Stuck in the middle with you....

Sometimes, you just get a song stuck in your head.  You don't even know how or why the melody popped in there in the first place, but once it does - it's locked there until somehow, someway - it gets dislodged.

Occasionally it might be something I heard on the radio; but more often than not - it's just a quirky, random song that I used to like.  Today, it was the most popular song from the movie "Reservoir Dogs".

I barely even remember the movie.
But who can forget the song?!?

And I don't know why...and I don't know how....but it has been going 'round and 'round in my mind all day.

I only hope that the next song is one I know more of the words to.

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different.

I love this time of night.  It's 8:25, and if it wasn't so cloudy the sun would still be in the sky.  But it's still light, and it's balmy....and I'm sitting in my sunroom, free from the mosquitos but still getting to enjoy the warmth at the end of the day.  I can hear the television in my family room where all who are here (yes, it's the "I'm just a girl" hotel environment once again...but only for another week!) are watching that crazy guy on Animal Planet who catches wild animals from other people's homes.   The wine is in my glass and I'm just here surfing the web and thinking how perfect it would've been if I'd only been able to take a yoga class today.

And this is how my night is going.
How is yours?

Never underestimate your local grocery store bakery department...

Because this beauty, was made at my local Market Basket.
They ROCK.

(I have a better shot without the shadow - but it hasn't been downloaded yet.  You get the picture though...)

Fly the friendly skies....

Today I was at the airport picking my father who we flew in as a surprise for my son's birthday.
(The look on his face when my father walked in the yard --- priceless.  It's a memory that I will hold forever.  I wish I had a camera; I should've thought to videotape it.)

I love being at the airport.  I miss working there truthfully.  But I didn't work in a terminal, I was in a seperate building - but I loved the atmosphere just the same.

Walking through you see so many stories unfolding.....
People tearfully saying goodbye; people tearfully saying their hellos.  Excitement of going on vacation, and the weary faces arriving back home from vacations. 

I love the sights and smells of the terminals; watching the planes make their descent onto the tarmac and equally as fun watching them take off.  It's the magic of flying that takes us from destination to destination in a blink of an eye - and it's the ability to travel the world within hours that's allows us to create the memories and stories that the terminals hold .

It's a birthday and anniversary...all in one!

Yesterday was my son's 11th birthday -- and my 11th anniversary of being a Mom.

I can't thank him enough for coming into my world and changing it forever.

We watched video from when he was born before taking him out for the dinner of his choice "Five Guys Burgers".  It was bittersweet to see, because it brought back so much happiness and joy from the moment he was born....and made me appreciate all the times we had when he was small.

The saying that it all goes by too quickly is so very true.  And while he's still relatively young - he's growing up so fast.  And one day I'll look back at when he was 11 and have that same joy at remembering his youth.

If I could just keep them small and with me forever...I think I'd be happy with that.  At the same time, I want to see them spread their wings and have happy and full lives.

Being a parent is such an adventure and truly the toughest job you will ever love.  There's nothing perfect about it, and there is always a lesson to be learned.

I know I am always learning -- and most definitely love being a Mom -- even at the most trying of moments.  Nothing is better than hearing "I love you" at the end of the day.

I think I'm gonna like it here.....

I spent my whole weekend poolside.
It was an entirely relaxing and beautiful way to enjoy my home.

We have spent so much time wanting a yard, and hoping for a pool....and now we finally have it.
And we're loving it as much as we thought we would.

Princess Petunia is already incredibly tan, and the rest of us are pleasantly pink.

I am looking forward to what's hopefully going to be a summer of sunshine and laughter.

What makes a girl happy....?

This does:

(Insert choir of angels singing HERE)

We bought it tonight, and after the first hour of it's 3 hour full cycle of scrubbing, vaccuming and brushing my gunite pool while also filtrating the water as it goes - my pool was spotless.

Spotless!!!

(Insert choir of angels singing HERE once again.)

I love my Dirt Devil.
I LOVE IT!

The less I itch, the more I scratch....

Have you ever noticed that when you have mosquito bites, they won't itch all day -- and then suddenly, one will itch, and then they'll all itch at once?

And it's almost always first thing in the morning, or at the end of the day; typically very little itching goes on during the day.

It must be a histamine thing.  I bet you that they are time released or something.
Let's Bing it and see what we come up with, shall we?

And I got....nothing.

Anyone....anyone?

These are a few of my favorite things....

The smell of a pool that has been freshly shocked.  The sound of the rain beating down in the early morning.  Jalapeno & Cheddar burgers.  Lavendar fabric softner.  Cardinals playing in the morning sun.  Cupcake scented room freshener oil.  A fat Chardonnay.  Music that hits my soul.  Steaming hot showers.  Nag champa after a strong practice.  Peace and quiet.

Bake Sale Ban Overturned -- as it should be!

Okay, I get that obesity is an issue with children and society today.
However....

