AliBlog

Many moons wait

I've enjoyed reading Mich's words for most of my life. For nearly 25 years - in poems, notes, letters, journals and writings on the wall - her words have provided inspiration, humor, understanding and insight.

In junior high we were poets. We wrote love songs to rock stars and boys who hadn't yet learned to shave. We rhymed every other line, wrote cryptic messages on bedroom walls and filled journals with lists of boys we wanted to kiss.

In high school we were quiet rebels. We exchanged notes between classes, held private poetry readings in overgrown fields and dedicated many lonely nights to deciphering the symbolism in the lyrics of our favorite hard rock ballads.

In college we sat at the feet of published authors and learned to write. We stayed out late and drank irony from the tap of life. We won contests, edited literary journals, founded magazines and shared first drafts of essays, prose poems and articles.

After graduation we sustained ourselves on words sent from 1,000s of miles away. We shared disappointments and victories, described strange cities and odd jobs, and learned to live and write in world where you didn't earn a living as a writer.

Now you can find inspiration in Mich's words too. She has begun the wait for the baby daughter of her dreams, and she's chronicling her thoughts in the blog Many Moons Wait. You'll especially love her first post, written to her dream of a daughter about the city she'll someday call home.

I think he just called me a whimp

Robey: Can we have more juice?

Me: No. You just spilled your juice.

Max & Robey: Please. We won't spill anymore. Please. We want juice. Please ...

Me: No. I don't know. I don't care. Ask your dad.

Max & Robey: Please. Can we have more juice? We won't spill anymore.

Jeromy: No.

Max: At our house, my mom's in charge.

Five Kids, Five Tries

I'm Certain This Thing Spun at a Much Faster Clip When I was a Kid

Click on the top photo and look at Daisy's face. Also, go to flickr to see more photos from Michigan and the class reunion.

Honoring Marcy and Rich (& Shanz)

The friends I have who have survived Hodgkin's are some of the most vibrant, fun-loving and live- in-the-moment kind of ipeople that I know. Just look at these two:

They're healthy, happy and very much ALIVE. Not everyone with cancer is lucky enough to have the same levels of love and support that they had, or the same access to healthcare and treatment options that were available to them. To honor survivors and to help fund research for treatments and cures, Marcy, Rich and their families are walking in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk next month in Chicago. You can help by donating here.

Look Who We Met This Weekend

The twins!

Monroe looks like a monster in comparison.

Here they are on their birthday! With their proud daddy!

And the closeups ...

Adison

Aiden

There's more on flickr.

We have a New Niece and Nephew!

Welcome to the clan, Aiden and Addison. Born last night around 9:00 pm, both babies are a healthy 6 pounds (or so). And Mike reports that Shannon is feeling good too. Robey and Moe will be chasing these two around the yard before we know it.

Pile O' Bolens

Familiar Faces

The other night I dreamed I was driving my cheap, blue Hyundai hatchback through muddy fields in this small, farming community down the road. I had already been to the bank and was heading to the funeral home to look for a relative who was planning her own funeral arrangements. Two random friends were in the car with me.

We parked the car and ended up on foot, dashing through this partially enclosed walkway that connected a series of barns and stables. It was bustling with foot traffic. We were walking hastily from one end to the next, squeezing past groups of folks heading in the other direction when I realized that I recognized these people! They were mostly out-of-town friends from the military but also friends and acquaintances from high school and college whom I hadn't talked to in ages. There were dozens of old, familiar faces sweeping briskly past me as if they belonged there and had an urgent need on the other side of this farm. I started saying brief hellos and how-are-yous but kept walking in the opposite direction, and so did they.

Then, suddenly, I came across two close friends from Arizona who I haven't kept in contact with as much as I'd like. Finally, I stopped walking and made them slow down to talk to me. "What are you doing here? What's going on? Why didn't you tell me you'd be in town?" I asked. "All these other people, it's great to see them and a bit of a shock, but I'm completely surprised that you didn't let me know you'd be visiting someplace so close." We hugged and chatted briefly, but they explained that they were really in a hurry, only here for a day and didn't have much time for visits anyway. They'd call soon. We'd catch up. We'd stay in touch.

