Whirlwind!

Ok fans of Sidetracked, things have been happening so quickly, I'm feeling a bit of whiplash, vertigo and exhaustion all at once. In early September, my plan was to put the house on the market for a few months, work toward getting things packed up, and do a job search. We put our house on the market on a Monday in early September, had a young couple walk through on Tuesday, and had an offer on the table from said couple by Wednesday! We accepted the offer on Friday! Well, they really needed to be in by early October...Needless to say, the time frame placed a measure of stress on me (and Rusty, albeit long distance). Rusty flew back to assist in house packing and we managed to vacate by October 3rd.

This is a good time to provide a shout-out to a few saints without whom we would not have accomplished this ridiculous task. David Stratton is a packing master and managed to help us with a calm demeanor and a positive attitude, even when neither Rusty nor I could manage a smile. Wayne Wilson was there as well and sympathized with Rusty's need to keep everything we have ever owned. Med showed up to help just about the time all of us were at an impasse and assisted for the final hurdle. So, to these guys I pay homage and offer my official appreciation.

Selling the house so quickly left me homeless and with absolutely no plan. In came two more saints. The Thirupuvanam's offered me a place to stay through the month of October so I could get my bearings. Debbie and Thiru have been terrific hosts (although I think I'm supposed to tell everyone how terrible it is living there so they don't have to take in every homeless person in the area). The Thirupuvanam estate sits very close to my school in North Raleigh. I've been enjoying the luxury of a very short commute to Green elementary and a few extra pounds as Debbie is an awesome cook.
Right now, all of our 'stuff' is in storage. I've had to determine a room's worth of possessions to fit in the Thirupavanum guest bedroom. Honestly, it is the most freeing feeling in the world. Not only am I currently not responsible for maintenance and upkeep of a home, but I could also throw everything I might need into the back of a car and move in a day. How truly nomadic can one get?

A friend (Lloyd) said that there was only one time in his adult life where he didn't own any keys. What an amazing accomplishment and a time of which he spoke reminiscently. I understand the attraction of simplifying. Although my independent nature and sense of obligation will not allow me to fully enjoy temporary homelessness, I'm hesitant to begin complicating my life with the burdens of 'stuff' and places to store 'stuff'. I may never be in a situation to be devoid of keys, as that type of Nirvana is for the truly courageous. But owning a few less keys is a start. Other steps may include a concerted effort to reduce the amount of passwords I have to remember, to focus my efforts on fewer tasks, and to get rid of even more stuff! This sounds vaguely like new year's resolutions or a hint of a mid-life crisis, but transition brings opportunity for change, and I'm in a hell-of-a transition.

Although Debbie and Thiru are gracious hosts, I only feel comfortable disrupting their home for the month of October. I'll move in a few weekends to another friend, even closer to school. Ann has opened up her home to me until some of the many things up in the air are resolved. I'm certain to be with Ann through November and ma even be there through December. After that, who knows? That phrase sounds so unlike me, as we all know, I have always had a plan but currently am finding myself a captive of many unknowns. Disconcerting? Yes! A little exciting? Definitely.
OK, enough of the "Where's Waldo?" type narrative. In other news, yesterday a friend (Julie) and I hiked to the top of Hanging Rock and enjoyed breathtaking views. The best part of the trip was spending a few hours with Julie in the car participating in the typical roadtrip conversation of solving the world's problems, all of our friend's problems and tactfully avoiding solving our own problems. Thanks Jules!Hanging Rock was like a day at Disney for hikers. Practically every yuppie parent in North Carolina was toting diaper bags, dragging miserable over-fed dogs, and pulling mini-versions of themselves to the top of that mountain. Let us not forget the ever present, Nascar loving redneck parent. I'm sure my asthma was not aided by the constant stream of second hand smoke eminating from the smoker rest benches on the way to the top.

