Jersey Shore

OK, I know it's hard to think about the beach with winter snow storms threatening my Northeast friends but apparently there is a storm a-brewing at MTV (sorry! I couldn't resist!).

If you don't watch MTV anymore, here's some background info: MTV has aired a new reality TV show that is a cross between the ground-breaking Real World and the HBO series The Sopranos. The new show follows a group of "loud and proud" Italian-Americans (also known as self-proclaimed "Guidos" and "Guidettes") during a summer at the Jersey Shore. And yes, it's called "The Shore" not the Beach and you don't say "I'm going to the Shore this weekend" you say "I'm going down the Shore." Where you going 4th of July? I'm going down the shore. Daughter #1 cracks up at this!

I grew up in Rockland County, New York just north of the GW Bridge on the "Jersey side" (meaning I had to take the Palisades South into Ft. Lee, NJ to get onto the GW) so I do have a bit of experience and knowledge on this topic. As a kid I went with my family to the shore for weekend trips and then as a teen and a young adult. Each beach has it's own personality and kind of caters to different age groups. Very similar to the "Redneck Rivera" here in the south (when we first moved here, everyone was simply aghast that Chris & I liked to go to Panama City. I was told that no one and I mean NO ONE goes to Panama City. Birmingham folks only go to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Destin. We liked PC because it's seedy and tacky and reminded us of home!).

Here's the thing about the Jersey Shore: the water is freaking freezing and doesn't really start warming up until August. A typical day at the Jersey shore went something like this: leave your house at the crack of dawn, fight the traffic on the GSP and drop a couple of bucks at the tolls (and no GSP doesn't mean a Garmin or TomTom, it means "Garden State Parkway"), hang out on the beach, check out members of the opposite sex, walk back to your seedy mom & pop-owned motel to shower (nothing like drying off with a scratchy, paper thin towel) and get ready for a night on the boardwalk. Walk back to the boardwalk, eat funnel cakes, play games, go on a couple of rides (always save the log flume for last...you get really wet and it totally messes up your hair), have the most delicious lemonade EVER, check out the tatoo parlors, play some mini-golf and basically walk around seeing and being seen.

I will admit I have not been to the Shore in years and years but I do understand that a lot of the mom & pop motels have been replaced by upscale high-rise hotels and condos. So sad. Those little drive-up motels are a Shore institution with many families frequenting the same motel for generations.

When I was growing up and went to the beach on family trips, we went Wildwood a lot...it had a great boardwalk. We also went to Ocean City a couple of times. When we were in high school we went to Seaside Heights (aka "Seaside" --infamous for one of BonJovi's earlier videos) and thought we were so FREAKIN' cool! Seaside was maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours from home and going to Seaside sans parents was a big right of passage for my group. As a matter of fact, we (as in 20-25 of our closest friends) went to Seaside the night after our Senior Prom for the weekend. It was the mid-80's and big hair was totally in. At that time, I-rocs, Camaro's and 280Z's were the big muscle cars (you HAD to have the t-tops) and no self-respecting IA (Italian-American) was without one. Neon was also in and I seem to remember a lot of guys with hot pink or hot yellow, neon green board shorts. After high school the big thing to do was rent a house with a bunch of people at Belmar (I had very strict parents so I was never allowed to do this but Chris did one summer and still has stories to tell).

So, as a Yankee living in the South, I can honestly tell you that yes, Guidos and Guidettes are alive and thriving in the Northeast, particularly New Jersey. It is a total lifestyle...the big hair, the nails, the gold jewelry, the cars, the tans. IA's are also very, very loyal and very, very family oriented people. The show is creating a lot of controversy from several Italian-American civic groups and has been blasted for stereo-typing this particular ethnic group. My question is this: is it stereo-typing when the "actors" are proud, true Italian-Americans simply being themselves?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/09/mtvs-jersey-shore-critics_n_385387.html

I can NOT believe How FREAKING Sick I am!

Friday night we drove down to T-town (Tuscaloosa, AL) for the 6A High School State Championship game between Hoover and their arch-rivals, Prattvillle. It was bitter cold out and yes, we even had some snow on the drive home!

Thursday night my throat was starting to hurt and Friday morning I woke up with a headache and a sore throat. Fortunately, we were able to sit in Chris's company's office at the Bryant-Denny stadium (not a sky-box but an office in one of the tunnels....2 leather couches, 3 flat screen TVs, a fridge, a microwave, snacks, bevvies, etc.). The Bucs won and I spent Friday night on the couch because I was so icky by the time we got home. Well, now it's Tuesday and I've been on the couch since then. I don't know if it's a head cold or a sinus infection but my nose won't stop running and if I lay down it drips down my throat into my chest and makes me cough all night. I sound like I have black lung and I've been in the same sweats since Friday. Gross.

Saturday Chris's buddy came over Saturday for a bonfire and the guys watched the Alabama game on the back deck. Troy brought over shrimp cocktail and his deep fryer and made chicken wings. KJ and Trixie sat out there all day/night w/ the guys and made s'mores. I watched the game inside and I also watched Angels & Demons w/ Tom Hanks. Sunday we watched Star Trek and Taken w/ Liam Neeson (he totally kicked ass). Last night Chris & KJ put up the family room Christmas tree but there are no lights or decorations on it yet. We'll do that tonight.

Foxy Knoxy???

Couldn't resist that title. In all seriousness, after a year-long trial, American student Amanda Knox was found guilty of murdering her British roommate in Perugia, Italy on Friday.

I am very proud to be an American and extremely proud of my country. However, when we will learn that once we step onto foreign soil we are subject to that country's laws and legal practices? The Knox family is now slamming the entire Italian legal system. Do you remember a situation several years ago with a young American teen in Singapore (I think??) who vandalized some cars or something like that and was subjected to caning? What an uproar that was! What about the two American journalists accused of being spies when they stepped onto resstricted land and were sentenced to hard time in a labor camp? My point is, when you travel out of the country, you are subject to that country's laws (i.e., when you go to the UK you travel on the left side of the road, when you're in America you speak English, etc.).

Chris & I love to travel and we both have an incredible sense of history. Whenever we travel, with or without our children, we make it a point to learn and respect the people and their culture. I am often embarrassed by the "Ugly American" stereotype...the American who refuses to learn a few polite phrases in a foreign language, the American who mocks another country's traditions or living standards. We have witnessed it time and time again...the American bigshot at the hotel bar in Cabo bragging about "how little he tipped the bartender" because "he's grateful for anything I toss his way; I mean really, how much is a peso worth these days?" The American student screaming the words to the Spongebob Squarepants theme song as we walked the streets of Rome two summers ago. The American women in Cancun saying "God! I can't believe these people live this way!" The rude American in the Bahamas asking "What do I have to do to get a decent cheeseburger in this place?"

I have no idea if Amanda Knox is guilty or not. All I know is that her parents, and now it seems Hilary Clinton (WTF??), are demanding an appeal on the premise that her character was defamed in the press (which, in my opinion, is no different that what has been done here in the US in the Casey Anthony situation). In a case like this, her character should be brought into play. Whether or not she did drugs or was sexually promiscuous should be questioned. It says a lot about a person. Amanda Knox has admitted to being in the home at the time of the murders and says she can't remember anything because she was smoking some weed. That story has since changed several times.

Personally, I don't think slamming the Italian judicial system makes much sense and I really don't think Hilary Clinton is gonna help their little girl.

Black Friday

Great day today! Chris woke up early as usual and let me linger in bed for a little while. He spent most of the day @ the lax store getting everything ready for the upcoming holiday season and I spent the day @ home w/ the girls. I took down all the Thanksgiving decorations yesterday and spent today wrapping them properly in tissue paper/bubble wrap and packing them away in the attic. T & I took almost everything out of the attic, went thru some boxes, consolidated some stuff and actually threw away 2 empty boxes. She is such a huge help to me. 99.9% of the time she does what she's told/asked and rarely complains. She is a joy to be with and is truly growing up to be a wonderful young lady. She went shopping this morning around 4 AM w/ friends and come home and snored on the couch for a little bit. It was pretty funny. She was out like a light.

I started to decorate for Christmas today and have decided I decorate waaaaayyyyy to much (not just for Christmas! I decorate for just about every holiday except St. Patrick's Day; we're not Irish). This year I will not be decorating as much as I have in the past. I usually empty my china cabinet and put out all my Christmas china. I have a complete service for 12 (and every serving dish you could possibly imagine!) and set the dining room table with 6 place settings, linens, glassware, silver and accessories. I don't think I'll be doing that this year. My Christmas china is very, very special to me. My mom, grandmother and aunt started this pattern for me years ago (I believe I was still in high school). It means so much to me and I'd love to pass it on to one of my girls (that and my wedding china!).