It's true, some dreams are hard to interpret, but this one's pretty transparent, don't you think? I need to slow down, call some old friends and take notice of the many upcoming changes in my life. I need to be more aware and more appreciative of the friends I have both here in town and far off in distant cities. I need to stop letting friends pass me by and engage them in genuine conversation.

Or, maybe I just need to get more sleep.

Name that Tongue

• Alternative title #1: Don't eat the blue acid
• Alternative title #2: This year for Halloween, we gross you out with tongue photos

I told you the yogurt came with tongue tattoos. Of all things. The first person to correctly idetnify all four tongues wins a chance to hijack the comments section of this blog (Jen's latest record is 9 in a row!).

Thanks for the New PJs

Robey and Max wearing their brand new PJs from Grandma Nan.

Someone Else Handled the Camera

Jeromy's dad came up from Chokoloskee for a long weekend, so we invited all the brothers and cousins over for some fun. See the pictures here.

Tell Me This Isn't a Girl Who Needs a Blog of Her Own

From jen in today's e-mail:

These are all over our basement/garage.

About a dozen toads live in my house now.

They're worthless.  They won't even eat the bugs.

More Owen

Since I'm in North Carolina, I still haven't met this kid. I'm trying to take an early flight back to Ohio today, so maybe I'll get to see him tonight. Until then, I've been staying posted with stories from family, and pictures fromt he grandparents. Uncle Gary sent these today, and Dee Dee sent the two yesterday. Here's big brother Max with the new baby.

And here's the little guy cracking his eye to say, "I'm only two days old, but I don't want to miss anything." Don't you just love him already?

Introducing Baby O

Little Owen Peter was born yesterday at 11:10 am (above). Doesn't he look just like his big brother Max did when he was born (below)? Welcome to the family, baby O!

Max Says ...

"I have an idea," when referring to all sorts of random objects and movements (but not to actual thoughts or ideas).

"Are you a gurhl, Mimi? You don't have gurhl hair," to his grandmother who wears an adorably short hair cut.

"Probably," just about every chance he gets. For Max, this word may be eclipsing the favorite of toddler's everywhere: "Why? .... Why? .... Why? ... Why? .... Why?"

"My door's closed, Robey," while holding his life vest tightly shut to keep Robey from grabbing his belly.

Spoiled

Two weekends in a row with the Dayton gang and we've been spoiled with family fun. Man - we've missed hanging out with them. It's been nearly a year since we were all together. And now, it may take another year for our stomachs to recover from the huge quantities of beer, liquor and greasy breakfast foods we all consumed in the last two weekends.

I have a ton of photos to post and a gazillion little stories to tell, but right now I only have time to point you to the new photo album I'm slowly populating - Quad Shots.

Somewhere, I have photos of young men licking cream-covered jello shots from the taut bellies of Southern Belles at a barn party in NC. But those aren't the types of pictures you'll find here. And no, they aren't pictures of the roomies doing shots of Southern Comfort freshman year in our infamous, four-person Jefferson Hall dorm room (440, the largest quad on campus) either. Instead, you'll find photos of four-wheeler ATVs (quads for short) and the fun you can have riding in your own back yard.

This weekend, pre-teen Alec learned to shift and reverse and really OWN the machine. He spent nearly every waking hour on the quad, and showed off his mad skills to any passenger brave enough to jump on for a ride. Watch out, he's definitely a little Jeromy - fearless, fast and always out front - in the making.

Some Other Cousins

We talk a lot about Robey's second cousin Max because they're close in age and spend a lot of time together. But what about his other cousins? For the 4th, we spent the weekend in Dayton with Robey's first cousins Ashley, Saren and Alec. See any resemblances?

Robey and Alec on Alec's funky, fat-tire bike.

Robey and Ashley on the back of Uncle Mike's car.

