ride, S A L L Y, ride

The dune buggies were only the beginning of our fun. The hotel provided evening entertainment, so we decided to check out Broadway night. Sounds good enough, right? It was horrible.

I don't think we made it five minutes- maybe through the first song before escaping.

Unbelievable they were even allowed on stage. Seriously- they were that bad.

Not only were they lip-synching, they weren't even lip-synching a good deal of it and looked ridiculous! Our front-row seats didn't help. We could barely hold it together as we escaped and decided to check out the Irish Pub next door to our hotel.

Much, much better.

We had new front-row seats to watch and listen to the Paddy Wacks as they performed live at O'Connors. They were a blast and I think liked the idea that we were Americans. Or, maybe that we weren't eighty years old. Not that there's anything wrong with eighty!

Crazy as it sounds- the whole weekend, we didn't run into any other Americans and very few Germans. It was mostly the English and British enjoying the holiday. Not that I can tell the English from the British, but I'm sure there were both. You know- those from England, Ireland, Scotland and those countries up north? Nice people.

After listening to a few songs, Tricia and Bonnie shouted out a request for them to play a song. Before we knew it, the four of us were going up on stage to sing and dance with the band.

How in the world does that happen?

Funny {or not so funny} thing for Carrie and I- we didn't have a clue what song we were going to be singing... no clue. Oh well- we had nothing to lose. Plus, they were really talented musicians. Fabulous music- I loved it.

The lead guy let us know we only needed to know three words- "Ride, Sally, Ride." We made it through and stayed up there for another song and even a little conversation. Boy, was I out of my element.

As the youngest in the pub by years, I'm sure it was entertaining for the older crowd.

More fun. More laughs. I think that's what we all needed. We'll skip broadway all together next time- at least at an island hotel.

wet C E M E N T

I've mentioned the Armed Forces Network {AFN} before. With a dish on our roof and box on our tv, it allows us to tap in to American television- probably seven or eight basic {very basic} channels. We mostly only have the tv on for UFC fight nights, Super Saturday cartoons {C & C}. Surprisingly, I haven't even missed tv as sucked in as I used to be to my favorite reality shows.

One of the side benefits of watching AFN is you get the commercials alongside the limited programming. We're not talking about McDonalds or Olive Garden or even Applebees. These charming spots are all about the military, made by the military.
Naturally. Super corny and low/no budget, they're mostly horrible- there's no other way to describe them. On the flip side, they are probably better than seeing Red Lobster or anything food related knowing those restaurants don't exist on this continent.

Last week, we saw this commercial showing a boy walking through an old man's cement. It's all about patience and I love it. A real commercial, I was shocked.

This morning, I did something I've never done IN MY LIFE and never thought I would do FOR AS LONG AS I AM ALIVE. Never say never, right? While stopping by a house on base following a woman I've never met, I actually stepped in wet cement. All on my own, I didn't even have a kid around me to blame.

What in the world was I thinking? I'm usually a little more head's up than that.

The workers had obviously just poured new concrete in the inside of an entryway to a stairwell apartment building. Maybe it was the inside that threw me off?! Concrete is supposed to be for sidewalks, right? They had a thin plank laid across the top to obviously walk on.

I started walking across, then felt it give, panicked and stuck my foot straight in the newly-poured, super wet concrete. No footprint here, it hadn't even set up enough yet. Yep, flip flop and all up past my ankle bone dripping in concrete. I stood there for a minute trying to figure out what to do.

The woman told me there was a hose outside. I'm sure she thought I was an idiot, but at least she helped me out. I hobbled out, sprayed off and tried to hurry as fast as I could to get out of there before these German workers returned from their lunch. I'm really trying to win their favor rather than ignite their tempers. Pretty sure I didn't succeed today. Caden sat in the van watching me the whole time. I'm sure he thought I was crazy- what a role reversal.

This commercial is just a little more meaningful now.

Infant Swimming

My friend, Teresa sent me this link to watch this amazing video. I was going to forward it, but decided to just post it- it really is incredible.

Prepare to be AMAZED! A “waterproofed” toddler, barely 1 year old, follows a ball into a pool. ‘Bet it will put a lump in your throat! Be sure to watch the final 10 seconds of the video.

http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index.html