Professional Photographer

Today was my first attempt at trying to take my own professional type pictures of the kids. I am trying to teach myself to use this really nice camera that I have. The only problem is, it is not a digital camera. I had to take 6 rolls of film. A lot of them turned out really great and some of them, not so much. I'll try to take some time in the next few days to post more, because I would really like your opinion. But right now, I have so many pictures and can't figure out how to upload them to blogger from Picasa2. And I'm tired.

Straight From Heaven

She sure looks like an angel doesn't she?

I mean, does it get any cuter than that?

Oh, she's just a dream. She is a complete and total joy to be around. All the time. She never fusses. And she looks just like that every minute.


While she is a joy to be around, I would definately not say that she is angelic all the time. I've not seen too many angels but I can say pretty positively, that angels do not throw themselves to the floor when they are not allowed to suck on crayons. She's doing that now. Throwing herself to the floor. And she will try to bang her little forehead on the floor, but then she realizes that it really hurts so she gets even madder. When it's time to eat, she wants to be able to use a utensil but she doesn't really know how so I am hesitant to let her. She ends up pushing all of the food to the floor with the spoon. Then I have to take the spoon away and then the tantrum ensues. Why is this happening so early with her? Is it because she's my last baby, so subconsciously I'm treating her differently? You know. Spoiling her? Whatever it is that I'm doing, it is certainly not intentional. I think she just sees all of the big kids doing things that she wants to do. I just get so frustrated because I don't know what to do.

What do they say, ' This too shall pass'? We'll see.

Really?

I'm a sham. A con-artist. A hypocrite. I'm sorry to say it, but it is true. You've all been swindled. Bamboozled. Duped.

Remember a few days ago when I was all, "Oh, I love the Earth. And we all have to do our part. And CHANGE STARTS WITH ONE PERSON." Remember all that?

So what happens today when I go to the grocery store? Picture me with a buggy half full (that's me, always optimistic) of groceries and Emma Mae sitting in the front sucking on the buggy. I'm on aisle 13 or so. You got me? I really want you to feel this moment with me.

"Oh, my gosh, I totally don't have any of those bags with me. They are all in the car. Do I

A. Grab Emma Mae leaving a buggy full of groceries in the middle of the store. Run to the car and grab the bags, hoping that everything in the buggy will be fine until I get back.

B. Buy more of the bags when I get to the register, adding at least another $20 to my already mounting grocery bill.

C. Just use the plastic ones. Earth be darned.

Which one do you think I chose?

Yes, I chose C. But you wouldn't believe how long I pondered what I should do. And then the enormous, completely ridiculous, guilt I felt because I didn't use them. I have actually looked for the place at WalMart to recycle the plastic bags, but have yet to find them.

(This was not my regularly scheduled post for today. You will have to stay tuned for that one.)

A Real Celebrity

Oh. My. Goodness. A real celebrity has been to my blog. Granted, it was after I stalked their blog and begged for a visit. Here's what happened.

Yesterday, I popped on over to beeboppin through the boroughs, one of my very fave blogs, to ask for some expert advice on where we should go on our trip to NYC. If you haven't had the chance to visit this way fun blog you should go there now and then come back to finish reading my post. It's fine. I don't mind. I'll wait.


Are you back? Okay, well what you probably found out is that it is a cute little blog about two fun young girls who go on walks throughout different parts of New York. Their names are Jill and Megan. And their blog gives you a chance to tour the city with them. The only bad part is not actually getting to taste any of the goodies that they indulge in.

When I started thinking about my trip to New York, I thought, who better to ask about what we should see. Then this afternoon, JILL actually replied on my blog. Here is a copy of what she said:

Hey Amanda - As requested, here are my must-do's in NYC (brace yourself, this is going to be lengthy):- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and go for pizza at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. It’s the best. I’m drooling just thinking about it.- See a broadway show. I've only seen a few, but loved them all. My most recent favorite is "Curtains" - David Hyde Pierce is fantastic. You can get cheaper same-day tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square.- Skip the street vendor hotdogs and proceed directly to Gray’s Papaya for the best dog you’ll ever eat. You will see imitations throughout the city (Papaya Dog, Papaya King…), but I am partial to the upper west side location at 72nd and Amsterdam.- Pick a few of the big tourist attractions, but don’t try to fit all of them in. Some, like going to the Statue of Liberty or to the top of the Empire State Building, can take all day. So see the ones that are important to you, and skip the ones that aren’t – you’ll get to do a lot more. A great way to see Lady Lib is to take the Staten Island ferry across to SI and back. It’s free! I like to go at dusk, so you get the daylight view of the city/statue on the way out and a gorgeous lit-up nighttime view on the way back.- Check out some of the amazing museums. If you are on a budget, keep an eye out for museums with a “suggested” entrance fee (like the MET or the Natural History Museum). You don’t have to pay the full $15-$20 to get in, especially if you can only stay for an hour or so. Another tip – the MET and their sister museum, the Cloisters have dual admittance. If you go to one, you can get into the other for free on the same day.- Take some time to just wander the different neighborhoods. Walking is the best way to see the city. It is also the best way to work off all the goodies you will come across. Here are my very favorite NY treats:The Doughnut Plant tres leche doughnut (Grand St. bet. Essex & Norfolk – lower east side)Levain Bakery chocolate peanut butter cookie (74th & Amsterdam)Beard Papa cream puffs (locations throughout the city)Emack & Bolio’s ice cream (79th & Amsterdam)Cupcakes – from almost anywhere! My favorites are Crumbs, Magnolia Bakery and Buttercup Bakeshop- After your feet are aching from a long day of walking, and your stomach is full of baked goods, treat yourself to a mani/pedi (it is your birthday trip, after all). There’s a salon on practically every corner.- Go to Burger Joint. It is a hidden NY gem. You’ll find it behind a curtain inside the lobby of the swank Le Parker Meridien Hotel on 57th bet. 6th & 7th aves. Just follow your nose and the little neon sign to one of the best burgers in the city (avoid the lunchtime rush if you can).I hope you have an amazing trip! I’ll try to get Meg to chime in with her suggestions.Jill (the better half of the bee-boppin’ team)