Robey snuggling with Saren before bed.

Robey has a Girlfriend

  Bridget, Anne and Casey are visiting from California, and we were lucky enough to spend a few hours with the Olson girls Friday night (lucky because their Ohio itinerary includes at least 28 stops throughout the state for weddings, visits, family reunions, amusement parks and more).

Robey, who tussles and spars with all of his toddler guy friends, didn't raise his voice with Anne until 10:30 pm - two hours past his bedtime. It's no surprise, really, since Grandma Nan has been planning their pending nuptials since Bridget and I were pregnant together in Tucson three years ago.

You think it's a stretch? She practically hand-picked Susan for Beau and she probably would have disowned me if I hadn't married Jeromy. This woman knows a good find when she sees one. And just look at this little darling - if she's not a good find, I don't know what is.

What Ever Happened to ...

I have been very focused on myself lately - on my own inner struggles, personal observations and mental stability.

And after that I have been focused on Robey - how he is changing and becoming more and more the little man that he was born to be, which is some strange combination of Jeromy's strong work ethic and adventuresome spirit along with my all-consuming creative longings and persistent absentmindedness. He is, in short, amazing.

After that, I've been focused on work, which alternately lulls me into boredom, and then spikes into moments of mayhem where I'm tossing ten plates of customer, client, designer, printer and management priorities in the air all at once.

After that, I've been focusing on this house and the day-to-day doldrums of laundry, dishes, dinners and - on the other side of that - the welcoming of friends and family into it for fulfilling visits and chats.

If you haven't noticed, what's getting lost in all this is Jeromy, who just turned 33 yesterday. It's no wonder he gets frustrated with my honey-do requests when it seems as if the only things we talk about lately are the endless lists of chores that need to be done around here.

So let me tell you what Jeromy's been up to and how proud I am of him for it. He left behind a promising career as an Air Force Officer so that we could move home to be near family and to build a simpler life for ourselves. Mind you, he hated his career in the Air Force. And simplicity and self-sufficiency are his lifelong goals. However, life is never as simple or sufficient as we envision it to be in our thoughts about the future.

We left the Air Force with big dreams of running a campground until we wisely realized a campground would most likely run us into the ground both physically and financially before we would even begin to see the rewards of simplicity and self-sufficiency that we so coveted.

As the campground dream died another dream has slowly come to light. I believe it's a dream that is shared by many ex-military men and women who have spent years answering to the orders of others with nothing but a direct yes-sir and a quick wave of the hand off the forehead. He's hoping to start his own business.

The details of that business are still working themselves out, but if they come to fruition, this small business will allow Jeromy to combine many of his best skills: mechanical abilities, unending patience, organizational sense and, of course, his uncanny horse-trader instincts.

In a recent note to his friend Don, Jeromy said, "I'm returning to my blue collar roots." But he'll also be using the management skills he learned in the Air Force. And I think the combination is going to make him happier than he ever has been in his professional career.

So, if you get the chance, please wish him luck or say a small prayer or send some good karma his way - whatever it is you do for the people you think well of. And, while you're at, feel free to send a belated birthday greeting as well!

Our Fathers

For father's day we had dinner on the Toon Boat with Grandpa Rick. Robey ate cookies with raisins and bread on the side, while the rest of us ate a proper Midwestern summertime meal of hamburgers, baked beans, fruit, and potato salad.

Anchored in the middle of the lake, we listened to the birds and admired Ohio's 40 shades of green. Physically, I know Papa Rick was the only grandfather on the boat last night, but I think Robey's other grandpas were with us in spirit as well.

Although he's in Florida, Grandpa Buddy was sending well wishes through the fish - muskie I'm told - who jumped around our boat and flopped back into the water wearing smiles. Perhaps his father, Grandpa Amos, swam by briefly too.

And the two gulls who circled our boat at sunset, staring us down with little interest in the food we threw their way? That was Grandpa Shaw and Grandpa Flowers momentarily stopping in to hear Robey's wide open, uninhibited belly laughs.

