Super Spy Nearby

As I was driving around the past few weeks doing my errands my memories of my childhood were stronger than usual. Now, let me point out that I still live where I grew up so there are lots of places where my nostalgia kicks in and I find myself reminiscing.

Like when I was a kid, my friends and I would run around our neighborhood and play army or play kickball in one of the cul-de-sacs or run through the sewer tunnels (oh yes, sewer tunnels were the coolest because they took a certain amount of bravery, peer pressure and ignorance...ok, stupidity, to get through) and sometimes pretend we were spies, hiding behind hedges. Appropriate as spies lived in my neighborhood but I didn't find that out until years later.

I discovered one of the most famous spies of all time had lived right behind us. He was the second owner of the house. The first owners were the ones I knew well, the ones who's kids were my playmates, whose pantry I ate my first (and last) dog biscuit on a dare, who's bathroom I, well, you get the picture. When I found out years later that the spy had lived there I was devastated. I mean, why couldn't someone as notorious and cool as that have been there when I actually hung out at the house?

Don't get me wrong. I've heard his spying compromised many a secret mission and put lives in jeopardy but in all honesty, to a kid, how cool is having a Super Spy nearby? My friends and I surely would have at least snuck in and stole the last role of toilet paper or put something really memorable on those cameras had the CIA asked us to.

Oh well, I have my memories and the knowledge that life was not so quiet on a quiet suburban street in America.

Old Time Music

If you're reading this you're listening to the soft sounds of some oldies but goodies. What is it about the music of the the early/mid twentieth century that keeps younger generations coming back? IT'S REAL!!! The crap that is out now with voices being electronically changed, music being digitally generated and videos that sap any imagination out of the listener have ruined what used to be an honorable artistic institution.

Take James Brown's I Got You or You Never Can Tell. I dare you not to listen to this song and not move one part of your body.

Aretha Franklin's timeless classics like Respect, Do Right Woman and Natural Woman show talent, passion and integrity.

Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man envisions summer afternoons in the south.

Otis Redding's renditions of Stand By Me and Dock of The Bay are timeless and unforgettable.

Even Bruce Springsteen's immortal songs of youth and rebellion and later of joy and passion of being alive. The Rolling Stones uninhibited displays of gumption and greatness and yes, I'll even throw in Micheal Jackson's early work but he did start at Motown and there, greatness was born to all who experienced it.

To all you regurgitated talents of present, step back and listen to real music. Turn off the digital player, grab a guitar or piano and try, for once, to inspire us. We miss real music.

To All Fan Weary Celebs and Stars

I was perusing the gossip sites and came across an interesting blurb from Kristen Stewart. She mentioned that while she was grateful for her fans she found the notoriety and fame a bit tedious and restrictive... aka, she couldn't really go anywhere anymore without being mobbed.

Well, Kristen, for you and all you other fan weary celebs have I got a haven for you! Now before I reveal this Eden of American "we don't really care if you're here, just don't litter, no loud music and please don't eat the daisies" community let me say that I am a late 40 something mom of three who doesn't really follow the younger celeb set but when you're looking at gossip to escape the daily grind you find the aforementioned dilemma a bit funny. If you want peace and quite Kristen (or SJP or Brad Paisley or Sting or even you Charlie Sheen...just kidding...please Charlie, don't even think about it) you can come to my neck of the woods and live in total anonymous bliss for a day or a week (because that’s about as long as I can stand guests). However, you'll have to like basic meals, a messy house and noisy kids who don't know who you are but would be thrilled if you would run around outside with them. I won't always be around so you'd have to have a sturdy pair of walking shoes (you don't want to drive, it would ruin the purpose of your visit), a love of vineyards, an appreciation for charm, a tolerance for small bugs and a great sense of humor.

What do I want in return? Nothing. Just offering some good ol' Irish hospitality for your weary fan sapped self. Ok....maybe just a t-shirt...

New Year, New Start

Hello everyone! Haven't posted in over a year but I'm motivated because I've got...(wait for it) a "MOM CAVE"! I've got music, perfect lighting, a lock on the door and eBay. What more could I want? Well, really, I know it's not much for some people but for the REAL HOUSEWIVES out there, we know this little bit of sanctuary is a little bit of heaven.

Getting to the REAL HOUSEWIVES story. I'd like the rest of the world to know that no, American families are not like that. At least 80 to 90% of them aren't. We don't do botox, boob jobs and bitch. We are too busy living REAL LIVES and are REAL HOUSEWIVES. We love our kids, we love our husbands, we do laundry, we go to soccer games and ballet recitals. We grocery shop, we get a manicure maybe once a month and we appreciate our husbands. Whether we work outside the home or inside the home we work our asses off and know how lucky we are to have the lives we do have. We have girls' night out, playdates and date nights. We don't wear makeup to bed, we get the car inspected and we try to get the Christmas cards out on time...all by ourselves. We don't have personal assistants, we don't have pools, we don't wear dresses at 1:00pm and have wine at 3:00 (ok, maybe some of us do but it's a treat, not a habit). That's the truth world. Hollywood entertainment? Enjoy...but its not reality tv.

Happy New Year!