When was the last time you took a ride on a swing?

   Growing up as a child fifty or sixty years ago was very different than growing up as a child today. For many there was a mom and dad. Dad went to work each day and  mom stayed home to do 'housework'. Dad would come home in the Chevy 2 door coupe (they were always black) and the family would sit down at the table together for dinner, talking about things that happened that day. Mom would have spent  many hours preparing  dinner. After eating, the children would ask to be excused from the table and begin their homework. Manners and respect were taught at home back then. No television or radio  until the homework was done. 

   Most kids didn't start school until age five or even later. Let's keep Ralph out for an extra year. He's a bit slow, you know, and besides, we need him to help around the farm.           
    Preschool or day care had not become popular yet (because parents took care of their own kids) so what was learned before heading off on the school bus was taught at home, whether it be reading or math, cooking or just  learning how to use a hammer.

   After the homework was done and if it was still light outside, there might be one last ride on the backyard swing  before bed. It was the closest you  could get to flying. With eyes closed, you could imagine rocketing through space, higher and higher, faster and faster, heading toward that distant planet. But with the call of “bed time”, the trip came to an end and the imaginary space suit was traded in for a pair of pajamas.

   Fast forward fifty years or so. Much has been gained in those fifty years, but much has been lost too. Now please don't get me wrong. I support the idea that children need to come to school ready to learn. What kindergarten teacher wouldn't like to have every child in class be able to read, know all of their numbers and letters and have perfect penmanship. Years ago many of these skills were taught by mom and dad at home. But today??

   Today, for those who can afford it,  many attend preschool or day care and as a result they enter school with skills and knowledge far beyond what kids knew years ago. There are new standards and expectations, new goals with ' no child left behind'. Left behind what or who? Or maybe the real question is "What are we leaving behind ?" How about "childhood!!"

   Kids are tested regularly to insure they are meeting the standards and if not, teachers are replaced, administrators are fired and pressures mount on both the parent and child. Who wants to have their child 'labeled' as a failure?

   My fear is that future generations will consist of over anxious, neurotic adults, who will look back upon school, not as a time of childhood and growing up, but when each was programmed and moved through a system at lightening speed to get to some point where he or she would become "productive citizens".

   I see us reaching a time when, soon after birth, children will enter 'educational clinics' where they will be tested to determine their learning styles and a plan mapped out for the next twenty years or so. These clinics will identify future doctors or lawyers, scientist or political leaders. (Sound familiar?)
   But on the way to the 'clinic,' kids will  look out the car windows at the empty swings on the local playground, moving back and forth, powered not by the imaginary ride to outer space and distant planets, but only by the wind.

   Yes, I do believe that early preparation for school and learning is important. But I also believe in the importance of family, play and just being a kid as  ways to prepare for school too.. How soon we have forgotten how to be a kid!

   So, regardless of your age, the next time you see an empty swing, hop on and take a ride. It might be the ride of your life.

  

It's Saturday morning and...

   It used to be that Saturday morning was a day to sleep in a bit later. After a hard week at work an extra hour of sleep was always welcomed. But that extra hour of sleep has given way to spending it with Stephani. She is a hard working, dog loving (and sometimes cat loving,) warm and caring dog trainer and the benefits of getting up early far outweigh the the loss of an extra hour of sleep.

   As some of you know, after spending many years with dogs of all shapes and sizes there was a period of time that we were dog-free and for a while it was a relief. We came and went as we pleased, not worrying about who would “let the dog out” or if there was enough dog food for the week. There was no dog fur rolling around the floor, great for the allergies and no dog toys hidden under sofa cushion.

   But over time there was something missing. There was no friendly greeting at the door, no barking to scare off unwanted intruders and no one to fetch the ball. (The kids had all gone off to college.) What's a person to do? Get another dog...of course.

   Lucky will be celebrating his third birthday in a few weeks. He is a black, standard-size poodle. He is strong, handsome and very smart and we were quick to learn just how smart he could be. Instead of letting Lucky train us, we decided to try taking classes and that is how we met Stephani.

   I admit it. I was a bit nervous about classes. What if he fails? What if the other dogs are mean and vicious or they don't like him? What if they think he is a wuss. What if he doesn't learn anything.

