Goodbye, Mom... I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

My mom passed away on Wednesday, and I'd like to take this Music Monday post to say goodbye. She would have been 85 years old next month, and had a very full life... most importantly including love and involvement with our family and her wonderful neighbors. I admire those who are able to speak at their loved ones' memorial services and suspect I will not be one of them. I break down every time someone says something kind to me about my mom, and I won't be able to speak the words that I would say. We're having my mom's memorial service next Sunday, and in the meantime, we've been doing what I know my mom would want us to do: celebrating her life instead of mourning her death. We had our seventh annual Roxiticus Sunset party on Friday night, and while it may have seemed a bit unconventional, it felt so right to be surrounded by our closest friends. On Saturday, London and Maddie had their dance recital at Garden State Ballet, and I knew my mom was watching over them and would have been so proud to see them dance.



I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday for My Mom: Amazing Grace by Leann Rimes

My mom has been moved from intensive care to the hospice floor of Somerset Medical Center and seems to be nearing the end of her almost 85-year-old life (though apparently this morning she has rallied and was up eating breakfast?!). I spent the day with her in the ICU yesterday, holding her hand while she talked to Jesus and the angels. Just before I headed home, my mom suddenly launched into song... even in her confusion, she remembers her scriptures and she knew all the words to Amazing Grace. So this one's for you, Mom... I love you.



Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Peanut Butter's Progress

Hard to believe it's been three weeks since we drove up to Mulberry Farm in Duchess County, New York to bring home our beloved cockapoo puppy, Peanut Butter. You can see from the photos that little Peanut Butter has settled right in with our family. As I write this post, Rex is out in the garden, London is on the couch recovering from a sleepover party, and Peanut Butter and Maddie are cuddled up for a nap.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing, but lucky for us, we've had our own personal PuppyNanny911, Justine Schuurmans of The Family Dog, to guide us through the challenges of housebreaking, as well as to help all of us to have some fun in the puppy and family training process.

Continue reading...

Hungry for a Pizza

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's a good thing I have Rex to cook for me... when I'm hard at work and/or stressed out (and I was a lot of both this past week), I don't take care of myself... not getting enough rest, foregoing a workout, and worst of all, flat out forgetting to eat. Even worse, on Friday I had a five hour meeting in Philadelphia and our client forgot to order our "working lunch." Five hours on peanut butter filled pretzels! I almost passed out before the parties could even get close to shaking hands on an agreement. Tonight, Rex is hard at work in the kitchen, whipping up his special four cheese macaroni and cheese with the crunchy bottom and sides. Unfortunately, it's gotten so late in the evening (she gets waaay too hungry for dinner at eight, never mind 8:30pm) that I have visions of the new Freschetta FlatBread pizza flashing before my eyes (and tongue). All four flavors sound awesome to me: Zesty Italian, Roasted Garlic and Spinach, Pepperoni or Five Cheese. I'd have one of each right now if I could.

While I wait for Rex to serve tonight's dinner, I'm going to go to Freschetta FlatBread online to get a coupon for $1 off... that way, I'll be ready with plenty of choices for lunch this week and will pop one in the oven each day instead of just wishing for one. But don't let Roxy have all the fun... you can get a $1 coupon, too, and check out Freschetta Flatbread Pizza for yourself.

Roxy's Best Of... Books: Steig Larsson Trilogy

I have to confess, I'm addicted to Steig Larsson. I bought The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo paperback at the Mendham Township Elementary School Book Fair back in March, and once I started reading it in May I couldn't stop. As soon as I finished, I zoomed out to the Mendham Bookstore to buy the Girl Who Played with Fire, and learned that the third and final novel in the trilogy -- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest -- was due out at the end of May. Somehow I made a mistake and never ordered it online, so when I saw it today (again at the Mendham Bookstore), I grabbed it and ran (well, I did stop to pay for it and to buy four other books that I couldn't resist). Now, this weekend I have more than my share of work (good news on an important investment banking transaction), family and puppy time, and stress (my mom is in rehab for a terrible fall and is headed to a nursing home, never to return to her home), but I have a feeling that tonight's gonna be a reading night... what will become of our heroine, Lisbeth Salander??The problem is, once I finish the trilogy, there isn't anymore... Steig Larsson is dead.

