Puppy Love!

It was freezing out, with super high winds, but we still managed to pull off puppy love. Not the turnout we hoped for, but non the less a success. The boys helped me set the place up, decorate, test the ice for the bar, and make sure the dog treats were up to par.


Fisher and I entered into the dog trick competition with our hugging/dancing routine. Unfortunately we were trumped by a Pug that could do everything short of mixing a drink. Our trick is way more impressive in my living room!

If you missed it this year, make sure you're around in May 2010 (madness, 20fucking10!) for the 5th Annual Puppy Love!!

is this it?

You should all know that I have a pair of ballerina toe-shoes in my closet. My friend Lisa was the mistress (head bitch) of the University of Utah Ballet Company, and gave me her old shoes when she was done dancing the crap out of them one day. Granted, my last run in with ballet was in 1988, and I'm pretty sure I was "let go" from the program for a laundry list of complaints (short attention span, disruptive in class, lack of coordination), but I still think that one day, if shit really hits the fan, I can always fall back on being a mediocre ballerina.

Anyway, when I have exceptionally bad days, or when I can't think straight, I put on my shoes, but on my favorite song of the day and I dance around my house. I dance, and I dream. I dream that I'm a principal ballerina, that knows exactly what she's doing. Which steps to make, and in which direction.

I mention this because I was watching TV this week and a commercial came on showing mothers pushing around strollers filled with ballerina's, astronauts, police men, doctors, etc. I'm pretty sure it's for Goddard school, or something to do with nutrition?

By the end of the commercial they get to the point that all of the people being pushed around are actually toddlers dreaming about becoming ballerina's, astronaut's, becoming big important adults that make their own big boy and big girl decisions.

We are all told in school that as long as we work hard enough, and study religiously, we can fulfill our dreams. In a cynical way, after the 45 second time slot, I thought about the 3% acceptance rate at Julliard, and the next to nothing chance of being admitted into NASA. Not to mention the socioeconomic factors that play into what schools and opportunities are available to various children. End of the day, it's hard to look a toddler in the eye, and give them the God's honest truth; that even if they work their absolute hardest, it might not be enough.

It also raised an important question; is this it? Are we all becoming the adults we dreamed of as children? When did we stop dreaming of being an Olympic gymnast? Or owning a stable filled with ponies? Or being a world renowned interior designer?

God, I can look back and remember my idea of adulthood. Thinking that it was going to be cookies for breakfast everyday, no bed time, and an endless sleepover. Even when I moved into my first apartment I was amazed by the freedom. No notes letting people know where I was going, having kegs in the house without asking permission, smoking on my front step because I could. I didn't think of the adult decisions, the bills, the lack of free time, and the struggle.

So how do we hold on to our childhood dreams in an adult world? How do we take it all back and become the ballerina we always wanted to be? Is it too late? Is it ever too late? Or have dreams become so fleeting that they don't last from childhood to adulthood?

I don't really know how to end this post, because I don't know how to answer those questions. I was told recently that if you want to do something, you need to get a calendar, circle a date, and do it. Maybe that can serve as advice for us all.

In the meantime, I think it's time to start dreaming big again. I have my shoes on...you should get a pair too.

The cutie pie turned two on Feb 1st!
Short recap:

Since Beau was turning 2, Mama saved a 2 dollar bill to attach to her present. For my brother, this translated into creating an entire John Adams Birthday theme with an end result of 10 John Adams wigs and cooresponding collars. I have to say, Jakey rocks the wig like it's his job. (I'm way too sheepish to post photo's of me and my brothers in revolutionary wigs.)

Beau got a mountain of gifts, including plenty of books, a hand made doll from Mama, and a bubble machine from her dear ol' dad. The bubble machine was a HUGE hit, especially when you consider that Bubbles to Beau is like Crack to Junkie.

When she started unwrapping a nearby todler tried to "help" (or STEAL!) her birthday thunder by unwrapping presents. Two can play that game. Beaudi took her presents into the closet and unwrapped them there. It took a little convincing but she finally rejoined the party to unwrap in public, under the protection of her father :)

After presents was cake. She got two: one that looked like a piggy bank and one that looked like a 2 dollar bill. However, Beau decided that she eats cake naked....and in the bathtub....

...and then naturally a bath to wash off all the frosting....

I'm not sure if it's okay to post pics of Beau in the bathtub. But that face is too darn cute to keep to myself :)

Happy Birthday Beau!!

ronny & loretta

So I'm watching Moonstruck. Luck of all luck, it was on TV after the Grammy awards. I've had a special relationship with Moonstruck for a long, long, time. It's been mildly interrupted since my VHS player was "adopted" (or stolen during my Salt Lake stint) by my mother. Anyhow, you can always count on Ronny for a poignant quote:

"Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn't know this either, but love don't make things nice - it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and DIE. The storybooks are BULLSHIT! Now I want you to come upstairs with me and GET IN MY BED!"

Oh Ronny...oh Cher. Gotta love that outfit. And the perm. And the lipstick that's still perfect the next morning. Cinematic genius if I say so myself. Go rent a copy. Aquire some Italian pearls of wisdom. I'm mentally retrieving my VHS as I type.

Ti amo.

fabulous

I found this link through Sherri. She always finds the greatest things on YouTube. It's pretty damn cute. Thanks for sharing darlin!

that's enough outta you..

Gotta say, Tuesday, February 3rd was not a fun one. Not even close. I think I officially quit on the 3rd at 5:15. Too many awful events spread across too few hours.

So, lets talk about how great Wednesday, February 4th has been. (Aside from my house lacking heat. Oh oil heat. You're such a tease with your line-on-empty-gauge.)

Just a few things worth mentioning. Small, but wonderful.

1. My amaryllis is in bloom. It literally happened over night. There are 4 blooms at once. Which is kinda like a four leaf clover; doesn't happen very often, usually 2 at a time. So I'll accept my good luck charm and share with you. Stay tuned for more house plant news (my life is thrilling).

2. In the early...very early....morning hours of the 4th Jakey walked with me through the streets of Fishtown with the dogs. Through 8 inches of snow. It was beautiful, and peaceful. I love getting to snow before anyone else gets a chance to ruin it. I hate that by morning it turns black from SEPTA buses, and freezes on my windshield. Always good to walk aimlessly with my brother.

3. I went to Philly Brewing Company today and learned that they changed the Newbold recipe (shh, I didn't say a word). So stay tuned for new and improved brew. I was sent home with a 6 pack for market research. After gathering a panel, it sounds like vast improvements have been made.

4. After watching a musical with my roommate, I've since changed my opinion of the Beatles.

I would really love to buy one of those snazzy pocket sized digital camera's. Then I wouldn't have to use my phone. And I could show you how the pups look like Santa when they play in the snow....one day. One step at a time.

love me, love me

and i knew that you loved me a little bit less

when you ordered me a Telemore Dew

as if overnight Jameson was too rich for this Galloway girl.

and before i could make my voice stop

i began to sing to you

thinking that our voices would melt into notes on a bar.

love me, love me, love me, say you do

and now as i sit here and examine the lines around your eyes

i wonder if my voice fell flat

or if the song fell on deaf ears?

and i wonder how long ago i lost you

how long i've been sitting here singing

how long you've been sitting across from me waiting to say your goodbyes.

and before long my mouth grew chapped from the overworked air

as you told me that if i was truly a lady

i would leave you to your whiskey.

and i did

as I expected, you never ran after me

like a gentleman would.

and with that, goodbye.

for my love is like the wind, and wild is the wind