A Tribute

A friend sent this to me. Isn't it beautiful??

Rainbows at Sunset

Life goes by incredibly fast.

I think you really, really see this when you have kids.

One minute, they're so tiny, helpless, and very needy...then they're all grown up and asking for keys. (Thankfully we're not at the "wheels" stage of parenting -- well, maybe bicycle wheels -- but some of our good friends are...and we feel for them!)

I got the following in an e-mail and found it very meaningful. It certainly made me think...

As you grow older:

You learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once, and it's harder every time.

You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.

Queen's Brogue

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT
• standing on a secluded pier
• an Irish brogue
• a new lipstick
• sprawling in the chaise lounge
• not worrying about tomorrow

One of my favorite-most movies is River Queen, starring Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, and Cliff Curtis, among others.

Filmed and set in New Zealand, this movie has a "poignant and pithy" story filled with drama and action -- plus, it has a great soundtrack. Rumor has it that the director, Vincent Ward, was very exacting. He wanted the actors to have authentic Irish accents so they went for Irish brogue lessons, and all the men wore real beards. It all paid off because the acting is superb!

I found this video while perusing YouTube, and it gives a good overview of the movie. (You may need to let the whole movie load for better viewing.) The music is not from the movie.

Strip-teaser

Okay. Okay. This isn't quite as professional....but it is kind of hilarious funny. (I apologize to Kiefer in advance for a giggle or two at his expense.)

Ahem...yes.

The video speaks for itself. (Again, you might need to let the whole video load before viewing.)

From Brasil with Love

My hubby has been in Brasil since a week ago Sunday... He's there with his company, doing a site survey of the emergency intercom/P.A. systems on some off-shore oil rigs.

Communication between us has been sporadic at best, due to his flying out to the rigs for several days at a time. No cellphones allowed. *sniff.*

So imagine my surprise when he IMed me on Friday and then again on Sunday!

Last night, he sent me two photos. A (sweet) sight for my sore (missing him) eyes!

View from his on-shore hotel room in Macae, Brasil

On site, my hubby (left) with Nicolau, the sales rep. in Brasil

Memorable Musings on a Monday Morning

Happy Monday to you! Mid-July already!

We had a reprieve in the hot weather with two nice, non-humid days! Hooray! Both our A/C unit and our bill had a rest. Take that, PPL!

<--Found this photo on Penny Keating's blog. I'm a huge fan of Jude Cole and love the fact that these two men are such good buddies. I'm keeping Jude's song on my video player for another week in honor of that.

One of my favorite quotes: "One of the biggest misconceptions about Kiefer is that he got anything easy in his life. He's done it on his own, every step of the way....He's Corleone loyal. We used to have a recurring fight about if one of us killed somebody, would we rat on each other? I'd say, 'That would depend on why you killed 'em.' And he would get really mad at me for that. In his code it wouldn't matter what you did; you would just never rat on your friend." - Jude Cole, best friend - singer/songwriter/producer.

I love that: Corleone loyal!

It's still 6 months until the next season of 24. I'm midway through rewatching Season 6, which we enjoyed immensely. Apparently, they scrapped the Season 7 concept and are "back to the drawing board." Hmmm... I finished the first season of Prison Break and enjoyed that, too. Of course, Season 2 won't be out until the autumn, but I already saw the finale of that one so I'll be okay once the new season begins. I think I'll try Lost next.

Our little countdown clock is speedily ticking away the time until Stuart returns to us. He's having an interesting time on the off-shore rigs in Brasil, but now he remembers why he didn't enjoy working for the service department: being away from us! The feeling is mutual.

We spent Saturday evening looking through old photographs at my parents' house. My mom had accidentally dumped out a box of photos and spent the time cleaning them up, looking through them as she did so.

I always feel like a time traveler when I look through old photos. There's something that is triggered in my memories that takes me back to the time in the photo -- if only briefly. I can remember smells and feelings and wondering at the styles that we so readily accepted...

Last evening, I rewatched Mr. Holland's Opus. (I'm such a sucker for mushy movies!) But it was another chance to "time travel." Since I played the flute in the band, I have lots of memories of our music department. I love how the movie spans Mr. Holland's entire career at the school, and the music is phenomenal.

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

• Adirondack chairs by the lake

• the road to a friend’s house

• brown sugar on fresh pineapple

• fields of wildflowers

• an amulet

* * *

That would be Route 422 East.

My wonderful friend and fellow sappy-movie buddy, Angel, and her family have been so good to us while Stuart's been away, spending time with us, watching movies, having us for Sunday lunch.

And we've discovered so many commonalities that we've decided we were "twins" separated at birth by 3 1/2 years...no hints on who's older. (We were even born in the same hospital in Maryland!)

There's a quote that says something like, "The road to a friend's house is never long..." I'd have to agree. (About 10 to 15 minutes, depending on if you speed...)

