Flashback Monday

After crapping out on my own linkup on Friday I really owe a Flashback... even the best intentions won't log on & type up a post for you, as it turns out. But I've got a really great one to more than make up for it.

My Dad came to visit 2 weekends ago & brought along the family history book for my DAR application... along with a family history photo album which I didn't even know existed! It starts with photos of Wolcotts from just after the Civil War & goes right up to my baby photos & is more magical than I can put into words. My Grandpa included a written history starting where the family book leaves off & recounting what he remembers of his great-grandparent, lessons learned from his grandfather, letters written back & forth between them, & what it was like to grow up on the depression and war years.

It made me feel for a moment like a heroin in some novel where I'll discover a parallel of life's events and learn the secrets of a happy life from the lessons of my ancestors.

Letters from the 40's between my

Grandpa & his Grandpa

My Great-Grandpa's dance card from

his senior prom... filled with Great-Grandma's name.

My Great-Grandparent's wedding in 1924

Grandpa pushing Grandma in a

wheelbarrow on their wedding day

After telling a friend about all these discoveries she said something that really shook me awake... how her Grandfather said his biggest regret was not asking more questions. OF COURSE! I should be asking questions! Why haven't I been asking for stories every time I've seen my grandparents the past 27 years? Why have I not been trying to learn what life was like in a different time or what they've learned after seeing the progress of decade after decade? I've been missing out on all this without even knowing it.

So get ready, Grandparents, I want to hear it ALL.

Week 53

As I scrolled through old facebook photos wondering what kind of tales I could share with you all, I twice went past this one with a "Mmm". It was the only one that made an audible reaction, which might just be the truest test of flashback worthiness.

This is my mentor group on my 26th birthday. I know most people in the world probably aren't lucky enough to have any mentor group at all, let alone one as awesome as mine, and lately I've been really missing our get-togethers. The group started through my church & was only supposed to last a year... back then it was Sonja (far right), Sarah (middle), and me... but after it was time for the groups to end we decided against it. I guess we just weren't done with eachother. Lisa & Linda joined for a while, later Jen came on board, and I've loved having every one of those ladies... but there's just something really wonderful & special about the original 3, we've been through a lot together.

We laugh until we can't breathe, sometimes we accidentally set things on fire, we always have yummy food and plenty of wine and coffee, and we have a place to talk about things that really suck too. I guess I'm just feeling sentimental because I could really use a dose of that right about now. Luckily I don't think our group is "over", we just sometimes take breaks when life kicks in, but maybe in the fall I'll have my ladies back again.

Now it's your turn....

1. Share a flashback of your own. Dig through old photos & tell us a little story of days gone by. Click the little blue "Add Your Link" button below to link up.
2. Grab a button & add it to your post to let others know where the party's at.
3. Click click click... Stop by others' blogs who are linked up & leave them a little comment love.

<a href="http://heyasparky.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yFIMN0jWqNo/TgQF8BiQdcI/AAAAAAAAA6E/SNEkWqKKvS8/s288/flashback%2Bfriday.jpg" width="252" height="200" /></a><br />

a SWEET weekend

This weekend I took a little trip to spend some time with a very wonderful friend of mine. Someone who I think you'll recognize...

...and then my memory card was full. haha It's probably for the best or that vlog could have gone on forever. Especially if you got me talking about how we saw New Kids on the Block that day.... not in concert, at the park. Right in front of us. In fact we kept running into them for like the first hour we were at the park... literally ran into them once by accident. So much random.

It was an amazing weekend. I'm totally tuckered out, but I enjoyed every second.

Together at last!

night swimming in a kiddie pool = glamorous

A day that will live in infamy

The faces of fear...

The source of the fear...

 

Hershey Park HAPPY

Dangerous Broads. Hide your gin.

Don't let the floaties fool you...

we're still dangerous broads who will take your gin.

