Top Five

I got tagged by my Amber (who is my bloggy twin, by the way) and I'm so glad, because after the last week of posts, I am really hard-pressed to find anything interesting to write about!! By the way, my blog never received more traffic than it did in the last few days...thank you SJP and SATC!

But back to the mundane, I got tagged to write the top five answers to the following questions:

1. What I was doing 10 years ago today.

-Mothering two little girls, aged 3 and 4.
-Putting together money for end of the year teacher gifts at pre-school
-Paying bills without the benefit of a computer
-Planning a short vacation in Margate, NJ at the White Sands Motel
-Spoke everyday to a wonderful friend, that I (sadly) don't speak to anymore.

2. Five Things on My To-do List from today
- Deposit economic stimulus check (yay!)
- Pick up Gregg's birth certificate (so he can have his license renewed)
-Fold laundry
-Go camp shopping - pick up toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and other necessities for camp (I leave in 2 weeks!!!)
-Make dinner ( salmon, ribs, corn, salad)

3. Snacks I Enjoy
-Good-n-Plenties
-Chips-n-Salsa
-Double Stuff Oreos (don't worry, Mom, I don't usually eat these, but they are sooo good!)
-Garlic Toasted Bagel Chips
-Grapes

4. Things I'd do if I were a millionare
(Okay, I'm changing this one, to "Things I would do if I had unlimited funds)
-Travel the world with family.
-Nuture my home, do improvements, have lovely landscaping and new kitchen...would I move? maybe, but I'd really like to just make this home PERFECT
-Have a really big party, invite everyone I know, and have a great time.
-Help family financially, so that everyone can be comfortable.
-Donate to China Earthquake Relief, then pay someone off, so that my sister could FINALLY bring my niece HOME where she belongs. (okay, maybe the pay someone off part isn't really nice, but, we've been WAITING too long!!!!)

5. Places I've lived, in order

Philadelphia, PA - Mt Airy Section
Elkins Park, PA
State College, PA
Philadelphia, PA
South Jersey
(that's kind of boring, isn't it?)

So now, it's my turn to tag a few...

Wendi
Susan
KJO
Anonnie ( you can just fill in yours in the comments)
Irisa (see Anonnie, above)
Heidi (see Anonnie, above)

Part Three - Sex and the City - Celebrity Encounters

My REVIEW: The movie did not disappoint. I will not give anything away. We enjoyed it and if you were a fan of the show, it is a MUST SEE. That's my whole review.

After the movie ended, I kind of expected everyone to stay seated and cheer during the credits. But everyone just got up and got out of there. I was really disappointed, because I am an habitual credit reader. I like to know just who the gaffer was,the best boy, the make-up artists etc.

Nevertheless, we stayed for most of the credits to cheer for our friend's daughter's name, who was the connection who scored us the tickets.

As we left the theater and entered the lobby, I spotted a odd short person, with spikey hair and dark rimmed eyeglasses...none other than the winning contestant on my favorite show, Project Runway... Christian!!! He was "fierce"! (Amber Grundman...I was thinking of you!!!)







We left, thinking that was the last of the celebs, but my celebrity eye was still working and I turned to see .... Jerry Seinfeld!! (That's his wife Jessica in the white jacket next to him....the blonde in the black dress was simply a stalker, whose husband was taking her picture with him ...see the camera on the right)

Wendi said right after this photo was taken, Jerry looked directly at me, with a very cranky angry look. So apparently, I have somehow pissed Jerry Seinfeld. Sorry, Jerry .

Finally, we turn to see a member of the SATC cast, who happens to be an old acquaintance of my sister's, Mario Cantone. Though we weren't sure whether or not he would recognize her, since they haven't seen eachother in several years, he calmly looked up at my sister and said, "Oh, Hi Wendi!"....he kissed and hugged us both, and we congratulated him on a job well done.

So that's it! We had a little elbow rubbing with celebrities. We saw a red carpet from a close proximity. We sat in the same room as, Donald Trump, Mary J. Blige, Bette Midler, Jennifer Garner, the cast of SATC, Mary Kate (or was it Ashley) Olsen, Caroline Rhea, Regis, Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel and a bunch of others, we saw a great movie, a lot of beautiful people, got free popcorn and the best part was sharing all the anticipation and silliness with my beautiful, wonderul sister....THANKS WENDI!!! I LOVE YOU...

