Living outside of the box (By Kevin)

I have been on a sabbatical from posting in our blog because it has been a busy couple of weeks, but I am back in action! During my travels across Northern Vermont, I’ve been doing some research and collecting items for our blog. I was going to indulge my ego some more and post the video and article on my fire rescue, but I was told “enough” by a very-pregnant someone, and that I “did not need to keep tooting my own horn.”

So today, I bring to you the concept of: living outside of the box. Or should I say inside the box? How often do you think about where you live, your possessions, what you have and do not have? Comparing yourself to others? Thinking you need things that you don’t actually need? We are a nation of massive needs and wants. Look where that has gotten us today: a huge financial crisis, a bailout plan for whoever wants a bailout plan, mortgage foreclosures…the list goes on. Whatever happened to working hard, earning your possessions, and paying cash because that is what you can afford? I look around and realize that, yes, there are a lot more things that I would like to obtain in my life. A bigger house for Emma and Baby Kouri, and a real yard for Cooper and Cabot to play in with no worries of knocking over an old lady or getting yelled at by the condo Nazis. I need to step back, however, and remind myself that life is good. I have health, family, the love of my life, a baby on the way and my own dog, Cabot (he is the chocolate one). I guess even though Cooper was given to me for Valentine’s Day, we all know who he really belongs to. I get to do my two favorite pastimes, skiing and golfing with good friends. There will always be wants, needs and desires and hopefully I will be able to achieve everything that I set my sights on. For now, I count my blessings and am thankful for all that I have.

I arrived at a farm a number of weeks ago and heard voices that I could not identify or locate. I finally happened upon a box in the milk house, filled with two brand-new kids (goat babies) with a heat lamp covering them with warmth. This was a goat herd of about 100 or so; therefore, kids in boxes small containers is a pretty common occurrence. I peered down into the box I think to myself “Boy, am I glad I am not a goat baby.” Do you ever put yourself into someone else’s proverbial shoes and wonder how it would be if the tables were turned? I find myself doing that a lot. Try it sometime - it makes you appreciate the smallest things in your life. Like not having to live in a box, literally, and waiting for some farmer to come by and give you a bottle of warm milk. Have you ever looked at a goat closely? It looks as if they are staring right at you trying to speak to you. I think this is why I am so freaked out about working with goats.

Anyway, during this Holiday season, be grateful for what you have and be glad you do not live in a box like the goat kids. Make an effort to think outside of the box as well. I know I am going to in the coming New Year.

Solstice snowshoe

Yesterday was winter solstice, and my due date. No baby yet, but we did get a TON of snow! To celebrate, Penelope and I went out to Pennycluse for breakfast. We went very early for a Sunday (8:45am!!), but it was full and we even had to wait for a table. It was so fun talking, relaxing, and watching the crazy people in their cars with no clue how to drive in the snow. Then we did a little shopping, and the stores were empty! So there is a benefit to getting up early on Sundays...

Then, I took a 2-hour nap in honor of my due date. I did not respond to the many texts asking "did you have your baby yet??????" Honestly, I'm in no hurry. Of course I'm excited, but I have really embraced the concept that the baby is in charge now, and I just have to continue living my life until he or she decides it's time to come out. I'm not going to sit at home and hold my breath, that's for sure!

I woke up from my nap, totally energized, and the snow was still falling heavily. So I called Penelope, and asked her if she wanted to go snowshoeing? Of course she did! She walked up to my place, and we went for a snowshoe at the golfcourse. It was just breathtaking. Pink sky, fluffy snow up to your knees, dogs going wild and white washing each other, kids screaming with laughter as they plunged down the sledding hill at Burlington Country Club. What a magical afternoon. When we got home, Kevin had a fire going and was cleaning like a madman (he gets this habit from his mother). So I made a very spicy meat sauce and some whole wheat pasta, along with his mother's amazing caeasar salad, and we had a lovely dinner. What an awesome solstice and due-date day!

Shredded wheat with bananas and raisins

That's what I had for breakfast this morning, and yesterday morning too. It makes me think of Papa Roger. I've been missing him a lot lately. Papa Roger was a man of routine, and he definitely passed his "routine genes" down to me. He used to have shredded wheat Monday through Friday, then eggs and bacon on Saturdays, then waffles or pancakes on Sundays. No variation, like clockwork.

Here he is on his 90th birthday, nearly 4 years ago. Scotch was also a big part of his daily routine, and he received plenty of it on his birthday! Once Baby Kouri comes, I'll be able to start enjoying scotch again too.

I think Saturday morning, we'll have eggs and bacon in honor of him.

In a Pinch

I'm due in 3 weeks, and am finally starting to feel like a pregnant woman! Sore back, tender pelvis, swollen ankles...I shouldn't complain though. At night, I sleep very soundly, and use the bathroom maybe twice (compare that to my friend Elisa who visited the loo 6+ times a night during her last trimester!). Up to now, I have felt great and really unlimited. Last night, however, I was feeling very sorry for myself. We ordered take-out (from boloco burritos on Church Street - we give them a 6 out of 10). I took a hot bath, then talked to Hannah for an hour while I iced my lower back. I didn't go grocery shopping because my back was too sore. This morning, we were out of milk. Have you ever tried eggnog in your oatmeal? Or in your Earl Grey tea? Something only a pregnant woman would think of, but it was surprisingly delicious! You should try it.

