OMG, Where to begin?

The problem with taking a few days off, is that it's hard to know what to include, or even to remember it all.

There were many moments over the weekend, where I thought, "Heh, I'll blog about that". Well, too late, but I'll try to recap everything while not sending you off to sleep.

Friday:
So, on Friday, we packed the car and headed for the Adirondacks to the "family cabin" and to reunite with our two kids (who seem to be more adorable after being away from us for 2 weeks) and catch up with my brother and sis-in-law, and my cousins and their families, and my aunt and uncle. (My mom got everyone started on gathering for a family reunion up there in 2001 and everyone's come together every summer since. Thanks, Mom - but that's a whole 'nother story.)

Anyway, DH thought it would be a last hurrah to bring the dog. Now, this is the same dog who poops in the car on the 3 mile trip to the vet, and hyperventilates in the car and who can barely walk, but, whatever. I gave him a doggie chill pill and actually, he did very well. (Okay, DH was r-r-r-ight).
But anyway. We met my brother in Old Forge, had ice cream, exchanged the kids, they went out for an anniversary dinner and we headed off to camp.

Now, this was the last night of a two week camp session - my kids were there for week one - so this was great that they got to join their friends for closing campfire and say good-bye and DH could tour the camp and talk with the counselors and director, etc.
Anyway, the deer up there are abundant and I got some photos of them approaching me as I maneuvered closer for a snapshot. They were definitely not intimidated at all.
After a forgettable dinner, I took a quick peek at email and blogs (yay for wireless internet access!), and then we donned bug spray and hoofed it over to the closing campfire.

The camp director warned us that it could be long.

She even joked that we might want to sneak out early.

She wasn't kidding.

As we silently approached the campfire, we were given a wooden chip to throw in the fire. Then we walked the gauntlet and shook hands with all the young CITs and LITs (counselors and leaders in training). The handshakes were a bit awkward as we fumbled for a grip. It wasn't until the 6th shake that I noticed DH's grip.

Oh, great, there's a secret traditional camp handshake that NO ONE told me about. Didn't I look like an idiot when everyone else split their fingers in a Vulcan-like manner and threaded fingers as they shook?!

Anyway, I got over that and we sat on very nice wooden benches overlooking the lake. The stars were out in full force, the air was clear and cool and the bats were diving overhead. But nevermind, the setting was touching as you could hear the sounds of animals skittering in the woods and the sniffles of hormonal teenagers coming to grips with the fact that they were leaving paradise, their bestest friends EVAH, hot breakfasts everyday, fresh air and sunshine and bunkbeds - all within the next 14 hours.

The tears were building, along with the numbness spreading over my left butt cheek and heading towards my toes. Now, most campfires are known for a sprinkling of camp songs (Kum-By-Yah, anyone?), skits, sharing of memories and some sort of good-bye ritual. And lots of teenage angst and drama as the (mostly the girls) campers are overcome with emotion of how meaningful camp is.

This campfire lacked the 1. skits 2. rousing, spirited camp songs 3. Kum-By-Yah and 4. Direction.

What it has a LOT of? The good-bye ritual.

265 campers and staff gathered by cabin around the campfire and each shared something they were thankful for at camp before they tossed in their wood chip. Touching, right? Well, some kids were VERY thankful and even had a list. Very touching to hear that they were thankful their parents sent them to camp, thankful for friends, thankful for new experiences, thankful for Mike D - thebestcounselorevah! and for JohnMurphy Who Rocks! You get the idea.

By the 47th time I heard the name John Murphy, I was thinking I found a new drinking game!
If I had played, I would have had to have been carried out of the woods in a most undignified manner. Uh huh. Kum-By-Yah my ass.

The campfire lasted 2 and a half hours and then we had to drive another hour back to the Family Cabin.

Saturday:
Saturday was nice, we did a little traditional souvenir shopping in town, and got ready for the GatheringO'TheCousins later on that night. I'll shorten this a wee bit by summing it up like this:
cousins
(Note to self: Remember NOT to leave camera unattended around 10 year old daughter.) Update: Number One Son came clean. *He took the offending photo. And another one of my shoulder blade and backfat. Ugh.

water
canoes and rafts
dogs
beers
fireworks
glow sticks galore
cousins
fireworks
food
campfire
beer
(Yeah, we've got kind of a tie-dye thing going on. It's a family tradition now for Everyone to wear their tie-dye on our last night together. @@)

food
fire
beer
fireworks
sort of over at midnight

Got it? Thought so.

One more bit about Saturday night: sleeping arrangements at this rustic cabin are in a semi-private, loft-like area with bro and sis-in-law, my kids, 2 dogs and me and DH in a double bed. (No, we weren't ALL in the same bed - bro and sis-in-law and Number One Son had their own beds)
He snores.
He's used to a KING size bed. He's not really a small man.
He invited DD to join us in bed to snuggle.
Bed was hard, he was uncomfortable.

Therefore, we were all miserable.

PS - *I really like that bed.

Sunday:
Pack up two weeks of dirty laundry and belongings of kids.
Worshipped at log-cabin church overlooking the lake - God's most beautiful place on earth, I think.
Boys went golfing.
Girls went exploring.

DD and I went swimming in the world's clearest lake.
Picnic lunch.
Visit to cemetery where my parents are - maybe another post, another time
More swimming in world's best lake.
Another souvenir stop, this time in Inlet.
Dog pooped in car. This'll be fun. It's 3 and a half more hours in the car to get home.
Threw DS's dirty, ratty sneakers over the telephone line on Big Moose Rd.
Had a moment of silence.
Back to camp as visiting dignitary to greet family campers at check-in. Another unforgettable dinner. No campfire this time.
Drive back home. Laundry.

