Texts from Sam

Sam: Voting for Obama in a school election?

Me: Cade?

Sam: Huh?

Me: you sent me a text about voting for Obama in a school election

Sam: Yes. That's the episode of "New Normal" that's on tonight

Me: Oh

Sam: Is that what you want me to watch?

Me: the whole series not just the 1 episode but yes definitely watch it tonight

Sam: Ah Okay. Oh I've seen commercials for this. It has that guy who was in National Treasure with Nicholas Cage. A woman is a gay couple's surrogate mother. Created by Ryan Murphy from Glee.

Me: and the lead actor from the Book of Mormon

Sam: Oh wow! Cool! Is that why you want me to watch it?

Me: Not entirely

Sam: Is this the new show you're into?

Me: Yes           

Do Crew

Chad and I are waiting for the Midnight Fun Run to start. (It really didn't start at midnight, rather the entire event was over by midnight.) Our job was to cheer the runners and make sure no one fell, got run over or needed any type of first aide.

I Got My Invitation!

Texts from Sam

Sam: Mr. Gyllenhaal

Sam: The set (can't really see the water). I snuck this just for you.

An Afternoon At The Movies

Steer clear of big wooden boxes at yard sales. Especially if your 10 year old seems unnaturally attracted to it.

There wasn't anything particularly scary about the movie. It was the anticipation of something happening that kept me focused.

Well, that and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Join Us

Texts from Sam

Sam:

Me: I sooo want to see his show!

Sam: Um...don't hate me...but we're going Friday...

Me: WHAT?!?!

Me: I hate you! I ahte you hate you hate you hate you hate you

Sam: Then I guess I won't be mailing you a program.

Me: Call me.  

BookMarks Festival

Because I am a book lover, it's not too much of a stretch for me to get really excited about the BookMarks Festival. I first attended several years ago and then was unable to attend due to SETC. The past couple of years Mallorie and I made the pilgrimage. Since she wasn't going to be with me this year, I decided to volunteer. I especially wanted to work the Book Signing tent, which would give me a chance to meet some authors.

Now this was the first time that I didn't really know any of the headlining authors. I arrived to the festival early so I could spend time in the the Wake Forest Bookstore to peruse the books and get educated on the festival authors. I bought One Sunday Morning by Amy Ephron, as the book she was actually here to promote was a pre-order. Gillian Flynn was promoting Gone Girl, Now I don't usually pay full price for books. I borrow them from the library or purchase via Amazon. Gone Girl was a $25 book that really didn't sound that interesting from the cover. Not having read Gillian's other books I was very hesitant. I did overhear two ladies talking about Sharp Objects and after reading the backcover, I was intrigued. I decided to purchase that one and have her sign it.

Here I am with Gillian Flynn. She had one of the longest book-signing lines and she was very gracious with everyone. She stayed past her time to make sure everyone got their booked signed.

Cool Postcard

Sam's First Job

Back in June when Sam told me he got a job, I thought he said he was working at Bacon Bagels. He corrected me after he picked himself from falling over with laughter. He works at Bakin' Bagels in Maywood, New Jersey. Of course we had to stop in for breakfast and to see Sam in action.

Here's what the store looks like from the inside.

Not sure why this picture came out so light, but here is Sam hard at work making mine and Cade's bacon, egg, and cheese bagels.

Texts from Sam

Sam: where are you

Me: back at the hotel

Sam: Wow, that was quick!

Me: I know. We only had to circle around once!

Sam: So next time you come up and stay there, you'll be pros

Me: That is what grandma said. Cade wants to come back in October.

Sam: What's in October? Fall break?

Me: Or a weekend, I think he misses u.

Sam: I miss him too

Me: I know. I loved watching u hold his hand. Bb and Lb.

Sam: We were in the pool last night and he just turned to me and said, "You're my brother." before he swam to the other side.

Me: Meant a lot to you, didn't it?

Sam: Yeah

Me: I think he would have used Sam more often if grandma had tried

Sam: Probably. She'll get it eventually.

Me: U just need to gently remind her to call u by your name. 

An Afternoon in the (NY) City

Today's plan was to head into the city. My plan was to perhaps see a Broadway show. Sam wasn't too interested in any of the shows, my mom didn't care either way and Cade was a flat no. Since I didn't want to plunk down $400 for the less than ecstatic we simply walked around Times Square. We spent a good deal of time in M & M's World.

