Sk8erBoy

So, we made a little stop at Toys R' Us yesterday and came out with a skateboard. And pads. And a new helmet. And gloves. He wanted ramps, too, but that will have to wait as I have not yet lost total control of my common sense. We arrived home in the drizzle but that was no impediment to about 90 minutes of skateboarding in the driveway and sidewalks. I think we have a winner, folks. He actually is trying to do tricks by flipping the tail, etc. Too funny.

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Had a fun weekend in NJ with Nana, Aunt M, Michelle, and the Cousins. Spent lots of playtime together at parks, the backyard, etc. And despite the dire forecasts, the weather was lovely--even a bit chilly once or twice.

Book Club

A lovely new friend in the neighborhood invited me to join a small book club that meets once a month. Yes, yes. I'm busy. But as I've mentioned before I'm down one-friend this year due to the gravitational pull of the German people, so I'm committed to being open to new friends and am trying to figure out really hard when I can see the friends I already have. So, off to the book club I go and I have figured out how to enjoy a book when you really have no choice but to read it two pages at a time.

Anyway, this month's book is "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. I finished it last week and I'd score it at 6.5 on a scale of 1-10. Its a gothic style story which means that much happens that is key to the story/mystery that is not discussed and that you have to figure out. Some folks love that--me, not so much. But the writing itself is lovely and there is a passage that touched me that I feel so compelled to share I cannot resist it:

" People disappear when they die. Their voice, their laughter, the warmth of their breath. Their flesh. Eventually their bones. All living memory of them ceases. This is both dreadful and natural. Yet for some there is an exception to this annihilation. For in the books they write they continue to exist. We can rediscover them. Their humor, their tone of voice, their moods. Through the written word they can anger you or make you happy. They can comfort you. They can perplex you. They can alter you. All this, even though they are dead. Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in ice, that which according to the laws of nature should pass away is, by the miracle of ink on paper, preserved. It is a kind of magic. "

O-Town 2009

It was a great, fun visit to the "Happiest Place On Earth". Here, a shot from visiting the new T-Rex restaurant at Downtown Disney. Kind of like a pre-historic Rainforest Cafe. The food was good and they have a Glacier Room in which you are surrounded by glowing blue ice walls embedded with the bones of dinosaurs. Pretty cool. No pun intended.

This is the bridge on Tom Sawyer Island where we killed some time waiting for our Fast Pass time on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

My boys at the Tomorrowland Raceway. How cute are they?

That's a happy driver right there!

This was the favorite attraction at Blizzard Beach. I think that Connor must have zipped this line 50 times. It was cute to watch him on the line talking to the other kids about technique, etc.

And here's a zip line release. Spectacular!

Another extremely popular item during the week was the $10.99 jet ski raft that saw much use at the pool. It got deflated and brought home rather than passed on as we usually do. There was some deep attachment formed.

Waiting on line at the "Jaws" ride at Universal. Last time we went this ride absolutely freaked him out--but he said he wanted to try again and he was fine. It still got me, though. When that shark pops up on my side of the boat I jump.

Speaking of jumping, this is us at Hawaiian Rumble Mini Golf. Massive volcano in the center of the courses. It erupts in the middle of our game and it startles me so much that I scream out loud. I got picked on for that for awhile.

Connor coming down the mini-slide at the Ski Patrol area in Blizzard Beach. Really great area and idea for a whole section geared toward not-toddlers and not teenagers.

Connor on the 1500 lb. Belgian Draft Horse at Arabian Nights VIP Experience. Hysterical. The whole thing was so schmaltzy but fun. Connor really liked it and LaLa came with us so that was nice.

Breakfast with the Cat In the Hat. He finally makes his way over to our table which was tucked behind a big column and how does Connor open up the conversation? "Hey, one of my cats died!" Cat puts his paws to his mouth in mock horror. I go with it and say "Yes. And he was black and white, too!". Cat puts his paws up to his ears and starts to back away from us in mock fear. Too funny.

And then Spidey came to see us. I have to tell you that this guy was totally awesome. He even sounded like Spidey. He spent so much time talking to Connor about things. It was just great. I need to send Universal a letter. Plus, he was a Red Sox fan!

I still have no PC at home so my posts will be seldom until that problem is solved!

Remains of The Day

Here's some shots from the balance of the Birthday. Fun was had at T-ball and with friends at Dave and Busters.

On The Six

This is what we looked like six years ago. Happy, sleepy, and judging by the diameter of my fingers--swollen! It was a long day waiting around for that slow poke woman in front of me to hurry up and get her baby out so that the doctor could come do my C-section. How rude of her to delay your arrival. I literally cannot believe that it has been six years. I remember my own sixth birthday. Its scary! Well, here we go:

Happy 6th birthday to my little man,

What sweet joy you bring,

As you sing, jump, and slam.

The brain inside your cranium's,

like uncontrolled uranium.

You sizzle.

You pop.

We can't make you stop.

Nor would we wish it,

to ever be so,

The most fun we have is watching you grow.

You test us.

You best us.

You never sit still.

Your life will be rich due to sheer force of will.

Thanks for reminding us every day,

That the true joy of life comes when you play,

When you laugh, when you dance, when you take life by chance.

Just like we did when we had our kid.

Even though some days I'm flipping my lid.

Here's a toast to our boy with wink and a smile,

We love you so much --as wide as a mile.

Prom

Prom season is almost here. I've had another reason to dig through my photos lately - I hadn't looked at them in a very long time. I found these and they absolutely cracked me up.






1985-Senior Prom. That's me and my boyfriend at the time, Jim, who was a year younger than me. I notice that his tie and cummerbund are tartan plaid--a bold choice for a high-school Junior. I don't remember being involved in that decision. My hair is scrunched up. I'm pretty darn sure that was Aussie Sprunch Spray in there. The dress was a great choice and pretty classic. Not many girls wore black dresses back then --as is evidenced by the other two chicks who are drowning in hideous gunne sax lace. I don't even know their names. They were the dates of the other boys who were actually my friends. A pattern of me being better friends with the guys than the girls that continues to this day. And you have to admit that fur stole certainly demonstrates some bold confidence! If I could just get those upper arms back.....

Next week there will be a Bob Tate prom photo.....brace yourselves for the power of POWDER BLUE.