Roxy's Bay Head Blog

Peanut Butter and Honey Take the Hill's Healthy Mobility Challenge

2011-10-15T01:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hills Pet Nutrition for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many of Roxy's Bay Head Blog's loyal readers know that London and Maddie have two beautiful cockapoos: Peanut Butter is 19 months old and Honey is just a six-month-old. Back home in the Roxiticus Valley, the girls have just joined the Doggone Crazy 4-H Club and are going to spend the next year learning all sorts of things about their dogs as part of their 4-H Dog Project. For example, they will be researching nutrition and how much it costs to feed their dogs for a week, a month, a year.

As part of their online research, London and Maddie visited Hill's Pet Nutrition and learned about Healthy Mobility Dog Food:

Specifically formulated to help dogs facing quality-of-life changes due to mobility problems
High levels of omega-3 fatty acids for improved joint flexibility and enhanced active mobility in just 30 days
Essential bone and joint cartilage support through chondroitin sulfate, EPA and glucosamine
High-quality lean proteins for lean muscle and ideal body weight
Antioxidant blend for healthy immune function

The girls think Peanut Butter and Honey are way too young to worry about mobility issues, but for their friends with older dogs they thought it made sense to "like" Hill's Pet Nutrition on Facebook and register to take the Hill's Healthy Mobility Challenge and receive $30 in Hill's Healthy Mobility Coupon offers. Registering automatically enters you and your dog in the Hill's Sweepstakes where 30 winners will receive free pet food for a year.

Maddie and London's Costumes Have Arrived....Ready for the Bay Head Halloween Parade!

2011-10-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

I know I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again…our family takes Halloween very very seriously. Even before London was a glimmer in our eyes, Rex and I would sit out on the porch of our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, on the Sunday before Halloween, and the crowds of ghosts, goblins, princesses, prom queens and football players would gather in front of the shops on Mount Street for the Bay Head Halloween Parade.

The year Maddie was born, my niece Candy sewed a homemade pumpkin costume for Baby Maddie and a farmer girl costume for London, and London pulled her sister along the parade route from Mount Street to the Bay Head Firehouse in a hay-filled (aaaahhchoo!) wagon. The girls won a trophy that year. The next year the girls chose a Wizard of Oz theme: London was Dorothy and Maddie was the Bad Witch...but London was afraid of the Bad Witch so she told Maddie the green make-up and black lipstick said "4 years and up" so Maddie ended up as the sweetest Bad Witch ever.

For several years running, we've competed as a family…sort of. We won a big trophy the year we did Little Red Riding Hood, starring Rex as the Big Bad Wolf, Roxy as Grandmom, Maddie as Little Red, and London as...the Mermaid Bride? The next year, while you may be familiar with two Disney characters — Hannah Montana and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) — you may not be aware that they were sisters. In 2007, London wanted to dress up as Hannah Montana, but Maddie had a theme picked out for our family…Maddie as Sleeping Beauty, Rex as her handsome prince, and Roxy as Maleficent, the thirteenth fairy who was not invited to princess Aurora’s christening. When Maddie saw her sister’s costume, she coveted the blonde wig and microphone and had to have one of her own, and the legend was born: Aurora Montana! The panel of judges smiled upon us and we won a family trophy in the Bay Head Halloween parade.

In 2008, the girls convinced me to be Barbie, and Rex was Ken, in our coordinating outfits from the Sixties. We rocked the parade route with not one but two Sharpays from High School Musical: Sharpay Golf and Sharpay End of the Year in gold hot pants.

In 2009, Rex and I were pirates while the girls performed as their basement girl band the Butter Bites. Last year, Maddie, Peanut Butter, Rex and I dressed up as the Devil Dogs with London the Dark Angel.

This year, be on the lookout for London as a Nerd with Big Hair and Maddie as Sweet But Dangerous. Rex and I have not been struck with any inspiration yet, but we still have a couple of weeks to change our minds and dress up....any suggestions?

This year's Bay Head Halloween Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 30th. Parade participants gather in front of the shops on Mount Street starting around 11:15am. The parade begins at 11:45am with a firetruck followed by nerds, devils, goblins, ghosts, witches, princesses, superheroes and other creatures marching down Lake Avenue, left on Bridge Avenue to the Bay Head Firehouse.

London and Maddie Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Upromise: Maddie's Dream

2011-08-04T17:01:00.001-04:00

This post brought to you by UPromise. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since my beautiful London turned ten back in January, I was not at all surprised to learn that Upromise is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. www.upromisetodream.com will be giving away $20,000 to users who share a story that tells how a parent has supported a child's dream. Upromise members have received more than $600 million in college savings through their rewards program, and over the ten years since we joined the program, our family has saved over $10,000 for London and Maddie's education...and it hasn't cost us a thing. We just take advantage of Upromise savings everywhere we can...we refinanced two mortgages through Upromise and Washington Mutual, we shop online through Upromise, and pick up a few pennies every time we go grocery shopping...it really adds up.

Now Upromise wants to celebrate all of the ways it's program has helped to fuel those sparks that made children into the people they are today and the adults they will become tomorrow. Members can participate in the sweepstakes by submitting a story, and can vote on their favorite stories by “liking” them. Upromise will give away $1,000 to ten winners and a $10,000 grand prize winner will be selected from the participants. Check out the dream wall official rules, then join the Upromise movement, share your experiences and give a spark to help fuel the flame of your child's future dreams.

I'm going to submit one dream for London, and one dream for Maddie. I'll talk about London's dream over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, but here at Roxy's Bay Head Blog we'll feature her younger sister, Maddie. Maddie is my beach girl, my tomboy, my softball player. She's always looked up to London and joined her in many activities, including modern dance, gymnastics, musical theatre, and selling painted seashells for 25 cents at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, but it wasn't until she started playing softball in the 2nd grade that Maddie discovered her own identity and found her passion. This year, as a 3rd grader, Maddie started pitching for our Mendham Minors Mets rec league team, and the rest is history. In September, Maddie will join the Branchburg Blaze 10U travel softball team to pursue her dream of playing softball year-round...we'll hope it takes her all the way through college.

Click on the link to the dream wall, and comment here on my blog post, to share your dreams.

Jedi Clam Eaters, Sherman Brothers Band and DJ Trish Fans Alert: 16th Annual Clam Bake in Bay Head, NJ on Saturday, August 20th

2011-08-03T17:10:00.003-04:00

Since my two girls are Jedi clam eaters, it may surprise you to know that we've never participated in the Annual Clam Bake to benefit the Bay Head Fire Company #1.

There's a first time for everything, they say, and this may be our year...DJ Trish stopped by Roxy's Bay Head Blog to let me know that the 16th annual clam bake is scheduled for Saturday, August 20th, from noon to 5pm, rain or shine (and we're hopin' for lots of shine) at the fire house, 81 Bridge Avenue in Bay Head, New Jersey. The food will include clam chowder, steamers, cherry stones, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, hot roast beef and sausage sandwiches, beer and soda. You can get discounted tickets in advance, or pay full price at the gate (last year they were $32).

As or more importantly, there will be live music, including the fabulous Sherman Brothers Band...our plumbers really rock! DJ Trish will also be rockin' the gazebo, so get your tickets, discounted in advance, or pay full price at the gate (last year they were $32 per person).

Hook, Line and Sinker

2011-08-03T17:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I haven't been fishing at the beach in Bay Head for more than ten years...as we were babyproofing our beach house, I gave all my hooks and lures to our next door neighbor the summer after London was born, but something tells me Straight Talk has caught me hook, line and sinker with their no nonsense cell phone plans. Just check out this funny video and you'll see what I mean:

Every year we use the land line at our beach house a little bit less, and as I get set to turn it back on for the months of August and September I wonder if I could just go all cell phone all the time. When we're at the beach, we like to get away from it all, with no cable TV and minimal technology, we just use a cell phone when we need to call a friend. When we're working from our beach house, it's nice to have a phone for business conference calls, and we can use Straight Talk International Long Distance, a flexible prepaid calling service, we can make international calls from home, cell or office phone at low rates. No unfortunate surprises when the international phone bill comes.

What's great about Straight Talk is there are no surprise bills, no credit checks, and no contracts. Who needs to sign a cell phone contract when you can get everything you need without one? Great nationwide coverage. Excellent cell reception/connectivity. A choice of phones from trusted manufacturers like LG, Nokia, Kyocera, Motorola and Samsung. Monthly plans include the “All You Need Plan” that meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. Or get unlimited monthly service for only $45. That's unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499 with no activation, reactivation, or termination fees. Reconditioned phones start at $10 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Or step up to impressive smart phones, touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®.

Feels like we may be kissing our beach house land line goodbye this summer...maybe I'll spend the savings on some new fishing gear and get out there to catch some dinner....I hear the stripers are running.

Music Monday: "Power Windows" by Billy Falcon

2011-08-01T18:42:00.007-04:00

This past weekend, we were down at our beach house in Bay Head for the first time in a long time...London and Maddie's softball, a mini-high school reunion at our home in the Roxiticus Valley, and the crazy heatwave kept us away for several weeks in a row, but it sure was great to be back. Even as the rain poured down on Friday night (paving the way for a perfect beach weekend), I was happy to sit out on our porch with Rex and the puppies, drinking my 4 o'clock beer and listening to some classic late 80s/early 90s tunes on my iPod. "Heaven's Highest Hill" (featured this week on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives) came on and I knew it had to be Billy Falcon theme week for my Music Monday posts. "Power Windows" took me back to 1991 and my on-again, off-again long distance relationship with Johnny Moneybags and reminded me it was worth the wait for my happy ending without him.

Charlie drives a brand new Mercedes Benz.
He's got another one just like it, just like all his friends.
His wife is playin' tennis and his kids are off at school.
He drives home to his empty house and sits by his empty swimming pool.

But, he's got power windows. He's got power brakes.
He's got a power bed. Push a button and it shakes.
He's got no one to talk to and tears rolling down his face.
He's ain't got the power of love...

Louis drives a beat up '69 Dart.
Swares it's the statue of Mary that keeps the car from falling apart.
With Gracie right beside him sittin' closer than a smile.
She's got her head on his shoulder.
He loves to drive and hold her.

He got no power windows. Got no power brakes.
He ain't got no power nothin' but he got what it takes.
He's got Gracie's arm around him and a smile on his face.
He's got the power of love.

No air condition'...no cellular telephone.
He goes rumblin' down the highway listenin' to his A.M. radio.
With one arm out the window and a smile on his face
Makes you wonder how he got there 'til you see him look at Grace...

No power windows...got no power brakes..
he ain't got no power nothin' but he got what it takes...
one arm out the window and a smile upon his face...
it makes you wonder how he got there until you see hime look at Grace...
See him look at grace.

He got the power... ain't that the power of love
He's got the power...ain't that the power of love
He's got the power...ain't that the power of love
He's got the poer...ain't that the...he got no
power windows...got no power brakes
He ain't got no power nothing but he got what it takes...
power of love...the power of love...he got the power...the power of love

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen

2011-05-02T15:17:00.007-04:00

Yeah, I know I've been neglecting my blogs, but I'm back in a big way this week with an Eric Carmen theme on Music Monday. Over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, I've got two different versions (1974 and 2005) of "Go All the Way," and here's a great radio-loving tune from the '80s. And yes, even Eric Carmen had bad hair in the 80s.

I run a comb through my hair and step out in the street
And the city's the color of flame in the mid-summer heat, oh yeah
Jennifer's got her daddy's car, she's playing up-town on the stereo
We go cruisin' so close, the way they did long ago

My darlin'

CHORUS:
(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control
Baby baby
(When) When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) Take me over the edge
Make me lose control

We put the top down and park with the moon in the sky
And the wind is so hot in our hair, like a fire in july, oh yeah
Jennifer's singin' "Stand by Me" and she knows every single word by heart
Was love always this good, or could this be just the start?

Oh darlin'

CHORUS

Keep my baby clothes on, and were movin' in time
And the heat from your touch, makes me feel like I'm losing my mind
Oh yeah
(And then they played) Back in my arms again(We close our eyes) We start rememberin' when
(We start to kiss) And all the feelings return
And we just pray that this night never ends

Oh, my darlin'
(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
Keep this feelin' alive make me lose control
Baby
When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) Take me over the edge
Make me lose control

Baby baby

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive make me lose control

When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) Take me over the edge make me lose control

Music Monday: Rock the Casbah by the Clash

2011-02-20T20:24:00.009-05:00

This week's Music Monday post is a tribute to DJ Trish, who sent me a new workout mix that has enabled me to take my elliptical training to the next level...1.5 miles, 11 minutes without taking a break to lie down on the gym floor. Listening to her mix CD, I also realized that I didn't own a digital copy of Combat Rock by the Clash, including this classic that's been helping me to work my way into those circa 1995 Daisy Dukes that I intend to wear for spring break in Southern California...thanks Trish!

Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a' cruisnin' down the ville
The muezzin was a' standing
On the radiator grille

[Chorus]
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah

By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the shareef
Had cleared the square
They began to wail

[Chorus]

Now over at the temple
Oh! They really pack 'em in
The in crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
The temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive

[Chorus]

The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way

As soon as the shareef was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare

As soon as the shareef was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed

[Chorus]

He thinks it's not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it.

Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a' cruisnin' down the ville
The muezzin was a' standing
On the radiator grille

[Chorus]
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah

By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the shareef
Had cleared the square
They began to wail

[Chorus]

Now over at the temple
Oh! They really pack 'em in
The in crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
The temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive

[Chorus]

The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way

As soon as the shareef was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare

As soon as the shareef was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed

[Chorus]

He thinks it's not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it.

Music Monday for London's Birthday: I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Mark Chesnutt

2011-01-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Over the past weekend, we celebrated London's 10th birthday with dinner at the Bernards Inn in Bernardsville, NJ on Friday night, followed by a birthday resort spa slumber party (complete with foot baths and mud masks) on Saturday night. This week's Music Monday theme, dedicated to the birthday girl, is "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," with Mark Chesnutt here at Roxy's Bay Head Blog and Aerosmith over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives.

Happy birthday to my beautiful 10-year-old.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what your dreaming
Wondering if it's me your seeing
And then I kiss your eyes, and thank God we're together
I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you, right here with you
Just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Music Monday: Laid by James

2011-01-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

Just this week I tracked down this 1993 song by James (Matt Nathanson covered it in the 2003 movie American Wedding) and bought it on iTunes...it's been in my head since I used to go to see Brian Kirk & the Jerks at Donovan's Reef in Sea Bright, NJ...but I never knew the name or the original performer and it's only lately that I've taken full advantage of Google search to find old favorite songs based on a lyric or two. Now all I need to do is find a recording of "Donovan's Girl" by Brian Kirk & the Jerks.

I used iTunes Genius to create a "Laid" playlist for my workout...lots of Gin Blossoms, John Mayer, Lucinda Williams. Anyway, the video is a bit odd but I think you'll like the song.

This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she’s on top

My therapist said not to see you no more
She said you’re like a disease without any cure
She said I’m so obsessed that I’m becoming a bore, oh no
Ah, you think you’re so pretty

Caught your hand inside the till
Slammed your fingers in the door
Fought with kitchen knives and skewers
Dressed me up in womens clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Dye my eyes and call me pretty

Moved out of the house, so you moved next door
I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall
I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone
You’re driving me crazy, when are you coming home

Music Monday: "Do Your Job" by Bruce Springsteen

2010-12-27T20:46:00.008-05:00

I'm the Boss, get back to work! A little bit of lightheartedness here at Roxy's Bay Head Blog...hope you all had a Merry Christmas and are headed for a Happy New Year!

