I haven’t been able to focus lately.
I don’t know if it is the mind-melting heat or the distant calls of summers past. But lately all I can think about is summer camp.
When I was little, my parents would send me to the local YMCA Day Camp for about a week each summer. I’m not sure how they do it in Texas but in Grove City, Penn. there is a small log cabin between the organization’s outdoor pool and the baseball fields that sits on a hill and acts as the control center for the week’s activities. Your parents drop you off and you trudge up the hill to the cabin to find out what schedule of activities you’re involved in and then go off with your group for the day.
There were horses, which I hated. There were bike rides through the woods, which was what we used to do everyday in my neighborhood so I never understood the point. There were hokey plays and I vaguely remember a large ice cream sundae made in a trough, which utterly freaked me out.
The one memory I have from summer camp that will forever stick out in my mind involves two of my older cousins setting off bottle rockets in the park and a fellow camper recognizing them. Imagine my surprise when the local police show up and question me about the mishap, basically asking me to rat out my cousins seeing how fireworks are illegal in Pennsylvania and all. I was 10.
But for all the complaining about summer camp, I did enjoy two activities everday. The swim lesson and the end of the day swim before you packed it up and went home were my best memories of day camp.
But by the time I was in third grade I realized I was not a camping kind of gal. I like the outdoors in small doses, but even as a child I didn’t necessarily love being filthy for long stretches of time. I did not fight my parents when they told me to shower.
Now enter my love for swimming. Around 5th grade, after a brief stint living in California we moved back to Pennsylvania and found a competitive swim team in the area that I joined. I wasn’t the fastest person on the swim team, but I wasn’t the worst. I got serious about training and was good enough.
So after my first year of swimming competitively, I convinced my parents to plunk down a wad of cash to send me to swim camp. While visions of Nike camps at elite swimming universities danced in my head, I was pulled down to earth when I discovered I would be going to local Division III college Coach Jim Longnecker’s swim camp.
Now came the tough call, was I going to go to the outdoors, woodsy summer camp (where you lived in cabins and trained in an outdoor pool at all hours of the day) or be a total wimp and attend the session at Grove City College, which as luck would have it would be in my hometown?
I’m not going to mince words, I do not wake up early to jump into an ice cold pool outdoors and shower off in cabins. I’m not the type that encourages her family to go camping.
Indoor camp, where we stayed at college dorms was much more my style.
So I suppose it comes down to this: I’ve never been camping. I’ve never slept on the ground in a tent for more than one night. Nor have I spent the night in a tent somewhere other than a friend’s backyard.
I’m a huge fan of running water and electricity and I am keen on sleeping in a bed.
However, once (or twice) a year I do make an exception and head back to my hometown and visit my friends for one of my favorite annual events: the cabin party. We go out, enjoy the cabin in all its majestic wonder and generally sleep in the back of a friend’s vehicle. I do admit I’ve hit a cot or two and slept on the pull out bed in the cabin once as well, quite the experience.
But this summer marks a departure for the crew. A weekend long bash has been scheduled and, with a loving nod to our collective youths, been dubbed summer camp.
While I didn’t pick up my Pennsylvania fishing license I do plan on throwing horse shoes, playing bocce ball, making macaroni necklaces and working on some sweet tie dye t-shirts. I’m going to sleep in a tent and probably cook things over a fire. (I’m also going to knock back some adult beverages)
Not to over romanticize this weekend getaway, I will be living without running water and that means navigating the David Bowie bog (think Labyrinth) and using the outhouse. It is my least favorite thing about the cabin, though since our boy Ron got engaged he has been better about remembering the ladies and packing toilet paper. Thanks buddy.
But the best part is reconnecting with my friends. This trip is extra special because I’m going to a bridal shower tea to celebrate my friends Ron and Pam’s pending nuptials. Just another milestone that makes me turn back and remember when we all took pre-school, gymnastics classes and yes attended the YMCA Day Camp together.
So until then I need to focus, not worry about the searing heat. Yes for the next week I need to be content and dream of Wolf Creek, stellar music and old friends around the fire.

I try to be as anti-conformist as possible at all times, so when my friends were all joining Facebook I was reluctant to join in. I was already splashing my personal stuff all over my MySpace page why did I need to broadcast more garbage on another social networking site.

