Hats

You've been experimenting with quite the assortment of hats lately:

Gravy

Daddy and I have have been engaged in an argument about canned tomatoes for going on 10 years now. When we were newlyweds the conversation typically went something like this:

Me: "I picked up some tomatoes to make sauce tonight."
Daddy: "Those are Progresso."
Me: "So?"
Daddy: "They aren't Cento."
Me: "So?"
Daddy: "My mother uses Cento."
Me: "So?"
Daddy: "So, I'm not eating sauce made with crappy Progresso tomatoes."
Me: *runs to store to buy proper tomatoes*

I've since learned to never buy a tomato product without Cento written on the can, and the discussion has evolved into:
Daddy: "I like the pureed tomatoes better than these crushed tomatoes."
Me: "Last time I used pureed, and you said you liked the crushed better."
Daddy: "My mother uses pureed."
Me: "I have your mother's recipe right here. It says, 'pureed or crushed.'"
Daddy: "That's wrong. I'm sure she uses pureed."
Me: "Then go ask your mother to make you the sauce!"

So, hopefully you won't be nearly the pain in the ass your father is about this, but just in case you feel the urge to utter the words, "My mother uses ____," here are the correct sauce parameters. Bone-in pork chops. Cento crushed tomatoes. Cento tomato paste. Barilla pasta. Extra garlic. Chopped parsley. Fresh parm. Fresh romano.

Storytime

Historically, you have viewed stuffed animals as construction material to build giant landing pads. This way you have something soft to crash on when you parachute off the couch. I'm happy to report that you're expanding your horizons. While dive-bombing the sweet animals is still a favorite pastime, you've discovered inanimate objects are easily bent to your will, which makes them great playmates. Last night you arranged your favorites, Silly Lion, Alien, and Blue Doggie, on the couch for a reading session.

Note to readers: the adorable fleece stuffed animals in the photos are from Beeposh. They also carry apparel and fun Mommy treats--I used my Beeposh tote at the pool all summer!

Whee!

My favorite picture from Mamo and Granddaddy's annual summer trip:

Poetry

When I was a little girl, my Mamo taught me poems. I would recite them for my Mommy when she came home from work. Your Mamo has continued this tradition, and you learned your first poem last week. It was one of my first poems, too!

Home Again
Home again, home again
From a foreign shore.
But, oh, it fills our hearts with joy
To be at home once more.

Roses and Diamonds

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds around my neck."
--Emma Goldman (1869-1940)

Actually, Emma, what I'd really like is a maid.

I first read feisty Ms. Goldman's roses and diamonds quote back in high school. At the time I remember thinking, "Yeah! Me too. Diamonds suck." I associated diamond necklaces with charity balls and snottiness and Hermes scarves. And, as a soon-to-be college student (and rather feisty myself), there was likely some sort of distaste for the symbolism of it all. Seems kind of like a dog collar. A shiny dog collar, but a dog collar nonetheless. Plus, flowers are pretty! Who wouldn't want flowers? I now know the money doesn't have anything to do with it. Those roses probably cost more than the diamonds. Fifty bucks every other week for ten years adds up to a pretty awesome diamond necklace!

But seriously, when I think about this now, I see the effort involved in the respective gifts. A diamond was chosen with care and excitement, saved for over a long period of time, presented on a special occasion. It also takes a great deal of thought for a man to keep fresh flowers on his love's table. Every few weeks he must replace them and spend that extra bit of time devoted to her happiness. Those are the true gifts--time, thought, effort--that make a woman feel special. I'm lucky to have Daddy, who has given me roses and diamonds...and all of those unspoken gifts...during our eleven years together. I'm glad you have his example to follow.

By the way, I'd prefer to have roses AND diamonds. Why choose?

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I tried desperately to place Ms. Goldman's quote in context. I can't find the original source for the life of me. For all I know, she isn't even talking about flowers and roses as gifts from a man. If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it!

Just for fun, I've included another favorite Emma Goldman-ism:

"If I can't dance then it's not my revolution."

She would have been a heck of a dinner companion, don't you think?

So There.

You: "Crap!"

Daddy: "Oh no, Jason, we don't say that. It isn't nice."

You: "But that's what you say, Daddy."