Wild WVA Weekend

My good friend has a summer house up in the mountains of WVA. Very beautiful place. Relaxing, serene, lovely.

We try to do a girls trip every summer. This year there were 7 of us. We decided to take a side trip to the WVA State Fair.

















This Goat loved me. He wanted to really LOVE me. Its ok to love your pets, just don't LOOOOVE your pets.

Next Up, Nazis

I couldn't say it any better so, Leonard Pitts: Nazi label devalues the Holocaust.

Though I will say, this is my favorite part:

"And, yes, you are even protected if you liken Obama or Bush to Hitler. Yet every time I hear that, it makes me cringe for what it says about our collective propensity for historical amnesia and our retarded capacity for reverence. Once upon a lifetime ago, 6 million people with DNA, names and faces were butchered with gleeful sadism and mechanistic dispatch. Six million people."

And, for the record, though I called former Pres. Bush (43) many things, I assure you Nazi and Communist were not among them.

Maybe its just the cynic in me, and yes I KNOW EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE OBAMA IS NOT A RACIST, but I am thinking many of these "protesters" (who couldn't form a coherent sentence explaining what it is that links Obama to Hitler, but proudly show signs of #44 defaced to look like Hitler) would rather call him something else that starts with a "N" but know they can't. Well at least not in public.

And Barney Frank gets on my last nerve sometimes, but here, at this moment, he said what needed to be said.

Communism

Well, that didn't take long. 6 months into office and the proverbial shit has really hit the fan. Is it just me or are all the people at these town hall protests strikingly similar to one another? Is the issue really health care? For some reason I think the level of ferver and frenzy may just be tapping into a bit of a deeper seated anger/hostility/resentment. Dare I say, racism?

For the most part I am doing what I can to tune it all out. I am probably more politically inclined/interested than most, but the insanity and irrationality of it all just wears me down and does nothing to improve my mood or my day.

I have great insurance, yet, yes I am 100% for health care reform. There is a lot of money at stake, and really do you think the insurance companies have your best interest at heart? Um, no. Death panel! What the hell does that have to do with the larger issue of the massive number of people either wholly uninsured or marginally insured in this country? I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. A PPO no less. When my husband recently went to the doctor about a hurt foot his doctors eyes literally popped out of her face like a cartoon character when she found out what our insurance was. And then .... she recommended surgery. Hello, do you think the fact that he has great insurance coverage had ANYTHING to do with that recommendation? Call me cynical but I do.

Back to the subject at hand, Communism. The thought that somehow Health Care reform (a public government option) will somehow eventually lead to rationing, lack of care, long waiting lists and subpar care and OHmyGOD eventually "we are just like COMMUNIST RUSSIA" kind of, just a little bit, unhinges me.

First, there is the its totally off the logic train part. People are spewing what they have been told to spew with no personal insight, thought or examination. Do they believe it? I am not sure. Does it matter to them? Nope. It bugs me to no end when I hear anyone (on either side) simply regurgitating what this blowhard or that blowhard tells them to say. It bugs me as much to hear recycled Rush Limbaugh as it does to hear recycled James Carville (though I do like to listen to the ragin' cajun Carville rant). THINK for yourselves people. Get your heads out of your asses.

Second, and even more disturbing, is the Communism/Nazism angle. I, personally, and this is just MY PERSONAL OPINION, think that what they really want to call him (the One, President Obama) is unacceptable in polite society and thus they come up with the 2nd best and somewhat socially acceptable option. Nazi. Communist. Marxist.

