Blister Block

BAND-AID^® Friction Block™ Stick has a lubricating formula that glides on smoothly to instantly reduce rubbing on skin. It forms an invisible barrier, making it ideal for open shoes, and provides an easy, non-messy application.

I found this stuff a few years ago and simply LOVE IT!  I have very tender feet and have such terrible time with blisters.  I have been known to get blisters just from certain patterns or type of socks.  I mostly prefer shoes that I can slip my feet into.  Before I found this I carried Moleskin with me at all times.  And now I can't even remember the last time I used Moleskin!

Blister block works best when applied as soon as you feel and area which may develop into a blister.  You must apply before blister forms.  Check it out!

You're a Grand Old Flag

Awsumb Kenneth Hardy 7-4-2002

You're a Grand Old Flag

by George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Crossing Rosemead!

On holiday weekends such as this people all over the country head home to celebrate with family. I wrote the following on the way to visit my family in February:

When your Grandparents live in the sunshine state the chorus in the old song "Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go.." just doesn't seem to work. But you always knew you were getting close to Grandpa and Grandma's house when Aunt Laurel dialed my Grandparents number on the car phone and exclaimed, "Crossing Rosemead!"

I always looked forward to our annual visits to my Grandparents house. I loved seeing the home my father grew up in. My Aunt Laurel’s bedroom was just the way she left it. And when I had a child of my own, I was excited to take him to the little white house on Youngdale St. Over the years Awsumb played baseball in the front yard, went in and out the squeaky back door… Gpa measured his height on the old kitchen door, and took Awsumb on wagon rides to meet the neighbors. Awsumb shared lunch with Grandpa at the same kitchen table I remember eating breakfast at when we visited his home as a kid. (This table now lives in my family room.) I am so thankful he had the chance to make some memories at my Grandparents home.

Even after they passed we still occasionally drive up to the old neighborhood together and say hello to the neighbors that are still there. Then we take flowers over to the cemetery. And of course have dinner at The North Woods Inn.

My parents divorced when I was just a newlywed. My childhood family no longer exists. My father had since remarried and I knew it was meant to be the instant I saw them together. From the time Dad and Colleen were married they were just as they had always been together. We visit them often and Awsumb looks forward to snuggling with his Grandma Awsumb and going on adventures with my father. But the fact remains that my childhood home no longer exists.

Going home for me is visiting my Aunt Laurel and Uncle C.K. who taught me everything I know about family, commitment, loyalty and love. I love this photo of the two of us at Laurel’s wedding. I was just three years old and sometimes when I glance at this picture I feel as if I am clinging to her as if my life depends on it.

Children of divorced parents quickly learn that many of the things you thought you could depend on can vanish in an instant. I am so lucky to have always been able to depend on my Aunt.  Laurel graciously accepted a role that became much more than a distant Auntie and has always been there for me. She is my greatest supporter and I can’t imagine my life without her.

Tonight I am packing up to visit my Aunt Laurel and Uncle C.K. and as we fly over Rosemead and onto Costa Mesa, I know we’re going home!

Now that my Grandparents have passed on the tradition lives on. When Kenneth or I call on our way home we always say, “Crossing Rosemead!” Recently, we realized we needed clarify exactly what street we were referring to because there certainly isn’t a Rosemead Blvd. near our house! Either way, it simply means, “I’m coming home!”

Good Bye Baseball!

Awsumb Runs Home - 2011

Time to say goodbye to another season of baseball!  Kenneth coached  the RWLL AAA Nationals.  Because the boys are getting older I finally stepped out of the dugout and took a more backstage role.  After 4 years of instructional ball this was our first competitive year. Teams were drafted by evaluation scores.  We were happy to play with a couple old friends and lucky to make a bunch more!  As this was the first year of 'kid pitch' it was still much like an instructional year. We had a pretty good season, although ending it with inter league play against mismatched teams was frustrating.  Tonight we were eliminated from the tournament.  Although we are sad to say goodbye to the 2011 spring season we are looking forward to cheering on the other teams this weekend.

And now for the fun end of the year festivities. We always host a simple team party.  After a quick parents vs. kids game (in which the kids always seem to win), trophies and ice cream.  This year I scored some of Nationals batting helmet ice cream bowls. And for trophies the boys will get a game ball signed by all their teammates.  A few of our parents were worried about end of season costs. So a few of us parents took photos and I put these together. I think they turned out pretty good. 

My own "memory mate" thanks to

Google and Microsoft Publisher

Totally Awsumb Baseball Cards

After each game Kenneth likes to meet with the boys to talk about the game and usually picks a few players of the game. Then all the kids line up to get their baseball cards. They were sure surprised tonight when they got a full deck of their own team!  We had a lot of fun making these baseball cards for all the boys.