To my amazement and surprise, I have actually become quite the Facebook aficionado. I am the biggest fan of Facebook.

This site gives you access to so many long lost faces and old friends. A simple search can rekindle friends you haven’t seen since elementary school.

My husband and I have actually been having a little competition to see who could find the most “true friends” on Facebook. Of course, I won. Although he is still trying to pass me and sadly he is catching up.

Finding friends has been so much fun. I changed schools when I moved from my hometown in 9^th grade. It is awesome to be able to find my friends from my hometown and catch up on all the things they have done with their lives since way back when.

My neighbor and I use it as a tool to communicate, without getting off our butts and walking over to each other’s house. How many people who live across the street from one another use a social networking site to invite each other? Crazy.

Facebook is like being able to talk to all of your friends on the phone everyday. Everybody posts their daily updates, so you can comment without ever picking up the phone.

For anyone refusing to jump on the social-networking-bandwagon, this site is a must do. Catch up with some old friends and maybe meet some new ones, and add me so that my husband doesn’t catch up.

For years I have wanted a Newfoundland puppy.

I had done extensive research on the breed after my daughter said she wanted a puppy. I had to find the right dog for our life and our family.

For those of you not familiar with a Newf they are huge, furry, drooling dogs that get between 150 and 200 lbs. I have never been a fan of small dogs. Any dog that I can fit in my purse wasn’t much of a dog. I think the bigger the better and this breed delivers some girth.

These dogs are bred for water rescue and they love to be submerged in the water. They are lazy and great with children. Perfect! I thought. This breed is for me!

So I spent the last year working with a reputable breeder in North Texas. Litter after litter I waited and waited. All I wanted was a healthy black puppy.

I was finally able to get a 14 week old puppy from a local breeder. She was perfect. She was black and sweet and her parents were huge. We brought the 36lb. puppy home.

She immediately went to the tile floor and flopped her huge body down and for the most part she can found in that same spot.

Of course she is your typical puppy. She runs off with our shoes never to be found again. She steals clothes in the middle of the night from the hampers. She chews on my beautiful rug and my furniture and she thinks that the trash belongs scattered throughout our house rather than in the can she found it in.

I have woken up in the middle of the night on several occasions to the sound of her little puppy teeth knowing on the handles of our very expensive dresser.

Our newf, like others of her breed loves to jump in the pool and swim around. The problem is when she decides that after swimming she would like to come back inside. It is already hard to block a 36lb. newf from barreling through the doorway if she so desires.

While there have been some interesting times with our new puppy in the first week of our puppy ownership, I am sure there will be more along the way. We all love our new member of our family and look forward to seeing all of Bella’s surprises big and small.

One of my goals is to visit all 50 states.
I’m almost there — having been to 43 of the 50. Sorry, Alaska, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and West Virginia.
I don’t know if there are official rules on whether you’ve visited a state or not.
I count Wisconsin, but I’d only been to the Milwaukee airport. I also count South Carolina and Indiana — even though I’d only stopped at a fast food restaurant along the highway.
My general rule of thumb is that I have to set foot in the state to claim I’ve been there.
That’s why for years I had an asterisk next to my visit to Mississippi; I’d only been a passenger on a bus between Alabama and Louisiana.
But I visited the northern part of the state — Tunica and Oxford — and then removed the asterisk.

I keep close track of the states I’ve visited and have a memory of each visit. I’d even gone somewhat out of my way on a couple of occasions just to see I’d been to a state.

I thought I’d rank the Top 10 States, and then offer thoughts on the other ones. Keep in mind, I haven’t been to every part of every state, so this is based on my experiences — more than the overall quality of each state mentioned.

1. Texas. I’m not being a “homer” on this one. People look at me kind of crazily when I tell them that I’ve always wanted to live in Texas. I think it’s just the combination of big cities (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin) along with outdoor opportunities (Big Bend National Park, the Guadalupe River, East Texas Pines, South Texas Beaches). Other than California, I don’t know what other state has such a wide variety of different geographical features. And it doesn’t hurt that the two things I enjoy the most in life — sports and country music — are widely followed in the Lone Star State. Few states, if any, have a music scene that’s as self-sufficient as Texas Music (Robert Earl Keen, Roger Creager, Kevin Fowler). And if all that weren’t enough, the people are some of the friendliest in the United States. I’m proud to call Texas home.

