i'm early too

I'm early too. We have a stupid work retreat tomorrow. Here it is, my week in images.

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quickly...

I need to go to sleep. The cab is coming in 4 hours to take me to the airport (ahh, gotta love the 4:30 AM cab ride!). My heart is breaking a bit to leave the kids behind. You'll see some pictures later in the week, but they are simply the most gorgeous, loving, sweet children ever. We read and played and swam and smashed jellyfish and sang "Aiken Drum." I've fallen head-over-heels in love with them both and I don't want to leave them behind. It's been a great weekend, if only too short. Back to work tomorrow (today really).

random 10

Let the iPod or other source of tunes play D.J. and let us know what it spins out. No apron-wringing!

1. cat eye willie claims his lover (tanglewood tree)--dave carter and tracy grammer
2. you may be right (the essential collection)--billy joel
3. maybe it's love (if you lived here, you'd be home now)--the nields
4. calling the moon (the green world)--dar williams
5. jeremy newborn street (if you lived here you'd be home now)--the nields
6. on the air (little star)--girlyman
7. farewell to the old me (beauty of the rain)--dar williams
8. fruitcakes (live at fenway park)--jimmy buffett
9. santa monica pier (good thing he can't read my mind)--christine lavin
10. even now (it's no secret anymore)--linda eder

General Thoughts: My iPod continues to favor the sisters Nields. Quite a folky set today...appropriate for a day when I'm going to see Dar in concert.

Seen Live: Tracy Grammer (unfortunately, I missed Dave Carter), Billy Joel, the Nields, Dar, Girlyman, Christine Lavin and Linda Eder

Really Enjoyed: Cat Eyed Willie, On the Air, Santa Monica Pier

Memory Trigger: When we were little, we listened to a LOT of Billy Joel--I mean, it's classic! My sister used to sing the line "Friday night I crashed your party" as "Friday night I crashed your body"...and my mom heard her singing it one day and couldn't believe that Billy Joel was singing about such a thing! Most of the time, I still sing it that way.

**I will "see" you all Tuesday. My flight leaves at 7 AM tomorrow for Philly and I will spend the weekend with my British cousins. Have fantabulous week!**

T13

1. I am seeing Dar Williams in Lowell tomorrow night.

2. Saturday, I head south to meet my cousin Larissa's 2 munchkins. The family is in from London--I haven't seen Riss and her husband in 5.5 years. I have yet to meet their 3 year old, Minty, or their 1 year old, Ned.

3. While in MD, I'll be ever searching for pictures to serve the visual T13.

4. I love Coldstone Creamery.

5. I'm sad that I'll be no where near a TV for any of the 5 Yankee/RedSox games this weekend. Should be a bloodbath.

6. I told my roommate about the move. She isn't crazy about me moving out on the 15th. I figure I'm giving her 1 month's notice and that's sufficient. I have no lease and won't be made to feel guilty.

7. I'm already looking at pics I've taken and which ones I want to blow up as wall art for my very own place.

8. I taught a 5 year old to swim this week--the whole length of our inground pool.

9. This October, my parents will celebrate 30 years of marriage--and 25 years of living in my hometown.

10. If you were to look in my closet, 1/2 - 2/3 of my wardrobe is blue.

11. One of life's simple pleasures is an ice cold CAN of coke.

12. Our maintenance department came up this week and hung my office wall decor--a b&w photo of Manhattan looking south to north, pre 9-11--the Twin Towers stand proudly. Also, 3 frames with 4 3x3 openings each--one of b&ws of sights around my hometown, one of color shots of Ireland, one of b&ws of my favorite spots in Santa Monica, CA.

13. Most of the time, my boss and I are very much on the same page--it's scary at times.

the hunt

So, after all the griping I did about apartment hunting, I just *may* have found the place on my first try. The building has recently had walls-out renovation...the renovation is so new, in fact, that they are still laying carpet in the hallways and touching up the paint. All new appliances in each apartment and electric heat. In-house security, which in this city is something I value...and on-site management and maintenance.

The price is a *bit* more than I was looking to pay, but I think I can swing it, particularly if I pick up some more babysitting gigs and some tutoring, which I plan on doing. I am looking at another place tomorrow, but made a follow-up at the place from Saturday to go over details, see if a Sept 15 move-in would be feasible. I was originally shooting for Sept 1, but that's Labor Day weekend and I think it'll be too hectic. I really do want to have it done during September though! Also, I feel like Sept 15 is giving fair warning to my current situation.