Wish I Still Had My iPhone

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been known to mock the "very very busy" executives who have meetings and phone calls scheduled every fifteen minutes with "hard stops" that prevent meetings from running over into the next quarter hour...these royal figures frequently have more than one personal human assistant (the ruder the better), and they always carry two or more cell phones or personal digital assistants. I mock them. I do. So when Rex and I joined another investment banking firm that wouldn't support my iPhone, I gave it up and accepted The Firm's Blackberry instead of having my servants trail behind me arranging my important meetings and carrying multiple devices to coordinate my emails and phone calls while I played touch screen games on my personal iPhone.

However, I do miss my iPhone apps.... my stock market widget, the weather at my fingertips for home and multiple desirable locations, and all the new apps that are introduced for the iPhone every day. For example: WeReward.com is a new mobile application from IZEA, the company behind SocialSpark and Sponsored Tweets. If I still had my iPhone, I could be making money while I'm mobile. WeReward pays you for check ins and tasks you complete in the real world. It integrates with Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, so you can still share and get your badges and the way you always have.

If you have an iPhone, go ahead and Download the App. If not, check out the following video with me to find out what we're missing:

Music Monday Tribute to the 2010 Mendham Minor League Softball Champion Yankees: "Time of My Life"

This week's Music Monday post is dedicated to the 2010 Mendham Minor League Softball Champion Yankees, who, thanks to our Coach of the Year Michael Surella, came together as a team over the spring softball season. Win or lose, the Yankees had become champions in our eyes, but on Saturday, June 5th, London's Yankee team rallied against the Phillies in the sixth inning to win the official minor league softball championship.

On Sunday night, we all came out to Dante's for the Yankees award ceremony and honored each Golden Glove award winner on the team... including a Rookie of the Year trophy for Maddie, who was "called up from Scranton" whenever the Yankees didn't have enough players.

Thanks, Coach, and thanks, girls... this season, Rex and I had the time of our lives... and we owe it all to you!


Dirty Dancing, The Time Of My Life



Tracey MySpace Video

Boy: Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

Girl: 'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you

Boy: I've been waiting for so long
Now I've finally found someone
To stand by me

Girl: We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy

Both: Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each other's hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency

Boy: just remember

Girl: You're the one thing

Boy: I can't get enough of

Girl: So I'll tell you something

Both:This could be love because

(CHORUS)
Both: I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
'Til I found the truth
And I owe it all to you

Girl: With my body and soul
I want you more than you'll ever know

Boy: So we'll just let it go
Don't be afraid to lose control

Girl: Yes I know whats on your mind
When you say:
"Stay with me tonight."

Boy: Just remember
You're the one thing

Girl: I can't get enough of

Boy: So I'll tell you something

Both: This could be love because

(CHORUS)
Both: 'Cause I had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
Till I found the truth
and I owe it all to you

*Instrumental*

Boy: Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before

(Girl: Never Felt this way)

Boy: Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

Both: 'Cause I had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
Till I've found the truth
and I owe it all to you

Both: "cause I've had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.



PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Peanut Butter Comes Home

Sunday was the big day... we went up to Mulberry Farm to bring home our cockapoo puppy, Peanut Butter. Maddie and London are over the moon... Maddie keeps pinching herself to see if she's dreaming, and London has mastered the soothing puppy massage that puts Peanut Butter right to sleep. Now I just have to pick out a Puppy Training Package from The Family Dog, and convince the girls that they still need to go to school for the rest of the school year instead of staying home all day with their new puppy.




There's a food goin' around
That's a sticky, sticky, goo
(Peanut, peanut butter)
A-well, it tastes real good
But it's so hard to chew
(Peanut, peanut butter)

All my friends tell me
That they dig it the mo-ho-ost
(Peanut, peanut butter)
Early in the morning
When they spread it on to-oh-oast
(Peanut, peanut butter)

I like peanut butter
Creamy, peanut butter,
Chunky, peanut butter, too

'Come on now, take a lesson, now!'
(Peanut, peanut butter)

'Open up your jaw, now!'
(Peanut, peanut butter)

'Spread it on your cracker, now!'
(Peanut, peanut butter)

'Stop, now'
(Peanut, peanut butter)

I like peanut butter
Creamy, peanut butter,
Chunky, peanut butter, too

We-eee-ell
I went to a dinner
And-a what did they e-e-eat?
(Peanut, peanut butter)
A-well, I took a big bite
And it stuck to my te-e-eeth
(Peanut, peanut butter)

Now, ev'rybody looks
A-like they've got the mumps
(He loves peanut butter)
Eat his peanut butter
In-a great big hunk
(He loves peanut butter)

I like peanut butter
Creamy, peanut butter
Chunky, peanut butter, too

I like peanut butter
Creamy, peanut butter
Chunky, peanut butter, too.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Cheerio…

London and Maddie Had Great Fun at the Lemon Ball Tonight!

