Popcorn in Bed

Last week  I was in Dallas visiting my amazing friends Karen and Ashton, their daughter, and their brand new  baby boy.  Zoe and I went there together (sadly Rob had to stay home) and even though we didn't do anything  like Disney or theatre or fancy schmancy restaurants, I had one of the best vacations ever.  It started out about as well as a trip can start with a smooth and easy travel experience.  From there, it only got better. 

It was so good to just be with my friends.  Isn't that always the way with visits with friends that are too far away? Holding, feeding, changing their new baby (who I think of as a nephew) was an absolute delight.  It is amazing how much you forget about newborns when it has been awhile since you were around one.  There was Tex-Mex, good burgers, some rollerskating, some shopping, some playground time and a lot of frozen yogurt, talking and girl-time.  As per usual Karen and I picked up right where we left off.

One of the highlights of the trip, however, was simply watching TV and movies in bed with my friends after the kids went to sleep. Karen and Ashton were generous enough to let me have a whole third of their bed and it was all very cozy and very relaxing.  (No funny business, you dirty minds.)  My last night in town we even had popcorn in bed.  Not just any popcorn, either.  We had gourmet popcorn including what was the best caramel corn I have ever had (Hannah's Caramel Popcorn from Uptown Popcorn).  As Ashton put it, it touched a previously unknown source of pleasure and happiness. 

2011 got off to a bit of  a rough start, but this trip really gave it a fresh glow. 

Fear of Flying

No, I am not channeling Erica Jong. I literally have a fear of flying. I don't know exactly when it started, but it can be pretty bad sometimes. I admit there are trips I haven't taken because I did not want to get on a plane. One time on a trip home on a small plane (the scariest kind!) I was so frightened that I had to ask a colleague if he would mind holding my hand. Being a gentleman, he did not mind and he did not tease me after.

For a long time I thought I was in the minority, but the more I admit my fear, the more people echo the sentiment back to me. Strangely that has made me feel better. Not feeling like I am the only one gripping the arm rest for dear life during take off or turbulence is oddly reassuring.

I was on a plane just yesterday and for the first time in a long time my fear was less than it has been. I attribute some of that, perhaps a lot, to the fact that I was traveling with Zoe and it was just the two of us. I was the only one in charge and looking out for her safety and I think that bolstered me a bit. Plus the fact that she was so calm seemed to help me to stay calm. I didn't want to panic in front of her or have her see me as anything less than in control so she would keep on feeling safe and happy. Zoe makes a great traveling companion because she is so enthusiastic about going new places and seeing new things. I don't want her to lose that enthusiasm especially not because of me. It really was like magic. I mean I think the vodka tonic I had mid-flight helped too, but overall it was a pretty good experience.

Snow Days

Any parent of a school-age kid can tell you about the challenges of unexpected days off from school. Since we live in Connecticut this year has been extremely snowy and therefore we've had several snow days. As a matter of fact I'm not sure there has been a full week of school since Christmas break.

The first snow day was kind of fun. We had an unbelievable 2 feet of snow and the whole neighborhood was out that day. The kids were playing and the adults were shoveling, but everyone was in awe over the amount of snow and no one dreamed it would continue at that pace.

By the time this morning came and there was yet another snow day even Zoe sighed when I told her she wouldn't be going to school today. At this point most of the kids don't even want to play out in the snow anymore. So what do they do all day? That really is the question.

I can't allow Zoe to watch TV all day, but it sure is tempting at times. I can't be her source of entertainment all day either. I mean theoretically I am supposed to be working since I do work from home, but boy can that be challenging on a snow day. We are fortunate to have neighbors with kids the same age so we've all been hosting each other's kids, but that gets old (and really noisy). And now in order to avoid having the kids in school until July, it looks like the school will be forced to take away planned vacation days in April even though most of us would gladly give up the February vacation instead. As a matter of fact they should banish that February break permanently.

So basically this entire post is one long complaint about the excessive amount of snow and the
number of snow days we've had this year. I know there really isn't anyway to control this,
but I think it helps to whine a little.

