Trick AND Treat

Halloween night was a blast!

The kids were precious and had a ton of fun "Trick or treating".

And some friends came by to put on a Dead Parade and help me scare the pants off teens & adults! it was hilarious fun!

I think I can still hear the laughter & screaming.

I love Halloween!!

And Now for Something Completely Different...

Toff Pauper

That's my new site. Additional site, I should say. This will still remain my journalling blog, but I'm launching something for my outlets of saving money & beauty.

Check it out regularly, please. Leave feedback. Let me know if you share my love of all things beautiful AND affordable. I hope to have some money saving tips, tidbits, and recommendations there. And if you know of something worth sharing, please let me know!

Worthless

I interviewed for a job yesterday.
I felt the interview went really well.
I left just knowing I would be given a job offer.
It wasn't just one opening, it was many.
I already had plans and thoughts about working there.
I had NO doubt I would have a job today.

I was wrong.
I didn't get the job.
Apparently I am unmarketable.
I have to go cry now.

Heaven & Hell Halloween

This past Saturday was my annual Halloween bash. This year's theme was "Heaven & Hell" so I had to plan & decorate accordingly. Paul & I put some of our cake decorating training to use and each took on the task of a cake each.

My Hell cake was originally intended to be a 6 tier tower alternating red velvet & dark chocolate with chocolate truffle frosting in between. And it was. I just didn't reinforce it enough and as I was adding the fondant flames, it started to lean. So I laid it down an replanned the cake, so it ended up having the skull being sucked into the flames of hell rather than atop the tower. I sort of liked it better this way!

Paul took on the Heaven cake, making a white angel cake with traditional white buttercream ribboning, lattace work, lace, flowers, with classic columns. It was classically lovely and could easily have been someone's very traditional wedding cake.

And in true fashion our friends came decked out in their usual creative selves.

As Time Goes By

This made me smile today.

Successful Recipe o' the Day

My eldest loves when I make eggplant parmesean. I always feel like it just "ok", but tonight's dinner truly hit on the definition of SUCCESS! Even the hubby commented, "Wow, this could be from a good italian restaurant!" Believe me, he usually thinks dinner is fine, so to get this sort of response, I knew I'd done well.

To start, I purchased Italian eggplant from the local farmer's market last week. It has a thinner skin & less seeds. I then sliced it, and used a tip from the farmer to sprinkle salt over the slices and let sit in a colander for about 1/2 hour. It really pulled the moisture from the eggplant. I patted them dry before dredging them in egg & breadcrumbs (to which I'd added some dried garlic). I then put the sliced on a baking sheet & baked for about 20 minutes, making them crispy (and healthier than the typical pan fry method). Then I layered them in a casserole dish, alternating the eggplant, fresh spinach, mushrooms, fresh grated mozzerella, and sauce. Then baked at 425 degrees for about `15 minutes, and Voila! Served some garlic rolls & spaghetti noodles with it, and it was fantastic!

Yeah me!

The Green Eyed Monster

I'm finding myself awash with jealousy lately.
Jealous of friends who are taking wonderful trips.
Jealous of people on television who have jobs I want.
Jealous of the sheer joy I see in my children's eyes when all I'm feeling is down.

Today has been my attempt at a bit of joy. Halloween decorating!
So far, no alot has been accomplished short of a small graveyard out front.

Tonight is a job interview I'm hoping will turn into an offer for a company I really respect.

Trying to stay positive. So far, I'm just green.

Nice! Nice? Nice.

So, lately things have just been. Nothing too thrilling. Nice. Just nice.

I feel nothing on a daily basis other than jealousy or stress. Not so nice.

I'm desperate for change. In a good way. A nice way.

I need to figure out how to appreciate little things. Nice little things.

A blogger I read addresses them as "sparklies", as it was her way of dealing with the death of a daughter who adored all things sparkly, and as young kids do, she would be awed by little things that adults forget to appreciate.

I've always hated "nice". It's what you say when you have no better word to describe things.
Life is too nice.

New Look

Yep, time for a little something new.
Whatcha think?

Friends, Fall and Fun...Part 2

Well this weekend was another lovely autumn weekend (ok, so it was cold & misty all day Saturday, but it was a good day) with friends out at the Stronghold RenFaire in Oregon, IL. We always have low-key fun performing out there, and this year was no exception.