It seemed like every girl and boy in the second, third or fourth grade at Mendham Township Elementary School had big plans tonight... singing, dancing, and eating Rita's Italian Ice at the second annual Lemon Ball fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand (a children's cancer charity), organized by the MTES Tiger Leaders. Both London and Maddie had pre-event parties to get dressed up and ready with their friends, and Rex and I hung out with a bunch of moms and captured the moments on camera.

After driving our girls home and hearing about their favorite songs, dances, and games, we had a surprise for them. I asked London and Maddie what they might do differently if we were not just visiting our cockapoo puppy at Mulberry Farm on Sunday, but bringing Peanut Butter home to live with us. Our house erupted with screams and squeals of delight, and then the girls had to call all of their friends and squeal some more. This is going to be one amazing weekend.

Butt Paste!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

London and Maddie are far too old to need Boudreaux's Butt Paste but, like their mom, they love the name and get a little silly repeating it over and over. This evening, as Maddie and her second grade friends were getting ready for the Mendham Township Elementary School, a few of us moms (and Rex) got together to capture the moments on camera. One of the moms, who has a second grader and a kindergartner, is due with her third daughter in July. We talked about the differences (pros and cons) between siblings who are close in age (like London and Maddie, only thirteen months apart), the standard three years apart, or those who are five or more years apart.

Then the conversation turned to how the expectant mom's life would change in a couple of months. She's feeling terrific and confident, and believes that once she gets past the summer and her older girls are back to school, it will feel like raising an only child. Those of us who have decided that "two is the perfect number" had to laugh, thinking back to the days of breast feeding, teething, and changing diapers. Someone made the mistake of mentioning Boudreaux's Butt Paste® a little too loud, and we had a bunch of giggling, chanting second grade girls on our hands. Our kids don't remember how diaper rash ointment and skin protectant helped to prevent diaper rash, protected their chafed baby bottoms, and sealed out wetness until they learned to use the big girl potty. Boudreaux's Butt Paste® (chuckle, hoot, hoot) spreads on easily, cleans off quickly, and has a nice scent (more giggles).

Our oh-so-grown-up daughters were off to dance to Lady Gaga at the Lemon Ball, and at least one mom was going online to get her very own free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste at http://www.blairex.com/BLButtPaste.php. Available in convenient foil pack, 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, 4 oz tubes and the big old 16 ounce jar. Pick it up in drug, discount or grocery store chains nationwide.

Big Surprise In Store for Maddie and London This Weekend: We Need Puppy Nanny 911!!

My loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Roxy's Best Of... readers know that we've been planning to add a cockapoo puppy to our family this summer. We originally thought that our puppy would come from a cocker spaniel mom due in the first week of May, and we've been planning to bring our eight-week-old puppy home from the breeder in early July. Right now, it feels like I'm about seven months pregnant, getting ready for the new baby and working hard to finish things up at the office ahead of maternity leave in a couple of months. Maddie has been planning for months, doing research and learning how to take some of the responsibility for training and grooming our new arrival. I'm a long-term planner, so I've been reading and studying: "Puppies For Dummies" as well as the Dog Whisperer's "How to Raise the Perfect Dog" by Cesar Millan. I also ordered his six DVD Boxed Set as "a present for Maddie." But who am I trying to kid? I can't stay focused on work and I become easily distracted by making plans for puppy. I've been ordering a few key items online and visiting Petco with Rex and the girls from time to time.

We've been planning to make the trip to Pleasant Valley, New York to visit the new cockapoo puppies at Mulberry Farm this weekend. Now here's the big surprise...

Continue reading...

Open Registration for Fall Session at Randolph Gymnastics

Even though our family has been highly focused on London and Maddie's softball games with the Yankees and Mets this season, our daughters' thoughts are never far away from the good times they've had over the years at Randolph Gymnastics. I just received an email reminding me that it is almost time to sign up for the Fall Session, which runs from August 30th through November 13th. Randolph Gymnastics will be holding open registration for Fall classes on Saturday, June 5th. Parents and children are welcome to come in, meet your child's instructor, and play for an hour. Here's the schedule for Saturday, June 5th:

• 18 months to 5 years old (not in Kindergarten): 1:00 - 2:00pm
• 5-year-olds to 8-year-olds (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced): 2:00pm - 3:00pm
• 9-year-olds and up (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced): 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Boys, girls, tumblers and gymnasts are welcome.

