Month: June 2005

Our 12th anniversary was last month, and we got our official gift over the weekend at my favorite favorite favorite gallery in Rockport. (A quick backstory – I’ve always loved the work of this photographer. I have longed for some of his pieces for 10 or more years, but for a long time, buying stuff to hang on the walls was just not in our budget. But I still knew I wanted some of his stuff. And then my brother-in-law went and bought some of his pieces for my sister! Wait, he is MY favorite photographer! Anyhoo…after 10 years of going to his gallery and leaving empty-handed, my time had come! We found a piece that we both loved, and while we couldn’t get the largest version they had, we did get the next size down.

To see it, got to the Andrew Borsari Gallery website and click the landscape link. Our photo is on page 3 of 6, and it’s the one called Green Fields (Three Hills). It was taken in California this past February, and you have to trust me that this little picture doesn’t do it justice. The two trees are the only things on these three rolling hills, and the cloud and the shadows and…and…I love it.

I think if my contract gets renewed here (right now, things are kind of iffy because of some roles being moved, which is a problem) I’m going to buy another one. The only problem will be decided which one.

I freaked out Junior but good last night, and it made me laugh. I am still smiling about it, because it was just such a mom thing to do.

We attended a birthday party at the bowling alley (sport of kings, much beloved by the elementary school set). Prior to the party, the birthday boy told the kids in his class that his parents were putting $200 electronic devices in the goodie bags. I explained to Junior he was probably saying that to try to achieve perfect party attendance, that I know his parents and like any parent, they would rather spend the $$ on their own kids, not someone else’s.

I was apparently right, as the goodie bags were of the more traditional “candy, gum, pencil and yo-yo” variety. Which is cool, because he really likes yo-yos, so he quickly got over his initial “what, no PSP?” disappointment.

When he was done bowling he took off the rental shoes and handed me his socks so he could put his flipflops back on. I stuck the socks in the goodie bag to carrying them. And then I forgot to take them out. So later, when he was ready to investigate his goodie bag loot, he screamed “AHHH! I GOT DIRTY SOCKS IN MY GOODIE BAG!”

Was it wrong of me to laugh as hard as I did, before I told him they were his socks?

Yesterday (Saturday) we spent the day in Rockport with Uncles Crank and Ron. We sort of chose Rockport thinking that it might be cooler on the coast. Okay, hoping it would be cooler on the coast. It unfortunately was not cooler on the coast. There wasn’t even a breeze. Many quarts of sweat were lost yesterday.

We rented a minivan so that we’d be able to fit all 7 people in one vehicle. I have to pass along the advice that if you want a decent minivan from a company you’ve heard of, plan for the rental early. Don’t wait until the last minute. We had a 2001 Windstar and the air conditioning could have used a recharge or something. It wasn’t the best ride I’ve ever had, especially when we were used to our old Sienna.

Here are a couple of shots showing why 15 billion people (and us) chose to go to Rockport yesterday.

I keep forgetting to tell you guys about something I saw that made me laugh like a madwoman. So now that I’ve remembered, I’ll tell you!

About a week ago we were driving on Route 12 in Leominster, past a car wash. All the lovely car owners were getting the pollen, etc. off their cars, vacuuming them out, etc. There was a big shiny clean SUV parked by the vacuums…with a pigeon walking around on the roof. I don’t know, maybe I’m evil, but that just set me off and I laughed for the next mile or two. I wish I’d had my camera, because boy, there are days when I feel like that SUV owner.

Let’s see, not much else. I applied for an Accuweather thingy so that I can put their weather report right on my site (over on the right somewhere, I suppose) so that I don’t have to always go to their site right away. As for Sunday’s forecast, Accuweather.com says 86 (but it will feel like 92) and Yahoo/Weather.com says 87. Just to keep you up-to-date.

Oh, and we picked strawberry #2 last night. I didn’t get any. There are two more just about ready, and one of them has my name on it.

I’m trying to make plans for the next few days, and I’m not happy with the weather. 88 and humid today? Fantastic. Great. I have another baseball game to attend, that should be pleasant.

The one that is killing me is Sunday: last night Yahoo’s weather said it was going to be 97 and humid. See, that’s the kind of weather that makes me want to mail myself to Alaska. But now Accuweather says 89, and Yahoo (pulled from the Weather.com, I believe) says 82. That’s a 15 degree drop in the forecast in only 12 hours. And lets face it, 82 sounds a LOT better than 89, doesn’t it? So do I pick Yahoo’s forecast and hope for 82, or Accuweather? Or do I not forget that last night the number 97 was being thrown around?

I guess no matter what, I’m wearing shorts Sunday, so hide all the small children and wear protective eye gear for the glare.