I played my new character, Mistress Dorothy Smith, and I have to say, I like her alot! She's friendly & fiesty. I created a "gossip rag" that most people really enjoyed and got a chuckle from. I think I would have felt more comfortable in her skin if that skin (the new costume) wasn't suddenly huge on me. I don't think I've lost weight, but it was ridiculous & looked that way, sadly. Oh well, I've rethought her & the costume, so I'm looking forward to that. It was good to have a character that didn't hate my husband's character, too! HAHA!

Saturday night was some awesome ghost hunting. Experiences that I can't possibly express here, but let's just say it wasn't like anything I've ever encountered before. It was GREAT!

Sunday was sunny & fun. Two very dear friends were engaged, and I get to help them in some of the planning. I'm SO happy for them! It was definately the perfect cap on a fun weekend!

Friends, Fall and Fun

This past weekend we visited friend in southwestern Michigan for a lovely autumn weekend away.

Friday the teenagers (they have 2, we have 1) babysat the toddlers (they have 1, we have 2) while the adults had a delicious dinner & movie night. Let me say, tableside guacamole can't be beat! The new version of "FAME" however left alot to be desired. I will say more about this later in another post.

Saturday we went out to Windmill Island in Holland. It was lovely, peaceful, and really did give you a sense of being in the Netherlands. The little boys needed to nap, so Kaitlyn & Alex stayed home while the rest of us wandered downtown Holland.

Sunday all of us headed out to a cider mill/orchards for typical Autumn day of apple picking, hayrides, raspberry picking, and general fun. It was a delightful day!

A Brick Wall

I do not know what to do with my teenage daughter anymore.
I love her, but I have so much anger toward her it takes all of my self-control and prayer to keep me from wanting to beat the crap out of her.
To the rest of the world she is sweet, kind, helpful.
To me she is rude, obnoxious, hateful, disobedient.
She won almost a full scholarship to her school (the best school around, I might add) because she scored higher than anyone else on her tests. She's been in the advanced gifted & talented programs since she was 4.
She's failing 2 classes, not because they are too hard, but because she's too lazy.
We've grounded her, taken away things, been nice, been angry, been rational...nothing matters to her. She's arrogant & pigheaded and if she doesn't want to do it, she won't. It doesn't matter to her that she is throwing away her whole future. She has the potential to be the #1 student in the school, and instead she's failing. By choice.
Last night was the last straw.
She called me an f-ing bitch all because we (God forbid) wanted her to shut up so Paul could help her with her math homework. (One of the classes she's failing.)
This escalated from there.
Today she started the morning with yet another fight.
I've called a child psychologist to please contact me.
I just don't know what to do anymore other than cry.
I do NOT want to ship her off to go live with her father, but part of me feels like maybe that's what she needs? I just don't know what to do anymore.

Are Yo-yos supposed to have Ups as well as Downs?

My life has been a broken Yo-Yo. All down, no up.
I'm seriously depressed, and I don't know what more to do. Not only am I getting NO bites on any resume'/applications I send, neither is Paul. He handles the bills, so I'm not asking, but I don't know how we're going to cover the mortgage, etc. this month. I'm sure there will be some creative juggling, but I'm just so angry that this is where things are right now.
Angry that, once again, I feel worthless & unmarketable.
Angry that I have to worry so much.
Angry that others get ridiculous amounts handed to them and they appreciate nothing.
We aren't bad people. We aren't uneducated or unexperienced. So why the hell are we the ones who must struggle so hard?

Creating Anew

So every year, after Bristol Renaissance Faire ends, everyone gets their things cleaned and packed away, and the lull of "real" life starts to set in...and then we get to do it all again for one short weekend! The Stronghold Faire happens the first weekend of October ONLY, and it's a great, low key, try something new opportunity. We all spend the night in the castle, go on hayrides, and take the shuttle into town where they have a big harvest festival going on. Last year I was able to go for a day. This year all of us (well, not the little ones) are going for the whole weekend and I'm giddy about it for some reason? Maybe it's because I'm trying on a new character to see how she fits?

SO, I sort of chose someone semi-randomly, and started some research. Turns out she's one of those women of the renaissance who actually have quite a bit written about her, and she's pretty darn interesting! So, I'm going through the process of making someone old, new. I'll let ya know more later!

