Gangs

So my son

made plans to go to the beach with his friends.
This would be his second time at the ocean without parental supervision.
He's 15, but I still worry.
So I said:
"You know to only swim by the lifeguards, right?"

He said:
"Yes mom, we only swim between the red flags."

Me: "DYLAN!"

Him: "I'm kidding, we're careful, I promise."

Then I went into the gang portion of my talk:
"If you run into any gangs........"

Him: "Where do you think I'm going??!!!!"

Me: "If you run into any gangs, remo......

Him: "I know, 'remove myself from the situation'."

I said:
"Dylan, it's my job as a parent to make sure you're safe."

My son then went into a stand up routine equal to any comic out there:

"Mom, we will not see any gangs. I have never seen any gangs. We're
going to the beach - no gangs. What do you think they do......

"Ok, ok, Latin Kings, Latin Kings, quite down, listen up.
We're all meeting at Ricky's house and then heading to the beach.
(cheering).
Julio, come on, Julio, quite down, I'm talking.
Now remember, next week.....Dave and Busters!!!
(more cheering)
And the week after that, White Water Rafting.
That will be a 'no knife trip', guns only. Knives will
pop the rafts. Remember, only guns."

This is my child.
MY child.

Africa Hot

Last week.
I've only now recovered.

Gardening

Each spring/summer I threaten to try my hand at gardening.

This year my friend Liz gave me a basil plant.
What was I supposed to do with it??
Well, I put it on top of a pot that once, a long
time ago, I tried growing flowers in.
The soil was still in there people.
It was hard as rock, but still.

So I put the basil plant there.
And I left it there.......for weeks.
It took root.
in the rock hard soil.

Ok, this was my chance...my chance to become a
GARDENER!!!!!!!!!

So one grossly humid Saturday I ran to the nursery and
picked up

1 tomato plant
1 cilantro plant
1 spearmint plant

I wanted to start small.
I knew we'd eat any tomatoes that grew,
and we love cilantro and as for the spearmint,
well, I know it's pretty tough to kill, so if the others
didn't take off, I'd at least have the spearmint.

Well, let me introduce you to my tomatoes!!

I spent $4.99 on this sucker and have 5 tomatoes.
I'd better get some more.
Here we have Ms. Spearmint on the left and Lil' Basil on the right

Yes, I finally gave Lil' Basil her own pot with brand new soil, that's
probably why she isn't doing so well. She's very thin and pale.

I did manage to get these from her

I added some lemon zest

Olive oil, garlic and lemon juice and blended

To make this fabulously yummy sauce to serve with grilled chicken
or, if you're Dylan, just about anything - he loves it.

I do think, however, that was the first and last harvest I will get
from Lil' Basil. She's so frail.

Please notice how right on the money I was about Ms. Spearmint.
She's slowly, quietly taking over.

I love her but there is only so much mint iced tea I can drink.
At the end of the season, she'll be transplanted and eventually
take over the entire front yard.

Last and certainly least, here is Dead Cilantro

Actually, Dead Cilantro turned into Thriving Coriander but
I don't know what the hell do to with Coriander so I just let it go.
I know, I know. I just couldn't deal, ok??!!
Just shut up and come over for some mint tea, ok?

If I Lived in Kansas......

If I lived in Kansas, or somewhere with
miles and miles of flatness I would get this

MASH!!

Have you seen these??

Mash is described as a "natural fruit essence, low calorie water drink.”
I had the Ripe Mango Blood Orange flavor today.
So refreshing on a scorcher of a day.
If you can find it - try it!!

Welcome To Dylan's World

Out of Sorts

I had a migraine yesterday - the really bad kind.
The close the blinds, throw up, pray that it will
be over soon kind.
I went to bed at 3pm yesterday.
The headache is gone, but now I'm
out of sorts.
Today promises to be slow moving.
Oh joy.
But at least the migraine is gone!

Um..Hello! Awesome Mom Alert

Yes I am an awesome mom.
Why?
Because Dylan and his friend Connor
are going to the midnight showing of
Harry Potter and I am driving them.
I'm tired people!
Normally I'd be in bed by now.
All I can say is that
PAUL HAD BETTER PICK THEM UP!

Girly Drink

A pomegranate margarita.
Yum.

Sailing

Thursday night we went sailing with my
BOSS AND HER HUSBAND.
How cool is that?
This is Alex, being the perfect hostess

Here is Paul enjoying her hosting

This is Alex's husband, Captain Brian.
He's very funny.

Here is Dylan planking on the boat.
Just because we're on the water, the planking doesn't end.

Brian let Dylan steer the boat then entire time
and Dylan LOVED it.

We had a terrific time sailing around Long Island Sound.
Paul had a sailboat for many years and decided
to sell it about 3 years ago. He had such a good
time on our little voyage that I was worried
he'd want to get another one.
He said, no - golf takes up all his time now.
Thank God for Golf! (never thought I'd say THAT)

Three More Books

Ok, so I read another 3 books in the past 10 days.
I have become a permanent fixture in "my chair"
by the window. I am determined to reach my goal
of 50 books this year.

So, first up

Love Tina Fey.
Loved the book.
Hate the cover, those arms creep me out.
I AM TINA FEY!! Seriously!!
I studied drama like she did!!
Sadly, I too have an Annie song on my iPod.
We were even on the same cruise ship when it caught fire!!!
WE ARE THE SAME PERSON!! - well, except she can call Alec Baldwin
whenever she feels like it.
Great book!!

Next

This is a story about two high school students who
take naughty pics of each other on their cell phones
and send them to each other.....and then get caught.
Mom and Dad find out.
The police find out.
The FEDS find out.
I told Dylan, "DON'T EVER DO THAT!
"I KNOW Mom. I know."

Most recently I finished

My second Jodi Picoult book. Not sure if I like her or not.
Her main characters are not all that likeable but I kind of like that.
This book was about a child who was molested.
Ugh.
Horrible topic. Good story.
I may read another one of her books.

So, only 19 more books to go!
I can do this.

Are you reading this summer?

Well Here's Something You Don't See Too Often

Rough day at camp?

(He hasn't slept in the car since he was 2!)