While you're there, pay in full and save 10% on Fall classes.

Call Randolph Gymnastics at (973) 584-4111 to learn more about summer camp, group classes, private lessons or birthday parties. If you let Shannon know that Roxy sent you, she’ll arrange for an age and skill appropriate free trial class for your child.

Escape

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you need to escape? Do you need ice cream? Do you need to escape with ice cream? Well, in that case, Roxy's found the contest for you... Dove Ice Cream Miniatures has launched the “My Mini Moment” contest. DOVE® Ice Cream is asking women to share our favorite mini moments of escape. Hmm... just tonight, I told a client who had double-booked and realized he had other plans for the weekend after inviting us over for Sunday brunch that it won't be the first time we've been skinny dipping in someone's pool when the owner wasn't home... but I'm sure some of my naughty readers can top my mini-moment with an escape of their own. Contestants need to submit a photo and short essay at Dove Ice Cream's "My Mini Moment" contest by June 7, 2010. One lucky winner could win one of three (3) sensational mini-grand prizes: a mini-home makeover, a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, or spa services for one year. When I win the Mini Moment contest, I think Rex and I will head off to Napa Valley for a little wine tasting, relaxation, and the kind of activities that haven't been quite the same over the past nine years since we've had children.

In the meantime, I think I'll escape right here at home in the Roxiticus Valley with a little "me time" involving decadent dark chocolate and ice cream. At only 70 calories each, DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures feature luxuriously indulgent ice cream wrapped in real Dove chocolate making each one of them the perfect treat....like the new Café Collection which features Java Chip and Cappuccino Flavors.

Music Monday: 8th Wonder by the Sugarhill Gang

I don't know what got me thinking back to my high school days, but this week I was kickin' it old school with the Sugarhill Gang and decided to make Eighth Wonder my Music Monday pick:





[Big Bank Hank]
Clap your hands everybody
And everybody just clap your hands
Ahh fly girls, clap your hands
Ahh fly guys, clap your hands

[Master G] Well if you're feeling alright and you think you're on
[Wonder Mike] Ah-somebody let me know
[Big Bank Hank] Well everybody in the place, put a whistle in your face
[all three] Scream it out and say *whistle* yooooo, hit it!

[Wonder Mike]
You don't stop
A-rock the rhythm that makes your finger pop
I said ah, hip-hop, ah thanks a lot
Ah c'mon everybody gimme whatcha got

[Master G]
I'm gonna tell you a little story about the Sugarhill Gang
[all three] With the pow pow boogie and a big bang bang
And if you wanna rap to the Sugarhill to the beat

[all three]
Gotta rap in the key of R-A-P
Now that is over I'm ready to jam
Want all you people, to clap your hands
Tonight we're gon-na, scream and shout
We're gonna turn this motha -- sucka out
To all of you people that are ready to jam
Scream it out and say, I am! (I AM!)
Some-body! (SOME-BODY!) Now you know you're hot

[Master G]
Ah see I met this girl and I said to her, "Honey
if you wanna be my baby you got ta gimme money!"
Turned around, didn't mean no harm
I knocked her out, with my vicious charm
I said, "No no baby it's not like that
Ya see I'm all about makin that cold cold cash"
Started jivin around, started messin wit her head
And next thing I know, she wanted to go to *whistle*
But to turn me on, you got to be the best
Cause I'm the Master G, I don't take no mess
Like T-N-T, I'm dynamite
Ya see I rock your body to the early light
And when you wake up in the morning you'll see I'm gone
And check it out girl, you're all alone
Cause you just been hit by the Capricorn King
I rocked you gentle, I rocked you/me
I rocked you in and I rocked you out
You made me scream but I made you shout *whistle*

[Wonder Mike]
Go dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy
Dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy

[Big Bank Hank]
See it's up my back, it's around my neck
Woo-HAH! Got them all in check
See it's up my back, it's around my neck
Woo-HAH! Got them all in check

[all three]
Ah let's scream, and let's shout
And let's turn this function out
and keep keep it on, but you don't rush
Ah let's make this party the real Cold Crush
Let's scream, and let's shout
Ah let's turn this function out
and keep keep it on, but you don't quit
Let's make the party the sure *whistle*

[Wonder Mike]
Once upon a time not long ago
everybody had on their radio
And then the fella came on with a groovy noise
to put the wiggle in the women and girls and boys
The word got around about three cool cats
who put the ?foot?, BACK, in the pack
And let me tell you party people just who we be
With the help of Big Bank and the Master G

*Interlude*

[Master G] So get up
[Big Bank Hank] Throwdown
[Wonder Mike] We're funkward bound
[all three] Hey the Sugarhill Gang is in your town
[Big Bank Hank] Now baby doll
[Wonder Mike] And all you daddy-o's
[all three] You better get ready to move your toes
[Master G] So get up
[Big Bank Hank] Throwdown
[Wonder Mike] We're funkward bound
[all three] Hey the Sugarhill Gang is in your town
[Big Bank Hank] Now baby doll
[Wonder Mike] And all you daddy-o's
[all three] Scream it out and say yoooo, hit it!

