In For An Inch......

in for a mile.
Is that how that saying goes?
So seriously, I have no political agenda on here. Remember, I just write about nonsense? I'm good with that. EXCEPT when Mark writes something. For those who don't know, I have three brothers. All of which I love unconditionally, but there is one, one I idolize. Seriously, I could not love him anymore if I tried. Everyone of my friends loves him. He lives in NYC. I take my friends up there, we all go out to dinner. They love him, but he's mine. I don't have any sisters. I wish I did, but I wouldn't trade him for ten sisters. Besides the people I live with, there is no one on this earth who I would rather be with. So Mark commented on my last post. He is usually a big commenter but as been slightly out of the loop as of late. I felt his comment deserved more than just a little random thing in my comment section (which, honestly I thought everyones did, but everyone doesn't listen to me spill my guts over and over again, so as usual I will give him special attention). This is what he wrote. And he's waaaaaaaaay smarter than me, so if he says it, I believe it. Every time.

Amy, thanks for starting the discussion, and my apology for what follows, which is anything but a subtle endorsement for a Democratic vote in November. OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA. Shout it loud. Before last week, I was simply a disenchanted Clinton supporter planning a half-hearted vote for Obama. The Clinton speeches began a reassessment, and Obama's speech finally came across as more than just words and gave me genuine hope for a better tomorrow. But it was McCain's VP choice that slapped me in the face and said, "Wake up, you moron. This isn't about your candidate losing; it's about making sure the wrong candidate doesn't win in November." If McCain is such a maverick, why has he chosen a an ultra-conservative running mate rather than someone more open-minded and forward-thinking? Was she really the best choice to help him lead the country, or was she simply the best choice to help him win, whatever the cost? Among those in his inner circle, none favored Palin as a VP choice, but he ignored them. Seems like he is a bit more like Bush than I realized... winning comes first, rational thought last. Enough, already. Can Americans get their heads out of their partisan asses and make an informed vote for a better future? Among Bush voters, who in their right mind could look at the last eight years and think they voted the right way? How could anyone with a decent conscience and a desire for a better American future vote Republican again?

Once again Mark, seriously, if I used every amount of my energy, which at times seems endless. I could not love you anymore if I tried. And like my internet bud, "Amy loves Obama" says, ""Go Barock and Roll."

Just because now this entertaining me, Sue had something to say that can be added on:
"I'm with you Mark. I was literally angry for a good 20 minutes when I heard about Palin. On the issue of choice, I am unwavering. As a woman and mother of a girl, I don't know how anyone could not be and the next president could be appointing 3 supreme court justices and will certainly appoint Ginsburgs replacement. If nothing else, McCain's choice of Palin highlights his commitment to take a woman's right to choose away and if nothing else motivated me (believe me it's not the only issue that motivates me), just that fact would. Like Amy, I'm all about choice!"

Another brother, another comment:.
"Okay, I'm back to jump into the political fray. For anyone who doesn't know me I'm on Amy's Tier 2 list of brothers.

I thought I'd had enough. I thought most us had. I thought somewhere deep down that maybe this war was being fought for the right reasons and I just wasn't well-informed enough to really understand. I thought this because I've spent 41 years thinking that the United States really is the best and most generous country in the world. I've thought that our system of government really was "by the people and for the people". I learned this in school and at home and the lessons you learn during your formative years are hard to let go of.

Now I know. Now I know that was all wrong. We have all been put in the impossible position of wanting to be patriotic and supportive but having to root for a team whose leadership is among the most morally corrupt in modern history. I can't even begin to verbalize the frustration I feel over the travesty of a war that we've been tricked (or lied) into along with the thought that we, as a country, could quite possibly have to endure 8 more years of it. I honestly don't know if the US could sustain it.

We've allowed the governmental equivalent of the Perfect Storm to unfold: Bad People, Bad Politics, and Bad Policies. I am so frustrated I could spit. I never imagined the day when I'd be ashamed to say I was American but I'm almost there. And if another person wants to comment on how we could be better spending our tax money please do some research first on a company called Halliburton and their former CEO - one Richard "DICK" Cheney. If ever there was a high ranking US official who deserved to be called a traitor it is this man.