*grin*

From the Friendship Page:

"Keep your eyes upon me, keep me in your sight, Help me down the crooked road, lead me to the light. The road I'm on is dark, I'm not sure if I know the way, Yet with you right beside me, I'm certain I won't stray. Protect me from the world, I know we'll make it through, Give me all the strength I need..... Let me lean on you." - Megan Stroup

"Friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life."- Pizza Place sign

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

Rated "G"

Hooray! Thanks to Aduladi', I found out my blog is rated "G" -- family-friendly, right? Then how come my kids aren't allowed to read it any longer...

Maybe because of all the "secrets" it contains...about Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and a mommy who eats their chocolate....

What's your rating?

Friday Funnies

Thought this one was funny! Poor little squirrelies. Warning: Do not try this at home. (Okay. Okay. I've intrigued all the male readers out there, who just have to make one of these now....)

"Punkin' Chunkin'" with squirrels....

Enjoy!

Cookie (Monster) Times

I've decided that somehow I must be related to Cookie Monster.

He was one of my favorite characters on Sesame Street when I was little.

And I love cookies.

Hmmm...

Coincidence? I don't think so...

"C" is for cookie that's good enough for me...

I discovered something about myself when I was first married and we had a knock-down-dragout fight conflict: I could sit and stare at the clock for hours while we endured a "Mexican standoff," or I could do something useful, like bake cookies. I did the clock-stare thing a few times and then voted in favor of the cookies.

As Robert Fulghum said in his book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten: Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

When people around me (or I) feel blue...I often make cookies. There's nothing better than sweet, warm, gooey cookies to cheer up a down spirit.

Ooops...there's the buzzer....

Fireworks Fun

I don't know about you, but we missed out on seeing Fourth of July fireworks this year due to the rain -- though who knew a nearby borough would still show them despite the steady downpour...much to the dismay of our kids.

Oh, well. Hopefully next year...

In the meantime, I found this fun and simple craft idea on Crayola.com to create our own fireworks display.

Enjoy!

Fireworks are used around the world to celebrate special occasions. Remember an ahhh-some show, or create your own Fiery Fireworks!

1. With fireworks, communities celebrate in a big way! Not only do fireworks display amazing colors and shapes, they proclaim their presence with loud bangs and booms.

2. On black construction paper, draw a fireworks show with Crayola® Gel Markers or crayons. Fill the night sky with bright color and sparkling light. Show glowing rockets zooming through the dark, and sparks cascading toward earth.

3. In the foreground, include yourself and other spectators enjoying the show. Dress people in clothing for the season and country where the show is taking place.

Curious and Curiouser

"Curious...and curiouser..."

I love that expression from Alice in Wonderland, especially because it reminds me of my 9-year-old daughter. She must be one of the most curious creatures out there. If she was an animal, she'd be a cat...

"Curiosity killed the cat...but satisfaction brought it back."

To her, the world is so full of stuff to see and do and explore...and touch.

Sheesh...I thought they outgrew that sort of thing. She was the sort of baby that put everything in her mouth. And I mean everything.

I feel silly still having to remind her to keep her hands to herself and "just look." She always insists that she is "just looking." For her, looking incorporates touching...like her fingers have tiny eyeballs on them.

Funny thing is: I've discovered that I'm a curious person, too. I think that's why I was drawn into the world of journalism, a place I swore I'd never work. Because I ask a lot of questions...demanding even more answers...I just have to know.

Our midwife thought I was a bit of a hypochondriac when I was pregnant with Emily...I asked so many questions. It was only when I explained that I worked as a reporter and worry more when I don't feel I understand something, that she truly understood me.

I guess I'm just "curious and curiouser"...like my daughter.

Perhaps that's why I peruse the Internet, reading stuff on my favorite actors and movies and shows. I'm just curious to know stuff. The actors' lives are intriguing to me because they live in such a different world.

Speaking of which, I no longer feel "sorry" for Kiefer....not after I read how much he was making on his two-day ad filming campaign...*grin*...and saw where he's vacationing. *sigh*

Curious...and curiouser....

Muggy Monday Musings

A happy "hot and humid" Monday to you! I'm musing to you from inside a lovely air-conditioned house!

A new week filled with new adventures, no doubt. Well, only indoor adventures until the weather cools down a bit. We moved Bonny and Clyde inside until then. Poor buns...it was just too hot for them. Though they protested to being inside by "back-filling" their food and water bowls this morning.

New Jude Cole video on the sidebar. Can't wait until this guy releases a new album...or goes on tour again. Speaking of tours...we received our tickets for the next Rocco concert in Philadelphia on August 1st. Yay!

Stuart is in Brasil this week and next. It's Winter there. He flew over the Amazon Rain Forest but didn't see anything...it was nighttime. Still, he did fly over it. We're on a countdown until he returns. 12 days to go! Whoo-hoo!

We were IMing with him this morning. As I watched the kids hunt-and-pecking messages to him, I reflected on what a technologically-marvelous time we live in. That the kids can sit in our dining room and type on our computer to their daddy in an airport in Brasil. Tres cool!

No new 24 tonight, of course -- 6 months to go!! -- but I've been working my way through Seasons 4, 5, and 6. There's a story thread that works through these three seasons especially. Maybe I'll start over completely once I've finished. I borrowed another new series from the library on Friday: Prison Break. It's very intriguing...and quite good. Season 2 isn't out on video yet... I'm thinking of watching Lost when I finish this one.