2. California. People don’t always realize that California has some of the best quiet, outdoors spots like Yosemite National Park and the quaint Gold Country. I enjoyed taking trips to those places while still enjoying the cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose. I hadn’t visited Southern California too much other than two trips to San Diego and another to Los Angeles. I haven’t traveled around the world much, but I would put the Monterey-Carmel Beach area up against any in the nation. The weather in California can’t be beat, except for the Central Valley where I lived for three years. It could be blazing hot in Stockton, and then you go 70 miles west to the San Francisco Bay, and you need to put on a jacket.

3. Tennessee. The Volunteer State is divided three ways — Memphis and West Tenn., Nashville and Middle Tenn. and East Tennessee. I’ve been to the first two and would love to check out the natural beauty of the third. I have a feeling that if I did that, TN might replace California in the No.2  spot.  Visiting Memphis was a really neat experience — between the musical history of Beale Street and the excellent cuisine, the Memphis Zoo, a Grizzlies game at The Pyramid in their final season at that building, shopping opportunities, the proximity to Tunica. But nothing could top my visit to Nashville two years ago for the CMA Music Festival. It’s every country music fan’s dream to check that place out. I saw performances at the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium as well as LP Field — home of the Tennessee Titans.

4. Arizona.  The Grand Canyon State has some of the best scenery in the United States. I actually visited the Canyon itself, but I enjoyed Sedona better. Maybe it’s because they are equally impressive, scenery-wise, but Sedona has shops, restaurants and more of a tourist-town feel. I know a lot of folks would strongly disagree with me and enjoy the less-touristy place. But I am one of the few people that admits to enjoying tourist traps. The Phoenix area is very nice as well, and I was surprised to find out that they have several mini-mountains that overlook the city. It’s a cool place to spend an afternoon and look down at the city lights.

5. Massachusetts. No Top 5 list would be complete without listing the Bay State — where I was born and lived until I was 20 years old. Boston is such a great town — for history buffs, sports fans or anyone that enjoys cuisine (including a good cup of Chowda). I haven’t been back to Boston since 2005, but it’s changed a lot – in terms of sports. I used to be able to walk up to a Red Sox or Celtics box office on gameday and buy tickets. Now, it’s tough to even get in the building. And the Patriots were the laughingstock of the NFL. These days, you might need a second mortgage to get a seat in the nosebleeds. I also enjoyed visiting Webster Lake, Riverside Park (since been renamed Six Flags New England), Copley Place, Harvard Square, riding the MBTA around the city and hanging out with one of my best friends, who now lives in New Jersey.

The next 5:

6. New York — I couldn’t believe the first time I visited the city. I’d never seen a place with that much going on. It was quite a positive experience. Upstate was pretty cool as well. Lake George is one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen in person.

7. Arkansas. The road between the I-540 corridor and Eureka Springs is long, winding and while you’re driving it — pretty annoying. But it’s worth every second of it when you arrive in the charming Northwest Arkansas town.

8. Missouri. I’ve lived in the Kansas City area, and KCMO is an underrated city. I haven’t spent a whole lot of time in St. Louis, but I enjoyed visiting The Arch. But the highlight of Missouri for me was visiting Branson with its natural beauty, good restaurants, live shows and just overall, fun stuff to do.

9. Vermont. Although I grew up in a neighboring state, I’ve only visited Vermont twice. Both times, I was amazed at the natural beauty. And it doesn’t hurt that you can visit the Ben & Jerry’s factory and get free samples

10. Colorado. I’ve only been there once (not counting layovers in the Denver Airport). Like Vermont, the mountains and the scenery make me want to go back and visit again.

I was listening to the radio on my way into work on Monday morning and my favorite radio station disc jockeys were discussing that the state was trying to get involved with excessive student absences.

Apparently, the state was thinking of ways to punish parents for a student’s absence. I remember thinking to myself who something about the program seemed wrong on so many levels.

My daughter recently underwent surgery and has missed a lot of school. Additionally, she has missed school in the past due to various illnesses over the last school year.