Alright, I've gone on too long for a friendly blog - just had to get some of that out of my system. Next post we'll be returning to our regulary scheduled programming of laughter and good times."

Okay Chris, Your not second tiered. I love you just as much, Mark just pays more attention to me and you know, being the youngest I love attention. I may be the best looking : ) but you guys are definitely smarter

Are you guys wishing I was still talking about Kid Rock?

You Say Bandwagon?

I jump.
Why do I have a pink Obama banner? Do you wonder?
Is it because I think you'll see it and want to vote for him too?
No.
Is it because I feel the need to shove my political views down your throat?
No.
Is it because I like pink?
Maybe, getting warmer.
It's simply because I feel like it's the least I can do. For me. Just for me. It's a little glimmer of my own hope everyday when I get on here to write or to see what other people have written. I see that pretty pink banner and I think, "It's almost over." And that gives me a little comfort. Last election was such a let down. For me. I don't care anymore who agrees with me. I don't care who you're going to vote for. Really. I want things to go a certain way, but I'm not about shoving anything down anyone's throat. Like religion, views on pro-life vs. pro-choice, stem cell research, war, the whole nine yards. We all have different opinions. And you know what? Plenty of people do post them on their blog and I think that's great. Seriously, write whatever you want. Nobody's holding a gun to anyone's head to read it. I admire it. It's easier for me to write about silly things, concerts, vacations, yoga, nice things, things that don't upset anyone. I'm a yoga teacher. I just want everyone to be happy. I will admit when I see signs in people's yards that say McCain, I'm curious. I don't get it. It makes me think though. Think, "Damn, you're a glutton for punishment." No, I'm kidding. It does make me wonder though. I listen to the arguments, although it's all started to sound like the adults in the Charlie Brown specials voices to me at this point, wah wah wah wah wah wah. But I'll listen. Then I'll go back to what I'm doing and patiently wait for November to get here, and I'll do that with hope, with a little pink banner that says Obama.

Just Followin' Our Noses

Last night my friend Christina and I took Saige and Chase and her daughter Gracie and a friend/babysitter to the Jonas Brothers concert, held in the lovely town of Camden, NJ. Granted, we were there only a couple days ago, but we someone drive us (you know, so we could get our party on). Any other time I've been there Marc's driven and I really don't pay attention. I am overly reliant on my navigation system to take me everywhere. Camden is not the nicest of towns. I'm sure the people are lovely but it's kind of got a really bad rap. Scary. So after it takes us two hours to actually get there (a 40 minute drive) we are in a ton of traffic. Crazy, insane, why isn't there a least one guy out there directing kind of traffic. I did remember one thing from when Marc and I were last there that he cut through a really bad part of the hood but we bypassed about a thousand cars. I decided that's what we were going to do. Christina, who is a self proclaimed rule follower, wasn't quite sure how this was going to go down. She was locking doors and closing windows and I think I almost gave her a heart attack when I pulled up to some boys and asked if we were headed in the right direction. They were so sweet and helpful and we skated our way right in the back way and missed about an hour of traffic that would have made the kids late. It was all good. Then we left to go meet our friend Rock for dinner in Olde City, Phila. The problem was I wasn't driving my own car because Marc had to send a bigger one home from work so I could fit everyone. It needed a disc for the nav and we just couldn't get the hell out of Camden. We were on about dead empty at this point because the kid that brought me the car said he filled it up, but he didn't. I have to thank him next time I see him. Anyway, in our little tour of what is supposedly the worst city in the nation we find a gas station. It didn't take Amex, in fact the whole credit card part was taped over, it also had a lot of seedy characters parading around and I have to admit I took off my necklace and put it in the glove compartment. Better safe then sorry. Good rule of thumb, but then what were we doing there in the first place? Oh yeah, lost. We are used to our third partner in crime Lisa being there to tell us where to go. Christina and I were basically dumb and dumber. It was like National Lampoons Vacation, "Big Ben, Parliment."
Obviously, because I sit here typing we did eventually find our way to a restaurant and our friend Rock who scored us those killer Jonas Brothers tickets (thank you again) and had a lovely dinner.
We got the kids, they had a great time and we only got a tiny bit lost trying to find the bridge on the way home. Christina insists it just isn't well marked. That totally sounds better then we're just stupid.

