Growing pains

Is there ever a group of kids more painful to observe then those going through the middle school years? I was attending an event at Corey's school today and had the opportunity to regard this stage with all its awkward complexities and painful simplicities.

This is the age where kids bodies betray them by growing too fast, growing too slow, by acme blemishes on their faces, by braces, by gangly limbs that careen unreconciled with the rest of their body, by cracking voices, by unfamiliar hormones in even more unfamiliar bodies, and all of it in front of their very observant peer group. This is a group where some still enjoy the pleasure their legos and action figures give them while others are looking to pot and alcohol for pleasure or escape. This is a group where their clothing, language, expressions, accessories, habits, recreation, etc, are scrutinized by their peer group to see what likely group or clique they belong. This is the group that yearns to assert their own independence but wants to do so while looking like everyone else. And for the ones who do not find their niche or who do find a place to belong, this can be a time of desperation and intense loneliness.

It is a time of very high highs and very low lows. Watching them enter the gym, a jumble of movement and energy, an exposition of unwieldy limbs and innocence grace, they took their seats, a sea of jostling adolescent humanity.


So much energy, joy, enthusiasm, and pain all contained in one place.
The middle school years.

A Slice....................

Beam me up and away.............. (April 17)

Bruno informed me this morning that our broken Beam vacuum cleaner could take several days to either repair or replace and would I mind?

Are you kidding?????? If only the oven, cooktop, and microwave would cease working I would be one happy camper.

Into the Wild (Part two)

I'm at Safeway (my home away from home *big big sigh*) and I pass a bunker of books. I try to ignore them (because I have several unread books at home calling my name) but find myself slowing down and then coming to complete stop scanning the titles. One of the very first books I spy is 'Into the Wild.' Since seeing the movie version it has been on my mind and I have been interested in reading the book. A little coincidental don't you think? The 40% off sign also confirmed that I only had one course of action and that was to purchase the book.

I am only about a third into the story....and it is as compelling as the movie. I am trying to understand what it is about this true story that I find so completely disturbing besides the obvious. It isn't just the fate of the young man that saddens me; many people every day lose their lives tragically. I think it is more his attitude for his family that disturbs me; I haven't yet been able to decide if it was a callous indifference or a more passioned anger. However it can be categorized though, I find it difficult to comprehend the needless pain he caused his family to suffer. Even withstanding the possibility that they may have had irreconcilable differences, he deprived them of a chance to at least try to understand.

I guess too that I cannot help to think of the many struggles fought everyday for life to survive, and here is this young man, trapezing into the snow clad Alaskan wild with little in the way of proper equipment or planning, but laden with romantic idealism.

At the Sock Hop

Driving down the street today I felt like I was an observer at some strange school dance. On one side of the road the cherry trees were in full bloom; girls adorned in their frothy billowing pink and white dresses standing daintly in a row. On the other side of the street, branches bare and naked; skinny awkward boys lined up clad in their uniform of adolescent conformity.

Two lines facing one another: waiting for one blossom or twig to waft down in the middle and start the swirl of movement and colour.

*It was truly a strange movement driving past two rows of cherry trees: one side in full bloom and the other just beginning to awaken. Could one side catch that much more sun than the other? Perhaps they are different types of trees?
It looked something like this except the flowering trees on my street were a mix of white and pink blossoms and the trees were very full and rounded. The bare trees were more of a dark nut brown with the branches reaching in all directions. I would have taken a photo with my new phone but seeing as I haven't yet even mastered how to turn the thing off, it is safe to assume that really wasn't a feasible option.

The Beached Whales

Okay, so the Canucks are out of the playoffs. Or more accurately they didn't even make the playoffs. This situation will be analyzed, discussed, argued, and debated, (someone will probably even write a song about it) for months and months on talk shows all around the province. And *sigh* at my dinner table, my parents Sunday dinner table and any time anywhere there is a lag in the conversation.

These are my thoughts on the subject:

They are startling simplistic but true....

1. I would have liked to have seen them go further. It would have been exciting.

2. I would have liked Trevor Linden to have won a Stanley Cup.

3. I would have liked them to go further for my cousin Loret....her excitement regarding them is infectious if not just a tad scary.

4. It would have been good for many a local business.

5. I like it when local people start wearing Canucks jerseys to work and flying Canucks flags on their cars. I probably get more enjoyment out of that then actually watching a game.

---was there anyone who was not touched by the standing ovation that Trevor Linden received? anyone???? All my sons have always been so impressed with this player.....a good role model.

Other random thoughts regarding the NHL playoffs:

I hope a Canadian team is in the final. I hope a Canadian team wins the final.

I loathe the Edmonton Oilers logo......a drip of oil?????? A oil drip????

I love the word zamboni. It is fun to say. Zamboni.

A team with a European or Russian captain has never won the Stanley Cup. Or not for a long long time. Or something like that.

Will Janet Gretzky place a bet on the final game?

With the season being over for the Canucks we can all relax a bit and turn our attention to something else. Like the new episodes of The Office. And hey, this just may be the perfect time for you to try making a Caesar salad.

Hail Caesar

I decided that we should be eating more salads. I have a few favorites that everyone likes but I was really ready to try out some new recipes. I borrowed a few salad books from the library (libraries really are incredible places) and have been going through them. First up I made a Wilted Spinach Salad which was very good and the crisp garlic croutes that accompanied it were fantastic.

Next up was a classic caesar salad. I have always wanted to make a traditional one from scratch with the egg, lemon juice, and anchovies. Actually Bruno and I both made slightly different versions on different nights. His dressing was much nicer than mine; lighter, fresher, very refreshing. However, mine had the addition of anchovies, freshly grated parmesan, and croutons which are delicious additions.
Probably a case where too many chefs in the kitchen actually resulted in the perfect Caesar salad.

Listen, I urge you all to try making a homemade Caesar Salad. Seriously. Leave out the anchovies if you must. And you might want to modify the dressing a bit...many of the recipes are a bit too generous with the olive oil. But it is essential that you use the best quality ingredients that you can afford and/or find. For example, use a quality olive oil, a fresh lemon, parmesan cheese from the Italian store, and crisp fresh romaine. It really was an experience eating a fresh authentic caesar. Great flavours.

Try it. Let me know how it turned out.




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Post Script

Is it too late too say 'APRIL FOOLS DAY?????'

...oh come on.....it still is April.....some of you are still probably nibbling away at your Easter chocolate....although that is one activity I never procrastinate about...........