   Class begins at 8 AM. for our group. It may vary from week to week, but generally there are between four and six dogs eagerly waiting for the door to open. As Stephani greets each by name, they sniff, run and bark at each other. It is almost like watching children in preschool, except that the screaming and shouting in preschool is replaced with barking and growling.

   Like church, each dog and owner has their favorite spot in the room and after ten puppy pushups to get the dogs and their owners focused, the training for the day begins. (Lucky does very well with the puppy pushups. For me, it's harder to get up and down as quickly as he does.)

   It is amazing how, after the first few minutes of dog-like behavior, they settle in to the activities of the day. Heeling, sits, downs, stands and fronts come pretty natural to all the dogs now. Why wouldn't they? Armed with treats, praise and a pat on the head every once and awhile, I'd probably do the same thing.

   The rally course is not only fun to watch, but also to train. I must say that I wasn't sure how Lucky would take to the tunnel and the jump, but he does quite well now. My goal is to eventually have him run the course, free of the leash and in the company of other dogs, cheering him on.

   It is obvious Stephani likes and enjoys what she does. She is actively involved in Sheltie rescue, herself having many calling her house “home” at different times

Her approach and philosophy of training is based upon treats, praise and respect for each dog. And patience, don't forget patience.

    One of the things I have learned is, like people, dogs learn at different rates. Perhaps it is the breed of the dog or maybe the quality of the treats. Perhaps it is the skill and knowledge of Stephani.

   Getting up a bit earlier on Saturday morning has been well worth it. Lucky has learned a great deal and continues to improve each week and I think he would agree that Stephani is doing a great job of training me to be a better owner too!

   (Interested in learning more about Stephani and her training courses, visit her on Facebook at …..Right on the Mark Dog Training LLC ...Palmyra, ME)

What happens in Vegas....

   Perhaps Las Vegas and the rest of the world could learn a thing or two from the Vatican. In an age when everyone wants to know everything, the Vatican was still able to select its new leader in relative secrecy, much to the disappointment of the news media and others. Perhaps the only person on the outside who might have had any insight as to what was taking place inside was Dan Brown and even his view may have been partially tainted for the sake of novels and movies,

   What is utterly amazing to me is that 115 men had the sole responsibility of selecting the person who would become the religious leader for nearly 1.5 billion people around the world. And only those Cardinals  80 years of age or younger were eligible to vote. What does that tell us about growing old within the church. Does over 80 mean 'over the hill' when it comes to making decisions? What does that say about the belief  that "with age comes wisdom.” 

   What is still so unbelievable is that this is the same process that has been used for hundreds of years, 266 'Pope times' in fact ... It is 115 people casting ballets, tossing them into the stove and voting again until someone receives 77 per cent of the vote.(No hanging chads here!) Or at least that is what we are encouraged to believe. 
   We all know how difficult it is to keep secrets and one has to admire, to some degree, the difficult challenges these men faced as well as those who took part in the previous 265 times a new Pope was elected. I can hear the announcement being made over the loudspeaker  now. “Please turn off all cell phones and all other electronic devices!”

   But with secrets often comes some unintended consequences. and outcomes.

   The Catholic Church has had its share of major issues over the years. Is it because the church has not been able to adjust to the changing times or is it that the times have not adjusted to the church? Is it because society's values have changed. Is it the result of the personal demands and expectations placed upon the clergy? Should priests be allowed to marry and have families? This is serious 'stuff.'

   But there may be some secrets that we would all like to know that are not so serious. For example...When not in public, does the Pope walk around his apartment in  Lands' End fleece pullovers and warm up pants? Does the Pope know how to cook? Does he have a driver's license? How does he relax when he is not doing his “Popely” duties? Has he read any of Dan Brown's books. Does he watch movies or listen  to country-western music? Has he ever eaten at McDonald's? Is there a gym at the Vatican where he can exercise or play racket ball?

   I know it is important for the billions of Catholics and the world leaders to see him in a traditional role as  Pope, the religious leader of a large part of the world's population. But perhaps he needs to be seen as a person of flesh and blood too, someone who laughs, goes for walks on beautiful Spring days, wraps Christmas presents for his nieces and nephews or works out in the gym on a regular basis.

   He has a special mission and unique  responsibilities,as he serves as a religious role model for the world. It is an awesome task to say the least. And his power and influence in the world's religious and sometimes political affairs have their roots dating back centuries and have been passed down to each new generation with few, if any, changes.

