SURPRISE!!!

Somehow, G managed to surprise me for my big "40". It's not officially until Friday, but he kept hyping up a big present he had planned for me on the 18th of September, and "not to make any plans" for that day.....when in reality, he had a huge surprise party planned for me last night!

I wasn't just surprised...I was shocked. Stunned. Never saw it coming - not even a little.

Everyone from my best girlfriend in the world whom I never get to see....to my fabulous girlfriends (aka the "Aunties"), all our family -- even my Dad who flew in yesterday morning. (that's him peeking in the background.)

I don't have any photos of the actual surprise - these are just a few from my camera once the shock wore off. Definitely was a fabulous way to start this new year in my life. G's right, he keeps saying I had a tough year -- and you know what, he's right - I did. So this was without doubt a step in the right direction for change in the best way.

Land that I love...

So, I don't get to blog surf much - but when I do, one of my very first stops is to Suldog. He's over there in the Guest List, and you should check him out if you haven't already. Anyway, last night I had a few minutes to surf and he had this great post about 100 things he loves about America. Fun, right?

I felt compelled to play along, natch.

Some are specific, some are more vague - and while some may not be American exclusive per se - they're still on my list. Let's play, shall we...? I have to be honest, I can't come up with 100 for tonight, but I can do 50 anyway.
(By the way, if you do a list - please feel free to share yours with me!)

1. Apple Pie. Though not my personal first choice of pie - it is pretty darn spectacular if made right, particularly with a little caramel melted in. Just sayin'...
2. Baseball. Really, need I say more?
3. The freedom to say what we want, sing what we want, write what we want and protest when we choose to.
4. Our Government. Listen, it's not perfect - but it's ours. Besides, I can say things about my dysfunctional family members, but God help the other person who calls my family dysfunctional. You hear me clucking big chicken?
5. The generosity of the American people. It's seemingly never ending, isn't it?
6. Our hard-ass reputation. I'm sorry, other countries might dislike us (bla, bla, whine whine) - but who do they come running to when they're in trouble. I don't think it's France.... just sayin'.
7. We drive on the RIGHT side of the road.
8. English. Listen - I love, love, love foreign languages - but let's be honest, English is just easier to understand. There's nothing gutteral, it doesn't take fancy tongue movements, there's nothing muffled about it.
9. Hollywood. Really, there's nothing like the allure of the beautiful people.
10. NYC. Is there a city other than Boston that's more fun than NYC?
11. Boston. Beacause this is where it all begin.... we are the history, the tradition, the guts and the glory. We are the heart & sould of America. Because I "love that dirty water"....

12. Elvis. Sure, England had the Beatles - but we had the King.
13. The American Dream. This is the land of opportunity. It's all yours if you just apply yourself and try. You don't get nothing for nothing... but you can have it all if you work hard.
14. The American Spirit. Oh yes, there is such a thing. And it is inherent within us all. "Live free or die" is more than a state motto - it's a mindset.
15. Southern Cooking. Truly - does it get any better than fried chicken, grits, collard greens and sweet potato pie? Um, I don't think so...!
16. Key West. Does this really need explaining?
17. TV Culture. From Fonzie, to The Jeffersons - The Brady Bunch to Seinfeld and everything in between - our television culture rocks. Sure it bombs from time to time as well, but seriously - we've had some great tv.
18. FoodTV. Speaking of TV, we've got some kickin' master chefs to show us how it's done.
19. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Thank God for that little creation.
20. Doritos. Second best creation on Earth.
21. Stupid Celebrities. Seriously, you've gotta love them. Especially with fabulous soundbites like "Crack is whack!".
22. Patriotic Songs. We have tons of them! And they're all really pretty great; I don't know about anyone else, but I still get a little faklempt post 9-11 at times listening to them.
23. Sept 11th. Yes, it was horrible and tragic -- but we own it. It's ours, and I've chosen to embrace it. It's our day to mourn the losses, and celebrate the fact that we will never, ever, ever allow something like that to happen to us again. Own the tragedy - and take the power away from the beast. Yippie ki-yay Mo'Fo. Just sayin'...
24. BBQ. From Missouri, to Texas -- we've got the best BBQ foods around!
25. Folk music. Peter Paul & Mary, Joanie Mitchell, Joan Collins, Joan Baez...the list goes on and on from the more traditional to newer contemporary folk-ish. It's one of my personal favorite genres, and it doesn't get more Americana than that.
26. Doo Wop Diners. Maybe there are some elsewhere, but I'm thinking that's a little gem that's probably all ours.
27. McDonalds & Burger King. Sure - it's bad for us, but seriously - it still tastes pretty darn good even though we pay for it later after we eat it. And those two bad boys certainly have taken over the world...



