This song's for you...

I have to gush for a minute.  I will start by saying how much I love music.  I could do without the T.V., computer, and a few other things, but music is one thing it would be hard for me to live without.  Having said that, I will gush a little more about one of my favorite musicians-Elton John.  Just watched an interview with him that was not at all surprising, but I loved watching it.

I remember singing his songs since, well since I can really remember anything.  Songs seem to trigger some of my earliest memories, and I remember singing "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" when I was a little shrimpy kid.  One summer, he played a concert in Central Park that was replayed over and over again.  And I watched it over and over again.  I loved all the costumes he wore then-the Donald Duck costume stands out in my mind, and seeing the thousands of people who had a blast watching him perform.  I know I loved it!

His music is timeless and as I have gotten older, I love his honesty and  his openness and his music even more.  I look forward to reading his book.

He is one of the musicians that my kids sing along to-usually subconsciously, just because he is one of those that they have grown up listening to by way of their mother.  I will sing the songs to them-much to their great embarrassment with gusto.  They may not realize it yet, but I mean every word-"How wonderful life is, when you're in the world"....

Gone to the dogs....

There are three dogs here at home as I am writing this piece.  My two pups, Bella and Molly, and my parent's dog Scout.  I am dog-sitting for the evening.  These past few days have quite literally been the dog days of summer.

Friday evening, my oldest daughter was asked to dog sit for the weekend for one of our neighbors.  That evening she had five dogs.  Yes, I said five.  They were very well behaved-I was surprised.  There were shelties, a golden, a malti-poo, and a mutt.  One female and four males-the poor lassie.  She had one admirer who just would not leave her alone, until she had had quite enough and put an end to his foolishness.  Good girl.  Got to tame those boys!!

Our dogs met some new friends-the neighbor's five and their cousin Bernie.  After a little time running around sniffing, everyone started to ignore each other and see who could drink the most water.  Bella won that one.

Scout came this morning-she is a big black lab, about ninety pounds of puppy.  She has been very well behaved-making my day that much easier with three dogs, three children, and two cats around.  I know that I can't really count the cats because they can take care of themselves, but I am going to because I can.

I did go out and purchase a Thunder Shirt for Bella-it has worked fantastically.  She still barks when she sees people outside, but she does not go polar and have a nervous breakdown.  She has graciously left that for me to do.  Lord knows this house can't handle anymore anxious women.  Maybe I should use the Thunder Shirt myself....

OMG it's hot!!!!

I would say hot is an understatement.  I love hot weather, but even this is pushing it for me.  It is 104 degrees not counting the humidity.  And why would you want to count any higher than that?

So what does one do when it is hot outside?  Paint their master bedroom of course!  My sweet hubby and I spent the last two days painting away.  He is a trooper.  I love him to pieces.  After eleven years of living here, I finally feel like it is our room.  Not what someone else had in mind.  Don't get me wrong-it wasn't a hideous 70's green or anything like that.  It was a sunny yellow and liveable(obviously) but I love change and have wanted something new for a while.  And now-I have it!

It is a calm blue color-yes, it does remind me of the beach.  The color of the water in Hawaii, or the sky on a clear day.  I love it.  The best thing about it?  It's done.  I did the cutting in and around the baseboards and the ceiling, Patrick did the rolling.  We are a good team.

I have lots of ideas for other things that I will be adding to our room-shelves, a new headboard, a "new" mirror(code for an old mirror that I spray-painted a glossy orange).  It will look great when it is completely done.  That should be by the end of the week-not in another 11 years.

I would rather spend cooler days outside playing or relaxing on my porch-and get stuff done inside on days when it is just too darn hot...

Play that funky music...

Music is one thing in life that I would have a hard time living without.  It brings back so many memories of people, places, travels, adventures.  No bad memories go with music for me.  I tend to attach all things good to music.

Bruce Hornsby and the Range were actually the inspiration for this post.  I was listening to Radio Margaritaville and one of their songs began to play.  "Every little kiss..."  It reminded me of times when my Patrick(then my fiance) and I would take road trips to Williamsburg or the beach, playing their tape(yes, it was awhile ago)on the stereo, in our Jeep Wrangler, top down, wind in our faces.  It was always a great time.  When I listen to those songs, I close my eyes and I am there.

