Catskill Game Farm

I remember going to this place as a kid. I rode an elephant and played with my cousins. 25 or so years later, it hasn't changed a single bit. I don't suppose people just plan vacations to go to the Catskill Game Farm..It's more of tradition, maybe even nostalgia. My cousin has a little one. Her name is Emma and she is the most precious child this side of...well..the ATLANTIC as far as I'm concerned. Doing things with Emma is just fun. Emma happens to love animals. So this weekend, we headed up for a nostalgic adventure to the Catskills and spent all day Saturday at the game farm. This baby bear was sleeping on the rock and I couldn't resist capturing the moment. A great time was had by all! Next year, it's all about camping at Rogers Rock, something we also did as kids!

Morning Kayaking

A typical sight to see...high tide at 8:30 am, the humidity settling in for the day..the water as calm as glass...

IPEX

So I've seen all the hype over this silly bra. I mean, hasn't everyone? It's all over TV, all over print, just everywhere. I was even suckered into a VS Angel's account on the sheer basis that I could get a coupon for a cheap Ipex bra. They lied..sorta..there was a coupon in my packet for an Angel's bra and they DO actually make an Angel's Ipex. Thankfully, this coupon was for the month of July! With July running out, I activated my card and went on my ipex mission. I got one. I have to say, it is an extremely comfortable bra and I really wish I could afford more of them! It gives my boobs a nice shape and its REALLY comfortable. I highly recommend at least trying one on, muchless getting your hands on one!

Trouble with Dreams

I heard a great song tonight..thought I'd post the lyrics..it's by the Eels...It's funny how songs catch you when you least expect it..

There's nothing that i wanna do
More than get alone and be with you
Trouble with dreams is they don't come true
And when they do they can't catch up to you
You don't need a thing from me
But i need something big from you
'cause you know i've got
An awful lot of big dreams
I'm walking down a lonely road
Clear to me now but i was never told
Trouble with dreams is you never know
When to hold on and when to let go
If you let me down it's alright
At least that leaves something for me
'cause you know i've got
An awful lot of big dreams
This is the life that i must lead now
Crossing fingers and wiping brow
Trouble with dreams is you can't pretend
Something with no beginning has an end
You don't need a thing from me
But i need something big from you
'cause you know i've got an awful lot of big dreams

Numb..

So a blog...what's it for exactly?? I read other people's blogs..they share life tidbits. Sometimes I share life tidbits too..I decided just recently that I was going to put it out there tho, to say what I think or see or feel on my blog..like last night, and the beautiful scene that inspired that piece..but today...today is a different day.

Joe's brother recently got engaged. We went out tonight as a family to celebrate at a great steakhouse. It was a wonderful evening out..but then I came home. The answering machine was beeping at me..two messages..who could they be?

I hit play on the machine and listen..first, my aunt..saying that I need to call her as soon as possible..sounding quite grim. My knees start to get weak..then, my cousin, saying the same, but reassuring me that we are all alright..so ok, noone in my immediate family is in danger..whats this about? It's 11:10, can I call her back? Is it too late? I have to call..

My cousin Kathleen is dead. She was no older than 40. We really haven't talked to her in years. She went through a bout of alcoholism and it led to some disagreements and then she was off, to tend to her family in Pennsylvania. She has two boys, Luke and Dylan, respectively 9 and 7. Her husband Joe and her went through rough times..apparently meeting at AA, there has been quite a history there..none the less, he woke up this morning and found her dead. We don't know any more details other than that..and I'm sure I'll find out more in the coming days..Joe is being questioned..it all just isn't right.

Take a step back in time, a year ago. I found myself attending her brother's funeral. We don't know all the details there either, but if you ask me, it was drug related..At that point in time, it was bad enough that my Aunt had to bury two of her children, now, it's three..there is just one left..yes..i said two..

When I was a kid, my cousin Jennifer overdosed on drugs as well. She was a teenager who hated school. Growing up in a divorced family, she found herself willing to do anything to not have to go to school, including eatting alot of pills. I always had these images of Jennifer standing in my Aunt's living room, apologizing for doing it, crying hysterically, and dropping dead on the floor. I knew that she had died and now, as an adult, i don't imagine that's how it really all went down, but I wasn't brought to the wake, and it wasn't ever talked about. It was a tragedy in itself, a 15 year old kid, dead..

Now, my Aunt is going to bury her third child..two in a year..and only one left on this earth..What kind of a god is there that thinks there is a reason that someone should deserve this kind of life? I don't even know what to say, I'm in complete shock..It isn't supposed to happen this way..

A Beautiful Kiss

I watched her come through the crowd to greet him. It was like a long lost welcome that ensued in quite an embrace. Their sticky bodies held together and then they kissed. You could just see the passion in this kiss..and it kept going..it didn't matter to them that the air was just nearly as thick as pea soup as we all stood there, peeling our clothes off our skin. It was insignificant in their beautiful embrace..it didn't matter..their kiss took precedence..for a very long while..I watched them as the music encircled their souls and made them move together..wondering what it felt like in the middle of it all.. :) The magic of live music!