PART TWO - Sex and the City Premiere

Our view of the red (actually pink) carpet. If you go to IMDb.com
you can see a full synopsis of all the celebrities on the red carpet.



Our tickets...if you look closely enough, you'll notice that our assigned seats weren't next to eachother, in fact, they were on complete opposite ends of the theatre!










Finally, we got in to the theater, and we were able to sit together. After another LONG wait, but this time, we enjoyed free popcorn and vitamin water, the show began.

Michael Patrick King spoke, and he then introduced the four stars of the movie... (that's Sarah Jessica Parker at the microphone...and then it was time for the movie!!!

(I'll continue in part three!)

Part ONE -And We're Back....My Night at the Sex and the City Premiere!!

(I'm publishing this in several parts, because uploading pictures onto blogger is a pain in the tuchus (tookis, tuooochoos?) Anyway, this is part ONE, the next part is close behind!


We made it, and it's almost surreal...but we had a wonderful time. We sat two seats away from Ashley Olsen, got pictures taken with Regis Philbin and Bette Midler, we went to the after-party at Momo and our feet barely survived....okay, I'm JOKING. We actually didn't get to do any of those things, but...my sister Wendi and I were at the NY Premiere of Sex and the City, and this is the lowdown of our little visit into a different world.

1. OUR OUTFITS - Like proper sisters, I showed up at her house with my outfit...and our shirts were VERY similar!! How funny is that! I had a pretty substantial fashion emergency when the minimizer strapless bra I purchased at ANNIE SEZ did not have the security device removed. I was afraid if I wore it, I'd set off the metal detectors, so I had to wear my normal bra with the straps tucked in. Therefore, I was FAR more boob-a-licious than I should have been, but oh well, no one was looking at me anyway!!!


2. Other people's outfits: Most of the people there were wearing cocktail attire, which was really something to see...but the most incredible accessory of all were the shoes. I have never seen more high heels IN MY LIFE.


3. FLEET WEEK - If you are a fan of the show, you remember the episode about Fleet Week in New York City. How exciting...this IS Fleet Week and here are a couple of sailors we found!

4 To the right is a picture of Radio City Music Hall. The premiere took place here, this is the view of the main entrance, at 51st and ...I don't know. Since our tix were "Will Call", we had to pick up our tickets at the will call window.












5. Our New Friends - We made friends with two lovely southern belles, who were the sisters of the assistant costume designer... We were first in line, they were second. We also made friends with the security personnel who were very kind to us, and made sure we kept our first in line status!





Here are the "little people" who couldn't get behind the velvet ropes like we could. (We were so special for 5 minutes.)

The Verdict: Don't Hate Me Because I'm INSANE

Well, except for only a couple of my loyal fans, (Okay, there are about 8 of you, but whatever...) the PINK dress was the ONE. I put it on yesterday, and frankly, I felt like a watermelon ready to take a stroll on the red carpet. So guess what...I RETURNED IT!!!

So any whoo, my sister doesn't' think we should be COMPLETELY dressed up, (I guess I shouldn't look like I'm trying too hard, even though I'm having major anxiety over this), so I opted for a "Casual Elegance" look, with high heels (of course...this is sex and the city). I feel far more comfortable, and like I'm not trying to be something I am not, and anyway...I'm pretty sure most eyes are not going to be on me. Actually, I'm positive about that.

And I saw a promo on the E! Channel, that their going to have "LIVE from THE RED CARPET: Sex and The City" on Tuesday evening. So thanks to my girl Alison, she's going to DVR it for my viewing pleasure.

So the bottom line...take notice in the above picture, not of the four stylish fashionista's glowing with anticipation, but of the woman to the left with the black dress and boots. Appreciate her, because unlike the women in the spotlight, she did not have stylists picking out her clothes, she is larger than a size 4, fashion designers weren't begging her to pick their outfit, and Harry Winston wasn't lending her diamond necklaces. She probably picked out that outfit herself and (in my own mind)she, too had a little bit of angst...