   But for now, the processes and the mysteries of the church will continue to remain secrets. We can all guess and speculate what took place behind the locked doors. But for now, “what happened at the Vatican” is likely to stay in the Vatican. for many years to come.

Play ball!!

   Its just another cloudy day in early March. There is still snow on the ground, but all is not lost. There are less three weeks now until the Red Sox open their 2013 season, and this year it starts with games against the “evil empire", the New York Yankees, three games! On April 1st? You have got to be kidding!

   Many in New England have a long standing love affair with the Red Sox. Over the years they have brought cheers, tears and sneers to many avid fans. But this new season will be different. All smiles, we hope!

   This year's team boasts a new manager, some new faces both in the infield and outfield, as well as some of the more familiar favorites that  bring a renewed excitement from the Fenway faithful. The hot dogs will be hot and beer will be cold as the umpire walks to home plate and shouts ...”play ball!”

   Truth is I was not always a Red Sox fan. Growing up just outside of New York City, it was a requirement to follow only the local teams. But, before you stop reading, I was never a Yankee fan, except for maybe the likes of Yogi Berra and Casey Stengel, two of the world's great baseball philosophers. Baseball in the New York area was and still is so “matter-of-fact, so business as usual.” It lacked emotion. (Just ask my sister-in-law! I can hear her cheering from here. ) And... back in my day we still had the Dodgers of Brooklyn and the NY Giants before they moved to warmer climates.

   Moving to New England has changed my view and appreciation for the sport. I do admire the dedication and devotion of the New England fans to their teams, especially the Red Sox. One might consider it almost like a 'romance', even during the seasons when things are not going well. Take last year for example. Poor Bobby Valentine. He just never got it.

   And as with love and romance, there may be times that we will argue and disagree, but we still manage to move on, and in this case, cheer the next home run. Who can not have a smile on their face as 'Big Papi 'sends the ball rocketing over the center field seats. He is coming back this year...right?

   Even if you can't attend a game in person, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy can make you feel as though you are right there, at the ball park, sitting behind home plate as the crack their corny jokes and funny stories. Grill up a few hot dogs, have a couple of cans of beer...it's almost as good as being there and you don't have to worry about finding a place to park.

   It's starting to rain a bit  and the wind is still 'picking up', but I have put aside the seed catalog, put on my Red Sox wind breaker and picked up the most recent copy of this year's roster. There are some new names, no doubt about it.  
   Now if we can just teach them the proper way to pronounce “chowda”! 

'Tis the season

        No. It's not Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. It is  Springtime in Maine and pothole season has arrived in all it's ugly glory.

      It's dark  in the early morning before 6:00 AM now, at least for a few more weeks.
Daylight saving time has just kicked in.. But I hear the birds singing and smell the freshness of the spring air. Then I hear a loud “kurplunk” and swearing as a passing car bottoms out on a rather large pothole. Dare I venture out to the store?

   The ride to the local Wal Mart, although only a short one, has become a real challenge. Route 100 has turned into an obstacle course when attempting to avoid hitting the many, many potholes. It is interesting how they place themselves in the most inconvenient locations. But then if they didn't, they wouldn't  be potholes would they!

   By definition, “a pothole is a 'disruption' in the surface of the roadway where a portion of the surface has broken away. Disruption! I love that word. Potholes are the result of fatigue in the road surface. Fatigue? How about...just plain 'busted up'. Now doesn't that make you feel better knowing that? 

   Looking for future pothole sites? You only need to look for the alligator cracking on the surface. Hmm. Looks a bit like the skin on my arms!

  The formation of a pothole is generally exacerbated by low temperatures, where water freezes and refreezes beneath the road surface, creating additional stress on the already cracking surface. That explains it. Makes me feel a whole lot better not that I know the cause.

  Potholes can grow to be enormous in size, from several inches to more than a foot in diameter and up to 6, 8 or even 12 inches deep, deep enough to swallow up a small car.

  We can joke about potholes, but they are serious. They can cause serious damage to a vehicle's suspension system or destroy a tire. Case in point. I ended up buying a new tire recently. Was I going too fast? Under normal circumstances, probably not. But given the road conditions? Maybe. Could I have swerved out of the way? Only if I wanted to be hit by a rather large truck in the oncoming lane.

