OK GO

I'm sure this is all over television, but I never watch. Check these guys out! So clever.

Girl's Day

Today was a day with the girls. We started with lunch at The Pour House, sitting outside, chatting about people and places. They were both in such good spirits, looking so young and beautiful. When lunch was over and we were leaving they both thanked me. Then off to Target to do the dreaded college/high school supply shopping. OMG! I called the Prince to warn him about the Target bill. The bugger called me 10 minutes later, played "I'll Tumble for You" by Boy George, just to get that stupid song in my head and make me sing it the rest of the day. I do not like that stupid song nor do I like Boy George! But it is catchy and he was singing it the other day. I told him he was a sick man! Back on track, we bought everything from q-tips and tampons to pillows and desk organizers. Afterwards, Emma had to have her TB test read, which just so happened to be right next door to the best ice cream place ever! Hoffman's makes the best milkshakes ever. No contest. Don't even try me! Another thank you. I just love it when the girls appreciate the time we spend together and the things we do. We decided to hit Goodwill where we bought 3 sweaters, the cutest wrap blouse for me and another metal freezer bin like these ($.75 can you believe?!). Then to the mall! You have to remember, I hate shopping! I did buy something at the mall, which I will wait to unveil until I get the rest of it. So cool! We finally made it home and my Dad joined us for a lovely dinner on the deck. It was such a fun day! We just laughed, chatted, sang, and shopped! Tomorrow, we are going to try to hit the thrift/retro shops in Fells Point.

What I'm listening to:
I splurged today and bought Bruce Springsteen, We Shall Overcome, The Seeger Sessions. Some powerful music. I've only listenend to it about 3 times so far, with distractions. I look forward to putting it in the car. This was recorded live in only 3 sessions without rehearsals. Amazing! I remember listening to Pete Seeger when I was a young girl. I also remember a trip to Chicago with my Dad and seeing Pete, sitting on the ground with a few people. I want to remember that he was strumming but I know he was not. My Dad spoke to him and told him we enjoy his music. I distinctly remember Pete Seeger saying thank you. That's my famous siting, as my family likes to play.

Michael McDonald/Steely Dan

We went to see this combination last night at Nissan Pavillion. This was my birthday present to My Handsome Prince. He had never seen Steely Dan (his absolute favorite!), and has been enjoying Michael McDonald's motown cd. It was a perfect evening. The weather was beautiful, the crowd was fun, and the music was good. I have never been a SD fan and MM is okay. What was fun was hearing the excitement in the Prince's voice every time he called me during the day. He was looking forward to this, it was his night. I'm so glad we went and I have a new appreciation for Steely Dan. Earlier today, I buzzed him on the walkie talkie and confessed that I actually turned the volume up on the radio when a Steely Dan song came on. He laughed.

Steely Dan has a sound all their own. I have no particular reason not to like them but just never enjoyed their sound enough to buy cd's, although I always bought them for the handsome one. I love to listen and watch live music and this was no disappointment. Their music is complex, a jazz/rock style with an almost easy listening feel to it, yet it is not along those soft easy listening lines. I also find SD to be master of misunderstood song lyrics (check out this link - a great NPR Driveway Moment). I have NEVER been able to figure out what they said in most of their songs. I also did not know that Michael McDonald was part of the group for a bit and even sang lead, which once you pay attention, it's a slap on the head moment. Donald Fagen has an interesting lean to him, in that he leans to one side whether standing or sitting, when he sings. He also has this piano type thing that he blows to play, hmmm, verrrry intersting. Walter Becker shows abosolutely no emotion while playing his guitar. He does have a slight head bob and groove to his body. When he really got into it, their was the slightest lip quiver. I love it!

This was a big venue, which we do not do very often. We had great seats but still had to rely on the big screens to see any detail. I did find it humorous that it was a concert with the oldest crowd I have ever seen. Every other performance we have been to has always been a mix. This was the middle age crowd. Last year, when we went to see Little Feat at Bottle and Cork in Dewey Beach, the early crowd was older but once 11:00 hit, the young, partying gang came in (and they had no idea who Little Feat was!). Once again, it was such a lovely evening. I promptly fell asleep on the way home. Poor prince. Late night, motion of the car, snooze.

We have tickets to Hot August Blues, Susan Tedeschi/Derek Trucks Band, and buying tickets to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals/Wood Brothers.