U2 reminds me of high school and college days, when anyone who lived with me either grew to love U2 or hate them because all of their songs were constantly playing.  Loudly.  I still play them-loudly.  I finally got to see them in concert in 2009 for their U2 360 tour.  It.was.awesome.  It only took me twenty-plus years to see them.  Hopefully it won't be that long before I see them again.

Jimmy Buffett of course reminds me of the beach, lazy days, lots of smiles, cheeseburgers, and I lifestyle that many of us would love to live everyday.  If I can live it vicariously through Jimmy's music, I will take it.  I sit on my porch under the ceiling fan, a cold beer in my hand, and just relax.  Not too bad of a way to spend an afternoon.  It is playing almost constantly when I am at home or in my car.  I love that I will catch my kids singing along to a song that not too many other kids would know-like "Tin Cup Chalice".  Unless their parents are Parrotheads.  Look it up, take a listen.


I like the newer stuff too.  Flo Rida is way fun, Maroon 5, Adele, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Foo Fighters.  All great music that I listen to-when Jimmy is not playing.

And to the song that this post is named after, just bob your head along to the rhythm.  "Play that funky music white boy!"

Summer 2012

Ahh, summer.  Just the simple word stirs up lots of different thoughts and images and memories.  I think of the beach-warm, salty air, running across hot sand, sitting in my beach chair with a new read and getting through maybe a few pages before the sound of crashing waves puts me to sleep.  I see colorful towels slung over shoulders of children as we made our way to the pool for long afternoons-them playing with friends and me doing the same-play being talking and soaking up the sun.  The smell of chlorine in their hair and falling asleep on the couch after we would make it home-ready to do it all again the next day.  I remember the first time we took a family vacation at the beach-my oldest wanted to stay on the beach, my then youngest could not take the feel of the sand on his 18 month old feet and demanded the pool.

This summer, I am thankful for a job that allows me to be home with my children once again.  It is a little different now that they are older.  My son will be going to camp soon, my oldest is conditioning for high school sports, and my youngest, well, she just wants to be outside with her friends, rain or shine.  It is strange being home all day now.  After starting my new job a few months ago, I feel like I have been constantly busy-going from work to home and doing all of the things that need to be done there-house work, errands, picking up kids from school and sports.  Sometimes evenings felt busier than earlier parts of the day.  Sad to say that I feel guilty for sitting and watching T.V. or reading-I always feel like I need to be doing something.  What I need to do is not feel that way!

I love reading Facebook posts from my friends who live far away about what they are up to.  And my friends who are right around the corner.  Travels, anniversaries, swim team, doing school work with their kids, mosquito repellent reviews.  I can relate to all of them and they give me a smile.

I hope that your summer is relaxing-even if with work and family and everything that life brings, you can find an afternoon, a weekend, or whatever time you can to sit and relax and enjoy everything that summer brings.

"How many times do I have to say it?'!

As a mom, I will go out on a limb and say that I am a pro.  I have been doing this now for fifteen years, so when I look at my three kids(some who are taller than me) and they are walking, talking, feeding themselves, I feel pretty good.  When they bring home honor roll, I feel awesome.  When other people compliment them, I am on cloud nine!  "Pat yourself on the back" I say to myself, you done good.

And then there are those times when I think, "Does anyone listen to anything I say?", "Am I talking to myself?". Today was one of those days.  I was leaving a message on some one's answering machine, my two teenagers standing mere feet away-they could see I was on the phone.  And what did I have to do?  That's right, I had to tell them to be quiet DURING my message.  It goes without saying that after said message was delivered, I delivered it to them.  "How many times do I have to say it?  Be quiet when I am on the phone!"  Maybe I am far from being a pro.  Maybe I need more practice.  Maybe my kids need to listen to what their mother tells them!

I know, the behavior could have been something way more offensive and I should be grateful-I am grateful that they are good kids.  Just puh-leeease refrain from loud conversation twenty-four inches away from someone(especially me)who is on the phone.  I think they were sufficiently surprised by my just-so reaction.  My delivery was spot on.  And then I was dead silent-that was the kicker.  Good behavior has prevailed for the last five hours.  But tomorrow is another day....

I'm Baaaaack!

I have been neglecting this poor blog for a few months now.  I know, I am a bad blogger.  In my defense, I have started a new job that gets me up at an early hour and while I am off at 1, I do have three children and all of their activities, not to mention normal household duties and errands to run.  Plus I need some down time.  Time to read, to watch T.V., but that time is hard to find as well.

So, enough with the excuses already.  Here I am, please, hold your applause.  HeeHee.

