Ramble on,
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song...
Led Zepplin -- "Ramble On"

I've been "tagged" by Deana at Friday Night Fish Fry, so it's time to stop writing about the Short People and focus on myself for a bit. Here goes:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

BROOKE

B: Bold. I am a strong person who doesn't mind speaking out. I've held presidential or chair roles in several organizations and I think it's because I don't have a problem with being the bad guy when necessary (not to mention no one else ever wants the job...too bad there is no "S" in my name for "sucker"). I try to tone down the aspects of this part of my personality that can be unpleasant (bossy, another "B" word), and turn it into a strength. I hope I succeed most of the time.

R: Radical. A friend once described me as "unconventional". I don't know if she meant it to be flattering, but I sure took it as a compliment. Who wants to be like everyone else?

O: Open-minded. While I am not shy about sharing my opinions, I truly don't expect everyone to agree with them. I love to engage in good-natured discussions about politics, religion, or anything else. I have friends who range the entire continuum and I love that.


O: Organized. Not as much as some of my friends (this means you, Janice!) but I am a list queen and I can carry a lot of info in my head. Every once in a while I slip up, but I am usually prepared, on time, and neat. "Organized" does not equal "clean", however. I am a terrible housecleaner. On a positive note, even though a given item may be covered in dust I know exactly where to find it.



K: Keen. Keen often means razor-sharp. I can certainly be sarcastic and even cutting at times. But keen can also mean perceptive; I am highly attuned to others and their feelings/needs, which comes in handy being a therapist. Keen is also synonymous with clever. I don't know about clever, but my brain is almost always switched to the "on" postition ( drives poor Tracy crazy). I can't just sit and watch TV; I will do crossword puzzles or read at the same time. The only other definition of keen I can think of is to howl or wail...I don't do that one, promise!



E: Earthy. I love the outdoors, flowers, the beach, nature, animals...the whole shebang. My house is full of rocks, shells, driftwood, birdsnests, and anything else I find and can use to bring the outside in. If I could have the windows open every day I would do it in a minute. Exceptions: humidity, mosquitos and greenheads, and poison ivy.




Whew! That was a tough meme. Okay, now the tagging part. I will hit up Brooke at Joycekids because she has the same name, my sister Clare at the Sunday Night Buttermilk Waltz, who's first name is Katherine. I will also hit up my friend Janice who doesn't have a blog but will, for the sake of our friendship, play along in the comments even though I outed her organizational skills (you know I worship your abilities). Thank you, Deana, for the challenge!

You say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too--yeah

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you.

The Beatles -- Birthday

I want to ask everyone to visit my sister at The Sunday Night Buttermilk Waltz (see link above) and wish her a very Happy Birthday. I am working on two "tags" and will post them soon. I am hosting our playgroup tomorrow (imagine your house overrun with 20+ Short People and their mothers) and watching a friend's daughter at the same time. On Thursday I am watching another friend's daughter. Just a little preoccupied right now, but I will finish the tags, I promise.
Love you, Katie Clare!

That low down man of mine

Mistreats me all the time

He sez he loves me only

Then turns around and

leaves me sad and lonely...

Squirrel Nut Zippers --

"Low Down Man"

Meet William, India's betrothed. Cute, isn't he? India has been insisting that she was going to marry William for half of her life. Okay, she's only 5 so half her life isn't really that long, but she's been consistent in her adoration. So what's the problem? India's got to step in line.

William is a hot commodity; he is also pursued by two other little harlots, ehem, I mean little girls. They have made their marital desires quite plain. Poor William. What's a man to do? The other two girls frequently fight and argue over him. Thank goodness India knows to step out of the fray...she is not a cat fighter. When the claws come out, William advises that he will not marry any female who fights and argues. Good boy.

Since William's mother and I are not fans of prostituting out our children when they are in preschool, we have tried to discourage this talk of marriage. I'm not even sure where it even comes from, since I don't talk to the Short People about boyfriends and the like. I'm blaming it on the Disney Princess marketing machine. Anyway, when I try to steer the conversation away from marriage India tacitly ignores me, but like any good son William has taken his mother's advice to heart. If India brings up the "M" word he sweetly answers her with "I will have to think about that".