I'm sure there's a big enough fan to painstakingly transcribe the lyrics, but it isn't going to be me...just watch the video and enjoy, New Jersey!!

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Voodoo Cure for Diaper Rash

2010-12-07T14:00:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

London and Maddie will tell you it's been a long time since we've needed Boudreaux's Butt Paste in our house...at almost ten and almost nine, my babies are so grown up they can't imagine a time when they crawled around our apartment in the West Village and our beach house in Bay Head wearing diapers.

They don't remember Roxy's surefire voodoo cure for diaper rash and irritated skin...Boudreaux's Butt Paste, specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician including 16% zinc oxide and peruvian balsam to protect baby's skin and provide effective diaper rash care. From this mom's perspective, the Butt Paste is a life saver: available in convenient sizes (choice of one ounce, two ounce, three ounce, and four ounce tubes with flip top caps or a big old sixteen ounce jar), it goes on and cleans off easily, and has a nice, soothing scent. And of course, the great Boudreaux's Butt Paste name.

No wonder it's been featured in People magazine, as well as on Oprah, the Tonight Show, Today Show, even on ESPN! Maddie and London may not believe they ever needed my voodoo cure for diaper rash, but they're in good company. Click on one of my links to visit the site and get your own free sample of Boudreaux's Butt Paste.

Music Monday: Whip My Hair by Willow Smith

2010-12-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

This week on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, I featured a cover version of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" as performed by "Neil Young" and Bruce Springsteen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. London and Maddie can't stand the way I've been howling it out in the kitchen as I make their peanut butter sandwiches in the morning, and insisted that I give them the real deal here at Roxy's Bay Head Blog.

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth

Hop up out the bed turn my swag on
Pay no attention to them haters cuz we whip em off
and we ain't doing nothing wrong
so don't tell me nothing, i'm just tryna have fun
so keep the party jumping

so whats up (yea)
And I'll be doing what to do
we turn our back
and whip our hair and just shake them off
shake them off, shake them off,shake them off

Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth

I'ma get more shine than a little bit
Soon as i hit the stage applause im hearing it
whether its black stars black hearts im feeling it
but can't none of them whip it like i do
I, i gets it in mmmm yea i go hard
when they see me pull up i whip it real hard
i whip it real hard,real hard,i whip it real hard

Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth

I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (ok, ok just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth

All my Ladies if you feel me
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)
Don't matter if its long, short (long,short)
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)

All my Ladies if you feel me
come on do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)
Don't matter if its long, short (long short)
do it do it whip your hair (your hair, your hair)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth

Music Monday: You're Beautiful by James Blunt

2010-11-14T17:44:00.020-05:00

Sirius XM has a way of getting a song stuck in your head by playing it multiple times across multiple channels...when we drove to Washington, DC for the 4th of July, London bet me we would hear Daughtry's "No Surprise" ten times across the ten hour trip there and back. This week, it's James Blunt's wistful "You're Beautiful," inspiring my Music Monday post.
Two summers ago, when Rex and the girls and I saw Sheryl Crow at PNC Bank Arts Center, and James Blunt opened the show, I kept getting him mixed up with John Mayer of the helpful Cosmo sex angle, but I guess I shouldn't have been holding my breath waiting to hear "Your Body Is A Wonderland"... (another great choice for a Music Monday post!)

I also confuse James Blunt and John Mayer with Jason Mraz...on the "if it's too loud, you're too old" theme, I'm afraid that when all they hot young boyz start to look the same...

My life is brilliant.

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

Blogging Out Hunger Returns

2010-11-01T13:30:00.004-04:00

My friend Deb over on Jersey Bites invited me to join the 2nd Blogging out Hunger campaign to help raise awareness and donations for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey -- the largest food bank in the state. Two years ago, when Roxy's Bay Head Blog, Roxy's Best Of... New Jersey, and Roxiticus Desperate Housewives participated in the first ever “blog burst" to fight hunger in New Jersey, over 122 bloggers posted about the Community FoodBank’s desperate need for donations.

As the 2010 holiday season approaches, we are hoping for even more bloggers to jump on board and help us spread the news about the 20th Anniversary of the FoodBank’s “Check out Hunger” campaign which is going on now through December. Check-Out Hunger is an annual awareness campaign and fund raiser for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey which actually began in New Jersey and is now run at supermarket chains across the northeast. I know you have seen those tickets at the check out counters of your local grocery stores, including Kings, Shop Rite, Wegmans, A&P, Food Basics, Foodtown, Pathmark, Super Fresh and Wawa. Please don’t ignore them. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey reports that need for nutritious food is up 30-40 percent at its partner agencies (soup kitchens, pantries, shelters, etc) this year.

We're hoping our efforts will compel everyone to do something, anything, to help. Visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey at www.njfoodbank.org or call 908-355-FOOD (3663) to learn more. What can you do?

Make a monetary contribution: Visit http://www.njfoodbank.org/.

Donate food: Drop off a bag of food at your local food pantry.

Organize a food drive: We can help explain the logistics of starting a food drive. Just call 908-355-FOOD.

Help "Check Out Hunger:" Look for the "Check Out Hunger" coupons at your local supermarket and donate. No donation is too small! In 2009 Check-Out Hunger crossed the $2 Million plateau for the first time. The campaign raised $2,093, 086 for food banks across the state. Since 1992, millions of people have supported the program at food markets and online at http://www.checkouthungernj.org/. Please make it a point to donate during the holiday season to the Check Out Hunger campaign.

Also, please visit the blogs below to check out their “Check out Hunger” posts.

JerseyBites

Roxy's Best Of...New Jersey

Roxiticus Desperate Housewives

JerseySmarts

Random Cravings

GServo

This list will continue to grow as the day goes on. If you are a blogger in New Jersey, please join in our efforts and feel free to jump on board even if you didn’t commit to participate. Just send a link to your post to info (at) jersey bites.com and Deb will get you listed. If you know of a blog in New Jersey that you think should be involved, please email them a link to this post.

Music Monday: Taylor Swift Theme Week: Tim McGraw

2010-11-01T12:18:00.011-04:00

One of my friends who recently reconnected via Facebook wrote on my wall "You SO do not like Taylor Swift" but he was wrong....specifically her earlier music.

Though I'm well past the teenage years of first and lost loves, when I hear "Tim McGraw," I can still remember the way I felt when my first boyfriend left for college in September, when I was still a sophomore in high school more than 25 years ago. When he hears "I Go Crazy" (Paul Davis) maybe he thinks of me...

You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"
Just a boy in a Chevy truck,
That had a tendency of gettin' stuck,
On backroads at night
And I was right there beside him all summer long
And then the time we woke up to find that summer'd gone

But when you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me

September saw a month of tears,
And thankin' God that you weren't here,
To see me like that
But in a box beneath my bed,
Is a letter that you never read,
From three summers back
It's hard not to find it all a little bitter sweet,
And lookin' back on all of that, it's nice to believe:

When you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me

And I'm back for the first time since then:
I'm standin' on your street,
And there's a letter left on your doorstep,
And the first thing that you'll read:

Is: "When you think: Tim McGraw,
"I hope you think my favorite song"
Some day you'll turn your radio on,
I hope it takes you back to that place
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me
Oh, think of me,
Mmmm

You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

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PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Hearts of Stone by Southside Johnny

2010-09-01T11:15:00.007-04:00

Last night, Rex and I went out to see Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at Martell's Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. He's probably been performing there the last week of the summer for the past 25 or 30 years, and I've been going since I was in high school in the '80s.

Southside closed the show with a classic... Hearts of Stone:

You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face
And you try to see, girl
The way things were when we were at your place
In the days it was just you and me, girl
And you cry because things ain't like before
Well don't you know they can't be that way anymore
But don't worry baby

CHORUS

I can't talk now, I'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'Cause this is the last dance
This is the last chance for hearts of stone

If there was something, baby, that I could do
Something that would last, honey, I would
But we all know, girl, especially you do
How you can't return to your past, no
So girl close your eyes and I'll be there
Hold me once more and we can go anywhere
Ah, we could

CHORUS

And you cry because things ain't like before
Well don't you know they can't be like that anymore

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams

2010-08-23T00:01:00.019-04:00

It's an exciting milestone this week for Lady Java: the 100th round of her Music Monday meme, so I'll be submitting my best selections here and over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives.

We've been down at our beach house here in Bay Head, NJ since Friday, enjoying a couple of perfect beach days before the thunderstorms arrived on Sunday morning. Something about sitting in my beach chair at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean gets me humming "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" by Lucinda Williams, and thinking about the novel I'd like to write about a scandal set in a sleepy beach town. In the meantime, I've put together a bit of a photo essay along with the lyrics. Enjoy!

Sittin in the kitchen a house in Macon
Loretta's singing on the radio
Smell of coffee eggs and bacon
Car wheels on a gravel road

Pull the curtains back and look outside
Somebody somewhere I don't know
Come on now child we're gonna go for a ride
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road

Can't find a damn thing in this place
Nothing's where I left it before
Set of keys and a dusty suitcase
Car wheels on a gravel road

There goes the screen door slamming shut
You better do what you're told
When I get back this room better be picked-up
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road

Low hum of voices in the front seat
Stories nobody knows
Got folks in Jackson we're going to meet
Car wheels on a gravel road

Cotton fields stretching miles and miles
Hank's voice on the radio
Telephone poles trees and wires fly on by
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road

Broken down shacks engine parts
Could tell a lie but my heart would know

Listen to the dogs barkin in the yard
Car wheels on a gravel road

Child in the backseat about four or five years
Lookin out the window
Little bit of dirt mixed with tears

Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road
Car wheels on a gravel road

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Cheerio…

GO Bay Head: Bay Head Mayor's Wellness Campaign

2010-07-30T09:48:00.005-04:00

GO Bay Head! is a volunteer program sponsored by Mayor Bill Curtis of Bay Head, NJ, with the goal of promoting fitness, well-being, and good health in our community. Active living and healthy food choices are the keys to fitness and wellness, regardless of your age.

Mark your calendar for the following events:

Wednesday, August 11th: What's Cooking for Kids Workshops
Friday, August 13th: Youth Recreation Program -- Kids Fit -- Bay Head School
Saturday, August 14th: Water Safety 101
Month of August: Recycle Your Kicks -- Sneaker Recycling
Month of August: Presidents Challenge -- Join GO Bay Head
Month of August: Wellness Lecture Series at Dorcas'
Month of August: Walk Bay Head -- Walking Tour maps available online
Saturday, October 2nd: Bay Head Community Days -- Wellness Celebration

The October 2nd celebration includes the annual 5k Shark Run, the Rubber Duck Derby on Scow Ditch, and an all-day festival in Centennial Park.

Maybe It Was Memphis

2010-07-28T13:01:00.027-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Memphis Travel. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of the country music playlists that I created on my iPod is called "Don't Mention Memphis," based on the Tim McGraw song. That playlist includes other gems like Trisha Yearwood's "Wrong Side of Memphis," Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis," and "Maybe It Was Memphis" by Pam Tillis. Since Memphis is featured prominently in so many of my favorite songs, I was lucky to have the chance to travel there on business almost fifteen years ago, when I was still single, working for The Firm, and, of course, London and Maddie weren't even twinkles in my eye.

Back then, it wasn't easy to find a Memphis-savvy travel guide, but I did know enough to stay at the Peabody Hotel and show up on time to see the famous Peabody Ducks, get the blues on Beale Street, and enjoy some serious Memphis BBQ ribs. Unfortunately, my client kept me so busy with due diligence work that I never had the chance to visit Elvis at Graceland.

Flash forward fifteen years to today, when London and Maddie at age 9 and 8 are just about the right age to enjoy a trip to Memphis, and I'm ready to enter to win a trip package. The family package includes accomodations at the Madison Hotel, a carriage ride, admission to the Memphis Zoo, the Pink Palace, and dinner for four at Rendezvous.

Wish me luck... maybe this is my chance to go back and visit Graceland.

Music Monday: You Keep Me Hangin' On by the Glee Cast

2010-07-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

Up north in the Roxiticus Valley, London and Maddie are in the midst of their fourth summer of Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars day camp, and this year's theme is Glee. Our family hadn't watched Glee all year, but we decided to catch up on the entire first season as fast as we can. The girls and I have been having Glee marathons until bedtime every night and are really addicted. For this week's Music Monday on the Bay Head Blog, I picked Quinn Fabray and the Cheerios singing "You Keep Me Hangin' On," since London and Maddie both have solos in that one in this year's big show at Annie's Playhouse on Friday, August 6th.

Set me free, why don't cha babe
Get out my life, why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a coming around
Playing with my heart?
Why don't you get out of my life
And let me make a new start?
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me

Set me free, why don't cha babe
Let me be, why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Now you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
And there ain't nothing I can do about it

Woo, set me free, why don't cha babe
Woo, get out my life, why don't cha babe
Set me free, why don't cha babe
Get out my life, why don't cha babe

You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
Now that you've got your freedom
You wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else Hey!

Why don't you be a man about it
And set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me
Go on, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on...

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Getting Back to the Beach

2010-06-11T16:54:00.011-04:00

Unlike our friends who have kids in private school, we still have two weeks (the last 10 of the 180 day requirement) left of public school in Mendham Township, New Jersey... and, even though we've collected all of London's softball trophies, we're still wrapping up after school activities like Garden State Ballet with the girls' recital next weekend. This weekend, London had a sleepover and the weather was iffy (scattered thunderstorms), so we decided to skip the beach... a nice relaxing day by the pool and in the garden (no thunderstorms so far) and a visit from Grammy tomorrow, but we won't get to the beach until the last week of June, when we'll stay down for a week until the 4th of July to celebrate Rex's birthday.

So, while we're away from the beach, our whole family is making up a "to do" list:

Dinner at Theresa's South in Bay Head;
Dinner at Mahogany Grill;
100 clams from the Crab Shack in Brick;
London and Maddie walking Peanut Butter with cockapoo pal Cashew in Centennial Park;
Baking a sand castle birthday cake for Rex; and, of course,
Lying on the beach and playing in the waves!

London and Maddie's Softball Rampage!

2010-05-25T13:40:00.030-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Softball Rampage. All opinions are 100% mine.

Softball season in the Roxiticus Valley is almost over for London's third and fourth grade Yankee team and Maddie's first and second grade Mets team.... Maddie's team has a round robin end to their season this Saturday, and London's team has playoffs next week and a potential battle for the championship the following weekend. Rex and I agree that we're the parents who seem to be having the most fun at our daughters' softball games... since our girls just started softball this year, we don't have a three-year history of tee ball and coach pitch instructional league, so everything about softball is all new and exciting to us, while our friends all have a bit of the "been there, done that" look.

