In Love With The Socks A Student Gave Me After His Semester In London (A Gift From the Past)

I now have Big Ben socks, brought and bought to me from London from a student I had in Philosophy of Education - an English Education/Philosophy major who studied abroad in my ol' stomping grounds. I've said for years that there's not enough funky socks for scholars like me, but now I have some.

Throwback. 1992. I was 19 years old and I studied in London for the first time in a program called Literature of Exile and the Black British Experience with Chaucer Scholar, Bernard Levy, and post-colonialist Dr. Carol Boyce Davies. To say that the time abroad changed my life is an understatement. The people I met while away, the literature I read, the theater I attended and the locations I traveled were life-changing and beautiful.

I didn't return to the Isle until a decade or so later, when I was 27, and it was my last hoorah as a young person - Cambridge University and a Humana Scholar to study Shakespeare. I never got cool socks like these.

Yesterday was a back-to-the office day, where Dr. Kelly Chandler-Olcott was interviewed by Tanya Baker of the National Writing Project and where I could share the slight insight I had as a graduate student who participated in the first year of the study. Kelly did her doctoral work in Tanya's classroom. The circles were all connected on the show and I look forward to seeing how it comes out after an hour of recording.

The evening ended in a pool and with a series of Nailed It Netflix shows. Today is designed for new student interviews, a haircut and a dinner. It's hot, and also sad that I'm seeing the freedom of summer hours slowly disappearing (and I'm watching them go by on my Big Ben socks).

Very appreciative, however, of the new leg wear...they bring back memories, indeed.

I Wanted a Mommy Post, So I'm Writing One...And As She's Reading It To My Father, I'm Sure He's Like, "What? What?"

My Monday started out grande and I accomplished a lot - too much, so when an unexpected storm came in the afternoon, I got monkey brained and couldn't concentrate on what to do next. I wanted to get groceries, but the timing of the rain kept me inside, making me resent the reading, writing, thinking routine, which impacted my evening plans for what I wanted to write about. That will come. I just need my brain to be more academic and not so...

...so...

...well, summer-like. I really enjoyed my short time in Syracuse laughing with my mom, sharing with her Frankie and Grace (while she shared the Colbert interview by Anderson Cooper and a documentary on the resurrection of Queen - yes, there's a documentary on the resurrection of Queen and I had no idea that an American Idol winner was leading it. It was really good, and although I was resistant at first because I was on my computer, eventually I found myself listening to the story rather than creating my own online. I always loved their music, but watching the interviews made me really, really respect the integrity of the band and the mission. That Lambert guy can sing, too. I see why they saw a natural fit to keep the Mercury passion alive).

It's great to see that my sideburns and chin are matching the top of her head now (she left the Suzy Ohrman blonde for total gray a few years ago. It's nice).

And she didn't make me watch Days of Our Lives. I was thankful. And when I made her a bowl of cherry ice cream with chocolate sauce instead of peanut butter and chocolate (how was I supposed to know it was downstairs in the freezer) she was appreciative and thankful.

While running at home, I started to remember her story of the time I tried to slide into second base (fat butterball kid that I was), but did so way too soon. Like halfway between first and second. So I got stuck nowhere near the base. I was stealing bases and the catcher through the ball. The 2nd basement caught it and was stunned that I slid so soon and was crawling on my hands and knees trying to get the base. He was so stunned that he didn't tag me. He watched like, "What is this chunky kid doing?" At the time, she didn't laugh at the event, but later on, over the years, it was a story that would play in her head that made her giggle. We all get the nose wiggle from her.

There was another time when she and I took the school bus to see Cynde perform in Albany at a Midyork Colorguard competition when the two of us got separated. She reported me missing and the announcer called me and called me to come to the table. They expected to see little boy, a toddler, when I approached the table, but I was a teenager at the junior high school. I was so embarrassed. They did a lost kid alert.

It's not Mother's Day or a birthday or any holiday. It's August 20th and I love my mom: her humor, her patience, her dedication, her love of reading, her encouragement of my schooling, her acceptance of a beautiful world, her love for my father, and her occasional drunk episodes (like the one time she had one at the Clam Bar for my father's retirement party...she was higher than a kit on cold medication and White Russians - it was hysterical).

This morning, I head back to the office for meetings, a radio show, some writing time and semester planning. I can accomplish all that I do, because she helped me to get there. I am appreciative and grateful.

Roughed It a Couple of Days in the Adirondack. Of Course, It Could Have Been Rougher. It Was Beautiful.

For the last year, Chitunga has had access to a river home in the Adirondack, Croghan, NY. He's been spending most weekends in this retreat and has been trying to get me to visit for some time. I finally found it while visiting my parents.

Throwback. Flashback.

Lebanon. St. Lawrence. Kentucky. I have lived a camp-love life, and I enjoyed every second of being on Beaver River. There was no Internet and the electricity was spotty (when the generator didn't didn't kick in), but that was okay. There was the outdoors.

We were on a dirt road 30 minutes from civilization. I loved it for the weekend and the view was magnificent. It was also fantastic to have bonding time with the kid. We canoed, went to dinner, chatted (but man I wish we had fishing poles).

