Monthly Archives: March 2009

Good Company

March 29, 2009

This weekend my good friend Jen and her son Jake came all the way from Minneapolis to hang out with Ben and I.  Not only did they bring laughter and great times into our fair state, they also brought the snow.  Wasn’t that nice?  I’m pretty sure it was payback from our trip up there last April.  You know?  The time when it was 70 in Madison so I brought only opened toed sandals and it snowed in Minneapolis that weekend.  I’m not sure what Jen and I did to piss off the Weather Gods but clearly it was something severe.  Sorry, Dude.

Before the snow came, we did manage to get out and enjoy the best that Madison has to offer.  OK well the best Madison has to offer on a cold spring day with two 9 year old boys in tow. 

So we headed down to State Street for some lunch and shopping.

all-of-us

boys-at-bw3

After one too many cute little gift shops, Jake was close to death, whereas his friend Ben (who was born with a Macy’s credit card in his chubby baby hand and who’s first word was “Target!”) was begging for more.  “Ooh!  Can we go in that shoe store?!?  LOOK!  WALGREEN’S!  Please just one minute in Walgreen’s!!!”  With Herculean strength, I pulled him away and promised him another shopping trip soon.

Later that night after everyone recovered and the Minnesotans slept, we decided it would be a great idea to go bowling! 

And it was. 

Except…

  • -there was a blizzard going on outside.   In late March.
  • -there was a 45 minute wait for a lane. 
  • -the restaurant area happens to be the only spot in the greater Madison area which actually allows smoking.  And total losers who like to drop the F-bomb in front of young children.
  • -the pizza, that in the past has been great, resembled something served in prison.  (Or at least that’s what my new lover says…)
  • -and the boys who kept bugging their mothers for just “one more quarter!  PLEASE JUST ONE MORE!”

ben-and-jake

Not all was lost as the actual bowling part was very fun.  With Ben beating us all (cough cough, BUMPERS, cough cough).  And Jake coming in a very close second. 

bowling-scores

I don’t know who that “Becky” lady is who got only a 67.   How is that score even possible? Was she bowling with her elbows? My God! She’s even worse than the President!

We finally left the bowling alley without a single coin left in our wallets, a desperate need to wash our smokey clothes and an unyielding desire to get home to wine, the couch and the Cullens!

It was a great little weekend and I found myself feeling really sad this morning when they left.  Jen and I have been friends for almost 20 years, and have the pictures to prove it.  I’m proud of us for working on this friendship and staying close.  Happily we even made plans to get together twice more this summer.  

In preparation I better find some really good water-proof mascara since if those visits are anything like this weekend, all make-up will be laughed off. 

jen-and-me-with-peace

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friends, Madison

Love From The Big House

March 25, 2009

My computer recently decided that I have loaded too many pictures and therefore I am no longer worthy of uploading nary a photo.  Just like a good Jewish grandmother it seemed to say to me, “Beckala!  Enough with the pit-chas already!  Just write to the nice people!  OY!” 

Since posting pictures of the family birthday soiree was out of the picture, I quickly developed a severe case of writers block.

Until I came home this afternoon to find the Holy Grail of Blogging material in my mailbox.  Yes readers, today the Writing Gods shined down upon me.   I received the elusive, the heard of on “20/20″ but rarely seen, Prison Love Letter.

At first I was freaked out and beyond puzzled when I saw the envelope with my name, my new address and in the corner, His name and the address of the Columbia County Jail.

My poor little brain worked overtime.  Who do I know in the clink?  Did I meet someone this weekend that had a brother in jail?  Did Ben’s Sperm Donor move to Wisconsin and change his name to Anthony?  Before I could even get my coat off, I tore open the envelope to find not only a page and a half hand-written letter but also a picture of my new love.

I can laugh now and write about this with ease but at the time I was FREAKED OUT!   Therefore I called My Person as fast as my fingers could find her on my speed-dial.  In our bi-laws it clearly states that letters from prison are worthy of the immediate and frantic phone call.  Since she didn’t pick up right away I had to call my parents, my friend Janine and half the state of Wisconsin.  My parents were concerned but Janine, who used to be a parole officer laughed and said “File this under ‘Great Stories To Tell’ and don’t worry..”  So I knew this couldn’t be that big of a deal.

While I waited for Shelly to call me back, I decided to carefully read the prose of my new love.   It seems he “received [my] name and information from a close friend” of his.   He continued to say, “Please don’t be alarmed because no harm is intended.”  Well, whew!  In that case, sign me up, Hot Stuff! 

My new friend of course didn’t commit any violent act to land him in a state penitentiary.  No, he “decided to try and get rich the fast way!  As you see, it was a foolish and poor decision!  A lesson learned.”  He also would be much obliged if I not only wrote him back but sent a picture. 

Finally Shelly called me back and informed me this stuff has happened to her many times in the past and not to worry.  She even had phone calls from prisoners.  Lucky girl.  She also informed me that I shouldn’t write him back.  Well phooey!  Since Yahoo clearly isn’t working out I thought perhaps this was my answer.

But sadly #264004 I’m not the girl for you.  So good luck to you on your speedy release from the Slammer.

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Becky's Craziness, dating, letters, my person

Holy Birthday, Batman!

