Butterflies and Broken Legs...

It’s a gorgeous day and the husband is not coming home tonight until later because he is partaking in the manly ritual of the Fantasy Football draft, so I put out my options of things to do to occupy Jack for the entire day. Usually I keep him entertained (if that’s what you want to call it) until Steve comes home, then I take care of things that I can’t do with Jack around, especially with the broken leg. I decide to venture out to the Sweet Briar Nature Preserve in Smithtown. I went there about 2 to 3 years ago (pre-Jack) and it was pretty neat! There are trails through the preserve, perennial gardens, large birds of prey that are being rehabbed or just living their life there due to injury, goats, chickens, etc. Everything is free (almost) and the centerpiece of the establishment is a walk in, enclosed butterfly garden. When looking at the place online the last time I went, there was an admittance fee for the enclosure (maybe 2 bucks at most?), but when we went, there was just a “donation” jar at the entrance. I figured that it would be the same and I wasn’t going to throw another 20 in there like I did last time, and I didn’t have any cash, if I were to get cash, I would again have that same $20 bill dilemma. I said to myself that my last visit can grandfather me into this one.


So, I put the address in my Map App on my iPhone and drive on up there. We pull into the parking lot and I failed to remember that the walking paths are made up of small rocks. That’s ok though, I have my All-Terrain, 3 Wheeled Jeep Stroller! This will be no problem at all! I get everything together, strap broken leg boy in, give him his juice, and we are on our way! As we make our way into the park, we make our first encounter….the “other moms”. The particular place is situated in the center of a very affluent area. The Beamers and Mercedes SUV’s in the parking lot should have clued me in. As I approach the gaggle of “other moms” I can hear the loudening of husband bashing, spa mishaps, mani/pedi appointments, etc. As my vision becomes clearer to the scene, I get a good view of the strollers that cost more than my mortgage payment, each holding a frapa-crapa-latte-venti-soy-mochachino in the cup holder. Now, I will admit. I was not devoid of a drink myself. I had my DD Coolata, grape to be exact, perfectly planted in my super cool Jeep stroller. But DD Coolatas are like fancy Slurpees, so they don’t count as foofy in nature. No “other mom” encounter would be complete without children running all over and not listening to their mother’s wails to return. Ok….off to the butterflies…

We make our way through the perennial garden, say hello to a Bald Eagle, and come to a stop at the enclosure. Hmmmm…..no donation jar, but no one standing outside collecting money. I decide to make our way in, trying to navigate broken leg boy through the doorway and the plastic draped sheeting that is used to keep the butterflies from escaping. We are immediately met with butterflies coming in for a hello. Jack was cute, saying uh-fly and checking it all out. Then not two seconds after we are in and checking everything out, a squeaky little teenage girl comes over and apologetically says that I can’t bring a stroller in. I just point at his leg and she gives an astonished “oh!” We were told to just be really, really careful navigating through, to which I agreed and assured. Then I was told “Oh, and you can pay me too”….ummmm….ok? I fumble through my pockets knowing darn well I have no money while cast boy is pointing with excitement, and even say that the last time I was here there was no one collecting money, so I was unsure about what the deal was. Anyway, I wasn’t going to bust the poor girls chops, and Jack was very pitiful with his “Bye uh-flies” as we left.

Ok, what to do now? I decide to take us down an adjoining path that brings us to a large, open field. Hey look! Butterflies! Free Butterflies! Well, moths….white moths….but the kid doesn’t know the difference. I decide to head left towards the rest of the enclosures, but realize that the end of the path culminates with a “natural staircase”, otherwise called a steep hill with logs dug into the ground to provide some leveling and traction. Ummmmm, yeah, not good for a stroller, even my All Terrain 3 Wheeled Jeep Stroller. So I do a 180 and head follow the path that leads to the woods. Let’s see how that goes.

We pass our “Free Butterflies” again, and approach the dark and densely wooded area and I become pleasantly surprised that there is a very well kept, wide and flat trail, complete with benches and little informational displays about the tree types, wild life, etc. Alright, this is cool. Let’s see where it takes us.

So we stroll, and stroll, and stroll, and we are really enjoying ourselves. We wanted to see butterflies, but Jack was just as happy to say hello to every bird, squirrel, and any other critter that would pop out along the way. The path was nice and cool due to the trees shielding the sun, and the ground was well kept and flat. Then it ended. Literally. The path I was on stopped right next to someone’s backyard. OK? Ummm, where to now? I turn around and see a sign at where we just exited, and discover that this is a Long Island GreenBelt Trail, a series of hiking and running trails across Long Island. I was kind of surprised at the condition of the trail because the Trails I have been on in the past are not as defined as this was. Instead of going back the way we came, I decided to take the path that branched off at the entrance. I didn’t feel like listening to Jack scream about doing the same thing again (God Forbid), plus I assumed everything was similar to where I just was.