Emma's got a sweet tat!

For real. She and her buddy Morgie went and got tattoos before going off to college. A bonding experience. I think it looks nice. She designed it herself, music and faith. 

Work Trip Sunday

Anyone who tells you, you can't make a difference, is wrong. Today was Work Trip Sunday, where various groups from the church lead the worship service. The youngest to work this summer was 4 and the oldest around 70 (I think). We sent out 4 groups to locations such as rural Maryland, New Orleans LA, Texas, Lake Charles LA and Lynchburg VA. The work varied. Middle school age kids planted an acre of pumpkins and cleared an acre of rocks and picked an acre of collard greens and picked another acre of Kale. High school kids demolished homes. Garbed in full paper suits over clothes, hard hats, respirator masks, they worked in 90 degree weather, and stopped in the middle of a task to listen to the stories the residents had to tell of their home. Intergenerational forces worked at a camp for underpriveledged youth, mulching, planting, painting. Ask any one of these people or the people they served if a difference was made and they would say yes. It was evident in the stories told, the photos on the screen, tears shed, and humor. Emma's rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" while photos of New Orleans, Lynchburg, and Maryland were shown, did not leave a dry eye and left us with a feeling of hope and renewal. I did not participate in these trips, but my children did going to the farm in Maryland and to New Orleans. I will be Responding to the Call on 9/11. What will you do?

BTW, their T-shirts say "Ask me how I spent my summer vacation" On the back it says "Building our ministry beyond the threshold" Christian Temple work trips 2006, Getting Dirty For Jesus and then lists the various work trips, groups and places.

The Bathing Beauties

Geez, aren't they beautiful?

Family photo

What a funny family portrait, yet I think this is it. We never got a formal one done. We didn't take any this summer. Even the girls and I didn't take one of us in our string bikinis (yes, the girls talked me into one on sale at Victoria's Secret- probably because they each wanted one too). We had a delightful week. Despite my promise, I still did not take any photos. I'm in a creative funk. I hope to dig myself out soon. I will tell stories, though, as long as you don't require visual assitance. Glad to be home, sort of.

BTW, from left to right, the Prince, Audrey, Emma in a floppy hat, and Me.

Finally!

I finished Mom's bag. I made two of these, one with fabric straps and this one with the wooden handles. These handles were difficult to work. There are always things to learn from new projects. I hope Mom still likes it. I still have not made one for myself. I'm hoping to do so over the next couple weeks. Adios! We are off to the beach tomorrow for 5 days. This time I'll take some photos to share.

It's a tough job...

but somebody's got to do it. We are pool watching for a couple days. Audrey is having a small party tonight so we took them over here. They had a ball playing under water ladder tag, Marco Polo, and having cannonball competitions. We'll go back tomorrow, duh! 

Small, Loud and Bossy!

These are the qualifications the Baltimore Rowing Club is looking for in a coxswain. At 5'4", 135 solid, size 2 or 4 (depending on the time of the month or whether I've been to Kclingers a few times), always accused of being too loud by my family, and definitely bossy in my classes, I think I'm a good fit. Tonight was going to be my first class, but with the heat and a memorial service of a BRC member, the beginning Coxswain class has been cancelled. It is rescheduled for next week while we are on vacation. MHP has told me I can make the trip from Bethany into Baltimore. I've been wanting to try rowing ever since I read all Laura Lippman's novels and managed to catch 5 minutes of a BRC special on MPT. Next summer, I'll learn it all!

Audrey and friend wanted to have a picnic today at Christmas Tree Park. They were celebrating the birthday of another friend. They made a card, sandwiches, found the picnic basket while I dug out the linen tablecloth and cloth napkins. They were having a bonafide picnic! We picked the young man up and went to the park. They walked around, played on the slides, and other equipment. I found a nice bench swing in the shade and had an absolutely lovely afternoon, reading the latest James Lee Burke novel. Twenty years ago, when My Handsome Prince and I first moved to the area, I used to go to Christmas Tree Park after work. It was when he was on 3-11 shift. Tuffy the Wonder pup and I would go, she would wander around and I would sit on the bench swing and read. It's a nice park, full of pine trees and typically about 5 degrees cooler. There are the usual park amenities, tennis courts, sand pit for volley ball, slides, swings, and one of those things that goes round and round and usually someone either throws up or gets hurt. They're great!