Perhaps, I am just particularly sensitive to the calling of someone SO OBVIOUSLY NOT any of the above, the above. Perhaps it was the conversation I had with my 70 year old immigrant mother-in-law Monday night. She's recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and with that comes a lot of thought about the end of her life, her estate, her legacy to her 5 sons and her 13 grandchildren. She has a sizable estate. She was talking about how much she wants all that she has accumulated to go to her sons and their families and how though her friends say she should spend it all or keep it for herself really all she cares about is leaving what she can to her kids. That, she says, is how her father raised her. How it is done in her family. Then, with tears in her eyes she starts to talk about her father, my husband's grandfather, and how in North Vietnam he had amassed a small fortune. He worked his fingers to the bone and scrimped and saved and everything he had he hoped would go to his children. Then communism came in and took everything. Every single house, every single piece of jewelry, every single penny. They fled from North to South Vietnam. They started over. He never recovered. Soon thereafter he began vomiting blood, broken by actual Communism. A man who had worked his entire life to amass something for his children and grandchildren to only have it swept away in a minute.

My mother in law and father in law started over in South Vietnam. They amassed a significant fortune. Had 5 sons. 5 nannies. A driver. Beautiful homes. Maids. Until again, communism, the REAL COMMUNISM, stepped in and took it all away. They fled, with only what they could carry on April 30, 1975, the day Saigon fell to the Communists (the real ones). Fortunately, my father in law had connections and got them out on one of the last boats, another miracle they all survived and all made it, eventually to the US. With nothing. Absolutely nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few pieces of jewelry that my mother in law had managed to smuggle out.

The started over, once again, from scratch. They built businesses and worked hard every day for years and years. My husband had two childhoods, maybe even three. One in Vietnam of great luxury that he doesn't even remember. He was after all just shy of 3 when they fled. One in the US scraping by with hand me downs and leftovers. And another in the US that started when he was about 15, when his parents, after many many years of hard work reestablished their financial security and began to reap the benefits of living in this great country.

So yeah, call Obama whatever you want, but please ... drop the Communist label. Have the balls to say what it is that really is bothering you about him.

Fall Projects

About a year ago, I took a long hard look at our budget. Hubby is hellbent on getting a boat next year, so I knew there would need to be a savings plan enacted and belt tightening because there is no way in HELL I am financing a boat! Period. /of story! He gets it, but still wants his damn boat thankyouverymuch.

I am not, in theory, opposed to the idea. I love boats. Love the water. Practically grew up at the marina where my mom was a secretary and time keeper and my stepfather was the head carpenter. Ran around docks and on and off of amazing yachts from about 5 on up. It was a good childhood. It also gave me very expensive taste. That said, we are looking at boats. Not Yachts. Just a boat. Not even a sleep aboard. Our approach is to get something in the smallish, towable range. Figure out what the hell we are doing and then in 2-5 years upgrade to something we can sleep on. That is the plan. Good intentions pave the way to hell is the saying, right?

Anyway, what the hell does this have to do with Fall projects. Very little, other than the fact that when I started the long range budget to work in this yet to be purchased boat, I also worked in (smartly I think) funding every quarter to 6 months for home maintenance and/or projects.

First up, something I have wanted and put off since the DAY we moved in to our house. A storm/screen door so that in the fall and spring we can open up the house and let the breeze flow through. For me it really is the little things. So that is my little Fall luxury to come. That and we are going to replace some rotten trim above our garage doors and reseal and paint all the trim around there. Not nearly as exciting as a storm door, but a necessity.

At least I have something to look forward to once the pool closes!

DMB Concert

On another note, the DMB Concert was absolutely freaking fabulous! I love him, it is true. I can't deny it. I won't even try. Anyway, he played a lot of stuff from his new album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (basically a tribute to the their deceased sax player, Leroi Moore). He also played some very old stuff that I had forgtten about. Above is my favorite song from the concert (this version is from 2000), he rarely plays it live and I love it!

Another favorite moment was the rendition of Burning Down the House. It was unreal! I wonder if his leg ever stops moving, or if it keeps going all the time, even when he sleeps.

Updates!

Well, its been a busy couple of weeks. First up was a work conference in DC. I think having this big annual conference in DC this year lulled me into a false sense of security. I kept thinking I had all the time in the world and then BAM! conference time. That said, it was a VERY successful one - our largest, by almost 1000 attendees - ever. Nice, especially considering the economy. I also found out that I was an excellent drunk shuffleboard player.

