Go Play With a Stick

When I was a kid, there were two rules on Saturdays: 1) No coming out of my bedroom until 7am. If I woke up earlier than that I had to read or amuse myself quietly in my room. 2) Play outside as much as possible.

Now the way it is in my recollection, that second rule was enforced like it was the eleventh commandment: THOU SHALT ENTERTAIN THYSELF OUT OF DOORS ON SATURDAYS. I remember at times being afraid to go inside even to use the bathroom. In part because on at least one occasion I wet my pants when my stepbrother saw me making a last-minute beeline for the garage door and got there first and wouldn't let me through. But the point is that there was no sitting around the tv watching cartoons or playing video games for hours. No, we were out drawing hopscotch grids on the sidewalk, rescuing dead bugs from the blow up pool, playing bank with twigs and pebbles for currency, balancing our butts on skinny banana-shaped skateboards as we rolled down the street, and sometimes when we were feeling really dangerous we'd ride our bikes up onto the neighbors' driveways (which was strictly verboten).

And it seems to me that our toys were pretty low-tech, too. Maybe not as archaic as wooden blocks and dolls made out of old socks, but I think the most animated toy I had when I was real young was a Baby Alive and I'm pretty sure she was powered by gravity rather than batteries (but oh, how tasty was her peach-flavored food packet!).

All that being said, the other day I was inspecting the baby swing my friend Yvette has for her sweet brand-new baby boy, Jacob--one of those little floor models with the built-in mobile and whatnot. This thing is like a portable laser light show! Flashing colored lights, Electric Light Parade type music stylings, speed settings--you name it, it's got it.

So a thought occurred to me: Decline in playing with sticks, increase in toys and baby gadgets that stimulate their little brains like speed, and an epidemic of childhood A.D.D.--coincidence?

But fret not, little Jacob--I promise to buy you nothing but books and puzzles and educational games for the remainder of your life. Along with the occasional bunch of sticks and bag of rocks. It's worth the risk of being branded the auntie who always gives you boring gifts (every kid has to have one of those, after all).

The Official Food of Princesses

Whenever I'm feeling particularly prissy (which isn't often, mind you), girly, or just in need of some good old fashioned pampering, Matt calls me "pretty, pretty princess." I have to confess that I find it endearing, even if it does imply a trace of condescension, because who doesn't like being called pretty by their man? I for one am not one to poo-poo compliments.

Well, this last Saturday I was made to feel like true royalty by my dear friend, the incomparable Miss Kelly Shaw, who hosted for me the best darn bridal shower a girl could imagine. Cheese & wine fondue, margeurita pizza, toasted chicken and pesto sandwiches, pomegranate martinis, chocolate fondue with strawberries and marshmallows....oh my word, the food was GOOD and PLENTIFUL. We feasted! Plus, there were the softest, cakiest cupcakes with pillows of pink frosting piled on top. And surely those must be the official food of princesses worldwide, no?

The only thing that could possibly top the food and presentation was spending time with some of my most-loved people in the world. There were a couple out-of-staters who weren't able to make it, which of course was disappointing, but those who were there surrounded me with love and good vibes--exactly what I needed in order to get through this next few weeks and make it to the wedding with my senses, wits, and fingernails intact.

Life lessons learned:

1) Bridal showers are infinitely more fun and entertaining (not to mention short) when they're in your honor,

2) Being the center of attention isn't all that bad when the people doing the watching are as wonderful and loving and supportive as my beautiful friends happen to be, and

3) I am one blessed woman.

To all those who were there to share the day with me and to Kelly for making it all happen--thank you, thank you, thank you.

(See more pictures on Kelly's blog.)

Buttons and Bows

"Spacelady" is an old nickname, bestowed on me by Carol Hull back when we were college roommates in Texas. It's from an episode of the cartoon "Mindy and Buttons," which used to be a part of the Animaniacs show. In one episode Mindy accidentally stows away on a spaceship, jets off to some planet in the solar system, and of course Buttons has to rescue her and bring her safely back home. While exploring the planet and getting into all sorts of trouble, Mindy encounters a space woman going about her daily space business, does something to annoy said woman, and then leaves off with her signature saying, "Okay, Spacelady, I love you, buh-bye!" For whatever reason it stuck, and Carol has called me Spacelady ever since.

Years later I was for some reason asked to recount how the nickname came about, and in my mind I truly could not remember the name of the show. I could have sworn it was "Buttons and Bows"--I mean, doesn't that make sense? Two sewing-related accoutrements? Plus, it's snappy and flows. Am I wrong? Carol corrected me, saying it was "Mindy and Buttons," and at first I really thought she was wrong. I mean it. "Buttons and Bows" just sounded more....right. And I honestly had no recollection of the precocious little girl in the show having a name at all. So I insisted that no, no, she was wrong and I was right. And Carol insisted no, I was wrong. And so on and so forth for some time.

This argument has been repeated many times over the years, and of course I eventually figured out that Carol was indeed correct. But whenever the issue comes up I still insist anyway that it's "Buttons and Bows," just for kicks. It really gets under Carol's skin, too, which I find hilarious.

Here's to Buttons and what's-her-name!