I have a wonderful collection of Santas (wooden, ceramic, metal, etc.) and I think I'll concentrate my Santa's in the foyer and my Snowmen stuff in the kitchen. I also always do two Christmas trees -- the big one in the family room and the "travel" tree in the foyer (filled w/ ornaments from our various travels/family vacations). I like to make the kitchen look like a candy shop at the holidays and decorate w/ a lot of candy canes, gum drops, etc.

In case you've been living under a rock the last couple of months or don't live in the state of Alabama, today was the Iron Bowl (annual Alabama vs. Auburn game) and it was a very exciting, nail-biter! In other football related news, the Hoover Bucs beat Gadsden City tonight and are headed to the 6A State championship game next weekend.

Tonight we fondue'd for dinner and relaxed w/ a nice bottle of wine. Chris fell asleep on the couch and T went to the movies w/ friends. It has gotten really, really cold tonight (seriously! like 38!). I have the heating pad on my feet to keep me toasty.

Thanksgiving

Had a wonderful, relaxing, delicious Thanksgiving today. We've been married 17 years and I think I started cooking Thanksgiving dinner our first year in Cincinnati. Thanksgiving's tough for us as far as travel....too short of a trip for us to get all the way back "home." This year was particularly nice because both girls helped with the preparation. T made an awesome "no-bake Oreo cheesecake" yesterday and today KJ helped w/ the mashed potatoes. T also helped with the crescent rolls (it's not Thanksgiving w/out crescent rolls!) and she peeled all the potatoes. After dinner both girls went for a bike ride in the neighborhood and we played a played a couple of games of "Apples to Apples" (great game!). Of course, no Thanksgiving is complete w/ out watching the Macy's Day Parade. As I cleaned the table, I started to pack up all my Thanksgiving decorations/table linens / dishes, etc. and have to start thinking about how I'm going to decorate for Christmas. We've been in the house 10 years already and I try to change things up each year so I don't get bored.

Loving this gorgeous fall weather!

After Ida's rains earlier in the week, we've had some very wonderful weather. Lots of beautiful sunshine, clear blue skies, zero humidity.

Today Chris had a new player clinic at the high school and we couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day. I didn't get an exact count but a decent about of kids showed up and. more importantly, several high school girls. We graduated a lot of girls last year so we're in desperate need of some new players. In any event, it was a nice family day.

Thursday night KJ participated in a dance team fund raiser. The high school dance teams sponsors a clinic, give the girls dinner and a t-shirt and teach them a half-time dance which them peform at the basketball game. It was really cute this year. They danced to Hannah Montanna's "Party in the USA."

Tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of Chris's dad's passing. Honestly, it feels like yesterday. I can't believe it's been 11 years already. I know Chris misses his dad every day.

2010 Horoscopes

Your Astrology Guide 2010: Rick and Jeff’s Tips for the Yearby Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer, Authors of Your Astrology Guide 2010

ARIES

March 21-April 19
Conscious Self-Restraint

It’s imperative that you cut back your activities, for effective pruning allows new growth to flourish. But you may bump into deeply rooted resistances as you attempt to play a larger role on the stage of life. The contradiction now is that you are at your most brilliant and nothing can hold you back, yet paradoxically the walls of reality continue to close in. You cannot get away with shooting from the hip, even if you’re confident of your aim. The full enterprising power of Aries is yours when you accept the limits of society that require more precision this year. Whether you like it or not, you must slow down to get what you want.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20
Look Outside the Box

Your potential to transform your life is incredible this year — but your resistance to change is equally great. You don’t have to tear apart what’s working well or take crazy risks that are likely to fail. All you need to do is stretch your boundaries and allow alternative perspectives to hang around for a while to see if one might eventually fit. It’s as if a strange visitor has arrived at your door — so strange you’d prefer him to leave as soon as he arrives. But thanks to your kind heart, you let him stay the night . . . and end up discovering a close friend. Similarly, you will find happiness this year as long as you remain open to surprises.

GEMINI

May 21-June 20
Fear Not the Darkness

You can no longer be the champion of avoidance, Gemini, and that means you’re playing in a whole new ball game. If others accuse you of being shallow, it’s just because they don’t understand how fast your mind works and how it jumps from one thought to the next. Now, However, something has changed, and it may at first seem scary. Instead of planning your escape routes, you are content, even eager, to search for hidden metaphysical wealth that was previously obscured from the light of consciousness. Overcoming your own resistance to fully feeling your emotions enables you to uncover buried treasure that can enrich your life for many years to come.