A Mind Obsessed

I don't know what it is lately, but my brain is obsessed with Mackinac Island.

Every time I fall asleep, I dream about the island.

Every time my mind starts to drift, I envision being on the island.

I don't know if it's just that time of year, or if something in the cosmos is trying to tell me something, but I do know that I can't stop thinking about it. Remembering it. Wishing I was there. Feeling the need to go there.

But my bank account tells me a different story.

Why can't someone just magically show up on my door step with an all-expense paid trip to Mackinac?

*sigh*

I know, I'm nuts

A new costume & new character in development for the weekend.
Here is a pic of the mostl completed middle class costume for "Hilde von Thenard".

I've always wanted a teal & lime green dress!

Sweet 16 plans

So I introduced my daughter to the coolness that is Steampunk, and she's hooked.

Now she wants her Sweet 16 party to be a Steampunk theme.

As her birthday falls just before Christmas, and since she's due to be wit her dad for that holiday this year, we have decided the best time for her party is to be New Year's Eve. Cool, eh? Well, we are going to invite our friends too (so those of you who read this, this is your warning...start planning now!)

Yes, it will be a costume party. STEAMPUNK.

What is it? Well, it's this cool sci-fi/literary cross over phenomenon in which fashion is Victorian influenced, but futuristic, in that the world progressed via the steam engine, NOT electronically. Atoms weren't discoverd. Einstein's theory doesn't exist. You're familiar with it already, you just don't realize it. Think "Around the World in 80 Days" or even the movie "Wild Wild West" (Will Smith/Kevin Kline).

Is this yet another sign??

I have performed with renaissance faires for 18 years.

I have performed with the Bristol faire, specifically for 11 years.

I was with the Michigan faire for something like 12 years.

I saw Michigan, in my opinion, go into a downward spiral into nothing but fantasy with compete disregard to history. I believe the whole point of an event set in a specific time period is to present history. Entertain AND educate.

Now I'm seeing thing at Bristol that have me concerned of this same fate.

This photo is a friend of mine. She is THRILLED to be playing a role this season as a fairy, and for her I am also thrilled. She is loving it! and she deserves to feel this bliss.

I, however, loathe and detest the idea of fairies at a historical renaissance faire. I am willing to accept them, for the sake of little children, IN the children's area. I will NOT accept the "Barbarian" area that has arrived for people to hit each other with glorified "fun noodles". I will NOT accept the zombies visiting this weekend.

Today I received an email from my "historical guilde" director disregarding the historical facts.

Needless to say, I'm worried these are all signs of Bristol's own downward spiral.

Moving Forward, Letting Go

I've come to the realization recently that certain people just need to be cut from my life.
People whom I've tried to maintain as friends. People who I've attempted to respect.
But I just simply cannot any longer.
These few individuals have proven themselves immature and hateful on several occasions.

There is so much I could say. I choose not to only because it isn't worth it.

Some are Silver & the others Gold

This past weekend we had a dear old friend & her family come to visit. We had not seen each other in about 12 years, so it was wonderful to reconnect and have them here. They were WONDERFUL! All 3 of their kids are adorable & charming, she & her husband are as sweet & fun as I remembered...it was just a truly wonderful weekend! I think my son has a new best friend now in their 2 year old. They played SO well together! I only wish the weekend had been longer!

To top it off, I also had 2 other old friends from my MI clubbing days come up for the 4th! Robbie & Brad, Robbie's adorable new boyfriend, Jonathon, and Brad's friend, Aaron (whom I'd also not seen since my wedding) were just hilarious! Add to the mix our buddies, Misty & her whole family & Matt...it was just such an amazing weekend!

We also celebrated Darcy's first birthday! She was a trooper! Happy Birthday Little Princess!!! Love you!

Freedom & Liberty

As I furiously work to get my house spotless for much anticipated guests coming to visit for the 4th of July (YEAH!!) I would like to state that I see the day as the day we're celebrating my daughter's first birthday. I am NOT much of a patriot, pure & simple. (Given my choice, I'd be living back in England.) I respect this country. I respect our new president and get very angry when everyone keeps blaming him for things that aren't his fault (hello, he's only been in office a few months! This mess is the onslaught of our former Chief's stupidity!) And I also believe that the majority of Americans are self-centered, insular, spoiled brats. (Not saying I think any other mass of peoples in the world don't have their faults, I'm only speaking of the country in which I reside.) Anyway...in preparation of the 4th, I'm doing a "rerun" of a post I wrote this time in 2006.


