Highlights of the Vaca

I have decided that rather than give you a blow by blow entry regarding the camping trip, I would just do the highlights. We were gone for eight days afterall, and we did a lot. Because I am lazy, and am somewhat of a list freak, I am doing this in list form. Not in any particular order.

Highlight # 1: Technically more of a "lowlight" if you will but worth mentioning, if not just to vent. When we arrived Saturday, Suzanne and I left the "manly men" to set up camp and we took the kids food shopping. Emily proceeded to throw up in aisle twelve of Shaws. Very random...she had been fine all week. Anyway, we cleaned her up and left(thankfully we were basically done shopping. When we got back, the boys had set up the two tents and were in the process of starting a camfire. I was back at the van unloading bags, when my sister Suzanne(arms full of groceries) came running back saying that Em was getting sick again. S,o I dropped what I had in my hands back in the car and ran back to her. When I got there, my poor little baby was there, all by herself, puking into the woods. Where were Ryun and John? Tending the campfire. I was pissed. I yelled, "She's over here hacking up a lung and you guys are worried about the fire? How about rubbing her back or holding her hair out of her face?" Maybe I was a bitch but that's my baby and she was hurting. Little love would have been nice. Jeez.

Highlight # 2: John's cooking... Ribs, steak kabobs...yummy. Seriously he should be a chef.

Highlight # 3: Listening to thunderstorms and pounding rain bounce of the mountains from the shelter of a tent. Yeah, it rained almost every night and into the morning which was a pain, but it sure sounded cool.

Highlight # 4: Katie and the rollecoaster/flume rides. Conversations went like this: Katie sees the rollercoaster/flume and says, "Wow that looks fun." Katie comes off of the rollercoaster/flume crying. Mommy says, "Katie did you like the rollercoaster/flume?" Katie enthusiastically responds, "YEAH!" Mommy says, Do you want to go on again?" Katie yells, "NO!" Silly girl.

Highlight # 5: The Canon Mountain Aerial Tramway. The best thing we did. It was awesome. An 80 passenger tram type thing takes you via cables to the top of the mountain. Incredible views and a great 20 minute hike around the summit.

Highlight # 6: Visiting with Ryun's grandparents. I love them...they are just the best. They live in Vermont and recently moved to a new house. The view from there house is magnificent.

Highlight # 7: Polly's Pancake Parlor: Read my last entry. It says it all.

Highlight # 8: Ryun's creativity...managed to set up the tarp in such a way that the tent did not get wet...at all. And it rained almost every night.

Highlight # 9: John and Ryun the pyromaniacs lighting the picnic table on fire. Yes, they really did do that.

Highlight # 10: Clark's Trading Post: fun, fun, fun. The bear show rocks and the circus was amazing.

And finally...# 11: The scenery...amazing, beautiful, indescribable. Pictures don't even begin to do it justice.

Small town, down-home, country type feeling

Small town, down-home, country type feeling

I am writing this by the light of the campfire as our vacation winds down on a cool Thursday night. I am listening to the river as it runs through the trees, watching the orange-blue flame of the fire, and wondering, do the people that live here appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds them on a daily basis as much as those who visit do? I see the ocean on an almost daily basis and I haven't lost any appreciation so I am sure the residents of the white Mountains don't either. It sure is hard to imagine not waking up here every morning and not thanking God for such a beautiful world.

One of the best things(at least in my opinion) is how open everything is here. It's so nice to see undeveloped land, houses in the middle of nowhere, and quaint little villages that make up the town center. Everyone has acres and acres of land, with the most incredible views. The highway seems to stretch for miles..and there is no traffic. Everything is so open, you could be going at ninety miles per hour and not even realize it.

Many of the restaurants are family owned. We went to one today in Littleton, NH called "The Coffee Stop." The owner served as the hostess and the server, and she new everyone that came in...except us of course. I almost felt like an intruder! That's not to say the atmosphere was unfriendly...it was anything but. The food was great, the service excellent, and the "homey" feeling would have made up for anything that was lacking. Nothing was however, and for more than a brief moment, I wondered what it would be like to be a "Local. I just love that down-home, small-town atmosphere.