Now, I have to break it to the current landlord/roommate. I'm a little nervous about that. But I think I can sell it with the whole "I am ready to live on my own, by myself" bit, which is very true. I'm done with roommates, done with feeling like I'm hiding in my bedroom.

day late and a dollar short: random 10

So, after work yesterday, I headed into Boston to see Guster at the Pavillion. I'd never been to the venue before--outdoors right on the harbor...a great location and boy, did the boys from Boston put on a great show!

I tried to use Pandora, but it won't work (can't hear it on this computer), so we'll just turn to the ol' iPod. I'm kicking it off with a song from last night, but we'll see where it spins after that. No apron-wringing!

1. barrel of a gun (lost and gone forever)--guster
2. mercy of the fallen (beauty of the rain)--dar williams
3. seven years (come away with me)--norah jones
4. he loves the road (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
5. sarah maria (gorilla)--james taylor
6. all together singing in the kitchen (all together singing in the kitchen)--the nields
7. an innocent man (the essential collection)--billy joel
8. the city of new orleans (hobo's lullaby)--arlo guthrie
9. teenagers, kick our butts (the end of summer)--dar williams
10. jack and diane (american fool)--john mellencamp

Random Thoughts: My iPod's crush on the sisters Nields continues.

Seen Live: Guster, Dar, The Nields, Billy Joel

Enjoying: Barrel of a Gun, Sarah Maria and Teenagers

Lyric with Best Use of Simile:
Fragile as a leaf in autumn/Just fallin' to the ground/Without a sound

thursday already!

Time for another 13 random thoughts.

1. Mrs. Sullivan was my favorite teacher ever. I had her for first grade and even though she's the only teacher who ever gave me a "detention" (I was talking to Katherine in class), I still love her best.

2. We were released from "detention" early when Sr. Brigitta, the 3rd grade teacher, came in, gave us a blessing and had us apologize.

3. I had 3 nuns for teachers in grammar school and 4 or 5 in high school.

4. I took horse-back riding lessons for 2 years.

5. Apartment hunting is frustrating. I've never really had to do it before--during my teacher-service corps, housing was provided. Then I lived with family and this current living situation came together pretty quickly with not too much searching.

6. I have never lived alone--I'm both nervous and excited at the prospect.

7. I spent all 4 of my college spring breaks building houses--in Tennessee, Florida, Maine and Mississippi.

8. Most mornings, as I try to figure out what I'm wearing, I long for the 12 years when I wore a uniform.

9. I am looking forward to fall leaves.

10. I secretly love What Not to Wear on TLC.

11. My top 3 world destinations are Australia, Africa and Alaska.

12. I don't think I'll be seeing World Trade Center--I'm still not ready.

13. I have 3 phone calls to return right now.

a real blog

Summer is flying by and all I seem to be able to do is post an occasional 13 or random 10. Today, the boss is out, our secretary is out and I'm having a less than productive day. So I might as well blog.

So, the news here is that I'm looking for an apartment. I go through this phase every few months, but I think I might be serious this time--LOL! I'm just tired of having roommates, tired of feeling like I have to hide in my room, tired of coming home from a weekend away to find that all my soda's been consumed and not replaced. None of these are HUGE deals, but in combination over time, I just feel like it's time to at least start looking for alternatives. The challenge is going to be finding something in a decent neighborhood that's as affordable as where I am now. I hate moving!

Other than that, it's pretty quiet on my end. Work is crazy--I signed 300 letters yesterday. My signature isn't a pretty thing under normal circumstances...by letter 100, it was pretty ugly! I'm looking forward to the coming Fridays--this week, I see Guster in Boston. Next week, Dar's playing an outdoor venue in Lowell and the following Friday, I believe I'm taking a few young tykes into Boston to see the sisters Nields play a kid's show. Plus my little side trip to Maryland to see my cousins' kids. I'm actually looking forward to the routine of fall at this point!

a belated 13

I took a last minute trip to the Cape with my mom, aunt and nana from Tuesday evening til yesterday morning. I missed y'all.

1. I am singing and dancing to Tailspin right now. I also just got 2 new Dave and Tracy cds (Seven is the Number and Tanglewood Tree). I am a musically satisfied girl.