I'm painting a bleak picture of what was almost a perfect day. The sky was Carolina blue, the trees were a mosaic of autumn colors and the company was beyond compare. Sitting at the top of the world and looking as far as the eye could see was good for my soul, for my psyche and for my over all mental well-being. I've been too long from the trees and from the sky and from the land. Enough of waxing poetically. I truly hope, friends, you have a chance to sit on a rock for an afternoon, enjoy crisp fall air, and watch hawks fly over a carpet of vibrant trees. Really, not much better in my book.Thanks for indulging me as I work out a transition. Feel free to post.



Another i-pod favorite: Third Eye Blind, "Motorcycle Drive By"

A Quick Update - Nothin' Fancy

Rusty has been gone for two weeks already! Where has the time gone. He is enjoying getting to know the bay area again and reconnecting with old friends and coworkers. The new job sounds terrific but there is still lots to learn and, as always, a short time frame to master everything. I'm often very jealous of the mild temperatures he reports as the south continues to swelter in the high nineties with severe humidity. There is nothing like burning your hands on the steering wheel of the car as your partner asks you to send out more warm clothing.

Speaking of irony, my school continues to shrink in population as the entire district deals with unprecedented growth. An unanticipated consequence of opening new schools and shifting students is that some schools suffer from a temporary reduction in student numbers. That means reducing staff members and less money for the bells and whistles. Although staff members have been reduced, we have been able to place everyone somewhere in the district. I'm fortunate that my staff is supportive and that I'm afforded a certain amount of trust based on four years of building relationships. There is certainly nothing like trial by fire for a new principal. I've learned immeasurable amounts in a short period. Mistakes? Tons! But then again, morale continues to be at a high level, students are learning, and the building is standing, so everything is going well.

In the past few months, university work has been on the back burner. This move is certainly not helping me get stuff done but labor day weekend is the kick off for a renewed commitment to moving things along. I'm hoping to defend a proposal in the next few months, then start my data collection. I'm sure my dissertation chair will be happy.

I'm putting the house on the market soon. Maybe next week. I've been very busy getting screens fixed, closets cleaned out, stuff to sell put on Craig's List, etc. All the things to make this place as marketable as possible. Of course the house is decorated well (my people are genetically predisposed to coordinate colors and to make efficient use of space), and the pergola we built is a real selling point (not to mention the flawless fence). I'm sure we will sell in a reasonable timeframe.

As for a social life, well not much on that front until some of these big issues are resolved. Art, a good friend, has been dragging me to the Kodiak's Rugby practices. (see the website: http://www.kodiaksrfc.org/index.html) It is primarily a gay rugby league but not exclusively. It is also a great way to be reminded how out of shape I really am. After Thursday's practice, every muscle in my body ached. I'm enjoying the camaraderie, the really super nice guys and the sport is really fun. Right now I may not have time to fit another thing in, but really need the stress relief provided.

Saturday, September 2nd, Noon Eastern Standard Time, was the official beginning of Dove Hunting Season. How does a pacifist with an aversion to guns know this? My friends Scott and Gina invited me to the farm for dove hunting. I admit, at times I felt a little like Harry Whittington (the campaign contributor Dick Cheney prefers to hunt), as the guys with guns all stood on the perimeter of the field firing into the air at small, fast moving birds. In fact, Gina's brother Eugene was there. He teaches at my school (small world hiring him and then finding out he is the brother to Gina - thankfully he is a strong teacher and on his way to being a master teacher). All I could picture was the headlines in the Raleigh News and Observer announcing "Local Teacher Shoots Principal in Dove Hunting Accident". No such headline was necessary.

I didn't really enjoy the killing of slow moving fowl (not that anyone in our party hit anything while I was there) but hunting was very relaxing. The primary allure is sitting in a field with cows and horses surrounding you on a rare summer day when the temperature is in the mid eighties, the humidity is at a minimum and the sky is, for the first time in months, an authentic shade of Carolina Blue. Another allure is spending time with Gina and Scott. A couple with that rare combination of southern hospitality (an infinite capacity for compassion and kindness) and a somewhat Bohemian spirit (not bound by the restrictive confines of southern tradition). So, thanks go to Gina and Scott (and entire family) for hospitality and an opportunity to say I've been dove hunting.