Someday, when I join them in the clouds I hope it's a soundtrack they'll still be playing. 

I'm in Photo Mode

I've just posted a few new photos in the *Robey at 2* album and will be creating a new album for Memorial Day weekend soon, so stay tuned for photos of snakes, rainbows and tents. The photo to the right is from mother's day. It's Robey and Grandma Dee on Grandpa Bruce's new quad!

They've Been Lined Up Since Monday

Looks like Beau will be having a very long night tonight. Episode III is playing on every screen, all night long.

I've never understood the fanfare and excitement surrounding these films, but I suppose Jeromy understands it enough for the both of us. After the mind-numbing dialogue of Episode II, I'm most elated that this will be the last time I have to accompany him to the theater to watch another Star Wars flick.

This Week's Mantra

Here's a little gem of inspiration from Jen that helped me make it through my week with a smile. I've been repeating it to myself daily:

Have a daydream on me. I may be having too many lately.

And so I dream ...

Death in a Small Town

Death is closer to me now that we've moved home. It's not that I am any closer to dying myself, but I am reminded of its infinite guarantee more and more in this small town where the connections between friends and neighbors run deeper than the country wells that fill our sinks.

Last night I attended calling hours for the father of an old friend -- someone I've known since the age of 5 but hadn't seen for many years. I have a picture somewhere from what I remember as our last encounter. She is dressed for prom -- sleek and stunning in a sequined dress with earnest accessories and wholesome red lipstick. I am dressed for campus bar rooms -- denim and flannel layered on top of cotton with a beaded necklace and faded boots.

Now she is pregnant and parentless, and about to bring her first child into this cruel and beautiful world without the support of a father who lived every single day to please his offspring and entertain his friends.

My mom remembers that he used to play dead when his wife arrived home from work, lying still and lifeless on the floor until she roused him back with laughter. The friend who found him dead this time surely had the same thoughts. This man, so full of love and humor and life -- who eats his vegetables, takes his vitamins and mocks his own death -- he cannot really be gone at such a young age.

His first wife was my kindergarten teacher. Her death from colon cancer in the early 90s was one of my first experiences with loss.

I was made to believe at a young age in her classroom that I had an intellect worth nurturing and an imagination worth cherishing. I have strong memories from that year -- many more of kindergarten than I do any other year in elementary school -- and they are all draped with a sense of caring and acceptance that's hard to find in a classroom filled with so many budding personalities.

I remember injuries and friendships and small jokes, and especially the attention and time she gave to a young reader in a school district where kids that age just did not read.

The last photograph I have of her is from my high school graduation. She is frail and weak from disease; I am strong and young and able-bodied -- and yet I am sitting on her lap. And she is proud.

Today, as her children say an aching goodbye to their father, I know that in their hearts, they're both still sitting on their mother's lap. She is giving them the strength to wake and breathe and shake the hands of many old and caring friends. And she is proud.

New Photos Available Now

The wine party photo album is now available. And I'm in the middle of adding some photos to the *Robey at 2* album.

Walking Charities

This week we received e-mails requesting walk-a-thon support from two separate friends. They both have event-sponsored sites where you can make contributions online:

• Jen is walking in Avon's weekend-long Walk for Breast Cancer. We graduated from high school together, but she now lives in Chicago.
• Amy is walking 6.2 miles with her daughter Sophia in the March of Dime's WalkAmerica. She's a college roommate who now lives in Portland.

Click on their names to visit their sites.

A Favorite Quote from Saturday

9-year-old Rebecca to her twin sister: Hey Miranda, I'll trade you the rest of my gobstoppers, Jacob and this toy for that baby monitor.

Forget about clearance sales and double coupons, these girls are learning the fine art of a good trade from one of the masters, Jerry Allen himself. But in all their years of bartering (including a recent car for van deal with new floors and a wreck on the tracks thrown in for good measure), Jeromy and Jerry Allen have never included the trading of kin in their deals. Not as far as I know anyway.

Have you made any good trades lately?

