Overheard In A Bar

I have never been a big drinker.

I have my favorites.  Yes, I do.  But drinking has always been an issue of budget for me.  We just couldn't justify purchasing alcohol when we needed, say, well, food.  And clothes to wear while eating that food.  Oh, then there was the mortgage.  We needed our home so we could have a place to get dressed and eat our food.

I'm not even a social drinker - yes, I'll have one of these (in the photo) on the porch with a friend from time to time (and I do blame this one for turning me on to these little drinkypoo's), or I'll have a margarita or martini every once in a while.  But, for the most part I don't order drinks with dinner, do not purchase "party packs" unless I'm hosting a BBQ, which is like, once a year, and just don't even think about stocking up on alcohol.  So, it's funny, that my little bit of drinking inspired this comment from Harper.

While sitting at a golf club bar munching on hot dogs prior to George's half marathon (he wasn't eating a hot dog - that would be completely gross before a race), Harper looked up, noticed a Smirnoff bottle on the shelf and exclaimed in a volume which she could only have gotten from me, "Hey, look Mom, they have your favorite drink!"

Yes, the place was full.

No, I did not order a drink.

I drink responsibly . . . she said while taking the last sip of her Mike's Hard Limeade given to her by a neighbor.

Beaver is a cesspool of irresponsibility and iniquity. 

I've Worked With Some Talented Kids (who are now adults)

Meet Danielle.

I first met her when she was 11.  Or 12.  Which was it, Danielle?  I remember you were auditioning for Grease and I was pregnant with Zane.  And huge.  Upon meeting you I was struck by how diligent you were at taking direction and running that dang song over and over an over.  You wanted that role.  You still work THAT hard.  I always knew you wouldn't lose that drive. What a pleasure it was to coach you.   

Anyway, Danielle is no longer 11. Or 12. She's now a sophomore in college with a budding singing career.

Perhaps it will sound like I'm patting myself on the back here, but before Beaver, I worked privately with a ton of talented kids in the Chicagoland area.  Actors, singers, dancers, you name it.  I would travel up and down the north shore prepping them for auditions - sometimes, against each other . . . wow, I saw a TON of Anne Franks during Steppenwolf's auditions for that show.

But, back to Danielle.  THIS photo reminds me of all my coaching sessions with her.  Always smiling.  Always friendly.  Always down to Earth. 

She recently made a leap in her career and I wanted to share it with you, just as I've written about the successes of some of my other students.  So, I asked Danielle to give us the down low in her own words.  Take it away, Danielle:

Hey Everyone! My name is Danielle Robay and I am an 19 year old singer, songwriter, hip-hop dancer, student at UW Madison, and not to mention, a HUGE Joline Atkins fan :). For the past 2 years I have been writing and recording a demo CD with the help of J.Roman, the lead singer of the new hit group Jump Smokers (and DJ for Chicago's #1 Hit Radio Station B96). After hearing me sing, J. Roman and I co-wrote “Real Girl,” my first professionally recorded song. It is all about being cool with who you are, I think the lyrics speak for themselves: “So many girls in this world changing their ways but, I like the skin I’m in and I’m proud of this face”.  Roman and I have been co-writing and recording ever since! In fact, Jump Smokers new album came out July 27th and I did an electro/pop song for the album called "Love of Electro" which is available on Itunes now!. After the first few days it actually hit #39 on the iTunes Dance charts which was pretty cool! I'd really appreciate if you would check it out on iTunes and if you like what you hear, check out www.myspace.com/Daniellerobay for more music/info/pictures.

Way to go, Danielle. 

Let me add, that my relationship with Danielle and my other "kids", was so incredibly special.  Special enough for them to give me a thoughtful send off when we left Chicago.  A send off which included a party with students and parents, a song, written just for me and sung by those amazing talents in the room, and the expression of wonderful memories.

Danielle was there.

And look where she is now!

Way to go, honey.  You've found your "niche".  I am proud to share your recent accomplishment with my readers.

And I'll also have you know that "Love of Electro" has taken its place on my playlist as I run my 5, 10k's, half-marathons . . . and clean my house.

If I could, I'd list the accomplishments of all the "kids" (they are all grown up now) I've worked with over the years.  The ones who are now at NYU and Yale.  The one who sang with Disney, and with Patti LuPone.  The ones at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.  There have been so many reasons for me to applaud.