We got some good/interesting press. Another first. The Post ran an article in the style section and we made the front page of the NY Times. Not too shabby! At least the profession that pays my bills is not dying. Hey, they may even be improving their image.

Post-conference I napped my way through a long weekend. Friday was my day off, thankfully. Max and I hung out and he has basically been THISCLOSE to me ever since I returned. I think he missed me. Even if he won't admit it!

I am in denial that the summer is rapidly coming to a close. Is it really August 11?!?! How in the world did that happen? Or as a precocious child once said, "Who did this?" Ella is wrapping up week 2 of Nature Camp and next week has Art Explorers Camp. Of course the hottest, nastiest week of the summer waited for the week she would be outside all day every day! She's toughing it out.

In just a few weeks the pool will close and she'll head back to school. AS A 2ND GRADER! Another WTH moment. How did this happen?

I am just looking forward to this weekend away with some girlies in WVA and then about a month or so down the road our VA Beach week. Then I have San Fran in January to look forward to (work trip). And finally, it looks like I'll be going back to St. John practically solo (at least kid free) in March. In season. Another first for me.

I have lost about 26 lbs. Since April. Slow going and I have another 26-56 to go but who's counting. I am pleased with my progress and really am doing nothing special other than eating better and less. Not by any means starving myself. That kind of "diet" would never work for me. I like food too much. Hung has lost about 24 or so pounds as well. More importantly he dropped his cholesterol reading by 60 (yes that is SiXty) points.

My mom moved.

I inherited a kitty (technically it was my cat to begin with, but my mom took her to raise about 8 years ago when we sold our 1st house, moved in with my mother-in-law, and waited for our current house to be completed).

Speaking of my MIL, she is doing well. As well as can be expected. She has another appointment for another CT Scan and biospy tomorrow. After that, they will decide when to do surgery and how to proceed.

Last but not least I am starting to make plans for a big trip to Vancouver. Our conference next year is in Vancouver and the plan is to fly the kiddos, hubby and gram out to join me at the end and take a week to explore. I am even looking for a 3 day Alaskan cruise. I want to go see Sarah. It's true!

When it Rains...

As if its not enough that this is my busiest time of the year at work, it seems it is also destined to be a bit nuts in my personal life as well. First there was the 7th annual crab fest. A great party that I love but that is a ton of work, though it is worth every bit, it makes me tired. For this sole reason alone I plan it a full two weeks before the BIG WORK conference of every early August. Oh, good times...

In other news, some genius, going by the name of Young Jay from Miami, Florida, decided to try to access my bank accounts and transfer $1000 internationally. He was not so much smart or successful but did manage to create havoc in my life as I am not positive if it was simply random or if one Young Jay (what is he a rapper) has actual personal information on me. I am inclined to think he had my checking account and routing number (anyone can get that from your check) but not much else.

Anyway, genius Young Jay called BofA and requested an international wire transfer. He had my account number. He, yes HE, claimed to be me. The BofA representative took his information, put him on hold and proceeded to immediately call the number they had on file for me. It was my work number. I was at lunch. They left a voicemail, went back on the line with Young Jay and indicated to him that they had called the primary account holder and confirmed that I am, in fact, as suspected, a woman! CLICK. He promptly hung up.

They promptly locked down all of my accounts and suspended my online banking login and password.

I happily return from a yummy lunch and realize I have an email from BofA saying someone was trying to change my login or email address. I try to log in to my account and realize I can't. I call BofA and they fill me in. So, their recommendation, which I gladly accepted was to go to the local banking center and establish new accounts and close all of my old accounts just in case. So, an hour later, 2 new checking accounts, 2 new debit cards, 2 new credit cards, and a new savings account and I am on my way. Pain in the ass, yes. Worth it, also yes. So what I have to change a few automated payments to the new accounts, but that's a small price to pay when I don't know what information this guy may have.

