One More Added to the Beer Making Crew

Last night, while Meg and I were at the Jason Mraz concert, Phil showed Nick how to make beer.  Nick really enjoyed the lesson, Doug had a great time watching, and I was glad that the three of them were able to hang out together.  Nick was impressed by the operation and by Phil's knowledge of the beer making process.  He said that Phil talked the entire time that they were together, which is a rarity.  I don't think that Nick will be here to bottle the beer as he has to attend training in Ohio, but at least he got a taste of it, and we will save a few bottles for him to try when he returns. 

By moving to Florida, Nick gave up the quick trips to see his own family in the Midwest.  I don't know if he minds living over a thousand miles away from them as each family has their own dynamics to work through, but I am glad that we can step in at times and fill the void.  I would never want to take over being his parents, but I am very happy that we get along so well with our one and only son-in-law.  It makes everyone's lives a lot easier and brings a new perspective to the Heinisch family.

Jason Mraz

Several months ago, I noticed that Jason Mraz was going to be playing in Orlando and Clearwater this weekend. I said something to Meg and she seemed interested in going with me, but we didn’t spend a lot of time talking about it at the time. As the date grew closer, we both realize that Orlando wouldn’t work. The venue was closer to Meg’s apartment, but the tickets were a lot more expensive and it was on a Sunday night, which would mess up Meg‘s Monday morning work schedule. Thus, we focused on Clearwater instead. I wasn’t sure if it would work as it was a Saturday night and the venue was about an hour 45 from our house, but with Meg’s encouraging I went ahead and bought two tickets for us for tonight performance.

In the end, I was so glad that Meg kept encouraging me to go. I had really liked Jason Mraz‘s music ever since he was on Dancing with the Stars two years ago. My kids make fun of me for saying that his music is peppy when it’s really just a bunch of love songs, but I think it’s his personality that makes the music so much fun and that really came through at tonight's show. It started off a little strange as he had an opening act filled with folk music. Neither Meg nor I were sure why that was about until she read that the performer was the one who gave Jason Mraz his big break. We did enjoy the music and were thankful for a small intermission before the main show to change seats as there was an entire row open closer towards the stage and away from the crowds of people that we were sitting with. It made the show so much more enjoyable and gave us a minute to relax before the night really started.

Jason Mraz played for almost 2 hours showcasing every one of his songs that I knew by heart and even a few that I had never listened to before this evening. He had a new album out full of gospel music that he made for his grandma 20 years ago. He played a few of those as well.  They were very fun songs, and they fit his set list very well. Meg and I sang along to the ones we knew and clapped along to the rest. He made the crowd laugh, he made me cry, and I had such a good time that I was sad when the night ended. I couldn't believe that someone who I had never really heard of two years ago was now one of my favorite performers and that I got to see him on stage in person.  

The drive home was a little precarious because of a torrential rainstorm, but we safely made it before midnight. We were shocked to see Doug still awake, but it gave me a great opportunity to show him all of the video and pictures that I had taken tonight. It was the perfect way to end such a wonderful evening with Meg. One that I will not forget for a very long time.

A Different Kind of Summer

Yesterday, I went to lunch with Robbi and Robin at Chicken Salad Chick.  It has become one of our favorite places to meet and I really enjoy our luncheons.  It gives everyone a time to catch up, ask questions or find out what is going on with CCW.  This week there was a lot to discuss about the women's Catholic group as Robbi was voted in as president at the last general meeting.  Robin and I both have positions on her board and I was very glad to help Robbi get started on the agenda for her first board meeting in June.

There is another reason that I am very glad to be a part of CCW's leadership this year.  For the first time in thirty-one years, I will not have anyone home with me during the summer months.  It didn't really dawn on me how much I really looked forward to summer and having at least one child at home on break until we got back from California.  I cried then and could cry now thinking about it.  Thus, I am glad that I will have friends here to meet for lunch and involvement in a group.  I also thought about attending daily mass more, reading a few books on my list, and planning our next could of trips.  There are several indoor projects that I could work on as well.  The boys text or call often and Meg is close by as well, which I appreciate very much.