Only this time, the applause is for YOU, Danielle.

Zane Prefers Confectionery Worship

Yelled with enthusiasm in the middle of Candy Kitchen last night:

"Praise the Lord!  Candy is in the church!"

I believe there was even some hand raising.

Maybe even dancing.

He has been slain in the sugar.

Hallelujah.

History Lesson

As much as we wanted to visit the Sturgis One Room School Museum today, we couldn't, as it wasn't open, and neither was the Pocomoke Chamber of Commerce which we were instructed to contact in order to make an appointment to see the museum.

So bummed.

George and I had explained to Harper and Zane that this school was different from the one room school we have back in Beaver.  This school was specifically for African Americans, during a time when blacks and whites were separated from going to school together, IF blacks had the opportunity to go to school at all.

Zane's response?

"Oh, yeah, I know that time.  That was before we had God.  We only had Kings that ruled the planet."

(pause)

Correct.

And She's Off!

I'm wiped out.

It was a very late night, or rather, early morning.

A restless 9 year old battled bouts of anxiety and excitement until at least 2 AM as her mind raced about the upcoming trip to Grandma's house.

Sans parents.

While she finally slept.  I didn't.

It wasn't that I was particularly nervous for Harper's week-long adventure in Ocean City with my parents, but rather, my own mind battled missing her.

Yes, the week away is giving me some more one on one time with Zane:  an uninterrupted play-date with his best Beaver pal, art class, plus a few other tricks I have up my sleeve, but having Harper take off alone is the first step in her developing an independence - that I want her to have - and yet, don't.

She was so ecstatic as she met me bedside this morning to hug and kiss me goodbye, "Mommy, we're leaving for the airport now."

Wow.

And then there was the email I got later in day describing how her first plane "took forever" to leave the runway.

But an email just wasn't going to cut it for me.

By 8 PM, I had to hear her voice.  She sounded amazing.

Amazingly old.

And then, she showed me just how much her family means to her.

"Mommy, put Zane on. I need to talk to Zane."

I overheard bits and pieces of their conversation.  She asked if he was having fun and what he did today (he was stripping the stairs with George) and then responded by telling him how cool it was that he was helping Daddy with the stairs.

See, he cried in his room this morning when he realized she wasn't home when he woke.  He also had a hard time comprehending how Dad was able to drive my mom and Harper all the way to Ocean City and make the return trip by the time he woke up.  The entire morning confused him.

Harper knew Zane would be sad, for they hang out together every morning before I wake up, and thus she made a point of making sure she spoke to him this evening.

I love that they love each other.

This is Harper's first trip away without us.  It is so important for her.  It is so important for us.  It's just mind boggling to me that we are at this age.  The age at which we've begun discussing human development, problems with friends, and the all too familiar "what makes me nervous" discussions.  So far, we have managed to create a very open atmosphere of communication, where every question deserves an answer - even if it freaks me out to have to answer.

There's that tug of wanting to continue holding my baby, and wanting her to branch out.

Today was a pretty long branch for my girl.

And I am very proud of her.

Rocky Re-entry

We missed Karate last week due to our church's Super Week (evening Vacation Bible School for the entire family), and of course my short term memory kicked in about how easily (NOT) my kids jump back into extra-curricular hobbies after being absent.  Even absent once.

It's the nature of this household.

I take a lot of deep breaths.

Harper was signed up for a three day tennis workshop this week, after 10 weeks off due to the broken armastrophe.  Although Day One never happened, due to her rocky re-entry nerves.  Day two and three?  All good.  Phew.

Same goes with Zane.  The moment we hit the door for Karate class tonight, he shared that he didn't want to take participate, and didn't want to take class next week either, which would earn him his uniform.

I sat patiently.  Really.  I did.  I prayed.  I asked him questions as to why.  The instructor is EXCELLENT and checked in with him several times.  He eventually worked up the nerve to sit with the other kids.  Me, by his side.  I love this studio, because I am well aware that at others I may not be allowed to accompany him on the floor.  Especially not at the fourth class. Maybe the first class, but fourth?  However, this place?  Dig them.

And then it happened.