I found a little, desktop widget for my computer: a 24 clock that does the show's famous "beep-beep" as it counts the last 4 or 5 seconds before each hour. I love it! It's available on Yahoo! Widgets, if you're interested. As are bunches of other fun computer "gadgets."

Speaking of my favorite-most show, the star is in Brasil at the moment, too. (Stuart said he'd try to pencil seeing Kiefer into his busy schedule...) Actually, it's rather funny to see the translations of the articles coming out of Rio. He's there doing a commercial for Citroen. Granted, I don't speak Portuguese so my translations the other direction would be equally silly, but we were left wondering if they merely put this article through AltaVista's Babel Fish. What do you think?

Jack Bauer, of the series “24 hours”, is in Brazil. The security of the Pan is guaranteed. The actor Kiefer Sutherland arrived yesterday at the River and this was the first meal of the actor, in the Copacabana Palace, where it is housed. It devorou one sanduba. Kiefer is in the River for the party of the Citroen, today to the night, in the Alive River It still records an advertising for the assembly plant of automobiles.

In the door of the hotel, a series of fans waited for the actor. Kiefer must pass some days of vacation in Christmas, Great River of the North.

Kiefer will be filming the commercials with Araceli González - The bold escape of Araceli and Kiefer Sutherland Buenos Aires. - Everything is ready. The pair of the publicity of a famous mark of cars will meet in Brazil for the shooting of the guideline. Araceli González already gave yes and Kiefer Sutherland does not see the hour to know it. Rio de Janeiro and San Pablo will be the scenes of this international bet that makes the mark of Citroën cars, for their C4 model. Next Wednesday dupla will be the encounter of this so popular. Close friends to the protagonist of 24 recognized that the actor is anxious to know his fellow worker. They said to him that one is “one of the women more sexies of Argentina”. He already wants to verify it by itself. On the other hand, Araceli also is happy for being chosen for this advertising campaign. He will travel accompanied by his maquilladora, Mabby Autino, his peluquero, Alvaro Rivas, his vestuarista, Teresa of the Valley, and his representative Alexander Farell, informed the newspaper the Callle. Rumors assure that the one that is not very in agreement with the proposal would be Adrián Suar. The jealousy would have attacked it and would be arranged to travel to Brazil to control the North American. The excuse: the possibility of a new business.

Araceli González (born June 19, 1967 in Buenos Aires, as Araceli Edith González) is an Argentinian fashion model, actress and TV host. After marrying at a young age, she was married for a very long time, having her first child, a daughter, in 1988. She also has a son. Gonzalez was linked romantically to Chayanne when the duo starred in a telenovela. This caused her marriage trouble, and, eventually, she separated from her husband (Adrián Suar) and found work as an actress in Europe. Later on, she returned to Argentina. She now plays Gabriela Solís in Amas de Casa Desesperadas.

Gmorning Carsale - the Citroën of Brazil chose nothing more nothing less than the English actor Kiefer Sutherland, the Jack Bauer of the series 24 Hours, to be the boy-propaganda of the most important launching of the French mark in this year, the C4 Pallas. Actor will participate of writings of advertising campaign of sedã, that he happens in this thursday (5), in Rio De Janeiro, and between days 6 and 10 records the commercial film of the Pallas, that will be propagated in national net, from September. The appositive Citroën in the success of the Pallas and, for this, initiated a program of daily pay-launching of the called model “Box of Sensations”, that already it commercialized about 100 units of the model. The goal of the assembly plant is of vender, on average, two a thousand units for month, totalizing 25 a thousand cars per year.

This photo made me actually feel quite sorry for Kiefer. He looks so lost and tired, doesn't he? I know it's "his job," and he's getting paid the big bucks to be there, but it has to get wearying. I mean, he was filming for the last month or so in Romania then in England for a few days and now in Brasil. I'm guessing he'll be giving each of the 24 staff members a big ol' smooch when he gets back to L.A....just for speaking English.

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

• fresh produce from the farmers’ market

• wraparound sunglasses

• grilled cheese for dinner

• walking into air conditioning

• curiosity

* * *

When I was about 15 or 16, I worked at a farmer's market on Saturday mornings. I was in charge of opening an antique/furniture stand. It was really fun for awhile because the atmosphere was varied, filled with a mixture of flea markets and fruit/veg/candy stands.

There was a smell when you entered -- maybe a mixture of the produce, breakfast stands, dust, and old treasures?

I usually spent my entire paycheck on old World War II books at a book stand up at the other end of the market.

The market has changed completely -- though the book stand became an actual store -- so I can't take my kids through it to show them where Mommy once worked.

But we still love going to other farmer's markets to buy produce, baked goods, and candy. Our area is blessed by an abundance of such places.

Summer is a great time to buy and eat fresh!

One, Two, Three, Awwww...

Okay. Okay. I really need a pity-party.

My hubby left today for a two-week trip to Brasil.

