Thomas Edison

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
---Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)

Neighborhood meeting last night. Although there were some other short committee reports, the main focus of the meeting was to present the plans for the park. About sixty households were represented, or about seventy people. Most households sent one person, with the other staying home to get children ready for bed. But some couples came, and if they are homeowners, they get two votes. Renters only get one vote. I did not make that rule; it's in the bylaws.

Only paid members can vote so there was quite a stampede to pay their dues. I am quite interested to hear how many ppl joined last night. We have a large membership drive coming up and this was a pretty effective, if unintentional, kickoff.

We knew she-who-must-not-be-named was going about, rabble-rousing. She voted, "Nay," and it wasn't until after the meeting that I found out that her vote is invalid as she is not a paid member. She did confront me in the meeting, challenging the proxy votes. I was only too glad to discount the proxies, due to the outstanding majority IN FAVOR of the park. Yea! With proxies, 59 Ayes, 4 Nays. Without proxies, 52 Ayes, 4 Nays.

Amazingly, our two most challenging people wound up voting Aye. The neighbor beside the park did not attend Saturday's meeting for those who live within 2 blocks of the park. He asked me last night how many of his trees we want to cut down. I replied that no trees on his perimeter would be cut -- only the brush on the park side of the line. He voted Aye. SWMNBN had said he was "vehemently against" the park.

A lady whose backyard borders the park seemed to be very much against it, as well. She told one of our board members she didn't have "no time for a f***ing meeting." She asked her questions -- we answered them -- and she also voted Aye.

I was amazed at the turnout. Even though we have about 420 households, a mere smattering of folks attends these meetings. Of course our strongest representation was 28-35 year-olds who have children in the home. They also represent most of the energy in our neighborhood. Yet, last night, I would say we had probably twenty households who have never attended before. Middle-aged people. Older people. And, of course, our 83-year-old board member, leaning heavily on her walking stick.

It was an amazing night. We're not through the tunnel yet. Next week, we present to the Parks Board and on 20.September, we present to City Council. Then, of course, we have to raise $28,000 -- and that's only for Phase I. We have not yet priced Phases II and III.

As I stated last night, depending on our fund-raising abilities, we will either be breaking ground at the Centennial Celebration next June, or cutting a ribbon on it. I'm shooting for the ribbon-cutting.

Tears of Joy

I'm too old to cry.
7:45am here. I just took Little One to school and, on the way back, stopped at the site for The Park. It is a tangle of overgrown brush, a mess, really. One side of the creek is a bog and the other side is an overgrown field surrounded by jungle.
Tonight, that could all begin to change. I sat there, trying to visualize the beautiful plan they've drawn up, superimposed on the green mayhem. It's so surreal -- that I could just have this random idea: "Let's go for a park!" and now it may actually become reality.
Drove home, grapped a cuppa, and checked the DILs' blogs. Both of them blog, and both of them typically blog late at night, so early morning is a good time to catch up. (But, both of them, like me, blog somewhat erratically!)
Both of them had updates online so I settled in for a good update. Read the NYC DIL first. Good newsy update on baby and my DS.
Then read DIL who is married to my son who is in Iraq. In 13 days, he will be home!! Those tears that were stinging my eyes earlier began to pour down my cheeks. Her blog said he is so discouraged, so tired, that even the knowledge that he's coming home did little to improve his spirits. My heart aches. Dear God, You have been so good to protect him through today. Please, Lord, keep him safe through his return home. And, please, Lord, give W a clue that each of our sons and daughters is NOT disposable.
His babies are thrilled at the prospect of having Daddy back. DIL is cleaning, organizing, cooking, shopping.

Life is good.

2 Hurdles cleared...

OK, two hurdles cleared on the Park. Thursday night, the Board approved the Park, and this morning, the neighbors within 2 blocks were invited to an informal presentation at one of the neighbors' house. About 6 families came. Geez, they're thick with kids! I felt that the room was full of 3-year-olds. Toddling around, rolling balls under my feet, handing me blocks, it was great.
The adults in the room were really receptive. Asked some tough but good questions. Enthusiastically embraced the project. WOW was the first word I heard when I showed the plans. WOW was exactly what I was hoping to hear.
So, the last hurdle is next Tuesday night. Til then...