No Wait Really

How many days 'til school starts? It's not like I have a huge calender out with big black marks on the days as they pass. That would be like I'm getting out of jail or something. It's not like that, my precious little angels, love 'em when they're sleeping. Oh, I'm kidding. My friend and I were laughing about this yesterday. This last week before it starts. It's one week to many. Should of cut our losses and sent 'em back before Labor day. It's like their "trying to get water from a stone" week of summer. How many play dates can we cram in one day? How many trips to Staples? How many different stores can we hit for new school clothes (when shorts and t-shirts are still what we're wearing?) Seriously, why am I buying a down vest in August? But far be for me to argue with a 10 year old girl. I keep my head low, my mouth shut and hand over my credit card. And the bonus is today is another Jonas Brothers concert, which honestly they are thrilled about. I am thrilled for them. So thrilled in fact I got a babysitter to go with them so my friend Christina and I could drop them off, go to Parc and pick them up later. I am completely blocking the traffic out of my mind. That and the thousands of screaming girls. At nine o'clock last night after I had picked them up from one friends house and picked up another friend to sleep over they wanted to stop and get hair dye so they could have all different colored hair. Let's hope that works out like they want it to.
Then as our next adventure there was cupcake making. I helped them get it done, put in the oven, tossed some oven mitts at them and said, "Call me when you need help." Luckily Marc came home by then. He cleaned up some, but let me tell you, I never saw the sprinkles coming. My kitchen is a mess. So I thought I'd sit down at my computer, that seemed the most productive way to deal with it. So we are down to six days, which roughly means, one more concert, 322 play dates, a combined 12 sleepovers, a couple parties, 72 wet pool towels and maybe, just maybe a one glass of wine for me.

Sick Talk

I hate being sick. I hate sitting (lying) around doing nothing. It drives me crazy, but when you don't feel good and you know you shouldn't leave your house and you're hiding out because the rug cleaner guys are here for like the four hundredth time this year because your little tiny dumb dog (as opposed to your big dumb dog) has the oh so annoying habit of peeing in the kids rooms there is not much to do. Let me say this, if night time tv sucks daytime tv trumps it in spades. I seriously do not know what people who watch tv during the day watch. Even with all those cable channels and on demand, I was almost reduced to watching something called Run's House and then I gave myself a good shake and just turned the tv off. So here I am. Complaining to whoever wants to listen. Although Marc had whatever this annoying stomach virus is this weekend and informed me it's a 24 hour one I'm going to go with the glass is half full approach and hope we can cut that down to about a fourth. I need to feel better so when the DHL guy brings me my new blackberry I can go get it programmed. That's my plan. Yes, my new blackberry cause my old one got stolen by one of the charming people at the concert Friday night. So that's fun. There you have it, still no pictures, I'm sick, my dogs suck, my blackberry got stolen but besides that, it's all good. Okay, let's put the positive spin on it or I'm gonna feel like Debbie Downer, the pictures, I assume will be here when they get here, soon, hopefully, I'm getting better, not worse, so that's good, although my dogs are a pain, I do have the most awesome rug cleaner guy ever, Marc got the insurance on my phone when he bought it so that's not as awful as it could be. And as a little icing on the cake my one friend Kirsten who has been gone the whole month of July will be home soon and my other friend Kirsten who I haven't seen in over two years cause she lives in a far off place called Wisconson (which btw I could identify on a map, like Azerbaijan and Estonia). And if that's not the best I'm thinking Fay has left my internet buddies alone, I'm talking to you Meredith and Amy Elle Q!

