For me, cooking is very connected to my family and friends.  ~Trisha Yearwood

Since it’s Friday, I thought about pulling out something Kyle and I recorded last November.  I forgot we even made this video, but it’s very appropriate for the summer.  The 4th of July is around the corner and there are all sorts of functions taking place.  This recipe might spark an idea for your next covered dish choice.

My mom’s signature dish to bring to family functions, picnic’s, graduation parties and yes even the Piper Family Reunion, is her Haluski.  Actually, most people expect to see the Haluski.  Two summers ago, my mom broke her shoulder and couldn’t make it up to see my cousin Jeremy, who was home from Montana.  I decided to make the Haluski and take it to the picnic.  Once we got there, I was talking to my Uncle Sonny, who mention that he was looking forward to mom’s Haluski.  I spoke up saying that I made it this time.  I’m not sure if he actually tried it or not, but it was made under mom’s supervision.  Not to mention, I’ve made it before and how hard can it be to cook cabbage, noodles and butter?

So why Haluski?  Mom is half English and half Polish and from my understanding her grandmother would make the typical Polish dishes, including Haluski.  This is mom’s comfort food, something she has been around all her life.  I must say, it’s extremely quick and easy to make, very low cost to purchase the ingredients, and definitely a crowd pleaser.  There are so many variations, experiment with your favorite Haluski recipe!

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn’t it be? – it is the same the angels breathe.  ~Mark Twain

Kyle with a Blue Angel Pilot, LCDR Toddy Royles, USN 6/23/12

This past weekend was the Westmoreland County Airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, in Latrobe.  Much like last year, Flying Back to Kyle’s Ninth Birthday, it was a beautiful day.  A little hot, nearly in the 90’s and very sunny, but it was the airshow, perfect weather to be watching the skies.  I took Kyle on Saturday, both of us really wanting to go this year because the Blue Angels were performing.  When I was younger they had the airshow every year, keep in mind it was always in September, usually over Ryan’s birthday, and the Blue Angels always made their appearance.  I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the Blue Angels, but they were always something to watch.  As an adult, I’m still equally as impressed and mesmerized as I was as a kid.

Sometimes mom and dad took us into the airport for the airshow and sometimes we would just watch it from mom and dad’s front porch.  You see, their house sits up on the ridge with an amazing view overlooking Saint Vincent Church and College and the airport.  When the planes did their stunts they executed them right in front of us in the open sky overlooking the airport.  It was a sight to see!  Since the airshow was over Ryan’s birthday weekend, all my cousins were up at the house anyway for the party.  That gave us show to look forward to, too.

Me & Kyle under our umbrella at the airshow 6/23/12

The 2012 airshow was very organized with respect to getting people into the airport, although I’m not commenting on their system for getting the crowds out all at once.  They changed the layout this year from last, which made it more open and easier to get from one end of the lot to the opposite. As Kyle and I walked around to check out the booths, he naturally eyed up those containing toys, the typical toy planes of various sizes.  Kyle asked if he could have a “souvenir”, one of his famous lines.  I have don’t have an issue with purchasing the kid a T-shirt, hat or something neat to use as a keep sake, but in my opinion Kyle is getting too old to keep purchasing these toys, which have his attention for the day before being lost to the bottom of his closet forever.  Every time we took him to the Air and Space Museums in Virginia and Washington, D.C. he would get another toy plane, never to be seen again.  Using this as my opportunity to prove a point, I said to Kyle, “You can get whatever you want.” as he looked at me in complete shock.  Then I continued, “It’s your money.”  He said, “What money?” and I followed up with, “Your money from your report card.”  Kyle looked over some items and then said, “No I’m good.  I don’t really want anything.”  I knew he had other plans for that money, but that was his choice.

Smiley Face in the sky at the 2012 Latrobe Airshow

Continuing on our way, we saw the Navy had a simulator to ride.  Kyle really wanted to participate before the airshow began, so we stood in line.  It was an enclosed area with a screen and a simulated mission playing on the monitor.  The capsule was on hydraulics and bounced you around simultaneously with the visual being played, kind of like a Universal Studio ride.  Before we boarded, Kyle and I both commented that it was like the simulator they have at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., only that one flipped you upside down. The ride required one driver, which was me and one co-pilot to shoot missiles, which was Kyle.  Well, needless to say, I managed to keep us upside down the entire ride because I couldn’t get us turned right side up.  That was years ago and it must have made an impression on Kyle because the first think he said was, “Ya Aunt Heather this is just like that ride at the Air and Space Museum, except it doesn’t go upside down.”

Kyle at the 2012 Latrobe Airshow in front of the Blue Angels plane

Before boarding our ride the airshow started with a plane making a smiley face in the sky.  That got every clapping and cheering.  Once we exited the simulator, which was very cool, Kyle decided he was hungry.  After making our way through the line to get his BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich, courtesy of DeNunzio’s Restaurant, we made our way to sit and watch the show.

Eventually we found our way to the grassy area on the hill where we could see the entire runway.  Kyle and I sat under my golf umbrella to get some relief from the scorching sun.  In fact, we stayed under the umbrella the entire day, even while walking around.  It was cooler and neither one of us got a sunburn.  While resting under our little piece of shade, planes were flying around doing stunts and fly bys, taking off and landing.  They even had a car with a jet engine racing a plane.  The agenda was well planned out and executed very smoothly.

