Memorial Day 2011

Congratulations to my nephew Tim for his graduation from Brown this weekend! Congratulations to my niece Kira for her graduation from the Tilton School this weekend! Everyone is growing up. And I graduated from college 25 years ago this month. Twenty-friggin-five years. What the . . . ?

With the hope of staving off my wrinkles a little longer (and by "wrinkles" I mean the deep crevices that are mapping my face), I've joined the RoC® Challenge on shespeaks where I apply RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Night Cream nightly for 12 weeks and chart the difference. I'm on week two and, to date, no difference. What the . . . ?

I'm also officially on a long overdue diet that I'm logging into myfitnesspal. Two weeks into this diet, eating under 1100 calories a day, working out at least 5X/week and (drum roll please), I've gained three pounds. What the . . . ?

Instead of moping around about my wrinkles and lard ass (oh, did I mention that I'm now sporting some gray hair, too?), I've decided to take action. And by "take action"  I mean laze around all weekend. So far, I've read the paper. I've relaxed in the hammock while reading magazines. I've watched two of Son #2's baseball games -- and the Pittsford Crew regatta on the canal next to the baseball field all day yesterday. I've gone to church. I've watched the boys have a super soaker fight with their friends. That's it. And that's the extent of my plans. Except the kids are now loaded into the car for go-karts and mini-golf. What the . . . ?

Is it sin to engage in such frivolity when we are supposed to be honoring those who died serving our country today? Or is it a mark of our bountiful freedom that I have the ability to do just as I please today without repercussion? Probably a bit of both.

Addicted to Summer

What a glorious weekend. Heaps of sunshine. Took the kids to meet friends at the Roc City Rib Fest, dined on free food (i.e., delicious pulled pork, ribs and brisket) courtesy of Bob at Slow Hand BBQ, watched the Dan Eaton band perform under the gazebo and took a walk along the beach.

Earlier in the day, we watched Monkey's Little League game. As I sat with the other wives listening to them talk about their upcoming summers playing tennis, golfing and swimming at CCR and TCR, I was feeling a little jealous. It reminded me of when I was working at Xerox and my girlfriends with little kids would call me. "We're putting together a haunted house. What are you doing?" Oh just sitting in a cubicle analyzing data for hours/days/months without speaking to anyone for hours/days/months. The worst possible job for someone who needs interaction (i.e., me). While they're now two of the hardest working friends I have, they spent time at home while their kids were still young. I want a piece of that.

Do I dare ask my boss for two months of four day weeks after she nixed the idea last year? Or just buy Lotto tickets?

In an unrelated note (but somewhat topical related to wealth vs. my life), women pay big bucks for collagen injections to plump up their lips. We invested in the lesser known, but highly desired, lip-sucking kitten. As a result, I have a swollen upper lip and am having difficulty speaking. No joke. But boy do I look hot.

In closing, a song that the kids made me download for them over the weekend but, as always, music that Aunt Sue won't enjoy.

Memorial Day 2009

Such a perfect, relaxing, sunny day off. Grateful for the troops and especially thankful for those who've lost their lives throughout the decades defending the freedom we enjoy in this country--including Kevin Mowl who I never met but whose family lives in my hometown and, I'm sure, is still grieving today. We take so much for granted.

I saw this quote in an old body + soul that I was reading in the hammock today and it seemed apropos for the day.

"To live each day as if it were your last, you would be trying to remedy all the mistakes you had made, all the regret, all the things unsaid. If you live each day as if it were your first, you are freed from all obligations, all guilt, all regret."*

Speaking of freedom, I need to embrace such a positive perspective.

Got a lust for life, yeah, a lust for life.

And now for some spare ribs that the hubby has been barbecuing all afternoon.

*Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger