34 Magnificent Years

I must turn time backwards now to celebrate the multitude of happy events of these past weeks. Very notably, Papa M survived his Jesus year and turned 34! A loving shower of happy, weepy, funny wishes to this rare man. Piles of gratitude go to Ninna and Randy M for creating my adored husband and friend. Papa M is not quite as into birthdays as I am (it is a most important holiday!), but allowed me to celebrate his special day nonetheless. Lemon cake and a Wayne's World hat make for a fine party. Happy another year, Papa. I love you!

Birthday Addendum

Here is the modern day Rosebud, beautiful, surrounded by friends, and showing those birthday candles who's boss! Please note the sugar bomb in front of her, created precariously by her Mama.

Special Day

It was four years ago today that we met the love of our lives. I'm awash in beautiful summer memories. She was born at 1:01 AM and I was awake all night just staring at her. Happy birthday to our Rosebud!!! Special thanks to Haus Frau or taking this favorite family photo when the 'Bud was just five days old.

And happy birthday to dear friend John.

Rock Star Spawn

Well, the fruit doesn't fall very far from the tree, does it? Rosebud joined me onstage once again to play the shaker and we were both in rock star mother-daughter heaven. This happened just the other day when my dear band MaeRae had the honor and fun of playing a happy hour show at our beloved High Noon Saloon. Papa M and Rosebud met me there later and I noticed that our girl had her shaker in tow. Her idea, apparently. She informed me that she'd like to join the band for a song and I really couldn't think of any reason that she shouldn't. Sure, baby! Join Mama onstage! She strolled up and shook her lemon shaker like a pro for 'Whisky Bad'. My child is beautiful and fearless.

Summer

Yep. Just another day in Paradise.

Unready for my CLose-up

Dang if I didn't discover over the weekend that I'm in a local film. Believe it or not, this has never, to my knowledge, happened to me before. You see, along, long time ago, back when I was single, childless and had two healthy legs, I used to frequent a smoky bar that looked like a 70's rec room every Wednesday night to hoot and holler as the Cork & Bottle String Band played some sloppy bluegrass. It was a huge kick and became an unexpected scene. I was pals with some of the fellas in the band and took quite a few photos of their shenanigans. These guys were and are weird and funny creatures. OKay, zoom ahead 10 years to NOW.Wisconsin Film Fest gears up. The grapevine via the Cork & Bottle Liquor Store(which operates in the same building where we live, if you recall) reveals that a documentary has been made about the Cork & Bottle String Band, which includes many of my now-historic photos. I view the film for the first time this past weekend and yep, there's my kickass photos we took the day that all of the band members gussied up in 1800's old West ladies' dresses a la Miss Kitty. And, gak! Yep, there I am in the film for just a few seconds, happily dancing in front of the band in my purple t-shirt. Yep. That's what ya wanna see.

Actual Vegetable!

Finally, bounty from the garden! It's a carrot-shaped radish, the first vegetable we've ever, ever grown. Not quite the excitement I experienced after growing Rosebud, but a thrill

nonetheless!

License to Ill

I have a driver's license!!!!!! Those of you who know of my mortal terror of driving realize what a huge deal this is. I'd originally intended to get just a state ID with my new name, but thanks to my beloved Papa M, I was encouraged to go for the license (which was surprisingly easy to get, after having an expired license for 5 years). I was excited and scared, so I channeled my fear into worrying about my license photo turning out badly. I decided that, if it was going to be bad, I wanted it to be sensationally bad. And it is! I was caught offguard by the photographer AND I blinked. I thught about my friend Teena who once had a driver's license photo hat was so bad she pretended to lose the license so she could get another one, hopefully with a better photo. Unfortunately for her, the next photo was even worse. Her mouth was gaping open and she looke dlike she'd rolled her eyes into her head. Well, here's to you, Teena!