It’s really exciting and a rush to hear the roar of the engines and see of the aeronautics overhead.  Well, maybe it wasn’t enough for Kyle because I kept catching him playing on his Nintendo DS.  Yikes!  What?  He got a new game, and holding true to his fashion he was obsessed with beating it.  I didn’t mind him playing it between acts and I had him bring it in anticipation of the traffic, but during the show, heck NO!

Then at 3:00, came the much anticipated highlight of the day, The Blue Angels!  I was too excited to see  this, although Kyle didn’t seem to share in my enthusiasm.  I understand the super sonic sounds being projected from the engines made his ears hurt, but I could tell he would much rather sit there and play his video games than appreciate true skill and the hard work it takes to be a U.S. Navy Blue Angel.  To me that was kind of a shame.  I’m sure there are other kids who follow Kyle’s suit.

While watching and video taping the show, my phone stopped me from taking the remainder of the shots.  It was full!  What?  Bad timing!  Then I remembered Mr. Kyle Piper had his new 64GB ipod Touch with him.  I said, “Kyle quick, give me your ipod.”  That smart little bugger said, “Did you fill up your phone?”  What?  How did he know that?

After the show, Kyle and I managed to sneak in line and get an autograph of Blue Angel Pilot, #8 LCDR Todd Ryles, USN.  Later I found out that is a native to Pennsylvania and went to Penn State.  After he singed our brochure, I grabbed a picture with the pilot and Kyle.  I understand it was a long hot day and we had to head out to go Jimmy Singer’s graduation party at the Planinsek Pavilion, but could have been a little more thrilled.  If I know Kyle, we was probably looking forward to sitting in the car and playing that game!  Although, I’ll give him credit, he didn’t complain.

Recently, it was brought to my attention that a friend of mine has always wanted to see the Blue Angels.  To me this was silly, I’ve seen them many times. Then it dawned on me that I have taken advantage of this fact.  I tried to explain to Kyle that this was a privilege to see them and we had great seats in the grass, not missing a thing.  That little lecture didn’t seem to effect him.  Ahh, one day I hope he reflects back and appreciates this opportunity because they were AMAZING!

To see more videos on the Blue Angels go to

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’  ~Samuel Butler

Me & Storm

Friday’s tend to be a whirl wind of hustle and bustle and this past one became a tornado.   Right after I picked up the package, (Kyle) we ran to the grocery store, then back to mom and dad’s to make dinner.  Sometime in the middle I had to let the dogs out, and start a fire in the backyard for hot dogs and mountain pies, as promised to Kyle.  Yikes!  I was seriously in high gear, tripping over a ten year old and two dogs in the kitchen, who all wanted to be planted up my butt and I just wanted to hurry up and get out the door to get a run in before dark.  In the middle of this somewhat organized chaos, Kyle told me a friend of mine was on my phone.  She informed me that she had a kitten for me.  What a surprise!  My friend Holsters found me a cute little tiger stripped kitten!

Then to add to the events, Holsters sent me a text message containing a picture of the three cute little grey tiger stripped kittens with blue eyes.  At this point, Kyle wanted to know what my excitement was when I was on the phone and I told him about the surprise.  Now Kyle is equally as excited as I.

Once Holsters gave me the call, I didn’t know what to do.  I just started the fire in the backyard, mom and dad weren’t home yet, and dinner was half done on the stove.  I made baked stuffed zucchini and a cowboy casserole, both found on Pinterest and both were really good.  Being informed that we had to pick up the kitten tonight, or schedule another time to do so, which I didn’t want to wait, I started to evaluate my situation and concoct a new plan.  Since mom and dad still weren’t home, being late from work, Kyle was going to have to come with me to pick up the new bundle.  Then, I was going to bring them both back to the house and hopefully someone resembling an adult figure was going to be home, so I could leave for a run.  Informing Kyle of my plans, he says to me, “Aunt Heather since the dogs are pretty much like watch dogs and they are pretty protective of me, could you just leave me here with Seven and Scooby?  Gigi and pappy will be home soon.”  What?  I said, “I don’t think so buddy, they are dogs, not adults and you are ten, not thirteen.”  He just kind of shrugged his shoulders.  Then maybe five minutes later, just as I turned off the stove and was getting ready to put a screen over the fire, Kyle said, “You can go Aunt Heather.” I said, “You’re not staying by yourself in the house.”  He spoke up correcting my assumption by saying, “No pappy just pulled in.”  Perfect timing!  Just as my dad walked in the door, I heard Kyle say, “Guess what Aunt Hot Dogs got us?  A kitten, there are three of them we can have.”  Dad just said, “O ya?” as I basically ran out the door with excitement, telling dad I’ll be right back.

Once I got to Holly’s, I made up my mind that we were going to get our run in first, or else it would never happen and we have a race to run this Friday.  Apparently at this point I was so excited, that when we exited Holly’s house getting ready to add some mileage to our shoes, I noticed my car door was just hanging open.  I didn’t even remember to close the door.  O boy!  Can’t tell when my mind was elsewhere.

Storm's siblings... how could I resist? 6/22/12

As we ran the neighborhood, we actually pasted the house with the kittens.  At this point, Holly and I were both painfully excited and couldn’t wait any longer,  We cut our run short with the sheer anticipation of meeting a new member of the Piper household and headed back to get the new addition.

