TV Lady Bears Kick Off Season: 2-0

John's debut as a Varsity basketball coach was the main event in the Tenbus household this week.  A pair of games, one home and one away, contributed to this week flying by for us.  John was incredibly nervous on Wednesday for the girls home opener versus Class D Chapel Field.  He had some pretty big shoes to fill; the much respected and beloved Andy Taggart retired after coaching the girls to a league championship and sectional championship game appearance last year.  We definitely miss him.
I didn't know quite what to expect; the varsity team is essentially John's jv team from last year but with returning basketball megastar, Jakki.  I've been watching girls basketball for many years and Jakki is one of the most exciting players to watch.  She is unbelievably fast but also graceful (think twilight vampires gliding through a field, moving so quickly you can't even see their legs moving).  Jakki is joined by only one other returning senior, Archna.  I wasn't sure how John's girls from last year were going to adjust to playing at the varsity level.  But, I've been very impressed.  For a beautifully written and thorough account of John's debut and the play by play of the first game, check out Richard Ross' article on sportsinsightny.  Friday, we travelled to the family school in Hancock to play the Class D Falcons.  The girls played well both games and were able to bring home two wins.  John was able to keep the vocal-fold damaging to a relative minimum and remained technical-foul free.  Well, it's early still.

Also exciting was that the Tri-Valley administration decided to allow me to continue to do the scorebook for the team, even though I'm no longer a school employee.  Not only does that give me a front row seat for the game, but it's some nice extra cash for us- we're saving up for a new deck & rock garden this spring.

A big thank you to my parents and Eileen for keeping Riley & Roxy company while we are basketball-ing all over sullivan and orange counties this winter.

Coming up this week:  The team's first league game versus Class C Chester.

Toddlers, Basketballs, & Misfits.

Emma Lynne Turned 2!

We went down to Wilkes Barre to celebrate with the Tenbus' and Eick's.  It was really great to see Frank's family; we got to finally congratulate Frank's sister Christine on her recent engagement to Adrian.  He is a great guy & John and I are so excited for them!  It was also nice to see little Brian who is getting so very big.  Emma, of course, cleaned up with tons of presents.  It was a Minnie-themed party.  Ever since we returned from Florida with a stuffed Minnie from Disney for Emma, she has been an all-minnie-all-the-time kind of girl.  We are so happy that Emma enjoyed her birthday and continue to marvel as she grows physically and intellectually right before our eyes.

Emma posing with her idol.

She is too cute.

NCAA Doubleheader.

Uncle Terry, Amanda Grace, John & I traveled to the meadowlands in NJ this weekend to see a college basketball doubleheader- Army vs. Penn, and then the main event- the rematch of last years final- Duke vs. Butler.  The first game was quiet- only a few spectators arrived early to watch it.  One my favorite parts of the day was watching the Army basketball team during the national anthem.  They stood in straight line, completely still, all in the same stance until the song was over...meanwhile the Penn team was palming basketballs, shifting their feet, looking around.  It wasn't that the Penn team was doing anything disrespectful but it was just apparent the difference in what the moment meant to each of the teams.  The game was dominated by the Penn team & their star point guard.  Penn won easily.  Afterwards, the army team came out in their uniforms to watch the Duke game; as they walked out, even though they lost, the entire arena gave them a roar of applause.  Pretty special moment.

The second game was really exciting.  Duke didn't really play too great until well into the second half.  Somehow they came away winning.  Some of my favorite moments from the Duke-Butler game were watching "Blue," the Butler bull dog, sprawling out on the sidelines as if he were taking a nap in a quiet, sunny room instead of a noisy, humming arena, and watching Coach K come out to thunderous applause.  

The Izod Center

IN-D-PEN-DENT

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....the Christmas season has truly arrived.  Another highlight of our week was watching Rudolph!  I grew up always watching the classic with my family.  As a youngster, we would go over to my Grandma Katie's and watch it with her.  When I was away at college, I'd watch Rudolph with Amanda Sue and usually call home during to spout off a few of my favorite lines.  This year, my parents and Amanda Grace came over for cookies, milk, and misfits.  We were missing Eileen but hopefully next year we can all be together.  I am mostly done with my Christmas shopping thanks to QVC and other fine online retailers.  Next will be getting a Christmas tree set up. 

