...a pizza story

My son Naterecently created something on Face Book that made me smile, but really didn't make much sense. It involved friends, a very cheesie nacho, and silliness. When I asked him about it on the phone he said, "Mom, it was like the tiny pizza." Enough said. I totally understood the silliness behind his post without having to hear all the details. I hope everyone has a "tiny pizza" story. This is ours:

Several years ago when Nate was in middle school and Katie was in 5th grade our budget was pretty tight. One Friday night towards the end of the month we wanted something other than macaroni and cheese. It was Friday night, after all. So we gathered up all the coupons for free food we had laying around and headed to town. (For some reason Katie elected to stay home and wait for us to return with the goods, so unfortunately, she doesn't share our "tiny pizza" story.) We had a coupon for a burger from one joint, fries from another, and the prize, a free pizza from the local take-and-bake. So we made our rounds, gathering up our feast, and finally made it to the pizza joint. The two of us went in, placed our order, handed over the coupon, then sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, after what seemed like an incredibly long time our name was called. We walked up to the counter...and were handed the tiniest pizza we had ever seen. We looked at the pizza, looked at each other, and barely got out the door before we were doubled over with laughter. There we were, two large people, sitting and waiting forever for a pizza that wouldn't even feed a three year old. We laughed so hard on the way home that I could barely drive. I remember Nate asking me at one point if I needed to pull over. Of course we tried to explain the situation to Katie when we got home, but for some things...you just have to be there. Even now, all these years later, the "tiny pizza" is my go-to memory when I need a good laugh. It hasn't failed me yet.

...a free weekend

On Thursday night Dad called to say that Mom has pneumonia. He sounded very worried about her--but then Dad always sounds worried when Mom is sick. He doesn't cope well when she is out of town or not feeling well. So I stayed late at school on Friday--a 12 hour day--to make sure I had everything ready for Monday. If I needed to head over the mountain this weekend I didn't want to have to rush back to get to my classroom. When I got home on Friday evening I called and talked to Mom. The meds are working, she's feeling much better, she'll see the doctor again on Momday, and a kind neighbor brought over a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. No need for me to go over. Whew. "Stay home and take care of yourself." Thanks, Mom, I will. My throat has been raw since Wednesday and I haven't had much of a voice. (Lots of finger snapping to get kids' attention!) If I were not feeling a bit under the weather myself, I'd be across the mountain, even though Mom said she it wasn't necessary. Instead, I have the luxury of a free weekend to do as I please: nap, sew,

read, whatever. (My only pout is that I'm missing a group ride this morning.)

...things I love

A 'tend friend's recent blog had a list of things she loves, which reminded me of a post I did about a year ago. A nice reminder that life really IS good. If I were to add anything to my list it would have to be my two sweet kids who are good friends...something that really makes me smile.

And I'd have to add....a little girl in pink pig pajamas. What's not to love?

...a budding photographer

This past weekend I drove over the mountain to visit my folks and celebrate Dad's 78th (a week early). Arlene came from Boise and brought Jadyn as a surprise. Jadyn is now 3 1/2 and still just as busy as ever. I had been taking pictures of her all evening, then asked if she would like to give it a try. Of course she said, "Yes!" It was so much fun to watch her with the camera so I got out my cell phone and snapped a couple of her in action.

"Antique drawer pull"

"Great-grandpa's footwear"

"Wood stove"

"Gamma and Great-Gamma at the table"

"Henry the dog"

Of course there were many that were blurry and heads were chopped off, but she got a really cute one of Great-grandpa!

...23 years ago

Twenty-three years ago a sweet baby girl chose me as her mama.

I'm so glad she did!

Happy Birthday, Katie!

...spud love

I should save this for a Valentine's Day post....but I'm hungry.

...falling in love again

In the early 80s I was a newlywed in northern Alberta. On our trips back to Oregon we'd pass through Banff and Jasper where all kinds of crazy road cyclists were working their way up and down the mountain passes. I remember looking out the window as we passed a group of cyclists and saying, "That looks like so much fun! I want to do that." To which my dear ex replied, "Looks like a lot of work to me." In the wintertime in Peace River, going crazy with cabin fever, I'd look out to see someone going by on cross country skis. Again, "That looks like fun! I want to do that." And again the response was, "Looks like work." It's not that dear ex was a couch potato. He was passionate about baseball, belonged to a curling league, and had played hockey when he was younger. It's that our interests didn't match up. I spent many hours sitting on bleachers fighting mosquitoes or trying to stay warm (and feign interest) depending on the season. But, I wasn't the kind of person to try something on my own if dear ex wasn't into it.

End result, I never tried cycling nor cross country skiing during my time in Alberta. Our children were born, the marriage ended, and I found myself back in Oregon, back in school to finish my teaching degree. Life was busy.

While the kids were growing up we camped

and hiked and put many miles on our bikes. My first "expensive" bike was a tax refund splurge and cost all of $300, and a trailer for Katie was about the same. I laugh when I think how our car looked, loaded up for spring break or at the beginning of summer vacation--a four-door Geo Metro with a huge storage bin on top (the old kind, not the sleek models you see now), bikes and trailer on the back, and inside, 1 adult, 2 long-legged kids, a dog or two, and a cooler. Ha!

Fast forward a few years...kids were into sports,

and my free time was spent traveling to games.

Life was very busy.

Then all of a sudden, it came to a stop. Kids grew up, went away to college, and I had time on my hands. What to do with myself now that other people's needs and wants don't dictate what I do with my free time? When my friend Kathryn invited me to come out and ride with a group from the LBS, I was ready.

And I fell in love.

In December Kathryn and her husband Charlie invited me to go cross country skiing on New Year's Day. Of course I said yes. I was so excited I could hardly sleep the night before. What a beautiful day to be out in the mountains!

I think I may have fallen in love again.

Oh, and speaking of love....Kathryn and Charlie were just married on 12/27!

And as for falling...there had been a warm spell that melted the top layer of snow, and the trail was ungroomed.

This was only Kathryn and Charlie's third time on skis, and my first, so we fell.

A lot.

And laughed. A lot.

I want to go again.

And speaking of love one last time...today would have been dear ex's and my 29th wedding anniversary. I hope he is also pursuing his dreams. No regrets.