Thursday Thoughts

1. The past three weeks have been insane in the membrane. I've cancelled all plans for this weekend so I can have a do nothing weekend. It's long overdue and desperately needed, we've had something going on every weekend since what feels like the beginning of time but is probably actually just April. I'm going to get my shit together, try some new recipes, pop in to see my grandparents, and RELAX.

Photo: quickmeme.com

2. Here's something else that's insane in the membrane: this breath sucking, awful, hideous, shiteous heat. Take it back. Whoever sent it, just take it back.  Liquid hot magma. Go away.

Image: fark.com

3. Doesn't this photo look reminiscent of Friday Night Lights? It was taken from Neshaminy High School's football field, but it totally could've been taken in Dillon, Texas. Or did Coach Taylor really move to Philadelphia? When is someone buying me the entire Friday Night Lights series on DVD?

4.  I don't think I can adequately put into words the rage and disbelief I have in Michigan State Rep Lisa Brown being banned from speaking on the House floor for a day after using the word vagina in an argument about an anti-abortion bill. ARE YOU KIDDING ME MICHIGAN? IT IS THE NAME OF A BODY PART AND IT WAS USED IN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT EVERYONE'S INTENSE INTEREST IN CONTROLLING THAT BODY PART. Vagina is not a dirty word, you fucking morons.

This makes me so angry I get all SUFFERIN' SUCCOTASH flustered.

Thank you Eve Ensler and all the others who busted a move out to Michigan  for an impromptu performance of The Vagina Monologues this Monday night on the steps of the state house.

VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA.

Image: AP

5. Take note.

6. I simply cannot get enough of summer salads made with orzo. I've been concocting all kinds of awesome things.

7. TV time: Last night I took some time to catch up on Girls. I also watched the first two episodes of True Blood - Tara, go away. And I finally watched the season finale of The Killing. Holy shitskies. I didn't see that coming.

8. Jessica Biel, I'd like to talk to you about the bangs that are clearly hurting your soul. It's time to let them go. Call me.

Photo: bumpshack.com

9. I think you should read this book.

Image: amazon.com

10. Ecard of the week.

One more day. I can do this. Stay hydrated, people.

Summer Playlist

Hark! Today is the first day of summer. Here are some songs on my summer playlist:

4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) - Bruce Springsteen
Around the Way Girl - Ladies Love Cool James
Baba O'Reilly - The Who
Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
Candy's Room - Bruce Springsteen

Centerfield - John Fogerty
Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
Cry to Me - Solomon Burke
Farewell My Summer Love - Michael Jackson
Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin
Girls in their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen
Go All the Way - Eric Carmen
Groovin' - The Young Rascals
Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac
Hey Jude - Wilson Pickett version
I'm No Angel - The Gregg Allman Band
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Into the Night - Benny Mardones
It's All Right - The Impressions
Jungle Love - Steve Miller Band
Keep on Lovin' You - REO Speedwagon
Keeping the Faith - Billy Joel
Lido Shuffle - Boz Scaggs
Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen
Maria - Blondie
Mary's Place - Bruce Springsteen
Me & Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Me & My Girlfriend - JayZ & Beyonce
Mercedes Boy - Pebbles
My Old School - Steely Dan
Mystery - Indigo Girls
Night Moves - Bob Seger
Nightswimming - REM
Oh Darling - Supertramp
On My Own - Patti LaBelle
On the Darkside - John Cafferty
On the Way to Cape May - Al Alberts
Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Great White
Patriot - Pearl Jam
Raspberry Beret - Prince
Read My Mind - The Killers
Rock-n-Roll Girls - John Fogerty
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Shama Lama Ding Dong - Otis Day and the Knights
She's a Rainbow - The Rolling Stones
Sherry Darling - Bruce Springsteen
Sloop John B - The Beach Boys
Stone in Love - Journey
Strawberry Wine - Deanna Carter
Sugar, We're Goin' Down - Fall Out Boy
Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
Take it to the Limit - The Eagles
Take me to the Pilot - Elton John
This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
Untouchable Face - Ani Difranco
Visions of Paradise - Mick Jagger
Wildwood Days - Bobby Rydell
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth - Meat Loaf
You Wear it Well - Rod Stewart
You Wreck Me - Tom Petty

Peace out.

Isn't She Lovely

When I was born,  Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder was popular. It was written for Stevie's daughter, and it always makes my mom think of me. We danced to it at my wedding. It also makes me think of her.

Today my mom is 56. She's at peace in her life, she strives to be her best self daily, and she has strong belief in the power of positive thought. It's a good time to be her, especially since her and Rich just put a salt water cement pool in, which she refers to as a healing ocean oasis (HOO).

As she often says, thoughts are things. From her I've learned to put good ones out there as much as I can. She also always reminds me to be grateful for every little thing. She's very different from the mom I had growing up to the person she is now. She's slowed down a bit to smell the roses, she's more serene and tries not to sweat the small stuff.

It's interesting how your relationship with your parents changes as you grow older. The're not just your parents - they are people, just like you, with strengths and weaknesses. They are not perfect, and if they were good parents, they taught you that you weren't expected to be either.

My mom is wonderfully eccentric and has the nickname Loopy to match. She wears a hair mane she still has from the 1980s. She drinks asti spumante and likes to toast. She busts out in spontaneous cheers she remembers from her high school days. You could say she's a bit of a character. 

Hair mane, clutching wine glass, Down on the Redskin Reservation cheer

She tweets. She can twirl a fire baton. She loves babies and is a great mom mom to Colin and Riley. She loves "her songs." She never wants to run out of anything, and she always has a lot of food and drink at parties - I get it from her. She loves to take sleeping pictures of people.