Coming up next week...John's first basketball games as the Varsity Girls Coach.

Gratitude

Where to begin.  It's been a marvelous few days.  John & I have been lucky enough to spend time with so many friends and family members.

Wednesday started with a trip to Middletown with Amanda Sue.  We went to see the new Harry Potter and reminisced about our movie dates in Boston and Albany.  Despite a less-than-friendly waitress, we enjoyed a nice lunch at Johnny Rockets.  To avoid the traffic and construction on 17, we drove over the mountain on 52 and it was a beautiful drive.  It was my last trip in the Jeep and luckily- sunny enough for me to get away with sunglasses because I was tearing up here and there on the way home.  It was wonderful to be able to have my last drive in my Jeep with my best friend whom I've shared so many great memories and road trips.  Wednesday afterwoon I dropped the Jeep off at my parents and reluctantly handed over the keys.  Amanda got to visit with my parents a little.  Then John & I went to pick up our new car- it's a Hyundai Veracruz; a seven passenger crossover.  We absolutely love it.
Wednesday night we hosted my sisters, Amanda, George, and Bethany for snacks, drinks, 90s music, & some Taboo!  John & George sang,  my sisters danced, and I got to catch up with two ladies who mean the world to me and who I don't get to see enough.  It was a really great night.  I really wish George & Amanda lived closer.

Thursday brought my favorite holiday of the year :)  Thanksgiving was extra special this year because we got to spend time with both my family & John's family.  We started out at my parents house where we enjoyed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, cocktails, a roaring fire, and a rockin' meal.  We brought Roxy and she fell in love with the Coach Lane Raffertys, TJ especially.  She napped on his lap for about an hour after dinner.  For dessert, we headed over to Narrowsburg for some birthday cake in honor of Terry's birthday.  Frank, Jess, & Emma came up from Wilkes Barre for the occassion and John's grandpa also joined us.  Emma is almost 2 and is speaking in complete sentences, asking Wh questions, and following multi-step directions- she's incredible!  She's turning into such a little girl.  We had a very special day with our two families and feel so blessed.

Now the holiday season begins!  Many happy returns to you and yours :)

A Fond Farewell to My Jeep.

It might be difficult for some people to understand what I'm blogging about today.  I realize that to most people, a car is just a steel frame with tires and an engine.  A tool.  A means to an end.  A way to get from Point A to Point B.  However to me, my 2003 Jeep Liberty has been more reliable than many people that have come and gone over the past 8 years.  It's been with me through so many changes in my life, and has moved and transported me (and my family, friends, and animals) safely in all kinds of weather.  I'm about to get a new car, and I've found myself getting very emotional at different points throughout the process, realizing that I won't be driving around in my Jeep anymore.

My Jeep was a gracious, unexpected gift from my parents.  I still remember the day they told me I was getting it.  It was spring break my freshman year of college- April of 2003.  They were picking me up at the end of Term 2 at Elmira.  We stopped in Binghamton on the way home for lunch.  There, at Ruby Tuesday's, my mom said that they had some news for me.  My dad was the one who told me (while fighting back the tears because he was so excited) that they were buying me a car.  I remember being ecstatic.  I had always loved Jeeps.  I considered them to be some of the coolest cars around.  My friend Kathleen had a yellow wrangler and I had always thought it would be so great to have my own Jeep someday.  When we went to the dealership to pick it up and it had "CCK" plates, so close to my initials, I knew it was destined for me and it was love at first sight.

In the 5th Street Lot in Elmira

  

Having a car in college was the ultimate ticket to total freedom.  It allowed me to visit friends in Potsdam, Ithaca, Alfred, and Albany.  It gave Amanda and I an escape from the land of purple and gold whenever we needed it, taking us to the Arnot Mall, Rochester for some concerts, a variety of pubs for great dinners, and yes, it took us home through the catskills to Grahamsville more than anywhere else.  Amanda and I have so many great road trip memories in the Jeep, blasting any variety of show tunes, country songs, and a little old-school rap.