Still too long an update, but I'm back and disappointed that all the witty stuff that I was going to write about has slipped away and is gone forever.

Random photo along Rt. 30.

Yes. He does.

In the meantime...

I will be back soon, but in the mean time, Tori from Baby Bloomr is the one that can write for me today. Here's the link to today's post: Being a Christian means ALWAYS having to say you're sorry.

Damn, she's good. :-)

Thank you, Tori.

I am increasingly thankful for those writers that are eloquent, succinct and beautiful in how they express they're thoughts. Oh, yeah, and the funny ones, too.

But today, Tori sums up Christianity and spirituality in a way that I totally agree with. I'm not Southern, I'm not evangelical, but yes, I'm a Christian. And liberal. And yes, I can be both. And a PK, too.

Comment and ask me if you don't know what a PK is.

I'll be back soon...

....hopefully.

At this rate, between work projects and dirty laundry from the trip, I may never blog again.


Well, at least in August. :-(

Spam, spam, spam, spam

Spam. I get a lot of it.

But sometimes it's really funny.

For instance, today's spam included a handy offer for cheap breast augmentation.

As if I'd entrust the medical care of my body (the temple) to someone CHEAP.

AND who trolls for patients on the internet.

Particularly funny since I had a REDUCTION earlier this year. Har, har.

Oh, and the usual Viagra, generous Nigerian solicitors offering me their kingdom for a pittance, along with their cohorts - Nigerian widows who are looking to donate their millions to a worthy like-minded Christian organization or person, and online degrees, internet dating, and friendly lasses who invite me to come chat. hah!

Somehow I missed out on the latest Brittany one that's been circulating.

Anyway, more later, but I really need to get out of here and I've procrastinated practically the whole day away.

There was something else (nonspam related) to share, but I've forgotten already. Must be my advanced age.

Coincidentally, when I spoke with Number One Son in the Adirondacks (in between mountain climbing expeditions), he informed me he had Spam yesterday.

Seperated Separated at birth?

:::muttering::: damn, I used to be *such a good speller.

Thanks to SoulMoxie for this idea. She has a contest on her blog about celebrity look-a-likes, spawned by Lorrie who said she looks like Drew Barrymore.

Go see for yourself.

Anywho, I googled "celebrity look-a-likes" and found this site. "Findmycelebritylookalike.com"

Look who they thought I looked like.

Are you kidding? I'm going with Diane Lane, but it's a stretch.

Maybe if you take off your glasses and squint.

Thanks.

You can pick yourself up off the floor and stop laughing.

::: stamping foot::: Right. Now.

I mean it.

Update - I'm moving this from the comments section:
Oh, great. I tried MyHeritage.com for comparison.

The first photo I used brought up Serena Williams, Sally Field, Shania Twain, Kim Catrall and some guy I can't identify - look:

wtf? Sorry, WTH?

Here's the second group:

Mandy Mooore? Ashton Kutcher? Brad Pitt? Mike Meyers? What's with all the dudes?

Ouch.

Oh, and I could only choose 8 out of 10 images for my comparison.

Guess who was on BOTH lists?

Yup, Serena Williams.

My faith in computer technology just took a dive.

Go on, give it a try. Who's your look-a-like?
Go on.... put it on your blog. I dare ya!

Bears, Bats and Bugs - YIKES!!!

So, my kids are up in the Adirondacks doing all sorts of Adirondack-y things with my BrotherTheirUncle and Aunt Sue and all my cousins and their families.

So, every time I've called them, they've been down by the river, or hiking or swimming with cousins;

...and while I'm enjoying my current responsibility-free hiatus from parenthood, I was missing them feeling guilty at pawning them off on my bro and cousins.

They finally called this morning as I was getting ready for work. (Yes, I was late, but it was worth it)

In the past two days, they saw a bear - less than 200 yards away (Holy WinnieThePooh - isn't that like only about ONE BLOCK!?) while playing at the Beckery House (cool rented house on a hill above the river - very isolated),


had a bat flying around the kitchen of the cabin while they were trying to make pancakes,
(I hear much shrieking and screeching ensued - bro and Number One Son were out on an early morning hike)

and my daughter got a leech on her foot.
She says it bled for an hour and 45 minutes.

They report that they're having a blast.

Of *course they are. :-X

*that is not the actual black bear or cabin kitchen and that is not my daughter's flesh being eaten by the yucky leech.

We go pick them up on Friday and will spend a raucous weekend doing Adirondack-y things with my cousins. :-)

Happy Meals & Happy Hour: The BuyCrap Party

A couple of weeks ago, Lorrie, of Our Name Is Mud fame said everything I wanted to, better than I ever could.

Today, it's the very funny Sue (Hey, Sista!) from Happy Meals and Happy Hour.

It's one of the new blogs I've discovered when I should be weeding/foldinglaundry/payingattentiontomyhusband/
meditating/promotingworldpeace, etc.

You can thank me later.

She's said it perfectly. I bow down to her. She can post for me today.

Thank you, Sue. I'm tired anyway.

Damn Olympics.
And the geriatric dog that thinks it's perfectly normal to wake me up to pee at 3 AM.

Hey Desmond! That sh&* was okay 10 years ago - when I was already awake to tend the needs of a newborn. You don't qualify. Go back to sleep!

Anyway. Read it and remember it if you ever get the urge.

You're welcome.

Enjoy the day.

Nothing much

I'm still laying low, but I'm spending a LOT of time reading and discovering new blogs.

There are a *lot of funny writers out there, mostly moms.

Great. I'll never be bored, but I'm also never going to catch up on my laundry folding or my TBR pile.

