The problem with vacation is that it always ends

We took an exceptionally nice little vacation last week.

The kids stayed up way past their bedtimes every night watching basketball with Rockford. Meanwhile, I fell asleep at 8 one night. Amusement parks wear me out.

Pete and I rode the log flume twice. He loved it the first time, when he couldn’t see what was happening. We were in the front the second time. He did not love that. I did, though, which leads us to this:

I rode a roller coaster for the first time in 17 years. The log flume emboldened me. I opened my eyes once and only once, just long enough to see that we were about to go through yet another loop-de-loop. I practiced deep breathing for the full one minute and 48 seconds.

I’m pretty sure the family is in agreement that our favorite ride was the “river rampage.” We rode it six times and were thoroughly soaked. The glee on Pete and Poppy’s faces when Rockford and I got doused was absolutely worth it.

Like I said, it was an exceptionally nice couple of days. Then almost as soon as we got home, we were out the door again to go to a baseball game. Thus extending the exceptional niceness a little bit farther.

I think I may have left my brain on vacation, though. I had a very hard time focusing on this week’s menu.

Monday: Mac & cheese

Rockford has a work dinner, which makes it Kids’ Choice Night. And their choice is almost always mac & cheese.

Tuesday: Grilled chicken

Combine one bottle of Italian dressing, some chicken breasts and a grill, and you’ll have a yummy dinner.

Wednesday: Spaghetti

I made spaghetti with meat sauce one night last week. Rockford must’ve really liked it, because he requested it again this week.

Thursday: MIL’s Choice

We’re going to my in-laws’ for dinner. Whatever she makes will be wonderful, as usual.

Since last we spoke

  • We joined the YMCA. The kids love it there, which I’m hoping will be an extra incentive for me to start exercising again.
  • The children continue to have conversations I don’t understand. Par example:
    “There’s three babies in here!”
    “No there aren’t. It’s just an illusion.”
  • I started reading “Don Quixote.” It’s a slog, so far.
  • We’ve been doing some light gardening. I’m going to need to do some heavy gardening to get all of the flower beds into shape.
  • We’ve painted with toy cars.
  • I’ve lost to Poppy in tetherball three times.

On losing and the perpetual menu machine

Well, my silly sestina didn’t win BlogHer’s contest. You can pop over there to read their top pick. They’re taking on the villanelle in the next BlogHer poetry contest. Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” is probably the most well-known villanelle, but Theodore Roethke wrote my very favorite example of the form.

THE WAKING
by Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

Theodore Roethke, “The Waking” from Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke. Copyright 1953 by Theodore Roethke.

“This shaking keeps me steady.” That just slays me. And I still haven’t been to the Roethke house. Anyway, villanelles look less complicated than sestinas, I think, but I’ll bet they’re harder to write. I’ll tell you what I will try my hand at, though: Dinner. Here’s what we’re having this week.

Monday: Fajitas

We used to have fajitas pretty frequently, and then we didn’t. I don’t know what happened, but I’m glad they’re back.

Tuesday: Crockpot Orange Chicken

Is this the week we finally eat this? I’ve had it on the menu for at least two weeks now.

Wednesday: Honey-ginger beef stir-fry

Sometimes I make my own stir-fry sauce. This will not be one of those days. I bought a bottled sauce, and I want it to be delicious.

Thursday: Burgers

I know I’ll spend Thursday evening wanting to buy a Big Green Egg. Our grill is falling apart.

Friday: Pizza