Erin Shaw Street

Awaiting the Great Pumpkin (and 6 Month Shots)

Nate's first Halloween was a big one.  His grandfather drove him in his Batmobile to my work, and I took the young Robin to "Trick or Treat for a Cure," a fundraising event downtown.  Later in the afternoon Grandma and Grandpa came over and we celebrated our first Halloween in the world (him) and in the neighborhood (us).

Shane carved these pumpkins, that were the hit of the evening. One little boy called them "tight." Hmmm. He's already planning to out-pumpkin himself next year.

At 5 p.m. we joined the neighborhood parade of trick or treaters. At first we couldn't find the kids, but then we found a honking truck driving in front of hundreds of little ninjas, Barbies, pumpkins and Supermen. They all walked/rolled back to the neighborhood party on our street. Before the onslaught of trick or treaters at our door, a kindly neighbor dropped by with a huge bowl of candy eyeballs, noses and ears and said, "Here,  take these. You are going to get hit hard." Good tactical move on her part, as we had dozens and dozens show up at our door -- literally in packs of 12 and 15.

Of course we gave the good candy to the ones with good costume, polite "Trick or Treat" greetings and cuteness. The not so good candy went to the 15-year olds wearing their jeans and carring grocery bags.

The best part: one child actually asked for candy eyeballs. Are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Sour Patch Kids, KitKats, Butterfingers, Three Muskateers, Snickers and Hershey Bars not enough these days?

But it was fun, and the lights are out. We need our rest for our big six-month checkup tomorrow. More pictures are to the right in the "Nate's First Halloween" album.

Halloween Eve

Once a year, an unbelievable nd somewhat thrilling thing happens around our house. I turn on the oven and proceed to make the only thing I know how to make in an oven: roasted pumpkin seeds. It seems to be a simple process -- clean pumpkin seeds, a stick of butter and the more salt the better -- roasted at 350 degrees until crip to the point of being brown but not burnt. But there is oh so much more in the way one must flip the seeds with the spatula, check progress of the seeds and taste test the first salty batch.

We got the recipe for this from my kindergarten cookbook, and I plan to pass it along to Nate Street, along with instructions for my other delicacy: Bagel Bites.

Now for a totally unrelated link, here is a story about the possible extinction of a true piece of Florida history, the pink lawn flamingo.  Pink Flamingos Extinct? We should all be ashamed we've let our ecosystems fall apart like this. Too bad more people didn't take "Zoos and Biodiversity" at South Carolina -- this would have never happened.

It's Tricky

It's been one fall of a fall day. I got up early and happened upon some garage sales, where I found something Nate absolutely needed - bongos! Of course I purchased them. I confess to playing them in my car on the way back. Fortuitously, I had Quincy Jones' bossanova album in my car, which went well with the bongos.

Taking a break from my obsessive gourd and fall flower arranging, we went to the Aldridge Gardens Fall Festival and hydrangea sale. Aldridge Gardens Link to Aldridge Gardens is the former estate of a man who was crazy for, guess what, hydrangeas. I myself am crazy for them too but have never had any till today. We bought two kinds -- the Snowflake Hydrangea, Official Flower of Hoover  (left) and Annabelle. Both are white and supposed to be easy to care for.

The festival was very ... festive, with kids painting pumpkins and running around in costumes. Nate was unimpressed, as seen here in the photo.

The best part was that there were cloggers from Gardendale who clogged their hearts out, first to Elvis and then to Run DMC's "Tricky." What? It was so surreal and enjoyable. As Shane said, if he could post the video on YouTube he'd label it "Cognitive Dissonance." When we were little Ryan and I used to pretend we were cloggers after being exposed to The Countrytime Cloggers on public access. But we never clogged to  Run  DMC -- sheer brilliance.

The Original Swedish Fish

I was really excited to get the flyer announcing the neighborhood Halloween party. I didn't know that there had been eight previous parties in my neighborhood, but have been overjoyed thinking about the prospect of a parade, Halloweiners and witches brew (their words, not mine). So how am I preparing for the celberation? Target, how else?