28. Cheesy Reality TV. Okay - we may not have created it, but wow - we've certainly done well with it. Jersey Shore is living proof that only in America are people happy being famous for being idiots.

29. Friends. I know I said Television Culture earlier - but where else does a TV show create a hair style that rocked the world like the "Rachel" did? And so many mannerisms that we've all embraced? Friends is truly a standout.

30. Seinfeld. Seriously needs no explanation and just goes with the above.

31. Dollar Stores. How cool are they in a pinch sometimes? Truly, fun for a Mom with two young children. Where else can a parent give their child a pick of two things, come out without spending a ton of money - and have the kids feel like Kings & Queens?

32. Fantastic Stand Up Comedians. Call me crazy, but I've yet to see anyone funny from another country. Throw a name out there if I'm wrong.

33. Twitter. Love it for business use - and you got it, created right here in the USA.

34. Superman. The strongest man on Earth, who's all about Truth, Justice and the American Way. He's from another planet who happened to land in good ol' Kansas. Does it get any better than that?

35. Great ethnic neighborhoods. Little Italy, Little Chinatown, Koreatown, The French Quarter, etc... because we are America, we've got these great little neighborhood sections in all of our major cities to allow us to embrace not only what might be our own heritages - but other people's as well.

36. Boxing. I don't know if it started here in America, but it definitely is part of our roots with immigration.

37. New England Boiled Dinner. Thank you to the Irish Immigrants for introducing us to the Corn Beef & Cabbage feast.

38. Square Dancing, Line Dancing and the like. Remember when everyone square danced? I didn't - but my parents did! And I loved, loved, loved the skirts. So twirly and fun!

39. The 4th of July. It's all red, white & blue - and all about us!

40. The ball drop on New Years Eve. Sure, that might not be inherently ours -but the world watches ours!

41. Budweiser. Not my personal favorite - but it's definitely a warm, fuzzy American product. Or well, it used to be - before a Belgian company bought it.

42. American Airlines. Definitely one of my favorite airlines.

43. Cabot, Jasper Hills, Cowgirl Creamery. We have some freakin' delicious cheeses, just to name a few!

44. Starbucks. Probably not the best coffee in the world in comparison to some other countries, but for "fast food" coffee -- it's pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.

45. Christmas Tree Shops. I just love a bargain -- don't you?

46. Yankee Candle. The best smelling candles ever.... !!!

47. The Pledge of Allegiance. I love it the way it is - in it's original form. We are one Nation, under God (I don't care what you name your God - it's still a God), indivisible (when push comes to shove), with Liberty & Justice for all.

48. The Stars & Stripes. Forever....

49. The Statue of Liberty, and all that she stands for. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

50. The Declaration of Independence. "Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness"....

In memory of....

Who is a Mother?

She is the first person we ever know in life; in reality, we know her before we are even actually born.

She is the person who teaches you that kisses are medicine, and that "boo boos" don't last forever.

She is the person who says you are the prettiest girl in the world, even when you don't feel like you are. She's your biggest cheerleader, encouraging you to try anything -- the worst that can happen is that you don't succeed -- and that there's no shame in that.

She believes in you, even if she doesn't believe in herself....

A mother dedicates songs to you....sings your praises and doesn't stand in judgement.

A mother teaches you how to sit up straight and face forward at the dinner table; not to eat with your mouth open, and to always eat a little "no thank you" helping when dining at another person's house even if you don't necessarily love the options for dinner.

A mother opens her house to your friends, and fills your heart with stories of her youth and how she can relate to what you're going through.

A mother lets you learn your lessons in life, and makes no excuses for you.

A mother is all this and more. There is so much that a mother is, and that a mother does -- and there is very little that can be written that isn't merely just a scratch on the surface.

Rita
"I'm Just a Girl"'s Mom
7/3/1949 - 5/8/2010

"If love could've saved you....you would never have died"

So funny to think about now....