March 23, 2009

As my wise and oh so eloquent son would say, “This birthday totally rocked dude!”

I’m a firm believer that one’s birthday should last at least three days.  Four through seven is acceptable, but they should be no less than three.  And happily, such was the case for this very spoiled Princess.

It started on Saturday afternoon when my dear friend Martha came up from Milwaukee to celebrate with me.  After a glass of wine and some much needed catch-up, we met Shelly at our local M.A.C. counter to get our make-up done for the Big Night.

shelly-getting-make-up

getting-made-up

When Shelly was done she looked gorgeous, which is no real surprise.

pretty-shelly

I, on the other hand, told my make-up artist, Babs, that I just wanted something simple.  Something natural.  Nothing big.  She smiled a very scary devilish grin and said, “You betcha, Button.”

I’m so glad she listened.   

scary

This was a look that would be natural for Miss Saigon on Broadway.

No matter.  My eyelashes that wrapped up over my forehead and I went downtown to meet more friends for drinks, food and fun.

martha-and-shelly

everyone

Unfortunately, because they kept losing our name, the food part had to wait.  THREE HOURS!  You know you’re getting old when instead of saying, “Forget the food!  Let’s just drink our dinner!!”, we all shared an appetizer and began to drink water. 

After we had plenty of food in our bellies, we were revived and raring to go! 

There were Bachelorettes giving us candy:

suck-for-a-buck

(We had to explain to Kim, who’s from the east coast, that she actually had to PAY for the lollipop. They don’t call it “Suck for a Buck” just because it’s a catchy phrase…)

There were prizes won in a raffle that was going on, JUST FOR MY BIRTHDAY!  OK maybe it was for a local music organization fundraiser but I like to think they were there for me. 

prizes
(I know I look possessed but that’s because moments before this picture was taken, I knocked over a small child with my eyelashes. Awkward!)

And of course, there were LOTS of laughs. 

jen-teri-and-i

In fact I laughed harder on Saturday night than I have in a very long time.  There were moments where I had to clutch my stomach and try to relax my cheeks they hurt so bad.  Amazingly I didn’t laugh-cry my make up off because well, I think that would have been physically impossible.  I broke a sweat just washing the stuff off later that night. 

All in all it was a wonderful night. I’m a very lucky girl with amazing friends who were way too generous. 

It doesn’t stop there!  Except I do. For now. 

Coming soon to a blog near you…. the Mikkimoto family birthday party!  Please try to control your excitement and then thank your lucky stars my birthday only comes once a year!

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birthdays, friends

My Favorite Things – Part 2

March 20, 2009

On the eve of my birthday weekend, I bring to you, once again, some of my favorite things.   These are items any girl would love for her birthday.  Or Mother’s Day.  Or Ground Hogs Day.  Or National Give Yourself  A Present Day! 

Although unfortunately this time, they aren’t all under $20.  So sorry but sometimes the best things in life aren’t cheap.

The first gem is a product was created from something Supernatural.  I truly believe that this face cream comes straight from the Angels. 

Ever wondered what butter + flowers + whole milk + heaven feels like on your face?  Wonder no longer.  This is it!

estee

Behold Estee Lauder’s DayWear Plus.   I first was introduced to this nirvana in a jar when my mother who gave me her little sample.   After a couple weeks, I was scraping the sides of the tiny container in order to get the very last ounce out.  Since it’s not in my normal facial budget, once it was done I went back to my boring man made un-God-like stuff.  Life then was sad.  Until one day my mom mentioned before visiting my sister, she was going to get a jar of The Heaven for her.  All I had to do was look at her with big doe eyes, tell her how skinny and pretty she was and weird!  The next day I had my very own full sized jar.  They don’t call me Princess Mikkimoto for nothing. 

This runs about $38 a jar but lasts forever and so worth it.

Next I have my very favorite piece of jewelry, and since I love jewelry this is saying a lot. It’s the necklace that I wear all the time.  I sleep in it, I shower in it… it rarely leaves my neck.  It’s my Mommy Tags!

mommy-tag

necklace

Pioneer Woman actually got me onto these.  She was singing their good graces so I happened to check out the website and I was hooked.   All their jewelry is “created from silver that has been recycled from film.”  And “each tag is unique and handcrafted by work at home moms.”   Not to mention the packaging is almost impossible to resist. 

These run about $75 for the necklace (they have other great pieces too) but again so worth it as it’s really high quality silver.

I have mine with Ben’s name and birth date on it.  I find it especially helpful when I’m at a fraternity on campus doing keg stands.  That way I can remember that I have a kid, remember how old he is and that I should be getting home sometime before morning.  Whew!  Thank you Mommy Tags!

And finally, on the first official day of Spring, (YAHOO!) I give to you my very favorite candle.  Anyone who knows me or anyone who has helped me moved has noticed candle wax on pretty much every piece of furniture, knows that I’m a candle nut.   But this?  This is the best.

pops-grasscandle-2t

The Gap used to have one but they no longer carry it.  Damn them!  So I found this one on Wee Can Shop.  It’s so potent and delicious that I sometimes forget I lit it and accuse Ben of cutting the grass in the apartment.  Again.

So again, go forth and stimulate this economy.   Because goodness knows those executives of AIG sure aren’t going to be with their now measly 10% bonuses.

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Becky's favorite things
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