I can say, though, that my days for nature aren't what they used to be. I used to live for being outdoors and in the green. This time, I was a little perturbed by horse flies and also wondered where all the wild life (or wildlings, as Chitunga calls them) were. There were plenty of butterfly, but I wanted deer, fox, moose and bear. We didn't even see a fish jump in the water and the highlight was Canadian Geese and and one Kingfisher. My allergies are also ridiculous and I have to admit - technology is a part of my being...breaking away was more difficult than I imagined.
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The other intrigue that presented itself to me is that Chitunga is LOVING the serenity of this life and spending a lot o this weekends here and on his own. I told him, "Dude, don't break a bone. I don't think there's a hospital for 30 miles." Actually, there weren't even restaurants (although the one we found in Stillwater with the galaxy of hummingbirds (it's claim to fame) was absolutely stunning. The food was great, too.

The dirt roads? Hmmm. The on again, off again of electricity. Okay. The inability to access the Internet 24/7 (insert biting nails emojis here). It's official. I have been transformed into a modern man and my long-haired hippy days are a thing of the past.

It was good for 2 days, but I don't think I could last much longer. I admired (was stunned, in awe of, and appreciated) Chitunga for his connection to the place. I felt it. I get it. I desire it and I miss it. But phew...has my life gone far from what it once was.

This time, leaving family and CNY, added the extra bonus of leaving the beauty of upstate in New York. It was a great trip home.

Next time, I will have a fishing pole and license, however. I like to sit still, but I also like to be doing!

Day Two of Being Naked and Afraid in Upstate New York. It's All Good. I Will Fill You In on the Story Later

This nature living is tons of fun. Happy Sunday, People...day two without the internet and a pre-programmed post for this day.

We're returning, so I'm not too worried about not being connected.

Day One Without Internet (Post Initiated the Day Before We Left). Headed Out of Civilization with Chitunga

Their pill boxes are clean and they were fed with Wegman's subs. Pops wore his Superman t-shirt and they promised to watch the dog all weekend (I took her for a long walk just in case).

Chitunga and I are heading to a summer camp in Croghan, New York where I hope to not be eaten by a bear and where, I hear, there is no service to civilization. I'm anticipating a weekend of much reading, incredible nature and umbrellas (it's supposed to rain while we're there).

This is Old Forge land, where my mother flipped from a snowmobile and once broker her shoulder (imagine that, just a few miles from where she walked into the wall at the St. Lawrence's River).

I feel like I'm revisiting my days in Rochester, Vermont, where I was out of human contact for days.

Here we go.

And Then There Was the Time Crandall Circled the Entire City of Syracuse, Without Getting Out in Syracuse

Dad and I started early looking for patio umbrellas or canopies to replace the one that blew over yesterday. Guess what commercial society? Halloween and Christmas stuff is going up. Forget about summer.

Later in the afternoon after the run and finishing the pool, I headed out to Liverpool looking at the stores there. Nope. Then, I headed to Manlius to see Casey, Dave and the boys.- a quick trip, indeed - before heading to Marcellus to pick up Chitunga, then driving to Memphis to have dinner with my prom date, Kirsten, who moved into a new house with her puppy pugs Stella and Beatrice (who took to China and anything that moves).

This was a great evening, although staying at Kirsten's was short-lived because I needed to return to Marcellus and then back out to Clay to watch (cough cough) Big Brother. Whoops. Mom didn't record it and didn't know what happened. It was all good because we ate dad's cherry ice cream with a little chocolate syrup.

Hard to believe that next spring will be the 30th anniversary from taking this girl to the senior ball. This is what 29 years of adult life look like, although Kirsten doesn't have gray hair on her chin like this geezer.

So appreciative of the dinner, the company, the smiles, the puppies and the opportunity to slightly catch up (now if I can only get her to Connecticut to visit).

Okay, Friday. Looks like I'm attempting a 48 off-the-grid experience in the Adirondacks. 

Started Cooking in Summer Head, but By the Time We Finished Eating, It Felt Like Fall Was Coming (Shhhh)

With a short-lived time in Syracuse, and the only weather day of the week with full sun, Wednesday needed to be a barbecue and pool day (although the pool day was short lived because of doctor's appointments). Still, there was time to grill scallops, mushrooms stuffed with lobster, steak, asparagus, potatoes and assorted vegetables. All of it was delicious and wonderful...

...except a strange wind came up and blew my father's giant umbrella inside out (the one that protects the back patio from the sun) and that was that. The metal bars were broke and the item destroyed. I was at the grill and missed the entire thing...snap of fingers fast.

Today, the goal is to vacuum the second half of the pool, to help my father with the broken umbrella and to do whatever other chore needs to be done around the house.

Mom and dad are exhausted. The day without naps did them in and they conked out rather early last night.

There's still more vegetables and meat to grill and perhaps I'll be able to do that tomorrow for them so they have that after I leave.

Also, so wonderful to have another dinner with Rhiannon and to be able to see her at least once this summer - we were slightly able to keep the tradition alive, albeit too short without a Connecticut trip this year.

I guess I'm beginning to taste a new school year creeping upon us - the inevitable can't be avoided, although I just got to turn the chapter of the last year as a result of summer programs. Well, it's time to rethink them all over again and to inhale for another academic year.

Phew. It goes way too fast.