I love this vantage point in New Salem.  It is a nice view to the north looking toward Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire which is about a 30 mile as the crow flies distance.  And it is right off the road so very easy to set up.  I need to start hiking though.

It was very quiet and the only sound I heard was a turkey or maybe two gobbling off in the distance.  Often there are coyotes giving forth but not yesterday.  I just had some conversation with a new friend from Indonesia, Lottie Nevin, about pollution so it is on my mind to complain about the trash people feel the need to throw down the hill here.  It has been worse but really there should be none.  I have a favorite waterfall that I visit, Gunn Falls, which is a locale for late night drinking and the amount of trash, especially broken beer bottles, is appalling.  What the heck…if you can carry it in then carry the damned stuff out!

Well, here is yesterday’s image.  Much more pleasant to view than the trash.

The Amherst Woman’s Club recently upgraded their basic listing to the Enhanced level.  You can see more photos and get more info here: http://www.locationreservoir.com/hh0021.html

This summer I can say with complete confidence will be our most challenging hike to date, and possibly ever. My dad and I are participating in the 2^nd annual Cystic Fibrosis Xtreme Hike at Jiminy Peak in Western Massachusetts. We will be hiking 25+ miles of the Taconic Crest Trail, covering three states: Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts. And yes, we will complete this in one day. Are we crazy? Maybe. But most importantly we’re dedicated to CF research, and we’re excited to be a part of the CF Foundation and community and all it is doing to provide a future and hope for CF patients and families.

In previous blog posts I have mentioned my frustration with not being able to make Eamonn healthier—I’d give him my lungs if I could (at least one), I’d do his drugs for him or his twice-daily therapy. Other than being supportive and loving, there is not much I can do to make him better. As a loved-one of someone with a disease, that is far and away the biggest challenge. I have never been one to enjoy sitting on the sidelines, and I certainly like being in control. ?????

The Xtreme Hike is my way of kicking CF’s ass, as cliché as that is. Hiking 25 miles will be physically strenuous and challenging for me both physically and mentally. Already I am doubting myself–whether I can train appropriately, get into good enough shape, and hike for 12-14 hours in one day in June. Will it be hard? Of course. Can I do it? I hope so! When I do start to doubt myself, or when I think I can’t go one more mile, I will think of Eamonn. He is what keeps me going everyday, and on June 22^nd he will have to just push me a little more.

I made a commitment to train and push my physical limits for the next three months. Eamonn has been doing that for 29 years and not because he chooses to. I may not be able to destroy CF or undo its damage, but I sure as hell can challenge its determination to take us down and I can promise it won’t. Together, my dad and I will walk for Eamonn because…we can. And we are crazy.

Hiking Mt. Monadnock

Now it’s your turn. Please support my dad and me by donating to our hiking efforts by clicking here. Our goal is to raise a combined $5,000 and all of the money will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in continued support for the incredible research they have done and are doing to find a cure for CF. If you prefer to send a check please email me at elana.alfred@gmail.com for my mailing address.

In case you are wondering, we are also participating in the Great Strides CF Walk on May 19, 2013 in Boston. Our hope is to raise funds together, as a team effort, but that you will also walk with us and join our CF family! To donate to our walk team, Rock-It Lungs, and to start your own fundraising click here.

I cannot thank you all enough for the continued support. I know I have said it plenty of times before, but your love and encouragement never goes unnoticed and unappreciated. It is our family, friends, and community that gives us strength, so from the very bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you.

