Love Without Resistance

I've been too busy to blog. My life is full and I should be thankful. I've been busy doing stuff like rushing around to get 3 girls to their last soccer game of the season where they just had fun. This team ... oh my. They have a few girls who have played before but the majority of the team are first timers. For a Middle School age group, this is not a recipe for a championship team. Mine tends to watch and process the game more so when she makes a move it's deliberate. Our Tinkerbell sweetie who only entered the fray for the last 3 games of the season, charges like a mama elephant even though she's half the size of the competition and hadn't kicked a soccer ball until a month ago. Then there's "the bull". I love watching her play. She gets in the way, she accidently ahem knocks people over. She is all legs and elbows and laughter. This game she even managed to let a ball bounce off her shoulder and right into the goal. Our goal unfortunately but still...it was the only goal of the game for our team. And when she got up from the ground where she let herself collapse after realizing what she'd done, I could hear her laugh. She has a very loud raucous laugh. There is no mistaking it. I was worried she would cry but most of her teammates were laughing with her. Not the goalie, but I wouldn't have laughed if I were her either.
Immediately following the game we hit a fast food joint for a bite then hurried back to town 30 minutes away to drop the others off at home so we could turn around for a 3 hour drive to Winslow, Arkansas and one of my favorite places in the state. Devil's Den State Park.
The Man was going up for a video/photo shoot in the park for new commercials and ads.  The small one and I went along because 1) who passes up a night in a cabin in a beautiful park? and 2) maybe we'll get lucky and get to be in the shot.  We didn't get to the cabin until almost 11 p.m. I would love to rent this cabin again- screened in porch with rocking chairs and a picnic table facing the woods and we could hear the creek. #12, go, make reservations NOW. Having had a long day, we all fell into bed until the alarm went off before dawn the next day.

And then the work began. The 3 of us set out for the campground to meet several others including the always gracious and lovely Park Wife and her clan. Luckily the boy was able to free his schedule for the morning and he met us in the campground too. I think he was happy he did since he spent the entire morning at the forefront of a video shoot hiking across Lee Creek with the park interpreter, Rebecca, who is very easy to look at. And smart. And funny. The poor boy. It was such a chore for him.  It amazes me each time what goes into just getting some pictures on film- waiting for the light to be just right, doing the same thing over and over again to get the right shot. It's exhausting, I can't imagine how the film crew does it all the time. We had a fun day, a full day, a long day.




Someone kept yelling "Smile!"

In the middle of the day while there was a break, mostly due to the cloud cover moving in, I caught the small one and the boy playing in the creek and on the dam. J usually has sole custody of the camera but he was busy so I grabbed it to catch the fun. I marvel at times such as these that our little blended family that has been through such trials and tribulations, has grown into this. Moments of peace, camaraderie, gentleness. Moments when the tensions and anger of the past don't show. Love without resistance. Caught on film.

I'm late, I'm late...

We've been busy. Really busy. Last weekend J, the small one and I saw Eric Clapton Live and Elvis's grave at Graceland.She spent most of the concert with her mouth hanging open. It's great to watch her appreciate talented musicians. Not only were Mr. Clapton and Roger Daltrey (who opened) just phenomenal, but  their bands were equally impressive. There was some fantastic musicianship all across that stage.
Just a quick shout out to Memphis Tourism. You guys have it down. We've made several trips to Memphis lately. Every one of them a success. From the time we arrived to the time we left people were helpful and nice and get this...they were POLITE! I felt like I was actually being served instead of my patronage being an inconvenience. I hate when in a restaurant, hotel or entertainment venue I am treated as though they are doing me a favor to take my money.  So thanks Memphis. It didn't even ruffle my feathers that the nice lady at the concession stand at the Fed Ex Forum called me honey, baby and sugar all in one conversation while she apologized that I had to "gasp" wait in line to buy a soda.