The Day After

I've been trying to wait to post this because the pictures of Kid Rock with yours truly has to be e mailed to me. We couldn't use our own cameras for that. I don't think that will happen until Monday so I'll put these up for now. So this is how it happened. We get to the concert, I have to say this first, this is the third time we have seen him since spring. One time was in Reading, one time at Madison Square Garden and last night in Camden, which is in NJ right over the bridge from Philadelphia. Seriously, these were the rudest, most awful fans yet. What one who doesn't like Kid Rock might think his fans were like. There were girl fights and rude men, drunk hicks. It was disturbing.
As for Kid Rock himself, Steve (my friend) and I got to go with like 15 other people and you got to have a little chat and get your picture taken. Kid was very soft spoken and seemed very sweet. It was really cool. I loved every minute of that. I can't wait to get the pictures. The concert itself was great. We had a lot of fun.

Answer Carefully.....

Could she be my daughter?

This is Rachel. Rachel is 13 years younger than me. One time in the grocery store we were together and the check out girl asked if she was my older sister. I laughed so hard I think the guy in the deli heard me. I of course, said, "Yes, she is my much older sister." Now Rachel will swear up and down that she was "slow." I disagree. I think she was as sharp as a tack.
So today she's here with me cause we're going to see Kid tonight (have I mentioned that before?) So first we go to the gym, work out. Yes admittedly I have on no make up and I'm sweaty, but so is she and she's got some sort of Alfalfa sprout cut into the top of her pretty head. She's looked better. Next we go to get our nails done. She's across the room from me and starts giggling. Her nail woman has asked if we were SISTERS, she answers, "Yes, that's my much much older sister." Then she starts looking at me and laughing. I asked her what, she told me the woman asked if I was her older sister. Which is not what happened. I scowled at her. Then I made an undercover somewhat rude gesture and laughed. Now my nail girl hadn't even looked at her, she had her back to her. (Rachel's yelling, "Yes she did." but it's my blog, and I'm saying she didn't). My girl asks me, "Do you know her?" I reply, "Oh yes, I know her way to well." WITHOUT LOOKING UP she says, "Is she your daughter?" Um, no tip for you. Sorry. Piss off.

Checkin' the Mail Box

This is what Saige has been doing for the past few days. It's that time of summer again, the tell tale sign that holidays coming to an end when teacher assignments come in the mail. It's a big deal. They wait and hope all summer to see who they got and who is in their class. Chase, in his entire school career, thus far (K-3) has never had a teacher that has been there before. Every year his teacher is young and pretty and brand new. Just how he likes them. He's a love and they eat him up with a spoon. Well friends, there's a new sheriff in town this year. He actually got an established teacher. Uh oh. It is Saige's teacher from last year and not quite as warm and fuzzy as my precious baby is used to. Saige started laughing when we told her who he got. All I can say is, "Buck up little camper, you're not living on easy street anymore."
Now Saige's teacher is a whole other ball game. We have a hard and fast rule here that you gotta "put it out there" you have to "ask the universe" I know, it sounds crazy (hence the title of my blog) but we are firm believers in this (i.e. backstage passes). So this is what we told her to do this year for her teacher. She has never really cared who she got before. She is self sufficient, does her homework, does extra credit. a dream student. When I go in for conferences for her the teacher and I usually end up making small talk cause she's just that easy. This year though is the year she could get the "coolest" teacher in the school. He used to be a third grade teacher and she didn't get him. Last year when she was in fourth he moved up to fifth. This was her last chance. We wished and hoped and asked all the Gods we could think of, we don't discriminate over here, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, Mother Nature, whoever's got an open ear. We told her to visualize herself in his room. Yes, I am a little out there, I own that. Guess what? She got him. Not only did she get him but like three of her best friends did too. Yeah for her. Fingers crossed for Chase.

Home Sweet Home-Alabama!

