Erin Shaw Street

See you in September

It's difficult to believe that September is just a few days away, with it still regularly reaching 100 degrees (or more) in central Alabama. This summer has seemed the hottest I've ever experienced, including 18 summers in Clearwater, one summer in Columbia, S.C. (which is the oven door to hell in the summer) and one in Phoenix (just a "dry heat.")

We've had an eventful summer, including trips to Greece and NYC, lots of new firsts for Nate (his newest trick is giving us big kisses, which are sort of close to bites but still looked upon with delight) and, most recently, a visit from Aunt Lily and Uncle Charlie. They were here to consult with a physician, and while we wish that their visit was under different circumstances, it was great to spend time with them. Nate particularly enjoyed getting to know his great aunt and uncle better (see photo at left and in the August 2007 album to the right).

A lot has happened in the final few weeks of the summer. There was the good (getting accepted to grad school at Birmingham Southern Link to the Masters in Public and Private Management Program ). And the bad (experiencing the  rite of passage of my first root canal, which was much, much less painful than rumor has it thanks to the gas). As it happens from time to time (a.k.a., every day) I am operating in a bit of a whirlwind, trying to find equilibrium between my work at the office, as a mom and wife and soon to be student again. All are inspiring and tiring. The trick is focusing on the inspiring part.

30 Years Later

I could wax poetic about Elvis forever, filling a separate blog if not much more. But everything that can be said about Elvis has really been said. During a meeting at work today someone asked me how I became so fascinated with him, especially since I was only one when he died. What I thought: "How can you not be fascinated by him?" Elvis was and always is, from playing on Dad's oldies radio to playing on my ipod and on Nate's "Elvis for Babies" via his tiny CD player in his nursery.

I can't remember the moment when I got it, but I do know that by sitting in the wood panelled Clearwater Beach Seafood Restaurant and watching an impersonator during my teenage years I was struck. The kitsch lured me in -- next stop figuring out that this story was non-fiction, filled with ambition, misguided youth, broken taboos, uppers, downers, gold lame and jumpsuits, Ann Margaret and a magical place called Graceland. What is there not to love? I should really be in Memphis now, and I regret not trying to find a way to go after being initially discouraged by all the booked hotels. But Memphis is just four hours away, and if I leave now I could still get there by the candlelight vigil ...

For photos of how I marked 30, visit the "August 2007" album to the right.

Wheel of sadness

A moment of silence for Merv Griffin. We all know him as the creator of "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," but did you know these facts? Raised Catholic, at the age of seven he was staging neighborhood carnivals and churning out his own one-page newspaper. He scored a number-one record hit with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", which sold over three million copies. Arguably, Griffin's oddest game show was Ruckus (1991) with comedy-magician The Amazing Johnathan as host of a wild, slapstick affair that took stunts and questions-and-answers to a bizarre level. The show emanated from Griffin's Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. As Stephanie so wisely said, he is now in a better place, with Aaron Spelling at his side.

Famous Nate

I was three years old when I got my first newspaper clip -- a photo of me on Dad's shoulders at the Clearwater Jazz Festival. Nate, however, got his today at only 15 months. Our little prodigy!

He was featured in an Associated Press story that ran today on MSNBC and in papers all over the country. Here is the MSNBC link:

Nate on MSNBC

The story is about baby proofing a home. I was interviewd by Melissa Rayworth, an AP reporter who is friends with my friend Alisa. Melissa was looking for someone to talk with about baby proofing and safety issues, so I said I'd be happy to chat with her. Next thing you know there's a photographer at our house and Nate Street was working it for the cameras.

The story ran in today's Birmingham News too, though it was edited. I'm just glad he's not the baby pictured wearing a goofy foam helmet.

Pat Your Weave: NYC 2007

I am so craving some salty Lox (salmon) on a toasted bagel with cream cheese right now. Can't I have one FedExed by one of the myriad diners we visited this weekend? Three diners to be precise -- the Nautulis, the Colony and the Buccaneer, each with a menu of more than ten pages filled with just about every kind of food you could ever imagine -- from spinach and feta stuffed scallops to piled high sandwiches and fresh Black & Whites. If a Long Island diner opened in Birmingham they would make millions, in part from our family sitting at a booth. (BTW, I tried to get Mom and Dad to re-enact the final scene from "The Sopranos" with no luck.) Between the high calorie and delicious food, neon signs and exciting candy displays at the front, along with the 24-hour availability of pancakes ... it's probably best we only have limited access to the excess.

It was one of our best trips ever to New York. Mom, Dad and I flew up on Friday, while Shane and Nate had dude time. Friday night we went to the Nautilus Restaurant (left) with Aunt Cathy and Aunt Ann and Uncle Gene. A woman in the restroom asked me my sign and said I looked like Angelina Jolie. She clearly had indulged in one too many tiny bottles of wine, a.k.a., "splits." I love Long Island! Saturday morning we went to another diner with my cousin Kerry, her husband Mike and their two adorable boys Connor and Michael. Love them! Then Mom and I got our hair did at the hotel salon, where I talked with the manicurist about her deep and abiding love of the Yankees. 

Then it was on to my cousin Debi's wedding and the reception. The photos above are from the night's party, with her nephew Thomas on the dance floor and me with two of the NYPD bagpipers who performed. Again, have I mentioned how much I love this island that is long? Here I am with my cousin Brendan toasting Uncle Charlie, who couldn't be with us for the wedding but was there in spirit.

On Sunday we went into the city, where we promptly had a slice and saw a show -- "The Drowsy Chaperone." It was very fun, especially because it featured dancing monkeys and tap dancers. Then we met Ryan and our adopted brother Vince for dinner at a great Italian restaurant, Orzo. I was so tired at that point but rallied to see Beyonce. Let me just say when that girl sings, "Pat Your Weave," the entire audience at Madison Square Garden obeys. Although it's kind of hard to wrap one's mind around going nuts for Morrissey and Beyonce in a three-week period, I am proud to say that I did. I am now addicted to playing "B'Day" in the car, and bought Nate a one-sie that says "Irreplaceable" on the front with "Beyonce" on the butt. Gender stereotypes begone. Ryan, Vince and I capped off the night with a visit to three of New York's finest clubs, including Apt., which looks like someone's apartment, and then to Cafeteria around 3 a.m. I am still feeling that.

Yesterday it was shopping at H&M and Century Plaza (where I bought a $2,000 jacket for $60!), lunch with Ryan and a late night flight back to Birmingham. And I had to be on because I needed all the mental power to digest the compelling BBJ article about 72 Dunkin Donuts franchises opening in Birmingham in the next 12-18 months, and to go to open house at Nate's school to learn about his new "classroom."

Everyone is your friend in New York City/and everything is beautiful when you're young and pretty/thre streets are paved with diamons and there's just so much to see/but the best thing about New York City/ is you and me -- They Might Be Giants

For photos, see "New York 2007" album to the right.