  The interstate highway this year is not much better. For the first time in years, Interstate 95 is riddles with potholes and a washboard effect. At least on the interstate there is a bit more room to maneuver around the the potholes because of nice wide shoulders. Thump! Oops. Didn't see that one coming.

  I recently spoke with a local law enforcement official. I asked him if he would like to comment on the road conditions this year. After about two minutes of almost uncontrollable laughter, he said that this year was one of the worst he has seen and he thought last year was bad.  He was quick to add that people are still driving to fast for the conditions. He had already started his collection of hubcaps for the year. Anyone need a hubcap from a Oldsmobile? What's an Oldsmobile?

  Fixing potholes is also a challenge. Shovels and a truckload of cold patch are the tools of the trade but the repair generally only lasts until the next rain or snow storm. Did I actually see someone shoveling cold patch out of a pothole and putting it into buckets in the back of a pickup? Must be a problem in the driveway at home.

  In all seriousness, the pothole problem is an issue. According to the officer, this year is like the “perfect storm.” Long cold winter, lots of snow recently, plowing and water and little money to repair and fix the roads properly. Tight budgets. While potholes may create some immediate business for the local auto repair dealers and tire shops ( part of the LePage economic growth plan), in the future, repair of roads will only cost more. But by then he will be out of office. TG

  But for now, keep your eyes peeled for that little red Volkswagen that  just drop right out of sight... Boy, that's a deep one!

The 'rites' and 'wrongs' of Spring

   Although the official arrival of Spring, according to the calendar, is March 21, for those of us who live well north the Mason-Dixon Line, Spring's arrival often occurs well into April. While some sing of April showers, many pray for no more Patriot Day surprises.

   March 21 is more than a date on the calendar. It is a state of mind. It is a rebirth, a new beginning, as we  emerge from the cold and darkness of winter. Thoughts of snow shoveling and skiing, icy roads and school closings turn to Red Sox baseball, planting the garden and cleaning up those little brown mounds in the yard thanks to the dog. (But we still love him.)

   Spring generally signals different activities around the house, activities that have almost become traditions; the 'rites of Spring.'

    The seeds for the garden are purchased, planted and placed in sunny window locations throughout the house. The lawn furniture gets its annual scrubbing and if one is feeling really energetic, the windows might even get washed.
   The wardrobe changes too. Sweaters and dark clothes are replaced by short sleeves and light, bright colors.

   There are some 'social rites' as well. Neighbors may see each other for the first time since raking  leaves last Fall. Our neighborhood is loaded with trees and lots of leaves. It's always a busy time. Most of my leave blow on to my neighbor's property.     
   The garages get cleaned out and  the yard sale signs go up as neighbors swap those unwanted items from one garage to another.

   It's been a seemingly long winter this year since the snow didn't really begin until the later part of January and since then, it feels as though it hasn't stopped.
   But, there is truly nothing quite as enjoyable as that first really warm day and ....we are still waiting for that day to arrive. Fresh, warm air can't be that hard to come by, and  I don't really consider 35 a mild early Spring day. I want one of those surprise 50 degree day!!

   There are some 'wrongs' of Spring as well. Not cleaning up the garden after the last bloom in the Fall makes it hard  to get ready for the springtime planting. Include raking the leaves into that thought too. It has only been the last several years that I have come to understand the importance of getting rid of the leave in the fall and how much easier it makes yard work in the spring. Fewer blisters on my hands too. Gloves? Real men don't wear gloves to do yard work.

   Forgetting to drain the gasoline from the lawn mower is another 'wrong'. It is difficult enough to start that aged lawn mower engine, let alone have old gas in the tank.  That E-10 stuff is terrible for lawn mowers and there is talk of increasing it to E-15. Ouch! That cord snapping around my fingers really hurts. Maybe it's time to think about a new mower with an electric starter.

   All winter long, I  heard the scurrying of little feet and thought it was the neighbor's cat, only to  find that a family of squirrels had spent the winter, not in Florida, but in a far away corner of the garage. So that's where all the bird seed went!

   But there is one thing we all know. We all  know, somehow,  when winter is finally over. We know the day! It smells different, looks different and feels different. To not get out and enjoy that day, even if it's only a short break at lunch, is a feeling you could miss this year and  have to wait until next year.

   I just looked out the window. I can't believe it is still snowing today and more predicted for the coming week. Please.........!!!!!!