Halloween 2009

Well, we survived another night of trick-or-treating. As always, we dressed Emma up to what Jay and I think was different from the other girls her age. She was supposed to be a rock/punk princess, but the tiara was not working well with the faux-hawk. So we ditched the tiara, kept the faux-hawk and voila - an anti-Hannah Montana and anti-princesses costume was born. As you can see, she already knows how to do the power stance. By the time we got back to our friend's house Jay was ready to show her the Pete Townshend guitar bashing move. Unfortunately, by that time she was too tired and only cared about inspecting her loot.

Overall, it was a fun night for her and for us. Best part of all - her costume only cost me $1.75 and that was for the pink hairspray. Everything else that she was wearing were clothes she already owned.

Homesick

Homesick.

That’s the best word to describe how I feel right after reading my friend’s blog entry (read it here) about 3 of the memorable sermons he heard while he was in high school.I can relate to what he said. I too grew up where first Friday mass attendance was a must. Unlike him though, I can’t remember any of the sermons I’ve heard.

The rushing of emotions that I felt after reading his blog was not stemming from my high school experiences. It was actually from the first time I attended the 11:00 AM service at Marble Collegiate Church in NYC.

The months leading to our first service at Marble (and departure from NYC) had been very stressful and trying months for me and my family. As I sat in the pew that morning, an over powering feeling came over. My chest started constricting and my eyes welled up with unshed tears. I’m not sure if it was Dr. Arthur Caliandro’s sermon that Sunday or the fact that I was actually in church for the first time in months (my guess is it’s all of it) – but I really just got all choked up and somewhat relieved and hopeful. It took a whole lot of will power for me to not start sobbing when the choir started singing “On Eagles Wings.”

The few times we attended service at Marble were the best services I’ve ever been to in my life. They are maybe really that good or it was just that Marble came into mine (and Jay’s) life at the time when we needed it the most. It’s been a while since I’ve been moved that way but just thinking about it now, I can’t help but start tearing up again.

I am homesick.
Homesick for a place that’s 750 miles away from here.
Homesick for a place that made me feel good and whole.
…
…
5 points for NYC.

5 Years Old

EmmaIsFive 060
Originally uploaded by Abbie67

Emma officially turned 5 last September 24.
We celebrated her birthday twice - 1 on the 24th with just me, Jay and Grandmama, and today (26th) with her friends.

Two major milestones happened as Emma reached her 5th birthday. First was starting kindergarten, and second - knowing how to read (YAY!!!). I am so glad to see that our bedtime ritual paid off early!

WIth both happening at the same time, I realized just how fast my little girl is growing up. It seems like it was just yesterday, I was laying in the hospital waiting for her to come out.

I know that growing is inevitable, but it is just really hard to swallow the fact that she is getting older (so do I). I sometimes tell her to not grow up too fast. Of course, she always gives me a funny look when I say that.

To my dearest little girl, my world, my everything - Happy 5th Birthday.

emma jumps

emma jumps
Originally uploaded by Abbie67

This was taken last Friday during Emma's last day at swim class. Her instructor took her and the other 2 girls in their class and made them jump off the diving board. Video is crappy because I was using my phone.

Emma Rides a Bike

Took a video of Emma and Jay riding their bikes around the parking lot near the house. The day before this video was taken, Emma took a nasty spill and vowed never to ride her bike again. It took a lot of coaxing but she finally agreed to try it again. She became overly cautious though. The child will not go over the speed of a snail!

Emma and Kaleb

Here's a video of Emma and Kaleb from June 27.

Last night...

Last night I dreamed that I was dead.
In my dream the afterlife was a series of subway rides.
Each line has their specific destination, making frequents stop at different subway stations. Everyone knows where they should go.
I felt like I knew which train to ride and the station to get off too, but I was jumping from one platform to another, obviously in search of something or someone.

I was searching for Dad.
I am dead.
I am amongst the dead.
Dad died almost 14 years ago.
So where was he?

In my dream someone told me that the trains are only for the newly dead.
I had to leave the station to find the ones that passed before me.
So I did.

I found a long hallway.
At the end of that hallway was a door.
I knocked.
A man opened the door.
He looked like he just woke up.
I think he was God.

I asked for my Dad.
He said that he summoned him already.
A few seconds passed and the door opened again.
There he was, my Dad.

He looked exactly the way he was when I was a child.
Round, robust, and with a paunch belly.
I was so happy to see him.
He smiled and gave me a great big hug.

I was sitting with him, talking to him, laughing with him, and yet I feel like I was looking at him and myself through a camera lens.
Our image started to get smaller and smaller.
As if I was zooming out, just like the in the movies.

Then I woke up.
I wanted to go back to sleep.
I wanted to capture that moment again.
I wanted more time with Dad.
But alas, that moment was gone.

I miss him so much.
It hurts.

more BTE

Pardon if the recording is a bit crappy.
My camera is not really the best to use for video recording.
This is BTE performing their song "Misunderstood" from their 2001 Closer CD.

(You'll probably get to see a good 1 minute of the song. Apparently, that's all this site will allow.)

BTE 2009

Last night, Jay and I went to see Better than Ezra in Louisville. I was ecstatic to finally see them live again! Since I don't know when I'll see them again, I made sure that I had MY picture taken with Kevin Griffin. As you can see, my persistence paid off - as always.

The band was just as good as I remember. They performed a few songs from their new album Paper Empire, plus the usual fan faves.

It was fun to pick out who were truly are BTE fans. The fans know ALL the songs by heart and have seen the band multiple times. BTE may not have airtime with MTV or VH1, but they sure do have many faithful followers.