Christmas '19

Christmas with Sebino and Guido and Bailey-o proved to be a sugar high. I had to take off on a hike to try and detox from the amount of sugar I consumed. Wowza. The boys did a good job of buying presents for family and friends here.

Conference

I helped out with a conference on Thursday and Friday on the coast of Maine. We invited my friend, the author Monica Wood, to keynote.  What a fun and interesting time.

I attended a session at the conference with this group of high school writing center folks.
High School writing centers are one of my areas of research and writing. I helped start the
Secondary School Writing Center Association in America. 

Lost Valley Ski Area, Auburn, Maine: #100 and #20

Lost Valley Map

Well, we finally climbed ski area #20, Lost Valley. I'd hope to do this climb before summer ended, but the best laid plans. We also climbed our 101th mountain yesterday... yes, Whitecap again. What can I say? Winter is blossoming and cold weather has iced over puddles and hiking trails. At home, the boys are psyched to ski. All's right with the world.

Whitecap again... and NWP

Bailey and me on Whitecap

After morning work, we took a quick hike up Whitecap to the Black/White Trail connection. We got back in time to set up for Guido's birthday and to trek him to several places to buy a birthday present for his friend, Tay (Brazilian exchange student).

On Wednesday, I conferred with the National Writing Project's executive director, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, and Tanya Baker, director of National Programs for NWP. Our discussion focused on my work with the Secondary School Writing Centers Association and why the two organizations should be affiliated. Our second discussion focused my Writing Athletes' work, and the thought of further developing our relationship especially with respect to securing grants. Elyse called this deeper affiliation a "legacy project," i.e., honoring and deepening my work with the help of NWP.

The boys...

Guido, Bailey, and Sebino opening a care package from Sebino's mom, Mariska

Whenever I have several blogs going at once, I neglect this one. So, as a way to showcase that I'm not a slacker, here's my blog for Sebino and Guido: Bailey's Brothers.


 
Sebino and Espen Canoeing... and Guido and Ivan at the ocean with Ivan's family

#77 & #18...

Click on photos to enlarge. 

OK, so Whitecap Mountain in Rumford is not an official "ski area," but all through the winter backcountry skiers skin up the trail and ski the snow fields at the top. So! I'm making an official decision to count Whitecap as a ski area. Am I getting tired? Nah, I just like having a backcountry "resort" as part of my list. Here are a few photos from today.

Climbing Adams Mountain (mountain #76) and Exploring Evergreen Valley Ski Area (#17 ski area) with Felix

After the hike, Felix posed at this famous Main sign

Felix and I headed about 45 minutes west to Adams Mountain in Stoneham and its defunct ski area, Evergreen Valley. I've long wanted to climb this mountain and see how the years have treated the slopes and its million dollar lodge with 3 cocktail lounges and outdoor pool. The ski area has been vacant since the 1980s and the lodge is in some disrepair but looks OK. Just off the hiking trail, the overgrown ski trail, there's a cemetery. I loved hiking this mountain with Felix because I kept remembering one of the first ski races I coached at Rumford High School being at Evergreen Valley against Tim LaVallee's team from Telstar High School. I could still picture the race course with the chair lift running just off to the side.      

Million dollar lodge empty for 30+ years. 

After the hike we went to our traditional hang out, Dick's Diner in Mexico.
I sent pictures of that burger to Felix's brother, Rasmus.  

Bailey

I discovered a fun cartoon-making feature on my fancy phone. Here's one:

After the Parkman Trail hike, MDI 2019 

Fast forward 54 years: Lunch with Aidan

In 1965, when I was 11 years old, I recall bringing my brother Fred to the University of Maine for his first year at college. His dormitory, Corbett Hall, is now the Human Resources building. In 2003, I spent my first day at UMaine in Corbett figuring out all the nitty-gritty of employment at UMaine; I may have even remembered Fred's room number. Today, I'm thinking it was 112, but 16 years ago, I'm not sure what I thought. Maybe I had quizzed Fred and looked it up when I arrived in Corbett. Talk about history hitting you square in the face. Fast forward 54 years....

FIFTY FOUR YEARS... and I'm having lunch in the student union with Pam and Fred's grandson, Aidan Michaud. Just how cool is that?

End for the first week of classes: Aidan, stir fry, and a Black Bear t-shirt
09/07/19 Click photo to enlarge

Yes...again.

Sebino, Bailey, and Guido

Over the past two weeks I discovered there were 6 international students without permanent homes. Now, there are only two... Meet Sebino from the Netherlands and Guido from Spain. How life can change in an instant. To follow the boys' American journey, click on their blog, Bailey's Brothers: Guido and Sebino. 

Currently, only two students remain without permanent homes. Here's hoping some good souls step up.

Town tour and more...

After the first day of school, the boys did some skateboarding, downed lasagna, cleaned the kitchen, and took a quick tour of the town, including the local ski area, Black Mountain of Maine. Before the tour, we dropped Bailey off at Sharon and Mike's. Sharon is our town's Dog Whisperer. Bailey loves Sharon and Mike's home and the tribe of dogs. 

Sharon, Bailey, and friends.

Talking about the mountain trails and the glades

Ping pong challenge and weight lifting