what is it?

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing the fun of this sewer project.  Today I heard from quite a few of you (or quite a few friends who engage in the real life on Newark-Granville Road not just the literary one) your thoughts on our front yard.  What do you think it looks like?  My favorite from a friend that texted about our "moat" in the front yard.  Another told me in line at the Soup Loft that are yard always looks so good and so they were concerned about the disruption. I'm passing that compliment about the yard to Joe. He isn't uber involved with our yard but is pretty darling (sexy) when mowing with the push mower in his black socks and sneakers.  I personally think of Caddy Shack and the gopher when I see it. I'm wasn't crazy about the big dirt bulge in the yard and then tonight's snow came and made it oh so much prettier!  The snow also came for my friend that was sad the snow was melting.  However being in a positive place I can share how impressed I am with the soil that was turned over- it looks so rich- kind of inspiring to get serious about some landscaping!!

So there you go Life on Newark-Granville Road.  You may be growing tired of this project- I hope not- thanks for reading and sharing!!  I will share with you that my life today on Newark-Granville Road also included wonderful passion and care, more proof that relationships so matter and carry the day and volunteers are noticed and make the world go around- they certainly do make life on Newark-Granville Road all the richer!

Finding the Positives…even hard for me….making progress with the Sewer!

Many people think I'm always happy, always positive.  When I get stressed or sad I can be human and not be so positive.  I don't like to be like that, I understand that it is OK to feel frustration but it really doesn't help matters.  Today I was sad to see the big brown bump in my yard.  I had some work to do in the neighborhood (really awesome work* I must say) and got a glimpse of the progress on tapping into the sewer.  Instead of coming home- I went back to work- probably to avoid the bump.  But also to keep work moving forward. (I'm so glad I went back- great volunteer was in the building to help me move an exhibit and membership forward) and fun to keep progress moving with tasks like depositing payments!

So I ended work on a positive- it didn't start out that way- mistakes get made and I get sad and frustrated with myself and I'm not positive.  But the good shines through and a positive activity happens- like having lunch with amazing Park National Bank new employees and sharing what The Works is all about and experiencing philanthropy from a good person- I do have a great job- so then my mood switches to the positive.  I have a hard job but I do love it.  And ending on the positive was all the happier as I came home to Joe safely there from work trip to Nashville.  Sally jumping up and down telling me she made a mess in the basement and it was allowed!  I love that- it makes me smile.  I thought Joe and I would be cleaning out the cupboards in the basement so the plumbing for the sewer could be working on late tonight.  It was complete.  Clare was able to start dinner- pulled enchiladas made from New Years Eve Burrito Chicken from the freezer!  kids were happy post school and we all caught up around the table.

Tomorrow the septic gets its last pump and plumbing moved to the new system….keep your fingers crossed!! The blue piece sticking out of the yard is a marker to where the emergency shutoff box will be.  We are far from done but we're making progress in our life on Newark-Granville Road in more ways than one.  *By the way the awesome work I was able to be part of was an install meeting for a piece of glass sculpture.  I'm so impressed with what happens in The Works Glass studio. I've never been on an install and it was a privilege to see the artist, the art appreciator/acquires, the home where it will go, see all the math that goes into the install.  It was another positive moment in my life on Newark-Granville Road.

baby its cold outside….artic blast no school or work day…..

The temperature right now as I type is negative eight!  School was cancelled, work was cancelled and we embraced a stay at home day! We took the ornaments off the Christmas tree today, put away Christmas decorations,  pulled out Valentines and winter items.  We cleaned, updated photos and ordered the 2013 photo book from Shutterfly.  We did cold weather activities like blowing bubbles and watching them freeze and turning boiling water into snowy steam.  For me it was a slice of heaven on Newark-Granville Road. I've needed a day like this- I'm so grateful for the window given to me to make memories and share moments together- albeit very cold moments.  The walks with the dog were brisk and the mouse in the house discovered by Peter gave me the icks. We followed it into the printer, took the printer to the garage and placed him there-lots of straw there for him to bed down.  We had reading hour and then tv hour- I extended TV hour to 2 hours and I watched the first Downton Abbey episode and drank tea and ate biscuits.  Clare made her crock pot dinner (scheduled for Wed night) and we decorated the tree I don't want to take down without Joe (he is in Nashville for work) with snowflakes.  We had to google and watch u-tube video but the snowflakes look great.  Yes little scraps of paper all over the house.  I worry about those that are homeless or dealing with pipes. We'll pick up Grandma Shirley at the airport tomorrow and I'm sorry she has to come home to such a cold village.  Life on Newark-Granville Road is cozy and content and I'm counting my blessings and turning out the light.

four steps forward, three steps back, five steps forward, three back- side step-shuffle ball change…..

Those that know me well know that my mantra for years has been "sit loosely in the saddle of life" Robert Louis Stevenson….lately my other go to and maybe my 2014 mantra will be:

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself.  Julia Cameron

I've been using it a fair amount.  My ah-ha moment was hearing Sean Swarner- the two time cancer survivor- an amazing hero- talk about climbing the world's highest peaks- how mother nature makes you do this- go up and down in waves to prepare to ascend, and when you get back to camp she has moved your gear as you're on a glacier that moves. Natures way.  (by the way I need to read his book: 

Keep Climbing: How I Beat Cancer and Reached the Top of the World Paperback by Sean Swarner
I'm inspired to share this quote as I just received the call about no school tomorrow.  Really?  Mother Nature- how could you do this? They've been off of school for months…okay weeks but it feels like over a month. We've had enough snow days already- I've done the juggling and the plate spinning.  I have work to do….important work.  But yes as I type this I know I have work to do as their mother.  I heard the sermon today- a window has been opened by mother nature or God or both and I will embrace it.  Sally turns 9 tomorrow. We're celebrating tonight as Joe has an early flight scheduled. We have/had a full night tomorrow…we'll see what gets cancelled, what goes on….I will do some work, I have to, but I will take the side step and shuffle (it isn't going backwards to be with the kids) and I will embrace this crazy snowy cold life on Newark-Granville Road.  

reservations required…..but the bar will work!

