A Visit With Chris

Mom, Dad, Jim, and I went to see Chris today, as my mom wanted to see his dorm room. It was a nice time, and I was very pleased to see how academically organized he seems to be. He and JT have settled in wonderfully, and I am envious of the youthful independence their room represents. Going to college is such an exciting time - and Chris is "living large". Chris and his mom went to see Sarah's show last night, and Chris said the Opera House was packed. I might be a bit bias...but I think I may have the best two children on Earth.

~MET

My New Eating Style

After many experiments with my daily diet, and thanks to some inspiration from my sister, I have decided to eat healthier. I am going to try again to take all meat out of my meals, except for fish. Fish will stay because it has been proven that fish oils are very good for people who have my medical struggles...and I really like fish. My attempt to cut out meat is not for any political reason, it is entirely for my own selfish health reasons. My only "cheat" day from this day forward will be my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. It has worked out well thus far, with my only slip being Jim's beef stew last night, because it sounded like he worked hard on it. On Monday my family is having steak, but I have tilapia ready to go for me. I actually have dropped 7 pounds just from this switch in the last couple of weeks. We'll see how it goes, but I think I am already feeling less sluggish having given up the land animals.
~MET

Busy, Busy, Busy

I like to post everyday, but its really difficult right now with the running around I'm doing for work...so I thought I would update folks about the things I am doing on the job:

• My classes are great, and I really like the switch to block scheduling.
• The building project is a pain, and its made it tough for lots of people - so I've had to put out a few fires on behalf of the WEA.
• Yesterday we had our first WEA Executive Committee meeting at the Last Unicorn. I have a very good team, and it looks like we will have a productive year.
• The first District 9 Bargaining Council meeting was last night, and its nice to go and not have to worry about negotiating our own contract.
• Today I have a consolidation personnel sub-committee meeting in Waterville - the teachers in that group have taken the lead, which hopefully will benefit us down the road.
• Some interesting news: the school is sending a small group to a conference in Atlanta in November, and I will be going. Let me know what you want from the Jimmy Carter Library.
• Its been a good start to the school year, all things considered, and my classes are a real savior to my emotional well-being.
  

~MET

Ha ha ha ha ha

Just got home - relaxing before I go to see my parents and then bowling with Dad. Several people have told me I need to watch The Office, and I have never seen the show. Good buddy Grant loaned me the first two seasons on DVD, and today I am watching the 3rd episode. I must say that the show is absolutely hilarious. A very unique format, and I already have my favorite character: Dwight, assistant to the regional manager. He is a freakin' riot! I know most of you are probably already fans of the show, but now you know that I have finally moved myself into American popular culture.

Common Ground Fair

An absolutely gorgeous day in rural Maine at the Common Ground Country Fair. M-S and I drove up with my siblings, but we quickly got separated from them and the two of us spent the afternoon checking out the wonderful food, crafts, and organic farming exhibits. We also signed some petitions and gained a greater appreciation for how much real talent there is in the small towns of Maine. It really has become one of my favorite annual events. The pics are of M-S at her friend Robbie's booth, M-S making friends with a donkey, a pig, and llamas. I can't wait to here how Suz, Jim, and Grant enjoyed the day.

Fame Forever

Me, M-S, Suz, Grant, James, and Dad went to see Sarah in Fame Forever last night at the Waterville Opera House. The show was very good - and Sarah was her usual outstanding self! I love to watch her perform, and I'm glad I passed along my acting and singing skills to her. (not) Before the show it was "monthly meal" time for my parents. Because the doctor said Mom could not attend the performance, she got to choose the menu. I usually have them to my house - but this time we took it to them. Also, M-S did most of the cooking for this one. Ma wanted roast pork, which was great, and M-S also added a brussels sprout with fennel dish which was a huge hit. I just made my mashed potatoes. Suz made a very rich peanut butter-chocolate dessert which was very good. Ma's sister Maureen came by to visit with Ma while we were gone - and it was nice to see her. All in all a very entertaining evening.

~ MET

A Big Weekend

Today I am going to my parents' to make them their monthly meal - my mom requested pork roast. After the meal we will be trekking to Waterville to see Sarah in Fame Forever at the Waterville Opera House. Tomorrow we will be going to the Common Ground Fair. To do these things with Jim, Suz, and Grant will be an extra thrill. I'll take lots of pictures and write about them over the next couple of days.

