Simpsonization

I've Simpsonized my kids! (What am I doing? I should be in bed!) But if you are fascinated by all this, check out http://www.simpsonizeme.com./

Can you figure out who is who? Hmmm...

Lazy Days of Summer

We got a new house. We got a new play set. We put up our trampoline. Sod is on the way.

But all these precious little boys want to do is throw rocks in the "pond".

We have two empty lots next door to us with standing water in them - ponds. They are learning how to find and skip rocks. They are in a contest to hit an abandoned garage door opener in the pond. They have proclaimed that every time they hit it, they get a piece of candy. They take rocks home from the cottage to throw in the pond!

They have also left our sandbox for the big sand pile the construction crews left. They have left our rock-climbing wall for the big dirt mound two lots over.

Yet, I am glad.

These boys can find fun in anything. They don't need the stuff, the toys so heavily advertised and consumed by us doting parents. When did the tides turn stating we had to keep up with Jones'? My dad tells story again and again playing with only one little truck growing up, making his fun for himself.

We are very thankful for our "stuff". We are truly blessed. We are blessed to have a swing set when there is no nearby park. We are blessed to have money to afford the extra insurance to have a trampoline. Yet, we are blessed also to have God's creation to explore and treasure and have "adventures along the trail," as the boys say.

So, we are making these days of summer "lazy" at our house. No over-scheduling, no must-do's for the summer - we are just going to play. And, Gosh darn it, if my boys want to pull down their pants to go to the bathroom outside, then I say go for it!

Happy Summer!

Sting

Group -- The Police

Venue -- Wrigley Field, Chicago

Lead Singer -- Sting: Ageless... and yummy

The Police concert was extremely enjoyable! All the hits were played on this Reunion Tour. "Message in a Bottle" opened us up on a high note, but the buzz quickly faded as some lesser-known songs were played. I could have done without these filler songs and had a half hour less music. (You knew the songs stunk when everyone started streaming out for a bathroom break.) I was disappointed.

Yet, I was in great anticipation after a song's ending to what was coming up next. "Roxanne" truly rocked the house. (I couldn't believe tens of thousands of us were singing about a woman who was a prostitute. Anyway...) Andy Summers on the guitar was exciting to watch, and I loved soaking in his solos.

Sting, at the age of 56, gave a valiant effort. He started out slow. They lowered the octaves (Is that what it's called?) on a bunch of tunes because he couldn't reach those high notes as well as he used to. But by night's end, he was really into it. The chemistry between the members was gelling more towards the encore - they were having a good time, we were having a good time.

The band looked old. Sting - not so much. He was on fire. Yet, I believe he wore the same outfit last night as he did in the 80's. I don't need to see your old knobby knees in your skin-tight pants, my man.

Yet, I am wondering why he was such a hit back then. Did people like the fact this group sang all the same phrases/song fillers in them over and over? "Doo Daa" / "Eee-Ohhh" (Take note some time you pull out that old greatest hits cassette.) But any woman must have fallen hard for Sting, because "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" and he watches "Every Breath You Take". Man, I'd go for that guy - who wouldn't?

Sting made the night. Yum, yum.