CANCER

June 21-July 22
Aim for the Top

It’s better to be ambitious this year and struggle in the pursuit of your goals than to passively respond to whatever life brings you. Even if you run into obstacles, meet them on a course of your own choosing. Taking charge and pushing forward — sometimes awkwardly and sometimes with grace and confidence — are the next steps to assuming a leadership role. Your power and passion grow when you have strong allies and adversaries. Seek out those with talents you admire so that you can learn from the best. Step outside your comfort zone; you’ll discover that it’s not foolish to take risks. There are enormous rewards when you invest in your own excellence.

LEO

July 23-August 22
Ask for Help

You expect great things from yourself, Leo, and you can work quite hard once you make a sincere commitment. This is why you must now think carefully about any promises you make — to yourself or anyone else. There are powerful forces at play that can lure you into believing that anything is possible. It’s true that this year brings great potential, but exhausting yourself trying to achieve the impossible dream is not a sensible strategy. Heed the counsel of wise friends and seasoned professionals before making any life-changing decisions.

VIRGO

August 23-September 22
Fearless Warrior

Challenges to the core truths you cling to can be a source of irritation and a cause of physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. The battles you face, though, are not with outside forces but within yourself. It’s time to reexamine the ideas that have kept your life in order for years, but may be holding you back. What worked in the past won’t necessarily be effective now. The desire to return to familiar places in your mind is understandable, but it’s not likely to be productive. Certainly, you need times to retreat and take refuge in comfortable concepts. Catch your breath when you can, yet remember: You’ll grow much stronger by moving ahead than by turning back.

LIBRA

September 23-October 22
Rise to the Challenge

Although relationships can offer you a newfound sense of freedom this year, they can also distract you from the discipline you need to organize your life. The decisions you must make this year are not easy ones. You may have to be ruthless when evaluating what and who should be cut out of your life, but pruning is absolutely required to ensure maximum growth. Your overall success during the coming years will be based on your ability to pay careful attention to your long-term goals rather than short-term successes.

SCORPIO

October 23-November 21
Innocent Expression

Looking foolish is not your idea of a good time, but giving yourself permission to express yourself freely can be extremely rewarding now. Surrendering some self-control to reveal your emotion can feel risky, of course, but it’s a great way to open your heart and enhance your creativity. Making mistakes is not the road to failure but the laboratory of invention. You can surprise yourself by discovering new talents when you put away the heavy hammer of self-criticism. Being honest while also being kind is a gift to yourself and those around you. If your explorations veer off course and threaten your stability, seek wise counsel. There are angels around you who look like ordinary people, yet will gently guide you back on track.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22-December 21
Be Here Now

There is so much work ahead as you strive to make the most of your future. Running out on previous commitments won’t bring you happiness; delivering on your promises will. Try not to seek adventure in the same old dreams of world travel. This year, you can take an incredible journey of the mind without leaving home. Open yourself to new philosophies, learn about new technologies, and re-create your future by being more conscious in the present moment.

CAPRICORN

December 22-January 19
Field of Dreams

Your journey this year could be one of extremes as the most visionary planets — Jupiter and Uranus — light up your life with exciting new perceptions while the most conservative ones — Saturn and Pluto — keep stepping in to turn down the volume of your enthusiasm. You can avoid bouncing from high hopes to deep disappointment by giving yourself time to assimilate and consider your dreams. Slowly roll them over in your mind, do some research, and talk to those you trust to help you find ways to shape them into reality. Then commit to work with patience and persistence. Remember, conceiving a brilliant idea happens in an instant, but giving birth to success takes a lot longer.

AQUARIUS

January 20-February 18
The Joy of Sharing

The emotional heights will be higher this year and the descents lower, yet you must fully experience these peaks and valleys if you hope to find a middle ground between the opposing forces pushing and pulling on you. Although you cannot avoid the changes that continue to unfold, you’re also blessed with an open mind that eagerly looks beyond the current difficulties. Don’t waste too much energy resisting the inevitable. Instead, focus on the exhilaration you’ll feel once you’ve overcome the obstacles and your life is heading in a new direction.

PISCES

February 19-March 20
Go the Distance

The highs and lows you experience this year accentuate the contrast between your greatest hopes and darkest fears. Expansive Jupiter in your sign makes your life seem so big that even the smallest act can appear to take on enormous importance. You may be exhilarated by this wild ride at times, but in the end it can be exhausting and confusing to rise so quickly and fall so fast only to rise again. Moderating your reactions with a bit of philosophical detachment reminds you that the current drama is just one moment in a life rich with experiences that you’ve encountered before and will likely meet again.