So, tonight we're watching that show "I get that alot" where celebrities pretend to be regular people working regular jobs and whenever a person says, "do you know you look like....(fill in the blank)" they respond with "I get that alot". Pretty flipping funny concept actually.

Anyway - G and I were talking about what celebrities we may have been thought to look like in the past. Which got me thinking about when I auditioned for the Charlies Angels spinoff back in 1988 - aptly named "Angels 88". I made it to the top 5 in Boston in a cattle call (ugh, hate that term) and lost out to Tea Leoni. While I don't think that she and I look alike at all -- I do see why at that time -- she and I might have been in a group together, if they were going for a certain look. This photograph of the selected girls "Angels 88" -- which never made it off the ground -- shows a resemblence between she and I that I can definitely see in retrospect.


(She's the one at the bottom.)
Boy, was I disappointed I didn't win that audition. But, I made it further than I'd ever expected - and I wasn't 18, and they were adamant you had to be 18. Who knew I'd make the top 5? Not me!

Besides, I wouldn't be here today.
And I'm pretty happy with where I'm at.

'Tis the season to be jolly....

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
I actually don't love either one - but I'd prefer hot chocolate.
2. Letter to Santa?
Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is you....
(Jason Varitek would be nice too. Just sayin'....)
3. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Santa usually pays someone to wrap the gifts for him.
4. Colored lights on your tree/house or white?
White. Simple, classic.
5. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, I don't. I think I should though!
6. When do you put your decorations up?
The weekend of Thanksgiving. Although I was late this year due to being sick!
7. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Oh, so many to choose! It's a toss up between Goose & Turducken.
8. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Hmmm. Probably making Play Doh ornaments!
9. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth???
10. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No. I never liked that concept. Except when I was little, then I loved it!
11. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
White lights, burgundy ribbon, and lots of ornaments. Eclectic mix of photographs of the kids, fun "fou fou" furry ornaments, ornaments my Mom made when I was a kid, ornamements the kids have made. It all blends beautifully I think.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes I can!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yes, it's a home made cookbook from my parents.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Being with my family.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Probably chocolate pudding pie - but I love it with crushed candy canes on top for a peppermint effect.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
My hosting of dinner.
17. What tops your tree?
A teddy bear angel my mother made when I was about 15.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
They both have their upsides... but I love to give gifts more.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Oh, so many to choose -- too many to choose! Celebrate Me Home, Same Old Lang Syne, Grown Up Christmas List, Little Drummer Boy, What Child is This, Oh Holy Night... I could go on.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
Yum!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....

Tonight would've been a fabulous night to have a fire going. Unfortunately, I forgot to pick up logs so pillar candles are going to have to do the trick.

Can you believe Christmas is two weeks away? I absolutely can not.
Clearly, time is going by far too quickly for this girl.
Holiday cards....still not ordered yet.
*sigh*

I think Friday is going to be the first night of our annual Christmas Lights jaunts; I get home from work, the kiddies get changed into their cozy clothes and have dinner. We pack up hot cocoa for the road, and drive to different parts of our town and other neighboring communities on each time out to admire all the pretty lighting displays. We have Christmas music playing, and it's one of the few times that the kids don't fight with each other and we just have a really great time. It's probably one of my most favorite traditions -- and one that I'll be sad when they outgrow. It's just nice quality time -- and it doesn't cost more than a gallon of gas.

What traditions do you have at the holidays that are really quite simple - but yet so meaningful?

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer....

I can't believe it's already Labor Day weekend!
Where did the summer go?

This weekend, my grandma and two of my aunts are flying in for a celebration over the weekend here in MA. I haven't seen my grandmother since my son was 2.5 and we brought him to Disney. He's now 8; that's a long time -- and with my Grandma having just turned 90, realistically this may be the last time I see her. That's a relatively sobering thought for me.

I've never liked the fact that my family became so disconnected and geographically seperated over the years. I know it started for medical reasons -- and then just became the way it was done it seems (and lots of families are that way, it's not incredibly unusual); at the same time, I know I'll never do that with my own family unit. I can't imagine being away from the kids when they're older, and their new families -- plus, I know how it impacted me, and I would never want my kids to feel some of the emptiness I've felt at not having family to connect with. It's one thing if they choose to move -- but we, will never move away from them.

