Happy Birthday Rich

Today, 43 years ago,the love of my life was born.

I am so thankful for that event.

Because that day led to this day.

Which in turn led to this day.  The most wonderful day of my life.

I love you more than I could ever express.

Happy Birthday.

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Amy

Happy Birthday Greg!!

Yet another really bad acrostic poem to attempt to wish my fabulous brother a happy birthday.

Greg, my brother is a real GQ kind of guy.

a Real family man, that's no lie

 He Especially loves to be a goofball.

and Getting his son to love baseball.

 Or chillin' on a bench with one so small.

 Really all his life he has loved the bears.

 but You'll notice, now he does it with a lot less hair.

I love you Greg, Happy Birthday!!!

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- A Ro
 

I Like to Go Bowling With My Friend Bert

So I really loved the movie Grease and of course the Broadway musical.  In fact we are doing Grease this spring as our high school musical and I am very excited about it.  I, however, also really enjoyed the movie Grease 2.  Now I know that it can be a lot corny and cheesy but it is the kind of movie that is craptastic.  Craptastic is a word that was coined by my student Zach and it is used to describe something that is so crappy that it is fantastic.  Now before you go and judge me for my lack of taste you will have to admit that some of the songs from Grease 2 are very catchy and I can sing a number of them right now and I haven't seen the movie in over a decade.  Plus the British guy (Sandy's cousin) was very hunky to me as a 13 year old in that he-has-a-cool-accent-and-is-a-really-nice-guy sort of way.

I realize that was a very long set up for the fact that the Bowling Song from Grease 2 was stuck in my head all day to day because today at camp we went BOWLING!!



Now if you took the time to watch that 3 minute video you would HAVE to agree with me that it is a craptastic song.  Other craptastic songs from Grease 2 that you might want to go have a peek at are Cool Rider, Reproduction, and Back to School.  Classics.

Now let me tell you bowling was the perfect way to spend a 98 degree day.  I sat indoors with my Diet Coke ALL ding dong day.  Perfect.

My C.I.T.'s (Counselors In Training) got to go to the bowling alley first so they could bowl and eat lunch as a group.  Now when I say MY C.I.T.'s that means that I am in charge of that group of about thirty one 11-15 year olds.  I love this age group and I have a lot of fun with them.  It is really a great way to spend the summer.  Sarah and Andrew are C.I.T.'s and next year my Bella will be able to be one of them too.

So after we bowled we set up all the lanes and got all the shoes so the rest of the camp didn't have to mess with all that stuff when they got there.  They also formed a tunnel for the rest of the camp to enter the bowling alley from the busses. 

I got to snap a pic of my Bella and her BFF Hannah.

I have to admit that bowling at camp also reminds me of another song very near and dear to my music teacher heart.



It really brings me back.

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- A Ro

The One Where I Complain About the Heat

Well, for the first day of summer California sure didn't go easy on us all.  It was 100 degrees here in sunny Cali.  That makes for a very hot summer camp.  We were a bakin'.  The funny thing is that when I ran this morning it was really foggy and about 50 degrees. 

I really like to complain about the weather.  Too hot...too cold...too rainy...not rainy enough...I know that I live in a place where the weather is near perfect all the time.

At least I realize the errors in my complaining ways.

We had puppy petting on campus today and man were they cute.  Andrew took my camera and took some pictures.

Yeah these are just a few of the 10 or just like them...note to self give him a few more guidelines when giving him my camera for the day.

We ended our wonderful, but hot day, celebrating Sarah's birthday at our favorite Red's BBQ with a nice cool Sundae.

What a great smile, and a beautiful girl.

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- A Ro

The Post that Includes a Bunch of Nonsense

As I write this I have just finished my first day of Summer Camp, manicotti is in the oven, and my house is full.  All of this makes me very very happy.

This past weekend was very easy going and I enjoyed it very much.

I really like easy going.

At the moment I cannot for the life of me remember what we did on Friday night...like I said easy going.

