2014 Greek Festival: St. Sophia's

Thursday afternoon Gavin and I picked Mark up from work and headed off to St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox church for some annual GREEK Festival fun.

This (41st, according the flyer) annual event has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I dare say there has been a year missed over my lifetime. The event has often symbolized the beginning of summer for me and most years have been raging with heat, this year was overcast and cool. It may have kept the crowds down as this event has stretched it's capacity to the limit as it's popularity has increased over the years.
Thursday afternoon/evening has been the most likely date to attend for this anti-crowd gal. I usually run into my friend Carol with her boys and her mom. We didn't see her this time, but Mark found some co-workers. First stop is to step into the food line.
THERE IS ALWAYS A LINE!!!

Mark gets the chicken, Gavin a hot dog and I get my every year the same Pastichio Dinner. It is basically pasta and beef. (It seemed a little different this year, but I am not sure what changed).

We enjoy the Greek music playing as we eat and watch as the crowds get larger under the big white tents next to the church.  
A trip to the Greek Festival cannot go without checking out a few deserts. So inside and up the stairs we go for some Honey Puffs.

Always a favorite. Baklava, another one of my favorites was skipped this year, I didn't even go and get a glance at the assortment of pastries they had this year. They are always beautiful and always YUMMY! Watching that weight don't you know.

Some trips to the shops and we were ready to head downstairs when I noticed the door to the chapel was opened.

We slipped in.
After all those years of attending the event I never saw the beauty of this cathedral. It was truly impressive, and if I didn't think I was a disturbance to the preacher who was leading a group tour of the room I would have taken much more pictures.

It was so impressive even Gavin was in awe.  

We spent some time listening to the stories about the paintings before we headed back outside for the dancing.

These children are so cute. I just love watching them dance.

Then we were blessed with the older kids. Years ago many of my friend Lynne's family would dance and these boys got to be pretty good. I am not sure if they have an older older adults dance, but they would twirl around and dance low to the ground. It always made the crowds get rowdy. Later in the evening we would dance to the music ourselves. I don't think you could catch me at this age. Back then  the adults had liquid courage and we were stupid kids. Maybe someday......I so wish I had some pictures from those days.
Full of GREEK specialties, a church tour and some beautiful dancing we decided to head home, knowing quite well we will be back for another plate of Greek food next year. Ooopa! (even spell check cant figure this one out)

A day in Sunny Oswego, NY

My last post was on WHY I was in Oswego, NY. because honestly most people do not see Oswego NY as a dream destiny vacation spot. Mostly Oswego is known for the drinking....some more drinking, just a little bit more drinking...and oh yeah, Harborfest which is really just drinking on a boat.
Regardless of Oswego's reputation, it is actually a beautiful historical city intersected by the Oswego River and bordered by Lake Ontario.
My daughter joined me on this "business" trip and we could not have asked for a more wonderful day. After some google searching on what to do in Oswego, I found two places only open on Thursday through Saturday, the college as a thing to do, and finally the Maritime Museum.

We decided on the H. Lee White Marine museum, and after my meeting at the college we headed in that direction.

When we got there we were informed that it opened at 1pm, we still had about another hour and lunch seemed appropriate. The nice gentleman at the museum directed us to some local favorite eateries for lunch.

At that time, the intention was to return to the Museum. Plans changed as the day progressed. There are several fast food places as well as some local eateries in the village along Bridge St. but we wanted something along the shoreline. We followed the route back past the college and at the next rt, a road took us directly to the front doors of Rudy's.

Rudy's is right on Ontario Lake and offers EVERYTHING FRIED!!!
Lexi and I did a Fried smorgasbord of eating delights.

It must be a pretty popular place as it was packed. It is an order and find a spot kind of place that although the food was delicious finding seating was a struggle. There was plenty of places outside, but the wind and the temperature was still a little much for outdoor eating.  
We shared fried clams, chicken tenders, french fries and FRIED pickles.

Not sure about the pickles.
After lunch I wandered over to the shoreline and walked a bit along the rocky shore. Each and every rock was rounded by years and years of small waves hitting over them.