Shake it, but don't break it
Cause I know we can make make it
And if you're ready to party and you're dressed to kill
Somebody say, Sugarhill! (SUGARHILL!)
Sugarhill! (SUGARHILL!)

[Wonder Mike]
Ahh ahh, and let your worries take a chill pill
You go ahh, ahh, ah ahh oh ooh

[Big Bank Hank]
Chicka-pow!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-haa -- hoo hoo!
(Hey could somebody turn their ?butt?)
Shake your body down, chicka-pow!
A get, a get, a get ready
What you see is what you get
And you ain't seen nothin yet
I don't think I'm bad don't box in no karate
Just an MC to put the boogie in your body
go, back and forth then forth and back
We're the Sugarhill Gang we take no slack
Don't wear diamond rings or drive big cars
But the people just treat us like movie stars

[Master G]
We go dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy
Dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy
Dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy
Dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy

[Big Bank Hank]
It's up my back, it's around my neck
Woo-HAH! Got them all in check
See it's up my back, it's around my neck
Woo-HAH! Got them all in check

[all three]
Ah let's scream, ah let's shout
Ah let's turn this function out
and keep keep it on, but you don't rush
Let's make this party the real Cold Crush
Let's scream, ah let's shout
Ah let's turn this function out
and keep keep it on, but you don't quit
Ah let's make this party the sure *whistle*

[Master G]
Well I'm the Master G, and I'm the best
All the ladies say my voice is rated X
I'm a touch of lightning, a taste of fire
Well I'm the Master G, and I'm your desire
Young ladies, I said I rock the nation
Cause I got my own, transportation
I can rock just about, any age
So let your fingers do the walkin through the yellow page

*Interlude*

[all three]
Shake it, ah don't break it
Cause I know we can make make make it

[Wonder Mike]
You go ah, ahh, ah ah oh ooh
And if you're ready to party and you're ready to jam
Scream it out and say, I am! (I AM!)
Some-body! (SOME-BODY!) Now you know you're hot
You go ah, ahh, ah ah oh ooh

(Say what?)

[various]
Shake your body down! Chicka-pow!
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ooooaaah ooooaaah! Ah huh hah hah!
*wolf whistle*
I see you girl, c'mon wit it now
I want to rock your world
Get it, so get get it, get ready for this
C'mon!
Closer closer, ooooaaah ooooaaah!
All the girls
Aight baby I like to move it mama ahhahaha
A-hah-hah-hah-haa
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrah!
C'mon, yeah, closer
Wooo-hah! See that girl there?
To the beat beat beat
*whistle* Ah hah hah *wolf whistle*
Chicka-pow, ah huh huh huh huh huh, rrrrh, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrah!
There you go, hah hah hah!
Ahh, ahh girl, yeah baby
To rock your world, ooooaaah, ooooaaah
Pick it up, bring it up get down
Hoo, hah, hoo, hah
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrah!
They definitely gotta be groovin now
Aight baby I like to move it mama ahhahaha
Say say say, ha ha
Say the bass was in your face
The hah's make you, made you rock
'ello m'love can I have this dance y'know?
Ahahahah-ha-hah
We got the groove to make you move
Oh me like it so, me like it so
Sugarhill Sugarhill
And you know that!
Everywhere
*wolf whistle*
Shake it up, shake it up

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Roxy to Chaperone Maddie's Fossil Hunting Field Trip

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Lunchables. All opinions are 100% mine.

Now that I'm a mom instead of a student, late spring is my favorite part of the school year, particularly all of the great outdoor field trips. I've chaperoned London and Maddie's first grade trips to the Bronx Zoo, and this year I'm going along with Maddie's second grade class to hunt fossils. I'm still hoping to be in the running for the last chaperone picked for London's third grade Quest trip to the Gazillion Bubbles show in New York City.