Thanks to the Rest o'the World
Today Americans celebrate the 4th of July...America's Independence Day. I know there are going to be blogs everywhere extoling the virtues of the United States, so I wanted to do something a little bit different. I want to recognize that many of the symbols we associate with our "freedom", actually come via other countries. Or the facts we know may be just a little bit squewed. I'm not trying to incite a riot or upset any patriots...I just want to look at things from a slightly different point of view.

First, let's begin with the day itself. Why do we celebrate today? I think most people will answer "Because its the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!" Wrong! It was the day it was adopted by the 2nd Congress. It was read on the 9th, when it was approved by the 13 colonies, officially created on the 19th, but it didn't actually get signed until August 2nd!

Betsy Ross created the original American flag, right? Wrong! The flag that was created to represent the new country was created before the Revolutionary War by Rebecca Young. It was the flag General Washington raised on New Year's Day 1776. It was also our official flag on July 4, 1776. Now, did Betsy Ross actually make our flag? Well, she was a flagmaker, and made flags for almost 50 years, which is where her notoriety comes from. The "Stars & Stripes" flag (originally with 13 stripes & 13 stars) however, was created by Mary Pickersgill in 1813. It was the flag that was flying over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 that was seen "by the dawn's early light" by Francis Scott Key.

Speaking of Mr. Key, the author of our American anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner", he was witness to the 25 hour retaliation attack of the British against the Americans at the fort during the War of 1812. Indeed, the in morning when the British ceased fire, the flag was still flying. He felt inspired and wrote the poem "The Battle of Fort McHenry". It was soon published in many places, and someone came up with the idea to sing it. However, the music ironically, is a popular English drinking song "To Anacreon in Heaven". It wasn't officially made our national anthem until 1931.

That same night's non-stop cannon & gunfire by the Brits is also the reason we celebrate with fireworks.

And let's not forgot that the quintessential figure of freedom, the Statue of Liberty, was a gift from the French in October 1886.

So today let's not be so ego-centric as to believe that we wouldn't have our freedoms of liberty, or the symbols of that, without the rest of the world.

In Bloom

Why am I a full week behind on posting anything? Ugh...life.

Ok, this is just a photo-filled post of pics I took last week at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Enjoy...let me know what is your favourite!

The exhibit for Muggles

A couple of weeks ago we headed down to Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry before the kidlet left for MI for the summer to see the Harry Potter exhibit. It was amazing! (and I can't believe it has taken me weeks to write about it!)

The exhibit had lots of costumes, props & set pieces from all of the movies. They did an amazing job of making you feel like you were moving through parts of Hogwarts, not just looking at props. I enjoyed seeing some of my favourite character's costumes up close. The details are incredible! My personal favourites...Snape and Gilderoy Lockhart. (That's the kidlet with the Ford Anglia Ron & Harry fly to Hogwarts.)

I can't recommend the exhibit enough, go my Muggle friends & enjoy the magic!

2 weeks

So this morning I received news that I have been given 2 weeks notice of my indefinate layoff.
Not only do I lose my job, but the ENTIRE parks & rec department is shutting down...which means no more classes, park shelter rentals or maintenance for the parks...which means the public is going to be VERY unhappy by the end of summer!

It sucks.

I hate that, once again, I'm back job hunting. That it seems like every company I work for bottoms up. I hate that I feel like I have this curse on me.

Where I'll be this weekend...

Oh Yeah!

Can't wait!

All of THE best coasters with my bestest friends!

Endless fun!

Family Vacations

So we've been talking for awhile now about taking a family vacation this summer. We set our sights on Colonial Williamsburg. It has all those elements we love...history, culture, shopping, places for the kids, etc. Then hubby sets the financial limits & presents the challenge to me to figure out how to make it happen. Well, I'm a research monkey and LOVE a good challenge! So, I did it! I made a roadtrip out to Virginia fit within our time frame, our budget, even a way to see a few very good friends along the way! Everything!

And then his hours were cut back, and mine were cut even more.

Now our wonderful family vacation has been eliminated. Erased. No more.
I'm REALLY sad about it. Instead we are limited to the backyard. Perhaps a day here & there at one of the Chicago museums (since we get in free anyway).

