Archive for the 'family' Category

how i spent my thanksgiving: an essay by posh d. pants

the main idea for this essay is that i had a really great thanksgiving. and now i shall prove this main idea with several examples.*

on the actual day of thanks, i went over to my cousin jim’s house. and when i say “cousin,” i mean “person i am somehow related to.” i don’t actually have any first cousins, but my mom’s side of the family is so big, they really make up for it. the house was packed with about five different tables to seat the forty or so people that had gathered (some of these folks i haven’t seen since i was a little girl, and it was one of the few times in my life when the value of nametags outweighed the dorkiness).

in fact, this was pretty much the thanksgiving of my dreams. henri says that my ideal holiday is the first ten minutes of “home alone,” which is totally double true (esp. the pizza). i love the crowds! the chaos! the confusion! in fact, jim’s house was SO packed, henri said “wow, i can see how they forgot about kevin.”

speaking of forgetting something important, i left flossie at home, but sadie came to the rescue and allowed me to take gems like this:

my dad sooo knew that picture was going on le blog.

i think the main reason i love all of the chaos of big family gatherings is that i grew up as an only child, so our house was always rather quiet (and calm, which i generally prefer). but it’s not just about the boisterous atmosphere… it’s also the INSANE NUMBER OF DESSERTS!

LOOK AT THAT! LOOK! AT! THAT!

also, i was sitting right next to that table. cos i am full of strategery!!!

the third reason thanksgiving was so great (after family and food) was that there was a baby there!!!!

and i got to play with her! and pinch (gently) those massive cheeks! hi ruthie!

ruthie’s older sister, bailey, was there too. i wish i could’ve taken her home, i.e. the Cutest Leftovers Ever.

my uncle scott and i spent the next two nights with my parents in round rock, where we did the usual things: reading, watching movies, talking… oh, and scaring the pants off of each other via facial masks.

RAAAA!!! i’m so lucky that i got my mom’s gene for Zombie Face.

we also put up the family christmas tree, a tradition that always gives me major squee.

and yes, we do all wear santa hats. and we LIKE IT!

even though it happens ever year, i cherish unfolding each ornament, esp. when i discover that it’s one of my all time favorites. then i do a litle dance while shreiking the name of the ornament, like it’s been lost for a hundred years and was just discovered in, like, the remains of the titantic.

this year was kind of a major milestone, though, cos i brought some of my childhood ornaments home… for my own tree, in my own apartment. it’s almost like i’m a grown-up or something.

yay! the tree is ready! so let’s have christmas now!

after all of our decorating, we drove over to downtown georgetown for the tree lighting ceremony. since georgetown is a pretty small place, it felt more like a little neighborhood block party, which only added to the charm. the town square was decked out with lights, and yes, there were carolers!

most of the stores were open late, so we explored charming little places like this bookstore, which YES had a tree made of BOOKS!

and of course, a ton of antique stores. the pitres love their antiques!

seriously, though, how inviting does that window look? so many sparkles! and colors! and whimsy!

we ended the night with a serenade from some carolers dressed in, CHECK, victorian gear! the only thing missing was the roaming band of broadway bound tweens singing their hearts out and dressed like orphans. you know what i’m talking about.

after such a wholesome holiday, it only seemed right to drive to san antonio with erica and henri so we could be as touristy as possible on the riverwalk. i knew it was going to be a good night when we got a surprise bottle of champers from some of erica’s old hotel co-workers. cheers to US!

also, thanks to erica, we got to stay in a posh hotel room!! with an awesome view! rather than jumping on the bed, henri, being the mature adult that he is, decided to build a fort with the couch cushions.

the riverwalk is always a fun (and yes, cheesy) place to visit, but during the hoidays, it turns into a WINTER WONDERLAND! well, i mean, minus the snow. fake snow, however, would definitely be cool (san antonio, are you reading this?).

i asked erica and henri to pose for a “we’re on the riverwalk!” picture, but instead of taking the picture, i played that prank where you hit “record” instead of taking an actual picture and then after about a minute, yr subjects realize they’ve been posing and feel like idiots and everyone wins with the hilarity! esp. when henri and erica are involved, cos they LIKE looking like idiots.

we tried to check out as many touristy places as possible (except the rainforest cafe. we walked in… and walked right back out. there’s only so much THEME one person can take), but my favorite was the dueling piano bar!!!

first of all, i cannot BELIEVE people paid $23 just to have their phrase written on a mirror board. i think i’m going to put a white board up in my cubicle and see how much money i can make from my co-workers.

second of all, I LOVE DUELING PIANOS!!! even though they didn’t play nearly enough billy joel for my taste.

we ended up sitting with a husband and wife who were out celebrating the wife’s birthday. another good thing about piano bars: it is v. v. easy to make friends when you’re singing yr heart out to elton john.

esp. when the husband is REALLY EXCITED that it’s his wife’s birthday and repeatedly asks you to wish her a happy birthday. NO REALLY IT’S HER BIRTHDAY TELL HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY! IT’S HER BIRTHDAY!

in other words, the riverwalk and its people totally met and then, amazingly, surpassed my expectations.

and so, in summary, i had a great thanksgiving because:

there was so much family!

there was so much pie!

there was a baby and a toddler!

i went to the riverwalk and enjoyed its culture!

the end.

p.s. did you guys have a good thanksgiving?