The owners of the kittens were very nice people and let me pick one out.  Even though all three kittens were very similar looking, I did bond with one instantly.  The gentlemen, which I don’t remember his name, probably because I practically knocked down in the front door as I barged into the house, showed me the kitten’s mom.  She was mostly all white.  Interesting.  They also had a young son, who was so very sweet.  I checked in with their son, who looked to be about five or so, to make sure it was alright with him to take a kitten.  He gave me a big smile and nodded.  Too cute!  As I exited the house with my new pile of fur, I noticed that I never even removed my shoes at the door!  Yikes!  When I’m excited, I apparently become very rude.  Their house was spotless and here I’m standing in my shoes that just traipsed around the neighborhood and still pouring with sweat.  My sincerest apologies!  Soon I will have to stop by and bring the little boy something and let them know how the kitten was doing.

Me & Storm 6/22/12

The kitten rode back with me in my lap, meowing a little here and there.  As I walked in the front door, Kyle was there eagerly greeting us.  He said, “Come on let’s show Gigi and pappy.”  Well, dad was already asleep on the couch and I didn’t want to wake him so we headed out back to find mom.  Mom wasn’t too thrilled, although from my understanding, she was more relieved that I only had one little bundle of fluff and not three.

One thing I can count on, is getting the complete conversation regarding the kitten from Kyle, while I was gone.  Kyle did not disappoint.  He said, “Gigi said you can take all the cats to your house if you want them so bad.”  What is too funny, Kyle is not shy about calling anyone out on what they say.  Fact is fact and if you said it, he will completely reiterate it and say it back to your face, which he did, in front of mom, who just sat there and rolled her eyes.  Kyle instantly told me that “Gigi’s not really happy about the kitten.”  Then mom said, as if waiting for someone to take her side, “What did pappy have to say about this?”.  Kyle said, “He said, that’s good, Aunt Heather needs a cat.”  That’s my dad!  He told Kyle, after Her Name was Pudd’in passed, that we need a cat in the house.

When talking to Nicole on the phone, she snapped out saying, “Aunt Heather maybe you could clean out the litter box instead of Gigi.” and I simply stated “I have this gag reflex thing, it makes it hard for me to clean out the litter box.  I used to years ago, but it’s hard for me now.”  Kyle quickly justified my statement by saying, “Don’t worry Aunt Heather, I have this gag reflex thing too.  Once when I was on the bus and there was this smell, I don’t know what it was but it made me gag and I threw up.”   O Kyle!  That is too funny!

Me, mom and Kyle sat around the fire talking to Aunt Nikki on speaker phone thinking of names for the new arrival.  My sister is the queen with naming animals.  She’s actually named quite a few of my cats over the years including Draco, Vega, Deneb and Pudd’in.  In fact, the only cat I had, that I can remember naming all on my own was my precious Morticia.  As we started to think of names, I naturally went to my books throwing out names such as Katniss (Hunger Games), Lucinda (Fallen), Esme (Twilight) and I really liked the name Neville (Harry Potter).

Then as the names continued to fly, but not really clicking, Kyle being Mr. Logical, said, “Umm let me think Aunt Heather.  We call Seven and Scooby, Thunder and Lightening.” as the thoughts were forming in his head, Nicole, on speaker phone said, “Storm”.  I perked up saying, “Ya, from the X-men!”  She quickly popped my bubble by saying, “Well, no I was just thinking of a storm.  But I guess.”  Kyle’s eyes got really bright and said, “Storm!”   As I laughed, I said, “Umm I don’t know Kyle, I really like Neville.”  He instantly said, “Nope, it’s Storm!”

Me & Storm in the car 6/22/12

Ok, I’m not really sure why Kyle was telling me what my kitten’s name was, but it didn’t surprise me.  Nicole and I started to reminisce when Kyle named Scooby.  You see he was a big fan of Scooby Doo, the cartoon.  At that time, Kyle was probably around four years old and he gave us a choice for the dog’s name of Scooby or Flame On, from The Fantastic Four.  Everyone unanimously agreed on, Scooby.  Nicole and I laughed and told Kyle, “Could you image calling the dog, ‘Here Flame On'”  We were cracking up!  Then Kyle spoke up saying, “Ok Aunt Heather, the kitten’s name is Storm.”  I said, “Why?” and he instantly said, “Because you got to pick Scooby’s name, so I get to pick the kitten’s name.”  O Kyle!  He is too much!

Needless to say, I really didn’t have much of a say so in the matter.  Kyle instantly started to call the kitten Storm and he informed me that the kitten is already used to her name so we have to stick with it.  Clever Kyle!  Well, the name did wear off on me and stuck.  Storm has arrived!

As we departed on Sunday night, Kyle explained to me that Storm was more attached to me because I drove the kitten home.   Then he immediately made a comparison to when he rode home holding Scooby as a puppy.  He said, “That’s why me and Scooby are so close.  How did you get Storm home?”  I replied, “I held her in my lap as I drove.”  Reassuring his thoughts, he said, “Ya Aunt Heather you held her when you brought her home.  So now she’s going to be close to you.”  Apparently, according to Kyle when you bring an animal home, while sitting on your lap, it solidifies the bond between the pet and owner.  Interesting theory.  Is it like making ‘the bond with the halo’? (humor reference to Avatar).

Well after an eventful weekend, Storm has warmed her way into our hearts already.  Even Seven seems was behaving and now has taken the responsibility of watching the kitten and following her around.  Scooby checked out Storm when I first brought her in the house, but then could care less.  Now whenever we want to find Storm, we just ask Seven, “Where’s the kitty?” and he starts sniffing around and points her out.  Yep, I think this is going to work.  One of the best surprises!  Thanks Aunt Hot Dogs!

