The Adventures of Mom

A happy Christmas and merry new year to all out in the world. Once again over the hols I have neglected my writing- pushed aside under the crumpled wrapping paper and forgotten bows of Christmas Day. The past few weeks have been a blur with last minute shopping, wrapping, Christmas performances, and holiday visits, and now as the clock moves slowly towards midnight, I type this in still darkness (yes, I WILL go blind over this night typing  I know- good thing I don’t do it too often, eh?) the first day of the new year slips away into the abyss of the past. 2009 is truly upon us- but are we ready for it?

I reminisce about the past- probably too much, in case no one noticed! Places I have been, friends I have met, acquaintances of chance meetings that have altered my life, or perception of it, as the case may be. I sent out a mass Christmas card to a group of my friends- first time I have ever e-mailed a mass card- honest!  By now I should know to start my Christmas card writing in August. I used to write a letter in each card- last year I can’t even remember sending any cards. The year before I painted Happy New Years cards, as my Christmas Cards were well belated, but this year- a mass email. I felt bad about that, swore I would never do such a thing (I must have received one once), but I am glad I did say Merry Christmas to my near and dear who are so far away. Phone calls would have been exuberant (have you seen the AT&T rates?)

For all those who did not receive my email: Merry Christmas (belated now, bien sur) and a healthy and happy New Year. 2009 is going to be the year of the extraordinary- forget ordinary people- we are beyond that now. Extraordinary people and extraordinary adventures.

I managed to see Mama Mia! last night. (Much to dear husband’s chagrin-definitely not ex-marine material). My sister in law raved about it, and as it was set in Greece- rumored to be my Corfu, and had ABBA songs, how could I not see it? The scenery was breathtaking. Not Corfu- Skiathos and Skipelos, though with the hotel on the sea, could have been Agni (but wasn’t). The scenery was special, but there wasn’t much of it- you see more of Greece in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Santorini). I remember watching an old movie with Jacqueline Bisset as a photographer in Lindos, Rhodes- now that was awe inspiring-made me go there, then there was that movie set on a deserted Greek island where this American tries to live a basic life with his teenage daughter and girlfriend (Susan Sarandon)- it made me hunt for abandoned Greek Islands- they do have them- near Turkey and looking for occupancy. But alas, Mama Mia did not have me wanting to own a  Greek B&B in bad need of repairs- though I did spend the rest of the night with “Waterloo” going through my head! I will watch it again- after everyone is off to bed though!

Speaking of which, before I turn into a pumpkin, Kali nichta, and again, Happy New Year!

Venice is under water- once again, this time deeper than before. Alas with global warming (or the tail end of the last ice age, I like to believe) and the glaciers melting, water levels rising, the jewel of Italy is destined for Atlantis status. Though this time of year, it is common for San Marco Square to be submerged- although the extent varies. I went to Venice one late chilly October with my sister, Susan, and was delighted to see trestle tables set up in San Marco Square. A market! I cried with such naivety. When the rains started that afternoon, and we followed the crowd up onto the trestle tables-( a makeshift seasonal boardwalk) into the Basilica, I then realised my error- and dismay, as the rain waters continued to rise.

I love Venice. I have been a few times- once in the height of summer (July) with La- and a merry search for a piccolo (small) carnival poster as a memento. A pigeon left me another memento on my head at Piazzo de San Marco. Supposedly lucky- but very nasty. The canals did not stink, as we were warned- but maybe we did not make it to the ones that did. Later came an autumn mini-cruise from Corfu with my sister, Susan. She needed a passport stamp, I was going stir crazy on the island. Venice was just the answer- neck cricking tour of the Doges Palace, tourist souvenirs at the Rialto Bridge, lunch at a small trattoria by a church. We searched for Harrys Bar, but there were so many other interesting sights to see, that it wasn’t at all missed when we had not found it. My other visit to Venice was a cold November day- a quick lunch, nip into a couple of shops and on the motor way towards Milan.

