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| Yes, McDaniel is in her pajamas. Her back is to the camera because she just woke up and she was nursing a bloody nose. Again. (She has a cold.) But I took the picture anyway because these are the pictures I love the most. |
After the graduation ceremony at the middle school, it’s SUMMER!
I’ve been singing “School’s Out For Summer” all week.
Yeah, the one by Alice Cooper.
I’m not an Alice Cooper fan.
But I’m very fond of summer.
We’ve been knee-deep in all that is the marathon of May.
On the third night in a row of meetings at the middle school, one of the dads mentioned to us that May was turning into the new December.
I just couldn’t agree.
Because where are the parties
and presents
and food
and good cheer
and peace on earth wishes
and good cheer
and peace on earth wishes
and celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior?!
Because all we’ve had over here are choir concerts
and track meets
and sports banquets
and meetings
and school trips to pack for
and pay for
and finals.
On top of making lunches
and normal homework
and an enormous amount of laundry.
and an enormous amount of laundry.
Here are a few things I want to mention since it’s been so long since I’ve posted.
• TURN
I may have mentioned once or 45 times that Monte and I are reading "Alexander Hamilton" (very slowly).
Just to make that process even slower, Monte came home from the library with the first season of AMC’s TURN.
It’s a TV series about the use of very normal people as American spies during the Revolutionary War. It goes along well with Alexander Hamilton. Except we’ve gotten so hooked on the show that we aren’t reading as much.
Just to make that process even slower, Monte came home from the library with the first season of AMC’s TURN.
It’s a TV series about the use of very normal people as American spies during the Revolutionary War. It goes along well with Alexander Hamilton. Except we’ve gotten so hooked on the show that we aren’t reading as much.
It’s intense and I have to look away during ALL THE KILLING.
It’s war, after all.
And one of the British soldiers is so well cast as a villain that I may or may not have screamed at the TV for the Patriot to “KILL HIM!” when he had the chance during a duel.
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| Bad guy. |
Alas, he did not because it was just the first season.
It really shows how even the Loyalists got sick and tired of the tyrannical rule of King George.
He was NUTS.
And all those pompous soldiers in white wigs barging in
to live in American homes and ceasing their guns
without much courtesy or gratitude.
It’s no wonder our amendments are what they are
and the order in which they were written.
without much courtesy or gratitude.
It’s no wonder our amendments are what they are
It’s so interesting to see our country in its infancy and how it was being molded and shaped. I see some of the same struggles are resurfacing today as our country is growing into adulthood.
• Cats
McDaniel’s good friend, Charlotte, who played Mary Poppins a few years ago in the high school production, was in a local production of Cats recently.
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| McDaniel and Charlotte. |
So the girls and I went.
Monte said something about being allergic to cats
and stayed home and hosted poker with the guys on our street.
We went to a beautiful theater and had second row seats!
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| Look at the theater ceiling. |
We did not know what Cats was about.
I know!
You’d think with the amount of times I sang the signature song from Cats in choir concerts in middle school and high school, I would’ve picked up a few plot points from the musical.
Nope.
We thought maybe it was a metaphor ABOUT cats.
I know that I’ve seen the actors all made up like cats but I didn’t realize that they’d be
ACTING LIKE CATS THE ENTIRE TIME.
Like, never breaking character.
Ever.
We were right up there in the second row--they didn’t break character.
Ellie was so shocked by this fact that she could not stop laughing. The woman beside her gave her a few side eye glances and the woman in front of us, flat out gave her the stink eye.
Judging by how much she cried during the entire musical, Cats was very personal for her.
Ellie meant no disrespect.
She was just caught off guard.
The outfits they wore were basically leotards. The girls were quite uncomfortable with our good seats when a “male cat” was up front and close to our eye line.
I never did figure out what the plot was but Charlotte sang and danced beautifully.
The woman/cat who sang “Memories” blew it out of the water!! Amazing!
It was definitely worth it to see.
• Chewbacca Woman
What a hoot!
I love seeing someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and has an obvious joy for life.
I love seeing someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and has an obvious joy for life.
Jennifer Dukes Lee is a gifted writer/blogger who wrote a wonderful article about the mask wearing woman and how her instant viral video shows our thirst for joy and laughter.