Today William came for a play date and as I sat nearby I eavesdropped. I learned that dating is the same at any age. The conversation went like this:

India- "What's your favorite undersea animal?"

William -"Shark"

India "Mine is the turtle. I also like alligators, but they don't live under water. I also like..bla bla bla (this goes on for some time)...what's your next favorite?"

William - Falls out of his seat in a stupor, ears smoking.

I assume this is the equivalent of "what's your sign" or "what's your favorite color". Later the conversation progressed from the "Getting to Know You" stage to what I like to call "The Thrill Is Gone".

William - makes obscene gas sound effect

India - "WILLIAM! What do you say?"

William - "That was funny!"

India - "No, William. You say 'excuse me'!"

Hard to believe these two are 5 and 6. Perhaps India has just crossed to the front of the line. Sounds like they are already married to me!

Don't push me

I can do it myself

Watch how high

I can swing myself

ha ha ha

Sugar Hill Gang --
"It's Like a Dream Sometimes"










What the hell is happening to the music scene? They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes from the Del Fuegos, and now the Sugar Hill Gang have become children's musicians? I suppose they have all watched Laurie Berkner make a mint and are trying to revive their failing careers, but I never thought that one of the first rap groups would go from bustin' a rhyme to nursery rhymes. By the way, just in case you were wondering that is NOT the Sugar Hill Gang pictured on the left.

Unfortunately, I actually heard this terrible ditty. I pray I never do again. I am so grateful that the Short People listen to what Tracy and I like. I'n not sure they really understand that there are CDs and even whole radio stations filled with music just for kids, and I consider it my moral obligation as their mother to keep that information a secret for as long as possible. Right now Kate's favorite song is "Statesboro Blues", which India sings along to belting out "Wake up MAMMAL, turn your lamp down low". I couldn't be prouder. They also love Dee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart" and Paolo Nutini. I so much prefer these to "Bananaphone" ("Ring, ring ring, ring...." put that in just for you, Derek).

In an effort to further cultivate our children's ears for good music (i.e. stuff their parents can tolerate) we recently visited the 73rd Galax Fiddler's Convention. My parents, my sister and her boyfriend Derek, and some of my sister's friends (Hi Sue!) tagged along and we had a great time. Our hands-down favorite band was Special Ed and the Short Bus (also wins for best band name, with Pink Lloyd and the Wahl coming in second place). My father purchased Special Ed's CD and Derek fervently burned several copies for us all to enjoy on the ride home. I received a frantic call from my parents, who worried that we had tried out the CD in front of the Short People. They were clearly relieved that we hadn't, and suggested that it would be best to wait until the Short People napped to pop it in the stereo. I understood where they were coming from as I listened to lyrics that included some rather graphic descriptions of why the Special Ed needs to "get me some of them pills" (Viagra) and waxes poetic about his "Dirty Baby"'s nether regions. I don't think we'll add this one to the "shuffle" function of our CD player.


One of the most entertaining parts of any music festival is wandering the crowd, llistening to the pick-up bands and people-watching. We witnessed some sort of RV red-carpeted bluegrass award ceremony (they really had a red carpet), lots of pickers, fiddlers, cloggers, flatfooters, and even the odd harmonic player which reportedly inflamed some of the serious old time musicians (harmonicas were not used in true old time music). My favorites were these enormous unmentionables pictured on the left that provided both shade and entertainment. When Tracy escorted the Short People past and asked "Girls, have you ever seen underwear that large?" one of the inhabitants patted the girls on the head and drawled "well, I guess you haven't seen my wife".


After the Fiddler's Convention we just kept heading west to Abingdon to visit Tracy's family. The first night we pulled out Tracy's brother's karaoke machine and I think I made Patsy Kline spin like a rotisserie chicken in her grave. We had such a good time that I forgot to pull out the camera and take any pictures ( I am quite thankful there are no photos of my rendition of "Crazy"). I also neglected to take pictures of my father, Clare and Derek or Sue and Mark. I always do this; when I am just hanging around I will snap away with vigor but give me a party and my focus is having fun. I apologize to all my neglected family and friends and will make an attempt to do better next time, but I can't make any promises. A party is a party!