So, as a final note, here is a list of songs that have made me smile lately:

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on the album Alone in IZ World - This Hawaiian rendition is played by a huge guy on a ukulele. I've heard it in some commercial. This song reminds me of 7th grade summer school ukulele class. That statement alone explains alot.

"Life On Mars?" by Seu Jorge on the album The Life Aquatic - Relaxing, beautiful. This is the type of song that makes me regret learning German instead of Portegeuse.

"Half Acre" and "We'll Meet Along the Way" both by Hem - Very folkie group having a tendency toward that folk singer whininess. But these two songs melt my butter.

Feel free to comment on all or nothing!

Enjoy.

Big News!

For friends of my blog who have not yet heard (which is most everyone as this is fairly up to the minute news), Rusty received a job offer in San Francisco. He will be working for the EPA in region 9. To save us all a litany of emails and questions, I'm including a Q and A section to this post...

1. When? Well, he's due out there by August 21st, but will be coming back to settle home stuff sometime in September or October.

2. Where will he live? We haven't decided that yet, but he may be staying with our dear friends Paul and Liz until that is determined. (No one tell Paul and Liz until we call them!)

3. This seems so sudden, how long have you two been planning this? We have been discussing the possibility of a move for quite some time. Whether that meant closer to Raleigh or it meant out of the state we had not determined. About a month and a half ago, this opportunity became available. We didn't think in our wildest dreams, we would move back to the bay area...but there you have it, that's where the opportunity is...Rusty really wanted to get back with the federal government, and this was his chance.

4. When will Walt go? Hmmm, tough question. I really feel obligated to work through the school year, and I want to get my defense of proposal done at UNC, Chapel Hill before leaving. (Other hindrances are selling the house and getting Principal's licensure in California) So, I'm thinking spring may be the time I can go, but much depends on the aforementioned goals.

5. What will Rusty be working on? He will be a RPM (Remedial Project Manager) once again. His project will be a mine clean-up site in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. This is and has been a public relations nightmare. Rusty's facilitative skills and his environmental knowledge make him perfect for this job.

6. Isn't it expensive there? Yes, it is! ('nuff said).

7. Aren't you nervous about such a big move? Yes, we are but we have lived in the bay area once before. Quite frankly, we are ten years older and ten years wiser since then. Living there before was like a big party, our priorities have changed and our desires have changed. We are more worried about a possible culture shock...we have been inculcated into NC culture pretty heavily...I expect we'll receive a few rebukes in the bay area for not being up on the latest PC issues and lingo but we'll adapt. I'm sure, we'll also quickly adopt the liberal haughtiness and smugness so characteristic of bay area residents. It'll be nice to be in a blue state for a change.

8. When is the going away bash? To Be Determined

Ten years in North Carolina! It has been fantastic, fruitful and fun. But, it seems the fates are moving us along. Feel free to come visit me but even more tempting, visit Rusty!

The Ultimate Fireworks on the Fourth

Last weekend, Rusty and I flew into Florida for a brief visit to say "Howdy" to Rusty's parents. While in Florida, we went to a manatee preserve and enjoyed the slow, methodical rise and fall of about a dozen manatees in the water. Several manatee pups were present. This is not a side to central Florida many families take the time to see as they rush off to the mega-Disney money vaccuum in Orlando. The afternoon was quiet as we observed these gentle sea cows, feeling guilty about the obvious scars from boat propellors. There really is nothing like liberal guilt for getting Rusty and I motivated to donate money or pick up a cause. The moment was then shattered by the screeching of children rushing to their next activity on their Florida vacation checklist. We wanted to swing by the preserve surrounding Kennedy Space Center. Disappointingly, it was closed in preparation of the shuttle launch. The launch was delayed twice while we were in Florida. July fourth was a beautiful day and the prognosis for a lift off was good. We decided to go to the beach and watch the launch.



