Feeling Betta

Ok. So the angst of packing for a trip that I will go on my own was starting to stress me out (putting it lightly). Added to hormonal fluctuations and some humidity and I was a Right Fun Time.*

It's amazing to me what a night of watching a handsome husband repeatedly tossing a wiffle ball to my daughter will do for my mood. That, and a glass of rum and Coke.

Me likey Rum and Coke.

Basically, I'm pretty freakin mellow about now.

Rock on, BlogHer11. I am ready for whatever you have to throw my way! (I am totally doing that Rocky nose-rub-punch-punch-sweat-dripping-thing right now**)

Who wants to wander the streets of San Diego with me on Thursday morning? Anyone? Bueller?
This picture has absolutely no relevance to this post other than the fact that I think I am funny.


*See also: crying over a cotton shirt that shrunk a bit, half-hour conversations on how to carry more than 2 suitcases, and weeping to husband that packing for BlogHer feels like High School all over again. Have I mentioned how much I really didn't like high school?

** Only I'm not sweating. I don't particularly like to sweat and usually cease activity*** once perspiration becomes an issue. ***Well. MOST activities. There are some occasions that even I will endure sweating for....

Blerbidy blerb

Still quite busy with washing of stinky socks and laying out of the same 5 outfits in preparation for BlogHer next week. You'd think I'd be better at this packing thing, but I forgot some stuff last time.

Anywho. It is really loud in my house; Corinne just made Patrick's day by requesting that he sing something for her and her friend. Every musician's dream!

If you're going to BlogHer and want to connect, can you please comment with your twitter handle? I am WAY LATE to this organizing game and am realizing how unprepared I really am. It's a bit unnerving...

FYI, I have 3 giveaways on my review blog right now with practically NO ENTRIES. Good stuff, too!

A headache revisited

Originally posted in July of 2010. I am unplugging until Friday. Sure hope the Internet doesn't fall apart without me!

No radio, no a/c, construction traffic and a 4 year old. Do the math.

"Do we have an attic?"

"Why do you ask?" (picturing her climbing into the crawl area in the boys' closet. I've managed to hide that little storage spot from them and intend to keep it that way.)

"I just want to know!"

I hesitate...

"In my closet, way up high, yes."

"Why is it up high? Does it have anything in it? Can I see inside it?"

"Because they made it that way. It's empty. And no."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not for you."

"But why?"

"Because I SAID so. Now let me drive."

....

"Is the devil for real?"

"What do you think?"

"Billy* says the devil's for real and he will GET you if you are bad."

"Get you? Well, Billy's family believes in the devil and the Bible. Everybody's different. You are allowed to believe whatever you want. What do you believe?"

"I don't think the devil's real."

"Fabulous. Let me drive."

......

"Why don't we store anything in our attic?"

"Aaarrrggggh!! Because it's up high and it gets too hot and I don't want to mess around with it. I am a basement person. I store in the basement, not the attic."

"Why does it get hot?"

"Because the insulation and circulation are all screwy up there and if you ever DO go up there without an adult you could get stuck and suffocate and DIE. Now LET ME DRIVE!"

.....

"Did you know that if you put a plastic bag over your head, you can die? Even little kids, Momma. If a little kid puts a bag over her head, she will DIE. Did you know that, hmmm?"

"Holy hell, child. PLEASE be silent, for just a few minutes, please?!?"

.....

"Isn't hell where the devil lives, Mommy? In hell? So, is he real after all? And why are you a basement person? Don't you like the summertime? I like the summertime. You can go swimming in the summertime and eat popsicles outside. Did you know...."


I really need to get another radio in my van.

*not his real name

3 Minutes of Fame...

I welcome everyone who is here from my 3 minutes of "fame" on NBC 5 Today. I hope I didn't stumble or stare blankly into the camera... I am a bit freaked out at all of the possible ways I can flub this up...

Please take the time to read through the company information and my own views on the products. If you have any questions on the products or where to purchase them, please ask and I will do my best to help you or direct you to someone who can!

Also, please let me know that I didn't look too weird or spastic on tv. Lie if you have to, because I am seriously nervous!

All information in italics is straight from the companies' releases. My own take on the products is in regular font. There is so much information, that I didn't want to leave anything out!


