Tuesday Outing

We headed out early to Colonial Williamsburg. Our first stop was the orientation walk where we learned how to read the schedule of events and just basic information.

Practice 18th century writing

Then it was off to reserve our spot to have a conversation with George Washington.

 

At the time of the talk, he's at the end of 2nd term and is not running a third.
JJL of course raised his hand and asked President Washington what he thought his greatest accomplishment was while in office. The pres being a rather humble and stoic individual didn't account any accomplishment for his own.

 
He ended by getting off the stage allowing us a "quick sketch". JJL took that opportunity to ask another question for which George came out of character,  rare thing! He then proceeded to acknowledge JJL service in the Coast Guard. These characters know their role so well its as if your speaking to the actual person. It reminds me of when we went and saw Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain.

We attended an 18th century county court hearing. They asked for a married or want to be married couple to volunteer. JJL surprised me and volunteered us. The case was we were essentially asking for a pre-nup where my holdings would not become my husband's and he would not be required to provide protection or to say pay the executioner if I were to hang if found guilty of oh - murder. And of course being nervous and NEVER being on trial I answered the Judge with a "yep". This of course got corrected by the Judge. He also made the comment along the lines of you can't help who love chooses kinda like disease.

We were then recognized for the rest of the day by others that were in the courtroom. And JJL more than once said through out the week after I spoke boldly, "good thing I got that petition."

We had lunch in the area and then made are way back - all the while stopping in different trade buildings - to where they put on Revolutionary skits and

Blacksmith - the guy on the right has a 1776 tattoo he got before working at CW

Wheelwright

Market Square

Printer/Bindery and official Post Office - I love the "human alphabet" that I got the doll.

Talk of rebellion

Romance

Talk of freedom?

ending with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by about 7 different people ... goose bump worthy! and for JJL who served ... tear jerking.

I have more photos on Facebook and I would appreciate comments on the more arty type photos :)

Yorktown Victory Center

Tried the camera stitching not bad except there is no curve in reality.

Forget about the saying, "It's not like it's brain surgery." or "It's not rocket science." from now on I'm going to say, "It's not marriage communication." Is there such a thing as complete knowledge of the other person that you do in fact finish each others sentences? Maybe there is ... but I can say the same thing every day and every day it could be taken differently. I see older couples and they seem to communicate without talking or have they just given up trying? Is complete and utter perfect communication attainable or did the Tower of Babylon destroy ALL perfect communication?

I guess you can say the marriage took a hit yesterday but not anything we can't recover from.

On the way to Yorktown we took Colonial National Historic Parkway. The speed limit is 45, there are no lines, it's made of what looks like rock and lined with trees, no passing, as little photo spots with historical markers and you go under an occasional red brick overpass. If I would ever lose sight and God willing I won't but colors are what I will miss the most. 

To see all the photos from the day, I posted them on Facebook.

I found the next thing very interesting ... and it came to me that people have got the whole thing of separation of church and state backwards. It was set up to not separate church out of state but state out of church. 

Virgina's House of Burgesses supports Boston by observing a day of fasting and prayer.

There were a couple of instances where JJL and I had to walk away from other tourists. The questions they asked literally made me go "duh!" I have a higher tolerance for teenagers asking questions that the guide JUST answered more than I can adults. For instance the guide was telling how a farm home in the late 1700s was like he tells us the parents slept in the visible bed and the children upstairs and this lady asks how do they get up there. I don't know perhaps by those stairs right by the end of the bed? What other answer could there be? So maybe I'm harsh. BUT COME ON PEOPLE! THINK! - Am I possibly a history snob? This was by far NOT my first colonial home. Am I assuming most Americans should know their own history in the VERY least have watched just one episode of Little House on the Prairie?

Kitchen

 

We came back to the condo had some more spaghetti squash and completely and totally conked out! I got up and watched Mike & Molly - I L O V E this show! and at some point JJL woke up and downloaded more apps. 

We both felt bad for sleeping on vacation ... CrAzY! And It's equally crazy how bad I am jonesin' for someone to critique my photos and tell me how I can improve. Why do we take photos? Is it to remember where we have been and the time we spent there? 

Heading Out

Age 21 - Harry's Chocolate Shop - Before epiphany

 I was flipping through the channels and saw on PBS there was this quiz game - had Brain in the title of the show - I think - can't remember. If I did I would have told you, really.

