Thursday night was remarkably awesome.
I had been invited to play softball with a big AmeriCorps crew by a girl named Kaelyn who works at the Seashore Headquarters on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I told her repeatedly that I hadn’t played softball in years was never any good, and she assured me that no one would mind because there were only a few skilled players anyway. Taking her word for it, I showed up at the overgrown field ready to play.
Just minutes after introductions, I was dubbed a team captain. They call it their initiation to their softball group. I picked Kaelyn first, and had to just wing it after that. Oddly enough, the guy with a Phillies shirt and the girl who was our team’s strongest hitter were picked last.
My team took outfield first (I played third base, and didn’t have to do much), and when it was our turn up to bat I was informed that as captain I had to go first. My first two swings were choppy and awkward, but on my third I smacked the ball far and low enough to make it to first base, which I overran significantly because it was only a small sliver of driftwood and I’m not entirely sure it was placed properly. I found second base okay (that piece of wood was a whole two inches wide and six inches long), and third as well. Before I knew it, I had scored our team’s first run! Later that same inning, I scored again before the “five runs per inning” rule was enacted and we went back to the outfield.
I was stranded at third during our next at-bat, and in the final one I was out a first. I didn’t get to make any spectacular plays from third base, but I caught a pass and almost tagged one of the best hitters out. Hey, I was just happy I caught the ball!
We only played for about an hour before one girl had to leave, and the game dissolved into friendly conversation. We disbanded not long after, and I left with a satisfied smile playing on my lips.
When I arrived home it was only about 7:30pm, and there was still enough daylight to hit the beach so I trapsed down there, swinging my keys. I love going down there late on cool evenings, because there are only a few other people meandering through the sand like me. I had originally intended to wander down to my established turnaround point, but there was a couple just ahead of me and I didn’t want to intrude on their romantic little stroll. Instead I settled into the cool, still-damp sand just a few feet out of reach of the crashing waves.
After a few minutes of staring aimlessly into the waves, something in the water caught my eye. Could it be? Yes it was – a seal! And a big one at that. I could tell as I watched the top of his back and then his tail flippers arch through the surface of the water before he was submerged again.
My eyes scanned rapidly in the direction he was headed, but I wasn’t sure how long he could stay under. A few minutes flashed by before I located him again, at which point I stood up and began walking in his direction, guestimating once again where he would pop up next. This time I drastically underestimated his lung capacity and speed, and had to run to have any hope of continuing to follow him. Truth be told, I was lucky I even saw him that third time!
By the sixth time I saw him surface our timing was perfectly in sync, and he surfaced directly out across the water from me. I was just about at my turnaround point by then, but I held on to our connection for one more round, lucky number seven. I blew him a kiss before he dove down once more, then I bid him adieu and headed back along the beach.
The little smile that I wore home from softball was now a big grin as I trudged merrily back through the sand. To think, if I had taken my normal walk my eyes would never have glimpsed that brown head poking up from the surf, and I would have missed out on that magical little encounter with my seal.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Happy Hippy
Driving home recently I passed a man riding a bike barefoot and helmetless. His stringy blond hair was long and unkempt, and he peddled slowly as one hand clutched a recent bakery purchase. He munched some sort of bread stick that he had positioned to stick out above the bag. He was headed in the general direction of the beach, and I could easily picture a surfboard tied haphazardly to his bike. His whole essence screamed aging hippy to me, and it made me smile. He seemed quite contented.
Turkey Love Drama
On my way to work the other day, I saw my turkey again! This time he was with his lover, which made me really happy. They ambled along the side of the road, pecking at the ground about ten feet from each other. I smiled to myself, thinking of them as having a solid enough relationship that they didn't need to be joined at the hip or chattering away constantly - they could just be happy eating quietly in each other's presence.
I fear I may have misread the situation, however, because I saw just one turkey when I was leaving work on Friday. Perhaps they weren't as happily coupled as I had assumed, and they were actually giving each other the cold shoulder. It appears as though they may be having marital problems, and are temporarily separated. I'll have to continue to monitor the situation. I hope they work it out, because I still remember how sad he was calling for her that first day.
I fear I may have misread the situation, however, because I saw just one turkey when I was leaving work on Friday. Perhaps they weren't as happily coupled as I had assumed, and they were actually giving each other the cold shoulder. It appears as though they may be having marital problems, and are temporarily separated. I'll have to continue to monitor the situation. I hope they work it out, because I still remember how sad he was calling for her that first day.
New Gym!
Thanks to Paige's keen eyes on our very first trip out here back in April, which spotted a sign advertising an indoor rock wall, I have found an awesome gym that is quickly becoming my second home - much like Blenz in Whistler.