I did indeed have a lovely day.  I not only sat in on my three children's basketball games, I connected with friends and engaged in our wonderful community.  It wasn't perfect though- the 1st game was great.  Peter was off a bit and we still have lessons in rolling with loss' to learn.  It is wonderful that Joe and Peter are so dedicated and passionate, however I'm a big fan of focus on the positive and roll with it. It is fine to be disappointed- you can't win every game.  And Sally's game was late and I was tired and hungry. But Mr. Mike came- how nice that this Works volunteer who has seen my kids grow up came to cheer the baby he met 9 years ago to a victory.  And I did enjoy the company of her great team's parents.

And we did get to enjoy the new restaurant in Johnstown- The Old Horseshoe Tavern!  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/11/12/johnstown-restaurant-keeps-focus-on-local.html  Friends have told me about it, we'd tried to go earlier- they are not open for lunch on Saturdays and tonight we were almost closed out- you need a reservation!  How wonderful that they're doing that well. I applied Granville logic and assumed no reservations- I assumed wrong.  Luckily they were willing to serve us at the bar and we had incredible service.  The food really was outstanding. The kids loved it all, tried new things and engaged once we had them nibbling on some food and happy with their root beers.  The co-owner took care of us and gave us inside scoop and a peak at the new menu coming soon.  I would not of ordered the Risotto Cakes in the tomato sauce with balsamic syrup (not vinegar) I'm soooo glad I did.  It took me right back to my mother's table- he does a breaded veal with a made from scratch tomato sauce that is very similar and a family favorite.  Even Clare liked the lamb egg rolls- points for my picky eater.

I can't wait until life on Newark-Granville Road gives us some time to return with a reservation and enjoy the updated menu and time to savor the beautiful decor and cuisine at a table.  The bar worked and I'd repeat depending on my mood.

where is Susan?

Tomorrow I'm happy to say I get to see all 3 kids play basketball!  It is a full day and I'll be moving but this is so rare. Usually we're pulled in too many directions and one kid misses having a parent at a game.  We're OK with this- we can't go to every game with three kids and two adults and work and volunteer commitments.  But when I can I go that is my motto and I'm excited for my life on Newark-Granville Road tomorrow.  (Today was good too- lots of great work at work and home to happy kids and dog!)

If you're looking for me, want to join me we have:
Clare at 10 am at Licking Valley Middle School- need to figure out that where exactly…
Peter at noon at Granville Intermediate School
Sally at 3:15 (ish) at Johnstown Middle School (I need to call Mr. Mike!!)
We''ll wrap up the day with dinner at the new Old Horseshoe in Johnstown!!

Go Granville!

what gets measured is what gets done…proof!

I love to say this (what gets measured is what gets done) at work and I totally believe it! I learned the lesson while working as a manager in a start up call center in the mid-90s.  My life above 8 mile in the Detroit area was a time where I was learning sooo much so fast and loving it. We moved order entry from facilities all over the country (and Canada) to two centralized facilities.  The call center gave us so many ways to measure performance, one was the number of calls the service reps took, another column on the daily report was short calls- they were hang-ups.  Sure enough one employee was reaching her goal to take the x number of calls, the problem she had an unbelievably high number of short calls- she was hanging up on people.   Of course there were many more lessons associated with this certain situation- training needs, coaching, accountability in our self-directed work environment but the point about what is measured stayed with me.  Fast forward to my life on Newark-Granville Road and my observation from our holiday break and what is happening here.

Football- football is what is being measured and embraced on Newark-Granville Road.  It hit me when I went to work today and I was sooo happy to hear the a news show.   I realized the majority of TV time in our home the past few weeks- football.  Joe put Peter in charge of our college football bowl pool.  We all got sheets of paper with the schedule, we circled our predicted winners and turned them in…I don't even think we agreed to a prize?!   All of a sudden we all start talking about football, caring about what games have been on when and what the results of the games were/are.  This happened before Xmas and has continued….I've even been pulled in- I watched the Rose Bowl for the football game between two teams I don't pay that much attention to- I'm not being negative. I've been to Michigan State- lovely campus, have friends who love them, attended the school and thanks to facebook I knew some were there!  Stanford is a gorgeous campus and college that fascinates me- but for me to really pay attention like that- fascinating to me.  And for all 5 of us to be so engaged- interesting.  The blog is about the "why" as I love the why in life- it matches my MBTI preference and this football behavior had to have a why.  Again I'm not being negative- there are lots of positives associated.  It has led to fun conversation about colleges, how you select-we love to visit campus on our trips.  I actually have a lot of colleges I cheer for- Nebraska, Penn State, OSU- knowing this you understand why I didn't select any Florida teams- sorry brother Matthew living so close to Central Florida- and no I couldn't do it- I was footballed out last night and went to bed.  We've seen some great football and fun commercials- the Chick-fil-A Bowl- Duke vs Texas A&M great example.  We stopped at Duke this summer, we all know know what the A (agriculture) and M (mechanics) represent from the schools history, and it was a great game!

So that is what has been happening in my life on Newark-Granville Road. If you are interested current standings:  Sally is leading by 2 games, Peter and I are tied for 2nd behind by 2, Clare is 3rd and Joe is last.  Joe wants you to know he is doing much better in the work pool.  We'll let you know what happens when this all wraps up on January 6th- go Tigers- maybe we'll make Sally a blue and orange cake.