Monday News

First: Happy 18th birthday to my boy!

This morning, after driving to another town to find hot coffee (and a working traffic light), I parked the car in my driveway and left it running. Yup. I was trying to charge my cell phone. I was also tracking down a bakery in Asheville NC that could deliver vegan cupcakes. TODAY

God bless 'em and thank you ValetGourmet for making that happen. My son picked up his dozen cupcakes after work and he had no idea that his dear sweet mother waited until the last minute.  I only wish I could have sent him this cake.

In other local news, Irene has come and gone and she kicked the shit out of New England. There are a lot of people saying Irene underwhelmed, but not here. I can't believe some of the home videos I've seen. Bridges wiped out. Houses floating.  Roads underwater. In Vermont!! The flooding has been catastrophic for that state and my heart goes out to all the folks who lost everything. We're used to blizzards and ice storms and the occasional tornado here, not tropical storms in the Green Mountains.

 In the Eastern portion of our state, nearly a half million people (480,000) are still without power as of this writing. We lost power yesterday evening, after 9.5 inches of rain fell, but electricity has been restored to my little town, and much earlier than predicted. A big thanks to Connecticut Light and Power and to our local and state government for taking care of business. We're small, but we're mighty.

I hope this finds you all dry, happy, and healthy. I trust this week will be much less exciting than last.

LB

WIP Song Du Jour

It's a beautiful day here in the hills. Sunny and warm, with low humidity. The corn is high, the birds are singing, and my pool pump is chugging along. It's the perfect summer day to spend outside, squinting at my computer screen.

So there's a big storm brewing off the Carolina Coast. Along with my friends in Long Island and NYC, Western CT is centered right smack in the bullseye. Irene doesn't scare me too much, not yet anyway, but at forty miles from the Sound, let's just say that I have a few things to pick up at the store. (Wine may be on that list).

I'm writing about snow and loneliness and the bleak midwinter. And today, I'm thinking about Mr. Lyle Lovett, of all people. It's an old song, but it stands the test of time for this listener. Another WIP song for the list.

Enjoy and to all my East Coast friends--seek higher ground.

::paperbag::

We're packed and ready and tomorrow, at oh-dark-thirty, G and I take our boy to college in fucking North Carolina. North. Carolina. That's, like, a long way away from Smithfield, fyi. 800 miles, give or take a detour around DC. That's thirteen hours in a car (plus traffic) or two flights home for Thanksgiving.

What in the name of hell was I thinking?

I know I'm going to horrify and humiliate him when I cling like a monkey mommy as we leave. G will have to peel me off the poor kid. I'm going to need to breathe into a paper bag as we wave bye-bye from the rental car. And I fully intend to drink, er, eat my feelings on the flight(s) home.


I'm too young to have two kids in college.


Have a great week, everyone! Wish us luck.

xo

LB


PS-Keep your slut hands off my son.

WIP Song

I know I posted this on facebook, but I just can't get enough of it.

And TPig--this cake isn't a lie.