Live from Tormville!

A New Day / A New Year

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. —Robert Louis Stevenson

On March 13, 2020 - I began counting days. That was the day that in-person learning at school came to a screeching halt. 

Tomorrow, March 15, 2021 - we start our fourth quarter of face to face education. I'm proud to be a part of a district that pushed forward with in person learning along with a virtual option. 

Are we back to normal?  No. 
Are there things I wish I could change?  Yes. 
Have I changed the way I do things?  Yes.  And No. 

While the year has held trials, it has also held blessings. 
While the future is still uncertain, there is hope. 

I choose hope. 

 

Staring Down The Barrel / Day 361

I remember when my mom was raising kids and working, she'd often remark that she wished that Sunday and Saturday were reversed. Her wish was that as the day of rest, Sunday came first. 

I reflect on that comment a lot, and definitely felt it yesterday. 

Last week was a long week. The work week was filled with activity, some within the norm and some out of the norm. It was a week that kept us on our toes. 

The boy's activities are in full swing, so every evening we are running. Mark's first two swim meets of the season took place this week. He learned a tough, but memorable, lesson when he rushed his getting into the pool before Thursday's event and didn't take the time to properly put on his goggles.  His goggles slipped off during his entry, filled with water and blinded him. He smacked chin first into the wall. Right in front of me, as I was cheering him on and taking photos. 

He ice packed for the rest of the meet, but did do his other events. I told him that I witnessed the coaches scrambling. They'd seen the impact and were sure they'd have to find a replacement for his relay. His response, "Even if they did try and replace me, I still would have done them"  He's bruised, but he still has all his teeth and he won't make that mistake again. 

Yesterday I crashed. 

I walked to the bowling alley to photograph that team's senior event at 8am, but afterwards - nothing.  I'm blaming it on the tough week, cold temperatures, the daunting week ahead and a poor night's sleep. 

Today I'll putter on a few things, make a plan of attack for the coming week and hope to make a meal plan. I also need to get outside and get some exercise and Vitamin D. 

This coming week are two more swim meets - both away. 
I'm working 8 hours a day this week, subbing. 
More archery. 
I had hoped to make the girl's game in Brighton this week - but there was a time change on Mark's swim meet, so I have to scratch that one off my list. 
Brian gets a haircut. You know it's getting long when he agrees to an appointment. 

We have a few rounds of out of town company coming the end of this month/beginning of April - so I'll be squeezing in some extra spring cleaning in between the cracks. 

Spring is coming. But I am hoping for one more good snowfall. Sorry, not sorry. 

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Fun(ny) note: It was realized yesterday that Allan, our oldest, is now the shortest of our three boys. It was one of those moments that had the walls shaking and the lamps nearly breaking as chaos erupted. 

*Sploosh* / Day 357

The first swim meet of the season is in the books. 

It's a weird feeling as we're coming around to where we left off last year. Last year we had a few swim meets in when the world suddenly stopped. This year, it's masks on deck, one spectator per swimmer/diver, no transfer bus to meets and limited locker room time. 

It's hard to wrap my head around at times. 

Yesterday was the type of day that had me strategically planning from the minute I woke up. 
Work is cold = layers. 
Leave work on time to feed swimmer and get him to his meet. 
Deck is warm = change into something more comfortable. 
Have quick light dinner prepared for when the boys get home from school. 
Make it portable, as eating is done on the way to the meet.
Pick up more dinner after swim. 
Get other kid to archery in time. 

One of them kind of days. 

Tomorrow is pretty much the same schedule, but with a little more time before swim and little less time between swim and archery.  

Greg, meanwhile, is going to the office today for the 8th day in a row. He still considers himself as working from home. 
I'm curious how many days in a row he'll go to the office before he realizes that he can't say that anymore. 

Dear Wendy / Day 354

Dear Wendy, 

Like last week, this is (obviously) for everyone to read. Letter writing has always been my favorite way to write - so this is what comes easiest when things are really busy and my writing side is bursting to get things down. 

So. 

-----

Dear Wendy, 

I miss you! 

I'm sorry that I've been so busy this past few weeks, and so poor at responding to texts. Dad did a good job filling the gap I think. I really do agree with his logo choice. I'm so glad you are coming home soon so we can have some real catch up time. 

