Other than our hair, turns out Oprah and I probably don't have much in common.

Jack is the music fiend at our house. He can name any band, their latest album, who they sound like, what their drummer's side project is, who house they ate dinner at last night, and so on. He has been that way since I met him and it is something I love about him, but sometimes hate about him when we are at Carols ipod parties because I always lose.

But, I am taken with his most recent musical purchase. Actually, it is a magazine. (Not that I have gone so far as to actually read the magazine)

Every month it comes with a sampler CD, which is brilliant marketing! And the CD is always pretty decent. Out of about 20ish songs, at least half are great, and another fourth are decent. Fearing it would be only punk, I didn't even listen the first few months, but lately, I pop it in my car before he knows it came and he doesn't get it until 3 weeks later he drives the boys somewhere in my car. Now I have tons of great new bands to try.
So, while it may never make Oprah's list, I can't concern myself with that. I thought I knew most of Moldy Peaches stuff (technically just kimya dawson, but who needs to be technical?), but PASTE introduced me to Alphabutts, which every parent should hear, but pretend they didn't. Thanks, mag. And Jack.

A Porch with a View

Sometimes I ask myself why I live in VA. As S & I were sitting on our front porch waiting for the boys to be dropped off this afternoon, I remembered one of the reasons: full fledged seasons. Autumn, in particular, is my favorite.

The picture below was taken...
from this rocker (which we LOVE--from Cracker Barrel...umhmm) on my porch.

The view is not spectaular, per se. It's not even as good a view as others have from their yards, but it's still so great to me.

I love how the trees come together touching tips forming an arch as I drive up Wadsworth. I drive it once a day in the Fall and I love it every time. We may not be as cool as California, or as trendy as New York, or as tropical as Hawaii, but I love my sleepy little town. Thankfully, there are people that will live in CA, NY, and HI--and love those places just the same--so I can live here. Different strokes for different folks, eh?

Duh. Of course Obama has been to the Temple

Jacks sister Sally and her son Max came to visit and we showed them, that indeed, VA is for lovers! (That is the dumbest state motto ever, ps) If you ever want to come and visit, October is the perfect time because the leaves are gorgeous and the weather is great (except not for tubing). Here are the highlights:

DC Temple (Jack and I could actually go because we had babysitters) To boot, babysitters that took the boys to the National Zoo!

Dollywood (because, why not?)

Lots of nature (because that's what we do in VA)

Nature with food (because what better way to enjoy nature, or food for that matter)

Nature with mazes and hayrides (because after all, we are in farm country)

Mexican with Richard

Bluegrass at the Floyd General Store (with Jenny, sort of)

And good times had by all!

Max thinks his gangsters can take out my rednecks, but I just don't think he grasps the concept of homeschooled farmers with all the ammo they can hide under their moonshine. Max also has pronounced CA cooler than VA, but I think it's because he didn't like my generic everything. I tried convincing him it was me, not the state as a whole, but...

So in honor of this election season, cast your vote--Gangsters or Rednecks?

Thanks to Breakfast at Pascal's Kitchen I got my $1 sticker

All I have wanted for days is an Obama bumper sticker. But I only want to pay $1. And I don't want to pay it to some teen skipping school to make & sell lame bumper stickers out of his/her basment in lieu of attending woodshop. And today I got it. For once, downtown Radford did for me what the Internet and Amazon.com could not.

And in lieu of a political post of my own, I will refer you to the most recent post of my cyber-friend Kasey, who doesn't really know we are friends, but we are. I mean, if we lived closer, I know we would be. She may not know about our cyber BFF standing, but after reading this, you would split a heart necklace with her anyday.

And while this one is good, her older one is almost better. You decide.

http://kasm.blogspot.com/2008/10/barack-obama-invaded-my-psyche-last.html

http://lightrefreshmentsserved.com/2008/09/05/what-the-heck-lets-talk-politics/

"A la tuhuelpa legria macarena Eeeh, macarena!"

Who says the macarena is outdated? Or as G says, since there are multiple ones, "the macarenas!" We love you Mrs. Dyer!

"Put on your Sunday best kids, we're going to Sears!"

I did feel a little Brady excited as I was getting ready to attend the gala where the NCTC was going to acknowledge us as recipients of the grant for our Lego League team. The NCTC grant is the only reason we were able to build our team, so since we were invited to attend their annual gala, we graciously accepted for a fun evening out (they also sponsored our $100 seats, otherwise we would have waved from the hall).

So what do you wear to a gala? Can you go without stockings? Do I need to go rent some diamonds? After consulting my underage fashion team, we made do, and headed to Blacksburg. Now, by "we", I don't mean me and my spouse. That would have been too easy. (Thanks Carol for indulging me and coming along!) Of course, both of us had to get sitters because Jack was out of town and Chris was on call, making this no easy night out. But we walked the red carpet, ate our fancy schmancy meal, heard the "rapping professor," stood for our award acknowledgment, stumbled through memory lane as I said hello to a high school friend, and came home. Isn't that why we love the 'burg? There is always someone from our past lurking behind the next tree reminding us of days long since past, but still clear as can be.

So make-up on, fancy dress off the hanger, and a purse too small to carry snacks or wipes, I had a great evening. The only thing that would have made it better was if there had been an escalator to ride on.