Claudia Doesn't Wanna Play

Sarah says she took this picture right after she told Claudia about Burn the Baby. I think Ian's going to protect her, though. Beau says it's the only picture he's seen where the twins aren't smiling.

If you're looking for new pics of Robey, I've updated the Playhouse Portfolio, and added one Little Boy photo to the *Robey at 1* album as well.

Things may be quiet around here for the next week or so. Robey has a nasty flu bug, so I'm sure we're in line to catch it. But we're hoping the Florida sun will keep it at bay. We're heading that way soon ...

Banded Hands

The hands of three couples, three marriages and three life-long friendships. We celebrated  Valentine's Day with Mich, Stan, Chad and Jen on Friday night with dinner at a classy (pronounced in a nasal voice with a very long A) restaurant and games at our house afterwards. Here, we're playing spoons. SPOONS! I hadn't played that game since high school, when we used to play all night long at church lock-ins.

At dinner, we discussed (among other things) panic attacks, because two in our party had suffered them. These are all fairly mellow people who I would never describe as panicky or highly stressed. And as we're sitting there, hearing about one of them splayed out on top of the car alongside the highway, shaking and gasping for air, I became slightly panicked about the possibility of a panic attack sometime in my future.

I think I keep my stress levels pretty well in check, but just knowing that my body could jolt into panic mode at any moment without warning made me slightly, well, panicked.

... I guess I've veered a bit off course here, haven't I? That's the trouble with this stream-of-consciousness writing. You never quite know where it's headed. I meant to sit down and write a nice, cheery Valentine's Day post, and now I've gone and stressed everyone out.

Perhaps I should end with a question: How do you keep your stress levels down? Since nobody's life is completely stress-free, what are you doing to fend off a panic attack?

And some advice: Go eat some chocolate or drink some wine with your Valentine tonight. Enjoy a stress-free evening with someone you love.

Family History

Lest you forget ... there are new (well old actually) black and white photos going up nearly every day on the Basement Treasures site. Why not stop by and tell us a story about these fun-loving folks -- even if you have to make it up.

Or e-mail me some suggestions on how to make the site better. Maybe I could start by publishing some of those lists Jen speaks of (I have 'em: whole slam books full of pre-adolescent lists.)

Happy Birthday Aunt Susan

Here's Beau and Susan in Tucson before they were even engaged. We had fun that weekend - drove up Mt. Lemmon where the weather was nice in Canada that day, and spent a day in Nogales haggling for blankets and jewelry and other useless trinkets.

I can't remember, though, was this picture taken before or after Beau bought the Scout? The story of the Scout is, of course, the best story from that weekend (but only one of the many good stories from Beau and Susan's courtship).

On a whim, Beau bought the 1976 (or there abouts) classic without a title and decided to drive it home with Susan's brother, whom he'd only just met. So Susan took the flight back to Ohio by herself but ended up stranded in Minnesota (or there abouts) all alone for a night. Somehow, they all survived, relationships intact, including the Scout, which sits in Beau's driveway and holds a special place in everyone's heart to this very day.

That's it for this chapter in the relationship of Beau & Susan. Next time, we'll have to tell you the story of their first date.

Christmas Angel

Look at this Annie Dumpling. When she was tiny, I thought she looked like her grandma Addie. Now I think she looks more and more like her mommy, but those are definitely her daddy's curls peaking out from under the cap. To see more great holiday photos of Anne and Casey, visit the Olson's site.

Christmas Wrap-Up 2004

Christmas Day: Four stops - Home, Shaws, Engles, Lusts

Robey's favorite gift: The Neat & Tidy Playhouse

Alison's favorite gift: A couple's weekend get-away from Beau and Susan that includes babysitting and luxury European car rental in addition to dinner, movie and a hotel stay!

Jeromy's favorite gifts: He says he's thankful for them all and can't pick a favorite

Favorite white-elephant gift: Pot with Bells

Everyone's favorite good-time toy: Dancing Tigger!

