It’s Friday – Time to be Amazing
While it is easy to celebrate that the end of our work week in near, bring focus to today’s work and strive to be your best as the weekend draws closer.
Page 27 of 29
Wheels Up Pt. 3
The hardest of part of travelling out of state for hockey tournaments is trying to fit all of the luggage and all of the players into the trunk. It’s a bit of a game as you fight with the hockey bags, maneuver the suitcase and ultimately decided you can live with the sticks in the passenger compartment. Success comes with a true sense of accomplishment once you finally get it all to fit. Once we got the luggage jigsaw puzzle figured out in the trunk, we headed to my parent’s house in the Northern suburbs. The ride home was filled with the boys laughter and excited energy. They were excited to finally make it to our destination, and we were too, but we were exhausted and they were wired.
Michelle vs. the Trunk
Can she do it? Will she do it?
Victory is in hand!
Once at my mom’s house, Michelle and Andrew got acclimated and felt at home – like most people do at my parents- in short order. My mom was ready for us with plenty of fresh cookies to go around. My dad, two weeks post hip surgery, was surprisingly agile and mobile compared to what I had expected. My parents and my niece and nephew were thrilled to see us and our friends. Thankfully my parents were able to help us convince the boys they should take a nap before we headed to the Wild game. They fought taking a nap, but were soon asleep.
After a nice, lengthy nap we got ready and headed down to St. Paul to see the Minnesota Wild take on the Chicago Blackhawks in game 4 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a must win game for the Wild, so the Mayor and I were hoping our squad would show up. While I’ve been to several Wild games in Minnesota and Michelle had been to several Chicago home games, our boys had only been to Florida Panthers games. This was going to be a completely different experience for them.
We got to the game with plenty to spare having hit much less traffic than I had anticipated. Since we had the kids, we couldn’t really pre-game at McGovern’s or Tom Reid’s so we headed into the Excel Energy Center after buying some nice souvenirs. The kids were quick to notice that unlike at the Panther’s games, a lot of the crowd starting to file in was already drunk. Fortunately, neither the Mayor nor Andrew were shy about sharing their observations with others. They were a magnet for trouble and for the second night in a row, Michelle and I were convinced we were going to get shot or beat up on account of their mouths.
The pre-game started and their mouths were agape. The game experience in the Excel Energy Center is second to none as is the energy in the crowd. Having only been to Panthers games previously, the boys’ mouths were agape. They had never seen a building alive with that much energy. For them, the experience was incredible and one they still talk about to this day. As the festivities continued, the fans continued to file in and the boys continued to comment on how they were so drunk they had already spilled beer down the front of their pants.
Unfortunately for the Wild, the most dynamic part of their game was the pre-game and the introductions. They were flat the entirety of the game. The few chances they did have, they did their best to make Crawford look like a god of goal tending. While the Wild’s play was lackluster, the entertainment from the crowd around us was not. A couple comprised of a Wild and a Rangers fan, got into a huge fight and at the behest of the surrounding crowd and his other friends, he ditched her. There was drunk goal to the right of us that managed to fall down two rows barely spilling her beer and not hurting herself.
Perhaps the best moment of the game, was when Andrew started talking smack to the two fans sitting behind him and the Mayor. They were both drinking and one was spitting some chew. Andrew felt compelled to tell him that he was going to call his mother and let her know that her son is a drunk that chews. Thank god they had a sense of humor and thought that the boys were hilarious.
By the skin of our teeth, Michelle and I survived another adventurous night with our crazy boys. The Wild lost and the Blackhawks went on to become Stanley Cup champions that year. Two years later, the Mayor still talks about how incredible it was to be in the Excel Energy Center that night and be a part of the experience. Making new memories and sharing great experiences with my boys, their friends, and my friends is one of the best parts of having our kids participate in a travel sport.
Part 1 and part 2 of the story can be found below:
Walt Whitman Wednesday
This week’s wisdom Wednesday comes courtesy of Walt Whitman. Carpe Diem, choose to be happy and choose to live a life full of love, laughter and happiness.
