Day 63: Milk a cow





Completed number 43 on my list of things to do: I milked a cow.  And as an added bonus I fed a donkey wheat bread that thanked me by producing a very loud fart.  The proprietor of this cattle farm, Marlon, didn’t waste much time with instructions  or warnings. He simply demonstrated the technique by squirting my kids and me with the cow’s milk. This left Zach crying that the cow had peed on him. After some hesitation and fear, I took over. And as was promised milk was delivered. “Mama” was most patient with my  loud squealing and general  misuse of her mammaries.  For her patience, “Mama” was returned to her calf and rewarded with bread. For my hard work and diligence, I was rewarded with a half a cup of milk and shit covered flip flops.  

"Mama"

Day 62: Day on the Beach

A day of over indulgence and relaxation was spent on the beach.  With a cooler full of Heineken, sun tan oil (that went largely unused), and a bag of chips, we settled into the beach before 11AM and spent the next six hours watching the waves. The Gulf felt unusually fantastic; there weren’t any pesky jelly fish or sea weed.  At the end of the day, he cooked hamburgers and we  were joined on the front porch by my parents. Other than going by entirely too quickly, it was a perfect day.

Day 61: Sushi for lunch

Ansley and I have recently discovered area sushi restaurants. It is fast becoming our new favorite hobby. Today we shared a plate of California roll, tuna (raw roll, and shrimp tempura.  We both love sushi and are determined to attempt to make it at home ourselves. That is number 67 on my list.

Day 60: Write a short story to share

Today I wrote a short story to share.  Writing is a process where revision is essential.  I was able to complete a draft and even revise it somewhat, but the story needs time more than anything. It needs to be left alone to percolate so when I return I can see more clearly what it needs or doesn’t need.  It is a story of a young uneducated widow who receives some much needed money.  What will she do with the money having never made decisions for herself or been around people who have made good decisions? She is left with a 400 car payment yet lives in an apartment. She has a 1000 department store credit card because she decorated her baby’s room in everything Tinkerbelle.  She has a part time job at a dollar store and dreams of a weekend at the beach with her chain smoking husband who drinks too much. So how does she react to sudden “wealth?”  Below is from the first draft:

The first social security check arrived a week before Thanksgiving.  Her hands trembled as she studied the check for $1014.00. It was the most money she had ever possessed or even seen.  Her short marriage to Dwayne had given her a daughter, a photo album,   and now a monthly paycheck.  Her thoughts momentarily went to Dwayne’s wake when his drunk mother refused to get out of the car or turn down the radio that blared   Three Dog Night. When Stephanie looked at the lifeless body of her husband, she felt more afraid than anything. The fall from the scaffolding had severed his head, but through the miracles of modern funeral services and a cleverly placed turtle neck, his head was perfectly in place. She was terrified that he would leap out of the coffin and grab her. Besides her great aunt who had a heart attack while picking scuppernongs, she had never seen a dead body. When she found her crumbled next to an overturned bucket of scuppernongs she wasn’t afraid then. She thought the old lady looked silly with her cotton dress blowing over her head revealing a rather large pair of white cotton panties. Unaware that life had left her 87 year old aunt, Stephanie thought the woman was taking a nap in the most peculiar place.

  Dwayne’s coffin had been decorated with his beloved Crimson Tide football; a hugger with an unopened Miller LIte, a pack of Doral’s and a picture of Stephanie the day Destiny had been born.  When they lowered the casket into the earth the next day, for a brief moment Stephanie thought that he would need a lighter. It seemed as if Dwayne spent most of his time looking for lighters even though he smoked a cigarette at least every half hour. He was one of the expert smokers that could  dangle a cigarette from his lips even if he was stooped over changing a tire or giving Destiny a bottle.  However,  he seemed to never have a lighter. So it was natural for her to worry that he would spend all of eternity with a whole pack of Doral’s and no lighter.

  Destiny was only 18 months old when her daddy died.  Stephanie who never knew her own father didn’t think this was as tragic as others insisted it was. The real tragedy Stephanie thought was that she had to pay rent, child care, and a car payment and buy groceries all by herself now.  Her part time job at Family Dollar would barely cover her $400 car payment. She figured she  could let Dwayne’s truck get repossessed. ..

Day 59: Spontaneous Date With my Husband

After attending a wake of a former employee of JP’s father, we went out to dinner. We were already dressed up for the wake, so  we thought it only made sense to take advantage of the night out and make a date out of it.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and pleasant conversation.  Although the original purpose of our evening was less than romantic, the night evolved into a rather nice date between two people very much in love.