Many fish bites if ya got good bait

Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I 'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby goin' fishin' too

Taj Mahal -- "Big Fish Blues"

The above photo is for my father. Katie P. is doin' her Daden proud in the fishing department; she likes the challenge, the glory, and most especially the eating. That's my girl.

Art Camp officially ended today. Bye-bye, 8:30 t0 5:00 break from the oldest Short Person. I am mostly pleased, because I did miss her very much, but it was wonderful to have so many fight-free days.

India had a ball, and came home laden with an appalling amount of unidentifiable glazed clay figurines, a new tie-dye shirt (we just can't have enough of those in this house), a papier mache hat covered with blobs of tissue paper, an array of drawings and lots of new skills, including PLATE SPINNING. They did a "circus" segment, that included tumbling, juggling, etc. Thank goodness she hasn't asked to hone those skills at home.

Her favorite class by far was music (imagine that) and she surprised her teacher with the selections she brought in, which ranged from Del McCoury and Bobby Darin to Spanish music. I had to steer her away from her perennial favorite, "Willin'". Call me crazy, but I just didn't think the "weed, whites and wine" line would go over well. Although, after getting a good look at the music teacher and the bumper stickers on her guitar case, it might have been a welcome addition.

Notice that India is by far the tiniest in her little group. She's at about the 10% percentile...odd given that Tracy is 6ft 2in and I am 5ft 7in. I do have to say, though, that despite her height her apple didn't fall far from our tree!

The weather is looking dreadful this weekend, so beach and boating is out. I suppose that means Tracy and I may have to face painting the bookshelves we have had sitting unfinished in our den since Christmas. Damn. Somebody's gonna have to break it to Kate that she won't be fishin' this weekend, and it's not gonna be me.

Back in black

I hit the sack

I've been too long

I'm glad to be back

Yes, I'm let loose

From the noose

That's kept me hanging about

ACDC -- "Back in Black"

Well, sort of back. I'm moving a bit slow. I'm three weeks out from surgery and for the last few days I finally feel better. It was not a fun process, but the ENT feels like he was successful in removing all the staph infection. After a 2.5 hour surgery, I should hope he got it all. I can't say I notice an improvement yet given all the swelling and other unmentionable side effects of the procedure, but if he feels confident, then I'm going with his opinion. Luckily, he does not utilize packing so I missed out on some of the more painful aspects of the surgery that some friends experienced, nor did I bleed from the eyes like my friend Louise's husband (thank god). I do have to go in weekly for a procedure that I will not describe for you. Let's just say that a pain pill is beneficial before each visit. Thank you, Percocet!

It's been a difficult few weeks around here, but we got by with a little help from our friends (perhaps I should have used that song as an into) and family. Tracy's parents took the Short People for a week, and my Mom stayed with us for a week. Many of my wonderful women friends kept us VERY well fed, and I received flowers, phone calls and cards galore. We feel very lucky to have such a great support system. Thank you! You have no idea how much you helped us through.

Now comes the climbing out of the hole portion of the show. I am appallingly weak and I find this incredibly frustrating. I haven't exercised in about 10 months, I've been taking Prednisone for months (this causes significant weight gain), and I've been bedridden off and on for months, so I am fat and blobby. None of my clothes fit and I can't even wear my wedding rings; perhaps another intro song could have been Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls". I am hoping to be able to head back to the gym very soon and start working some of this weight off.

In the meantime I am trying to get back to a normal life. Today's photos are from a cookout with friends on Saturday and a beach outing on Sunday. They were my first outings and took a lot of energy out of me but were such great therapy! It was fabulous to leave the house for something other than a post-op visit. Since the Short People really haven't experienced a good snow, they invented their own version of "snow angels". Some of the mystique is lost, but it did work, as you can see.