Go Local
When I go to my favorite restaurant, I am a creature of habit. I always order the same dish the same way. I always look at the other menu items, but ultimately I decide to stick with what I know. My coffee is no different, which is why Selena or Adam always have it ready for me when I walk into Dunkin in the morning. I wish I could be more adventurous when it comes to dining out, but I hate spending money on food and then being disappointed.
There’s one exception to this rule and that is when I travel. If I’m travelling abroad, aside from my coffee habit, my creature of habit and safe food choices go out the window. To truly experience another culture, you have to delve into their cuisine and local dishes even if it is a bit scary. One rule we have in our house is when travelling abroad, you only get one McDonald’s trip so you can experience the different menus across the globe. All other meals should be eaten in local restaurants.
Most places are known for a specialty dish or two. In the Brittany region of France, they’re known for the delectable Kouign-amannn cake. This wonderful pastry is a round, crusty cake that comprises of layers of butter and sugar between layers of pastry. I know – it sounds awful right? I have craved this dessert since leaving Saint Malo in 2011.
Saint Malo is an incredible seaside city, where my husband’s grandfather happened to have landed in 1944 as part of the allied forces. Despite coming into the city under heavy Nazi fire, he was enthralled with its beauty and brought back two paintings of Saint Malo with him to the states when the war had ended. Saint Malo is also the city that Jacques Cartier departed from when he discovered Quebec. I never knew how much I would grow to love Jacques Cartier.
In 2016, we had the opportunity to travel to Quebec City for Peewee Quebec, which was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever taken. Thank god for Jacques Cartier discovering Canada because les petit pains au chocolats and other pastries in Quebec City tasted like they had been baked in France. The food in Quebec City. The cuisine of Quebec City is heavily influenced by Breton cuisine and what a tasty treat.
One night two of the moms, a hockey sister and I walked off the beaten path looking for a local bistro. We found the cutest little place that would seat us at their bar, so we wouldn’t have to wait too long. My friend Inga and I let the waitress order us her favorite dishes. I ended up with veal sweet bread dish and Inga ended up with a seafood dish. The food was incredible, though the sweet bread was a bit rich for my tummy. Quite frankly if I had known what it was, I probably wouldn’t have ordered it, but then I would have missed out on the experience.
The most important part of dinner, however, was dessert. After 5 years of waiting and searching high and low in North America, I found a restaurant that served Kouign-amann. It was absolutely amazing. As I ate it, it instantly took me back to Saint Malo and the gite in Normandy. The taste of the cake, combined with the memories of France and the new memories being created that night in Quebec City made for an incredible culinary experience. If we hadn’t gone off the beaten path, we would have missed out.
I look forward to exploring Norway and its foods with my boys this summer. The food, much like the land and the cities we will visit, is a connection to our Norwegian heritage. While my boys are pretty picky eaters at home, I’m hoping this trip abroad will broaden their taste buds.
My New Toy
After leaving the nice camera on the shelf for the last year or so I brushed it off, charged its battery and got the lenses ready for graduation. I bought the T2i for our trip to France back in 2011. If you’re travelling to Europe or planning any major trip, it is worthwhile to invest in a good camera. Many museums, cathedrals, castles, palaces and other landmarks prohibit flash photography, so you’ll need a camera that takes good pics in low light.
Since 2011 my Canon EOS Rebel T2i has served us well, but after 6 years, countless trips to Minnesota, countless hockey tournaments and countless school events culminating with Jake’s graduation it is time to move on. Truthfully, some of the photos from graduation were a bit cringe worthy. The T6i comes with an improved lens compared to the T2i. In addition, the camera is a bit heavy by current standards and lacks the connectivity to smartphones and computers built into the T6i and T7i.
The Canon EOS Rebel T6i can be controlled from my iphone. No more running and tripping to try and beat the timer when taking a group picture off a tripod. You can also review and manage images easily on your iphone, which is a huge plus.
In preparation for my trip overseas, I’ve been playing around with the camera to try and learn the different settings and familiarize myself with it. Fortunately, my puppies, my guinea pigs and my kids have been happy to oblige. My initial review of the Canon Rebel EOS T6i is that it is a huge upgrade compared to the T2i. It is light, easy to use and easy to navigate the menus. After my trip I will write a more comprehensive review. Here are some of the practice pictures.