Park Plans

Wow. Yesterday was a huge day. Little One's first day back at school. Morning routine, etc, got to school early. That's a good thing. She is sooo Type Z. "Whatever." Last year I had to go to the principal's office because she had 10 tardies. When you're in the car, motor running, and she's still in the house, redoing her hair again, what can you do? When I complained that I had been called to see the principal, her reply was, "I'm just a person who takes my time. People just need to learn to deal with it." So. You see, getting to school early was a huge deal. (This morning went well, too.)
Back to yesterday. After dropping her off, I headed downtown to meet with the Director of Parks & Rec. Plans for our neighborhood were ready!! DPR is a pretty laid-back person. Not this day. She was as excited as I was over them. Apparently the Park Planning firm she uses had just done a study on Frederick Law Olmstead (think Biltmore and Central Park). When she laid out that we were planning a Centennial Park, the neighborhood is turning 100 next year, their eyes lit up. That's just when Olmstead did his parks. They were excited to apply his principals: symmetry, formal layout with lots of nature.

It. Is. Gorgeous.

Round areas. One here, one there, to balance it. Sidewalks edged with pavers. Trellis gateway. Fencing made of brick pillars with period-style metal fencing between.

Wow.



We will sell the pavers, stamped with whatever you want to say, for $100 each. The proceeds will pay for the sidewalk.

Finally, last night, I presented the plans to the Board. Did not blog it, but last time we met, I was confronted by ... I guess I'll call her "She Who Must Not be Named." Vitriolic. Fire-breathing. She had been in my home just 3 days prior but had not mentioned a single concern. Laid in wait to attack at Board Meeting. "What will you do when you discover the whole neighborhood does not want a Park?" etc, etc. (The neighborhood wants a park.)

Understandably I was a little apprehensive about last night's meeting. Well, it went okay. One down. Tomorrow, I present it to a small group of neighbors who live near the site. Then, Tuesday night, large neighborhood-wide meeting and vote: Do We Want a Park?

It's not a case of do we want to receive a park from the City. It will be a public-private partnership with the City. We will raise the crux of the money for it. We will do much of the work to maintain it. But, in the end, we'll have a park.

I first had thoughts to develop a park last winter. Walking the dog, I observed how many houses are owned by 70, 80, 90-year-old people. Those houses will come up for sale here in the not-too-distant future. If investors buy them to rent, my own house goes down in value. But if young families with children want to buy them, to keep improving them, then the neighborhood stays young, thriving. Walked and walked, looking for a place. There just aren't a lot of vacant lots in a 100-year-old neighborhood.

Kept coming back to the lot we call "The Pit." Finally, on a cold and grey day in March, I logged on to the county website's GIS screens to see who owns The Pit. Duh. The City owns it.

At that point, things began to happen very quickly. Emailed a councilman and pitched my idea. He said he'd get back to me. --An hour later, he did. By the end of the week, we were walking the site with the DPR. She loved it. He loved it. Called the Director of Environmental Studies at the local college. He loved it. Talked it up with neighbors. Folks said, I'll give money, I'll give planting materials. I'll do labor and bring some of my buddies. It was overwhelming how well everything fell into place.

Now it's time for the sell job. I really believe this was meant to happen, that things would not have gone so well to now if it were not. sigh. Smile and cross my fingers!

btw, already sold 2 pavers, in less than a day. :)