Abstain from every form of evil.  ~1 Theassalonians 5:22

Nicole, me and Roxanne in mom & dad's yard

Last weekend I helped dad in the yard.  While he mowed I weed whacked all around the house, the orchard and part of the bank.  First, I will admit I’m not the most graceful with the equipment, but I get the job done, sometimes down to the dirt.  It was a hot one and the weeds were pretty considerable, not being done for a couple weeks.  I’m pretty good about protecting myself when I do yard work, wearing pants, tennis shoes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.  It never fells, I always hit a rock or some object that goes flying at my face or legs, and I won’t even go into what the sun would do to my skin if left unprotected.

As I moved around the yard, Seven stayed within the same vicinity and was pretty much by my side, until he would get hot and move toward the shade.  He was never far from me, unless I was making objects fly.  He didn’t seem to mind the noise of the weed whacker like Scooby.  When I fired up, Scooby took off to sit with my mom or hide in the house.  I was kind of glad, I didn’t want to hurt the dogs, but Seven seemed to know when to lay near me while I worked, and when to keep his distance.  Of course he made his appearance when I needed a break or needed to fuel up. In fact, that was Scooby’s cue to join in on the party and make up some lost attention.

Poison Sumac... take a good look at those poisonous leaves

As I proceeded up the bank, working my way around the blueberry bushes, I hit a hornets nest up under the bush.  Yikes!  I know, just because I’m allergic to yellow jackets, doesn’t necessarily mean I’m allergic to hornets.  But I wasn’t about to find out.  Seven and I ran, aborting the area and informing dad while he was mowing, so the surprise didn’t come in the form of a dozen, armed angry hornets.  I figured weeding that area will have to wait until the hornet’s where given their official eviction notice.

Later, I saw a huge black snake that took off down the bank before dad could catch up to it on the lawn mower. Ya, I hate snakes!  That geeked me out a bit.  Enough that dad thought it might have gone in the one set of weeds, so he sat there and watched me knock down the brush. And me being me, I fell down the yard while I was cautiously watching for the two and half foot slimy threat.  I got a good look at the snake and it was a black snake, not poisonous, but regardless, a two and a half foot snake!  I’m sure dad rolled his eyes at me especially when I fell a second time, slipping on the grass.  But it wouldn’t be a day without a minor accident.

After I was done with the yard, thinking I had avoided all the threats out in the jungle, I found out the next day I was wrong.  Sadly, I will admit we were working on Sunday, which I don’t like to do.  I try to honor the Sabbath day, but alas dad was feeling better and I wanted to help him out.  Come Monday, I noticed my arm was itchy and I started to see small blisters.  Yikes!  Not poison ivy?  Nope, I later found out that I had a case of poison sumac.  My left arm had a patch nearly the size of the palm of my hand and it was swollen!  Then by the end of Monday and moving into the next day, small patches started to show up and down my right arm, stomach, and neck.  I can handle the small patches.  Not too terrible.  They were itchy, but the cream I put on the irritated skin helped relieve some the itching and they didn’t consume much real estate.  Now, the patch on my left arm was a different story.  It was hard, like I get when stung by a bee, hot, red, and it hurt.  It felt as if I burned my arm on the oven rack.  It never itched just burned.  Then, by mid week it was oozing.  Yes, draining!  Not just a little moisture, I mean dripping down my arm.  I had to wrap it up for work and change my bandage half way through the day.  It was nasty!

Nicole, me, & dad holding Kyle... day out fishing with the family

Wednesday night, I thought I’m going to win this battle and actually take something.  I went home after work, took two Benadryl’s, which I NEVER take medicine and laid on the couch ready for the drowsy effects to kick in.  It was strange, I never felt tired or drugged.  So I decided, I was going to help the medicine out by kicking back a shot of vodka.  I thought that should do it. Nope!  Finally I just went to bed, tossing and turning all night.  Sometimes I would bump my left arm and it would wake me up.  Not only did the Benadryl not work, but I awoke up Thursday morning to find a large pool of ooze in my 800 thread count sheets.  I was not happy and totally grossed out at the same time.  Well, by then there seemed to be a thousand blisters of various sizes anchored to that area of my arm and spreading.  By mid-day most of my forearm was noticeably swollen, seeping and in pain.

Not being a big fan of going to doctors, especially when I don’t think they can do anything, I was torn.  I am also not a big fan of taking medicine, I would much rather eat the right foods and use nature as my medicine.  So I began to read articles and forums online.  I know most of the information is not medically approved, but sometimes I trust someone who has gone through the same situation over taking a drug prescribed for everyone.  Reading through all the horror stories, I realized my case was not a sever as others, and everyone had their own method for dealing with the situation.  That makes sense, everyone’s allergic reaction is different and so must be the treatment.  I must say, I didn’t know what to do.  But right after work on Thursday, I had Kyle’s baseball game and then I had to take him to my parents house.  Dad was taking Kyle fishing all day Friday.

