Not Central Massachusetts

It maybe western and not central Massachusetts, but the lack of streets signs and the way one street has three names in just a couple miles reminds me that I am in New England.

This was the scenic view, as marked on the highway.  If I stood on my tippy-toes and held the camera up high I could see the river and scenic water tower.  I was expecting something more scenic than what could see from the road, but a river and lots of trees are scenic!

We had our first airbnb experience.  It was not so different from a hostel.  It had a good view of the Fifth of July fireworks and I found a Kestrel Land Trust trail to explore in the morning.

Onward!

Fun Fabulous Fourth

This was the winning theme and the kid who wrote it got to ride in the parade.  Without his parents, he was happy to point out.

And it was fabulous.  The first event was the Freedom 5000 and I came in 12 out of 86  in my age group, which not my best and not my worst.  Then we had breakfast at our place, which is just a couple blocks from the start and finish line.

After a quick shower I volunteered a the League of Women Voters' booth.
Maybe next year I'll volunteer with the Fourth of July committee.

We put out our blanket our blankets a few days before the parade and sat in our usual spot.

First are the police and firefighters,

followed by any kids and adults who want to ride or walk.

Uncle Sam followed by the Girl Scouts

Claremont City Council (all men for the first time in ages and ages)

Live music included the high school marching band, an adult marching band,
 and this group from Pilgrim Place, one of the local retirement communities.

the final entrant

The day finished with fireworks at the track, which I didn't try to photograph.  It is great to be able to ride over there, hang out with friends, and ride home.

I hope my kids have fond memories of these days.

What to do?

Read book recommended by Catherine Newman.

Invite friend into room.

Not shown - cups of water with string taped to both cup and inside of cabinet.
Not shown - video of people shouting after getting doused.

Be sure to hide this before unsuspecting victim turns on the water.

Buy balloons.

Fill and invite friend over.

Enjoy grandparents' pool.

Ah, summer vacation!

Mileage

Every six months our car insurance requires me to self-report our mileage.  If we don't drive to work where do we go?  This summer it has been to the airport.

Trips in June (and July 1).  So far.

Pick up D. from conference in D.C.
Take J. and kids to airport for trip to Cleveland.
Pick up kids (at 2 a.m., three and one-half hours late) from Cleveland.
Pick up J. from Cleveland (only one hour late).
Less than twelve hours later take D. for trip to Idaho.
Pick up friend returning from Stockholm.
Pick up D. from Idaho trip (10.5 hours late).
Pick up sister and nephew visiting from San Francisco.
About 18 hours later take sister and nephew back to airport!

Will It Never End?

I think we are lucky to still have an odometer that rolls over.

We also still have locks that have to be opened individually and manually
(and don't forget to hold up the handle when you close the door).

"What is this for?" a passenger recently asked.

I know these aren't the norm and I am learning to live with that, but today I was in for a shock.

Do you see where the optometrist is standing?  She never stood and flipped the little levers and rotated the lenses.  Of course she still said, "One or two?  Here is one again."  But everything was controlled electronically.

What will they replace next?  Maybe a new type of windshield wiper.  Until then you can listen to Allan Sherman sing Automation.

High School

Last year I had a chance to swim in my high school pool, which brought back so many memories.  You can see pictures here.  This year I had a chance to tour the whole school, but I was amazed how little I remembered.

The high school was built in 1927 and, thanks to the voters, the school will close next year while additions are removed and the entire school is renovated.

This is what it will look like in September 2017.

I don't think I have ever seen the hallways empty.
There were over 2000 people at the school and that was for grades 10-12.

I had forgotten about stairs at a school.
We even had a pool on the fourth floor and a fellow alum used it as the name of his play.

I spent ages and ages on these stairs, which are outside the bandroom.
They look exactly the same!  I think they are the same.

I had forgotten how much time I spent in the band room.
So many memories, especially of good times with my stand partner.

Probably the best part of the tour was walking around with classmates, exclaiming about what we saw and sharing stories.  I was so lucky to go to Cleveland Heights High School.

Three Really Good Things

I don't know where I first read the head of Zappos asks potential employees how lucky they are in life using a scale from one to ten.  He claims seven is the right answer because ten indicates you have been handed everything and a lower number is unlucky, which doesn't match the company vibe.

I won't say my life is a ten (why tempt the evil eye?), but this week (way more than) three good things happened.  I am lucky!

Growing up in Cleveland I listened to baseball on a transistor radio (smaller than this) with my mom.  While I was in town this week I had a chance to listen with her again (still on the a transistor radio) and heard a bottom of the tenth inning two-out two-strike grand-slam homerun.  It was even better than being at the game.

My glasses had some sort of fogginess damage that is similar to what is shown above.  I took them to them to the place of purchase and they claimed to have never seen anything like it, but for a couple hundred dollars I could get new lenses.  Pass.  I lived with it until I went running in the rain (not in Claremont, obviously!).  I could barely see so I wiped them on my shirt.  By the time I got home there was almost no visibility left.  "What would D. do?" I asked myself.  Search online for solutions that have worked for other people.  And there it was!  All I had to do was use some sunscreen with titanium dioxide (according to D., whom I consulted since I trusted his knowledge of material science or adhesives or something).  And it worked!  Bliss!  Joy!

The last good thing was bad at first.  My charger had been damaged and fixed, but because I was trying to maximize the wifi at my parents' house I damaged the same area and it wouldn't work at all.  I could make it until I got home, but it would have been convenient to use it.  I went about the day doing the important things, like deciding which Shelly Berman and Allan Sherman records I wanted.  While I was looking I noticed a charger near the printer.  It turned out to be from a laptop my parents no longer owned.  And it was the right size.  Now that is good luck!

There were way more than three really good things during my time in Cleveland, but these stick out in my mind.  Plus, I don't want to make it sound like my life is a ten in case I get an interview at Zappos.