These were big beautiful round rocks. I found one small one to stash and start my collection for this summer. I have a rock jar from the area beaches, parks etc and I write where I got each one on it. It's natures souvenirs. Growing up Unitarian, we did a ritual at the end of summer where members added Water from visiting lakes/oceans or rocks, pebbles. I always thought it would be a beautiful shadow box feature someday. (Heavy but beautiful).

Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes and it separates The United States and Canada, so somewhere way out there is another country....
To my right I see what I think might be a boat.....it wasn't until I got home and enlarged the image that I found out what it really was.

Not many boats out on this lake or in this area today anyways.
Back at the car, Lexi announced that she really did not desire a trip back to the Museum, so we decided on a slow sight seeing trip back towards our home.

Driving along I spotted this guy hiding behind some tree's and I will admit at first glance I was totally convinced he was REAL. All across Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and NO Moose, but here's one  right in NY State. Nope!!! Someday I will see my Moose!!!

Once back on the main drag in Oswego we stopped at the area tourist information center which although an incredibly cute one room school house, was closed.
At least we could use the OUT HOUSE....

Lexi picked some wild flowers, as I examined the outside area map.

 I found that we were on some Historical Trail and followed the directions towards Fort Ontario.

Forts are always cool, but I knew Lexi was not interested in staying, so we took the drive around this NY State Park and I walked a bit around the park coast. 

To my left I got a good glimpse at what I thought was a boat earlier in my picture off the shoreline near Rudy's. It's a lighthouse. No Moose, but a lighthouse for REAL!!! 

I looked it up and it is named West Pierhead Light Lighthouse. (Very original) Apparently there is a Gregory Lighthouse somewhere as well.  I didn't see that one.

The Fort, was  important in the French and Indian war, but also it was the attack site by the British solders during the Revolutionary War (The War of 1812).

I really suck at this war stuff. At any rate, we didn't take a tour of the buildings or the fort itself, but apparently there are demonstrators and re-enactments at the fort often during the summer.    

As we pulled away I looked at my daughter who was now clearly fed up with her mothers stopping strolls and decided that we had maxed out Oswego, but one quick run in the thrifty store was okay. So we did that and were on our way home. We much enjoyed our visit at Oswego.

Do I get my L.M.H.C or NOT???? Oswego State University. Oswego, NY

NY State is a mess with it's accepted licenses, it's certifications, and what professionals can or can't do....for years I have complained that I could move to other States and do what I have a background in and people would pay me. In NY State, well they wont pay unless..you have meet a, b, and c. At any rate...It all BOILS down to how can you get the MONEY and NY State wants it part in it, so not only do you have to demonstrate multiple years of schooling, spend nearly 20 years within a profession (in my case), but you must ALSO jump through some hoops, meet with their hard to understand jargon based criteria and above all PAY the BILL. I have a TON of Should of's, would of and Could of around this stupid LICENSE and I am just NOW finally making SOME BIG MOVES.  Long and short.I graduated with my Masters degree in Counseling in 2004. Since that date, NY State has established a License for such practice. In theory it makes sense that there should be some checks and balance for what people are doing to another's mental health, but it has been a royal pain in the ass to get, nearly 10 years later. I guess I shouldn't complain to much I DID this to myself. NY State did offer a Grandfather period in which I could have simply SLIPPED into the License as it was happening,( with several hoops to jump through and money to pay as well of course) but I decide then I just didn't need it and I missed the GRANDFATHER deadline...DUMMY!!! So NOW here I am 10 years later going MAN.....WHAT DID I DO TO MYSELF????
A few years ago I sent in my nearly $600- fee to have NY State "talk to me" via an email, got what was required listed and set of by making my way through what was expected. One SLOW SLOW SLOW Step at a time. (I first sent in my application in 2009). Somewhere in 2011 I made some BIG steps.....I connected with Syracuse University, spoke with the head of the department about my situation and was told..."Yes you can take any course you want here at nearly 4 GRAND...but we cannot support your requirement for internship". Not a total door slam, but certainly a disappointment....I took my first return to GRAD school in the Spring semester of 2013. IT WAS DIFFICULT... DiFFERENT and although I gained a wealth of information just PLAIN NOT WHAT I EVER WANT TO DO again..EVER!!!
After I finished the course, quit my job...and had some INSANE thoughts (they are still resonating there) on what do I want to do with my LIFE....we COME TO NOW!!!
I'd like to say I had some Clarity with things but I am just as lost as to what to do next. I contacted my Graduate school advisor and planned a date to meet and pick through this mess of what I need and where I need to head.