Hands-on experiences like field trips can help engage children in learning that can open their eyes to the world beyond the classroom. As I've mentioned before, the kids of Mendham Township Elementary and Middle Schools are very lucky that our school district budget passed this year. A 2009 report from the American Association of School Administrators estimates that over the course of the current school year, the number of school districts eliminating field trips will increase by 56 percent. That’s more than 30,000 schools around the country. Because of these cutbacks, Lunchables Lunch Combinations wants to help deserving kids to go on an inspiring, educational experience with the launch of the program, “Field Trips For All.”

Field Trips For All is the first effort from the Lunchables Team’s new initiative called Project Potential. Aimed at empowering kids with opportunities to help them reach their full potential, Project Potential will provide enriching experiences kids might otherwise not have. London, Maddie, my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers, or anyone six (6) years of age or older can nominate a deserving classroom by clicking on one of the links in this post. From all nominations received, the Lunchables Team will select fifty (50) different classrooms to go on an inspiring, educational field trip experience. So be sure to nominate your kids' class or someone you feel deserves a special field trip. Spread the word about the contest, and if you leave a comment in this post, we'll be rooting for you to win. In the meantime, click the video below to go on your very own "Alien Field Trip":

Do You Remember When We Were Under There?

That's Maddie and London's latest eight and nine-year-old girl trick... I've taken to responding by shouting out, "Underwear? Underwear!!" including an occasional flash of lingerie.

I'm reading Anna Quindlen's latest novel, Every Last One, where her narrator is a mom of teenagers, and she writes about them just the way I'd write about my family if I were more talented.

We had a terrific time at the Taylor Swift show at the Rock after dinner (clams in mohle verde -- green sauce) at Adega Grill in Newark, NJ last night. I had planned to let the girls sleep late this morning, but they couldn't wait to jump out of bed for Pop Tart Friday, pulling on their yellow Fearless t-shirts and jumping on the school bus.

Rex and I are heading out at lunchtime to meet Grammy in Morristown and check out Mansions in May in Harding Township, NJ... a very cool, every other year, month-long fundraiser for the Women's Association of Morristown Memorial Hospital (WAMMH) that shows off a local mansion redecorated by the best interior designers in Morris and Somerset counties.

Music Monday: "Fifteen" by Taylor Swift

First off, I had an awesome Mother's Day weekend, starting with softball on Saturday. Maddie's game was cancelled due to too many First Communions, then Maddie filled in when we didn't have enough players on London's softball team, and the Yankees beat the (previously undefeated) Phillies...Coach introduced the concept of Cold Stone Creamery for his daughter as an incentive for a hit in the third inning, and I thought that was the perfect motivator...Maddie batted in the winning run, and London followed through with two great plays at first base... multiple scoops and good times were had by all.

Rex and I are taking London and Maddie to see Taylor Swift this week at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, so this week's Music Monday post is my favorite Taylor Swift song, "Fifteen." I hear my girls singing out, "but in your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team" and hope they'll remember that... at fifteen.




You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way

It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen

You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can

And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And you're momma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one
And you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends
When the night ends

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

This week has been so crazy busy, with four days of client meetings in Philadelphia for my real job, that I haven't had any time for the fun stuff... I missed my first Music Monday post in months, but now it's Friday afternoon and it's starting to feel like Mother's Day weekend is here.

So Happy Mother's Day weekend to all the moms out there, and a reminder to dads and kids to show the ladies a good time! We're headed to Jam Cafe (formerly known as Limestone Cafe) in Peapack-Gladstone for brunch on Sunday... will try to post a menu and details before we go.

Since it is Mother's Day weekend, there will be no points off for bringing my 4 o'clock beer to the school bus stop.

Royalty

Today's pet peeve: people who need to be treated like royalty.

In my investment banking work, all of my clients tend to be multi-millionaires. I enjoy working with clients who are down to earth despite the companies they have built and fortunes they have amassed. It frequently plays out that the greater the fortune/enterprise (billionnaire instead of millionnaire), the humbler the entrepreneur. And then there are those who carry themselves like the royalty they imagine they are, and come off like cheesy plastic kings. This pet peeve extends to those who are sooooo important that they can't possibly fit a meeting into their busy schedules and have their big-haired assistants cancel and make up an excuse at the last minute.

Years ago, when London was two, she used to sing, "[Client Name] is in the counting house, counting out his money..." and I'm afraid I've continued to teach my daughters to disrespect people who flaunt their wealth. But I do love these pictures of the King...