You Know That You’re From The Pioneer Valley When…

01) You’re driving 75 on 91 and the person from Connecticut behind you is flashing his lights to pass.
02) The fact that Routes 5 and 10 are basically the same doesn’t confuse you.
03) You recognize the letter “R” in our alphabet and it is not pronounced “ah.”
04) You are not afraid of the East Longmeadow rotary.
05) You actually stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
06) You know how to pronounce the names of towns like Bernardston, Athol Charlemont, Amherst, Palmer and Holyoke.
07) You have driven to New York State or Brattleboro, Vermont when you were 18 to buy beer.
08) You know that the “Calvin Coolidge” is a bridge.
09) You know what they sell at “packies.”
10) You prayed that the Patriots would move to Hartford.
11) You laugh at all of the other New England states.  (I don’t get this one)
12) You know at least one American Legion where you can get served after last call.
13) You can’t comprehend how anyone can find their way around Boston.
14) You have gone to at least one party at UMass.
15) You have gone fishing at Quabbin.
16) You give directions by always referring to where places used to be, i.e.,”It’s in West Springfield across from where Abdow’s used to be.”
17) Colleges are used as landmarks for direction, i.e., “From Mount Holyoke go past Hampshire College until you reach Amherst. Go straight through the lights to UMass.”
18) You believe that Bobby Orr is the greatest athlete that ever lived.
19) You can get from Peru to Florida in less than an hour.
20) You know at least one guy named Stan, Rene, or Sully.
21) You know that all directions for getting to Westfield start with, “You go to the Purple Onion…”
22) You laughed at the kids down south because they never get snow days.
23) You truly believe that the Memorial Bridge reconstruction project was the biggest traffic nightmare this state has ever seen.
24) You know that the Honeypot is a section of Hadley is not a serving container.
25) You have never been to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
26) You can recognize a Chicopee girl from her bowling shoes.
27) You cried when they closed Mountain Park.
28) You know where Ware is.
29) You know that there is a bigger difference between Longmeadow and East Longmeadow than just a compass direction.
30) When someone from the eastern portion of the state calls UMass, “ZooMass” and you take it as a compliment.
31) You know that people who call Northampton, “NoHo” are not from ‘Hamp.
32) You pray for the Red Sox to win the World Series again just so you don’t have to hear it from all of the Yankee fans that you have to work with.
33) You know that springtime means fresh native asparagus.
34) You know that a “T” is something you wear, not ride to work on.
35) You take your life in your own hands crossing any local bridge because all of the state’s highway funding has been diverted to the Big Dig.
36) You know that Hadley is where the buffalo roam, and that it is next to the People’s Republic of Amherst.
37) You are proud to drink Northampton Ale and think that the rest of New England owes The Brewery a debt of gratitude for inventing the micro-brew pub.
38) You think St. Patrick’s Day is better than Christmas and you know where the world’s second largest St. Patty’s Day parade is held (hint: NOT Boston).
39) You go to the Berkshires, instead of “down the Cape.”
40) You know what “wicked” means
41) You know that the best Italian pizza joints are all owned by Greeks.
42) You believe Bucky Dent to be the anti-Christ.
43) You went to Old Sturbridge Village, Old Deerfield (or both) on a grammar school field trip.
44) You know that Wilbraham is the home of Friendly’s.
45) You actually believe that the Oxbow Marina is “The Boat Mall of the Northeast.”
46) You know that Westhampton is a dry town.
47) You know where the town of Enfield, MA is located.
48) You know that the Pike is free from Ludlow to New York.
49) You know that Ludlow is 90% Portuguese and Hadley is 90% Polish.
And the final, most important way to tell that you are from the Pioneer Valley…
50) You know at least one person who works at Yankee Candle and can get you a discount!

**Wish I knew who wrote it so I could give them credit.

Me and my reasons why

A while back my husband and I had one of those life moments where important decisions had to be made.  And not small decisions but rather large ones.  My husband was offered a position that would raise our income but would also significantly raise his working hours.  It was also at this time that we happened onto a larger house for sale.  It was a really lovely house and it was being offered at a good price.  And if he took this job, it would be perfect for buying this house.

From the start, I will tell you that the house was very tempting.  I believe it was stalking me in my dreams.  “Buy me, I am perfect for you, buy me, you will never find another house like me.”  Whenever we are faced with any decision, we put it up to our Family Value litmus test.  This means that the decision and all consequences of it must support our shared family goal.  What is a family goal?  It is different for every family and it reflects what is most important to that family.  Here is how we came to ours.

When my oldest was still a baby, my husband and I went through this little exercise.  We sat down one day trying to figure out the answer to another life-changer (amazing how many of those pop up).  We were going around and around trying to make a decision.  Finally I had an “Ah-ha” moment and  I asked him, “What is the most important thing to you?”  He correctly blurted out his stay-safe answer of “You, of course, and our family.”  With a little digging for a more detailed answer, we finally confirmed that family was the most important thing to both of us.

Just saying family is too easy, I mean everyone says that, but we had to detail what part of family was most important.   It was of the utmost importance that BOTH of us were actively involved in our family EVERY day.   We wanted to make sure that our children knew that they were our top priority and to create a confidence and sense of security in them.  We both agreed on this so we did what any other couple with an OCD wife would do… we put it on paper.

Our number 1 goal is to be actively present in the every day lives of our children, to love each other and create a safe, secure and loving home, to give our children the security and confidence of knowing that they are our top priority and we will always be there to support, guide and love them.

At that time my husband was unhappy with his job, not because of the work or the boss but because of the hours.  He was scheduled for 50 hours and often worked more and most of the hours were on nights and weekends.  While this worked great when our son was a baby, everything changed when he started school.  There would be days when they would get 20 minutes max together and that was before school as everyone was trying to get ready.  This was a company he had been with for over 10 years and he was doing work that he enjoyed but he was missing his son.  Plus 98% of the jobs in this industry had the same hours, so he couldn’t just switch companies or positions.

