Strumming in Hawaii

I have waxed nostalgically about my musical talent with the Ukulele for years so when we were in Hawaii in 2010 Dave bought me one as a memento of the trip. I got to pick it out & apparently I have bought cars faster than I bought my new Ukulele.

Well -here we are a year and a half later and after dusting the case for the umpteenth time I decided to devote summer campfires, sunrises  & sunsets to relearning the fine art. I downloaded cords, music & a tuner so I am good to go.

I apologize to my family & friend as your campfire time may be less enjoyable for the next month or so but look to the future when we can actually have sing – a -longs!!

IT COULD TOO HAPPEN! (I can still pick “English Country Gardens” without a pause.)

I had better finish packing up, we head to camp in a few hours. I am so excited!

P.S.

I ordered 6 books on Amazon yesterday about writing fiction & non fiction. I’ll list them next blog. I think my Ukulele playing might help my subconscious with the whole writing process – BRING OUT MY CREATIVE-ARTSY SIDE!

I said – STAY TUNED so here it the big reveal….

Let me take a sec and give you some background. Since I sold my business & moved with my husband to Greenville, I have been trying to figure out what to do, how to spend all of the free time I suddenly had as a jobless, newly christened empty-nester. Home renovation filled the first year and school filled the second year. I loved school. The challenge of getting my brain muscle back into tip top shape  was a challenge but I had a good year with my grades getting better as the year progressed. I looked at my schedule for the 2011/12 school year and the department wanted me to take classes  5 days per week and maintain a B average. I do not want the stress of a 5 day – 3 hour round trip commute. To maintain a B average I would have to give up my life – just not going to happen folks – life is way to short.

Last weekend all my children were here for the July 4th weekend and we brainstormed, the theme being, “How to keep Mom (that’s me) busy & fulfilled in rural Maine”. The consensus was  I NEED to commit to writing my book. I have skirted around this for years, writing in fits & starts. This is an unknown for me; I am apprehensive and wonder what will flow out from my depths but only time will tell.

Lets make a list of the +++’s

• I live in the perfect place to write. Most famous authors move to places like this to write. Primitive, wild, elemental. Great to draw inspiration from.
• I can write anywhere, so  traveling should not interfere.
• I have the time.
• I am a voracious book reader – that’s got to help, something must have rubbed off!
• I have you to keep me in check & disciplined.

the – - -  ‘s

• hmmm, can’t think of anything, EXCEPT the fear of failure but when has that ever stopped me.

I’ll take the summer to put the outline in place, maybe buy some “How to write a novel” self help books.

THEN:

I’ll BLOG ABOUT WRITING A NOVEL:

“12 CHAPTERS IN 12 MONTHS”

Month 1 will start September 1st & this blog will be my online diary of my trials & tribulations.

Want to join me, share my pain, finally write a great American novel?

Let’s do it together!

kayaking Wekiva River in Florida

• Dave and I became registered Maine Guides (so the New Year’s resolution has been accomplished).
• I finished up my spring courses & did well!
• Did a bit of traveling to visit family.
• Had our annual girls week (worth a blog on its own).
• Got to see the Endeavor space shuttle launch.
• Home renovations continue and as the weather warms up we are working on finishing touches.
• Grass is finally growing, plants are in the ground.
• AND now what?

I am sitting at my computer, at my blog site, for the first time in months, with nothing pressing to do. Well almost nothing – Okay, I am waiting for another coat of urethane to dry  and I need to get started on the new bathroom closet BUT  waiting for “Paint to Dry” – that can take forever.

You know what happens to me when my mind is Idle?

I think

YES!! I know this is dangerous.

I am not thinking about the trivial stuff like what should I make for dinner?

Nope -

• more like meaning of life stuff
• or an amazing business idea
• or an epiphany

STAY TUNED

To become  Registered Maine Guides

If you have read  previous posts, you know this has been a life long journey. We truly have a  love and appreciation of the outdoors and the tradition of the Maine Guide.

By the end of February we were working our way through 2 feet of reading material  & I was obsessing on details.

• I’m pretty good with a map & compass but how many more ways are there to navigate if you lose your compass & back up compass or are in an area where the compass doesn’t work?
• So many animals, birds, trees – what if I can’t identify the scat of a Lynx?
• Don’t get me started on ducks – my heart starts racing just thinking about ducks.
• Guide friends are saying, “know your lost person scenario” all the while shaking their head – conveying doom & gloom.