Sounds exotic for him, right? Well, it's certainly not a pleasure trip -- though we all think it's very cool that he gets to fly over the Amazon Rain Forest and South of the Equator. He's there for his job, and he'll be flying to three different off-shore oil refineries.

He used to travel all the time. To the kids and me, it became second nature to say goodbye to him for awhile. We were sad, but we just got on with it.

Now, we've gotten used to him being home. We kind of like saying goodbye only until lunchtime... We aren't used to saying goodbye for several weeks and "getting on with it" anymore. And I'm glad of that.

I know. I know. The two weeks will fly by. And it's really nothing compared with what military families have to face...

But, in the meantime, I'm going to batten down the hatches...cry a bit...cuddle up on the couch and hug a pillow...eat some chocolate...cry some more...watch hormonal movies...and cry a little bit more.

Tomorrow, I'll start "getting on with it."

Lucky Day?

Happy 07-07-07!

Lucky day, or just fun??

I vote the latter.

Of Roller Blinds and Kids...

While chatting with us on our bed earlier this morning, the kids noticed that one of our roller blinds had a huge rip up the middle. We said that we'll have to begin replacing them with something else -- since after 4 years they're beginning to fail.

Emily mentioned that she definitely didn't want Venetian blinds, to which her younger brother said, "Why would we need Venetian blonds?"

* * *

Wait a few years, bud.

Friday Funnies

For anyone who loved to play video/computer games as a kid in the '80s, you'll love this Scandinavian band, which specializes in playing old computer game songs. We're going to watch for them to come locally on tour -- what a hoot it would be to see them live!

Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day!

Let FREEDOM ring!

"Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fourth of July Funnies

Some cheesy sillies to enjoy!

No one "hates" the British, right?

At least, no one in my house.

*grin*

Just Cat-astrophic

My heart is aching at the moment...and writing is so therapeutic.

I'm a very justice-oriented person -- though I'm not sure I'm always just in my actions. In my brain, I am. That's one reason I've always enjoyed watching Judge Judy and The People's Court. Justice reigns on those shows.

We live on a street of very quiet people -- not necessarily quiet in volume, they just stick to themselves...or those they already know well.

I'm not sure, but I think we bought the "cursed" house. From the moment we moved in, we faced unfriendliness -- or surface friendliness at best. No one on our street came to welcome us to the neighborhood. We said hello and sometimes got a response. In the end, we've stuck to ourselves...and the very friendly neighbors who live behind us.

A bench that was in the yard when we looked at the house suddenly disappeared just before we moved in...and then reappeared in the next-door neighbors' backyard. When we asked about it, they said the former owners "gave" it to them. Funny thing was, they didn't know the owners. It sat in the corner of the backyard for four years and finally rotted. Guess they felt guilty?

Now we've lost a pet to the same demise.

We adopted a cat during the winter. It was cold outside, and he was content to stay indoors with us and mooch food and attention. We called around to various vets and the animal shelter to be sure he wasn't already owned and reported as lost. We certainly didn't want to keep someone else's pet.

When it got warmer, he began to pace...and pace and pace. It got frustrating. So we decided to put a collar and flea collar on him and let him outdoors. He came and went as he pleased and slept all afternoon on our front-porch seat.

Then he disappeared.

This morning I overheard a neighbor talking to another neighbor about taking him in. I was shocked. It was the bench all over again.

(He had TWO collars on...wouldn't you guess he had a home?)

So after awhile, I worked up the courage and went out to the cat-thief neighbor who was weeding her garden. I asked her if she'd seen a black cat, that he'd been missing for awhile.

She asked if we owned him, and I explained about how we'd adopted him, how he didn't like staying inside, and how we'd put the collars on him so that people would understand that he was owned.

She said, "No." She hadn't seen him in a few days.

Then she immediately disappeared inside. Guess she felt guilty?

Later on, I heard her talking again with the same neighbor about it.

Now, I feel sick to my stomach, like I did as a child on the playground when my supposed friends talked about me. I'm at a loss as to what to do. This other neighbor knew that we took the cat in. She also knew that we weren't getting attached to him in case he had an owner somewhere...yet we were feeding him and taking care of him.

My justice-oriented side is screaming that he does have an owner now!

Anybody know Judge Judy's number?

Some More Photo Fun

I picked some more photos from the "Kiefer Is Everywhere" Photo Contest. These were some of my favorites. Enjoy!

More Merry Monday Musings

Happy Monday to you! And Happy beginning of July! I can't believe the year is rolling along so quickly.

New (old) music video today. And a new photo/guest book/map thingy on my sidebar. Be sure to sign in and leave your photo!

I chose a repeat video by The Feeling to celebrate their playing at Wembley Stadium for the Concert for Diana memorial concert/celebration. They were introduced by none other than Kiefer Sutherland, who was introduced as the "uncrowned king of cool." You can see a video of him introducing them here. He got a standing ovation from the thousands of fans there. Quite humbling and an honor, no doubt! (Did I mention we saw The Feeling live in concert this past April?? *grin*)

No new 24 tonight, of course. *Sniff! Sniff!* But only 6 1/2 months until the show starts up again! Yee-haw! Wings and 24: perfect together.

