I'm down HERE!

This is for JB

137 holiday cards done. 

Reusker's coworkers left to do. 

They are lame, and I am tired.

There. I've posted more than you.  HA!

ok, so this time it only took me TWO times to log in to post...I'm getting better.

HAVING MOM OVER FOR DINNER

Brian Hester invited his mother over for dinner.  During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but keep noticing how beautiful Brian's roommate, Stephanie, was. Mrs. Hester had long been suspicious of a relationship between Brian and Stephanie, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two react, Mrs. Hester started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Stephanie than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Stephanie and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Stephanie came to Brian saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Brian said,

"Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure." So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mother:  I'm not saying that you "did" take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you "did not" take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian

Several days later, Brian received a letter from his mother that read:

Dear Son:  I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Stephanie, and I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Stephanie. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom

Can I just say this somehow reminds me of Reusker's grandmother INSISTING I stole her shoes...

I can finally be proud.

As thrilled as I was with the "out with the old, in with the blue"...I was so disappointed in my Tennessee.  Really, I cant call it my TN, I'm still a Mainer at heart.

I shouldnt be surprised that these yahoos would fail to elect the fine, potentially historic (black man in a confederate state) senator in Harold Ford, Jr.  The rest of the country is ready for change, my state is absolutely not.  They shun change.  Hell, if they could go back and reply the Civil War, they surely would.  Someone tell these folks "charm" isnt all that charming, and it doesnt win wars (then or now).

but my state of Maine is good.  Sure, they are technically Republican, but not this new flavor of it.  Better yet, we have exclusively women in our national senate seats...and they are doing a kick-ass job, have been for years.  And even better yet, they are (barely) keeping the better side of Republican conservatism alive:  fiscal conservatives.  You dont get that with giving away goverment money to every household or ambiguous funding of a forever war.  And they still love Mother Nature and our environment.  Doesnt get much better than our Maine senators...unless you go blue.

Link: Yankee Republicans on last legs - Yahoo! News.

ps - I had no idea what my password was to post here!  I do all my writing at Baby's Blog...I couldnt even remember how to get in to my own blog.  Sad, huh?

Break a leg, Fran!

Fran will be performing a live set at "The Philip K. Dick show" hosted by DJZJ & DJ Replicant at 88.9 FM KUCI thursday october 5th at 10am in the morning PST.  He will be playing music from the just released album "place your hands over your eyes" as well as unreleased material. Tune in with your FM radio dial or the online webcast at:

www.kuci.org/

Home again, home again

So we had a great time cruising in Bermuda.  That is, after I stopped CRYING like a total sissy (about leaving Baby).  I was an unbeLEEvable wimp, I am almost ashamed...but no big deal, really.  I knew he was fine (with my mom)...it was *me* that wasnt.  It is something crazy going from not even a babysitter (ever, in the last year) to an entire week apart...talk about separation anxiety and going cold turkey!  I was a mess.  Somehow (oceanliner, warm sun, Bermuda, alcohol) I managed to get over it and enjoy my dear Reusker alone!!!

I pumped, only to see my baby forgot the drill by the time I got home.  My inlaws had my mom fix them lunch rather then relieve her of any baby duties.  Reusker wanted to program rather than lay on the beach.  Otherwise, it was absolutely delightful.

We slept the entire 2-day trip down from Boston, galavanted for the 3.5 days at Bermuda, then slept the 2 days home.  Even the cabin boy noted that he only saw us (ruffled, at that) for meals!  Who cares about tacky night shows, Bingo, shuffleboard or even the pool?  I wanted to SLEEP!!  And, well...sleep more.  On the islands, we did several walking tours (thanks for the guide, mom!), rented a moped one day, and tried our hands at their great public transportation (ferry & buses).  We pretty much went over the whole set of islands at least twice...saw everything we wanted to see.  It was great.

Back in Maine, Reusker has already flown back to TN.  I'm trying to decide when/how/who to visit on the trip home.  I'm really unmotivated to haul tail back there...including the 1300 miles alone with baby.  But he's been a real dear, and we're gonna take it easy...I have no reason not to be optimistic (famous last words).  That said, I'll face it in a few days...

Fun in Maine

I miss my internet...how sad is that?  A beach we STILL havent yet been to...right down the road...and I miss the INTERNET?!?!

Needless to say we have been busy with family.  My inlaws outlandish party was actually very nice.  I was re-introduced to many people that were at our wedding that I didnt even remember meeting (scary, huh?).  Baby had a delightful time being entertained by his cousins and it was generally fun.

Reusker had to fly down to Miami for most of this week...kind of a bummer.  I have to remind myself that the original purpose of this trip was for me and Baby to hang out with family (escape the heat) while Reusker got lots of work done.  When it morphed into him working HERE, then I started to get possessive of our evenings...thinking we'd get to enjoy Portland dining with a -gasp- babysitter (my mom)!  But, it wasnt meant to be...its just me and Squirmy.  But we are having lots of fun all the same.