I love to travel. I love doing things. I basically run myself ragged 95% of the time. This week it's all home. Well, for the most part. We aren't going anywhere in particular, except, you know, the Kid Rock concert. Can anyone say back stage passes? I can. Rock, my friend, not Kid but Man scored us two. I am beyond psyched. I'm thinking Kid might wanna be my new best friend. I'm just saying, maybe. I wasn't going to share this until I could back it up with pictures but I really don't have much else going on.
My time is being wisely spent in one of three places. The gym, my computer or the pool. When I am at the gym running I have time to think freely about what I will wear to the concert, how logistically it will all work out, all the little details. At my pool, I can talk to or txt my friends about the same issues. I felt I was leaving out the six of you that read my blog, that includes two Meredith's and my husband. Well, them and the various people that google "fake tans" or "tans gone bad" and get directed here through my scintillating spray on tan post.
The concert is Friday night about 40 minutes from my house. I got an e mail today saying Kid was playing Bryant Park on Friday morning and I could have VIP privileges to that. Do you know, I actually thought about it. I thought, "Huh, if we got up at like 5.30 we (I'm just including people in here who get dragged into my mostly moronic schemes, you know who you are, sorry) could make it up to NYC by 7.30. That would give us time to park and go tell the people we are "special" Kid Rock fans. Then I remembered I had kids. Well, bring 'em I thought. Then I remember Chase had to go to Villanova that day for a thing with their soccer team. I actually thought, just for a second, "He'd rather go to Kid Rock." I could make it back early in the afternoon. Shower and be on my way. It seems so simple. Except that Villanova thing is probably more important than waking my kids up at the crack of dawn, hauling them up to New York for a concert in the park. Ya know, after I've thought this through again on here, it doesn't seem like a half bad idea. I've done way stupider things. Easy, in my sleep.

Sunday Nights

I don't know why but I've never liked Sunday nights. Even as a kid I remember feeling uneasy on Sunday nights and not cause of school the next day. There has just always been something somewhat lonely to me about them. It's not as bad as a rainy Sunday, those really make me sad. I guess there are a lot of reasons for this, I'm thinking one of them is the fact that it's in my head that I will feel like this so it's kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. The thing is, I love Mondays. I look forward to the new start of a week. I wake up on Monday mornings usually earlier than my usual 6.30 all ready to start my day. So it seems odd to me that I get like this on Sunday nights, you'd think I'd be all happy, not so much. Not tonight though. Tonight I have kept myself way to busy to be lonely or sad. I spent lots of time cleaning up after a weekend full of guests, Saige and I went to the grocery store at night, I got everything ready for tomorrow morning, changed sheets, did laundry, surfed the net. Now I'm here. Why? Do you care why I am keeping myself so preoccupied? I'm going to tell you. For the past week and a half or so I have been reading this series of book called The Twilight Series. I actually bought the first one in the series of four a long time ago at the airport. Even if I already have a book with me I always buy one at the airport because I get nervous I won't like the one I have on the plane. I usually don't end up reading any at all. Anyway, back to my point. So I bought this book a long time ago cause I liked the cover. Then I read the little excerpt and found out it was about vampires. I lost interest. I didn't think it sounded good, I don't know why, I love Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia and all those kinds of books, I guess this just got set aside and never thought about again. That is until Tiffany from the The R Family Diaries started talking about the fourth one coming out and how good they were so I decided to dust it off and give it a try. Let me just say, I love them, each and every one. I am now on the fourth and final book and I have maybe 100 pages left and I'm just not ready for it to be over. When it's over I'm thinking I might miss them. I haven't felt that way about a book since The Time Travelers Wife, which I loved so much that I bought everyone I knew a copy. So I am doing what I do best, procrastinating. When I have nothing left to do I will want to finish it.....and I'm just not ready yet.
Does anyone know any other really good books to recommend? Then it won't seem so bad.....