Here is what I found....
1. One of the courses required I have, but will need to send in the course outline to define what was presented in the class.
2. I have 300 of the 600 hours of internship required. Meaning I will need to do another 300 hours of internship.
3. My degree was only 35 hours at graduation I completed with 45..I took the SU course last spring for another 3 hours making it 48. Leaving me 12 credit hours shy.
What it all ends up to is I have to PLAIN and SImple JUST DO IT!!! Thing is I don't WANT to!!! Which leads me back to HOW I GOT IN THIS SPOT IN THE FIRST PLACE....
At any rate I spoke with my husband about the situation and it looks like I have some THINKING and money finding to do. Oswego is cheaper then SU (although I went for FREE) but it is still NOT FREE and I have to find 12 credit hours of CASH!!!
I have a lot of thinking to do....
Thanks for reading. Any thoughts or supportive theory welcomed.

It seems we did a lot of nothing last weekend...

I was trying to think what excitement happened over the last week and came up with NONE. I mean there were the typical comings and goings, but ultimately there was not a whole lot that happened.
I think I might have worked a few of those days, worked on the pool, did some cleaning and organizing...Thursday I had one of those home parties. Thirty-one.

Lara and Kate, Kate is the Thirty One Consultant and friend.

 Not a great turn out, two people who gave me a definite were not in attendance, but two showed that I was not expecting. It went well for a Thursday evening. I got some great goodies and cannot wait for them to arrive.  I worked the day/evening shift of the detox on Saturday. It was a pretty crazy day, but no one although there were some interested in, left against medical advice on my watch. I'm pretty proud of that, plus it limits the paperwork. Sunday, after church I headed out to the Regional Market with Tammy and her daughter. 

I missed all of the GREAT bargains on fruits and veggies, but we did score a great price on hanging baskets.

After a great day at the Market, we had a nice lunch at the Market Diner.

It was pretty yummy too. 

By the time we got back to Liverpool, it was mid-afternoon and HOT!!! Since both our pools are not totally ready for swimming, I took the kids to the YMCA pool. 

They enjoyed it so, much they didn't want to leave. After dropping off Tammy's two kids, Gavin and I headed home for burgers on the grill. Thanks hubby!!! 

Yesterday was somewhat productive. I made it to the gym for the first time in weeks. I have not been good about this area of my life, and have been overly frustrated with the whole weight loss idea. I am mostly upset and often give up when the scales read 20 pounds heavier and I cannot walk. I went to the gym and could barely walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes without pain shooting through me. I pushed through and made an attempt at the stationary bike making another 20 minutes. Sadly not much in the grand plan of weight loss and even more sad the reality that it was not to long ago I was doing 40-50 minutes on the tread with no problems. I have gotten to a place of real concern, and have vowed to keep on top of this for my health. 

Monday evening my daughter came home with her new car. 

I am so proud of her. I don't think I had the drive or the skills to manage a car payment/insurance/gas with out daddy's help at her age. She was determined to do this and as always, when she is determined...it seems to come to past. 

Jen drove us to transformation class at Sandy's. This weeks lesson is on Emotional's. I admit I have not been as good about my daily reflections as I should, but enjoyed this weeks lesson. Giving my emotional baggage to God. It sure works out better when I do. 

After class we took as walk around Sandy's home to a frog pond and she found us a geo-cache along the way. Does that one count for the family cache?

 Sandy revels this Geo-cache basically right in her back yard.

look at the goodies. I signed the book even though we didn't really follow any GPS directions.

Sandy and Jen.

It was a lovely walk, but about five minutes into it I was overcome with pain in my back. I pushed through, but admittedly this is a big concern. I am going to have another blood test done, but I know I have to be better with my eating habits. I am just not able to eat like I used to. Ouch!!! it is is abundantly clear I have make some major changes in my life. Today I am off to do some running around and then I am working the evening shift at the rehab.  Busy week ahead, and I am going to do everything in my power to work on the weight issues. TTFN