So, what to write about?  I could write about how we have not had a winter-really.  In mid-March, there were days when the temps went into the upper-eighties.  Then we hit Spring break and it was in the fifties.  Last week, winter came.  Next week is May.  I am not sure which end is up.

I could write about books I am reading-a new biography on Queen Elizabeth II, some Pat Conroy, and if I could snag a copy from one of my kids or my husband, I would like to read the Hunger Games.  I think I will have to wait for summer break for that one though.  The hype has reached Mount Everest heights around here and as soon as I start reading a copy, it find it's way into the clutches of someone else's hands.

I could write about my plants blooming a month ahead of time and my dismay as I was so looking forward to separating some of my Hostas and having many new plants for free.  Now they are as big as they would be in June and not being sure if they are too big to separate, I will err on the side of caution and leave them alone until next Spring.  *Sigh*

I will tell you about my excitement that next weekend is the Kentucky Derby.  I hope I am able to go to the Derby one day, to take part in all of the fun and wear big , beautiful hat.  I love hats.  And to have a mint julep-which I will make next Saturday in abundance.  They are heavenly.

I could write about needing to have my hair cut and high-lighted(is that a word?) but I think only I would find that interesting.

I think I need to go and figure out a proper post-but then again, this blog is really just about my everyday life-I hope you have found something you can relate to.

Thanks for reading, I will be back-sooner rather than later.

Grrr....

Several times in the last two weeks or so, I have treated myself to Starbucks on my way to work.  It is entirely too convenient-a right turn in, a right turn out, and a total of three minutes spent picking it up.  That includes parking!  So, in an effort to save my pennies, or dollars when purchasing cups of coffee, I decided to buy an espresso machine.  I have been a barista, so I know the tricks.  In my excitement, I accidentally purchased two machines.  Different brands which I will not mention.  They will not like me.

I tried out both machines and to my extreme frustration, neither of them worked.  On one, the pump would not work and on the other, the steamer wand would not steam.  The only thing that got steamed was me!  It was not a banner afternoon.  So now, not only am I without an espresso machine, but I have to pay to ship them both back to Amazon.  Grrr...

I think my dollars will go to Starbucks tomorrow morning.

Confused and Grateful

These are words that have me  in a nutshell lately.  Quite a contrast of feeling, but completely true.  Confusion at how to deal with the cancer that my mother has been diagnosed with and grateful to have been given a job that keeps me busy enough during the day that I don't think about that confusion.  Life is strange that way.

She is undergoing chemotherapy treatments and so far so good.  We are only two treatments in.  I have asked for information regarding life expectancy and all of those things that people want to know who do not deal with uncertainty well.  I have come to realize that there is no certainty in life.  There are no hard, definitive answers.  The only thing I can do is be positive and encouraging.  So that is what I do.

I had someone say some very hurtful things to me about cancer.  That it is a blessing.  That is total crap.  They have obviously never dealt with it before.  That at least they were not hit by a bus-you get to say goodbye.  Again, more crap.  That is all I will say about that.

I am grateful for the job I have.  I learned of it a mere two weeks after my mother's diagnosis.  It is a blessing to be busy and when thoughts creep into my head, I make sure they are positive ones.  Negatives will only bog me down.  I am positive I love my mother and that the doctors are doing everything they can to help her beat her cancer.  I can only do the same.

I am grateful I have wonderful family and friends that I can talk to about my confused and grateful emotions.  I am grateful to all of them.  There is no confusion there.  There will be days when I know how to deal with things outwardly, but inwardly is another thing.  Sometimes, I really suck at it.  But I am far from perfect.  I am doing the best I can and I take things one day at a time.  With a confused and grateful heart.

Caffeine

http://www.facebook.com/pages/EscapeHomeDaily/204564336236441

Caffeine-the way so many of us begin our days, with a strong cup o'joe.  I like mine black-no cream, no sugar, nada.  The first sip is always the best one-sometimes the second, depending on how hot the coffee is.  Sometimes I will pour a cup, set it down, get distracted, and come back to it a few minutes later and it's not as hot as I would like.   Life is complicated enough-why make coffee complicated?

I have seen it done-so many times.  "I would like a grande, non-fat, sugar-free mocha, with two pumps of mocha, one pump of vanilla, half-caf latte."  Shew-that is a mouthful.  It almost sounds like a complicated mathematical equation.  I was at a coffee shop one day in line behind a few people who placed orders just like this one.  When it was my turn, I ordered just a black coffee.  The barista pulled out her "Easy" button and with a laugh I happily slapped that sucker.  I know coffee can be a serious thing-but it is just coffee.