The Safety Turtle by Safety Turtle.com

The Safety Turtle Wireless Wristband Alarm is an ingenious combination of wireless signal-outfitted wristband and a wireless base station receiver that sounds an alarm the instant a child falls or ventures into water. The base station can be positioned anywhere between pool/waterside and 200 feet away (depending on model desired). $235

If you are a family that is around water quite often, I can see how the Safety Turtle would be truly beneficial. Water (and fire) are 2 of my biggest concerns with little kids. Did you know that it only takes an inch or two of standing water for a baby to drown? The thought is horrific. If you have a pool or frequent the beach often, this may be a product that you find is worth the cost. Corinne and I tested it out in our sink and the MOMENT the sensor got wet, the alarm went off! The uses for the Safety Turtle are quite extensive. Have a pet? Work at a public pool? Like to go boating? Check out their website for many different reasons that the Safety Turtle might apply for you and your family.

The Sport-Brella XL by Sport-Brella

The Sport-Brella XL gives the whole family instant protection from the sun, rain, and wind with its domed shape, side flaps and 125 SPF. Its umbrella action open mechanism allows it to be set up in just three seconds and fits the family, fully 9 ft. wide. Includes top wind vents, side zippered windows for efficient airflow and additional visibility, internal pockets for gear and valuables, convenient carry bag and tethers/ground stakes for use when necessary for additional stability. $69.99

I am SO STOKED about the Sport-Brella XL!! We love camping, fishing, and going to the beach, but all of those activities can truly stink when it is 95 degrees and sunny. Just last year, my middle son almost had heat stroke at Lake Michigan's beach and he is WAY too big for me to carry across the dunes! I'm thrilled to bring the Sport-Brella XL to the Dunes with us this August and to continue to use it for any outdoor events that occur in the elements. If you purchase this, just be sure to take the directions out of the pouch with the stakes. Mine was a little stiff to manipulate, at first but is a breeze to set up now! In fact, we used it this weekend for a bit of shade during our lunch in Six Flags' parking lot. What a help!


The ThermaCell Outdoor Lantern by ThermaCell

The ThermaCELL Outdoor Insect-Repellent Lantern is the best option for keeping mosquitoes and other insects in any outdoor setting. The Patio Lantern is both a powerful insect repellent device and a functional and portable, long-lasting outdoor LED lantern, with both functions being usable separately or together. Providing a 15x15 ft mosquito-free zone, it is 98% effective (tested and used by the Department of Defense and the United States Army), making it the most effective insect repellent device on the market. It is also non-toxic, safe and non-intrusive, being DEET-free, silent, portable and odor free. Weighs only 13 ounces. $31.99

I wish we'd had this lantern 2 weeks ago. The mosquitoes were terrible with all of the rain! I know it will only get worse, and when we're within the woods at a campsite, it can be something FIERCE, even with bug spray and long clothing on. It's small enough to put on our table without overwhelming our personal space, which, when you're camping, is a BIG DEAL. The Thermacell Lantern is just what our family needed; not only for campsites, but also our backyard!

Peekaru Ozone by TogetherBe Baby

Peekaru Ozone lets parents take their baby out in the sunshine without worrying about sun damage or having to apply chemical sunscreens. The Peekaru Ozone is a uniquely breathable and lightweight baby carrier sun cover that attaches securely over any soft baby carrier, keeping baby shaded and cool. Can also be attached to any standard car seat or stroller. The super soft, moisture-wicking fabric blocks 95% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays while keeping baby cool and comfortable. Fits babies from birth through two years with an adjustable bottom that easily and securely cinches up for use with small babies, and lets out to accommodate babies' legs as they grow. $44.95

I cannot wait to see my little nephew using this product! It's so incredibly hot and his skin is so incredibly fair that his parents need to be super careful with him. Knowing that they can take him out without either burning his skin or suffocating him from attempting to protect him from the UV rays is comforting to this Auntie.Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go

I am so happy to review this new book (only released 6 weeks ago and not even in stores yet!) written by my blogger friend, Melisa Wells. With about 200 activities for tweens, teens, children and adults, this book's range spans across the entire Chicagoland area, city and suburbs. It includes detailed information regarding pricing, parking, and appropriateness for age ranges. It also provides many phone, address, and website addresses for a fully cooperative book. (I just love it when everything I need is right in front of me, without having to search for the details!)

You can purchase it on Amazon or buy a signed copy from the website, chickeninthecar.com.

