Photo taken on Sunday, August 14, 2011 in the TDM living room at 451pm. (Pictured in a circle from right: Me, Flexible Pres, Moma, part of Dad, and Kimberly)
Let's call a spade, a spade...
I freakin' RULE at the Memory Game. Right now I have only four matches but in a few turns I'm going to beat Kim and amaze Preston as I clear the entire board.
There are only two things I excel at, skiing and memorization, and this game only requires one (not skiing just so you know). Though using both skills at the same time makes me look like an even better skier than I am. After going down a certain slope twice, I can visualize the perfect path through moguls to make me seem like an expert. It's totally cheating but I don't care. This is what I have to work with and dammit, I'm beating a five year old at this game today!
Good thing Preston is not like is Uncle Pher when it comes to sportsmanship. Luckily, Preston's like me in that aspect-that winning isn't everything-and even though he loses this game, he can kick my butt in Barnyard Uno.
Photo taken on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Short Pump Mall in Richmond, VA at 404pm. (Pictured from right: Me, Steve, and Silly Preston)
It's no secret: Preston loves trains. From toy ones to real ones, Preston has the skinny on all things locomotive. It's quite impressive how much knowledge that head of his already contains at such a young age. So whenever he takes a trip to this outdoor shopping center, no one has the heart to deny him of a train ride on the Short Pump Express. Today he chooses the caboose and asks Steve and I to accompany him on this mall excursion. I'm not going to lie, I enjoy this just as much as Preston. I think I may even wave to more people than he does.
Photo taken on Friday, August 12, 2011 having homemade cake in the TDM kitchen at 925pm. (Pictured from left: Me, Kimberly, Steve, cake, Preston moving, Moma, and Daddio)
Moma has a philosophy about birthdays. She believes everyone should get one day a year to do whatever they want with whomever they want. The day should be special and all about the birthday boy or girl. I fully endorse this idea and have taken her advice through the years. It starts on one particular birthday as I am sitting in the medical records room in a dour mood when suddenly Moma calls. "Why are you working on your birthday?" I sit there in silence for a moment and ponder this. Yeah...why am I sitting here on my birthday? I promptly grab my things and leave so Moma can take me to lunch and then veg out on the couch to watch a cheesy romantic comedy together. Ahhhh, Birthday Bliss.
So even though Steve's birthday is a few weeks off, Moma decides to give him an early celebration since she won't be in NY until September. I think this is very nice of my parents, to give Hubs special attention when we come down tonight. Everyone needs something like this every now and then, cheers you up to feel loved. Plus little shindigs like these rile up Preston and he gets silly. I love silly Preston:
Photo taken on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston, MA at 247pm. (Pictured: Me and my double chin, Maeve, Kim, and Preston)
This has been such a fun day that unfortunately at this point is coming to a close. The weather is so gorgeous that it feels fantastic to be out walking around Boston but before we could fully enjoy the scenery, we have to let Preston take the T. I truly wish I had his enthusiasm for riding public transportation because it would make my work week a helluva lot better. Preston is a train expert and can literally sit for hours on Youtube watching Amtrak trains go by so how could we deny him the T?
Look how excited he is!!
From here we head to Thatcher Street to meet up with Kim's fabulous friends: Jessica with Michael, Taylor and Avery, Alyssia, Brooke with Rider and Nate, and Kim with baby Addison. I am thrilled to finally meet them all since I have heard and read such wonderful things about them. (Don't you just love the BLOGging world? We're all so connected!) We join them for lunchies at Regina's Pizza which is A-MAH-ZAAAAH! Preston orders a sausage bar pie and I help myself to two slices of that awesomeness of awesome.
After the delicious grub we head down to the playground with our desserts for some fun with the kids. I'm so very proud of Preston that he has no fear when sliding down the pole and gliding across a sand pit holding onto the glider for dear life.
We end the day with a stroll through Faneuil Hall Marketplace where we encounter great street performers and also a moving statue. Preston gets a kick out of her when he hands her a dollar and receives a fortune:
What a great trip! I am very glad to meet new friends, catch up with my hottie sister and sweet nephew, and hang out with my beautiful BFF! I'm looking forward to my next Boston excursion!
Photo taken on Saturday, June 4, 2011 in the TD Garden in Boston, MA for the NKOTBSB Tour at 935pm.
