Books, Beaches, Kamikazi Surfers

Hi!

Well, today is May 18…NOT May 10. How, exactly, do I know that? Teresa gets home from church and asks, “Mom, when are our library books due?”

I tell her that I think it’s around May 24, I looked last week and that’s what the receipts said.

“Well, remember, Mom, we got a bunch from the Newbury Park branch, then a few days later we went to the Main library for me, to get the ones I wanted for reading points at school.” Hmmmm.

I look at the receipts, and sure enough, there is the group I was looking at (due this coming week), and then there is another group of receipts behind that, that were all due…May 10.

You have to understand: this is a BIG DEAL for me. I have worked SO hard, over the years, to refine our library system! I am SO CAREFUL! This is very hard for me to take…Teresa goes to get the calculator. We owe $25.60. Sigh.


On a happier note, Frank has been here this weekend! It has been a scorcher: temps in the 90’s and just over 100 inland, so our reply yesterday was…to go to the beach! It’s around 20 degrees cooler there, breezy, and of course the water is freezing. It makes a world of difference with the wetsuits, though, so Frank and I take the boogie boards out. If you can get through the first 5 minutes, while your bare feet go numb, the rest of you actually adjusts.

The biggest challenge, I think, is the surfers. Now, to help you understand…GOOD surfers are not dangerous. Maybe to themselves, I guess, if they take on waves that are just too big. But the REALLY dangerous ones are the “Almost-Good” surfers. They are good enough to stand up and stay on the board, but not quite good enough to steer or dodge the people around them.

We float in the water with various other surfers, waiting for a wave. A wave comes, and if another surfer is only 20 feet away from you and they catch it first, there’s no telling where they’re going with it. Sometimes they whiz by and only miss you by inches.

I have my eye on a particularly big guy…he has an athletic build so he’s not fat, but he probably weighs 225 lbs. He can stand up on the board and ride it, but he has no control whatsoever and I’ve watched him “Almost Nail” other people a time or two. I am quick to envision myself getting mowed over by his speedy board, and he wouldn’t even notice. I signal to Frank a little ways off and point to this guy: “I’m afraid of him.” Frank nods in agreement.

Beach highlights this time include: digging in the sand, collecting man-eating-sized seaweed, and of course Teresa finds a dog whose owner is more than happy to let her exercise with him. The ocean is a never-ending source of natural entertainment for the kids, and therapy for me. We should definitely come here more often.

books, balmy, box step

Hola!

Another weekend, equals more days closer to spring and summer! (OK, I know, officially it IS spring.) Yesterday was amazing; I think it was over 90 degrees here. The kids went swimming, of course. First, it was a Library Day, followed by a Swimming Day.

Then last night was our church activity, a family dinner and Ballroom Dance Show. All in one day! Whew.

I bring up the dinner/Ballroom Dance Show activity, because that is my “job” right now in church, organizing the activities and making them happen. THIS time, we had a dance group come perform for us.

There is a group of high school students, all from this county so they are still pretty spread out, who ballroom dance. They practice every Saturday for 2 hours, and they perform each weekend for different groups around the county. It is quite a time commitment for them--they are really 'into it.' They also go each summer to BYU Ballroom Dance week, where they are taught by not only the university dance staff, but also national and international ballroom dance champions. Their show last night included the Charelston, different waltzes, the Tango, Fox Trot, and different routines to musical medleys: Fiddler on the Roof, Singin’ in the Rain, and Bye Bye Birdie. It was a really good show!

(Not to mention that because of my personal efforts, we did NOT run out of food. This is a very big deal, since my experience – or lack thereof – has not always yielded that result…Ha! I believe a good time was had by all.)

Frank, on the other hand, took a little road trip and drove…to MAINE yesterday! Yes, it was only a 2-hour drive or so. He said the kids would really love this drive—lots of lighthouses, and beaches with tide pools and rocks to climb. (OK, he didn’t actually see THIS lighthouse…but you get the idea.)

Have a great week! Love, Kari

(P.S. The kids swimming photo was actually a year ago in the Agua Azul River in Palenque, Mexico. I--gasp--did NOT take my camera to the pool yesterday!)