Zoe Getting Her Ears Pierced

I'm fairly certain Zoe has been asking to get her ears pierced for about a year.  At first Rob insisted that we have it done at the doctor's office.  I thought that was silly, but I told Rob that he should make an appointment then.  Not surprisingly, that never happened.  Actually each time Zoe brought it up, it was like we were having the conversation for the first time with Rob.  But, this is about Zoe, not Rob. 

Around Christmas time I gave up on that whole idea and told Zoe I would take her to get her ears pierced over the Christmas break.  Unfortunately the snow storm stole the day I had picked and we had filled our week with too many other plans so we never did it.  With nothing on the calendar this past Saturday and a desire to go to the mall I declared it ear piercing day.  Zoe was so excited.  She couldn't stop talking about it and thinking about it. 

We arrived at the mall on Saturday afternoon and I asked Zoe if she wanted to go straight to Claire's, where they do ear piercing.  I know if it were me I would want to go straight away, but not Zoe.  She wanted to wait.  She wanted it to be the last thing we did before leaving the mall.  That's when I sensed there was some nervousness so I told her that she could back out of getting her ears pierced at any time (before I paid) and no one would be mad at her. 

We shopped the afternoon away including an extended tour of Sephora and the Apple Store and finally there was nothing left to do, but go to Claire's.  There was already a young girl getting her ears pierced when we arrived.  She was just about to have it done and she started to cry.  This set Zoe right on edge.  I thought she would change her mind on the spot, but she didn't.  She drifted around the store until it was her turn as she got more and more nervous.  Finally it was her turn to get into the stool.  The lovely girl who worked their hurriedly prepared everything and tried to explain that it wouldn't hurt while Zoe worked herself up into a slightly frantic state of tears.  "I don't want to do it!" she finally cried and I said OK.  But she didn't get up from the stool she just sat there clearly hesitating so I said,

"You've wanted this for so long and now here we are.  It won't hurt, so just do it."

"No!  I changed my mind!"

"OK, then let's go," I said.  Rob took her arm to help her down from the stool, but again she didn't move.  Rob and I looked at each other and we knew we had to kind of force her.  That she wanted us to.  So we both told her to just sit down and do it.  The girls at the store were fantastic and they jumped right in and did it in a second.

Lo and behold, it did not hurt.  Apparently we had attracted a crowd because as soon as it was done, there was a round of applause from another group waiting to get ears pierced.  Zoe smiled really big once she realized it was done, it was wonderful.  I could tell she felt so grown up and so special.  She ran to look at herself in the mirror, all the tears of moments ago already long forgotten. 

I have to say the earrings do look adorable and I am very glad she went through with it and am proud of her for it, but my only regret is that they make her look more grown up. 

Here's a nice view just moments after the piercing was completed:

Zoe and the Violent Kids

A couple of years ago Zoe told us she wanted to start a band and call it "Zoe and the Violent Kids." Rob and I thought that was a fantastic name for a band and we talked about the name a lot.  Somehow this turned into something embarrassing for Zoe.  I don't know how or understand why, but any time either of us mentions that name now, she pulls a pout, a serious "I'm not talking to you," kind of pout.  Of course neither of us have patience for the pouting, but we have tried to respect her desire for us to refrain from mentioning it.

However, when my father showed me this picture he took of Zoe and her cousins I couldn't help but think this would be the perfect album cover for the Zoe and the Violent kids debut.

Either that or this looks like a movie still from an adaptation of "Lord of the Flies."

Tuesday Shoesday: Spring Dreams

It's been and incredibly cold and snowy winter and sometimes the only thing that makes me feel better is dreaming about spring.  The other day I thought I would start thinking about shoes for spring.  True spring shoes are hard to come by.  Many of them are really just summer shoes, and many others are just too flowery.  I really didn't see anything that perked me up until today.

No surprise that today I found myself on the Kate Spade website looking at the new arrivals section and out popped this gorgeous shoe and it hit me, that is a spring shoe.  If I could have, I would have ordered them immediately, but I think I'll have to save my pennies for a bit.  It will be worth it.  Besides I can't wear them now anyway so there's no point in having them here making me feel bad about all the snow and ice, right?