Yesterday marked the last day of the three week 'gather as much winter sport content as you can get' stretch. Yearbook is being submitted tomorrow so what we got is what we got.  It would have been convenient if the yearbook deadline had been extended as the winter sports begin time was delayed, but unfortunately - that's not how that works. Between that, and so many restrictions on who can attend games - I'm just grateful that Dan and I were able to help out in our own little way. You would have gotten a kick out of us yesterday as we were chatting at the boy's basketball game, both of us getting a little emotional about what we do. It's so fun to have someone else so similarly like-minded to shoot the games with and share tips and tricks. 

But. Now it's break time and time for a little self care, home care, and a little refocusing before spring sports begin playing. 

Middle school swim meets start this week - two meets a week for the next three weeks. Covid precautions will rear their head here too in that the kids from Highlander Way are not able to take a bus over to Parker, like they traditionally do, for their meets - so all the HWMS parents are scrambling, trying to figure out how to accomplish this task. I think you're pretty well aware how much I dread and avoid parent pick up even on a normal year. We'll play it meet by meet and see how it goes. Some days I work until four and that happens to be the time the meets start.  I have to continue to think about it day by day, instead of too far forward, or it'll stress me out.  I think we can manage this Tuesday. I'll worry about Thursday after that.  

Each swimmer/diver is only allowed one guest, as per Covid rules - but if you're a helper on deck, you don't count.  Thanks to my camera, I can get in that way, and we can get grandma in on Mark's guest list. Aubrey is diving this year, so grandma has two grandkids to watch and she's always attended Mark's meets. The meets are too early in the day for dad to be able to attend, but I am hoping he can make it to next week's away meets near the office (side note: last week marked the first week all year that he went into the office every day) because.....nevermind. I'm not supposed to be thinking too far forward. 

I do have to think about next Saturday. Next Saturday is a Virtual 3D State Tournament.  Archery, like every other sport and activity under the sun, is also facing some challenges. Typically, we have multiple teams competing, and it's always other teams that score your own team. For integrity. This year, well - where to begin.  Some teams aren't competing yet, most teams are competing on their own ranges and submitting their scores virtually - BUT - we have to maintain the element of integrity or our scores won't count.  What that means is that we need volunteers that are not relatives or in any way associated (we'll get the exact definition of that tomorrow) with any of our archers, to help out. This should be interesting. Right now we're reaching out to first responders and community leaders to see if we can get their support.

In good news - Brian scored a new personal best at yesterday's 3D tournament. We enjoyed a Dunkin Donut prize on the way home and laughed at all our own stupid jokes while waiting in the ridiculously long drive through. I love spending time with him. I'll have to take him out today for some drive time. He'll be sixteen in a couple weeks, but he's not in any hurry to get his license. We agreed to just go ahead and schedule it for this summer when I'm off work. I know appointments are ridiculously far out - so I should probably get on that now. 

Anyway. Again - can't wait to see you! I sent you a text of when we're off school. I did commit one of those days to the Sheriff's Office as it sounds like, after a long three years in the making, my position there may finally start up sometime late spring/early summer. I'll know more details after we get together. 

And now it's time for church, so I should close a few tabs and listen. I did make it to night church last week. Donny made me laugh.  As he was walking by, he tapped me on the shoulder and says "Hey Part-Timer!"  Afterwards he says that he wouldn't have said that to anyone but me, cuz he knows me, and knows I can take a little teasing. He's right. We've written, so he knows where my head is at, the obstacles I face and the hope in my heart. He reminds me of his dad, your great uncle Richard, who so often tugged my ear as he walked by.  

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." - Fred Rogers

xoxo

Mom 

Dear Wendy / Day 347

My family has been on me about my lack of blogging lately.  

Wendy is claiming that her refresh finger is wearing out.  So, I'm writing this in letter writing format as it's a style of writing I've always enjoyed, but it's for anyone to read. I tend to use this type of writing when I'm trying to jumpstart myself again.  :)  

 

Dear Wendy, 

Surprise!  A blog post! 

The boys, all four of them, went for a sunny Sunday afternoon snowy hike through the woods (they coin flipped to make a decision between Bishop or Kensington - and Kensington won) - but I was really just in the mood for some peace and quiet, such a rarity during pandemics, that I chose to skip this one and stay home.  aaaaaaah  It's blissful, it really is. I've learned that when dad and all three of your brothers go hiking, it turns out more like a fast paced trek with flying snowballs and words. Not exactly relaxing. Or blissful. 

So. Here I am. 

We had a snow day this week! Monday we had off school for Presidents' Day and Tuesday we woke up to over 7 inches of new, fluffy snow. Rocket took one step out the door and gave me a look like, "You've got to be kidding me" and then bounded off to play.  Yesterday, by the way, was National Love Your Pet day. We got Mark another one of those National Day calendars again, so he always keeps us updated on the days. To love on Rocket yesterday, he made sure that there were play things and peanut butter filled kongs lying around. I have no doubt that Rocket could tell the day was extra special.  Mark is good like that. 