Did you see there at the top where she said, ' Hey Amanda'? This means we are best friends, now. And did you see there at the end where she said, ' I'll try to get Meg to chime in with her suggestions.'? This means that my new best friend might be able to get her other best friend MEG, who is also a giant celebrity to come and visit my blog, too. Oh. My. This is just all too much. I just can't believe it. I need to go lie down.

New York or Bust!

This was Josh's reaction when I told him about my plans for a trip to New York.



Is anyone out there buying that?

But seriously, we did talk about it. And there were a few things that he felt I did not make clear in my previous post. So here we go with the clarifications.

1. He will be going with me on my trip to New York. He felt like I was making it out like I was going alone.

2. I have invited everyone who reads my blog to go with us to New York. He thinks this means that someone may have the impression that they will be sharing a hotel room with us. I feel sure that no one feels that way, but for the record, no one will be sharing a room with us.

3. Since I don't play the lottery, I probably won't be winning anytime soon. I do sometimes find it necessary to contribute to
the voluntary prekindergarten programs and Hope scholarship. And yes, sometimes in exchange for my contribution they give me a little card that they say may or may not win me lots of money.

4. Most importantly, he said, and I quote, "I was planning something else for your birthday, but if this is what you want to do..." The last part sort of trailed off, but it feels like a good sign.

So here goes. I'm going to start looking into planning my fabulous trip. I will give you updates on the process, letting you know which hotels I am looking at and what my tenative dates will be. But be sure that these dates will include October 6, 2008. Thank you, Aramie, for suggesting that we check out kayak.com. I went to the site this morning and it looks very useful.

I would like for anyone, Echo, who wants to go, to look into going at the same time. I'm all for having as many people around as possible. I can think of nothing that would be cooler than hanging out with everyone on my birthday. Which is also the day after Leah's birthday. If you don't want to come to celebrate my birthday, then come celebrate hers. As long as you come.

You're Invited

I'm thinking of something big.

I'm thinking of doing something crazy.

I'm thinking of going out and living a little. Nothing drastic. Just a little.

Have you figured out what it is yet? Well, obviously I would like to take a trip. Just a small trip. To New York City. I have been thinking of how I would like to celebrate my big 3-0 this year. I would like to celebrate it in the Big Apple. And I would like you all to go with me. Yes, you Yolanda. And you, Christy. You too, Sass. Are you in Sharon and Kathy? What about you, Amelia? You don't have to go just for my birthday. You can go just because you've never been or because you want to get away and have some fun with someone you love. You could even plan to meet someone at the top of the Empire State Building. That someone could be someone you heard on the radio and fell in love with. Wait. Sorry, that was a movie I saw. But you get my point. Just go because you want to see it. Live. Take a chance. Do something drastic. I'm going. Be there. New York City, October 6th, 2008.

Now, all of this is contingent on two things.

My husband has to agree to it.
And I have to win the lottery.

The Swampwoman

This is my mother in law, Pat. If you have met Pat, then you have probably had the opportunity to partake of her fabulous cooking. Cooking is her passion. If she loves you, she wants to feed you. She will call me to go over what she is cooking and how she is going to prepare it. If you have had the opportunity to eat her food, then you understand what a talent she has for it. About a month ago, she and I sat down and created a blog for her to share her talent with the world. She even did a post. Then Pat was dealt a terrible blow. I think that if we all supported her and let her know how much we would love to have it, that this blog would be wonderful for Pat. Even if you don't know her, please go over and leave her a comment. She could really use the encouragement. She's a good woman. She has always been good to me and treated me more like a daughter than an inlaw. I know that she is great at what she does and I am also learning that she is great at putting it into words.

I give you the Swampwoman.