My kids were with their dad on Saturday night so Rich and I had dinner and went to see the movie Bridesmaids.  I like Kristin Wigg, and the previews looked very funny.  I thought there were very funny moments of this movie and there were moments that embarrassed the heck out of me.  I can't really explain why I was embarrassed, as I was sitting with Rich, the one person on this earth that I am most comfortable with, yet there were scenes I wished no one was watching with me.  So there...watch at your own risk.

I really wanted to go see Super 8, which is the movie that Rich wanted to see.  When I say that it was the movie I "wanted" to see I mean I really wanted to be ABLE to see it, but I know myself all too well.  I know that since it doesn't have Chevy Chase and doesn't involve people falling down and probably includes people meeting their demise at the hand of a big ugly creature that I probably couldn't handle it.  I almost did it anyway, but at the last minute begged for Rich's forgivness and picked Bridesmaids. 

Sunday was Father's Day and we were busy preparing for the arrival of Rich's kids.  Now they are really easy going kids and we really didn't need to do TOO much preparing.  But there were sheets to wash, a few drawers to clean out and a few birthday presents to shop for, so I didn't do my usual post, but I do want to say that, once again, I thought a great deal about the dads in my life.

The one who loved me when I was younger.  He was an amazing dad, and I miss him terribly.

And the one who loves me now.  He also is an amazing dad (and step dad), and we are lucky to have him in my life.

Well, the manicotti is done and everyone is home so we are going to sit down and have a relaxing dinner and enjoy being all together.

Ahhh...


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- A Ro

Grillin' Up the Hodgepodge

 

It is time once again for the weekly Hodgepodge.  Click on the button above and head on over to Joyce's blog and link up your answers.  Here is a peek into my brain.

1. What is one thing on your bucket list? If you don't have a bucket list let's pretend you do.
I want to go to Italy.  There are so many things I studied when I did my master's degree that centered around Italy.  I need to go to Italy.

2. What makes a good dad?
Being a good dad takes patience, kindness, understanding, and most of all a willingness to be a good dad.  Wanting to be a good dad enough to figure out how, and go do it is really all it takes. 

3. Are you afraid of insects? Which ones?
Yes. Yes. and Yes.  I can handle ladybugs...maybe.  Now I don't scream and run from MOST insects, but I really don't like to be near them.

At all.

4. We're barbecuing...what's on the grill at your house?
Chicken, rib eye steaks, or tri tip.  I love to grill...er...I love it when Rich grills!!

5. Do you believe that playing is more important than winning?
I believe that playing is more important than winning unless I am playing or my kids are...ha ha.  It is a good theory to believe in but hard to implement.

6. Do you tan? Use self tanners? Visit tanning salons? See your dermatologist at least once a year?
I do not tan, use self tanners or visit tanning salons.  I am Swedish so I am either white or red, no brown.  I really am not that into being tan, but I don't see a dermatologist just my PCP...something to think about.

7. Five years ago I would never imagine that today I would_______________.
Be happily married to my high school sweetheart.  A lot can happen in five years.

8.  In Summary:  Voglio andare in Italia...un sacco. (I want to go to Italy...a lot)  I love to eat BBQ but don't challenge me to a BBQ cooking contest because even though I think playing is better than winning I'll cheer Rich on with all I have.  Thankfully, I am married to my high school sweetheart who just happens to be a great dad!!

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- A Ro

Happy Birthday Kate

Today is my wonderful sister Kate's birthday.  Enjoy my very bad acrostic poem in her honor.

Katy was once her name, a long long time ago.

Andrew called her Aunt Cake but she didn't mind, you know.

They know her as Aunt Kate, and boy is she larger than life.

and He gets to boast and brag that she is his lovely wife.

Red calls her mama, and she just loves her so.

Yep, getting to call her sister is a very special thing.

No matter what she is to you, Kate's a true blessing.

I love you Kate.  Happy Birthday!!

More Later

- A Ro