I am glad I experienced Venice. It is an extraordinary place- the architecture, the hidden art, the gilded gondolas- a photographer’s dream. I would go back in a heartbeat. My sister, Sandy visited me in Greece and I told her: take the ferry boat- go to Venice- it’s sinking, so it may not be around forever! She didn’t. Now I wonder if she feels as I did when I passed up the chance to take a ferry boat to Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia- back when there was a Yugoslavia and ferries went from Corfu to there. I went to Kassiopi on the North part of Corfu instead- ah, what a fool I was! I still kick myself over that one. Yugoslavia has ceased to exist as a single nation, Dubrovnik was bombed and the ferries from Corfu stopped running long ago. I hear Dubrovnik is still a beautiful place, but it will never be as it was prewar time. So thus I learned my Dubrovnik lesson- and I went to Venice. I skipped up to Nepal when in India- it’s so close! I made a detour to New Orleans when visiting a friend in Pensacola, Florida- it was too close to pass up. Do not pass on the opportunities. They may not roll around again. There may not be a tomorrow- so do it today!  Venice is sinking. It was once the heart of a great Empire, and is a crown jewel of all of Italy. Have you bought your plane ticket yet?

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all friends and family!

I confess to being a fitness fanatic (well maybe not so much since the kids have arrived). I have frequented many gyms around the world. There was this hole in the wall in Seven Kings, (Essex). Small, but friendly. I only met one other girl there- Sue the bus driver. It was most unpretenious, with a cute owner and suited me to a T at the time. Another gym on Corfu (near the airport and Dimitri’s Supermarket), again run by a hottie. Too Your Health Spa in Ocala (apparently John Travolta used to work out there at nights- the one by CFCC). He has since moved on- had his own gym built perhaps? I almost joined a gym in Pittsburgh, where the other  girls who worked at Kaufman’s went, (I was walking around the park in East Liberty each night), but the cold and snow and arrival of two adventuresome Brits (La!) drove me to warmer climes. Needless to say, a certain level of fitness has always driven me- or was it vanity?

Most gyms have their own day care centers- the YMCA is one that comes highly recommended (esp in South Lakeland), but I like to involve the kids in the quest for staying fit- and it tires them out to boot. My daughter and I have found the ultimate outdoor fitness center- in our own backyard- Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon. The paths wind up and down steep slopes- good for stroller pushing moms- works your abs then, and for me racing after my 4 year old’s fast pace. There is a nature trail to the river - just past the butterfly garden, that my son and I attempted yesterday, but after 15 minutes heading deeper and deeper into the forest and sundown approaching, we gave in and headed back- have to find out just exactly how long that trail is!

For Cross trainers, the swimming area is deep and you can swim in the 72 degree water like an Olympian- people do! Then for more arm work- rent a canoe or kayak ($10.30 an hour)- but remember, it’s easier going down the river than back!

My legs are aching from yesterdays trek with my son- but the views sure beat a stairmaster or home treadmill! And at $1 a person (under 5 free)- it is cheaper than any gym I have ever joined! So before you throw your hard earned dosh at a shiny gym, consider hitting a local park for a true ultimate nature workout- and don’t forget to bring the kids! (and a water bottle or two!)

We had our first freeze of the season and in October at that! It was a mad dash to cover the water pipes and the entire vegetable garden- all new delicate seedlings, not hardy enough for an early frost. I am please to report that all the babes, two legged and sprigs, survived the morning ice, though we did lose the papaya plants, even though they were covered. I think they are just not meant to grow here. I must confess, I have been avoiding the page, as Julia Cameron puts in in her Artist’s Way book. The upcoming elections have me wired in a frenzy at the injustices that abound. I could go on and on about them, but I fear I would not only bore you, but myself as well- just a word - VOTE. My friend, Jessica, send me an email on how much women suffered trying to vote- they were imprisoned and worse- so we as women, owe it to them, who fought for the right to vote, our vote- no matter who it is for- McCain, Obama, Ralph Nader or whoever else, and besides, if you don’t vote, then you forfeit your right to complain about the current state of our economy and it’s leaders! I realise there are some who believe that they are no part of this society- but if you drive, shop in a store, send your kids to school- you ARE are part of this society- for better or worse. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! So on Tuesday, VOTE! Oh yes, and make sure you fill up your gas tank after that vote, cause when the polls close on Tuesday night, the prices of gas will shoot up. I spotted a station in Dunnellon at $2.06! Top it off on Tuesday, it won’t go down after that!