I was wrong.

So we start venturing out and begin to parallel a salt water marsh. OOooooh! Hey Jack! Look at the birds. OOOOUCH! God Damn Mosquitos!! No! No Jack! I am not hitting you! Uggg!

Ok, gotta get moving….I was now too far back from going to the familiar trail, so I keep going. Then I come to a “Natural Staircase”. Yup. The kind I avoided at the get go. Well, rather than going through “West Nile World”, I navigate Jack down the path, bonking him in his stroller at every “step”. He thought it was great. OK. At least we didn’t have to go up it.

So we keep going and again come to more salt water marsh, as well as some other “hikers” who were giving me a weird look – “Why is that nitwit in here with a kid in a cast in a stroller?” – then I find out why. The path, that was actually still somewhat flat, is now a bumpy, jagged mess of fallen logs, tree roots, and rocks. OK, do I go back up the “natural staircase”, or do I go across “the speed bumps.” The speed bumps are straight. Oh, and thanks for the sign describing the area as “Fallen Logs and Tree Roots”. Again, Jack finds this great. Thank God I was wearing a sports bra.

Ok…. “natural staircase”…. “West Nile World” … “Knobby Ground Land” … now what….yup…uphill staircase….but not just any natural staircase, twice as big as where I came down, complete with it’s own set of knobby tree roots, and “steps” spaced maybe 3 feet apart. Oh, and did I mention that the incline looked like it was a 75% angle.

So, I hunker down over the handle of the stroller like a mountain biker getting ready for an uphill competition. I get a running start and BAM! Hit the first step. The Jeep Stroller makes it over! Ok, next Step. BAM! Success. I try for the third step, get my momentum and run up towards the next obstacle. BAM! Handle Bars to the boobs! Ugggg! Momentum lost. Pain. Ok, time to re-evaluate.


Now being on the incline and situated between steps, I wouldn’t be able to get the momentum, so I decide to tilt the stroller back and try that way. Oh! It works! Wait, how did I get wet? Ok, let me try it again. Over! Great! Wait, why I am wet? Oh crap! My Coolata! At this point, Jack is uncontrollable with laughter. He is loving this. I am glad HE is having a good time. Alright, I need the Coolata in case I never made it out of here and I start to dehydrate, but I have no other place to put it than where it was in the cup holder. I guess I will have to sacrifice the potential life saving nourishment in hopes of reaching civilization.

UP.STEP.BAM.WET. UP.STEP.BAM.WET. UP.STEP.BAM.WET. UP.STEP.BAM.WET.

I finally get to the top, but had lost half my drink, was now covered in wet purple, and was on the verge of wheezing. “Mommy? Mommy? More? More?” Oh c’mon, bite me kid!

At the top of the hill there was a small sign on a tree with the number 5 on it. I wonder what the numbers mean. Ok….off we go. We encounter more of the same, almost in the same order, though not as severe. At the top of the next hill is the number 4. Oh! I hope this leads to humanity! More paths, more obstacles, more numbers. As I pass the sign with the number one, I see it. A clearing up ahead. What’s that? Are those voices? Oh! That building! I know that building! We made it! And we made it with our All Terrain 3 wheeled Jeep Stroller! Take THAT $800 Bugaboo Frog Stroller!

I will post the conclusion tomorrow!!!

Pee Face...

So I decide to take hobbled cast boy to the Holtsville Ecology Center today to spend some time outside on this beautiful day. For those who are not familiar with the location, the Ecology Center is a free, town run park/zoo. There are picnic tables, play grounds, a 1.2 mile walking/jogging path and a zoological section that houses goats, llamas, ducks, miniature horses and ponies, chickens, emus, cows, etc. It also provides a home for wildlife that has been rehabilitated and cannot be re-released: Bald Eagles, a gimpy footed Turkey Vulture, some falcons and owls. All in all, it’s a great place to go to have some fun and kill some time. You just have to ignore the methane vents found among the scenic foliage. Yep. It used to be a landfill.


On this particular day, I decided that it would be safe enough for little guy to be chauffeured in his stroller since the air was cooler and the breeze was nice. I wouldn’t have to worry about his cast sweating and getting stinky. I try to stay away on the weekends to avoid the crowds, so I assumed today, a weekday, would be fine. WRONG!!!! Since Jack was systematically listing the animals he was going to see in the order they are located: goats? Ducks? Geese? Birds? Llamas?....you get the idea, I couldn’t leave and disrupt all his categorical work he had visualized in his head.