Week 52

Last night I hung out with an old friend, Sarah, & her new son... & it got me thinking of ol times in college. My gosh, things were so different then! We used to call eachother PIC = Partners In Crime & we got ourselves into all kinds of shenanigans. We were in the same sorority, were RA's in the same building, and when I moved to Pittsburgh she let me crash on her futon for a summer. We've been through all kinds of things together & my only regret is that I don't see her as often as I like.

It was crazy & wonderful to hang out & hold her baby... her baby! My how things have changed...

Then:

Lazy-Crazy Sundays, My Junior Year

 ΔΤΣ Formal Senior Year

 Radio Contest for Steelers Tickets... we lost.

Now:

Lauren, Sarah, & Dylan 2011

It's weird. And wonderful. I guess that's just life!

Now it's your turn....

1. Share a flashback of your own. Dig through old photos & tell us a little story of days gone by. Click the little blue "Add Your Link" button below to link up.
2. Grab a button & add it to your post to let others know where the party's at.
3. Click click click... Stop by others' blogs who are linked up & leave them a little comment love.

<a href="http://heyasparky.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yFIMN0jWqNo/TgQF8BiQdcI/AAAAAAAAA6E/SNEkWqKKvS8/s288/flashback%2Bfriday.jpg" width="252" height="200" /></a><br />

Just Spreading the Word... (update)

                               
Update at bottom...


So let me start by saying I have a few thoughts in general, & then info for local friends....

One of my biggest pet peeves is the "FML Attitude" that I see over the most trivial thing. I saw on facebook how when an acquaintance couldn't watch The Bachelorette because her cable wasn't hooked up it was an epic fail. And I kid you not, after the earthquake in Japan & it looked like waves were going to hit Hawaii, someone had the balls to post a FML over their future Hawaiian honeymoon plans in the wake of all those lives lost.

Friday my friends lost their home in a fire. 6 of them.

That night people got together to board up windows & sat on the lawn & had some food together. And there was not one FML to be heard. Don't get me wrong, it's a really rough situation & I know it's hard on them, but instead of self-pity they stick together & make plans for the future.In a situation infinitely worse than any one those fml-posters have ever faced, they have an attitude that's infinitely better. Just some food for thought.

And here's the part for local friends...

I just wanted to spread the word that Dylan's turned over his blog to be the update place for news on the Fairmount House. There's a link to donate some cash, updates of prayer requests, and just a place to process some thoughts. It sucks when you feel like there's nothing you can do, but I wanted to at least pass it on that there's a place for info.

http://www.ruinrenew.com/

Here's part of Carina's message from Sunday...

As we head into this first house-less week, please hold us in prayer in the following ways:

1. pray that inspectors grant us access to our home. this will not only help to give us closure, but also allow us to salvage what we can and move forward from there.

2. pray for wisdom as we begin discussing our options and making decisions, especially since we may have to make our decisions quickly.

3. pray over the coming meetings with the city, community organizations, etc.. that all involved will be filled with grace, understanding, and hope.

4. and most of all, pray that our small intentional community will continue to serve each other well, even through the loss of our home

I've been thinking today about how much more difficult this ordeal would be for someone without friends and family. So thanks again to all of you, for making this all more bearable and for loving us so fully.

UPDATE:
Lena just told me the gang could use some help washing the laundry that was able to be salvaged. It needs to happen quickly before they mold, remember everything was drenched by the fire hoses way back on Friday. So if you have a washing machine, don't mind hanging out in the laundromat, or can donate detergent & white vinegar... please speak up.

Summer Drinks

It's no secret that I'm convinced the best people in the world live in Pittsburgh and are all my friends. It may seem unlikely to you, but I'm fairly certain of the validity of this theory. And while many of my peers would spend a Friday night at a pretentious club or trying to get laid, I spent mine drinking from mason jars & screaming about social justice in Israel. (haha what? It's ok, we can always hug it out after yelling about ridiculous things) But in one way we don't differ is that just like any other 27 year old we all probably have a drink in hand while whatever Friday night activities we're engaged in. (gasp! a good Christian girl like you? ...uh, yeah. I'm a Christian, not Amish.)