Not In My Back Yard

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Deer Off. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's really starting to feel like Spring (even a glimpse of summer) in the Roxiticus Valley... today the temperatures are supposed to hit 80 degrees, tomorrow promises 90 degrees from London and Maddie's softball games. We're taking Grammy (Rex's mom) to see the girls play softball, and then out to an early Mother's Day celebration dinner at the Grand Cafe in Morristown, New Jersey. Ignacio's team mowed the lawn for the first time this week and the scent of honeysuckle is already in the air.

Of course, these are all signs that it is time for Rex to get started on our garden, which includes the hilarious preparations we take to keep the groundhogs and deer away from our trees, shrubbery, and tomato plants. We've used a combination of fencing, netting, and a device called the Scarecrow that hooks up to our garden hose and uses a motion sensor to try to scare off the deer and other critters by hosing them down as they peek into Rex's garden. Despite these attempts at prevention, every year the deer seem to steal the best heirloom tomatoes and cause a great deal of damage to our garden and trees.

This year, as London and Maddie are getting ready to bring home a new cockapoo puppy in July, we have the added worry about the risk of ticks and Lyme Disease that deer can bring, so we've been looking into deer repellent. Rex found the Havahart® Deer Off II Battery-Powered Sprayer with a patented Dual Deterrent System™ formula that provides both scent and taste barriers to repel deer, rabbits, and squirrels.... with apologies to our very own Roxiticus Roxy who comes out looking for her shadow every February and comes out looking for the best of Rex's heirloom tomatoes in August, I sure hope it works on groundhogs, too. The formula's putrescent eggs solids and garlic (no vampires or deer at twilight in Rex's garden!), combined with the red hot chili pepper taste of capsaicin, should dissuade the deer, rabbits, and squirrels from eating our plants. Even if the critters get past the odor, they should be repelled by the taste.

With a lot of lawn and garden to cover, we're expecting the Deer Off® II Battery-Powered motorized sprayer to really come in handy. It's designed for large lawns and can treat up to 100 ornamental shrubs four feet tall or approximately 1000 square feet of plantings quickly, before the deer can get to them. When applied as directed, this animal repellent lasts up to 90 days, so we'll get started in May and remember to re-apply in early August when the heirloom tomatoes start to ripen... we'll let you know how it goes.

Music Monday: Needy Dog Song

Our family had a terrific Saturday of softball games. Maddie started our day at 9am with her instructional league game (Mets vs. Phillies). London was the starting pitcher for the first time ever, she had one RBI, and her team tied, 6-6. On Saturday night, Rex and I rocked with our friends and the Meathooks at the Mendham Little League fundraiser while the girls stayed home with their favorite babysitter.

Then Sunday turned rainy and we headed to Grandmom's house to visit and to Petco to start to prepare for our as-yet-unborn cockapoo puppy, who London and Maddie hope to bring home from the breeder in early July. The girls picked out a pet carrier for our car trip home from the breeder and our frequent trips to the beach in Bay Head, NJ. They're taking their clean-up responsibilities seriously with a purse-styled carrier for "business bags," and selected a few special toys to get started. We've been reading books, watching videos, and doing local research on veterinarians, dog walkers/sitters, and in-home training services for the whole family. I even laughed out loud when I found out that the most recent Dog Whisperer episode is called "Desperate Housedogs."

Our whole family is on board, and London and Maddie show the early signs of being calm, assertive pack leaders who project gentle, positive energy and are working hard to learn what to do and what not to do (we watched "Marley and Me" for some bad role modeling). Since we can't seem to get our minds off puppies, this week's Music Monday post is the Needy Dog Song... Enjoy!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Cheerio…

Where Was I Going, and Where Are My Shoes?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

A long, long, time ago, at my first job out of college and well before I could blame old age for my addled confusion, I used to wander down the hall, muttering, "Where was I going, and where are my shoes?" These days, there's technology to solve that problem... electronic calendars, to do lists, and navigation systems. My family got used to having a nav system during the two or three years we leased a Jeep.... we named her Firehead. Our Acadia didn't come with a navigation system installed, so I bought one for Rex for his birthday... we named her Jolie. However, even the shiniest new gizmo won't get Roxy where she's going if my maps are out of date. Naturally, if I can forget to update things like my car registration or driver's license (it expires in October this year and I have to visit the evil DMV lady to get a new picture taken), you can only guess how out of date my maps are and how challenging it may be to navigate my life. My nav system is so out of date that Jolie keeps shouting out that we should turn onto Brady Drive, a road that hasn't existed since Diamond Jim Brady lived in Peapack (he died in 1917).

