Saturday, August 30, 2008

Happy Birthday to Harper

Today is my baby girl's 12th birthday.  Isn't that incredible?  So far, she's turned out pretty great and I really like her.  She's fun.  Here's a little story about Harper:  When she was 4 years old we were visiting Jen and Benjie and Baxter (I don't think Samantha was born yet) and Harper woke up super early and was loud in a house full of sleeping people and made me really angry.  So Neil and I yelled at her for a bit and then our family went out to breakfast at the Putney Diner so the Cragins could sleep in a quiet house.  Patrick was a little baby and while we were waiting for our breakfast, he did something cute and funny (I can't remember what).  Harper, with puffy eyes from crying due to our traumatic morning, got a big, huge grin and said, "He's kind of fun to have around."  Anyway, now I have to wake her up on school days, so times have changed, but she and her brother are mostly pretty fun to have around.  

Speaking of birthdays, I can't get over how many people I love were born in August. Here's a list:

August 2--Gram and Riley

August 9--Tommy

August 12--Jen Cragin

August 20--Jeremy, Jocelyn and Shea

August 22--Jonah

August 25--Danielle

August 30--Harper

August 31--Fritz


And Misty and Myles (Pat's best friend) on September 1st, so that's almost August, too. Actually, September is a pretty good runner up to August because after Misty and Myles we have Raetha, Maria and Peter.  Wow!

Single Track

This morning I ran my favorite route on the trails. My friend Nichole plotted this particular route many years ago now, and it's the perfect run. Today, as always, it made me really, really happy. It made Rosie really, really happy, too. Now that I'm almost done marathon training, I plan to do a lot more trail running. Trail running is really different from road running and takes a lot more concentration, balance and agility, especially on the single track trails, which I prefer. Here's a poem I wrote some time last year about the very route I ran today.

Single Track
for Rosie and Sasha

We head out on a weekend morning
you more eager than I, but not for long.

Our favorite route
six or seven miles

linking up the trails
we take Loop
to Coronary
to Fence Line
Pastore's Point
Coronary again--
the hill the bikers say
makes mice out of men.

Out on the trails
we hear only
birds
my heavy breath
the babbling brook
the occasional scolding chipmunk
and whooping mountain biker.

Mind perfectly engaged
with the up
and down and
switching back
of the single track
knees lifted high
over slippery mud
and tripping roots.

The scents change
depending on elevation
sun and heat
moisture
ferns
pine
earth
sweetness like hemp
but you smell even more
on the scent of something
mole? rabbit? moose?

You wait for me in each mud puddle
cooling
resting until I pass
then you catch up
wait until you are by my side
to shake
water and mud.

More than halfway
that glorious spot
the cliff
overlooking
the east branch of the Passumpsic
we pause here and
look down
hoping to see bear or moose
come to drink
not this time.

Our last leg
we run through the field
behind big red barns
you chase butterflies
clean yourself in the tall wet grass
then back on the road
and down the hill
to home.

My final prayer
gratefully covered in sweat and mud:
to always have legs that work
and a good dog to run with.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Garmin, RIP

Neil and my parents gave me this Garmin Forerunner 205 for my 35th birthday. It's a GPS that tells you how fast and how far you've run, among other things. It was a fabulous gift that I've enjoyed almost daily ever since. We had two and half great years together. Yesterday, I accidently left it on my car. I'll spare you all the gory details of what happened when I drove away. I'm appalled with my carelessness and bummed that I'm out a pretty sweet, high tech gadget. But I can't help but feel serene about the whole thing. She served me well and helped me train for 4 marathons. I have 2.5 weeks left until my next marathon and I know the distances of all the training runs I have left. It will be interesting to run this marathon without the instant feedback of my Garmin. My dear Michelle offered to lend me her Garmin for the event, but I think I might just do it the old fashioned way and see what happens. And I had already decided that after this 'thon, I'm taking a long break from such intense training. I think training for two marathons in such a short time and with this last round being so intense, has kind of taken the joy out it for me and it's become a chore. I'm looking forward to the big day, but I'm also looking forward to riding my bike and running on the trails with friends. And doing more hiking this Fall. And just not being so regimented. I need a break. So I think what happened yesterday is kind of a kismet. Or maybe I was unconciously purposefully carless (!). This old girl (now represented by the skeleton pictured above) and I have had a lot of amazing times together. We've shared blood, sweat and tears. There's no replacing her. Though the Garmin 405, my lady's descendant, looks pretty sweet and someday I'll be ready to train hard again. 4oth birthday present, anyone?

Back to School, A New Job and Some Changes

The kids started school this week. Seventh grade and fourth grade. Holy shit, I must be old. So far so good, both kids are happy.












Neil resigned from his job at Youth Services on Monday. He has worked there for nine years. And he's accepted a position with the St. Johnsbury Community Justice Center as the Reparative Board Coordinator, a great organization and a job he's highly qualified for that pays a little better per hour than his current position. And we've figured out health insurance details. But here is the catch: it's only 20 hours a week. So he was going to ask his current boss if he could keep some hours at Youth Services, just for the sake of our finances. But as I was driving to Newport on Monday to work on setting up a new DV/SV program in the northern part of our state, I thought to myself, "this is so much work, I should work full time." Neil and I have both worked a little more than 3/4 time for years, sharing the responsibilities of children and home. So I called my boss and she thought I should work full time, too. Plus, I started co-facilitating a group for men who batter on Monday nights, which also pays me money. So, beginning week after next, I'll work full-time (plus the group) and Neil will work 1/2 time for money and be the house husband. We're both looking forward to our slightly tweaked roles. My dad, however, is concerned with the quality of the meals.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

You Come, Too, You Dumbass



Without a doubt, last Saturday, August 16th, Kali and Jen made the most beautiful wedding of the year and, with apologies to my husband and the rest of my married kin, the most beautiful wedding of any descendant of Champ. I knew I was in trouble when we approached the location and the sign with an arrow that said, "Jen and Kali" made me tear up. And that was just the beginning of the weeping. Eh, we're Stoddards, we're emotional.
Here are the beautiful bride and groom.


















Aside from the obvious joy of witnessing Kali and Jen commit to each other and our families and friends celebrating their love, two other highlights for me included my dad's toast and Nellie's poem.
My dad makes a toast at every family wedding, but it didn't really occur to me that he would toast Kali and Jen. So as the best man and maid of honor make their toasts, I see my dad standing by with a piece of paper and whisper to my mom, a bit apprehensively, "Is Dad going to speak?" She said, "yeah, but it's okay, he ran it by me first." Phew. Dad gave the following toast, transcribed here, which moved me to tears (again). That old man of mine has a way of getting to the heart of things.

Hello, everybody! For those of you who may have been wondering, “Who’s the fool in the white coat & the hat?”: I’m Kali’s Uncle David – I understand Jen also has an Uncle David – & I’ve been doing this sort of thing at Stoddard family weddings for many years now. In fact, I bought the coat for the wedding of Kali’s mom & dad. When I was thinking about Kali & Jen getting married, I flashed back to one particular email that I got from Sally several years ago. Sally had just made a comment to Kali to the effect that she understood how it was difficult for him to love one particular family member at that particular time, due to that person’s behavior (you know – times like that happen in every family) and quoting now from Sally's actual email, He was in his room getting dressed, and so he called out to me, "that isn't true; family love is unconditional, dumb ass"! Then he giggled and said, "I just called you 'dumb ass'." So, everything is cool in our home, I love you all, and am so proud – and lucky – to be a dumb ass in the middle of this unconditional family. Love Sal So Jen: Insofar as I have any right to do so, I would like at this time to formally welcome you – and your family – into this Society of Dumb Asses known as the Stoddard Tribe, and to offer up a toast: to Unconditional Love!
My two dads and Harper.














Here are my beautiful cousins, Jordan and Kayla...















And Shani and Henekis (groomsmen!)...


















Grammie and Kali...


































Nellie read this Robert Frost poem (we're New Englanders, yes!) she chose to Kali and Jen privately, after the ceremony. It's really the perfect love poem.

THE PASTURE
I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too.

I’m going out to fetch the little calf
That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too.











I really laughed hard at Netdahe when I arrived and found him dressed like this. But then he spoke so eloquently and wisely during the ceremony.





















My dad can boogie...















I don't think I've ever danced with my mom before. That was fun.

















Hmmm, a bit o wine awfully early in the day...


Vinalhaven and us, then and now.

Our first trip to Vinalhaven was exactly ten years ago. Here's our little girl on the island then...

















and now. Tomorrow she starts 7th grade. Holy Shit!















And here's our family on the island then and now. We've all changed (especially Patrick, who wasn't even born 10 years ago!) more than Vinalhaven, which I guess is why we keep going back there. It's a peaceful place to live by the ocean. There's not too much going on, and you have to take a ferry to get there, which makes it feel like you've really gone somewhere.





















We had a beautiful, relaxing week in VH, the second week of our vacation. It drizzled one day, which made for fine blackberry picking on Arey's Neck, and the rest of the time the weather was perfect. We hung out at the beach, went for walks, read our books, ate lobster and good food from the Harbor Gawker, made friends with the neighbors (well, Pat did) and visited with Deb, Nell, Gram, my dad, and, just yesterday, Tommy and Auntie Sally.
One day, Gram and the kids and I went to the quarry to swim. Neil never goes to the quarry because he hates it. When we returned to our rental house, he had bought himself a blueberry pie (homemade, at the Gawker. Sally bought him another one last night!). Neil loves pie. I asked him why he bought a pie and he said, "I was lonely." That lovely simplicity sums up my funny husband, and our sweet, simple and yummy Maine vacation.

