On Saturday it was just Sam and me for the day. Maddy was attending Youth Conference (and having a ball, I might add) and Lauren took a Bastille Day roadtrip to New York with her best friend, Lucy (where they also had a ball). So after we got a few chores done at home, it was a Sam's choice afternoon. We went to the music store and checked out the drums and bass guitars:
I had to take this photo on the sly because who wants to pose for their mom in a drum and guitar store? Not this boy.
Next we went to Bolocco for burritos and headed to the river near our house for a little kayaking:
I took a few seconds of video so I could remember those oh-so-peaceful moments in that lovely place with my favorite boy:
Wow, is that my voice? It's certainly not the one I hear from my inside-my-head perspective when I talk. Next time I'll have to remember: shh. don't say a word.
Cheap Foster Grant aviators. I bought these in desperation at a drug store two years ago for about $9. I adore them and hope they last forever because I can't find their twin anywhere. Luckily, they were cheap so I will never lose them. (I only lose expensive ones, of course!) I wear them and channel Tami Taylor.
Which leads me to summer obsession #2b. This summer I've introduced Maddy to Friday Night Lights. (It's our little treat together now and then. I think 16 is a good age to get it and it's also a fabulous entree to some good discussions about issues brought up in the show. Because it's not without its prickly issues, y'all.)
So, anyway. I've been re-immersed in Tami Taylor appreciation lately. (Seriously, is there a graduate program to become Tami Taylor? Because I'd enroll.) I know I've already sung its praises several times here through the years but it's such a terrific show. And my favorite t.v. portrayal of a real, true, imperfect, loving marriage. If you're looking to get immersed in a series this summer, you could treat yourself to FNL. Clear eyes, full hearts can't lose.
Okay, I won't go all crazy with clips but here's the final promo trailer encompassing scenes from the entire series:
Oh, my friends, if you have not yet experienced the deliciousness of these two lovelies, you are in for a treat. REAL fruit. 80 calories. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and, admittedly, I have). Obviously, you have to like pineapple and/or coconut in the first place. I keep thinking the coconut one would be divine dipped in chocolate... Go. Get them. I'll wait here (in some parts of the country it's under Dreyer's).
p.s. Edy's doesn't know I exist. I just love these all on my own.
We will be heading across the country in early August, caravan style, from Boston to Bear Lake (UT). Crazy! Fun! Lengthy! We've been researching routes and roadside attractions and putting together a mega playlist to get us through.
Here's where you come in: what's your favorite travelin' music? What song(s) would you suggest? I really do want to know. Even if you wandered onto this entry because you googled "orthodontic neck gear" or "streetpaint like real rollercoaster."* Even if we've never met.
Seriously. We have 40+ hours of driving to fill here, folks! Fill our ears with music! All genres welcome.
Well, hallelujah, it did. I cried happy tears from the first notes. Looking down the row, it had the same effect on my girls. At the end I narrowly avoided getting to ugly, loud cry mode (You know the kind? where your breaths come in hiccups and you're no longer in control of your throat noises? That kind.). There's something about this story, that music, that just resonates with my heart: the healing power and joy of music, the gentle powerful difference one person can make. It's a heartfelt, joyous story that never crosses over the border to sappy.
I can't resist sharing some clips:
Are you rolling your eyes? At least definitely watch Steve Kazee's moving Tony acceptance speech. Please?
Are you rather interested? Take a sneak peek at scenes from the show:
For fellow (slightly obsessed) fans, a longer look at the making of Once and the recording of the music:
- get there early! The stage set is set as a Dublin bar and it also serves as the actual, pre-show bar so you can go up on stage and order a drink or bottle of water until show time. Even better, the musicians and actors come out and perform as a little warm-up gig. You can stand up there right next to them on the stage.
- know that there is some language. In my book Irish swearing is in a different category (and you can pretty much convince yourself they're saying forks, for instance) but it's definitely PG13 in the language department so you should know that going in.
- oh, enjoy, enjoy. Hopefully the loud-yawning guy doesn't sit behind you like when we went. Also, he blew on Maddy's neck to get her to move to the side. Annoying!
- go meet the cast at the stage door afterwards (just turn right when you exit the theatre, it's right there). The cast was so warm and engaging, every one of them. Cristin Milioti was as lovely as she seemed on stage. Steve Kazee gave us his best Australian accent and chatted with us like he had all the time in the world. I like to think we made a deep personal connection but really, they were equally lovely with each person on the line. We were starstruck.
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Monday, July 16, 2012