2. With all the travelling both near and far I've done this summer, I'm feeling a little scattered.

3. My bedroom (and my desk at work) reflect this!

4. Just when I thought my travels were over, I got a call yesterday saying that my cousin Larissa is coming from England for 2 weeks. She will be with her husband and their 2 young kids--so there will be another long weekend in the next 3 weeks--likely on MD's Eastern Shore.

5. As a result of my "scatteredness," I bought 2 desk calendars (one for work and one for home) and a new planner yesterday--to feign organization and planning.

6. I smiled a huge smile when I wrote in the October retreat at Big Yellow.

7. I love everything about the ocean--the sound, the smell, the saltiness it leaves on my skin. You could see the Vineyard from the beach this week and I just wanted to swim all the way there.

8. I am woefully out of shape. Every Sunday, I think, "This is going to be the week I start hitting the gym."

9. Considering I have access to the on-campus pool/track/gym for FREE, it's pathetic that I haven't gotten there yet.

10. In 10 months, my brother will graduate with his BA on a Sunday. We will then haul ass from western OH to NJ where my mother will graduate with her Ed.D. on Monday.

11. Though I love my current job and situation, I contemplate going back to school regularly--for about 6 different things.

12. When I taught, the younger kids all called me "Miss Q"--this turned into the big kids just calling me "Q"--I loved it all.

13. I have not been to church in a couple of months. I am feeling a wee bit guilty and need to get in the habit again.

T.G.I.F.!!!

It's Friday again. This weekend will be spent hanging around the house, relaxing, swimming, some grocery shopping. I'm looking forward to a bit of downtime.

Alright, here we go. You know the drill. Shuffle up and deal. No apron-wringing!

1. party generation (end of summer)--dar williams
2. heading home (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
3. happy frappy (parachute)--guster
4. strangers like me (disney's greatest hits 3)--phil collins
5. love me do (1)--the beatles
6. jennifer falling down (play)--the nields
7. this town is wrong (if you lived here, you'd be home now)--the nields
8. mona lisa (parachute)--guster
9. stupid (afterglow)--sarah mclachlan
10. phantom doll (flower of avalon)--tracy grammer

Seen Live: Dar, N&K, Guster, Tracy

Majorly enjoying: Heading Home, Happy Frappy, Phantom Doll--this is a pretty stellar set, though.

Memory Trigger: Strangers Like Me used to stop my friend's son from crying on a dime. The opening chords would sound, and even if Ben was in major meltdown mode, he'd immediately stop crying and listen intently.

Favorite Lyric: will i say "i love you" even when they are just words/the way words sometimes are when you pray

thursday thirteen...the frff edition

4 days later, and I'm still carrying a bit of Falcon Ridge with me. Here are some of the hilights/lessons learned:

1. Arriving in the daylight (as I did this year) is FAR superior to arriving after 9 PM and pitching a tent in the dark (as I did last year).

2. There is NOTHING better than sitting around laughing and catching up with old friends. Somehow, though the other 2 members of our camp also live in MA, Al and I only manage to see them at FRFF. They are wickedly funny.

3. *Always* wear disposable shoes at FRFF. You never know when you're going to have to navigate gushing streams of mud. My FR flipflops were tossed as we packed up camp on Sunday.

4. Falcon Ridge always holds musical gems that you don't expect. This year, I discovered Dan Bern (hilarious), TaxiChain (very cool) and was introduced to Shawn Colvin's folky side.

5. A Friday Night Song Swap that includes Susan Werner, Christine Lavin and Cheryl Wheeler WILL make you laugh til it hurts.

6. Old favorites never fail to amaze you at FR. There's just a magic about it all. Crooked Still, Tracy Grammer and the Nields put together some of the best sets and workshops I've ever attended.

7. *Never* complain about the sun and the heat. It will come back to bite you in the ass.

8. Embrace the rain--as long as your tent stays dry and the music plays on, how bad can it really be? Muddy, rain soaked hillsides can come in handy and save property and lives.

9. When you are evacuated from your tent at 3 AM due to fire, grab a blanket. Otherwise, you will freeze for 3 hours in the damp, muddy cold. (How many times can the word "mud" be used in one blog entry anyway?)