BofA also initiated a credit report for me, for free, so I can check to see if anyone is trying to establish any other type of credit in my name. In other words, to see if this was just a random idiot or someone truly trying to engage in a little identity theft. Oh the joys of adulthood!

So that was my Thursday. Fun, no?

In other news, a few weeks ago my mother-in-law had a car accident. In the course of swerving to miss a squirrel she ran off the road and hit a telephone pole, setting off her airbag. She cracked a few ribs and her sternum and had some pretty nasty bruising. My brother-in-law, a doctor, insisted they do a full CT scan to check for internal bleeding. They found none. However, they did find a spot on her lung. The doctor ordered a biopsy. Biopsy came back negative. My brother-in-law, being thorough, asked his buddy an oncologist to look at the scan. Oncologist says, I don't care what the biopsy says, it looks like the big C to me, and orders a Pet Scan. Apparently, especially with small tumors, false negatives from biopsies are common. Which I guess, kind of makes sense, its easy to miss a small tumor and get healthy tissue. Reassuring, no?

Pet scan came back today, Cancer. The problem is she is too weak from the accident and the cracked ribs to undergo immediate surgery. The spot/tumor is in her left lung, which is the one that feels fine right now. The right lung is where the cracked ribs are and she is unable to breathe well on that side. So they are waiting, about a month, for her to get stronger and then plan to operate and remove all of the tumor that they can.

The good news is that without that damn squirrel she would have never known she had a tumor until it was probably too late. The other good news is that though she is 70, she is feisty, she is in pretty good shape, and she is doing everything she can to get stronger. The other good news is that her mother lived to her mid-90s.

So it looks like mid-August she will undergo surgery and then we will know more about kind of cancer, aggressiveness, stage, etc. It is no secret that my MIL and I aren't especially close but she is a good woman who has worked hard all her life to accumulate what it is she has, which is substantial, and to raise 5 wonderful, productive sons. So please if you are the type to pray, add her to your list. If you prefer to send warm fuzzies or good vibrations, those are more than welcome as well. Thanks.

A Last Weekend at the Cottage

This weekend we will head to my mama's to help her pack up the last of her things and get ready to move out of the little bitty cottage she's called home for about 6 years. It is the cutest little place and we have so many great memories, but it is falling into a bit of disrepair and it is simply time for her to move on.

Not to worry, she is just moving up the hill (literally) to an apartment with 2 bedrooms and an even better view of the river!

I know it will be hard for her, as she (like me) doesn't love transition but once she is all resettled I know she will be very happy and put her own little touches on her new place.

So this weekend we will all say goodbye to the cutest little cottage and move on.

Dear Mama

Dear Mama,

I think it is appropriate that on this day, my birthday, I thank you. Afterall, without you, there would be no me.

Thank you for giving birth to me today. About this time you were probably still knocked out and dreaming that you'd had two baby girls (I was so big my mama thought she had twins).

Thank you for raising me right (or correctly for those who believe in good grammar).

Thank you for being the best mama a little bitty (or a big girl) could ever want.

Thank you for being the best Mother-in-Law ever.

Thank you for teaching me how to be the mom I am.

Thank you for being the best Gram in the world.

Thank you for being my best friend (even when you drive me crazy).

Thank you for always being there when I really need you.

Love your best (and only) daughter,

Lizzie

Max & his awesome grammma...Everything is better at Gramma's

Crab Fest 2009

Each year we throw a Crab Fest for some of our nearest and dearest. The crowd has grown from a smallish group of maybe 10-15 to this year's epic high of 31! I won't lie and say there weren't moments leading up to Crab Fest '09 where I thought why the heck do I do this to myself. I worry...can I fit 30 on my deck?, I need more chairs, I need more tables, what will I make?, will the French Silk turn out ok? (alright I don't really worry about that one), and on and on ....