Well I swear your perfume babe

Is made out of turnip greens

Well every time I kiss you girl it tastes like pork and beans

Even though you're wearing those uptown high heels

I can tell from your giant step you've been walking through the cotton fields

Ohhhhhh, you're so down homegirl

Old Crow Medicine Show --"Down Home Girl"

You can take the girl out of Southwest Virginia...

Last Wednesday Tracy and I and two other couples traveled "across the bay" (Eastern Shore slang for Norfolk or Va Beach) to see Old Crow Medicine Show. It was great! They are a "newgrass" band with a sense of humor and fantastic musicianship. The photo above is my new bumper sticker; it's my own little way of coolin' up the grocery getter. We've been fans of OCMS for a while and especially enjoy some of the more locally-themed songwriting, like "James River Blues" and "Virginia Creeper". You can check them out at: http://www.crowmedicine.com/. Enjoy!

After we all recovered from arriving home at 12:30am (I'm just to old for that), we got busy attending several parties, heading to the beach, and generally enjoying our summer. The Short People are loving the weather and the almost daily playdates with friends, but are suffering a bit from the lack of structure. Let's just say I would make a great referee for the World Wrestling Federation.

One of the most difficult aspects of having the girls home every day is grocery shopping. They ride in the cart until it is too full, then I ask them to get out and walk. Their idea of walking is to hang on to either side of the cart for dear life, occasionally letting go to grab something inappropriate and beg for it. This means that our combined mass is almost as wide as an aisle. This also means that we bump into everyone and everything in reach. I spend most of the time hissing "LET GO OF THE CART!" in my trying-to-discipline-on-the-sly voice.

Last week the nice checkout lady gave them each a balloon, and on the way home India asked "Mommy, will you sing the balloon song please?". Well, I wracked my brain trying to figure out what she was talking about. Exasperated, India said "You know, Mommy...balloon, despair, and agony on me; whhhooaaa!" On the next grocery trip India and Kate were on the hunt for spare change (faithful readers will remember that this is a favorite Short People past-time); they were so disappointed at checkout when there was not a penny in sight. The woman in front of me secretly dropped two pennies on the ground for the girls to "find". I think since I've become a parent I see so much more of people's generous side.

I am on a pre-op Prednisone high and taking advantage of this energy burst to get a few things done before my sinus surgery on July 3rd. Today I scrubbed and polished the antique marble sinktops upstairs that are such a pain to clean, organized the Short People's many hair accessories, ran several errands, caught up on laundry, wrote some thank you notes for the Hospital Auxiliary , and completed some correspondence regarding the Hospice fundraiser I am co-chairing. Whew! But it's time to make hay while the sun shines, as the Southwestern Virginia saying goes. I'm such a down home girl.

Father's Day Weekend" Part II

Oh Daddy,

You soothe me with your smile

You're letting me know

You're the best thing in my life

Fleetwood Mac -- "Oh, Daddy"

Happy, Happy Father's Day (belatedly posted) to Tracy. The Short People and I are so lucky to have you.

To honor Tracy, the Turmanators spent Father's day on the seaside of our Eastern Shore. This is, hands down, our favorite spot here...the reason we live in this special place.

The seaside is dotted with several Barrier Islands. These Islands are a series of very small, unihabited land masses that protect our coastline and are teeming with wildlife. Biologists studying our Islands have stated that they are some of the most productive on the planet, and The Nature Conservancy works steadily to prevent these jewels from development so they will remain wild and untamed, just like we like them.

Hard to believe that this oasis is, perhaps, a half hour's trip from our home. The unspoiled landscape is a sight to behold. The pictured buildings are an abandoned coast guard station on Cedar Island that featured in a short-lived 1960's development scheme and is now a privately-owned hunting lodge. Power is gererator-operated and the bugs are FEROCIOUS. Not sure I would want to spend more than a night or two but it would be worth some bug bites (even the Eastern Shore kind) to wake up to a sunrise here.