Saving the Interview

Had an article in the paper today that was the result of interviewing several 80+ year olds in the community. They all grew up in the neighborhood and remember riding the streetcar when it was still here. To find today's article, go to salisburypost.com and in the "search" window, key in my first and list names, then click on "find."
Well, my digital audio recorder holds so much information, and in the interest of having more interviews in the future, I have to keep old interviews cleaned off it. It just kills me to erase this interview knowing in a few short years, these dear people and their memories will be gone forever. Wouldn't it be cool to save the interview to the pc and burn a cd of it? It's a digital recorder...
Well, I guess it's not that easy. In my little pea-brain, I want to connect to the 'audio-out' on my digital recorder, and the 'mic-in' on my pc. Using Windows Recorder, click on 'record' while clicking, 'play' on my recorder. Simple enough?
Went to Circuit City to find such a cable. Surely there is one, or enough adapters in the world to create one.
The dude tried to sell me a $50 contraption, big box, to connect your computer to your stereo. "I don't want to spend $50," I politely told him. Following that, he had total attitude, and that was that.
The attitude was so obvious that, as we were walking out, Little One said, "Hey, Nana, was it my imagination, or was that guy covered up with attitude?" Had to smile.
Hey, if you haven't taken your kid to see, "Sky High," or if the name misled you into thinking it's a teen film about being, well, high (remember Cheech & Chong?) well, get over it and take 'em. Cute flick for the tweenagers in your life. Too grown-up for little kids and a little immature for the true teenagers. But cute all the same, and how funny to see Kurt Russell back in a Disney film. Catch it when Linda Carter says, "I'm not Wonder Woman, you know." Look closely for Cloris Leachman. Not an epic by any means, but a fun way to pass the afternoon with your tween. That's it for tonight. Peace.

School starts soon . . .

School starts this Thursday and Little One vacillates between excitement and dread. Every adult we see asks her, "Ready for school?" She spent an hour or so today organizing her school supplies and bookbag; yesterday when we ran into a teacher at the store, she said she is totally NOT ready for school, thank you very much. I fully believe she is honest on both accounts. So often I anticipate an event and dread it at the same time. I can really identify.
Tonight was our first night of going back to bedtimes. She's been staying up to about 10pm most nights this summer, and sleeping til 10 or 11am. Tonight she went to bed at 9 and we will wake up at 7 tomorrow, working our way through the week until we can get up at 6:30 on Wednesday, and of course, on Thursday.
She received her teacher assignment yesterday. She got the teacher she wanted, but alas, her two closest friends did not. All three of them are assigned to the three different teachers. Homeroom is only about half the day, though, and they are all in AG together, so it will all work out. (Easy for me to say.)
As for me, I am ambivalent myself about being alone during the days again. On the one hand, I can get so much more done. On the other hand, she is great company and I genuinely enjoy her company.
I was on deadline today for another article and had virtually no time with her all day, except for breakfast and supper. Ideally, I can get these things done while she's at school and really be with her when she gets home.
When I tucked her in bed tonight, she was unusually upbeat about going to bed at a bedtime again. I'm betting she truly is "ready for school."

Yep, MORE Pics. . . .

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you're like ~yawn~ no, not more pics of the stove. I swear these are the final pics of the stove.
Well, maybe when the entire kitchen is finished, {should we live so long} you'll see more, but that will be it.
Here she is with her little tube light on, in a dark kitchen:

We cleaned the housing for her flourescent light. I was at Lowe's trying to find a replacement tube, (not available) and DH was at home, cleaning the old one just on a chance that it would work.


....It did.





Here is her "high-vue" showing a pie in the oven:

The "high-vue" is the little window to the right of the clock on the console. The oven has a window in its ceiling, and there are mirrors in-between there and this little window. Yes, periscope-style. How cool is that. Note her sparkling oven racks.








Here is her oven open. Did I remember to say, "Note her sparkling racks" ?


The light is shining a little yellowish on them in this pic. I assure you they are sparkly chrome. She's gor-geous.












Note our vintage percolator beside her. Makes yummy coffee.
In case you wonder why she's on rugs, we are still sliding her in and out to clean. Protecting the hardwood floors.




This is the grill-a-vator:












Here is her little clock. Need I say it?



(Perfect time.)








And, of course, what stove would be complete without its operating manual?










Well, that's it for now. No more stove, I swear. Tune in next time for more of the regular, old, boring life of. 'Til then...

Photos

Here is the truck hired specially to bring the stove to her new home. She came to us from an elderly man named Salvador who was moving out of his home. His grandson Gabriel says Salvador kissed the stove before she left. Salvador's wife Rachel cooked many fine meals on the stove. Rachel passed away in 1987.






DH seems to be pretty excited at her arrival.

