Checking In

A catch-all, catch-up post

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Slinging groceries

I received the most unexpected compliment Saturday afternoon at Costco. I had just finished deftly emptying my cart at the checkout line when the gentleman in line behind me spoke up.

“I can tell you’ve done this before,” he said as he and his wife smiled in admiration.

It took me a moment to parse what he had just said. Then I grinned and shrugged my shoulders.

“Yeah,” I said, “I used to work in retail and I guess it shows, huh.”

I’d been swiftly pulling out items that somehow went together (like refrigerated items). The hours I spent running a register as a teenager at Dart Drug have stayed with me, I guess. There was a method to it, a rhythm I would get into that became very Zen-like. I loved the physical nature of being a cashier, the challenge of speed and accuracy, the unconscious awareness of where everything is on the counter and how I could simply trust my hands to know where they were going.

Then some bozo would show up in line with a dozen coupons and a checkbook and I’d be cursing and wishing I was somewhere else. Ah, those were the days!

Wow, I can’t believe I just waxed nostalgic about such a shitty job!

Hallie plays in the orchestra

Tonight we attended Hallie’s first concert with the Ligon Philharmonic Orchestra. She was playing 2nd violin for a few fun Halloween pieces, with 69 other students on stage.

It was a wonderful performance and quite a showcase of the talent at Ligon. We enjoyed every minute of it!

I’ve got gobs of video I’m working to upload. Be patient!

Pilot in the making?

Travis is protective of our flight simulator

Travis is protective of our flight simulator


Our son Travis had his checkup yesterday. The doc reports that he has exceptional eyesight. I found this interesting since all the kid talks about is planes, planes, and more planes. When he’s not doing his homework (or building planes with his Legos), he’s watching YouTube videos about aviation. He was also flying my flight simulator quite often.

He’s begged me for flight lessons before. He’s even asked if lessons were a birthday gift. I’ve hemmed and hawed but if he keeps showing such strong interest and has the ability and determination, I might not be able to avoid it.

Kelly might think otherwise, but Travis could be on his way to becoming a pilot. A pretty good one, too, I’d bet.

Magic parent moment

Yesterday afternoon I was doing my best to finish up some work while at home. My son Travis needed attention, though, as he had a math assignment he needed to finish. To his credit, he went right to work at it once he got home but soon became stumped and frustrated.

He asked me to read his assignment to him and I did, though it drew more responses from him saying it was okay if he didn’t understand it. Knowing Travis, though, I knew he would get this assignment as it involved managing money. He is very money-aware and the problem’s scenario involved keeping a balance sheet for family savings.

As I explained the problem to him and pointed out how to fill out the balance sheet, he hopped into my lap. Soon I was gently stepping him through the problem, marveling at the light bulb coming on in his head as he figured out what was being asked. Suddenly, the once insurmountable math homework was easily conquered and Travis was happily flying the flight simulator that once had to wait. We spent the rest of the evening happily crashing Cessna Citation-X’s into the ground.

I’m no dummy, I’m getting old and my kids are growing up fast. The opportunities to have my kids hop into my lap while we work on homework are becoming fewer and farther between. It was a real treat to help Travis over his frustration and get to play parental hero one more time.

Labor Day lake visit

Yesterday the family packed up some snacks, supplies, and the dog and drove up to Lake Gaston to visit our family friends, the Naylors, at their lakehouse for the day. We had a nice ride around the lake on their pontoon boat, stopping in a cove to go for a quick swim before returning to their house. Storm clouds were approaching by that time so we stayed inside and caught up. It was a wonderful visit with wonderful friends.

On the way back those storm clouds continued darkening and 45 minutes into the drive home the bottom absolutely fell out. I spent a good 15 minutes driving through very heavy rain! It reached its fiercest when we neared Franklinton but never completely ended. By the time we got into Raleigh we were hitting large puddles all along Atlantic Avenue and Kelly saw Crabtree Creek nearing the top of the bridge at Hodges St. Fortunately for us it stopped raining almost exactly as long as it took us to unload the major things from the car.

At some point yesterday afternoon I developed a raging headache which continued through dinner and never let up. Driving in a heavy rain did little to relieve it, too. I got home and decided the only thing that could make me feel better was a shower and bed. I was asleep by 10 after 9. I feel better now, though.

Getting the zombie band back together

As a family we’ve participated in some fun events over the last few years. I’ve mentioned our musical performances as “The Highlanders,” where we’ve played at a few recitals. That’s been fun and I’ve kinda missed the chance to play. I’ve been kicking around the idea of just inviting my neighbors over for regular jam sessions.

This week, Travis’s piano teacher told us that she was working on another gig for the Highlanders, this time playing at some event. I don’t have the details but I think it’s fun to think about!

Yesterday, we got contacted by our friends over at Mordecai Historic Park. They’re lining up zombies already for their Haunted Mordecai Trolley and wondered if we as a zombie family would be willing to perform again. One of the chosen dates is Halloween and another is Travis’s birthday, which would be hard to pull off, but the other, the 19th, at least would work for us. Both kids were enthusiastic about the idea.

I’m so glad we have these quirky opportunities to be total hams together.

Distracted driving

I had a scary moment this morning as I waited in my car at Hallie’s bus stop. I had just leaned over to the passenger window to hand Hallie her lunch box when I happened to look up in the rear-view mirror. A tricked-out grey Honda Civic was barrelling down on me, its driver jerking his car back into the lane mere feet from smashing into me.

What if my car hadn’t been between him and the three kids waiting at the bus stop, one of which was mine? What if he had smashed into me and sent me barrelling into the kids? What happens when I’m not there to witness or protect against these terrifying incidents?

We’re a family not accustomed to riding the bus, being within walking distance of Hallie’s last school (and Travis’s current one). Taking the bus avoids the long wait in the school’s carpool line, true, and perhaps I’m being a helicopter parent. Still, this morning’s near-disaster makes me wonder if putting a safe, steel box around my child during her school commute isn’t the way to go.

On a similar note, Kelly and the kids witnessed a scary car wreck on Sunday. They were in our old Windsor Forest neighborhood, taking a look at our old home, when a drunk driver came roaring around the corner, smashing into a car at the curb and bouncing off of it to smash into another neighbor’s car. He never hit the brakes and his bare wheel rim gouged a ten-foot hole in the pavement.

It was 10 AM and the guy could barely stand up.

Maybe as a society we need to better stress the responsibility that comes from being behind the wheel.

First day back to school

It was the first day back to school for both kids. Hallie began middle school at Ligon and Travis entered fourth grade at Conn. Both kids were beaming this afternoon, very much where they need to be.

I feel like it’s going to be a great year for both of them!

Egypt aflame

The Egyptian military had cracked down hard on peaceful protesters supporting ousted President Morsi. Hundreds have been killed.

It will be hard convincing Islamists that the legitimate way to power is through the ballot box.

Creative outlets

"The Highlanders" in a May 2012 performance.

“The Highlanders” in a May 2012 performance.


Since we got back from visiting Kelly’s family in Wisconsin over the Fourth of July holiday, I’ve been feeling the need to be more creative. Part of our time there was spent by me sitting around and playing guitar with Kelly’s uncle. I only knew a handful of chords (and songs) so we didn’t play many songs. The few songs we did play was enough for me to reignite my interest in guitar.

This summer we’ve been doing more with music as a family, too. Both kids’ recitals this year had a portion where the families of the students could perform a piece. Our family performed Ashokin Farewell as “The Highlanders.” Every Sunday evening we would practice the song together, me on guitar, Kelly on flute, Hallie on violin, and Travis on piano. I came to crave this hour each week set aside to play music.
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