So, on my school break last week, Dave & I did a 4 day intensive prep course with the Maine Outdoor Learning Center and it was worth every $$.

My biggest fear was fear of the unknown – not knowing what to expect on exam day and not being properly prepared.

John, Greg & Tammi did an excellent job of sharing their knowledge and helping us prepare for the exam. Tammi even scheduled our exam dates with the State.

So…

March 25th is the BIG day for me! I’m feeling much calmer now that I know what to expect.

Winter has flown by… We are having a blast studying together,quizzing each other, trying to stump each other.

We have spent 29 years together sharing our love of the outdoors and exploring new territory.

BRING IT ON!

TOP New Year’s resolution’s is to lose weight!

Are you  at the point where you are becoming discouraged & losing ground.

My husband, Dave,  blogged some good stuff on Facebook & I thought I would share it. It is in response to a comment on a diet that aired on Oprah. (keep reading – he has some good insight and compares caloric intake to your checking account!)

You probably all know my philosophy by now -  but is basically all about moderation & exercise and YES discipline is required. I am not perfect – that’s a given! I can always exercise more, eat less & lose a few pounds.

My family teases me because I have the “half”  philosophy, My cup is half full in my outlook on life but when I want to indulge in a little non-essential “intake” like wine or a cookie – I’ll have 1/2 a glass or 1/2 a cookie.I don’t feel deprived & the HALF philosophy keeps me satisfied.

So here is Dave’s response – check it out….

I’m sorry, but have to comment on this one. I’ve spent my entire medical career listening to this topic – diet! Bottom line, no one gets it!!! None of the diets proposed over the years, water diet, South Beach, Atkins, Weight Watchers an…d the like, have a success rate of sustainable weight loss in more then 20% of the people who enroll. The only uniformly successful weight reduction method is surgery – period!

But why do these fad diets fail? The answer is simple. They propose extreme measures that are difficult to follow long term and don’t “educate” people of the basic physiology of weight balance and energy stores. [Even Oprah has been unsuccessful to achieve and maintain her ideal body weight over the years.]

Our bodies need energy. We have two categories of energy needs, one to maintain basic life processes and the other to meet energy demands. Basic life processes energy is the energy necessary to breath, sit, think, sleep and do the limited physical activity necessary for daily life. This is called our Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR. The other energy demand needs are based on extra physical activity we do from day to day.

Our BMR is relatively fixed in our genetics but does vary a bit from person to person. We can’t alter our BMR. It could be as low as 800 cal/day or as high as 2000 cal/day. Thus the skinny person who can eat anything and the obese person who gains weight just looking at a piece of cheesecake. But, live with it, you can’t change your BMR!
Energy demand needs changes as our physical activity changes. Play sports, go hiking, skiing, work-out and the like, our energy demand needs will increase.

Our individual weights are like a checking account. If you make more deposits then withdraws, the balance goes up. If you make more withdraws then deposits, the balance goes down. Also, there is an interest rate to consider. This relates to how efficient each individual person is at extracting calories from food. This efficiency is engraved in the stone of our genetics and cannot be changed. Some of us can extract almost all energy from any particular type of food, they are efficient bodies but have a “high interest rate!” Some of us cannot extract as much of the calories from any particular type of food and they have a “low interest rate!” Thus the skinny person who can eat anything and the obese person who gains weight just looking at a piece of cheesecake.

Still, the basic formula holds true: deposits – withdraws = balance!

Another fact to consider is the bio-availability of the calories in any particular type of food. This relates to how much energy the body must put out to extract the energy contained in the food we eat. This is where some of the “fad” diets come into play. Carbohydrates are basic sugars that are easily broken down, easily absorbed and easily stored and thus have low energy requirements for processing. Fats, meat and vegetables have either low energy or complex energy that requires more complex processes to breakdown, absorb and re-assemble and then store. [Fat actually has the most energy demands for this process!]

Now consider the energy demands of exercise [and this will really kick you in the teeth!] Exercise actually requires very little energy. When I spend 35 min on the StairMaster and literally run up and down the Empire State Building, I burn about 300 cal! That’s the equivalent of a glass of skim milk!! To loose a pound of fat, you need to have an energy deficit of 2000 cal or you need to run up the Empire State Building about 6 times!!! It becomes very clear that it is much easier to avoid the deposits then it is to make the withdraws!!