*i really wanted to start this essay with the webster’s definition of thanksgiving but i just couldn’t bring myself to that level of high schoolness.

LINKS

ready to salivate over thanksgiving food all over again? check out what michelle made… uh, michelle, want to come over to my house next year?

i loved this jezebel entry about food descriptions in books, cos, hello, that’s mostly what i remember about books, esp. the ones i read as a kid. like, the maple syrup ice cream in “little house on the prairie”! or the ice cold milk in “the boxcar children”! heck, even the turkish delight in the narnia book… and i don’t even *like* turkish delight.

BEST JENGA SET EVER (thanks for the link, john!)

check out this preview for the new electric company. i kinda want to learn to read all over again!

panda parade!

the only good thing about being sick…

is having a mom who lives close by and can come over to take care of you (i.e. spoil you).

yeah, that’s right, i’m 29 years old. and that’s a cabbage patch mug.

i love you, mom! thanks for coming over and taking care of yr sickly only child, who is still lying on the couch and letting all of yr sweet, sweet TLC purge this grossness out of her system.

later i’ll microwave some soup, but it won’t taste as good as when you microwave it for me. and that’s just the straight up truth.

a day in his pants: the posh deluxe interview with al pitre (part 2)

as y’all can see from yesterday’s half of the interview, my dad is a really interesting guy who embraces new experiences and constantly seeks learning opportunities.

today, you will understand even better why he is an amazing father.

before i let his responses speak for themselves, i’d like to mention a few of my favorite things about my dad. just in the name of full disclosure. like, if i was that “in step” dude that interviews people on the last page of “parade” magazine, this is what i’d put in the sidebar.

1. Friendliest Guy In The Entire Universe

my dad has never, ever met a stranger. everyone he meets suddenly becomes his new friend, whether it be the grocery store cashier, the kerbey lane waiter or the lady working a booth at the street fair. a few months ago, while waiting in line for the shuttle in georgetown, he gave out his sunscreen to every single person in line. the other day, he got so involved in a conversation with a sales guy at the domain that my mom and i had to literally drag him out of the store. it’s actually a quality i have *always* admired about my dad– even in the hair-trigger embarrassment days of adolescence, i was never ashamed of my dad’s ability to reach out to people.

2. Everyone’s Second Dad

my dad (as well as my mom, who, yes, i will be interviewing later!) is basically like a second dad to all of my friends. my parents have always taken an active interest in everyone i care about, which makes me feel even more loved as their daughter. oh, talena needs a coat? dad’s got one. josh needs his bike fixed? mr. al will drive right over! henri’s moving? mr. pitre can help him pack! yesterday’s military photo of my dad sitting at his desk, ready to serve you, really says it all.

me and my super-dad, celebrating my new master’s degree.

3. Mr. Safety Pants

there is NO ONE who cares about safety more than my dad. i have heard MANY a lecture from him about what NOT to do, including our infamous discussion about the dangers of wearing flip flops on a plane. his precautions have been so ingrained in me that i constantly wear sunscreen and never forget my bike helmet, even though it looks incredibly dorky. i just have this fear that i’ll get hit by a car and die and the cops will have to tell my dad, “no sir, she wasn’t wearing a helmet.” that might be harder on my dad than my actual death.

4. The Man Who Reads Everything

both of my parents gave me a passion for reading, but my dad is the Ultimate Fan of the historical marker (and really, educational signs in general). there have been many days where my mom and i have left my dad miles behind us at the museum and then spent an hour in the gift shop, waiting for him to finish reading every single word on every single sign. don’t even get me started on what it was like to drive through Civil War battlefields with him. this may sound like a complaint, but i actually love this about my dad. he stores up everything and then always has a new fact or piece of history to share with me.