Upon realizing that she was nearing the maximum number of allowed absences, I started to really pay close attention to her being at school everyday at the 9:45 a.m. roll call.

I discussed this issue with the schools attendance lady to ask if there was anything I could do to provide information about her absences. She suggested me getting my family doctor to send notes about the days my daughter had missed.

I agreed that it would be no problem and had the doctor issue the appropriate notes addressing all of the missed days.

Thinking at this point the attendance issue had been resolved until, I got a call from the schools principal. The principal expressed concern for my daughter’s lack of attendance at school. She told me that the doctors notes were not valid because they had not been provided within two days of the actually absence. What a waste of time. Why did the attendance lady tell me to do it then?

This call came only after my daughter was sent home from school earlier that day from throwing up at school all over the lunch table. Apparently she had gone to the nurse earlier that day complaining about her upset stomach only to be sent back to class.

It seems that my daughter’s tardiness and early dismissal affect the happiness of the schools attendance Nazi and she felt compelled to complain to the schools principal.

I explained to the principal that my daughter has issues with her immune system and that she had health problems since very early on. Why would does some school employee care so much about the comings and goings of my daughter? Does this Nazi care about all the children this much?

My question…Can a school district really hold a child back who is making A’s and B’s because of missed school days explained by a doctor? Does that make sense?

I understand that she needs to be in school. I understand that she needs to learn. I understand that she needs to follow the rules. I understand why parents choose to avoid these politics by home-schooling their children.

Are parents sending their kids to school ill? Is this why my daughter is sick all the time? Everyone else is sending their sick children to infect others? I know parents who pull their children out of school for a week to go to Disney World, am I wrong to think they are probably not receiving the same type of harassment?

For those who have known me since high school, you probably knew the ambitious girl who swore to never have children.

I admit that I was a tad selfish and thought myself to career orientated to be slowed down by diapers and school projects. The last thing I wanted was a mini-van and a house in yuppie suburbia.

Then came child.

I admit that my daughter came as quite a surprise. Not only had I not planned a child, but I was told very early on that medically speaking I couldn’t.

It is amazing how quickly you can be traveling feverously down life’s highways and then find yourself detouring and headed in a completely different direction. This selfish, career-minded individual turned herself into a child-loving, soccer mom.

My world revolves around my daughter, who by the way, sets the sun in my sky…oh, and yours too! I hear people say all the time they are not ready for a child, or they think they would not make a good parent.

Well take it from someone who has definitely been there…you are never ready. Parenting is like swimming; you just have jump in head first, and then just start paddling. The difference is, you will never be tired of being a parent and the satisfaction from keeping your head above the water as a parent will be the greatest satisfaction you will ever feel.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of learning along the way. You both learn things and teach one another some of life’s great lessons. I am still learning from my mini-me and she is still learning from me and probably some things she shouldn’t.

A child is a part of you like no other person. They provide you the unconditional love that you will never experience with any other human being. A child can look at you in a way that melts you, amazes you, and makes you feel more proud than any other moment.

So to all those couples with that slight feeling of hesitation, take the plunge. Share your life with a small piece of each of you. You won’t regret one moment.

For all my single friends, you can wait…you are not ready yet. Buy a dog and start practicing. Taking care of the dog that is.

I realize now, that if I were truly committed to getting in shape I’d join the local volunteer fire department instead of the YMCA.

On Monday night, I finally went out on my largely publicized and anticipated ride along with the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department.

One of the less publicized aspects I experienced first hand is the sheer weight, heft and thickness of the equipment they wear and haul around on their backs.  I was standing perfectly still preening for pictures and worked up enough sweat to transfer approximately 5/8 of my makeup into the mask they insisted I try on. 

As photographic evidence indicates I’m without a doubt one of the shortest and roundest people to put on a fireman’s or firewoman’s uniform.

What blows my mind? Volunteers run around and put out fires, save people and property in said get up.  At one point in the evening, on the way to a call, I put the pants on and though sweating really began to dig the suspenders.  I walked entirely slower than normal and struggled with steps, but I really liked the suspenders.

(What happened to suspenders that they fell way-side and belts began to reign supreme?  While my accessory argument is a mere tangent, it may be subject to further investigation later on in a post … stay tuned for my investigation).