~ MET

Man....I Miss Bill

Just sitting here doing some paperwork and watching the repeat of last night's Daily Show. Jon Stewart's guest was President Clinton. Stewart naturally began the show by ripping our current chief executive and making him look like the boob that he is. I have been a regular voter since I was 18, which means I have voted in only 6 presidential elections. I am 2-4 in those votes, with Bill's wins in '92 and '96 being my only successes. ( I was 17 in 1980, but would have voted for 3rd party candidate John Anderson - a liberal republican). I miss Bill because he's just so freakin' bright. He's witty, quick, and has what I think is the right idea most of the time. I've seen him 3 times, and actually had a 15 second conversation with him on one occasion. One of the speeches I attended he spoke for an hour, completely off the cuff, and was unbelievably entertaining. I miss those days because even with all the dumb personal decisions Clinton made, he was STILL 1000 times more presidential than President Bush. At least my definition of presidential. Still not sure who I would support for 2008, but I do know this - if Bill were able to run, there would be no question.
~ MET

Home Again, Home Again

A double post day. One early this morning, and one in the evening. Its good to see my mom sitting on her couch cuddling with her best friend, Murph. She still has to use oxygen, but she seems much more herself. The lower picture is of my siblings catching up with their lives in DC. They are both working from here, and caring for my mom and dad. They really are remarkable, and I'm very proud of them. We have to concentrate on mom's recovery from this past week, and wait and see what the next steps will bring us. If the progress made this week is any indication...the future looks bright!

~ MET

Last Night in the Hospital...Hopefully

I went to see my mom last night. We are all in hopes that she will be coming home today. I thought she might be getting tired of the hospital food, so I stopped by the fish market and brought her some lobster tails, which she seemed to enjoy very much (pic). Her recovery from her surgery is coming along great, and she does everything that the hospital staff asks of her. We still don't know "next steps" yet, as we are waiting for results from testing. Hopefully pictures tomorrow will be from her living room!

~ MET

Trying to Maintain a Balance

One of the challenges in a health situation like the one my family is going through right now is maintaining some sort of rational balance in your life. I had to go back to work today. My students, and because of my position in the WEA - lots of teachers, count on me to be there. I did my job...but my mind was in a hospital in Portland during every free moment. My Dad and I talked yesterday about going to our bowling league, and it was decided that we should go tonight and let the candlepin lanes take us away from our concerns for a couple of hours. Finding a balance. I talked to both my children today, my brother and sister, my Dad, and my Mom. The good news is that they are taking some of the "things" off my Mom. In fact, they are removing her chest tube as I write this. Suz is there with her, and I hope they do not have to put anything in its place. Mom is doing what the docs are asking, and I am in hopes she will be home soon. I am going down after work tomorrow to see her in what will hopefully will be her last day in the hospital. The big news today is that her dog, Murphy, was able to visit her in her room for about an hour. How awesome! Leave it to our family to find a way to bring a dog into a hospital. My wish for anyone reading this is that if faced with a medical challenge you have the family support that we have.
Love you Mom...can't wait to see you tomorrow.
~ MET

Mom Update

No pictures today as I am entering this post directly from the hospital. Mom is progressing as expected, and seems to be in a bit less pain. She went for her first walk today and did a great job, especially being tethered to so much equipment. She also had a chest x-ray and a visit from a PA-C from her surgeon's practice. He said that her departure day will depend mostly on the drainage from the chest tube, which is somewhat steady, but not at all alarming. They are guessing Wednesday or Thursday. She should be able to free herself from some of the tubes tomorrow. She is eating, though not a whole lot, and we make her do a breathing exercise every hour or so. James went back to Augusta to clean up and rest - and Dad and Suz are on the way right now. Greg and Carol Barbour dropped by, which really cheered Mom up. Her sister Ann and niece Jillian also visited. More tomorrow.
~ MET

Mom Recovering

Sorry I haven't written in a few days, but we have been dealing with some health issues with my mom. She had to go to Portland on Friday for a round of somewhat "rugged" procedures to determine what the thickening on the inside of her chest wall next to her lungs might be. Her surgery lasted about an hour, but she may not be home until the middle of next week. She is progressing well as far as her recovery from Friday's fun. The result of her biopsy was not the news any of us wanted to hear, but we are hopeful that with the right treatment, care, and support she will be able to battle this setback the same way she has with her heart attacks and stroke. This is a woman who has heart attacks and then travels the world. If there is any silver lining to this weekend it is that I am reminded once again what a remarkable family I have. My mom is a real trooper, and still has her wit as she struggles with pain and all the things attached to her all over the place. My dad remains the stoic and steady presence that he has been all of my life. The real heroes in this chapter are my sister and brother who moved their lives from DC to Maine. Suz is a master of taking care of the details and seemingly is always problem solving. James has absolutely taken control of this situation. He is actually living at the hospital, and is not only taking care of my mom 24-7, but also did what he could to comfort her roommate. He is the "point man" as we divide our responsibilities. I also want to give some credit to my wonderful wife who spent much of the day at the hospital with us today - but more importantly patiently answers the plethora of medical questions that we all have. Even though this is not an easy process to deal with, there is a comfort in knowing what a powerful support system we all provide for each other. Lets all think good thoughts.