Father's Day was a perfect day on the seaside. The boating was smooth despite running aground twice. This is a common occurance on the seaside because the landscape changes almost weekly; the currents and storms are forever altering our coastline, making it a bit unpredictable. Unless you ruin your motor (we didn't) you just have to get out and push a bit. Tracy and I both got out and sank to our shins in good ole seaside muck and set off.

One of my favorite things about the seaside is the beachcombing (yes, Janice, I missed Pat terribly. No one else appreciated my delight over jingle shells, chunks of sea glass and a whale vertebrae). You never know what you will find. I once stumbled upon a perfectly preserved, puffed-up puffer fish. So cool. Hermit crabs are rampant, and I have also seen giant manta rays, sharks, sea snakes, millions of turtles, and have heard tales of sea otters. Some islands inhabit deer and raccoon as well.

For Tracy, the day would have been Nirvana had the fishing been good. It wasn't. But he and our friend, John, had a great time casting while baiting the hooks of our collective children, smoking cigars, and reveling in the day. Susan and I enjoyed walking on the beach and a swim. Bet you can't guess where we are heading next weekend!

.

Father's Day Weekend: Part I

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay

Watching the tide roll away

I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time.

Otis Redding -- "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay"

Welcome to the maiden voyage of the Miss IndiKate! Old Shoreman lore dictates you name your boat after your daughters because "your wife can leave you but your children never will". Aside: I wanted to call the boat the "Freudian Sloop"...Tracy said "But honey, it's not a sloop"! Men are so literal. Our boat is truly a bit small for an offical name, but to us it is the "Miss IndiKate". Funny, Dad and I both came up with the same name. Great minds, huh Dad? The "Miss Short People" just doesn't have the same ring.

Saturday was our first time out with the Miss IndiKate. We chose the Bayside for this excursion because 1)it is a bit easier to navigate and 2) we wanted to spend all day Father's Day on the seaside on an island. The weather was perfect and the boat ran relatively smoothly. Tracy was amazing at docking and trailering, and managed to navigate the tricky idle and keep us from being stranded. I was duly impressed! Once he has the hang of things I want to learn how to do all of it too. It would be fun, for one thing, and, as Tracy says, I need to know how to take over if he "has a stroke or something". Sometimes being married to someone who works in a hospital is so cheery! I just worry about everyone's emotional stability; Tracy worries about Avian Flu and COPD.

We put in at Harborton, a little Bayside town with a public access dock about 5 minutes from our home, and were joined by our friends the Masons. A quick lesson in Eastern Shore vocab...if your family is from the Shore you are referred to as a From Here.If you have been here for two generations or less you are a Come Here. John and Susan are From Heres. They know all the nooks and crannies of the Bayside and seaside, who's waterfront home is who's, and interesting little tidbits about various spots.

The pictures from today are all from our Bayside trip on Pungoteague Creek. The Shore is covered with "creeks", like fingers of water that stretch from the shoreline out to the Bay and the seaside. The coastline here is not smooth like the Outer Banks. The photo below on the left is of a shack on a sandbar right at the mouth of the Bay. Tracy kayaked past this shack several years ago just as the remnants of a bachelor party, including strippers boated over from Hampton Roads, staggered out for the boat ride back to the mainland.

On the other end of the spectrum is the large waterfront home pictured above. The Shore is full of very old homes that look much like this one. What a view they have!

Our "Day on the Bay" was the perfect way to kick off a Father's Day weekend. Tracy was in boat-owner heaven and it is fantastic that the Short People are finally old enough that we can do these things as a family. Next post: The Seaside.

Boat drinks

Waitress I need two more boat drinks

Then I'm headin south 'fore my dream shrinks

I gotta go where its warm

Jimmy Buffet -- "Boat Drinks"

Ahoy, Matie! After a decade of living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, who's true beauty is only visible by leaving the shore line, we are finally boat owners.

We picked it up (I just refuse to call the boat a HER) last Sunday. We must purchase a few additions to please the Coast Guard gods and then we may go for our maiden voyage. The weather looks great for Saturday and Sunday so I hope to return laden with tales of adventure, bags of whelks, and a camera full of photos for you to enjoy. Until then, check out the Short People pretending to fish and crab from the boat. Tracy was so proud!

