Okay this one is for my dear friend Heidi who has posted a complaint about my lack of blogging. You’re right, I was getting ready to go back to school and as of this week, I’m back to work for the year. My summer break is officially over. I spent my last week of summer with Dylan. She went to gymnastics camp and loved it. Every time she begins a conversation with someone now it starts with, “I go to nastics.” People look at me puzzled and I explain that it’s gymnastics. I think she’s going to start going on a weekly basis now. The first morning I took her she looked at me and said, “you going to wear that to nastics?” I had on sweat pants and a t-shirt. I’m already an embarrassment to my child and she’s only 3! Speaking of being 3 and starting gymnastics… I’ve polled a few people and some say it’s too early and some say if she likes it, let her do it. I’m torn. I want to give her every advantage and if starting early helps her develop the skills she needs later for cheerleading or dance, then why make her struggle to learn later? The flip side to that is… is she going to get burned out? I want her to do gymnastics, take dance, play an instrument (preferably the piano and cello) and well, I’ll stop there for now. There’s so much for kids to do now and they start so young. What do you think, is it too much too soon?
My Favorite Movies July 15, 2008
For whatever reason, 4 of my favorite movies have been on TV a lot lately. Yes, they are chick flicks, but let me tell you why they are my favorites. #4- Legally Blonde, I love to watch this movie whenever I’m feeling blue. Yes it’s silly and unrealistic, but what I love about it is that the main character Elle, is so pleasant. She’s pleasant to everyone who’s nasty to her, who doesn’t believe in her, who puts her down and makes fun of her. Don’t underestimate her because she’s a fighter too, but forever pleasant and kind to everyone. I wish I was able to be kind to people who aren’t so kind to me more often. #3- Hope Floats, this is your typical love scorn woman who eventually finds love and lives happily ever after. I love that she goes home to find herself again and to regain that sense of self and strength that we all had as children before the world go a hold of us. I can’t think of the name of the song, but the lyrics are “I can feel it coming back again, like the roll of thunder chasing the wind….” When that song comes on I can just feel her confidence building again. #2 Sweet Home Alabama, yes another Reese Witherspoon movie. This movie is another going home to figure out who you are and discovering old loves. I love the reconnecting with old friends, going over stupid things you did as a teenager and discovering first loves again. I think this movie gets me because when she goes home, things are the same as they were when she left. The same is typically true for me when I go back home. It’s nice to know that things are always going to be the same there. It’s comforting I guess. #1-The Notebook, do I really need to say anything else? I cry every time I watch this movie! It reminds me of how simple love really is. It makes me sad because it’s so hard today to keep things simple. Love is supposed to be fun, passionate, silly, unpredictable yet predictable, and forever. I need that reminder every once in a while.
Well, that’s my list. What are your favorite movies and why?
-Kari
July 4th Holiday July 7, 2008
We hope everyone had a great 4th of July holiday! We travelled to Kentucky to be with Gram and Donnie. The girls had a great time and petting the horses. We went to the lake and watched the fireworks with Holly and Bennett and Jimmy got some great photos! Dylan made a couple of new friends, Chester the cow and Lady the horse. She informed me that Lady was her horse and that we should take her home. I don’t know how the neighbors would feel about that though. Thanks for a wonderful long weekend Gram and Donnie!
Cigars and Juicy Fruit July 6, 2008
Whenever I smell a cigar or juicy fruit gum it reminds me of my father. Seven years ago today he lost his battle with lung cancer. My father was a very independent man, very quiet and simple but complicated. He didn’t need much and he wasn’t into fancy things. As a matter of fact when he found out he had lung cancer he moved from Paducah back to the home where he grew up in Naylor, Missouri. It was my grandma’s house and it was one of my favorite places in the world. The roads were dirt and there was farmland as far as you could see. The house was very run down because it had been unoccupied for at least 10 years when my father took residency again, but he didn’t care, that was his home and where his heart told him to go.
My dad didn’t really know what to do with a daughter. When I was younger that was fine. He played ball with me and tennis and taught me how to fish and hunt. I remember traveling with him and we would stop for a break and toss a baseball. He loved to smoke cigars. On these road trips he would smoke cigars and buy me lots of gum to try to keep me quiet about the awful smell. Juicy fruit was his gum of choice. He would chew that and so would I when he was done with a cigar. As I got older though and more into girly things, he didn’t really know how to relate. He would come to all my games and watch me cheer though. I would always look up in the stands and he would be sitting at the top. We spent a lot of time at Mr. Gatti’s pizza too. He would call me and ask if I wanted to have lunch or dinner and I always knew where we were going. I remember spending one week with my dad when he lived in Louisville, KY and I promise I ate pizza every day for lunch and dinner. I think I got sick.
My father was an FBI investigator. I was always very proud to tell people that and he always down played it. He primarily investigated people who were applying for high profile jobs or in security type positions. I still think it’s cool though! The job fit very well with his personality – just the facts and down to business. He was hard to read and didn’t express much emotion. The only time I ever saw him cry was at my grandma’s funeral. Sometimes I still wonder what he thought of me. I wonder what he thinks of me now. Is he proud of who I’ve become, what I’m doing with my life, my family? Is he watching over his grandaughters?
I miss you dad so much. I’ll buy a pack of juicy fruit today in your honor, but I’ll skip the cigars.
I love you