If only my hours would increase again or another good job came along...but in this economy we all know how likely that is.

Thank you for your suggestions of places to go, though! Mackinac Island is wonderful, but the height of the season at the beginning of August. And we've been to Galena, IL several times. It's positively wonderful & a special place for us...without the kids.

Keep making suggestions! Perhaps something will fit into our even more limited budget yet?!?!

Sorry about the Delay

...but I'm sick. Very sick. Icky, hacky coughy, snotty, body achey sick.
I haven't the energy to make the time to attempt something clever & witty or profound.

When I'm lying in my sickness I have been trying to think about where to take a good family roadtrip this August. I'd be eternally grateful for any suggestions. The requirements are: we must be able to drive there from Wisconsin, we will be travelling with 2 toddlers & one teenagers, and we love historical sites.

Please inspire me to get out of my fevered blandness. Thanks.

The End of the Line

Seven-tenths of the world is ocean and the people of the world is quickly depleating the oceans of its wildlife. We must put an end to the mass fishing of non-sustainable fish, and use non-regulated fishing practices that kills other marine animals like turtles, sharks, and even seabirds. Never mind the illegal fishing that profit from over $9 billion/year. The United States & Britain, among other nations, have seen an increase in the "Green movement" and yet people tend to overlook that taking care of the planet includes the oceans & seas. We forget that these waters are also our to maintain, protect, and sustain.
How?
By eating only sustainable seafood. (You can find what qualifies in that handy widget below.)
By helping politicians understand there needs to be protected areas where fishing is illegal.
By getting the word out! There is a great new book & film "The End of the Line" that will tell you more.
Please?

The Kidlet Goes to her 1st Prom

My lovely daughter is 15 & a freshman at St. Catherine's High School. I can't believe she is growning up so quickly! This weekend was went to Prom (with a senior, no less!) and her best friend, Jazz, was set up with another senior boy. (She lives in another town, so this was REALLY a treat for the two of them to be able to go together! It probably won't happen when they are seniors, after all!) My little girls...so grown up!

Now, Prom is always a big deal, but here in Racine it is an even bigger deal. You see, ALL of the high schools have prom on the same night. The kids go to dinner (mine went to Shogun, the Japanese restaurant in town), then to their respective schools (most for the crowing of the Prom Kings & Queens), and then at a set time, each school arrives down at the Lake Michigan-front convention center for the Post-Prom (which really is the main event).

There are camera crews filming it all (so we can sit at home & watch them live!), news crews, it was even hosted this year by some VH1 celebrity! There are bleachers set up for people who want to see it up close & personal & cheer all the kids. And the kids typically try to out do each other with the sort of vehicle they arrive in. In the past there have been army tanks, vintage firetrucks, even an elephant! This year there were alot of Hummer stretch limos, various kinds of buses, and even a yacht! (My kids took a 'traditional' limo.) My personal favourite this year, however, was the couple who came in the Stormtrooper SUV -- driven by a stormtrooper, with 2 more hanging off the sides, AND Darth Vader walking in front! Brilliant! Inside the Post Prom they had 3 different DJs for dancing, an inflatable labryinth, American Gladiator-style "jousting", Guitar Hero on giant wall TVs, karaoke, and more!

Then they spent Sunday together at Gurnee Mills mall, where they could eat at Rainforest Cafe', play lazer tag, ice skate, etc. She's growing up but what a great weekend!

Growing Up

This seems to be the week for my children to move onto a new stage in their lives all at once.

Little Miss not only learned to crawl forward last week, but this week she quickly moved onto pulling herself up on the furniture. AND she said her first word. Papa. She says it anytime my hubby walks into the room. (Yes, the kids call their rather papa rather than daddy. It was something he wanted, even though it 'traditionally' is used for grandfathers.)

Bug has been adding more & more words to his vocabulary every day, but his big development was the moved to a Big Boy Bed. No more crib for him! We transititioned it, and so far he hasn't gotten out of it even once!

Kidlet has Prom tomorrow. Yes, as a freshman she was asked by a senior friend to go with him. As it turned out, another friend didn't have a date, so she set him up with her best friend, Jazz (who lives in another town, actually) so both of the girls are going! It's been exciting doing all the prep with her, and I know she is going to look beautiful tomorrow as she leaves in the limosine with 5 of her friends to the "event of the year". (Which, in our city is REALLY the event...they even made a movie about Racine's Prom!)