The 5 minutes (I'm sure not even that long) that I watched it, they asked the question at what age does is the brain fully develop. The answer is 25 ... they state that the last part to develop is the ability to think before acting. This explains so many things! And why this is exceptionally interesting to me is that it ties into my what I like to call the "25 theory".

The "25 theory" came about the same time I turned 25 and I quite literally had an epiphany. Up until a person turns 25 they know "EVERYTHING!" There are a few years before 25 when the person get tired of hearing from older folks (26 on up), "O you think you know everything." And a person will admit during those few years that no they do not know everything. It just seems like it. But at age 25, a person finally gets it that they don't know ANYTHING!

This was a topic of discussion on the way to Williamsburg, VA.

Columbus, OH taken by JJL

JJL and I take a week in October (usually) every two years or so to celebrate our anniversary and to break up the home routine for a week. We stay in a time share condo provided by Jason's parents. I hope to one day take over the one that Jason has co-ownership of to relieve his parents of the burden.

This year we decided on Williamsburg, VA and are staying at Kingsgate.

2004 (The year we got married) - We spent 3 days in Wisconsin here.
 JJL was in school and had to get back to class is the reason for the short week.

2005 one year anniversary - Pigeon Forge, TN - We split the week with Jason's parents the reason I can't remember perhaps to conserve my vacation days.

2007 - a FULL week at Fairfield Glades, TN - This was the vacation I planned nothing and Jason learned to appreciate my planning. This was the nicest resort to date. 

2009 - THE best one Alexandria, VA - Washington D.C. - We were a block from the metro and since we went and talked to a representative we got our anniversary dinner at a VERY nice restaurant for free.

I'm a planner. I like lists. I like to know when things open and when they close. I like knowing how much things are going to cost. To that end I have a vacation schedule. The 2007 trip I decided I wasn't going to do a schedule I planned absolutely NO activities. Well, lets just say JJL got restless and we wasted time (I know time spent together is not wasted but we missed playing in a euchre tournament!) and not to mention the gas.

We don't see many MPVs (Its what I drive), so JJL took a picture

 We arrived very late Saturday night through rain and traffic and mountains and darkness and construction where the lines don't match up with the reflector things. I'm pretty sure I screamed a couple of times.

Before it got dark

We get here and find out we are on the 3rd floor  - no elevator!!! We grabbed the essentials and are on an exercise plan as soon we get back home! Getting older and wider just does not work!

So Sunday, we officially got checked in. Had breakfast at IHOP. Went to Cato too hopefully pick up a much needed pair of jeans and - Should've called - cause they didn't open till 1pm and JJL had lots of homework to get turned in by midnight. So, yes wasn't on the schedule didn't completely check it out and we take a little trip to no end except we drove over a drawbridge and saw water!

JJL got his homework done. We had spaghetti squash, garlic bread and caesar salad for dinner.

2nd helping - JJL like spaghetti squash better than REAL spaghetti I suppose I do to!

Played some arcade games - I beat Jason 2 out of 3 racing games - hehe.

Colonial Williamsburg is on tomorrows agenda!

My Achy Breaky Heart

I can't remember REALLY liking My Achy Breaky Heart.
I can't remember REALLY liking the mullet - Business in the front, Party in the back - Law! - who came up with that?

The reason for the "Law!" I just finished The Help - read it you'll understand.

And seriously I don't think you can trust a country singer that doesn't wear a cowboy hat and wears high tops instead of boots.

What brought me to think about the song is that my heart has been breaky and truth be told a little achy.
It could be hormones - insert eye roll here.
It could be because of work schedules and therefore the lack of quality time with JJL. The lack of quality time turns into too much time for the enemy to sneak in and fill my head with lies and images that have long ago been forgiven and forgotten by my redeeming Savior.

I think it started the Sunday before last (because I'm slow at posting) and learning about the organization Tiny Hands.

There are certain things in life that go beyond tears and sadness. There are those things that break my heart. Some things have been done and cannot be changed. Most things are still happening. I would like to "fix" all of them. 

Not only would I love sex trading to be completely nonexistent but for those that have been saved for the images and knowledge of what they now know can be erased. If I am haunted by my past ... do you hear it? My heart is breaking all over again. God is a mighty God and that's got to be some mighty God strength in them.

