Busy, busy, busy

No, I'm not converting to Bokononism yet...

Things are going well. You can see that I added a National Parks gadget thingy there - we're all stoked in the Specter house about the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks. Saw PBS' little preview and it looks just wonderful. I think that with better equipment, an unlimited budget and a modicum of restraint and good taste, my trip videos could be on par with Ken Burns. Unfortunately, none of that is going to happen.

Work on the videos progresses. I had a really productive weekend in that area. I am now done with Days 1-15 and Days 24-31. You do the math. All I have left is 3 driving days, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Craters of the Moon. I am definitely starting to run the music well dry, though. It's getting harder and harder to find stuff that fits. It will be well and good that we aren't planning another monster journey for a few years. I need the time to restock my library.

Rant: Why can't Michael Gettel and Wayne Gratz rock out just a little bit? And why can't Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You do a few songs without an obnoxious burst of static, feedback and noise? Music can be serene and peaceful without being limpid...and it can be dramatic and inspiring without being loud. Middle ground, people...middle ground. I need some music that is extreme in its moderation. Saunders - get on it.

All the other usual things are going on. Faith's Kindergarten transition has been smooth - although she's an exhausted wreck by the end of the week. Mari's ready to start preschool next week. Twins are tearing the place up. Hannah continues to just be kinda weird. But cute.

Gotta run - just wanted to check in. See y'all.

Matt

General updates

Work: Going well. I've seen everyone. There's no one I won't be able to handle.

Kids: Faith's second day of Kindergarten was great again - she's eating it up - better than we could have hoped for.

Trip Movie: Am slightly past halfway now. Have finished first 9 days and last 7 days. Starting to think about premier logistics.

Life: Can't complain.

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten (III - make sure you scroll down for the rest)

We went right over to G and Z's to eat lunch (G. D. joined us too!)

Celebration cupcakes!

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten (II)

Faith at top of steps on bus.

Faith on bus (front window - you only see back of her head).

Bus coming back in afternoon!

Faith coming down the bus steps!

Faith's brother and sisters missed her a lot while she was gone!

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten! (part I)

Faith on front porch.

Faith and Mari on front porch.

All 4 kids on front porch. (Obviously I should've given them sunglasses!)

Sisterly love (ha, ha) at the bus stop!

Faith climbing up the bus stairs!

More to say

Okay, lunch at work, and I can say a few things here. Another pretty good day of work so far today. If I still feel this good next week at this time, I'll be ready to relax.

Faith's first day of Kindergarten is tomorrow. Kudos to FHSD for thinking to have a bus there at new family night to let the kids get on and learn about the rules. I think she's going to do just fine. On the other hand, if she melts down she'll get over it pretty quickly once she gets there.

Mixed emotions? Well, sort of. I have always said that I am looking forward to finding out what kind of a person she's going to become. I don't want her to stay little forever. So I don't have any kind of pure, unadulterated "My baby is going away!" wailing to do. My own misgivings are just that this is the start of us not being the biggest influence on her life. It's the beginning of having to be the kind of nosy parent, bugging her about what all she's doing, looking for new behaviors that she picks up at school and making sure that she's getting a counter-message from home to combat the bad ones. I am afraid of her falling into bad influences, but am eager for her to have the opportunity to stand up for the values we are trying to teach her. I know that if she does, I'll be more proud of her than I can imagine.

I think she's going to do well.

Well, that's all for now. As school starts, prayers and blessings to anyone involved. Start the clock. Let's do this.

Matt

Approaching the groove

My transition to work is going smoothly so far. Admittedly, I haven't done much yet, and I've only met half of my students so far, but I'm not having Sunday morning dread yet. I think I'm moving closer and closer to being able to be very casual about this whole thing. I'm feeling good.

The new schedule is...not bad. Except for the long Kindergarten periods, I like it a lot. 40 minutes is a little short for the older kids, but I never feel like I'm stretching. I think a lot of my lessons will be perfectly suited for the new timing.

Hannah is walking now, by the way. She started ALMOST walking a week or so ago and just sort of took off.

I had planned to say more this morning, but I hear chaos upstairs so I better go.

Matt

Final Thoughts on the End of Summer

"Summer is gone, memories long
We're afraid and hold on desperately
To the last of hopes and memories
Time moves on, how I wonder
Even perfect moments slip away
And may leave us empty and afraid"

- The Flower Kings, "The Way the Waters are Moving"

_______________


That's not how I work.

It's the last day before students come back here to school, and I'm never one to cling to the moment when a big inevitable change is on the way. Bring it, I say. Let's get this thing started. Going back to work like this, the biggest stress is just the unknown. So let's know already. Once I know what I've got, I can start figuring out how to deal with it.

No amount of preparation can make going back feel 'normal'. Only time can do that. As long as your recent memory is filled with days of wandering around the house with little or nothing to do, having constant responsibility IS a shock to the system. Being away from your family IS hard, even if you'll see them tonight. But after a couple weeks, this will all feel normal and will be my new life.

I'm cautiously confident. I know what I'm doing, after all. I've done 'first day' stuff at this school, what, 50 times now? It comes back to me quicker every year.

I'm ready for fall. Cooler temps. Football weekends. The girls constantly talking about Halloween. So let's get this thing moving.

I'm ready. Bring it on.

Matt

Afterglow

Summer's almost gone. As expected, Cincinnati saved the hot weather for when I return to my non-AC room at work. Luckily in my few years there I've learned the tricks to managing the heat. We'll survive.

Video work continues. I have bookended the thing and finished the first 3 days and the last week. Now it's on to filling in the blanks. The challenge will of course be finding time to work on it once school starts.

I'm not usually one to linger in a happy reminiscence when there's work to be done. I'm ready to get started, even if I don't want to be yet. I'm ready for the fall to get here. I'm ready for work to feel normal, so let's just start this thing already.

Family is returning to normal. It has been a good summer. All that's left is to enjoy the last few days and strike that balance between preparation, nostalgia, and being in the moment.

Matt

Date Night

Seriously, we need date night more often.

Just got back from an evening in Columbus - went to a wedding and reception of an old friend of Steph's. We left the twins with Grandma D and hauled off for the overnight. It was so nice to only have to pack for 2 and to not have to feed anyone but ourselves at the reception. And to be able to just be with each other.

We always talk big about setting up nights out more often but it never seems to happen. We really need to try.

We miss the big girls...it's been nice getting work done, and I won't lie and say that I've missed them every minute, but it's starting to feel not quite right around here. I'll be glad to see them again and interact with them.

Starting to put plans together for school. Looking forward to the point in time a month or so from now when going to work feels normal again. It's just the transition that bites.

Anyway, check back for more news of Kindergarten and the like.

Matt