I am thankful that 90% of my time as a parent has been in the stay at home capacity. I had and still have the freedom to do these things with my kids. Today, I witnessed a grouchy Grandpa with his grandkids, calling the middle boy a sissy and just not pleasant to these kids. What was the point? They weren't doing anything that wasn't childlike. I guess it's the heat, brings out the worst sometimes. But he made a point of telling me that his daughter, their mother, doesn't do anything and he's caregiver 24/7 and it pisses him off! TMI. I also witnessed a daycare group, tired, hot, but on the go, doing things to keep them active and not bored. I am thankful, especially, when the kids I picked up today and yesterday, enter the car, with thank yous and I love yous. I have always been the transporter, the one who gets called from school because an instrument has been left at home and parents can't get it or picked up from work because they can't reach their parents. I'm thankful I am trusted by these kids.

Audrey apologized today for staying at the park so long and me having to pick everyone up. I told her exactly what I have written. It's been a delight!

One more thing, we had a ball at my sister's yesteday. It was especially funny once her husband got home. We all piled up in a small boat, 6 of us, 3 kids, 3 adults. We were laughing so hard! That along with the crazy boat/float races. It's always a hoot going over there!

Hot

Today I was sweating just eating my cheerios. Don't do much, just hang around in my suit, figuring out whose pool to invade. No one comes to mind today. Audrey is flitting around from friend to friend. Yesterday she went to the movies, tonight she is going out to eat with a friend. Tomorrow we will probably invade my sister's house.

Summer Weekend

With this heat and no a/c, there is nothing to do but pool hop. I suggested to the girl's that on Friday we visit the community pool where we were members for 14-15 years. They each invited a friend, we packed a lunch, I even bought junk snacks. As soon as we arrived it started to rain. Off to Walmart instead to waste some time waiting for the sun to come back out, and sure enough it did. We had a nice afternoon at the pool, though not quite what we anticipated. We hope for a reunion of the Cabana Club girls (3-5 families of girls who are the same age as Emma) I knew the Mom's wouldn't be there as they are 9-5ers now. My Handsome Prince joined us and we had a mean game of Under Water Ladder Tag going for a good hour, inviting another group of kids to join us. Later that evening, dinner in Westminster.

Saturday was another hot one. The morning started out with the usual Car Talk interrupted by a phone call. I'm just happy to say it was not MY family but HIS family. HA! We all had little odd jobs to do which included hanging a new porch swing. Yes! In the middle of the day, we went to a neighbor's house, where we have a lifetime membership to their pool. Swim, swim, swim, cool, cool, cool, then ice cream, yum. Such simple pleasures just truly made my heart glad. All four of us, together, swimming, eating ice cream under an umbrella, then home watching a movie, again, together.

Sunday brought more of the same. We actually packed our suits and towels in the car figuring we would invite ourselves over to another pool. This time our camping/church friends in Ellicott City. We provided pizza and assistance in taking down a tree. Their daughters and Emma left for camp together, so it was 4 adults, Audrey and Glenn (the kid who broke his wrist in this post). That evening, my in-laws invited us over for Jambalaya and concert in the park featuring Junkyard Saints. This was our third free summer outdoor concert and do you know that not one person danced? What the heck was wrong with this crowd? A couple hundred people and you figure at least one person over the age of 2 would dance. I know, I should have been it. I wanted it soooo bad. I asked MHP to dance 4 times and he would not. Audrey basically went along because she had no choice, so she was a no too. Didn't ask the inlaws, just didn't think it was their thing. Little by little my groove dwindled.

BTW, I had to hit another pool today. Gosh, it's deadly.

I have quilt envy

My neighbor called me yesterday and asked me to come over. This is my neighbor that taught me to crazy quilt, we hook together, sew, and think up other things to do in our spare time. In 2003, we each started a make-do, cotton crazy quilt for our daughters. We did not buy any fabric and very little thread. We wanted it to truly be a stashbuster. Well, she has hers put together, the brat! She made a double and I'm making a single. I'm not even half way there. Well, if seeing hers isn't inspiration, I don't know what is! I'll take a photo of hers next time I go over (I'll be prepared - I nearly died seeing it all laid out!) In the meantime, visit this web site and you'll get the idea.

