My weekend, in a nutshell

Why do the fun ones always go by so fast?

Maggie, you may be jealous of this first part, just a warning...My dad bought my sister a brand new scooter to take back to college with her for the summer. Friday night, after Scott put the thing together, we went for rides. Oh man, are these fuuuun! They're having a sale on them, Mag - I'm just sayin' it might be time for you to get yourself one.

Then on Saturday, there was mt. biking here.

Sunday, I spent the day with the Maine Rowe's - hanging in the back yard - swingset and a sandbox? Do you really need anything else?

Finally, there was internal debate...Should I go here or not? I always like to go see the Avett's when they are near - and this looks like a good time. But, as Scott said, gas prices could be $5/gallon by then, and maybe I should just wait till they come around again, but closer. It's kind of a haul - 3+ hours each way. Still undecided.

D-O-Gs

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from a dog, if you stop and watch. Here are just five that I've learned from mine:

1. Don't hold a grudge. Watch dogs playing - if one pisses the other off, they let the other know. And then they move on and continue playing.

2. Love every day. I have yet to see Kobe wake up and not be excited to get up and go out for a stroll in the woods. Or go for a car ride. Or have a treat. Or simply loaf around the house. Just be happy to be here.

3. Devotion, love the one you're with. Dogs don't really care where they are, as long as they're with their person.

4. Live with abandon. If you want to chase that squirrel, stick, or ball - well, you go for it, man!

5. Adapt. Things change, roll with it.

What have you learned from your dog?

I've got a secret...

...and so do you. I think that's what makes PostSecret so compelling. We've all got them - some funny - some not.

What started as an art project - people making homemade postcards and writing a true secret that they had never told anyone else, has turned into an international phenomenon.

I used to check this site fairly regularly, but had forgotten about it until recently. If you're looking for some online reading, I recommend you spend a couple of minutes here.

What a bunch of Monkey's!

Last night we watched a new kayak flick and here is a clip from my favorite part. These jokers purposely throw themselves into a NASTY hole on the Salmon River...and pay the price.

Check out the carnage and have a laugh at their expense.

P.S. These are professional boaters...I would highly recommend not trying this at home.

Getting lost is not a waste of time.

I'm not about to lie and say that the last few months were easy. There ain't nothing rosy and sunshiney about moving across the country. For three months. Only to turn around and come home. But, it was not a waste of time.

I learned to go for something. If there's something you've wanted to do...move across the country, start a new hobby...Whatever it may be - just do it. I mean sure, you may end up living in your mother...and grandmother's basement...at 32 years old...But f it! It's temporary.

I learned I like mountain biking!

I learned I'm an East Coast Kid - straight up. Some may say the West is Best...and I would not argue that point - it sure is awesome - beautiful landscape - great people. But, when we were driving back across the country and the first person cut me off on the highway, in NY, I think it was - I let out a big sigh and said...Ah, home.

Most importantly...

I learned about commitment to someone, even when times are so dark, you can't see the damn light. If you stick it through, eventually the light will shine.

I hesitate to say things are going well, because the last time I said that on this blog...well, we packed up our shit and came back...BUT, Adam's training at his new school seems to be going really well and we'll see. We've even gotten back to our old ways of adventuring...I will dig out the camera and start taking it along again and will post some pics soon.

Wild!

Yesterday, we (Grandma, Loni, Jackson, and me) were sitting around and I asked everyone what their favorite New England wild animal was. When I shared that mine was a porcupine, I was chastised.

Seriously? Watch this video and tell me that the porcupine is not adorable, I dare you. I discovered that the porky was my favorite about a year or so ago when I was driving and spotted one up in a tree, enjoying a snack. I pulled over and watched him for a little while and was hooked.