Speaking of Boys

The G.I. Joe stage that many (most) boys go through is very un-PC these days but I think it's harmless for the most part. From a psychological perspective, it's the eternal quest for good over evil that is at the root of most boys army play. Not death and destruction. Is it any worse than little girls playing house or dolls? No. Some parents freak when their girls play super femninine games. But a girl is nurturing, not learning how to be submissive or oppressed. They're children, let them play.
By the way, that's Ron playing army soldiers with Jake. They spent forever lining them up, then knocked them down in about 2 seconds. Being a girl, I thought it was silly. They, being boys, thought it was hilarious.

Swim team - Jake won his first ever heat in freestyle. Did I mention that? It's the Aussie in him.

"A Bunch of White Boys from Walnut Creek"

Get over yourself with your snobby psuedo-intellectual, hyper-liberal pomposity.
I didn't know that the more diverse your city was, the smarter, better, cooler, more compassionate you are. Ok, fine. How many people of color live in your neighborhood? Really? I don't think so. Last I checked it was a bunch of white boys/girls from North Oakland Hills. How many kids of color are in your kids AP classes? Ok, other than Asians.
I'm sorry you think we're so "white." Last time I checked you were white, too. So you have some Eminem CDs, wupdedu you are so down with the street yo.
And doesn't equality include white people? I don't need no caucasian guilt, which is what I think you're suffering from.

Lordy, stop looking down on suburbia. We get it, YOU think we're a bunch of Coors drinking, war loving, wife beating, environment killing, gun toting, gay hating, Bush loving, republican, family values, racist arseholes.
Do your research dimwit. We're primarily democratic here. Ok, I'm done.
Suck it.

Summer Raiders March

Happy First Day of Summer! Which officially started at 5:00 pm, Friday but today is the first official day.
Now that I am on teacher schedule the summer is even sweeter. I thought the first week of vacation would be a relief but it was more like running to catch up. Things had to be done, things that had fallen by the wayside like haircuts, carwashes, the scary large pile of paperwork that was starting to grow legs, arms and a voice and the dirtiest fridge in CCCounty, belated cards (remember those things, you write in them and put on stamp on the outside?) to friends who have lost loved ones or had birthdays, graduations, etc. It feels so good to get it done.
The son listens to "Raiders March" incessantly and now knows the difference between the sound of a trombone and a trumpet. Very cool that he loves orchestral music so much. Another reason to love Indy or should I say John Williams.
He won his first freestyle heat today- oh yeah! I could hear his confidence grow. Wish I'd had that when I was his age. He swam clean, smooth strokes, didn't try too hard. The turtle and his wisdom: slow and steady wins the race.
Ron and I are off on a date tonight our 11th anniversary today. Eleven years ago, on summer solstice on a Saturday, we made our commitment of love and partnership. Reflection in ten words or less: It's been bumpy but never boring, full of love & fun.
Tomorrow, we march on into our 12th year, taking one day at a time. Love isn't easy but it's worth it.

Great Fashion Memories (GFMs)

I wore a pair of high heels for about two hours today and ohmydogs are killing me.
Give me my chocolate laceless Allstars immediately! or my ugg slippers or my Tevas or my tennies or any other comfortable shoe that's nearby. Stat!

Great Fashion Memory (GFM): For most of the 80s, every big party I went to, I wore a pair of vintage, black velvet, stileto heels where the toe came to point about the width of a pencil. Talk about suffering for fashion. But I looked hot! F*** me pumps we used to call them.

Another GFM: about a million years ago, when Ali was my roomy, (who by the way, has almost always had the good sense to wear sensible shoes; but she's required by law, hahaha) I was getting dressed in my little black dress to go to a show in the city. I think it was X at the Kabuki.

The dress was gorg, the earrings were decided, hair done, makeup applied but I was stuck on the shoes. I couldn't decide between the high heels, or the short heeled comfortable boots. The heels looked better but I was planning on dancing and I didn't want sore feet. I lamented, I changed, I stood in the mirror, I fretted.

Ali came in, after hearing me sigh one too many times, and I told her my dilemna. Usually she would say something along the lines of: "wear the comfortable shoes, dumbass bitch." But that night she was feeling generous. She said, "I know how you feel, you want to look sexy but feel comfortable at the same time." Well that was supportive, but it didn't help me.
Exasperated I replied, "Well shit, if I wanted to feel comfortable and sexy at the same time, I'd stay home and play with myself."

I wore the heels.

Story Poles

On Homestead, there's some crazy looking 50 foot poles with red sparkly streamers on top of a house.
As we drove back from the pool, we were speculating: circus coming to town? crazy person inside? artist's statement? bird deterrant?
Nothing so exciting, they're to show proposed development.
Another multi-level residence replaces a single family dwelling.
I was hoping for the circus.