I hope that these reviews were helpful to many of you! I also hope that you stick around and check out my little corner of the blog-o-sphere. Thanks for reading and have a fabulous day!


Disclaimer: I was provided with these products for free with the understanding that I would honestly review them on NBC 5 and also on my blog. All opinions are my own and no monetary compensation was exchanged.

Why a Sox Fan would choose a Cubs Banner

There are some moments in life during which you have to rely on your mental camera.

We went to Six Flags Great America yesterday. It was PERFECT. After an interminably long and humid week, Friday broke open with a monstrous thunderstorm. Since Friday was going to be our 3rd attempt at visiting Six Flags (the other two being a freezing rain day in June and that crazy power outage on the 11th) and our last opportunity to go with Patrick before all of our vacations and work trips began to dominate the calendar, we sucked it up, hopped into our van, and hoped for the best.

And the Angels Sang and the Heavens opened up and, after an hour of driving in a mock-hurricane, the rain suddenly... ceased. And the sun slowly shone and the humidity didn't overwhelm.

And my family enjoyed the Best Day Ever at Six Flags.

Being that we love to ride lots of rides, I don't like to lug a camera around the park. We are empty-handed, big-pocketed people, walking with purpose to get onto as many rides as possible. Thanks to the crazy weather, the park was practically empty ALL DAY LONG. Any ride we wanted to get onto was less than 10 minutes, if not a walk-on situation!

With the right shoes, Corinne is justbarely tall enough to ride the 48" coasters. (At 5 years old, she's well on her way to becoming fashion-model tall.) I wasn't sure if she'd really want to go on everything she had been crossing her fingers over. I mean, The Eagle, The Viper, and other crazy rides are a little overwhelming for a little kid.

Apparently, I forget who we were dealing with. Not only did she ride every single ride that she was "tall enough" for (good shoes!), but she rode them all several times! And by herself! And laughing the entire time.

Click.

Do you know how incredible it is to ride on a roller coaster, with your entire family? When the lap bars locked in place on the Eagle for Corinne's first ride, I looked back at my sons, daughter and husband all eagerly waiting for an adrenaline rush. Patrick and I grinned like fools at each other and marked the occasion in our minds...

Click.

The courage was catching because Justin (our cautious and careful child) not only rode Batman for the first time, but rode it 4 times! He also surprised us with his willingness to watch his siblings while Pat and I enjoyed a few rides that they weren't tall enough for. To see his personality and generosity slowly but surely maturing caused me many moments of pause and gratitude.

Click.

Still, the absolute best, 100% most AWESOME moment of the day was when Patrick finally won at the basketball game. You know the type of game: the announcer guy grills you and jokes around while you have to make a certain amount of shots with overly-inflated basketballs at the free throw circle line. My husband, on the 3rd attempt, earned enough points to take home a prize. His choices: a Sox banner or a Cubs banner.

My husband, the ever-proud Sox Fan, pondered for a moment, looked at both, and glanced at Evan, his defiantly proud Cubs Fan son.

He casually tossed a Cubs banner to Evan.

Evan's eyes were saucers of disbelief.

"Really, Daddy?"

He hugged Patrick around the waist and cradled that banner in his arms for the rest of the night, repeatedly thanking his Daddy for picking it out, just for him.

Click.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot.

I was reading Helena's recent post*, and feeling so very, very ungrateful.

Perhaps it's the oppressive heat.

Perhaps it's the inability to breathe without feeling as though I'm inhaling peanut butter.

Perhaps I'm noise-weary from the constant volume that having several extra boys in my house will bring. When it's 100 Farenheit and humidity of some really high percentage that I don't want to check out right now, it's kind of hard to find the joy in the day.

Joy in sweating? Joy in arguing? Joy in the ever-increasing background noises that block my ability to feel any peace? Joy in constantly feeling held down by all of their immediate Needs! Wants! Whines!??

Blech.

Still. I guess I could spin it. I could find the silver lining in the fact that I HAVE 3 healthy children who are physically capable of annoying me to the point of drinking.

There is definitely something to be said about having enough money to turn the a/c on so that it is only Really Warm in the house instead of the Stifling Deadly Inferno that exists outside our windows. Yay for employment and a/c!

If I stretch myself even further, I could find some smidgen of joy in knowing that this heat wave is absolutely temporary. Just as the winter passes, so does summer. I can survive this.

Still.

