With the end of the Olympics and the international feel of them, paired with a certain presidential hopeful's recent sound bite about his being a Citizen of the World, I realized today that I am not so interested in being a citizen of the world.  I think instead that I really need to focus on being a better citizen of my house.

The thought struck me as I was reaching into the cabinet putting away dishes, and thinking about all the other things I had to do today.  I really wanted to read my book, swim a little, finish the laundry and drink too much coffee.  But someone needed to strip the beds, steam the grout, seal the grout, grocery shop, sort, clean, et cetera.  Some of my rooms could use a little renewed decor and paint.  We need to replace and repot some plants. Someone should do that.

I realized that I needed to be that someone.  And those are only the things I could do to be a better citizen of my house - I can also be a better citizen of my family.  I can probably keep my voice down at home, and feed the cats wet food on a more regular basis.  I should clean (or encourage the kids to clean) the mice cage more often.  And give them water.  Mice like water.  Kids like books.  I should read more with them.

So I am going to make a pot of coffee, get off this computer, and work on that. My quote for today:

"Citizenship is important, from within the four walls of your own home, to the world stage.  Whether it is cleaning syrup off the counter, or cleaning up after national and political disasters, we should all aspire to be better citizens." 
J. Dalrymple

Last weekend was the Flagstaff Climb to Conquer Cancer - we did it again this year.  It was a nice day, and I think we set a personal record - it must be all that watching the Olympics.  It's made us tougher, I think.

Our fearless organizer:



The man in training (Jonathan, Phil is going hunting in the Chugash Wilderness in Alaska next month).



Some tough girls - some with more (fashion) sense than others...



We still hate cancer - and while we hate to give the attention it wants by dedicating a whole day to it (narcisistic bastard that it is) we hope our money and energy will keep it on the run.

It was the last day of summer...


It was the first day of school...

I haven't been counting the days.  I didn't even really remember that the Olympics were upon us until Andra told me that the opening ceremonies were on 08-08-08.  Then there was the project runway episode last week where the designed an outfit for the opening ceremonies.  So last night we parked ourselves in front of the television and watched the most remarkable opening ceremonies ever produced.  Ooooh.  Aaaaah.  I am over the civil rights violations and gross display of excess - get real.  It was absolutely remarkable and inspiring to watch those opening ceremonies.

So after that, and a day of watching today, I have to ask Why Haven't I Been Counting The Days?  I have some really fond Olympic watching memories, and there is no disputing the power of the Olympics to motivate you to dream about greatness (and, unfortunately, to look inward at one's own couch potato existence with some disdain).

When I was 16, I had surgery on my foot, and after hobbling through assorted airports on crutches, I spent a couple weeks in Tulsa with my grandparents.  It happened to be during the summer Olympics, and Grandma  and I watched it all.  We at cucumber and tomato sandwiches, and sipped lemonade.  Grandma regaled me with stories of how Grandpa had looked like a Greek god in his youth, much like Greg Louganis on the diving platform.  She expressed he firm belief that if only that talented gymnast would wear a little lip gloss, she would really look so much better.  We had a great time, and enjoyed every minute of the Olympic coverage, right up to the point where Grandpa came out into the living room with a small wicker basket, scissors and tweezers because he "sure wasn't going to pay some doctor to remove those stitches when he could do it himself".  I actually cried.  I was sure I would never walk again.  Obviously, I turned out fine.

Then I had another period of convalescense where my Mom came to stay, and we watched most of the games.  Our goal was to watch all the action so that when we saw the highlights, we had seen all the action BEFORE the higlights clip.  We were quite sucessful, I recall. 

So while I certainly didn't need an excuse to sit around for the next 17 days, I am sure going to have to plan a whole bunch of it in to my schedule.  I love the Olympics, I do.  Go Team!

Today, while the girls and the neighbors swam I read a book poolside.  It was loud, filled with shrieks and periodic, far-reaching splashes of hot water.  The pool is 85 degrees plus.  We had Popsicles, and chips and the fun went on and on. 

At one point, after hours of this background noise, it was quiet.  And not, as you would think, because they had all slipped under the water out of sheer exhaustion - get real, they are 8, 8, 10 and 11.  They never get tired. 

