"Hello darkness, my old friend..."
This keeps running through my head this morning as it is already dark, stormy and ready to rain here in Central West Florida..no beach visits in about 5 days, getting itchy. I love living so close to the beautiful state park we visit so often the gate guards know us, but the weather this week is really touch and go. Typical summer weather, and we do always need the rain. Geez, I sound like an old fart. I've got some country music playing right now after watching the Morning Joe show that I make my family suffer through for about 1/2 hour every morning. Most days, our television is off and there is some kind of music floating through the air, which is so much healthier for the mind than the crap on tv. After football season, our tv will be "off" again, and life will be like it was for those years when we didn't have a cable or satellite bill...those were the days...
My son and husband are playing on the floor with cars and dinosaurs. Speaking of crap on tv, I've seen an interesting show called "Hoarders"....maybe you've heard of it? Anyhoo, duty calls for now, and the thunder rolls, so ta ta for now kiddos- will be back soon.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mad Men part 2
Another great moment...when the camera is close up on Paul lying on the floor all stoned, who quotes rapidly, "This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper." I almost fell off the couch in delight, as this is such a wonderful poem and I have quoted it so many times that I felt like E.T. making contact with home. OK, it's just a television show, but Mad Men is pure joy for analytical, type A minus types like me who took English Lit, advertising, marketing and journalism classes, AND who are detailed oriented.
That said, tonight has been one of those nights when all I can say the only highlight of this evening is that there was only ONE load of laundry, ONE dish switch out, and I am really tired though the sun is still high in the sky, mocking my pregnant self. My body lets me down so often these past few days I get frustrated, like a typist whose computer won't keep up with the words-per -minute. I remember it getting like this before, with our first one, but how easily we forget! Days and days now. Tomorrow by 9am I will be floating in the Gulf of Mexico, easing back pains, watching out for stray sharks, and eavesdropping on senior citizens discussing their AARP memberships, sunscreen usage and discounts at nearby cafes. (I love seniors, really!!) They are just everywhere down here. What is great about this week, though, is that FOOTBALL season begins again, and in under two weeks we will have parties, game days, and I'll have every excuse to yell really loud at something besides labor pains.
Keep us in your thoughts as you go about your evening, and I will also send good vibes your way.
Tata for now.
That said, tonight has been one of those nights when all I can say the only highlight of this evening is that there was only ONE load of laundry, ONE dish switch out, and I am really tired though the sun is still high in the sky, mocking my pregnant self. My body lets me down so often these past few days I get frustrated, like a typist whose computer won't keep up with the words-per -minute. I remember it getting like this before, with our first one, but how easily we forget! Days and days now. Tomorrow by 9am I will be floating in the Gulf of Mexico, easing back pains, watching out for stray sharks, and eavesdropping on senior citizens discussing their AARP memberships, sunscreen usage and discounts at nearby cafes. (I love seniors, really!!) They are just everywhere down here. What is great about this week, though, is that FOOTBALL season begins again, and in under two weeks we will have parties, game days, and I'll have every excuse to yell really loud at something besides labor pains.
Keep us in your thoughts as you go about your evening, and I will also send good vibes your way.
Tata for now.
spoiler for Mad Men
Yes there are a million blogs that spread the word fast about how good/bad/mediocre or just confusing the latest MM episode is every Monday morning. I loved that show last night...the whole thing was surprising, tense and had more humorous moments than normal. I'm just going to list my favorite moments.
1. Peggy smoked "grass" with Paul and some office pals. It was awesome.
2. Pete and his wife did the Charleston at that really out-dated and forced "work party" at the country club. It was a surprising sentimental moment for them, as we are always led to believe that they are a doomed couple....maybe they are perfect for each other after all?
3. Joan FINALLY had that lightbulb moment in her eye looking at her husband while saving him during a crucial dinner scene with his superior doctor boss, realizing (maybe) that she may be marrying under herself after all (we already knew this). Here's to hoping she dumps his whiny, wussy, raping self.
4. Don jumped over a bar like it was the General Lee, mixing him and another hiding comrade a drink like a pro.
5. Bets got felt up... not really...but a tall handsome man did put his hand on her belly to feel her undorn child, and it was just at illicit, sensual and forbidden as a book by Henry James where a lady's ankles made men sweat.
6. The "Blackface" moment was so jolting, ugly and racial that I had to remember that kind of stuff was performed by older people I knew and relatives (sad to say) up until just decades ago. The truth stings but it also reveals how far we've come.