5. Engineer Extraordinaire

given his engineering profession, my dad is a v. methodical planner pants, a trait he passed on to me (although he designs platforms and i design winery tours, etc.). when i was small, he built me an AMAZING bed with cabinets and drawers underneath. before i moved into my room at wiess college, he created a blueprint of the space, complete with to-scale paper cut-outs of my furniture, so we could determine the perfect and most efficient layout. i have constantly benefited from his practicality and precision, except for the time he tried to help me with my math homework in elementary school. “sarah, let’s just say that this number equals x…” “DAD, i’m in the fourth grade. i have NO idea what you’re talking about.”

anyway, enough from me. let’s get back to the interview, esp. cos there are some juicy parts coming up!

so dad, after the military, you eventually enrolled at LSU. what made you decide to go there, and what inspired you to pursue civil engineering?

During the final year of my enlistment, my dad retired and moved back to Pineville, Louisiana purchasing the house his mother moved after he went in the Army. LSU had an extension there and since the G.I. bill at the time only provided a monthly stipend $130 I had to find a cheap school. At time I still thought highly of Louisiana. So I filed the necessary paperwork to get an early release from the service to attend the 1968 fall semester at LSUA (one benefit in being an administrative specialist as long as I was, is that you know all the regulations that you can benefit from plus good contacts with other administrative specialist higher up who can help grease the wheels).

Why I became a Civil Engineer… some where I got this idea of working for the Bureau of Reclamation, building dams. Of course later, working for Conoco during summer vacations, I discovered that one could make a lot of money doing some pretty interesting projects in the oil business.

 

Four of my college buddies. We were attending a wedding of a classmate in Victoria, Texas. Starting on the left is Frank, Dennis, Leon and Me. Frank and Dennis were my roommates. Sad to say we lost contact with each other after we graduated.

 

how did you and mom meet?!!!! tell me about some of yr early dates!

I met your mom during my senior year at LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge. We lived in an apartment complex that was between the Mississippi levee and a rail road track. She lived by the rail track and I lived near the levee. On the way to school on my bike I noticed her and her friend Alice walking to school. She was so cute, with big blue eyes. One day, having sinus problems on a cold morning I drove my car. When I saw them I stopped and asked if I could give them a ride, which they accepted. First impressions were not good as she thought I was about 4 years younger and a hippie (long hair and bike) and since she lived in the end where most married couples lived I thought she was married. Fortunately for you, we cleared that up and started dating. Our first date was a Halloween party.

Not having much money (some things don’t change in college life), our dates consisted of LSU foot ball games (students got in free), movies, parties in our apartments, during warmer weather pool parties, eating in cheap places (some just had white butcher paper for tablecloths), hang outs in the student union and once a trip to New Orleans for Mari Gras. We used to write each other letters and cards (we had P.O. boxes at the student union). Like you, your mom was involved an organization similar to Big Brothers and Sisters.

ha ha, that is awesome that mom thought you were a hippie, when nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Sue not long after we were married. Isn’t she cute?

give me the sequence of events between when you and mom got married and when i was born. where did you guys live? what did you do as wild twentysomethings?

Upon graduation, we found out that Conoco had reassigned me from the New Orleans office to Lake Charles. We were disappointed as we were looking forward to life in the “Big Easy.” You mother got a job as a high school library in a mostly African American high school (Louisiana was still resisting the changing times). Since we had to start work in Lake Charles a month or so before our wedding, your mother moved in to the apartment and I moved in to a room house (an experience). After the wedding we befriended the two other newlyweds in the apartments on either side. Lake Charles wasn’t much, but there were parties, theater, fishing and sailing (I had a sail boat at the time). There were many trips to Houston (Astro World), New Orleans for fun with classmates, weddings of classmates, and an occasion return to LSU for football games. We got tired of the long absences that my job required and I was able to get transferred to Houston. After a few months I decided to leave the industry and work for Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, a Civil Engineering firm.

 

Sue and I in front of our first apartment (actually we had the unit upstairs)

Your mom and I lived in a two story townhome in the San Felipe area where all the young married and singles lived. She initially worked for the Harris Country Public Library system followed by a position with the Houston Public Library. We were justly classified as “DINKS” (Dual Income, No Kids). Most complexes had a party room where they held a function during week. One favorite was in a complex called Woodway Square called “75 cent spaghetti dinner night” where for 75 cents you got a spaghetti dinner plus drinks (extra cost) and you could party afterwards. They had a great New Year’s party. Not long after moving to Houston, we went to England, Scotland and Holland for two weeks. Then there were the skiing trips to New Mexico and Colorado. Vacation to California (we went twice).

i am totally starting a 75 cent spaghetti night, cos that sounds awesome.

 

On vacation in California.

 

dude. dad. you guys were TOTAL HIPSTERS.

