Eric Church - "Springsteen" (New Single 2012)

OK, so who here thinks that if this cutesy little country song by Eric Church was called say, 'Bon Jovi', or 'Aerosmith' that I would find it in any way endearing? Who here thinks I would purchase it from iTunes and play it on a loop on my iPod? No one, right? Because that would be nuts. Except it's not called Bon Jovi or Aerosmith is it? No. It's called Springsteen. I rest my case.

(By the way, not that I know anything at all about this, but the link below is not to an actual video of Eric Church performing this song, it's just the music running over this still picture. The actual video was shot last week in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I have no idea how I know that.
  Next thing you know I'll be telling you he's performing at the Great Frederick Fair this year.
And I won't know how I know that either.)

To this day when I hear that song / I see you standin’ there all night long / Discount shades, store bought tan / Flip flops and cut-off jeans / Somewhere between that setting sun / I’m on fire and born to run / You looked at me and I was done / And we’re, we’re just getting started / I was singin’ to you, you were singin’ to me / I was so alive, never been more free / Fired up my daddy’s lighter and we sang / Ooohh
When I think about you, I think about 17 / I think about my old jeep / I think about the stars in the sky / Funny how a melody sounds like a memory / Like the soundtrack to a July Saturday night / Springsteen, Springsteen...

William and friends

These are real kangaroos. They are not stuffed. They roam wild and free around the streets of Sydney. Along with poisonous spiders, snakes and koalas (although generally, koalas are not poisonous.) It's a dangerous place. Why anyone would want to live there I don't know. 

Wide open spaces

I am so in love with this photo. I think it may be my best ever. 

Yesterday we headed to Poor House Farm park for our Sunday afternoon adventure. It's a gorgeous little haven about 15 minutes from here. We took a ball to kick around, our walking shoes and no change of clothes. Which turned out to be a mistake. Despite the weather being not so great, William decided he was taking a dip in the creek. He said if I let him do that he would eat ALL his veggies and give me ALL his money. So, tempted by the prospect of becoming rich beyond my wildest imaginings, I said OK. It should be pointed out he has approximately $17 to his name, most of which he scammed from me anyway. And, despite being allowed to frolic in the creek, he did not hand over One Red Cent. How is it I am so easily (and often) hoodwinked by a six year old? 

 

Fortunately, we found an old shirt of Daddy's in the car to wear on the drive home.  

Happy anniversary to my one true love

We have been married for nine calendar years and eight actual 'in person' ones. That first year kind slipped through the net. There were some pesky oceans and immigration departments on two continents conspiring to keep us apart. It was a heck of a long distance romance to be sure. 

I gave up a lot to move here to be with Joe; being close to family and friends, my career, my beautiful hometown. But what I got in return was so much more. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am right where I need to be, with the man I need to be with,
living the happy life we have made together. 

I know it can be tough to make a marriage work. People struggle everyday and sometimes they don't make it. I am so blessed to be married to someone who has my back, even on my not-so-great days. Our downs are few, our ups are many. Thank you, God. (And Bruce, and Judi, and William) for this life, this life and then the next... 

Here's a little visual history of our journey so far.

That is one crazy cake. It's a 'croquembouche', which is French for 'crunch in the mouth'. It's profiteroles filled with fresh cream and drizzled with caramel toffee. Traditionally the bride and groom hit it with a dainty mallet to crack the toffee then guests help themselves to pieces. Unfortunately, this one had heavy duty toffee and the wait staff at the venue had to take to it with a sledgehammer out back in the kitchen in order to break it. I still wonder what it tasted like...  And, what exactly is that weird blue spot in the middle of this pic?

Raffy was my birthday present a couple of months after I arrived in the States. Here we are with him at the mall. Why do we have a dog at the mall? It was pet day with Santa. Man, my hair is long. 

In Sydney visiting family, a few months before baby made us three. 

Back home with William definitely on the way. Mind you, there was still time to drive 500 miles to North Carolina to see Bruce a week before he was born. Against doctor's advice? Whatever! Would have served Bruce right if he had to pause to deliver a baby mid-show. It's all his fault anyway.

William arrives, and all is not well! Our poor sick little baby. Still eternally grateful to the neonatal intensive care team at Frederick Memorial for the great care they took of us all during our extended stay.  

But as you can see, everything turned out just fine!

Remind me how we got to Martinsburg again? 

We are a little sleep deprived right about now. 

And I think that went on for some several years or more. Oh wait, that's right. It's still going on. 

At the beach. 

In the snow. 

Last Easter at Judi's house in Michigan.

Last Summer back home in Australia. We're too cool for colors. 

My red-headed men.  

Spring time

Most blossoms I've ever had on my weeping cherry tree. It was my mother's day gift in 2007.

William, August 2011

I realize I exhibit a slight parental bias here but my child is seriously beautiful. Just sayin'...

I love my dog. But.

It's not that I'm actively looking for a replacement for my dog. I'm just doing a little occasional research ahead of time. Window shopping, if you will. It's good to keep abreast of your dog options. Unfortunately Thankfully though, I believe poodles have a tendency to live for a Very Long Time indeed. So, by my calculations, I have another 8 or more years (God help me) to go before I can trade up sadly turn my thoughts to getting another pet.

Don't get me wrong. I love my dog. What's not to love about a neurotic, yapping, jealous, kid biting poodle? Oh, he LOOKS sweet enough. But he is plotting revenge for a wrong that was wrought upon him six years ago when William was born. He's never gotten over it. If you can imagine a 14lb poodle holding a grudge for all that time, that would be our dog.  

We have considered getting rid of finding a new home for Raffy at various times. It's not nice to live in an environment where your dog could turn feral on your child at any minute, but William will not hear of it. He loves the dog despite the fact that the dog clearly loathes him. He won't tolerate being petted by William. He growls if William walks into a room, especially if he's sitting with me or Joe. William has never done anything rotten to Raffy. Never pulled a tail. Never dragged him by an ear. Never kicked him. Even when Raffy has helped himself to a small chunk of this child, the child continues to defend him. I think we've always been very careful to make sure the dog is included, and not neglected as a member of our family. But still, William is less than dirt to him. What to do? 

Raffy, in happier times, unaware that a change was gonna come.
Pic taken approx. one month before William was born. See how happy he looks. 

OK. What manner of creature is THIS? William, about 10 days old. Raffy, seriously, p'd off
at this rude turn of events.  

He's always there in the shadows. Watching, waiting. 

Still there. Biding his time. Like a stealth bomber. 

You think you're safe in that thing kid? Don't bet on it. 

One false move kiddo. No one will blame me. I'm too cute. 

Oh sure, I'll accept goldfish handouts. And then nip off your finger.

This will make a cute picture, kid. They'll say 'oh look, they're just like brothers...' And no one will
 know the truth but you and me. 

What our next dog will look like...

This is a chocolate Australian labradoodle. They retain some features of our current model (no shedding) but hopefully come without the attitude. Just look at those sweet eyes...

Sundays with William

William and I went exploring yesterday afternoon along the C&O Canal in Williamsport. Before we hit the towpath, William scaled hundreds of feet up a sheer cliff face. OK, technically it was just a somewhat steep hill. I reluctantly followed him up and tore my achilles in the process so I think I earned the right to call it a sheer cliff face of Andean proportions if I jolly well want to. In any case, when he got to the top, as I was still struggling to gain a foothold many hundreds of feet below, he screamed out, 'MOMMY, there are DEAD PEOPLE up here!' 

And yes, there were. He was absolutely right. 

Here are some pictures of our Sunday afternoon adventure.