Here are some of the books I'm looking forward to reading:
Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
Summer People by Brian Groh
Are you there Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Sail by James Patterson

What I'm reading now:
Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
The Summer We Got Saved by Pat Cunningham
The Book of Hard Things by Sue Halpern

I'm really only actively reading the first two, the others have sort of stagnated

What's on your list?

A great word!

acnestis
noun (acnest, es)

• (rfv-inflection, acnestes)

1. The part of an animal's skin that it cannot reach to scratch itself - usually the space between the shoulder blades.

Etymology: From Greek "a-" (negative prefix) + "kne^stos" = "scratched", a form of "kna^o" = "scratch". This same etymology of the Greek "aknestis" is uncertain.

************************
And Ping Pong? Is an Olympic sport? I get that it's competitive, and the players are agile, but an OLYMPIC sport?

Like on par with a triathalon or the 800 IM relay in swimming or gymnastics vaulting or sprinting?

Come on, isn't it a recreational diversion for teens in their family rec rooms?

Would someone please scratch my acnestis? Maybe I can use a ping pong paddle.

Monday

I'm just not getting out of bed.


And, randomly unrelated, but...SIX posts since Friday? What was I thinking?!


You know what sucks?
Emailing your boss at 5:30 AM to tell him you're sick and then having him call at 11 AM because he didn't get your email. :-(

Disappointment, wth?

You know when you're really looking forward to something and it just doesn't measure up?

Well, DH and I went out for breakfast this morning to our favorite unpretentious Greek (is there any other kind worth going to?) diner, and it just wasn't good.
Maybe I had too much coffee before we left. Maybe I was too hungry. We went about 10 AM. But on the short ride over I felt light-headed and queasy, so I wasn't in the best frame of mind when we went in.
But the funk! Was gross. Now, to be fair, DH didn't smell it, but I swear it smelled like a nursing home or old person's living room. WTH? That's not what a diner is supposed to smell like.

The eggs(over-medium) were too runny, the homefries (usually what I look forward to the MOST) tasted uncooked and without any discernible flavor, the whole wheat toast was burnt, and DH asked for cinnamon to put on his french toast and the smell was overwhelming. Damn, I sound bitchy, huh? Sorry about that.

But really, cinnamon mixed with stale old-people smell is not a good combination. And I still had the sweats. Now I have vurps. You know what they are, right? Sorry, TMI.

It can't be morning sickness and I swear I'm too young for hot flashes, and I double-pinky swear that I only had one glass of Pinot Grigio last night. Really.

Here's hoping this beautiful, sunny, responsibility-free, childless day gets better.

Enjoy yours.

Update:
Unfortunately it only got worse. I have some sort of stomach bug. Yuck.

PS: Just what *is the proper etiquette when you just KNOW you're about to puke and you're in a public place? Tell me what I should have done, and I'll tell you what I did.

And no, I'm not talking about drunken puking. I remember dimly what that etiquette is (hah! Drunken Puke Etiquette - that's an oxymoron). I'm talking OhShitI'mReallySickHere etiquette.

Where is everybody?

Oh, yeah, it's Saturday.

You all have a life.

I do too, sort of.

But the good thing is...

Wireless Internet access. Yup.

I'm sitting on my boat, in the sun, with a glass of Pinot Grigio.

My husband and nephews are watching the THIRTEENTH inning of the Yankees and Kansas City Royals, and my SIL and BIL are taking a nap after their exhausting 7 hour drive from CT. After the Yankees win or lose, and they wake up, we're taking a sunset cruise and then dinner at a dockside restaurant.

Life is good.

Or as we say in church sometimes:

God is good.

All the time.

Yankees won, later y'all.

Olympic Uniforms, part deux and customer service

NO, they're not related.

But I saw the men's beach volleyball uniforms last night and they included rather normal-looking sleeveless shirts and long (LONG) shorts. No skimpy muscle tanks for them, no sir. And no glint of thigh, either. What's up with that?

And if you ask me, those new swim unitards seem like a throw-back to Puritan days. Yes, I know they're more aerodynamic (or is that aquadynamic?), but competitive swimming was the one place that Speedos looked good.

And now they've gone and sold the excess stock to paunchy, middle-aged European men who wear them on the beaches of South Florida with no thought of their effect on unsuspecting vacationing families. :::shiver:::

As for customer service, I was back at the nail salon yesterday (so not like me, but I cleaned house yesterday and didn't wear gloves - the horror! So, I chipped the nice manicure that I got on Monday. So I went in for a "polish change" - a frivolous indulgence that I'd never considered before. But, I digress)

Anyway, the propietors and staff are Vietnamese and very friendly. They always greet people coming in the door with an enthusiastic "Hello there! How are you!?" (insert accented singsong here). "Do you want a water? Soda? You sure? It's no problem."

The woman who helped me yesterday was Lee (I'm not sure if it's really Lee or if she figured I couldn't remember or pronounce her real name - but everyone there is Kim or Lee) and she was sooo complimentary.

"You look very pretty" "Very pretty jacket" "Pretty lady and pretty jacket" and so on. "You are so lucky, going to dinner, you have a nice time" "Have a good weekend!"

I think it would be worth $7.00 to go there everyday and have them stroke my ego. Do you think they'd open up at 8 AM so I can go in before work? It's hard not to be in a good mood after that. It's infectious.

Contrast that to the hair salon I go to. I love Tom, I've been seeing him for like, 14 years. He always tells me I'm beautiful, too, but he also busts my chops in a good-natured way if I can't decide which direction to go with my hair.

He's fine, but his receptionist staff could learn a thing or two from the nail salon across the courtyard. I never know their names because there's a different flat-ironed blonde at the desk each month. They barely glance up from the computer monitor (are they on match.com or Facebook?) or fashion magazine to say hello.

Anyway, enjoy the day.

Need a babysitter?

Okay, a friend posted this on Facebook and I had to steal it.