Mom & Kit Kat D, Sleeping at her 50th birthday shore weekend

If she could, my mom would never leave her house - she is happy and content there. She'd also love for all of her chickens to live on that street. She brings my dogs bones and cut up hotdogs when she visits them. She always gets an updo for weddings. She is not comfortable being a passenger in the car with any of her children.

At Tiffany's wedding, with two of my favorite people at mine

My mom is a good cook and an excellent baker. I'd rather eat something she bakes than anything from a store. She's Durham Deli's number one customer. She's a wonderful hostess and is the only person I've ever seen bring a lace tablecloth to a tailgate.

My mom putting a lace tablecloth on a card table at the Manchester U game in 2003

Mom-isms:
-We are all God's children.
-I'm hellbent for election.
- <curse> Pardon my french.
-I light you all every day.
-Eating like I'm going to the chair.
-Just shoot me.
-JMJ (Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
-Don't go to the bathroom alone (she says this when you're going out, not when you're at home)
-Beware of chloroform
-I haven't ___________ since Hector was a pup (to imply a long time).
-Whatever you say you are.
-Be-you-tee-ful for beautiful
-Ween for wine
-GFY (the nice way to say go .... yourself)

My mother carried three children over nine pounds, and none of us look like her. I have her mannerisms and her nasal voice, but that's all. She raised me to be a strong woman, confident in myself, self-sufficient, and sure that I could do anything I set out to do.

When I think of my mom, I think of love, peace signs, white lights, perfume, Adidas outfits, light, hair manes, candles, flowers, and baked goods.

It's not easy to write about your parents. They knew you when you were just a wish, they see you in all of your phases, they love you through it, whatever it is. I talk to my mom every day. When I thought about writing something for her birthday, nothing came. It's too hard to put something down without thinking you're forgetting something huge, that you won't say what you really mean and will miss the mark. Then I thought hello, she's my mom. Someone who has a scent I would know anywhere. In the end it's not the big things that paint a picture of who someone is. It's the little quirks and scraps of information piled up over the years. Those little details are what I love the most. It's a privilege to know the small things about someone.

Happy birthday mom. I love you.

p.s. Happy birthday to my cousin Ashley, my mom's birthday friend.

p.p.s. Good luck today Gwen! I'm thinking of you

p p infinity s: make this: http://lemonchiffoncake.blogspot.com/2012/06/donna-giblins-artichoke-chicken.html

the weekend that was

Grand re-opening and eighth anniversary party of Mugshots Coffeehouse, owned by our friend Angie. Mugshots uses only fair & sustainable, organic coffee, and supports organic agriculture and local farmers whenever possible. Angie is a great business woman with a fabulous business philosophy. Mugshots on Fairmount relocated to 1925 Fairmount Avenue.
Go. Have coffee and delicious food. Do not pass up the cupcakes. Any flavor will do. Enjoy.

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Dropped someone off at Surburban Station at 9:40, and was stopped in the middle of the intersection at 17th & JFK for a huge pack of roller skaters. My mouth was agape but my iPhone was not handy.

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A beer and a chat pop-in at Colleen & John's

Cousins. I hate the iPhone camera at night.

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Beers and blackberry shots with Michelle, the birthday girl

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A weird quick onset migraine, battled with pergogesic, a sleep mask, and eight hours of sleep...

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The sleep was deep...until the Ahole Wakeup Committee demanded that I rise

President and CEO, Ahole Wakeup Committee

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Morning sun reflection off of my bedside lamp.

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Mugshots sells merchandise too. Like these awesome mugs.

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Bacon double cheeseburger dip. Am I dead and is this heaven?
*Note: bacon reference #1

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Kayden J's first birthday party. Argh, matey.

A pirate ship on a sea of jello. Genius.

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Backyard jams, old school at Jill & Frank's. I loved the hat and glasses on top and had to take a pic.

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Spent the entire lovely Saturday (and Sunday) with MFD

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Nice ride back through the city

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MFD spied this little family making its way through the yards of Vermillion Hills
 and pulled over so I could take a photo.
He also announced later in the day, "I've been tracking a fox on the greenbelt,"
but that's neither here nor there. I wish he had a show on the nature channel.

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Jenny & Evan threw a lovely housewarming party.
Wishing you many many years of happiness in your new home, Leslies. I loved it! Great party.

Homeownership = screwing around with tiki torches

L-town boys

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Bacon cheddar muffins at the Doyle's
*Note: bacon reference #2

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A trip to Marshalls for hangers, all of the sudden I'm out of hangers? 

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Saturday Melissa informed me that BK had a bacon sundae. I had to get on that on Sunday.
*Note: bacon reference #3

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I watched last week's Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding and teared up during the ceremony.
No shame.

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Popped in at Mom & Rich's. Rich lost his mom on Friday. She was a wonderful lady.
Rest in peace Betty.

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Dinner at Carol & Dad's. I hope everyone has a Dad as wonderful as mine.
 I appreciate him every day.

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TV catchup and couch time with the dogs

Geege sits nicely. Gustave puts his paw on you so you know he's there

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the weekend that was

Whew. This weekend was a full one. We were on the go from the time the whistle blew on Friday.

Ladies, as you face the week, heed the words of Rosalind Russel: Taking joy in life is a woman's best cosmetic.

Salut.

Dad is great, brings me chocolate cake

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, 

he believed in me.

~Jim Valvano

Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there, especially

My dad

My step dad

My father-in-law

One of my favorites:

For those of you who lost your dads, I know he's shining love down on you today.

I hope your Sunday is a fun day.