We also participated in many activities with my co-workers at the civil engineering firm such as weekend camping in New Braunfels, to canoe and tube the river, Star Trek conventions (where we saw Gene Roddenberry present his proposal for the next Star Trek series), clubbing (House of Pies was a favorite late night stop afterwards) and movies. Houston is where we purchased our first home. During this time I brought a yellow MGB sport car for your mom and we both enjoyed it. Deciding to return the oil industry, I accepted a position with Marathon Oil Company, which after a short time in Houston was transferred to Lafayette, Louisiana where you entered our lives.

star trek conventions = why i was born a nerd.

 

Sue and I during our “DINK” period.

 

ok, now let’s put me, yr fabulous only child, in the picture. how did it feel to become a dad?! at the risk of sounding narcissistic, what was it like to raise me as yr daughter?

I remember clearly the night of your birth. I couldn’t be with your mother during the delivery but as the doctor was bringing you to the nursery he stopped by with you and slowly uncovered you to, I guess, ensure me that you had arrived healthy with all your parts. A little baby girl with red hair, that took my heart away. In the nursery, you really stood out with that red hair among all those Cajun babies. When my dad was looking at you through the glass he turned and said, “Now you will worry about her all your life”. It was the beginning of “Mr. Safety Pants”. You were and are a wonderful daughter and we had so much fun raising you. Being your dad has been and still is the most wonderful joy of my life.

tell me about some of yr favorite “dad” activities and memories.

I have many favorite “Dad” activities and memories. Reading to you at night, teaching you corny jokes (How do you fix a broken tomato? With tomato paste!), you riding on my back, swinging, watching you and your friends play.

When you started to school, dinner time became very special as your mom and I would listen to your adventures of the day. It was a high point of the day until you left for college.

In your younger years there were the brownie camp outs, family reunions where we played for hours in the pool or rode horse, school plays and activities, Halloween, camping trips with our church friends, trips to the Schlitterbahn, playing with our dog Biscuit and of course the many birthday parties, Christmas and the numerous sleepovers.

 

Dad and Sarah, ready to trick or treat!

 

Going to Disneyworld for the first time when you were five brings back so many warm memories. You hugged every Disney character you saw. You had no fear for any of the rides, like Space Mountain, which I found very scary. After you learned to read (at an early age I might add), when we would travel, we would just stock up on books from the library and you would read them on the way.

 

Sharing adventures with Sarah in Williamsburg.

 

Memories from your junior high and high school years include the many family vacations we took from D.C., to Alaska (remember the float plane trip over the Glaciers to the fishing lodge), taking you and friends to the movies, to eat, the mall, Astroworld and my office for your yearly downtown bus trips(before you could drive), sending Biscuit upstairs to wake you up for school, watching all the Alien movies in one day before we went to see the last one, the many sleepovers, the video movies you and your friends would make, your expression when I surprised you with your first car, your writings and your many scholastic achievements.

 

One of the numerous parties and sleepovers.

yeah, we really knew how to do slumber parties, didn’t we?

 

Our Alaska Adventure.

 

When you left for college, for the first two weeks every time I would walk by your room I would get this lump in my throat and my eyes would swell up. It is always tough for a parent to let go, but that is the way is supposed to be. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments and how you continue to develop and maintain friendships.

Proud day in the Pitre family, Sarah’s graduation from Rice.

 

As foot note, I am always pleased to read or hear the achievements and activities of your high school and college friends as they are truly some special young people. Our lives have been blessed and enriched from knowing them.

 

how would you compare yr childhood to mine? when i was growing up, did i ever remind you of yrself?

As you read above, you can see that your childhood was very different than mine. Your mother and I strived to ensure that you had a normal childhood. You were very different from the child I was.

what sort of ideal did you strive for as a father? what were the values you sought to instill in me?

I wanted to be a different father than my Dad’s generation. When you were a baby I helped your mother by also changed your diapers, bathing you, rocking you sleep, reading to you and playing with you.

Card by Sarah

 

We wanted Christ to be a part of your life. His values are timeless. By going to church as a family and participating in its activities as a family, we hoped that you would continue once you left home and started your own life.

When you started school we wanted to provide you the best education and the opportunity to participate in all the activities you were interested in. This provision included our encouragement, support and time, in other words being there for you.

We tried not to be too strict, giving you freedom to do things as you matured.

We wanted you have confidence that comes from knowing that we loved you no matter what and would always be there to support and encourage you.

Drinking beer in Germany during our Europe trip (after your Rice graduation).

since everyone knows that you are mr. safety pants, why don’t you give me yr top list of safety tips.

I guess being in an industry where I have witnessed some pretty spectacular and serious accidents, safety has been ingrained in me.