To give credit where credit is due, it's from www.ductbills.com

How cute is that baby? I say Very.

How do YOU start your day?

Do they have this at Starbucks?

Olympic athletic wear

I can understand the need for aerodynamic athletic wear in speed sports like running and swimming, but am I the only one that wonders why volleyball necessitates a itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bikini as opposed to something more, well, athletic?Is it because they play on sand? Or is it just gratuitous skin? I would think with all that diving and jumping, you would want an outfit that wouldn't have the possibility of riding up or allowing sand to enter your nether regions.

I'm just sayin' I'd think a tankini top and boy shorts would be more practical.

Anyone else?

Just an FYI

It's totally okay to correct my typos, grammatical and spelling errors.

It appalls me to see them when I look back at old posts and I'm compelled to go back and change them.

I'm a lousy typist and apparently, a lousy proof-reader.

So, don't let me get away with it. It won't hurt my feelings if you mock me for them, I'll just be grateful to be able to correct them.

What Not to Wear

You'd think I would dress a lot better considering how much I (mentally) criticize others for their fashion choices.

But noooo, I just *think I'm a fashionista because I watch too much of TLC's What Not to Wear.

But really, at Marshall's, the 4 inch lime green patent leather heels are on the clearance rack for a REASON, people. No. One. Else. Would. Buy. Them. Think about it for a minute. Then put them back on the rack and Walk. Away.

And I have nothing against a well-placed, discreet tattoo*, but when you combine it with a bra-strap bearing** baring tank, facial piercings and garishly glittered and painted fake nails, I'm not getting a positive first impression. Sorry 'bout that.

Personally, I think Nail Art belongs on preteens or Porn Stars. But that's just me; you're free to do what pleases you, of course.

Oh. And don't get me started on over-tweezed eyebrows.

*Really, I'm not bashing tattoos. I really like this one:
Not the one under his arm - the one over his left nipple. It looked better on TV last night, but this is the only one I could find. He's HOT. And so is Michael Phelps and they're both young enough to be my sons, I'm pretty sure. Slap me now and get it over with.

Enjoy the day.

** see what I mean, people? Geesh.

Our Name Is Blog: The Skinny

Okay, there are days when I think other bloggers should just post for me. Lorrie fits that bill today.

Our Name Is Blog: The Skinny

Enjoy.

How much is too much?

Blogging and reading blogs, that is.

Do you ever feel consumed with checking repeatedly to see if your cyber-friends have updated their blogs? No? Just me, huh? Okay, then.

There is help.

Check out Bloglines. You can add blogs and websites to your "feed" and just check one site - Bloglines to see which ones have updated.

Hallelujah! Yes, I'm a time-wasting geek. But at least now I'm a more efficient one. :-)

One thing, when I signed up, it kept giving me a message that my account was unconfirmed and to request another confirmation email. I requested a gazillion confirmation emails and got NONE. I've been using the site for a week now and still get that error message and yet it shows my feeds. Weird. So, don't worry about it, obviously.

Pain Is a Good Thing

No, not that kind of pain, I'm not That Kind of Gal.

The spicy, firey, hot, HolyCrapMyMouth'sOnFire kind of pain.

Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment. I like Indian curries, Mexican salsas, Szechuan chicken, Thai food, Vietnamese food, jalapenos, and more.

Strangely, I'm not a huge fan of spicy Buffalo chicken wings.

Last night I had empanadas from Juan and Maria's Empanada stop (how excited am I that they opened up a new take-out place near me and I don't have to wait to go to the Public Market on the weekends? Very.)

The empanadas themselves are not spicy - they're a delicious blend of beef, onions and Spanish spices. But they are sooo good when you add a dash of their special red or green homemade hot sauces. Or both. That's the way I like it.

They're even better enjoyed on a hot day with an icy cold beer. Outside on your deck. Yummm.

Number One Son likes them too, so we bought a bottle of their special sauce for our very own. Yum.

You can even order their stuff online - yay! http://www.empanadastop.com/

Huh?

Am I mistaken, or is this a dreamcatcher?
And aren't Dreamcatchers supposed to catch, well, DREAMS?

So why do I see these hanging from car mirrors justabouteverysingle day?

Does it make sense?

Are these people sleeping at the wheel!?

Start your day off with a smile

...and a giggle.

Is this not the greatest mug?

If you know me, you know why Me using this mug is funny. Hysterical, even.

If you want your very own Goddess mug, or Diva mug (that's a fun one) or cute wine stoppers, bowls, platters and other Wonderful Things, go visit Lorrie at the Our Name Is Mud website for LOTS of Fun Stuff. Really. It's worth the visit.

And if you live in the Rochester area, I found her cool stuff at A Different Point of View on Monroe Ave in Pittsford (or is that Brighton?). You can also find them at Possibilities, One Cool Mama, and Parkleigh - all Stores That I Love.

Enjoy the day. I know I will.

My coffee tasted better this morning. :-) Thanks, Lorrie.

Oh, PS - If you're old like me and remember Steve Martin in "The Jerk", you'll appreciate the giddy excitement of "the new phone book's here!".

That's how I felt yesterday when UPS rang my doorbell and left me the package that included the spectacular mug pictured above.

And how was I so lucky? Because I'm a WINNER, that's why. :-)

Actually, I shamelessly took advantage of Lorrie's promotion and invitation to link her blog in exchange for a mug. So, I'm not special, but Lorrie is. :-)

That thing I forgot yesterday...

The setting: a roadside drive-in - the old-fashioned kind with great burgers and generous ice cream cones

The model: a young mom, maybe in her 20's, chasing around a toddler (walking baby) who was wearing a dirty t-shirt and a saggy diaper.

