Empty Nest

Everything was going so good until those apron strings tied to my youngest were stretched taut and then I had to let go.  You know, it's really different when it's your youngest and she's going soooo far way for soooo long.  What was I thinking?!  Oh yeah, that amazing opportunity to experience a different culture, lifestyle, and a pop of personal growth. Plus, I needed a few more gray hairs, right?

I'm pretty sure the horrible, barfy migraine I had started with a bout of anxiety, followed by the barometric pounding to confirm rumors of cooler weather and chance of rain.  The result: 1000 mg ibuprofin, migraine pills, anti-nausea pills, 3 kittys curled up with me, and an entire day gone. You'd think 24 hrs of sleep would feel better than that. The cats looked rested though.

Now I am about to go upstairs to the bedrooms of my travelling children, whose definition of clean is pretty far from mine. I have to make up for a lost day, but the good news is I still have time to get everything ready for our guest.  Good news for Monday, when Tib will be here but Gib won't (this may be the only time I get to refer to them that way; Mariah said NO WAY when I suggested we call them that) -- the kid next door is going to play basketball, xbox, skateboarding, and basically hang out with Thibault for a few hours.  I will provide pizza or subway.  After that, I'm going to have Thibault help me rearrange some things upstairs and move Gib's drum set. He can put it in Mariah's room temporarily, or, if possible, we'll find a new location for an armoire and a table and move the drums to the bonus room.  Aussie should like that.  I can just seem him now climbing in, on, and under it all.  Knowing that cat, he'll learn that he can wake Indie up by bopping the snare drum.

Mariah is spending the day in Lafayette and then heading into Chicago to board their plane to France. My palms just got sweaty typing that.  They will take off at 6 pm.  Right now they are at an Indiana wind farm. She says there are thousands of wind turbines. At first I thought she liked it, but received the following text :

"FYI, don't go to Indiana. Despite it having the worlds largest wind farm, it stinks and everywhere looks like those small abandoned villages.... none of us like it"  Hahaha, I LOVE that girl!!!  Sorry to all our Indiana relatives :)

Hawaii 5-0

On July 5th, the Scouts tackled the infamous Pihea Trail and the Alakai Swamp Trail. Here's what a couple of Gib's friends looked like. There wasn't a photo of Gib :( Apparently it rained cats & dogs on them, but cleared just enough for the view. Rain on the swamp trail just makes the boys that much more happier!

From all accounts, the Pihea Trail and the Alakai trail are harder than they look, muddier than you expect, and a total immersion into the Rainforest.

Here are some images and trail notes from the internet:

Pihea Trail is located at the end of the road at the top of Waimea Canyon past Kokee State Park and by the Pu’u O Kila Lookout. There is a trail sign along with a well faded sign saying - ”Mt. Waialeale Wettest spot on earth”

(this pic taken by the Scouts)
The Pihea Trail is among the premier hiking paths in the Kokee/Waimea Canyon area. The trail traverses the narrow ridge in the Na Pali Kona Forest Reserve between the Kalalau Valley and the Alakai Swamp. The views extend 4,000 feet down the mossy, fluted cliffs of the Kalalau Valley, which drops sharply into the ocean. The views inland extend over layers of folded forested canyons and ridges to Mount Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth with an average of 450 inches of annual rainfall. Alakai Swamp is an incredible, atmospheric area like nowhere else. Swamp weather can cause no views at all and is typical weather.

The trail begins as an old red clay road which is now well rutted and in sections and very muddy. In spots the trail rises and you have to climb using roots and worn foot holes. At the first junction there is a sign to follow the trail or go left to the Pihea Vista. If the valley has already started to fill with clouds, skip the vista because you won’t see anything. Continuing a short distance on the Pihea Trail you will reach the boardwalks. The boards are raised, 2 abreast, connected with a wire mesh. The boardwalk makes for an easy hike and was built in the late 90’s. There are sections that have numerous steps.

Hawaii 4-0 & Surprise!

Photo taken yesterday on the Kalalau Trail.

It's official! We will have a french exchange student again this summer! You know sometimes you just know it's meant to be.  Thibault (he will learn to love being called Tebow, although it's more like Ti-boo) will arrive on Sunday. Sadly for him, Gib doesn't get home until Tuesday, but we'll figure something out. He will be with us until July 28.  Mariah arrives back on the 27th and I'm picking the girls up in Chicago, spending the night and home on the 28th, so it looks like the old revolving door is back - wait, it never left.

Thibault will get along great with Gib. He plays drums, soccer, swims, likes rock music, video games, action movies, and history. Sounds alot like my son!  I plan to just feed them and turn them loose. I can't wait to see what his reaction will be to Waterworld.  I hope not knowing who his American host family would be for the past 3 months, and finding out just days before departure, turns from uncertainty to excitement! 