The small one had asked to go to Graceland before but honestly we thought she wouldn't enjoy it. Imagine my surprise when she looked at me after we spent several hours there amidst a large group of young girl scouts (and a few screaming siblings) and said "thank you." Wow. Was it the gold records or the sequined jumpsuits? Perhaps the fancy cars and motorcycles? Maybe it was the fur covered furniture in the jungle room? I think she was amazed to find out that what would be an average sized home for some of her more affluent school companions, Graceland really was once considered a mansion.
We were going to eat at the famous Marlowe's BBQ after Graceland, alas it didn't open until 4 p.m. and we had to be back on the road to LR before then. So we searched 'area restaurants' in our TomTom and an address for Sam's Down South BBQ and Hot Wings came up. As we drove down the street the small one expressed some concern about the condition of the neighborhood. Upon arrival we discovered a smoker on the cracked front sidewalk of a strip mall. With window bars. And peeling paint on old concrete walls. But it smelled so good. So we entered. And were immediately greeted with "you folks aren't from around here are you?"  I am not kidding. That's a quote. What? They don't see "our kind" there? How sad. The cook watched us warily for several minutes, commented how nice it was to have a loving family in his place and asked us all kinds of questions to make sure he fixed our meats just the way we wanted. Nice. After he finally figured out that we just like to eat, he sat down with us-there were no tables, just a couple of beat up old vinyl chairs-and we had a nice conversation while balancing styrofoam boxes full of MEAT. He even brought out some of the meats we didn't buy for us to try.  We had ribs, wings and a pulled pork sammie between us but we tried the brisket which was heavenly, pork shoulder mmmm and rib tips. Sam thinks his rib tips are the bomb and he might be correct. Sam, those were some of the hottest, meatiest, messiest wings we've had in a long time. And yes you were right, the ribs are better dry.

Then J and I went off to Eureka Springs for 3 days while he attended a work conference. We were just in that gorgeous little town right after Christmas for some R&R. I knew I couldn't shop-or rather I shouldn't. Instead I  ran the winding and hilly historic loop (from our hotel it was about 2.7 mi) where all the quaint little shops and restaurants are located, did hill repeats in our hotel driveway and then walked the loop again to get lunch. The following day I was completely lazy and read books, mostly cookbooks that I had "won" at the silent auction the night before. I watched more TV that day than I had in the last month I think. I became addicted to some show about people who "do" hair. How did I live not knowing about Shear Genius? Yeah. Whatev. I haven't watched it since that day and I can't say I've missed it. But THAT day, that day it was essential to my mental well being.


In December, I insisted that no exercise would be part of the trip. It was relaxing remember? But this time we took our mountain bikes and finally got to try out some of the trails at Lake Leatherwood. Here we are on Miner's Rock Trail. The sweeping downhill was so worth the climb up! Sweet Ride. That's a really nice little city park. Well done Eureka Springs.

Birthday Cake, Soccer and Karaoke

This week the 'baby' had a birthday. We fooled her into thinking that we were ignoring the actual date due to all the other good stuff she was getting to do around the time of her birthday. But I couldn't let it go completely. So while she was having a music lesson, I went and rounded up her 3 best friends. The small ones' Grandparents met us at a local pizza joint and brought birthday cake. I went to pick her up and suggested we eat out since J was out of town and we were both hungry. I think she was surprised. She said she was surprised. How do you tell with teenage girls? They look surprised when you remind them they didn't finish a chore, or forgot the due date of a library book, or when you find that unfortunate stain that was hidden by a backpack on the floor for 3 days.

She gets very excited over mixed CDs made especially with her taste in mind.








Later in the week she had her first soccer game. She's trying the game this year after sitting out of any sport all last year. She says she likes it. I'm happy to see her running.

After the game, we needed to eat and stopped in at a "bar and grille" close to the school we had played at. It was karaoke night. We were highly entertained. Within minutes, the small one had switched her Facebook status to:

Yeah, I'm a professional karaoke hopper. I travel around the country, going from bar to bar competing against whoever dares to challenge me. It's a pretty intense lifestyle. I don't recommend it for the weak.

My kid has a sense of humor. She makes me laugh.

Christmas in Candlelight

Christmas in Candlelight at Washington State Park was absolutely awesome again this year. This year we were a quartet, having invited one of the small one's friends along for the ride. The girls had a busy morning of placement testing for High School. Terrifying Tales of Adventures in Arithmetic and Literacy kept us entertained thru a quick lunch before we left Little Rock for the drive to Washington. A lecture on reading instructions before beginning a test was served up for dessert.

The first thing the girls found inside the old courthouse was this checkerboard. While J and I were perusing the gift shop and visiting with folks we only see once in a blue moon, the girls took on a marathon checker game. We had to go prod them out of the seats and force them out into the very cold but sun filled day.

One of the small one's favorite things in the park is this beautiful old Magnolia tree. I know it might not be proper grammar to capitalize Magnolia but look at it? It deserves a capital M.

It was planted in 1839 and is on the Register of Historic Trees. I know, I didn't realized there was a registry for historic trees either.