And so they grow. And yet, I am the one who feels each step of their aging.

Tip o'the Day

Don't my eyebrows look fabulous?

Kidlet & I had our eyebrows cleaned up at this place at the mall via Brow Threading. What is brow threading? You can learn more here, but basically the lady takes length of string & plucks your brows. It does sting a big, but no more than plucking or waxing. And it's quick (about 5 minutes), inexpensive ($10), and our brows look positively fantastic!

If only the rest of me could be made to look that great that fast...sigh.

Here are a few random shots I took of all the gorgeous flowers in bloom around our house. Keep in mind, Dutch hubby o' mine wants fields of tulips, but so far these are some of what we have. I keep hoping for a wall of lilacs, myself.

I'm a better mom now

For Mother's Day my husband talked to my friend, Misty's husband, and the two of them sent the two of us away overnight on Saturday to the charming Victorian Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast. We were pampered in our room, appropriate named "Serenity Cove". The two twin,canopied beds with feather beds on top, made us feel extra girly & cozy. We had cocktails, gave ourselves facials, Satin Hands and feet. No distrupted sleep. No crying babies. No diapers. No argumentative teen. Just quiet & girl talk. Sunday we were treated to the b&b owner's specialty "Creme Brulee' French Toast"...complete with candlelight...in the lovely dining room. But we had to go, so we headed to an antique mall (well, it had 5 giant malls in it. We didn't make it to all of them!) We then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Long Grove, IL, a charming old-fashioned looking town with lots of modern shopping. I came home with a new glass bead bracelet, a bottle of Chocolate wine (yes, you read correctly. It's chocolate & red wine...and positively delicious!), and some of my favourite British treats (Yorkie bars, bridies, HP, cury chip sauce, etc.)
My husband earned BIG brownie points. He listened.

Elizabethan Gardens - Dudley Did Right

Robert Dudley,Earl of Leicester created a garden at Kenilworth in one of his many attempts to woo Queen Elizabeth I. They have now been able to recreate the garden, fountains & statuary to EXACT replicas. It's really pretty amazing, and needless to say, I desperately want to wander the gardens in my Elizabethan clothing with a gaggle of friends!

The wave subsides

Well, my anger has subsided, and I am actually grateful that my husband, though a brat many times, does actually listen. I'm being treated to a delightful Mother's Day gift (which I cannot reveal just yet)!

Now, if only the teenager would listen so well.

Boys are Dumb

Today I'm angry. I know, it seems to be my constant state this week. My anger today is directed at my eldest daughter who is failing a class. This is the girl who won scholarships based on having the highest scores of everyone in her class. She has all As in every other class. But she doesn't care about math & therefore is failing Geometry. I want to actually ring her lying, mouthy neck. I'm so freakin' fed up!
The other source of my anger today is my husband. The selfish man whom I married. Why oh why are ALL of them are selfish little boys who put themselves first? Why dont' they get that we moms & wives sacrifices ourselves constantly & they just do whatever they want, whetheror not it means WE get sleep, credit, stay healthy or have a braincell of any use left in our stressed out heads?
I hate them all today.

Bottom of the Barrel

Well, it's happened. My employers have cut my hours back to 10 per week. I'm so upset! My family can't afford for me to bring in that little amount. It's infuriating.
On the job hunt.

Those Old Crazy Days

I'm heading down to Chicago in about an hour to spend the day with a dear old friend who now lives in NYC and whom I haven't tseen in years. We used to perform together at the Michigan Renaissance Festival ("back in the day") and had some wonderful crazy times together. Sarah is the sort of person who could seriously intimidate if she really wanted to...she has piercings & tattoos all over and doesn't take crap from anyone. But, in reality, she is one of the sweetest, kindest people you'd ever want as a friend. She used to take the Kidlet to the Detroit Zoo when she was little, after all. But now she lived in NYC, works on the set of "Ugly Betty", and we haven't hung out in years. I worry that I'm going to come across as dull. That in the years of motherhood & wifedom I've become boring (something I've lamented about myself recently). I don't feel I've gotten old (though the Big 4-0 has recently become a reality) but rather, just much, much, much less talkative, fun & generally interesting...especially to my NYC, celebrity elbow-rubbing friend.