The fashion faux-pas: a non-descript halter top - the kind that looks like an apron with an open back. (That's bad enough, right?) Providing a unobscured view of her tattoo, and also her undergarments, er, pink dental floss. It's bad enough when someone shows their "whale tail" when bending over, but this was ridiciulous. There was no whale tail. There was literally a piece of pink string, with a little green flower at the intersection of the "waistband" and the buttcrack floss. And it showed above her whoosh-y track pants (you know the kind) even when she wasn't bending over. Ewww. And on a side note, the pants and top and dirty flipflops did not even complement each other.

I was really trying hard not to stare. And I think I exercised great restraint in not running to the car to retrieve my camera. It would have been handy to have a camera phone.

I tried googling an image, but there were none that were suitable for a family friendly blog.

I knew I'd forget....

What I was going to write about whilst away from civilization.

Let me see what I can remember...

Took all day to be ready to depart. I pretty much expected it, so I wasn't stressed until the last hour. My children are slower than molasses.

The dog pooped in the car on the way to the Vet. This is why I decided he was too old for the car ride to the Adirondacks. I had to throw away the blanket he smeared the poop all over. Gag.

Too many stops along the way. We stopped for gas at the Oneida reservation - waaay cheaper than here. Here = $4.19 a gallon. Oneida reservation = 3.83 a gallon. And I was happy at that.

At the gas station, I was flabbergasted to see a bumper sticker on a car that read,

"I fake it.
So he'll buy me more stuff".

The woman pumping gas was no prize, but I suppose that's irrelevant. I'm all for snark, but this just struck me as crass.

There was something else, but I forgot it, of course.

Kids bickered, I snapped, life goes on.

We arrived before dark. Just.

A cute little field mouse kept playing hide and seek with us from the fireplace gate. It *is a cabin in the woods, so not surprising.

It was nice to play Tiddly Winks, Old Maid and do a jigsaw puzzle in the absence of tv and computer.

My Dad's voice is still on the answering machine there. Creepy.

Visited the cemetery where my parents are buried. A peaceful place overlooking the golf course and Cedar River. Black-eyed susans blooming by the headstone, I think I'll bring some purple coneflowers next week to plant beside them. Still no date by my Dad's name. It's been a year, I thought Erik was taking care of that.

Went to the beautiful log cabin church on the shore of Blue Mountain Lake. It's a summer only church that serves the seasonal people and campers. It's like going home. If you click on the link, my Dad's in the photo (his back is to the camera) talking to some folks after church. There's a bench there now dedicated to his memory. That's really a nice tribute.

Oh - and it was beautiful weather on the drive up. Just gorgeous. The weather today for drop off? Rainy. Of course.

And it got worse while driving home. Thunderstorms with damaging winds. It figures.

And I had to pick up the dog between 4 and 6 pm. So, I basically dropped my kids off, unloaded the car, kissed them good-by and left. Granted, they didn't want me hanging around either, but it was quick.

So, I'm cruising along the Thruway and the GPS tells me I'll arrive at my destination with, like, 8 minutes to spare, when all traffic stops. 15 miles from my exit. There was an accident. So, I'm freaking a little because the Vet doesn't answer the phone on weekends. I end up arriving 12 minutes late and they actually answered when I knocked, so I got my dog. Yay! Now he's hiding because the thunder rolled in here, too.

Good news, DH asked me to join him and his golf buddies for an Italian dinner. Bonus! I thought I was on my own tonight.

Nothing witty, sorry for the ramble.

See y'all tomorrow. No I'm not Southern, we used to use that term in Philly. Right along with youse. Shut up. I do not have an accent. Really.

Update: Every single freakin' restaurant in Rochester is either closed on Sunday or stops serving at 8 PM. Geesh. The damn sidewalks are all but rolled up.

So, we had a lovely dinner at this place, despite the gentlemen wanting to go someplace "fancier". The food was FANTASTIC - so there, boys - would I steer you wrong?

Just a few things...

...before I'm off to the NoInternetAccessWilderness that are the Adirondacks.

Dh has been absent in the midst of a major golf-every-day Golf Fix this week. Games and charity tournaments on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, then golf buddies who arrived Thursday night for a 3 day golf marathon this weekend.

No, he's not a pro. He's the CEO of a not-for-profit and golf is part of the gig in the summer. It's where relationships are forged, donors are prepped, deals are made. Blah, blah, blah. It's not all grind, he loves golf, so he endures. ;-)

Anyway, the weather hasn't been ideal for ducks and swans this week, much less golfers.

But can you believe that with all the drenching we got yesterday - he got NONE of it?! It was the weirdest day, rain on one side of the street, not on the other. And when I was driving through a downpour, I could see the blue sky over yonder.

Lucky him. I didn't even see a rainbow.

Anyway, if we're going to arrive in the ADKs to enjoy a swim in the clearest, blue-est lake I know, we're going to have switch into high gear this morning.

Enjoy the day.

Is this a bad thing?

Soo, it rained cats and dogs here this morning, no it dumped elephants and hippos. Really.

So, tore myself away from my laptop and all of it's glorious, timewasting word games and played a REAL board game.

Yup. Uh-huh. They still exist.

I played Scrabble with my Darling Daughter. I even helped her with placement and hints when she was stumped.

I didn't use a dictionary or online word generator. I didn't even have the advantage of the computer shuffling my letters for me. I had to suck it up and rearrange them myself.

Sooo, I trounced her.

Is it bad that I gloated?

She's a worthy competitor and pretty sophisticated in her vocabulary for a game-playing 10 year old. She always looks over my shoulder when I play online Scramble and suggests words. Usually ones I haven't picked out yet.

So, I don't feel too sorry for her.

But yes, I gloated. On the inside. :-)

Another sleepover

And the house is still trashed. I should be embarrassed.

