Crayola with the Kids

On Saturday I took Jackson and Lucy to the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Stacey let me use her SUV, so the kids were comfy in the back and I was loving the hardcore AC up front. We chatted on the way and then 10 minutes from our destination I missed the exit and had a mini-meltdown. Lucy is the sweetest gal in the universe and in her little voice that's an American version of Bluey's sister Bingo, she said, "Aunt Lisa, I think I know how to get there..." and tried to give me directions while I was trying to follow the car's GPS. Jackson has seen both sides of this Gemini and knows when I get frazzled that it's best to pipe down until I've ranted and recovered. I kept trying to nicely tell Lucy "thank you, but I'm fine", but she would continue to say "can I tell you something?" and go right on talking. Jax kept politely shushing her as I tried to maintain my cool. We finally arrived only to discover that the parky garage across from Crayola was under construction and closed. Now I was in full-meltdown mode. I looped around and couldn't figure out where to park and Jackson to the rescue, pointed to the right and said, "how about there?" Poof! There was a big ass parky place just waiting for us. I went up to the roof, found a spot by the elevators and hurrah! we paid via the app and walked for three wee little minutes until we reached the entrance where the kids posed for pix, then in for three hours of fun. 

The place was lousy with children (big surprise) and it was pretty expensive but I got five crayons, a pack of gel pens, and got to hang out with two of my fave people ever. The kids had fun, too, and walked out with a plushy cornflower blue crayon for Jax, and a t-shirt, magnet, and little charms for Miss Lucy.

It was a good time and the bonus was stopping at Vegan Treats on the way home - it's only 20 minutes from Crayola! Lucy was so cute when she said she can't have anything there because she's not a vegan. But she turned around quick when she saw cake pops and cookies - both of which she really liked. Jax and I scored brownies and I bought this adorable Confetti Cake that we all just loved. I'm already looking forward to the Fall when the three of us can go to Grounds for Sculpture together!

Sunday with Friends

Today I picked up Lauryn at 12:30 - we were both exactly on time for once!! - then ran some local errands and met up with Mel at Healthy Garden in Collingswood. We spent four hours catching one another up on things and posed for our usual silly selfies.

Then it was to Mama Rose's place to hang out and play Rummy-O with Mum and Jackson. Before turning in I snapped a pic of Jackson's Crayon pal, Corny Cornflower plus us three goofballs.

June 2023 Books

* Call Me Mrs. Brown ¹ by Brendan O'Carroll - This was a really good memoir that was brilliantly narrated. I have never seen Mrs. Brown's Boys but after seeing Brendan on an ep of the Graham Norton Show, I made a mental note to look him up and discovered his autobiography. He's a the best kind of Irishman - one who excels at storytelling. So glad I purchased it off Audible and can listen to it again.

♥ The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene - I am so hooked on these Nancy Drew Mysteries and this one was another fab page-turner!

♥ Bookmarks are People, Too! ¹ by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver - I've read this a few times and I love the audiobook version, as read my Henry Winkler. This time I introduced it to Bailey when we hung out for the afternoon. The Here's Hank series of books are super cute and just as fun as the older Hank Zipzer ones.

* Simple Dreams ¹ by Linda Ronstadt - I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this not being read by Linda Ronstadt but Kathe Mazur really captured the author's essence in her narration. It was a good read, but I especially liked everything about her early life. 

♥ She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother by Bryan Batt

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

When I was in Waltham, Mass earlier this month I picked up a couple postcards of the stolen Rembrandt painting The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. It's a gorgeous painting (I have a deep affection for seascapes) and I sent one postcard to Uncle Alan, another to Michel, and saved one for me to frame. 

Sexy Gay Daddy

BONUS: Texting with my brother Wayne about the same film a couple days later:

Stew's a-Brewin'

Here is another fun mix from June of 1995!

• Side A •

Better Be Good to Me - Tina Turner

Color Me Once - The Violent Femmes

Wish You Were Here - The Royal Philharmonic

King - UB40

Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John

Wonderful - Adam Ant

Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

On the Road Again - Willie Nelson

Dancing Barefoot - U2

Fist City - Loretta Lynn

Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles

• Side B •

We Can Work It Out - The Beatles

Don't Leave Me On My Own - Chris Isaak

Molly's Lips - Nirvana

Believe - Elton John

You Got It - Bonnie Raitt

Rain - Madonna

Out of Africa - John Barry

Wanted - The Cranberries

I Take You - Melissa Etheridge

Norwegian Wood - The Beatles

Stuck in the Middle with You - Steeler's Wheel

June 1995

#8 of the Idaho Potato Mixes

ChocoCat Photo Wallet

I used to love going to any shop that sold Sanrio goodies, like the old Zany Brainy store, and would always seek out their little pocket sized photo albums. This one I still carry with me in my bag. Some old photos sit side by side with the newest latest.

Miss Lucy's sweet school photo

Me & Rachel: 29 Oct 1993 before seeing Nightmare Before Christmas - Atco Multiplex & 12 July 1992 in Ocean City, NJ

Me and Kathleen: 9 March 1995 Pulp Fiction & 2 October 1993 The Fugitive - Atco Multiplex 

The Five: 17 March 2019 The Quiet Man - The Colonial Theatre 

Dave and Me: 4 November 1978 & Me: possibly Fall 2000

Amy, Me, and Rachel - Spruce Street Philadelphia - 6 July 1994 (I still have that shirt!)

Little Jackson!!

Godsisters with Godmommy Gina - April 2014 & Me in Disney World October 1986

Jaeden 16 August 2015 & Zach, Jax, Syd, and me - 23 December 2018

Isabella Class of 2017 & Kayla Class of 2018

Nana Irma and Aunt Mercedes 1944