After two terrific weeks away, it's great t o be home. I always appreciate where I live, but I was especially happy, after two weeks away, to get back to the Kingdom, Darling Hill, our dogs and our home. It's really great here and we're pretty lucky.


You can walk to Carver's Harbor dressed is Raggedy Anne pajama pants, which is why I love Vinalhaven...

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Rock Pile

Just before and just after the race.


We're in Vinalhaven for the week and stopped in to the library on this rainy afternoon. Our fans have been asking about Neil's big race. It was exciting and wonderful. The weather was sunny and held until just after he finished (at which point it started to hail), he bested his time by about 20 seconds and came in 103rd out of 600 entrants and Grammie Robin got to see him do it and was as impressed and moved as I am each year I see him complete this amazing feat. Yes, he's incredible. I get a little worked up when I'm waiting at the top and very excited when we finally spot him, so I wasn't able to get a good photo of him racing (I just caught the tip of his helmet) but I got some photos right after he finished. Here are the official results. I'll be posting photos of the race and more about our vacation (and particularly the incredibly beautiful, love soaked day that was Kali and Jen's wedding) after we get home next week.

Thanks everyone for asking about Neil's race and being proud of him. Now the question is, will he do it again next year?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Beer Thirty

We are on vacation! I'm writing this on my gram's computer. We've been here enjoying Camp since Saturday. Actually, the kids were here the whole week prior with their grandparents and some of their cousins enjoying all the Old Home Week festivities and Neil and I came to join them on Saturday. We had a couple of sunny days and the weather has been a little iffy since, though better today. But I haven't even minded the rain. When it rains the lake is really quiet so that you can skinny dip during the day and you don't have to be vigilant about sun screening the children. Plus, the cooler weather has been nice for my running. And I've been a fabulous sleeper.

I was just sitting down at the lake with Neil, reading and listening to H and P play happily together (ahhhh--knock on wood) and Neil started wondering what time it was and I said maybe it was time for a beer and he said, "beer-thirty" and I asked him if he made that up and we had a super good laugh and I chased him up to the camp, laughing hysterically, while he pretended to try to run away from me because I'm such a goof ball. I love him. Anyway, it's been great luxury lounging around, getting lots of sleep, reading, eating lobster, drinking a beer at 3:30 in the afternoon, visiting with Gram and just doing whatever we want to do. Especially since the last couple of weeks at work were really busy for me (and will be really busy when I return) and Neil kind of hates his job. So vacation is all the more sweet.

On Thursday we leave here for Boston where Neil and I will go see the John Butler Trio and G. Love and Special Sauce. The kids will go to Lisa's Pizza with my mom, Wayne and their Crandlemere aunts and cousins. Then Friday we'll go to Jackson, N.H. because Saturday morning is Neil's Big Race. This will be his sixth year, including last year which was canceled on account of ice. But the excitement doesn't end there, because once we get back down the mountain, we'll be racing to Kali and Jen's Wedding! Can you believe it? Kali getting married. I'm really looking forward to celebrating their big day. After the wedding, we'll head back to Jackson for the night and then Sunday morning we leave for Rockland, ME, where we will take a ferry to Vinalhaven. We have rented a house there for a week. I imagine that once on Vinalhaven we'll do many of the things we've been doing here, except by the ocean instead of by the lake.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Old Home, 20 Years Ago


While I'm on the topic of Old Home Weekend, here's a picture from that holiday 20 years ago.  It's Champ and me.  I'm 17 years old and he has a fan and I'm on my tip toes and giving him a kiss and he looks pleased to be with his oldest grandchild...  All of that makes me happy and a little sad, too. This is one of my favorite pictures in the world.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Right Now

Right now I'm listening to the new G. Love ("got peace, love, happiness..."), waiting for Neil to get home from a meeting and cooking us a roast chicken, potatoes and zucchini for dinner.  Our kids are spending the week at camp with some of their cousins and grandparents.  I just looked at the pictures my mom has taken of all the kids doing fun stuff over the last few days.  Wow.  Howdya like cousins, ice cream, musical theater, magic shows, water sports, berry picking and homemade pies for a summer vacation?  Not to mention camp and Grammy Robin's lake!  Those are some dang lucky kids, living it up the way summer should be lived.  I'm grateful to my mom and Wayne and Gram for hosting and thoroughly entertaining them.  And happy to crank some G. Love while cooking a meal all alone in my house!