My current favorite summer drinks...

To Make -

Step 1) Crush fresh basil & put in a strainer. As much as you want, fill 'er up!

Step 2) Add 2 parts gin, 1 part lime juice, & 1 part simple syrup

 Step 3) Pour over ice, enjoy with friends, & talk politics

To make -

...hell if I know...

Bloody Marys are a bit tougher, I recommend just going out.

Strangely the last step is the same... enjoy with friends.

So what summer drinks are you loving? I always love finding new ones to try!

4th of July + The Wolcott Family

All over America I'm sure other bloggers are cleaning camera lenses & hanging patriotic bunting in hopes of capturing a little slice of what family & country means to them. And I'll love perusing all of them, but I'd like to show you what it looks like to me... in a slightly different sense.

This is (obviously) the Declaration of Independence

And here it is again, only zoomed into the bottom left. Notice anything strange?

Yep, that totally says Oliver Wolcott. "Hey Lauren, isn't Wolcott your last name too? What a crazy coincidence!" That's no coincidence, my friends. My great-great-(I don't know how many greats)-uncle was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. We've also got some long-ago Governors in there, I guess the Wolcotts used to be kind of a big deal especially in the New England region. It makes a pretty good party story & typically the only person who can top it is Emma whose uncle is Michael Keaton. (I know you all just got twice as excited for Michael Keaton than ol' Oliver... no use denying it, I understand)

So lately I've been thinking of joining Daughters of the American Revolution. I'm 98% sure I qualify & I like the work they do with veterans, & hopefully someday that could benefit my hypothetical future daughter though scholarships. 

(P.s I totally received a small scholarship from the Wolcott foundation so I'm pretty certain my kids would be a shoo-in for that too. I've practically got their college covered before I even found their dad. haha)

And if the lineage wasn't enough, I'm sure my obcession with First Lady & my ability to make kick-ass patriotic cakes would get me in.  So I'll be diving knee-deep in genealogical research pretty soon for my application & might uncover some more family stories to share

So happy Independence Day, everyone! Have fun at your cook outs & fireworks, Uncle Oliver would be proud.

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

Remembering a Friend

This weekend I took a last-minute trip across the state to my parents' house. Normally I'd come home with a camera full of photos from farmers markets & other small town delights I don't get to see often as a city girl... but the truth is I spent most of this visit at a funeral so there's not much along the way of fun stories to tell from my little road trip.

Ok so I know about half of you are about to redirect your mouse to your inbox & send me a barrage of questions and/or condolences *ahem, you know who you are if you thought about it... & I love you for it, make no mistake* I am just fine, don't worry. It was for a friend who was 95... at that point you celebrate an amazing life rather than mourn.

Barbara was & her husband Keith who passed about 5 years earlier were like an extra set of Grandparents to me. They were both the sweetest people, funny & full of life, WWII vets with lots of stories, & an example of what a great marriage looks like right up to the end. And Barbara never once missed a birthday, that card showed up with a $5 bill like clockwork up to & including my 27th this past March. I really wish I had a copy of their military photos from the 40's... she was a nurse, he was a pilot... you'd fall in love instantly if I showed you how beautiful they both were.

I'll be missing Barbara for sure, but I'm just happy she & Keith are together again. And I'm happy to have had them both in my life.

Repost: Week 6 (out of 45)

Doesn't it figure... the day I get such a MAJOR shout-out from one of the coolest bloggers I know & creator of Flashback Fridays, I didn't take the time to write a flashback. If you go check out Tia's comments you'll understand why I had to immediately post something & then start jumping up & down.

So did you go read? Huh? Did you? Are you as excited as I am?

And my answer: OF COURSE!
I'm certain there will be more news & arrangements to come, but for now all I can say is YEEEE! (Oh and hi to anyone who may be stopping by for the first time! I hope you'll like it here... take a look around, kick up your feet, help yourself to the fridge...)

And enjoy a flashback of a flashback. (too Inception?) Perfectly timed for Father's Day...