If you haven't seen Mad Men, please do yourself a favor and rent the older seasons to catch up. The details are in the dialogue, set design and characters. The action moves along slower than a bad day at work sometimes, but unlike a bad day, it's always rewarding to find the subtle clues and pop culture commentary layered among the plotlines.
1. Peggy smoked "grass" with Paul and some office pals. It was awesome.
2. Pete and his wife did the Charleston at that really out-dated and forced "work party" at the country club. It was a surprising sentimental moment for them, as we are always led to believe that they are a doomed couple....maybe they are perfect for each other after all?
3. Joan FINALLY had that lightbulb moment in her eye looking at her husband while saving him during a crucial dinner scene with his superior doctor boss, realizing (maybe) that she may be marrying under herself after all (we already knew this). Here's to hoping she dumps his whiny, wussy, raping self.
4. Don jumped over a bar like it was the General Lee, mixing him and another hiding comrade a drink like a pro.
5. Bets got felt up... not really...but a tall handsome man did put his hand on her belly to feel her undorn child, and it was just at illicit, sensual and forbidden as a book by Henry James where a lady's ankles made men sweat.
6. The "Blackface" moment was so jolting, ugly and racial that I had to remember that kind of stuff was performed by older people I knew and relatives (sad to say) up until just decades ago. The truth stings but it also reveals how far we've come.
If you haven't seen Mad Men, please do yourself a favor and rent the older seasons to catch up. The details are in the dialogue, set design and characters. The action moves along slower than a bad day at work sometimes, but unlike a bad day, it's always rewarding to find the subtle clues and pop culture commentary layered among the plotlines.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday
In the end, a good cup of coffee always makes my day a little brighter. This is a great Sunday morning, the first one I have slept longer than 6 am in weeks. What a difference that makes! Also have enjoyed going to sleep around 9 lately saving up energy for later dates. Football starts this weekend, concert coming up in October, and FINALLY more going out, hanging with family and friends, and enjoying live music and entertainment again like we use to. I miss us being us...and pregnancy has a way of making everything very "household" centered which I have never been happy with. Houses are for sleep, protection and storage in my book, and backyards are for watching the stars, making food and getting fresh air. Soon, our family will be bigger but the fun will commence and our new son will enjoy the beach state park and all the sights and sounds of our life as much as we do. We are going to find a pop-up camper next year so we can get up and go travel whenever, wherever no matter who is in town to put us up in the inn so to speak (especially in Bay County)..... Can't wait!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
RIP Nick's pretty hair
I am writing this short eulogy for our son's beautiful silky blonde hair, which i just read is common among Aquarians, like he is. A few nights ago my husband and I took some clippers to his long shaggy do and tried to give him a cool funky trim with a short mohawk. This didn't work out so well, as he fought, squirmed and cried so much I had to call time out. So, now his hair is a mullet down the back with a very long mohawk (too long to be spikey or cute) and he looks like one of the lost children from "Peter Pan". We had good intentions, as he hasn't had a trim since Christmas and although I love long hippy hair on boys, it was just to shaggy looking and in this terrible humid weather was always sticking to his neck and ears. In the next few days, we'll have to wrestle him down to the floor again and try to finish the job we started, and my son will forgive us someday after a few years of therapy. Nick, we love you and are looking forward to chopping off that rat tail you have going (more like a beaver tail because it's 3 inches wide)...no one deserves to have a mudflap hanging down their neck especially sweet boys like yourself!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
IKEA- A mad mad world of fru fru, color, and dorm rats
So, the big new thing in Tampa right now is the "must see" IKEA store, so of course we hopped across our dirty little salty pond going East and pulled up to the new IKEA store with high expectations and some extra cash. It sits on the 'pretty" nicer end of Ybor city, the trendy part with a McCafe nearby and newly restored red brick that doesn't quite hide the two hookers lounging around, the man talking to himself at a bustop, or the empty projects that Tampa tries so hard to make tourists forget exist. Anyhoo, there was the IKEA store- a huge two story behemoth (I love that word!) that looks like a Costco or even a small airport. It was a Sunday, and I assumed it would look more like a smaller Walmart or Old Navy- silly me!
Phillip & I loaded Nick into a cart inside after being told outside when we tried to get an outside cart that we needed to grab a cart inside. Walmart this was not! Once inside, a crazy mob of shoppers whirled around, employees in vests with headsets directed foot traffic, and arrows on the floor told you were to start...like Candyland for adults! There was even a kids playground inside for moms who hate trees, sand and normal playgrounds that are outside.
