Monthly Archives: September 2009

September 8, 2009 · 7:47 pm

Melanie Oudin, you can thank me

APTOPIX US Open Tennis

(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

For those who missed my post about women’s tennis last week please read it here before you continue.

Yeh, I pretty much single-handedly called out Melanie Oudin and challenged her to rise to the occasion and kick some foreign butt. Of course I had no idea who she was last week – not unlike the rest of the country – tennis loving or otherwise. But, hey, I think it was a little more than a coincidence that I wrote this and then she came out of nowhere. (yes, I am delusional. please don’t hold that against me, it is part of my charm)

If you did not read or click above, here is the scoop. I – the last person you would expect – wrote a post last Wednesday asking why there were no American women (besides Williams squared) in the US Open this year. On Friday night my friend Yogamom came up to me at the bar and said, “Hey, I read your post on tennis the other day. Did you hear about the 17-year- old American who shook up the Open?” My response was something to the extent of, “Seriously, do you really think I follow tennis?” Sorry Yogamom, I just could not resist that answer.

Low and behold, a few days later and this kid is all over the news to the point where even I can’t miss her. AND, now I actually want to watch her play!

As EXTRA put it tonight, “She has taken down more Russian women this week than James Bond“. (oh how I love that line and wish I had written it myself)

Good luck, Melanie! (oh, and you’re welcome) I’ll be watching. (I think)

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 7, 2009 · 7:55 pm

Time To Cry Tuesday – Penny

penny-nelson

Here is one for all you dog lovers out there.

Meet Penny. This past week she proved that poodles are no wussy dogs here on the peninsula. Her hairless sister has been featured here on Time To Cry Tuesday, and now it is her turn.

Take a look at that face. Ferocious? Perhaps not. She may actually look a little sleepy (or stoned – sorry El) in this picture. But in reality, Penny is the hero of the week in our sleepy little town.

Below is an email I received from her owner:

As you all know, I love my dog very much. With that said…

Yesterday, after being out for about two hours, I came home to find six police cars in front of my house. I walked over to one of the officers and asked what was wrong. He quietly took me over to my house and said there had been a break-in in several houses on my block and that he needed to walk with me through my house to see if this guy – who by the way was caught – had gotten in.

As we walked into my house I was greeted by my dog’s obnoxious barking and big smile. She was fine. As we walked through we realized that the burglar had not gotten in. Thank goodness.

But unfortunately he had gotten into the homes of seven of my neighbors. When I asked the police officer why he thought my house did not get hit, he said, you are holding her in you hands.

With that said, I love my dog even more than ever, all nine pounds of her! She got big treats last night and slept close to me becuase in my eyes she was a big time watch dog yesterday. And my hero.

So in honor of Penny, here is something to think about:

There was one of those heart-wrenching stories about a dog that dies and a kid’s perspective at the end of her email that I will not include in its entirety because of its length. I will, however, leave you with my favorite parts. Forgive my abbreviation (or thank me for it).

If a dog was a teacher you would learn things like:

Never pass up the opportunity for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you are not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Now go give your dog (or cat. or fish.) a hug and thank them for reminding you of all this.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 6, 2009 · 10:29 pm

Attractively Belligerent

Actual phone call with a friend on Friday Morning:

Me: Is it too early to drink?

Him: Hmmm, 9:30 am. Maybe a Sombrero, you know, something with Kalhua in it to have that coffee thing. On second thought I am sorry, I would say that you would have to acknowledge that you have a problem if you did.

Me: Yeh, I was afraid of that. And if YOU say it is too early to drink then I know it is.

Him: I suppose. So what is wrong that you need a drink at 9:30 in the morning?

Me: Nothing, just a trying work week.

Conversation continues and I suppose I had just a bit more of an edge than usual.

Him: You are a bit belligerent today.

Me: Oh no, really?

Him: Yes, but attractively billigerent.

And that, my friends, is true friendship! (thanks Dave)

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 4, 2009 · 11:25 pm

West and Welaxation

Elmer_Fudd

My name is Elmer J. Fudd, I own a mansion and a yacht.

