My Happy Place

When I saw this, I knew I was home. There's no place like Eugene, Oregon.

What's In A Name?

Nicknames are welcome in my family. I find them very comforting. I think nicknames are a sign of love, affection and a certain amount of intimacy. My parents have called me "Marykins" for as long as I can remember. Sometimes my mom shortens it to "Kins". She has also called me "Sweet Stuff" but when Leah was born, I lost that title to her.

My brother called me MoogPaloog or Palooger. He also calls me "Mare" which bothers our mom, but I don't mind it one bit!

For awhile one of my friends called me "Ellen".

Lynn has called me "Lambchop" or "Lambchop Queen" for most of our marriage. Laurie called me "Mimi" the first time she met me and it's carried over although lately it's become "Mia, Mia".

Donna calls me "Mia Woods" and if I hear "Miss Mia" I know Didi is beckoning me.

When Nancy found out that my parents call me Marykins, it stuck. Except (and I forget why) she drops the "s" and just calls me "Marykin". (Nancy, why did you drop the "s"?) -- I know there's a story buried in that truncation.

Other friends and acquaintances have simply called me "M.E."

My initials are MEW so I have indeed been called "Mew". And my maiden name is Smolnisky resulting in a short "Mes".

Patty calls me Queenie or Mary Queen (that's a story about a conversation she had on a ferry in the Pacific Northwest about 20 years ago.)

An old friend, Barb (who I haven't seen since 1984) called me Mary Pie or simply "Pie."

In the KKC, I'm Mrs. Woods. In fact, it sounds strange when one of the KKC actually uses my first name.

Occasionally Linda calls me "Marilyn" because one time we were somewhere and someone thought that was my name. If you say my name really fast it sounds like Marilyn.

I happily answer to all of these names.

Just don't call me "Mary".

Modern Art

Who needs summer school? Today I came home to this creation. Let's face it, the kid's got talent.

Home for Lunch

The number one reason to go home for lunch.

Leah came out of her bedroom sporting wings. I asked "why the wings?" She smiled, shrugged and struck a pose.

Bon Mots

If you are over 21 years old and you are describing something other than 1) the Grand Canyon, 2) St. Paul's Cathedral or 3) any wonders of the World, please use an adjective other than "awesome".

As Promised

What a difference a day makes.
Sometimes a sparkling pool is all you need.

Anticipating the Summer Blues

Do not adjust your set. This really is the color of our pool. Nothing a few gallons of chlorine won't cure. Stay tuned...I'll update tomorrow with pictures of our sparkling pool.

Blogstipation Part Deux

No free time to jot down anything. Parents left this morning so one less generation to entertain. I will try to get back on track this week. Stay tuned.

Will Nine Be Fine?

Contradictions fly

Sweet, mean, happy, surly, kind

Today she is nine

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to Linda, my beautiful friend in Eugene, Oregon.

I can't find a recent picture of her but Linda has thick brown hair and a perfect face that seems to get better with age -- I should hate her for that reason alone but I don't. (I won't even mention her perfectly proportioned figure that is curvy in just the right places.)

Linda and I have been friends since our junior year of high school (gulp, nearly 40 years ago.) I don't know if Linda knows it or not but I find her very wise. I have learned so much from her over the years especially about being a mom. Linda and I are both adoptive parents (Linda has 3 kids and her youngest son is from the Ukraine.) I remember one very bad day when my Leah said she wanted her "real" mom. I was upset and when I told Linda this story she said "oh, even the kids I gave birth to have told me they want a different mom." I loved how she put it all in perspective for me. I replay that conversation many times in my head and it always reassures me.

What I admire most about Linda is her steady and thoughtful demeanor. Her mom died about 9 years ago after a battle with Alzheimer's and Linda was a strong and loyal daughter throughout. She treated her mom with love and respect and her actions have inspired me to be a better daughter.

So happy birthday my dear friend. I look forward to our next visit.

P.S. Even though my birthday card is a little late, I promise this is not a repeat of your 17th birthday. The birthday that no one remembered -- not even your own mother. (Linda played the part of Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles only it was real-life.)

Six Degrees

If you know me at all, you know I love celebrity gossip. Just got back from Los Angeles where we attended the Rose Bowl. Whenever I go to LA, I assume I'll see someone famous. So far, I have only see a glimpse of Milli Vanilli (yes, that's correct -- it was back in 1992.)

I remain hopeful that one of these visits I will see a big star!

My friend Mary Beth lives in Los Angeles. Her sister in law, Valerie, has a PR firm with some famous clients (who shall remain nameless.) Last time I visited we had lunch at the Brentwood Country Mart with the hope that someone famous would happen by. Of course no one did, but Valerie was there a couple of weeks ago and stood next to Harrison Ford in line to order his food.

At the Rose Bowl tailgate party on Friday, my friend Janice ran into Ty Burrell (the dad on Modern Family) near the port-a-potty. Of course I missed him too. He was wearing a Prefontaine t-shirt (I googled him and see that he was born in Grants Pass, OR.)

I guess I will have to cling to my memory of meeting Jimmy Stewart some 48 years ago. I have no picture and I've lost the autograph so you'll just have to believe me.