Day 58: Write a book for Zach

I finally completed Zach's book and sent itoff to be "published."  For a small fee, the company will print the pages and bind them with a hard back cover. The book will help Zach learn the alphabet using people and things he is already familiar with. Each letter is accompanied by a photo or clip art and the entire book rhymes. Here is the text of the book with just a few of the photos.


A is for Ansley who is always so kind
 B is for the bugs that I love to find
C  is for cookies, candy, and cakes.
I like them better than the vegetables mom makes.  D is for Daddy who carries me so high, and hugs and kisses me when I fall down and cry.
E is for the eyes and ears that I use every day.
 F is for football that I will one day play.
G is for green, grass, and giggles galore. G is for gooey and goblins and more!
H is for my favorite animal the horse. When I’m a cowboy, I will ride one of course.
I  is for icky itchy and the ice cream I love to eat. I will eat anything as long as it’s sweet.
 is for my super cool brother: JP!

J
 K is for kisses my mama gives me
L is for love that helps me grow. Love is the most important, even this I know. M is for morgan, mama, and me
N is for Nemo a movie about a fish in the sea
O is for ostrich and the number One
P is for Pee Paw who is so much fun.
Q is for quarter, quilt, and queens.
R is for my room that is never clean.
 S is for San San who likes to play games
T is for my trucks, tractors, and trains  V is for vacuum, something else I like to do.

U is for up, up, up and under too.

W  is for War Eagle! I can scream this to you. At my house, we love the orange and the blue!
X is for x rays that the doctor may take.
 Y is for the yawn that when I’m sleepy I make
 Z is for me, a sweet little boy named Zach. And if you aren’t looking, with kisses and hugs Ill attack!

Day 57: Complete Two Miles

I go to the gym at least two times each week. Normally, after working out with the weight machines, I get on the treadmill. I hate the treadmill!  I am always so bored and restless and ready to leave. Therefore, on a really good day I manage to complete one mile. So today, when I pushed myself to complete two miles I felt like I had completed a marathon.  With legs shaking and heart pumping, I left the building anticipating applause, trophies, and cheers.  I’m still waiting.

Day 56: Drop Ansley off at Summer Camp

Today I took Ansley to summer camp. I did not expect to spend the rest of the afternoon weeping. Watching my little pig tailed girl wave goodbye in my rear view mirror was easily one of the hardest things I had ever had to do. It occurred to me that from the moment they are born, the entire purpose of motherhood is separation. From first steps to first grade, everything we do is in order to help them become independent self reliant adults. A parent’s goal is to teach her children to ultimately spread their wings and fly away. And today, she took her first small flight away from the nest. And I am so very glad it’s only for a week.

Ansley and Skyler are ready for us to leave

Day 55: Read a Classic American Novel

 I was determined to read a novel considered an American classic. I chose Kate Chopin’s The Awakening.  I am familiar with Chopin’s themes and style; however,   I have never read what is considered her most important work.  “In The Awakening, Kate Chopin introduces Edna Pontellier, the wife of a New Orleans businessman and mother of two. Despite her conventional roles as spouse and mother, Edna struggles with romantic feelings and sexual desires that ultimately lead her to her own independence. The novel was quite controversial when published in 1899 and Chopin was ostracized immediately after its publication.”

 I came across this essay defining the “classic.”

What is a Classic?

by Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve
(1804-1869)

A true classic, as I should like to hear it defined, is an author who has enriched the human mind, increased its treasure, and caused it to advance a step; who has discovered some moral and not equivocal truth, or revealed some eternal passion in that heart where all seemed known and discovered; who has expressed his thought, observation, or invention, in no matter what form, only provided it be broad and great, refined and sensible, sane and beautiful in itself; who has spoken to all in his own peculiar style, a style which is found to be also that of the whole world, a style new without neologism, new and old, easily contemporary with all time.

Such a classic may for a moment have been revolutionary; it may at least have seemed so, but it is not; it only lashed and subverted whatever prevented the restoration of the balance of order and beauty.

Kate Chopin did not receive literary acclaim until almost a half a century after her publications, In the 19^th century Victorian society her   themes of marriage being an oppressive and unjust institution were more than revolutionary. She was for the most part banned and went unnoticed as a literary figure. I like the courage she exhibits in exploring a very sensitive subject at that time. A hundred years later, these ideas are almost foreign to me, but still serve to “enrich the human mind.”