Another place we tried for breakfast(we ate out every morning due to inclement weather...more about that ina future entry) was called Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH. The atmosphere, although nice wasn't quite as homey. The history was what intrigued me. This family-owned restaurant is housed in a building originally used for storage that was built in 1830. It was located on a maple sugar farm that has been owned and operated by the same family for over a century. The restaurant opened in 1938 as a tearoom where they served pancakes, waffles, french toast, and of course, tea. The entire building is decorated with artifacts found in the famiyl attic or passed down through relatives. The make every kind of pancake known to man...and the taste is so good you almost don't even need syrup or butter. We are going back again on Friday with Ryun's grandparents.

I originally meant for this to be the start of a camping trip review type entry but, I have decided to do that next. It's late, I am tired, and my sleeping bag awaits.

10:17 a.m. - 2003-07-27

Job Title

A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the Clerk's office was

asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated,

uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are youjust a .....?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list `mother` as an occupation... `housewife` covers it," Said

the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same

situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of

a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human

Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though

she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black

ink on the official questionnaire.

Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your

field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I

have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the

laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have

two credits, (my daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most

demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often

work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging

than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a

satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she

completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was

greeted by my lab assistants - ages 6 and 3.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on

the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to

mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood.....What a glorious career!

A Mother's Wages

If I would charge one cent each time

I washed my children's clothes,

Or tied a shoe or gave a bath

Or wiped a runny nose,

Or made a bed or acted as

Their judge or referee,

It would be possible that I

Could live in luxury.

If I were paid a nickel for

Each diaper that I've pinned,

For every Band-Aid I've applied

When arms or legs were skinned,

For every toy that I've picked up

And put back in it's niche,

There wouldn't be a single doubt--

Why, I could be quite rich.

If just one dime would be my fee

For giving them a pill,

For making meals and wiping up

The milk they always spill,

For darning scores of tiny socks,

For fixing things that break,

It wouldn't be too long before

A fortune I would make.

Although it's true I don't receive

A solitary cent,

I'm repaid in many ways

For all the time I've spent.

Their smiles, their love is my reward

For this unending care,

And I am richer, yes, by far

Than any millionaire!

Doesn't that just say it all?

Anyway, this will be my last entry before our camping trip. I will most definitely be online over the next couple of nights...hoping that a certain someone will be too! ;) Until next time...

MV Island

I just spent the past two days on the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. Ryun was working there for the week, so the kids and I went over Thursday and spent the night with him in his hotel room. We had a great time. He was working in Vineyard Haven, but the hotel was in Oak Bluffs, about three miles away. My aunt, who was visiting from California had some friends who were renting a house on Chappaquidik(think Ted Kennedy) so she came over with us. The kids and I spent the day in OB. I took them on the famous Flying House Carousel (the oldest carousel in America) and they thought it was great. We went to the beach, watched the sunset and then had dinner at a place called Giordano's. It was just about the best pizza I have ever, ever, had. Highly reccomended. We went back to the hotel, the kids went to bed and Ryun and I enjoyed a yummy icecream from Mad Martha's. The guys he was working with came home from dinner and we spent the rest of the night on the deck shooting the shit, looking out over Oak Bluffs Harbor. All in all, it was a very nice couple of days.

We are leaving for camping next week, so this week I will be packing and getting ready for the trip. I am looking forward to it, I love camping.

Kennedy Compound and Steven Tyler

Kennedy Compound and Steven Tyler

My husband fixed the elevator in this house on Friday. This house (and the others on the property) belong to none other than the Kennedy family. Apparently, Ethel Kennnedy(wife of former US senator Robert Kennedy) was recuporating from surgery and could not negotiate the stairs. The elevator doors would not open so, Ted Kennedy's executive assistant called Associated Elevator. The person who was on call for The Fourth was already on a call in RI, so Ryun took the call. The elevator went form the basement, to a sunroom, and right into Ethel Kennedy's bedroom! She was up there resting while he was fixing it so they asked if he could try to avoid going all of the way up. Ted Kennedy was out on his boat with his dogs. Ryun said that the home theatre that was built in the basement of the house is still there, seats and everything. How cool would that be? Go to the movies right own house.

I was impressed and thought about how cool that would have been...to go to the Kennedy house that is. He was not as enthusiastic but he usually isn't.

One time, he sat in a movie theatre with Steven Tyler(think Aeorsmith) and didn't even ask for an autograph. Good idea to let him have his privacy I suppose but still. Sitting right next to him.

Anyway, Ryun got back in time to see the fireworks. Plymouth did a spectacular job this year and the girls just loved it.

I had a cookout at my house on Saturday. It was a good time. The girls spent the entire day outside on the swings, in their pool, and just running around in general.

So, a good, if not great weekend here at the Ellis house.