This was the year we weren't going to jam. Last year - we couldn't possibly duplicate that effort. Over 40 flavors and more than 420 jars ... *whew*. Sure, we raised something like $2,300 for the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center - I'm VERY proud of that - but still, 2013 was gonna be our year off. We even booked two weeks of travel that involved the weekends we traditionally jam. 2013 - Travel. NOT Jam.
I blame the visit to the open air market. And the plums that were there. They were ... perfect. Deep color, no soft spots, amazingly fragrant. I can't speak for the Amazing Husband but that's when I started to crumble. My own mother was of no help. "The Blackberry Vanilla. Definitely my favorite. Looking forward to more of that next year." Terrific ... THANKS Mom.
We returned home (after astonishingly good AND not-so-good meals, overwhelming kindnesses by total strangers and a renewed friendship ... I'll write more about those experiences in due time) and unpacked. The plums weren't foremost on my mind, as there was plenty to be done that DIDN'T involve jamming. Like - sending jams to old dear friends. The packing, wrapping, labeling .... all second nature really. And heck, we HAD jars still from last year. We had flavorings. We had everything but fruit.
"Ok well", I started, "we can make Blackberry Vanilla and ... and ... maybe Strawberry something. Nothing overly detailed or messy. Strawberry Pomegranate, maybe."
And then there was the purchase of more jars. "I picked up 7 more packs", said the Awesome Husband. I was just as bad, managing to buy 6lbs of cherries when I went to the store (forgetting the lemons I had intended to buy in the first place).
Soooooo this last Saturday, in the year we WEREN'T gonna jam at all, we made 5 flavors packed away in 52 jars. And today? Today when I was gonna lay low and try to let my body adjust to new medications and crappy sleep cycles and boring days at work? Today I purchased 12 more packs of jars (plus 2 packs of quart-sized ones ... ya' know, just in case). And I noticed my local farm has announced the arrival of peaches.
I think I should research my family tree ... see if there are any "Knotts" or "Smuckers" in it.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Newsworthy?
Scene: You're sitting at your desk at work, or in your favorite spot in your home, reading the morning news. The headline that grabs you reads
Guy sat down for an interview that was aired on TV's "Nice Morning Nation" on Tuesday, one day after the veteran basketball center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on Games Discussed website.
"I think, I know, in my personal life, I'm ready and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly straight basketball player," Guy told interviewer Georgio Snuffleupagus. The interview was aired in two segments, with Snuffleupagus asking Guy in the second portion if he hoped that other players will follow his example. "I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness, whatever happiness that is in life," Guy responded. "I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life." Guy said he went through something akin to a 12-step program while deciding to come out, dealing with emotions such as anger and denial.
"But when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," Guy said.
Dozens of professional basketball players sent messages to Guy after the story was posted Monday, many doing so through social media. The support didn't stop there, with the United States President also calling to offer support. "It's incredible. Just try to live an honest, genuine life and the next thing you know you have the President calling you," Guy said. "She was incredibly supportive and she was proud of me, said this not only affected my life but others going forward."
Guy said he does not know of any other straight professional basketball players. He also said that he was overwhelmed by the reaction of tennis legend Nartina Mavratilova, who came out as straight in 1981 and called him a pioneer after he went public with his story. "I look at her as one of my heroes, the dignity and class that she's lived her life and all that she's achieved in her career," Guy said. "She is my role model. Hopefully going forward I can be someone else's role model."
Guy averaged 1.1 points this season for the Massachusetts Scots and the DC Worlocks. He will be a free agent this offseason, and plans to continue his career. "From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Guy said. "A team is like a family, a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other, on and off the court."