On a lighter note, I had a visit from my old traveling companion, Lisa. Thanks for the Tea Bags! We had managed to log in 3 continents, 10 countries and 8 of the US states, not to mention horrid mosquito bites, even more horrid diarrhoea, and getting lost in most places we landed- I met my 10 year old god daughter, Molly, who is well travelled herself and quite clever. We are still trying to sort out an answer for her question: Why do Americans drive on the parkway, but park on the driveway?  While they were here, we managed an airboat ride at Wild Bill’s in Inverness, for some real alligators and swamp and more noise than all the kids could make at once. They gave us noise cancelling headphones, which worked 10 times better than the ear plugs offered to us at our Big Cypress Swamp airboat ride three years prior- those kept falling out. we also managed a laid back lunch of gator nuggets and seafood, in the back garden of a little restaurant down the road from Wild Bill’s- green roof. It reminded me of the Moon Room in Pushkar- where the building was not much in the front, but they led you to a back garden oasis- nothing overtly fancy, very casual  and relaxed- wished I had a bottle of retsina for a long afternoon… ah well, happy thoughts and don’t forget to vote and top the tank!

Autumn is in the air! The leaves are crackling underfoot, waiting to be raked into huge piles and jumped in- one of our favorite pastimes here! The garden is springing alive with sprouts bursting from the damp earth- beans, greens and beets- oh yes, and don’t forget the carrots. Gentle breezes wift throught the trees, dipping the temperature to a pleasant 88 degrees-well, we do live in Florida folks!

We went to a wedding last weekend at Silver Springs Nature Park. Charlie Di Libero and Alex Daley. A beautiful couple in a forest of friends and flowers- blue and white. It was a lovely wedding, after hours, with h’or dourves served on the path over looking the main spring. We took the glass bottom boat out and dined in the Cypress Room- made up like a mystical ice palace- silver and blue, with ice carvings of dolphins and a horses head. My favorite part of the evening was having my kids there- Thank you Charlie and Alex! I actually love having my kids around. They are cool and fun and it is great to be able to do something as a family, and being of Italian descent, I believe Charlie would fully understand- family is everything!

Weddings aside, Charlie and Alex are off on their honeymoon- to Europe. October is the perfect time for travel. It is not yet freezing, but not hot either. I went to Canada with my sister Susan one October. And India…well the colors of autumn the reds, oranges and yellows, remind me of Rahjasthan- the sarees and turbans, the salwar kameez, the saffron and tumeric, the sadhus. My friend Debbie runs a travel company now. I met her on her first trip to India- she fell in love with it and returned soon after as a tour rep. Now she runs her own company with tours to India. I know she’s headed there sometime this month. Check out her website: www.incredibleIndianTours.co.in Because October is the month for travel, adventure and a bloody good curry!

Namaste World!

The Young Explorers are back in Action! Actually, we never stopped, and took off flying as soon as our feet touched town. My son is back in school, and our daily trips bring us extraordinary sights, such as a red tailed hawk taking off from a mist shrouded field, his talons wrapped around a wriggling mouse. Also we have seen an unusually large amount of roadkill- and not just the usual raccoons and skunks (there are always skunks). We can now add a grey wolf, a deer (buck with antlers), opossum, and the mother of all wild boars (that was today- biggest pig I have ever seen- almost the size of a mini (car)). Of course, when your school is in a cow field, these sights are common rather than not. We have taken to swimming on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon (no more cool pool). At 72F it is chilly- actually like swimming between icecubes, but after a while you numb up and can’t feel the cold anymore.

The Swimming Holes:

The KP Hole County Park (Off of HWY 41 in Dunnellon- turn at the light by Winn Dixie) has been refurbished and now has proper toilets, changing rooms, lockers, and picnic tables. You can rent tubes or canoes or kayaks- and even buy an icecream. They charge $3 a head- under 5 free. There is no sandy beach. It is a wooden boardwalk with steps leading into the water. May be scary for littler non-swimmers, as water is waist deep for them. My three were not impressed- too deep and too cold at the same time, but as it was 90F or more, we took a chilling plunge.  We may return to rent a canoe.

Dunnellon City Beach (off of 484- turn at the road next to SunTrust Bank and follow signs) has been cleaned up, as it was a former “baddie zone”. They have fenced it in, charge $1 a head (under 5 free). There are toilets at the entrance- and then you take a path down to the water. A few picnic tables and benches and a fenced in playground make it a good lunch and swim spot. There is a beach! Not a sandy sea beach, but a river bank beach. We brought shovels and pails and the kids loved it. They built Nim’s Island (excellent movie), caught tadpoles and snails, and could walk into the water. Thumbs up for the City Beach. You can arrive by car or boat.

