say, that I managed to keep up pretty well. Hard to believe, isn't it? While I can't share all the pictures I'd like to, I'm going to show you some and then will post more of Adam's when they become available.