Some people's caffeine fixes vary.  From Red Bull to Mountain Dew, Diet Coke to espresso-which if made right with a pack of raw sugar is delicious.  Others prefer breakfast tea or green tea.  Some love Starbucks while others prefer locally grown organic blends.  From Maxwell House to Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts to Millstone.  Some people do not drink anything caffeinated.  They do save money and maybe some time waiting for it all to brew, but I love it.  It is fun to go out with a friend for a coffee-or whatever floats your boat.  It is relaxing to sit with a cup and read a book or watch television while enjoying a cup of java.  Interesting the dichotomy there.  Something that is a stimulant is used to relax.

Hmm.  Maybe it is more complex than I thought.

Looking...

During the Christmas season, I find myself becoming nostalgic.  Many times, this begins several weeks before and continues until well after Christmas ends.  Remembering times from my childhood, people that have passed on, when my kids were little.  I love seeing old decorations once again, hearing music, looking at photographs.  I know that Christmas is over, but it seemed to go in a blur this year.

Now that things have slowed down a bit and everyone seems to be able to relax(knock on wood), the nostalgia has kicked back in.  There are times I find myself putting my grandparents and great-grandparents names into the Google search bar just to see what I can find.  I feel like I am trying to find them, like they have become lost. To find out things about them that I perhaps did not know.  I was lucky enough to have known my great-grandparents.  My great-grandmother passed away when I was almost twenty-seven.  My oldest daughter was born on her birthday.  She was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known.  I still look for her.

I think in a way, I am looking for pieces of myself.  I have found things about them all on-line.  Very strange.  And wonderful at the same time.  I think, "Why didn't anyone tell me that?"-but in finding them, I find out more about me.  The harder I look, the more I realize that I do not have to look far at all.  They are always with me-guiding me, steering me in the right direction.  Having a good laugh from time to time.  They have never really left at all.

I think about them with fondness, although I wish I could have known them all as an adult-to ask advice, about their lives, their childhoods, what their families were like.  Maybe one day, I will find out all of those answers, until then, I will be looking.

Year Two

This is officially the second year of my little blog, "EscapeHomeDaily".  Pretty cool and I can not believe a year has gone by already.  So much has happened-some good, some not so good, but always interesting.  I made one resolution this year, to get healthy.  I have already started eating better and drinking more water and have seriously cut my coffee intake.  This may be the hardest part of the whole thing.  I know that I will not cut out coffee entirely-I love it too much.

The getting healthy resolution has been one that I have made every year for the past, oh, fifteen years or so, but sometimes something can happen in your life to wake you up and slap you across the face and tell you that you are not getting any younger.  This is that time.  I look forward to the challenge and the results that can only be beneficial to me.

I would like to have my children's book published.  That is a HUGE thing for me.  I love the story and believe in it too much to give up on it.  Have you ever seen sales people that are REALLY good sales people and thought, "I could never do that.  I just don't think I have what it takes to sell like that."  I thought that way too until I wrote my story and spoke with a publisher.  Just that was enough to really make me believe that other people may want to read my story.  And so, I will not give up until it is published.  Period.

I know a new year always makes me want to clean out my house.  I have written about that a lot-so I am pretty sure it is something that will always need to be done.  Goodwill, here I come!  I did some cleaning out today and marking of items that need to go-maybe a yard sale this year?  I think I will be patient this time around and not make a huge pile of stuff in my dining room.  Just mark the items to go to the sale and bring them out when it is time.  We'll see.

My other goals are to work more-yes, I did say that, read more, be outside more, and relax more.  But health is my main goal.  For myself and my wish for everyone.

So here's to Year Two of my little ole' blog.  She has been fun to write.

Cheers and best wishes in 2012-make it the best yet! 

Go ahead...make my day....

I was working yesterday, making coffee, when the woman I was making coffee for said to me, "You have made my afternoon!".  I knew exactly what she meant.  You run errands, or go to work, or clean at home, promising yourself that at the end of all of that you will reward yourself with something.  Then you look forward to that treat  the entire day.  I know sometimes that is what gets me through my day.  If I have a special coffee drink or something sweet or even treating myself to a nice lunch, it will make all of the work not seem so hard.

