So, I have a warped and romanticized view of camping. I picture hot dogs on a stick and a glowing camp fire and a relaxing time soaking in fresh air and stars. I have been camping in a tent exactly once, and it was so long ago, and in a time in my life that I have amnesia (selective?) about. My other camping experiences are weird, to say the least.

Let me start by saying that my constant nagging at my husband that I want to go camping -be away from the internet, tv, and other electronic distratctions – led him to make our spring break vacay into a camping trip. We don’t vacation every year, in fact, it is probably considered rare in our lives. Money, time, and motivation or responsibilities have become obstacles. So this year, some very generous friends have offered up their time share in New Orleans for spring break, and I jumped on it. Scott, who is from NO, has not been back since before we were married, and I know he misses it, and since he brought me back to my beloved Carmel after a several year (decade?) absence, I felt it fitting.

Then he got all frugal and such, and decided to combine my desire for a camping trip – which is ill advised, and not in my nature even though I dream about it, come on, I have fake nails, and am sort of high maintenance!! It reminds me of…..

Fontana Village. Time: Somewhere in the 1970’s. Who: me, my two teen sisters (I was like 10 or so) my mom, and dad. So my mom finds this resort (?) in the Smoky Mountains somewhere and decides that based on the glossy brochures of happy families in the glistening aqua pool, green green mini golf course, and the lovely mountain hiking and horse back trails, not to mention the gorgeous lake created by Fontana Dam we should go and have a family vacation.

Up until then, we had quasi vacations: Seeing historical or nature site while in transit during a move required by the Navy; European tours which were held while I was still in diapers and have no memory.

So, the Buick was loaded and we left. Upon our arrival, several nauseous hours later ( I get car sick) we arrive to our “resort” Up on a hillside a duplex, screened cabin awaited. We spent little time there. It was awful.

Day One: Dad discovers that this place resides in a county that is a “dry” county. DT’s anyone?
Day Two: Mini Golf, in a temper tantrum, my attempt at a long drive involves hitting my fragile sister in the head with a golf club. It was an accident, but to this day at any holiday gathering it is mentioned, and I am not forgiven, and not believed about it being an accident. Sorry.
Day Three: Horse back riding in a group on a trail. Having been used to horses via our previous adventure owning a pony (a disastrous experience to be chronicled later) we were unenthusiastic. I got a rogue horse who had to be right behind the trail leader. Only one rearing up and bucking sent me into spasms. Nightmares about that day are still frequent.
Day Four: Dad takes us out in a motor boat on a lake. In which he reminds us of the drive in and how we saw the super tall dam and we were on the other side, and there were these big spinning pools of water in which we could get sucked in and all drown. And, then he would pretend we were getting sucked in there and ha ha ha ha isn’t that funny kids??
Day Five: My sisters either got a night to themselves or there was a “teen” event, I don’t know, but my parents took me to a movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066181/

Day Six: A really long drive, straight through, in near silence, back home.

The end of our “family vacation” attempts. Lesson learned.

Except: 2010, I attempt to do it again. Camp (in cabins) on the way to and from New Orleans. My goal: to convince my husband to spend the extra money on airfare, rental cars, and hotels…..at least while he is married into this family.

For many years I ignored television. I read, watched tapes, listened to music and didn’t watch TV. Okay, it was because I couldn’t afford cable, but anyway…. The past few years I have been corrupted. I now secretly (well, not anymore) watch reality television. I love it. Real Housewives is one of my favorites. Add in the int ernet, wifi, and a laptop, and I am a monster. If you are clueless on this, ignore the rest of this post.
O:C
Gretchen: gorgeous, funny, a bit fake, and probably a savvy golddigger. Oh well. Use what you have.
Jeana: too real for TV most likely, but I like her. She is like Jill. Very real. I like her kids, y too.
Vicki: I was kind of grossed out by the vow renewal – but I think it was genuine, since she did it without a giant extravaganza..(except for the millions of viewers). She is a bit of a prima donna for me, and too much of a sales person.
New Girl: Jesus freak. She is boring to me.
Slade: I loathe him entirely.
Donn: probably too good for all of these people.
Simon: I kind of like him. He is a bit military/old-fashioned/closed minded for me. I think Tamra changed the game on him and it caused the break up.
Tamra: Skank; white trash; not very smart, and all of those beliefs I had before this season. The night she had Gretchen over, and plotted to encourage tequila shots, my mind was made up. She is not a family woman, as she claims to be. She said after Lynn’s party to Vicki that she didnt want to be around Gretchen because she (Tamra) had family morals blah blah blah…then wants to be friends with Gretchen, and then is offended when Simon calls her out as a hypocrite. Housewives come hotter, and smarter, and nicer, and younger.

