Friday, August 25, 2017

Lesson 495: Build Bridges

Hello, Readers.
It's been one of those crazy weeks.


There is lots of activity here at the Lamp Post 
with the start of classes beginning next week.
Rebuilding the barn is our biggest project.



I went back to work this week,
and right on schedule my home computer quit.
After hours of fiddling, I finally threw in the towel.
It's spending the weekend with Mr. Fix It,
and I'm writing from my parents' house, I named the Flame
many years ago.


History Lesson for the weekend:
The Lamp Post, which is the nickname for both this blog and my house,
is not named for the lamp posts I have on my property--
It's a LOST Dharma Station.

The Dharma Initiative Plugs - 1 Pair - Sizes 2g, 0g, 00g, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8 & 1. $19.95, via Etsy.

I named my parents' house The Flame
because my dad was a GE welder and their house and barn were red.

LOSTIES--A quiz:  Can you recall the significance of each one?
Where was Eloise Hawking's Lamp Post Dharma Station located?

We have another month until it's officially fall,
but there are nature signs all around us bridging the time in between seasons.



Sam,
my soon to be fifth grader,
showed some interest in picking out his school clothes for the first time.
He picked out this new red jacket.
Mind you,
he paired it with the following:
gray slides,
royal blue and navy shorts,
a black and orange shirt,
and an orange and white hat.


Ellen told him he looked like Grover 
from his childhood favorite,
Grover's Lucky Jacket.


In reply,
Sam told her to go outside and look up at the sun--
it was eclipse day.

Grandma had her usual fun doctoring up Natalie's happy people shirt
in honor of the eclipse.


The students had their fall sports pep rally 
Meet the Huskies.
The girls have their very own golf team this year,
with their very own coach!
Prior to this year they were golfing as independents on the Boys' Team.
Good luck, Girls!


The kids were all smiles


as they anticipated their new seasons.


This motivating youth gave an all call to the fans
to come support the football team the night we get our bridge back.
Now there's the power of positive thought!


"The bridge" is the Nagle Road bridge that
connects the communities of Harborcreek and Lawrence Park.

The backyard football rivalry winner determines who will 
"be in control" of the bridge for the following year.

Here's the bridge:




and here's an article that tells the history 
of how the Battle of the Bridge began.


This guy--
our chiropractor friend,
Dr. Steven Krauza,



together with our photographer friend
Matt Kleck from MK Photography
created this billboard beneath the Nagle Road bridge
which created a significant buzz in our communities.


Subsequently, 
lots of people had fun with the friendly backyard rivalry.


There is something that brings you back to your childhood
with some fun, friendly teasing.


Friendly rivalries were almost a thing of the past.
Almost.
Because we're bringing them back!
What is life without a little, friendly fun?
Boring.
That's what.



The Huskies pulled out a 17-15 victory tonight
that was a nail biter down to the very last play of the game.



 Fun was had by all.


The Huskies were due for a win.


The Braves had control of the bridge for the last two years.



In an age were intolerance and hatred are so prevalent,

We build too many walls and not enough bridges - Isaac Newton.  Lettering by ianbarnard Photo by Rip.josh


perhaps we use this game to build bridges 
between the Harborcreek and Lawrence Park communities.
Great familes make for great schools,
and Harborcreek and Iroquois represent two of the finest.




In honor of the sweet victory I'm having a Blue Moon tonight.
It's blue,
not orange,
but you serve it with an orange slice
so close enough--just like the game.


Congratulations to both teams.
Your sportsmanship was commendable 
and you allowed the Battle of the Bridge
to truly live up to its name.

The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross, and which to burn - #quote #bridge

Advice for next year, Braves--
this fire, backfired on you.
Try yoga next time.
That worked well for the Huskies.


Image may contain: sky and outdoor

Have a great weekend.

ELOISE









Saturday, August 19, 2017

Lesson 494: Backstories

Happy birthday, Lessons From the Lamp Post!
We celebrated our seventh birthday this week.
7 years,
494 posts,
and
290,170 reads later,
we meet again tonight.

This blog has boomed in recent years.
I average more than 3,000 regular readers each month.

For the newer readers,
you may not have the backstory on some of my material,
so this post will fill in a few pieces of the puzzle.

To read Lesson 1 
of my ad free,
sponsor free,
and editor free weekly workspace
(sorry for the typos, I work late night and self-publish)--

I sure am proud to be part of this guy's backstory!
Readers,
remember the name Ray Galeza.
My former student is going big places,
most likely in a self-driving car.
He stopped for a visit after he completed a summer internship for Uber.


Sam threw his last pitch of the season last weekend,
(and I do believe he hit a kid....)
ending a very successful few months on the ball diamond.



I didn't get too many photos of the games,
because the Cochranton fair was nearby.
Backstory:
Eloise gets distracted by farm animals!









Especially donkeys!
Eloise loves donkeys!


Backstory:
I loved the animated Christmas special
Nestor the Long Eared Donkey
when I was a kid in the 1970's,
Nestor's mother freezing to death has scarred me for life.
I can't stand it when I think someone is cold.
I like to bundle people up all tight and snug,
so they don't freeze to death like Nestor's mother.

Donkeys also have a cross on their backs
because a donkey carried Mary into Bethlehem to give birth to baby Jesus.
A donkey was also responsible for carrying Jesus on Palm Sunday.


I'd like to build a new barn with a donkey stable,
but my idea keeps getting shot down.
Backstory:  Eloise's barn burned up recently

Kindness and well wishes came from many people
over the loss of my parents' pole barn.
My favorite of all was this handmade card
from two of my students.





I hunted for the Beast on the Bay
but didn't spot him last week!



Backstory:
Eloise participates in the Barber National Institute's 
Beast on the Bay every year.

Training sessions for the September 9th event are held on Saturday mornings
at 7:30 am 
on or near the peninsula,
for a $5 donation to the Barber National Institute.




Nephew Jack left for college on Saturday.


Sam will miss Jack but not the wet willies.


Eloise got to see her favorite singer in Cleveland!


Tim McGraw and Faith Hill put on a fantastic show!

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, crowd and outdoor

When did I fall in love with Tim McGraw?
Here's the backstory:

I was new to country music in 2010.
My sister made me go to a concert in Darien Lake
 to see Tim McGraw perform,
insisting that I would like him.



I listened to Tim McGraw for the first time 
on the two hour trip to the concert.

At the concert I discovered they had giant cans of Rolling Rock,
my favorite beer.


I think the combo of the music,
the great big beers,
and seeing Tim for the first time 
was the planetary alignment that opened up the cosmos for me.
Instant love affair.

Tim has transformed in the seven years I've been his #1 fan.



Tim turned 50 on May 1st of this year
and looks better than he ever did.


That is my plan, too!


As much as I jab at Faith
in her mom jeans--




I am really rooting for Country Music's #1 couple.
She is very talented 
and very, very beautiful.

Tim McGraw concerts make me very happy!


I've seen him in the south,




the north,



in big stadiums,






and my personal favorite--
outdoor concert venues in the lawn seats.


I can take my camera in those places
and get great snapshots like these!










And no matter in what venue he sings to me,


the trip is ALWAYS an event.











My husband,
well,
he's been a pretty good sport.


He doesn't give much mind to my fandom.



Well, 
maybe a wee bit.



Louie knows he's the real Handsome,
and love never gets any better than the real thing.


My favorite Tim McGraw song is this one:


A very, very close second is this one:
check out Humble and Kind below.
I love the video as much as the song.

Always stay humble and kind, Readers.

ELOISE