It was quiet, so I looked up.  Garrett was in the inflatable yellow sun floating at the edge of the pool, staring at a rock.  Andra was in the blue inner tube, flipping a bamboo stick back and forth in the deep end.  Back - splash.  Forth -splash.  Anna was on a noodle, filling and pouring and filling and pouring water in and out and in and out of a bottle.  Grace was sitting.  calmly.  In the lagoon.  No one was looking at each other.  No one was interacting.  They were all relaxed, just on the edge of boredom but not quite there yet. 

It was surreal.  And lovely.  And was a perfect moment of summer.  Hot, fruity, and sufficiently balanced between opportunity and boredom.

Grace's kindergarten teacher told me she thought Grace could run a small country, and we have been looking for one that needed a youthful leader ever since.  We haven't been too lucky.  Yesterday, however, when I came home from work, I realized that maybe we just need to make our own luck - as Grace did yesterday. 

There is some kind of summit going on in her room.  I can tell they must be discussing matters of great importance - look at the posture on pig - and the rapt attention the rest of his table is giving him.  And to think that I almost threw Pig away last week!

 

        

We had a little, late, lazy birthday party for Grace last weekend.  A few shots from her day.


 


 

Today, we went to the high country - Mt. Lemmon.  Only a stones throw from Tucson, and cool, cool, cool.  We had lunch in Summerhaven, the sweet town at the top of the mountain.  We bought fudge at the General Store.  We rode the chair lift to the top of the ski hill.  Then, we slowed down and kicked the kids out of the truck.  Ok, don't get all freaky on us, we dropped them off at summer camp.

I went to summer camp every year from first grade on.  I have such remarkable memories of the cabins, and the trees.  The arts and crafts, the canoes, swimming in the icy water of Seeley Lake (thats in the more North country of Montana).  I was only scared when it was meat or pancakes, because then I had to sit at Julie's table, because I couldn't cut my own food.  I want the camp experience for my kids, and I want them to have the experience of independent living, in a totally fun and controlled environment, fully regulated by all kinds of grown ups. 

At our camp, on the last day, we made bark boats covered with flowers, and secret notes and candles and sailed them off down the river while some type of mysterious music played (can this be true?  where was the music coming from?).  And so, today, we sailed the girls down the beginning of the river to independent living.  No flowers or candles, but a couple secret notes.  As always, with my kids, there were no backward glances, and I had to sneak a kiss so the other kids wouldn't see.  They were excited, eager and ready to take on camp.  I think that is a good thing.

Plus, of course, that means Phil and I get to date all week, and that is a good thing, too.  I hope we remember how.

I am coming off a long, happy string of vacations, which has kept me away from the computer.  It's been kind of nice.  On the last trip, my phone even broke (ok, it had some help) so I have gone for 2 WHOLE DAYS without a cell phone.  I should get a medal or something, right?

In summary:

OJAI.  LAVENDER. 
Jacki and I ran away to California for a girls weekend.  We sat by the pool, we got massages, we rubbed mud all over ourselves in a sweat room, and we ate well.  Best of all, everywhere we went, there were ice cold lavender water soaked towels.  And all the lavender was blooming, so the theme for the trip was definitely LAVENDER.  I keep calling out for cold towels, but no one is bringing them to me.  Spa Trip?  So Over.

WHITE MOUNTAINS.  NEW CAMPER!
We took our second trip in the new camper, and it was fun.  We did one of our favorite archery shoots - you ride the chair lift up the ski resort and hike down while shooting.  Andra got second, and everyone had fun.  We caught crayfish, fished, hiked and chilled in the new camper.  It is hardly like camping at all - just the thing.

NEWPORT.  SUN SEA SAND.
While I still take exception to having a beach that doesn't maintain a constant temperature of about 85 degrees, Newport Oregon was lovely.  Mom rented a fantastic nautical house on the beach, and we did it all.  Fishing, Lighthouses, Tidepools, Aquarium, Clam Chowder, Clam Strips and Clam Chowder.  The girls are complaining about missing everyone already. 

We are going to stick around home for a while - the pool has turned green, and the pets are needy, so I guess we need a litte vacation from vacations.  Until the next vacation, anyway.