Project Runway

Last night:

• Angela: Totally deserved to go. Those butt rosettes (fleurchons, as Tim Gunn would say) were heinous. I was worried about Kayne, because his outfit really was too Elvis, but it wasn't as bad as hers. So relieved to see her go!
• Jeffrey: His outfit was good, as in the recycling challenge, but I don't know that it deserved the win. It kills me that he has immunity for next week!
• Jeffrey vs. Angela: I heard a theory that he had a huge crush on her. Now really, that makes sense. Can't you just see him dipping her pigtails in the inkwell? Hence all the deliberately trying to get her goat, etc.
• Laura: Love you, love the dress, how did you manage those heels? Glad to see you a little out of your design box, although I'm not so sure about that color on you.
• Uli: The judges finally called her on always doing the same thing, rightly so, but on a challenge where she was designing for herself, that seemed a little unfair. I think Uli is a major party girl--she again referred to "getting wasted" while at a party.
• Michael: Um, nice, but no standout. I have to say, though, that for the second time, he's changed direction successfully. He thinks on his feet and is flexible.
• Vincent: What a snoozefest.
• Kayne: stop bringing up that you're "white trash." We can see that in your clothes; we don't need reminding.

Now THAT was a nice vacation

Cottage life is awesome.

The beach is awesome (even when the water is freezing).

S'mores on a beach campfire are awesome.

Sitting out on a blanket to see 100 times as many stars as we're used to is awesome.

Listening to the water hit the shore is hypnotically awesome.

Playing games with the kids like Disney charades or badminton is awesome.

No TV or computer is awesome.

My friends who took us up to their cottage for the weekend are awesome!

When we go swimming

When we go swimming at Jeff's brother's pool, my favorite way to get into the water is to jump from the diving board or the side, and kind of flip myself over. It isn't a somersault by any means, but it does make a considerable splash. Last year, I christened this move the Mommy Tsunami.
This year, the Mommy Tsunami continues, with some adaptations. It's been compacted into TsuMommy, although Lauren keeps yelling "Mommy Salami!" every time I walk toward the deep end of the pool. We also have Grammy Tsunami when she does a cannonball (though the resulting waves aren't all that big), and Tsunamis from the three big kids when they jump in. Oh, and of course when Lauren jumps in the shallow end, it's a Lauren Salami. I think that's the one that cracks me up more than any other.

The pool keeps working its magic on the kids. Last week, Sarah swam down to the very bottom of the pool (12 feet) to retrieve some diving weights that had rolled down there. She was coughing and out of breath when she came back up, but I couldn't believe she'd done it!

My nephews have gone from not being able to swim at all to being able to swim well enough and be brave enough to jump off the diving board and swim to the side. My niece has started swimming around the shallow end, and even Lauren has started putting her head under water a bit more.

It's made a huge difference to us, and I'd love to get Jeff's brother & his wife a thank you present. I wanted to do it last year, too, but couldn't think of anything. Any suggestions for a pool-related thank you? I could always do flowers, but that's kind of uninspired.

P.S. I desperately want a digital camera that I can take in the pool.

Can't Believe It, Part Deux

I can't believe Project Runway last night. Oh, I can believe that Keith got booted off for having pattern books under his bed. He doesn't seem too interested in following rules in general. I'm also not suprised that he seems to have no real remorse or guilt about what he did, or that he considered himself a scapegoat. (insert derisive noise here) He was an ass, not a goat.

No, what I totally can't believe is Angela. That outfit was gorge (TM Michael Kors)! Understated and classy, and I give full credit for that to Michael & Laura. They even managed to make her stupid little doodads look cute and stylish. And the lining of the jacket was cute, too! Sadly, she gets the win instead of either of them getting credit. Angela was smart to listen to them and let them have so much input. I still can't stand her.

While I was raving about her last night, Jeff said, "How old are you again?"

Vacation Bible School