We're enjoying some gorgeous Summer weather at the moment. Cool breezes, blue skies, and no humidity. The mugginess is supposed to return by Wednesday...just in time for our borough's annual 4th of July parade! But, oh, well. We'll take it as it comes.

We spent Saturday at Dorney Park for Stuart's annual company picnic. The above photo was taken as our 9-year-old drove me around....on a ride, of course. She did very well, but I took a video to prove that she definitely isn't ready to get her license yet...not for at least another 20 years.

Since Edward and I aren't keen on rides, we sat people-watching and waited while Emily and Stuart rode the various stomach/back/neck twisting machines. We were watching the freefall-type ride for quite awhile from various locations around the theme park when Edward finally asked, "Don't those people ever get off that ride?"

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

• country fairs

• a wicker chair under your favorite tree

• root beer on a hot day

• collecting “sound bites” with a handheld recorder

• poppies ablaze

* * *

I don't know who decided the experiments the 8th-grade students performed during chemistry class at my junior high school, but I'm guessing the teacher probably didn't put his root beer recipe past any school board members or parents.

It was a wonderful way to teach the kids about chemical reactions and patience...but I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that many students ended up drunk after we took home our prized bottles of fizzy, sugar potion.

It was quite potent...and didn't taste anything like root beer.

Although, the flavor was oddly familiar later in life....

Eh-oh, Kiefer!

Couldn't resist posting my favorite photo from the Kiefer Sutherland Is Everywhere photo constest (take a gander at some of the other photos -- they're quite clever). I'm a big fan of the Teletubbies, and I think Kiefer makes a nice addition to the gang, don't you? Big Hug!

Friday Funnies

Another funny video to enjoy on this overcast Summer's Friday!

Any Port in a Storm

Okay, okay. I'm a chocoholic. There's no way around it. I should probably be enrolled in C.A. meetings.

I've been searching the cupboards for days, trying to find anything edible made of chocolate.

And today I found it.

It was a chocolate bunny left over from Easter...belonging to *gasp!* one of the kids. Which one? Who knows...I probably ate the other one, too.

Now, I suppose this means I cannot ever, ever again let them peruse my blog for fear of discovery, but...

...another confessional coming...

Okay, okay. I'm not at all keen on Palmer chocolate. It's made locally so I obligingly support it and buy it occasionally. But it's not good.

The choco-bunny was made by this company.

Still, any port in a storm, right?

So this afternoon as I squashed the bunny into bite-sized pieces, I realized how pathetic I am that I actually eat my kids' candy. Still, they didn't remember it was around.

And I sighed as I gazed into the bunny's button eye before popping it into my mouth.

Any port in a storm...right?

Absolutely.

* * *

A little "Japanese anime meets Veggie Tales" in singing the Veggie Tales' "Bunny Song." Apropos, no?

Going, Going, Gone

I certainly enjoy -- scratch that -- LOVE viewing other friend's photos of their kiddos. When I see their cherubic cuteness, it reminds me of my little people when they were even smaller little people...but it also reminds me that those days are gone.

Amazingly fast.

There was a part of me that "couldn't wait" for the next stage, to see how the kids would change and grow and develop. And I'm definitely enjoying that now.

And there's definitely a freedom in knowing the kids can do most things for themselves -- if I let them, of course. *grin*

But I realize I can never, ever go back to the days when they were smaller.

*sigh*

From an excerpt by Paul Reiser in the Hollywood Dads book:

...it is a game. A really fast game, too. I mean, not to get all "Sunrise, Sunset"-y here, but no kidding -- it really does go unbelievable fast. And you'd think knowing that in advance helps, but it doesn't. Everything -- the good stuff, the bad stuff, the hard stuff -- it all ultimately goes away. It evaporates, with no clear warning. One day you just notice, "Hey, you stopped doing that thing where you drop your shorts and sit on your brother's head. I guess we've moved on. Good." But the things you like fly away, too. "Hey, you stopped asking me to read you bedtime books. Hmm...I guess that's over." Or, "Hey, you don't waddle when you run anymore -- you run like a big kid now. When did that happen?" The changes are so imperceptible. But, I suppose, how else could it be? Your kids are never going to tell you in advance, "You know how I can't get off the sofa without jumping over the coffee table and banging my knee everytime? I'll be outgrowing that next month. And also, the fascination with boogers? End of July -- done." It never works like that. Nowhere along the growth curve do kids announce, "Dad, Mom, y'see this little fleshy part of my thigh that's soft and still somewhat toddler-esque? Well, take a good look, because that's all changing. Wednesday at three." No one tells you that, but come Wednesday, sure enough, it's gone.

So, as it turns out, my father did know what he was doing. His game plan was simple, but on-the-money. "You be the best kid you can be, I'll be the best father I can be, and let's see what happens." And "what happens" is ping, ping, ping, ping, ping! Front seat, back seat -- makes no difference. Every day it's something. Nobody leaves here un-pinged. But in the end, they're all good pings. And when you realize that anything and everything could be gone by Wednesday, all you can do, I've decided, is to really try to pay attention Tuesday.

* * *

Hang on tight!