Once the season is over, we'll have to find ways of keeping softball in our lives during the off-season. London and Maddie's teenage babysitters for this summer are three softball-playing teenage sisters, so my girls may get some backyard training in the art of fast pitch. Meanwhile, Softball Rampage is looking for the funniest, most clever softball team names to win their contest. The Yankees and the Mets are hardly original, so Rex, London, Maddie and I will have to come up with some doozies... London's coach, who was born to be a softball coach, has both a great coaching style and a fun writing style in his game recaps... I'm still laughing to myself over "sleep well little Dodgers" (maybe you had to be there). So winning the Softball Rampage contest may be easy for our coach, and for you: go to the blog post for the contest and list your best offbeat softball team names in the comments section for a chance to win $200 in RampageBucks Rewards which can be spent on the Softball Rampage web site to buy softball bats, gloves, and other gear for your real-life team. I'm going with a long one: Butchers, Bakers, and Candlestickmakers... the girls on London's team can explain it to you.

Music Monday: Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

2010-05-24T13:10:00.002-04:00

Many of Maddie and London's activities in the Roxiticus Valley are winding down for the school year, and the weather is heating up this week as we head into the long Memorial Day weekend. We're looking forward to a summer of fun with Peanut Butter, our new cockapoo puppy, at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey and thought we'd kick off our summer celebration with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' classic tribute to summer, "Dancing in the Street."

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging swaying records playing
Dancing in the street

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl
Ev'rywhere around the world
They'll be dancing
They're dancing in the street

It's just an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore and D.C. now
Can't forget the Motor City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl
Ev'rywhere around the world

Dancing
They're dancing in the street
Way down in L.A.
Every day
Dancing in the street

Music Monday: "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift

2010-05-10T20:29:00.000-04:00

This week, Rex and I are taking London and Maddie to see Taylor Swift at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, so I'm featuring our Taylor Swift faves here and over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. The girls love to sing along with "You Belong With Me," and I love the tune but I'm not so sure I like the message. In fact, I frequently remind my daughters about a very well written blog post I read back in November on "Awkward Things My Mother Never Taught Me" all about how "He Doesn't Belong With You.":

"He doesn't belong with you. He's not romantically interested in you, and probably never will be, otherwise he'd be asking you out on dates, not kissing those other girls. He probably respects you and likes you as a person, but even if you put on a cheerleader outfit or high heels and cute skirt and lots of makeup, he still won't see what you want him to see. He knows you want him and that feeds his ego. That's why he makes sure to keep you in the 'friend zone.'"

"You belong with someone whose heart and butterflies flutter when he sees you. You belong with someone who only has eyes for you. You belong with someone you choose who chooses you back. You belong with someone who wouldn't string you along just to feed his ego. You belong with someone who makes you a better person and is a better person by virtue of being with you. You belong with someone who you sweep off of their feet rather than the other way around."

"He belongs with someone else not because he's a bad person or an egomaniac, but because he doesn't belong with you. He is too immature for you or anyone right now, but hopefully he'll find someone someday that sweeps him off his feet and makes him become a man. He belongs with someone who will make him a better person by virtue of being with her. He deserves the same thing you do, he's just not choosing it with you. So don't waste your time pining when you could be missing out on spending time with lots of other great guys that do meet those conditions."

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
She doesnt get your humour like I do

I'm in the room, its a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesnt like
And she'll never know your story like I do

But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find
That what you're lookin for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me

Walkin the streets with you in your worn out jeans
I cant help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on the park bench thinkin to myself
Hey isnt this easy?

And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I havent seen it in awhile, since she brought you down
You say you find I know you better than that
Hey, Whatcha doing with a girl like that?

She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me

Standin by, waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know that?
You belong with me
You belong with me

Oh I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry
I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams
I think I know where you belong. I think I know it's with me.

Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you?
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me

Standing by or waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know that
You belong with me
You belong with me

Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me
You belong with me

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Cheerio…

Music Monday: Weekenders by The Hold Steady

2010-04-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

Special thanks to Jason Buckley for this week's Music Monday choice. Last week, during a BlogExplosion Battle of the Blogs, Jason made the following music recommendation for Roxy and was dead on:

"As you are a Springsteen fan and a lover of lyrics, I implore you to check out The Hold Steady. Seriously. Besides a few scattered references to the Boss in some their lyrics, their songs tell stories and have much of the same feel, though a bit updated." So today I'd like to share with all of my Jersey Shore and Music Monday visitors, a brand new video from The Hold Steady Live at the Bowery Ballroom on April 17th, 2010...

There was that whole weird thing with the horses
I think they know exactly what happened
I don't think it needs any explaining
I'm pretty sure I wasn't your first choice
I think I was the last one remaining
I wish we hadn't gone and destroyed it
Cause I was thinking we could pull another weekender
You've still got a bit of clairvoyance

I remember the metal bar
I remember the reservoir
You could say our paths had crossed before

So if it has to be a secret
Then I guess that I can deal with it
you and I both know it's a negative thing
In the end only the girls know the whole truth

There were a couple pretty crass propositions
There were some bugs in the bars
There was a kid camped out by the coat check
She said the theme of this party's the industrial age
And you came in dressed like a train wreck

I remember the O.T.B
The five-second delivery
You could say our paths have crossed before

So if it has to be a secret
Then I guess that I can deal with it
God only knows it's not always a positive thing
To see a few seconds into the future

And if you swear to keep it decent
Then yeah I'll come and see you
but it's not gonna be like in romantic comedies
In the end I bet no one learns a lesson

guitar solo

So if it has to be a secret
Then I guess that I can deal with it
you and I both know it's a negative thing
In the end only the girls know the whole truth

And if you swear to keep it decent
Then yeah I'll come and see you
but it's not gonna be like in romantic comedies
In the end I bet no one learns a lesson

In the end only the girls know the whole truth
In the end I bet no one learns a lesson

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Cheerio…

Music Monday: Opening Our Beach House with Summer Nights from Grease

2010-04-19T10:24:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, we opened our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, including many of our favorite things: 100 clams from the Crab Shack in Brick, bike riding along East Avenue, catching up with neighbors including London and Maddie's walks with their favorite cockapoo, Cashew. We forgot to pack coffee beans, so we tried something new on Sunday Morning...we rode our bikes to Rockn'Joe in Point Pleasant Beach for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Because of London and Maddie's new love of softball, we probably won't be back to the beach for a couple of weeks, but we're sure lookin' forward to those Summer Nights:

[Danny]
Summer lovin' had me a blast

[Sandy]
Summer lovin' happened so fast

[Danny]
I met a girl crazy for me

[Sandy]
Met a boy cute as can be

[Both]
Summer days driftin' away, to uh-oh those summer nights

[Everyone]
Uh Well-a well-a well-a huh

[Thunderbirds]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Doody]
Did you get very far?

[Pink Ladies]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Marty]
Like does he have a car?

[Everyone]
Uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

[Danny]
She swam by me, she got a cramp

[Sandy]
He ran by me, got my suit damp

[Danny]
I saved her life, she nearly drowned

[Sandy]
He showed off, splashing around

[Both]
Summer sun, something's begun, but uh-oh those summer nights

[Everyone]
Uh well-a well-a well-a huh

[Pink Ladies]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Frenchy]
Was it love at first sight?

[Thunderbirds]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Kenickie]
Did she put up a fight?

[Everyone]
Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh

[Danny]
Took her bowling in the arcade

[Sandy]
We went strolling, drank lemonade

[Danny]
We made out under the dock

[Sandy]
We stayed out 'till ten o'clock

[Both]
Summer fling, don't mean a thing, but uh-oh those summer nights

[Everyone]
Uh well-a well-a well-a huh

[Thunderbirds]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Putzie]
But you don't gotta brag

[Pink Ladies]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Rizzo]
Cos he sounds like a drag

[Everyone]
shoo-bop bop, shoo-bop bop, shoo-bop bop,shoo-bop bop, shoo-bop bop, shoo-bop bop, shoo-bop bop, YEH

[Sandy]
He got friendly, holding my hand

[Danny]
While she got friendly down in the sand

[Sandy]
He was sweet, just turned eighteen

[Danny]
Well she was good you know what I mean

[Everyone]
Woah!

[Both]
Summer heat, boy and girl meet, but uh-oh those summer nights

[Everyone]
woo, woo, woo

[Pink Ladies]
Tell me more, tell me more

[ Jan]
How much dough did he spend?

[Thunderbirds]
Tell me more, tell me more

[Sonny]
Could she get me a friend?

[Sandy]
It turned colder - that's where it ends

[Danny]
So I told her we'd still be friends

[Sandy]
Then we made our true love vow

[Danny]
Wonder what she's doing now

[Both]
Summer dreams ripped at the seams,
bu-ut oh, those su-ummer nights....

[Everyone]
Tell me more, tell me more!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Beach Baby by First Class

2010-04-12T13:19:00.000-04:00

As long as the weather cooperates next weekend, after London and Maddie's softball games, we'll be headed down to Bay Head, NJ, to open our beach house. We're all excited to see our friends and get our feet into the sand, and to get us in the mood on Music Monday, here's The First Class with "Beach Baby."

Do you remember back in old L.A. (oh oh oh)
When everybody drove a Chevrolet (oh oh oh)
Whatever happened to the boy next door
The sun-tanned crew-cut all-american male

Remember dancin' at the high school hop (oh oh oh)
The dress I ruined with the soda pop (oh oh oh)
I didn't recognize the girl next-door
The beat up sneakers and the pony tail

Beach baby, Beach Baby give me your hand
Give me somethin' that I can remember
Just like before we can walk by the shore in the moonlight
Beach baby, Beach baby there on the sand
From July 'till the end of September
Surfin' was fun, we'd be out in the sun every day

Mmmm, I never thought that it would end
Oooooh oooooh, mmmm, and I was everybody's friend Ooooh ooooh
Long hot days
Cool Sea haze
Juke box plays
But now it's fading awaaaaay

[Bridge, Music and ah's]

Aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh
Aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh

We couldn't wait for graduation Day oh oh oh
We took my car and drove to San Jose oh oh oh
That's where you told me that you'd wear my ring
I guess you don't remember anything

Beach baby, Beach Baby give me your hand (give me your hand)
Give me somethin' that I can remember (give me something to remember)
Just like before we can walk by the shore in the moonlight
Beach baby, Beach baby there on the sand (there on the sand)
From July 'till (from July) the end of September (to September)
Surfin' was fun, we'd be out in the sun every day

Aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh
Aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh, aaahhh

Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Do doot, do do do doot
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Do doot, do do do doot
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Do doot, do do do doot
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Do doot, do do do doot
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Beach baby, Beach baby
Do doot, do do do doot

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Date Night for Rex and Roxy

2010-04-07T21:23:00.015-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

Over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, I've been lamenting that it has been over nine years since Rex and I have been out to the movies on our own for "date night." It always seems like there's something better to do... this weekend is London and Maddie's Little League softball opening day, followed by dinner at our house for a couple of families... the next weekend, depending on the weather, we might head down to Bay Head to open our beach house, and we'd always prefer to go out to dinner with friends and talk and talk and talk instead of spending a couple of hours in front of the big screen without our kids.

However, coming this Friday, April 9th, 2010, is Date Night Movie starring Tina Fey (who always makes me laugh) and Steve Carell. Check out the video trailer:

Here's the plot line: a bored suburban couple go out for their weekly dinner date and find themselves thrown into a night of intrigue...breaking and entering, a classic car chase, a shootout and a showdown with an underworld boss at a strip club. While the husband and wife come out of the adventure with a few scratches and also with their ardor renewed, I have to admit it makes me wonder what will happen the first time Rex and I head out for date night at the movies. Don't be shy... leave a comment and let me know what you think might happen on our date night.

Music Monday: Captain Jack by Billy Joel

2010-04-04T18:28:00.010-04:00

I just learned that LadyJava's amazing Music Monday meme has been running for 80 weeks... an impressive milestone. Congratulations to LJ and thanks for giving all of us the opportunity to share our songs each week. Over the past 80 Music Mondays, I've been enjoying some of my fellow bloggers' "theme weeks," so this week I thought I'd go with a Billy Joel theme with "The Entertainer" on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and "Captain Jack" here on Roxy's Bay Head Blog.

Saturday night and you're still hangin' around
Tired of living in your one horse town
you'd like to find a little hole in the ground,
for awhile..

So you go to the Village in your tie dyed jeans
And you stare at the junkies and the closet queens
It's like some pornographic magazine
And you smile

(chorus)

Captain Jack will get you high tonight
And take you to your special island
Captain Jack will get you by tonight
Just a little push, and you'll be smilin'

Oh yeah,...

Your sister's gone out, she's on a date
You just sit at home and masturbate
Your phone is gonna ring soon, but you just can't wait
For that call

So you stand on the corner in your New English clothes
and you look so polished from your hair down to your toes
Ah but still your finger's gonna pick your nose
After all,..

(chorus)

So you decide to take a holiday
You got your tape deck and your brand new Chevrolet
Ah, there ain't no place to go anyway
What for?

So you got everything, ah, but nothing's cool
They just found your father in the swimming pool
And you guess you won't be going back to school
Anymore.

(chorus)

So you play your albums, and you smoke your pot
and you meet your girlfriend in the parking lot
Oh but still you're aching for the things you haven't got
What went wrong?

And if you can't understand why your world is so dead,
why you've got to keep in style and feed your head
Well you're 21 and still your mother makes your bed,
And that's too long

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Danger: Roxy in the Kitchen

2010-03-30T07:41:00.034-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hormel Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Loyal readers of Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Roxy's Bay Head Blog know that Rex does all the cooking in our family, and Roxy does all the spreadsheets. When it comes to cooking, my bestest pal correctly pointed out years and years ago, "What you do isn't called cooking, Roxy... it's called heating up." For those of us who don't have Rex's extraordinary talents in the kitchen, Dinty Moore® products and hormel® chili enable us to replicate childhood favorites like Chili-mac and Easy Shepherd's Pie and create (heat up?) classic hearty meal recipes like Chili Cheese Dip and Chili and 3-Cheese Fondue. London and Maddie and all of their friends know that if it's chips and cheese and chili (my all-time favorite way to eat Hormel® chili), Roxy is probably doing the "cooking." Apparently, Roxy is not alone...Hormel, the nation’s leading chili brand, has topped nachos and filled the bowls of American families for generations, celebrating their 75th anniversary this year.

Heading into the Easter weekend, the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny, so we're planning the traditional Easter egg hunt in our Roxiticus Valley backyard on Sunday, followed by one of Rex's delicious ham dinners for Grammy (and maybe Grandmom, if she's home from rehab after her hip surgery). But Saturday is game day and Roxy's day in the kitchen (danger, beware!)....even though our brackets are busted, with both Villanova and Syracuse out of the NCAA tournament, we're still celebrating March Madness and cheering on great college basketball... and enjoying nostaligic comfort foods from Hormel® chili and Dinty Moore®. For a great collection of game time recipes, visit http://www.hormelrecipes.com/.

March Madness Music Monday: Sixteen Minutes from High School Musical 3

2010-03-29T00:01:00.003-04:00

"The way we play tonight is what we leave behind..."

This year's March Madness NCAA tournament has been one of the wildest rollercoaster rides with the most surprises. #1 seeds Syracuse (my alma mater) and Kansas headed home early, as well as #2 seeds Villanova and Kansas State. Because of all the upsets, for the first time ever, the Elite Eight will include two teams ranked #5 (or lower).

In between college basketball games, the girls and I have been watching the DVD of High School Musical 3, which is my favorite in the HSM trilogy. Rex didn't see it with us on the big screen, so we made the DVD a gift for him on Maddie's 8th birthday.

