Amazing - As Always

I am writing this from Ma's room at Mass General. The last few days have been quite an adventure, and there is no doubt that her recovery will take some time. The staff here is remarkable and she is making progress. She is still very weak but three different therapists came in to work with her today: occupational, speech and physical.

She will need to be here for at least a few more days, and then her medical team will decide what her next steps will be. It appears as though she might need some in-patient therapy for a while, but she can get that help in Maine - and there is a possibility she could be placed in Waterville. She is exhausted and drifts in and out of sleep. My siblings...

...are awesome. My brother has been with her throughout, and does his job with Microsoft from the hospital. Ma has also had visits from her sisters, Ann and Moe, and her sister-in-law, Donna. And there are more visitors scheduled to come later in the week. Dad and I will go home this afternoon to fight the snow storm that is coming and come back on Sunday for the day if she is still here. Its a little difficult to watch her have to work so hard to talk or take a drink, but her ability to deal with this kind of adversity has always been heroic. Thank you all for the kind words that I have received at work, via email, on facebook, etc. It means a lot to me and my wonderful family.

~MET

How About a Sarah & Chris Update?

After seeing my children last weekend I feel compelled to write about where they are in their lives. Sarah is student teaching in the Bangor area, and seems to be enjoying it. She is still working a few hours a week for the university. I'm not sure if she will ever actually teach - but she seems to be loving life right now, even if money is a little tight as she works for free for a central Maine school system. I think her plans are to stay in the Orono area and work through the summer and then relocate somewhere in the fall - she is exploring options right now. Sarah also has a boyfriend, who seems like a great guy - and a good fit for her.

Chris is doing well, and seems more like a grown-up each time I talk to him. His plans are to work at UMaine this summer until camp starts - and then its back to Manitou. In the meantime I think his plan is to have fun with his friends and get the very most out of the college experience. BOTH of my kids will be graduating on May 7...though Chris will be returning for one more semester to finish up. They don't have a December ceremony anymore, so I'll be watching both march. Chris and Sarah are fantastic young adults, and I'm very proud of them all of the time. They both have a zest for life and are not afraid of an adventure. I can't wait to see where they have landed in a few years.

~MET

Sarah in Concert

Another great performance by the UMaine University Singers. I went up a little early and had lunch with Chris at this sandwich shop:

It was really good - its like if Big G's was owned by hippies. All the sandwiches are named for music stars. I had a Paul McCartney, and it was delicious. The concert was fun - the students always seem to have a good time.

I can't believe that this might be the last time I see Sarah sing in a school setting. I'm sure she will find ways to appear in musicals after graduation...but it still feels funny to think that after so many years it is winding down. I'm so glad she inherited my gift for singing.

~MET

A Very Happy Birthday Celebration

I can't imagine a better birthday dinner than the one I had with my wife tonight. We went to Rockland and started with drinks and a light appetizer here:

Its a funky place with great furniture, music, drinks, and food.

We had an olive oil sampler. They were from Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

The main course was right next door:

I love sushi - especially really good sushi. On this night the meal started out with some excitement. The waitress brought us hot towels, and I put my menu down...on this candle:

Neither of us noticed that it was on fire until there was quite a little flame. I fumbled around and put out the blaze, and we had a pretty good laugh - and the meal went on. We shared another appetizer of shrimp dumplings and miso:

The sushi was gorgeous AND outstanding:

It may be the best sushi I have ever tasted.

When we got home we shared this little piece of birthday cake:

My wife is really too good to me - she planned the whole evening, knowing that I would love all of it. I don't mind turning older and pushing toward half a century...especially if life can be like this.

~MET

Its Good to Be Irish...

...especially today. I donned the very classy shamrock tie I purchased from the Kennedy Library, I played Celtic music all day, and I made my wife an Irish meal for supper:

The steak has been soaked in Guinness and spices, the lamb was AWESOME, and the green beans are from the Mayo garden. The colchanon is mashed potatoes with red cabbage, chives, olives, and LOTS of butter - so good. Being Irish = food and grog. I wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

~MET

Battie, Baxter, & Baked Bean Suppah

What a great Sunday. I started with a trip to the dump followed by a walk through the woods up Mt. Battie. The views were nice, if not spectacular.

The temp was about 35 degrees with a slight breeze.

It was slow-going due to the amount of snow - and the fact that it is getting punky. That leads to post-holing:

Then it was hanging out at home with M-S and Baxter. He went for a walk with M-S while I was gone. So, for most of the afternoon he followed us from room to room to play or take short naps.

He loves to be in whatever room we are in.

Then Ma & Dad came out for a traditional Maine bean suppah.

I made the beans, and M-S made her spectacular coleslaw.

She also made delicious chocolate lava cake for dessert.

My legs are a little sore, my belly is full, I spent time with my parents....just a good day.

~MET

This Picture Might Need Some Explanation

But, then again, it is Baxter. That box has been on the table in the "West Wing" of our house since we got the dog. It acts as the cat's bed - just to the right of it are Owen's food and water dishes. Baxter likes to try to play with Owen, and he is just trying to have fun, but the table gives the cat a place to escape to if he wants to get away from the spaz. The box has a cat bed with blankets and the table provides a place the dog cannot get to...or so we thought. This morning M-S was getting ready for work upstairs, and Owen was with her. The puppy was being very quiet, and when she came downstairs - this is what she found. Our two pets provide a level of constant entertainment that we could not find in any other way. Our home would not be the same without them.
~MET

MEA Student Art Show

On Sunday I attended the reception at the Maine Education Association's headquarters for the unveiling of the student artwork that will grace the walls of the building for the next several months. The MEA in concert with Horace Mann Insurance frames the art, and in November it is returned to the student - but in the meantime thousands of people will see it as it hangs in this very busy office building. The one above is perhaps my favorite because it is made with nothing but torn magazine pages!

One of the first pieces that caught my eye was this beautiful photograph:

I also got to meet the artist and the subject of her photo:

It was great to talk to many of the kids and their parents and teachers.

There are dozens of pieces, and I wish I could highlight them all. If you get a chance to visit the building, you should.

As I moved around the rooms with my MEA badge on my lapel talking to people, I couldn't tell who was more proud - the students, their parents, or their art teachers. It was a very nice afternoon, and one of my favorite as an MEA officer. Those who believe that our education system is in trouble should meet the VERY dedicated art educators that I met today - THEY are real super heroes.

~MET

Wisconsin Light

It was not a crowd of 100,000 - but 400 teachers storming the State House to give testimony regarding the governor's punitive budget is a great 1st step. I'm very proud of my profession and my colleagues. Here is the line at 8:30 to sign-up to speak - an hour and a half before the hearings began:

Over 100 testified, and there were lots just there to show support.

I expect that there will be more of a need to do this in the months ahead. I learned a GREAT DEAL yesterday about just how unfair the provisions would be to educators for Maine.

~MET