Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Once Upon a Time Wednesday

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Easter dinner was a typical family meal, but with guests, so the conversation was even more lively. You would think we would try to tone it down a bit when guests were around, but not this family. There was talk of the shelf life of milk, the lessons my brother has taught his future bride (how to dry off after a shower without getting the bath mat wet was one), how the song "He's So Shy" came on the radio and my sister blurted out how I would sing it (in my head) to the crush I had in HS and one of our guests' dog was having issues with his knee. His partner said that the dog was so small he couldn't even imagine where the dog's knee was! I actually had to start writing things down so I would remember all this juicy stuff.

The best tid bit came flying out of my dad's mouth, which leads to:

Once upon a time, when my dad was in his early 20s, he and his buddies would come to the beach in Falmouth (which is on Cape Cod for all you out of staters). My dad is a very handsome man and let me just say, he was hot when he was younger. Not in an incestual way, I am just stating the truth.  My dad and his buddies would come to Falmouth on weekends in the summer. Evidently, at 3:00, if you did not have a date for that evening you would go stand at the water line. All the people at the water line would check each other out and hook up for the evening.

I can't tell you how loud the sound is when 10 people's jaws hit the dinner table at the same time.

This, I guess, was the precursor to Match.com?

How did this word get around the beach?

What was it like standing there  checking people out while you were being checked out... IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!? I mean a bar is one thing where it is at least dark and you have clothes on, but the beach in a bathing suit?! Yikes. (OK, obviously I have a few insecurities).

Now the real question is, do they still do this on the beaches of Falmouth? Anyone know the answer to this or am I going to have to take one for the team and test this out?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Yes, We Are Tapped



This past weekend while the girls were away,  I was invited to my parents house for dinner. That was not an unusual occurence, but what we did after dinner was pretty special. We taste tested 10-12 beers for the royal wedding.

That's right. When we talk about the royal wedding in our family, it more often refers to my brother's wedding in June. He and Jenn, his fiance, brought a bunch of beers with them for us to taste because they don't want the regular Bud/Bud Light on tap at their (royal) wedding. So there we were, Mom, Dad, groom, bride, my sister Karen, her husband Dave and me "testing" beers. The amusing thing was that the only real beer drinkers were my Dad, brother and Dave. The rest of us like wine, vodka or anything fruity with a high alcohol content.

(We split one beer amongst the 7 of us BTW. We are not that crazy to drink that many beers with a 7 month old intently watching us).

Anyhoo, we were able to vote on a 1-5 scale, but had to include adjectives. Thankfully my brother was writing this stuff down, because it got pretty funny right before he passed out. Just kidding, he didn't pass out, just started giggling like a girl.

Bride to be's language became increasingly wordy as the night wore on. I believe she started talking about the integrity of the beer. My sister came up with the description "ass-tastic" which was a good thing and "ass-ter-taste"* which was a bad thing.

Perhaps you would like to do your own taste test. Here is a chart my brother wrote about the beers and one of the better comments for each.

Berkshire Brewing Steel Rail EPA - Tom Sr "Didn't do it for me, 3 1/2"
Allagash White - Sal "It tasted like lemonade, 3"
Smuttynose Summer - Tom Sr "Words do not describe, 2"
Harpoon IPA - Karen "Too Dark. Ass-ter-taste, 2"
Smuttynose IPA - W2b "That will not be at the wedding, 0"
Wachusett Country Ale - Sue "Bland and not enthusiastic, 2"
Long Trail Pollinator - Dave "4, Just because"
Harpoon Summer - Karen "Bleh, 1"
Magic Hat #9 - W2b "It has integrity, 4"
Wachusett Summer - Dave "too weak, ass-less, 2"

This is a purely unscientific survey and although we had tons of laughs, I am not sure we ever decided on which beer they should use for the tap. Feel free to list your favorite beer and I will pass it along to the royals.

*Definition of asstertaste: When the beers aftertaste tastes like ass.


Saturday, April 23, 2011

Frag'n Friday (Saturday Edition)

Mommy's Idea


*It's school vacation week here so everything is on a much more laid back schedule, this is why my fragments are on Saturday.