Mark has one more week of swim practice before his first swim meet of the season. They've been busy doing time trials, and it's been fun to see how much his time has improved. He's definitely stretching out, finding humor in looking down on me now, and those long limbs are pulling him quicker through the water. That, and I'm sure swimming laps in the lake every chance he could, right through October, is paying off. 

I came home from basketball the other day and told him that I had a chat with the football coach, telling him that I wouldn't be opposed if he somehow managed to talk that big since the day he was born kid into trying football. Mark's response was funny: I'm way too polite for football. I'd be like, here....you can have it.  True that. One of the times that I wished I'd shot video rather than taking pictures is during one of the several soccer games where he could be heard apologizing to all the players he mowed down.  Sorry. sorry. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?  
I did mention that part to the coach too, so he probably won't be working too hard to recruit him.  

Between sports being back in action, running Mark to swim four days a week, and Brian to archery two/three times a week - it's gotten busy around here again. It's funny too - even with dad still working from home most days, I feel like he's busier than ever. He bowed out of coaching archery this year, and hasn't even been able to help with getting  Brian to and from archery very often. I try not to work when I have to bring him, but it is nice that it's conveniently located at Three Fires so that I can work if I want  to. So, sometimes I work, and sometimes I just walk laps.  

And sometimes I have Allan help with shuttling so I can get to the sport of the night. 

Get this! I was at a hockey game a couple weeks ago - one of the first events that I shot when contact sports were allowed to play again - and Lori Pennala says Hey Sharyn, that's so nice that they put you on the roster.  And I was all - HUH?  I'm so rarely caught off guard and I was NOT expecting that. So there I am, on all the winter sports rosters, along with Dan Zeppa, the other photographer. Since so few people can attend the games currently, they said it just makes it easier. It was a nice warm fuzzy for me.  I feel like I struggle sometimes with finding my place, and just having my name there gave me a feeling of belonging somewhere. My eyes get a little fuzzy thinking about it (and I wonder where you get that from??) 

Speaking of belonging, it's the 3rd Sunday - so I'll get to church tonight. I missed the last 3rd Sunday (I no longer remember why) so now it feels like it's been ages since I've been in person.  I'll go to morning church again in the summer, but for now - this is where I'm at. 

Someone asked me the other day if I'm scared of Covid. I laughed inside, but I could see where the question was coming from - and I appreciated being asked, so I answered honestly. No. I then went on to share things from my perspective, and I could see that it made sense then.  That's one of the nice things about being able to go to the games is that I get to see people and enjoy some quick visits between periods. There have been a few games where I'm wandering up and down the bleachers on both sides, when we play Hartland or Brighton.  I feel blessed in friendships and faith. 

Anyway. With that, I think I'll go dig up that information that you just called me wanting, and then take a few moments to really revel in the quiet before the boys get back home.  Oh! And I need to remember to pull that pan of bakery out of its hiding spot in the oven before someone decides to preheat it for dinner.  With Allan still home, I admit that we've gotten savvy at hiding the good stuff now and then if we want to make sure he doesn't eat it all. He swears that he is moving out before the sucky things begin falling off the cottonwood trees. 

I love you! 

xoxo 

Mom

Intergalactic relationships / Day 334

During last night's evening conversations, Mark related a class incident from last week wherein a girl was dumped via text. During class. 

 

Mark: ..... and I was the only boy in the class, and I was sitting in the corner trying really hard not to laugh or be seen when the other girls kept telling her how dumb guys are. 

 

Mark, continued:  ..... and it was really awkward, and I didn't know if I should be doing something to help, or what I should do....

 

So, we went over a few things: 

• First of all, promise me that you will never ever ever ever sever a relationship via text or email. If you had a relationship in the first place, then that person deserves the courtesy of a private, face to face explanation. No exceptions. Promise me. 
• If you happened to be the only one around, then you would empathize and listen and empathize some more. 

Mark: It's not like I have a lot of relationship experience. All I know is from books, and those relationships usually involve an intergalactic battle and then someone dies. 

 

Winter / Day 333

Last Sunday we took the day to head up to Frankemuth's Snowfest.  

Both Brian and Mark caught onto this backwards Statue of Liberty quickly and at the same time. Mark figured he better stand in the correct pose for a bit. I figure an etcher was given a form and - oops - used the wrong side. OR, maybe ...... nevermind. 