A beautiful line from "The Awakening"
The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.

One more:
sometimes I feel this summer as if I were walking throguh the green meadow again; idly, aimlessly, unthinking, and unguided.
This is my new motto for summer.. and life in general.

Day 54: Have professional portraits made

With a two year old, getting a picture made together is no small task.  After over 70 shots and two hours, several clothes changes, dozens of stuffed monkeys thrown in the air, and a promise of candy and ice cream I left with a collection of beautiful portraits.  Now the task of framing and hanging and mailing them awaits. I am beginning to believe that my children are quite possibly photographed more than some celebrities.  

This was not a portrait that was purchased, but still worth sharing.

Day 53: Organize my digital pictures

Finally after years of confusion, I took the time to consolidate all my digital pictures on to one device. I put all of my pictures chronologically on an external hard drive. This way, they are protected from any computer problems. Having over 22, 000 pictures made this project time consuming especially because I spent so much time looking through them and posting them on Facebook. It is almost absurd to think I have over 22, 000 pictures from a five year period. Even more absurd that I have an appointment at the portrait studio the next day.

Day 52: Take my dad to lunch

Today I took my dad and Ansley for lunch for an early Father’s Day. Spending time with my dad is one of my life’s simplest pleasures. He is never rushed, or anxious, or critical or negative. He is always methodical, calm, kind, and more than anything loving. We share a common love of my children and we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  It is in these long afternoons spent together lingering over cleared plates, that I realize that spending time with people you love is the truest and purest cause of happiness. 

Dad and Ansley outside of Ruby Tuesday's

Day 51: Join a book club

When Cassandra and I were much younger, after a long day sitting in  education classes at University of South Alabama, we would sometimes drive downtown and dance the night away in clubs. It would not be unheard of for us to stay out until 3:AM on a Thursday night (and still go to class the next morning!). We knew anything was possible when we walked into a club with our teased hair and sunflower dresses. This is years before  children, husbands,  mortgages,  careers, and sleep  established their demands. This is before life had yet to happen to either of us.
So last night when we met for a book club at the public library there was no shortage of giggling. We couldn't help to laugh at ourselves and how our "clubbing" had become "book clubbing." We even did a mock dance in the bathroom while I sang the few words I could recall from "Come on ride the train." We joined in a wonderful and intellectual discussion of a book about a town in 17th century England that quarantined itself after an outbreak of the plague.The book explores the different reactions of the townspeople in the face of death, fear, and tragedy.
Its been over 15 years since those wild, reckless, carefree college days. Life has been more than good to both of us. We have been blessed with beautiful families, homes, satisfying careers and a long lasting friendship. We may not be climbing on top of speakers after midnight anymore to dance to Ace of Base, but we are still having a great time clubbing together.

Day 50: Make Healthy Choices (For ONE WHOLE DAY)

This was perhaps the most challenging task so far. After a month of over indulging and gluttony, my body suggested to me that I should consider some healthier alternatives to beer, wine,  cigarettes, fast food, and cookies. It occurred to me that maybe floating in the pool or dancing in the garage may not necessarily be  a legitimate form of exercise. My newest morning regiment of coffee, diet coke, and three hours of the Today show might need to be replaced with something a little more... rigorous.  So before, I get to used to dinners of Rotel dip and Heineken, I thought it best that I return to more reasonable habits. I don't typically make such poor decisions, but summer does have its dark side. The endless days by the pool or in the mountains do have their downside: added weight. So I am focusing this week on reclaiming my healthy habits. I returned to the gym, had a Smooothie and a  multi vitamin  for lunch,  and dinner included salmon, BROWN Rice (oh the horror), and fresh beans. I drank water throughout the day and denied myself the pleasure of a plate full of cut and bake cookies (unheard of).  By the end of the week, the beer will be much more deserved and appreciated.

Day 49: Attend church

We finally did it! Although there were a few grumbles and a major calamity to get out of the door on time, we finally returned to church after having not been in months! This was no small undertaking. And plans were made to even return again!

