Cherishing the Moments

Today is a sad and a joyous day for me. It is sad as my own mother passed away a little over 9 years ago and I still miss her so! I so wish she could be here to see Callen and to experience the joy that she brings directly.

Having Callen makes this a joyous day for me. I would never have imagined that having a child could make your heart feel so full. I want to try to cherish every moment that we have together. Sometimes it isn't easy to do as life is so busy, things may be stressful, and we let the little things get in the way. However, I strive to cherish all the moments as we never know how many moments we have with each other.

Here's the cherishing the moments...

To Help A Good Cause in Birmingham

What's on Second?!
is knocking on your
PANTRY DOOR

People in our community are in need of food. The United Way food warehouse and the pantries of it's distributors are being rapidly depleted as they respond to an unprecedented number of requests for food assistance. Food is even being rationed in an effort to serve more people in need.

In times like these it becomes necessary for those of us who have a little more to share a little more. With this in mind, What's on Second? is pleading with our friends and neighbors to help us with a food drive.

To sweeten the deal, here's what we are going to do:

Starting Saturday (May 9th) and every day through Saturday (May 16th), What's on Second? will offer anything and everything in the shop at 50% off to anyone who brings in at least one large grocery bag or box of nonperishable food. That's 50% off as many items as you want to purchase on that day. (If you want to come back another day you'll need another food donation)

Choose from jewelry, postcards, art, advertising, toys, holiday decorations, men's and women's retro clothing, posters - hundreds of thousands of collectibles from the coolest store in the Magic City. If you have had your eye on an item in the store or just want to get a head start on holiday shopping, you won't find a better time (or a better cause).

SUGGESTIONS:
Use this opportunity to thin out your pantry.
Buy food in bulk at discount stores.
Think - especially - protein: dried or canned beans and peas, canned meats and tuna.
Cash, check or credit card donations of at least
$25 qualifies the donor for the 50% discount.
The money will be used to buy food wholesale
through Urban Standard (Thanks, Tom!).
Help us spread the word VIA blogs, websites,
Facebook, etc.

THE PROBLEM IS CLEAR!

THE NEED IS NOW!

THE OPPORTUNITY IS YOURS!

What's on Second?
2306 Second Avenue North
In the Loft District of
Historic Downtown Birmingham

--Steve Gilmer and Mike Wilson
What's On Second?
2306 2nd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203
whatsonsecond@bellsouth.net

Quiet Sunday Morning

It is rare that I get quiet time alone on a weekend morning. Callen normally wakes us up before we're ready to be awakened : ). I woke up at 5:30 this morning, however. Callen woke up having had a bad dream. After that I couldn't get back to sleep. I finally got up some before 7 and have had a chance to look at friends' blogs, catch-up a little on Facebook and Twitter, and just have a few minutes of quiet time.

On the 13th, I had some outpt surgery to remove an ovarian cyst (and turns out my ovary too). I stayed at home most of that week, recuperating and then working from home some. It was so quiet and peaceful. When I went out for the first time (for dinner that Thurs. night), it was almost like stimulation overload after having been in the house for those days. Maybe you can tell that I'm not one of those people who needs constant stimulation (yes, I tend to fall more towards the introvert end of the Myers Brigg); in fact I prefer peace and quiet. Hard to get when you have a very active 3.5 year old in the house!

I've been busy this week conducting interviews for a program coordinator position for my new NIA grant. They started on Monday morning. I woke up not feeling well Monday morning but came into work anyway. I made it through 3 interviews and then the waves of nausea started to hit me! I left work and tried to get home, only to have to pull off the hwy an puke! I was so sick! Monday and Tuesday were lost days due to either food poisoning or a stomach bug. So glad to be feeling better now!

During the interviews, I met some great people who each have unique and valued skills. I'm happy that I have decided on one candidate. I can't wait for the person to start in the position as I think the person will do a great job and really be an asset to the research project!

The upcoming week is another busy one. My NSF XO laptop project is in full survey mode. We're in 5 schools this week surveying. I'm so glad our flash drives finally arrived week before last though. The kids seem very excited to be getting them.

So, I'm enjoying the quiet time this morning before Bo and Callen awaken, and before another busy week begins....hmmm, wonder if I can find time for a pedicure today....probably not that much 'me' time today : ).

Soccer

Callen started playing soccer a few weeks ago. The 1st week was a jamboree where we got to meet others playing on all the teams. The video at the bottom is of Callen playing around after the jamboree. She is a pretty good kicker!

Her 1st game was pretty rough. I was out of town and according to Bo she spent most of her time crying and clinging to him. The 2nd game was last week and I was there. She did great! Some pix are below and from the jamboree week. She's having fun!

Callen took this pix of one of her coaches and some of her team mates. Good pix Callen!

A little slow to warm up but then she gets into it : ).

Easter Pix

A few pix we took on Sunday - mostly of Callen. We did a little Easter egg hunt in the front yard. She wanted to find more eggs after she'd found all of them. Next year we'll know to hide more! We also bought her a little doctor's kit rather than a big chocolate bunny this year. She seems to enjoy it so far.

How walkable is your neighborhood?

Bo called me on a break from a conference. Some presenter had noted a website where you can determine how 'walkable' your street/neighborhood is. Check it out:
http://www.walkscore.com/.

Our street scored a 9 out of a 10, with higher scores being worse! Nothing new to us.

Hmmm....

It seems like a long time since I've posted. It hasn't been all that long but it has been longer than I would have liked. A friend asked me a week and a half ago if I had just let my blog lapse. Ouch. It wasn't my intention but it seems I rarely have time for it anymore. I hope to make more time.

A few quick updates:
- I was in New Orleans last week and weekend for a sociology conference. My students and I had 3 presentations plus 3 panels we'd organized. It was a busy time but good in that I got to spend some time with friends I haven't seen in a while.
- The weekend before I was in NC for a mini grad school reunion. It was a lot of fun! I got to see some family and friends, which was really nice. All my grad school friends were just the same as ever! Nice to know that some people never change. Thanks to Jo Anne for hosting a wonderful reunion.
- My XO project team starts back resurveying approximately 1800 4th and 5th graders the end of this week. We have about 6 weeks to survey in 27 different schools! Wish us luck and if any of you would like to volunteer to help us survey, please email me offline!
- I'm trying to hire a Program Coordinator II position for my new NIA grant. Lots of time being spent reviewing applications!
- Some colleagues at work do an NCAA tournament pool. It is random. I got Wake Forest and UNC as 2 of my random picks. First time I've had to pull for UNC : ).
- I go in for outpatient surgery on Monday to have an ovarian cyst removed. While the doctor thinks it is probably nothing serious, I'd rather get it out than have it stay in when it might be something serious. Wish me luck on Monday!
- Callen is great and growing so fast! I can't believe she's almost 3.5 now.
- I still have all those pix on the camera and more that I noted a while back. Maybe someday I'll get them uploaded and post some of them!

Here's to more posts in coming days and weeks!