Its a bit early to call it quits on the summer. . .but as the economy is improving slightly, I am starting to feel the end of the summer coming and serious back to work returning. So here is my annual essay on how I spent my summer vacation:____________________________________
This summer has seemed quite short. Of course that may be due to two things:
1. The pools in New Jersey do not stay open daily until late June and 2. It rained for 29 days in June so it didnt matter anyway.
For as long as I can remember, I measure my summers in pooltime spent wisely.
I started off the summer with high hopes of running 8-5K races which would equal a marathon when all done. After spending January through May preparing, I go out for my first race, and about 1/2 mile into the race (I think some of the racers had already finished and I still had 2 1/2 miles to go), I felt a terrible deja vu feeling in my left knee. I walked the rest of the way and gave up my running career for good.
I did become a fan of techno music which I used for training and still listen to it while I am sitting at the pool. I even get monthly downloads of new techno mixes. So all in all, it was a win!!
Michael Connelly
After years of listening to my friends in my Mystery Book Club talk about Michael Connelly and resisting reading him, my friend Terry at the pool suggested that I read two of her favorite books--both of them were by Michael Connelly. Realizing that I had a couple of his earlier books in my TBR (to be read) pile at home, I spent the summer reading Michael Connelly books. And I just love his writing. Currently reading The Poet, since the sequel to it is coming out this Fall and my Mystery Book Club will be reading it!!
Chatham Parade
I never miss the Chatham Parade on the Fourth of July. As long as I live in Chatham New Jersey--I go to the parade, its that simple.
It is a new and fun experience meeting fellow Chathamites--different each year. This year I met Josephine and Frank and their two children. Their daughter was in the parade and their son was playing video games on the curb. Josephine is a mystery reader and we had a lively conversation about authors we like. It was fun. Again this year, I was the only one with the "rocking chair in the bag". It was quite a hit with the crowd around me and I am sure there was a run on Sports Authority after the parade but before the fireworks.
Back to bicycling
After my running career was tragically cut short by a sharp pain in my knee, I am back to bicycling. About 100 miles a week lets me see a lot of New Jersey--some of it over and over again. Since it has not been too hot, it is a great summer for cycling.
The best news about this season's bicycling is that some old friends have taken up a new pastime and join me on the rides. And I have bicycled in Pennsylvania and Delaware. And eaten at some great trail-side restaurants.
Return to clinical practice
10 years ago, I transitioned from private practice as a nurse practitioner to a non-clinical role as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry. But its interesting how the things you do best just find you again, no matter how you try to hide. This summer, I returned to clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in a midwifery practice. It is part time and as needed. And I love it. I am still a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry--but now after being back around real healthcare dilemmas, a much better one. Many thanks to my long time friend JoAnn for convincing me that it was time to come back.
My grade school reunion
In early 2009, I reconnected through FACEBOOK with a grade school classmate, Paul Pagano. We decided it was time to have a grade school reunion. So we organized it. Since he was in St Louis, he did the heavy work, and I just planned the trivia event. I could not have been looking forward to any other event this summer as much as this one.
To make it even better--the house I grew up in was for sale, and empty--and I went through the house again for the first time in 45 years. It was amazing to re-visit that house and still feel like it was mine. The ghosts of all my grandparents and Tony Lay must have been milling around there to make me feel so at home. My sons are taking my father through the house today for his 87th birthday present.
To my utter delight, we also got to tour the grade school. Most of the classmates remarked that "this is where I was when Kennedy was shot" when we entered the 6th grade classroom.
There was a Mass just before the reunion so a bunch of us went--misbehaved in church talking to each other but without the nuns to stare us down and then afterwards, thanks to some of the fun-loving guys in the class, we tailgated and drank beer on the school parking lot waiting for the reunion to begin. It was GREAT!!
The class pictures of me were not too flattering, but that left me as a lead contender for the Most Changed Award. Which is always a nice end to a fun event.
Well that brings me to the final event of the summer. I moved!!
GADS--I have a lot of junk and most of it heavy.
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James Murray Weinberg. . .