It gives you something to look forward to-just for you.  Everyone should treat themselves!

I treated myself today by buying some magazines that I love to read.  It felt good though to have someone else  tell me that I had made their afternoon-that is no small thing.

Lights out...

The power went out today.  I was at work and bam!  Out it went!  I do love the quiet a power outage brings, but it is not good for business.  Which made me wonder-what would happen if all of a sudden we were without power-indefinitely?  People rarely use "real" money to pay for anything-would we barter for things?  It is a pretty scary thought-so I will change the subject to something a little less frightening.  Loosing power and having quiet at home.  This happened a few months back....

It was a weekday, I had gone to run and errand and when I came home, the cul-de-sac looked fairly dark.  It was dusk and so not quiet dark out yet.  I opened the front door and yes, the power was out.  I grabbed my book, lit a few candles, sat at the kitchen table and started to read.  It was nice when my three kiddos joined me.  The outage lasted for around a half an hour and it was lovely.  I must say I was disappointed when the power came back on.  I loved the time though because I could not turn on the T.V., or boot up my computer, or listen to my iPod.  All I could do was sit in the quiet and read.  I could not do laundry, I could not cook, I could not feel guilty about not doing any of these things.  I think I need more time like this.  And I am sure that you do too.

We should not feel guilty about having down time where we sit and relax and do something we love or nothing at all.  It is sad that it takes a power outage to realize this.  Maybe we need more of them.  Although, I am really not up for bartering-yet.

Wrap it up

I have finished Christmas shopping.  I think.  I have just about everything that I have ordered-just waiting on one thing-fingers crossed!  Now, I just have to wrap it.  This really is not my favorite part of the whole Christmas experience.  It means paper cuts, lots of cutting, lots of tape, and the guilt of paper that will be torn and throw away.  I have heard it can not be recycled.  Boo.  Do you feel my pain-let's share!

This is where the Christmas miracle of gift bags comes in.  I always keep the bags I have been given.  I try to make sure not to give those same bags back as wrapping to the person who gave it to me.  But if I do, just think of all the landfill waste we are saving!  Reduce, re-use, recycle!  The green isn't just for mistletoe at Christmas time!

I sometimes think of Candy Spelling, in her bigger than a small country mansion in her gift wrapping room.  Yes, I did just write that-don't adjust your screens or re-read it.  Who wouldn't want to have a room just for gift wrapping at the holidays?  No more sitting on the floor or leaning over a too short table or a bed and breaking your back hoping that you received a massage for a gift to recover from Christmas.  Shew-that was a mouthful.

I have not wrapped one package.  I always say that I will wrap as I go but that has yet to happen.  I will probably do what I always end up doing-wrapping everything on Christmas Eve.  But this year-I may just "bag it".  Literally.

Sister Friends

Growing up, I always wanted sisters.  I have two brothers-they are fine, but there is nothing like having a sister-or so I have heard.  I know there are sisters that do not get along but I am not going to talk about that.  I will focus on the ones that do talk to each other, love each other, support each other.  I always wished for that.  I always was envious of friends who had sisters and were close.  Who did things together, like up at o'dark thirty the morning after Thanksgiving to go shop.  Who went to lunches and movies together.  Who you could call any time of the day with a problem, a success, or nothing at all just to talk.  I thought that would be something I would never find.

And then I had a daughter.  And a few years later, I had another girl.  And along the way many special women have appeared in my life.  It is a glorious thing.  They have blessed my life in so many ways.  I now have more sisters than even I imagined possible.  They bring me joy, make me laugh, listen when I need it.  We support each other and help each other.  Even if it is just by listening and knowing that the support is but a phone call away-or now-a-days an email.

I call these women sister-friends.

Thank you my sister-friends.  You make life that much more beautiful.

The Ghost of Christmas Past...

The other night, I stumbled upon Mickey's Christmas Carol-a classic.  Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchett, Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge and Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of  Christmas Past.  He holds a special place in my heart.  I too played the Ghost of Christmas Past in my seventh grade play.  It was "A Christmas Carol" of course.  I was twelve years old and thought it was the greatest thing in the world.  The auditioning, the practicing, the evening performance for all of our family members and friends, and then performing it for the entire school.  So. Much. Fun.