Day 48: Purchase XM radio for the car

I finally registered my vehicle for XM radio before leaving Atlanta. The additional 180 channels made the return trip seemingly quicker. I enjoyed watching Ansley scan through the channels and mark her favorites which included Radio Disney.  Her snubbing of the  70's and 60's music was accompanied by a laugh and a "seriously?" She was most surprised that I knew the words to the Weezer remake: "You Might Think." I explained to her that years ago there was a band called The Cars. After five hours in the car with my remarkably savvy ten year old, I now feel confident enough to hold a conversation about Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber, an upcoming new series called Ant Farm, why Willow Smith is undeserving of fame, and what makes Lady Gaga the weirdest person on the planet. I only wished the trip whad been  longer. 

Ansley: The neatest kid I know

Day 47: Zip Line

Today we rode a zip line down a mountain in North Georgia. It was thrilling to jump off the platform and plunge downward so quickly. I will certianly add this to my new list of things to do when I visit a new place.

Day 46: Ride a horse

I didnt expect to be quite as terrified initially, but fortunately my fear eventually gave way to absolute awe. Our horses took us through a barely worn trail in the mountains. It was incredible to experience the strength of these animals as they climbed up hills, through creeks, into rocky paths near cliffs. This was easily one of my favorite things Ive done so far.

Day 45: Visit the Largest 10 Commandments Ever

No summer vacation would be complete with out a viewing of the World's Largest 10 Commandments. Field of the Woods is essentially a larger than life shrine to the most significant events in Christianity.  One can climb "Commandment Mountain." walk through a replicated tomb, get baptized in the baptismal pool and then get a hamburger from the cafe! 

This is real.

The children hope to never leave.

Who needs Disney World?

Day 44: Go somewhere I have never been before

Today we drove to Murphy North Carolina for a mini vacation. Since more than most of our vacations and weekends are spent at the beach, a retreat to the mountains is as foreign to me as a weekend in Bombay. A small gravel winding road led up to the cabin that was situated on the banks of the Hawassee River. The porch offered a fantastic view of the river from the hot tub. Within an hour of being at the cabin, I was already planning a return trip. I imagine the view changes remarkably with each season. After unpacking the cars, making the obligatory trip to Wal Mart, and a great dinner, we watched the night settle into the mountains.

Day 43: Have lunch at the Varsity in downtown Atlanta

The Varsity has the claim of being America's largest drive in. It was founded in the 1920's as a hotdog stand for nearby college students. On our way to visit friends in Atlanta, we stopped in this icon of fast food joints and had the traditional meal of hotdog and fries.

Day 42: Spend no money

Not a bill was paid, not a grocery was bought, no clothes, shoes, gas or even a diet coke. This was unbelievably difficult especially when dinner arrived. But I persevered, determined to go at least one full day without spending any money. I wonder how my financial status would be impacted if I managed this feat for two days! Oh the possibilities.

Day 41: YArd Sales with two very enthusiastic early birds

Before the sun had even broken the horizon, we were speeding into a neighborhood looking for the familiar signs of "ready for business." We stormed into the church sale quickly scanning the tables for treasures. $6 later, I was the proud owner of a string of lights, an antique ashtray, and a cookbook. Not to be outdone, mom found a portable alarm clock and a coffee maker that may even work! But the true victor of the day, was Marilyn who found a Bose player, wicker chair, and tin can for crackers.

Day 40: Lunch with the girls

Today I carved out time to meet  two of my favorite people at a restaurant I have never been to before. The purpose of our lunch was to be adventurous, but sushi and Vietnamese cuisine did not find any support in the younger attendees. So the Hungry Owl won. AS always, we had great conversation and more than enough food.

Day 39: Take the kids to a blueberry farm to pick blueberries

I am gaining a profound appreciation for the divine process of growing food. There is an unmistaken satisfaction gained from picking food off a bush or vine. My own attempts at growing food have yet to yield more than a pinch of what I think is basil and a small promising green tomato. My morning at the local blue berry farm resulted in 7 pounds of the tasty treat and some very happy children.

Day 38: Fry a variety of foods with a friend

Today my dear friend, Marilyn, invited me to her home for lunch. for lunch. Together, we prepared a fine mid-day feast. She fried green tomatoes and pork chops as I  fried a mound of pickles. With a large glass of sweet tea, we enjoyed the lunch and one another's company.

Day 37: Scrapbook

I made time today to do some things that I love to do, but I  never seem to get to do. The best thing about summer vacation is the time it allows to do activities that get neglected otherwise.Time is summer's cherished gift.  I took a nap today, watched a movie and then completed two pages of my scrapbook. And as if that wasnt enough, I made steak fajitas from vegetables I bought at the farmerns market, and went to the gym to exercise! I hope these next 8 weeks drag by slowly.