It was still January last week, so restaurants weren't open yet, and the festival was much smaller than usual with no bands or warming stations. The stores were open, and we enjoyed just being out and about, popping in and out of stores as a way to warm up.

Winter! 

Friday was our first snow day, more due to our back roads than due to any accumulation of significance. Whatever. I was happy to have it.  Just after having switched back to my getting off at 2pm schedule, I was bumped right back up to the 8 hours a day again for the last week and a half.  I appreciated my catch up day. 

Yesterday was about Saturday cleaning, and today was about relaxing and company after church. 

As for this week - I go back to enjoying my shorter hours - just in time. 

Mark starts swim this week. 
Per Covid - the team can't take the transfer bus over to the pool right after school this year - so swim, four/five days a week - will be an evening thing, and no parents in the building for practices. Per Covid.
Along with Brian's archery. 
And along with contact sports. 

This coming week marks the first in nearly a year that we have something in red on every box. 

• Mark Swim x 4 
• Brian Archery practice x 2
• Archery Tournament on Saturday
• Mom - haircut
• Greg - day trip to Georgetown for a business meeting
• Mom - back on the sidelines as winter contact sports are back. On deck for this week: girls basketball, boys basketball, figure skating and wishing there was a way that I could be at two sports at once so I could do hockey and gymnastics as well. 

 

 

 

A Collection of Feel Goods / Day 319

This week was pretty uneventful, with a few feel good moments imbedded throughout

• I went back to my own schedule this week, which now has me getting off work at 2, rather than 4:30. I'm enjoying getting home before the boys again, having time to think about dinner and work on a few projects. 
• Brian started archery practice this week, which did have me at school after hours on two nights. The perk of practice being where I work is that I get to get some work done rather than having to sit out in the car during this dictated time when parents aren't allowed in.  On one of those nights, the phone was ringing. Typically, I won't answer it if I'm there after hours, but I had a hunch I knew what it was about, even without caller ID.  
  Me: Good evening, Three Fires Elementary, this is Sharyn. 
  Person on the other side: Um. Wow. I wasn't actually expecting anyone to answer. Thank you. 
  It made me smile. 
• I bought a new living room rug. It's not 'quite' the color I want, and it could be a little larger, but it will do for now. The boys keep walking on it exclaiming on its softness. I was in the mood for some warmth and softness.  AND, it's was $1300 cheaper than the one I fell in love with at Tanner's Vintage Trove (and yes, that was the half off price) 
• Greg and I took a five mile hike in the woods today in the freshly fallen snow. The trails are still icy. Greg only slipped a few more times in his new hiking/hunting boots than I did in my Yaktrax.  Oh, and I got mocked by a squirrel as I was making my way down the big icy hill as slowly and steadily as possible. He stayed by my side on his fence, and would begin chattering everytime I made like I was slipping.  It made me laugh. 
• I hit my 100th mile of the year while on our hike. I'm on track to beat my January 2019 miles. I'll have to really push to match my January 2020 miles. (Remember me? I love data) 
• I didn't bring my big camera on today's hike. Too slippery out makes it hard to balance. 
• In a note from Mark's speech teacher this evening:
  I don't think in the 16 years that I have been doing this that I have ever had anyone make this much progress!
  We have been beyond blessed with his transitions of speech teachers from the very beginning. His apraxia of speech has improved tremendously. He never even found a need to use his shield rather than a mask at school. 
• Mark turned 14 yesterday. 
  Mark: You could surprise me by filling my room with balloons. 
  Me: Your birthday is on a Saturday. We're all home. 
  Mark: Well, if I go for a walk to grandma's, you could do it then. 
• He's chomping at the bit now to get a job, as he knows several places hire 14 year olds. He is thinking he should probably wait until swim season is over. 
• The Bernie memes this week are hilarious. I've enjoyed the creativity.  I also laughed at the one that has our president saying "I have mittens too" 
• My boss: You need to stop being so efficient. (On me taking the more fun tasks)
  It made me think I need to seriously think about taking a vacation. 
• Then today I sent an exclusion letter to the wrong family. So much for efficiency.  Right initials, right class, wrong kid. 
  I might still need to consider a vacation - maybe more so. 
• Fresh snow makes me feel good. I'm still holding out hope for Tuesday, even with the numbers declining. I'm hoping for some snowshoeing. 
• I went to snuggle my newest niece. 
  My baby turned 14 this week, and all three of my brothers have had/are very soon having babies. Talk about different stages of life. I'm thankful for the snuggle opportunities. 
• A note from another friend that filled my heart. 
• A trip down memory lane with yet another friend. 
• A correspondence with a colleague that wrote in regards to some getting the vaccination and The rest of us are still playing Hunger Games trying to secure an appointment!
  I don't know that I'm getting in line yet for the vaccine, but I appreciated the visual reference. It made me chuckle. 
  