~ MET

An Interesting and Different Kind of Hike

An interesting afternoon walk on Saturday through the many trails of Wolfe's Neck Farm. Not the park...the farm. They actually have a huge network that follows both the Little River and a HUGE saltwater marsh. Lots of interesting birds and weird plant life. They have lots of "turn-outs" where they teach students, I am in a wigwam in one of them in the pic above. The trails were well maintained and it was a fun way to spend the afternoon and get some exercise.

A Much Needed Respite

I had a very relaxing weekend on the coast, which was just what I needed after a hectic beginning to the school year. The campground was fantastic, and right next to Wolfe Neck Farm. Friday night I made delicious beans and listened to talk radio until bedtime. Saturday morning I had my coffee and read the paper on the rocks by Casco Bay (pic). Then I went into Freeport and visited one of Maine's largest cigar shops. After lunch I went for a hike, which I'll write about tomorrow, and then relaxed and read the Boston Herald and the New York Times. At around supper time there was a wedding reception across the bay. While I ate my chicken I could hear the music and the announcing of the cutting of the cake, etc. I had a very nice campfire last night, and woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the tent. My campsite was about 20 feet from the ocean, and I was able to get some school work done while watching kayakers, people fishing for stripers, and sailboats. I took a picture of the small island because it reminded me so much of Gilligan's island. It was a great time, and I can't wait to get into the woods again soon.

~ MET

Last Post for a While Because...

...I am going camping this weekend. I know this is only Wednesday, but tomorrow I have a consolidation meeting that could go quite late, and I am leaving right from school on Friday. There is supposed to be a "wireless hot spot", so I may be able to post from the campground...but I doubt it. I started a tradition for myself a few years ago by going to the woods very soon after the school year begins. Its something I really look forward to doing. Last year I went to Baxter State Park. This year I have decided to go to the campground above, which is in Freeport. I will be 5 miles from LL Beans, and my tent-site is right on the ocean! I'll read the first batch of papers that I assigned, fill out my rankbook, walk around town on Saturday, and just relax by the sea. I'll take lots of pictures, and talk to you soon.
~ MET

Benjamin Cardozo

If any of you have been visiting my brother's blog you have read about Cardozo High School across the street from James' home. There are lots of soccer games and seemingly an abundance of activity at the school. I have had the pleasure of reading a great deal of the works of the man for whom the school is named. I thought it might be nice to put a face to the name of the DC High School, and the U Street-Cardozo metro stop.
Benjamin Cardozo was nominated to be a member of the United States Supreme Court by President Hoover in 1932. He took the seat held by Oliver Wendell Holmes (a Court icon), and was the second Jewish justice. Hoover was NOT a successful president, but members of both political parties hailed Cardozo's appointment as a great decision, and he was confirmed by the Senate unanimously. He was an Associate Justice on the Court for only six years, but made a huge impact.
He wrote several opinions, but his "claim to fame" was in his writings in Palko v. Connecticut where he set the standard for years to come for due process interpretation - which essentially effects almost ALL 1st Amendment doctrine as it apply to states. Its a really big deal.
I would also add that though I really enjoy Supreme Court decisions as reading material, Justice Cardozo's are especially well written. Hats off to the good Justice!
~ MET

My Empty Nest

After a relaxing round of golf early this morning, I went to school to finish unpacking all my stuff and prep for the upcoming week. When I got back to the house I began to really notice that Sarah and Chris are...well...gone. Its a very strange feeling to all of a sudden have such a drop in everyday parental responsibilities. Its not really sad - just different. For example, after years of running back and forth between Whitefield and Augusta several times a week, I have no need to go to our capital city this week unless I want to. I will go in to see my parents, but its still a weird feeling. The other very significant transition is not having daily contact with my children and giving them guidance. I don't know which makes me feel more bizarre: not having them here to give advice to, or coming to the realization that they really don't need my help all that much anymore. Sarah and Chris are both becoming such mature and independent young adults...it fills me with immense pride, but at the same time it pulls at my nostalgic heartstrings. They have weathered a lot, and persevered. My advice to anyone would be to try to get to know Sarah and Chris - they are wonderful people.
~ MET

Sarah Off to UMaine

Sarah went back today for her sophomore year at the flagship university. Chris went with us to move her in, which made the process fairly quick - even though she lives on the fourth floor. Her roommate was already settled in, and the room looks very much like it will be inhabited by students of music. I forgot my camera, but she seemed excited to be back on campus. I'm sure she will have a fantastic year, and it will be a busy fall with the show at the Opera House. I'm very proud of my daughter!

~ MET

Michael & Mira-Su...7 Years

M-S and I are celebrating our anniversary today. We had a great brunch this morning, took Burt for a check-up, we are having champagne and tapas this afternoon, and then seeing a movie. I have a wonderful home and family - and without question the world's greatest wife. I can say without reservation on our seventh anniversary that I have absolutely no regrets, and look forward to growing old with this amazing woman. I love you.
~ MET