Rainbow Springs State Park was our third Rainbow River entrance (Park entrance on HWY 41 in Dunnellon).They charge $1 a head (under 5 free). My daughter and I decided to have a picnic lunch there, and we did Not bring our swim gear.We did stick our feet in the water and watch the tadpole and minnows. Rainbow springs is the head springs of the Rainbow River so all 72F is felt- brrrr- no time for warming up. The swimming area is not for non-swimmers. They have a pontoon dock were you can swim in their roped off area and a little further down they have a smaller, shallower area for kids- which is small and not as shallow as you may like, depending how water shy your kids are. You can rent canoes & kayaks there, and there are paths through gardens and past waterfalls (under construction at this writing). Good place for lunch and maybe kayak ride- will explore that later.

Autumn is creeping upon us, and the biggest question that comes to my mind- if I jump in the Rainbow River when the air temperature is 60 or below, will I be warm?

Keep exploring!

(Past two blog pictures by Sandy Smith- thanks sis!)

She cut her hair. My daughter never had much in the way of hair- in fact it took nearly two years for her to grow any at all- but grow it finally did- reaching the top of her shoulders when my littlest decided it was time to try a new do.

I had never taken my daughter to a hairdressers before, simply chopping off her bangs myself, usually uneven, as it is hard to get her to stand still. I trim my own hair and my husband shaves off both his own and our son’s military style when needed, so hair dresser was not in our vocabulary, but this past week, Sydney went to the hair salon for the first time. Having a stranger trim up her lopsided hair (it was amazing how much hair she chopped off in three minutes (I was nuking pasta for dinner at the time and thought she was washing her hands- hah!)), but the hairdresser was more punishment than any scolding or timeouts could have ever done, and now my little girl sports a pixie look reminiscent of Mia Farrow in her short hair days- or Twiggy, the model. It took a while to get used to (for me) and even now I get a jolt when I look at her.

I myself, the youngest of three girls (dear brother comes later) had short hair most of my youth- I think me and my sisters had that bowl cut (from a salon!) Sandy had the salad bowl, Sue had the cereal bowl and I had a soup bowl. Later on the hairdressers tried the- oh it’s cute, like Dorothy Hamil. To me, it was SHORT. But for a busy mom, I can understand- no more tangles to deal with, less drying time, etc- EASY.

When I finally found my voice and started growing my locks, I grew them long. Then my sister dared me to chop them off . It was my sophomore year of highschool. I could not resist a dare, and had it hacked off- that Dorothy Hamil look- cried for a week (or more) and vowed never to cut it again. Managed well until a friend lopped it off years later, telling me she only wanted to cut the damaged bits out and well- it was all damaged. I was so mad. Now I steer clear from well meaning friends with scissors and trim the ends myself- a trip to the hairdressers once every few years if I can get a babysitter.  So now I pass on the hair legacy to my daughter- every child cuts their hair (my son did it, my step daughter too) only no one cut it as short as my Syd- so those scissors are going on the high shelf and the next time a hair tickles her in the face- it’s off to the hairdressers for her!

I had really meant for this first post from our new place to be a closing piece on Lakeland, FL, but as I am still changing files over and have not yet downloaded the last lovely pictures we took on our final expeditions, I must set that aside for another day. I had no intention of writing another political rant, not after the oil company piece this summer, but John McCain’s announcement of his running mate caught my attention- along with a few other million people.

Sarah Palin is a MOM! Hilary Clinton is a mom, my sister-in-law had argued the other day, but to me, there is a difference- any woman who chooses to have more children than she has arms (I stopped at two) I consider gutsy. This Alaskan woman has 5 and one is a baby! I know little of Sarah Palin, except she was elected to run a state where men out number the women 10 to 1. And she is a MOM (did I say that already?)

I believe mothers are powerful, beautiful creatures with great abilities of diplomacy, budgeting (money and time), able to deal with varied personalities and quickly find the middle ground that will keep everyone happy- oh yeah, and able to run on little or no sleep for weeks (er, years as the case may be) at at a time. Her opposers are saying she has no experience, like Obama, but heck, five kids- she has a wealth of experience! Perhaps that is exactly what America needs- to be run like a family. Everyone has been trying to run it like a corporation for years- and guess what, it is not working! She deals with five different personalities all wanting something else for dinner and she has to come up with the one meal that will make everyone happy…yes, America is like a big, sprawling family, with the drunken uncle who shows up uninvited and has to be taken aside and admonished and sent on his way- in a cab, and the brother who can’t hold a job down and will bleed you dry asking for handouts- you have to deal with him because you need the money to feed your own kids! Then you have the two siblings who constantly bicker- he breathed on me, she looked at me! Yes, our sweet American family- love em or hate em, but we have to live with em and deal with it.