Monday, August 4, 2008

High Holy Holiday

I don't have anything profound to say about Old Home Weekend. I love my family. And by family, I mean all of the people who came to camp to celebrate being together and alive this weekend. They are all kind and generous people. Really, what more could anyone ask for?

This is our annual group photo in the middle of the road while we wait for the parade to come back. We always ask a stranger to be in the photo. Can you find the stranger?












Sally-ann asked a brass band on a float to play "happy birthday" for Gram and Riley. Here are the birthday girls enjoying their shared moment. Each of them are proud to share their birthday with the other. Damn, they are so cute.
















It's been a while since Joe has had a kid on his shoulders, but it's a look that still works for him. Faith took right to all her new aunts, uncles and cousins. I love them.






















I love this picture of Brook laughing. Pure joy. Isn't she beautiful?














Here's a picture of the five siblings, Grammie and Champ's kids; my mom, two aunts and two uncles.















Deb has taken this picture of Kali and Shani for years. Maybe I'll do a posting some day of the whole series, if she can share them all with me electronically. Even though these two brothers couldn't be more different from each other, they have one thing very much in common: they are both amazingly talented and artistic. They're actually brilliant. Probably because Neil and I lived with them for three of their infant/toddler years!




















Auntie Sally canoeing with Nina and Monica Jane. It was my step-sister Raina's kids (Monica and Sammi) first old home. They loved it. I overheard Sammi telling my mom she wanted to come back next year...yay!






Oh my god...Nina.















Karen and Bryan make beautiful children.

















Auntie Rae didn't want to share baby Shea. Shea might be the cutest baby in the world. Ever.















Patrick was psyched to march in the parade. My mom actually called me from parade headquarters to make sure it was okay that he carry a military sign. American flags were also passed out. Our ultra-patriotic, nationalistic family was impressed.
(An aside, just so we don't forget: On Sunday we had a memorial gathering in recognition of the 5th anniversary of my gram's late husband's passing. 40-50 of us, family, friends, neighbors, gathered in a circle around Poppa Dick's tree to share our memories. Patrick asked to share and said this: "I used to stand and watch while Poppa made puzzles. Now, when I make a puzzle, I think of him." It was perfect, succinct, thoughtful, appropriate and completely unplanned. I noticed I wasn't the only one who teared up at that moment. I am awfully proud of that boy and feel so lucky to be his momma.)
Jen and Terri on the Scully's lawn.















Henekis and I are trying to recruit our friend Carolyn into the Stoddard Tribe, so we roped her into coming to Old Home with her cute-as-two-buttons daughters, Sarah and Pheobe. Here she is demonstrating for my mom how she holds me like a baby. My mom had heard about this parlor game of ours, but had never seen it. She loved it! It really tickled her, which made it all the more fun. In fact, I can't think of anything BETTER in life than making my mom giggle like that.














Once people saw how cozy and lovey it is to be held like a baby, Carolyn had her work cut out for her.






























































































Um, Alan...why are you so creepy?














And now for some ubiquitous, late-night self-portraits down by the lake.


Here's one of David A. and me right before I alienated him by picking a socio-political argument. I'm not always so good with teenagers.















Love you Auntie Rae!















My cousin Jeremy is a pretty funny guy. And he drove all the way from Albany (and all by himself) to be with us.














Tommy was awfully quiet this weekend. He's been working really hard and I worry about him. Maybe just because I'm lazy and don't want anyone I love working too hard. But that didn't stop him from cooking for us. He made the biggest pot of masaman curry you've ever seen (in a beautiful copper pot) and sticky rice. Delicious; it really was to die for. He also made a wild blueberry cobbler and some other fabulous eats. Food is love.

Marathoning--A Record of My Times

  • NEW HAMPSHIRE MARATHON, October 3, 2015. 4 hrs. 56 minutes, 8 seconds.
  • MONTREAL "ROCK 'N' ROLL MARATHON, September 22, 2013. 4 hrs. 20 minutes, 41 seconds.
  • VERMONT CITY MARATHON, May 2012. 4 hrs. 20 minutes, 8 seconds.
  • MOUNT DESERT ISLAND MARATHON (Maine), October 2011, 4 hrs. 45 minutes, 14 seconds
  • SUGARLOAF MARATHON (Maine), May 2010. 4 hrs. 18 minutes, 35 seconds
  • MONTREAL MARATHON, September 2008. 4 hrs. 19 minutes, 33 seconds
  • VERMONT CITY MARATHON, May 2008. 4 hrs. 11 minutes, 58 seconds
  • VERMONT CITY MARATHON, May 2007. 4 hrs. 19 minutes, 42 seconds
  • MONTREAL MARATHON, September 2006. 4hrs, 30 minutes, 2 seconds

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