a rose by any other name....

Believe it or not...I planted this rosebush two years ago...and it is not only still alive, but flowering and scenting the area by the front door beautifully! My mother would be speechless.

supersize me!

Michael, Jenny and I watched the documentary, Supersize Me, last night. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock embarks on the most perilous journey of his life as his healthy lifestyle is changed and his body functions rapidly change. The rules? For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must wolf three squares a day; he must consume everything on the menu at least once and supersize his meal if asked.

Spurlock's grueling drive-through diet spirals him into a physical and emotional metamorphosis that will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac.

At the end of the movie, Jenny looked at me and actually thanked me for NOT taking them to McDonald's very much.

As one marketing executive pointed out, even if parents sit with their children for three meals a day and promote healthy eating in a lifetime, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of advertisements that the children see on tv over time.

Scary thought.

Darien Lake 2008

Derrek, Dean, Jenny, Henry and Tony
Some of our crew...
Ready to get wet on Grizzly Run!
Jenny
Henry doesn't 'like' spinny rides like the merry-go-round? I forgot to tell him there were ripe bananas in my bag...
Jenny about to get Henry moving on to the next ride
Reigning champion until this year...I gave up my crown to my daughter (I think it was rigged, as I didn't ~ nor have I EVER missed a mole)
Console myself with yet another funnel cake (one of the top reasons I so enjoy going to Darien)
Casey, Karin, Louise, Gary...Coming off Mind Eraser...do they remember who I am?
Henry and Tony coming off Mind Eraser
Gary, Mar, Casey and Louise about to go down the Tornado (I call it the funnel)
Karin, Jim, Henry and Tony are next in line!

Jenny and I on the Merry-Go-Round...we even have our favorite horses! (my daughter sacrificed one trip on the Ride of Steel to placate her mother by going on this ride with me)

Jenny...in her element

Julie and Jenny up to their usual antics...
I think that we can safely say she has Henry's stomach for speed and tolerance to pain!
Hmmm...but is she enjoying herself (lol)?


Apparently Jenny is having loads of fun and hopefully will want to return to her boring home-life tomorrow...

Letting go...

Jenny is now in the hands of Godmommy Julie at the cottage for most of the week.

This is pretty well the first time Jenny has been away from home without us for an extended period of time. Keep in mind that she is the child without fear. Put together with her pea-in-a-pod godmother...well, what the hell was I thinking?

Here is the email and photos I received this morning...

HI! having fun already and barely still alive!!!! Maybe you should send her health card!!! ahahahahahaahahah

love julie and jenny

Julie's visit

Godmommy Julie came for a visit a short while ago. We rented movies and had take-out for supper.

Sacrifices (weep...sob)

In every relationship, there are sacrifices.

I just want everyone to know that I am making the ULTIMATE sacrifice tomorrow by NOT going to the Def Leppard/Billy Idol concert that is in our area.

Months ago (as soon as it was posted), I asked my husband to go with me.

"Nooooooo," he said.

[Yes, I was this close to getting a single front row ticket for the concert, but actually felt the vibe radiating from Henry to be pushing the envelope just that little too far ~ so what that I've seen them more than once, and actually ditched my family and drove to North Detroit by myself to see them for the first time a few years ago!]

I tell you, the devil on my left shoulder has shoved off the angel of matrimonial harmony on my right...the push/pull of want vs. need is killing me! (We actually DO need new water pipe throughout the house now that a fourth pin-hole leak has been found in a copper 90 downstairs that has completely soaked the door jamb and carpet ~ I blame Henry for our constant run of bad luck with water ~ he is an Aquarius after all)

However, back to me for a moment...

THIS is the ultimate sacrifice and pity party for me (and I just wanted to go on record so that everyone, including Henry, is aware of it)