For now I'll just dream...

My Favorite Books & Movies of 2010

Books:

I read 61 books in 2010, but these were the standouts for me.

Sense and Sensibility

That Old Cape Magic

The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather

The Book Thief

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Movies:

I'd watch any of these movies again.

Coco Before Chanel

Hot Tub Time Machine (fabulously ridiculous)

Toy Story 3

Away We Go

The Black Swan

2011 Resolutions

I like to take my time making my resolutions. The end of the year is such a flurry of activity that there's not really time to think things through until the dust of the holidays begins to settle. But now I have had time to think and here's what I've come up with...

1. Save -- last year was not a great year financially. I had hoped to get on a budget and I still hope to do that, but mostly I want to save more money for the inevitable rainy days.

2. Smile and have fun -- it sounds silly maybe, but I've been thinking about how important it is to look for the positive rather than focus on the negative. And that life should be more fun than drudgery or negativity. It is easy to get bogged down in what you don't have or can't do or don't want to do, butI have a lot to smile about and enjoy and life is generally better when you're smiling, laughing and having fun. And now that I have my braces off, smiling is a lot more fun!

3. Stay on top of my email -- email is a huge part of both my work life and my personal life and in last year's storm of work I let it all get out of control. I lost track of emails for work, I didn't reply to friends in a timely way, I generally let my email turn into chaos both in my work and personal accounts. There's no need for that. I am going to read email as soon as I can and then deal with it as soon as I can. That means responding or filing or deleting as appropriate. This maybe my biggest challenge of the year, but I think it will be worth it if I can make some real progress.

4. Continue eating well -- after working really hard to lose almost 30 pounds last year this past month I really slipped back into my old, bad ways of eating and it is showing on the scale (and in my jeans). I worked too hard to go back so (like millions of others) I am back on the good eating wagon with every intention of staying there. I feel better and I look better when I'm eating better so there's really no reason not to.

5. Commit to my blog -- last year I was pitiful in the amount of postings. I need to up it's priority and think about setting aside specific times for it -- maybe even a schedule. I don't want to stop blogging, but I don't want to do it half-assed either. I think that even if I can only commit to once a week, that is better than blogging only when I remember as I did it last year. I'm working on this plan. (And not giving up yet Ms. Musings. Thank you for the encouragement!)

2010: The Year in Review

In January 2010 I made my usual list of resolutions. Let's see how the year stacked up to my goals.

Resolution #1
Make a budget. Stick to budget.

This one didn't work out so well. The bad economy lent a major hand in this one. Long story short, I'll have to try this one again.

Resolution #2
Blog more
Well, I'm 0 for 2 so far. I wanted to blog more, I really did, but I had the busiest year of work I have ever had. Any time I had away from work I also wanted away from the computer. I'm going to have to think about my blog in 2011.

Resolution #3
See more movies
Well, this one I did accomplish. I didn't get to the theater as much as I would have liked, but I did sign up for Netflix which includes streaming. My list of movies is pretty long, I think.

Resolution #4
Do some different stuff
This one I also accomplished and I'm really pleased about it too. I went ice skating a number of times, skiing a couple of times, took Zoe to a couple of new museums, went bike riding, took Pilates classes, and got an impractical car among the highlights.

Considering the year overall and that it was one of the most challenging work-wise, I think 50% is not a bad mark. Resolutions aren't supposed to be so easy otherwise why bother, right? So, I have hope to do a little better in 2011. Now it's time to start thinking about what my goals are going to be.

Bad Mommy Moments

Yesterday I was reminded that the "Bad Mommy Moments" can happen to anyone. I spent a good portion of my day watching football. I am a sometimes football fan and this year, inexplicably, I am really into it. The first game up was 1pm Eagles @ Giants. I have to root for the Giants if for no other reason than I cannot root for a team that includes Michael Vick. He's a great player, but it doesn't change the fact that he's a dog killer.