While there I bought eight bags of candy, a bat pinata (more on this below), webs and spiders to decorate Natey's stroller and plastic orange pumpkins to hang from our mini tree.

In tasting the candy to make sure it was safe (this is what parents do), I found that the bag that I thought was filled with Sour Patch Kids (tm) was also filled with The Original Swedish Fish. At first I was bummed to find what I thought were one off sour patch kids but after tasting them I realized Swedish Fish are quite parallel to their kin, minus the addictive sour sweet sugar coating.

Things I've since learned about Swedish Fish: the are little red licorice but softer morsels. Their logo has a fish that says "Swedish." They are made by Malco, Scandanavia's largest confectioner. They are not popular in Sweden. For more, click here. I promise it will make you happy:

The Official Website of The Original Swedish Fish

Back to the bat. After trying on Nate's three Halloween costumes (pumpkin - was too small three weeks ago; St. Bernard - too small today) we had a winner with him as Robin as in Batman. So I'm looking for  Batman costume for Shane, and I'll be Catwoman (though really I want to be Wonder Woman, my #1 idol). The bat pinata will be hung outside on Halloween to celebrate our theme.

Inspi(red)

Everyone who works for a cause-related non-profit gets tired now and then. The past few weeks have been like that for me, with non-stop events, fires to put out, and long days. Several days this week I left early in the morning after just a few minutes with Nate and came back after he was asleep. Those are hard days, but I am encouraged being surrounded by the energy that comes with working to make a direct impact on people's health.

I am completely excited by Bono's new RED campaign, in which companies are raising money to provide HIV/AIDS care to people in Africa through the Global Fund. The campaign kicked off yesterday, with a very special Oprah episode during which she and Bono unveiled the new products: a red Motorola phone, limited edition Converse, a red ipod Nano (pictured below),  Armani glasses and clothes, and a line of Gap clothes, including the great T-shirt pictured at left. Half of the proceeds directly benefit HIV/AIDS work in Africa. And for those who don't like the color red, not everything is actually "red."

What a great way to get people to give and make a direct impact in the lives of people who desprately need help. Even though I'm not the biggest Penelope Cruz fan she said this during the Oprah Red launch:

"Charity doesn't have to be always identified with the sadness of it. Of course there is sadness, but there is hope."  Right on.

For more info, click here: List of RED products

Taking over the world one melon cocktail at a time

Ryan has been chosen as a Midori "Man of Style" finalist. For those not familiar with Midori, it's a green liquor that tastes like melon ... at least that's what people tell me. Anyhow, someone came up to him at a party and asked him to pose for the photo. Of the dozen or so finalists, he is clearly the best. He's also the only one wearing a shirt.

The winner is determined by number of votes on this website, so please click here. You can vote more than once. (Apparently this is what the guy in first place has done as the results seem to be uncannily skewed.) Winner receives a yearlong modeling contract. They probably get some Midori too -- melontinis for everyone!

Click here to see Ryan and vote:
Midori Man of Style

Megan and Ricky's Engagement Party

We got back this afternoon from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, rearing ground of the one and only Ricky James. Last night was Megan and Ricky's engagement party, the first of many celebrations leading up to their big day. Here they are opening some wine, which I do believe can be a key ingredient in a good marriage. At right Megan practices with bridesmaid-to-be, literary fan, teacher of the year, dog lover and all around sassy lady Natalie.

This was Nate's first trip out of state, with about 9.5 hours round trip. We were halfway to Hattiesburg when I realized that, despite bringing an activity mat, 14 changes of clothes for Nate, 10 changes of clothes and four pairs of shoes for self, six interactive toys, a thermometer, baby nail clipper, hats, booties, blankets, sheets for hotel port-a-crib and the October InStyle (phew, I needed luggage on wheels to tote that monstrosity) I forgot what key baby item? That would be diapers. Yes, we found ourselves in the parking lot of  a Greene County Hardee's sans diapers, and with a baby who had consumed two bottles.