We uncrated her in the front yard as the pallet would not go through the front door. Several men in the neighborhood came over to help navigate the dolly. She weighs 381 pounds and they had to lift her up steps a couple of times. Thanks, guys.

It's amazing to me that we had exactly the correct space for her, even though our previous stove was 30" in width. DH knew I wantd a large, old, stove, but we were thinking 36", not 40. Yet, here she is, tucked in.

Unfinished wall to your right.

She's 50 years old and she's been used for, well, cooking. She had a little buildup. I spent the day yesterday cleaning her with lots of TLC. Good results!

Every piece arrived intact, and cleaned beautifully. This stove was built to last.

If you know us, you may remember our dear neighbor named Rachel who passed away two years ago. Rachel was delighted with our work on our house and she and her husband gave us several antiques: a bronze chandelier for the bathroom, a walnut-framed beveled mirror (weighs a ton!) and several true Art Deco sconces and matching chandelier from a movie house in Boston. Rachel supported our ideas, kissed our grandbaby, and was so pleased every time we stopped in to see her. She was brave to the end.

We were delighted to hear that our stove's first owner (Salvador's wife) was also named Rachel. In memory of both Rachel's, our new stove has been named for them.

The (Amazing) Stove is In

She arrived yesterday, in a truck that carried her, only her, all the way from Houston to Smalls-bury. Arrived on a pallet, blanketed with styrofoam, cardboard, and shrink-wrap. Dear Husband and half the men in the neighborhood got her in the house with little fanfare. She weighs 381 pounds. Other neighbors arrived throughout the day today to pay homage to the Queen.

She is perfect in her spot. Regal, she is the centerpiece of the kitchen, but yet, being the same color, (white) is not too ostentatious. She simply takes her rightful place as the Monarch of the Kitchen.

I spent all day cleaning her.
The man from the gas company arrives tomorrow to certify her, on our request. We want to be sure all the regulators are in the correct positions, and there are no leaks, before turning it on.

I remarked to DH this evening: It's a sin to like a material possession this much. <>

Homeless Shelter

Little One and I worked at the Homeless Shelter tonight. Our family is on the "emergency" list, meaning, when someone says they will work, and they cancel, the Shelter calls us. There are two ways to help at night. You can cook supper, serve, wash dishes and clean the kitchen from 6pm to 9pm. Or you can sign people in when they arrive and do the laundry. That task runs from 6pm to 11pm. 9 times out of 10, I opt for the supper duty -- primarily because of Little One. I have done sign in/laundry before, and enjoy it, but the earlier is the only one when you've got kids.

I first helped when she was 7 and we helped as a family starting when she was 8. It's amazing to see the change in her level of helping as she grows up. When she was 8, she pretty much scooped desserts into bowls and then went to play with the homeless children. At 9, she advanced into preparing glasses of tea. Tonight, her friend who is very bright came to help with her parents (the family from Newfoundland) and the two girls selected the green vegetable (cole slaw); prepared it (made the dressing and mixed it with the cabbage mix, pre-bagged); plated desserts; filled the ice bucket; filled the cups with ice; served the desserts and drinks; carried pitchers through the dining room to offer refills; found the mop and cleaned up a spill; carried bus pans; rinsed dishes; ran them through the automated dishwasher; and put dishes away. They were actually, real HELP. For the first time since I've been helping there, we finished early. In case you wondered, we -- the adults -- weren't idle, even though it sounds a little like we were. We prepared the meal, served it, cleaned the pots and pans, and put food away.

BTW, the friends from Newfoundland were pretty much shocked by the Shelter -- by the volume of people. In our little (tiny, actually) town, we had 24 people there to spend the night tonight, and it's usually more than 30. Even though Newfoundland runs an 18% unemployment rate, they don't have homeless people like this. Now, I know they have social medicine and extensive government support, but I am not sure I understand why they are able to keep people off the streets and we can't. But then, I don't know anything.

I am so glad our Shelter is as nice as it is; it is a pleasure to go help. The people are appreciative, (though of course that's not why we do it ) and it's a great reminder of how blessed we are (which is probably closer to why we do it). If you're ever feeling sorry for yourself, head on down to your own local Homeless Shelter. It's a great wake-up call.