Still, I'd like to be sweetly singing quiet, poetic praises of our days. I'd love to be capturing the moments on film and in words, holding them in my heart, desiring to remember them.


Instead I cannot wait for this week to be over and just get a BREAK ALREADY from this house, this carpet, these dishes, this tedium! Apparently, I cannot stop the whining, even from my own fingers...



*by the way, if you're not already following Helena, you really, really should. She is lovely and talented and poetic and gracious and one of my newest, truest loves...

**By the BY the way, I'm in Mamapedia today writing about something very similar to this situation. Heh. I appear to make a habit out of pondering about my abilities. Do head over and tell me you love me, won't you?

Say Hallo to Mah Leel Frend...

Hallo, ladies! Zey call me Mr. Rooter, but zees feels so formal, no? Please, call me Antoine. I want you to feel comfortable around me. Tell me your deepest secrets and most intense desires. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

It was weeth great excitement and mild trepidation that I attended the Midwest Media Summit in Chicago on Saturday. When I opened mah eye,* I could not believe mah luck! 100 beeeutiful women in one room? And all of them yearning to hold me in their hands?
Sidney fell in love with me. It's true! And what can I say to such a lovely woman? Sidney, no matter how far away you are, you will always be close to mah heart, too. Oh-ho-hoh... The memories shared from our moments at the summit will carry me through ze most deesgusting clogs...
... Though I must admit being a beet, how you say? Confus-ed? Yes, confused by zis Tweeeeter everyone was ooohing and aaahing about. Why a tiny screen when you have me, Antoine Rooter, around to entertain your twitchy fingers? Mah confusion has NOTHING to do with my lack of opposable thumbs, deespite vat Miss Tracey likes to claim! I say, Leeeve your life! Do not vaste it twitting and tweeting and chirping like leeetle birdies!
I must confess: I have a zing for zah blondes, too. Miss Melanie.... Mmmm-mmm. She makes my plunger happy.

The women of the table felt the need to compare my plunger size to the size of their, um... Vell. You can fill in the blanks. I was embarrassed, to say the least, especially when they pulled out ze cameras, but never like to deesapoint a woman. I did mah best. They left happily surpirised. ;)
Sigh... Again. It is ze bane of an action figure's existence that we must, how you say, acquiesce to a human's desires. Miss Rita could not control herself. Mah plunger has zees affect on women. I cannot help it!
Who knew zat these "Mommy Bloggers" could exhaust a leetle plastic man so thoroughly? Zey Do! Not! Stop! Enough with ze giggling and tossing and bending of mah arms! Give a plumber a break, ladies!


*Sadly, Mr. Rooter is a one-eyed action figure. We try not to make too much of an issue out of it. He's already self-conscious enough about his, um, "size."

**My own apologies to Mr. Rooter if this post isn't quite as appropriate as they would like. I honestly toned it down. This IS the PG version, believe it or not...

A Cat-Sized Hole in My Heart

"Does grass have a spirit, Mommy?"

"Um, I don't know..."

"Everything that's alive has a spirit. You said so."

"Yes..."

"Grass is alive. So it must have a spirit."

"It may. I don't know. Nobody really knows."

"Do you think Dakota's spirit is happy, Mommy?"

A-ha! sniff, sniff...

"Yes, baby. I know his spirit is happy..."

"But I still miss him, Mommy."

"Me too, Rinny. Me too."

Files and files of photos like these.

Little snippets of the love she had for Dakota...

Another Post About Corn Fields...

there's something about the green,
the depth and darkness within the acres of leaves
sharp enough to wound like a paper cut
and strong enough to sustain a nation.

there's something about the massive abundance of an Illinois cornfield
that simply astounds me.
the silence that is so deceptively keen...
the silence that is anything but.

have you ever been so distracted by the beauty of the brightest white moon
that your eyes couldn't remain on the road?
it reflected so brilliantly last night,
illuminating the clouds and streaking the corn stalks
with shadows of silver and hues of blue,
causing my mind to wander and heart to stray...

...to visions of generations of moon-worshippers
dancing beneath and within the moonlight and fertile ground.
it stirred my heart
and the energy of Life and Earth and The Universe
lifted my soul.

I truly yearn to dance in the cornfield in the moonlight...

Friday

My morning, thus far:

Quick! Put on a bra before the neighbor comes over at 8 am with bags of groceries from their defrosting freezer and sees you braless and in heels!