I had not thought about that time for quite a while.  I remembered trying out for two parts-the ghosts past and yet to come.  I remember being tremendously excited about landing a part-I was sure it would go to someone else.  But, it didn't, it went to me.  I remember wearing a long, white dress-it was probably a night gown of some sort, but was flow-y and fit the part.  I remember glitter in my hair along with a sprig of holy-the dark green of the leaves and the red of the berries.  I remember the excitement of the class as we took the stage for the play we had worked so hard on for so long.

It is almost thirty years later-I have not seen many of the people I was in that play with in a long time.  Everyone has their own lives and have gone in different directions.  One friend has passed away and I remember her warm smile and days in elementary school when we dressed exactly alike.  I wonder if when my former classmates watch "A Christmas Carol"-any version-they have fond memories of the time when we performed the play together.  Ghosts are not always bad things-they can bring back good memories of the past in the present and for future Christmases to come.

What comes down...

It seems not too long ago that I was writing about packing up Christmas decorations-a little less than eleven months ago.  Then again, it seems like forever, and now I am putting them back up again.  Oh man, do I have a lot to do.  I must say, I am a little bit scared-but, I will just put on my big girl pants and do it!

There are boxes of decorations to get down, furniture to move, and fall decorations to put away.  Yikes-I need to get started!  I can already hear my knees screaming at me.  Hello ibuprofen.  I have gotten a small start though.  The candles went in the windows the week before Thanksgiving.  They are my favorite of the Christmas decor-they are just warm and inviting.  The reindeer and snowman went up this past weekend in the yard.  Thank you to my hubby and youngest for that one!  I do love it all, though there were times when I asked if we could blow up a picture of last year's tree and tape it to the wall.  And, you guessed it, I got a funny look from everyone within earshot.

We will get our tree this weekend.  It is a holiday weekend after all.  Wait, you didn't know it was a holiday?  Which holiday you ask?  Why it is Emma Eve on Saturday of course, followed by Emma's 10th birthday on Sunday.  Yes, my brilliant youngest daughter has figured out how to stretch out her birthday.  I really think Emma Eve is more highly anticipated, sort of like Christmas Eve.  Then on the actually birthday, we are off to see Santa himself.  Legendary Santa-if you are a Richmonder, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Accept no substitutes.

So, as always, there is much going on in our household.  Birthdays, decorating, and holidays.  All rolled into one.

Thank You

Today is Veteran's Day-a day to give thanks to our veterans who have served and are serving.  To say thank you to their families for the sacrifices that they make everyday so that their soldiers can protect us and our freedoms.  I can not thank them all enough.

There have been quite a few members of my family and my husband's family that have served in the military.  There are two who are currently serving in the Army.  We are so proud of all of them.

It is also my mother's birthday.  She had a good day-it is 11-11-11, so it was a lucky day as well!

I am also thankful for a post on my Facebook updates.  Here it is:

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/07/17/75-reminders-for-tough-times/

It came from a friend who is also a blogger.  Here is his site

http://employmentforumblog.com/


It was a great post that put things into perspective-when times are hard and you are having trouble seeing that things will work out, it is funny how things like this are presented to you.  Breathe in, breathe out, move on.  A great line from a Buffett song.

So, there were lots of things to be thankful for today.  Freedom, birthdays, and encouraging words.  Thank you.

That Time of Year

No, I don't mean Christmas.  It is the first weekend in November.  In Virginia, that means one very important thing.  It is time for the Urbanna Oyster Festival.  The festival of all festivals in my opinion.  It is said that close to 200,000 people will attend the festival over the course of two glorious days.  And why not?  It is in a beautiful place with fantastic seafood.  What more does a person need?

When people ask where we are going and I mention oysters, they scrunch up their faces and usually reply, "I really don't like oysters."  More for me!  Although, they have great BBQ, huge turkey legs, soups, crab, and other things that will satisfy those non-oyster eaters.  I go for the oysters.  Raw, on the half-shell with a drop of Tobassco.  Yum.

What is fun is you always run into someone you know.  I have not been to Urbanna and not run into someone that we know, even if it has been since the previous oyster festival that we have seen each other.  Last year, boats from Jamestown were sailed into the marina off the Rappahanock River, with re-enacters on board to answer questions.  There are artists, live music, parades at the end of the day, and endless seafood.  Heavenly.

I love that our kids now love to go.  They never moan and groan about walking around all day-they enjoy the food and the people as much as we do.  Smart kids!

So, the merriment will begin tomorrow morning-and you can be for certain that is where we will be.  Maybe I will run into you there!  If not, please try the oysters.http://www.urbannaoysterfestival.com/