Thursday, the way retirement is supposed to be

As expected, we slept late -- 6:30, I think. After a leisurely morning, we put the tandem kayak onto the river in the early afternoon.





We shared the river with ducks and turtles.



In this next picture, our house is vaguely visible.


Didn't see it? Look in the crudely drawn circle below.


This is an ideal time of year to be on the river.



So, we had our exercise and inspiration all at once.

Wednesday

It's a good day. We woke late because we stayed up late to watch the end of the election, the graceful and unifying concession speech from Sen. McCain and the powerful message from President Elect Obama. We were moved, as were so many, by his words seeking unity and promising to be the president of all Americans, not just those who voted for him: "... to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

We had an appointment with the surgeon who did Mike's excisional biopsy in September and he found all to be well. Nonetheless, he recommended a consultation with an oncologist to conduct a risk assessment, so we will follow that advice soon.

On the way home, we stopped by the pottery studio where we picked up a pile of pieces we have made, most of them from the recent firing of the ^10 gas kiln:


The afternoon included a stop at the grocery store where Mike was able to get the senior discount for the first time, and a slew of family phone calls, followed by a pottery session with the Ovdenks. Then we stayed up late watching TV, knowing we can sleep as late as we want again because we're retired.

It's a good day.

Tuesday, Election Day 2008

Yes, we voted!

After all the long lines for early voting, it took us less than half an hour to vote today. This is our polling place, a small church near our home. Although there was a line all the way to the rear of the building at 11:00 a.m., by the time we got there at 2:00 p.m., there were slightly fewer voters in line than the picture, taken after we voted, shows.


Now we wait for results, hoping whoever is elected president does what he can to unify this country and lead us through the current crises that beset us.

And a non-partisan shout-out to Mike's dad: Happy Birthday, Mac!

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Today is Mike's 60th birthday, and we spent it having fun. The biggest activity was shopping, and here's a picture of Mike with most of her loot.

Missing Max

We haven't seen Max and his parents for a couple of weeks, so we stole a few of BenAnna's pix. 

 

            

Sunday fun

We went to Gabe & Becky's for a lunch celebrating Mike's 60th birthday tomorrow. Reese didn't seem too impressed.

Finn was glad to have us over, getting each of us out in the backyard for a session of finding and throwing sticks, and getting each of us into the playroom.


Gabe cooked, following a complicated recipe that produced delicious gyros, and Becky made a perfect Greek salad.


The birthday cake was a great carrot cake baked by Becky. Everyone was amazed at the size of the blaze with just 20% of the candles for this birthday.


After the birthday party, Ron went to the pottery studio to trim this vase, the largest one so far.


And then the Falcons game. Yipee.

Saturday -- soccer, pottery, and abysmal football

Mike and Ron went to the last game of Finnley's first soccer season. Reese, of course, was there to cheer her big brother on.



Finnley, along with the rest of his team, and the rest of the league, got a trophy.



MeMike reacted with expectable joy, then she and Pops took Finnley to two different playgrounds where he demonstrated his form on a climbing wall and monkey bars.



In the afternoon, Ron went to the studio and trimmed a bowl, working on giving it a raised Asian-styled foot.



Then there was the Georgia-Florida game, about which the least said, the better.

Friday, for better and for worse

Ron started the day well enough, getting to the studio nice and early, looking at the bowl and the vase he threw at class last night, the last night to work with wet clay for this class session.



They were too wet to trim, so he worked on glazing a few pieces. Here they are with the wax resist on the bottom drying before applying glazes.


The worse part? Doctor's appointment in the afternoon and the attendant hassles.

Wednesday: kids and pottery

In the morning, Ron spent some time trimming pots while Mike watched a smiling Reese.

In the afternoon, Ron delivered Reese to Becky at Finn's soccer practice.

And in the evening, Pete & Laura Ovdenk came over to work on pottery and brought Mike an early birthday present, a beautiful plate from Double Creek Pottery. The one below is representative of the style of the plate, though the one Mike got is round.

If it's Tuesday, it must be pottery

High point of the day (outside the delight of being home) was a trip to the pottery studio.  Mike worked on an interesting snowman while Ron threw a couple of bowls.

Monday, Monday

MeMike and Reese and Finn enjoyed an early Halloween.

This was a long day. Finn was home from school because of 5 days of fever and a cough and sore throat. Pops took him to the doctor and, taking a cue from the character of George on Gray's Anatomy, had the nurse swab his throat first to reassure Finnley. All in all, a success, especially since Finn is well -- the doctor thinks he had the croup virus but it did not progress to the croup. MeMike and Pops kept both kids all day and were reminded again why Nature plans for young people to have young children.

Reese has begun to grasp and hold objects, as seen here.

A fine Sunday -- Finnley, Antigone, and the Falcons

On a lovely, crisp autumn day in Atlanta, we enjoyed a morning with Finn at our house. Notwithstanding what seems like the beginning of a cold, he was fun to play with -- at his direction, of course -- and he and Ron had a fine session of throwing sticks in the river.

After taking Finn home, we went directly to see the Georgia Shakespeare Festival's original production of Antigone. Rich with current political meaning, the production was done as a musical and concluded so powerfully that one was compelled to sympathy even for Creon.

Now we're home again, and once this post is published, we'll pop some popcorn and watch the Falcons, which Mike had the foresight to record.

Ron

Finn at his soccer game -- 10/25/08

Reese talks -- 10/22/08

Max & Pops & animal sounds on an iPhone -- 10/19/08

Recent shots of Reese

Hello again

Finally, I've gotten back around to the blog. I've been meaning to post regularly since February, but .... Life is good in retirement, notwithstanding the current meltdown of the world's economy and the nasty tone of the election.

I'm putting in a lot of time in the studio making pottery. When I make something good enough to show off, I'll post a picture here.

Meanwhile, I'll just post pictures of the grandchildren.

Ron

Retirement, Day One

Today is the first full day of retirement for both of us, a happy day. Ron's colleagues put on an elegant luncheon which Mike and Nate and Gabe and Becky and Finn attended. It was a wonderful way to leave.

Thanksgiving Dinner 2007

Gabe & Becky & Finn & Finn's Nana, Sylvia; Ben & Anna & Max; and Wahn (Ben's business partner) & Gloria & Adrian joined us for turkey and too many side dishes to list. In a flurry of babies and happy family, we celebrated the multitude of gifts for which we are thankful.

The table is set.

The table is set., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Mike & Ron bustle in the kitchen.

Mike & Ron bustle in the kitchen., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Finn & Poppa watch Becky & Anna enjoy Max.

Finn & Poppa watch Becky & Anna enjoy Max., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Finn shares a moment with his Mommy and his Nana.

Finn shares a moment with his Mommy and his Nana., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Finn & Max pose with MeMike.

Finn & Max pose with MeMike., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Finn lets Daddy help get ready for the photo shoot.

Finn lets Daddy help get ready for the photo shoot., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Finn, Adrian, and Max meet the papparazzi.

Finn, Adrian, and Max meet the papparazzi., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Max and Poppa share a moment.

Max and Poppa share a moment., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Babies and loving hands.

Babies and hands., originally uploaded by mikeandron.

Max and Adrian entertain Wahn, Gloria, and Poppa.

Max and Adrian entertaiin Wahn, Gloria, and Poppa., originally uploaded by mikeandron.