You're allowed to mock me for choosing a hokey Disney song for this week's Music Monday, but I love this song and what it says this time of year...here with the Official 16 Minutes (Now or Never) video, Roxy's Bay Head Blog presents Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens as Troy Bolton & Gabriella Montez in High School Musical 3.

16, 16, 16 minutes left
Better get it done
16, 16, 16 more minutes
Get ready, GAME ON!

16, 16, 16 minutes left
Runnin out of time (WILDCATS!)
(West High) 16, 16, 16 more minutes
It's on the line
(WILDCATS!) 16, 16, 16 minutes left
Better get it done (WILDCATS!)

16, 16, 16 more minutes
Till we're number one!
LET'S GO TEAM!

Gotta get it together
Yeah, pull up and shoot (SCORE!)
Are you ready?
Are you with me?

(Team, team, team, yeah!)
Shake'em with the crossover (Wildcats!)
Tell me what are we here for? (To Win)
Cuz' we know that we're the best team (Come on boys, come on boys, come on!)

The way we play tonight
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right now

It's up to us (Let's go!)
So what are we gonna be?
T-E-A-M TEAM!
Gotta work it out
Turn it on

Come on!

This is the last time to get it right (Ooh)
This is the last chance to make it or not (Yeah)
We gotta show what we are all about (Team!)
Work together

This is the last chance to make our mark (Shoot!)
History will know who we are (Yeah)
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never

W-I-L-D WILDCATS!
You know we are
W-I-L-D WILDCATS!
Come on, come on!
West High Knights, heey
Yeah, we're doing it right, oh yeah
W-I-L-D WILDCATS!
Now's the time!

Gotta get it inside, down low
In the paint now shoot, SCORE!
We gotta work it together
Gimme the ball
Gimme the ball
Gimme the ball

Fastbreak!
Keep the ball in control
Let it fly from downtown
Show'em we can do it better
Go, go, go
Come on boys! (Wildcats!)

The way we play tonight (yeah)
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right now
It's up to us (Let's go)
So what are we gonna be?
T-E-A-M TEAM!
Gotta work it out
Turn it all
Come on!

This is the last time to get it right (Ooh)
This is the last chance to make it or not (Yeah)
We gotta show what we are all about (Team!)
Work together

This is the last chance to make our mark (Hoop!)
History will know who we are (Yeah)
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never

Right now I can hardly breathe
Ohh, you can do it
Just know that I believe
And that's all I really need

Then come on!
Make me strong
It's time to turn it up
GAME ON!

WILDCATS!
Gonna tear it up
GO WILDCATS!
Yeah we're number one
HEY WILDCATS!
We're the champions
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO
TEAM! Oh!
West High Knights, heey
Yeah, we're putting up a fight (Wildcats!)
We'll never quit it, gonna win it
Let me hear you say
HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY

This is the last time to get it right (Ooh)
This is the last chance to make it or not (Yeah)
We gotta show what we are all about (Team)

Work together (Come on!)

This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never

Yeaaah!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

We're Having a Party...but Not Until August

2010-03-26T15:40:00.005-04:00

Rex just got off the phone with his son, Trader, who has booked the Bruce Springsteen cover band Tramps Like Us to perform in the backyard of our Bay Head, New Jersey, beach house for his 40th birthday party this summer. With the weather feeling raw and chilly going into our weekend up north in the Roxiticus Valley, it's good to be planning a summer celebration at the beach. London and Maddie are really looking forward to summer in Bay Head, getting our cockapoo puppy in June, and partying at the beach with their big brothers, niece and nephew in August.

Music Monday: It's In His Kiss (Shoop Shoop Song) by Cher

2010-03-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

After a rough week -- my 84-year-old mom is in the hospital after dislocating her hip for the third time in a month on Thursday and is having very complicated surgery on Wednesday -- I considered a repeat of my October "Lightning Crashes" post on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, but instead of focusing on the cycles of life, death, and growing old, I've decided to go with something light and breezy on both of my blogs.

London and Maddie have been into American Idol this season, staying up way past their bedtimes to vote for their favorites. Our entire family thinks Crystal Bowersox is likely to win it all, but Maddie has rooted for 17-year-old Katie Stevens since her audition. The judges keep telling Katie to sing something "young" and "current," but it is clear that Katie is an old soul who can't relate to Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, or the Jonas Brothers. We did some thinking, and came up with a few suggestions for Katie Stevens....maybe something from a Disney movie or Broadway show that would show off Katie's "big voice. Over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, we posted "That's How You Know" from Enchanted. Our other suggestion for Katie Stevens is to sing something young, but from another decade, such as "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton-John from Grease or this week's Music Monday post on Roxy's Bay Head Blog: "It's In His Kiss (Shoop Shoop Song)"... done by Merry Clayton and Betty Everett in the 60s, we found a great video of Cher's 1990 cover from her movie, Mermaids:

Does he love me?
I wanna know!
How can I tell if he loves me so?

(Is it in his eyes?)
Oh no! You need to see!
(Is it in his eyes?)
Oh no! You make believe!
If you wanna know
If he loves you so
Its in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)

(Oh yeah! Or is it in his face?)
Oh no! It's just his charms!
(In his warm embrace?)
Oh no! That's just his arms!
If you wanna know
If he loves you so
It's in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)
Oh,ooh, oh! Its in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)

Oh, oh, oh, hug him!
Squeeze him tight!
Find out what you wanna know!
If it's love, if it really is,
It's there in his kiss!

(How 'bout the way he acts?)
Oh no! That's not the way!
You're not listenin' to all I'm sayin'!
If you wanna know
If he loves you so
It's in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)
Oh, ooh, oh! Its in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)

Oh, oh, oh, hug him!
Squeeze him tight!
Find out what you wanna know!
If it's love, if it really is,
It's there in his kiss!

(How 'bout the way he acts?)
Oh no! That's not the way!
You're not listenin' to all I'm sayin'!
If you wanna know
If he loves you so
It's in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)
Oh, ooh, oh! Its in his kiss!
(That's where it is!)
Oh, yeah! Its in his kiss!
(It's in his hiss, that's where it is!)
ooh! It's in his kiss!
(It's in his kiss, that's where it is!)
(It's in his kiss, that's where it is!)
(It's in his kiss, that's where it is!)
(It's in his kiss, that's where it is!)
(It's in his kiss, that's where it is!)
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Roxy's Bikini Phobia

2010-03-03T17:10:00.028-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of wellnessdaily.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Roxiticus Roxy, our groundhog up north, has spoken, and even though the snow is melting, there are still another six to eight weeks before we open up our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey. Just the right amount of time to start asking the question, what are YOU doing to increase the wellness factor in your life? So far this year, this new decade, I haven't followed through on any of my diet and exercise plans or New Year's wellness resolutions. Maybe there's help for me. http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=191732&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellnessdaily.com is a new online community that collects all of the latest news, plus healthy living blogs, expert opinions, easy and nutritious recipes, with videos on a variety of topics ranging from weight loss to healthier eating to exercise to stress relief and mental health.

This year certainly wouldn't be the first year that I've set a 50-day goal to lose 10 pounds ahead of bikini season, but this may be the first year that I've had the proper tools and motivation... I'm going use the site to create my own customized personal health and wellness news feed so that I'll receive the most relevant news possible....and I'm going to clip the photo of the Ed Hardy bikini from Venus swimsuits and tape it onto Roxy's refrigerator.

Come along with Roxy and join wellnessdaily.com... if you're one of the first 25,000 visitors, you can claim a $5 product rebate. Sign up and enter the wellnessdaily.com Twitter contest for a chance to win a WellnessDaily.com prize package valued at $1,250, including coupons for a year-long supply of Jennie-O Turkey Store products and a one-year gym membership. Enter the Twitter promotion through March 10th by tweeting: “Enter to win $ towards a gym membership & JENNIE-O turkey products. Just follow @wellness_daily & RT this! http://bit.ly/tbd123."

Good luck to all... in the contest and with your 2010 wellness goals.

Music Monday: When You Look Me In the Eyes by the Jonas Brothers

2010-03-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

This Music Monday post is for London and Maddie, who adore the Jonas Brothers... but the inspiration for my choice was actually a firm handshake this afternoon from the teenage brother of one of Maddie's friends. As a parent of two girls, now 8 and 9, I've come to admire other parents who have raised respectful, confident teenagers...instead of the surly kind who won't look adults in the eye. Up north in the Roxiticus Valley, we have three sisters who babysit for London and Maddie, and they are all so poised and responsible, ready for college or job interviews or whatever opportunities life has to offer....same goes for the teenage brothers of a couple of London and Maddie's friends. So, while the Jonas Brothers intended this one as a mushy love song, I've chosen it to honor the cool teenagers in our lives.

If the heart is always searching,
Can you ever find a home?
I've been looking for that someone,
I'll never make it on my own.
Dreams can't take the place of loving you,
There's gotta be a million reasons why it's true

When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.

How long will I be waiting,
To be with you again
Gonna tell you that I love you,
In the best way that I can.
I can't take a day without you here,
You're the light that makes my darkness disappear.

When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.

More and more, I start to realize,
I can reach my tomorrow,
I can hold my head high,
And it's all because you're by my side.

When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When I hold you in my arms
I know that it's forever
I just gotta let you know
I never wanna let you go

Cause when you look me in the eyes.

And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.
Oh

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Somewhere Down the Road by Barry Manilow

2010-02-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

My mom dislocated her hip again yesterday (she's just fine now), so I was out driving to the hospital to give her a ride home and turned on the Sirius XM Eighties on 8 countdown for this week in 1982... Roxy's sweet sixteen year! Barry Manilow came on, singing "Somewhere Down the Road." The song takes me back to the first summer I worked at WBRW in Bridgewater, NJ... and one of these days I will write a long rambling post about what I know now that I wish I knew then about finding the right one, but in the meantime, it's time for Music Monday.

I know LadyJava is a big Barry Manilow fan, so this is probably a repeat, but here's a nice live version from the Kodak Theater (think "Hollywood Week"):

We had the right love
At the wrong time
Guess I always knew inside
I wouldn't have you for a long time

Those dreams of yours
Are shining on distant shores
And if they're calling you away
I have no right to make you stay
But

Somewhere down the road
Our roads are gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when
But somewhere down the road
I know that heart of yours
will come to see
That you belong with me

Sometimes goodbyes are not forever
It doesn't matter if you're gone
I still believe in us together
I understand more than you think I can
You have to go out on your own
So you can find your way back home
And

Somewhere down the road
Our roads are gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when
But somewhere down the road
I know that heart of yours
will come to see
That you belong with me
Letting go is just another way to say
I'll always love you so

We had the right love
At the wrong time
Maybe we've only just begun
Maybe the best is yet to come
'Cause

Somewhere down the road
Our roads are gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when
But somewhere down the road
I know that heart of yours
will come to see
That you belong
With me

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: They Don't Have Bobsleds in San Juan ("Nothing" from A Chorus Line)

2010-02-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Rex, London, Maddie and I have been watching the Olympics over this long President's Day and Valentine's Day weekend, and the winter events reminded me of this great clip from one of my favorite Broadway shows and movies, A Chorus Line:

I'm so excited because I'm gonna go
to the High School of Performing Arts!
I mean, I was dying to be a serious actress.
Anyway, it's the first day acting class-
and we're in the auditorium and the teacher,
Mr. Karp... Oh, Mr. Karp...
Anyway, he puts us up on the stage with
our legs around each other,
one in back of the other and he says:
"Okay... we're going to do improvisations.
Now, you're on a bobsled. It's snowing out.
And it's cold...Okay...GO!"

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to
Feel the motion, feel the motion
Down the hill.

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to
Hear the wind rush, hear the wind rush,
Feel the chill.

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
To see what I had inside.
Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried, I tried.

[Spoken]
And everybody's goin' "Whooooosh, whooooosh ...
I feel the snow... I feel the cold... I feel the air."
And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says,
"Okay, Morales. What did you feel?"

[sings]
And I said..."Nothing,
I'm feeling nothing,"
And he says "Nothing
Could get a girl transferred."

They all felt something,
But I felt nothing
Except the feeling
That this bullshit was absurd!

[Spoken]
But I said to myself, "Hey, it's only the first week.
Maybe it's genetic.
They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!"

[sings]
Second week, more advanced, and we had to
Be a table, be a sportscar...
Ice-cream cone.

Mister Karp, he would say,"Very good,
except Morales. Try, Morales,
All alone."

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
To see how an ice cream felt.
Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul
And I tried to melt.

The kids yelled, "Nothing!"
They called me "Nothing"
And Karp allowed it,
Which really makes me burn.

The were so helpful.
They called me "Hopeless",
Until I really didn't know
Where else to turn.

[Spoken]
And Karp kept saying,
"Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,
You'll never be an actress, Never!" Jesus Christ!

Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Send me guidance, send me guidance,"
On my knees.

Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Help me feel it, help me feel it.
Pretty please!"

And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul
Came up to the top of my head.
And the voice from down at the bottom of my soul,
Here is what it said:

"This man is nothing!
This course is nothing!
If you want something,
Go find another class.

And when you find one
You'll be an actress."
And I assure you that's what
Fin'lly came to pass.

Six months later I heard that Karp had died.
And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul...
And cried.
'Cause I felt... nothing.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: When the Saints Go Marching In

2010-02-07T15:18:00.010-05:00

It's Music Monday across the world in Malaysia, but here in New Jersey, it's still Super Bowl Sunday. Rex, London, Maddie and I are not big football fans, but London was born on Super Bowl Monday 2001 (Giants lost badly), so we always like to celebrate. We've got our hoagies and chili from a Hilltop Church Souper Bowl fundraiser for the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morristown, and we're ready for a good game. This week's Music Monday pick from Bruce Springsteen (the Seeger Sessions) will tell you who we'll be rooting for tonight.

We are traveling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited (but if we stand reunited)
On a new and sunlit shore (then a new world is in store)

Oh when the saints go marching in
When the saints go marching in
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

And when the sun refuse (begins) to shine
And when the sun refuse (begins) to shine
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the moon turns red with blood
When the moon turns red with blood
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

On that hallelujah day
On that hallelujah day
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Oh when the trumpet sounds the call
Oh when the trumpet sounds the call
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Some say this world of trouble
Is the only one we need
But I'm waiting for that morning
When the new world is revealed

When the revelation (revolution) comes
When the revelation (revolution) comes
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the rich go out and work
When the rich go out and work
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When the air is pure and clean
When the air is pure and clean
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When we all have food to eat
When we all have food to eat
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

When our leaders learn to cry
When our leaders learn to cry
Oh lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

iPad Softly to the Fridge In Search Of Beer

2010-01-27T18:09:00.014-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Citi. All opinions are 100% mine.

So... Apple launched the iPad today, and the best headline I found came from fellow blogger Ken Armstrong's incessant Twittering: "iPad Softly to the Fridge In Search Of Beer." Runner up was "iBored." Although my husband, Rex, remains hopeful that the iPad could be a cross between his beloved Blackberry and the notebook computer he refuses to carry with him to and from the office, I'm skeptical... of course, I'm the one Rex turns to when technology goes wrong. He dumped his iPhone after a week because he couldn't stand the touch screen, and has been disappointed about being able to open and read client files (in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) on his Blackberry. So we'll see.