Celebrating 18 Years of Jake
Today my oldest turned 18!!! As I sit here and try to figure out where time has gone, I can’t help but think of how proud I am of the man he has become. I am also amazed that well he is now 18 years old, I don’t look a day older than the day I delivered him. Amazing, I know!
The fact that he’s now an adult has thrown me for quite a loop. Although the benefits are many, I no longer have to pay the unaccompanied minor fee when the boys travel to Minnesota without us. There’s $150 saved! He can finally buy a lottery ticket, however, he informed me today he felt his money would be better spent on stocks. I’ll be referring him to Garth’s new book for some great pointers as he starts his investment journey.
This evening he brought Alexis to figure skating and she had some great gems for him including this nugget of gold. He needs to get a better job, so he can drive her in the limo she deserves. She definitely takes after her dad John. She also shared her plan to go to college and then get a good job, so she can buy a limo to be driven around in. I have to say I love her style!
Jake and his brothers enjoyed a nice dinner Sushi Yama and some Arrested Development. We had an awesome cake from Menchies with a hodgepodge of number candles after the Mayor failed to deliver his ear wax candle he had promised Jacob earlier. I’m sure Jacob more than a bit relieved that the Mayor failed to deliver the candle he promised would smell both like a fart and his ear.
In a little over two weeks, Jacob and I will head down to Miami to see Paul McCartney. I’m thrilled that my son’s dream gift was tickets to see one of my idols. As a Beatles fan since childhood, this concert is a dream for both Jake and I. Happy birthday Jake!!!!
To Be Or Not To Be
When the question is whether or not to be a helicopter parent, the answer is always not to be. Helicopter parents aren’t something I remember from my youth. I cannot recall a time where numerous parent volunteers populated the halls and the classroom my elementary school, but it is the case at my children’s school.
While there’s nothing wrong with volunteering in our kids classroom, it isn’t healthy when you’re child goes off to kindergarten and you go too. I remember when Goalielocks was in kindergarten he had a classmate whose mom was literally in class as a volunteer every single day. While it was awesome that she was able to help the teacher every day, it wasn’t healthy for her child to have her in class every day.
While my brothers and I were in middle school and high school, my parents were always there to support us, but they allowed us to make decisions and make mistakes. My parents were never involved in any of our relationships and certainly never orchestrated any of them. Present day, we parents like to meddle in our kids relationships, in our kids’ grades and all aspects of their lives.
The problem is if we handle every issue, every bump in the road our kids face, they will never learn to overcome obstacles on their own. This leaves them ill prepared for the obstacles they’ll face in their adult lives. As hard as it is to watch the stumble, we have to let them stumble and make mistakes. It is through these mistakes that they’ll learn critical thinking skills, that failure is okay and that we all make mistakes. Life lessons they’ll take forward into their adult life that are invaluable. The alternative of course is that we smother them as a helicopter parent and they turnout like Buster from Arrested Development.
Sage Advice
With my oldest about to turn 18, gulp, there have been a lot of talks in our house about the future and paving a path forward in life. The beautiful thing about high school graduation is that it is a clean, fresh start. A chance to take all that has been learned and forge forward into new learnings and to creating a life for ourselves. Even though most of us are slightly past high school graduation, maybe more than slightly, the advice is still pertinent. Here are three pieces of sage advice that can benefit us all.
First, whatever path you choose in life, whatever profession you choose do it well. Take pride in our craft and pour your heart and soul into it. To give it any less would be to short change yourself of both your full potential and opportunities. As Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently wrote, “a man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace.”
Secondly, don’t be afraid to choose the path less traveled. It is easy to follow the herd and a path that has been freshly cleared, but it is not always rewarding. This will make being passionate about what you do difficult. Blaze your own trail.
Lastly, the biggest challenge and the biggest accomplishment is to be authentically you. There is a constant pull, amplified by social media, for you to fit a certain mold. The pressure to dress and look like celebrities and influences is unending. The pressure to be the perfect spouse or parent is suffocating. Never mind the fact the definition of perfect parent depends on which day of the week it is, what season it may be and the time of day. If you try to keep up with the ever evolving standards, you’ll drive yourself crazy. If on the other hand you remain true to yourself, you can keep your sanity and should feel a great sense of accomplishment.