Well, midway through the evening I remembered exactly why I do it. There is little in life that can beat a unseasonably cool, humidity free evening in July, on the deck, with a few cold ones, and a belly full of crabs with friends and family from every stage of my life. This year my uncle put in a surprise appearance, all the way from Indy and my long lost sister from Tennessee flew in just for the event. I suppose since I had a friend come to my wedding from Japan, it is only fitting! I hope it was worth it for both of them!

It was perfection! I hope everyone else had as nice a time as I did! The best gift, in addition to bringing these super cool priate flip-flops for me, was photographic evidence that the shin-dig existed provided by my friend, Vicki! Thanks, VIVI. Here you can enjoy some of her great photos!




Love the new Flip-Flops (got these plus about 8 other pair from Vicki!)





Thirsty, anyone?



Just because its crabfest doesn't mean there can't be meat!







Ready to go!



Happy Puppy...please give me some food!



Worker Bees, sorry I worked you guys so hard




I have absolutely no idea what was so funny, or why I am the only one who looks crazy here!


The proper implements, thanks to KK!

A Bouncing Baby Barbolicious

Ok, so I know his last name will be his daddy's but the thought of a tiny, weeny, itty, bitty little Barbo Boy is so exciting to me! Two of our dearest friends are expecting this November. I am not sure what I am more excited about, having a baby to snuggle again - that I myself don't have to BIRTH -or witnessing these two awesome people raise a wee one.

Barbo is one of those chicks who the moment you meet her (in my case, while interviewing her for a job) you just know you want to be her friend. I am not sure if its the twinkle her eye or the slight bit of mischievousness in her smile. She is probably one of the naturally funniest people I have ever met. What I love about her most though is that though she is very light hearted and hil-HIL-arious, she has a depth and seriousness of soul that many really "funny" people lack or don't reveal.

I have endless great memories of her, from our summers working together in Williamsburg, to her taking me to meet her parents and all the YUMMMMY food her mom filled us up with, to hanging out in Philly for a visit before I even had kids, to vacationing together with her sister in St. John, hanging on my deck just relaxing, playing on the floor with my then 6 month old baby girl when she stopped on her way to her parents for Christmas, to visiting her in her new home with her new husband.

She and I have gone from carefree college girls just having a good time to women with responsibilities and husbands and kids!

Her husband is the definition of awesome. Girls like us can be a bit of a challenge and I can honestly say I have never known a man to be any more in sync with his lady. You can see the love and devotion he has for her all over his face. Beyond that, he's one of the most genuinely nice guys I've ever met. When we vacationed on St. John I don't think the smile ever left his face. He has a curious spirit, is a great artist and has more patience than Job himself! (He's going to need it!) They are perfectly suited and perfectly in balance and they will make the best of parents.

November just can't come soon enough. One lucky little baby boy will be coming into this world! Genetically speaking, it will be impossible for this to not be one cool little dude!

Best of STJ 2009

Because I am too lazy to post an entirely too long trip report here...here is the best of STJ '09 in photos. Suffice to say it was a great trip, like the others and I can't wait to go back. Yes, my life basically is what happens in between trips to St. John.

Less than 48 Hours

So we have a looose idea of what we'll be doing on our vacation. It goes something like this.

Wake up

Eat breakfast

Go to the beach

Eat lunch

Put Max down for a nap/Ella Movie time/Mama poolside at the house

Dinner

Bed

Wake-up

Repeat yesterday.

Or as my good friend says: Eat, drink, swim, sun. Rinse. Repeat.

We have a built-in sitter this time for a few of the nights. KK's cousin is coming along and will watch them in exchange for spending $$! A good plan. And my mom is joining us for the 2nd half of the trip and we will be getting an entire kid-free day to go to Jost Van Dyke (aka The Barefoot Island).

Good Friends....

...have your back.

Great friends leave drinks waiting for you in the islands! Of course, I am Flip-Flop!

Thanks, VIVI!

Like It!