There is some good news for the iPhone and iPad: millions of Citi® credit card customers in the United States can now manage their card accounts via the downloadable Citi Mobile(SM) application for the iPhone® device, and I'm guessing Rex would be able to use his shiny new iPad to access our Citi credit card accounts, since the iPad runs on the same operating system. According to Citi's Head of North America Consumer Internet & Mobile, Liza Landsman, "This application now provides our customers with anywhere, anytime access to their credit card account information, which is important for people on the go. It will help more customers to stay connected in real-time to their finances and to make informed spending decisions." If you're like Rex and me, Existing Citibank members click here to download Citi's Mobile App for the iPhone; if you don't have a Citi credit card, you can also Click here to apply for Citibank and then get started with all the benefits of mobile access to your account information: manage spending more wisely, quickly check account balances and available credit at any time with just a tap of the screen, and get details on recent transactions and the date on which your next payment is due, which can help prevent the accrual of fees from inadvertently late or missed payments.

I'll let you know if Rex gets the iPad... and speaking of Citi, I'd better make my monthly payment right now!

Music Monday: Clouds (Both Sides Now) by Judy Collins

2010-01-25T17:59:00.004-05:00

This week's Music Monday on Roxy's Bay Head Blog is dedicated to Rex and my husband's love affair with Salesforce.com and cloud computing...I'm sure that's not what Judy Collins had in mind, but here goes:

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they tell me that I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Buy A Beach House!

2010-01-22T19:06:00.027-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

Even though it is a balmy 40 degrees during the "January thaw" here in the Roxiticus Valley, New Jersey, it's not even close to warm enough to think about opening our beach house. It is, however, warm enough to dream about sunny summer afternoons playing in the waves and relaxing on the beach in Bay Head with Rex, London, and Maddie... heading back to the house for my six o'clock beer, while Rex grills a steak or steams 100 clams for dinner, and London and Maddie paint seashells that they gathered during the day.

There's not a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for all that I have... good health, a loving family, and a house at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey. Last summer, as we all struggled through the miserable economy, it was discouraging to see so many classic beach houses for sale (and not selling, and not selling, and not selling) all around town. I hope that when we open our beach house in April, we'll see signs that other families are taking advantage of the 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits to find a home at the beach in Bay Head.

The best deal is for first-time homebuyers, or those who have not owned a home in the last three years, who can receive up to an $8,000 tax credit. Rex's son, PostBoy, and his new bride, MathGirl, took advantage of the 2009 credit to buy their dream home in Connecticut last Fall.

The first-time homebuyer tax credit was working towards economic recovery, but what the housing market and our national economy needed was an incentive for the "move-up" buyer. According to the 2009 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the number of first-time home buyers rose from 41% to 47% of all home sales last year, and was the highest on record dating back to 1981. So this year, existing homeowners can benefit when they buy a new home, too: homeowners who have lived in their current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a $6,500 tax credit when purchasing a home. There may be no future extensions, so all qualified homebuyers are encouraged to act now (even though it's too cold for the beach) and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 (close by June 30, 2010). The income limits are $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples, with a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

Visit Coldwell Banker to do your own research... you can even start a new Home Search on the site for your own house in Bay Head, NJ... hope to see you on the beach this summer!

MLK Music Monday: Dion's Abraham Martin and John

2010-01-17T17:59:00.006-05:00

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked 'round and he's gone.

Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, and it's a-gonna be one day ...

Today's Music Monday post honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
You know, I just looked around and he's gone.

Anybody here seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked around and he's gone.

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked 'round and he's gone.

Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, and it's a-gonna be one day ...

Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill,
With Abraham, Martin and John.

Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010

2010-01-06T19:39:00.017-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iCoke.ca. All opinions are 100% mine.

Way back when, the wild single Roxy traveled to Vancouver... for skiing and well, the type of thing wild single women usually travel to do. It involved a long running bet with a Vancouver lawyer over the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Now that I'm married with children, however, the closest I'll get to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics will probably be on TV and a FREE Coca-Cola Collectible Medallion, available exclusively at Mac's Stores. Roxy (and each of you loyal Bay Head Blog readers out there) can receive one of three different (but all free, free, free) Coca-Cola Collectible Medallions with the purchase of two (2) Coca-Cola 591mL products at Mac's stores.

While I've told London and Maddie that they aren't allowed to drink soda (and ruin their teeth) until they're seventeen years old, I love all of the Coca-Cola products. Back in my college days when I didn't have to worry about my girlish figure, I drank Coke Classic. More recently, I'm a Coke Zero fan, and for a little variety Rex and I both drink Diet Coke with Lime or Diet Cherry Coke. So we won't have any trouble going back to Mac's Stores again and again to score each of the unique Olympic Medallions. This giveaway is subject to availability, so drink Coke and get yours right away.

Music Monday: Good for Me by Amy Grant

2010-01-04T09:23:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! To get 2010 started with an upbeat tempo, I thought I would share this bubbly 80s fave from Amy Grant. Live from New York, it's "Good for Me"!

You like to dance and listen to the music
I like to sing with the band
You like your hands splashing in the ocean
Well I like my feet on the sand

Does anybody have it any better?
Isn't it easy to see just how well we fit together?

When I start to sing the blues
You pull out my dancing shoes
I think you could be so good for me
You get brave when I get shy
Just another reason why
I think you could be so good for me, so good

You like to drive like Mario Andretti
I like it taking my time
But let me say wherever you are going
You know it suits me just fine

Does anybody have it any better?
Isn't it easy to see just how well we fit together?

When I start to sing the blues
You pull out my dancing shoes
I think you could be so good for me, good for me, yeah
You get brave when I get shy
Just another reason why
I think you could be so good for me

Could be so good for me
You could be so good
Could be so good
Could be so good for me

You get brave when I get shy
Another reason why
You could be so good for, good for me baby
Good for me baby

When I want to sing the blues, good for me baby
Oh, when I want to sing the blues
Good for me baby
You could be so good
Good for me baby, when I want to sing the blues
Good for me baby

Music Monday for New Year's Eve: Barry Manilow

2009-12-28T13:25:00.001-05:00

There are only so many New Year's Eve songs available for this week's Music Monday post... last year I had Guy Lombardo here on the Bay Head Blog and Dan Fogelberg on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. The following video from Barry Manilow combines a Christmas Classic in honor of our troops ("I'll Be Home for Christmas") and "Another New Year's Eve." Add your own party hats, noisemakers and New Year's resolutions and we'll be all set!

Don't look so sad, it's not so bad you know.
It's just another night, that's all it is,
It's not the first, it's not the worst you know,
We've come through all the rest, we'll get through this.

We've made mistakes, but we've made good friends too.
Remember all the nights we spent with them?
And all our plans, who says they can't come true?
Tonight's another chance to start again.

REFRAIN
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Let's make it the best.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
It's just another Auld Lang Syne,
But when we're through this New Year
You'll see, we'll be just fine.

We're not alone, we've got the world you know.
And it won't let us down, just wait and see.
And we'll grow old, but think how wise we'll grow.
There's more you know, it's only New Year's Eve.

Music Monday: Blue Christmas by Elvis

2009-12-21T15:02:00.000-05:00

We're more likely to have a White Christmas up north (and west) in the Roxiticus Valley, but every time Elvis' rendition of Blue Christmas comes up on our iPod's holiday play list, I'm reminded of just how good it is. Enjoy!

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here with me

And when the blue snowflakes start falling
That’s when those blue memories start calling
You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue Christmas

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas

Crafts for Christmas!!

2009-12-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

Crazy Christmas craft coincidence (say that three times fast): London came home from the Mendham Township Elementary School library the other day with a book called "Crafts for Christmas" by Katherine N. Cutler and Kate Cutler Bogle. We didn't have a chance to open it before the girls headed out to school in the morning, but I was just getting ready to put it away in the library book basket in London's room when I read "About the Authors" on the book jacket...turns out to be our Bay Head artist neighbor and her mom...maybe 40 years ago! The girls will be delighted to learn that our very own Katie Cutler is the famous author... and I'll be sure to have them email her their questions when we get stuck on any of the crafts... as my loyal readers know, Roxy is not so crafty.

How Wheat Works!

2009-12-18T20:09:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Wheat Food Council. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey, have you heard about How Wheat Works? Click the link to see...it's an interactive, online multimedia program that delivers a farm-to-fork education on how a whole or enriched grain food comes to be, enabling a better understanding of wheat's nutritional value and resulting in informed food choices. Rex, London, Maddie and I, and participants of all ages can visit the site to virtually grow, harvest and mill our own kernels to create our desired wheat food. It takes just a few minutes to complete each of the program’s four phases – growth, harvest, milling/baking and the grocer’s aisle - while the program spans the course of four days.

Interactive opportunities include choosing the type of wheat to be grown and wheat flour to be milled. At the end of each phase, activity suggestions encourage participants to extend the wheat learning experience by preparing wheat-based recipes, exploring wheat grown in your own local area through state wheat commission member sites, and viewing harvest videos from “America’s Heartland.” You can also virtually experience the Urban Wheat Field, an event that brought wheat’s journey from field to table to life in New York City during October via a live wheat field, full-size combine, a functioning mill, a baking station and nutrition lab -- all in the name of wheat education.

For each participant in the online experience, the Wheat Foods Council will donate two pounds of flour, up to 90,000 pounds, to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to needy United States troops and their families. This donation is made possible by Wheat Foods Council members at ADM and ConAgra, two of the world’s largest millers.

Bracing for Another Winter Storm

2009-12-18T18:42:00.005-05:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful... or at least Maddie our very own weathergirl says it's going to get that way by tomorrow morning.

We're up north in the Roxiticus Valley, trying to stay warm by the fire, while our poor little beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey is bracing for another winter storm. Anywhere between one and twelve inches of snow. Our neighbors who live at the beach year round have told us the last storm hit hard... stay warm and safe, friends!

Roxy's Holiday Photos Go Wireless!

2009-12-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Eye-Fi. All opinions are 100% mine.

I just made Rex some flight reservations for an upcoming Washington, DC trip, and the most amazing thing happened... he clicked the "check in now" button on his Blackberry and it asked him if he wanted to receive a wireless boarding pass! So when he gets to the airport, all he needs to do is flash his Blackberry instead of printing out a paper ticket and boarding pass.

There are lots of things in life that would work better if they were mobile or wireless.... like my camera. I'm sure I'm not the only person who can never seem to find the card reader to transfer my photos from my camera to my computer. Last month, I finally printed out 2,000 photos of London and Maddie... many of which had been waiting patiently on my camera for almost a year.

I take lots and lots of photos of the girls and their friends at school events (like the MTES Holiday Singalong), friends' birthday parties, and their various dance recitals and sports activities. Our friends are always asking me, “What happened to those photos you took at [fill in the blank]?"

It's pretty clear to me that Eye-Fi can help...it's a wireless SD memory card with up to 4GB of memory plus built-in Wi-Fi. Just turn on the camera to effortlessly transfer photos and videos from camera to computer and favorite online photo sharing site (like Flickr & Facebook). With Eye-Fi, I can also share photos and videos on any of my favorite sharing sites without even turning my computer on (which is a good thing, since my laptop is still in the hands of the EasyTech at Staples). All I'll need is an SDHC capable camera and a wireless router.

Check out the video below to see how it works and how an Eye-Fi card for my camera could change my life... or at least the way Rex and I upload and store our photos.

It sure looks like the easiest way to get what's in my camera out of my camera, and will save a lot of time and hassles. With automatic backup of my most precious memories and automatic organization (by date) on my computer, I will feel a lot safer... since sometimes it feels like I have my own personal evil magnetic force field crashing computers and making electronic memories disappear. I'll soon have effortless sharing while the memories are fresh.

Music Monday: Go Tell It On the Mountain

2009-12-14T20:39:00.000-05:00

Here's Garth Brooks singing the gospel classic, "Go Tell It On the Mountain." I'll warn you in advance that the video is lame, but the music rocks.

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and far away
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

The shepherds all were watching
Over their sheep at night
When a guiding star shone from heaven
And the followed that holy light

Got tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
They found a lovely manger
Where the humble Christ was born
And God sent out salvation
On that blessed Christmas morn

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

He brought with Him forgiveness
He live to show us the way
He came to redeem all creation
And to wash all our sins away

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Music Monday: Undercover Angel by Alan O'Day

2009-11-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

When I'm feeling nostalgic, I usually take my loyal Bay Head Blog readers back to the 80s, but this week's post -- "Undercover Angel" by Alan O'Day -- goes all the way back to 1977... and the video uses clips from Charlie's Angels, a popular TV show I wasn't allowed to watch when I was growing up.

Cryin' on my pillow, lonely in my bed
then a heard a voice beside me, and she softly said
wonder is your night light, magic is your dream
and as i held her, she said, see what i mean

i said what? She said oo-oo-oo-wee
i said alright! She said, love me love me love me

undercover angel, midnight fantasy
i've never had a dream that made sweet love to me
undercover angel, answer to my prayer
you made me know that there's a love for me
out there, somewhere

heavenly surrender, sweet afterglow
given up my heart to you, now angel don't go
she said, go find the right one, love her and then
when you look into her eyes, you'll see me again

i said what? She said oo-oo-oo-wee
i said alright! She said, love me love me love me

(repeat chorus)

now you know my story, and girl if it's right
i'm gonna take you in my arms and love you tonight
underneath the covers, the answer lies
i'm lookin' for my angel in your sweet lovin' eyes

she said what? I said oo-oo-oo-wee
she said alright! I said, love me love me love me

Gotta Love the Name: PhatBand!

2009-11-30T19:34:00.021-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.

PhatBand!! Sounds like a lead in to one of my weekly Music Monday posts or a new name for London and Maddie's all girl basement band, doesn't it? But Charter is rolling out its PhatBand Ultra60 Mbps Internet service, one of the fastest in the United States. Currently available for a lucky group of Charter subscribers in St. Louis and Southern California, Ultra60 is rolling out to the Northeast (that's meeeee!) right now and planning to cover the majority of the Charter footprint by year-end 2010. Charter ultra fast 60 service is part of Charter's strategy to provide customers with the fastest Internet speed available at a time when it is critical for all of us to have a high-speed connection to multimedia sites.

I sure hope it gets here soon -- both to Roxy's beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey and to our year-round residence up north in the Roxiticus Valley. PhatBand would make telecommuting with mega-files a breeze with super high speeds, which means I can spend more time working from home (and at the beach) with London and Maddie and less time on the train to New York City. Not to mention watching those other Desperate Housewives and our favorite movies, the girls' playing online games, and Roxy blogging and tweeting up a storm! At 60 Mbps, the Internet is a completely different experience – I'll be able to do it all, multitasking in ways I've only imagined.

Hurry, PhatBand, hurry, please....maybe Charter can hitch a ride with Santa this Christmas!

Music Monday: White Flag by Dido

2009-11-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

There are a few songs, both current and oldies but goodies, that whenever they come on the radio in the car, we turn it up and the whole family sings along. "White Flag" by Dido is one of them.

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you,
Or tell you that.
But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it
where's the sense in that?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I know I left too much mess and
destruction to come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
then I'm sure that that makes sense

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on....

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

Too Tired to Be a Second Grader...