Bottom line – if you want to loose weight, eat less and exercise more! Unless people understand this equation, they will fail at any attempt to loose weight, as history has shown.

Recommendations: change you lifestyle and mold you life to meet your objective. Take a look at your eating habits, your physical activity and your weight and try to understand your individual BMR and interest rate. Work to make fewer deposits and more withdraws. Don’t get caught up in the latest “fad” that ignores the science of weight balance. Educate yourself!! [Flashback to a previous blog!] Avoid carbs, too easy to extract and store that energy. [Essentially don't eat anything white!] Eat fat, fat has got a bad rap. It only accounts for 10% of you blood cholesterol, genetics account for the other 90%. It takes a lot of energy to convert diet fat to hip fat. [Topic for a future blog!] Eat meat!! Also, avoid artificial sweeteners. [Especially corn syrup!] They stimulate the appetite and alter your metabolism to promote fat deposition. Drink water.

Remember, live in moderation. Cut back a bit on your total caloric intake and increase your total caloric output. Initially this can be easily done by eliminating artificial sweeteners, cutting down on carbs and choosing low calorie foods. You can still eat a delicious diet including the occasional piece of cheesecake. Find a calorie counter [there are many web sites where you can create an account and log in your daily food intake and track your daily caloric intake - it'll blow your mind!] Park your car a half a mile from your work and walk the extra distance. Trust me, when you get to work, you’ll feel energized! When you get home, the walk will melt away the tension of dealing with all the bull at work and you’ll feel better. Drink lots of water and take a multivitamin. Check your weight weekly [not daily] and make alterations to keep yourself on track. 2-3 lb weight loss per week is considered healthy.

Personally, I recommend getting a Wii. This technology gets you off the couch and will help burn off a few extra calories. The games are fun with friends or lovers. [Promotes social interaction rather then sitting glued to the latest sit com, eating, like a zombie!] The yoga routines are excellent for loosening up those stiff muscles often the cause of so many common complaints of low back pain, neck pain, sore joints and achy muscles. Some of the cognitive programs helps tone the mind and “exercise” or neurological processes.

OK, I’ve pontificated enough for one day! Still, after 25 yrs of practicing medicine, one gets tired of listening to the weight discussions of dogma. If you want to do it – do it! If you don’t, then accept who you are and find peace with that.

“Have a nice day!”

Colleen & Heather Surfing in Hawaii

I made my first resolution last year, it was not vague like most resolutions are but an immediate plan of action”.  A frivolous one for sure – fitting into a skimpy bright green bikini for our Hawaiian vacation & to be physically fit so I could hike, swim & surf.  The time frame was of short duration, just 6 weeks, but very successful  &  the accomplishment felt darn good and set me up for a fantastic action packed year!

It was a Statement; “I might be middle aged but I will not look, feel or act middle aged” AND….who out-surfed a group of 20 year olds? Yeah ME – that’s who!

Figuring out my resolution:

• Previous resolutions should not be repeated. Usually they are very vague ones like …. I want to lose weight…. get fit….quit smoking….quit drinking…spend more time with family…. All good stuff but Gosh darn it, what are you going to do different this time?  You need goals and a plan of action! Specific & Precise!
• I think if you pick something that will make you feel good, it might just turn out to be a pretty good year.
  
• I have spent a number of days contemplating…what to do…what to DO…what TO DO…WHAT TO DO?????
• Hmmmm… a whole year – that is 365 days  and I want to make every day count!
• I am a big believer in “Cosmic Clues” so I put it out there to the Universe, “WHAT SHOULD I DO?” and waited, waited some more, all the while listening & waiting…
  
• and SOUL SEARCHING.
  

So here it is January 5th and DRUM ROLL!! I FINALLY have my resolution.

My Resolution is to pick something  from my Bucket List & do it! (yes, I have an actual list, constantly evolving though)

First Hook-up on the Pitt River

Dave & I have talked a lot this week about life & expectations. Dave says as we move into the 2nd half of our life expectancy we need to be a little more selfish:

• To do the things we want to do.
• Live our lives the way we want.
• and  Pick away at our Bucket List.

So in 2011 we are going to study to become Registered Maine Guides.