Wait, no it isn’t, I must have just had a Looney Toons flashback. So sorry about that.

So this is the big weekend, the official last weekend of summer. The last time we are allowed to wear white. Is that still true? will one of my fashonistas please clarify that for me?

As you can tell, I am tired and 2 vodkas to the wind, so this blog is about absolutely nothing.

Which is exactly what I plan on doing this weekend.

Whatever you choose to do, try to get some fresh air and relax. And please, be careful out there.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 3, 2009 · 8:50 pm

The Magnet For The Absurd (MFTA)

I have always noticed the oddities out there in the world. Even before this blog became the catch-all for all things crazy, they always found me.

Now that I have deemed myself the Magnet For the Absurd it seems to have stuck. In the last 2 weeks people have sent me all sorts of oddly humorous and offbeat things, via every technology possible. I thought it would be fun to share a few.

This came from an old friend via email:

Driving cross country. Now in arizona.  Just passed a billboard and thought of you: Ostrich Eggs. Meteorites. 50% off.

This was from a friend via Facebook:

I thought of your photos and your blog yesterday while passing through Frenchtown on our way home from Elon U. . . we noticed a street sign stating ” Saturday is cancelled” — found it to be funny . . . and maybe something I should send along to my two kids away at school?!

And these two pics came via text message from Sedona:

ufo-store

I particularly love the ‘Est. Before Mankind’. Nice touch.

alien

These submissions prove to me that people do see the absurdities out there, they simply never had a place to share them.

I am happy to be that place, so keep ’em coming!

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 2, 2009 · 9:00 pm

kovics, renkas and povas, oh my!

tennis-ball

Where are all the American women in tennis?! (sans Williams squared, of course).

What, you say? Could Amy actually be writing about tennis? From the basement, no less?

Listen folks, I may not play tennis but I am surely surrounded by it. My husband and dearest friends play. A good chunk of my disposable income goes to all things tennis-related in order to keep Gary from jumping off the 59th Street Bridge, and it’s the first week in September in NY, so not paying attention to the US Open is like living under a rock.

We were discussing the women of the Open over dessert tonight (ok, so it was not just Gary and I, my in-laws and a neighbor were here) and it came to my attention that American women do not play tennis.

What?!! In my zip code I am looked at like I have 3 heads because I don’t swing a racquet. I guess they meant professionally.

I took a little spin over to the US Open official website and what I found was, nestled around the Williams sisters in the top 5 seeded positions were: Safina, Barrois, Czink, Rybarikova, Dementieva, Oudin, Jankovic and Shvedova.

That is way too many consonants for this Jew to pronounce. And the rest of the list was equally non-American.

So tell me, tennis women of America (or at least Jo), if there are so many women playing recreational tennis here, why do we not have women playing professionally.

Just asking.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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September 1, 2009 · 9:19 pm

Recombobulation

recombobulation-area

Have any of you seen this yet?

After walking through airport security; juggling my laptop, shoes, belt, carry-on, ipod, keys and a partridge in a pear tree, I came across this sign. I promptly dropped all that crap and grabbed my camera.

Admit it, who doesn’t feel discombobulated at that moment. BTW, recombobulation comes up as a misspelled word in my blog software, I think they made this word up! Seems the only place I can find it is in my old favorite spot, Urban Dictionary.

So, picture the committee that had to name this area. The meeting probably went something like this:

“How do you feel when you walk through security?”

“Well, discombobulated, of course!”

“Exactly, so we will call this the Recombobulation Area and everyone will relate and we will appear to be sensitive to our target market and everyone will forgive us for making them walk barefoot and half naked through the airport.”

I am thinking that this might catch on. Maybe in the corporate setting. Every office should have a Recombobulation Area. You get chewed out by your boss, you lose a big account, just having a bad day. Simply step into the “RA” and get your self good and combobulated.

Wait, does recombobulation infer that you were once combobulated in the first place, became ‘dis’ and then needed to ‘re’.

Yeh, you’re right, I need to get some sleep.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visitLeaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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