The tension was building slowly over the hour as we stood on the pier off the coast of Titusville waiting for the shuttle to launch. The weather? Warm, clear and just about perfect. The radios, all tuned to the shuttle launch coverage, began the countdown right on time. As the count came down to three, two and one, an audible inhalation of breath was not only heard but felt from the thousands of spectators, really a collective prayer to whatever god, goddess or saint rules the heavens and the vehicles bringing us to the heavens. One can't help the multiple emotions present at this moment, tension, fear, signifigance, more importantly feelings of insignifigance, an overwhelming sense of joy and oddly enough accomplishment even though having done nothing but be a spectator. The shuttle lifted off quickly. The sonic boom startled everyone out of their individual thoughts forcing a sense of jubilation and prompting thunderous applause. The shuttle program will end in 2010 if not sooner. I'm sure there will be a less expensive equally impressive light show to take it's place. I will miss the shuttle and the random emotions it has produced. Happy 4th of July and thanks America for this spectacular fireworks display.

Project Gone Wild

Ok...so when Rusty said those words that always send a shiver through my spine, "I've been thinking...", I knew we were in for yet another half completed frustrating project. After rolling my eyes and audibly sighing, I waited for the proverbial "boom" to drop. Imagine my surprise to find out that all he wanted to do was create a few small gardening spaces in the backyard.

It appears that he has been researching through the book "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. Subtitled: "A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work". This book encourages minimally intrusive family sized gardens. (The exact words I needed to hear to support this venture...minimally intrusive)

We now have two different four foot by four foot gardens in our backyard that are actually yielding vegetables.At first it was only four heads of lettuce...and after tallying the soil price, the wood price, trellis cost, etc. - I determined these were the most expensive heads of lettuce in all of Wake County.

Goodness knows I've done my fair share of scoffing at new fangled projects and ideas, and I'm certainly loath to admit when I'm wrong but just a few days after the start of summer...Happy Summer Solistice by the way...I am thrilled we are harvesting herbs and vegetables. I'll be very excited about tomatoes and the late harvest of green tomatoes...for cooking a delectible dish, fried green tomatoes!

So, to Rusty, my apologies for doubting, to friends and fans of the blog...try this gardening technique (for more info. try this website- http://www.squarefootgardening.com/).

Short Update, currently on my iPod:

The Eels "I Need Some Sleep" - Haunting and beautiful, nepenthic in many ways...

Dashboard Confessional "As Lovers Go" - Kinda bubble gum pop, but with a hint of longing!

Kendall Payne "Rollercoaster" and "Scratch" - Kendall Payne is a former Contemporary Christian singer going for the secular folk audience. Much of the album is angst ridden, but these two songs are truly sublime.

UNBELIEVABLE!

A must see...(Thanks Mr. G. for sharing!)

Dad's Day on the Way

With Dad's Day on the horizon, I'd like to bring our long distance friends up to date on the folks. They are living the North Carolina dream on a huge homestead. Dad always wanted a place with a large yard and he certainly got his wish. He now spends many days working in the yard and driving the riding mower. Of course, with his eye sight, it's only a matter of time before a beloved pet or family member loses life or limb. That which does not kill or maim us...only makes us bitter.

As for mom, she sits happily in the backyard, enjoying the fresh air and the varied plant life/fauna in North Carolina. Last January, Billy and I had the privilege of throwing her a 75th Birthday party. Mom's sister (Rodegunda) and her husband flew in from Germany for the affair. The following picture hails from that day.



Billy, the good son and most likely heir to the Lewis family fortune, spends many weekends visiting. I wish I could visit more often but it is difficult working most weekends. Hopefully, once the school year starts (July 10th), I'll have more opportunties for visits.

As for Dad's Day, I have no idea for a gift. I do want to raise a glass to Dad though and add an Irish Toast (no, my family isn't remotely Irish, but most German toasts are only mildly witty and most often dark and forboding).

So to Dad, may you live to be a hundred and an extra day to repent.