So things just got alot busier for the next couple of days.  I have to begin Waterworld registration for the troop, clean the house, air out Gib's room, and probably stock the pantry - 2 sons - how exciting!

Later today, Mariah will leave with Peyton's family. They will spend the night at their house and head to Chicago tomorrow. Spend the night there and fly to France the next afternoon.  I will miss that girl and will anxiously await to hear from Mariah each day! Felicie's family is excited to get Mariah at the airport. I received email this morning that they will whisk her off to the country and return to Paris late Sunday for the week. The next week they will vacation on the coast and the final week in the country again.  

So much to do - So much to look forward to!

On Top of Things & Hawaii 3-0

I was very glad we were on top of things with getting ready for France. The timetable has been moved up a day since the family driving the girls to the airport decided to leave a day earlier and spend the night, then go to the airport the next day. I am SOOO much happier with this development.  It makes for tons less stress a day of driving with a deadline would impose; followed by an equally long flight to Paris.


This afternoon, we went to a bistro and had yummy soup and a meatball & pasta dish.  The place has free WIFI and booth seating so we settled in to spend time together while reading on our kindles. Mariah thought it was ironic but great. She decided we had talked about everything we could possibly talk about. She's just ready to GO!

In the midst of all that, I heard the non-profit program which brought us Felicie was desperate for host families for some boys who arrive on Sunday and as of a few days ago did not know where they'd go. And they have been waiting 3 months to get a host family. That is sad, isn't it?! My heart just can't help but reach out, and even though it'd be a scramble, I had to offer our home and family.  Gib has already expressed interest so I know he'd be happy to have a guy here for 3 weeks, during which time he was going to be an only child anyway. As of right now, I am their back-up family, but I will not be at all surprised if we are asked to step in for some or all of the 3 week stay. Meanwhile, after our barrage of emails back and forth, the president and founder of USMD, who also lives in Paris, has announced she will be calling on the families hosting our girls sometime during their stay to check in on them. I gave Mariah her cell number just in case an issue arises and she needs french-english/english-french help. Mariah also knows 112 = 911 in Europe and she has Euros and sour patch kids. You know, all the important stuff.

Day 3 in Hawaii   Kalalau Trail according to Wiki

The guys began their day at 4:30 am waking up to depart for the north coast of Kauai. At 8:30 the schedule says they begin hiking the Kalalau trail and hike to Hanakapiai beach. Mid-day will find them hiking to Hanakapiai falls and finishing the day of hiking around 4 pm.  There will be some cool off time at the beach or Hanaiei Bay. That is if they make it. If you decided to skip the Wiki Report it's a must read now. They are going to Princeville for fish tacos and burgers where I guess one of 2 things will happen:  1) they will descend upon the food like ravenous dogs, er teenagers; or 2) everyone will collapse on the beach and decide to sleep awhile. Despite the strenous day, I do believe food will win out in the end, followed by collapsing.

Tomorrow is a "rest day" with camp activities and snorkeling and 4th of July fireworks in Lihue at the Vidniha stadium. Check it out - even the fireworks are prettier in Hawaii!

Gib Hawaii 2-0 & Up Before the Sun

There are a few boy scouting articles floating around the internet that fill in the details of a scouting trip to Hawaii. The itinerary's are similiar and I enjoyed reading about their adventures.  The first article in Scouting Magazine doesn't have photos, but is really close to Gib's troop itinerary. The other one is a little more human-interest and has photos. Again, the itinerary is close. I like that they all go to Costco!

• Arizona Troop's Hawaiian Adventure
• Baltimore's Troop Hawaiian Adventure - if you skip the paragraphs about fundraising, it's a good read

When I last heard from Gib I was waking up and he was going to sleep - it was 10:30 PM there.  He agreed it was an amazing fun day followed by "gtg to sleep ttyl".  Since nobody posted new photos on facebook, I believe they were exhausted! Gib probably should have done the anti-jet-lag sleep schedule change too.

Today they will fly to Kauai. They will go to the local Costco for lunch and provisions.  Top 10 Things Your Costco Won't Have  From there they will go to BSA Camp Faye - their base camp for the next few days. There will be a camp service project, dinner and a sunset drive to the Wameia Canyon lookout.

Meanwhile, back at home, Mariah and I were up before dawn again.  We shaved 30 minutes off our wake up time. It's a little more exciting now at 8:30 than it was at 4 A.M. We also realized that there was on other good place to go 24/7 even - can you guess it?  SONIC!  Bright and early we set off. Mariah's required viewing of the movie Taken prompted a discussion on our walk. I wondered what Mariah thought the girls' biggest mistake was. (If you don't remember that movie it's the one where 2 American girls get kidnapped from Paris. Liam Neeson is one of the girls' father in the movie and comes to France to rescue her).  We covered the basics -

1.  talking to strangers
2. giving out too much information
3. acting like tourists in the airport
4. taking photos all over, being giggly, loud and obvious
5. sharing a cab with no sense of personal safety  

Good things to know regardless of where you are at, but one thing stuck out at me.  Ignoring that inner voice -  and not stopping the friend in the first place. The girl knew her friend was sharing too much but didn't want to make a scene. When you feel something is wrong, it's OK to assert yourself and put a stop to it.  