The Jeep made a one year appearance in the beautiful city of Boston where I had to quickly learn how to drive like a "masshole."  This basically involved leaving all concerns for my safety and well-being at home and driving like I was in World War 3.  Thank god I had Amanda in the car with me most of the time so she could point out the constant hazards- pedestrians, bicyclists, city buses, and oh yeah, the train in Boston that drives right on the bleepin' street.  The fact that the only "incident'" I had in Boston was busting the mirror on a pillar in the parking garage @ NU was the sheer grace of god.  Then there was the time the Jeep got locked in the parking garage over night & we took a cab at 5AM to go get it.  Fun times.

Albany brought much more comfortable driving conditions.  I had a 35 mile commute to work- it was mostly I-90  the whole way.  I actually really enjoyed that drive; especially in the morning as the sun came up over the Hudson river & the city.

  

The Jeep is a monster in snow.  One day, back in Elmira, the Jeep was parked in what we always referred to as the "Davis" lot on Washington Ave.  There had been a snowstorm and there was about 2 feet of snow encasing the car.  Amanda and I worked to clean off the top, the windows, and the back. We then realized there was still a ton of snow behind the car from the plowing of the lot.  I got in the Jeep, put it in 4-lo, and backed right out of all that snow with no problem.  People around me had to shovel themselves out.  Since that day, I've gotten myself out of snowbanks and driven safely on snowy trips to Maine.  You can't put a price on that kind of security. 

So it is with sadness that I acknowledge that the Jeep is becoming too old to be our main vehicle for travel anymore.  Not surprisingly, I do not have the heart to trade it in; so my parents will be using it as a second vehicle for trips to the dump & their "around town" car.  I'm glad that the Jeep will help them save some mileage & wear and tear on their new vehicle.  That small gift is something I'm glad to give them after all they've done for us.

Also, this way, I'm only about 7 miles away from a quick joy ride in my old jeep whenever I'm feeling the urge :)

Vets Rock.

No matter what your politics are, what religion you practice, whether you're old or young, black or white- you can't ignore today.  Everything we have, every right we enjoy we owe to our veterans.

The Gratitude Campaign

Had to recognize a few of my family & friends:

My cousin Trevor.  He has served in Iraq & Afghanistan

My Uncle Thom, Army Engineer

Jen & Anthony are both in Afghanistan now

Jen is a West Point Grad & Anthony is in the Army Corp of Engineers

Also check out this website dedicated to our Military Working Dogs.

US War Dogs

My friend Kathleen & MWD Dexter

Look at those ears!

MWD Riki

Kathleen & MWD Roy

Thank you all so much.

Dog walks. More than just poop-ertunities.

Is there anything better than a long walk with your dog?  In a word, no.  Today Roxy & I suited up and headed outside for about 3 miles of fall-walk-bliss.  At the end of long school day, I come home exhausted & stressed out from dealing with mountains of paperwork and attitudes from adolescents and adults alike.  Sure, it'd be easy to collapse onto the couch and into a sweet reverie of catatonia in front of Oprah or Law and Order re-runs.  And I won't lie...every once in a while, I do need that kind of afternoon.  But most of the time, the best medicine for that dull headache and general fog I'm in is to put on my sneakers and head out with the pup.  Roxy needs the exercise and so do I.  But it goes beyond exercise.  Roxy LOVES her walks.  She gets excited the second I get home, anxiously waiting for me to change.  She starts to whimper as I lace up my sneakers.  By the time I come downstairs she's pacing back and forth by the door.  On the way we enjoy all the small critters Woodbourne has to offer; squirrels, birds, the occasional stray cat, and every once in a while a few deer.  The foliage has been really nice but is slowly starting to disappear- I'll miss that once it's gone.  We marvel at the simple beauty of nature (yes even in Woodbourne lol).  We mostly just enjoy being together.  Roxy gives me so much love.  There's something almost divine about the unconditional love we can receive from animals.  I feel so blessed to have both Roxy and Riley in my life.  So many times, we walk by houses with dogs tied up or dogs shut up inside who bark like crazy to get out.  All these dogs in our neighborhood yet so few people out walking.  Sad.
Here are some photos from our jaunt this afternoon:  

Let's Go!