Things that I can remember that have broken my heart (and some of these are not nearly as breaky - so don't think they are ALL in the same level):

    
Holocaust museum
The movie Titanic
The movie Pearl Harbor (This one especially since it came right after 9/11)
The attack on 9/11 - I had the day off from work and I was sick. When I came back home from getting cough drops the first plane had hit. While I was watching the report on the first the second one hit. After a while I also turned the radio on. I was on the couch with the visual of T.V. and the sound of radio. I was living in Pittsburgh and 2 people called to see if I was all right because CNN was broadcasting on their ticker tape that Pittsburgh was hit. 


This list is not doing my heart any good ...


I could now give some verbose about Hope and God and everlasting life but that's not my style maybe it should be but I'll leave it to people with better grasp of it. I'm still struggling with sometimes having so much anger over things and how that can occupy the same space where I have the love of God in me. 


Of course love and hate only 2 minutes apart ... haven't heard my theory?
Picture a clock at 6:30 you have apathy no feeling either way your running cold. Farther up the clock it gets hotter so at say 11:59 you got heated anger and at 12:01 you got mad passionate love. Love and hate only 2 minutes apart. 

August

So apparently (and I am realizing I start A LOT of my sentences with "So") I'm averaging 1 post a month which tells me either I don't have as many ramblings as I thought or I forget about them before I get them posted....

The first week of August I worked a complete week. The rest of the month I've been doing 4 days. I could get use to that.

Week of the 7th, I was sick on Monday. Just a stomach thing.

Week of the 14th, JJL and I took off for Michigan to see this delightful being.

 

Mason Paul Bruce Hepler was born 15? weeks early. Weighing in at 1lb. 11oz.

After 9 months, of praying I got to hold him and he did the considerate thing of falling asleep. Mason is the son of my beloved brother and therefore Mason has become the child that has me tightly wound round his little finger. 

Week of the 21st, I used a 1/2 off admission coupon to the Cincinnati Zoo. JJL went of course along with the couple nicknamed Mostin.

It took 7 yes I said 7 hours to get there with breakfast and a major breakdown of frustration of never getting out of the state I love so much. It was not my proudest moment.

JJL for once had control of the new family camera. There are quite a few pictures that I wouldn't have taken and quite a few still in my head that didn't make it onto the memory card. No surprise there. It is interesting to see what JJL considers photo worthy knowing we do not see things the same or even notice the same things. 

We are making plans to get estimates on adding on to our home. We always had the idea we would move. To where? We had no idea but we were going to be ready wherever the Lord led us. Have we given up? Or finally got the hint to grow where we are planted? I suppose the remodel will happen if its the will of God ... because it won't be because of us. Have I mentioned it would open up some space for me to paint ... BONUS! 

Till next month ...

Summer - Lakes - Youth

Summertime to me is being on a lake.

Out of the picture is a tree with a fishing pole and a container of bee moths

Great Bear Lake in Michigan triggers the most memories. The 2 hour drive sitting in between Grandma and Grandpa in a Ford F150. The whole time waiting to drive down this humungus hill. You can't see the drop coming but once you hit the crest it's like the whole world opened up for just you.

The time Grandma made me sit next to the open window when body odor was a new thing to this preteen. She was also very much more concerned than I with my complexion.

The time Grandma told me I was just like my grandpa and that I should try and be better and when I looked at him to see how he took that comment he smiled and winked at me.

One summer every morning, I rowed a perfectly good fishing boat with a motor around our little portion. Makes me tired just thinking about it. The water was smooth as glass on the far side with turtles sunning themselves on fallin logs.

Fishing was always the same time each night. Grandpa and I in the boat I rowed and Grandma and Great-Grandma in the other boat. I was mostly only there to sit in the bow to make it easier to steer. Fishing for me would only last a few minutes I'm sure, but back then it seemed F O R E V E R. So I would pack it up and put on the headphones and read a book while Grandpa fished. I'd like to think I knew what I had. That the time spent together was fleeting and would be looked back upon with yearning.

After the fishing there was card playing and ice cream eating and/or a forging of the refrigerator. No one had video game players and the cottage didn't have cable or even got decent antenna coverage. Its how I learned you never want to sit to the left of Grandma in euchre because you will
N E V E R be able to call trump. One summer there was a new card game we played and that I would consistently win at. Great-Grandma was bound and determined to beat me at least once. Unfortunately that same desire to beat me was the same desire that flowed through my veins to keep winning.

I am almost certain there is nothing better than taking a nap under a tree after total exhaustion from swimming all morning. The feel of the breeze, the smell of the lake and the sound of people and speed boats creating a lullaby only "lake people" understand.
The next best place to sleep was the screened in porch. The moon and stars reflecting off the lake, and lightening bugs or fireflies which ever you prefer as your night-lights. The night time lullaby was provided by frogs, crickets and the occasional fish jumping out of the water.

About two cottages over there was a woman that lived year round on the lake. She was originally from Hungary. She told me stories of crossing the Atlantic and how she was sea sick and missed seeing the Statue of Liberty. She had a fondness for clocks and would listen to talk radio all night. She had a brick from the original house that Joe Louis trained in that was on the far side of the "Big Lake". One summer she asked how it felt to be bitten by mosquitos and in my youth and extreme delectablity to all bugs was dumbfounded at this lack of knowledge.

One of the few times that I got out of going fishing I found a stick near the pier and used it as a baton tapping it on one of the posts and directed a symphony taking my bows from the invisible crowd. I however was asked the next day by the neighbors when that nights show will be starting. The invisible crowd that I thought I had was in fact quite real and was in fact applauding when I bowed.

Is it the place that I miss? Is it my youth? Is it the quality time that I had with my grandparents? Perhaps its all of it ...

I was proposed to on a pontoon. I was married (on a very cold day) next to a lake. Maybe, its not so much summertime means being on a lake but being on a lake being part of who I am.

Indiana trivia: Indiana's shoreline with Lake Michigan is only 40 miles long, but Indiana is still considered a Great Lakes State.

Indiana

In my distress over not finding a yellow #2 6-sided REAL pencil I forgot to add a Indiana trivia blurb. So, I'm doing a full on blog post about Indiana and my quirky love of the state.

I have always liked history. I have always liked trivia that deals with places and things I've been or are close to. For instance, once at a car show in South Bend I touched K.I.T.T. This is as close as I have been (that I can currently remember) to a celebrity. Not that I like K.I.T.T. or really did - I have no idea why I even bring that memory up. Forget that celebrity, I met Bare Naked Ladies and shook Ed's hand and told him he had beautiful blue eyes. Which should, if I'm not already, make it official that I'm a dork! 

I have liked John Cougar Mellencamp from when I first saw a cousin wearing his Uh-Huh concert shirt. However, the first "tape" that I bought was either Chicago 17 or Michael Jackson Thriller, I can't remember what came first. BUT after that it was all Uh-Huh.  Mellencamp was what I believed in before I knew better. His music was the soundtrack of my teenage angst.


And he sang about Indiana. 

I was in the Reamer Club at Purdue. The keeper's of tradition. I learned the words to (Back Home Again In) Indiana. And other trivial things about Purdue. Trivia alert: The tune became a jazz standard. For years, Louis Armstrong and his All Stars would open each public performance with the number.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Home_Again_in_Indiana). 


It didn't help that to get a history credit while at Purdue I chose Indiana history. I thought it would be easy cause seriously what historically as happened. Well, to say the least I found it quite interesting.

I remember sunrises while waiting for the bus that should have made me a believer in God right there and then. Those sunrises over fields of corn where literally they start at what looks like the beginning of earth. In mountainous areas the sun hides a little until it's revealed not in Indiana. I L.O.V.E. seeing the some what straight line between green grass and blue sky. 

It just tickles me when I hear Indiana being referenced in movies or song. Like Arsenic and Old Lace mentions Indiana. Tom Petty song Mary Jane's Last Dance. (originally titled "Indiana Girl")
     "With them Indiana boys on them Indiana nights" - Which was me the summer after I turned 17.

So SERIOUSLY who is reading this drivel?

It comes down to my realization years ago that part of what makes a person is where they grew up. I like who I am. I don't like all the experiences but loving where I grew up and where the majority of those experiences happened is easy enough to love.

And after going out to Ohio I know at least the scenery can also be stated for that state as well. So calm down you Buckeye people ... When I moved away I had the never return feeling which proved to be false. I left Indiana but Indiana never left me. Ask any of the friends I made in Pennsylvania. 
 
I ended up being homesick. To combat the sickness, I would pick up trivial needless information about Indiana, which is a sickness in of itself. It was so bad I became like the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and could/can relate most things to Indiana given enough time.

Like the state flower is a peony but only since 1957 before that it was zinnia. Really I only bring that up because I wanted an excuse to put in a picture of my peony.

 

 

Did you know Gas City, IN it was first known as Harrisburg when settled on May 25, 1867 by Noah Harris. It became something of a boom town when natural gas was found in the area in 1887. The Gas City Land Company was founded on March 21, 1892 and the town of about 150 people changed its name to Gas City a few days later.