I know a lady who has six children, and she works. Erica is a fountain of information and inspiration. She is an amazing woman who deals with carlines, after school activities, homework meals and the varied personalities in her household. If Sarah Palin is anything like my wonder woman, Erica, I want her in the White House. America may need some time outs for naughtiness and start going to bed at regular hours and the love and discipline that a mom brings. Palin is not a woman jaded by Washington. She did not campaign for the vice president position- she was asked. She lives in one of the wildest places in America- and hunts and fishes- I bet she even does camp outs! I believe the White House has been waiting for a Mom for a long time…oh yes, and did I mention her hottie husband?

We decided to try out Gatorland  off of Orange Blossom Trail  in Orlando a few weeks back. I have driven by the big green gator jaws  out front many times while traveling through Orlando, Florida, but never stopped. This time, we did, and rumors of a train inside the walls raised the level of excitement for my one train track minded son. My daughter was already enthralled at the thought of seeing alligators- I fear she may pull a Bindi on us and become a future croc hunter.

For the price of a meal in a good restaurant (22.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids), we ventured through the gator jaws and into the wonderful world of Gatorland. The first are you see are the pens holding alligators. I have never seen so many huge alligators together in one place (heck, in one pen!) in my entire life. My husband gently reminded me throughout the day that this was an alligator farm- they are old gators and had been raised here. I just kept saying, “Oh my!”

For a small fee they let you feed hot dogs to the alligators (that’s why they are so huge!- mental note, stop eating hot dogs). It is against Florida Law to feed alligators in the wild, but this was a farm, so the tourists, my husband and kids were quite enjoying the experience. They have alligator wrestling shows (you too can get your photo astride a live gator!) feeding shows-see a 13 footer leap from the water to grab a chicken and other chances to interact with the animals- besides gators there are birds, goats, poisonous florida snakes (behind glass), and iguanas, but the alligators certainly steal allof the thunder.

A boardwalk takes you through a swamp ecosystem, another through the alligator nesting areas with well over 150 alligaotrs and baby egrets! For $2 extra, you can ride a train around the park (my son loved that) and learn the history of a place that has survived recessions and hurricanes since the 1940’s- that in itself is a worthy accomplishment. www.gatorland.com

We were hot and tired when we left the park (there is a kids splash zone- so bring a swimsuit to cool off!), but after an icecream, we headed for Old Town in Orlando’s fun district and had a go at the go-carts before a late summer thuderstorm chased us home.

Waiting out Tropical Storm Fay all day. No major rains or disaster and destruction as I have witnessed before. My sister phoned Monday to say, “Where are you?” We had just driven back from Ocala to Lakeland. She warned me against being there, but I laughed, saying “the storm is coming to you too!” They say on the news that Fay is crossing across Florida- we are on the very tip and have seen heavier rains in the summer storms, but Fay may bounce off the Atlantic and come back for a second round.

Walmart was full of people buying up water. My husband has a laugh about that. He says that they probably don’t drink water on a daily basis, only stock up for storms. In Corfu people used to stock up on pasta when facing an emergency- must have been a throw back to their Venetian roots! I bought water- but then again I drink it- alot! And while Fay threw us a few spurts of rain and gusty winds, we watched The Spiderwick Chronicles on the television- good movie, but very scary for young kids with goblins and ogres. I remember watching Pirates of the Caribbean Movie during Hurricane Jeanette in 2004. The power kept flickering. We sat through a lot of hurricanes that summer.

I remember Charley, though he never came through our area, but the day after Charley hit, my son broke his leg and in the ambulance ride to Orlando, the driver had to swerve around huge trees in the road. (That was a horrid time). The next hurricane took away the electricity and flooded/blocked our way into town. We ended up in the hotel, as my son in a body cast was suffering in the August heat.

So now we sit and wait through Fay, and tomorrow will bring a brighter day! (So many rhymes with Fay!)