Anyway, it started out as a great game for Giants fans. As a matter of fact the Giants were winning for most of the game. However, they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a series of misplays including the game-ender when rookie kicker, Matt Dodge kicked the ball directly to the Eagles when he should have been kicking it out of bounds. If you want to read the full story I suggest you check out the NY Times or ESPN because I am certainly not a sports reporter.

The part that struck me was when the Giants coach Tom Coughlin started yelling at Matt Dodge for his misplay before he could even get off the field. He was really giving it to him in that slightly out-of-control way that reminded me of times I have yelled at Zoe out of sheer frustration more than anything else. You know, the "Bad Mommy" kind of yelling. It was funny to see it on stage for the world to see between two grown men, but it was the same kind of moment as I have had so many times. I can't say it made me feel better about the times this has happened to me, but it is good to know it can happen to anyone.

I can't find a video of the full yelling, but you can see the start at the end of this video:

Zoe Will Rock You

Someone recently taught Zoe the lyrics to "We Will Rock You" by Queen and she's been singing it non-stop. Also doing the stomping and clapping, but mostly just singing. Hearing that song repeatedly can get annoying, but somehow coming from her it just sounds, well, paradoxically adorable. Last night in the shower she was singing away in her sweet little girl voice:

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place
Singin'
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

It just doesn't quite go, but it does make good comedy.

I've been trying to capture her on video, but haven't yet. Until I can post her version, here's the real thing:



I wonder where can I get some star-shaped sunglasses?

Tuesday Shoesday: I Love Target

I have been a lover of Target for many, many years now. I can remember my first experience there in 1992 when I had just moved to Dallas. The northeast didn't yet know such a wonderful place could exist. I basically supplied my life from Target for the entire time I lived in Texas. However, not so much in the clothes and shoes area. I like to think of myself as somewhat stylish and back in those days Target and stylish didn't really equate. When Target did finally start opening stores in our area I was delighted to find that their clothes were much more stylish. Yes, they're not the best made clothes in the world, but that's OK for the price. However the workout pants turn grey and wear out at the same rate as the more expensive pairs I've owned and the kids' clothes really can't be beat.

Recently I've been really liking their shoes. (Finally we're getting to the important section of this post.) Last Spring I bought these black patent (non-leather) loafers for $24.99.




They are perfect loafers and they don't look (very) cheap. Best of all, they are excellent for rainy days since they are not real leather and they have a rubber sole. I've gotten tons of compliments on them and I'm even thinking of buying a second pair in case they stop carrying them after the ones I have wear out.





As you may have noticed knee-high boots are pretty popular these days, but for women like me who are afflicted with what I like to call "athletic" calves (some might call them "wide") it can be difficult to find knee high boots that pull up over or zip up. That pretty much ruled out the knee-high boot trend for me until last year when I tried on a pair at Target on a whim and I was amazed that they fit. They zipped right up. And they were only $29.99! Of course I bought them immediately and proceeded to wear and wear and wear them all winter. I had to throw them out at the end of the spring because they'd had it, but I think they served their purpose extremely well. This fall, I started looking for a replacement pair on my occasional trips to Target and just this past weekend I struck gold and found this excellent pair of black boots.



I'm going to try not to completely wear out this pair, but I fear that is unlikely because I really like them. I can't wait to wear them with some tights and a skirt.

So, if you're longing for some new shoes and you just don't have the cash, I highly recommend Target. Yes, not all the shoes are going to end up being as loved as these pairs have been for me, but even if you pay a lot for a pair of shoes, you don't get that guarantee, do you?

Gadget Goodness

I am a complete gadget geek. I think it started with my Handspring or my original Rocket Book or maybe it goes all the way back to my Sony Walkman, but I love a good gadget no matter how short or long it's shelf life. Everyone knows I love my iPhone, but I was an iPod lover first. I got my first iPod in 2002 -- a second generation 20GB model that I still have. I am now the proud owner of 3 other iPods -- an 80GB classic, a shuffle, and a Nano. I can't really explain why because of course I don't need them all, but I can tell you I love them all and I use them all regularly.