 

  • Before doing any task, check to that you have the proper tools, you know how to use them , any required safety equipment, and think through the task if any think could go wrong and try to address it.
  • Driving - maintain your car and check your tires frequently. Keep a good distance from 18 wheelers, remember that everyone else thinks they are the only ones on the road, you never have the right-a-away, just because the light is green doesn’t mean the other guy will stop, the most dangerous driver is the person driving the big SUV, drinking coffee, talking on the phone, putting on make-up or shaving, or even reading the paper (they are out there).

in the last five years or so, you’ve really gotten into cycling. what drew you to bikes? how often (and for how long) do you ride? and when will you work in a bike shop as “friendly mr. al,” the guy who fixes all of the kids’ bikes for free?

As noted above I started riding in college and always had a bike. During our time in Lafayette I got interested in running and used run about 6 miles day 4 or 5 times a week. Just as we moved to Houston I developed bursitis in my hip. After it healed I tried to run again but it would flare up plus I was traveling so much that I stopped running. Later reading about the MS 150 (the two day ride from Houston to Austin) I decided that biking would provide me the exercise running use to. So I brought a bike and started riding. I have done numerous charity rides plus two MS 150s. Since I retired I ride about 60 to 80 miles a week (20 - 30 miles 3 times a week). I must say I love living north of Austin for all the great places to ride.

No “Mr. Al’s” bike shop yet but maybe in the future.

 

My two special people welcome me at the end of my first MS 150.

so, you’ve recently (sort of) retired for the 30th time. what are you gonna DO with yrself, dad?!!

I have to catch up on all the things we need to do to house and complete our move in. But your mom and I have joined senior university in Georgetown and are looking forward to attending some of the classes. We plan to get into some sort of volunteer work and do some traveling. Biking will still be one of my major activities.

what is yr secret power?

Don’t a have any.

dad, that is SO not true. i’ll tell you what yr secret power is: yr amazing ability to befriend ANYONE. no matter who they are, or what their state of mind is, within one minute of talking with you, they will want to be yr life-long friend.

do you sleep in jimjams? what kind?

I sleep in box shorts (not the white kind) and a tee shirt.

what is yr #1 favorite food?

Apple pie.

what is yr top restaurant recommendation in austin? what’s the best thing on the menu?

I have enjoyed all the restaurants we have been to with you and couldn’t just recommend just one. Now around here we recommend the Monument Cafe in Georgetown. All the food is good.

tell me about yr top area of expertise.

My area of expertise is the design, installation and construction of offshore oil and gas processing facilities and structures.

 

Me, multi-tasking offshore

 

what was yr favorite item of clothing as a child?

When I was about 13 or 14 my mom brought me some white buck skin loafers, which was the in thing of the time. I loved and wore them till I finally out grew them.

what was yr favorite toy as a child? (the moody bonus question)

I don’t remember (too many years ago).

what do you plan on doing when you’re 80?

I hope I am still riding my bikes (with my grandkids (hint, hint,)), and living someplace where I can walk, ride a bike or public transportation to stores, restaurants, etc.

what is yr best karaoke song?

Never done karaoke and would not subject any one to my singing.

dad, that is not true. i think yr favorite song begins, “beans, beans, the magical fruit…”

do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? who?

No one ever has.

tell me something scandalous!

In the 9th grade I and several of my classmates got kicked out of school for a day for making a disturbance in class. If it hadn’t been for my 8th grade teacher who came home with me to calm my dad down, he would have killed me.

The Pitres walk Abbey Road in the summer of 2001.

dad, this has been an absolutely wonderful experience for me (and for the rest of pants world, i bet). i am so proud to call you my father, not to mention utterly thankful for the example you’ve given me. i only hope i can follow in yr footsteps and love people as selflessly and sweetly as you have loved me.

i love you!!

“i can’t have a baby because i have a 12:30 lunch meeting”

i remember the first time i encountered the idea of a big shot professional working mama. her name was j.c. wiatt, and she was a high powered new york business woman until one day, she received an inheritance… in the form of a baby.

yeah, that’s right, i’m talking about “baby boom.”

i remember LOVING this movie as a kid, cos it featured glitzy new york city and a cute baby and homemade apple sauce which looked DIVINE. at the time, i thought it was perfectly natural that a woman would give up her uber powerful corporate job and retire to a quiet town in vermont to raise her kid and make applesauce.

i mean, obviously, right?

now, of course, i can’t help but wonder if j.c. ever got bored with small town life. what if she missed having an assistant bring her coffee? or making decisions that actually affected more than, say, two people? or walking into a room and having people see her as “that big shot CEO lady” or even just “j.c.” as opposed to “mom”?