Cade is getting his "color" read. His color was aqua.

We also stopped in Hershey'sand then tried to find The Drama Book Shop. We walked several blocks only to find the shop is closed on Sundays.

We decided to go to Chevy's to cool off, rest and have an early dinner.

After dinner we headed back to Sam's via Port Authority's 163/Route 3 bus. Once we got back to his house, I could tell he didn't want us to leave. We hung out for a while where Cade sat with Sam in an oversized chair watching Spongebob. All too soon, and because of the heat, it was time for us to head back to the hotel. It was almost as hard leaving Sam as it was watching him leave back in May. My plan to stop by his work for breakfast the next morning before hitting the road was but a small consolation.

A Little Bit About Cade

A Night At The Theatre, "Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party"

Yes, I really saw a show called Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party. And if Chris Chandler hadn't been in it, I'm sure I would have never known about the play.

Here's a synopsis according the their website: The story is set in Menard County, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln once lived and operated a general store. It begins with the annual school Christmas pageant, where the 4th-grade teacher, Harmony Green, has rewritten the script to call into question Lincoln’s sexuality.

The town is horrified and demands she be held accountable. The local DA, Tom Hauser, has Green fired and arrested for distributing harmful materials to minors.

Hauser, a former Republican congressman who left Washington in disgrace in the 80s, receives national attention for the arrest. The RNC sends one of its best people, Lloyd Chambers, to Menard to set Hauser up for a run for Governor.

At the same time, Hauser's friend and protégée, Regina Lincoln, a State Senator, is planning a run for the Governor's mansion and goes to Menard to ask Tom to campaign for her -- only to discover he is running against her. And with the favorable media attention he is attracting as a result of the trial, Regina is certain to lose in the primary. Betrayed and hungry for revenge, she realizes she can attract the same amount of attention and cast Hauser as an out-of-touch radical by acting as Green's defense attorney. When she does, the trial becomes "the trial of the century," pitting two Republican power houses against each other.

This brings Anton Renault to town. A Pulitzer-winning reporter from the New York Times, Renault has his own agenda stemming from Hauser's time in Congress. Renault blames Hauser for exacerbating the AIDS crisis and intends to use his coverage of the trial as an opportunity to end Hauser's career once and for all. His efforts are unexpectedly complicated by the friendship he forms with Hauser's son, Jerry Hauser.

The play is about the trial of the century, but it is also about history -- the history of Lincoln (and the radically disparate interpretations of it), and the history of animosities and friendships between the characters stemming from the 80s. One could say the play examines how we are constantly "re-litigating" our history.

I didn't care for the show at all. It wasn't necessarily the acting, though there really were no strong performances. It's the play itself. With a name like Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party what incentive does one really have to take things seriously?

Texts from Sam

Sam: Laptop/printer shopping...I feel uncomfortable and unintelligent without you helping me :/

Text to Sam

Me: Just so you know, I'm having a moment. We are in Walmart getting Cade's school supplies. A wave of sadness hit me that you aren't here too.

Sam: I haven't evens started with supplies yet cuz I have no idea what I'll need. But yea, that's x5 million is where I was last night.

Texts from Sam

Sam: Restoring my childhood one CD at a time.

A Book Review

As I mentioned in this post, I received my second book from Bethany House. I absolutely loved the first book I got so I was rather excited about this one.

My excitement didn't last.

This book is apparently the third of a Roland March series. I haven't read the first two and I don't think I'd read any subsequent books. This one involved gun running, Mexican cartels, FBI conspiracy, etc. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

The story started out very promising. A body is found with a missing head. Both hands have been skinned (de-gloved) and a pointing finger could be a clue. Enter Detective Roland March.

I was intrigued all through the first half of the book. Once the storyline took off with the Mexican cartels, I got lost and my interest waned. I did plug on and finished the book, but it was a difficult read.

Overall I feel the book is miss titled. Plenty of people had everything to hide. What irritated me most was, while the initial homicide was solved, the identity of the victim was never determined. A better title might be "Nothing Resolved."

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Texts from Sam

Sam: Walking around Barefoot Landing. Missing you guys a lot.

Me: Miss u too. Wish I was there too. Except for the bridges.

Sam: I'd hold your hand like I did last time.