My night ended on Saturday looking up at the stars and the half-moon, thankful for a clear night (finally) where there was no threat of rain to be found. I was still in the Jeep, the top still down, and in my driveway. In about 8 hours, I would be heading to the gym for an early-morning workout.

It seemed safe to leave the top down. It was only 8 hours, after all. How quickly could an unpredictable rain storm move in? The forecast called for light rain south of Baltimore and in D.C., well enough away to make me feel secure in letting the Jeep enjoy a little midnight moon magic. My greatest fear was the temperature in the morning. Would I be able to make the drive in the Jeep in just 55-degree temps? Of course I will, I concluded. Builds character.

This morning, my character was built not by the cold temperatures, but by the sound of driving rain against my bedroom window. It was not yet 6, and we were in the midst of a downpour.

I threw on some clothes and headed outside. The Jeep, of course, was glistening, inside and out, from the rain. The street lamp cast a rare shine on the head rests, where water dripped quickly into the already-saturated bucket seats.

It is hard enough to put the top up alone; it was darn near impossible to do, slipping on the water-soaked plastic floormats and trying to lift an already-too-heavy top over my head.

I succeeded though, and within a few hours, the storm passed, the sun made a strong morning presence, and I removed the top once again to let the interior dry out. By mid-day, it was as if nothing had ever happened. An intense sun pulled the moisture from the seats, and when we headed to Full Moon Farm for Madelyn’s riding lesson, the only hint of the rain hit us when making sharp left turns. Apparently, the upper tracks and rails for the soft top still harbored a good amount of rainwater, which found its way on us on the left onto Old Gamber Road. . .

Not complaining, of course. A great day to be outside. Got these shots of the farm with my Blackberry when Braeden and I took a little nature walk, seeking out mushrooms and earthworms:

After Full Moon (Madelyn rode Dakota and had just a great lesson….posting is becoming a natural thing for her now–so effortless it seems!), we stopped at Dover Saddlery for a riding crop for M, and then at Ritz Camera for a filter and tripod for Bellatrix. After a final stop at Giorgios for some half-price pizza, we met Holland at the pool and stayed there until a little before 8, when they were closing for the night.

Really beginning to notice the effects of eating better and adding exercise into my routine. I know that I am not getting to the gym as often as I would like, but I expect that to pick up as we get closer to summer vacation.

How was your weekend?

Updated 10:31 p.m.

Bellatrix is stuck in Oakland, CA. :( I did a Google image search for what life looks like in Oakland, as I have never been there, and here’s what I came up with:

Now, I’ve never been to Oakland, so I did a quick fact/stat search of the area…Is it really as bad as I’ve been reading? 14.70% unemployment rate? Cost of living is 43% higher than the national average? Schools are some of the worst in the nation?

The photos look beautiful (but who would use bad photos of their city to entice non-west-coastians like me?)…

Late last week, I was part of a conversation (I was really just an observer, to be honest) between two people who have been to Oregon, Washington, and California and who, in all probability, will someday move there for at least a few years. They spoke of its draw, its lure, that calls them back. This piques my curiosity about what it’s like out there, and I feel that I’ve got to realize someday the dream I had when I was in college: to drive across country and spend some time along the west coast.

Crazy? Why do we look at such adventures with I-Don’t-Knows and We-Can’ts? Just how hard would it be to plan such a trip? Even with a family of five?

It seems like the biggest scare is to break the routines, the conventions that have put us on this conveyor belt of life. Hey, I’m not knocking it. I love the things I do and the things my family experience on a daily basis, but why don’t we build in more adventure time to explore more of our country, our land around us, our world?

I remember those days in 1987 when Brad and I were planning our trip out west.

I remember those days in 1991 planning that six-week journey along the Appalachian Trail that turned into a little more than seven days.

I remember those days….

But I also remember all of the other road trips realized. Those trips to New England, Canada, and Florida. That drive out to Arizona was amazing as well. My life has not been short-changed in any way of adventure. I guess I just am missing that next big road trip, and I hope it comes soon.

We’ll be heading down to Georgia in December for my nephew’s wedding (just writing that makes me nostalgic), and that’ll be a blast.