2009-11-18T20:24:00.009-05:00

I had spent the day hard at work on a Confidential Information Memorandum for one of our investment banking clients (Project "Rocket Science"), and had just about run out of brain cells. Not to mention feeling a bit under the weather with the first cold of the season. Then Maddie asked me for help on her second grade math and logic puzzle homework tonight. She had finished most of the assignment, leaving only the toughest problems for mom to help on. There were words in circles and other words not in circles, and somehow you were supposed to guess what the non-circle words had in common with each other and did not have in common with the circle words. Here's a sample problem that Maddie said was easy...the circle words are teddy bear, doll, and blanket; outside the circle words are pants, scissors, and pliers. Well, not only am I NOT smart enough to be a fourth grader, I am too tired to be a second grader! Turns out the answer is the words outside the circle come in pairs. I think I'll put on a pair of pajamas, grab my teddy bear, and get into bed early so I can wake up smart enough to be a second grader, third grader, and an investment banker.

Now's the Time to Travel

2009-11-18T08:55:00.014-05:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of British Airways. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's mid-November and a chill is in the air... we closed our beach house in Bay Head after the annual Halloween Parade, and we've been spending our weekends up north (and west) in the Roxiticus Valley. We miss the beach from November through mid-April, but it always seems too dark and desolate during the cold winter months without Daylight Savings Time. Since British Airways is running a November Seat "world sale" on their truly upgraded experience (including over 200 On Demand entertainment options), it seems like an ideal time to get away from the United States and Canada and visit someplace we've never been before.

I think several of my current dream destinations are available:

A whirlwind European tour starting in London and including France (Paris and the French Riviera), Spain (Marbella, Madrid), and the Italian Riviera;
An African safari -- lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

British Airways sure is a great way to get away -- with World Class service not only to traditional favorites like London and Europe, but also more exotic locales including the Middle East, India and Africa. There's no skimping on the basics, with complimentary food and cocktails on all flights... an incredibly comfortable in-flight experience featuring ergonomically designed seats, complete with lumbar support, adjustable headrest and recline... plenty of blankies, cushions, eyeshades and flight socks to maximize comfort for the entire journey.

Let's get going... book by November 19, 2009!

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Music Monday: Jethro Tull Live with Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll

2009-11-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, on the way home from the Miley Cyrus concert at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, with our little girls falling asleep in the back seat of my Acadia, my friend Susan and I were discussing our mis-spent youth and our first concerts. Mine was Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Somerset County College; hers was Jethro Tull. We were both feeling a bit older, more like parents than the rockers we once were, but this song came to mind and put me back in the "never too old" frame of mind:

The old Rocker wore his hair too long,
wore his trouser cuffs too tight.
Unfashionable to the end --- drank his ale too light.
Death's head belt buckle --- yesterday's dreams ---
the transport caf' prophet of doom.
Ringing no change in his double-sewn seams
in his post-war-babe gloom.

Now he's too old to Rock'n'Roll but he's too young to die.

He once owned a Harley Davidson and a Triumph Bonneville.
Counted his friends in burned-out spark plugs
and prays that he always will.
But he's the last of the blue blood greaser boys
all of his mates are doing time:
married with three kids up by the ring road
sold their souls straight down the line.
And some of them own little sports cars
and meet at the tennis club do's.
For drinks on a Sunday --- work on Monday.
They've thrown away their blue suede shoes.

Now they're too old to Rock'n'Roll and they're too young to die.

So the old Rocker gets out his bike
to make a ton before he takes his leave.
Up on the A1 by Scotch Corner
just like it used to be.
And as he flies --- tears in his eyes ---
his wind-whipped words echo the final take
and he hits the trunk road doing around 120
with no room left to brake.

And he was too old to Rock'n'Roll but he was too young to die.
No, you're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die.

Music Monday: Shake It by Metro Station (Miley's Big Brother)

2009-11-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

We're up in the Roxiticus Valley recovering from Saturday night's Miley Cyrus concert at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. I've posted a sort of review of the Miley Cyrus concert and Music Monday video over at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, and wanted to keep the theme going here with Miley's Big Brother, Trace, and his band, Metro Station, who opened the show. Here's the official video for his song, "Shake It," but it seems like they updated the video for Miley's Wonder World tour, with baby sister herself shakin' it on the jumbotron behind the Metro Station live performance.

Let's drop!
Yeah, come on

I'll take you home
If you don't leave me at the front door
(Leave me at the front door)
Your body's cold
But girl, we're gettin' so warm
And I was thinking of ways
That I could get inside
(Get inside)

Tonight you're falling in love
Let me go now
This feeling's tearing me up
Here we go now

Now if she does it like this
Will you do it like that?
Now if she touches like this
Will you touch her like that?
Now if she moves like this
Will you move her like that?
Come on, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it

Shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it (x4)

Your lips tremble
But your eyes are in the straight stare
(In the straight stare)
We're on the bed
But your clothes are laying right there
And I was thinking of places
That I could hide
(I could hide)

Tonight you're falling in love
Let me go now
This feeling's tearing me up
Here we go now

Now if she does it like this
Will you do it like that?
Now if she touches like this
Will you touch her like that?
Now if she moves like this
Will you move her like that?
Come on, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it

Shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it (x4)

I saw you dancing
And I couldn't get you off my mind
I could tell that you could tell
That I was taking my time
But I was thinking of ways
To get you to stay tonight
Body's shaking
Tell me off so I can turn off the lights

Now if she does it like this
Will you do it like that?
Now if she touches like this
Will you touch her like that?
Now if she moves like this
Will you move her like that?
Come on, shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it

Shake, shake
Shake, shake, shake it (x4)

Music Monday: Closing Time by Semisonic

2009-11-01T18:50:00.009-05:00

After the annual Bay Head Halloween parade, we always close down our beach house and stay warm and cozy in the Roxiticus Valley until the snow melts in April. And, here in the United States, this weekend we ended Daylight Savings time by turning our clocks back an hour. So I wanted to find a fitting Music Monday, and came up with "Closing Time" by Semisonic. Rex and I saw them live at the Garden State Arts Center about fifteen years ago when they opened for Matchbox 20.

Closing time - time for you to go out, go out into the world.
Closing time - turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.
Closing time - one last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer.
Closing time - you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time - this room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters come.
So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits - I hope you have found a
friend.
Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from...

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...

We'll see you all in April 2010!

Music Monday Tribute to the Bay Head Halloween Parade... We Did the Mash, We Did the Monster Mash!

2009-10-26T00:36:00.003-04:00

I'll be posting some photos from the Bay Head Halloween Parade soon, but first it's time for Roxy's Music Monday theme: Halloween! In honor of all the scary monsters, sweet bumblebees and flamingos, and creative costumes that turned out at for the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade, here's Bobby "Boris" Pickett with a spooky video of the Monster Mash:

I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The coffin-bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"

They played the mash
They played the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They played the mash
It caught on in a flash
They played the mash
They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
He opened the lid and shook his fist
And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"

It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
The monster mash
And it's a graveyard smash
It's now the mash
It's caught on in a flash
It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my monster mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash

Today's the Day: Annual Halloween Parade in Bay Head, NJ

2009-10-25T09:18:00.003-04:00

For the past few years, it feels like the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade has involved a grim weather forecast of hell and high water. Yesterday we drove down to our beach house in the pouring rain, which flooded Lake Avenue and didn't let up as we made our way to the Crab Shack to pick up 100 clams for dinner.

All week long, our little Weather Girl, Maddie, has been watching Weather.com, where just like last year, they forecast rain, rain, rain on Saturday, but sunny and 60 degrees on Sunday for the Bay Head Halloween Parade. Witches, goblins, ghosts and Disney princesses will start gathering on Mount Street in Bay Head, New Jersey, shortly after 11am for the 11:45am parade start.

Continue reading

Bay Head Halloween Parade This Weekend... Wait Until You See London and Maddie!

2009-10-23T20:31:00.000-04:00

Roxy's loyal Bay Head Blog readers know that our family takes Halloween very seriously, particularly our participation in the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade. Last year, London, Maddie, Rex and I won the "Good Sport" award for grown-ups who dress up in the best costumes and march in the parade with their kids. The photo on the right shows us in costume, from left to right: Maddie (as Sharpay "Golf" from High School Musical) Rex (as Ken), Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis, Roxy (as Barbie), and London (as Sharpay "End of Year" from High School Musical).

This year, I don't want to give too much away to the competition in advance of the event, but London and Maddie are dressing up and performing along the parade route as their girl band, the Butter Bites, and we've prepared a special "float" to march in the parade. And Rex and I will be in costume as you've never seen us before... pictures on Monday!

Mrs. Bill, Where Are You Now?

2009-10-23T18:27:00.014-04:00

Over the long Columbus Day/Roxy's Birthday Celebration weekend, one of London's teachers gave me some homework... to provide my insights into London's reading style and abilities and any influences on her reading and writing. The "homework assignment" got me thinking back to my own childhood and the teachers who influenced my own reading and writing and made a difference in my life. Over the twenty five years since high school, I've lost contact with all of my teachers, most of whom must have retired by now... including the Freshman English teacher I'll call "Mrs. Bill." While I can't say that the assigned reading for her class really inspired me, I give Mrs. Bill credit for getting me started on a lifetime of keeping a journal... and eventually a blog, though the Internet hadn't been invented yet when I was in college... never mind high school.

In an attempt to track down Mrs. Bill, I've Googled her and tried the usual social networking sites, but I don't think many people over the age of 60 has a Facebook page! So I'm going to visit MyLife, America's #1 people search, and test out the service to see if you can find Mrs. Bill...If I find her, I'll let all of my loyal readers know what she's up to these days, and I'll be sure to thank her for influencing the writer (and mother of two readers/writers) I am today.

Music Monday: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John

2009-10-19T00:04:00.001-04:00

Up north and west in the Roxiticus Valley for this rainy rainy weekend, Rex and I attended a memorial service for a dear neighbor who passed away after a long struggle with cancer. The lyrics below for Love Lies Bleeding (since Funeral for a Friend is the instrumental lead-in) really reflect the end of a love affair rather than the end of a life, but the song was stuck in my head, so here's my Music Monday pick.

The roses in the window box
Have tilted to one side
Everything about this house
Was born to grow and die

Oh it doesn't seem a year ago
To this very day
You said I'm sorry honey
If I don't change the pace
I can't face another day

And love lies bleeding in my hand
Oh it kills me to think of you with another man
I was playing rock and roll and you were just a fan
But my guitar couldn't hold you
So I split the band
Love lies bleeding in my hands

I wonder if those changes
Have left a scar on you
Like all the burning hoops of fire
That you and I passed through

You're a bluebird on a telegraph line
I hope you're happy now
Well if the wind of change comes down your way

Making Plans for a Pet... or Two

2009-10-18T07:23:00.016-04:00

It is no secret that my younger daughter, Maddie, wants a dog. For the past couple of years, she's done every school project, big or small, about dogs. At the Mendham Township Elementary School book fair last spring, Rex and I found her a huge encyclopedia of dogs and, despite its five pound coffee table book weight, Maddie carries it with her everywhere, reading out chapter and verse on different breeds and how to take care of your new puppy. When she has a chance to go online, Maddie visits all sorts of dog and pet web sites, such as Petango.com - Adopt a cat! a site which lists thousands of dogs and cats, currently cared for at reputable animal shelters across North America, who are all looking and waiting for loving homes.

Due to her older sister London's pet allergies, Rex and I have been reluctant to adopt a pet for Maddie, but after three years of "research and testing," including a doggy slumber party, with the Cock-a-poo across the street from our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, we believe that London no longer has allergic reactions to certain dog breeds. Maddie has used our zip code to look for a dog on Petango, which provides a real-time searchable database of happy, well-loved pets waiting in reputable shelters around the country for new loving homes. The pets Maddie finds on Petango are right in our own backyard. Now we just have to find one... or two... who won't make London sneeze and break out in hives...wish us luck!

Roxy's Birthday Music Monday: Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds

2009-10-12T00:05:00.001-04:00

As I mentoned over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, we're down at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, celebrating my birthday with a long Columbus Day holiday weekend... London and Maddie have off from school, so it takes me back to my elementary school days, when I often had a long weekend celebration for my birthday.

I'm feeling a bit introspective this weekend, with life and death weighing on my mind after our dear neighbor in the Roxiticus Valley passed away last week. For my birthday Music Monday pick, I wanted something that would convey the depth of these emotions, but at the same time give us all an uplifting message. Back in 1959, Pete Seeger set the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 to music in "Turn, Turn, Turn," made popular by the Byrds in 1965.

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late

Today's the Day: Kitchens by the Sea in Bay Head, New Jersey

2009-09-26T11:34:00.001-04:00

In a few minutes, London and Maddie's babysitter will arrive, and Rex and I will head out to Kitchens by the Sea, an amazing day of peeking into our neighbors' kitchens and enjoying delicious food samples provided by local Jersey Shore restaurants and caterers. This year's participating restaurants include:

Rock'n'Joe's
Scone Shoppe
Miletto's
Bay Head Chocolate Shoppe
Labrador Lounge
Martell's
Theresa's South
Shore Fresh Seafood
Brandl; and
Joe Leone

Each of the homes, spread out through Bay Head and Mantoloking, will feature an excellent local restauranteur or caterer serving samples of their cuisine. In addition, the dining areas of the homes will showcase table settings and floral arrangements provided by local designers.

All proceeds benefit the Bay Head School Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Please call 732-714-1902 for more information.

Tickets are $50 (with limited availability, as this is a very popular event) "at the door" today, the day of the kitchen tour, at Bay Head School, 145 Grove Street in Bay Head, where your information packet and tour map will be distributed.

As you head out on the tour, be sure to stop in to visit the local Bay Head merchants...many of the shops, including the Anchor & Palette Gallery on Mount Street, are offering special discounts to kitchen tour participants.

Music Monday: I'll Take You to the Top

2009-09-07T00:06:00.002-04:00

Saturday night, we were relaxing on the porch with our iPod five star playlist rolling on the last night of our vacation at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey. Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones came on with the seductive "Tops" and I decided to make it my Music Monday pick.

Hey baby
Every man is the same come on
I'll make you a star
I'll take you a million miles from all this
Put you on a pedestal
Come on, come on

Have you ever heard those opening lines
You should leave this small town way behind
I'll be your partner
Show you the steps
With me behind your tasting of the sweet wine of success
Cause I'll take you to the top, baby
Hey baby
I'll take you to the top

Step on the ladder
Toe in the pool
You're such a natural you don't need no acting school
Don't need no casting couch
Or be a star in bed
Never, never, never let success go to your pretty head
Cause I'll take you to the top, baby
I swear we're never going to stop, baby
I'll take you to the top

Don't let the world pass you by
You better take your chance now baby
Or be sorry for the rest of your sweet loving life, baby
Oh, sugar
Hey sugar, I'll take you to the top
I'll take you to the top
I'll take you to the top, sugar

Taking Care of Cashew

2009-09-04T20:51:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow, Maddie and London embark on a wonderful adventure. Our neighbors, Jango and Dorothy Parker, are traveling to a wedding in Chicago, and have entrusted us with their sweet dog, Cashew. When we next get together with the neighbors over a long weekend in September, I'm going to help the good doctor Dot to set up her own hormone replacement therapy blog.