*K and B are with their dad in Florida. I am getting some amusing stories via text and calls. For example, K flashed the beach yesterday because the big waves caused a wardrobe malfunction with her bikini top. Then their grandfather told them about the time when he was swimming with his girlfriend and a bunch of people. Said girlfriend lost her top and Grandpa came to the rescue by covering her up with his hands.

*It is weird without the girls here. I can't blame any cups on the coffee table or clothes on the floor on anyone but myself.

*I bought a book yesterday and read the whole thing before I went to bed. It was that interesting. It is called Heaven is for Real.

*I got to spend 3 1/2 hours with one of my besties (Good Lord, now I am talking like a teen) yesterday. Beck drove down from Maine, I drove up from the Cape and we met at the South Shore Mall. If you go to the Cheesecake Factory there, ask for Harry as your waiter. He is good and has nice eyes. As always it was excellent to see each other, but far too short of time! Does anyone want to send the 2 of us somewhere for about a week? I'd be happy to write a stellar review.

*My mom and I went and enjoyed a glass of wine (OK, a bottle) with 2 women the other night. One of the women, Cindy, once worked in the cubicle next to my brother (God Bless her) and we had heard of one another, but had never met. She and a friend had brought their kids to the Cape for a few nights and my mom and I invited ourselves over. Now all 4 of us are fast friends and I am pretty sure we will be seeing more of them on Cape Cod. I am pretty sure by the end of the (bottle) night, we gave them an open invitation to stay at our houses whenever. Cindy writes a funny blog here.

*Hope the bunny brings you lots of chocolate!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Once Upon a Time Wednesday

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Once upon a time, when airplane travel was cool and something people didn't do all the time, people actually thought about what they would wear on the plane.


See how dressed up they were? Well that is what my family basically looked like when I took my first (one that I remember) airplane ride in 5th grade. It was like going to church. Please don't get me started on how the flight attendants gave us all sorts of cool things and treated kids like royalty. And we actually got a full, hot meal..... OK, anyway, people felt it was important to look nice on a plane.

Yesterday, K and B went to Florida with their Dad to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We have been on planes plenty of times since I was in 5th grade and I realize people don't get dressed the way they once did.

Extreme case in point: Lady Gaga.


However, when K walked out with ripped denim shorts, I had to send her back to her closet for something more presentable. She looked cute, but I couldn't let her do it. It's like wearing jeans to church for me. I cannot wear jeans to church. It is something that was not allowed when I was younger.

So will my girls think of this trip when they are in their 40's and their kids want to wear ripped jeans on their first rocket flight? I don't know, but I would like to think that my grandchildren will look presentable when they get to Mars.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Day After Jumping Rope....

The other half of my weekend, consisted of lots of shopping in stores where the music was too loud and obnoxious (Yes, I am becoming my mother). However, we did take a little tour up to my favorite beach and town in the world, Ogunquit, ME.

It was a beautiful day and tons of people were out walking the beach.


We frolicked...

Made a quick dribble castle...

B pried my camera out of my hands to get a rare picture of me.... (I was the only brave one to put my feet in the water, by the way. It was probably a balmy 45 degrees and it took my feet a day and a half to warm back up.)

Barnacle Billy's is the summer spot to have dinner and drinks on the deck...

A few boats were filling in the harbor, but it will double in another month or so....

I just love this picture....

After all the touring and shopping, we did get to stop at my favorite ice-cream spot (Kimballs). Waited in line for 1/2 hour, but it was so worth it!

And there were crocuses blooming, which makes me think that permanent warmer weather has got to be around the corner!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Jumpin' Regionals 2011

This weekend was Region 10's jump rope championship. The stakes were high because all jumpers finishing in the top 5, would be able to compete in Texas at the Nationals in June. Texas was the goal for everybody!

Here is a little taste of the day....

It was beautiful out and we were in a gym for 12 hours. I did have to take B out for a little calming down before her favorite double dutch heats.

Here is her "the sun is too bright" relaxation pose...

Here is her, "I can do anything" relaxation pose...


This is a pic of "best jump rope sister" and what the fans in the stands were doing.


Here are some of the "action" shots! Pretty cool, right? Click on it and you can see it bigger.

And here is my proud girl with 4 ribbons, 3 of them qualifying her for Texas! Yeeee-ha!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Frag'n Friday

Mommy's Idea

A quick summary of the week before we head to NH for the Jump Rope regionals this weekend!