Celebrating Family

The blessing of not only being able to tolerate the parents of your spouse, but to actually like them and enjoy spending time with them, is very rare indeed. I, however, am one of those few people who can say with the utmost sincerity that I love my In-Laws.
Kevin and I come from very different backgrounds, but there are a few similarities in the way we were brought up. For example, we both come from very tight-knit families, who love to spend time together, eat great food together, and just enjoy being with one another. Therefore, although Kevin’s parents have many qualities that make them loveable, one of the characteristics I especially admire is their love of family and celebrating loved ones. In addition to this, their generosity is beyond comprehension: not only financial, but emotional support is never-ending. No matter what they are going through, both of Kevin’s parents will drop everything and become a pillar of support when a family member is in need. Kevin and I have often been the recipients of this support, and we are constantly in awe of the ability of his parents to give and give and give.
Last weekend, Kevin’s parents (by the way, their names are Liz and Kevin), gave to me by putting on an amazing cocktail party to celebrate the completion of my PhD. Liz hired a caterer who offered the fanciest appetizers you can think of (such as mini beef wellingtons; grilled shrimp with key lime sauce…). She also designed floral arrangements that were breathtaking. Kevin (I call him Big Kevin) made sure that the bar was stocked with a full selection of beverages from which to choose (actually, this was Liz’s job, but Big Kevin likes to micro-manage).

Grandpa Kouri and big Kevin playing pool.

Having a rest, 8.5 months pregnant!

Liz had a little too much wine, and Kevin had to carry her to bed.

Of course, my Kevin took advantage of the situation and got some good paparazzi shots!

The guests included mostly family, as well as some very close friends. It was the perfect mix of people, and the entire night was perfect. As I sat back in a chair and watched everybody enjoy themselves, I realized that, although the party was to celebrate my accomplishments, the real celebration was, as usual, our family and loved ones. ¡Salud!

Pain in my tire

I spent my day today dealing with one of those annoying and senseless items that sometimes come up when least expected, and make you feel like your world has been turned upside down. As frustrating as they are, these annoying things deserve attention, and need to be taken care of before they get worse. I guess today was better then any other day for this sort of stuff, seeing it was cold and wet. I did not feel pressed for time to get to a farm, or to be anywhere in particular, so it must have been a blessing in disguise.

I love my Ford F-150 truck. Not only is it my truck, but it is my office, my personal space, my shelter from the elements. I spend more time in front of my steering wheel then I do in my house. My truck is my lifeline for what I do. It carries my gear and I safely every day to and from work, and it does so with great style I must say. People often ask me why I drive such a big truck. I start by telling them I spend between 60-70 hrs a week in that seat; I drive 40,000 miles a year and my truck, and it is my place of business. I want it to be nice and presentable, in case my most important client needed to come into my office for a meeting. My truck represents my professionalism and detail to the job I do every day. Plus, when you spend that much time in one place, you want and need to be comfortable.

Last month, I bought new tires for my truck, and those tires are what consumed a large chunk of my time today. I felt something was not right with my new tires as soon as I spent a day on the road with them. The truck was out of alignment, or the tires were balanced properly. Whatever it was, between 40 – 60 mph there was a vibration in the truck. Believe me there was, 40,000 miles behind the wheel every year makes you a bonafied NASCAR pit crewmen or driver in my mind. I have a calling for the road, so if all else fails in the feed business I am telling you all now: Emma and I are packing up Baby Kouri, Cooper and Cabot, selling the house and buying a Semi. We’ll hit the road for a life of long-haul trucking. Back to the tires, I called Rob at Oil n Go, where they know me real well as I am a preferred customer. I told him the problem, and he had me in first thing the next morning to rebalance the back tires. I took it home, and the next day, the vibration was better but still there. I called Rob again, and he had me back in to do the fronts this time. This improved the vibration even more, but it was still there. So, I decided it was not the tires, but that the truck needed an alignment. Called up Heritage Ford and got in for an alignment. This opened up a whole can of worms. First call of the day: the truck needs new ball joints in the front (expected for the mileage), and also one of the rims is warped. I wonder what could have caused the warped rim? I guess I could have hit a pothole, or maybe a Franklin County cow pie, but that would not caused this kind of damage. Road kill? Don’t think so. Second call of the day: the rim is not warped, but there was mud encrusted inside the rim throwing the alignment machine off. So it was a Franklin County cow pie! Emma had predicted this from the beginning, and had suggested that I wash my wheels out. I should listen to her more often.