NY:
Silex: They are fun to watch because they are so odd. I just can’t avert my gaze. I have no other words.
Bethenny: Married? Preggers? Woo hoo! I have always liked her, even though she is a bit Jersey for a NYC girl.
Ramona: Froot Loop. But, we need her to stir it up and she knows it.
Countess: Come on! She has potential to be a “get real” person, but puts on airs…..
Whatshernamewashedupmodel: I don’t have the desire to offer an opinion since she is so not in my world or anyones……
Jill: Love her, but she can be a bit too much with the snobbery to others.

NJ:
Prostitution Whore! I miss this one more than any other.

stole this from CBHM

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Taught 7^th grade
went to an air show
went to Great Falls
went to the Presidential Inauguration
threw clay on a pottery wheel and ended up with something
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t think I made any, and I probably won’t make many this time either.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope. Thank goodness

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nope. Thank goodness!

5. What countries did you visit?

None

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Money to travel, less anxiety.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Inauguration Day – coldest I’ve ever been – 16 hours outside “working” for the Obama people. Saw Obamas, up close! And Bidens, up close!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I don’t feel like I had any achievements this year. Hmmm.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not taking care of my house and yard.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Ear infection, a cold, but luckily not much else!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Birkenstock clogs.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Maybe Dr. Schelchkov.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

That nurse. Tiger.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills, food, gas.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The inauguration.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Well, I am not good at this since I don’t listen to popular music, I love Andrew Lloyd Webber and listen to his stuff a lot.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? sadder
b) thinner or fatter? fatter
c) richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Walk, exercise, garden.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eat, drink. Worry.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Quietly, at home, just the few of us.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

nope

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Not sure. I watch a lot of “junk” tv – Dr. Phil, food tv,

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Well, I wouldn’t say “hate” but strongly dislike, yes.

24. What was the best book you read?

The Help

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Susan Boyle – but she is not really MY discovery.

26. What did you want and get?

A book from my childhood.

27. What did you want and not get?

More surprises

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

It’s Complicated – just saw it, and I loved it.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

45. FortyFive. Wow. Went to dinner and had a blizzard.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

To have more peace of mind, and less craziness at work.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

slob, and if it sort of fits, wear it.

32. What kept you sane?

Who says I am sane?

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Health Care.

35. Who did you miss?

Eliza.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Dianne – not actually met, but got to know a bit.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009

well, still learning really – relax

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“I feel good” (James Brown)

I’ve been in a funk lately, and have not read anything in the past few weeks, despite having plenty of reading time. The last think I read was an old David Sedaris, which was very entertaining as usual. I decided to try the British book reading challenge that I saw on a friend’s blog. I love British authors, so this should be fun, and will helpfully make me a bit more focused on my choices and speed of reading.