And when you need to rest, to reflect on how big your kiddos have gotten to be compared to other friends' little ones...I'll be here.

We can reflect together.

Fly, Firefly, Fly!

Stuart found this gem on YouTube!

If you're familiar with the show Firefly, you'll love what someone did with the opening song using Fisher-Price Little People. If not, get on out and find a copy of it (Target sells the entire first (and only) season for around $20 -- well-worth the investment).

It only ran for 14 episodes before the brains at FOX decided it wasn't popular enough and yanked it. But it was really rather good!

Space Age meets the Wild West.

Birthday Bunnies

Today is Bubble's and Squeak's 2nd birthday!

Happy Birthday, Bun-girls!

Worm Weather

The weather has turned decidedly warmer and more humid...humider?

Yesterday, we even had some rain.

I went outside afterwards and the air smelled of earthworms. That's when I knew Summer had definitely arrived.

Warm, humid air + smell of earthworms = Summertime.

I'm not sure why that equation has to be, but for me it does. It's like smelling the combined aromas of freshly cut grass and onion grass. That's Spring for me.

Strange how smells can trigger memories.

When I was growing up we always had a chore to do in the morning before we could begin our day of playing/lazing/being bored.

Often it was weeding, and often when we weeded -- especially if it had rained overnight -- the air was humid and smelled "earthwormish."

I wonder what the worms smell in the summer...

More and More Monday Musings

Happy Monday to you! And happy first full week of Summer!


New video on the side. I love this song. As a parent, I find it so inspirational!

We've had a beautiful start to the season with low humidity and cooler weather for the last few days! Whoo-Hoo! It meant that we could turn off the A/C for a few days at least. You could hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth at PPL...

Ah, well. "There's a warm wind comin'..." so the A/C's back on.

* * *

We watched Charlotte's Web with the kids on Saturday night (and, no, Kiefer Sutherland did not star in it...you can breathe now). Let me just say...sniff...sniff...it was SO good. I told the kids that movies which make you cry are "cleansing." I'm not sure Edward agreed.

Being a huge fan of the book and the cartoon movie, I'd been a bit skeptical that this version would measure up. But since it promoted 4H and FFA (Future Farmers of America, of which I'm an alumna), I knew we had to watch it. We downloaded Danny Elfman's soundtrack from the movie that same night, too.

* * *

You gotta love the cost-cutting measures Comcast must be undergoing.

On Friday, there was a repair guy on a ladder outside our back fence. He obviously called into the office for help because he was on speakerphone, and you could hear, "Thank you for calling Comcast Cable...all of our agents are currently busy assisting others. Your call will be answered in the order it was received." Then the hold music with bits of Comcast advertising came on.

For 10 whole minutes.

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT
• charm bracelets
• refinishing wood floors
• breaking open a coconut
• stepping out of a movie theater into sunlight
• the love you give

* * *

I'll never forget the first time I "broke open a coconut." I'd never, ever opened one before.

So when my hubby told me to simply drop it on the ground, I didn't think and gave it a good slam....

Bits of coconut flew in every direction and coconut milk splashed up the side of the house.

Stuart stood aghast.

"A little too hard?" I asked, with a sheepish grin. At least I did it outside...

I now let Stuart cut them open.

* * *

Have you ever noticed when you come out of a movie theatre mid-day that you've forgotten where you were during the 2 hours or so that you were inside?

It's like you've gone into a spaceship, and you're transported into the movie, to another time and place for a few hours.

You arrive back as the end credits roll and depart from the theatre, blinking in the blinding sunlight.

Sometimes it's a relief...sometimes it's a bit of a letdown.

* * *

Love is a funny thing. When the kids are small, you can't help but hold them and love them and hug them and tickle them -- be a kid with them.

Then they grow bigger and you find yourself holding back sometimes. For no real reason. Perhaps you suddenly feel shy. Or you don't want to have them think you're weak or their equal. Or maybe you get too busy. Who knows.

You forget to give them the same kind of love. You forget to be a kid with them still. You become Mom or Dad...instead of staying Mommy and Daddy...

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock

I saw the above quotation on another blog and was inspired when I realized that I never lay in the grass with my kids and watch the clouds go by. I'll have to do that sometime soon. I remember enjoying it as a kid...

Perspective

Our children were outside, enjoying a popsicle after dinner the other evening. Stuart and I were doing various tasks inside.

Suddenly, the screams of a thousand banshees, the howls of a wolf pack in pain, the cries of a nation of people in deep agony (no exaggeration) reached our ears.

Nightmare images rushed through our brains as we hurried to the backdoor to see what tragedy awaited us.

In came two bright red, tear-stained faces with wide mouths still bawling.

"What happened???" we demanded in unison.

Emily held up a broken plastic cup...her favorite.....

.....

We didn't know whether to smack them or love them, the worry their yells brought to us...

We chose the latter and hugged them, reassuring them that it was just a "thing" -- although a favorite thing -- and we could buy another one soon (we hope).

Then as quickly as the emotions began, they stopped.

And all was right with the world again.

*Sigh.*

Friday Funnies

Happy First Full Day of Summer!