There's nothing like Christmas time to put me in a gadget-getting frame of mind. Last year I was still so in love with my iPhone that there really wasn't another gadget I was craving. This year I think I'm ready for something, but what?

A Kindle? Maybe. I was kind of anti-Kindle at first. Maybe that's because I am slightly anti-Amazon, but the new version is so light and convenient that it really is tempting. Especially because my bookshelves are full and I don't have room for new ones.

An iPhone 4? Maybe, but there are already blogs and websites dedicated to the iPhone 5 which is rumored to be out Summer 2011. I think I'm going to hold out since there is nothing at all wrong with my current iPhone.

An iPad? Kind of expensive given the current economic outlook in my household, but a thing of beauty none-the-less. And at the same time, maybe I should hold out for iPad 2?

A Tivo Premiere? My love of Tivo is probably the only device that even comes close to my iPhone love. Then again, like my iPhone, there's nothing really wrong with my current Tivo.

What else? A wireless printer would be nice, but that's kind of boring. I've been thinking a UV Toothbrush cleaner would be a good idea, but that's kind of too ridiculous and too much like getting a blender or something. There are probably a few other kitchen gadgets I could use, but I don't know what they are except a Cuisinart. Again, not something I want to find under the tree.

OK, I guess I'll just tell Santa I want this.

Parent/Teacher Conference Night

A few nights ago was Zoe's first third grade parent/teacher conference. I have to admit I was a little nervous going in. I think she's incredible -- smart, talented, funny -- but what if her teacher doesn't agree? What if she's got some horrible ways that I just can't see? What if I'm really a terrible mother and it shows all day every day of third grade??? Of course this was not my first parent/teacher conference, but what if Zoe had fooled all the teachers before and, at last, her third grade teacher was going to give me the awful truth?

OK, that didn't happen. In reality she's doing really well. She's excelling in reading, writing, and P.E. (that last one did not come from me). She's enjoying Social Studies and the research project they are doing on Native Americans. She needs to pay more attention to her handwriting (her sloppy handwriting also definitely not from me) and her math. Her teacher seems to genuinely like her and even when Rob and I made a few jokes about Zoe's tendency to talk a lot, her teacher did not really jump on the bandwagon and said she is quite attentive in class.

It kind of feels like walking on air when you walk out of a meeting like that knowing your kid is doing just fine.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was lots of fun at our house this year. There were costumes, decorations, good company, good food and candy. What more could you really want out of a holiday?

It took Zoe weeks of agonizing and pouring over catalogs to decide on a homemade vampire bat costume. I was more than happy to help her and I think it turned out spooky if not entirely bat-like.



I had some fun with the cooking of dinner and went for another Halloween themed meal including monster meat loaf, hot dog mummies, cheesy brains (cauliflower casserole) and this, my personal favorite, Ghoulcamole and chips. I stole the idea from Martha Stewart to cut tortillas out with cookie cutters and bake them. They not only looked good, they tasted really good.



Rob, in all the years that we have been together has never once dressed in a costume for Halloween. Although if you ask me, he sometimes wears costumes in his daily life -- there's the gas station attendant look (dirty sweatshirt and dirty jeans), the college boy look (clean sweatshirt, shorts in winter, and baseball cap) and the car salesman look (nice shirt, nice tie, comfortable shoes). Zoe was desperate for Rob to dress up this year and she kept pestering him about it and he kept saying no so no one was more surprised than me when he appeared in the outfit pictured below which he claims is a poacher. I think it is a little more like scary militia guys, but either way it made Zoe very happy. (I came dressed in my usual costume.)



And how could the night be complete without dessert. You would think the candy would be enough, but I couldn't resist making these ghost cupcakes.

Anniversary Note

This past Saturday, October 16, was our 11th wedding anniversary. In some ways 11 years sounds like a long time and in others, it sounds short. I haven't held any one job for 11 years, but I can barely remember not being married to Rob. A lot has happened over the years and obviously the most significant is Zoe. She certainly changed our lives both as individuals and by making us parents. It's been 99% joy being Zoe's parents (as I think this blog will attest) and one of the best parts is that she never ceases to surprise us.