The Black List

Last night down in Philadelphia was the premiere of the documentary film The Black List. Back in January, Marc and I were fortunate enough to be able to go out to Park City to Sundance because Marc's partner produced this film. Since then many things have happened with it, one being HBO bought it and will be showing it as one of their documentaries.
This film was written by film critic Elvis Mitchell and directed by world renowned photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. It is really an inspirational film. They showcase 22 different African American leaders. They range from Zane the erotica writer to Colin Powell. Others include, Toni Morrison, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Slash, Susan Lori-Parks, Susan Rice and many more. All these people talk basically about how they got to where they are. Each one's story is unique and empowering. No matter what your race you can gain so much from this film. It truly makes you want to do better, do more. So many of these people had huge struggles to get where they are. They are all different but all have similarities to each and every one of us. Each person, whether a famous actor like Keenan Ivory Wayans, who makes you laugh with him all the way through his interview to Al Sharpton who gives you an very different view of him then you might have had before makes you think. At least makes me think, think, "Try a little harder."
Meanwhile the film is beautifully directed, using what they called an interiewer camera where apparently the subject is looking into the camera and seeing Elvis (you never see or hear him). It is really cool because you feel like they are talking to you.
It is also a traveling art exhibit with these amazing portraits done Timothy.
If you have HBO, check it out.

Blackberries and A Little Yoga

A nature hike.

Sometimes Lisa looks slightly out of her element. Looks can be deceiving. Just cause she's fancy doesn't mean she can't berry pick with the best of them.
Of course we had to throw in a little yoga.

The kids had fun. They picked tons of blackberries and played in the water. It was a lovely day.

Rock Man

You totally Rock.
Thank You.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I said Amen.

Pinot Evil-

Let's not focus on that right now. Let's look at how beautiful this place is. The kids in the first three hours we were here swam, kayaked, rode quads, rode on the ranger, played capture the flag, had a campfire and sang songs.


Apparently the lake has the cleanest water ever. People bathe in there.

You Do the Math

About a year ago, as I've said before, the reason I started this blog, Marc and I loaded up a huge car with all sorts of crap and of course our two little angels and headed cross country. It was really fun. Today, sadly, Marc will not be joining us for this years road trip endeavor. Instead it will be Lisa and I, our combined five children, and her dog (not mine, thank the lord). We will only be going three hours, up to the lake to visit Christina and her three children. They have been there all summer. Only one aforementioned visit home that included a lot of martinis and a Jonas Brothers concert. So we miss her. So a few days ago Marc and I were talking about it and he asked me, "How many boxes of wine do you think you three will go through in those 3 days?" Hmmmm.... Funny, funny boy he is. Really I think it's like some sort of algebraic equation. Now by the time algebra and calculus came around I kind of lost interest in math. Which truthfully, I can't remember in my adult life when I would have needed to know either of those things, until, maybe now. And only if I really wanted to know the answer to the question, which I don't. But for conversations sake, I think it would go something like this.
3 hour car ride x 5 kids (1 dog) 4 kids are boys (loud, somewhat smelly boys) + 3 more kids ( 2 of which are boys) (1 more dog) x 3 days + knowing we have another car ride home = x I don't know what the answer to that is, I'm thinking, maybe 15.........

What Does it Mean, Amy?

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Girls......

Saige's oldest and best friend is Mac. Mac has been around since birth, her mom, Lisa is one of my best friends and we have known each other since about second grade. So here's something funny, well to me....
Lisa has two other daughters. Her youngest, Riley is six and one of the sweetest children I've ever known. Then there's Katy. Katy is eight and hands down one of my favorite people. She is a character and always has been. I know sometimes she is a handful for Lisa, like when notes get sent home that says Katy told the teacher she was boring her. Or countless other Katy things, but hearing then second hand just makes me laugh.
So they are here swimming and Lisa tells me this story. They have a dog Pete. Pete has a huge yard to play in. Don't let Pete out the front door, he goes to find his neighborhood dog friends and chaos can ensue. Sure enough, the other day, all hell is breaking loose in their home and Pete gets out. Lisa spends 45 minutes getting him, apologizing to neighbors, getting their dog back in their yard and finally gets home. She comes to the door and Katy is standing there.
"I did it. I let Pete out. You can ground me, punish me, give me a gross job. Let's just get it over with." Katy says.
"OK, you can clean the litterboxes," Lisa replies.
Katy stares at her for a minute. "Listen, I have a twenty dollar bill. How 'bout I give it go you and we forget about the litter boxes." Katy bargains.
"No! That's your job, go do it." Lisa says.
Off Katy goes and Lisa goes to make dinner. About a half hour later little sweet Riley, her six year old comes running in the kitchen with a dollar in her hand, "Look, I earned a dollar." she says with a big smile and bright eyes.
"How'd you do that?" asks Lisa, already knowing.
"I got to be Katy's special helper!."
Oh yes she did.