• We have many friends & mentors who are Maine Guides.
• We love the Great Outdoors &  our “back to nature” vacations are the most memorable of times.
  • Did you know giving the kids a piece of flint & challenging them to “make a proper fire” can give you about 4 hours of free time & endless entertainment. Same goes for building a lean-to or fort or raft.
  • They also loved the orienteering courses we would set up with treats at the way-points.

• Dave “grew up” in the North Maine Woods – learning from the old timers. They are a rare breed, not only self -reliant in the wilderness but Story Tellers who are able to put together a 3-4 course field or shore lunch over an open fire-pit. Dave is an avid Hunter & Fly-Fisherman & this is a natural fit for him. He ALREADY has “the look & the demeanor”.

• I was taught by the Canadian Red Cross.  I learned from a younger crowd but spent 3 years teaching teenagers swimming, boating & wilderness survival skills. Culminating in taking them on a 4 day 3 night canoeing adventure where we slept under a lean -to or canoes & cooked over an open fire. I have many of the skills needed  but I know there is so much more to learn.

To become a Maine Guide in the old days you needed a veteran guide as your mentor and a Maine Game Warden to vouch for you. Today you have  an oral exam, if you pass then you take the written exam. So we have done some research & are starting to peck away at the suggested readings. I’ll fill you in on the details as we progress.

Did you know? The first registered Maine guide was a WOMAN – “Fly Rod” Crosby – an amazing ambassador for Maine!

If any of you are interested I’ll post the Books, many are just plain interesting. A lot are identification books – birds, mammals, aquatic life, trees.

SO:

It’s not too late!

Do you have a resolution for 2011 or something on your bucket list you would like to cross off?

Share it  – let us all know & we’ll keep you accountable!

Free Range Tree

Are you ready for the holidays?

We threw a Christmas party the day after my last exam so our home got decorated, cleaned & holiday food prepared in record time!

Great way to do it – kind of like ripping a band aid off – FAST with brief flash of pain!

Living off of the beaten track works for Christmas shopping. We ordered online on the comfort of our couch, sipping a holiday cocktail, Christmas tunes in the background. (We don’t have too many gifts to buy as the extended family draws names.) Living TV free lessens the stress as we are not undulated with the “buy, buy, buy” Christmas ads.

We changed the way we do Christmas a number of years ago, taking the emphasis off of the gifts & placing them on the traditions.

• Our first tradition of the season is going out into the woods & looking for the “perfect tree”! Well, PERFECT takes on a whole new meaning once you get off a tree farm. We were fortunate enough to have to wade through snow in the process, which totally puts you in the Christmas spirit!

• We spent Thanksgiving Weekend at our camp where the kids made homemade Garland from running spruce & made their own wreaths for their front doors.
  

  Kids in their fort!

• Dave makes Ice Candles. We are fortunate that it has been cold up here in the north so the process only took a week. His ice candles are large.His mold being 5 gal. pails with a 4″ diameter on the inside for the candle. Some of the candles are like candy canes, alternating red & clear stripes or green & clear stripes, some have evergreens mixed in with the ice. (I’ll take pix when he debuts them).
• Our tree decorating is always a trip down memory lane as the decorations are ones the kids made over the years or they are souvenirs from all of our travels. (Like the Angel which was bought in Italy at the mine where the marble from Michelangelo’s “David” was quarried.)
• Dave will spend a day in the kitchen with the kids baking cookies.
• We’ll play lots of board games.
• The cross country skis & snow shoes are ready by the door.
• The lake is frozen so this year we’ll flood it for a skating rink. Laura (aka – Martha Stewart) wants a Post Card setting: Christmas lights, Bon-Fire under a brillant star light night, benches made of ice & I think there might even be an ice sculpture if the ice is thick enough in the cove to cut into blocks.
• Lots of Cooking with the traditional holiday favorites.
• and…!!! The CRAFT! This year we are going to decorate very large pine cones we brought back from a trip to California, we are going to make them look like miniature Christmas trees! YEAH!!!!

Beaver looking pretty with the first large snowfall

The kids went through a phase during their teenage years where they rebelled against some of the traditions (like having their 3rd grade ornaments displayed where their friends might see them or doing the lame craft) but not anymore!! now they are taking the initiative on stuff! AHHH – a new generation of parents in the making.

Well, I need to sign off. I have some gifts to wrap & get under the tree & some final stuff to do as the kids start arriving tomorrow.

Dave should probably secure the tree to the wall as we have 2 very energetic dogs arriving!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you all. We hope you enjoy the SPIRIT of the Season!