10. Less than 48 hours is *plenty* of time to establish wonderful friendships that continue to grow. Big Yellow reunions rock and I can't wait for October.

11. Sometimes, you just have to put on clean, dry clothes and pretend that mud isn't caked all over your ankles, feet and legs. It's the only way to get some sleep.

12. Emergency cookies and apples taste better at 4:30 AM than cookies and apples have ever tasted before.

13. As you drive away from the farm--exhausted, filthy, drained and sunburned--you can't help but ask "How many days til Falcon Ridge '07?"

Big Yellow friends, how did we manage to NOT take a photo of the 6 of us together?

rain, flood, fire and mud...my weekend at frff

I am home (well, at work right now).
I am clean.
I am dry.
I am tired.
I am riding a high from good friends and good music.

When I arrived at Dodd's Farm on Thursday, I was a little grouchy. Work had been crummy on Wednesday and I still felt like grumbling and raging. However, as we drove down Rte. 22 towards Hillsdale, I caught a glimpse of multicolored tents and tarps through the trees. I gasped at the beauty of it and suddenly forgot all the work worries. The new farm was great...and the vibe and soul of Falcon Ridge was the same. As I parked my car to get my wristband, the volunteers greeted us with a "Welcome home!" And it really does feel like home.

Maybe it's just me, but I think the music was better than ever this year. Clearly, N&K's energy was better than usual being back on stage after 3 months...I thought NFN was going to jump right off the stage during Tailspin! Other favorites did not disappoint either...Crooked Still, Tracy Grammer (who is just sublime), Lowen and Navarro and EFO had us singing and dancing in our seats. I laughed until my sides hurt with the likes of Christine Lavin, Cheryl Wheeler and Susan Werner. And DD's fave, Dan Bern, had us all laughing hard and ignoring the rain well into the wee morning hours.

Speaking of rain, after a SCORCHING Friday, the rains did come on Saturday. Everything from sprinklings to drizzles to outright downpours...the field of green became a muddy mess. And less than an hour after climbing into our tent, finally dry, in clean clothes and with substantially LESS mud on our feet and legs, AL and I woke up to screaming and talk of 911. A car had caught fire about 50 yards from our tent...we quickly decided to abandon camp, abandon the car and head down the hill in case things got worse. Fire officials had trouble getting up the hill due to mud, but thanks to the ground being wet and tents being wet, etc., the fire didn't spread and just burned out a car or 2. So, in the end, thank God for the rain. It could've been a lot worse.

By far, the hilight of the weekend for me was catching up with my Big Yellow friends. Those of you who couldn't be with us were missed, but it was great to see A, N, J, T and C. T and C, I'm sorry we didn't get to catch up more! I looked around during N&K's mainstage set to see all of your smiling faces and was amazed at the sense of community that had been formed in less than 48 hours.

I'm not sure how coherent I was here and I'm sure that N, J, A, T and C will also have blog entries about this weekend, probably more coherent than mine. I arrived home yesterday exhausted and drained as I did 3 loads of laundry and scrubbed off the mud. I loved every minute of it though!

kissing the new england soil

I've returned from the South. I was the only Yankee in the ranks, so I spent some time deciphering the "southern-ese" spoken in every session. It was a good conference though, learned some interesting things, met some nice people. I'm always glad to meet other professionals in my line of work and realize that I'm not alone in my struggles and that this is a new area of focus for institutions. We're all working without a net. I'm also glad HC doesn't have the tradition of WEARING the school color in professional settings the way that Clemson does. HC Purple is not much more flattering than Clemson Orange.

One of my favorite moments was when I drove past an intersection in SC that had a Dollar General on one corner, an El Cheapo gas station on the other and a Family Dollar on a third corner. About a mile down the road, I found a Dollar Superstore. Also, on the highways and roads leading into campus, there are big orange paw prints, for the Clemson tigers, don'tcha know?

How did it get to be July 16?! FalconRidge is a mere 4 days away and I'm thrilled, but also disturbed! This summer is flying by. I have to go now to do some more shopping for the weekend. I'll be around, but busy this week, so don't worry too much if I disappear. My goal is to post my "road not taken" thoughts by Wednesday. It's been so interesting and enjoyable to read your thoughts.

early 10 and 13

I'm off to South Carolina. Should be hot and sticky--yippee ;) I thought I'd treat you all to a random 10 and a *Tuesday* thirteen.

