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
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
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
(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.
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
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!
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. 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.
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.
"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.
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!
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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