The gym is called Willy's, and it has two locations, one in Eastham along the bike path between my house and my work, and the other in Orleans, where I'll be running all my errands. In addition to the indoor rock climbing, they have group exercise classes, a lap pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and of course the standard exercise machines and weights and whatnot. It also has free WiFi, which has become a lifesaver since it turns out that the house was not in Comcast's service area.
Last Sunday I came just for the internet, but Monday I returned for a Pilates class in the morning. While I waited for the previous class to finish, I struck up friendly conversation with another woman taking the class.When we got into the room, she told me which kind of mat was the best, and showed me where to get a bosu (a weird training gadget that is like half a yoga ball domed over a flat surface) and small squishy ball. The class was great, and using the extra tools was awkward at first but fun nontheless.
The next day I was extremely sore (I hadn't done Pilates regularly since the winter), but I went back Tuesday night for an evening class. The same woman I spoke to on Monday was leaving the previous class, but she assured me that I'd love the teacher, who was a sub. This instructor introduced another new gadget, a ring with padding on two sides that we put our feet in or our arms around to do various exercises. Also in this class was a woman I work near at the Headquarters. Afterward she warned me that now that she knew I liked Pilates, I would be dragged weekly. I told her that was fine by me, because I really love Pilates!
Wednesday morning I went to the Orleans location to check out a class called Healthy U at 7am, which would leave me enough time to get ready for work at 9am. Little did I know that I'd be by far the youngest person in the class. The instructor at one point told us that he was 42, and I thought great, the next youngest person is twice my age. The old folks were fun, though, I have to admit. While we were still warming up, a woman chimed in loudly to the "Sha la la la" part of Brown Eyed Girl, to which the instructor responded "What, is it karaoke Wednesday or something?" Towards the end of the song, when that part came on again, a gangly, bouncy old man in the front turned to the group and waved his arms to encourage us to join him as he sand out loud and strong. As much as I enjoyed the class, I'll probably only go for a few weeks until I have a firm handle on each exercise move and can do them myself, outside the class.
I looked forward to Friday all week, and finally got to go rock climbing! I headed straight there from work, and when I arrived there was only one kid down there besides the belayer. The kid, Harry, was eleven years old and behaved as one would expect an eleven year old boy to behave. He kept it interesting though, teasing me and motivating me into climbing higher when he said I couldn't. The belayer was a high school senior named Evan, and he really knew his stuff. I only climbed four walls before calling it a day, and could really feel it my arms. I'm looking forward to coming regularly and improving. After all, I have to show up that eleven year old!
The gym is called Willy's, and it has two locations, one in Eastham along the bike path between my house and my work, and the other in Orleans, where I'll be running all my errands. In addition to the indoor rock climbing, they have group exercise classes, a lap pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and of course the standard exercise machines and weights and whatnot. It also has free WiFi, which has become a lifesaver since it turns out that the house was not in Comcast's service area.
Last Sunday I came just for the internet, but Monday I returned for a Pilates class in the morning. While I waited for the previous class to finish, I struck up friendly conversation with another woman taking the class.When we got into the room, she told me which kind of mat was the best, and showed me where to get a bosu (a weird training gadget that is like half a yoga ball domed over a flat surface) and small squishy ball. The class was great, and using the extra tools was awkward at first but fun nontheless.
The next day I was extremely sore (I hadn't done Pilates regularly since the winter), but I went back Tuesday night for an evening class. The same woman I spoke to on Monday was leaving the previous class, but she assured me that I'd love the teacher, who was a sub. This instructor introduced another new gadget, a ring with padding on two sides that we put our feet in or our arms around to do various exercises. Also in this class was a woman I work near at the Headquarters. Afterward she warned me that now that she knew I liked Pilates, I would be dragged weekly. I told her that was fine by me, because I really love Pilates!
Wednesday morning I went to the Orleans location to check out a class called Healthy U at 7am, which would leave me enough time to get ready for work at 9am. Little did I know that I'd be by far the youngest person in the class. The instructor at one point told us that he was 42, and I thought great, the next youngest person is twice my age. The old folks were fun, though, I have to admit. While we were still warming up, a woman chimed in loudly to the "Sha la la la" part of Brown Eyed Girl, to which the instructor responded "What, is it karaoke Wednesday or something?" Towards the end of the song, when that part came on again, a gangly, bouncy old man in the front turned to the group and waved his arms to encourage us to join him as he sand out loud and strong. As much as I enjoyed the class, I'll probably only go for a few weeks until I have a firm handle on each exercise move and can do them myself, outside the class.