I set the 'pod a'shufflin. No skipping tracks or rationalizing.

And the winners are:
1. Romeo and Juliet (Rites of Passage)--Indigo Girls
2. Your Fire, Your Soul (Beauty of the Rain)--Dar Williams
3. Red, Red Robin (All Together Singing in the Kitchen)--The Nields
4. Forever Young (Forever Young)--Alphaville
5. Lightning Rod (Ganging Up on the Sun)--Guster
6. Two Points for Honesty (Lost and Gone Forever)--Guster
7. So Close to My Heart (My Better Self)--Dar Williams
8. You Like Me Too Much (Help!)--Beatles
9. Rebecca (Pat McGee)--Pat McGee Band
10. California (The Guest)--Phantom Planet
Bonus: Closer to Fine (Indigo Girls)--Indigo Girls

Seen Live: Indigo Girls, Dar, Nields, Guster, Phantom Planet (as a guster opening)

Good Tunes: Your Fire, Your Soul; Red, Red Robin; Lightning Rod; Rebecca; Closer to Fine

And Not So Much: Romeo and Juliet

Favorite Album: The "newest" albums on this list were all *really* pleasant surprises...I get nervous that new CDs won't be as good as the last, or the first. But Guster's Ganging Up on the Sun is fabulous. Dar's My Better Self is different, but really fabulous. The Nields' latest, All Together Singing in the Kitchen, is delightfully fun.

Least Favorite Album: Well, I only have the one song on it, but I'll go with Alphaville's Forever Young because I just can't imagine it being good!

Memory Trigger: In that same veing, Forever Young is a trigger...I spent 2 summers as a counselor/RA for an academic "camp" in Lancaster, PA. We had 10 dances in a 6 week period and Forever Young was part of the "Canon" that we played at EVERY dance, along with classics like Istanbul, End of the World, Bizarre Love Triangle and American Pie. This song takes me back to a hot, steamy quad, with 600 teenagers dancing all around me.

Favorite Lyric: Could you wear something that celebrates/Everything you love and maybe/What your family hates
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Tuesday Thirteen
1. I have 2 scars on my right forearm from where I had 13 screws and 2 plates inserted.

2. I fell 30 feet out of a chairlift and snapped my arm in half.

3. I love thunderstorms.

4. I am practically counting the hours til FRFF.

5. I am spending the night in Brighton, MA tonight.

6. I'm a little nervous about going to this conference by my lonesome. What if no one talks to me?

7. When I was younger, my mom had my hair permed.

8. I love to fly.

9. I'm planning to coach a 10 year old b-ball team this winter with a co-worker.

10. My first concert was Billy Joel/Elton John at Giants Stadium.

11. I am a Yankees fan (ducks for cover).

12. I was a Yankee fan when they were the worst team in baseball--not a carpetbagger.

13. I'm determined to teach myself the guitar, but I haven't picked it up in months.

love

I am in love, my friends. His name is Jack. He has long arms and endless legs. His fingers are long and skinny. His mouth is kissable and he has deep, soulful blue-grey eyes. His jet black hair is looks ready for a mohawk. My heart melted the moment I saw him.

He is 6 days old.

My weekend was delightful. Friday night, I went into Boston with friends from work for tapas--YUM! Saturday, after seeing my boss' daughter play in a b-ball game, I headed home to NY/NJ for my cousin's college grad party. The apartment is at 22nd and Park and we were on the roof. It was a perfect NYC evening...not too hot, not too humid, no rain...we watched the sun set over the Hudson and had a view of the Chrysler, Empire State and Met Life buildings. Make-your-own-fajita dinner, surrounded by cousins (some of whom I saw in NC, some of whom I didn't), a little time with my parents, siblings and grandmother...it was a great night. Without fail, these nights turn into an opportunity to tell stories about my mom and her cousins growing up, or my generation of cousins as kids. Always fun.

Yesterday, I headed north, with a stop off in CT to see baby Jack. He'd just finished eating, so he was full and happy...he passed out in my arms for an hour and a half...I could have sat there with him all day.

I'm only here today and tomorrow at work, then I head to SC for a conference Wednesday til Friday. I have so much to do at work that I'm a bit overwhelmed, but it'll all get done.