That being said, it's going to be a fantatsic surprise when I meet them at the airport this morning with the kids! My aunts and grandma have never met my daughter; and actually - one of my aunts never met my son now that I think of it. And I've only met her sons once, maybe twice - and they're now 18 and 20. Such an odd thought when she was such a big part of my childhood years.

Lots of things going on this weekend....relatives visiting, birthday parties, bbqs, shopping for last minute school things for Princess Petunia (who starts Tuesday!) so this is going to be a busy Labor Day weekend which is rather nice considering I don't have an office to go back to on Tuesday! (Though, I do have quite the job ahead of me....and with yoga now only once a week, I'm starting running outdoors again on Tuesdsay. Finally.....)

Ah yes, the yellow jacket story. Well, I'll save that for another time.....
Have a fabulous weekend!

Better late....than never!

It's really a sin that we finally get summer at the end of August when all the kids have to go back to school. Although....if I think back to when I was a young lass, summer started waaaaay back in June, and lasted straight through August when on September 1st it seemed the chill found it's way back into the air.


I remember wearing dresses with knee socks on my first day each year, and I still vividly remember some of my walks to school. I remember walking from my house and waving at my mother who would stand in the window; I remember the smell of the air. It's that smell that always reminds me of the first day of school, the first real crisp crunch of Autumn.

Yesterday, we had a "daycation" and took the kids to Water Country. Seriously, how can anyone not love that place? Sure, it costs a fortune to get in the door - but it's just a complete blast. And in this heat - truly nothing beats it. I love, love, love it there. I'm not a slide kinda girl - but there are so many pools that there is no way you can't have fun.

Today, I'm a little high. Seriously. I was at the new store almost all day, in the heat with no AC might I add -- and the fumes from the sealant of the flooring. Insta-head-dull-ache. I think I need to clear my sinuses or something because I swear I can still smell it.

And now, it's the end of the day and I'm beyond exhausted. My days are far fuller and busier now than they have been in a long time and I'm thorougly tired when my head hits the pillow. Some is stress, some is chaos, some is just mindweariness - but it's all good.

Now if only the Sox can just get it together.....

Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go....I hate to leave you, but I really must say -- Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

It's funny actually.
I've been waiting for this day for so long -- and now it's here and I feel rather sad.
It feels like I'm leaving home.

This is where I've spent most of my adult life; I've been working on base since I was 22, and while there have been offices that have been not the best - or companies that have come and gone -- the base itself and collegiate environment has always been the same -- and what I truly have enjoyed. Knowing that what I did actually meant something and had value to others whom I didn't necessarily see -- was always meaningful to me.

But like any good family, when you leave and spread your wings, you know that if need be - you can always come back. And I know that is true for me here.

And now, it's time to focus on the future....
Let the adventure begin.

Be careful what you do, because a lie becomes the truth...

So, I'm still trying to reconcile the death of Michael Jackson.
It's surreal to think he's gone; partly because of the unexpectedness of it all - but also because it may have been a complete accident and lack of oversight on behalf of his doctors.

In some ways, it truly may be a blessing in disguise because in reality for all of the money and fame he encountered in his life, he was clearly an unhappy person. He was tragic in life, and unfortunately in death as well.

A misunderstood, exceptionally eccentric (out of necessity I sometimes think...) often maligned, incredibly talented, childlike innocent who was always philanthropic - always caring about the children of the world. Did he bring some of his troubles and scrutiny onto himself, absolutely. But in my heart of hearts, I never believed the allegations of which he was acquitted for. I always felt he was being extorted, and unfortunately he made himself a very easy mark. (My post title, rather sad - yet prophetic lyrics.)

My kids had really no concept of who Michael Jackson was prior to his death; my son knew of the song "Beat it", but seeing as I don't typically allow them to watch videos - and those videos of the 80's and 90's arent' typically shown anyway - they would have no way of knowing any of the spectacular videos or music that were such a part of our lives.

They've been watching the videos that have been playing for hours and my son says he can't help but want to dance listening to the music. And at this very moment, they're watching the video they've been waiting for because G and I have been hyping it up (and for good reason) "Thriller". (And yes, I'm very poorly dancing along with the moves that I still remember from it. Whenever I see it, I remember the days when my friends and I videotaped the video and we'd rewind it over and over and over again to memorize all the moves...)