Most importantly, I realize that Cameron really needs a job this summer.  Therefore, I will make the best of my situation alone so that he can grow as a person (and make some much needed money.)  Being supportive is one thing that I can offer my adult children, and I am always happy to do that.  

Remote Work

The biggest adjustment for me to Doug's current job is that they frown upon working from home.  I hated the number of hours that Doug put in at Champion, but it was nice that he could decide when he would work remotely.  That allowed us to travel and to go to appointments easily as he would just work around our schedule.  One of the biggest draws to our current home was that it had a built-in desk space near the living room for Doug.  

Thankfully, Doug was able to get approval to work remotely two days during the last week of May.  That will allow him to travel with me to the Midwest to see the boys.  He will also be available at night to help with any projects that we need to do at my parents' home that week.  I really appreciate him asking as it makes our life a lot easier.  I hope that something will change and he will be able to work from home more often, but for now, I am just glad for the days that he did get approval.  

Off to Michigan

Cameron and Cora spent the past three days in Michigan traveling to various cities throughout the state.  I enjoyed listening to them talk about their trip on their way back to Fishers this afternoon.  While the two of them were there they were able to eat at several of our favorite restaurants including New Holland Brewing Company and Founders Brewery.  They also went wine tasting in Traverse City and hiked an impossible dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes.  I thought that it was awesome that Cora ordered a drink named The Hemingway while I was reading about the famed author’s boyhood summers in the same area.  While in Michigan, they even visited the Grand Rapids high school that Cora’s mom graduated from in the 1990s.  Overall, their trip sounded like the perfect end to a challenging semester and I was very happy to hear that they had a lot of fun and felt that they could officially put their junior year behind them.  

Jerry West and the ABA

During the past few years, I have come to realize that I really don’t care that much about watching the NBA.  Maybe, I never really did, but I definitely followed it more years ago, especially when Cal lived at home. Doug still watches it during the playoff season, but even the that doesn’t interest me.  It is probably because the season is long, there are too many games and I don’t know very many players anymore.  I still listen when Cal, Doug or Cameron tell me about a big game or series, but that’s about all of my involvement anymore.

Because of my lack of interest, I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed two documentaries that we watched recently.  The first was on the American Basketball Association.  I was old enough to remember that there was an ABA league that rivaled the NBA and many of its players, but I couldn’t say if I watched them play in the ABA or NBA as the leagues merged in 1976 when I was only eight.  It was very interesting, however, especially on how the league was run, how it dissolved and what happened to the players and coaches after it ended.

The second documentary was about Jerry West.  I definitely knew very little about him except that his silhouette was used for the NBA logo and that he was involved with the Lakers.  His life story inside and outside of basketball was very fascinating and I liked it just as much as the one on the ABA.  

Basketball was a huge part of my life when I was younger.  It was fun to remember why. Although I do  not revere the sport as much as I did when I was in college, I definitely enjoyed the walk down memory lane.  Even so, I probably still won’t watch the playoffs much.  I’ll let Doug, Cal or Cameron keep me up-to-date and hope that the boys’ bets hit.  

Special Gifts

I never expect gifts on Mother's Day, but I do appreciate how awesome my children are at giving them.  This year was no exception.  The bouquet of tulips from Cal arrived last Wednesday and brightened our kitchen right away.  Meg surprised me with a wonderful homemade present.  She had taken an applique from my wedding dress and made it into a jewelry tray for my dresser.  It was extremely thoughtful and something that I will be able to use daily.  Brett's gift arrived today and I made sure to have it cued up on the record player when Doug got home from work as we had both noticed the latest Peanuts vinyl at the Charles Schultz Museum and really enjoyed listening to it last night.  Cameron purchased my gift while vacationing in Traverse City this week.  I can't wait to open it when I see him Memorial Day weekend.  As much as I have absolutely loved all of the Mother's Day gifts over the years, the best part about the holiday is and always will be being called Mom by the Heinisch four.  That is one gift that I will never grow tired of hearing.