One of THE best ads ever! Enjoy!!

Confessional...

Okay. Okay. Here goes.

I've got to confess a few things...get them off my chest, so to speak...

...I just threw away my son's marigolds...the ones he planted in his kindergarten co-op class...that were meant to grow to 4 feet tall. They died.

...I hate balloons. The mylar ones are fine, but I cannot stand the latex ones. They last about 1/2-a-day and then lay limp on the floor for days...weeks...unless I pop them first and toss them out...always after the kids go to bed, of course.

...I've been known to count ketchup as a veggie in a meal. Sometimes I just cannot be bothered to cook something else. Hey, it's made of tomatoes, right? Once upon a time...

...I have thrown out some of my kids' artwork. Ugh. It's the hardest thing in the world for me, but the house is so overridden with stuff, most of it made of paper.

...I take great delight in throwing away Happy Meal toys...they're just little pieces of plastic junk...though I'm partial to the educational goodies we get from Chick Fil'A's kids' meals...they get to stay.

...I've forgotten twice in a week's time to play Tooth Fairy to my daughter. Fortunately, the second time around, I hovered just long enough for her to go downstairs while I searched her bed for the baggie with the tooth and replaced it with the baggie with the money...in the morning, of course. She does have a loftbed so it's hard for me to reach...

*Sigh.*

I'm such a "bad" mommy...

*grin*

Babyface...

...you've got the cutest little babyface...

I found these photos of Emily while searching my shelves for photos to scan and change to black-and-white. They were behind the others in the frame.

Forgotten moments in time...

Doesn't time fly?

* * *

By the way, did you guess which of the photos I posted yesterday were real black-and-white photos?

Technically Color

I know I've said it before, but I love photos!

Every year that it was published, I bought Life magazine's "Year in Pictures." It was an annual treat for me. And I loved poring over the various faces, scenes, places captured by the lens of the Life photographer.

Growing up in a "techni-color" world, I'm especially fascinated by black-and-white photos.

Perhaps it's my nostalgic side.

(As aside: I love old music, too, especially after I discovered a Glenn Miller record -- I know, I know. Not a large, black CD like my kids think records are but an actual LP -- in my parents' stereo cabinet.)

I used to spend hours going through the old photo albums from my dad's childhood days.

If I had enough money, I might even be an Ansel Adams junkie.

I guess it's because the lack of color forces us to use our imagination. The clothing can be any color. The scenery as bright as the gray tones allow -- it could be a sunny day or a cloudy day. The actor's eyes could be blue or brown or gray.

When newspapers changed to color, I was really disappointed. Somehow the black-and-white pages seemed to mark time better; without color meant it happened in the past...it captured a moment long gone.

*Sigh.*

Those days are gone...

But I discovered a feature on the photo software that came with my camera. It changes photos to black-and-white.

Technically they're color and not really old, but it's fun nonetheless, huh?

Totally Gnarly

With the way cool, new penguin movie, Surf's Up, just out, we're majorly experiencing a blast from the past.

Totally.

Remember all that lingo from the '80 and '90s? Gnarly, epic, mondo...

Well, for all of us 24 fans (and even those who aren't), this video is all that and more!

Sweet!

Many, Many More Monday Musings

Happy Monday to you! And Happy "Ides of June" to you...well, a bit past the actual "Ides," but the sentiments are there.

<--Loved this photo.

New week...new video...no new 24 episode or wings. We'll have to satisfy ourselves with a good James Bond flick tonight. James Bond...Jack Bauer. Same initials at least. *Sigh!*

A belated Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there. We had a nice day, going to church and then out to lunch at Pizza Hut with my family. We all enjoy the pizza/salad buffet they offer on Sundays.

I received a SPAM e-mail this morning that caught my attention before I deleted it. "Grass Seeds on Steroids" was on the subject line. What? you say. Apparently, you can order this "Turbo-Charged" grass seed from a place online. And it's guaranteed to grow anywhere, anytime of year. (That's the sort of challenge my hubby would enjoy testing out...and, oh, the places he would try to get it to grow....) Order now, and it's BOGO. Tempting? Nah. Funny? Yep!

* * *

We found out that Edward has decided not to get married. Apparently kissing -- esp. on the lips -- grosses him out. Hmmm... Wonder who helped him with that opinion.

And, speaking of marriage, the guest speaker at church yesterday was the pastor of counseling at our old church. He did our premarital counseling. He talked about how often young couples blush when he gets to the topic of sex in the counseling sessions. Emily was very curious about this afterwards. She wondered why people blushed...and if we did. We explained that because it's such a private subject, people often feel shy of talking about it personally. She wanted to know if people actually wanted to do "that" (read: have sex) after they were married. We said yes. "Did you, Daddy? And, of course, you did...right, Mommy?" Ummm...!! Am I blushing?

* * *

Just saw that the Veggie Tales creators have come out with another new Veggietunes CD. This one is Bob and Larry singing songs from the '70s. Sounds like fun! I'm sure it will conjure up some "groovy" memories, huh?