Pretty red tree on Kahn Street.

Taking a breather for a minute.

On the move.

Rolling in goose hair next to the Michigan Street pond

Hey, where'd the geese go?

If you have dogs, please get them out for walks.  They need the exercise, it's a good opportunity to work on obedience, get some fresh air, and hey you might even find yourself writing a mushy post about how much you love it!

Downtime.

This week was exhausting!!  A five day week after a four day week always seems longer anyway but after being away last weekend, by this Friday we were whipped.  On Monday I had my first observation at Liberty.  Luckily, it went very well!!  Wednesday I sat in a three hour conference on "The Legally Defensive IEP."  The observation, conference, and all the medicaid work I did these week led to my brain turning to mush.  John was also busy in meetings preparing for basketball and getting grades in for progress reports.  We were so happy to arrive at the weekend with only minimal plans :)  I spent most of the weekend doing laundry, medicaid paperwork, & getting in some exercise with the pup.

On our walks this week, Roxy & I have discovered that the geese have returned to the little pond on Michigan Street.  I think the hassidic children who come & play by the pond in the summer sent the geese away on a summer hiatus.  But, alas, they have returned.  This always makes the end part of our walk so interesting.  Roxy is a freak for geese.  She smells them & then starts a little shimmy I like to call the "Goose Shit Dance."  It involves heavy breathing, snuffing, hip swaying, and a b-line towards the nearest goose.  Not always the most fun being dragged into the goose shit dance at the end of a long walk when I'm exhausted but hey, she's coo-coo for goose turds!  Roxy & I have had a weekly guest for our walks, my friend Dana.  Dana has been a good sport putting up with Roxy's frequent poop stops & exploratory tangents off the beaten path.  For someone who doesn't really like dogs, she's been surprisingly sweet with Rox.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and give us several more weeks before it's too cold to head out.

My parents went down to the city Saturday...they got tickets for the Navy-Notre Dame football game at the meadowlands!!  They took my Uncle Marvie & Aunt Peggy and had a great time.  Here's Aunt Peggy & Uncle Marvie all decked out in their Navy gear at the game:

While my parents were down in the city cheering on Navy, we did a whole lot of...NOTHING :)  It was a stressful, crazed week and some quiet time snuggling with my pets/family was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Here are some photos from the general laziness of Saturday afternoon:

Riley loves nuts

John & I did venture out in the evening for some football.  Sullivan West hosted Tri-Valley so we went cheer on Greg, Joey, & Conor....we also got to see John's mom.  It was probably the last football game we'll get to attend this season.  It was a long and hard game but the boys won & it was a great way to end their regular season.  What was not so fun was having to listen to some of the crazy people in the stands.  We had a few quotes that were noteworthy last night:  "That's the wrong call ever" was one for the grammar police; as well as "These ref's are barest."  She was looking for the word biased.  Gotta love sullivan county.  I will miss going to football games, but football ending means basketball is just around the corner!

Halloween is coming up and it's been a full moon on top of that.  We'll see how my middle schoolers are this week.

a perfectly pink wedding

This week flew but I guess short weeks always do.  Tuesday night I had a Welcome Dinner at Liberty with the school administrators and board of education.  It was a well planned evening; delicious food, welcoming speeches from the board president and superintendent. It also gave me a chance to socialize with my boss and the high school principal.  It was a great time.  I'm finally starting to settle in more at work.  John is also doing well in 6th grade.  He was actually just approved to be the Varsity Girls Basketball coach.  November will be here before we know it!!

This weekend we traveled to Scranton, PA for Ryan Kropa's wedding.  It was the first wedding John & I got to attend as a married couple.  Ryan is one of John's best friends from college.  John was in the wedding party & rocked a pink tux like a champ...with only minor harassment from me.

The ceremony was in a beautiful church which is more aptly described as a cathedral.  It had a huge dome ceiling with beautiful stain glass windows and marble and granite sculptures and finishings.  Angela looked stunning and Kropa looked quite dapper in his black and white tux.

Mike Lupo, another one of John's friends from Kings College, was the best man in the wedding.  I finally got to spend some time getting to know Mike's wife, Samantha; she wasn't able to come up to visit with Mike & Ryan either time they've visited us in NY.  She's super fun and I look forward to getting to spend more time with her in the future.

The reception at Fiorelli's featured delicious italian food, open bar, and a photo booth.  We had a wonderful time!!

A big thanks to Amanda Grace for staying with Roxy & Riley for us.
Football, laundry, & planning to do today and then another week at school.  Fall is surely flying by...

tencubed

10.10.10.  I wonder how many people got married today.  It'd be a cool anniversary...we should have waited.  Then I could have become a "ten"bus on 10/10/10.  Fudge.  Oh well.
Well here we are.  Columbus Day weekend; the first 3 day weekend of the school year.  It seemed like it would take forever to get here when we said a reluctant farewell to summer and looked ahead to our first "break" from school.  These last 5 weeks really flew by.  Last year it seemed like an eternity from day 1 of school to the first break.  I'm so thankful for my new job.  I only hope it continues to go as positively as it's gone so far.  Tuesday night I am attending a welcome dinner with the board of education for all the new staff.  I'm looking forward to it.

What I do miss most about my old school is the group of friends I made while working there.  Friday night, I attended their monthly happy hour & had such a great time.  The happy hour was actually at the bar where John & I met.  After a couple of shots with the owner, John asked him if we could bring in a photo of us there and hang it up on the wall.  Charlie obliged and soon we will be famous....kinda.  It WAS really sweet to be back there with John; we hadn't been back as a couple since we met in 2007.

Saturday we went to Narrowsburg to see John's Aunt Tina- she flew in from Nevada.  It was nice to see her and Aunt Judy.  They brought over a ton of Grandma Corky's Christmas ornaments for us to go through.  Needless to say, we'll have to get a full size Christmas tree this year.  Roxy was a big hit with Aunt Judy & Aunt Tina; they spent all night giving her kisses and tummy rubs.  What can I say, it's hard not to love her!

This week, Eileen Anne turned 22!  She's always been pretty pimp.

We celebrated last Sunday night with a nice dinner & some delicious chocolate peanut butter cake, courtesy of my mom.  Ei has been down in New Paltz, hard at work on her Masters Degree.  We have been enjoying lots of weekend visits with her- especially Miss Roxy Jane.

The fall foliage continues to be very pretty 'round these parts.  Of course after seeing some recent photos of my bff's hike in northern maine; new york looks like a barren desert....but hey it's what we have here.  Here are some evening sky, leaf, and water pics:

Loch Sheldrake

White Lake

My In-Laws' Yard in Narrowsburg

Our Hill

Goodnight Moon

Speaking of Amanda Sue, she has set a date for her wedding.  September 24th, 2011 in beautiful Aroostock County, Maine.  I can hardly wait.  John is looking forward to a chance to see Maine in Fall times.  A mere 348 days away :)  Yes, I'm already counting down the days.  Soon plans for bridal showers & a bachelorette party will be in the works.  I  L-O-V-E weddings.

In other exciting news, we finally got to talk to our "city" neighbor who owns the large hemlock tree towering over our home.  I lay in bed some nights and worry about it falling on our house.  Luckily, he is totally fine with us having the tree trimmed and made safe.  This made my WEEK!  The best part of the encounter with Tom was his outfit.  He was wearing cotton pajama pants that were printed to look like jeans.  I think everyone should have these.  Then he give us a business card- he's a freelance litigator.  A freelance litigator from the city who likes to come up to sullivan county on the weekends and bum around in faux-jean cotton pants.  Ya can't make this stuff up.

Ok off to finish up some laundry & celebrate Columbus- by making homemade pizza & watching NCIS LA.  Hmmm, fine.