For those of you who don't know what the above acronym stands for, Maeve, her very nice friends, and I are at the New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys concert. And I don't care what you say, it's pretty damn awesome!
The reason I am here and such a huge fan of BSB is because of the lovely lady I am pictured with. Back in high school, Maeve, Krysten, and Kristina begin a little dance group where they would copy the moves of Fatima Robinson, the choreographer for BSB as well as other stars like Aaliyah and Hillary Duff, and just string together routines. One day I invite myself over to Krysten's house to watch them incorporate some Janet Jackson moves into BSB's We've Got It Going On. They eagerly teach me the steps and by the end of the night I am the fourth person in their dance group, Angels Way:
And I LOVE being a part of this group. It is so much fun to dance around Krysten's living room, taping ourselves dance to anything on the radio and just dissolve into giggles when one of us does something real silly (like tuck my shorts into my underwear when singing "we wear short shorts!"). For Krysten's sweet sixteen, she decides to head out to Hollywood to do all the great celebrity touristy stuff and she picks the week that BSB is going to be on Jay Leno. Angels Way accompanies her on this trip and we have a blast, packing our days with excursions to Mann's Chinese Theater, Universal Studies, The Hollywood Bowl, and the like, taking a ton of pictures and chasing down the members of BSB:
(That would be Maeve, Krysten, and Kristina on the ground trying to get a look of the boy band as they exit The Jay Leno Show. And that would be me looking at them, wondering if putting one of them on my shoulders is a better idea...)
We spend many nights dancing and creating a beautiful friendship and it's amazing to be here tonight with Maeve because it means so much to me. I wish the other two could be here with us tonight but they had prior engagements though they are here in spirit. Especially when the boys take the stage to do one of our favorites, Everybody, I can just feel us all together again, dancing happily in our socks, practicing for the Harborfields Talent Show.
And speaking of that Talent Show...do I have a treat for you or what? The following video is Angels Way circa 1999! How awesome is that?! So without further ado...Angels Way performing BSB's hit Everybody. The first part is a technical issue that is soon fixed and there are a few glitches in the tape but it's still fun to watch. I am all the way on the right, then Maeve, then Krysten, then Kristina. Enjoy.
Maeve, Krysten, and Kristina...thank you so much for all the memories and amazing nights we shared just being our kooky selves. It is a time in my life I will be forever grateful I had!
Photo taken on Monday, May 9, 2011 on the stairs leading to the attic at 1132pm.
I have been going nonstop for six weeks now. As the BLOG has documented, this past month I was in eight different states. Eight. I still have to get through four more days until I finally get a chance to breathe and maybe unpack a box or two or all of them that are still stacked everywhere. If you haven't noticed by now, I try to squeeze in as many things as I possibly can into one day/week/month/year/eternity. I am all about living my life to the fullest, every second counts, and I'm not about to slow down.
But tonight, tonight I just want to lay in bed and watch a Southie* with Steve-O and just be. And even that is a moment I'm going to try and stretch to its limits.
*Our name for South Park reruns on Comedy Central.
Photo taken on Sunday, May 8, 2011 in the lobby of the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA at 3pm. (Pictured: Daddio, Moma, Preston, Kimberly, and I. Back Row: Thomas Jefferson)
Very much like my parents' birthdays, it is still very hard to come up with a great gift idea for their respective Sundays. Luckily for me but not so much for my mom, she misplaced her set of keys recently therefore I am able to purchase her a new Coach key chain for Moma's Day as a little extra gift.(*Note: Kim had been the one previously to buy her a Coach keychain. It was a cute flip-flop. The one I buy her, has two cute flip-flops. Just saying.) So besides that and her very nice plants from Kim and Pres, we take her out for an amazing brunch at this lavish hotel. It was Kim's idea two years ago and it was a fabulous way to spend a morning: gorgeous surroundings and unlimited trips to the dessert station. But last year, we forgot to call the day after Mother's Day so we were then #150 on the waiting list. Yeah, 150. It's really that good.
But this year we are #15 and Kim and her lawyering ways gets us a spot for the Champagne Brunch two days in advance. I think all of us enjoy the delicious spread and I know for a fact Preston loves the jazz musicians set up in the corner. One lady even comes over to remark on how interested he is because she too watches him grab a chair, pull it across the room, station it in front of their instruments, and literally sits back with his hands behind his head and watches them intently. Preston never ceases to amaze us.