Although I grow to love our boys each year, this year in particular I was a bit teary eyed. We are looking forward to playing with many of them in Summer Ball!

Sacrifice

In life we often choose to make personal sacrifices to better our family.  And as my brother recently reminded me... Sometimes we end up sacrificing ourselves AND our family to the cause, company, etc.  This can especially happen if you are a people pleaser, have a type A personality, are obsessive about things, and always give 110%.

Last year I took a part time job to help pay my sons private school tuition.  For the first time in my life instead of taking over the world I really stuck to boundaries I had set up to preserve family life. Over a year later the job is not so flexible and pushing full time. It was time to make a choice about my personal goals for my family and myself.  Although I really enjoyed the work and am sure I could have been successful in the future, after much contemplation I felt the apple I had selected to feed my family was now poisoning my family.
My husband has always done well enough for us to be comfortable, even spoiled and sometimes careless.  Compared to many I don't have the right to complain.  Although new sacrifices will have to be made, I look forward to carefree summer of picnics and free concerts in the park.

Summer Cravings! Lime Cream Vanilla?

OK, it really has been a long rainy winter here in the NW and it doesn't look to end soon. Because as we all know the sun doesn't come out up here until July 5th.   After 13 years the rain and clouds are really getting to me this season and I worried I might be depressed.  Turns out I am not the only one.  It's been much colder here and apparently the weatherman has charts to prove I am not crazy! 

And so I continue on... chasing bits of blue sky in hope of feeling that sun on myself.  In the meantime, I am officially diagnosing myself with scurvy because the only thing I seem to crave lately is lime....

 All this time I thought there was nothing better than nice cold Coke and Lime!  Until one day antique shopping with my Dad we stopped at a 7-11 to let Awsumb pick out a little treat and what do I find....

SUMMERTIME LIME!  The new Lime Cream Vanilla Slurpee!  I don't even like Slurpee's but the boys do and in the summer I will occasionally get a small one.  Well, my obsession led us to a late night hunt this weekend for a 7-11 in our neighborhood that is carrying this new flavor.  And boy was it worth it!  YUM!

And you know what this means... It's will be my number one flavor on the 2011- Free Slurpee Day - Brain Freeze Rally!  That's right, mark your calendar's, it's coming up.  July 11th Free Slurpee Day at 7-11. Contest rules coming soon... (click to read about 2010's Epic Free Slurpee Run!) We hope your family will join us as we see how many free Slurpee's it's takes to freeze your brain!

SUCK FOR YOUR LIVES!

So today we stopped for lunch at Taco Time, which just happens to be the chosen restaurant in our area to debut Coke Freestyle.  Have you tried these new soda dispensers?  What's not to love about a high tech - touch screen soda machine with over 100 choices.. mix and match for unlimited combinations!

So as I am trying to convince my son to try a Lime Rickey (Sprite, Grape Syrup and Lime) it comes to me... A Lime Vanilla Diet Coke...  2/3rds Diet Coke and Lime, 1/3 Diet Coke and Vanilla!  PERFECTION!

What's your favorite soda combination?

Easter

Look at these cute 'sushi peeps' (rice krispy treats wrapped in fruit rollups) some friends dropped off today.  Everybody loves springtime... there's baseball, tulips, daylight savings time, chocolate bunnies and of course, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

 

Many years ago a friend of mine brought over this Easter basket filled with numbered eggs, which are filled with small objects and slips of paper that tell about the Resurrection of Jesus.  Every year we turn to the basket for a quick object lessons at church and family home evening.  Kenneth usually shares it with his home teaching families.  I am often asked if I have a copy of the scriptures, so here you are...

Egg 1: One sacrament cup (Matt. 26:39)

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Egg 2: Three dimes (Matthew. 26:14)

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”

Egg 3: Twine with knots in it (Matt. 27:1)

“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”

Egg 4: A piece of soap (Matt. 27:24)

“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

Egg 5: Square of red fabric (Matt. 27:28)

“And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.”

Egg 6: Nail (Matt. 27:31)

“And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.”

Egg 7: Two dice (Matt. 27:35)

“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there.”

Egg 8: Tiny rocks (Matt. 27:50, 51 & 54)

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

Egg 9: Strip of white cloth (Matt. 27:57)

“When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”

Egg 10: A stone (Matthew 27:65)

“Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”

Egg 11: Tiny bag of spices (Mark 16:1-4)

“And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.”

Egg 12: An empty egg (Mark 16:5-6)

“And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.”