All the kids have a card to mark off every 5 classes, for at the end of every 5 they take a skills test to earn a uniform, or belt, or stripe.  Zane was sitting next to an older boy (8 maybe) with a green striped belt.  Tonight, this boy was earning an orange stripe to add to it.  Said boy glanced over at Zane's card, pointed to the 1, 2, 3, and 4, and then tapped the #5 that was marked with the word "uniform".  Zane's 5th class is next week. Uniform day.

He had witnessed Zane's struggle to walk on the floor tonight.  There are only 5 kids in class, so when one sits out, it's pretty obvious.  So what does this kid go and do?

He turns to Zane, smiles, and gives him a high-five.

This was all done without speaking.  Zane beamed.

Yes, I about cried and hugged that boy.

The boy continued to encourage the other beginner in the class, who was testing for his uniform tonight, with another high-five.

Next week, I will corner that kid's Dad and congratulate him on a job well done.

And I will thank the boy as well.  And give HIM a high-five.

Reading is Sexy

I am one of those annoying people who is always in the middle of a few books all at once.  There is a stack on my night stand that I rotate depending on mood.

I also seem to have developed a daily reading system which links the WHAT I am reading with the WHEN - or time of day.  I didn't plan this.  It's an organic thing.

Too confusing?

Welcome to my head.  You're here, so sit back and see if anything I write jars you to exercise yours with some reading material.

Here's a taste as to how I get it all done.

Morning:  This is usually the time when I read material to strengthen my relationship with God.  The Bible (duh) being one of those books - although I'm not a large chunk reader (although I have read through the entire book).  God has given me a unique ability to read a small portion of scripture which then triggers a very specific thought, usually based upon only  few words in the passage.  It is on these morsels that I feed.  Sometimes for days. Somehow, I am able to connect all these mini insights into what I can only describe as a pattern not unlike that of a spider web.  They are all connected.  They are all necessary.  They all flow out from the center.  Hey, it's my world. 

I also enjoy Christian non-fiction, but not in mass quantities, as (here goes my opinion) there are so many Christian books that I consider pretty fluffy.   My Pastor put it this way the other night:  "Do not mistake "leafiness" for "fruitfulness".  There are times, (admit it), that Christians are so He^%bent on the next Christian book, or movie, or website, or program, etc., that they get sidetracked from actually talking to people about the actual Lord.  Jesus wants all to know Him, not the next best Christian trend.  Ok, beat me up now.

Anyway, I am thankful to have a husband who can sniff out the fluff pretty quickly.  When he finds a book that he believes I will devour, he passes it along.  Here is the latest.  And yes, I think most peeps should read it.

The Me I Want to Be:  Becoming God's Best Version of You by John Orberg.  God doesn't call us to change into someone else when we make the choice to follow Him.  Only, sometimes we look at others and think we should resemble them.  This can only cause frustration, or as Ortberg puts it, a "languishing spirit".  I don't want the word languishing to describe me.  Thus, I'm taking a closer look at how God created me, and how the specific qualities of who I am can both draw me closer to Him and assist in best sharing His love with others.

Afternoon:  This is blog/web article time.  Here is a sampling of my fav's (in no particular order). Granted most of the blogs are written by friends . . . I get too overwhelmed to keep up with all the Mommy Bloggers of the world.  There are others I read, (I have a super long list), but I'll share more with you another time.  Also, these folks don't post everyday, so I don't hit this list daily.

Pittsburgh Mom
The Mile Marker
Fooducate
Her.meneutics
Huffington Post
NPR
New York Times Opinion
Sojourners
Chalene Johnson
Carl Daikeler
No Sugar
Debbie Legg
If Mama Ain't
Rauch House
Ordinary Time
Eat, Run, Live
Lala Land

Evening: It's fiction time.  Or personal memoir time.  Yes, a smattering non-fiction also.  I also read young adult fiction because I have children who will one day be young adults. Currently reading:  My Sister from the Black Lagoon.  Just finished:  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  On my list:  Among the Hidden, The View from Saturday, Little Bee, The Book Thief, Hunger Games, How I Became a Famous Novelist, Scout, Atticus & Boo, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.There's others, but I'm tired of linking.

So, as for my title?  You know, the one that made you go "huh"?  Reading is a passion of mine.  Passion is magnetic and contagious and even mysterious.  I, for one, think that's darn sexy.

And I have the t-shirt to prove it.