For Christmas, I got one book. I requested it, and my husband followed through. (A fact that has made him especially pleased with himself). It is a childhood book I once had. I think this may just satiate my need to revisit the idealism of my childhood*. I loved books from as earlly as I can remember, and I remember trying to decipher letters and words very early on. I remembered this particular book a few years ago, but could only recall the pictures and a foggy story line. Through many hours of googling, I finally found it! http://www.darewright.com/ – the author’s website. i put it on my Christmas list (a list is totally opposed to what I want to happen on Christmas, but found it necessary with my forgetful and somewhat OCD husband). And yesterday, the postman delivered a fresh, brand new copy of the book. I think I loved it as a little girl because of the photos, and the story line. The actual book is A Gift from the Lonely Doll and is about Edith and her homemade Christmas gift for her teddy, Mr. Bear. It is kind of a complex story, but the photography is what got me to remember it 40 years (ahhhhhhhh) later. I don’t know what Christmas it was when I got this book, whether I was 3, 4, or older (publishing date was when I was 2, so it could have even been a hand-me-down book) but I remember vividly it being read to me.

My mother – and to some extent my dad – put the love of reading into all of our lives. I don’t remember my dad reading to me much, but my mom read to me at bedtime every night until I could read myself. I devoured my books, over and over again. My parents house was filled with books and an evening would more often find everyone cozied up reading vs. watching TV. I feel very thankful that reading came easy to me, and feel very sad for my students who don’t have such luck.

Of my childhood, I still have a few books, a couple Nancy Drew’s, and Where the Wild Things Are. Now I have a few ** to replace, and then I will have the most precious to me back in my possession. I have a lot of books that I have not read yet, and if I was particularly ambitious and confident I would make those my reading challenge of 2010. However, just like I am a historian who lives in a historic town but has not seen all he historic sights, I like the anticipation and the savouring of the undone, unseen and unread. Is that weird?

In 2010, I am going to read, of course, but this trip down memory lane will even allow me to release my husband’s beloved used paperbacks from the attic. I was a snob, and have my hardbacks organized by color in the living room, and paper backs are relegated to closets, piles, baskets and boxes. After realizing the powerful memories associated with the books of our youth, I think some bookcases with not so attractive books will be allowed.

*As soon as I get another copy of Ukelele and her New Doll.
**And, the Honey Bunch series

Next post: The Civil War books…..

Inspired by today’s blog about unwritten blog entries over at www.iambossy.com, I thought I could write a history of the cars in my life! Shall I begin in chronological order? Shall I include cars I actually drove/owned and also those I just wanted? Hmmm.

The first car I really ever had an obsessive material desire for was a certain Rolls Royce Corniche convertible in aqua.
Needless to say, I never even touched that car, only looked at it through the glass. It was in a car dealer’s shop in Monterey, and at the time I could envision myself, top down, red hair billowing in the wind, cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway. Pause for deep sigh. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Growing up we had numerous cars, and I think I puked in each and every one of them. I remember the Fiat, which I thought could fly like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (very gullible child was I). I remember the emerald green Capri, the odd green with wood panelled sides station wagon. I helped peel the paint off in big crispy chips! The big ass gas guzzling Buick LeSabre that I learned to drive in. And, if you can learn to parallel park on a narrow street in Carmel in that boat, you can parallel park anywhere! I am a great parallel parker.

There was the blue bomber – an awesomely cool ‘71 Chevy Impala with a 350 engine and a steel body. That car was a boat, and huge enough to be a small apartment for a while.

My very first ever brand new car was a navy blue VW Golf. Loved that car! Traded it in on a Jetta. Screeching halt here while I pause to remember paying that car off even though my ex husband made off with it and got it repoed. I have omitted the various numbers of clunkers that were purchased during that unfortunate period of my life.

After, during single-mom-in-college days, I had a station wagon – don’t remember the make, but the license was jstktnme – loved that! I left it smoking in a parking lot on the corner of the first school I taught at, during the first month!

Next my beloved Toyota Corolla. I’d still have it to this day, complete with melted crayons in the back, except it was the car my kid learned to drive in, and well, she also learned to crash in….totalled.

And next came VW Passat Station Wagon – green! My peapod, which was hated by current husband, went bye bye in favor of the Scion TC in burgundy that I cruise around in these days. I covet my husband’s Matrix, which he doesn’t even like me to think about driving, but he won’t switch.

Given my commute, I should get a Prius. Given the recent weather, I should get a 4 wheel drive Subaru (accent on the a syllable like Wil Ferrell on SNL). Given my debt status, will not get anything. Not anytime soon anyway. Cue Janis: Oh, Lord won’t you buy me….

