Jun 30, 2009

Wow. Nothing!


I realized I have not posted since June 14th. So I'm sitting here trying to think about what to post and I draw a blank. Is it due to lack of creativity? Is it due to the fact that there isn't anything annoying me or new or overly exciting? I think it's because things are just "good" right now.

That's right -- life is good. Kids are healthy. Family is (mostly) healthy. What else is there?

Sometimes, when things are at par, we fail to think things are exciting. I'm taking this moment to remind myself that "par" is exciting. If this was golf, and we hit every hole at par, we'd be thrilled. Why aren't we as thrilled with life at par? Maybe because par can seem boring in life. Maybe because par means "everday" in life.

I'm here to announce --- PAR IS GOOD!

So if you ever find life is boring, uneventful or not exciting, think about it -- is life at par? If so, this is good.

Jun 14, 2009

An example of what the world has come to....

I have decided to treat my 10 y/o daughter to her first concert. After-all, Miley Cyrus is touring this summer. What better way to begin? (Unlike my first concert -- Andy Gibb at the Concord Pavilion. I was 9. Went with friends. We were on the lawn and I brought my holly hobby sleeping bag to keep warm. Ahhhh, memories).

I asked daughter if she would like to go and the answer was, "Yes yes yes!!!!" I called her friend and friend's mom and they are both on board as well. So, we're all set. Just need to get the tickets.

Who knew that buying tickets would be SUCH A CHORE!!!!!!

Take a look at this challenge (thankfully, I lived through it).

6/8 - found out about the concert. Called friends, they are on board as well. Unfortunately, ticket sales go as follows (very deflating):

  • MileyWorld.com Presale Mon, 06/08/09 10:00 - Tue, 06/09/09 NOTE: COSTS $30 TO JOIN MILEY WORLD, WHICH GIVES YOU ACCESS TO THE PRESALE
  • American Express Presale Wed, 06/10/09 -Fri, 06/12/09
  • Onsale to General Public Sat, 06/13/09 10:00 AM
6/10-6/12 - I start searching for American Express pre-sale tickets. Honestly, the seats were NOT THAT GREAT. So I decided to wait until the general sale to see if I can get better seating

6/13 - logon at 10am sharp to ticketmaster to begin searching for tix. NOT THAT GREAT. So I call ticketmaster. Apparently, gone is the day when you can try to get good seats. They can NOT tell me what seats are available. They can simple say "here's best available -- take or leave." And while I searched online at the same time as the rep searched, I was getting a few rows closer than him. RIDICULOUS.

3 hours later -- still searching. but the same sections/same rows keep coming up. Finally, I broke down and just bought the darn tickets. They aren't horrible. But not what I wanted.

6/14 - day after bought tickets. Went on to tickemaster and the same rows/sections were popping up again. WHAT IS WITH THIS?

I find it a SHAME that we can no longer aspire to obtain good tickets. Yet, through a google search, I found a slew of ticket "agencies" with awesome seats...for $385 each. RIDICULOUS.

Thanks to scalpers and "agencies", tickemaster is forced to put these crazy seating controls in place. So the average person who wants to enjoy a good concert is no longer able to.

If anyone has tips on how to get through this system, please share. There is no reason we should all suffer like this. Some of my greatest memories are front row at a favorite concert. I want my children to grow up with the joy of music -- and being close shows that "rock stars" are just people.

What's an average joe (or joanie) to do????

Jun 11, 2009

Cute Daisy Chain Beanie Hat

Found this really cute crochet pattern for a daisy chain beanie hat. Think I'll make them for my girl scout troop for our next camporee...only add ear flaps and "braid" ties (the new thing).


View the pattern

Top Chef Takes on Girl Scouts

Thanks to BoyandGirlScouts.com for posting this update for us:

http://www.boyandgirlscouts.com/media/top-chef-takes-on-girl-scouts/

I LOVE Top Chef and am excited that the Girl Scouts were on last night. Darn. I missed it. Will have to DVR it for the weekend.

Who saw it???

Jun 9, 2009

Wicked is "wicked"

I went to see Wicked at the Orpheum in San Francisco this weekend. It was INCREDIBLE -- for a couple reasons.

REASON #1
The story and the performance was great. If you haven't seen it yet, Wicked provides background on how the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz becomes "wicked" and how Glinda the Good Witch becomes "good." The dynamics of the two girls from start to end was very interesting and loads of fun.

PLUS, Wicked gives background on how some of the characters from Oz came to exist. SO COOL! I could see it again...and again....and again.

REASON #2
My 10 y/o daughter attended with me and the storyline ended up providing us the start of a discussion about caring, kindness, and popularity. Who knew!

REASON #3
I attended with my daughter, mother and grandmother. We took BART into the city. And made a day of it. Whenever you can spend time with 4 generations, it's a good day!

Everyone should check out WICKED!

Jun 4, 2009

Planning for October....Already?

I know it's only June but I'm already planning for our annual Girl Scout Fall Retreat in October. (I know...I need a vacation).

Surprisingly, the Fall Retreat concept came from my days in college in the sorority. We got together at the beginning of each year and went to a cabin out of town (typically in La Honda) and spent the weekend team building, calendar planning and goal setting. And of course, bonding.

I have carried this concept over to my Girl Scouts -- seemed logical. I recommend you consider it as well.

We began our Fall Retreat tradition as 2nd grade Brownies at Camp Twin Canyons in Lafayette. Each and every year, my girls look forward to it.

Here are some tips:

1) Go cabin camping -- might be a little more expensive but it's easier on set up with less gear to haul so you can spend the weekend bonding versus outdoor camping.
  • Did you know Girl Scouts owns and operates many campgrounds in the U.S. Here's a link to those in Northern CA. We have camped at Twin Canyons in Lafayette and Butano Creek. Both were terrific with good hiking, clean cabins. Butano is right near the beach so we spent 2 days tide pooling, chasing waves and visiting Pigeon Point Lighthouse. I am definitely not an expert tide pooler so no worries if you don't know what you are doing -- they seem to figure it out!
2) Set a theme for the weekend -- and have the girls plan food & activities that tie in with the theme

3) Keep it simple -- the point is to bond and set goals for the year. We save the "outdoor camp" experience for the spring

4) Have team building games & simple crafts ready to go. Each year, I introduce a new version of a friendship bracelet for downtime.

5) Create your own traditions at retreat. Here are our traditions:
  • We save Rededication for Fall Retreat and do it in the woods

  • We have a spider-web ceremony the final evening: Take a ball of yarn. Pick a topic/theme. Each girl tosses the yarn to another across from her (without letting go) so eventually it creates a big web -- the concept being if one girl let's go of their part of the web, the web weakens so it takes everyone to keep the web strong. THEME IDEAS: to each girl you toss the yarn to, tell that girl: 1) what I admire most about you, 2) what I learned about you this weekend that I didn't know, 3) why you are a strong member of this troop, etc....

  • For every campout, when it's lights out, the parents sing "Good Night Girl Scouts" softly outside the room or tents. The girls LAUGH every time. LOL. But it's become a tradition and we'll do it until they graduate...and beyond. (Imagine that).
Hope this info is helpful. Have Fun.

Jun 3, 2009

What am I thinking???

I know I owe an update on the "fabulous" Miss Teen USA party and some photos. Will get to that shortly. In the meantime, let me just say it was a HIT with the 10 year olds. They loved playing characters and, as they were leaving, they all commented on how next time, they want to do the "murder" mystery version. Geesh. What do they take me for? A super star?
 

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