I'm still treading water - no drowning - in kids' camp stuff. I have to pack it all up and take them to in the Adirondacks tomorrow, so it'll have to be gone then, anyway. I mean they're taking most of it with them.

Yikes! Tomorrow! I totally have so much sorting to do. And I have to pack another set of clothes and supplies because they'll be visiting family at the cabin in the Adirondacks after camp.

My brother will be picking them up at camp - that gives me a little anxiety because I'm always afraid they won't pack up everything. Luckily, I usually make them take their cruddiest t-shirts and towels so it doesn't matter if they lose them.

But that just means they'll lose a pillow or a shoe (yes, just one) or a flashlight, etc. I know, it's not a big deal, it's just annoying. And I was kidding about the anxiety, you know that, right?

So anyway, last night, we took a break. Number One Son and his friend went to see The Mummy and Darling Daughter and I went to see The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. A little over DD's head in some parts (thankfully) but a cute story about girlfriends nonetheless.

And if you read my Twitter or Facebook, I was KIDDING about the alcohol. I am a responsible parent when my kids have sleepovers. Really. Although my house is a mess and I fell asleep on the couch with the computer (no alcohol involved!)

That sinking feeling...

No, not the boat, although it continues to have problems with the electrical systems that the Sea Ray engineers FlownUpFromThePlantInFlorida haven't been able to pinpoint yet - at least it's a sea-worthy craft.

No, I'm talking about that feeling in your stomach when it flip flops because you sense danger
because
something
is
not
quite
right.

It's never a good sign.

Let me explain.

I sent Number One Son who-is-now-a-teen-ager to the town library today. It involves riding his bike along a popular canal path and is no more than 3 or 4 miles. An easy ride. A well-populated, safe route. He's done it before.

He has a cell phone. See previous birthday posts from June if you're interested.

So, I feel confident that this is an okay way to let him test his teen-age wings and taste a little freedom. He always checks in when he arrives and when he is about to leave for home. And I know I can reach him.

I called his phone to remind him to come home to get ready for football camp (*that's a whole 'nother adventure) and he didn't answer.

I texted him. (yeah, I'm hip - I used it as a verb - you *can teach an old dog new tricks.)

I tried to call a friend who I thought he might have met for pizza.

My phone rang. His number was on the screen.

It wasn't him.

Deep breath.

The last time I called a cell phone and the cell phone owner didn't answer it wasn't good news.

See, last March, I called my Dad's cell phone to check on his ride from home from Rochester to Bethlehem and SomeoneWhoWasn'tHimAnswered.

It was a State Trooper, who asked who *I was.

Insert
sinking
feeling
here.

My Dad had had a heart attack and was taken to a hospital in Corning. The trooper didn't tell me, but he was already dead.

Where was I when I made those calls? On an Amtrak train enroute from Albany to Rochester.

Alone.

This time, the person on my son's phone identified himself as a cyclist who found the cell phone on the towpath.

Deep breath.

So, now I'm not so freaked, but I know that I have to track down Number One Son and hope that he is safely ensconced at the library.

Should I worry that he's been kidnapped? Fell in the canal? Angry that he lost his phone?

I retrieve the phone and thank the cyclist, and spy Number One Son's bike on the bike rack outside the library.

Breathe HUGE sigh of relief.

I enter the library and look for him, and as I see him, I can see that he looks a little worried and is looking under the chairs and tables. Aha! He's just realized that he doesn't have his phone when he sees me and looks *really worried.

Anyway, the doofus put the phone in his front pocket instead of clipping the case to his belt loop or buttoning it in his cargo pocket.

I think I have a few more gray hairs.

Question of the Day.....

So, those of you who blog.......

Do your Real Life Friends and/or family read your blogs?

Or is it mostly Internet Friends or Far-Away Friends?

I don't know too many Real Life Friends or neighbors who blog (well there's one {Hi Karen!} but her blogging is about a specific subject).

Or maybe they blog, but I just don't know about it? :-)

Geesh, I need a life!

I know a few have "found" me here, and that's fine.

I think it's a great way to gain insight into people (or just be bored senseless) or to keep up with what's happening if you're separated by distance and circumstance.

I'm just not sure if I'd be *completely comfortable for, like, my in-laws to read all this nonsense. I mean, I haven't written anything scandalous or embarrassing or anything, but I tend to ramble.

What do you think? Who reads you? Are you a private or public blog?


Inquiring minds want to know!

Do you censor yourself?

Oh, and I love all those maps and tracking stats. I think it's fascinating to see where people come from to read here, and to try and guess who they are.

So, is it stalking or healthy curiosity?

I have to say, I'm an avid people-watcher and reader and this sort of fills the bill on both counts - and I've found some really amusing reads by following the trail - by going to the site that lead someone here, then poking around that site and clicking through to blogs *they read. And so on.

What d'ya think?

I'm sad to say....

...that I have not made running (or wogging) a habit.

:::hanging head in shame:::

Between the heat and humidity, crazy schedules, and vacation plans, I have not laced up my sneaks in at *least 3 weeks.

Lousy excuses, all three, I know.

I'm embarrassed to say it could be even longer.

How can I get back on the wagon? Or the road, actually.

I just have to say....

I'm not ignoring my Number One Son.

It's just that DH went to pick him up from camp and didn't think it was an Occasion-to-capture-on-film.

So, alas, there are no photos.

And he's not the camera-hog that DD is.

But he's back, taller, handsomer, and a sailor. He was in the sailing program at his camp and had a great time! He'd like to spend all of his camp time in that program next year instead of in the general camp program.

And I think camp has done him some good as he's taken showers each day he's been home with no complaint, and actually completed his chores today while I'm at work. :-)

More pics - part deux

Here's my bro - much easier to see without eye strain.