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT
• celebrating each day
• head-high hedges
• a Dairy Queen run after lunch
• Snickerdoodle cookies
• bats swooping in the summer night sky

* * *

True story: When I was about 10, my family bought an old house. I'm talking o-ld. It dated all the way back to 1769. My parents had shortlived dreams about restoring it but, in the end, decided to just make it livable for us.

During one of the construction periods, my dad opened up some of the old plaster walls so that he could drywall them instead. He hadn't quite finished the project when he had to go away on a trip.

It was Summertime, and I was spending the night at a friend's house, my sister Shelly was away at camp, and Mom and my other sister Sandy were home...alone.

Sitting in the living room, reading and doing some cross-stitch, the two ladies startled when something dark swooped past them. The screaming started just after the "something dark" whizzed past them again.

Mom wasted no time pulling Sandy from the house, catching Sandy's stitchery in the door as she did so.

After finding no nearby neighbors home, Mom and Sandy drove -- like the proverbial "bat out of Hell" -- up the road and down the lane of our adopted grandmother, Esther "Tick" Scheffey.

Now widowed and in her 70s, she lived alone on the farm across from our house. Since it was summer, she often had her friend, Anna, come stay with her. That night was no exception, only since it was quite hot out even after the sun had gone down, the ladies were sitting out on Esther's back porch in just their underwear. (It was deep in the country...110 acres.)

Imagine their surprise at seeing the cloud of dust that was my mom's car, flying down the lane. (At first Anna thought it might be some strange men...to which Tick replied, "Well, there's one for you and one for me.")

After hearing my mom's tearful retelling of their encounter with the flying thing, the elderly ladies were more than willing to come to the rescue. Donning some clothes and a broom, they headed back to the old house to rid it of the dark-shadow menace.

Tick headed into the house, while my mom, sister, and Anna stood outside and cheered her on. She opened a back window and chased the creature from the house. The cheering turned to screaming as the ladies dove inside, realizing the dark, shadowy creature was now outside, on their side of the world.

It turned out to be a bat...probably flying for its life from the screaming occupants of the house.

The story brought a good laugh to all the ladies...although my mom and sister ended up spending the night at Tick's house.

Happy Thoughts

Happy Father's Day

to my hubby, my dad, and my father-in-law!!
They truly do give us something to be happy about!

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

• indulging Dad

• smells of basil and chive

• winning an auction on eBay

• shish kebabs

• a dream dictionary on your bedside table

One of the presents I gave my hubby this year was a book about Hollywood Dads. I love coffee table books filled with wonderful photos, and we both love anything done by Paul Reiser. This book didn't disappoint us. Full of black-and-white photographs of actors we know and love, smiling happily with their little/big offspring, the book shows that these men are just as human as the rest of us. And totally capable of loving their little ones.

I took the above photos of my honey with our little people and placed them in the front of the book. I decided that even though Stuart doesn't live in Hollywood, he'll always be my favorite star...and deserves the most prominent place in this book.

*grin*

Friday Funnies

Couldn't resist posting a few more of this great comic strip! Enjoy!

To Tell the Tooth

Emily, April 2004
Our "Gappy Girl" hasn't been "gappy" in a number of months, but somehow a few days ago she discovered a tooth she'd forgotten to leave out for the Tooth Fairy.

*We didn't realize she was still a "believer."*

Still, she got out a snack-sized ziploc bag and dutifully dropped the tooth inside. She put it under her pillow that night and happily awaited the Fairy's present.

Nothing came. She awoke in the morning and lamented that the Fairy had forgotten her.

*Ooops!*

We explained that the Tooth Fairy must have been expecting her tooth many, many months earlier...when she'd actually lost it. Perhaps she wasn't expecting to make a visit to our house.

Then I offered to e-mail her...

*Sigh*

So under the pillow the tooth went for another attempt at hopefully wooing the Fairy to leave something in exchange for her chopper.

*A quick reminder and a mad dash for a baggie and some change...*

Our daughter was thrilled this morning when she awoke to see the 8 dimes the Tooth Fairy "left" for her. She proudly showed each of us and was glad I'd e-mailed her to remind her.

*Sigh...Oh, the webs we weave...*

* * *

Emily could have followed Edward's advice, "You can still get her to stop by even if you lose your tooth...you just have to sleep with your mouth open so she can see the hole." Apparently, he read that somewhere, so it must be true.

Mind the gap.

Shall We Dance

Here's Emily's 2007 Ballet Recital as promised on Monday. The girls looked so lovely and did a great job!

In the News...

Getting into the news...literally.

Warms the heart of an "old" reporter like me.

My kids are relatively new comic readers.

They started by reading over their dad's shoulder on Sunday afternoons when he caught up on "all the news that's fit to print" -- or the "important" pages, as my husband calls them.

Now, they pull out the Sunday funnies and sit to enjoy them together.

I recently told Edward that there are comic pages in the newspaper everyday. He was surprised, but pleased.

This is how I found him in his newspaper "tent," enjoying a giggle or two.

Of course, I'd be glad to see them reading some of the articles, as well. But then again...

Maybe the comic pages are the important part of the newspaper. At least they bring a smile or laugh, which is more than can be said for most of the actual news out there.