The Neighbor Girl

Brandon and I bought a house on the Walton's block of Albuquerque. I think we are the only people in a 5 mile radius without a kid. I've had more pressure by neighbors to have a baby in the three weeks we've lived here than the entire five years we've been married. With all the kids and baby's around we were worried that we'd get noise complaints from Brandon's drum playing. The first and only complaint came from Emma, the 6 year old neighbor girl. She saw me in the yard one morning and barged over to me hands on her hips and said "when you play your radio that loud-my baby brother can't sleep!" Her mom came running behind her and clasped her hand over Emma's little mouth just a little too late. I got the distinct feeling that was not the first time she'd tried to block the floodgate. "No, no-it's fine, the music doesn't bother us."

I've only known Emma briefly, yet I could write all night about her ability to say the first thing that comes to her mind and her unapologetic attitude. Like the time she told me "thanks for having me over-I know I'll always be welcome." or the time asked for candy and told me her mom wouldn't mind only to tell me a few moments later with a mouth full of candy-"Don't tell my mom or we'll BOTH be in trouble."

Perhaps the funniest story about Emma so far happened yesterday when we pulled up to our house to find Emma sitting in a miniature lawn chair, legs crossed, palms facing the sky, thumb and forefinger in the shape of an "O", eyes closed and chanting-with a soccer trophy in her lap.

Brandon slowly pulled up to the curb, rolled down the window and waited to see how long it would take her to notice us. He finally gives up and interrupting her concentration says "Hi Emma, what are you doing?" she irritably replies "Oh, hi Brandon-I'm Me-di-ta-ting, can't you tell?" "We just lost our soccer game but we got a trophy anyway and I'm upset and I'm nervous because Lily is coming over for a play date and she's never been over before and I'm nervous because I don't know how it's going to go because she's never been over before so I'm
Me-di-ta-ting, okay?"

Just when you thought kids don't have problems.

Inquiring minds

Helping Dr. Alarid move his things out of the home he inherited and we were about to buy we found this letter, addressed to his daughter:

2/4/1980

Dear Rachel,
President Carter has asked me to thank you for your nice letter.
You want to know why there is no Children's Day, when there is a Mother's Day and a Father's Day?
The President works hard to help make this county a good place for mothers and fathers to bring up their children. He hopes that every day is Children's Day!
Also, he thanks you for being his friend.

Dan Chew
Director of Presidential Correspondence

Marvin Gaye in the G.O.

I was at the local Grocery Outlet on my lunch break, filling my basket with discontinued frozen dinners and enjoying "Let's Get it On" over the loud speaker, when the song was interrupted by a voice on the intercom that was all smooth and sexy like Marvin Gaye himself. This is what it said:

"Heeey Girlllll, I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me that you are shopping at the Grocery Outlet ta-day and I hope to see you back here reaaaaal soooon."

I thought I was going to die from laughter right there in the frozen food aisle. I guess none of the other shoppers were paying attention, because everyone just looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Oaks Puke

Delaney and I were so excited when she got free tickets to Oaks Amusement Park this week. I had just enjoyed the movie Adventureland and was feeling nostalgic about the huge rides I used to go on with my Dad when I was a kid. He used to give me tips to make myself taller when approaching the dreaded measuring stick that determines if you are big enough to get on the ride.

When we got there, the familiar Carney sounds and smells washed over me and I felt like a enthusiastic kid again. The first ride we went was the Tilt'a'Whril, which was super fun but I still can't figure out if throwing your body weight around actually effects the speed of the turns. I am convinced that the spins are pre-determined.

Next, we went on the biggest ride we could find (the screaming eagle) and waiting anxiously, just to be cut off by the gate until the next ride. Waiting gave us the opportunity to observe all of the glorious heights and turn we were now committed to. It was finally our turn and halfway through the ride I commented to Dee, "This isn't so bad, it's actually pretty relaxing". Famous last words before the pimply teenage kid kicked it up a notch sending us flying through the air at god speed.

We both got off the screaming eagle so sick and dizzy that we had to sit down for quite a few minutes before retiring to the Ferris wheel and bumber cars. We went home with our heads
down low, shamed and disappointed that once again, age was catching up to us.

Soap Box Derby

Every year Portland hosts an "Adult Soap Box Derby". Get your mind out of the gutter; there is nothing kinky about this event, just a bunch of grown ups designing and building engine free vehicles to fly down Mt. Tabor in. Brandon and I have gone since we first moved to Portland. Some of our favorites from the past include; a clawfoot tub with people bathing on wheels, an office cubicle complete with a computer, house plant and water fountain, and a mini Wineebago with six passengers.

This year won't be as memorable, I liked the leg-go car the best. Perhaps what I will remember the best is the crowd, as the years pass it gets increasingly more crowded. That probably won't stop me from going!

Mad Men

The contest is over! Thank you for voting/trying to vote for me. I'll let you know how I did at the end of next week. Last time I looked, I was in the "Contest Leader" category.

I've got mad style

You guys know the show Mad Men? I uploaded a photo of myself to enter a casting call contest. Please, please,please vote for me. I think it would be so much fun to win. You can vote once a day, so please vote today and tomorrow at this link:

http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/photos/view/4025

If you feel so moved, could you please pass this on to people who know me, or you think would like to vote?

I really appreciate it!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer.Melanie