Isn't this a great camp banner?

It was a great reunion!

This is the view through my windshield as we left camp. :-(

And this is the mountain of laundry this morning.

Believe it or not, there were two baskets already upstairs to be folded.

This was mounds of the dirty stuff. There was literally no where to move.

Ah, well, most of it is clean now - we'll see how long the folding and putting away takes. @@

Hope you enjoyed your day.

The pics I meant to post...

This is Darling Daughter heading out to paddle her two-man race, 10 and 11 year old division. They came in second place! Woohoo!

If you look veerryy closely, you can see my little bro in a yellow t-shirt

and some sort of bushwacker sunhat.

He was the race starter.

A very officialimportantperson!

::::beaming proudly:::

Darling Daughter lost a tooth while at camp!

She is *such a camper!

This was her 4-man race.

If you use a magnifying glass you can see that her boat

is sort of going in the wrong direction out of the course boundary.

Oops. :-x

More pics in a sec - it wouldn't let me load too many at once!

Our Name Is Blog: Great MuD August Giveaway!

This looks fun! And Our Name is Mud has really supercute stuff. Go check out Lorrie's witty blog, too, then follow the link to her online Mud web site.
Our Name Is Blog: Great MuD August Giveaway!
In the comment field below, finish this sentence:IF I MADE A MOUSE PAD, IT WOULD SAY____________________________________________
Winner will be picked by random (numbers out of a hat) on Wednesday August 6th.

Enjoy the day!

Under the weather

And I don't think mounds of laundry are helping my disposition at all.

Luckily, the kids are thrilled to be home and off gallivanting around the neighborhood with the other hooligans, so the house is quiet.

I feel the need for a butler, cook and housekeeper right about now. And the combined teams from Clean House and Clean Sweep. If they work together, this house might be saved.

Pics in a bit when I get off the couch to switch the laundry to the dryer.

I've been asked how I have time to fool around with blogs and word games and Facebook - it's a LOT easier when you have a laptop and can get online from a comfy couch or your comfy bed. Or even the hammock outside in the back yard. I used to hate sitting at the computer desk.

I'm baaack

I have waaay too much to catch up on, but I'm also drowning in camp laundry.

That's been fermenting for two weeks. And some of those days were rainy.

Peeeee-youuuu.

Thursday - Regatta

Darling Daughter paddled in 2 races. Her two man canoe came in second. Woohoo! Her four man canoe was a riot. She was the stern and they zig-zagged across the course like a sailboat tacking. We yelled words of encouragement and cheered her on, and were flabbergasted when she waved at us from the boat. It was hysterical. Her boat, predictably, came in last.

Saw good friends and marveled at how grown up their kids are. Saw my bro and my cousin.

Stayed up too late and drank too much wine while sharing stories and laughs with my cousin and her husband. Oops.

Friday - Day of rest and recuperation. (And that's all I'm sayin' about that.) Missed opportunity to do grown-up girl things with cousin, like lunch and exploration of antique shops in Nyack, with no kids in tow. Maybe next time, as I think this will be an annual pilgrimage. :-)

VBS play on Friday night. My nephew was a star as Jonah in the Old Tappan production of "A Whale of a Tale". Very cute. Both nephews have quite the personality and are adorable. Very bright and full of interesting information about all things Pokemon and Wii games.

My brother came to sleep over enroute to an ocean race in Connecticut. Nice visit.

Saturday - Time to pick up Darling Daughter from camp! Thunder rumbling as we loaded the car, and just as we got to the dining hall to check out, it poured. NO, it was a deluge. We went to the canteen and I swear a bolt of lightening hit a tree right outside the window!

5 hour drive home, now surrounded by stinky, wet laundry. Chinese food for dinner, Number One Son grew a foot (not really) while at camp. Glad everyone is home safe.

More later, maybe. Pics tomorrow.

Enjoy the evening!

I'm in Binghamton

...on my way to Bear Mountain to see THE REGATTA, a canoe race between youth camps that is a long standing tradition. Of course, the camp I'm rooting for has a long tradition of winning. :-)

Yes, in my youth, I was on the team - 2-man and 4-man canoes (well, woman) And I was the Waterfront Director one of our winning years. :-)

I'm very excited to see Darling Daughter tomorrow, and my cousin and her kids and my dear old camp friends who I don't talk to nearly enough. 

Because I'm a slacker. I'm much better at emailing and IMing than I am at actual in-person phone talking. But for anyone reading this who thinks I ought to call you more, I really do think of you all. Often. I'm just a slacker and it's easier to multi-task while on the computer than on the phone.

I hope DD is paddling tomorrow, but if not, the cheering is fun, too.  OOh, I forgot to mention that my brother will be one of the race starters - he's involved in the ACA. It'll be good to see him too. :-)

I'll be sooo embarrassed

...if my husband shows up on Fanny Pack Antics or Ugly Outfits NYC

I read them regularly. Religiously almost.

I even had my camera out and ready while on vacation last week, hoping to spot a fashion faux pas. 

You see, DH is on his way to NYC for an outdoor concert.  Yes, he packed his fanny pack. No, he's not wearing socks and sandals, but he is wearing an old David Crosby concert t-shirt. Or maybe the tie-dye.  

Oh, geez, if you see him, will you let me know?  If you run across him, please black out his face so no one else will know it's him.  It's the least you could do as a friend.

Although, honestly, if I could sneak a photo of him, I'd probably send it in myself. 

He's a true CSN, CSNY, NY and all variations thereof, fan. 

NO, Fan with a capital F. 

FAN!!!, even. 

He goes to every show he can, usually with the disclaimer that it could be the LAST because of David Crosby's health and the advanced age of all of them.