He was an entertainer and musician who transcended all barriers: age, race, gender, religion. Children who never heard his music or saw his videos before love it upon hearing it; those of us who grew up with him loved it -- and our parents and grandparents did as well. He revolutionized the music industry, the way videos were created, the way dancers made their bodies move.

He was the change he wanted to see in the world -- in the best capacity that he could.
And I can only speak for myself, but he certainly made my life a little happier.

The elderly, the sick and the sudden....

They say say deaths come in threes.

And I heard the title of my post this morning on television as we were watching the seemingly non-stop coverage of Michael Jackson's untimely passing.

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett & Michael Jackson -- all iconic in their own right, some more so than others -- all gone at almost the same time.

It's such an odd feeling to think that Michael Jackson is dead.
It almost just doesn't seem real.

Another cliche comes to mind, that could easily be fitting as well... "the day the music died."

And the grapefruit moon, one star shining, is all that I can see...

I ran out at lunch today and picked up some sushi, and some fruit to enjoy at my desk.
(Hi, I'm Rebecca and clearly - I'm addicted to sushi.)

The fruit was a small container of Del Monte Fruit Naturals, Ruby Red Grapefruit.
Can I just tell you?
I love, love, love grapefruit.

And yet - it's probably been, oh - about 30 years since I've eaten it. I think I had it so much as a child - and didn't always love it back then because often it can be too tart - that I must've blocked it out my wants and desires for food as an adult. So all these years, I've cold shouldered something that I clearly enjoy.

I don't know what inspired me to buy it; outside of the fact that it just looked appealing. I'm typically a pineapple kind of girl, but today -- I mixed it up.

Taking that first taste today, brought me back to being about 7 years old in my kitchen on Porter Street. My Dad had cut me a half of grapefruit and we were sitting at the table all of us (must've been a Sunday) and I'm wrestling with trying to scoop out the fruit with a spoon; I glance over and see my Dad who's not only eaten the fruit, but drinking the juice from the empty half he's got. And that's all I remember, but it was a very vivid glimpse back into my childhood.

And to think -- that all started with a bite of fruit....
The mind is a very powerful thing.

'Cause see when I was younger I would say..." When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies..."

Last night Kate Winslet made a very appropo statement, something to the effect of "none of us ever dreamed we'd be in a category with Meryl Streep". To be considered of the same caliber as the lovely Ms. Streep was something that all of us young, thirtysomethings who wanted to be actresses dreamed about. To be actually competing against her or with her, was never part of the equation. Though I think it came across as an age thing last night - to me, her reference was that it was more of an unattainable goal...a pipe dream. To be considered similar to Meryl Streep meant you were the pinnacle of what you could achieve - something that doesn't happen to "us" -- it happens to other people.

Watching the Oscars is the one night a year that I can honestly say that I revel in the "would've could've should've" in my life. I can entirely relate to the actresses and their emotions as they overflow. I thought that this year in particular was the nicest way to present the nominees with their moment of glory; instead of watching a small clip of their work, to have them honored by those who have held the prestigious honor before them and speak accolades of their bodies of work on a very warm and personal level -- was to me by far, a touching and gracious way to honor those who were anxiously awaiting to hear the words "and the Oscar goes too...".

I was so very proud of my girl Jennifer Aniston, who though clearly nervous -- looked beautiful, and was so gracious in the face (literally, directly) of her heartbreakingly beautiful ex husband, and his homewrecker of a...what is she anyway...girlfriend, if you will. If you ask me, Angelina didn't look that great. A little too thin and pale, but again - I've always been on Team Aniston so maybe I'm a bit biased.

The only real gripe I had about the show was that I thought the camera men were going a little crazy during the portion where they show those who have passed onto the silver screen in the sky. They kept zooming in and out...I couldn't see all of the names, and truly - that's an important piece of the show. At least to me it is. ( Note to the Director: please, please keep the camera straight, focused and on the screen next year. Thanks!)

So to the very end I watched...thinking back to how if the world was as small of a place as it is today back when I was able to dedicate my time to finding employment in the theatrical field -- what would I have been able to achieve? Would I possibly have been on stage last night, accepting my award....similar to how myself, and clearly Kate Winslet - had done, back when we were 8,9,10 years old - speaking into a brush at the bathroom mirror?

Truly, the dream never dies.

So it dawned on me as the freezing rain was bouncing off of my head....

I just came in from shovelling for hopefully the last time today.
More than likely, the last time in a while as I'm having my knee scoped on Friday. But I digress...

As I was out there, thinking to myself while trudging up and down my long walkway...there are no kids outside. None. School is closed today, so one would think there would be some kids around, outside of my own. And yet - there were none.

When I was younger, not only did I have to help my father shovel because he had a bad back -- but I used to go from house to house seeing if anyone wanted to pay to have their stairs, walkway and/or driveway shovelled. It was a way to make money, get exceptionally tired afterwards and truly enjoy the hot cup of hot chocolate, usually topped with fluff -- that my mother would have waiting for me.

Today's kids, don't shovel. They don't run outdoors at the first sign of snow to make extra money, or have snowball fights or make forts. Part of it is because we as parents, no longer let our children go unsupervised; it's an entirely different world today than it was back when I was a child. At the same time, I'm not talking about the 7 year old kids. I'm thinking more along the 10+ crowd, those who are old enough to venture up and down their streets to help their elderly neighbors - or the single mom, or whatever the dynamic is in the neighborhood.

Which leads me to wonder why. Why don't we see kids out and about helping their parents and/or others out on a snowy day. I can't help but blame today's generation of parents; I think we want so much for our kids to have more than we did, to enjoy life more than we did in ways we weren't able to -- that we're actually hindering our children. We're not allowing them to inspire to work hard and earn things. We're giving them everything and we in many ways are teaching them that you don't do anything without reward. Life doesn't really work that way; sometimes you do things because you just have to do them -- or because it's a good thing to do.

When I was younger, it was "because I'm the parent and I said so..". There was no negotiation, arguement or question. If your parents asked you to take out the trash, you did it. Begrudgingly, of course - but you did it. And it wasnt necessarily rewarded with an allowance. It was contributing to part of the family, which of course shouldn't necessarily warrant reward.

The inspiration to be entrepreneurs by making money shovelling for money - or setting up a lemonade stand is stifled by both the new world we live in, as well as the hypersupervision of parents.

As a result, I don't think we're doing our kids any favors for later in life.

Interesting change of times....

As I was out this a.m. attempting to reshovel my walkway (again....), I couldn't complete it because it was windy and bitter, biting cold. Far colder than it's been the whole weekend.
That's when the deja vu kicked in.

The stinging in my nose instantly reminded me of being little and walking to school.
I walked to school, every day of my whole educational career. We had no buses...and parents didn't drive kids. We just walked.

And we didn't live close by either.

My junior high was entirely on the other side of town, approximately 3.5 miles from my house. And in zero (often sub zero back then, we had lots of cold weather - much more so than we do now!) degree weather, we didn't bat an eye at getting bundled up and venturing out.

Yet I wouldn't dream of having my kids walk in this weather! And with a hint of a cold? Absolutely not!

It's a funny comparison because my generation of parents didn't love us any less -- or worry any less than we do today; but we definitely had to "tough it out" a little more than today's generation does.

So as I drive my son to school for his delayed opening, and have my daughter home with me because she's got a cold and I wouldn't dream of having her really sick on Christmas or out at recess in this weather - the brisk air and windchill really encapsulates the dichotomy of generations for me today.

China & Platinum

Tonight is my 20th year high school reunion.
Again, I reiterate -- I'm so not old enough to be having a 20 year mark of anything!
But, the truth of the matter is -- I am.

China and Platinum are the elements that are representative of what you would give to someone who's having their 20th anniversary.

Sure, we aren't married to our classmates in the literal sense; but we are bonded with them in the pages of our lives. We will forever be known as the "graduating class of 1988". We have a history of memories that while was for only a short moment in time -- it was an important one.

I haven't really changed all that much from high school; I don't think anyone who I haven't seen or run into is going to say "wow, you look so different!" or anything like that. I was always pretty driven and ambitious, and I was really friendly with everyone so it's not like I was shy or didn't socialize. I was drama club/cheerleader/rocker chick. I was also sports girl -- not in the playing aspect, but in the stats aspect. I used to have a group of guy friends that would wait in homeroom for me to come in so they could quiz me on stats and standings of teams in the NHL and NBA.