This lovely maid has "knees" that surround her, keeping her upright, and  leaving enough room for a multitude of children and adults to play in her shelter.

Go ahead and say "WOW".

Just WOW.

In the evening, more than 3000 luminaries line the sidewalks all thru the park. It is absolutely breathtaking.

I don't have any night time pictures to post because we were oh so busy doing things like this. Shoveling EarthQuake Cake in our mouths following the dinner of ham, dressing, potatoes both white and sweet, corn, green beans, mmmmm biscuits and 2 count them 2 kinds of gravy at the buffet at Williams' Tavern. Before and after dinner we were serenaded by a quartet and a choir. Lovely! Last year there were carolers in period costume singing while we waited.

Lest you think it's all about food, because I know that with our family, it sometimes is...

Elsewhere in the park is a working blacksmith shop, several historic homes, a candleshop and a print shop that contains some very old and interesting printing machinery. They have a press that was actually unearthed in Murphreesboro that people thought was a headstone because the only part showing above the earth does indeed resemble a tombstone. Cool. There is also a weapons museum at the park and the park is home to a School of Bladesmithing.

In the evening hours, many of the churches and the old WPA gymnasium play host to school and church choirs. The small one had a friend singing in the Bryant High School Choir so we stayed to watch their performance.

Oh my Lordy, peeps! 

Our evening would not have been complete if we had missed these Gentlemen (notice the improper use of capitalization again, and again, it is deserved). The Hempstead County Melody Boys made our evening. In the middle of their set, the small one leans over with her iPod Touch in hand and on it is this note:  

"The Banjo Player is the BEST Thing EVER."

Bless you Mr. Charlie Webb, wherever you are tonight.

Personal Note to The Park Wife herself...we're so sorry we missed out on fun and fellowship while we were in your neck o the woods. So to The Park Wife, Big Buckaroo and the little Buckaroos- NEXT TIME!

Anti Bullying Week Across the Nation

This week is Anti Bullying week at schools all over the country. As an assignment from the Student Council Mentor (and awesome composition teacher) The small one and her friends put together this video. No one, especially not their parents, expected what came of it.
The kids were interviewed by the local news tonight on KTHV. They were phenomenal. Congratulations to my small one Miss Mc, Alex, Lauren, Hannah and Lizzie!

A Mother's Guilt

I'm a mom. I feel guilty. A lot. For what I give my daughter, for what I don't, for the way I talk to her and for not being able to ease my frustration.
This past weekend I grounded her from going to anyone else's house because it seems she is always gone on the weekends. Teenagers, right?  She told me her friends were working on a video for school. It is  anti bullying week and the girls wanted to make something special.When I asked if it was an assignment she said "no" so I didn't let her go.  I heard her on the phone on and off all weekend. I heard her say "I'm sorry but I really can't come over" and things like "that song is perfect". 

THIS VIDEO is what she and her beautiful friends were making. I feel guilty that she had to be involved over the phone. I feel, like a bully.

When I stop crying, I will apologize for not listening.

A Week Without the Small One

This week I am recieving daily (or almost daily) updates from Wisconsin and Minnesota. The small one was offered a very, very generous vacation via accompanying her sweet friend Al, her brother, Dad, Gma and Gpa in their MotorCoach from LR to Duluth. I haven't seen her pictures yet, but since she called me to ask what the procedure was if you see a bear in the woods, I'm guessing there might be some real doozies. They stayed a couple of nights in a cabin on the Wisconsin edge of the lake. Hence the request for bear knowledge to be imparted. Apparently there were good trees to be climbed and she was told to make sure she didn't climb one with a bear already in it. I wonder if she ever climbed a tree after that warning?

A's Gma told me they were going to visit this bridge and take a lake cruise. This is gorgeous, I hope the small one remembered to take her own pictures.

The Trip, capitalized because it is a Trip not a trip, also included 2 nights in a suite inside the Mall of America. Oh me. Oh my. The phone call today at noon revealed that all but pocket change of the money she started out with has now been spent. Mostly on clothes. Ugh. I hope SOME of the lecture about buying things that will last as memories sunk in and it isn't all consumables. And what is this Minnesota Sushi she's raving about? Something about smoked walleye and some kind of roe that she can't pronounce. Only a 13 year old girl can go from Urban Outfitters clothes to smoked walleye in the same breath.

I am ready for her to come home. She has 4 more days. And no money. Ha. She must learn to budget someday. I hope.