Micheal Jackson

I normally use my blog just to chronicle the happenings in our lives, thinking that I will enjoy looking back on the small details years from now, but I couldn't help but at least write something about Michael Jackson because he does bring me back to some fun memories of childhood and dancing and singing to the Thriller album. I like to remember the 1980's Michael Jackson and not Jacko the Wacko of his later years.

I remember going to KMart in Leesburg with my parents and brother and we had each got to pick out our first (or at least my first) grown up record (yes, the old vinyl kind). I think we had only listened to Disney records before then, but Thriller had recently come out so they let my brother get the Thriller record and that was the one I wanted but we couldn't get the same one, so being younger, I ended up getting Culture Club's Colour by Numbers. First, what were my parents thinking letting me get that album? I can't remember what year it was, probably not right when they came out, but pretty close, maybe 1985 or so. I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8. I remember thinking it was kind of odd that this guy dressed up like a girl, but once I learned all the words to Karma Chameleon, I really didn't care anyway. My brother played Thriller over and over again and we thought that it might have a bad word in one of the songs (we were so innocent!) so we said something to my mom. She listened to it and they said "funk" and not, well you know...that other four letter word.





Jimmy told me a silly story of when he wanted to go and see The Jackson's Victory tour in Jacksonville at the Gator Bowl in 1983 or 84. He was 8 or 9 and his parents wouldn't let him. He got mad and tour up his poster of Michael Jackson. If only we still had the poster and the vinyl Thriller album.

Tybee Time!

My friend Maria and I (along with her little girl Izzy and little Jimmy) headed out to Tybee yesterday for the morning. Maria and old SCAD bud and neighbor and I went to visit another SCAD bud, Meg and her family, who were in town vacationing for a couple of weeks. Miley Cyrus is currently filming a new Nicholas Sparks movie, The Last Song, on Tybee. Tybee is pretty crazed with young Hannah Montana fans following Miley's twitter updates and stalking her around the island. Kelly Preston and John Travolta are also supposed to be in town as Kelly is playing the mother role. Apparently they have a beach house on the south end (Sandra Bullock is another famous neighbor on the north end). Country singer, Bill Currington has also been spotted on Tybee...with his shirt off...I might add. Didn't get to see anyone famous (Tybee is pretty small, maybe a couple of miles and only one way on and of the island) but we might go back tomorrow. Also, spotted in Savannah yesterday were Drew Barrymore and her BF, the mac guy. I digress...enough of the People updates...

The cottage they rented "the Splash Shack" was so adorable. Perfect for a small family. Restored and designed by Jane Coslick, in true beach cottage style. A couple of blocks from the beach and it has a great little pool. We just enjoyed lounging around the pool for a little bit! Sadly, I forgot my camera, but Maria took some pics that I hope I can upload later. In the meantime wanted to share a pic of the cottage. Too cute!

We went back to the beach today with the Brooks' family for the morning. It was HOT, but we had a really nice tent to keep us shaded. Jimmy loved the beach so we are looking forward to our beach week in FL the 27-July 4th.

Summer Time!

I feel like this week has been a staycation. We went to the pool Thursday, Friday and twice on Saturday (morning and afternoon). Then we went for a cruise on our boat (which we co-own with the Brooks family) this afternoon. It was Jimmy's first boat ride and he had a great time! He kept saying "This is fun!" He and Katherine had a great time looking for dolphins, ospreys' nests and drinking juice boxes. Here are some pics from this afternoon:

Before and After

We have a fresh new coat of paint on our house! Yeah!! Bye Bye depressing green and hello bright and cheery gray and white. We love it! Jimmy worked hard to get everything ready: putting up the lattice and the ceiling on the carport, new ceiling on the screened porch and replacing some wood.

Here is the before:



and the after!!!

Book Club

I hosted book club at my house last night. We started book club about 7 years ago and it has kept going strong after the bunko and wine clubs have waned. We figured out it was because at least a book gives you something to talk about. It may not always be about the book, but the book can inspire and generate great ideas and conversations. We have book club about every 6-8 weeks. There is no pressure; you can come if you didn't finish or even read the book. Its about friends and fellowship, too. We always have dinner and it can be as low-key or fancy as you want. Sometime we break out the china and crystal and dine on beef tenderloin, or eat yummy casseroles on paper plates or even just order pizza. We are all just happy to be together!

I made dinner: Grillades and Grits, Ceasar salad and fresh country french bread from the Back in the Day Bakery. The book we discussed was Come Back. A true story of a mother and a daughter and their journey through a tramautic life event in the daughter's young life, her adolescent life that was filled with drugs, alcohol and wanting to run away, a mother's devotion to her daughter and her recovery, and the evolution of their relationship along the way.

Our next book is Three Cups of Tea, another true story.



This summer I am also going to read Same Kind of Different as Me. This was a previous book club pick which I did not read but plan to this summer.

Aliya's wedding celebration

Here is a pic of Kelly, Aliya and me from Aliya's party in NYC over Memorial Day weekend. We all worked together at SCAD and Kelly is my job-share partner. Aliya is an NYC native and moved back home about 3 years ago. I really have made some great friends working at SCAD. Many have moved away but we all still keep in touch.

Happy 40th Anniversary to My parents (5/31)

My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary on Sunday! I had a little dinner party at my house and invited Jimmy's parents and Marty, Ginny and Amelia. We had a great time celebrating! I made a yummy dinner (if I may say so myself)! On the menu: Beef Tenderloin with mushroom sauce, ratatouille (fried eggplant and zucchini w/ tomatoes, garlic, onion and pepper), and delmonico potatoes. Then a cake from Bakers Pride (my parents fave) for dessert!