While I whole heartedly support the removal of tonics, sugary caffeine based drinks and excessively fattening foods from the vending machines in schools - as well as healthier food options at lunch times; I just as whole heartedly oppose the recent ban of bake sales!

Bake sales at school events such as craft fairs, basketball games, art appreciation nights and other sanctioned after hours events - should not be governed for caloric intake or attention defecit contributions.  These are social events, more often than not PTO driven - where parents are attending - and we as parents can make the choices as to what does or doesn't go into our children's mouths at that time.

These sales are fun for the children, many who help in the kitchen making the goodies and they are used to raise funds for many school events.  And truly - who is it hurting?  Do we really need the state to intervene and say that we as parents don't have the right to determine what our children can or can't have at social functions?  What's next?  Banning popcorn at the movies....??

What is the world coming to these days?  Is there nothing that can be kept wholesome and innocent and fun?  Does it all have to be governed and monitored and regulated. 

Dear God people, be quiet and eat a chocolate chip cookie or two - and be happy!

You know I can't smile without you....

It's funny how you never know when your last memory of something, is really going to be your last one of that particular person, place or thing.

Today is the 2d anniversary of my Mother passing.

And the only thing I can really hear in my head is Barry Manilow's song - "I can't smile without you".  That was her favorite song of his.

And of course, that melody brings me back to when she, my aunt and my sister and I saw him at the Boston Garden....and then went for a late night pizza in the North End.

My mother didn't go many places or venture out with me much -- it would have to be a big thing, like a Barry Manilow concert to get her out the door it seemed; and we are all "Fanilows" in my Family.  (Would that make us Familows?  Just sayin'...)

The good news is, that I still smile without her...it's just different now.  That's all....

Isn't she lucky...

"Isn't she lucky, this Hollywood girl?
She is so lucky, but why does she cry?
If there's nothing missing in her life
Why do tears come at night?"

I'm so happy that I didn't get discovered earlier in life.  Not to say that I wouldn't have loved to have been a successful actress earlier in life, but now that I'm a Mom - I couldn't imagine being so public.
There is something to be said about the sanctity of privacy.

I don't understand when I watch these reality shows and how it ruins people's lives- we all see it happen and yet, people still sign up to be on them. 

Really, is money worth the flash in the pan and the lack of privacy?  The constant criticism, scrutiny and ownership that the public feels that they are entitled to have.  

I'm happy that I'm just plain old me.
I'm no one special - and yet I'm special enough for my family.
And really, that's all that matters. 
And it's good enough for me.

"The strength of a tree lies in it's ability to bend."

"Breathe and you dwell in the here and now, breath and you see impermanence is life." Thich Nhat Hanh

"We have never arrived. We are in a constant state of becoming." Bob Dylan

"Love what you do, do what you love." Zen Proverb

"Things don't change. We change." Henry David Thoreau

What was I thinking???

So, I remember when I found out I was having a girl I thought "Oh, that will be nice....they won't fight!  What will they have to fight over?  No sharing of clothes, no "stealing" of friends", and all the other things girls bicker over..."

Boy, I was wrong.
Dead wrong.

They don't fight sometimes....they fight all the time.
All the time.
Over everything.
CONSTANTLY.

(Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating.  But today, it feels like it's that way.)

Don't get me wrong, they truly area great friends...and I am quite fortunate in that area.  They keep each other occupied, they make videos together, play video games and even have sleepovers in my son's room at least two nights a week.  But they fight just as hard as they play. 

Clearly I had no clue that brothers and sisters fight just as much - if not more - than sisters alone do.

But of course....

Today we opened the pool and.... it's going to be cold.
But of course!

Today I got back to my mat and it felt soooo good.  I don't dare jinx myself and say I'm back to practicing regularly because we all know how that goes.  I try to stay on focus but something always tears me away.  But it felt so good, I've got to keep making it a point to go.

I ended up having a day at home today which wasn't entirely as I'd planned, but it all turned out okay.  I cleaned the pool house, washed the floors (it has beautiful dark hardwood floors, they look so much better now!), rearranged the fridge that we put in there today and it looks almost ready to go.  It needs some decor and we need some things to put in there (e.g. dishes, storage bins, etc.) but clearly, given the weather forecast we still have a little time.  Which is a good thing....

We got a new fridge for the kitchen today, which is how the pool house got one.  I'm not going to lie, it's pretty flipping nice.  Now if we can just keep it clean.... hmm, is it possible for a family of 4 plus 1 manage to do that?  Only time will tell...

Our first soiree is on Mother's Day. 
And I'm praying the weather cooperates.  It doesn't have to be a pool day but it does have to be nice anyway. 

Because our next big soiree is two weeks later, and we'll have two parties two days in a row.
And if it rains, I'll be really pissed off.

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the beautiful weather we've had all Spring, I mean Winter, I mean Spring.