Black & White was the theme for Flashback Friday this week. Not that we have to follow a theme, but it's kind of fun to play along. I totally recommend joining the fun if you have a blog of your own. Info at the bottom of this post

Like I said a while ago, I made a photo book for my Mom 2 Christmases ago & so I have all these old scanned picture of her & I. It comes in really handy for these Flashbacks. Anyway, this is my Mom & her Dad (my Poppop) &... me & my Dad. Awww. I really didn't know Poppop but I DO know a thing or 2 about being a Daddy's Girl.



Know what else I know a thing or 2 about? Beards. Let's just take a second to marvel at my Dad's beard... holy crap! That's like a Franco Harris beard. It even grows at the corners of the mouth, that's where all my students complain won't grow. haha Kudos, Dad. Sorry Poppop, maybe beards just weren't your thing. It doesn't make you any less of a man.

***************************************************

Have your own Flashback Friday! Post your link on the “Christopher & Tia” Blog to participate with other friends & bloggers. Community = Fun.

Summer Send-Off

Why are the best parties always correlated with people leaving? I'd much rather return to the era of just-because block parties, because there is always this moment of "This is a great party, we should do it again sometime.... oh wait, you won't be here".

But I'll try not to let that tarnish the otherwise best party of 2011 thus far. Lots of friends, the most sophisticated taco bar I've seen, live music, s'mores, games, & an overwhelming abundance of Klondike bars. It takes the sting out of the Muellers being all the way in Iowa, & gave me a chance to spend quality time with the Dugans & Keoghs who will also be leaving (but only for a summer).

So farewell my friends. And for those of you staying in Burgh, I've got a 6.5-person gap in my life that needs to be filled with camping, swimming, iced lattes, fireflies, &movies in the park. Who's in?

We're Kind of a Big Deal

Friends... I don't mean to make you feel inferior about your own lives, but around these parts there's been some big news.

I'm talking red carpets & book signings big. A-list big.

Ok if not A-list then at least local celebrity& brag about it on my blog big. BIG.


First of all... I know you've all been waiting with bated breath since I first showed you THIS photo more than a year ago:

That's right... NATALIE MADE IT IN THE HIPSTER PUPPIES BOOK!!!!!!! I could not be anymore excited or proud of my furry little ball of angst! The book will be released on July 5th & rumor has it (aka email from the author has it) my copy is on it's way to my doorstep right now. Yeeee!!! You can get pre-order info from the Tumbr or just start camping out at your local Barnes & Noble at your leisure.

And while they're not NEARLY as adorable as my angel-face pup, the gingered & freckled Eddings boys do hold a certain charm of their own & have some pretty big news too. You might recognize Jeff & Ben from my Mexico photos, that's one of my pastors & his boys, & they're making a documentary about their quest to be the best mibsters in all the land. Ben & his friend Brandon just qualified for Nationals this week (I told you... big deal). So check them out, I'll keep you updated as the film progresses.

So what's been going on in your world? Go ahead, brag a little...

Just Another Day With US

Oh here we go again, Lauren is blabbing on about how amazing her friends are. Yadda yadda, we've heard it before. But I am continually amazed & reminded just how lucky I am.

Sunday the Dugans were working on their new house that needed a bit of love & they're doing most of it themselves. I think a day of labor would be a test of friendship for a lot people, but for us it actually steamrolled into twice as many people as expected. We could be doing anything & as long as we're together it would be a fun day.  It makes me wonder... How do people live any other way? How do they function? How to they get things done? How do they enjoy life without people like this who are there when you're celebrating but also there when you're scraping hummus colored paint from the walls?

 

 

 

When Dugan told one of the new neighbors "Oh just a few people from my church came by to help" he jokingly asked if he could join our church too if we do lawn work. And the answer is YES. Because I don't know any other group of people who will sand & scrape & rake all afternoon & still pose for a prom style photo at the end. And even if they do try to touch my feet & make me squirm, they're still my people. I hope that everyone has people like mine.