Regardless of the phenomenal stories and the disturbing aspects of Michael Jackson, it is undeniable that he left us with an impressive catalog of songs.
Skip and I were watching some of the coverage, and we began comparing notes about music. In the early 1980's, the choices were Michael, Lionel or Prince. I was decidedly a Michael Jackson fan in the early 80's. I remember the first time I heard "Rock With You." I was in the backseat of my parents' car on the way home from one of my brother's basketball games. I don't remember what kind of car it was, but I remember the speaker in the back seat was at exactly ear level for my 8 year old ear. The opening of the song caught my attention, and I was hooked. By the time Thriller was released, I was a full-fledged fan. Being fickle, I completely dropped him by the mid-80's. (Also, I never forgave him for buying the Beatles' songs.)
At any rate, Skip shared an article that I found interesting. We both remember simply gawking at our television screens while watching this performance.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Weekend update
This weekend was very low key for us. First, we opened the Lindsey pool this weekend. This is pool version 2.0. In looking through my pics, I didn't get a great shot of it (actually, I didn't really take any pics this weekend). As it heats up and this becomes our primary form of outdoor activity, I'm sure there will be a painful pic or two. (Hint: I got the pool for $10, on clearance, at Wal-Mart...just trying to manage expectations.)
Brownie enjoyed being pool-side, and he says the brown tarp positioned underneath the pool really "classes it up" a lot.
Finally, happy Father's Day to Skip, Dad (PawPaw) and Ralph (Poppa)!
Brownie enjoyed being pool-side, and he says the brown tarp positioned underneath the pool really "classes it up" a lot.
Finally, happy Father's Day to Skip, Dad (PawPaw) and Ralph (Poppa)!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Good news and bad news
The bad news is that the playground is closed for repairs.
The good news is that our neighbor's tree fell toward the play area instead of onto our home -- especially good since Gracie and I were looking out our laundry room window (where the tree would have struck) when the straight line winds hit this already damaged tree. It snapped like a perfectly aged No. 2 pencil.
Like any good southerner, I had gone to the window to evaluate how badly the trees were bending to see if we needed to go to "our safe place," otherwise known as the basement. I saw this larger tree (pictured) push a smaller tree over. When Skip came to the window, he noticed that it was actually the larger tree that had fallen. We, indeed, evacuated to our safe place at that point. Parenthetically, standing in front of the nearest window as trees fall in one's yard is probably how the news media captures all of that GOLDEN footage of us looking so foolish on national news after major weather incidents.
So, anyway, this:
missed our house, as well as our neighbor's. As an added bonus, it even missed the girls' play house:
Our damage is limited to the loss of a couple of Wal-mart's finest plastic adirondack chairs and a four year old plastic bird feeder that already bore the damage of a pellet gun hole of which Skip fervently denies knowledge. Overall, we're incredibly blessed and thankful that we were spared damage to our home resulting from the storms last night. And that I don't have to explain any injuries resulting from being too foolish to dodge falling trees.
The good news is that our neighbor's tree fell toward the play area instead of onto our home -- especially good since Gracie and I were looking out our laundry room window (where the tree would have struck) when the straight line winds hit this already damaged tree. It snapped like a perfectly aged No. 2 pencil.
Like any good southerner, I had gone to the window to evaluate how badly the trees were bending to see if we needed to go to "our safe place," otherwise known as the basement. I saw this larger tree (pictured) push a smaller tree over. When Skip came to the window, he noticed that it was actually the larger tree that had fallen. We, indeed, evacuated to our safe place at that point. Parenthetically, standing in front of the nearest window as trees fall in one's yard is probably how the news media captures all of that GOLDEN footage of us looking so foolish on national news after major weather incidents.