Maybe the trip out west–the big one never realized like my yet-to-come thru hike of the Appalachian Trail–is just something that I’ve got to keep at the near-top of my list. . . .

In the meantime, I’ll wait a few more days for Bellatrix to head east.

Had a great day today. Started out on the NCR trail for a 14-mile bike ride. Always a wonderful and refreshing way to start the day. Once again, though, I neglected to get a picture. I don’t know why it is so hard for me to remember to snap these pictures!

I had about an hour to kill before I had to pick up Holland at the gym, so I drove out to Loch Raven and took a few pics of the Jeep:

As I was taking these pictures, a man in his early thirties (that’s my guess, at least) jogged by. He was looking at me and at the jeep. When I said Good Morning to him, he just laughed and shook his head.

Now, I get it about the whole Oceanic picture-taking thing and how I might (might!) get a look here and there of what-are-you-doing, but I don’t think I’m out of line here to question why jogger boy offered his little condescending snicker. Did he think I was pretentious in taking pictures of my Jeep at Loch Raven? I wanted to jog alongside of him (well, maybe walk really fast–I’m not into jogging just yet) and explain to him all about the my3*6*5 project. I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t obsessed with my Jeep (though I am) so much that I had to take it places, park it, and then take pictures of it and put it on my blog.

Ok, well, maybe I am. But why does that warrant a judgement?

How mature would it be for me to mock him, The Jogger, for doing what he loved to do?

Ugh. People.

I should have just given him a big hug and wished him much love in his life, but I don’t think that would have gone over too well either.

Rest of the day’s been good. Spent the afternoon at the pool, grilled dinner outside…All seems right with the world. How was your Saturday?

Updated 10:31 p.m.

It finally happened. I have been waiting over three years for this day, and here we are. A M A Z I N G. . . . .

For those of you who don’t know, I am obsessed with LOST, the tv show on Wednesday nights (well, it used to be on Wednesdays….We’re now in an 8-month hiatus until the final season begins in February, 2010). Season 1 began with a plane crash, Oceanic flight 815, on a remote island. Throughout the series, much emphasis has been placed on that flight, on specific numbers, symbols, as well as allusions and archetypes.

So, to me it made perfect common sense to be a little more than obsessed with our local gas station, named Oceanic, and the unlikely chance that, one day, the numbers on the marquis would align just right so that the sign would read, “Oceanic 815.”

That day was today.

I first noticed it as I was driving Holland to the gym. I was a little late picking her up (traffic seems to be getting worse these days), and she was pretty upset about it. But when we drove by the gas station, I screamed in joy at noticing the numbers on the sign. Suddenly, the entire mood changed between us, and I was caught up in the possibilities of what this meant.

Sure, it was just a gas station, and few people (any? I was sure at least some people were as fascinated by this wondrous phenomenon) would notice. However, obsessions are not born overnight. They are cultivated, nurtured, so that when I drove by the sign, years and years of watching, waiting, and wondering had finally cashed in. I could snap my photo and share it with the world.

After I dropped off Holland, I parked in the lot across from the Oceanic (815) gas station and crossed the street. I snapped two pictures, one of each side (the lighting seemed a little better on the north side), and some guy yells out to me: “You know, it’s just going to go higher.”

I looked at him with incredulity. “What?”

“The price,” he said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

“Don’t you get it?” I replied, now walking toward him. In retrospect, I can understand why he started to back away a little. I think I might have chuckled a little madly, eyes a bit wide, head tilted like that guy on Law and Order.

“Don’t you see what’s going on? I’ve waited 3 years for this!”

“Waited for what?” he replied. But I could already tell he was thinking twice about starting our little chat.

I looked down at the ground, a little disappointed, I guess.

“Lost, man. Lost. Do you watch it?”

He nodded, but there was definitely some hesitation. I don’t think he wanted to be in sync with anything I was talking about.

“The numbers! 815! Don’t you see it? Look at the sign! OCEANIC 815! Isn’t that amazing?”

I think I was smiling, my eyes still a bit wide, when he turned and looked up at the sign one more time. He looked back at me, took a step back, and said: “You’re crazy, man.”

And then he walked back to his car, or his truck, or whatever horse he rode in for this chance meeting.