I looked forward to Friday all week, and finally got to go rock climbing! I headed straight there from work, and when I arrived there was only one kid down there besides the belayer. The kid, Harry, was eleven years old and behaved as one would expect an eleven year old boy to behave. He kept it interesting though, teasing me and motivating me into climbing higher when he said I couldn't. The belayer was a high school senior named Evan, and he really knew his stuff. I only climbed four walls before calling it a day, and could really feel it my arms. I'm looking forward to coming regularly and improving. After all, I have to show up that eleven year old!
New Mode of Transportation!
Even before my car began quitting on me, I had been planning to bike to work whenever the weather permitted. I'll save money on gas, save myself the headache of the heavy traffic that I have been warned about, reduce my carbon footprint, and get in better shape - all by this one simple activity!
Before biking to work the first time, I took an afternoon ride to familiarize myself with the trail. When I reached the intersection at the HQ, I reached for my chapstick in my pocket. It was there, but my phone was not. I thought briefly about whether I would have been as upset if it was the other way around (if my phone was there, but my chapstick was not), and determined that I probably would be as I peddled furiously back, my eyes scanning the ground on the opposite side of the trail.
I was nearly back to my starting point when I saw a young couple on bikes stopped on the side of the trail. The man had a purple phone in his hands and wore a puzzled expression on his face.
"Is that---" I began, screeching to a halt.
"Is this yours?" he asked hopefully, handing the phone over to me. "I was going to try to call your mom or something."
I thanked them profusely, so grateful that they had not decided to simply pocket the phone and continue on their way. They wished me luck, and with a sigh of relief I stowed my phone away in my bag, and patted for my chapstick. It was still with me!
Before biking to work the first time, I took an afternoon ride to familiarize myself with the trail. When I reached the intersection at the HQ, I reached for my chapstick in my pocket. It was there, but my phone was not. I thought briefly about whether I would have been as upset if it was the other way around (if my phone was there, but my chapstick was not), and determined that I probably would be as I peddled furiously back, my eyes scanning the ground on the opposite side of the trail.
I was nearly back to my starting point when I saw a young couple on bikes stopped on the side of the trail. The man had a purple phone in his hands and wore a puzzled expression on his face.
"Is that---" I began, screeching to a halt.
"Is this yours?" he asked hopefully, handing the phone over to me. "I was going to try to call your mom or something."
I thanked them profusely, so grateful that they had not decided to simply pocket the phone and continue on their way. They wished me luck, and with a sigh of relief I stowed my phone away in my bag, and patted for my chapstick. It was still with me!
New Opportunity!
By now, I have completed my two weeks of volunteering the Superintendent's office at the Headquarters of the Seashore. My three main assignments are all on-going, however, so I will still be in on Fridays and will put in some time outside of the office as well.
The main project they requested my help on is the planning of an event to be held at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis in mid-July. The goal is to promote the Seashore to the people of the Upper Cape, who rarely make it out as far as the beaches of the Outer/Lower Cape. George Price, the park's Superintendent, and Glenn Ritt, a member of the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore (hereafter, "The Friends"), both used their contacts to recruit various organizations to join us in presenting the Seashore so as to encourage visitation by Upper Cape residents.
Next Friday I have a tentative meeting set up with Glenn and the marketing representative from the Cape Cod Mall (CCM) to look at the space and begin working out the logistical details of the event. Then I get to take over the management of the organizations, working with them to develop presentations and ensuring that their needs will be met on the day of the event. Those of us involved recognize the challenge of enticing mall shoppers to check out the exhibits we;ll have on display, but I'm looking forward to putting my planning skills to the test.
The main project they requested my help on is the planning of an event to be held at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis in mid-July. The goal is to promote the Seashore to the people of the Upper Cape, who rarely make it out as far as the beaches of the Outer/Lower Cape. George Price, the park's Superintendent, and Glenn Ritt, a member of the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore (hereafter, "The Friends"), both used their contacts to recruit various organizations to join us in presenting the Seashore so as to encourage visitation by Upper Cape residents.
Next Friday I have a tentative meeting set up with Glenn and the marketing representative from the Cape Cod Mall (CCM) to look at the space and begin working out the logistical details of the event. Then I get to take over the management of the organizations, working with them to develop presentations and ensuring that their needs will be met on the day of the event. Those of us involved recognize the challenge of enticing mall shoppers to check out the exhibits we;ll have on display, but I'm looking forward to putting my planning skills to the test.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Shifting Sources
The kitchen light just went out. Or, more accurately, it didn't go on. Being that it was pitch black outside, I had to open the microwave to shed some light into the dark room while I relocated the large white lamp from the dining room into the random gap next to the refridgerator.
I'm proud of myself for not panicking. The bugs outside twacking into my living room window might change that however. They must have been sent by the creepy forest...
I'm proud of myself for not panicking. The bugs outside twacking into my living room window might change that however. They must have been sent by the creepy forest...
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