Chase and Jack

Usually when I write those two names together i am refering to Chase and one of his buddies. Not this time. This time I am talking about our day yesterday. It was a big one and I'm tired. I do feel the need to write this though. I started this blog a little over a year ago because we were taking a cross country trip. I though it would be a good way to keep my friends and family up to date with what we were doing and then I wouldn't have to retell the same stories over and over again. Then it seemed like a good idea to keep it going. I figured my kids could possibly use it one day as proof to their future shrinks as the explanation for it all. They would sit in the chair, hand over the bound blog, shrink would read it and say, "Yes, it all makes sense. Your parents were slightly crazy."
So, keeping with our tradition I will share how we ran them ragged yesterday. It all started off with a trip to the water park with their camp. Then I raced them home. We got changed and went down to the Phillies game. Which, was fun, I will admit. I got to sit right next to the guy who has the laser and shoots the pitcher and says how fast the ball was going. "Fast ball 85." I was on the inside scoop. I don't follow baseball at all, but apparently Chase Utley is a good one, (and I love his name, his mom was obviously cool) so I took his picture while he was getting ready to bat.

Then we watched the game, which they lost, bummer. Then the kids did the base running thing. Only a little blood from Chase's knee.

We rushed them out of there and made our way to the Jack Johnson concert. We wanted to get there early because we had lawn seats and wanted to be close. It was gorgeous out. We put our stuff down and right away ran into our friends.

They played hackysack
Bryna and Eric came

Keith and Lisa
and of course Jack was awesome.......
I'm kinda tired today.

Can I Hear A Holla?

Okay, so I have to start off by saying, I love concerts. Yes, I might be to old for this, I admit, but it's true. I don't know why, but I love going to see live music. Maybe it's my obsession with music in general, new bands, old bands, totally cool songs my friends haven't heard of before, maybe it's that i spent a better part of my youth as either ( I don't know which) a second or third generation Dead Head. Yes, many a high school and college days were spent at Dead concerts. I can't pinpoint why, but even at my advanced age of 39 (!) I still love a concert. I get hell bent on getting the best seats, getting them pre sale, getting them any way I can get them. When I know they have become mine I get so much happiness out of that, it lasts through the concert and then on an on and on. I don't know why. Some people like those figurine things, Hummels? I like concert tickets. To each his own.
What's my point? Okay so I have to give a huge shout out to my good buddy known as Anonymous, not only has he scored me Counting Crows tickets and (Oh no, not again) Jonas Brothers tickets for Saige and three of her closest buddies (one being a baby sitter) but perhaps, just maybe, haven't wanted to mention it before, because we're still not certain, but, there could be back stage passes to our upcoming Kid Rock concert. This is where the holla part comes in. I know, there are some haters dislikers, but I am not one of them. I'm sure some of you are saying, "Get a life." I assure you, I will totally get on that......just as soon as I meet Bobby. So while we wait with baited breath. While I dig myself deeper into Stephenie Meyers world with Bella and Edward, while I get ready for (yeah) Jack Johnson tonight, I will just cross my fingers, and perhaps chant in my head a couple times (Kid Rock) and many will roll their eyes and hope for me to gain some sense, but I will hear the music in my head, and just be happy.