Yep the color is about right... it was actually dripping like a faucet

What to do? What to do?  I went to the game and sat there holding my ooze soaked paper towels, trying to be as discreet as possible.  As I sat there, I started to feel nauseous.  I don’t know if it was from the allergic reaction or from watching my arm drain like a leaky sink.  At one point, I started to get into the game and I leaned forward, elbows on knees, teetering my umbrella over my shoulder to keep the sun off of me, and I saw drips of ooze landing on the bleacher in front of me!  I was mortified!  I started to text my friend Holly, I like to think of her as my running partner and personal nurse.  She was yelling at me through text messages, telling me to get my butt to the doctors.  She wanted me to go to the ER.  That seemed a bit extreme for me.  What probably made it worse, I texted her a picture of my oozing, raw, swollen arm.  This was when my way of thinking did start to shift.  On a side note, I sent my sister the same picture just to gross her out.  I do find humor in the little things in life.

Kyle’s team lost, again, but he had a few great assists and he participated.  His batting swings were strong, just never made good contact with the ball.  He ran his heart out though and I was proud!  Sometimes sitting there for two hours watching a kids baseball game is painful, since I can’t sit for too long, being a hyperactive person, and I’m not a fan of sports.  But I do it week over week to watch my little man.  He seems to enjoy it and I support and encourage anything that benefits him, whether I like it or not.

As we made our way home, I really started to deliberate my situation, especially while I had a bunch of completely soaked paper towels resting between my thigh and forearm as I drove.  Kyle called mom and was talking to her and I had him ask mom how late Med Express stayed open.  They were open till 9:00 pm and our current time was 8:10 pm.  This was going to be a close one, but I thought if I could get to there before they closed then God was saying go see a doctor.  If we didn’t make it in time, then I was planning on taking a Benadryl and calling it a night.

Alas, God had spoken, because we got there in great time and they took me in right away.  Kyle was such a trooper.  He kept my wallet and my iphone so I didn’t have to worry about them.  I even offered to call mom and have her pick him up so he didn’t have to wait with me.  He said, “No it’s ok, I have my ipod I’ll be good.  I’ll wait with you.”  That kid has such a heart.  As we sat there talking, Kyle bragged, as I always have, that he doesn’t get poison ivy.  I corrected him saying, “Don’t ever chance it, you don’t know when the tables will be turned.”  He kind of shrugged.  I hope he heeds my warning.  Then he turns to me and says, “I hope they don’t give you a shot.  I don’t like shots!”  With complete fear in his eyes.  I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and he went back to playing his ipod.

Another one of my nemesis... poison ivy

While they took me back to get my vitals they have to go through the serious of questions, ‘How long have you had this?’ and ‘Have you had surgery before?’.  I really have been pretty healthy all my life, I am blessed in that respect.  I answered as best I could until the nurse asked me if I was in the hospital for anything and Kyle perked up and said, “Ya Aunt Heather you broke your arm.”  I said, “She doesn’t mean that and how do you remember that anyway?”  Actually, I’ve broken both of my wrists, my right one twice.  But all of those were pre-Kyle, yet he must have remembered us talking about it.  The nurse commented that it must have made an impression on him.  I guess so.

Once they took me back to the patient room, the minute the doctor saw me he said, “Yep, poison sumac!  It’s a good thing you came in ’cause it would continue to spread all over your body.”  Yikes!  He was right, as we sat there I noticed more patches of it showing up.  Here, I thought it was going to start to go away.  The doctor then asked me, “Do you have it elsewhere?” and I started to point out other patches.  Then, Kyle jumped up to point out every place that was infected.  Love my buddy, he keeps me in line and gets straight to business.  Next thing out the doctor’s mouth was, “Ok, I’ll you a shot and you will need to take these pills for two weeks.”  Just then I saw the horror in Kyle’s eyes as he stopped playing and slowly moved his head up to meet my eyes.  I just gave him an encouraging smile.  When the nurse came in and prepped the needle I thought Kyle turned green.  Then right before she shot my arm, he completely turned around and stood with his back to me.  My little man!  The nurse was too sweet, she said, “I hurried up and did it.”  It was for Kyle’s sake not mine and I’m glad.  The nurse said, “It’s ok, I’m done, your aunt’s fine.”  He slowly and reluctantly turned to face me with such an upset demeanor.  I said, “I’m fine buddy. No worries.”  He said, “You are?  I don’t like needles.”  Just then the burn of the shot started to shoot through my muscle, as I tried to keep a smile on my face and not show Kyle it was burning.

Yep this is poison sumac too! Yikes! It looks harmless and pretty

Well the little adventure to the doctor’s we certainly eventful.  They are really great in there, unfortunately it wasn’t my first trip to that office.  In fact, as I sat in waiting room I 4 Squared my location from my phone, and I became the Mayor of Med Express Latrobe.  Yikes!  How sad, I’m not the mayor of a restaurant, not the mayor of a park or a store, but I am the mayor of Med Express.  That is too funny!  As we got home dad asked me where I encountered the poison sumac, and I honestly have no idea. I apparently don’t know what it looks like.  Then, as dad examined my arms he said, “Why didn’t you just dump gasoline on it?” and I retorted with, “Ya and you should just light a match too.”  He snickered, dad doesn’t know what it’s like to have sensitive skin.  He was and will always be a mountain man, a true woods man.  Then I go from that extreme to another.  Holly called me and started to ask me thirty thousand questions, ‘What shot did they give you?’ What medicine do you have to take?’ all the standard nurse questions that I can’t answer.  She scalded me saying, “What if you get an allergic reaction to the meds?  You will need to let them know what you took! Look we have to work on your medical knowledge.”  O my Holsters!    What cracks me up is her husband is a nurse too, so I sometimes get it from both of them, but they know I don’t really give a crap.  I just go through life on faith.  That’s why I have my friends and my family.  They keep me going in the right direction.  It’s not like I’m going to stop what I’m doing out of fear.  I’m still going to use the weed whacker, still going to continue to do yard work, and I’m never going to give up my walks through the woods, but with just a little bit more awareness and understanding for the consequence and the dangers that I may face.

