St. Nora of the Drama Queens

Jennifer was recently writing about her long history with Wonder Woman. But she also mentions another Strong Girl Family Favorite.
Picture Book of Saints.

I don't know how many hours my sisters and I spent poring over this epic tome. I chose the confirmation name Cecelia because she had the prettiest picture in the book. Seriously. We also would "Play Saints". My favorite to play was St. Agnes. She was tied up and starved (if memory serves) because she wouldn't marry Sempronius' son. First he tried to burn her at the stake but the fire wouldn't touch her so he immediately beheaded her. Anyway...I might have to pick up a copy for some light summer reading.

Dexter and Zach are working hard to keep the band together. Sometimes their creative differences cause some problems, but harmony prevails.

So Dexter was successfully Christened on Sunday. It was a nice service and a great party afterward. Dex is blessed to be part of several families who are kind and generous and a lot of fun.

6.26.04

Three years ago I made a pretty smart move.



Happy Anniversary Babe.

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Love,
One of your noisy chicks...

A surprise in my garden this year is the Celosia. (Due to my adolescent sense of humor I can't call it by its common name: Cockscomb.) Last year I planted them in back and they were quickly eaten by squirrels, but they are thriving in the front yard. I think it looks like I have a lollipop garden.

Between errands today Dexter and I caught up on our celebrity gossip.

Photo Essay: How do I manage to find some alone time?

The boys like to sleep in.

December 22nd:


February 18th:


June 16th:

That picture never gets old to me. (And to those worrywarts out there: Dexter is sleeping quite happily in his crib, however, on the weekends we can get another hour or two of sleep out of him by moving him to our bed.)

She does, in fact, meander...

(Due to the angle of the photo Dexter's head looks ENORMOUS! I swear I didn't Photoshop this to make him look like a Baby Bobblehead. He's still the CBE!)

I celebrated the start of summer vacation with a nap in the hammock with the little man and a long walk in the neighborhood with little and big man. And I am sitting here this morning with two months and two weeks of vacation time ahead of me feeling that I am, perhaps, one of the luckiest people in the world. I am enjoying a quiet moment of calm, feet up, while Joel and Dex are sleeping upstairs. One reason for this joy I feel right now is the anticipation of the long days of summer that stretch out ahead of me. So I went to my trusty friend Google to see what words of wisdom people have to offer about "anticipation". (I know I am a freak...I know it is 6:30 in the morning. However, this non-coffee drinker feels in the morning the way most people feel at about noon or one. Then by eight at night I am drooling into my Entertainment Weekly while Joel encourages me to go to bed.) Anyway, imagine my surprise to learn that most of the commonly quoted people don't find "anticipation" in and of itself to be a particularly good thing:

“Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today.” -Seneca (hmm... fine. Way to put a damper on my post "ancient Roman philosopher".)

“If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of troubles” -Elbert Hubbard (I'd be focused on my troubles too if my name was Elbert.)

“The poetry is all in the anticipation, for there is none in reality” -Mark Twain (Oh Samuel, you had me at 'a good walk spoiled'.)

Since I can't find anyone else to summarily describe my current bliss I'll have to do it myself: I don't have to go to work for the next eleven Mondays.

I heart google...

I always wondered why the Beatles cursed Sir Walter Raleigh for being such a stupid git. It turns out it is because he introduced the tobacco plant to England. To those of you who are saying duh right now keep in mind that my smoking experience is limited to two Capris behind Michelle Batistella's pool in eighth grade.

Dexter's new trick

Kiddo performed a new trick while visiting Great Grandma today.

Found on my tire yesterday morning

Cicada on death row


Cicada on death row

This little piggy is six months old.

I'm in a blog rut...

so I'm going to answer Jen's meme. (At least then I'll have updated this week).

A - Attached or Single?: Attached at the hip.
B - Best Friend?: Joel...and superlatives are hard, but I'm so glad I have some good friends who have been around for nearly twenty years and nearly fifteen years.
C - Cake or Pie?: Pie. Banana Cream.
D - Drink of Choice?: A well-made Margarita. Least favorite drink? A poorly made Margarita.
E - Essential Items?: books and my laptop...so I can get to the internet...I am a junkie.
F - Favorite Color?: red
G - Gummie Bears or Worms?: Worms.
H - Hometown?: Chicago
I - Indulgence?: Buying new books.
J - January or February?: February because it is one month closer to spring and summer.
K - Kids?: If you read this blog and don't know about my kid I worry about your comprehension skills.
L - Life is incomplete without?: sunshine
M - Marriage Date?: 6-26-04
N - Number of Siblings?: 2 sisters
O - Oranges or Apples?: Apples
P - Phobias/Fears?: Offending people... and it is a really debilitating fear.
Q - Favorite Quote?: "The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in our selves that we are underlings." (Shakespeare...I am an English teacher. I torture my students with this one.)
R - Reason to smile?: Nine days until summer vacation!
S - Seasons?: Spring, Summer, and Fall with a little bit of winter to appreciate the others.
T - Tags?: ditto what Jen said.
U - Unknown Fact About Me?: I think I'm over karaoke. I'm heartbroken about it.
V - Vegetarian or oppressor of animals?: Proud carnivore.
W - Worst Habit?: Saying too much to too many.
X - X-rays or ultrasounds?: Have you seen the Thelonius ultrasound?
Y - Your favorite food?: steak on the rarer side
Z - Zodiac?: Leo