Holla

My (one of, not including Viv) favorite three year olds spent the weekend with us. Her Mom is one of my very best friends and mentioned her often. Her dad is one of Marc's best friends.
Here is a conversation, verbatim, that went on Sunday morning. Marc was sitting on the couch with all the kids, I was right near them in the kitchen.
3 yr old- "Who's the boss here in your house Uncle Marc?"
Marc- (mistakenly) "I'm the boss here, who's the boss in your Mommy's house?"
3 yr. old- "I'm the boss in my Mommy's house."
Marc- "Yeah you are."
3 yr old- "Holla."

Oh yes she did, she used Holla correctly. I know adults who can't do that. Maybe they shouldn't. Personally it entertains me to no end. I love a holla. So when she said this, I just couldn't have been any more delighted.

Weekend With Friends...

Dog friends....... Lover was the belle of the ball this weekend. She almost made me like dogs again.... almost.

Friends that have been around forever.

Just to hang out



The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

and if it does, let's just hope it's in the water.

Parc

On Thursday we went to the new Steven Starrs restaurant, Parc. Strangely familiar, in fact a lot like NYC's Balthazaar. Really fun though, gorgeous night, we sat outside and chatted and people watched.

Steve, Me, Lisa, Sue and Lorna
Having so much fun that Sue called her very funny and understanding husband and made him take the train down and meet us so she could get her party on and not have to drive

So he did. He likes to try and one up me in the sketchy parenting category. I think he has me beat, I am admitting defeat. They have a 12 yr. old and for years when she was younger and someone would ask what he does, the answer was, "His job is to keep me off the pole." So twisted. I can't top that.
All in all, a fun night. Like I said, if you've been to Balthazaar, this will look very familiar to you. Nice to have in the city.
Anonymous, are you working on backstage still??? I know you're reading this. I'm still feeling it.

Thin the Herd!

After days of nothing to say, now I have a lot. I also feel the pressure anonymous to entertain you. No, not pressure, but I want you to be happy. I have to start with this little bit though, because it annoyed me. I don't know why, but it did.
So my friend Lisa, who is mentioned in here A LOT has a ton of friends. Really, so many. She is the nicest person ever. She goes out of her way to do anything for anybody. She runs charity events, baseball stuff, lunches, brunches, you name it, she does it. It makes me exhausted thinking about it. Anyway, back to her way to many friends. The other day she is having lunch with her friend, lets call her Mary. She invites me to go. I don't know Mary, never met her, but of course I say, "Sure." So we go have lunch, now Mary's nice enough, she is just started yoga and called child's pose, "Child's play," which was cute. She seemed fine. She did go on and on about how strict she was as a parent, how she watched everything her two boys did. How she read there e mails, txts, im's. Listen, whatever, I don't care what anybody else does. Not my deal. I politely listened to her telling us how it's done, ate my sushi and we all went to Lisa's club to pick up our kids.
Now, before I tell the rest of that day I have to jump ahead to where the next day she's takes the time out of her day to call Lisa and leave her a message, "Call me. I have to ask you something." Lisa calls her back and Mary says, "Was that a NOSE RING Amy had on? " "Yes, "Lisa said, "Why?" Mary says, "I just couldn't figure it out. And I saw she had a tattoo too." (Two actually Mary, but who's counting, oh yeah, you) Lisa was annoyed with her because her voice was full of judgement. Lisa hung up and went about her day.
So back to picking up our kids. Lisa. Mary and I sit down at a table outside and wait for the kids to be done swimming. My nine year son comes over and sits down at the table with us. Without any prompt from his pierced, tattooed mother he looks Mary straight in the eyes, puts out his hand and says, "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Judgemental" (no, he didn't say that) but he did do the rest. As polite and well mannered as he could be (even though, he too, has a pierced ear). Then Mary's teenage son came over. Didn't look at Lisa or I. Didn't say thank you to Lisa for having him at her club, just stood there looking at his shoes. Hmmmm.... I'm sorry Mary, I win. And technically it's not a nose ring, it's a diamond.