Really, though. As I crossed the street and headed back to my Jeep, all I could think was this: How can anybody say they watch LOST and not be touched, at least with mild giddiness, at such a cool thing as a gas station called OCEANIC sporting an 815 on their marquis?

Some people. Ugh!

(oh, and if you notice, the other numbers prominent in the show–4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42–are all linked together on the sign. Of course, you need to add 8, 4, 2, and 2 to add up to 16…..)

Obsessed? You must have me confused with somebody else… :)

Updated 8:07 p.m.

Evening, folks…

First, I want to introduce everybody to the latest member of my family: my Nikon D300 w/105mm macro VR lens:

World, camera. Camera, world. :)

I have waited nearly my entire adult life for a camera like this, and I was finally able to take the plunge and buy it this evening. With any luck (prayers to the shipping gods), I’ll have it by Tuesday. I have been an avid photographer since 1986, and I was loyal to my film until about 3 years ago when I bought two Nikon D70s cameras for the publications team at my school. Well, I fell in love with digital photography immediately, and I have abandoned film entirely–something I never thought I would do.

The 105mm lens is known for its macro (close-up) photography, but it is also known as a portrait lens. This satisfies my two deepest loves in photography: capturing the lives of my children as they are growing up, and capturing the natural life around me as I see it, most notably all things related to the Chesapeake Bay. In time, I’d like to design a line of notecards to sell, some for my personal pocket, and some that I will donate to Lines of Love.

For me, though, it’s all about the marriage between images and words. I envision my blog and project my3*6*5 to transcend to new levels as I synthesize my two greatest loves and create unique interpretations of this world around me.

Now comes the hard part: waiting till Tuesday. :(

Updated 11:07 p.m.

It’s too late to write adequately about this day. I have not stopped running since getting up at 4:47 this morning.

Highlight:

Our first meeting with the ‘09-’10 Advanced Comp writers. GREAT bunch to develop a solid writers’ house in the coming months….

Took pictures, and will upload them tomorrow.

Sleep calls me, though, and I am away. . . . . . .

Updated 10:45 p.m.

Graduation night for CHS Class of 2009.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of all of you. Being there tonight was one of the highlights of the year, and as I watched you walk across the stage, Pride and Belief in each of you welled up inside of me. I believe that you are actually going to do it. You are going to change this world.

I am going to miss you terribly, but you know that already. The door is always open, so you’re free to walk on through whenever you like. You know where I am, and you know how to reach me. Never hesitate. I can’t wait to learn the next chapter of your lives….

Here’s to you. And you….and you. :) <3

Updated 8:55 p.m.

Today’s entry is dedicated to my two nephews, Kyle and Kevin, who are currently serving in the Army to defend our country. My love to both of you. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, your commitment to all that makes this country what it is and will continue to be.

Be safe, Gentlemen. Be safe.

I hope everyone had a good day today. We spent this Memorial day as traditionally as we possibly could, driving to Pennsylvania and sharing wonderful times with our niece and her family, grilling hamburgers, pork chops, vegetables, and other such treats….

I’ll have pictures tomorrow to post here of our family, so be sure to check back.

I am convinced that we don’t spend enough time with the ones we love. One of the reasons why our afternoon was so pleasant is because we were surrounded by family that wanted to be together. Yes, the food was outstanding (Bob, you are indeed a master when it comes multi-task grilling!), but seeing our kids get together with cousins and having fun made the day that much more extraordinary.

I have the honor and pleasure of teaching many siblings, and I remember one slide show a few years back that Meghan showed in our class. It was of her immediate and extended families getting together over the summer for their annual reunion. I remember watching that show and wishing my family were like that. Today, Meghan, I felt like we were the happy people in your slide show. It makes me very happy to see us all getting together, and I know we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the summer.

I know these are stressful times, but choose to slow down. Choose to love. Choose to cherish the friendship and community that warms your heart. Let all that matters to you consume your life.

And may one of those things be Love.

Updated 9:47 p.m.