So, we navigated through the store, sometimes getting frowned at for going the wrong way while trying to actually look up close at the little set-ups they create showing you how very cool, efficient and modern their shelves and sofas really are. We did need shelves and saw some nice wall size units for our art/music room - the kind with no backing like stacked cubes that can also be used as room dividers. The store is like a Bed Bath and Beyond with sofas, storage "solutions", colorful fabric items like pillows, comforters and rugs and anything else you could possible need for your home. We were secure in our knowledge that we have enough stuff in our house, new decorations, high quality cookware, nice furniture and we don't feel the need to replace and redo every year like some consumers. We moved on, going up a huge elevator to the second story, looking at rolling butcher block islands, bathroom gizmos, and of course the kid's area that they make look like a dream. I took mental notes, because I realized long ago that most things you see for kid's rooms are thing you can do yourself very easily, and I hate paying for someone else to do something I can do on my own- that's just stupid.
I had one of my sudden urges for water and spotted a cafeteria like line and made a dash into it. We realized fast this wasn't a regular fountain drink area, but a true restaurant, with a lit up menu featuring ribs, Swedish meatballs, salads and more. Ribs at an IKEA?? Seems like being a European design company they might serve lighter fare but maybe this was an attempt at targeting us fat redneck 'Mericans. So, after being told by a cashier to just grab a bottled water instead of a fountain cup and that I could get those at the BISTRO which was downstairs, I finally quenched my thirst.
So much work just pick up a colorful rug or something, right? My husband and I looked at each other, smiling at the whole crazy scene. There were so many people that you really couldn't see far ahead, like an outdoor concert. Once back downstairs, I asked an employee if it was always this crowded and she said only on the weekends. I know school started and it's also in a popular tourist area, so can't fault people for giving the place plenty of business. However, we left without anything but the water and both agreed it may be a while before going back, neither being a big fan of shopping for the heck of it anyway. Once home, we looked up the shelves to order online- and guess what- they are only offered in the store. Oh well...my husband has another homemade project on his hands. Good thing Sears still sells those Craftsman tools that we use so much of lately! In all, the IKEA store was more of an experience than a retail store, and that may be their goal. If that is the case, then they will be very successful here. After all, this is the land of Walt Disney, Busch Gardens and Bucs Games.
I liked the store, but like a first date, may need more information before going again...such as my interest to gas mileage ratio or IGMR (my new way of measuring my motivation for going anywhere into Tampa, since we live further away now). I am sharing this tip with you so you may steal it, and save yourself gas money also. Ta ta for now kids, the thunder is rolling and I am going to see if The Dude has dug any new holes in our backyard today, sneaky thing.
Phillip & I loaded Nick into a cart inside after being told outside when we tried to get an outside cart that we needed to grab a cart inside. Walmart this was not! Once inside, a crazy mob of shoppers whirled around, employees in vests with headsets directed foot traffic, and arrows on the floor told you were to start...like Candyland for adults! There was even a kids playground inside for moms who hate trees, sand and normal playgrounds that are outside.
So, we navigated through the store, sometimes getting frowned at for going the wrong way while trying to actually look up close at the little set-ups they create showing you how very cool, efficient and modern their shelves and sofas really are. We did need shelves and saw some nice wall size units for our art/music room - the kind with no backing like stacked cubes that can also be used as room dividers. The store is like a Bed Bath and Beyond with sofas, storage "solutions", colorful fabric items like pillows, comforters and rugs and anything else you could possible need for your home. We were secure in our knowledge that we have enough stuff in our house, new decorations, high quality cookware, nice furniture and we don't feel the need to replace and redo every year like some consumers. We moved on, going up a huge elevator to the second story, looking at rolling butcher block islands, bathroom gizmos, and of course the kid's area that they make look like a dream. I took mental notes, because I realized long ago that most things you see for kid's rooms are thing you can do yourself very easily, and I hate paying for someone else to do something I can do on my own- that's just stupid.
I had one of my sudden urges for water and spotted a cafeteria like line and made a dash into it. We realized fast this wasn't a regular fountain drink area, but a true restaurant, with a lit up menu featuring ribs, Swedish meatballs, salads and more. Ribs at an IKEA?? Seems like being a European design company they might serve lighter fare but maybe this was an attempt at targeting us fat redneck 'Mericans. So, after being told by a cashier to just grab a bottled water instead of a fountain cup and that I could get those at the BISTRO which was downstairs, I finally quenched my thirst.