Well, I am loving the snow. The last snow that amounted to this deep of a pile was when I first moved up here and my first year teaching. Katie and i were stranded with no cable and no phone. We had a blast sledding, though. And playing games and reading. This time, Katie isn’t home and Scott and i are stranded, with plenty of iPhones, and Fios to make us electronically happy. I would like to play a board game – but it is doubtful that we will.

Holidays offer too much pressure. Are your decorations up? Cards mailed? Cookies baked? oMG! I have not done any of those things and I may not do them at all. And, that is fine with me. I will clean the house, and maybe make cookies, and i have filled out some cards, but all of those things are because I want to, not have to. No guilt.

School is sucking this year. The kids are ok, but the coworkers are awful. Back stabbing bitches. Greed, jealousy, and general malaise have crept into the building lowering morale into the basement. I am considering leaving teaching for something else soon. Very soon. But, i want something with summers and snow days. Hmmmm.

So, this week I have to end World War 1, and cover the Roaring Twenties. The 20s are my favorite historical era. I wish I could just show Chicago and The Great Gatsby and be done. However, I will figure out something fun to do. And, I probably will sneak in some GG and Chicago, I am a rebel like that.

After that, it is the Great Depression Era – yuckarooni. I almost want to give them tons of candy and games this week, with music and parties, and then the following week all we do is read from the text… a sort of simulation. Maybe I will. Candy donations anyone?

I love this time of year. Perhaps it is living in a place that is this temperature or close to it year round (Central Coastal California). But, the crisp air, the smell, and the sights are wonderful. I gladly walk the dog, pull weeds, and sweep/rake — anything outside.

But, then again….the leaves are coming….oh boy!

Watching the Redskins game and on a slo-mo replay, I noticed that the tight pants of the Carolina team are white and see through. Then I wondered some more, and found this:
http://www.internationaljock.com/articles/history-of-the-jockstrap.html

Wow.

I am obsessed with hair on very many levels. Probably because I am a redhead from birth. This fact has caused me much trrauma, but also many kudos and a lot of attention. Attention can be a good or a bad thing.

One thing about my family is that red hair runs on both sides. My grandmother Helen Paine Weber had red hair, then came me, then my cousin Stephen Schultz, then my cousin Jeff’s daughter: Helen. On my dad’s side, my MorMor (really FarMorMor) supposedly had red hair as did my grandmother, her daughter Anna. Anna went by Ann – apparently hating the name Anna, and I never knew her to claim reing dheadedness, so I am skeptical, preferring to believe she was a golden blonde. My grandpa, the only one I ever knew, and who I have nothing but joyful, loving memories of supposedly was a blonde who went white very young.

This brings me to my own hair. Being a redhead is not easy. You can’t fade into the background and be shy. I did try, though. You can’t get a tan. I tried that, too. Ouch. At a young age you hear things like “red-headed step child” in not very positive light. And then, it happens. IT. You mature, and I am not sure if it is a curiosity about private things or not, suddenly, redheats are ***HOT*** By the time I found this out, I was too old for the party. Oh, well.

I am white, don’t tan, just burn and freckle. My hair is course, and frizzy. I go white at a young age. I have freckles – a lot of freckles. I hated them and my frizz and red hair all my life.

I hated my new white hair….until a conversation with my mom today. I whined about Loreal not covering all my white hairs. She said, “Just like Grandpa, you have early white hair, he was all white before 30″ And I thought, well if I could have something in common with the hero of my life, my beloved Grandpa Weber, who lit up when he saw me, who brought me lifesavers (pepomint) who listened to baseball on a transistor radio, who played golf, who adored his wife (the redhead) who adored his girls (all 4), who genuinely loved us all unconditionally and who I miss every day since I was 9 and he died; well if I have one thing in common, and it is white hair, then OK, I’ll embrace it.

Thanks Grandpa, for the great DNA. I miss you. I always will.