While I was given the jacket, pants and boots when I first got there, the next awesome thing was the t-shirt.  I got to rock a Cy-Fair VFD t-shirt for the duration, which included dinner at Fuddruckers.

Funny thing about firefighters in public they garner a lot of attention.

Aside from the kids who were thrilled to climb on the fire truck, there were quite a bit of stares.  I don’t think the guys notices or maybe they are just used to it.  But I did notice one person in particular, a young lady around my age, giving me the stink eye.  The staring was not subtle.  It was that one-raised eyebrow look that said I’m completely baffled by you and your mere existence. 

I was convinced my hair was all jacked up from hood, face mask and helmet combo I posed in earlier for pictures.  But no, hair was still intact.

This happened again later in the evening.

While out on a call, this man living in the apartments referred to me as “little lady” and thanked me for protecting him.  I quickly thanked him for the nice compliment but corrected him, no indeed I was not a firefighter but a reporter along for the ride.  He quickly walked away.

Ah yes, sometimes this profession is like wearing human repellant.

The thing that really struck me the most was the camaraderie between the men manning Monday night.  Here are five guys from all different walks of life –teacher, student, professional emergency services– who are going to be around each other for approximately 12 hours.  Not only is the proximity enough to drive people crazy, you have to trust them with your life if need be.

The respect and idea of service was probably one of the coolest dynamics.  I hope they read this, because I don’t know if they recognize it or not.  Despite their jokes and merciless mocking, the respect for themselves, each other and the job has to be there or they’d quit showing up.

The funny business dovetails nicely with my final point.

One of the more entertaining observations of my night was how the guys acted around me, as if they were quick not to offend my lady-like sensibilities.  This without a doubt was super considerate and sweet.  But for those that know me, this is when we cue the laugh track.

So if there was some comment or joke made mocking another firefighter, some insult that would in some how deal a blow to his ego they’d look at me and apologize. 

Like worse stuff hasn’t come out of my mouth.

As if I don’t have three brothers of my own and a multitude of cousins that I think at times were worse than having big brothers. 

If the cops aren’t calling me for questioning, then my delicate sensibilities are still in tact gentleman. 

So to my new friends, I say thank you.  I had a blast, even when you convinced me I should gear up in the moving truck.  Just remember what happened to the boy who cried wolf.

I’ve been invited back for a second ride along, which is so cool.  I think this time I’ll try and plan it closer to the weekend, so there is built in time for me to rest afterwards.  Had I not been up working Sunday night into Monday morning and taken time to sleep Monday instead of writing, I think I’d been more rested and wouldn’t have felt completely destroy this week.

I woke up Wednesday and wondered how these guys can do this once a month, let alone once a week.

Dear readers I will keep you posted on my decision and give you an update if I head out with the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department again. 

But until then I’m going to do some research about those suspenders…

According to several sources there has been a dramatic increase in scooter-related injuries in the past year; this is not surprising considering the huge surge in scooter purchases. However, some of the injuries are severe or even fatal, and parents should all be aware of the risks before blindly providing a scooter for their little ones.
Last week my daughter was on her scooter coming home from school. She was hurrying down the sidewalk when she went over the top of the scooter and went hand and face first into the concrete sidewalk.

She was rushed to the hospital emergency room. We were told she would need surgery and were sent downtown to Texas Children’s in the medical center.

After of hours in the waiting room of Texas Children’s we were moved into an examination room where we stayed through the night and into the wee hours of the morning.

We were told that she would need surgery. She had dislocated her elbow and broken the bone in her upper arm.

She went into surgery the next day and the placed her elbow back into position and then placed pins in her arm to hold the bone in place. She was casted from her fingers to her shoulder.

Nothing is more difficult than to see you child in pain and to feel completely helpless to do anything about it. I think I cried more than she did.

All of this caused from a simple ride home from school on a scooter.

After the accident I started investigating the frequency of these accidents. Needless to say, her scooter went straight to the end of the driveway and hopeful made its way to a pile of junk that will serve no purpose other than landfill.

Here are a few statistics I found after the accident.