So much work just pick up a colorful rug or something, right? My husband and I looked at each other, smiling at the whole crazy scene. There were so many people that you really couldn't see far ahead, like an outdoor concert. Once back downstairs, I asked an employee if it was always this crowded and she said only on the weekends. I know school started and it's also in a popular tourist area, so can't fault people for giving the place plenty of business. However, we left without anything but the water and both agreed it may be a while before going back, neither being a big fan of shopping for the heck of it anyway. Once home, we looked up the shelves to order online- and guess what- they are only offered in the store. Oh well...my husband has another homemade project on his hands. Good thing Sears still sells those Craftsman tools that we use so much of lately! In all, the IKEA store was more of an experience than a retail store, and that may be their goal. If that is the case, then they will be very successful here. After all, this is the land of Walt Disney, Busch Gardens and Bucs Games.
I liked the store, but like a first date, may need more information before going again...such as my interest to gas mileage ratio or IGMR (my new way of measuring my motivation for going anywhere into Tampa, since we live further away now). I am sharing this tip with you so you may steal it, and save yourself gas money also. Ta ta for now kids, the thunder is rolling and I am going to see if The Dude has dug any new holes in our backyard today, sneaky thing.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Lighted Hearted Reading- NOT!!
I finished reading "Revolutionary Road" last night. SIGH. I have not seen the screen version yet, being more in the mood for comedy and sci-fi fantasy this summer so far. If you have not read this Richard Yates novel, written around the early 60's, let me give you a few brief but informative points without giving away the ending or the whole plot.
It's a really incredible novel, written in Hemingway's style- simple, masculine, harsh, sometimes so unsentimental you'd wish the author would have some sympathy for his flawed characters. Yet that is what makes you keep reading- the tension and the hope you have for April and Frank Wheeler (the main characters) leads you along their story like a tour guide through a messed up Disney World. What is truly scary about this story is how truthfully it reveals the cracks in a relationship that should have never consumated in a marriage or children (know any relationships like that?- I do! And no, not my own). The two characters dance around each other for years, fighting, making love, having children that they seem to regard as accessories (alot of Mad Men material here, and I am sure Matt Weiner the writer of Mad Men has read this book). You hope their love will hold them together, but then you start to wonder if perhaps, like alot of relationships, they married under the spell of lust, of wanting to escape their own dull lives, or just for the excitement of it. This is a very common reason why people get married- and in reality, sometimes it works out and they go on to have full, loving long marriages. Otherwise, the marriage starts to turn colors, it reveals itself for the truths people try to bury, and alot of good people with good intentions are left to figure out what to do with broken pieces, and broken hearts.
This is what "Revolutionary Road" deals with, among other themes of emotional repression, lost dreams and gender issues. At times, you hate Frank's spinelessness, while feeling sorry for his suffering wife, yet in another chapter you hate April for her coldness and sympathize with Frank's blundering. This is why the novel is successful, like any good story, nothing is black or white, and the characters are neither wholly bad or good. If I were a pre-marriage counselor, I would make every couple read this book, really! It would save alot of disappointed hearts and open dialogue to the reality of sharing dreams, a home, and longterm lifestyle with another person that you may be hanging some very unreal expectations upon.
It's a really incredible novel, written in Hemingway's style- simple, masculine, harsh, sometimes so unsentimental you'd wish the author would have some sympathy for his flawed characters. Yet that is what makes you keep reading- the tension and the hope you have for April and Frank Wheeler (the main characters) leads you along their story like a tour guide through a messed up Disney World. What is truly scary about this story is how truthfully it reveals the cracks in a relationship that should have never consumated in a marriage or children (know any relationships like that?- I do! And no, not my own). The two characters dance around each other for years, fighting, making love, having children that they seem to regard as accessories (alot of Mad Men material here, and I am sure Matt Weiner the writer of Mad Men has read this book). You hope their love will hold them together, but then you start to wonder if perhaps, like alot of relationships, they married under the spell of lust, of wanting to escape their own dull lives, or just for the excitement of it. This is a very common reason why people get married- and in reality, sometimes it works out and they go on to have full, loving long marriages. Otherwise, the marriage starts to turn colors, it reveals itself for the truths people try to bury, and alot of good people with good intentions are left to figure out what to do with broken pieces, and broken hearts.
This is what "Revolutionary Road" deals with, among other themes of emotional repression, lost dreams and gender issues. At times, you hate Frank's spinelessness, while feeling sorry for his suffering wife, yet in another chapter you hate April for her coldness and sympathize with Frank's blundering. This is why the novel is successful, like any good story, nothing is black or white, and the characters are neither wholly bad or good. If I were a pre-marriage counselor, I would make every couple read this book, really! It would save alot of disappointed hearts and open dialogue to the reality of sharing dreams, a home, and longterm lifestyle with another person that you may be hanging some very unreal expectations upon.
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