Wicked

Wicked was awesome. The whole night was a lot of fun. We went with a small group of people but McKay was the only kid. I could tell he felt like big shot. He acted so maturely, I was very proud of him. We went to dinner at 25 Degrees. Delicious.

The show was great, and funnier than I expected.

Since it didn't even start till 8pm, McKay was up way later than usual. He made it as long as he could but crashed in the lobby after the show while we waited for a few people to use the restroom.



We had walked about a mile to the theater from where we had dinner. We were planning on getting a cab back to the car since it was late (Hollywood late at night scares me a little) and walking in heels sucks. But then we found out that no cabs were were running in the direction we needed to go because the street had been shut down for a gay rights protest (an anti prop 8 rally, basically). So we walked.



I've never been in the middle of a protest before. It was kind of cool except that my feet were bleeding from my stupid shoes. Plus I had to carry McKay most of the way. But there was an energy in the air and it was nice to see people standing up for something they believe. It may not do any good, in fact I'm fairly sure it wont but at least they felt like they were doing something.



Thankfully it was a peaceful protest. Everyone was behaving.

Well, except for this guy



He was repeatedly yelling "GAY PEOPLE SHOULD ALL DIE".
(And I was thinking, no sir, that outfit should die)

In response someone kept yelling back "One day we will", which I thought was a very mature way to handle such a stupid remark.

McKay was a little freaked out by the crowd and all of the police in their riot gear so we didn't hang around long. Plus it was really late.



What an interesting and fun night.

Minus the bleeding toes.

Next I'd like to take the kids to see The Grinch. But we'll park closer and I'm wearing flats.

The Wizard will see us now!

I am not one of those people that shops early for Christmas. Sometimes, but rarely, I'll go out on black Friday but I don't think I've ever bought a Christmas present before Thanksgiving. I'm that frantic shopper the week before that's desperately trying to get the last few things I need.

But today I bought the boys a Wii. For Christmas.

And now I'm trying to resist the urge to give it to them so that I can play with it.

McKay and I have a date tonight. We're going to see Wicked. We're going to get dressed up and go to dinner before hand. I'm not sure who is more excited, me or him.

Also, I had a great birthday yesterday. One of the best ever. Thanks everyone.

Maybe he's right

Today Gentry told me that he doesn't think Joe Biden looks like a Joe.

"He looks like a Leon."

That boy has a way of making me smile every single day.

Change

I am proud today. No matter how the election turns out I am proud that the people of this country have cared enough to come out in record numbers and make their voices heard. I'm proud of myself for taking the time to get educated about matters that are important so that I could cast my vote with confidence.

Today is a new beginning and I see many opportunities ahead to fight for social justice. I anticipate positive change for our country and that is exciting.

This is a historical day. I'm proud to have been a part of it.

(The fact that Starbucks gave away free coffee to voters wasn't too bad either.)

(And Anderson Cooper is foxy.)

Fall

So another Halloween is over and for the last few days it has actually felt like Fall. I'm enjoying it while it lasts. We went to the pumpkin patch a few weekends ago and it was 90 degrees! It depressed me. You'd think I'd be used to it, growing up here and all, but I feel myself longing for more noticable seasons. More and more often I find myself thinking about moving out of California. It's ironic that the weather is what draws many people to this state and it would be a big factor in making me leave.

Anyway, we're here for the time being and I can't believe it's already November again. This past year has flown by. I think I say that every year around this time, when Christmas is right around the corner and I think didn't we just do this?? Before I know it it'll be time to get the lights out and start buying presents and enjoying all that the Christmas season brings...and then in a flash it'll be over again. I'm trying to live in the moment and enjoy now and for that reason I'm not thinking about the fact that my birthday is coming up and I'm inching my way closer to 30. Nope, not thinking about it at all.

Or maybe I can't stop thinking about it. It's one of those two things :)

Now, pictures. (Please excuse that fact that Elvis's hair came un-hairsprayed about 10 minutes into trick or treating and he ended up with an afro. We know Elvis didn't have an afro, I promise. Funny thing about trick or treating though, you get candy regardless of if your hair is accurate.)













Happy Fall!

They weren't even solid gold pajamas

Mckay and Gentry have some good friends that live in Albuquerque...Tori, Tylor and Travis. We met them when Tori and McKay were in preschool together and quickly became inseparable. My cousin Leah was in their class too. Together they were the 3 musketeers. (It's kind of interesting to note that McKay was totally drawn to girls at that point and played with them way more than he played with boys...4 years later it's quite the opposite). Tylor is the same exact age as Gentry so play dates were perfect. (Travis hadn't been born yet when we lived there. He's two now). Anyway, when we moved away it was really sad for the kids. McKay missed Tori (and Leah) horribly , and vice versa. To make things a little easier on them we would send little packages back and forth from time to time. Mostly just little notes, pictures they had drawn for each other etc. They exchange gifts during the holidays and birthdays. Every January we go back to Albuquerque to see them and celebrate Tori's birthday. We usually see them once during the summer. I love that their friendship is still solid. Their mom, Yolanda, is wonderful and puts out an equal amount of effort to keep the kids in touch.

Anyway, I had put together a box of Halloween stuff to send them. Nothing extravagant...just Halloween pj's and some cupcake mix and a few little odds and ends. I've had it packed and ready to be mailed for at least three weeks. So unlike me! I got as far as taking it to the car. Where it sat on the back seat for a week. Totally like me. So on Friday I finally made it over to the post office and went to get the box out of the car and it wasn't there. I checked the car and trunk like 20 times. Nothing. I went home and looked everywhere for it. The whole time I was looking in the house I knew it was in vain. It was in the car. I know it. The boys commented on it being in their way multiple times. I could picture it on the seat waiting for me to get my act together and mail it. I felt like I was going a little crazy. Especially when my mom and Carrie both kept saying "Are you sure you didn't mail it?" and I kept insisting that I hadn't. But by yesterday afternoon I started to doubt myself. Could I really have mailed something and not have any recollection of doing it?? I was questioning my own sanity. The box couldn't have just vanished. I had to have moved it. But to where? I emailed Yolanda just to double check that they had in fact not received a package from us.

Cut to this afternoon. We were walking Oakley and found the box in the gutter about two blocks away. It had been ripped open, the card opened, the pj's gone. The cupcake mix and a few other things still there, soggy from the gutter.

So, basically someone took it out of my car. They took what they wanted and left the rest.

How naive am I that I hadn't even really considered that possibility?

I can't figure out when it would have happened. Ever since my purse was stolen over the summer I'm anal about locking the car.

People really suck sometimes. Obviously it was a package for kids. It wasn't worth anything. I mean, you could take the pajamas back to target and get the cash, but they weren't made of gold. You'd get maybe $25 total.

It's really annoying.

The upside is that I'm not crazy!

Fabians, we love you guys and we miss you!

Probably doesn't qualify me for a biker gang.

From 9-26-2008

It was either that or this

From 9-26-2008