What I don’t understand is why so many people feel the need to be unkind to this mask wearing, laughing, joy-filled woman?
Here’s the link: http://jenniferdukeslee.com/chewbacca-mama-teaches-us-happiness/
What I don’t understand is why so many people feel the need to be unkind to this mask wearing, laughing, joy-filled woman?
To poop on her parade and say hateful things on social media?
It’s so sad how cynical people can be over something so innocent.
• Bitmoji Mishap
Monte and I enjoy playing around with the Bitmoji app on our phones. It allows you to make an animated version of yourself that you can send with messages.
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| Usually my Bitmoji is in workout clothes but I decided to shake things up and go with a pantsuit since I’d never wear one and why not make my Bitmoji a more daring version of myself?? Julie encouraged the bright red lipstick. And other things I won’t get into right now. |
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| There are SO MANY things that I love about this! But mainly the fuzzy furry vest because Julie has one exactly like it. |
The animation looked EXACTLY like her!
I asked her to tell me everything about how she came about this and she pointed me to the app. For the next hour, Monte and I sat in the lobby of the hotel laughing and designing our Bitmojis. It went from a crowded pre-dinner lobby to just us. I’m sure people thought we were nuts, staring at our phones and laughing.
I like to send Bitmojis to Monte at work. Especially if I know he’s in a long meeting or conference call. It breaks up the day.
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| I’m tap dancing. And apparently winking or sporting a black eye. Either way, this makes me laugh. |
Monte likes to send me Bitmojis back.
Well…
McDaniel and I were in Barnes & Noble last week looking for a graduation gift when I decided to show the sweet older lady up front the title of the book on my phone so she could help me find it.
As she was typing the book title and author name into the store computer with my phone in hand, I heard her say,
“Oh!”
and her expression changed
and she started tapping my phone.
I thought maybe she lost the image of the book so I took my phone back to see this:
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| Monte! |
I just clicked off of it quickly and said nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Luckily, McDaniel had walked away
to check out the journals.
We shared a long, wordless stare and the woman finally said,
“So that book is going to be in the Christian section…”
I bet she put me on her prayer list.
• Nose Band Aid
Monte had something removed from his nose yesterday at the dermatologist’s office. He sent me a picture of himself with a band aid on his nose.
There really is no hiding a band aid on your nose.
It’s an attention grabbing zone.
We have Ellie’s graduation today, two graduation parties tomorrow and a wedding tomorrow night.
All with Monte wearing a nose band aid.
I tried to comfort him by reminding him of me wearing ALL THE BAND AIDS on my neck when I gave myself a chemical burn trying to rid myself of a mole with some Frankincense.
It didn’t help.
So I resorted to Bitmoji.
Seriously, what are the odds that Monte got a nose band aid on the day called Red Nose Day?!
• Crying Soldier
I saw this picture online today and it made me stop and read the article. This soldier was captured on film crying at his graduation from West Point.
He was overcome because he was realizing in that exact moment the camera clicked that he was the American dream.
An immigrant who moved to America with the hopes of a better life. He was accepted into a prestigious school and will go on to be a pilot after graduation.
His gratitude for the opportunities and freedoms of America spilled down his face.
His willingness to serve and protect America is apparent. Not because it’s perfect but because he is a proud citizen.
I love it.
He was overcome because he was realizing in that exact moment the camera clicked that he was the American dream.
An immigrant who moved to America with the hopes of a better life. He was accepted into a prestigious school and will go on to be a pilot after graduation.
His gratitude for the opportunities and freedoms of America spilled down his face.
His willingness to serve and protect America is apparent. Not because it’s perfect but because he is a proud citizen.
I love it.
We need more of that.
There are people threatening to leave America
if Donald Trump is elected president.
Read “1776”
or “Alexander Hamilton.”
We have survived so. much. worse.
• Ann Bogel’s Summer Reading List
Ann writes a blog called Modern Mrs. Darcy. She recommends and reviews books.
Each year, she releases a summer reading list that is full of great books ALL of which she has read.
Here’s a link to this year’s list:
I’ve picked out a few that I’d like to try.
Happy Summer!
You made me laugh and tear up all in one post - that is talent my friend!
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