Now, I just have to deal with my nails, my eyebrows, shave my legs, get a healthy tan...figure out accessories....oy...I may not make it alive!

FASHION EMERGENCY!!! HELP!!

Okay, you know that show on HGTV called House Hunters, where they show the people three houses and they have to pick one? That's kind of like how I feel right now picking out a dress for the big Sex and the City Premiere. (Did I mention, I was going to the Sex and the City Premiere???) (Okay, just kidding)

Anyway, please help!!! Which of the following should I wear?

Dress ONE - Calvin Klein, pink, fitted, moderately priced, needs a LITTLE alteration in the shoulder area. Pros - feels very SATC Cons - I don't want to take any attention away from SJP. (Again, I'm joking :)

Dress TWO - Adrianna Papell, brown with bead embellishiments at the neck. Pros - ON SALE...ridiculously cheap, doesn't really need alteration. Cons - has a few loose threads, not in wonderful condition.

Dress THREE - Black two piece fitted outfit - Pros - Will probably get the most use out of this one, it's classic, no alteration needed, tried a similar outfit for the bat mitzvah and loved it then. Cons - ugly rhinestone thingy on the top (i can remove), most expensive of the bunch, it's black...how many black dresses does a girl need?

Please help, and tell me which is the best choice...or at least YOUR choice. And if you are generally shy about commenting, I'm begging you PLEASE comment this time, I need you. :0

Yes, Really.

To answer a couple questions posed lately, yes, we're really going to the premiere. Yes, the premiere. Red carpet, fancy shoes, photographers and movie stars. I'm pretty sure, however, no one will be asking me, "Who are you wearing", though, I'm kind of hoping I can stand behind a celebrity and then see myself on E!.

Okay, that was only one question, but I answered it.

My question now is, What am I going to wear???? And though my mother wanted me to wear the dress I wore to the Bat Mitzvah, I'm going to pass on the notion of wearing an outfit that looks a little like a tablecloth.

So, I'll have to go shopping. (Oh well).

I thought the 27th was a wednesday, and that would be the day I go to NY. Now I find out it's a Tuesday! Oy, less time than I thought!!! Tee hee!

Oh, yeah, one question that keeps popping up is, "Can I come with?" I wish you could, but I'm lucky that my beautiful sister picked me (out of all the girls she could have picked).

Finally, and this is to the BEAUTIFUL Annonie -(if you read Wendi's Blog, you should know who Anonnie is), a: you are gorgeous; b: can I add your picture to the main photo? c: you look like you are possibly our long-lost sister :)

And one more thing...who's going to meet us for Cosmos before and/or after the show??? We have to have a total SATC moment!

Sex and the City Premiere

Wendi's taking me!!! I'm going to the premiere!

Woooo hoooo!!!

(Wish you could join us, Susan, because that's your face on Samantha!!)

How come Susan REALLY looks like Samantha?

My baby is 13 today!!!