'Nepenthean' Defined

Nepenthe is a drug mentioned in the Odyssey as a remedy for grief. The better definition is something that induces forgetfulness of sorrow or eases pain.

i.e. The long, hot, humid nepenthean summer crept over the campsite as the Southern men lakadaisacally lounged by the pool in their sarongs of vibrant colors, forgetting the cares of winter.

There...now it is settled! Feel free to add your own sentence in the comment section.

The Moon Was Full...The Freaks Were Out

A few weekends ago, during the full moon...Julie celebrated her birthday by holding a circus themed Birthday Party. The freaks were out in full force. The smell of corndogs, popcorn, and cheap wine filled the night sky. Rusty, Julie, and Donna created a band (Julie's Big Top) to entertain the crowd.



The band played a set of crowd pleasing melodies including, "Love Shack" and "Angry Inch" - While both certainly crowd pleasers, "Angry Inch" sure pleased local groupie and el presidente of the Hedwig fan club - Lynette.

Mark, of course, created quite a disturbing stir as a side show conjoined twin...show me on the doll where the bad man touched you!



That lovely effervescent strange angel, Firefly, was also there performing firey Poi Dancing extraordinaire.



A great time was had by all at the cruelty free circus. Don't miss the next one!

Saturday Morning Update (5/13/06)

Hello Friends!

I just want to post a few comments to let you know what has been going on in my life.

I've been the principal of my elementary school for the past three months. The promotion euphoria was short lived as the realities of running a school encroached. Sunday's have been and will continue to be my catch up day to try and get a jump start on my week. All said and done, I love what I do for a living. It's a wonderful feeling to make a difference in children's lives. One can get frustrated with the lack of time to do everything and frustrated by problems associated with schools. The thanks are few and far between but they come...in very unlikely yet powerful places. Feel free to check out my school's website: http://gyr.wcpss.net/ (not many pictures but a comprehensive site regardless).

University work continues to seem daunting and endless. I am finally finished with the course work (minus one paper I need to finish to have an 'incomplete' removed from my transcript). After that I will be ABD (All-But-Dissertation). I'm anticipating a few years before completing but I am glad to not have course work distractions continuing to hang over my head.

I've always been perplexed by the devotion many graduates attribute to their universities. After spending a large amount of time in Peabody Hall at UNC, Chapel Hill (http://www.unc.edu/), I've come to understand and appreciate the connection to these institutions of higher learning. I've come to love the smell of the books on the fifth floor of the library. Hearing the bell tower chime on the hour often gives me a shudder. Sitting in the specials collection library forces a sense of calm nirvana easing worries and cares. The university is in spring splendor at the moment with the dogwoods blooming around the old well...the ancient trees are sprouting light green buds reminding all that summer is on the horizon. Students are lounging on the lawns with an occasional book open (and of course the 21st century prerequisites- cell phones and computers). Am I over-romanticizing the university? Most definitely!

Other distractions from the hard dirty work of the world include...Med Byrd's Biennial "Mordecai is a Drag" Party. Highlights include Rusty's (AKA Vestal Virginian) rendition of a Vesta Goodman Spiritual..."Looking for a City". Another incredible performance was Mark's tribute to our Native American struggles with "The Colors of the Wind" complete with fans, glitter, and frilly scarves!




Brava Ladies!

(Email me if you are interested in the entire on-line collection of photos)



Last but not least (for today), what blogspot would be complete without a list of songs and music on my ipod.

So... for what it is worth with mild commentary...My Play List

The Weepies - "Gotta Have You" and "World Spins Madly On"...Two terrific folksongs with haunting melodies..."World Spins Madly On" has actually brought a tear to my desert like eyes.

Joseph Arthur - "In the Sun"...Another folksong and probably overplayed on the radio but still beautiful.

Dionne Warwick - "Don't Make Me Over" Is there any better combination than Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick (Yes, I know she is Dorthea Dix Worthy but isn't every true down and out Diva!)

India Arie - "I'm Not Your Average Girl" ...Incongruous with the other songs? Most definitely, but the borders of genre are truly meant to be crossed.