....(or the one that will get Child Protective Services called)

Some day I will learn that aversion therapy doesn't work on Max. He is the OPPOSITE of his sister. With Ella if we had something that we thought she'd find icky but she wanted to try it we'd let her try it. She'd do the requisite "Ewwwwww, yuck!" and never want to try it again.

Worked with beer, worked with soda, worked with most anything ... other than chocolate.

So the other evening I was chillaxing on my deck with a cold beverage, enjoying the night air, watching the kids play.

Max comes over and looks at my ice cold bottle and says, "Max some!"
I reply, "No bud, you won't like it."
To which he says, "Mmmmmmm" (the noise he makes whenever we are eating or drinking anything that he wants some of - its pretty freaking irresistible).
Me: "No its mama's"
Him: "Mmmmmmmm pease (that's please).
Me: "You aren't gonna like it!" as I tip the bottle to give him a tiny taste.

Him: "LIKE IT!"

So now Hung and I walk around going "Like It!"

Ellaism #2343

....(Or the one one she'll talk to her therapist about.)
Ok, so a few weeks ago out of the blue Ella says to me, "Mama I have a question." To which I say, "What's that Ella?" She lifts up her shirt, points to her belly button and says as seriously as possible, "Is this my period?"

Oh the temptation to take the easy way out and just say, "Yep, Ella that's your period!" But I made a promise to myself that I would always openly answer any of her questions about anything. So I tried to explain to my newly 7 year old in simple terms, her reproductive system. She got it for the most part.

Fortunately, for now, she didn't ask how a baby gets in there but she did ask how the baby got out. For me, that is simple, "Mama had an operation both times where they opened me up and took out the baby." Her, ever so precocious says, "I know that, but what about people who don't have an operation to get their baby out." So I explained it to her. Her eyes got THIS BIG and she said, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?" And I concluded with, "And this is why you don't EVER WANT TO HAVE A BABY UNTIL YOU ARE AT LEAST 35."

Where oh where did my baby go?

Routine

There are few things in life as precious to me as a routine. I am not one who deals well with transition. Two of my current favorite routines (both of course involving my kiddos):

1. Each morning, Hung has the early/Max shift (waking him, changing him, getting him ready for Jeannie's). I have the late/Ella shift (waking her, getting her dressed, packing the backpack, getting her on the bus). We never discussed this routine we just kind of fell into it. Anyway, my favorite thing is that part of Max's routine (he is like his mama and LOVES a good routine) is to give me a kiss and hug bye bye and tell me he's going to Jeannie's "Go Nee-Nee, Mama!" Some mornings I hear him as Hung's getting him changed and ready saying "Kiss Mama, Kiss Mama, Kiss Mama" other mornings I just hear a smooching sound coming at me through my bleary eyes. Without fail, every morning I hear those not so little feet running down the hall to find me, still tucked into bed, smacking his lips, ready for his smooch and "ugggg" (that's Hug to those who don't do Max speak).

2. Nights are not as predictable. Sometimes I bathe them, sometimes Hung does. Sometimes I put them to bed, sometimes Hung does. Sometimes we split them up. Lately however, as Max's gotten a bit older I've taken to reading to both of them in Ella's room before bed. They both pile on the bed, Ella picks the book, I read the story and then Max tucks her in. Makes sure her blanket is up, her music is on and her light is off. He gives her a hug and a kiss and then runs to his room to "ock a minute" before going night-night himself. It's about as perfect as 8pm can be.

Then mama gets to go put on her pjs and relax for the rest of the evening!

STJ Prep Begins

In anticipation of our trip to St. John we have started training. Also known as ... going to the pool to get the boy used to wearing his hat and rashguard. He has virgin skin. The Caribbean sun is HOT. He will wear a rash guard for most of our 10 day trip. :)

I don't want to jinx it but with the exception of the first day he's been great about keeping his hat on. The alternative is we leave and he doesn't want to leave the pool. He is my child afterall. The last trip to the pool he came over to me and said, "Hat ON!" 17 DAYS.