We pull into the parking lot and I get him situated and we begin our trek into the “zoo”, again all the time, listing what he was going to see in his “matter of fact, but emphasizing each word as a question” way. The wall of people began at the entrance where the goats were. The feed dispensers are opposite the coral, so people were walking back and forth. “FROGGER”. That’s what it was, and I was the frog trying to get past the cars going back and forth. I jigged and jagged, stopped, timed the next sequence of food gatherers, then made my way to the lily pad on the other side. Do you think people would make way for a broken kid in a stroller? No. I guess we get bonus points for finishing the harder level.

So we now move around and pass the Nigerian dwarf goats, who are not as grubby as their counterparts in the other pen. (They are not allowed to be fed). One little guy was sticking his head out as if to say “Hey Jack! Good to see you again! What happened to your leg?” I maneuver over to the goat as best I could with the stroller, and allow Jack to say hi. No sooner than I say “Hey Jack! Say Hi!” another mother pushes right in front of us and props her maybe….16 month old daughter….right in front of the goat’s face. Did she notice that she almost pushed another kid out of the way by means of his cast? No. Did it bother me? No. “Why” you may ask. Well I will tell you! The goat that she so readily plopped her kid in front of was a buck, or unfixed male goat. I believe the woman even said “Oh look at the Billy Goat!” Being a goat owner myself, I can tell you that bucks grow nice, cute Billy Goat goatees. What do they do with these facial hair growths? They pee on them and the surrounding areas of their face so they can attract the ladies. He was nice a wet too. There’s a reason why Jack talks to this goat from afar….

Believe it or not, this is still just the beginning of our madcap adventure…stay tuned for more tomorrow! Can you say “Out of control, 5 year old bicyclist?”

My "Sweet Fancy Moses" Moment of the Day

I was enjoying some quiet time playing some World of Warcraft and watching Haunted History on the History International Channel, when an infomercial for THIS came on: http://www.designersnuggies.com/flare/next/.

Ok, it's bad enough we have to deal with the "Snuggie" in Sweet Rose, Forest Green, and Royal Blue, but now Zebra, Leopard, AND Camel? What is this world coming to?

I can't wait for the parody people to get a hold of this one. Here is the last one they did (warning: language).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05ZQ7WHw8Y

*******************************

WAIT! WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE LINK FOR THE ORIGINAL, I FOUND THE FOLLOW UP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kViZOw6B8M

SWEET FANCY MOSES!!!!

"Why Me?"

Sorry - today is a bit of a downer day. If using the common analogy of comparing life to a roller coaster, today I would equate the current status of things to going up to the top of the largest drop, and free falling. Right now, there is no incline to woosh me back up to the top to begin the ride again. Think the coyote chasing the road runner and running off the cliff, eminating in the "poof" as you lose sight of him as he falls.

I wrote the below post back in June after another "what else could go wrong mode"....

*****

Why me? I often ask myself this question. Why was I chosen to raise this child from the complete other side of the world? He could of easily been placed with a different family, in a different part of the United States, or in a completely different country altogether.

So again, why me? I am in no way a great parent. I have no patience, get easily agitated, am not very affectionate, don’t do well on no sleep, etc.

His adoption process was fast. So fast. Unusually fast. Why for me?
He is “different”. I see it. People who are close to him see it. People who are around him on a regular basis see it. He is “different”. Maybe he is destined for greater things. Maybe his life is already planned out and he is to do something very important.

He is “different”. I think his birth mother knew it too. She knew she could not raise him and help him become the person he should become. She made a noble sacrifice for him. She named him. She chose “World Shine”. Perhaps she knew he was destined for something great. Something that will change things in the future. Something that will pull us out of darkness.

So back to the original question: Why me?

Maybe as the fates planned his future they knew there would be obstacles. Obstacles that if not overcome, would stop him from doing what he is supposed to do.

Maybe that’s why it is me. I have great intensity. I see inequality. I see injustice. I will fight to the very end with everything I have to make sure that common sense and “the right thing to do” prevail.

Perhaps Karma, Destiny, Fate, the Universe, God or whatever driving force may be out there that people believe in , put me in this path long ago, and provided me with the tools, the knowledge, the education and the experience to do what is right.

It may not be coincidence, or luck, or decisions I have made in the past that have shaped where I am now. Other plans may be in the works that are out of my control. I guess I just have to look at the forks in the road. I have to listen to people who have been put in my path. I have to look at the bigger picture. I have to do what is right.

So again. Why me?

He is “different”. Maybe he is supposed to be the one who is going to cure cancer, the disease that afflicted me at a young age. Maybe he is going to be a figure head that will bring harmony. Maybe he will be a role model. Maybe he is just going to be an important part in someone’s else’s life.

Maybe he is “The one who will bring balance to the force”, “The one to bring down the Matrix”, “The one lead the resistance against the machines”, “The one who will throw the ring in the fire”.

