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I haven't been here in quite awhile it seems. It could be that everytime I look at my blog, I am reminded that Nikki is no longer a "child" -so to speak. She & her b.f. did break up -for good or bad- the day b4 he left for Italy w/ his parents for 3 weeks. All b/c he's still in h.s. & she's in college in the fall. I kind of wondered if this might happen. Poor thing. How to console someone who doesn't want to talk about what's going on inside her head. She seems okay now. Better at any rate. And we had just met him too. And he seemed like a really nice person. She's always had this romantic ideal of high school sweethearts. Alas, it is not meant to happen for her.

Today & tomorrow she's at orientation @ CU. She didn't want me to go with her. I hope she sorts some things out. She doesn't know what she even wants to do with her life -she's enrolling as open option -or whatever it's called @ CU. We have all suggested that she should do her basics @ community college or Metro State. She won't hear of it. She wants the whole "experience" of living in a dorm, etc etc etc. No matter what anyone says to the contrary, she feels this is a necessary & important event. Did I mention she's not working often enough to save much money?? I'm hoping she'll sit down at financial aid & get a grasp on the idea of how exactly is she going to afford/pay for school. I don't know if it's her friends' influence or what, but she has this attitude of entitlement lately that's really getting on my nerves. I think it's only been the last year or so. Regardless, she doesn't have wealthy parents by any means. And she's been quite adept at avoiding/ignoring reality. Maybe on our long road trip, she and I can have a little heart to heart. Maybe. Hopefully.

Speaking of which, I am taking the girls on a cross country jaunt to PA. Stops in Chicago & Indianapolis to see good friends. And of course visiting more good friends & family in PA. I cannot wait to get on the road. Had the car tuned up today. Had the windows tinted so as to avoid sunburn. Had the stereo installed WITH XM radio so as to avoid musical boredom. Also have on hand two dvd players to occupy antsy children -with hopes of avoiding on-board fighting. I'm a little apprehensive b/c I don't relish the idea of having to stop frequently for potty breaks or snack distributions or breaking up inevitable sibling rivalry. But I think all in all it'll be good for everyone involved. I haven't had a road trip in a few years -other than that one from Galway to Sligo. Or the occasional trip to the mountains. Those are too short to really count as road trips, anyway. Poor Cody will miss us. As will the cat. And G -who will have the unwanted task of caring for our menagarie during our absence. But hey, he can watch whatever he wants, whenever without catching any flack for it. Same goes for eating. And other boy things like leaving the toilet seat up, etc. He keeps trying to convince Lib to stay home with him. She adamantly refuses.

Unfortunately, G & I won't be able to watch our daily dose of world cup soccer together. BUT I will be able to partake of some viewing with my mom -who is a HUGE Germany fan, btw. And that hasn't happened in I don't know how long, if ever. I posted more on that topic on my other blog. While I'm on the topic, so far I'm favoring Brazil & Germany & England. The US, unfortunately, didn't have a chance; they were way out of their league from the get-go. Brazil is just fun to watch -super talented & fancy footwork galore. Germany & England are in it to win (well, really who isn't) but they play hard, not too dirty, & have more than their fair share of talent. Australia play like they'd rather be on the rugby field. They look the part too. Trinidad/Tobago played a good game too. It's just way interesting how these different countries have their own styles of playing & then watching how they match up against each other. It's actually a bit more appealing than american football or hockey, even. The uniqueness of each country is quite fascinating.

I do have pictures to post, but you'll have to wait for that; I'm beat & my eyes are going fuzzy on me now. And it's not even midnight yet!

haven't been posting much lately either

So you may have guessed it; summer has arrived full on in colorful CO. I'm not online much these days b/c who wants to be sitting in front of a computer instead of being outside???? I will say that I've received quite a few lovely postcards from my secret pal; I believe she resides in WA? Or is that OR? No, I think it is WA. the eastern side closer to ID. They are all hanging in the doorway b/t the dining/craft room & the kitchen- well out of little hands' reach. It's been fabulous fun to see what the mailman will bring. And addictive! There is a certain feeling of "disappointment" when all I get for the day is junk &/or bills. So I've decided to send postcards to other various friends just b/c it is so nice to get a little something in the mail that is personal & fun. There is definitely something to be said for snail mail instead of the usual email correspondance. Is it just the tangibility of holding something in one's hand that lends credibility to the reality of the person on the sending end? Email seems so momentary in comparison. like a blip on the screen of life. whereas an actual letter or postcard is so much like a real connection? I don't know. Let me not wax poetic here. the sun is calling me to leave here now.