So, anyway, this:
missed our house, as well as our neighbor's. As an added bonus, it even missed the girls' play house:
Our damage is limited to the loss of a couple of Wal-mart's finest plastic adirondack chairs and a four year old plastic bird feeder that already bore the damage of a pellet gun hole of which Skip fervently denies knowledge. Overall, we're incredibly blessed and thankful that we were spared damage to our home resulting from the storms last night. And that I don't have to explain any injuries resulting from being too foolish to dodge falling trees.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Splish splash
Update (06-14-09): We have gotten a lot of inquiries about the status of Lauren's swimsuit (i.e., why so baggy? why so sad?). While folding laundry tonight, I realized these swimsuits are different sizes and that she must have been wearing the size that was not intended for her -- which, come to think of it, explains why Gracie's suit is so fitted in these photos...
This afternoon we visited our local splash pad. Our trip was immediately after nap, and Gracie found all of the fellow, screaming kids offputting. (She'll take her chances with the ocean, waves, and ocean wildlife, thankyouverymuch.) Lauren, on the other hand, was energized by the whole experience and had a great time.
This afternoon we visited our local splash pad. Our trip was immediately after nap, and Gracie found all of the fellow, screaming kids offputting. (She'll take her chances with the ocean, waves, and ocean wildlife, thankyouverymuch.) Lauren, on the other hand, was energized by the whole experience and had a great time.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
No place like home
All is right with the world once again. Post-trip, we are enjoying sleeping in our own beds, eating at our kitchen table, and........dancing to Happy Happy:
Friday, June 5, 2009
36
How we spent our last 36 hours at the beach:
1) We ate dinner at Cantina Laredo. Yum! We love chips and salsa!
2) We spent the next morning at the pool, freezing. There was a lot of wind, and the pool was exceptionally cold. When we noticed Lauren's lips had turned blue and her teeth were chattering, we got out for a snack by the pool:
3) After a quick nap, we briefly went to the pool. Gidget -- I mean Gracie, our surfer girl -- wanted more time in the ocean. Gracie charged the ocean and wanted to ride the waves. Whenever a wave hit her harder than she expected, she would exclaim, "Oh goodness!"
4) Lauren and Grammy enjoyed the sea breeze from the deck:
5) We had our final vacation dinner at the hotel (by the ocean):
1) We ate dinner at Cantina Laredo. Yum! We love chips and salsa!
2) We spent the next morning at the pool, freezing. There was a lot of wind, and the pool was exceptionally cold. When we noticed Lauren's lips had turned blue and her teeth were chattering, we got out for a snack by the pool:
3) After a quick nap, we briefly went to the pool. Gidget -- I mean Gracie, our surfer girl -- wanted more time in the ocean. Gracie charged the ocean and wanted to ride the waves. Whenever a wave hit her harder than she expected, she would exclaim, "Oh goodness!"
4) Lauren and Grammy enjoyed the sea breeze from the deck:
5) We had our final vacation dinner at the hotel (by the ocean):
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Seaside
This morning we had breakfast quickly in the room and then drove to Seaside. We played in the amphitheatre area, went window shopping and then had a good time playing in the courtyard. Of course, we were hungry after all of that walking and had lunch at one of our favorites. Our waiter shared that he and his wife are expecting identical twin boys in November... I noticed that Skip tipped him very well... :-)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
The beach
Gracie said the ocean made her feel small.
Completely in character, Lauren (below) deemed the sand dirty and wanted minimal contact.
Gracie liked the feel of the sand between her fingers and toes.
Completely in character, Lauren (below) deemed the sand dirty and wanted minimal contact.
Gracie liked the feel of the sand between her fingers and toes.
Destin
We are visiting sunny Destin this week for a convention. Day one was filled with travel, a meeting and a dinner meeting. Skip and Grammy were incredibly brave, and they took the girls swimming -- after being confined for travel for hours and hours -- while I attended a meeting. Because they had their hands full, there are no pictures from the first day.
However, on day two, we had some down time in the morning and were able to return to the pool. We also managed to have some time later on to make it to the beach.
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