SPC - Me as transportation

Audrey and I on her 14th birthday. This is my youngest, my baby. I carried her for the longest time, until she was about 5. She was compact then and her Mother's daughter. She use to fall asleep so easily and I use to have to carry her into the house or wherever we were going. One time, we were in Bermuda, after a long day, late at night, I carried her about a half mile up a hill (she was about 7 at the time). Now our relationship has changed and closeness is not as easy as it used to be. She is a teenager who is deciding where her Mom's place is in her life. We have our moments and this was one recently. Happy Birthday, my darling daughter. 

Yesterday I had a day off. I didn't have to teach in the morning and did not have to work in the evening. So...I decided I was going to sleep in. Well, in order to do that I either have to call all my family members and tell them or take my phone off the hook. Since I did not remember in time to call, when MHP's alarm went off @ 4:30am, I thought I took the phone off the hook. Wrong! So, at 7:30 when the first phone call usually happens, I had a non functioning phone ringing, waking me up. Fine, I can still sleep in, actually taking the phone off the hook. Wrong! I left my cell phone on and got a voice mail letting me know there was something wrong with my phone. Cracked me up! Oh well! It's only sleep.

Later in the evening, I went here. I got 12 meals made and in the freezer. It was a very interesting experience. I hope the food is good. If I do it again, I would do things slightly different, like not make 12 different meals, split some, and take a helper! It just makes me realize, though, when making something, just make double or triple and put in freezer. Saves so much in the long run. I'm going to try OAMC again.

SPC - self portrait as a passenger

Living rurally, active life, active children, I spend a lot of time in the car. I am usually in the driver's seat. Lately, I have been a passenger, reading, sleeping, knitting, letting someone else take the wheel. It's been kind of nice. At one time or another, aren't we all drivers or passengers?

The Handsome Prince on his new throne

Need I say more? 

Less blogging & browsing = more productivity

Finishes this week:
one loopy knitted rug
one Gravestone rug - working on the binding. It will be my state fair entry this year.

Starts this week:
knitted dishwrag from Mason Dixon knitting
2 quilted handbags like this one - One for the Mom and one for a silent auction to benefit battered women and children.

Workouts completed:
6 cycle classes
1 kickbox
2 circuit classes
back, biceps, shoulders - lifting on my own
7 pull ups - woohoo! almost to 10!
Getting back in gear. I miss lifting with Tas, though. She's awesome!


We're goin' downy ocean, hon!

They'll be fine

Today is a day that I have let go. My children wanted to take a day trip to Bethany Beach, 3 1/2 hours away. Ugh. sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. With strict instructions to stay together, be carefull driving, directions, charged cell phone, and money, they have gone. Say a prayer for their safe journey.

Top Ten at Cape Henlopen in no particular order

1. Friends and family - all together, overlapping, coming and going, 40 of us were camping at Cape Henlopen, including my Mom, Aunt, Uncle, Sister and family, good friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends. You get the point.

2. Capture the flag on the dunes - adults and children - embarassing, but true, laughing and running are not something a 42 year old woman can do without an accident.

3. Deserted dog beach - we brought a dog along so visited the part of the park that surf fishers frequent and those with dogs, too. One day, we had a 3 cabana set up going.

4. Authentic Mexican food on the way home in Bridgeville DE. YUM!

5. While not the most enjoyable, definitely most memorable, a spill on the skim board by me, resulting in the most colorful, still painful, hematoma on my butt, and poor child who owned the board broke his wrist shortly after!

6. Pork products on the open fire - breakfast every morning consisted of bacon, sausage, and yes, scrapple. Yes, all three.

7. Chuck Mills widow - the whip-poor-whil type bird that calls every night soothing me to sleep.

8. While I don't play, it would not be the same if the almost 24/7 game of 4 square was not played.

9. New Dansko shoes

10. 15 years of memories make this place home away from home. Can't wait to go back!

No photos as Emma has the camera with her in Louisiana before I had a chance to download photos. She is doing some Katrina demolition work and Audrey is at church camp. The Handsome Prince and I are alone, well as alone as you can get with 2 dogs, 1 of which freaks out every night as the neighbors light their fireworks. We can't leave the house without her.

Happy 4th of July all! We managed to make it to church for the annual concert, Shelby and I hiding in the ministers office, listening to patriotic music, making friends with two young girls (5 and 2 ). Then to our camping friends pool for a lovely afternoon. I want a pool, as usual.