• An order of Trenary Toast arriving before the weekend. 
• I appreciate those select few that keep me from vocalizing my more political thoughts publically. For them, I'm thankful. 
• Clean cupboards. With none of my usual activities, I've been feeling good about digging through one cupboard at a time, purging as I go. I did a few more over the weekend. The garage sale pile is getting taller. 
• A charging camera. I have hopes of capturing some action shots this week. I have my fingers crossed that Brian manages to stay out of quarantine through his first archery tournament of the season coming up this Saturday.  Just thinking about the possibility of having something to photograph makes me feel good. 

Here's to our final week of January and only 84 more days of school! 

 

Sprouts / Day 314

I'm feeling all sorts of grown up and adulty tonight, all because I made Brussels sprouts to go with our dinner. 

When I was a kid, we were allowed to choose one food that we didn't have to eat if it was put on the table. There was a rule in play about switching that kept us from flip flopping our food choice. One sibling (smarter than myself) chose broccoli, another chose beans & hamburger and I chose Brussels sprouts. (I moved out before the other two were old enough to pick a food, but I also remember one of my brothers living on hotdogs - so I think the rule/meal planning changed mid-family) I'm 99% certain that my mom only served sprouts once, and they were boiled, seasonless, stinky and all too memorable. 

I recall carefully weighing the risk, trying to figure out if it was worth the gamble to change over to broccoli. We had broccoli five days out of seven, and while that was a nightly gagging, choking, eye watering experience - I still couldn't risk switching my non-edible over to Brussels sprouts. They were that bad. 

Forty-eight plus some odd years later, and I cooked them in my own home, using this well seasoned recipe. And I liked them, while I sat back, amused, at my own three gagging, choking, eye watering boys in a home with no one food exempt rule. 

Look at me all grown up. Kind of.  

A Creative Space / Day 311

For Christmas, I bought Greg a new desk. 

Since working from home last March, he's been working off one of those molded plastic folding tables set up in our bedroom. It does the job, and he's not one to complain, but I thought it was time to amp it up a bit. I did have an ulterior motive (I often do) in that I wanted that folding table back in time for January. January is when we build puzzles and create, and that was the table we've always used. I also had the thought that if I got real ambitious, I could move our whole living room around, purge, and make room to set up that table up as a permanent creative space. 

If you've followed me since the beginning days of blogging, you may remember that I used to have a whole room dedicated to creating. As the kids came, I was downsized from the bedroom, to a closet, then to a counter in the kitchen, and eventually just whatever I could create from the comfort of my recliner. It's time to start going in the other direction again. 

Anyway.  Back to the table. I have to give a shout out to Branch Furniture.  The desk arrived promptly and it landed on our porch at the same time as Greg headed out for an errand day. Mark and I made it a mission to completely build the desk, remove the old one, put in some new carpet tiles and be prepared for him to be surprised when he came upon it just a week prior to Christmas.

But. 

The desk came damaged. One corner had been completely crushed in transport. I was so bummed. Branch Furniture was quick to respond, apologize, and sent out a new desk top (which came in perfect condition). When I asked what I should do with the old one, they told me to keep it and repurpose it or get rid of it. 

Greg made some pin legs in his forge, and now I have a sturdy desk too rather than that molded plastic folding table. Hooray for me! 

He has since welded on a few cross bars to sturdy it up a bit more so I don't have to worry about my sewing machine rattling it too much. 

It fits perfect in the corner, and I love that I found a home for a few of my favorite inherited embroidery pieces. My grandma and great aunt both did a lot of handwork. 

I broke in the desk today by pulling out the hot glue gun and making a coffee coaster for a project happening in the other corner of the room. 

This was my grandma's favorite prayer, and a piece I stitched and gifted her with years ago. It seems like a good month/year to finally get it up onto the wall. 

On the other side of the room, the display shelf I ordered came in and fits perfectly in that spot between the couch and the wall. I'm now inspired to get working on a few more Shutterfly albums. 

Today I started my day by watching an episode of Hoarders and then diving into some more purging and moving things around.  The walls aren't closing in on me as much as they usually do this time of  year.  I'm restless, but I'm getting things done. 

That's all I've got. 

be good