48 reasons I love my Husband

I know I'm a little saccharine-y sweet, but I really love my husband, and since it's his birthday, I need to tell you why.
1. He puts up with me.
2. He has a great sense of humor.
3. He's very prompt.
4. He makes me feel secure.
5. He taught me how to do laundry. I guess, that's cause he didn't want to do it anymore.
6. But he still helps me with the laundry.
7. He's my rock.
8. He still loves me, even when I do really stupid things.
9. He always has a movie line handy, perfect for any occasion.
10. He never apologizes for anything, and even though that's a little frustrating, at least he's predictable.
11. He eats my cooking, and appreciates it, but if I don't feel like cooking, he loves to go out to eat!
12. He has passion for the things he loves, family, sports, music, golf...
13. He is loyal to everyone.
14. He taught me what it means to be a considerate person.
15. He writes me love notes on my birthday.
16. He is respectful to my parents and extended family.
17. He has the cutest Grandmom ever.
18. He's very sentimental, and saves every card, note letter he gets.
19. His car is spotlessly clean.
20. He takes care of himself. He eats right, excercises, takes enough vitamins to stock a GNC.
21. No offense to any other 48 year old man, but, really, he is the cutest 48 year old man EVER! Like, when we're in a room filled with people, and I see the most handsome man in the room, I double take when I realize, it's Gregg.
22. He's a great dad to girls. He'll car-pool, he'll coach, he'll listen, he'll yell, he'll love them forever.
23. He picks up the dog poop in the back yard.
24. He can yenta with the best of 'em.
25. He just paid a small fortune for a big party for his Jewish children.
26. He never forgets a name.
27. He talks baby talk to the dogs.
28. He lets me go to camp in the summer.
29. He let me be a stay at home mom, even when we couldn't really afford it.
30. He's a neat freak, and somehow puts up with my sloppiness.
31. He's the nicest guy in the world.
32. He never misses an opportunity to eat dessert, yet he remains slim and fit.
33. He is sports obsessed.
34. He actually gives a shit about things that many men don't. Like picking out furniture, paint, china patterns, decor.
35. And he's perfectly comfortable with that.
36. He adores his children.
37. He'll do car-pool duty and never complain.
38. When I'm sick, he brings me breakfast in bed.
39. He's an excellent driver. Like really good.
40. He knows how to do stuff, stuff I could never figure out.
41. He can speak Yiddish with ease.
42. He taught me not to waste my energy on worry and things that I cannot control.
43. He notices the small details in life, and makes sure to appreciate them.
44. He's the best friend I've ever had.
45. He's a good son.
46. He's really good at just enjoying life.
47. He's not obnoxious. Usually.
48. He's not interested in birthday presents, or parties or making a big deal about his birthday. But, I want him to know that his birthday IS a big deal, because it gives me the chance to let him know how much I adore him, and how grateful I am that he is my guy.

Happy Birthday Gregg, thanks for finding me 19 years ago, and giving me a life that feels like heaven on earth.

I never even heard of Digital Scrapbooking til Today

Okay, so this is pretty cool....
Digitial Scrapbooking? Who cares? Well apparently I do, I put these pages together today, and it's totally fun. Having nothing else to blog about, I thought I'd share them here.

Blinded by my own Reflection

December 2006, we attended the Bat Mitzvah of Hayley's bff Samantha. The ENTIRE crew of us was invited to the event, Gregg, all three girls and me. It was a lovely cermony, a lovely reception. Sam's dad stood up at the reception to thank their guests for attending, and made mention of a very special guest, author Jennifer Weiner. She was doing research for a new book she was writing, and wanted to get a first hand look at the current Bar/Bat Mitzvah scene.

Now, frankly, I'm usually a little shy when it comes to stuff like this. But Jennifer Weiner!!! I first fell for her when she wrote a column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. When she wrote her first novel, I felt like a proud mama watching her little baby grow up. The movie, "In Her Shoes" was based on another of her novels, about two Jewish sisters from the Philadelphia area. It touched me to the core.

So here I am, at a Bat Mitzvah, and she's LITERALLY ONE TABLE AWAY!! I know she's going to be my new best friend. She's going to LOVE ME!! We are kindred spirits!! This is my CHANCE!!

I saunter up to my future BFF, and casually introduce myself. She was very polite, smiled, shook my hand, and that was that.

But I have an almost 13 year old daughter she can write about! I have a SISTER! I'm planning a Bat Mitzvah! I really LOVED Shirley McClaine in the MOVIE!!! We're practically TWINS!!!!!!!!!

Then it occurs to me, Wendi would absolutely PLOTZ if she heard about this. So I call Wendi on the cell phone, and I think, that all of a sudden this day is no longer about Samantha, the Bat Mitzvah, but it's about JENNIFER WEINER the FAMOUS AUTHOR!!!!!!!! And I feel bad about that a little, I really do.

"Wendi, you're not going to believe this" I speak on the tiny phone with my index finger plugging up my ear. "JENNIFER WEINER, is here right now!!!!!!!!!!""

Somehow, I got the brilliant idea, that if Jennifer Weiner spoke to my really much cooler and more successful older sister who works at a New York radio station, I might achieve a higher level of credibility than just an ordinary yenta guest at a bat mitzvah. So I approached the most famous person in the room, once again, this time with the my sister/the phone in hand.

"I'm sorry to have to interrupt you again, but my sister is a big fan, can you talk to her on the phone??"

Again, she was highly polite, spoke to Wendi, and when she was done, I figured NOW she'd really be my BFF. Once again, she wiggled her way out of my grasp.