The girls have spent plenty of time playing with Cashew, and taking him for walks on the weekend. However, due to London's pet allergies, this is the first time we've had a doggy visitor spend the night. Since Cashew is a cockapoo, an allegedly hypoallergenic dog, we're testing to see if London's allergies act up, or whether we might be able to get a cockapoo as a pet next summer instead of a lizard.

Music Monday Theme: Lookin' Back with Taylor Swift's "Fifteen"

2009-08-31T00:00:00.006-04:00

Here's the second post in my theme for this week's Music Monday: Lookin' Back, this time with Taylor Swift, to age "Fifteen." As my sweet 7-year-old Maddie and 8-year-old London sing out the lyrics, I think about who they might be at 15 and hope they'll remember the words of Taylor Swift, who at only 19, doesn't have that far to look back to her 15-year-old self:

You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
You say "Hi" to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way
It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know I haven't seen you around, before"

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before who you're gonna be
Fifteen

You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
Well be out of here as soon as we can
And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And your momma's waiting up and you think he's the one
And you're dancing round your room when the night end
When the night ends

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tell you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin round but
In your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy of the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now
Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine

And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
Ive found that time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

La la la la la .. la la la la la .. La la la la la

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through those doors

We're Having A Party... Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at Martell's Tiki Bar in Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ: Monday, August 31 & Tuesday, September 1

2009-08-29T18:20:00.007-04:00

While I was raised on the Jersey bar band sounds of "We're Havin' A Party," "Talk to Me," and "I Don't Want To Go Home," I've never really known whether Southside Johnny has a following beyond New Jersey and the Tri-State area, or whether Bruce Springsteen is the only Jersey boy who's become a household name for the rest of the world. For most of the past twelve summers, Rex and I have made an annual tradition of seeing Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Martell's Tiki Bar in Pt. Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.

We had some portion of the Jukes and La Bamba's Big Band at our wedding on the beach in September 1998 and at Rex's 60th birthday party at our house in Mendham a few years ago.

While London and Maddie had the good fortune to see their first concert (Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Tour at the Prudential Center in Newark NJ in December 2007) before they turned seven, my first concert was Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Somerset County College (now Raritan Valley Community College) in 1978, when I was twelve years old. Having learned proper groupie decorum from late night network TV (who remembers Midnight Special and Don Kirschner's Rock Concert??), I jumped the stage and grabbed onto bass player Gene Boccia's leg. 20 years later... Continue reading

50 Cent Beach Reads for Charity at the Anchor & Palette Gallery in Bay Head, New Jersey

2009-08-29T09:03:00.023-04:00

It's a rainy Saturday here at our beach house in Bay Head, the perfect time for a rundown on Roxy's recent beach reads, all of which I've picked up for 50 cents at the Anchor & Palette Gallery in Bay Head, New Jersey. All proceeds go to the good work of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, on the corner of Bridge Avenue and West Lake Avenue in Bay Head, NJ.

The best, by far, is the one I'm reading right now: False Memory, a thriller by Dean Koontz: a tale of madness, suspense, love, and terror from a startlin and true-life psychological condition so close to home it will stun even his most seasoned readers... autophobia -- fear of oneself. As a huge fan of haiku, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the evil psychiatrist who manipulates his patients with hypnotic haiku.

I also breezed through "April & Oliver," Tess Callahan's debut as a novelist, as well as Lisa Scottoline's "Look Again."

I'm headed back to my comfy chair on the porch to finish False Memory... I'll try to post more details later without giving away the gripping conclusion.

Hurricane Bill Was Here

2009-08-26T19:15:00.003-04:00

Gone Surfin'

2009-08-25T12:10:00.003-04:00

No one in our family actually surfs with a long board (though I have a cool pink boogie board and London and Maddie are getting to be quite the body surfers like their dad), but I wanted to let you know that Rex, London, Maddie and I will be spending the next couple of weeks here at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey. I'll still be posting here, as well as over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, and may even have more time to devote to the blogosphere, but hope that my posts will be filled with the relaxation of the ocean waves crashing against the sand.

The first day of our beach vacation started out as an 8-hour day of work in the home office, but as I said to Maddie and London when we headed out to the edge of the ocean around 4 o'clock, "A short day at the beach sure beats a day at the office."

At a minimum, I'm hoping that a daily dose of sunshine and the sound of the ocean waves will calm my nerves, soothe my soul/psyche, and remind me to focus on what's really important: my family and my health. So far, so good... for me, the sound of the ocean is more relaxing than all the yoga and belly-breathing a more "holistic" person might enjoy.

I'm writing in a new pink journal whose proceeds, through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, benefit the fight against breast cancer, which is another element of putting priorities in perspective. I thank God every day for all the ways I have been blessed.

Unsubscribe, Please

2009-08-22T17:11:00.003-04:00

You know how spammers and other e-mail marketers give you a click through to "unsubscribe" from their frequent, unwanted e-mails? Have you ever received an e-mail (or multiple e-mails) from a friend and wished you could just e-mail back a single word response..."unsubscribe."

I have a high enough degree of stress in my career that I don't need to add to it, so I avoid unpleasant news and discussions. I don't find it helpful to commiserate about the economy, the unemployment rate, or the housing market, unless there's something productive to do about it. There's enough bad news in the world that can't be avoided, so I'd prefer that my friends not pass along their grim reaper newsletters to me.

Summer Dinners at the Beach with Rex

2009-08-22T16:44:00.026-04:00

Down at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, particularly on the hottest days of summer, Rex likes to prepare light, refreshing dinnners for our family and guests... from his famous grilled chicken taco salad to a flank steak salad. In addition to using all natural NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar in one of his summer recipes, Rex might splash it onto a simple green salad, baby spinach, chicken fresh and hot from our backyard grill, pasta, baked potatoes, or even hot vegetables like yellow squash or zucchini. Made from whole grain rice and naturally brewed in a traditional manufacturing process that begin more than 200 years ago in Japan, NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar is a fat and gluten free, low calorie (one tablespoon = 20 calories vs. 1 tablespoon of mayo = 90 calories and 10 grams of fat), delicious and healthy alternative to salad dressing, sour cream or butter. If you're watching your salt intake, it also has 50% less sodium than other rice vinegar brands and is available in several tasty flavors such as Roasted Garlic, Basil & Oregano, Balsamic Blend, Red Pepper, and Italian Herb.

Check out NAKANO's web site for recipes, fun-to-try splash tips, and a $1.00 off coupon so you can try "the new condiment" for yourself. Join the NAKANO Splash Recipe Club to receive cool newsletters featuring great cooking themes such as cooking with Caribbean flavors.

Bay Head NJ School Foundation Presents...Kitchens by the Sea: Saturday, September 26, 2009

2009-08-19T20:25:00.003-04:00

Every other year, the Bay Head School Foundation puts on Kitchens by the Sea, an amazing day of peeking into our neighbors' kitchens and enjoying delicious food samples provided by local Jersey Shore restaurants and caterers. This year, the event falls when Rex and I will be spending a three day weekend with our girls in Bay Head, celebrating our eleventh wedding anniversary. As my loyal readers know, Rex and I were married on the beach in Bay Head in September 1998.... and yes, Roxy did wear a white bikini.

A Laptop A Day...

2009-08-19T12:25:00.037-04:00

A laptop a day...

(a) Keeps the doctor away?
(b) Keeps the demons at bay?
(c) Charter is giving away
(d) All of the above
(e) None of the above

Don't you hate taking a test in the middle of the summer? While maybe (a) and (b) are correct, and they make a nice rhyme, if you guessed (c), you are well on your way to a high grade on today's multiple choice exam. Charter is following up on the success of their HDTV-a-Day Sweepstakes with a new Back 2 School Laptop-a-Day Sweepstakes promotion, giving away a shiny new laptop computer every day – and they are extending it for 2 months! The contest runs from July 15th through September 15th, 2009. This sweepstakes is just right for a high school or college student headed back to school in September or a business person who's always on the go like Roxy -- we all need a laptop for easy mobility. Each daily winner will get a 15-inch HP 550 Notebook featuring Windows Vista and a NeoTec Compu Backpack.

In addition, with Charter's special online deals, you can get a free gift card, ranging in value from $25 to $100, from major retailers in clothing, home and accessories, restaurants and more. Just in time for back to school shopping, won't those gift cards come in handy? Check out Charter on Facebook or follow Charter on Twitter to stay on top of the excitement.

Music Monday: Stacy's Mom Has Got It Going On

2009-08-16T11:30:00.002-04:00

Sitting out on the porch on Saturday night listening to 94.3 The Point, I heard the Jersey power pop band Fountains of Wayne singing "Stacy's Mom" and decided I had to track down the naughty naughty video to share with all of you for this week's Music Monday... Enjoy!

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on

Stacy, can I come over after school? (after school)
We can hang around by the pool (hang by the pool)
Did your mom get back from her business trip? (business trip)
Is she there, or is she trying to give me the slip? (give me the slip)

You know, I'm not the little boy that I used to be
I'm all grown up now, baby can't you see

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want and I've waited for so long
Stacy, can't you see you're just not the girl for me
I know it might be wrong but I'm in love with Stacy's mom

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on

Stacy, do you remember when I mowed your lawn? (mowed your lawn)
Your mom came out with just a towel on (towel on)
I could tell she liked me from the way she stared (the way she stared)
And the way she said, "You missed a spot over there" (a spot over there)

And I know that you think it's just a fantasy
But since your dad walked out, your mom could use a guy like me

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want, and I've waited so long
Stacy, can't you see you're just not the girl for me
I know it might be wrong,
but I'm in love with Stacy's mom

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want and I've waited for so long,
Stacy can't you see your just not the girl for me,
I know it might be wrong but oh oh
(I know it might be wrong)
I'm in love with (Stacy's mom oh oh)
(Stacys mom oh oh)
I'm in love with Stacy's mom

Bay Head NJ School Foundation Presents...Kitchens by the Sea: Saturday, September 26, 2009

2009-08-15T20:26:00.005-04:00

Kids! Paint with Jersey Artist Tine Kirkland Graham Tomorrow: Saturday, August 15, at the Anchor and Palette Gallery in Bay Head, NJ

2009-08-14T12:42:00.000-04:00

One of my younger daughter Maddie's favorite bedtime activities is to take our family through "Color My Dog Yellow," written and illustrated by Jersey artist Tine Kirkland Graham. Maddie will read a little poem about each dog and tell us where he lives... Bay Head, Cape Cod, or Morristown, to name a few. Tine has been one of our favorite local artists for a long time... Rex and I have one of her paintings in our dining room and she painted our Bay Head beach house (image on the left) years and years ago, maybe even before London and Maddie were born.

This weekend, Maddie and London and all of their beach friends will have the opportunity to paint the day with Tine in a FREE event at the Anchor & Palette Gallery on Mount Street in Bay Head, New Jersey. Trader is spending the week here with Rex's grandkids, so we'll have a house full of creativity at the beach.

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Music Monday Tribute: Don't You Forget About Me:: RIP John Hughes

2009-08-10T07:24:00.001-04:00

"You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... and an athlete... and a basket case... a princess..."

I read with great sadness that writer-director-producer John Hughes had died this past week at age 59 of a heart attack while walking in Manhattan. With his 1980s "Brat Pack" movies -- "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "She's Having a Baby" as we grew into our twenties -- he captured a piece of my heart, a piece of my childhood, a piece of my teenage years.

Born in Michigan, Hughes used his high school town of suburban Northbrook, Illinois, as a location for many of his films. He got his start as an advertising copywriter in Chicago and started selling jokes to performers such as Rodney Dangerfield and Joan Rivers. Hired by National Lampoon magazine after submitting his short story "Vacation '58," he wrote his first screenplay, "Class Reunion," while on staff at the magazine, and it became his first produced script in 1982. His next, "National Lampoon's Vacation," based on his short story, became his first big hit and spawned several sequels.

Hughes' first film as a director was 1984's "Sixteen Candles," starring Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusack and Molly Ringwald. The teen romance introduced several of the actors who would come to be known as the Brat Pack. In 1985, "The Breakfast Club" became the era's iconic and influential high school film. It starred Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Hall and Judd Nelson as teens who must learn to get along when thrown together during Saturday detention.

Hughes wrote and exec produced "Pretty in Pink" featuring Molly Ringwald and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," starring Matthew Broderick. He also wrote "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "She's Having a Baby," heartfelt adolescent/young adult stories that both bore his stamp.

He branched out with 1987's more grown-up "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," starring Steve Martin and John Candy, then directed just two more films, "Uncle Buck" and "Curly Sue," his eighth and final film as director. Hughes turned primarily to writing and producing, seeing his greatest success with 1990's "Home Alone," which he wrote and produced. It spawned three sequels.

"He understood young people in a way few filmmakers ever have. He tapped into the feelings of teenagers and literally changed the face of the '80s. The film industry has lost a giant -- a gentle, wonderful giant," said "Home Alone" actor Devin Ratray in a statement.

While no longer active in Hollywood, he more recently provided the stories for films including "Maid in Manhattan" and "Drillbit Taylor" using the pseudonym Edmond Dantes.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy; two sons, John, a musician, and James, a writer; and four grandchildren.

Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby

Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on

Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down

Will you recognise me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down

Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ohhhh.....

Don't you try to pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security

Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away

Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on - call my name
Will you all my name?

Rest in peace, John Hughes.

London May Be Headed for Third Grade, but She Thinks She's College Campus Ready

2009-08-06T16:34:00.023-04:00

This post was sponsored by Sears. All the opinions are mine. With that out of the way, I'm here to tell you that although London will only be entering the third grade at Mendham Township Elementary School in the Fall, she's been flirting with her twenty something camp counselors all summer and appears to be CampusReady. Lucky for mom, I've got another ten years before London will be heading off to college in the Fall, spending her back to school days at Sears.com to shop by dorm room (with virtual suites of coordinating dorm room products and design ideas to make that first home away from home her own), making a shopping checklist of things she'd like mom and dad to buy, and of course checking out the latest apparel must-haves, with links to all the categories of clothing she'll need for every aspect of campus life, including the ones her mom is better off not knowing about. Sears has even created a Facebook application to ensure my future college freshman will have an easy transition from high school into the college arena...check it out at CampusReady on Facebook.

While many of us have watched our net worth vanish before our very eyes on the past year's stock market rollercoaster, college tuition costs continue to rise, but Sears and Upromise are here to help... they're giving away a total of $25,000 in college tuition prizes. Since we started using Upromise to save for college when I was pregnant with London, we've collected almost ten thousand dollars... sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dollars (refinancing two mortgages), sometimes ten bucks a pop from online purchases, sometimes pennies at a time at the grocery store, but it is not hard to earn and every bit counts. Upromise members are automatically entered in the contest with a sears.com purchase through Upromise.com, or you can enter free at sears.com/campusready. See sears.com/campusready for all the rules and complete details.

Back to the Beach this Weekend!!

2009-08-06T16:25:00.004-04:00

We've been renting out our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, for the past two weeks while having good fun up north in the Roxiticus Valley, including Roxy's 25th high school reunion, Grandmom's 84th birthday, a visit from Aunt Veg and Uncle Quiet, and a day of boating on Lake Hopatcong. On Friday night, after four weeks of singing, dancing and acting at Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars camp in Far Hills, New Jersey, London and Maddie will take the stage to sing Broadway faves like "Let's Go Fly A Kite" from Mary Poppins, "Under the Sea" from the Little Mermaid, "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast, and "We Rock" from Disney's Camp Rock. Then, after a big 90th birthday celebration for my Uncle Joe at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lyons, NJ, we make our triumphant return to the beach on Saturday afternoon. Since the weather is supposed to be nice and Trader and Rex's grandkids are coming down for the week, we'll stay over on Sunday night, play a little hooky from work on Monday, catch a few waves, build a village of sand castles, and paint and sell seashells down by the seashore... can't wait!!