Home Ownership

When Joe and I first bought our house, we ran into a problem. No, the problem wasn't in the house itself. The house was and still is an amazing place to live. As Thomas Paine said, "I had rather see my horse, Button, eating the grass of Bordentown, than see all the show and pomp of Europe." It's true! I really can't ask for more. I have amazing neighbors. We get together and do things. I can walk into their houses without knocking, not that I usually do, but it's possible. They feel comfortable knocking for no good reason, occassionally in the middle of the night when they see the light is on. They use my yard as a path between alleys. I sit on their porches. We have parties. I could go on and on, but this neighborhood has proved to be full of ecentricities that are beyond amazing. The Delaware is two blocks away and the paths that follow its boundaries are vast and adventuresome. So many things keep me loving where I am. But as I was saying, when we bought our house, we had a problem.

We lost all our old friends. For a while, it was the joke of it all when we'd bring up the concept of "who'd do it first?" referring to marriage and babies..but when we bought the house, we felt the brunt of the whole game. No, we didn't realize it at first. We were naive to the idea..we were the first..and we'd meet people from work who would bring up the concept of "House Envy". Of course, several of them had similar stories, of course, not nearly as extreme as ours but definately similar. And so it came to be. It was really time to start a new life.

Well today, some of those people, that snubbed us off, have found themselves in a similar position as we were two years ago. I wish them the very best of luck and hope that they can only find the same joy that we have in our home. I wish that they don't have to endure the heartache that we did with their more current friends. Hopefully, coming to their own might make them think..if only things were different.

When we bought our house, we'd said that the most important thing was sharing it. What good is a house when you have noone to share it with? We had to start over. It was a clean slate. Now we find ourselves with many wonderful people to share our house with. We often wish we could just share it with them, in the first place.

Maybe they'll never realize what they've done. Maybe they don't need to. It just feels good to send out into the void. Good luck with the house!

Made of Mainly Stainless Steel!


Well..today we were on a game show. Joe and I, along with 198 of our closest neighbors all bussed into NYC to tape the first pilot of My Kind of Town..It was an absolute blast! I can't give out details. It will air on ABC in mid-August. I definately recommend watching it! Like I said, I can't say much..but it will definately warrant a big outdoor sort of party when all is said and done!

Movie time!

When I was a kid, I used to go to a drive-in movie theater. I remember the experiences vividly. My mom would get us into our pajamas and we'd pack some comfy blankets and snacks into the car. Off we'd go to the movies! It was a grand experience. There were swings there that we would play on until it got dark. Then, the movie would start. The sound would come through a hundred little boxes that you hung on your car. I miss them very much.

So when the latest issue of Martha Stewart hit shelves, I was surprised to see a little article about a dessert and movie party inside. There are always these cute little parties that they highlight. I usually read them and think how I wish I could hold a party like that. This one tho, I could really pull off! After having a block party for the Fourth of July, I realized that getting together with the neighbors is easier than I thought it would be. It was a little awkward at first, but once we got going, it was a blast!

So I started running the idea through my head. Where could I show the movie? I know 5 kids on the block, how could I get more families to come? Each person could bring a dessert! I need Carl's help, he's the one with kids! But this idea, it's just grand! I am excited to get the ball rolling. I already have the projector, now I just need the party to follow suite!

Getting your fill?

Do you ever feel like sometimes you've gotten your fill? Like you wanted something so badly you could taste it and you put alot of effort into making it happen and then you get it and in no time at all, you feel you've had your fill? Kinda the "ugh! why did I even bother? What was I THINKING?" notion. It's very weird. It makes me think I'm going crazy sometimes..ahah..but once you've got it, you can deal without for a while..

On another note, I went out shopping today and got a new shower curtain for our spanky bathroom. God, it looks great. I wish I could spend more time in there but it just isn't really practical. I mean really, how much time can one spend in a bathroom before becoming severely claustrophobic! Anyway, it looks great. I just hope Joe agrees and if he doesn't, tough luck. This was my project, from mortar on floor to shower curtain!

Denali!

Denali didn't want to be left out of the picture!:)

Supermodel work!

Katie and I were havin some fun..she likes to pose :)

Live 8 Philadelphia!

Yes, it's tomorrow..and yes, of course, we are going to it. How can we not?? It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and it's practically in my backyard! I think it's a very noble cause and I think the concerts and the hype of them will certainly make quite a statement to the world leaders. So tomorrow, I'll be heading down via public transportation in the AM, and heading back sometime in the early evening..I'll be posting some pictures soon..as well as some pictures from my amazing Atlanta trip :)

Pepto Bismol (really dismal!)

So i have this messed up story..last night, i had indigestion..my husband had left a sample of pepto bismol chewables in the laundry room..i figured i'd give it a shot and try it..never having it before..
so this morning? I wake up and go to the bathroom, grab my toothbrush and start brushing..do the obligatory tongue brush and my heart falls into my stomach..i spit BLACK..my toothbrush is BLACK..ok, freak out!!

Run downstairs, quick, google black tongue, sounds familiar..did i catch some wacky disease on my trip?? No..commonly caused by ANTACIDS! I go to pepto bismol's website! SURE ENOUGH.. Is that enough to bug you out?? Ok..never again..i'd rather suffer!