One essential to success is that your desire be an all-obsessing one, your thoughts and aim be coordinated, and your energy be concentrated and applied without letup.  ~Claude M. Bristol

Kyle & mom at Gutchess working 6/2/12

Last weekend Kyle decided he wanted this new Lego. Of course, he is all things Lego and forbid if he didn’t have ALL the Lego’s.  I picked Kyle up after school on Friday and from the minute he walked out the door and got into the car, he started talking about this Lego he wanted, apparently it just came out in May.  Now I will give Kyle credit, as we were in route, my mom called and said a tornado just touched down in Ligonier, not far from where we would be intersecting.  Leaning on the side of cautious, I wanted to be prepared in case a wind cyclone decided to explore the Greater Latrobe area.  Actually, our drive was kind of eerie, there was no wind at all.  Usually with light rain and the warning of a tornado, I would think there would be some wind.  Nope, I was even examining the tree tops, nothing.  No swaying or motion of any kind.  It almost felt like the car was moving faster than reality, or like everything around us was in slow motion.  Now, if there were no cars on the road I would have been a little geeked out, but since there was traffic I felt safer in the numbers.  At one point I thought about deviating to my house, which was closer, to wait out the tornado warning, but eventually chose to maintain our course of action.

Kyle was a trooper, being a worry wart that he is, he kept his cool.  He would toggle between talking about Lego’s and building with his friends and watching the sky for a twister.  What cracks me up, between everything going on in Kyle’s mind, he would randomly manage to say, “Ok Aunt Heather the speed limit is 45, I think we should go 40.”  I wasn’t speeding or coming close, but he wanted to call it out.  Then he started asking me about hydroplaning.  Deviating from the Lego conversation long enough, we talked about driving in snow and rain and uncontrollable dangers.  I told him, “Wait till you start driving, I’ll teach you to drive in the snow and ice like Gigi taught me.  She took me to the mall late at night when the weather wasn’t great and let me speed through the parking lot and slam on my breaks and slide around till I gained control.”  He gave me a shocked looked.  I said, “Doing that taught me how the car feels when sliding and how to counter act the steering wheel.  There wasn’t anyone in close proximity and we had the space to slide around without getting hurt or doing damage.  That was the best lesson I’ve had on driving.”  Then I probably went into too many details, cause I mentioned “You will have to react in a car situation, whether it be sliding on ice, snow or hydroplaning and I want you to be as prepared as possible to react without freaking out.  It’s unavoidable, it will happen to you a least once.”  He looked like a deer in headlights.  So maybe that’s why every time we turned onto another road, he informed me of the speed limit.  At one point, there was no designated sign and he said, “O no Aunt Heather I’m just not sure what speed we should be at?”  I smiled and told him “Sometimes you just have to use common sense.  I think since it’s raining, the roads are slick and there is a possibility of a twister, let’s be safe and take it slower.”  He concurred.

Once we made it home safe and sound, and he was ensured his Gigi and Pappy were safe, Kyle started again over the Lego’s.  It went on ALL night.  In fact, at one point he started pouting because he couldn’t see how he could possibly raise enough money over the weekend to pay for this $100 Lego that he had to have on Monday, for the last day of school.  Now me being me, and not a sensitive person, especially talking about a kid who has way too much, I kind of ignored him and reiterated that most kids don’t have as much as he has, not to mention the amount of Lego’s he’s acquired over the years.  In fact, I yelled at him to stop pouting. Ya right, I don’t know what good that did, it’s like asking a kid to sit still, it will never happen.  Well, it didn’t, Kyle continued to mope and sit in his own self pity, which really struck a cord with me.

Kyle counting his money for the new iPod Touch 64 GB

However, by the next morning Kyle must have had an epiphany, because he was on a mission to find or earn that money, no matter what.  He was driven, starting at 6:00 in morning.  I think I’ve mentioned it before, we are morning risers, so I was up around 5:00 am or so and his early morning rise is not shock me.  Actually, he usually asks me to get him up as soon as I get up, knowing I don’t let my head stay on the pillow for too long after the sun rises.  From the minute we turned on the lights and made our way to the couch, he stared plotting and planing out his mission.  He began to fulfill his quest by outlining the work he wanted to do and by digging up money, from everywhere.  Even the good old pig got a shaking, where he found another $30.  My sister asked me how can that be, and to be honest I have no idea.  I thought he wiped out the pig when the iPod Touch…Mission Accomplished! was purchased, but I guess he kept some money in reserves.  If only our government could learn a lesson from my ten year old nephew, so when the money is needed the pig isn’t drained dry and earning the money through good old work isn’t out of the question.

Kyle approached my mom and dad regarding work to earn enough resources for the Lego.  Ironically, mom was going into work on Saturday to get caught up and she had a ton of filing that needed addressed.  Perfect job for Kyle, learn the workings of an office, spend some time with his Gigi and get my mom organized!  On a side note, I have no idea why there is so much filing, I guess they never heard of digital files and servers verses paperwork, but whatever.  He even learned what an adding machine was, although I’m not sure who still uses those.