But, in true Turman fashion, we buy a boat and three days later find out that we will be unable to enjoy it as much as we'd like. I continue to have a raging staph infection in my sinuses despite three months of hefty antibiotics. I don't feel great, either, as you can imagine. So I will be having that terrible sinus surgery. Yuck! It will be completely worth it if it helps me feel better, but it will interfere with sailing the high seas (or the Bay and sound, anyway). It will also make caring for the Short People a bit difficult. Once we know when I will have the surgery we are going to have to piece together some child care.

Besides the boat pictures, I am posting a photo of India that I took at the request of my friend Sally, who is the Marketing Director for our hospital. She needed a photo of a child wearing a hat in a playground setting for an article coming out in the hospital newsletter. Kate refused to participate. She is one stubborn girl!

The other photo illustrates the Short People after a playdate with their friends Ellie and Anne. The are in a newly-built home with dirt ALL around. They played all afternoon in the dirt and then snacked on popsicles. Notice the rivulets of popsickle juice that trickled through the dirt on Kate's legs. After I took this photo the Short People were ordered to strip right there on the porch and march right upstairs for a bath. I briefly considered taking a photo of the aftermath in the tub, so shocking was it's condition. I think I could've repotted a few plants with the soil left in the bath.

Isnt she lovely

Isnt she wonderful...

I never thought through love we'd be

Making one as lovely as she

But isnt she lovely made from love
Stevie Wonder -- "Isn't She Lovely"

Happy Happy Birthday to my 5 year old Short Person! India's birthday was June 6th and we celebrated twice; a trip to Richmond to visit my parents over the 6th and then a ballerina birthday party on Saturday the 9th.

Nothing says happy birthday like 12 little divas in tutus. India requested a ballerina party for her friends; "No boys this year, Mommy!" . Basically we covered the house in pink and white crepe paper and pink balloons, gave each girls a tutu and let them loose in the yard to act like anything but graceful, calm, serene ballerinas. Oh, and there was a ballet slipper pinata that some of these girls wailed on like Charlie Watts.

There was one little bump on the road to birthday party bliss; the cake. I love to bake cakes for the Short People's birthdays and this year India requested a pink ballerina cake with pink icing. I found some directions for making a ballet slipper cake and worked most of the day friday on baking, tinting icing, etcetera. When I started adding the crumb coat the cake was literally crumbling into hunks. Long story short, I placed an urgent phone call at 4:15 on Friday to Kate's Cupboard for an emergency birthday cake to be ready at 10:00 Saturday morning. There was a lot of cursing under my breath, for sure, but as long as there is icing and ice cream (they really don't even eat the cake) everyone is happy. Even me. Once I got over the temper tantrum, that is.

Today we are off to pick up a present for Tracy (and the rest of us, too)...A BOAT! We have lived here for almost 10 years without a boat, and now we are finally going to be able to reach the barrier islands and they Bay whenever we want. We have both seaside and bayside access 5 minutes from our home. Chez Turman B&B is open for business. Any takers?

d

She poured some of the wine from the bottle into the glass

And raised it to her lips

And just before she drank it,

She said: Spill the wine and take that pearl

War with Eric Burden --

"Spill the Wine"

Been out of town a few days to visit my parents and celebrate India's 5th birthday. Happy Birthday, sweetheart! I'll do a birthday post later, but I just had to squeeze in a quick post about last Saturday night.

Tracy and I and another couple went to a cocktail party and then out to Bizotto's, one of our favorite local restaurants. We ordered a nice bottle of pinot noir and then wanted another. We all enjoy wine and love to try different bottles, so we selected another variety. The discussion with our waiter went a little sump'm like dis:

Tracy: We'd like another bottle of pinot noir, but we'd like to try the cheaper bottle this time.

Waiter: The mumble mumble mumble?

Tracy: I think so; the $20 bottle.

The waiter brought the bottle and as Tracy tasted it:

Tracy: I must be a cheap date...I like this much better than the first bottle!