So again. Why me?

Maybe it’s because I have too much time on my hands to recite story lines from movies. Maybe because I am driven. Maybe it is because it is what I am supposed to do…..

*****
 
Well, there ya go....
 
Going to go play some WoW now....

Balls

Never buy the tennis balls for dogs from the dollar store. They smell like they were made from blown out tire carcasses then rolled in burnt hair. If you call me and I do not answer, call 911 as I may have carbon monoxide poisoning.

BTW - The dog loves them.

Hurricane a' comin'?

Word is that we may be in for a bit of a whollop this weekend. Danny may be a Cat 1 when it gets here, and thats one category too much for me. Even if it scrapes us, torrential rain and wind is a bad thing when you have a barn full of animals. Ironically, the media isn't making it a cataclysmic event and telling everyone to run out and get water and batteries, which is quite out of character for them. I still think I may go out and buy a bunch of ice cream so in case we do lose our power, I have an excuse to eat it before it melts!

My Sweet Fancy Moses Event of the Day

I will try and post things as I see 'em or find 'em:

Welcome to Canada!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekLEG8xsOs

SWEET FANCY MOSES!

Mega Million is over $325 Million!

"If I had a million dollars....."

It's ok to dream, right?

Here is a list of the things I would do (and most likely in this order) if I won the Mega:

Pay off my house
Pay off the mortgages of family and friends
Immediately put $$ away for Jack's College
Ensure that family can retire comfortably
Invest wisely so that future endeavors can be funded on interest alone (wishful thinking)

Future personal endeavors:
Put the extension on the house (including nice big garage for husband)
Put a nice new 3 stall shed row barn in for Indy, Seven and Soda
Donate the remaining stall to foster a rescue horse from one of the local rescues
Walk next door and offer to purchase neighbor's house - we wont miss them (I will have plenty of neighbor drama posts)
Give house to brother in law, but make yard a nice paddock for the gang
Put a pool in our back yard
Get a feul effcient (maybe bio diesel?) vehicle large enough to pull a horse trailer
Get a horse trailer

Future public endeavors:
Purchase land so it cannot be developed
Build houses in New Orleans (it's so ridiculous that some areas still look like they did after Katrina hit)
Provide funding/grant opportunities for families looking to adopt a child
Donate to cancer research
Donate to animal welfare groups

Future business endeavors:
Purchase the Calverton Property and secure part of the land as a wildlife refuge/preserve. Develop the remaining areas (which are already developed, so I would have to convert or knock things down) into a animal assisted therapy program site. I would work with Dolphins Plus in the Keys to establish something here, would create (or move an existing) equine therapy program, provide a training area for assistance dogs, and any other type of organization that helps both people and animals. I would also be akin to setting up a program where inmates train shelter dogs to be adoptable.

My big splurge:
I would get a beach house out east with a ton of land and would never sell it for development.

Living on Borrowed Time

I know. A very heavy second post on a blog that is supposed to be light and airy. Well, it's the truth, and as long as I keep living my life with this in mind, I know in the end that I had set out and completed what I am/was supposed to do. I have stopped "doing" for the sake of doing, and started "listening". There is a path out there for all of us, and there are clues, signs, forks in the road, you name it, pointing to us to your ultimate purpose on this planet.

I trace the beginning of the path of my existence to have started when I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive tumor when I was 17. The whole ordeal, which is a post in itself, lasted a year, but I am happy to say that I have been free and clear of disease for 19 years! I periodically Google my diagnosis to see if there is any more information out there. Searching the internet can be both good, and bad. I now know the odds: 66% survival rate if caught in time. Sloan Kettering only saw 16 cases between 1982 and 1995. St Judes only saw 8 during that time. I was diagnosed in 1990. If I didnt fall, we would never have found it and I would be part of the statistic "not caught in time".

Overall, I am doing well. The biggest issue I have is that due to all the surgeries and radiation treatment, I get very bad cellulitis infections quite often. Back in the day, there were no long term studies on the effects of removing lymph nodes, so there was no known way to prevent the lymphadema and infections. Now, compression banding is the norm following lymph node resection. For me it's too late. So, I don't go anywhere without my antibiotics and do everything in my power to be proactive and prevent infections: antibacterial soap, clean towels and no paper towels (bacteria), try to sleep and eat well (boost resistance).

How does this fall into place as a path I must follow? If I didnt go through this (and continue to do so), it would not have led us to our son.

Sweet Fancy Moses!

So let us see who knows this wonderful tidbit of pop culture.

This will jog your memory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xi4O1yi6b0

Why "Sweet Fancy Moses" as the name for my blog? Well, I have had many SFM moments and I thought that I would share them with the world.