How was YOUR Spring Break?

One fun part of mine was spending the day at CCRI with my school’s Academic Decathlon team. We were there last week for an all-day competition that involves a bunch of kids taking 7 different objective tests centered around the main topic of the French Revolution and also competing in Speech, Interview and Impromptu competitions. It does take a special kind of kid to think this is fun, but it really is. Next year we will be studying the Great Depression. An interesting topic, considering the times, wouldn’t you say?

Newport and An Operation

My sister Sue came for a visit this week, and yesterday we went to Newport and walked a big section of the Cliffwalk. The day was beautiful and sunny, which made us very happy because it has been raining non-stop for about a week. It was still windy enough for a jacket, though.

Now, aren’t these in-laws cute?

 

 

 

 

No seashell top and no fins, but Sue definitely wishes she could be part of this world (and has better hair than Ariel, too!)

  

Of course, what is a post without a sexy Spaniard pose?

 

Hm, less sexy, but definitely more romantic!!!

 

DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE JUST EATEN OR ARE ABOUT TO EAT. OR IF YOU DON’T LIKE GRUESOME SIGHTS.

Some of you know that Sue smashed her toe with the leaf of her table last week. It has been terribly painful for her and when she arrived she had to wear a special boot because it hurt to wear shoes. It was really bothering her, so Juan Carlos, with all his practical medical knowledge, told her she needed to stick herself and let all the blood that was built up under the nail get out and she would feel better. So she did that and some came out and it felt much better!!!!! Unfortunately, she REALLY smashed her toe and there was part of it that she couldn’t get to under the toenail. So JC said he knew how to take care of that. What you do is you heat up a needle or a pin and then burn through the nail and make a hole and then the blood can get out. I was writhing in horror just thinking about this, but apparently not letting it out is super painful so Sue was willing to give it a try. So here is the procedure!

Heating the pin:

Sue had to look away, but she said it really just felt like when you get pricked for a blood test, so not that bad. Luna was very interested in the whole thing. Once the hole was made all the stuff that shouldn’t have been in there came on out and her toe felt better. And she got to wear shoes on both feet today! Juan Carlos is definitely a handy guy to have around, but you can  bet I am going to be careful what I drop on my feet!

Sue went home today and I am sorry to see her go but I am sure her kids, husband and relatives can’t wait for her to get back!!!! Anyone else up for a trip to Rhode Island? I can’t guarantee an operation by Juan Carlos, but I promise it would still be fun.

GARI: Blackstone River Bikeway Day 3

Today it was 50 degrees outside. Definite cause for joy and jubilation. So of course we got out into it! Today we finished the northernmost section of the Blackstone River Bikeway up into Woonsocket, RI (about 9 miles round trip). For those of you to whom that means nothing, here is the general area:

It was a super gorgeous day, so we weren’t the only ones out enjoying the sunshine!

This part of the trail goes through Cumberland and Woonsocket, and there are a couple of dams along the river. This is the Manville Dam:

 

All that water is pretty impressive! You can see that spring has not gotten a firm foothold here yet, but it is on it’s way.  There is a little bit of green starting to show!

We got to this marker and we knew that the trail ended at 17 miles but there was a bit more pavement further along—we just kept on going until we reached the end of the road.

On our way back we stopped at a local park and had our lunch. It was nice to sit a while in the sunshine and eat JC’s killer chicken salad (although it must be said that anything JC makes is generally killer):

   

Replenished and refreshed, we made our way back down to Cumberland and headed home. It was a beautiful day and we can’t wait to finish up this bikeway! The only stretch we have left is from Lincoln down to the end, which, incidentally, is in downtown Pawtucket, where we live. So we don’t even have to drive anywhere for that one, we can just hike up and then right back to our house. How cool is that?

Till next time!!!