What does your family do to remember the Ressurection?

Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks!

Awsumb, Kenneth and Wendy

August 2003 Safeco Field

Baseball season is finally here!  You know you have been season ticket holders too long when you have favorite ushers and you know the vendors at the stadium and all their little silly rhymes... When Awsumb was in preschool the teacher reported he loved to play with the toy cash register and yell, "Beer, here!" 

I don't know what it is about baseball, but I just love it!  I always have... though Kenneth will beg to differ because his memories of me as a teenager watching baseball were more about me reading a fashion magazine and not paying attention to the game at all.  Kenneth and I often argue about what our first "date" was because we didn't "date" so much as become friends and decide to get married.  But one of our earliest memories of each other is when on family vacation our parents planned for us all to meet up at a Dodgers-Cubs game in the 80's. I still have my ticket stub!

But that's just the thing... Baseball isn't just baseball, it's being out in the open air on a warm summer evening.  Even if you don't like sports, how can you not love an evening at the ballpark?

To some people baseball might seem slow or even boring...  which honestly might be some of the reasons I like it - there is plenty of time for me to talk AND figure out what's going on!  Actually, it's really a game of strategy and I think that's why I love it so much!  It's all about the figures, numbers and stats!

Baseball is like a good novel...  introduce characters, set up a basic plot, add a twist and hope for a happy ending!

The game of baseball is not unlike a lifelong, well-worn, comfortable love affair: After a time, you know what to expect, but you can never predict what will happen. You also learn how to forgive," writes Anna Holmes on Why Smart Women Love Baseball

As Kenneth and I come up on 16 years of marriage we are like a baseball game, well worn and comfortable.  And although we know what we can expect from each other, we can never predict what will happen next - and yes, we both have learned how to forgive!

From little league to major league I rather be at the ballpark than just about anywhere else on a summer evening!  I'm not alone, baseball is often referred to as The Great American Pastime and just maybe it really does have magical powers to heal broken hearts as it did after 9/11 as seen in Nine Innings From Ground Zero.

I do have one pet peeve regarding baseball...If you know what's good for you - you'd better remove that sticker from your cap!

Awesome!

I guess my little guy is getting too old for Easter pictures with his little argyle sweater vest.  But I had to get some spring portraits so I grabbed his new baseball hat, favorite new comic book and we ran out the door to get a couple snaps from the quick photo place at the mall. 

Definitely a smug-mug... but too cute for words! 

 Awsumb just happened to be wearing this shirt today...

he would wear it everyday if I let him!

I just love that every time Awsumb gets a new hat

that's a little big, it make his ears stick out! 

I am not sure who wanted this book more,

Awsumb or Daddy,

but as soon as I saw it I knew it would

be coming home to live with us! 

The Complete Peanuts 

Vol. 1 by Charles Shulz

Vintage comics in chronological order...

Awsumb was just as fascinated by these old Peanuts strips

as the first time he saw original drawings of Mickey Mouse

Little Slugger

All too grown up!

Awesome catch!

You can never buy just one!

Click Summertime to read about the reason I started taking my own props for pictures

Dangerous things you should let your children do...

Remember when you played in that empty field or lot near your house? Remember when you rode your bike until you were lost and had to find your way home?  Remember when you played outside until dark?  Remember when you discovered where Dad kept the fireworks in the garage?

We fill our kids schedules with classes and team sports,  make them wear bike helmets and football pads to play on anything with wheels.  Why are we sheltering our kids so much today and what from?  Is the world really so different?  Of course we want our kids to be safe.  But maybe we are limiting exploration and free play a little too much.  It's time to rethink some of our restrictions...

Read  50 Dangerous Things (You should let your children do) by Gever Tulley



In Jean Liedloff's book, The Continuum Concept, she reflects on time spend living with Stone Age Indians in South America.  She observed that without boundaries although there were many dangers like pits, fire, knives, etc. Babies quickly learn to avoid such literal pitfalls and young children are taught and trusted to use what we would consider dangerous tools, safely. 

My father said he always knew when my brother had gotten into things in the garage (Uh hum.. fireworks)... but he felt letting him have the freedom to explore that a bit kept him from getting into bigger trouble.

Awsumb's Uncle sent him a fancy pocket knife for his birthday when he was 8... although we had all the safety talks and demos... it still took him getting a small cut while he was working on something alone one day for him to learn the full lesson...

OK, So I am not ready to let my 9 year old take the subway alone in NYC... But, I did let my son cook his own breakfast in the toaster oven this morning...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read my review of Nurture Shock

What do you remember doing that you would never let your kids do today? 

What things do you think we need to let our kids do again?