My Adventures Part Duex

Does being in NYC on St. Patrick's Day with my garments on backwards count? What about the time I went #2 in the ocean (had a really good reason & yes it still embarasses me)? Then there was the time that our family dog was being chased down by Jazzy and Tommy (you know exactly what I am talking about)...and taunting Jazz about gynelotrimin and his tirade with the red bat. There was the time I kind of wrecked my Dad's Porsche and the Friday night parties at my home. I had nothing to do with cigars being lit on the stove and kicked those guys out, the food fight (I still feel bad about the raisons smached in the carpet, Dad) or the missing champagne (Richie was not welcome back) but I will take credit for in part for Dave's underwear in the freezer (sorry you had to find that, Dad!) again I was the mastermind but didn't actually do it.

There were trips to Philly, trips to NYC to visit Stady and belly dancing in Allentown. Yes, I bought a car on a credit card and yes it required that it be pushed to pop the clutch to start it. I loved that baby jeep, can't believe it survived the mud bogging (can't believe WE surived Clanc!) and still can't believe Clancy was brave enough to balance on the roll bar while in motion (I so agree with the cop on this one)! There were plenty of cross country road trips with all kinds of experiences (waking up behind the wheel only to learn we were going side ways at 65 mph on I-80) and I still contend that it is not my fault my Dad involved the State Police from two different states that one time and I'm pretty sure there is still a warrant for my arrest in Idaho but at least my car wasn't impounded like Trace's was that day!

There are plenty of crazy anecdotes from my mish (I so am not a child of hell) and one too many stories from the cottage (which I would prefer to forget). I clearly remember the day I ruined the piano recital at the Villa (Cathelic Conservatory and it was an awful accident) and the time I hit the guy on his bike (his name was Freddy but all of his friends called him Spaz and I don't care what anyone thinks...trying to pry his bike from underneath my car through my tears was no easy feat!) Senior week is another memory with lots of laughs and I'm still aghast that Tammy and I ended up in Delaware.

Again, most of these stories can be reduced to the bottom line; it was always something silly and always just my stupid luck! Lucky Charms, right here. I really was a scaredy cat of the ultimate kind (still am) and quite innocent in most cirucmstances (except for being a guilt riddled observer which I know is just as bad and also the reason I ended up in court that one time). I won't take the time to explain each of these things but again I contend that I have never done drugs, never had detention, painfully feared consequance and hated the idea of letting anyone down. My Dad has only ever yelled at my twice in my life and far worse than those two times was the sting of 'I'm so disappointed in you' that one time (going back to the court appearance!) None of this is to say that I haven't significantly shredded his nerves while he was worrying about my silly self.

The fact of the matter is that most of my 'adventures' are relatively small, more humorous in nature then actually adventurous. If you read any of the comments from my last post I will admit that yes, in HS I had a bit of a run in with eggs. Keep in mind that Route 80 passes through Danville (across the Susquehanna River from Riverside and also where I went to school). My best friend Michelle and I giggled lots, got regular sugar highs from eating pixie stix, dyed our hair with Kool-Aid and took way too many crazy pictures of ourselves doing nothing.

She was the wild one, the brave one and we always had tons of fun. I worked for her parents and dated her older brother. She was 2 years younger than me, full of personality and for a period of several years we were inseparable. After I turned 16 we had a blast in 'Blaze'. Blaze was my little tomato red (the kind of tomato that needs to sit in the sun a little bit longer to really get red) Mazda 323 that my parents had bought for me the summer before my 16th birthday while I was at the beach with Michelle and her family. The license plate read, 'BRITTA1' and again, I was okay with that regardless of what anyone thought.

Michelle and I were always looking for fun and getting into just enough mischievous to giggle our guts out. We use to blast songs like 'Rump Shaker' and sing along to 'Life is a Highway'. We went through a period where we would go on egging sprees. I would drive and she was responsible for acutally throwing the eggs. Again, I was way too scared yet involved myself nonetheless. Granted I thought it was hilarious but I was far too fearful to actually throw the eggs. The paramont of this nonsensical deed was when we went out into the middle of no where (never took long) to an overpass of I-80. Again, I was the driver and she responsible for tossing the eggs down on the cars passing underneath us.

We bought more than enough eggs on the nights that we did this and rather enjoyed it when there was construction and traffic was down to one lane. Michelle reached a point where she didn't just toss the eggs over but would huck handfuls of them down as hard as she could and had her timing down to an art. Then we would bust it out of there to the gas station by the exit to try to catch the poor victims of our awful act cleaning their cars. It was bad, I know. We thought we were so funny and looking back I wish I would have seen the bigger picture but I would be lying if I didn't confess that it still makes me smile just a little tiny bit looking back and I'll also admit that I would be horrified if I knew my children were ever involved in such deeds now. Can we say h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e?

When this no longer seemed fun we bought the stinkiest cheese we could find (usually Limburger), left it in my garage for an extended period of time until it was substanitally ripe and then would rub it on people's mufflers late at night hoping that when they would turn their cars on it would generate an awful stink (later Clanc and I learned that an open can of sardines stuff under the seat was far more effective!). We had to drive with all of the windows down on these nights because it stunk so bad. It seemed ingenious compared to thinks like Tic-Tac-ing (throwing corn kernals at things in the Fall) and toilet papering (which I have never done). Again, I was the driver, Michelle was responsible for the cheese and we always hit up people that we knew. I can't say that it ever really stunk for our victims or even that they noticed but we thought we were pretty clever and more than that I think we enjoyed the thrill of it. Plus it brought way less guilt for me than the egging experience!