Don’t find out the hard way, like we did. Be aware…

• Consumer Product Safety Commission data show that there were more than
   8,600 scooter-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in one
   month alone. Most involved broken arms, legs, wrists or ankles.
• The CPSC has documented over 30,000 injuries to scooter riders so far
   this year. An unfortunate number have been fatal.
• Most injuries resulted when riders fell from the scooter.
• The CPSC estimates that more than 60 percent of injuries could be
   prevented or reduced in severity if protective gear has been worn.
• Most deaths from scooter and motorcycle accidents are a result of head
   injuries.
• Nearly 90 percent of the injuries are to children under 15 years of age.

In the last year there have been a couple signs that I’m getting older.

I had a week where I found five white hairs growing amidst my auburn hair. I battled a ridiculous case of heartburn for a month and recently I’ve been going to bed around 10 p.m. –it has been enough to make me feel like I should enroll in AARP.

But this weekend solidified the inescapable truth, I’m getting older. Now, I realize 26 isn’t old and I have no qualms with getting older. It’s just the realization maybe I can’t do what I did at 20–things like staying up all night, heavy drinking and sleeping anywhere I can find a blanket.

I was in Ohio for a wedding in my family. I flew in Friday and didn’t get in until about 11 p.m.

For clarity’s sake I should explain, I have an enormous family. My mother is one of 10 children. There are 32 grandkids, which make approximately 27 cousins for me and we’re all really close. For most of us, we feel more like friends than family we’re required by law to love. Don’t get me wrong having that many people in one location is crazy sometimes, but it’s always a ton of fun.

It was a beautiful ceremony. My cousin Lorianne looked radiant and per the usual we all had a great time together.

On Saturday, I got up at 7 a.m. to get ready go to the church and help out and prepare for my reading during the mass but by 3 p.m. I was ready for at least a nap if not a full night’s sleep.

Hanging with the college age set of cousins made me realize college was a long time ago and in the four years since I’ve grown up more than I’d like to admit.

I had two drinks when we got to the reception and I was not interested in drinking much more. This is not to say I didn’t go to the bar and get more drinks. The weird thing is I’d go up, get a drink and then maybe go to the buffet, go talk to a relative, go dance, go to the bathroom and each time the drink would disappear from the table.

I’m not accusing anyone of anything, but I surmise those underage were scavenging my drinks.

Sunday morning we got up early for a mass being said for my cousin and afterwards all I wanted to do was curl up on a couch and fall into a deep coma-like sleep.

The family crew rolled out to the lake for some fun, sun, fishing and wakeboarding. I opted to stick around the house and clean up the church with my aunts and cousin Em.

Flowers in full bloom throughout Ohio meant the pollen and allergens were floating carelessly in the breeze assaulting my nasal passage, my sinuses, my eyes and making me cough incessantly.

By the time I got to the airport for my 6:30 p.m. flight I was exhausted. I was still coughing a ton when I boarded the plane. I found my seat, placed my purse under my chair and proceeded to pass out with my head awkwardly placed on my left shoulder before they closed the plane door. I slept through take off and for the next three hours. I only woke up 15 minutes prior to landing because my ears started popping.

As we landed I could feel myself getting drowsy and I was fighting to keep my eyes open, you know that drooping head thing little kids do when they are fighting off sleep. Yah, I was totally doing that on the plane.

Try as I might fight the sleep, I knew I had to get psyched for the rest of my evening. I had my big ride-a-long with the fire department. Needless to say I didn’t get to my house until 10:30 p.m. I hadn’t eaten or showered since the morning and was in no shape to go observe our local firefighters in action.

I couldn’t keep my eyes open and no amount of coffee was going to change that. Plus I just wanted to take some allergy medicine and cough syrup and hope the coughing would die down enough for me to get some rest.

With a heavy heart I contacted the fire department, fearing I would be forever known as the flake and came into work worrying about the inevitable phone conversation. But lucky for me the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department has to have the coolest guys ever. They weren’t mad; it had been a quiet night at the station without calls.

As it turns out I would have slept on a bunk bed and gotten rest instead of being out on the ladder truck. So dear reader, I know you were eager to find out how my night went but alas, you have to wait. The newly designated ride-a-long date is tentatively being scheduled for next Monday night and this time I’ll be ready.

In the mean time I need to get some rest and Claritin. My cough already came back.