On Saturday night Rob and I went out for a quiet dinner and a movie. (We saw The American with George Clooney -- don't bother.) Maybe not the most glamorous night out, but dinner and a movie is a treat we really enjoy doing together and we rarely get to do it. My Mom was home babysitting for Zoe. When we got home we found a note on the table and it was signed "Love, Zoe" but after reading it we were somewhat dubious about who the author really was because it just didn't sound like her at all. Here's her note...



Mom and Zoe both swear that it was fully Zoe's work. And the more I think about it, the more I am sure it was Zoe, but Zoe trying to sound grown up. It made us both laugh. It was a nice ending to a nice evening.

Out Here, On My Own

I’ve been on a business trip to my company HQ in Santa Barbara, CA all week. It is the first time in a long time that I’ve been away without my family and it has been a strange experience. I know a week in Santa Barbara doesn’t sound like it would be a punishment, but since I am primarily working I haven’t seen much more than the inside of the office and the inside of my hotel room. I could really be anywhere and I am un-used to be alone so much of the time.

I think most Moms I know would say that a week alone sounds amazing. A week without laundry, bus stops, homework, cooking dinner, or cleaning up is kind of a vacation all on its own. But at the same time it is really weird! (And, frankly, a bit lonely.)

I think the fact that I now have been working from home for so long I am used to being home more often than not. I like to think of myself as an independent woman, but I haven’t had to really put that to the test in quite some time. On this trip I’ve had to travel across the country, rent a car, find my hotel, find the office, introduce myself around the office and eat a number of meals by myself. I realize that none of that sounds like a very big deal and it isn’t as if any one of these things has been particularly tough but put it all together and it is exhausting and completely out of my comfort zone.

I knew I would miss Rob, Zoe and my Mom, but I didn’t think I would feel it so much. I am used to having them around me everyday. I like having them around me everyday -- even if I do sometimes complain.

I head back Connecticut tomorrow and even though I don’t exactly look forward to going back to laundry, cooking, etc. I think I am going to have a new appreciation for my home and all the people in it.

[commence heels clicking]

Tuesday Shoesday: Striking Gold

Did you ever buy an article of clothing or especially a pair of shoes and immediately incorporate it into your wardrobe so fast that it became a "go to" item overnight?

It doesn't happen often, even when you think it will. Sometimes things that you think will become your new staples turn out to be very disappointing. So, you know it is special when it does happen.

This past Saturday I was lucky enough to go to the Woodbury Commons outlets with my good friend and shopping buddy, Tracie. We got their early and stayed late. We hit every store that had a remote possibility of having treasures waiting for us. And boy did we find a lot of treasure -- so much that we filled up my little car. Beetle trunks are surprisingly big, but not that big. We had to employ the back seat too! (Sorry Mattio.)

OK, so, now we finally get to the shoes. I know it is boot-buying season and boots are everywhere, but I've had it in my head for awhile that what I'd really like is a pair of gold ballet flats. I don't know why, but I just really felt they would enhance my wardrobe. As luck would have it my golden treasure was waiting for me at the Cole Haan outlet where I scored these beauties:




This photo doesn't do them justice because it was surprisingly hard to get a decent picture of gold shoes. I don't have any good lighting around. I guess I should have tried outside in the daylight, but I digress.

These are the best shoes I've bought in ages. They were a bargain, they had my size, they are extremely comfortable, and they were exactly what I had in mind. I put them on first thing Sunday morning, wore them all day until I went to bed and then repeated the same today. I am going on a business trip next week and I am already planning my outfits around these shoes. I think they will look especially good with my navy blue dress.

Hooray for new shoes! If only all new shoe purchases could be this successful.

The Time Traveler's Meme

I was tagged by the Queen herself for this one and since I helped provide the inspiration, I felt I really should take part in this meme.