So Moma, I hope you enjoyed the brunch and the rest of the day spent hanging out with your daughters! We love you very much!
^_\
For Kimberly's take on the weekend and some really great shots of everyone please click here! (My fave is of Preston with the alligator...you'll know which one.)
Photo taken on Saturday, May 7, 2011 with the lovely bride, Jessie, at her wedding in Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield county, VA at 645pm.
I am having a blast at Jessie's wedding right now; the DJ has been playing tunes I totally rock out to in my car, the food is barbeque which is AWESOME, and the folks sitting at our table are a nice bunch of people. This is my first Virginia wedding and I am enjoying the laid back atmosphere a lot. I'm really glad I get to witness her and Matt's special day and I wish them much love and happiness for years to come! Congrats!
Photo taken on Friday, May 6, 2011 with Moma in BT Nails in Midlothian, VA at 639pm.
I'm not very girly but when it comes to getting pampered and massaged, I will NEVER say no. Moma coerces me into pedicures when I return from college saying that they use lotions to rub your feet and it is so relaxing you could fall asleep. She has me on the lotion part because if I don't have to do it compulsively, maybe I can actually enjoy it for once.
And I do. I am so hooked. As long as I choose a polish that I can see through, I will sit in that chair until they forcefully kick me out. Plus the girls that work there are amazing and do a thorough and great job, digging out all the damage I do to my nail beds from running and making my man feet look presentable. They are miracle workers!
Photo taken on Monday, April 25, 2011 in front of the TDM mudroom door at 202pm. (Pictured hands from left: Steve, me, and Charlie. Pictured on the stoop from left: Moma, Grandma Z., Kimberly, Preston, and Daddio)
I hate saying goodbye.
It really is no fun at all. I don't like the finality of it; it creeps me out sometimes because I know I will be seeing everyone again so why do I have to say it? I usually settle for some version of "see you later" because it sounds better.
But then if someone wishes me a "safe flight" I HAVE to say, "Tell that to the pilot!" What started as a joke has turned into a compulsion and I will seriously freak out if I accidently say, "Have a safe flight!" and they don't return the punchline. One time I called Moma back in a panic right before she shut down her phone before boarding. I have chased Bossdad down the hallway to make sure he says it though he has come up with his own version of tell-that-to-the-pilot. Dad says, "Make sure he doesn't drop me in the Hudson." That sounds reasonable.
So don't take it personally if I drop you at the airport and I don't wish your flight to be safe. I really do want you to be safe but if you don't say the infamous line, I might end up chasing you through security. And then I'll get arrested.
Photo taken on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 in the dining room of the TDM right before dessert at 801pm. (Pictured from left: Kelly, Grandma Z., Daddio, John, Steve, Preston, Kimberly and her deisel arm, Moma, me, and Alec)
I find holidays are best when it is "the more the merrier". Back when we lived in Greenlawn, once the main course was cleared away our parents opened up their home to all of our friends for dessert. Moma has a habit of making two dishes per person so we have always needed the extra bodies to help us consume all of the delicious treats. Today we are blessed to have Kelly, John, and Alec join us for the whole day of food and great laughs. It has been a fantastic Easter and I look forward to more holidays spent like this with family and friends because it is important to celebrate with the ones you love. Plus they are the ones that will not judge you no matter how many desserts you put on your plate.
Also, when I help clean up at the end of the night I insist upon Sharking the floor only to end up breaking the Shark into two pieces. Luckily, I have made it Preston-sized and he loves his new vacuum very much.
Photo taken on Friday, April 22, 2011 in the library of the TDM at 348pm. (Pictured left to right: Steve, Charlie, Preston, Moma, and I)
Preston is currently trying on part of his costume for the Q&U Wedding that his school puts on annually (I don't want you to think he normally wears light bulbs on his head). Kim claims she isn't very creative when it comes to crafting but I know for a fact she is: Kim used to write and draw her own children's books that she would then read to Pher and I. They were very cute and I hope she still has all of them. So don't believe her when she knocks herself because she also glued that heavy bulb to the hat and it stayed in place!