Well folks, we had a great time laughing and talking and knowing someone else was putting our children to bed, so we lingered over our dinners, then dessert and coffee. When the waiter brought the bill (we were the last table in the restaurant) Tracy looked it over and burst into hysterical laughter. Everyone begged to know what was so darn funny, but he was speechless so he passed the bill around the table and everyone reacted with either laughter or stunned silence.

WE DRANK A $170 BOTTLE OF WINE.

OH. MY. GOD.

I was ready to offer to wash dishes, especially after we determined that our waiter was Mr. Bizotto's son. Miguel Bizotto, who is not only the owner but is also the chef, came out and talked to us. After scamming some free medical advice from our friend about a recent burn, he agreed to charge us $70 for the wine. His son stated that he thought Tracy requested the "million dollar" bottle of pinot noir.

Lesson #1: Read the label on your bottle

Lesson #2: Remember that markup on wine from wholesale is about 120%

Today's photos are from our recent trip to Maymont Park in Richmond http://www.maymont.org/ . Take notes; I know we all want to copy these garden designs for our own homes.

As you start to lose your grip

You will stumble as you slip
As you tripped at every step

Elvis Costello -- "You Tripped at Every Step"
OR

I am getting so tired

Of standing in this light

Can't you hear me cry.

Boo, hoo, hoo, boo, hoo, hoo

Neil Young -- "Cry, Cry, Cry"

I just couldn't decide which song would most appropriately represent the Short People's preschool graduation ceremony, so I opted for both. Now, I know all you intelligent readers are thinking...did someone fall? Did someone cry?

Why yes.

India fell completely off the top bleachers during her graduation ceremony. I was watching through the lens of my camera and one minute she was there, smiling away, and the next she vanished. She was quickly scooped up by a teacher, cuddled, and returned. She stood bravely, smiling, singing and doing every hand motion perfectly with big tears running down her cheeks. Ever the performer, India knew that the show must go on.

Kate, on the other hand, could care less about showmanship. Nor did she have any excuse for sobbing through much of the ceremony. She just felt overwhelmed and shy. She managed to pull it together for the portion where each child introduces themselves, and felt comfortable enough to show the entire audience her underwear as her peers took their turns, but later became so hysterical that they had to remove her from the stage and bring her to us.

There is only room for one Short People diva, and I think India is it.

In other graduation news one girl repeatedly pulled her dress over her head, a little boy wet his pants, and there plenty of nose-picking and hitting. There was even one incident of sexual harrassment as a boy lifted up India's friend Allie's dress and took a peek. Allie retaliated by pinching him a couple of times...you go, Allie! Can't wait to see the DVD.

Bicycle bicycle bicycle...

I want to ride my bike

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride it where I like

Queen -- "Bicyle Race"

It was an early birthday celebration this holiday weekend as Tracy's parents came for a visit, bringing with them lots of goodies for India, the soon-to-be five year old Short Person. She was thrilled with her fancy pink bike. We spent lots of time outside playing and Pops fixed the reverse on the Short People's gator. Yay! No more running into things then parking and walking away because they couldn't back the thing up. It was beginning to look like the crash test institute around here. Thanks, Dex.

We also hit the annual CBES Pig Roast (Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore: http://www.cbes.org/about_mission.asp). This event is a fundraiser for CBES, an organization that lobbies for a cleaner, well-preserved environment, cautious development and local control of our Eastern Shore. Another organization I plan to volunteer with sometime...I'll just add it to the list. The Roast is held on some property that belongs to the family of a friend of mine, the lucky girl. Just look at that view! There are hay rides and contests for the children, lots of good friends, the odd politician, and plenty of mosquitos. Welcome to the Shore.

Today we played HARD, spending the day welcoming the uofficial start to summer. And it feels like it! We also constructed a teepee for the Short People; all I have to do is finish wrapping it with twine and then plant some sweet peas and moonflowers and VOILA, and wonderful play tent. Now we are all exhausted, especially Fontella. Hope your long weekend was fun-filled, too.