The Rules:
1. Depending on your age, go back 10, 15, 20, or even more years.
2. Tell us how many years back you have traveled.
3. Pretend you have met yourself during that era, and tell us where you are.
4. You only have one "date" with this former self.
5. Answer the questions.

I'm going back 20 years...to my 19 year old self who would be a junior in college.

1. Would your younger self recognize you when you first meet?

I'm pretty sure I would recognize myself. I look pretty much the same, just older. However, I wasn't very self-aware when I was 19 so then again, I might not.

2. Would she be surprised to discover what you are doing job wise?

Definitely. I was a theater major and imagined my future was all about costume design. I think I thought I'd either be teaching full time or working full time at a theater by now. The idea of the internet and even email just barely registered on my radar at 19. I don't think I could have imagined how much time I would spend working on a computer producing work to be used on computers. I think my younger self would be disappointed that I'd left behind art, but very interested in the internet.

3. What piece of fashion advice would you give her?

Over-sized clothes should really be avoided. It is not a good look no matter what. And wear a lot more short skirts while you can. Otherwise, continue to enjoy all the trendy stuff through your 20s.

4. What do you think she is most going to want to know?

I think she will most want to know when she will find "the one." My 19 year-old self cared a lot about having a boyfriend and thought a lot about getting married. Somehow that was the answer to everything.

5. How would you answer her question?

I would tell her that you will find "the one", but in the mean time you should enjoy the ride a lot more. Once you get out of college, a lot more boys will notice you and you should enjoy their company and be confident that the right guy is out there and you'll know it when you finally get together with him.

6. What would probably be the best thing to tell her?

Be a lot more confident. A whole lot more. Don't let people treat you badly. Take graphic design classes. Learn how to manage money and do it.

7. What is something that you probably wouldn't tell her?

I wouldn't tell her about September 11th. I wouldn't want to scare her away from living in NYC and there would be no way to explain it that would make any sense.

8. What do you think will most surprise her about you?

The fact that I don't work in theater and do work with computers and web sites. I always knew I wanted to get married and I think I assumed having at least one kid would go along with that. I think I'd be mildly surprised to learn I live back in CT. At 19 I didn't think I'd ever come back.

9. What do you think will least surprise her?

That I am still friends with Karen and Heather. I don't think I could ever imagine my life not including them.

10. At this point in your life, would you like to run into "you" from the future?

Yes, I would love to! I could go for some advice just like this and I'd really like to have a peak how life looks at 59.

If you haven't been tagged by the Queen already, then consider yourself tagged now.

The boy who ate it all

Zoe is not much of an eater. She really likes a few things, but even with those, she stops eating when she's full. It is a unique ability in our house. For example, the other morning we made a pilgrimage to Neil's Donut's up in Wallingford. Neil's donuts are probably the best donuts I have ever had. They are featured in several books including 500 Things to Eat Before it is Too Late and Road Food. Zoe happens to love chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles and Neil's version is unequaled. It makes the Dunkin Donuts version look like amateur hour. We're all devouring our donuts and then halfway through hers, Zoe stops, wraps the remainder of her donut in a napkin and hands it to me saying she's full. I didn't know it was possible to stop eating a donut halfway through unless you were being forced to share! Imagine stopping eating something as delicious as a donut just because you were full? (OK, it was a huge donut.)

My nephew, Joseph, on the other hand is seeming bottomless pit. His ability to eat is equally as impressive as Zoe's ability not to eat. The other day my sister-in-law listed all the food he had eaten the day before and it is an impressive list:

• 2 eggs
• 2 pieces of bacon
• 1 piece of toast
• 2 glasses of milk
• peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• chips
• Wheat Thins
• fruit snacks
• apple
• donut
• hamburger
• french fries
• milkshake
• peas
• Jell-o with whipped cream
• piece of challah
• banana
• crackers
• raisins
• water
• 6 chicken dinosaurs
• 3 Oreos
• more peas
• half an apple
• 2 more glasses of milk

And no, he didn't throw up. And of course, he's skinny as a rail. I'm glad I don't have to buy the groceries for their house!