Oh, and do you know how difficult it really is to watch world cup soccer & knit at the same time? Let me tell you, lest you don't understand. It is damn nigh impossible. I have tried. I am not getting much done. I usually can't stand to sit in front of the t.v. (or anywhere, for that matter) without something for my hands to do; hence the cultivation of the knitting habit. But there are 3 games on everyday. Each is 90+ minutes not including 1/2 time (which thank god for DVR, we can gratefully skip altogether). There are NO commercials -which I do enjoy, btw, just b/c we have all too many commercials day to day. And they break up the action in our own sports way too often for the momentum to actually be a factor in the games. BUT, that being said, as you can see there is absolutely zero time to knit. for at least those 5 or so hours. OMG. I just realized that we're spending 5 hours a day watching t.v. Horrible. and it's every day! for a month!!!! And starting tomorrow there will be FOUR games on everyday! It's kind of freaking me out if I think about it too much. I think I do need to leave now. Can't_think_about_time_wasted_in_front_of_tube. Must_get_out_side_pronto.

and now I am the mom of a h.s. graduate

and this is what we did over the weekend:






didn't scan in the whole thing...430+ graduates & Nikki's on the first page. Pictures to be posted as soon as I get the CD.

I didn't cry like I thought I might. It was too darn hot to cry -record high of 94 in Denver; don't know what Boulder's temp was, but it was freakin' hot as heck @ 9am in the direct sun. Glad I wasn't one of those seniors in their dark purple, stifling cap & gowns. That & trying to keep 3 little ones occupied during the ceremony was very distracting for me. We sat through the entire beginning & not quite half of the diplomas then I thought it might be easier-for us & the folks sitting around us!- to get the girls out of the bleachers. We finished the ceremony in the back, kind of in the shade. My bro was there but we didn't run into him. We did run into our good friend V, though, entirely unplanned. Thanks to Nikki's dad for saving us seats in the beginning -getting everyone out of the house @ 7am was impossible & we didn't actually leave until almost 8!

Party @ B's afterwards was fun. We FINALLY got to meet the boyfriend Kevin. He seems very nice. B's mom & niece were there as well & it was great to see them again after 5 years.

season finales

I am loathe to watch either the Sopranos or Big Love; I have them on DVR but am sad that I'll have to wait until next year to see them again. The whole 6 (or is it 8) extra episodes of the Sopranos is no consolation, really. It'll be over far sooner than I would like it to be. I could watch it forever. Or until it gets stupid (like CSI has done). I feel like part of my family is leaving me. hahahahaha. Yeah, freakish, I know. So I'm putting off the inevitable until I just can't wait any longer. THEN I'll indulge.

Oh & I had a Batman Begins jonesing moment yesterday when I realized that the day was over & it was too late in the night to watch it & I hadn't watched it at all! Yikes! Maybe it's better this way -a means to wean myself from this could be addiction. I can't help it, though; every time I've watched it I see something different & I HAVE to watch it again b/c what will I see next??!

more batman

So I've watched it yet again...I think I am becoming obsessive. Here's what I like about it: every shot could be isolated & drawn on a storyboard...or maybe I can see how every shot could have originated on a storyboard & then was converted into live action on the big screen. Well, it makes sense to me anyway. It's brilliant.

re: a Batman comment

I fell asleep the first time I saw it too...but it was on a 7 in screen on the plane & I was heavily sedated. (I fell asleep during the 1st 15 mins of Harry Potter IV without sedation & in a theatre). Perhaps you're looking at it in the wrong light; it is a comic book & was well translated as such onto the large screen. (This is what allowed me to objectively view & actually appreciate "Constantine" with *gag* Keanu Reeves). Albeit Sin City is by far the BEST attempt at converting a comic to a movie, this Batman was a brilliant adaptation, I thought. Bruce Wayne was portrayed as being the bratty billionaire (which, not to type-cast Christian Bale, but he does play so well as evidenced in American Psycho) with the dark past (excellent character development) who has the flip side do-good mystery persona. I love how Bale replicated Batman's voice to be so very similar to how M. Keaton had originally done. The sole major female role was simple & fairly unimportant, as she should be & who better to portray her but Katie Holmes of the easily expended acting career (thank god there are some actresses out there who do not feel the need to succumb to the public's perception of perfection; it was nice to see teeth that are not overcorrected)

As I have since watched the flick again, I have to change my opinion about the archrivals. They are indeed stock comic book characters with roles onscreen that are just "enough" without going over the top.

I have finally seen the flick that I'd been waiting to see since first hearing abt it

and OMG it ranks right up there with I & II! Christian Bale is by far the hottest version of Batman (but we already knew that, didn't we?). And he portrays the character well. I would love to see him in another batman movie -be it b/t the "prequel" & I -like a sequel to the prequel; or even Batman V. PLEASE?!?!?! I mean, I finished the movie & wanted to watch the "next" one right away or at least watch this one again. The cinematography was great (albeit a little dark; and I KNOW it's supposed to be, but when it's so dark that I can't really see what's happening on my 45" flatscreen, I think it's too dark) The action was just long enough to not be boring. Granted the "archrivals" (e.g. Scarecrow) had minimal roles. But the script had just enough humor without being corny (unlike IV). Bonus, Gary Oldman as the good cop. And the Bat toys were awesome. I'll definitely be buying this one to add to I, II, & III (we would like to forget IV, thank you)

P.S. Look what I found as I googled the director Christopher Nolan . 2008 can't get here soon enough!!