No, it's not me.

The boy is a teenager. He's getting older, his voice is changing, and he is as well. Apparently he now sounds exactly like me. And it's not just that people ask me if they can talk to my mom when I answer the phone. Which has happened most of my adult life. But come to think of it, that hasn't happened in a while, so maybe my voice is changing too.

People think he's me when HE answers the phone. Everyone does. The mom. The friends. Even the husband. The kid loves it... he pretends he's me and listens either until he gets some info that he didn't know... or he gets bored. Freaks out most people. I had to tell the mom that she should ask some questions about trips we took when I was a kid... things the boy would never know... just to have a challenge-response confirmation before she actually started in conversation with me.

Today, I called the boy's cell phone to ask him something, and got his message.

Freaked me out... I heard myself talking but didn't remember making that message. Of course, it wasn't me.

Best night of tennis, ever.

I started taking tennis lessons over the summer. I'm really not very good. Actually, not good at all. I'd say I'm there for entertainment value for the tennis instructors.

I've never been good at sports. That includes all kinds: team sports, individual sports, recreational sports. I took ballet in preschool, and I seriously think that's all I ever did. Well, other than downhill skiing, which counts as a sport, but for me was always more of a social activity.

I'm enjoying tennis now, though. It's exercise, and eventually I might be able to graduate to advanced beginner. I'll give myself two years. The rest of my beginner class already moved up... but I have no such delusions.

My mom got me a new tennis racquet for Chanukah. I love it... Somehow it made me a better tennis player. The tennis instructor asked me if I went to the islands over winter break and got lessons. I told him that I of course wouldn't cheat on him. But seriously: it must be the racquet. I'm not doing anything differently. I somehow am just able to hit the ball now. 

Doesn't stop me from staying in the beginner class, though. 

Eclipsed

I watched the moon turn red behind the earth's shadow last night. Stayed up until 3:40 am. First solstice lunar eclipse since... 1638 or so. Not like it's much different than any other lunar eclipse, but still cool.

I promised the kids I'd wake them up. They groaned when I whispered to them that it was 3:20 am. They plodded downstairs, looked up, grunted, and went back to bed. Sigh.

Beep beep.

The sound of the boy's cell phone, beeping in his own voice, alerting him that he has a new text waiting.

Beep beep.

All day long, every day. My son is suddenly popular.

The girl got a cell phone this year for Chanukah too. Remembering when the boy got his. We just turned on his texting this year.

And now the girl has a boy that "wants to go out with her". I'm not sure to do with this information. She is ten, and she's my baby. I'm not sure she knows what to do with this information either.

Drafting menu

FFL draft was yesterday. We hosted again this year. Almost every family was there - fun. I LOVED everything on our menu. All my faves.

1. Salsa (of course), guacamole and chips
2. packaged white bean dip and chiptole bean dip with pretzel chips and carrots (the only thing I didn't make!)
3. fresh ricotta bruscetta with honey and tomatoes
4. beef nachos with cheese and tomatoes
5. bobby's corn salad with tomatoes, onions, blue cheese and basil dressing
6. RIBS with the best rub and sauce ever (have to remember to cook longer!!)
7. thai beef salad - yum
8. vietnamese summer rolls with shrimp and pork - yum
9. burgers with homemade pickles, hot dogs
10. corn on the cob
11. pear brie and chicken paninis - yum
12. shrimp and pork dumplings with two different dipping sauces
13. s'mores candy

somehow the camera was set to black and white but still looks good ... will post photos eventually