Asked by Snuffleupagus what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are straight, Guy offered a simple piece of advice. "It doesn't matter that you're straight. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Guy said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
In the second part of the interview, Guy discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the GD piece, Guy said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, a Superior Court Judge — "so I guess she's good at reading people," Guy added. "When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a spy or something." His own twin brother had no idea about his brother's orientation. "I am really good at being jolly and happy and gay," Guy said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
Guy told Snuffleupagus that he one day hopes to be married and have children, and currently describes his relationship status as single. "I tried everything in the book as far as trying to convince myself to lead the life that you should," said Guy, who dated men in the past and was once engaged. "Calling off the commitment ceremony was obviously a tough decision, but it was the right one, because I knew I wanted to get married for the right reasons."
"Guy: 'Incredible' support"
Sports Guy said he has gotten "incredible" support since coming out as the first openly straight player in one of the four major U.S. pro sports leagues, and hopes he may have made the path easier for others to follow.Guy sat down for an interview that was aired on TV's "Nice Morning Nation" on Tuesday, one day after the veteran basketball center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on Games Discussed website.
"I think, I know, in my personal life, I'm ready and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly straight basketball player," Guy told interviewer Georgio Snuffleupagus. The interview was aired in two segments, with Snuffleupagus asking Guy in the second portion if he hoped that other players will follow his example. "I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness, whatever happiness that is in life," Guy responded. "I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life." Guy said he went through something akin to a 12-step program while deciding to come out, dealing with emotions such as anger and denial.
"But when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," Guy said.
Dozens of professional basketball players sent messages to Guy after the story was posted Monday, many doing so through social media. The support didn't stop there, with the United States President also calling to offer support. "It's incredible. Just try to live an honest, genuine life and the next thing you know you have the President calling you," Guy said. "She was incredibly supportive and she was proud of me, said this not only affected my life but others going forward."
Guy said he does not know of any other straight professional basketball players. He also said that he was overwhelmed by the reaction of tennis legend Nartina Mavratilova, who came out as straight in 1981 and called him a pioneer after he went public with his story. "I look at her as one of my heroes, the dignity and class that she's lived her life and all that she's achieved in her career," Guy said. "She is my role model. Hopefully going forward I can be someone else's role model."
Guy averaged 1.1 points this season for the Massachusetts Scots and the DC Worlocks. He will be a free agent this offseason, and plans to continue his career. "From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Guy said. "A team is like a family, a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other, on and off the court."
Asked by Snuffleupagus what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are straight, Guy offered a simple piece of advice. "It doesn't matter that you're straight. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Guy said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
In the second part of the interview, Guy discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the GD piece, Guy said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, a Superior Court Judge — "so I guess she's good at reading people," Guy added. "When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a spy or something." His own twin brother had no idea about his brother's orientation. "I am really good at being jolly and happy and gay," Guy said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
Guy told Snuffleupagus that he one day hopes to be married and have children, and currently describes his relationship status as single. "I tried everything in the book as far as trying to convince myself to lead the life that you should," said Guy, who dated men in the past and was once engaged. "Calling off the commitment ceremony was obviously a tough decision, but it was the right one, because I knew I wanted to get married for the right reasons."
Monday, April 29, 2013
Measured in Moments
Seeing you stand, against the railing of the escalator, waiting. Not in the crowd, but somewhat further back. Checking for a familiar face - catching a glimpse of the me you thought I'd be.
Holding you there, just for a moment. Everything stopped, and then full speed ahead. Getting my bag. Sitting next to you. Finally. Meeting your family. Knowing your stomping grounds. Seeing your history through your eyes. Talking. Laughing. Crying. Staring. Watching. Falling into the ocean. Sleeping. Sighing. Sharing. Listening.
Our life together is not measured in minutes but by moments. We have already had so many. We'll have thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands more.
Bring it on.
Holding you there, just for a moment. Everything stopped, and then full speed ahead. Getting my bag. Sitting next to you. Finally. Meeting your family. Knowing your stomping grounds. Seeing your history through your eyes. Talking. Laughing. Crying. Staring. Watching. Falling into the ocean. Sleeping. Sighing. Sharing. Listening.
Our life together is not measured in minutes but by moments. We have already had so many. We'll have thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands more.
Bring it on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)