Please comment & share any Holiday traditions, stresses or rants!!

I have been totally focused in doing everything I can do to get into Grad school this spring & it seems that dried up my ability to reflect & pontificate  – so I didn’t blog.

But – I got the acceptance letter this week for Spring semester. I am now a GRADUATE STUDENT!!! studying to gain my Ph. D. in Civil Engineering!

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine this course change. I had been pondering Graduate School but thought it would be frivilous as there is a tremendous cost involved & I had no clear direction as to what I would do.

Sunset Moosehead Lake

That all fortuitously changed over happy hour on Moosehead Lake;  gimlets, good company and good conversation!

I mentioned to my summertime neighbor, who is in the Engineering Dept at University of Maine that I was job hunting & had looked at various positions in the Advanced Structures & Composites lab there. That I was very interested in the offshore wind lab but that all of the jobs were for engineers & there was nothing for a geologist.

Off the cuff, he mentioned their fully funded PhD program which was heavily involved in the offshore wind project. The rest is history.

Those who know me, know that I believe “things always work out”. I don’t mean we can passively sit on our derrieres but we can  seek out life’s new experiences – be proactive.

I have been busy getting up to speed, filling out applications, writing essays, studying for the GRE & taking classes (though I have a couple of years of Engineering under my belt, I will need a few more classes to complete my admission requirements).

I know the road will be fraught with obstacles BUT RIGHT NOW:

I feel like I have just jumped out of an airplane (with parachute of course) & I am free-falling! I see the world below  but have no idea where I will land!

I’m enjoying the free-fall! It is an exhilarating feeling!

I am not complaining -  just making a valid observation that as parents we often forget the hard work & stress of school, not to mention those students who are raising kids at the same time &/or juggling  a job to pay for it. So kudos to all of you out there, young & not as young who are in the midst of it.

Dave’s away this week & I am thoroughly enjoying his absence.

Why?

• I really appreciate a little alone time, it’s good for the soul & a little absence makes the heart grow fonder!
• The house stays clean.
• I am getting so much homework done. I had to play catch-up this fall. If you have been following the blog, you know I was rusty on the prerequisite courses.
• I just signed up to take the GRE for October 14th ( I need the GRE for my graduate application) & I need to study for that. The study books should be in the mail tomorrow. Oh Boy!

Took some time off this past weekend to enjoy the beautiful fall weather & do a little hiking with friends.

Dave is back this coming weekend so I had better hit the books so I can spend a little free time with him. He is out bow hunting in Idaho with friends & hopefully he’ll be bringing home some Elk meat with him. Yum!!

Heather studying on Crumple Island

Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged but I am in the process of creating a new routine & cramming - that’s right cramming so hard my brain hurts.

Thus the creation of a new Happy Hour, “Cosmos & Calculus”

I forgot how much work school is especially when the prerequisite courses are extremely important & I only have a vague recollection of them…..

I am only taking 2 courses – thank the good Lord for that!

• Calculus 2
• Strength of Materials (mechanical engineering course)

I was feeling pretty cocky a month ago, I ordered some calculus books off of Amazon & thought, a quick read through & I would be up to snuff – WRONG!!

First day of school!

Had I ever seen this stuff before?? I don’t quite recall… something seemed vaguely familiar about the material… My transcript said yes I had indeed taken the course in 1982 !? I think Calculus was such a bad experience I buried it so deep in my sub conscious that it will never surface.

Strength of Materials was better, I had recall but so many formulas to re-memorize.

So, I have been hitting the books really hard & I have a new muscle getting fit – yes the BRAIN!

You can’t just BLITZ a brain with 6 hours of Calculus a day – you need to build up to it!

This is where the Happy Hour “Cosmos & Calculus ” comes in – Nice ring to it don’t you think?

Not only is the Cosmo a great incentive – just a couple more chapters & you can have your Cosmo.

Sipping the Cosmo while studying:

1. Settles the brain
2. Can conjure up some great insight & ah ha moments
3. Sets you up for a few more hours of work. The I can do anything I set my mind on mode!

But Beware – only 1 cosmo or you’ll  say, I worked hard today,I I deserve a break,  I think I’ll take the night off……

So, tonight I am sitting on the Lake edge with my Cosmo & Calculus enjoying the evening, the loons & watching the sunset and thinking “How great is this! I new Chapter in my life & I am having a blast!”