Flaming June's Love

This is my girl Allie at the John Mayer concert.  We were in the first row of the second section.  We had good seats, not first row, but good seats.  I have loved John Mayers music since Allie and her friends introduced him to me when they were in HS.  I spent a lot of time singing along with him, in my kitchen on Gardner ave, in my car, on my earphones and plenty of time with HIM in this house.  Ive cried along, smiled, sung my heart out. What is it about him that I love?  He is an honest writer.  AND He makes truly BIG MISTAKES. He had a few years of talking about things he shouldnt, old girlfriends and things.  He got alot of bad press which he deserved. I love that about him.  I had some tough years of saying things I shouldnt say, then.... I SHUT UP. So did he. SO far. hahaha As of today he if still goofy, super smart, deep deep deep and apparently changed. Grown up. A bit. Anyway, the beautiful girl, yeah she is my girl. My ...

Just finished up our annual Labor Day weekend celebration at the "mountain". Those who aren't in the know, the mountain is both a place and a frame of mind.  As you can see from Jack and his Nana, THIS IS THE MOUNTAIN.  Lets go back. The way I understand it, my Grandfather, his brother in laws after world war II came home and somehow acquired this patch of land in bear creek.  Not on a lake, not ON a mountain, no significant patch of beauty, but a piece of land that they decided to turn into a haven. They built four homes.  All the homes each belonging to one of the Burke sisters.  and their families.  The fourth belonged to my Grandfathers sister and her husband.  Adeline and Bud. So these men, hand built these homes.  Pieces from other houses torn down, scavenged tubs, windows, sinks, to create... Our mountain. I rememebre as a young child spending my summers there.  Our house, was Adeline and Buds house.  My Mom and Dad...

Summer 2013.  Sara and I have been talking and planning this summer all last winter.  Now e are here and it is almost over.  It was a successful summer.  Here are a few pictures to give you all an idea of the few things we were up to.  Went to Knoebels. Spent alot of time at the FF pool. Best summer tan EVER. Went to Baltimore for the Fourth of July, went to Dap where Andys paycheck comes from.  Saw fireworks, went to the Aquarium and had some good food. Jack delivered the flowers at the fourth of July Memorial in Wyoming.  That was great, he looked a million bucks with his seersucker suit. We went to Fla.  Witht he family.  It was nice.  The beach and ocean were beautiful and jack loved the ocean.  Allie and Ryan came down for two days and that was a highlight.  Jack fed fish, went to a childrens museun and made some friends at the pool and ocean.  Flights were fine and we survived it all. ...

My date of birth, 47 years ago today I came into this world, to my Mom and Dad.  After three boys in 6years.... This bundle of pink was a pleasant surprise. Today was an excellent day.  It was Jacks last day of FIRST GRADE.  After the trials and tribulations, WE MADE IT THROUGH. I would say it was an80% -20% year.  The majority-unremarkable and quit tolerable..  But that 20!!! He certainly had his tough days.   Which in turn were my tough days. BUT here we are report card of all Bs and Bplus's... We are happy, satisfied and ready to wind down for the summer. No camp for Jack this year, we are doing the Mommy Jack and friends summer plan.!! We ar going to swim at the FF pool, we are going to visit our Nanas pool take day trips to cool adventure places and enjoy each others company. Today was a great day- My birthday, the last day of school and the school trip to Knoebles grove. Jack loved it, he was a great boy and we LOVED watching him interact...

I was just reading a fellow bloggers take on being and having a sister.  I am a sister but don't have one. When I was pregnant with Allie I prayed for a girl.  Tim used to yell at me saying I was junxing him with girls.  I always wanted two girls.  When they were little they shared a room.   From the day missi came home from the hospital they shared a room.  I rememebr telling Allie to whisper her dreams because he "Baby" was in the crib.  She would hold her and feed her and look at her lying in her playpen. Interestingly enough they were never much for "playing" together, Allie wasnt a play kind of kid.  Missi did all the playing and Allie did all the watching.  Mothering. They had seperate beds but shared a room until 1999.  Thats when we bought the  house at 102 Gardner.  allies room was 8x8.  A closet in most homes.  Missi room was the nursery, larger but attached to the mster bedroom by a door, wh...

Delay is the deadliest form of denial. C. Northcote Parkinson Had a lovely weekend with the gals from AMSON.  There was alot of chat, and memories and current thiggngs in everyones lives.  It was all good. What I found, personally was, how fat I am compared to the rest of the gals. How is it that I am the one with 8 years post bypass heart surgery, poor cardiac output, high risk for repeat fatal MI, and I am the fattest one here>? How does it happen that the snacks are out and I am eating all of them as if I am having a TREAT, when OBVIOUSLY these ar items I take part in often. Was everyone bikini ready?  absolutely not..but we are 47, 48 year old women, and thats ok. But really, I was walking on the beach and short of breath from the sand and carrying my beach chair. Why do I continure these poor choices?  I have glimpses of knowing that I am going to die prematurely form Heart disease.  I know that.  But if you give someone opportunities that h...

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." -Oscar Wilde Someone is asking questions.  Or hypothetically I am anticipating someone asking questions about me, my past, my choices to act...or not to act. Why would anyone other than my immediate family really care?  I don't think they will. But I still have to wonder... If "people" brought you into the public eye, even for a few minutes could you pass the scrutiny of critics? Andy has won the Republican nomination for Mayor in our little town.  This is both exciting and terrifying in Suzie world. I was firmly, unequivocaly against the idea. I am a private person, I like my "bubble" to be small and tight. Now our bubble will be "public domain" because of Andys desire to serve this community. Yeah yeah yeah, its an honorable undertaking, since he has true intentions and ideas to help the town. But what about the rest of us? I dropped Jack at school this morning and the Principal s...