Ok. I have no pictures today, and I am really beating myself up over this one. So I’m going to have to be a little more descriptive in bringing this wonderful day to life on virtual paper. :)

The morning began with a wonderfully intense writing session on my novel, Cold Rock, and then heavy editing with a book cover design for a book I’m publishing for a fellow writer. It’s hard to have anything but a great day when my morning begins so wonderfully. :)

Then, after breakfast, we all headed to Central Presbyterian Church, located in south Towson. Two of my high school friends, Rob and Dave, attend, and Dave and his wife thought that it would be nice for our family to attend as well.

Central is just like the church (Chesapeake Presbyterian) I belonged to when I lived in Calvert County, nearly 20 years ago. There was live music, a stage, Sermon-in-the-Round…..All of the things that I loved so much about Chesapeake. I felt so….at home this morning, and I know that my younger daughter, Madelyn, felt the same way. Even Amy, born and raised a Catholic, thoroughly enjoyed the service and found the musicians to be nothing short of amazing (as we all did).

My picture today should have been of Rob, Dave, and me together at Central. I was taken aback by the great memories and wonderful experience  that I forgot to snap the picture. I’m sure we’ll return next Sunday, and I’m also sure that I’ll be a little less overwhelmed in the memories and have my head a little more focused on getting that picture. :)

Then it was off to the pool, where I got a touch of sun as I started reading Stephen King’s IT. Two hours passed by, and I headed out to the gym for what turned out to be the greatest workout I’ve had in about 10 years.

I have so much weight to lose, and although I’ve lost only 7 pounds so far, i feel like I’ve dropped 30. Working out on the Elliptical Trainer is such a challenge, and every day I can feel my body getting in a little better shape, allowing me to go farther and burn more calories. Love the elliptical!

After my cardio, I decided to check out the circuit weight room. When I was going to Padonia about 15 years ago, the machines were simpler, there were fewer of them, and I had little problem mastering most of them. Today, though, I found myself overwhelmed (once again!) by the amount of chrome and complex mechanisms that filled the room. I didn’t know where to start. Connor, the Brick associate who signed us up with our membership, was just finishing his workout, and he said that he’d help me work on my biceps/triceps.

He didn’t want to mess with the circuit machines, though. He took me down to the free weights room and proceeded to kick my butt. It was the most significant workout I have had in nearly a decade. Amazing! I know that I will be in intense pain this time tomorrow, but it was all worth it. I’m addicted now to exercising, and it’s cut my food intake down by at least 50% if not more.

Then home, and an incredible meal of marinated flank and veggies, all prepared on the grill. Just a great, great day.

Cookout tomorrow in PA with my niece and her family…..Will be beyond wonderful. We always talk about getting together, and now we really are. Cool Cool Cool….

Updated 8:23 p.m.

The Wizard of Oz plays in the background as I write this, and I am surrounded by wonderful memories of both the past and the present.

The Wiz/Oz has always been–and I do mean always–a clear favorite of mine, for too many reasons to list here. I think the story line is so transparent, but it is a classic b/c, despite the fact that we know what is coming, we watch it anyway. We have to see that tornado, that melting witch, that curtain being pulled, time and time again. And we believe in its message. Such a wonderful classic.

A great day at both the horse ring and the pool. First, the video of Madelyn:

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and next, the pic of the pool:

I am so in love with this day. :)

Updated 7:49 p.m.

WOW.

Just a tremendous day today, culminating a wonderful week of celebrations with the senior class of 2009, and now with my wonderful rising seniors, the class of 2010 (WE ARE ‘10!!!).

Today was the Farewell Assembly, and I was shocked to receive the PTSA’s Commitment To Excellence Award for this year. Being honored is an absolute understatement. I don’t think I have ever been so overwhelmed with emotion and with surprise. I don’t know if any pictures exist of me receiving the award, but if I can find them, I’ll update this page and post them.

We just returned from my old friend’s liquor store, Swan Song Liquors, in Perry Hall. Remo and I were friends in high school, and we lost touch with each other over the years. Thank God for Facebook, the ever-reunion maker of long lost friends. We bought a bottle of Chocolate Zin from St. Michael’s Winery, among a few other things. It was great to see Remo and his wife Mary Kay, and we’ll be back. I’d much rather travel a few extra miles to support the small businesses than save a buck or two (if that) at the chains that drive out the smaller shops.

Here’s a pic of Remo and me at his store. I’m glad we’re back in touch with each other.