Friday Shufflin'

Once again, it's time for the Random Ten. Set those 'pods a-shufflin' and tell the fine folks of the blogosphere what's spinnin'. No skipping tracks or rationalizing.
Here's the juice:

1. Hallelujah (Grace)--Jeff Buckley
2. Perfect (Goldfly)--Guster
3. Three Hits (Rites of Passage)--Indigo Girls
4. We're Okay (Rent: Original Broadway)--Cast
5. Blood and Fire (Indigo Girls)--Indigo Girls
6. Eternal Flame (Lilith Fair)--Susana Hoffs
7. Either Way (Fooling Around)--Fools on the Hill
8. The Night Before (Help)--Beatles
9. Happy Frappy (Parachute)--Guster
10. Rent (Rent: Original Broadway)--Cast

Seen Live: Guster, Indigo Girls, Rent, Fools

Majorly Enjoyed: Hallelujah, Either Way, Happy Frappy, Rent

Minorly Enjoyed: Blood and Fire

Favorite Album: Rites of Passage or Parachute

Favorite Lyric: Struggling to content ourselves with what we think best/That what makes happy of which we seem never full/Is actually more than plenty though it is already possessed

Thursday Thirteen

I can't wait to dive into the prompt on "The Road Not Taken," but first...

1. My parents have had the same phone number since I was 2.

2. I just ordered a copy of the Nields' newest CD and I'm wicked excited.

3. I am number 4 of 24 cousins.

4. I don't think I could ever give up iced tea and coke.

5. But I don't drink coffee.

6. When I swam competitively, I was a backstroker.

7. I took 2 years of Spanish and 3 years of Latin in high school.

8. I really like TV on DVD.

9. I miss coaching even more than I miss teaching.

10. I think I'll look for a rec league to coach in the fall/winter.

11. I have pictures and prints in my office that haven't gotten on the wall in the last 6 months.

12. I love cards...I love hunting for the perfect card and accumulating pretty/funny cards.

13. I'm a little tired of my current living situation.

summer thoughts

First things first...
Countdown to FRFF: 15 days

Ahhh...summer. The heat, the humidity, the stickiness, the OCEAN. I'm back from my week at the beach and I have a sprinkling of freckles across my nose and cheekbones to prove it. My freckles go into hibernation for the winter, but a few hours in the sun on a June afternoon makes them POP. 3 people have commented on them today, as if they are a new phenomenon. I'm 100% Irish, of course I freckle!

Anyway, I just spent a week here in this house. My cousin Mark graduated from high school and got to choose the family vacation destination and the Outer Banks was his pick. The house was full of my mother's cousins and mine. We played ENDLESS rounds of SlapJack, a few games of Cranium, ate a LOT of seafood (steamed crabs, crabcakes, swordfish, grouper), set off fireworks on the beach, took long walks, hung out in the hot tub, lounged on the beach and played in the ocean. The water was pretty cold and pretty rough (in knee-deep water, Mark's 180 lb. frame was getting knocked on it's ass), but still a delight. There were dolphins jumping on a daily basis. We taught my 10-year old cousin Maya (a mere 53 lbs with not an ounce of fat on her Chinese body) how to boogie board and she LOVED it. She became a total ocean lover in my company. She didn't even mind getting slammed by a few waves...it's not a real day at the ocean til you come up bloody anyway! We made a trip to a Sonic (our first experience with this particular brand of fast-food--we loved it!) and to a Brew-Thru because you can't just drive past the 8 we saw without trying one!

For as long as I can remember, summer has meant the ocean. I have a mother who LOVES the beach. Many summer days and summer weekends were spent at Jones Beach on Long Island with my parents' best friends and their 4 girls. We went to Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore from time to time to spice things up a little bit. Our vacations were to the Outer Banks and later Cape Cod. We spent hours every day on the beach, biked endless miles, wandered the towns of Duck and Chatham, able to return to our favorite shops summer after summer. Sure, there were many days spent at the Ramsey Pool, since it was 5 minutes from home and by the time I was 10, I could ride my bike and/or walk there with my sister...plus, swim-team practice was there at 8 AM every morning all summer long. I learned how to swim in that pool, how to dive in the diving well and played endless hours of games with my best friends there as well. But the ocean meant summer...the smell of sunscreen and saltwater, cokes and cold-cut sandwiches on the beach, playing "chicken" in the waves (you turn your back, link arms and hope for the best--we used to get SLAMMED).

