All About Luke

Luke graduated last Friday. I did not cry. (Tim did.)


To totally brag here, Luke was a National Merit Scholar Finalist which means he was in the top one percent in the United States. He was also an Ohio Regents Scholar which is awarded to one of the top 1000 seniors in Ohio. Between his academics and his piano scholarship, he's about got his four years of college paid for.

Now he's ready to burst into his new, adult life. He'll always be my baby, but he's ready.

we

Browsing around my favorite blogs, I came across this quick video on No Impact Man's website. I checked it out and checked out wecansolveit.org and added my name and e-mail address to more than a million others who want action on global warming and environmental issues.

It's a new group, spearheaded by Al Gore. To me, it's a chance to feel like I'm not alone in the wilderness. More than a million folks have signed up already.

There's hope.

Bruce!

I was surprised yesterday by the best early birthday present in the world: Tickets to see Bruce Springsteen in concert last night. It was awesome. To get an idea, here's a video of "Radio Nowhere" off his new CD:


After 40 some years of music, Bruce is still the boss. And the rest of us oldies can still rock, too.

Thanks to my three boys for a great gift and a great time.

Organic Food

Today, I received the annual newsletter from the organic farmers from whom I buy eggs, our Thanksgiving turkey, roasting chickens, and vegetables (in season). I am pleased to see that they now have a website, www.thatguysfamilyfarm.com. I have added them to my Daily Blog Check list at left. Check them out. If you don't live in this area, read their website to become inspired to find some local, organic farmers of your very own. The work they do is vital to the health of our beloved planet, not to mention the quality and taste of their fresh products exceeds anything available in the grocery store. As Barbara Kingsolver says in her great book, Animal Vegetable, Miracle, we should be skeptical of produce that had "a misspent youth in the back of a refrigerator truck."

It is a great feeling to look in my fridge and know where the food came from and know how the animals spent their lives. And to know that I am supporting my neighbors in their livelihood and their effort to keep our neighborhood clean of mystery chemicals in the ground and water.

Try it. You'll be surprised how rewarding it is. Carlena, if you read this, especially check on their website the dates they are at farmer's markets. They are in your area fairly often.

Update

More photos and an update of what's going on here.

In a new endeavor for our family, we planted vegetable seeds (mostly saved from last years veggies, even!). We saved boxes to use for flats and planted our seeds in used yogurt cups. Logan handled the dirty work.




Logan's always up for the dirty work. He planted them several weeks ago and most have sprouted. They're just sitting in front of a south-facing window. Amazing they sprouted; there has been very little sun here, lots of clouds and rain.

Next update:
I spent a second weekend in Florida, this time with my brother Mike.

He had a blast riding four-wheelers on the beach.

And fishing. This is on the inland waterway, also known as the Halifax River (although it is saltwater). I just hung around the pier taking pics and enjoying the sunshine. Especially since they were suffering through a blizzard (14 inches of snow!) at home.

A highlight was spending some time with my great friend Cynthia.

Next item:

We spent a wonderful weekend watching Luke play Schroeder in the high school play, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

Here's Lucy singing while Schroeder plays the piano. She's trying to talk him into marrying her.

Luke singing "Beethoven Day" in celebration of his hero's birthday.

Schroeder at the ball game.

It was awesome.

Joanie: You're the winner of this month's Special Treat! For reading my blog, you receive a free round trip ticket to come home around Saturday, June 7th, for Luke's graduation party! All expenses paid! (Mike and I took a bump coming home from Florida; he's got a ticket burning a hole in his pocket; I've got a ticket so you can be here and help me with the party! Lucky you!)

Trip to Florida

My blog is suffering because so much good stuff is going on here. But I did want to post these photos of our recent trip to Daytona Beach. Mom and Poppy go there for the winter so we went down for a long weekend to visit them. I got to check a thing off my Life Must-Do list: we swam with dolphins (for the shortest half hour ever) at the Dolphin Conservation Center just south of St. Augustine Florida. It was wonderful (but way too short). And yes, just like Flipper, dolphins really are the Black Labs of the sea.


That pink spot on his bottom lip is very kissable.


Twenty-six miles of beach and the only folks in the water are Ohio tidy-whities.


From mom's computer, Luke posted this to his Facebook and received really nasty messages from his friends in school in Ohio.


Logan starring in his own little Coke commercial. (Can you see him? The chair is good camouflage.)


Luke and Tim during our requisite game of mini-golf.


We had a great time.

Luke, Tim, Logan, Mom, and me basking in the Florida sunshine.