Gotta break in some shoes for The MidWest Moms Media Summit tomorrow. I don't normally wash dishes in heels and pj's. In fact, I try to stay away from washing dishes, altogether but my family insists on eating every FREAKING day. Nobody likes my idea of skipping food or just eating over the garbage can. Whatever.

Rrrrriiinggg!!! Hello?

Hello! Just calling to make sure Corinne is coming with us to the play today? Didn't Patrick tell you? We're leaving at 9:30!

Looks at clock. 9:05 Sure. No problem.

Awesome.

9:24 No coffee. Rawr.

9:25 See that husband has declared that he is quitting everything including Facebook, cigarettes and his Bejeweled Blitz addiction. Crossing fingers that this is so but not holding my breath, I ignore the irony that he announced his declaration on Facebook.

10:00 Have gotten distracted by all that is shiny and speedy-fast on the Internet and have completely lost my train of thought. Am now immersed in the process of finding phone numbers and money to rearrange Saturday night's plans so that I can stay till the parties are over! We shall see...

This is What Insanity Looks Like

Insomnia.

I know! It's the topic that keeps on giving.

It was about 2:30 am last night and I changed the channel. Aha! Social Network was on. Hadn't seen that, yet.

Yes, I know that television doesn't help you to fall asleep. It's a stimulant. Got it. No need to remind me. Why do I keep it on, then? Because it's as silent as a tomb if the t.v. is off. And my brain? My brain is annoyingly noisy.

Last night, mere moments after I valiantly switch off the tube and lie back in bed, eagerly awaiting slumber...

Ahhhh... Can't wait to fall asleep. Big day tomorrow! Great America! Can't wait to watch the kids have a blast and feel the wind on my own face. I wish... Wait. What's that noise? Is it the fridge? I bet it's going to break again. Damnit. Wonder if we have to buy a new one? Can we afford that? It's awfully expensive. We couldn't possibly have enough money to buy a new fridge AND go on the vacations we've got planned. We shouldn't spend so much. We definitely have to start saving like maniacs RIGHT NOW. Why is Patrick always asleep when I have these revelations? Gah. He's snoring, too. Is that a new rattle to his snore? I wonder if he's developing a reaction to all of the years of smoking?

I put my head on his chest and listen.

His heart sounds... healthy? How the hell is a heart supposed to sound?!? And how am I supposed to HEAR it over his damn snoring? God. What if he died? What if he died right now, in our bed, and I have to live without him for decades? And raise the kids alone? Oh My God. He has to STOP SMOKING. Right NOW.

Nudge, nudge, smack.

Of course, we're all going to die. I'm okay with that. I just want to be the first one to go. Do I really have the strength to live after any of my family dies? Mothers and Wives do it all the time, even though it should be impossible. I need to stop focusing on anything that isn't about happiness! Why do we all fret over appearances and routines and the STUPIDITY of society when we should be wildly spinning in fields of daisies or climbing ancient trees and being FREAKING PEACEFUL!!! Nervous twiddling of fingers.... Holy Shit, I have to change the topic! Watermelon, watermelon, watermelon...

Why can't I Just SLEEP?? I want to sleep. I do! hums a little lullaby... I remember when I sang that lullaby to Evan. Such a sweet baby! Never slept alone, though. Still doesn't! I shift to avoid Evan's stinky foot which has crept up to my face because, naturally, he AND Corinne are in our bed. We really should have sprung for that King Sized bed. I mean, Pat's 6'5". Why did we go for the Queen, anyway? Oh yeah. The cost!

And I'm back to money issues and the circle and cycle spins on and on and on...

What Comes Around

Whose idea was it to teach these kids to have minds of their own?

Oh yeah.

That was a brilliant parenting move...

And I quote:

"Just because that's true* for EVERYONE else in the WORLD, doesn't mean it's true for ME! I like being different! I LIKE BEING WEIRD!"

Really.

What do I say to that? My heart's desire for Justin to have an independent mind has turned around and bitten me on my proverbial Mommy ass.

My 12 year old knows his own mind. The irony that his mind tends to disagree with every single idea that MY mind happens to have is not lost upon me. I'm sure my own mother is loving the payback I am receiving these days...


