ummmmm. . . . birthday cake!

Leslie did it again! She created another visual and edible delicacy last week for my birthday!

What I Did This Summer

In early August Ron and I took a day trip to Mansfield, Mo to fulfill my inner girl's pilgrimage to a "Little House on the Prairie" site. We traveled approximately two hours south of the Lake of the Ozarks to Rocky Ridge Farm where she began writing her books when she was 64 years old. Let's here it for late bloomers.

The Boys of Summer

Jamieson's Little League All-Star Team, the Kearney Nationals, won the Nebraska state championship on Sunday. Next stop Indianapolis!!!!! The team goes to Indy at the end of the month to compete at the Midwest Regional Tournament. I think that deserves an "'atta boy" from one very proud aunt. Good luck Jamieson! And have the time of your life!

You Can't Resist It

In spite of some stormy skies and a little rain before the show, Lyle Lovett was a treat last week! Ron wins huge preparededness points for having TWO ponchos in the trunk of his car which limited our exposure to the little bit of rain that did fall.

A Day in the Life of Sneakers

Welcome to the Jungle

I'm back from my trip to Paris and having difficulty shaking the jet lag and thus adequately composing a narrative or a summation of my time in the "city of light." Let me just say that for me Paris, the most romantic city in the world, was much akin to my own experience with romance. There were highs and lows, elation, giddiness, humiliation, communication changes, total awe, a little bit of rejection, and a little hope and promise for what could happen the next time.

On the day before we left, Kathryn and I found the perfect souvenir t-shirt which we thought most adequately reflected our Parisian experience (we expect a lot from a souvenir.) Picture the Eiffel Tower crashes into G&R's "Appetite for Destruction." They are so COOL, no matter what anyone else says :)

More blog posts about Paris to come . . . .

Cirque Du Soleil

I had the opportunity to witness many feats of strength, daring, creativity and FLEXIBILITY at Cirque Du Soleil's performance of "Saltimbanco." They were just as amazing to watch as they were when I first saw them in NYC many years ago. I was also humbled to find that I did not understand a single French word spoken at the intro. . . . oh well, I have mastered the phrase: Est que vous parlez l'anglais. Hopefully, that will be sufficient French for my trip to Paris. Three days and counting. . . .

Rant & Rave

I had just finished watching the movie "The Jane Austin Bookclub" with my book club gals when I checked the time. 6:40!! Shoot, I had a "black tie optional" dinner to go to in the Bluffs at 7:00! Sorry gals for rushing you out! I'm proud to say that I got myself together (dress, pantyhose, make-up, hair brushed) and there at 7:10 as people were at the tables, but dinner had yet to be served.

I was invited to the dinner by one of the men being honored, so it wasn't something I wanted to blow off or arrive noticably late. About two minutes after I sat down- he stopped by the table to greet us. "Hi" "Glad you could make it." "Congratulations" etc. etc. I then was shocked to find that it wasn't the rudeness of my being late that was then noted in the exchange, but my audacity to only reply "plus one" to my invitation as we all stared at the empty chair beside me. I'm not sure if it was stated as "I was hoping" or "You know you could have" but bringing a guest (i.e. a date) was definately implied. "I RSVPed for one," I lamely responded to my host and then pathetically twice more to a couple sitting next to me at the table.

I (thankfully) repressed my desire to "defend myself" and report that only 24 hours earlier, I had in fact been out on a date with a respectable man and we both "hoped to do it again sometime." Argh! I'm not sure if I'm more frustrated with the unnecessary pressure that is put on people (I know men get this too)to not show up alone at these types of things or if I am angry at myself for getting flustered by it?

The Rave is On
Back to the beginning of my rant. . . book club was most excellent. It was wonderful to catch up on life events (Malia's upcoming wedding or Megan's pending graduation and Joanna's new kitchen)and eat good food (I served a cheese plate: brie, soft bleu cheese and a "stinky cheese.") As always my review of spending time with these magnificant ladies is a RAVE! Thank you for being a bright spot in my day and never EVER judging me for being a "plus one."

Where Are You Mr. Darcy?

Take the Quiz here!

"Bitch is the New Black"

I don't mean to make my blog a string of videos . . . but this is a must share gem from the very brilliant Tina Fey. My favorite line is the last one delivered, "Bitch is the New Black." This is a very different sentiment than the previously posted video from Mr. Rogers, but ironically just as inspirational to me. BTW, I highly recommend her show 30 Rock You can watch full episodes of the second season online.

A Good Message from a Good Neighbor

Daddy/Daughter Date and the Ditch

February 5th was a dark and snowy day. Yet I was motivated to head west to Lincoln to rendezvous (those Pemsler French CDS are really working for me) with my Dad. The occasion was an awards banquet honoring Nebraska artists, including one of my Dad's coffee buddies a 92 year-old calligrapher, appropriately named, Art. After a mutually treacherous journey, my Dad and I both silently agreed that Mom was truly the smart one among us for deciding to stay home. She wasn't the only one homebound. For the honoree and appropriately fifty K-townies failed to appear after the bus they chartered was CANCELED! So, my Dad, myself and one other person sat at a table for ten, ate substandard banquet food, endured a program where our “man of the hour” that we had intended to salute was not there and the drive home was looming ahead.

If you read the title of this entry, you know where this story is headed. . . I lost control of the civic just west of the Platte river, and was t-boned by an Omaha Steaks delivery truck (note, the irony that I was t-boned by a truck delivering meat- guess who won't be getting a box of free steaks?) And then my car proceeded into a snowy ditch. Fortunately, I am past the experience without a scratch. I wasn't even sore the next day. My car was not as fortunate. It is still in the body shop and should be done with major re-constructive surgery on Friday.

Haute Couture

Where shall I go when I visit the fashion capital of the world. Chez Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Givenchy . . . ? C'est possible. But then again, what is the sport in that? I DO plan to visit Tati. Check out the website. You don't have to be fluent in French to see that you can purchase your workout attire and your wedding clothes in the same place. Now that's my kind of store. I hope they have some great shoes!

Foodies Unite!

One has to admire the Zagats who turned a love of food and eating into a way to make a pretty good living for themselves. Watch this clip and learn that the first Zagat guide was published on a mimeographed pages! (Those aren't like pdf files for anyone under thirty that read this.) And bless him- Mo works so hard to be clever and funny at every turn and he truly charms the Zagats.

Attention All Francophiles

I'm looking for some good books to read which will get me in the spirit for my upcoming trip to France. Please feel free to offer suggestions on French themed lit. I'm open to either fiction or nonfiction.

So far my list includes:
My Life in France- Julia Child
A Tale of Two Cities- Charles Dickens
Long Ago in France- MFK Fisher
A Year in the Merde- Stephen Clarke (reread)

Vive Le France!

Musee du Louvre

It's official. I've bought my guidebook, city street map and French phrase book and I'm going to Paris!! Thanks to Kathryn and her connections, I'm going on a designer vacation for a TJMaxx price.