Throughout the day, Kyle did dishes, dusting, sweeping, and he even offered to stack wood.  In the rain no doubt!  That I had to speak up and say no, not while it was raining.  But I’ll tell ya what?  He did it!  Between earning and finding the money he had enough for his Lego.  Now starts the true obsessing.  First of all, ALL day long on Saturday that’s ALL I heard about and moving into Sunday.  Kyle went with me to take the dogs for our weekly hike through the woods.  For three miles that’s all I heard about, the Lego he wanted, and how he planned to bring it to the last day of school on Monday, for him and his friend Jacob to build.  I’m glad he was excited, but come on Kyle!  He seriously couldn’t focus on anything else. Nothing!  So for an hour and a half of our hike, plus the remainder of the day Kyle talked about this Lego and all it’s parts and how much money he had and how much he needed.  I was getting tired of it.  I’m not saying that I don’t get excited about things but even mom had to agree, that as kids we were never this obsessed.

Kyle's Lego ice-cream cake when he turned 10 7/2011

Finally by Sunday morning, I started to loose it.  I said, “Kyle we are not a family that is revolved around money and I don’t want to hear it any more.  You have enough Lego’s and you’re lucky I’m entertaining the idea of you spending the money for this toy!”  He instantly said, “Ya I know Aunt Heather but I just really want to build it and show Jacob my new Lego.”  He mentioned that Jacob got a new Lego too, but he couldn’t imagine how he got the money for the purchase, he said, “He must have earned the money some how, but I don’t how.”  Really?  Was that his concern?  I don’t think so, it was the idea of a new Lego.  Again, I’m happy for his happiness but give it a rest already.

Kyle even planned out when I was going to take him to the store on Sunday.  This was my last straw.  Except, I stood corrected when mom and I were waiting for Kyle in the car after church, he had to serve.  She mentioned that if he was good, she would run him over to the store to see if they had the Lego.  So now I was forced to fulfill mom’s promise to encourage her grandson’s fixation.  Using church to prove my point is not the right thing to do, but I wanted to prove a point.  Once Kyle got in the car I asked him “What was the reading about?”.  I’ll be darned, he told me about the Gospel, in detail, paraphrasing of course.  I was truly impress, assuming his one-tracked mind was focused on all things Lego during the entire mass.  I must admit I was very impressed, and proud of him!  Kyle was able to focus when the opportunity arose, either that or he was in cohorts with God to prove me wrong.

Once we walked the isles of the store looking for THE Lego, Kyle’s face turned into one big frown.  They didn’t have it.  But did that stop Kyle? No!  Once we got home he began to do his investigation and found which stores locally had the toy.  Not only did he get the skinny on the whereabouts of this coveted piece of plastic pieces, but he also started to check prices and print coupons.  O my goodness, nothing was going to stop him and he was going to save money while he was at it!

We’ll needless to say my mom did eventually take him to the store and alas to his disappointment,

Logan, Kyle & Seth first day of school - 5th grade 8/2011

Toys-R-Us didn’t have it.  Mom had to place an order and have it mailed to the house.  So when they got back, Kyle started to worry if it would rain on the day the box arrived, in case no one was home to receive it.  He said, “The directions would get all wet and would be ruined.  Then I won’t be able to put the blocks together as per the instructions.”  O my!  I rolled my eyes, sighed and walked away, all patience spent for a year.

I wonder if Kyle is just driven or is he obsessed?  He most certainly has drive to him, that much I will admit but he seems to go overboard.  Of course, driven and successful people seem to have this quality when they are passionate about something.  Now I have to figure out a way to hone all this energy and drive that Kyle exudes, and put it towards good.  Maybe he is in training to work for Lego someday.

All the romance of trout fishing exists in the mind of the angler and is in no way shared by the fish.  ~Harold F. Blaisdel

Kyle waiting not so patiently for a fish to bite. 5/12/12

A few Sunday’s ago was mother’s day and that weekend was the 23rd Annual Louis Planinsek Fishing Derby.  As tradition dictates, every year I take Kyle.  Usually my cousin Casey, Kyle’s godfather, is present but this year he is waiting for his newest arrival to the family, little Owen Olczak.  The Fishing Derby is a really a nice event which supplies memories for a lift time.

The activities always start on Friday evening with a bonfire, food, kids running around playing and everyone setting up their tents for a night of sleeping under the stars.  All participants and onlookers bring a covered dish and the derby supplies the burgers, drinks, hot dogs, beer, and breakfast.  In addition to getting together to see everyone, shooting the breeze, and the anticipation of the following day, there is so much more going on.  An old friend of the family, makes popcorn in an iron kettle on the open flames.  The smell is absolutely amazing, it stops every child and adult in their tracks and sets them on a new course of action straight for the popping sound, while a few guys who always show up with guitars entertain the crowd.  Usually, Friday night is when the purchase of your very own Fishing Derby T-shirt takes place, not only to wear the next day, but also to sport for future events, a sort of trophy piece showing the longevity of one’s dedication.

Congratulations Lexie Planinsek!! 22" trout

The next morning starts with breakfast at 7:00 am.  This year, as with most years we had pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns all made on an open flame in cast iron skillets.  Then there is also the fruit salad, donuts and all the covered dishes, veggies and dips delivered the previous night or spontaneously appeared that morning.  There is certainly never a shortage of food and no one ever goes hungry.  Sometime between waking up, eating, and continuing the previous night’s conversation, the kids set out their chairs, strategically placing them around the pond, guessing where the ideal spot would be to catch the largest trout to take home the trophy.