We spent yesterday afternoon with my best friends and their kids.  Today we went to lunch (seafood!) with Grampie (Reusker's dad) and I'm going to the movies with my brother tonight, after we take a stroll with my friend this afternoon.  I've spent the last few evenings with my brother, while my mom watches the baby.  I am loving the freedom, she is loving the baby, and he's loving the attention of his Oma!  Yeah!

Baby (soon to be Toddler, as he turns 1 in a week - OMG!) has been kinda out of sorts.  Really, he's been angelic (way better than I deserve) for the first year.  But now he's agitated lately.  I'm sure being away from home, his crib, his schedule is hard for him.  He has all these strangers grabbing him, meals and naps are entirely erratic now.  AND he is teething and has allergies.  So, he certainly has his excuses...but I still miss the easy-going Chilled Guy.  The crying is nerve shattering to me.  Clearly I have become spoiled over the last year of relative quiet and calm...

We're here...

The 1300 mile trip was -um- interesting.  Poor Baby is teething, has allergies, has been strapped into a carseat (his equivalent of a miserable straight jacket!)...and had a 3 hour screaming fit on Thursday.  I cant blame him, but it was SO not my wonderful baby!  He slept much of the Friday drive and we had a pretty good go of it...but were glad to hit my mom's house late last night.

The Over-the-top gala for my mother-in-law was fun.  Baby LOVED playing with all of his cousins, and it gave me a breather.  I got to see many of Reusker's family and friends that I really enjoy...some of whom I havent seen since our wedding. 

Both Reusker and I had some apprehensions heading into this, but it was good.  We'll hang with his family tomorrow and then head to our beachfront apartment (no internet access..can you imagine?).

that's it for now...

going home...

to THIS???

gads.

How old were you when...

Stolen from Hadley at: I'm rambling....

Fell in love: fell in fourth grade, Kurt

Lost your virginity: 17.

Lost someone close to you: 17, my maternal grandmother.  Remember being forced to go to school the next morning.

Drank alcohol: beyond baby sips it was 14, but practically had to hold my nose!

Smoked weed: 15 or 16, and it didnt a thing for the first many times

Got kissed: fourth grade...same (then-dear) Kurt

Got your heart broken: might have been Kurt in 6th grade, or the rumor Tom spread in 8th grade...but definitely EricW in 11th grade (and 12th grade, and a few more times...)

Got arrested: never...and I hope I've outgrown the times it would have been most likely (and did come close)

Smoked a cigarette: 17 (and lots in college & grad school)
Broken a bone: 6, broke arm jumping off swing.  Went on to break myself at age 14 and 16, and cracked my skull a few times (22, 32 were noteworthy)

Got cheated on: fiancee, Dave.  after being engaged for 6 endless years he FINALLY had the balls to leave me...and got married 5 months later.  But in karmic terms, I deserved it...I had dated behind a few boyfriends' backs when I was an insecure little girl (late teens, early 20s).  But -if there is a scale- my indiscretions pale in comparison.

Rode the city bus: probably as a child somewhere, but alone in Guatemala, 1998

Went to a concert: probably 1985-ish.  Maybe BillyJoel, BryanAdams or some such

Met someone famous: 1985-ish, state senator ate at my dad's restaurant.  1987, at at HowardJones' restaurant.  Madonna's sister was our waitress. 1992, DonMcLean

Dyed your hair: 1987, and let's not go back to those rediculous red or bad-blond big-hair photos!  Shaved my head in 1985

Got your first cell phone: 1999, still have the exact same number, company, service...and only my second phone (no text msg or camera, but i still love it)

Got a Myspace: about 2 weeks ago...and dont think I like it.  now I feel old.

Snuck out of the house: 14
Got your own digital camera: 2002?

First time you got drunk: 15, in Switzerland...made out with some guy named Bruno and only remember the back of his neck!  very scary...

Read Harry Potter: never

Traveled across the ocean: 15, see Bruno, above
Wore a toga: 15.  no great story, a bunch of us decided to spice up the Latin Club

Traveled out of state: was born out of state!  Moved to Maine when I was 2

Shopped at Abercrombie: probably around 2002?  Not really my thing...went for the first time in a LONG two months ago. I returned the shirt because $70 was too much for even the nicest shirt a stay-at-home mom wears!

Went to Disney World: second grade...it was the BEST

Went on a date: 14.  Paul (18).  He french kissed me and I washed my OWN mouth out with soap I was so grossed out ("someone just SPIT in my mouth!").  In my infinite maturity, I stopped speaking to him until he left me alone...a move I will regret for the rest of my life.  I have an awesome husband now, but Paul would have been good...and I feel bad for being a jerk. I just couldnt admit he was too mature for me.

Saw a Broadway play: around 6.  well, it was a musical.  parents dragged us to see Cats.  We went screaming and kicking and a few hours later it became my all-time favorite

How old are you now: 37  (shuddup! I know.)

A picture is worth...

A thousand words.  Or is it PRICELESS?