At this point, I think I got the message. She wasn't attracted to me, to my really cool sister, to my love of her or anything. She didn't need anymore friends, and frankly, she WAS there that day to do research.

Darn it.

I think I continued to stalk a little after that, just to make sure she really didn't need me, she got to meet Hayley, and even interview her for her research, but no, she was clearly there to work not to socialize.

Oh well, easy come, easy go.

Fast forward, Mother's Day 2008. Wendi and I exchange gifts (I'm not sure how Mother's Day became a reason for sisters to exchange gifts, but somehow it has), and what is it, but Certain Girls, the recently published book by Jennifer Weiner.

Now, I'd love to tell you that there is entire chapter in her book about that fateful day in 2006 when Jennifer Weiner got to meet ME, but alas, I'm no fool.

What I can tell you, is that I'm just about 1/3 of the way through, and once again, Ms. Weiner touches my soul. She writes about the relationship of a mother and her almost 13 year old daughter. The perspective of the book switches between Mother and Daughter, and I'm amazed how authentic it feels.

Gregg asked last night if I was enjoying the book. I told him, it's making me a little nauseous. (And I mean that in a good way). It's just that I see so much of myself in this character, that it hurts a little, and I feel like I need to look away. Like when a bright light is shined into my eyes. The truth is so illuminated, it's a little blinding.

I really can't wait to continue reading, (nausea and all), and I must admit, that I feel comfort in reading about this relationship, that my insecurities, my worries, my sometimes unwillingness to let go of my hold on my children is not unique to just me. And even though Jennifer Weiner, the famous author doesn't have room in her life for me personally, I am grateful she has welcomed me into a little piece of her soul.

P.S. In her acknowledgments, she says, "In researching this book, I was lucky enough to be invited to....the bat mitzvah of Samantha W in Cherry Hill where absolutely NOTHING untoward happened. I thank...Samantha...and (her) parents, friends, and families for being so gracious and welcoming."

Did you notice she thanked Samantha's FRIENDs. Hmmmm....maybe she was referring to me....(give me a break, a girl can dream!)

P.P.S. Do you see the back of the arm on the cover of the book, it kind of looks like me on the day we met, pictured below.... (Okay, I know that's pushing it....but c'mon, do you think that's really just a coincidence???)

A Year of Colic

Last year, on the day before Mother's Day, I wrote my first blog entry. I set out to write a blog slightly different from what it has morphed into. I initially thought, I wouldn't share this with anyone. I wanted to simply journal my feelings day to day.

I learned in this year, that writing is the ultimate therapy. Feelings I didn't know I had bubble up to the surface when I'm writing. I find myself experiencing life, and then thinking, "I need to blog about that". It's not really about communicating, but more about sorting out my thoughts, and then organizing them in a fashion that helps me make sense of my journey.

Heidi asked me last night if I was okay if my children read my blog. I am. In fact, I wouldn't write anything on this blog that I wouldn't share with them. In fact, I think my blog would be far more compelling if I threw caution to the wind, and spoke about EVERYthing. But I am protective of my girls, and I reveal just enough to be therapeutic, but not enough to be a complete embarrassment! When I need to sort out the more private stuff, I have my husband, mother, sister and girlfriends to confide in.

I kept a journal for many years when I was a teen and in my early twenties. I loved journaling back then for the simple fact that sometimes I just didn't feel like I wanted to burden anyone with my drama. And I always felt like in the end, I would have written my own personal history books.

That has become the function in blog-land, except these history books will be here forever, their pages won't tatter and they won't get covered with dust in a box in the attic.

I've made friends, learned some life lessons, had the opportunity to share with family and friends, and have touched people on the other side of the world.

The day before mother's day was a good day to begin this journey, one year ago. And I am learning that my theme, "Colic was Easier" is a metaphor for our natural longing for the "good old days". Things always look sweeter and simpler in hindsight. It's like how women who have given birth always say they don't remember the pain. I think we can all try to remember that when times are challenging. One day, I'm sure, I will look back on these days, the days that made my hair gray, and think, those days were nothing compared to this.

I guess, we just need to savor every moment of our lives. Because, as the song says, "these ARE the good old days."

Peace.