I suppose our activities in a small town were somewhat limited but regardless we had our share of 'small town' fun and managed to avoid hurting anyone in the process. I haven't always loved my small town but being away brought me a whole new appreciation for it. Michelle and I grew apart when she started smoking and then drinking. Despite my involvement in the other shanigans I knew that I wasn't interested in being associated to eithef of these things. That was really hard for me but again made me think about what I felt was right and how I really wanted to live my life. She was adorable and I did so enjoy our time together! We did mend our relationship but things were never the same and shortly thereafter I went away to college.

On the B Side: I love living life! I love remembering things from the past. The passage of time is so interesting to me. You know the past happened but you can't remember what it really felt like yet your mind recalls it. Life is about living and learning and from these things we grow and evolve. It's a beautiful process and it's natural that we will mess up, make mistakes and fall short. The important part is to LEARN and keep your eyes up! Life truly is an adventure!!

PS The only thing I do with eggs now is cook them and I just want you to know that if you are reading this you must post about your own adventures!!!!

What is the most adventuresome thing you have ever done?

From Clancy's Jar...(feel free to join in the fun with your own post of the same title!)

I believe it is very safe to say (and likely in agreement by those who know me well) that I am NOT adventurous. I pretty much grew up in a paper bag some where in the middle of Central Pennsylvania and frankly I'm way okay with that. I love home, I had a wonderful childhood and have many memories that still make me smile.

I never had detention, never had to stay after school or even had a teacher yell at me, haven't ever touched drugs of any kind and pretty much avoided most (but not all) trouble. I was always the girl in class who felt terrible if I even thought the teacher looked at me wrong and then I would go home and cry and obsess for days. I am super sensitive and strive to do things, do them well and do them right the first time. Um please note that I fail all of the time and still spend time in tears at the end of the day even as an adult!

I am terrified of consequence, motivated by guilt, pragmatic in most cases, a bit of a perfectionist in some realms, fear 'failure' like there's no tomorrow and have always been far too anxious for my own good. I think these things have kept me from living close to any edge. I'm okay with all of that too.

I grew up living next to my Maternal Grandparents in Riverside, PA. Riverside is a borough (doesn't qualify for a town!) with a convenience store, some railroad tracks and a whole bunch of farm land. We did have a Baptist Church, Post Office and laundry mat now that I think of it. I miss home and also my Grandparents like you wouldn't believe.

As a young girl I remember my cousins coming to visit my Grandparents. Once when I was 5 my cousins Jennifer (2 yrs my elder) and Christopher (1 yr my elder) decided it would be good to go door to door selling individuals cheese puffs out of a bag that they got from Mommom's (my best friend) pantry. I smiled along wanting to be included but specifically remember feeling hesitant and being embarrassed. I stood quietly hidden behind them upon the door steps as they presented their ridiculous money making proposal. When they ventured to cross Avenue G, I declined, listened to them chastise me for being a baby and walked home alone with my tears (we lived on Avenue H).

The point is that I knew that I was NOT allowed to cross Avenue G. It was a busier road (speed limit 35). I felt dumb and was sad walking home and as I got to the front of my home my Aunt Gerre (Chris' Mom) was in her blue Cadillac and she was on fire looking for them. I was not about to lie though I felt torn and didn't want to tattle. I remember Jenny and Chris sitting in time out crying in the dining room at my Grandmother's because they got in really big trouble. On top of it all they were mad at me because I 'told on them' and continued to taunt me because I wasn't 'brave' enough to walk up or cross Ave G.

I realize that this hardly qualifies for an adventure but it something that sticks out in my mind as one of those defining moments from very early on that left a deep impact upon my heart. What I really consider my grandest adventure is my search for self. While I cannot be sure when it started there are some significant milestones that are noteable. Unfortunately that is really a post of it's own and I'm not quite sure that adventure is over just yet!

On the B Side: I am grateful for all of the life experiences that make up who we become. It's amazing to me that we all have such unique personalities that are more innate than we realize. I think of my children and how entirely different they are despite the same circumstances that have surrounded them. We are all these little pre-packaged spirits that come here ready to learn and while we are influenced by the people that surround us and our environment there is so much that already makes up who we are quite naturally

Ahem! Your attention please. Introducing...

Adalie Elizabeth!
While she is not here yet we did catch some precious glimpes of our little girl last night! Keep in mind that I fully realize that I am completely biased but I do think she is absolutely beautiful! I also completely understand that these images are a mixture of science and art and do require the use of some imagination. Bear with me and admire our next tender addition!

We were relieved that she is healthy! She is free from a cleft palate, downs and spinal bifida. We also confirmed that she is indeed a SHE so there will be no big surprises! She weighs 3.6 lbs which is actually a titch smaller than she should be which is a relief given the diabetes. Here she is with her little right hand curled up by her pretty little face.
Here is her sweet little profile! She has a little nose identical to Kayla's. We got to see her moving around a little in real time which was plain amazing! My heart melted in wonder and awe.
On the B Side: Seeing our baby is not something that I can describe! It was surreal and wonderful and brought so much excitement to myself and Marky. The kids stayed attentive for the first few minutes but got bored pretty quickly. Nonetheless it was an extremely special experience for all of us. I feel so excited and energized and was able to step back and look at the big picture all over again. We are so crazy blessed and I am so excited from the inside out! xoxo