During NAVTEQ’s Map Update Month, the friendly people over at NAVTEQ, the company whose technology and maps power most GPS and in-car navigation systems, are trying to raise awareness of the importance of updating your system's maps, and the availability of updates for all GPS and in-car navigation systems powered by NAVTEQ. According to a recent NAVTEQ Navigation Benefits Study, updating your system's maps will maintain the optimum performance of your system and could help you save time (they say a traffic-enabled GPS device can save you 4 days of driving time!), save on fuel and reduce your CO2 emissions, and find the best roadside options... all of these benefits can help you save up to $200 a year just by using an up-to-date navigation device.

Whether it's a softball field we've never played on before right here in the Roxiticus Valley, the most scenic route for our family's summer trip to Washington, DC, or a client's closing dinner in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, we rely on our GPS to take us there. I'm going to visit http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=254922&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapupdatemonth.com to update my maps in the month of May. We'll be driving with confidence in no time... and there are at least three pairs of shoes in the back of the Acadia.

Roxy's Gone to the Dogs

Post in progress...more cute puppy pictures on the way.

My UPS guy is always the first to know... when it's London or Maddie's birthday, when we're getting ready for a Roxiticus Sunset Party, or when Roxy's got a new obsession. This week, the packages started coming in from Amazon: "How to Raise the Perfect Dog" by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. I also ordered his six DVD Boxed Setas "a present for Maddie." But who am I trying to kid? I can't stay focused on work and I become easily distracted by making plans for puppy.

Something even cooler than getting all my puppy books and videos quickly from Amazon Prime (free trial membership)... I've found a kinder, gentler local dog whisperer right here in Mendham, New Jersey: Justine Schuurmans from TheFamilyDog.net. She's a fellow Mendham Township Elementary School mother who contacted me about a fab new company that my local readers need to know about. More details later on their better, safer, positive -- consequences and kindness -- training techniques.

The Family Dog is a local Morris and Somerset County service just like Super Nanny or Nanny 911, only for dogs! What I've learned from my Dog Whisperer books and videos so far is that while it's great to take your new puppy to obedience school, it's the people who really need the training, and most families need help where it counts - at home. That’s where The Family Dog comes in.... two fun-loving, long-time professional dog trainers who are juggling a full schedule, with four dogs and four children under six between them. They both teach classes at St. Huberts, but realize that families need a different kind of help.

Maddie and London are so psyched... Justine is going to come to our house for a private session before our puppy arrives to give all of us the info and training we need to set off on the right foot. She's even going to bring one of her own dogs to coach us and let the girls practice on, so they will be experts when their cockapoo puppy, Peanut Butter, arrives. So much is in the preparation!

Anyway, I'm going to be writing lots more as we get ready for our new puppy, but I'm feeling good about our plans... Peanut Butter's mom is due in the first week of May, and we're planning to bring our eight-week-old puppy home from the breeder in early July. Maddie is going to help me update our web sites with stories and information as we get ready.

The Family Dog, serving Morris and Somerset Counties with DogNanny 911 services from Mendham, NJ.

Phone: (973) 910-0364. Be sure to let them know that Roxy sent you!!

Hooray! Mendham Township School Budget Passed

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP SCHOOL BUDGET
√ Yes 700
No 662

THREE 3-YEAR TERMS
√ George Davie* 718
√ Carter Abel* 705
√ Paul DiMaio* 738

PROPOSED TAX LEVY CHANGE
3.48 percent, or $467,075; $86 average increase for West Morris Regional; $54 average decrease for the Mendham Township school district

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Mendham Township taxpayers.

Even if you voted against the school budget, please know that London and Maddie and all of the other Mendham Township students are grateful every day for the difference your tax dollars make in their lives and futures.

Not So Good News for West Morris Mendham High School

WEST MORRIS REGIONAL SCHOOL BUDGET
Yes 4,978
√ No 5,058

ONE 3-YEAR CHESTER BOR./TWP. TERM
√ James Johnston* 1,146

ONE 3-YEAR MENDHAM BOR. TERM
√ Jacqueline Schram* 725

ONE 3-YEAR WASHINGTON TWP. TERM
√ Michael Pirrello* 2,338

PROPOSED TAX LEVY INCREASE
3.34 percent; $68 for a home assessed at $463,700 in Chester Borough; $105 for a home assessed at $674,500 in Chester Township; $81 for a home assessed at $707,000 in Mendham Borough; $86 for a home assessed at $913,000 in Mendham Township; $81 for a home assessed at $438,600 in Washington Township

PROPOSED STAFF CUTS
32 employees