Nothing in the Fridge

2009-08-04T16:53:00.013-04:00

I've posted over on Roxy's Best Of... Far Hills, NJ and my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog about my latest health and fitness plan, including an energy drink that resembles pond scum. What I left out is that, as a result of my commitment to diet and exercise and not eating junk food snacks, I'm hungry and there's nothing good in the fridge. Meanwhile Stouffer's is tempting with the opportunity to win $10,000 cash and take the trip of my dreams, Sony Digital Camcorders valued at $500, and Stouffers-panini products instantly (how quick can they get the panini here?? is what I want to know) by trying their globally-inspired new tastes. Stouffers just launched four new varieties: Bistro Meatballs & Peppers, Bistro Chicken Souvlaki, Lean Cuisine Grilled Vegetables & Goat Cheese, and Lean Cuisine Mango Chicken Tikka. Just register here for a chance to win one of three (3) grand prizes - a $10,000 gift card to spend on your choice of India, Greece, Italy and France travel destinations, one of twelve (12) second prizes - a $500 Sony Digital Camcorder, or daily instant prizes -- coupons for free Stouffer’s panini products. The registration process allows you one free entry, or you get one unique UPC code entry per day. This offer is available to Canadian residents only, so it looks like my fridge is still empty here in the States.

Music Monday II: Blondie's "Call Me" from American Gigolo

2009-08-03T11:16:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, Blondie is coming to the Community Theatre up north in Morristown, NJ, next Monday, August 10th. I remember the song "Call Me" from American Gigolo as if it were yesterday, though I believe I was in the 6th or 7th grade, begging my mother to take me to see hot hot Richard Gere in my first rated R movie (she said "No" and I didn't see a Rated R film until Stripes came out a few years later and I picked up an older guy outside the Cort Theatre in Somerville who claimed to be my dad, as well as the father of all five of my BFFs...but that's another Music Monday)

Colour me your colour, baby
Colour me your car
Colour me your colour, darling
I know who you are
Come up off your colour chart
I know where you're coming from
Call me on the line
Call me call me any anytime
Call me my love you can call me any day or night
Call me
Cover me with kisses, baby
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I'll never get enough
Emotions come I don't know why
Cover up love's alibi
Call me on the line
Call me call me any anytime
Call me oh my love
When you're ready we can share the wine
Call me
Ooh, he speaks the languages of love
Ooh, amore, chiamami chiamami.
Oo, appelle-moi mon cherie, appelle-moi
Anytime anyplace anywhere anyway
Anytime anyplace anywhere any day, anyway
Call me my life
Call me call me any anytime
Call me for a ride
Call me call me for some overtime
Take me out and show me off
Put me on the scene
Dress Me in the fashions of the nineteen nighties
You're the man no in between
I know what you words can mean
Call me call me any anytime
Call me for a ride
Call me call me for some overtime
Call me in my life
Call me call me in a sweet design
Call me call me for your lover's lover's alibi
Call me on the line
Call me call me any anytime
Call me
Oh, call me, ooh ooh ah.
Call me my love.
Call me, call me any anytime.

Music Monday: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

2009-07-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

When are you gonna come down?
When are you going to land?
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man
You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

Chorus

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then?
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again
Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

Chorus

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

Speaking of howling old owls, I've been howling along with Elton John when he comes on XM Satellite Eighties on 8 on my way home from the Bernardsville train station after work this week, so I thought I'd share with all of you. The video is a real classic... Enjoy!

Eeew.... Rabies!

2009-07-26T09:36:00.006-04:00

An animal control officer has encountered two rabid raccoons in the Borough of Bay Head, NJ, within the past two weeks, said Sgt. Geoffrey Barger of the Bay Head Police Department.

One of the raccoons was found in the area of Evergreen Drive and the other was found rummaging through a trash bin on the 500 block of Lake Avenue. Both were tested by animal control and have been confirmed to be infected with rabies, according to a release from the Police Department. Residents and visitors are urged to avoid attracting raccoons and other wildlife by keeping all trash in covered containers, Barger said.

Unattended small children and pets should not be allowed to play near wooded areas where there could be a potential to come in contact with rabid animals. Anyone who comes in contact with an animal that appears to show abnormal or aggressive behavior should contact authorities immediately. The Bay Head Police Department can be reached at 732-892-0632.

We had trouble with raccoons last summer and again in the beginning of this season in Bay Head. They were getting in through our chimney and leaving their paw prints all over the house. I'm sure glad we had our beach house "raccoon-proofed" by Muskrat Jack. If you have raccoon trouble, I'd recommend giving him a call at (732) 295-1618.

Rent Roxy's Beach House in Bay Head, New Jersey

2009-07-24T23:00:00.001-04:00

I'm writing to you from up north in the Roxiticus Valley tonight, getting ready to spend the next two weeks away from the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey while we rent our beautiful beach house to another lucky family.

If you've been enjoying the beach adventures of London and Maddie, Rex and Roxy from afar and would like to see for yourself, I wanted to let you know that we're open to renting our beach house for one more week from Sunday, August 16th through Sunday, August 23rd. We're in a quiet but convenient location between the ocean and the bay, two short blocks from the beach, with a traffic light to help you and your kids to cross the highway with a wagon full of beach toys. The price is $4,000 per week, and you can add on a few more days beyond the 23rd at $500 each. We're keeping the week before Labor Day for ourselves. I'll try to post some photos over the weekend. In the meantime, if you're interested in renting Roxy's beach house in Bay Head, NJ this summer, please call or visit Diane Cornell at Van Sciver Realtors, 431 Main Avenue, Bay Head, NJ, phone (732) 898-0038 and be sure to tell her Roxy sent you.

Melissa's New Baby Is Soooo Cute!

2009-07-24T22:40:00.017-04:00

My high school BFF, Melissa, just missed our 25th reunion for the Somerville High School Class of 1984, but she probably had the best excuse of anyone in the class... and plenty of others didn't make it to the Green Knoll Grille tonight, either! So what was Melissa's great excuse? She just had a baby girl three months ago. Back at Christmas time, Rex, London, Maddie, and I were all thrilled to learn that after years of "working at it," Melissa, her husband, and their three year old son were expecting their second child... and it's a girl!

As soon as I knew she was pregnant again, I reminded Melissa, and I'll tell all of you now, about the miraculous benefits of collecting and "banking" your child's umbilical cord blood. Unless you read a lot of baby and parenting magazines, you may not know that U-Cord blood stem cells are known to treat over 75 diseases, and have been used in over 12,000 transplants worldwide.

Cryo-Cell, the industry's family cord bank leader with more quality accreditations than any private cord blood bank, has an exclusive premium family service called "Protect Baby, Protect Mom" where expectant parents can get the a $725 discount by using the promotional code 995PS to enroll online with Cryo-Cell by midnight this Sunday, July 26th. You'll receive special UCORD pricing of $995 for processing, testing and your first year of storage, and the cancellation fee will be waived. You may also choose to enroll in the Signature UCORD Service and Exclusive C’elle Service for one low price of $1299 by using promotional code P2PS. So why not take advantage of this special discounted offer from Cryo-Cell and enroll now.

Roxy's Mermaid Swim Team On Vacation at the Anchor & Palette in Bay Head, New Jersey

2009-07-22T21:54:00.000-04:00

I think I've mentioned that we're renting out our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, for a couple of weeks at the end of July into early August. Since we're away in the Roxiticus Valley, it made sense for our Mermaid Swim Team to take a vacation as well. Coinciding with artist Wendy McCarthy's updated Mermoments show at the Anchor and Palette gallery on Mount Street in Bay Head, our beautiful mermaid painting will be on display there through August 8th. Rex, London, Maddie and I were over at the Anchor & Palette for the opening on Saturday night, when Wendy debuted a new painting, Mer-Mom. I snapped a few photos but left my camera and disc at home this morning, so I'll have to give you an update on this great new Mermaid piece when I get home from work tonight.

If you missed the opening the other night, Wendy will also be participating in the Anchor & Palette's Sunday afternoon "Meet the Artist" series. On August 30th, meet artist Wendy McCarthy, who will be on hand to unveil her latest painting and talk about her new ideas for her fantastic mermaid series.

Rental Homes At the Beach in Bay Head and Elsewhere

2009-07-22T20:39:00.027-04:00

I've mentioned that, for the first time ever, Rex and I have decided to rent our beach house at the Jersey Shore for a few weeks during the summer. We've listed it with the local realtors in our little town of Bay Head, New Jersey, and I've also blogged about it in the hope that a nice family who loves the beach as much as we do will make contact through our realtor.

If you're searching for an apartment or rental home for the longer term, there's a new, free application available for your iPhone that enables you to search more than six million apartments and rental homes nationwide... whether you're searching for a beach rental in Bay Head or anywhere else all the way across the United States. You can use it to find apartments nearby using GPS while you're walking around the town you'd like to live in, or search for your dream home by city, state, and zip code. Filter your search results by what's important to you: number of bedrooms, bathrooms, price range, pet policies, or amenities. The Notes and Photos section keeps you organized by letting you store your thoughts about and photos of each possibility right on the listing.

www.mynewplace.com is one of the biggest apartment rental sites on the internet, a three time Business Week "Best of the Web" winner, and an innovator in the field.

So for access to more than 6 million apartments and rental homes nationwide on your iPhone while you're out in the street and on the hunt for a new place to live, check out and download MyNewPlace in the iPhone app store

Music Monday: Miley & Nick All Grown Up & Singin' Before the Storm

2009-07-14T19:00:00.001-04:00

My loyal Bay Head Blog and Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know all about my embarrassing weakness for the Disney Channel, and this week's Music Monday is no less sappy than you might have come to expect. With no apologies to those who waste their time complaining about Miley's teen "scandals," I just enjoy watching the girl grow up. I can't help thinking about London and Maddie, my two singing Butter Bites, and hope that their young romance might be captured this way...

Miley:
I know this isn't what I wanted
I never thought it'd come this far
Just thinking back to where we started
And how we lost all that we are

Nick:
We were young and times were easy
But I could see it's not the same
I'm standing here but you don't see me
I'd give it all for that to change

And I don't want to lose her
Don't wanna let her go

Miley:
I'm standing out in the rain
I need to know if it's over
Cause I will leave you alone
Nick:
Flooded with all this pain
Knowing that I'll never hold her
Both:
Like I did before the storm (yeah)
Before the storm

Nick:
With every strike of lightning
Miley:
Comes a memory that lasts
Both:
And not a word is left unspoken
As the thunder starts to crash
Miley:
Maybe I should give up

Miley:
I'm standing out in the rain
I need to know if it's over
Cause I will leave you alone
Nick:
Flooded with all this pain
Knowing that I'll never hold her
Like I did before the storm

Miley:
Trying to keep the lights from going out
Both:
And the clouds from ripping out my broken heart
We always say
A heart is not a whole
Without the one who gets you through the storm

Standing out in the rain
Knowing that's it really over
Please don't leave me alone
I'm flooded with all this pain, knowing that I'll never hold you
Like I did before the storm

Yeah
Like I did before
The storm.

Renting My Beach House in Bay Head, NJ...Maybe I'll Go to Branson

2009-07-14T18:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend, Rex, London, Maddie and I will head down to our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey to participate in the Rubber Duck Derby to benefit the Bay Head School Foundation. We're hoping for another weekend of terrific beach weather, since it will be our last one for a few weeks. We're renting our beautiful beach house for others to enjoy while we indulge in activities up north in the Roxiticus Valley. We'll spend one weekend at my 25th high school reunion, and the other with Aunt Veg and Uncle Quiet celebrating Grandmom's 84th birthday, and we'll also try to fit in London and Maddie's very first "Double Trouble" slumber party -- one friend for each of them, a double feature movie night, and a double stack of Rex's famous pancakes in the morning.

If we run out of things to do, we can always go to Branson...after all, if we can't be at the beach in Bay Head, what better way to have a great time this summer than taking a trip to Branson, Missouri, and what better place to stay than in the midst of all the action at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing?

Situated within the electrifying entertainment capital of the Midwest, these two hotels offer guests access to shops, boutiques, restaurants, a relaxing river walk and other local attractions. For those about to golf, the new Payne Stewart Golf Club, managed by Hilton, is nearby and features hole after hole of gorgeous scenery. This summer, there's something for everyone in Branson, including the 10th Annual Clown Jam, National Kid’s Fest at Silver Dollar City, live entertainment and plenty of theaters. Take an easy drive out to Branson’s museums, theme parks, lakes and other outdoor attractions.

When we're not at the beach, we just may see you in Branson!

We're Going to the Rubber Duck Derby!

2009-07-14T17:55:00.000-04:00

I mentioned last week that Bay Head, New Jersey is having its second annual rubber duck derby to benefit the Bay Head School Foundation, and now I know for sure that Rex, London, Maddie and I will be there with our best trained rubber ducky. Scheduled for Saturday, July 18th, at 11:00am, the Great Bay Head Duck Derby includes a $10 Duck Race, gift auctions and silent auctions. The day's events will begin at 11:00am, with the races taking place, rain or shine, on Scow Ditch in Centennial Park. It looks like the weatherman will deliver plenty of "shine," so we're looking forward to the event...

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Bringing the Bay Head Blog to Life with Charter

2009-07-14T17:35:00.026-04:00

Charter Communications is asking bloggers like me the question:

I'm here to tell my tale of the Bay Head Blog and my stolen moments on the Internet at our beach house. Maybe my story will be the one that wins!

Everyone knows that digital tools are constantly changing the way we live our lives, interact with our friends and families, and how we learn and play. Our neighbors at the beach who have cable TV and high speed Internet are able to order movies on demand instead of driving to the video store or watching the same old DVDs and videotapes (yes, we have VHS!). While we still pick up the Sunday New York Times at Curtis' Central Market, our digitized neighbors get their news from online sources. We keep an old-fashioned scrapbook of our favorite beach photos while our neighbors share photos and videos online with their friends and family. We see our friends at the beach and remark how all the kids have grown over the winter, while the neighbors with cable catch up with old friends and Charter on Facebook. While others' lives have changed dramatically due to the digital tools they can use, our beach house has been left behind in 1985 because of stubborn Roxy's refusal to do business with a certain Comcastic cable TV and Internet provider.

If only I could be a Charter Communications customer – phone, high speed Internet or cable. The company wants to know how you live your digital life, and I'd like to get one. Simply “Tell Us How You Do It,” and you can win some great prizes. Each week Charter is giving away either a 15” laptop or a 52” HDTV to one lucky customer who submits their story. At the end of the promotion, Charter will also give away a grand prize package of one 52” HFTV, one 15” Laptop, and a free year of the Charter Bundle with includes Digital Cable with HD and a DVR, Charter High-Speed Internet and Charter Telephone. There it is -- Roxy's very own digital life all rolled up in a big bundle! All I have to do is visit Charter and submit my story with photos or video that shows how I use my digital tools. Wish me luck...