It is definitely fun to go to Michaels with the family in order to come up with an "L" themed costume for the Little Man. It is also fun when on the way out of the store he realizes he has put down his toy train but cannot remember where exactly. We all split up and luckily Preston reclaims his toy within a few minutes of searching. Once we head back, we work on the props together in the kitchen and I think the project turns out to be a success! If you would like to check out the cuteness of the union of Q&U, Kim has BLOGged about it here.
Photo taken on Thursday, April 21, 2011 in LaGuardia Airport's US Airways terminal at 1028pm. (Pictured: Me, Charlie, and Steve. We are doing Charlie's infamous monkey face...as well as the accompanying sounds that monkeys make.)
Our flight down to Richmond keeps getting pushed back for unknown reasons but we make the best of it by grabbing dinner at the Blue Point Bar & Grill before coming here and parking in the wrong more expensive lot, moving to the less expensive (but still expensive) lot, and getting through security which only consists of us and two TSA agents. Charlie has not flown in awhile so he goes to just walk through the metal detector with shoes on and everything still lining his pockets. I call out to him, scold him, and tell him what to do which one of the agents finds hilarious and asks if they want me detained so they can travel without me. The boys then proceed to leave me with ALL the bags so they can joke around with the agent as I'm fumbling to get everything on the belt, then off it, then back in order. What chivalry.
Photo taken on Sunday, April 17, 2011 in front of the Christian Science building in Boston, MA at 901pm. (Pictured: Me, Maeve, and Steve)
Allan told me I should be in bed by 9 tonight to be fresh for the Boston Marathon in the morning but I just can't help squeezing in every last possible second with my BFF!!! I am totally bummed that I miss out on her birthday activities last night because my schedule with moving, work, and the Con interfere at the last minute so Steve and I make sure to take her out for some fun times tonight. We let her pick the restaurant but she chooses Cheesecake Factory so I can find something bland enough to eat (she's too thoughtful even when it comes to her birthday dinner!). As I longingly watch her marsala disappear I suck down what I thought was a bowl of white cheddar broccoli soup (which is very scrumptious) but is informed by the waitress halfway through that someone brought me a cup of soup. There is no way that's a cup! It is bigger than a "soup mug"! No wonder Americans struggle with their weight.
After being thoroughly fed, we exit happily with our cheesecake "to go" and make the trek back to Maeve's cool new digs (which is seriously down the block from her old place). It is such a nice night out and the walk calms my nerves, that is until I start stressing out before bed. I feel terrible that I'm getting anxious and that I'm complaining and worrying over my quickly expanding tummy. Steve and Maeve tell me everything is going to work out and I climb into the comfy air mattress and before I know it I'm out for the count. I must have been on the brink of sleep for days and just needed some peace of mind. I think the night walk and lots of laughs at dinner definitely do the trick. That and spending quality time with one of my favorite people ever!
Photo taken on Sunday, April 3, 2011 while checking up on Kim's progress with the peppers and onions in the TDM kitchen at 632pm.
I think my family is getting sick of taking me to Yamato so tonight we have decided to cook a meal though I'm not cooking because I have the "hard" task of keeping Preston occupied. It is so daunting to have to play while everyone else works so hard in the kitchen and also at the grill. What a horrible job I am delegated, racing cars back and forth along the patio out back. I would rather do anything else than spend time with the cutest, silliest, best nephew in the world.
Speaking of the Little Man, this weekend we have been attached at the hip but according to this video, the leg. Preston calls this game "Growth" and he thinks this is so much fun to do:
Photo taken on Saturday, April 2, 2011 in the TDM living room at 922pm. (I am angrily pointing at Kim for "ruining" my night while Dad sits on the couch, probably not wanting to be in the picture but is anyway.)
Kim and I like Bradley Cooper. We agree he is nice to stare at though Kim finding him hot makes me wonder...
Back when I first see the Hangover, I turn to Steve and tell him he looks like Bradley Cooper. Steve probably enjoys the compliment but he shakes his head and denies the resemblance. I sense his uneasiness about being compared to a popular hottie and reassure him, "you don't look like him in the beginning. You look like him when he's hung-over and dirty." This probably doesn't make him feel any better either.
