Catching Up Cliff Notes

Woah! Where did I go?

Sorry to have bailed out like that. I haven't taken any spontaneous, exotic adventures or anything like that. It's just been, well, busy. Not crazy busy. Kind of fun busy. But busy.

I don't think I can do a full update, but here are some highlights. (you stopped by, so i figure you're at least a little interested)

1. School is OUT for Urban Dad! He is officially ours until September.

2. He was voted by the students Teacher of the Year for the third year in a row. For the third year in a row, he did not tell me; my friend (& U-Dad's colleague) L had to send me the text. Care to guess how long Great Big Urban High School has had the students vote for the Teacher of the Year? Yuh-huh... three years.

3. I took Urban Kid 1 to see Mary Poppins before it leaves Chicago. This was actually Best Namma Ever!'s treat. I wish I'd matched BNE!'s funds and gotten us closer. But we were there, and U-K1 loved it. At the end of the show (SPOILER ALERT, PEOPLE), M-Pop flies away over the audience and into the sky. U-Kid 1 sobbed her eyes out! Sobbed! As the lights came up and people filed out, I was stuck in my chair holding a 5 1/2yo who was absolutely disintegrating over M-Pop leaving the Banks family. So we were one of the last people out of the theater, out of the bathroom, mine was the last coat in coat-check... But the music was great, the big numbers were indeed huge, and it was well worth it. I don't care if you have kids or not -- go see this if you get a chance. Trust me, M-Pop is one cool beeyotch.

4. I got certified to climb at our gym's climbing wall. My friend Julie did the class with me, so now we can belay each other now and then. And I can belay U-K1, who has recently discovered that she loves to climb the wall. And who gets pretty high! Oh, did I mention that I'm scared to death of heights? Yep. Great sport for me to check out, huh? Thank God, Julie is so, so patient. It's a fun activity -- breaks up the routine, lets me do strength work without venturing into the weight room. But man, it is hell on a manicure!

5. I watched Liam Neeson in "Taken" a few nights ago. Oh Man! Who knew that Liam could make Jack Bauer look like a sissy! Nope, no moral-relativism-struggling-with-do-the-ends-justify-the-means crap from Liam. I barely blinked the last half of the film, found myself yelling, "kill him! KILL HIM!" towards the end... oh, and Liam's voice. That voice. Oh yeah, very satisfying 90 minutes.


6. U-K1 go to have a sleepover with her soon-to-be-moving NBF. When I was out running today (yes, I ran outside... by that big blue thing I hear people talking about... I love summer!), I saw the moving truck at NBF's building and felt sad for U-K1. The moving truck pulls out tomorrow. *sigh* I didn't breathe a word of the truck to U-K1. I'm hoping that a very busy summer will cushion the event for her.

7. U-Dad suggested we hire a babysitter (a babysitter!!!!!) last night and catch up with our friends L&A for pizza and wine. Oh yeah, summer is sooooo gooooood! Eating outside on a Sunday night, plus wine. L&A are teachers at GBUHS too, so we were all celebrating the summer. We spent more on the babysitter (a babysitter!!!!!!) than on the actual meal, but who cares! Well worth it.

I love this time of year.

Don't be a stranger! I'll try to do the same.....