*This statement includes, but is not limited to: hair brushing, clothing choices, books to read, polite behavior, cleanliness, voice volume, food, music, enjoyable activities, amount of sleep a normal person requires, amount of activity a normal person requires, responsibilities, privileges, ways to not aggravate your mother, methods of learning math/language/any other educational skill, and on, and on, and on....

Relief and Remorse

I had a pregnancy scare.

I'm not. No baby.

Whew!

And I realized, "Whew? I am relieved? I am relieved! When did that happen?"

When did I cross over to this side of parenting? I am... content. I am content to be a family of 5 with no future children on the horizon.

No more babies?

No more babies.

No more sleepy nursing nuzzles at 2 am while the family sleeps in my bed all jumbled in tangles of limbs and blankets.

Strollers and car seats and pacifiers and slings are all packed. I have even given some away. When a woman walked off with my exersaucer at last year's garage sale, I reasoned that I could always buy another one, if the need should arise.

The need won't arise.

I've known this. I've KNOWN this, for many, many years. Patrick has made it crystal clear that our family is FIVE and that is all that we can afford: financially and emotionally. I agree. I DO. I always have.

But.

I held that thought. That dream. That vision that surprises happen and life doesn't usually follow our plans. "We'll see...." I thought in my mind. Many, many times...

This year has allowed me freedom from the physical needs that little ones require. Freedom to sit and read. Freedom to visit with friends in the evening without worry about schedules and naps and the encumbering requirements that encompass parenting an infant. Freedom to think of a future for myself without including "and baby/child" after every scenario.

It's kind of.... nice.

Sort of.

It's nice like the day after Christmas is nice. Bittersweet, full of fresh memories that you desperately attempt to cling to, knowing that the pictures and words won't EVER fully capture the magic of the moment.

It's nice like coming home after a much-anticipated and extremely enjoyed vacation; You're exhausted and sunburnt, with overflowing luggage and tons of laundry to wash. You're wistful that it was over so very, very quickly but glad to be home to start living everyday life again, with hopes of another adventure on the horizon. Yet, you wonder if any trip will ever be as magical as that special vacation most definitely was.

There's an ache in my heart at letting go of this period in our lives. There will always be tears that can be shed in a moment of silence... Because raising our babies and toddlers was so incredibly special for me that I can't fathom what my life will be like with 10, 15, 20 years of space between It and where I live and breathe right now. Will I be able to remember the sweetness of their small hands in mine? The way his hair smelled after the sprinklers and grass and sunshine were stirred up into those golden curls? Will I truly remember the feel of a sleeping baby on my chest? Warm and trusting, with no desires besides my love?

Sigh... I think I need some chocolate for breakfast. Chocolate, coffee and a good cry...

Thankfully, The Zombie Apocalypse isn't predicted anytime soon...

Should the Zombie Apocalypse ever infiltrate Chicago, my boys will definitely be ready for them. You may not be able to tell, but I'm told that that's a serious machine gun my 9 year is toting...
Our first time to "The Bean" in Millennium Park. Lived here my whole life and I've never seen it. Can't say that, anymore...
Justin's words: "The Taste of Chicago was the BEST DAY I've ever had in Chicago!!" High praise from my 12 year old. Pictured eating a chocolate dipped, walnut coated frozen banana from The Fudge Pot that was TO DIE FOR. The two of us barely finished it together!
If The Original Rainbow Cone ever wants me to endorse their products, I have 2 kids who would be MORE than happy to oblige. Those cones were WORTH the 8 tickets they cost at The Taste. Absolutely.
My heart grew 3 sizes yesterday when Corinne used her Barnes and Noble gift card to buy The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do It Yourself Book for Evan. And Evan's been WRITING IN IT since she gave it to him! Be still, my heart...
I was SO HAPPY (insert sarcasm here) to find out that Patrick had purchased a gigantic box of smoke bomb thingies(don't ask me the technical name). I'm sure our neighbors appreciated the sulfuric odors, too.
Seriously, it was FOUL.
But nothing screams "Yay, America!" more loudly than a bunch of children running around with flaming sticks.

I'm definitely proud to be an American, especially since I can't fathom calling French Fries "chips". That would just suck. No offense to my British readers, but that's simply weird!

Happy Fourth of July, everybody!

*Garden Update: My garden is still ALIVE! Corinne has been helping out by watering it religiously and we ate our first tomato from one of the plants. Question: am I supposed to pick the oregano whenever I want some, or only at a certain time? Also, it's flowering. Is that bad?