Truthfully, I think the biggest thing is that people may have expected me to have left and gone to LA. A few years after high school someone said to me (and I can't remember who they are, how sad is that? ) "I'm glad you're doing well, I'm just surprised you're still here. I really thought you were going to be on Broadway or television by now...".

In the class will, (which it would be really fun if they read tonight!) I was left "my own television show", "my name in lights", "a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", and fun things like that.

Which just goes to show that the career aspirations we had when we were 16, 17, 18 and even into our 20s often don't get to come to fruition; whether we held ourselves back and didnt pursue what we could have -- or luck just didn't go the way some needed it to. And then there are some who went to school and got degrees in what they thought they wanted, only to opt to do something entirely different.

Life is a funny thing. While I'm not where I may have thought I'd be 20 years ago -- I am happy with where I am today. Life is good.

I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the people I was friends with so long ago, and see what kind of grown ups they've turned out to be as well.

Rock, rock, rock, rock...Rock n Roll High School....

So my 20th high school reunion is quickly approaching.
(You know, the one I bowed out of helping to plan.)

It's funny because there's only about 100 people going, out of a class of 320. And it's mostly girls from what I can see from the RSVP list....which is rather interesting.

It is way over priced (I'm thinking due to the poor turnout), which is what's going to make going with a few girlfriends much more palatable. Who wants to spend $150.00 on a night that their spouse isn't going to know anyone or have a good time? Especially in this economy! Which is probably the mindset behind why a.) only a handful of people are going, and b.) an even smaller handful within that are bringing their spouses.

And since the price of the ticket is so high -- this girl will not be buying anything new to wear!

But that's okay - I don't really feel the need to go out of my way to impress anyone. I truly haven't changed all that much from high school - and I don't have anything to prove to anyone, so to speak.

There are a lot of girls going who have changed quite a bit -- and I mean that in a positive way, and so I'm sure they're anxious to "strut their stuff". I'm excited for them! It's always great to see people gain acceptance and confidence; let's be honest, for many people no matter how many years out of school they are - it will always feel like "high school" to them without that validation.

So my friend Robyn and I will be driving together -- and them we've planned on sitting with about 10 other girls, some of whom I've run into over the years because we live near each other - and some I haven't seen since graduation and I can't wait to see them and catch up.

(Now I can't get the Bon Jovi song "Never say Goodbye" out of my head. Senior year in my Filmmaking & TV Media class, as a project we had to script and direct a video -- and I chose this song. It was set around a 20th year high school reunion. Not super creative, but hey - no one else thought of it! I was so proud of that project...)

I just don't feel old enough to be having a 20 year reunion.
I swear, when I look in the mirror I think I'm only a kid.

A very busy, tired, and multi-tasked kid -- but a kid, none the less.
It blows my mind to think that I've been out of school that long.

Anyone else been to their respective reunions?

Sing....sing a song!

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It was always on in my house, and as I've mentioned before - Sundays was always the day we all spent together as a family, and my Dad would play his 45's. My dad had is own electronic repair business, and so I was probably the only 4 year old that had a stereo in her room! I had to be extra careful so as not to scratch the record with the needle. (I know, totally dating myself on this one. It's only the beginning in this post, I assure you!)

As a little kid, in an effort to get me to "be good" when getting shots at the pediatrician's office - my mom would bribe me with going to get some 45's afterwards. Back then you could get 3 for one dollar - sometimes 4 if they were having a special sale. (Yes, and dinosaurs roamed the streets in those days too!) In high school, music was my best friend. I would spend hours listening to my favorite songs, and stopping the tapes to write the lyrics down so I could memorize them. My social life was minimal (I had strict parents) but they were great about letting me go to concerts, so my main source of excitement was waiting on the tour announcements, watching the new videos to debut on MTV and for cd's to be released.

It was music and sports - and that was what I lived for.
Some things never change...


1. What was your first favorite song? I think my very first was "Very Merry Unbirthday" from my Alice in Wonderland album. "Lollipops, Lace &Lipstick" from my mother's Donny Osmond album is another early recollection. But I think my first main stream, radio station song was "Emotion" by Samantha Sang. (Check out that gem of a video...how's that peach lip gloss? Oh yeah baby...smokin'.)