Kyle & his pap catching fish at the Fishing Derby 5/12/12

The official start of the derby is at 9:00 am and includes a few Planinsek’s reviewing the rules, one being the maximum age to participate, which is sixteen years.  They give the same horror story of hooking someone’s nose while casting.  With so many children and adults around a small pond, and most of the kids not having the best aim, it’s good get a perspective on the dangers of fishing.  I always thought that story was an urban legend but alas Lisa (Planinsek) Singer confirmed it for me this year and it’s all true.  I guess about 30 years ago one of the Planinsek’s went to cast his line, and while he jerked it back to front, he managed to hook a nose.  The story takes a turn involving the emergency room for the removal or the hook, bringing us to the current day story.  Good learning lesson for anyone, experienced or novice. Then we say a prayer before the sound of the buggle calls everyone to frantically cast their lines.  The Fishing Derby has officially begun!

Pap unhooking the fish & Kyle snapping a picture with his ipod Touch 5/12/12

The Fishing Derby is won by catching the biggest trout.  The adults can help the children cast, especially since there are so many lines entering the water all at once, it becomes a bit of a spider web.  But all children in order to qualify for the contest need to reel in the fish themselves, and naturally an adult or older child assists with a net, so as to not loose a kid in the water.  This year, two kids fall in, but exited the water as fast as they entered.  The 2012 winner was Lexie Planinsek who caught a 22 inch trout.  There is also a prize for the largest non trout catch, which was an 18 inch big mouth bass.  The first year they held this event Casey, becoming a legend on the hill.  My brother and cousins used to fish the event every year and now Kyle is participating in the tradition.  I am so glad to be sharing this experience with him and everyone.  There is not a better group of people who gather together that weekend.

Kyle assists in making popcorn 5/11/12

Throughout the day Mick gives hayrides and the kids  always manage to concoct a mean game of dodge ball or two.  The kids aren’t required to fish the entire time, in fact they tend to get board of fishing after an hour or two.  The official derby starts at 9:00 am and goes till 5:00 pm.  You are allowed to keep three fish or you can toss them back and continue catching till you are in the running for the prize trophy.  One kid caught forty fish!  And what is surprising, he didn’t win!  Imagine his odds?  Kyle caught three trout and a few crappy, keeping the trout and tossing the crappy back.  Dad and Kyle cleaned his earned catch on Saturday night and fried them up on Sunday morning.  He helped mom bread and fry the fish and was so excited over his contribution.  Yes, I know I’ve mentioned it a time or two, but we love fried fish for Sunday morning breakfast, especially fresh fish.  It has become a tradition in our family and when I lived in Pittsburgh for a brief period of time, that was something I missed.

William, Jacob, Sam, Emilia, Bill and Nina Enfinger all sport'in the Fishing Derby attire 5/12/12

Throughout the day, they sell pull tickets to win various prizes, 50/50 tickets, and of course tickets to the kids table.  Besides catching the largest trout, the next big excitement includes winning a prize off of the kids table.  As the day winds down and darkness approaches, everyone gathers under the pavilion where there is literally at least three picnic tables packed full of toys, trinketries, and stuff.  What happens is either the adults and many children, buy a ticket and put the child’s name on it.  Then after the awards have been handed out for the largest trout and non trout fish they start pulling names.

Handing out the trophies are a lot of fun especially when the child is young.  Everyone claps and cheers for the Fishing Derby winners for their coveted role and for their accomplishment, which will be recorded in history.  Then, the anticipation of seeing all the potential prizes are awaiting in front of the kids, who have managed to squeeze in the center of the pavilion, overlapping one another to get a good look at the activity.

One of the adults, either Beth, Lori or Nina start pulling a ticket and reveal the name of the first child who gets their choice of the stacked up items.  Then it goes in rapid fire, continuing the sequence of pulling another ticket and announcing another name and the child picking their item.  Some names are duplicated, sometimes all siblings are called one right after the other, and sometimes no child’s name is called at all.  When half of the picnic tables are visible, they ask to see a show of hands for those who’s name has not been called.  Those kids are allowed to approached the prize area to claim one for their own.

Lexie was honored with winning this year's Fishing Derby! Ready to pull tickets for the kids prizes. 5/12/12

Once, a year or two after Ryan passed away, someone called Ryan Piper during the prize giveaway.  When the ticket was reviewed again, it was clearly marked Kyle Piper.  I guess someone was thinking of Ryan, or Ryan wanted to make his presence known and played a prank on everyone.  Regardless it was nice hearing his name and having him verbally included in the day!

It really is a good time, with everyone walking away with not only prizes but truly great memories lasting forever and a tradition that is still going strong.  It takes a lot of time and planning to pull this off every year between getting donations from local businesses, getting the apparel printed, preparing the food, the kids prizes, cleaning up the pavilion and having the pond stocked.  To everyone involved, Thank You for all your efforts and hard work!  It does not go without notice or appreciation!

And since it was Mother’s Day, to all those mothers, aunts, cousins, neighbors, friends, guardians and even some men who play duel roles of mother and father, Happy Mother’s Day!

Cindy, Beth, Jim and Nina. No the fishing derby isn't such a formal occasion, it was prom on Friday. 5/11/12