With no drugstore or supermarket in sight, we had to pull over at Sam's Club, where I made a mad dash through the aisles (apparently all Sam's aren't laid out the same) in search of diapers, any diapers, to save Natey's bottom. The only ones in his size were a dodgy "Smiles" brand (um....), so I grabbed a packet of 128 (gotta love Sam's) and a huge tub of generic Maker's Mark formula, which purports to be the same thing as Enfamil but looks a little dodgy to me. Also grabbed a delicious slice of Sam's Club veggie pizza, which was surprisngly good (and I got a piece for me and Mom, as well as a Diet Coke, for $4.88). What a great place to bring a date -- you can get a cheap slice and hundred of batteries/granola bars/pens all under one roof.

Special bonus salute to Dad, our fearless leader and driver:
Dad's ipod is the best selection ever. Sample of songs played during our trip to Mississippi. He is the king of the ipod!

"Knights in White Satin" -- Moody Blues;  "American Triology" -- Elvis, "Crazy" -- Patsy Cline, "One Day More" -- Les Miz Soundtrack; "Voulez Vouz" -- ABBA, "Time In A Bottle" -- Jim Croce; "The End" -- The Doors; "Crying" -- Roy Orbison; "You Should Be Dancin'" -- The BeeGees, "America" --Simon and Garfunkel

My Wish list

Cher is auctioning some of her personal artifacts, including a Bono family portrait, her Bentley and yes, the Bob Mackie outfit she wore on that Navy destroyer during the "If I Could Turn Back Time." Note to Shane: Christmas is coming. Link to story on NPR:

Photos of Cher's auction items

Why George?

I don't care what anyone says, I have always, and still, like George Michael. From "Faith" to "Amazing," I think he's completely overlooked as one of our best pop artists, relegated to memory for an arrest more than a decade or so. And now another arrest in a short time, this time after being found slumped over at the wheel. George, weren't you just on Oprah proclaiming how stable you are? Don't you keep me waiting for that day.

George Michael Arrested

REUTERS/Susana Vera (SPAIN)
British pop star George Michael has been reportedly arrested after being found asleep at the wheel of his car in London in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The singer, 43, failed a breath test when approached by police in Cricklewood, north London, at 3:20 am and was taken to a nearby hospital by the concerned officers.

Police believe Michael was under the influence of both cannabis and alcohol.

A police spokesman tells British newspaper Daily Mirror, "In the routine way a doctor was called out to him to take a blood sample, but thought he seemed ill and decided he needed to go to hospital in case he was in a more serious condition that first thought.

"There was a concern a mix of drugs and alcohol may have had a bad effect on him."

After being given the all-clear after a couple of hours in hospital, Michael returned to Colindale police station, when he was given a caution after admitting possession of cannabis.

Michael has been released on bail until November.

This is the third drug and vehicle-related trouble for Michael this year -- in February the singer was cautioned after he was found slumped in his car in central London and was found to be in possession of marijuana.

In April, Michael avoided police charges after his vehicle collided with three parked cars on a hill near his north London home. The singer declared he was a "terrible driver."

Babies Trey and Nate

Before I had Nate, I didn't really know the difference between a week old baby and a five month old baby. I just didn't know much about babies, period. Though I'm still learning, I can now tell that the baby on the left in the carrier is a week old, and the baby on the right is five and a half months old. The baby on the left is our neighbor Trey, and that's his mom Victoria.

People said this to me before I had Nate, and it seems like a cliche, but they grow so fast, and the developmental and physical changes during this first year are staggering. Nate's gone from staying in the same spot to constantly rolling over and starting to pull himself off the floor. How is it that though every human ever born has reached these new milestones it's still amazing when your child does it? Of course because it's your child. But still, it's pretty unbelievable how we get from teeny chickens to people who know all the words to Cher songs. At least some of us are so evolved.