What Struck Me

• Pat does not know how to properly throw water balloons (even if they are over filled… )
• Moving the water balloon toss to the beach was an excellent idea. It both impresses and frightens the locals.
• Next year someone should make chicken… or maybe salmon (guess that will be me since I brought it up.)
• Little kids do not feel the cold, even when that cold is 50 degree water. I feel their cold for them.
• Little kids do not randomly run away long distances when there is a nearby car with toys in it for them to play in- note- next time check the car before checking the long distance. Unless you need the exercise (in which case wear the right shoes!)
• Uncle Tom’s trains are still wicked cool.
• There’s never enough time to visit with everyone.
• Teenagers are funny.
• Susan got it right- everytime you think you have everyone figured out new people show up.
• Everyone who thought I was obsessed when I saw Springsteen 4 times in one summer needs to take a look at Steve, Peg, and U2 in DUBLIN … ;)
• Once again I’m amazed at the distances traveled for this. CT, CA, NE, VA, MA, RI, MI, NY, NJ … miss anyone?
• Rita and Tom are amazing for doing this every year!

Where have I been? The weather really threw me this week. It was so nasty and rainy, I just didn’t want to do anything! I did the usual necessary housework (that would be laundry, bathrooms, & kitchen- the dust is still there and the carpets remain dirty.) But I didn’t really go anywhere- except Wednesday when I spent the day at Tim’s school, first for an “author’s tea” (cute!) then for the bookfair (to a teacher I shall not name- when there are already two classes of kindergarteners jammed into the tiny space we had, all of whom need help making up their bookfair wishlists- why does it seem like a good idea to add 20 3rd graders into the mix? That sign up sheet with the times on it was there for a reason… )

The doorbell melted last night. Really. Pat came home from work and said “What’s that smell?” A nasty metallic smell, right in the front hall. We couldn’t figure it out- till I heard a quiet buzz coming from the doorbell. Pat took off the cover and it was smoking! He grabbed a screwdriver and disconnected it. Turns out the back door button was broken and stuck and the constant signal was just too much. Glad Pat was here- I would have probably shut off all the power in the house since I have no idea what circuit the doorbell is on.

But, on the bright side, I booked two trips to WDW yesterday! We’re taking the kids in September, and I booked the Plunderfest trip for me and Kathi (if you don’t know what Plunderfest is, don’t worry about it- if you do- hope to see you there!) I fell right back into planning mode… I’ll try not to let it take over my life as much as it did last time.

Memorial Day weekend means lots of work around the house, and family in CT. At least the weather’s finally good again!

Got an invite to the “Republican Club Family Picnic”. I know and am friendly with many Republicans. Doesn’t mean I want to go to their picnic. Of course, the invitation is really not for me- it’s just addressed to both of us because assumptions have been made about us- both registered independants. I won’t be going. Pat might be.

I know better than to discuss my husband’s politics. Lets just say- we agree much more than we disagree, but we see things differently, come to our conclusions differently, see different paths to the future. It’s always been this way- he’s often influenced me to think differently, and I’ve done the same with him, and we have this middle ground we live in. It works for us, it’s almost like a private dance we’ve perfected over the years.

But to outsiders- who haven’t seen the dance- I’m sure it looks much different. And this Republican Club picnic is another step on the road to pushing our dance out into the public eye. I’m not sure I like that idea, and I feel myself bracing.

But if it happens- this dance has two leads. I may take a step back, but I’ll be stepping forward with the next beat.

As you may know if you read my comments, I caved to the peer pressure I requested, and bought some new stuff from Pottery Barn. One table came on Friday, and the rest arrived today. The first table is great- nice and big, sturdy- not at all like the stuff I was seeing at Target. The framed seashell prints are awesome- in fact now I’m thinking of hanging them in the living room where everyone can see them instead of my room.

The rest of it is still in the garage. I miss my old UPS dude- when he delivered big things he’d ring the bell, and even bring them right inside my front door for me. Not this guy. He dumped the boxes in the driveway, in front of my closed garage. Had I not realized he came by (thanks to the insanity of my dog) I easily could have hopped in the car, hit the door opener, and backed right into my new furniture!

But instead I pushed and dragged the boxes into the garage, where they sit next to the tent that’s drying out from not being used this past weekend (whole other story.) Pat’s out of town for the night so I’ll have to bribe the able-bodied teen and nearly teen to help me get them in the house. Or not. Because I haven’t painted yet, so what’s the point of bringing in the new furniture when I’ll just have to move it out again when we paint?

Delayed gratification- I’m not very good at it.

I just realized in the year I’ve had my iPod I’ve spent $200 buying music for it via iTunes. Plus a few CDs that I bought then ripped. And I think that’s a good thing- I spent so many years not buying new music, I guess I’m making up for lost time. Also, a good amount of the songs I’ve bought are oldies that I’ve loved forever but never made mine. Now I can listen to, for example, Strawberry Letter 23, or She Sells Sanctuary, or Blood & Roses whenever I want instead of when they come on the radio (which is never). Plus I picked up some songs I have on LP or 45 (although Pat hates when I do that- he can grab them free and figures we already paid for them- which is true…)

Right now I’m listening to one of those songs I have on LP, Phoenix by Dan Fogelberg. Don’t laugh! It’s a great song!

Bruce on U2- U2 on Bruce

Taken from their respective inductions speeches for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

My favorite quote, Bruce on Bono:

“Shaman, shyster, one of the greatest and most endearingly naked messianic complexes in rock and roll. God bless you man! It takes one to know one.”

I have to agree that it’s endearing in both of them. No one will follow someone who doesn’t have faith in himself, musically or otherwise.

Tickets are dropping for the Springsteen show in the Meadowlands tonight. I just went to Ticketmaster and was able to pull up seats with no problem. Terrible seats, but in the building.

But I’m being responsible, and I tossed them back :(. Pat has a meeting he can’t miss tonight, Timmy has a baseball game, and Andy and I are missing our bowling league because I can’t be two places at once. It would be completely irresponsible of me to ditch all of it and see Springsteen. Despite what Andy thinks- I do have my priorities straight!

Still, I’m a little bummed. Hopefully I’ll get plenty of chances to see him when he swings back through!