jezebel posted two separate entries related to this topic today, one about how difficult it is for moms to juggle jobs and kids (file that under Big Duh Science) and the other about a new policy in britain that gives more maternity leave to mothers but reinforces the idea that women should always be the primary caregiver. uh, i’m guessing “baby boom” made more of a splash in the UK than “mr. mom.”

given the current state of the economy, it seems more and more likely that both parents will have to continue working after they start a family. oh, and don’t even get me started on maternity (or paternity) leave.

it makes me wonder about how i will feel, whenever i have kids (which is far, far into the distant future, let me assure you, unless i randomly inherit a baby like j.c.). what sort of choices will i have? what if i want to stay home but can’t afford it? what if i stay home and suddenly feel, well, like i’m suffocating, because i’ve lost a v. real part of my identity?

when i look back on my childhood, i know i was extremely fortunate to have a mother that was able to hang out with me, 24/7. sure, she took me to mother’s day out for a break now and then, but for the most part, mom was always there, whether i needed a PB & honey sandwich or a narrator for the 367th reading of “blueberries for sal.”

would my childhood have been different if my mom had worked? of course. would it have been worse? i doubt it, considering that my parents are both so amazing.

but would it have been harder on them? certainly. did my mom ever regret staying at home rather than pursuing a career? i don’t think so.

these are all questions that people, parents, have to answer for themselves… then again, financially, sometimes they only have one option.

since i was never a “latch key” kid, i harbor a real curiosity about how parents who both work make time to give their children the love and education they need. i know it’s certainly, definitely possible, but i want to know *how* you do it… without retiring and making gourmet apple sauce for a living.

so, pants world: what do you think is necessary to create a positive and nurturing environment for kids? what lessons did you learn from yr parents, especially with regards to balance?

and, for those of you with kids… or about to have a little one… how did you make these choices, about working or staying home?

of course, if j.c. wiatt was transplanted to 2008, she’d probably just hire four nannies, throw in an adopted kid from a third world country and call it a day.

LINKS

weburbanist is gonna do an eight part series on bansky. and i am v. glad.

the new italian vogue, featuring all black models, is totally awesome. so, tell me, fashion world, why don’t i see any of these fine ladies on the runway?

BWE compiled a list of movies that made more money on their opening weekend than eddie murphy’s latest disaster, “meet dave.” and WOW, “baby geniuses”? really? ok, that’s just sad.

now, the bellas and edwards of the world can find love online thanks to lovebitten.net. you better believe i’m gonna start trolling for spike… (thanks matt for the link).

apparently, it’s now a big trend to take children’s drawings and try to recreate them. so far, though, this guy is my favorite. maybe it’s because i soooo drew that pink princess room. plus, i love the recreation of a child’s perception of tables…

have you guys heard of this blind 5 year-old girl who is, like, a mini mozart? wow.

check out this PB&J mechanical munchie machine!!! uh, can i get a mac & cheese munchie machine? what about one for sweet potato fries? (thanks to moody for the link).

do you guys know what a beguine is? i didn’t, until i read this fascinating article in the times travel section.

jezebel has a clip from one of the greatest eps of “intervention” ever. and by greatest, i mean the best possible marriage of hilarious and depressing.

my kind of cap & gown

as you all know, i have now officially graduated.

there are a lot of benefits to finishing graduate school, like being able to put yr shiny new degree on yr resume and NEVER HAVING HOMEWORK AGAIN and people calling you “master.”

wait, people don’t call you “master” when you have a masters degree?! are you serious? WHY DID I WASTE ALL OF THIS TIME?

anyway, all of these benefits are great, but my favorite part is CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT I’M DONE.

cos i am reeeeally good at celebrating things. so good, in fact, that i managed to pack ALL of my favoritey favorites into one weekend. read this list and be amazed:

1) my parents

2) my friends

3) tasty business

4) alamo sing-alongs

5) radiohead

this was no cookies and punch reception, people.

friday night, my parents took henri and me to a posh dinner at mars on south congress. i’d never been there before, so it was even more exciting!

we started off with the tuna tataki, which was EXQUISITE.

for the entree, i ordered the butternut squash gyoza with sake cream sauce. IT WAS AMAZING. OMG. looking at this picture makes me want to lick my monitor. and that is gross.

of course i saved room for dessert, cos hello, it wouldn’t be a poshdeluxe celebration without baked goods!!!! although i will forever love the donut holes at parkside, these glazed donuts (with espresso gelatto) absolutely took my breath away. LOOK AT THEM.

ok great now i’m starving. thanks for nothing, lean pocket from lunch!