 I don't go to all of them with him. Once a year is usually enough.

He turned 50 at Halloween last year, so if this is the worst of the mid-life crisis - concerts and boats - I'm good with that.

Random vacation photos

Definitely amateur material, but here goes:

H-U-G-E ship going through the Welland canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Really cute tree on the lawn of an equally cute cottage in Port Dalhousie.

It's adorable, isn't it?

Lighthouse at Port Dalhousie with big tanker in the background.

Clock tower in the middle of the main street in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Yours truly in front of the clocktower

Gentleman with a "man purse" going in for a wine tasting

View of sunset from N-O-T-L looking over Lake Ontario towards Toronto.
Yes, we could see the Toronto skyline.

After the Kenny Loggins concert,

we stopped in town for a late night snack and beer.

This RV was parked right outside the bar next door.
Whoa.

How convenient.

Don't be fooled by the sunshine and fun pics.

It rained and thundered on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday ALL. DAY. And Friday morning. And Saturday Afternoon.

After lightening and a water leak that shorted out some systems, this is where DH spent 5 hours on Thursday and 4 more hours on Friday and 2 bours on Saturday afternoon and 2 more on Sunday morning. Yes, it's the engine compartment.

He was in a REAL good mood. Can't you just tell?

But - we're home. I'm in need of a shower, and I have to run out and buy more kitty litter.

Catch ya later.

I'm Alright

Psst. That's the title of a Kenny Loggins song.

It was actually a great concert. It was at the Chautauqua Institution which is an amazing place. The theater is a covered pavilion, and very intimate.

We were in the second row. DEAD CENTER.

And his show was good. Much better than when I saw him a few years ago. Then he was promoting new songs and didn't want to sing any of the old hits and he was cold. This time he was warm and connected and sang some of my favorite oldies, including "I'm Alright" and of course, "Footloose". :-)

I have to say, though, that it was a little disconcerting to watch his old-man-turkey-neck jiggle while being fixated on the fact that his forehead has absolutely no lines. At. All. Can you spell B-O-T-O-X? He's still kind of cute, but waay too prettyboy, kwim?

We went with friends. Funny friends. We had a great time. Too much food, too much drink and accompanying hilarity.

Until this morning that is. After our friends left, we had more electrical trouble. So any things have gone wrong on the trip, it's not even funny anymore. We were supposed to stop for gas in Olcott, then continue to another port for the night. Well, we ended up tying up at the visitor dock and here we sit.

Generator problems, module problems, no navigation lights, electrical systems that trip with every switch you touch. It's ugly.

There have been some bright moments, but this was not the child-free romantic get-away that DH and I envisioned.

One True Thing

I just read it.

The book. By Anna Quindlen.

Oh, my. I'm not very good about book reviews, but Wow.

It's a story about a young woman whose mother is dying of cancer and her father tells her to come home to care for her. She leaves her NYC apartment and job and comes home. Her mother is everything she is not. Everything her father is not. Warm, and nurturing and a homemaker. It's a tale of discovery, about herself, her mother and of her parent's marriage. The young woman is accused of giving her mother a fatal overdose of morphine as her disease progressed.

I cried. I couldn't help it. The writing of how her mother's disease progresses, of how their relationship progresses, is just so heart-wrenching. It's tragic and beautiful.

She's accused of mercy-killing, the reader thinks maybe the father did it. The answer is quite a surprise.

I highly recommend it.

Mid-vacation message

Well, the stories and photos will have to wait - I just discovered that I don't have the cord to download (or is it upload?) my photos from the camera. Crap.

Well, we're back in NY, and tonight we're going to see Kenny Loggins (:::yawn:::). We've had severe thunderstorms, lightening strikes, and a major electrical problem with the boat's systems. The ones that are important for steering, lights, AC, water, EVERYTHING. It's almost fixed now. We'll see.

Last night, the rain cleared and we went into Niagara-on-the-Lake for dinner, shopping and people-watching. It's a quaint, cute little town in the heart of Ontario's wine country. DH even volunteered to do some wine-tasting and we bought a very nice (read expensive, buttery and smooth) chardonnay.

Electrician's on board now, so I'm going to get out of the way and explore the cute little shops on Main Street. Enjoy the day!

The "Real" Vacation begins

Tomorrow DH and I leave for a little get-away on our boat.

We'll go to Port Dalhousie in ON, Canada, then Niagara-on-the-Lake, then Lewiston, NY (nothing special there, but friends will meet us and we'll drive to Chautauqua for a Kenny Loggins concert) Gah, that part sounds old.

Don't get me wrong, I like Kenny Loggins; but really, I saw him for the first time in college. And I graduated 25 years ago. (okay, that sounds really bad. But it's true)

Anyway, I don't know if I'll have Internet access or not. Somehow, I'll survive. I might get twitchy, but I. Will. Survive.

::::Cue Gloria Gaynor chorus - or, if you prefer, the Aretha version::::

Have a great weekend if I don't "see" you.

Enjoy the day!

Oh, here are two photos from the weekend - one is cropped because I didn't like the way my arms looked in the sundress, but it was so freakin' hot I couldn't wear the little sweater. really.

Like PearlsofSomething said on her blog, I reserve the right to remove the photo at any time - like as soon as I come to my senses. Mostly because of the stupid grin and squinty eyes. Geesh. It was a rough day. And definitely take note of the total frizz in the hair. Yikes. For about 8 and a half minutes, in the hotel room, it was straight, and styled and kind of cute. Then WHAMO, outside in the 97 degree heat plus accompanying humidity and total style melt down. Oh well.

And the second photo is Darling Daughter on the rock by her cabin at camp. Everyone takes a photo there and I *know I have one in an old album somewhere of *me on the same rock. Cool. :-)