So Kim decides we are going to see his new movie Limitless tonight only when tonight roles around, she is making no move to look up show times. She finally demands that I get up and do it but even then she is hemming and hawing about going. She admits she's tired and quite frankly, I am too but I'm so used to dragging my ass I'll go see the movie anyway. The movie is at 950 and by 936 Dad decides that we're not going and in a nice way, tells us to stop the it's-up-to-you-if-you-want-to-go-I'll-go's and just watch the UConn game with them.
Before 11pm I pack it in.
I'm in bed before Moma. I'm in bed before Dad. But most of all, I'm in bed before the one who was "too tired" to go see the movie. ;P
Photo taken on Friday, April 1, 2011 in front of the fish tank (minus the eel!) at Angelo's in Midlothian, VA at 826pm.
I heart Preston.
He is such a ham. I'd like to think he takes after his Aunt Tinka especially after I show him this picture and he laughs at the silly face he's making (it kind of reminds me of Popeye). If the fun we are having already is any indication of what's to come over the weekend, Pres and I are in for some really good times!
Photo taken on Sunday, February 27, 2011 in the living room of the DRD at 613pm. (Sorry about the picture quality.)
Whenever I come down for a visit, Moma makes sure to have some of my favorite snacks and drinkies on hand. I never even have to ask if she's stocked up on strawberry Nesquiks because I know there are five of them in the second fridge. Sometimes she even picks out a six pack of all different types of beers as a surprise for me! And as always, right by my bed in the attic is a box of the BIG Fudge Rounds from Little Debbie. (She knows how to please the tapeworm in my tummy.)
One thing her pantry will never run out of though is Easy Cheese since I'm the only one who eats it! As an appetizer before our Cajun Chicken & Shrimp Pasta from Fridays, Moma breaks out a bag of nachos and the cheese in a can and we go to hell with ourselves. I like decorating my chip by making faces with the cheese and Moma happily joins in on the fun!
Photo taken on Friday, February 25, 2011 on the TDM back staircase at 858pm.
Ah, Cadbury eggs. The BEST Easter candy out there. Why it's "out there" now is beyond me because come Easter there will be a shortage of Cadbury eggs just like last year when Steve's basket was devoid of Cadbury eggs because I waited a tad too long to purchase candy for the holiday. This year I am wasting no time in consuming them whenever I get the chance (might be noticing that double chin in pictures lately, huh?).
After hitting up a delish dinner at-go ahead, guess- Yamato, Preston and I sit down in his favorite spot to enjoy the tasty treat for our dessert. It is an absolute delight to watch him eat this chocolate. His face has lit up and the "egg yolk" is oozing all over his starfish hands and we're laughing as he tries to lick it off before his mom takes notice of the mess. I love this kid to pieces and things like this, us sharing our love of candy together, endears him to me even more.
Photo taken on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in the bedroom doorway at 1111pm.
Do not let the clothes on my bedroom floor fool you, I still have OCD. There is an order to my chaos and clothes can not be put away until they go through a screening process of smelling, shaking, spraying, and folding. Naturally, this takes a ridiculous amount of time so if I don't have the time I just don't do it until I do have the time. I don't half-ass my compulsions and if you open any of my drawers, you will be shocked to find how "in order" they are and will be absolutely AMAZED that I fit that many articles of clothing into such a tiny space.
Dad likes to mimic my drawers by creating a tiny square with his hands and even though he's most likely making fun of me, I know he's impressed and totally sweats my ability to neatly fold a sweater into a jewelry box. The first time he lets me pack for an upcoming skiing trip he is surprised to find my small duffel bag heavier than his own suitcase. He stares down at my elementary school self and asks what I packed in there. I shrug. "My clothes for the week." He opens the blue canvas bag and finds I have packed more for a month than a week and instructs me to take some out. He knows then how efficient I can be with the compartments of a carry-on.
Fast forward twenty years and now to up the ante of my awesome superpower of packing I have Steve time me. As I scream out, "Time Check!" on my second trip downstairs to retrieve a pair of sneaks from the shoe rack, Steve lets me know I'm only six minutes in. I have to be setting some kind of record though I lose time as I search for a pair of jeans I could have sworn were not in the wash (they are). In exactly 11 minutes I complete the task of packing for a weekend trip down to Virginia and I am proud to say I only over-pack in the underwear department this time.