If you're Liam's daughter, this is how it plays out:

If you're anyone else's daughter, this is reality.

All that and a Sonic Blast before Mike even left for work. Mariah appreciated the Blast but not so much my "paranoia".  Her sisters would agree, but as my great-grandma and grandma used to say

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.

Gib Hawaii 1-0; Morning walks

Yesterday the Scouts left for Hawaii.   These are all actual pics taken by the Scouts as seen on facebook!


The Level II Hawaii Trip began at dawn, at the airport. In 11 hours they will be in Hawaii!

They boarded the USS Missouri where they bunked overnight

Double Rainbow 

I got a texts from Gib saying they landed safely and the first meal in 8 hrs was SOOO Good!! 

Judging by the flattering photo of my son, I'm wondering if this was it!

 

Flag lowering ceremony onboard USS Missouri

The itinerary for today is to disembark USS Missouri at 9:00 am (Island time) and go to the USS Arizona Memorial. There they will have lunch at the Memorial Cafe.  Let's see if Gib's table manners improve at all. Then the group will travel to Waikiki and check in at the Doubletree hotel.  There's something wrong about that. Boy Scouts at the Doubletree?! I thought they'd be stringing hammocks from palm trees along the beach! They will enjoy beach time and I would think the first day of snorkeling at Waikiki. Later in the afternoon the group will hike to the top of Diamondhead.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mariah and I are still living the life of retired people... in bed 8-9 PM up before 5 AM.  Now that we've broken the before dawn barrier, Mariah likes to be bribed awake. Yesterday it was being the first customers of the day at Starbucks for caramel frappucinos at 5 freakin A.M.  Next we experienced the thrill of going to the Redbox when there are NO people and the only sign of life are little birdies and the bunny across the street from Walgreens. We took a nice little walk together on the way home. Today, the only other place that's open at 5 AM on our corner is Dunkin' Donuts. You gotta do what you gotta do. Pictures from this morning.

This will wake us up!

Just us and the birds!

Mariah and I took the long way home again. I am very much enjoying our time together before she leaves for a month. There's a whole new world waiting Mariah - dawn at home; France this weekend!

Warming Up

Yesterday was the hottest day EVER in Tennessee. 109 degrees.  It is 84 hot and stagnant degrees right now, and it's 4 AM. Ugh, I remember feeling this before.... in LAS VEGAS!  The humidity is at 55% so NASH VEGAS obviously put its spin on things.

Gib leaves today for Hawaii. He finished writing up his Eagle project, cleaned the dining room table of the books and binders he plunked down on the last day of school and never touched since, and he packed a couple days ago. He also reached the point where I assume doing laundry was no longer optional. I washed and washed and washed clothes. As I was hanging good t-shirts and folding the other half of Class B and non-school shirts, I took a good look at the amount of clothes appearing from the bottomless laundry bag. I had to count when the pile was so impressive. 45 t-shirts! Add in several pair of shorts and jeans, and you'll know how I spent that day. Gib decided to take me up on my suggestion to purge shirts from his Freshman year. I received a clever note back from my son on top of the Goodwill pile announcing the reduction. I think we can do better than that when he gets back from Hawaii. We went to a Dive shop to see about getting the dude a snorkel and mask. We learned how to choose a mask that best fits. Unfortunately, the prices were too high so we ended up taking our newfound mask-shopping and dry-snorkel-preferences to Academy Sports and saved $70. Gib thoroughly enjoyed me insisting we open each and every kind and trying them on. Hey, I replaced the packaging and nobody needs to know. Until now.

Gib's plane leaves shortly before 7 am. The guys just left for the airport. I was surprised it didn't take more wheedling to grab a quick pic of Gib before he left! But I guess when you are leaving for HAWAII, you are in a pretty good mood despite the hour.

He will arrive in Honolulu after a day of travel. They are bunking at the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor.  Taryn - Gib ended up taking your camera to save space in his backpack and have more room for puka shell necklaces and hula skirts for his sisters. Heh heh.  One of the guys set up a facebook page for the trip, so hopefully we can do alot of photo-sharing. Those are fun.

On Sunday the Scouts will go to the Arizona Memorial, spend some time on the beach on Waikiki and hike to Diamondhead from Waikiki. They bunk at the Doubletree in Waikiki.

Wow, now that's MY kind of camping.

Many prayers for their safety while on this trip and for an awesome adventure!  And Gib, if you read this, I was serious about the NO Cliff-Jumping comment!!  Love you!  See ya the day before you turn 17!