But once we measured it against our goal, the answer was clear.  He had to quit.  He found a job in a different industry, worked normal daytime hours and has a tremendous relationship with his kids and his wife.

In regards to our last big decision, we still live in the same house. And while it may be small, it is filled with love and laughter.  My kids continue to have a mother that stays at home so she can be there to smother them every day.  They also have a father that is home for dinner, who plays with them and tucks them in every night.

Also when you do what is right, good comes to you.  Shortly after we made this decision, a position that my husband loves found him and he has been happily working there ever since.

Remember, you do not always have to have more in order to have it all.

Recently I was sent one of those “You Know You’re From… ” lists about the Pioneer Valley.  My friend was kind enough to highlight the items she felt really identified with me.  And while there were several, number 16 was the one that  caught my husband’s eye.

16. You give directions by always referring to where places used to be, i.e.,”It’s in West Springfield across from where Abdow’s used to be.”

First, let me say that I know exactly where they are talking about in that direction.

Secondly, my husband jokes that I do this, quite often.  And as much as I hate to admit it, he is right.  Just yesterday I was giving directions and caught myself saying, “It is right after the light on Parker, you know, where H-O-T used to be.”

Then when I really stopped to think about it I had to admit that I do this a lot.   Here are some of my more recent directional landmarks…

• Go past The Saw (It is now Lenox, but I will NEVER call it that)
• It’s right up there, in the Caldor Plaza
• You know, where the Two Guys used to be
• No, not the Eastfield Mall but the Springdale Mall (anyone remember the name of the toy store in there)
• You know, where Valley’s Steakhouse used to be
• It’s way in the back of the Park, behind the Monkey House, where Morganetta used to be

At least I know that it is a regional thing and not just another of my endearing idiosyncracies.  I mean, we all do it, right or it wouldn’t be on a list?

So here is to all my fellow Valley girls and guys.  And while it is not the most p.c. of lists, it is funny and I will post the entire list in the near future.

For those who are unfamiliar, Chris “C.J.” Ward joined the Ramones in 1989 after longtime bassist and founding member, Dee Dee Ramone decided to leave the band after 15 years. Dee Dee still wrote a handful of songs for the band, but C.J. toured with the band, recording on 3 albums (Mondo Bizzaro, Acid Eaters and Adios Amigos). C.J. stayed with the band until they hung up their leather jackets in 1996 after 22 years on the road. Being the youngest member of the band (age 11 during 1st album release), C.J. brought a lot of life in to the band. Aside from playing bass, C.J. took lead vocals on songs such as Strength to Endure, Making Monster of My Friends, The Crusher, and Scatter Gun.

I was absolutely out of my mind when I heard this news. I used to listen to the Ramones when I was very young, but never really paid much attention…Fast forward several years later and that’s when it all started. I was a 13 year old kid in 7th grade who didn’t have many friends and needed something to relate to. Pop punk and emo were gaining popularity at the time, but I wasn’t down with that. Green Day was at a high point in their career, but they never meant a thing to me. With the Ramones, it was their story that initially caught me: Four misfits from Queens, NY against all odds  formed a band and changed music forever. The songs were short and to the point, cutting out all the unnecessary b.s. I knew that as long as I had my stereo, things were going to be cool. Their music turned me on to the world of punk rock, which made me in to who I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.

The set will be a real treat for fans as it was announced that the set will include 30 Ramones songs as well as some new songs off of his new solo album Reconquista. The band also includes guitarist Steve Soto from the Adolescents, Dan Root on guitar and Michael Stamberg on drums. The band once featured Daniel Ray who is no stranger to Ramones fans, having produced a handful of their records as well as occasionally step in on second guitar.

Marty Friedman (formally of Megadeth), Dez Cadena (formally of Black Flag), and David Hidalgo Jr. (Social Distortion) have each made guest appearances for a couple shows.

This show will be extra special for me since I was too young to ever see them live, never had the chance to see any of the post-breakup side projects (The Intruders, Los Gusanos, Bad Chopper, etc,) or meet anyone in the band. Joey and Dee Dee passed in 2001 and 2002 respectively, before I really knew who they were and Johnny passed in 2004. I’ve had to accept that I would never get the chance to tell them how much the Ramones meant to me, but the music will stay with me ’til I die. It’s going to be an amazing experience to stand next to some of my closest friends, raising our fists and singing along to the songs that provided us with so much.

Also appearing that night will be Hijinx, The Damaged, the Poncherellos and the Dead Aces

This show will be all ages

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door

check out the Art Party website for more information on my workshops and the other awesome options for creative play!