2. Who was your first favorite female singer? Now this is a tough one. Female singer I'm guessing is going to constitute having been more than one song. I'd say a toss up between Barbara Streisand (who's mom didn't listen to her?) and Yvonne Elliman.

3. Who was your first favorite male singer? I do believe it was Billy Joel. It might've even been Gordon Lightfoot, courtesy of my father.

4. Who was your first favorite band? The Monkees. I was obsessed. I had all of their albums, 45s, and I loved all their lesser known songs. Hello, who loved "Auntie Grizelda"? I did! And, no surprise here -- I had a crush on Davey Jones. For mainstream music, I think it may have been Asia. I liked a ton of solo artists, and I liked alot of bands that I had been exposed to by other people, but I think the first band I discovered and became my first favorite, was Asia - and it started with this song.

5. Who is your all time favorite band? This is really too difficult to answer. I'm so music oriented, it would depend on genre and then even possibly era. Some of my all time favorites are Aerosmith, Queen, Metallica, Steve Miller, The Eagles...the list goes on and on.

6. Who is your all time favorite male singer? Again, music's my thing - and so I don't think I have just one. I love, love, love Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban if we're talking strictly singing. To me, Josh Groban must be what an angel must sound like.

7. Who is your all time favorite female singer? Again, such a broad canvas to paint! I guess I'd have to say my girl Christina Aguilera, though not a classic choice - is probably my answer. My second choice would probably be Whitney Houston -- pre "Crack is Whack", natch. That clip is one you should watch -- the best version of our national anthem -- ever. I actually get all choked up watching it, truth be told.

8. What is your all time favorite LP/CD album? I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's a three way tie between "Led Zeppelin IV", Metallica's "Master of Puppets" (Tough call, all their pre-Black stuff is amazing), Christina Aguilera's "Stripped". I have lots of "favorites of the moment", but those are timeless to me.

9. What was your first favorite radio station? WCOZ. Back in those days, you either listened to KISS 108, or WCOZ. Disco v. Rock. Don't get me wrong, I liked Disco too - but truly, I was a rock and roll kinda girl. And then shortly there after, I discovered Charles Laquidera and WAAF, of course.

Morning found us calmly unaware, Noon burned gold into our hair, At night, we swam at laughin' sea, When summer's gone, where will we be?

It’s funny how August, used to be the “dog days” of summer in New England. But in the past 20 some odd years that’s changed. August is now the immediate precursor to fall. The days almost instantly are cooler.

While it’s not cold out by any stretch, it’s definitely been cooler and damper these last few days than in the past few weeks. Surely a sign of things to come.

Even last night when indulging in ice cream at Dairy Queen – after a few bites, it felt too cold to be outside eating – and we hurried to the warmth of the car to finish up.

When I was little, those changes didn’t occur until September – and with the weather change came the beginning of school. Always springs of the politically incorrect term “Indian Summer” throughout the month and into October. But it was summer straight up to that point. Of course now, kids start school in August rather than September 8th as when I was younger – so it’s sort of an interesting migration of weather pattern. Coincidentally aligning with the beginning of the school year…

Thinking that tonight's a night for fuzzy pajamas and nice bowl of some sort of warm, tasty comfort food.

More than a feeling....

It was so great to watch the Celtics win the Championship last night.

I remember 22 years ago when I watched them with the “Sweet 16”. Back then, there was a rally at City Hall Plaza as opposed to a rolling rally. And so my friend Sharon and I took the first train into Boston, and we were there at 5:30 a.m., front and center for it all. We were interviewed by all the radio stations, television stations, the newspaper – it was awesome. I still have the clippings in one of my scrapbooks. We were officially the first spectators there – and it was such a great time.

There were no riots, no craziness…no flipping of BMWs or breaking glass windows. It wasn’t an unsafe place to be…. I just don’t understand the correlation that people have between winning a sports event and rioting? Because seriously, I don’t see the parallel.

It is DEFINITELY a great time to be in Boston!

(And this is a much better thing to focus on than the Entwistle trial, which seriously, I wish they’d just wrap it up. Why isn’t there the death penalty in Massachusetts?!?! Seriously….there are some people in this world that we are just better off without.)