After this back and fourth, Heritage decided to conduct a ‘wheel force test’ where they spin the wheels and determine how much surface area is contacting the road. This test revealed it all. It showed that 3 of the 4 tires are deflecting more then they should. What this means is that 3 of the 4 tires have more surface area touching the road than designed. To put it in laymen’s terms, the tires are not perfectly round. I found out that all tires are not perfectly round - imagine that! We can put man on the moon but we can not make the most common thing most humans depend on every day perfect. Go figure. Most tires are within a certain range of “roundness”, but 3 of 4 of mine are outside of that range. So where does that leave me? We solved the mystery, I got a front end alignment, two new ball joints and of course, another new set of tires. Plus, Bridgestone, the tire manufacture, is going to pay for it all! Could you imagine the hassle and the likelihood of getting not one bad tire, but four? Well today was my lucky day, I guess.

So I pose the question of the day: is the earth actually round??

Loco Vaca

As a Dairy Nutritionist, I work with a lot of cows. I mean a lot. Once, I sat down and calculated that I provide nutritional consultation for at least 10,000 cows a week. One third of these ladies reside on just 2 farms, which are very large for Vermont standards (the average dairy in Vermont has 150 cows per farm, according to the National Agricultural Statistic Service for 2007).

The topic for today’s entry brings me back a couple of months to one of these large farms. The Gervais Family Farm in Enosburg Falls, Vermont is a family farm in the purest sense. It was founded by Bob and Gisele Gervais who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and have fifteen children. The farm is currently managed by five of the children, who oversee different aspects of the operation. Other siblings have farm-related duties but are not directly involved in day-to-day decisions. The family milks 1700 cows and farms well over 2000 acres. It supports seven Gervais families and 70 full time employees.

As you might expect, I see and experience some bizarre things during my travels. On the day in question, I arrived at the Gervais Farm for my standard visit and herd review. I got out of my truck with wash bucket and clip board in hand and headed inside to the office to check a couple of things on the computer before I proceeded out into the main barn. I decided to start with the non-milking cows today and work my way into the other barns. As I headed out into the barn, I decided to take a short cut through pen 4. Big mistake.

A curious cow approached me, like a lot of the 10,000 cows do that I see week to week, so no surprises there. However, as I tried to move around her, she dropped her head in a defensive posture. “Okay,” I told myself, “I have seen this aggressive behavior. I will just ‘shoo’ her away.” In response to my ‘shoo’, she proceeded to come towards me with her head down, and I realized that she meant business. All of a sudden, I realized where I was, in pen 4. Cow 2944 resides in Pen 4. This cow is famous for her bullying attitude. A couple of weeks back, Dr. Wadsworth, the veterinarian, was attacked by 2944, although he is okay now. I realize that there is no where to turn, and I am face-to-face with this fierce bovine queen. It is those fleeting moments you have to make what you hope is the right decision. I knew I was up against 1400 lbs of pure estrogen and I was certainly not going to win this battle so I decided to brace myself for the impact and hopefully if I got close enough to the rail she would brush by me and partially miss me. “Okay, here she comes,” I said to myself, and, like a bull fighter, I planned my side step. Except I really had nowhere to step at all. I do not know how I managed it, but on impact, I moved up her body on her right side and missed a good part of the blow from her head, but was rammed into the rail. That four-legged train managed to almost stop on a dime when she realized that she only got a small piece of me. She whipped around and came at me again, only this time I was closer to an outlet in the pen. I made a dash for the gate, and managed to get mostly out before she came plowing into my backside. “I made it! I avoided the thrashing of 2944!” As I collected myself, I heard the Hispanic labor chuckling and repeating “loco vaca, loco vaca!” My high school Spanish came back to me and I realized they were chatting “crazy cow, crazy cow!”

Since then, to avoid future run-ins with the bully, I politely ask the Hispanic Labor “Donde esta loco vaca?” The Gervais Family has since put a cow bell around her neck to warn everyone when she is nearby. She wears the bell with pride, and continues to hold her record of 3 and 0. Hit 1: Dr. Steve Wadsworth (herd Veterinarian). Hit 2: Landis Beyor (Farm breeder). Hit 3: yours truly, Kevin Kouri, dairy nutritionist.

Our Red Maple

This is the red maple tree outside of our courtyard. It's my favorite tree on the property, and if you can believe it I just took this picture last week!! All other trees are brown and long past their peak colors, but this one waited for some reason...
Last week was a big week for us. On Tuesday, I finished my PhD exam, after 6.5 years of graduate school. Fall is my favorite time of year, and although I was excited to finish school, I was worried that I would not have time to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall. Kevin didn't have much time to enjoy anything either, because he was working double-time as the money maker and the house wife. I almost bought him a little apron, but I didn't have time to go to the store. Besides, there is something really nice about watching him dust-mop in his boxer briefs, while on the phone with a client (sorry, no picture included).
Anyway, my presentation and exam went very well, and I even had a very nice business set on, despite my large bump! On Wednesday, I took the day off to recover and catch up on some things. When I got out of the car and walked toward the house, I was breath taken by this beautiful tree and it's color. I went inside, and the future baby's room was totally red from the tree.
The next day, leaves started falling from the top, and now, they are almost gone. I believe that this beautiful tree waited for me to complete my last big accomplishment before having a baby. I hope we have at least 1 or 2 more foliage seasons in this house, so that our baby can see the beauty of this loving tree. Oh that reminds me, I don't have a copy of The Giving Tree yet! Must get one for Baby Kouri.