My grandmother (dad's mom) and uncle (dad's brother) also joined us on every summer vacation (to OBX/the Cape) for about 15 years. The huge bonus to this meant that Erin and I could ride with them, and not deal with Ryan during the 5-10 hours of car time involved in driving to said destinations. My grandmother was laid-back and easy-going, loved going to the beach when we were younger, and when she got older, she'd hang in the AC'ed house, watch reruns of Hunter and Golden Girls and Matlock, then ask for updates on the water conditions and beach activities of the day.

When I look ahead 10/15 years or so, I see myself taking my own children for vacations to the same beaches, wandering the same towns, biking the same trails. Vacations weren't about expensive meals (the benefit of renting a house was making our own meals) or extravagant hotels or exotic locations. Vacation was a time to hang out as a family, spent time laughing and playing together, catch the occasional Cape League baseball game and come home relaxed and slightly pink. I have nothing but the happiest of memories about family vacations. In fact, family vacations still exist...occasionally we do something more "unusual" like a tour of the CA coast (which still involved 5 days at the beach) or visiting family in Ireland, but most years, like last summer, it's still a house on the Cape with whatever family members feel like coming.

Now, getting back to the first lines of this entry, summer has another meaning. The 3-4 days that I spend in Hillsdale every summer since 2003 are a summer hilight. Good friends, good food, good music, good times...and this year, it means a mini-BigYellow reunion, so that's even better! I've been introduced to wonderful new music at FR (including the Nields, EFO, Girlyman, Tracy Grammer, DaVinci's Notebook, disappear fear) and I come back every year feeling relaxed, peaceful and giddy for weeks! See lots of y'all there!

summer's gonna have to wait

My musings on summer, of which I have many, will have to wait a week. Tomorrow morning, I fly to Norfolk, VA and then motor to Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks. A week full of cousins, good food and the ocean is just what the doctor ordered!

Anyway, you know the rules at this point. Fire up that iPod and tell the blogosphere what's playing. The first ten songs. No skipping past or rationalizing the embarrassing tracks (even if it's Celine Dion!). Afterwards you might want to entertain us with who you've seen live, and favs and least favs...

Here's the set:
1. downtown (absolutely live)--christine lavin
2. someone like you (linda eder)--linda eder
3. we are the true americans (live at the cactus cafe)--christine lavin
4. on the air (little star)--girlyman
5. goodnight, elisabeth (recovering the satellites)--counting crows
6. rocky mountain high (best of john denver)--john denver
7. iowa (out there live)--dar williams
8. living on a prayer (slippery when wet)--bon jovi
9. the sweetness (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
10. gypsy rose (flower of avalon)--tracy grammer

Random Comment: Living on a Prayer is the only song I've ever sung for karaoke, but ALWAYS in a group. It was the "theme song" for my cohort in the teaching program.

Seen Live: Linda Eder, Girlyman, Dar, N&K, Tracy Grammer

Majorly Enjoyed: "We Are the True Americans," "On the Air," "Iowa," "The Sweetness"

Minorly Enjoyed: "Goodnight Elisabeth" (a song I adore, but it killed the mood)

Favorite Album: I am loving Flower of Avalon right now

Least Favorite Album: Not really a bad album here

Favorite Lyric: "Nothing would ever happen if we always stayed the same" (another nod to NFN!)

Thursday Thirteen

Here's to *A*...fun idea!

Without further ado, here are the rules: 13 random facts about YOU! The quirkier and the funnier, the better. Go for novel tidbits. It'll be more interesting that way.
Here are the goods:

1. According to Myers-Briggs typology I am an ENFJ.

2. Every time I take the above typology, I fluctuate between ENFJ and ENFP.

3. Sometimes I still wish I had to wear a uniform every day.

4. I broke my arm in half when I was 13 and needed 13 screws and 2 steel plates to fix it.

5. I only wear Speedo bathing suits.

6. I took the LSAT and still contemplate law school.

7. I drink a lot of Coke (probably too much).

8. I hate the humidity.

9. I love the snow.

10. I can still ID which episode of the Brady Bunch it is within the first 5 minutes.

11. I can pretty much do the same with Little House.

12. I can't sing, but I do it anyway.

13. My legs are frighteningly and disturbingly pale right now.