*The sun finally came out and it was warm enough to play outside with jackets anyway. Here is little dude and his sister enjoying some fresh air!!



*I'll stick with the cute kid theme and throw in pic of my adorable niece too...



*K and B tried on their summer clothes this week to see what they needed for April vacation in Florida. Seems that they grew a few inches since last year. Their shorts have now become daisy dukes. Yikes.

*My mom emailed me this little gem this week:

A woman is sitting at home on the veranda with her husband and she says: "I love you."


He asks: "Is that you or the wine talking?"


She  replies: "It's me ............... talking to the wine !!" 



*Happy weekend and keep your fingers crossed that B qualifies this weekend for Nationals in June!   

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ouch!

Yesterday, K got into the car after school and said, "If Ms. Blahblahblah calls you and asks you to go to the Science Museum as a chaperone next Thursday, say NO."

Me, "What? Why?"

K, "I don't want you to go."

Me, "Ouch."

There was a time, not very long ago, that she used to beg (BEG) me to chaperone field trips. She wouldn't think of going on the ones "over the bridge (off Cape)" without me on the trip.

Evidently the tides have changed and that makes me a little sad.

                                                                                  Happier field trip days....

Monday, April 4, 2011

To Squee or Not to Squeeeee!

The online community uses certain words to express themselves.

There's woot-woot. As in "can I get a woot-woot?" It is used to celebrate something.

LOL "laugh out loud".

OMG "Oh my God!"

Squee! This is used when someone is excited about something.

The funny thing is trying to use them in public or real life. I am not sure I have ever heard anyone fist pump and say "woot-woot". I have heard people laughing, but not going around saying LOL instead. If I use OMG, it is usually with a valley girl twang for some reason.

This morning I used the word "Squeeeeee!". I received two looks of "are you kidding me?" from tween and teen. I couldn't help it. I was so excited that I had to express myself somehow. You are totally wondering what would cause me to squee out loud aren't you?

Kimballs' opened March 31 and we are going to NH this weekend so that means we can drive "that way" on the way home and stop for the best ice cream ever!!! Squeeeeeeeee!!!!

This is a picture of B that was taken a few years ago. Oddly enough, I wrote about Kimballs here in 2009. The size she is holding is a small.



Can you blame a girl for squeeing out loud?

Friday, April 1, 2011

Frag'n Friday

It's raining fragments, cats and dogs. It must be Friday.
Mommy's Idea

*Sometimes I don't shower before I drive the girls to school. I grab pretty much whatever is comfy and on the floor in my room, throw on a pair of shoes and hope I don't get pulled over. The middle school is having a reading marathon this week. I have to go listen to kids read from 10-12 today. B said, as she was getting out of the car, "You are changing before you come in later, right?" It would be a fantastic April Fools' joke if I didn't.

*It is snowing in much of New England today. Happy spring.

*Last night I went to a Girls Night Out sponsored by Cape Cod Life magazine and Puritans with proceeds going to the fabulous women helping women group, We Can. My mom and 2 of my friends went and we tasted delicious food, wine and got lots of goodies.

*I had to go to a dermatologist this week to have a few moles checked out. It is tough finding a dermatologist that one likes (at least this has been my experience). This guy was a step up from my last one who had a dog in her office and would swipe with a razor at things that were curious to her. I specifically asked him to look at a thing(?) on my arm and something on my stomach. The stomach one needs "surgery" in a few weeks which I asked for him to dig generously so I could have a six pack by the time he was done. The arm he looks at, grabs a needle, unloads liquid (Novocaine?) and slices a piece of my arm off. What is it with dermatologists and razors?!

*Do you remember all the beautiful people in college? If I look back on it now, everyone was beautiful. No one wore mom jeans or  had stretch marks and the guys all had hair. Why oh why has someone created a website for specific colleges so people can "hook up" for the night? If college kids are having a hard time getting a date, what chance do I have?

*Anyone into good smelling scents? I bought Cascade New Zealand Springs dishwasher cubes the other day and they made my whole kitchen smell wonderful!

*Yeah, men will be lining up at my door after that comment.

*Happy Weekend!