it’s been so wonderul to have my parents close by in round rock, and on friday, i was especially grateful for their presence (and not just cos they bought me food). they’ve always been so supportive of me– honestly, i’ve never met two people who are more encouraging, to *everyone*, than my parents. when i saw the pride and happiness in their eyes, i felt like a million buckaroos.

yay, now all three of the pitres have masters degrees! we are, as meredith likes to say, so freaking scholarly!

since i knew i’d be seeing many of my VIPantsers over the weekend, i decided to ask them for advice, cos their opinions and perspectives mean the world to me.

i started with mom and dad:

see? aren’t they the best?!!

then i asked henri, cos i think he is v. v. smart, and he’s also business-savvy, which i am not.

i’m starting to feel like a children’s book character, gathering advice from adult figures, but ha ha i’m an adult, too. i just forget sometimes.

josh met up with us at the stephen f. austin for a drink so my parents could ask him a billion questions about his new job and his engagement (another great thing about my parents– they are like second parents to all of my friends). josh has been there for several major milestones in my life– the first day at rice, the first day in austin (he helped me move, bless him) and now graduation– and i feel lucky to have a person like him as a constant in my life.

plus, he totally knows how to enjoy a sing-long, which is where we went next.

thank you, josh, for always letting me take ridiculous photos of you and then singing to weezer’s “buddy holly” at the top of yr lungs.

the alterna-90s was the perfect theme for the night, considering the nostalgia invoked by songs like “mr. jones” and “smells like teen spirit.” as i danced around and sang angst-filled lyrics, i thought about how far i’ve come since seventh grade slumber parties and late night journaling sessions at dietrich’s.

the show ended with “it’s the end of the world (as we know it)” which was, well, wildly appropriate.

afterwards, i asked josh for advice, which he gave while wearing his glasses.

the next day, henri and i drove to houston to see RADIOHEAD!!!!!!

not only is radiohead (still, after all these years) my favorite band, but they also happen to be intrinsically connected to graduation for me. back in may of 2001, i ran back to my dorm room after the rice ceremony to sit at my desk, still wearing my cap and gown, and buy a ticket online for the radiohead concert later that summer.

and so, of course i had to see radiohead after graduating from grad school. it’s just in the stars.

i don’t usually like “big” shows, but there’s something so fitting about seeing radiohead in a place where you can sit comfortably, surrounded by yr friends, and let the music wash over you.

note my awesome new bling, a graduation gift from my parents. cos P stands for pitre, poshdeluxe, pants, pretty much everything that is awesome in the universe!!!!

while we were waiting for the show to begin, it started to sprinkle, so henri, matt, meredith and i took shelter under a blanket. it totally felt like an elementary sleepover where everyone gets under the bed sheet and tells ghost stories with a flashlight.

i realized that all i need are these faces, cos even under a blanket in the cold rain, i had the time of my life. some people throw massive catered parties to celebrate their graduation, but i’ll take my best friends and a blanket any day.

josh, erica and teresa showed up to join our little party, which just made me happier. yay!! radiohead with people i love!

and THEN mark lewis came! i sweart, it felt like, “POSH DELUXE, this is yr LIFE!!!” the best part was that mark and meredith finally met in person… it’s the greatest feeling, when two of yr most cherished friends meet each other with wide smiles and outstretched hands and say, “i recognized you from the blog!” ha ha.

the radiohead show did not disappoint. LIKE I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT. it was AMAZING. first of all, the sound was incredible, and i give radiohead’s engineering skills full credit, cos the acoustics at the woodlands pavilion aren’t always that great. second, they had INCREDIBLE LIGHTS!! WOW!!!

look!!!!!

and they changed colors!! and displayed designs! look!!!

the colors would change in time with the music, so the show was a feast for both the ears and the eyes.

even though i love ALL of their albums, i was especially gratified when they played not one but TWO songs from “the bends.” here’s a video of “planet telex,” which was part of the encore. you can see the lights go CRAYZEEEEE.

when i listen to radiohead, my mind reels… sometimes just about life, sometimes about specific memories attached to songs. every track from “amnesiac” reminds me of falling asleep in european hostels, cos i bought it when kendall and i were in london after college graduation. “the bends” takes me back to freshmen year, when life was exciting and scary and frankly, overwhelming.

as i stood there and let the music seep into me, i thought so much about that summer, seven years ago, when i saw radiohead for the first time. i had just come back from europe, rented a house in montrose with mary, and had absolutely no job prospects. i didn’t have a clue about my next step, and somehow, i found that exhilarating. the music soared around me, and the world was open to receive it, open to receive *me*.

and even though so much has happened since that concert, i felt the same way as i stood there, a girl with a master’s degree but no master plan, a girl with a lot of possibilities and a lot of (sometimes conflicting) directions. but i’m not really the same… i’ve learned things and made mistakes and collected even more incredible, amazing people in my life. and that realization made me feel a little bit stronger.