Favorite Christmas card: A surprise letter from Viola in Germany (hand written notes score big points with me)

Biggest holiday let down: The stomach flu

Grandma Dee took this photo at her house. More pics to come later this week ...

The Performatory Idea

Here's an amusing idea that my mom's been proposing for a few years. It's one that everyone seems to like - both men women alike (though I'll admit she's discussed it with far more of the latter).

Her plan goes something like this - she wants to turn the old Mansfield Reformatory (above, where Shawshank Redemption was filmed) into a Performatory for Men. After a certain age, she'll house all men in the Performatory, where they'll each be provided with a La-Z-Boy, a TV and remote, and a fridge full of beer. Women will be left to run the town, but whenever a man's skills are needed, we can go to the Performatory to check one out. There will be a floor full of carpenters, a floor full of mechanics, a floor full of studs, and so forth.

So, what do you think? The idea needs some flushing out, but it could work, right? Who's on board?

Tiffer's Babies

Tell me these aren't the best smiles you've ever seen. It's the twins in Tampa. I want to fly down there RIGHT NOW to pinch their cheeks and nibble their toes. We are scheming (hoping) for a trip to FL sometime during the chilly winter months of 2005, so keep those kids smiling until we get there.

Three Little Monkeys ...

... jumping on the bed. I meant to post this one last week when I was in NC, but I never got around to it. Our little monkeys didn't eat a bit of turkey or stuffing for Thanksgiving, but Sammy, Robey and Max still enjoyed the holiday. They read books, entertained four generations of family members, jumped in this crib for a long time, and even took their first group bath together. The video of this bed jumping event is hilarious, but I don't think I have the space to post it here. Someday I'll get that all figured out (advice willingly accepted if you know how).

The Stork is Everywhere

It's been a busy month for our friendly stork. He's dropping bundles of love all over the country. We'd like to welcome these brand new deliveries to the world:

• Abigail Elizabeth on Oct. 20 in Michigan
• Amelia Franziska on Oct. 23 in Florida
• Brandon Scott on Oct. 26 in Oklahoma
• Kyle J. on Nov. 10 in Arizona

We hope that someday Robey will be able share books with Abigail, 'yards' with Amelia, software with Brandon and quads with Kyle. Let's schedule play dates!

In Memory of Elby

Registered name: Princess Elby of Siberia
Born: May 1998 in Plano, Texas
Died: October 2004 in Alexandria, Ohio

Hit by a car on St. Rt. 161, Elby died a true husky -- running for all she was worth straight toward the horizon. To quote Jen, we'll look forward to petting you in heaven, Elby girl. Until then, Robey will take care of your favorite ball for you.

The Scrabble Dictionary

This post is especially for Ray, who tried to pass off his Oxford dictionary as a substitute for the Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary in a recent game (can you imagine!). I found my dad's tattered copy yesterday and looked up JO, which is indeed an official word. For a complete, official list of two- and three-letter words, check out this scrabble player's site (one of many sites that list the 86 two-letter words allowed in play). Now, everyone ... guess what Ray and Tiana are getting from us for Christmas!

p.s. I'm sure Tiana will be thrilled for me to report, as an aside, that she won the Scrabble game in question.

Double Dippin'

Check out these bathing beauties. Amy sent this picture of her twins Emily and Megan earlier this week, and I just had to post it. They'll be 1 in August.

We love guests

Grandma Ruth, Grandma Dee and Grandpa Bruce are coming to visit today for a few days, and we're looking forward to seeing them. We're hoping to squeeze in a boat trip and a visit to see Amy, Eric & kids while they're here. The picture is of Robey and Grandma Dee at Robey's first birthday party.

Alec and Saren go camping

Alec and Saren were the campground stars last weekend. They helped Jeromy make a good impression and they garnered a complimentary boat ride on the river. Jeromy didn't take many new pictures, but Mike took some good video. One of these days I'll get real ambitious and figure out how to video blog, but the plain ol' pics will have to do for now. Oh yes, and a big happy birthday to Mike -- today.