i looked up at the moon as the music and sounds of the crowd rose up into the sky, and i felt precious in my insignificance.

as the crowds streamed out of the gate, i took advantage of mark’s concert attendance to ask him for advice.

the next day, a group of us accompanied matt to st. arnold’s brewery to support him in a beer brewing contest he entered. his final score was incredibly high, and all of us practically exploded with pride (meredith especially).

go matt! you are a master brewer, and i will enjoy the fruit of yr labor anytime you need me.

i love that my graduation celebration included celebrating someone else for their fantastic achievement, esp. because it makes me appreciate the support of my friends and family even more. in fact, the weekend went from a celebration of graduation to a celebration of ALL of the wonderful things in my life, and for me, that’s even better than a new diploma.

before we left, i asked one more friend for advice: meredith.

after gathering all of this advice, i feel like the richest girl on the planet.

because yes, meredith, the world IS my dance party. and i’m going to enjoy the pants out of it.

LINKS

have you guys seen the new trailer for joss whedon’s “dollhouse”?!!! ZOMGGGG. (thanks erin for the link!)

no matter who you’re voting for in the presidential election, i think we can all agree that misogyny in this country has yet to be conquered.

becky sent me this link about meatloaf cupcakes. i’m not sure how i feel about that.

she also sent me this kool-aid, like, database. remember saving kool-aid points?!! so you could get awesome kool-aid prizes?!! yeah!

an unexpected visit to my grandmother’s house

last night, i had a dream that i was back at my grandmother’s house.

and my whole family was there, including grandad and mama helen (my grandmother). grandad died when i was in seventh grade, so it was a lovely surprise to see him. he came out the front door while i was standing in the yard, so i gave him a hug and admired his thick, snow-white hair, which even when carefully parted always revealed a few dashing strays.

i didn’t really see mama helen, but i knew she was in the kitchen. i could smell the apples and bratwurst, one of my favorite dishes, cooking on the stove, and i wondered if she was sneaking bits of food to biscuit when no one was looking. when my parents and i first brought biscuit to the house, mama helen swore up and down that the dog would not set a paw inside her home. of course, by the next visit, biscuit found her rightful place at my grandmother’s feet whenever she was cooking (which was often) and even managed to score a few tummy rubs by jumping up into the chair while mama helen was watching a movie (which was always “the fugitive” or “the rainmaker”).

in my dream, i made my way into my grandmother’s massive, charmingly feminine bathroom. as a child, i was absolutely enthralled by this place. first, there was a bathtub and a *separate* shower (i had never seen such luxury before), and the bathtub, which was olive green, was sunk into the ground and surrounded by, what else, olive green carpet. i remember sitting in that bathtub as a child and reading the last few pages of “where the red fern grows,” because i didn’t want anyone to see me cry. i felt safe there, submerged in carpet, as if i had quietly sunk into a soft grassy hill in the middle of an empty field.

in my dream, i wandered into mama helen’s closets (she had two!) and smelled that sweet, grandmother smell– powder and polyester and shalimar perfume. i think i looked through a few of her outfits, fingering the material and marveling at her large shoe collection.

my mother turned out to be in the other closet, but she was taking nap, so i didn’t disturb her. she looked really peaceful, that kind of blissful vulnerability that comes only when you know yr parents are just around the corner. you’re safe, from everything.

when i woke up, i realized that i haven’t seen my grandmother’s house, nor my grandmother, in six years. it was a strange feeling, to realize the actual distance when everything, even the bathroom, seemed so close and clear to me. a delicate layer of sadness settled over my shoulders, but it was gentle and light, like a cashmere shawl, and gave me an unexpected feeling of warmth.

there is a sweetness in missing people and places, because the spaces they occupied in yr heart are never filled in or paved over. time passes and the grass grows high, but when you really need to, you can find those spaces again and curl up for a little while, hidden from the pressing present, submerged in a green bathtub.

LINKS

veggie cupcakes? kinda like that jessica seinfeld book but way less annoying.

angela chase, the anti-juno.

matt sent me this link a while ago, but i forgot to post it. create yr own unicorn ranch!

look ma! i got an A+ on my weekend!

you know what, guys? i am REALLY good at weekends.

and this past one was no exception!

friday night, members of the matthew gierhart fan club gathered together to bid our dear friend farewell. just when you thought matt had moved back to austin, he packs up and flies back to london. gah. fortunately there is internet in england, so matt can continue to protect my blog from bots and hackers (did anyone see my site yesterday? uh, yeah. WHAT IS THE DEAL).

we met up at vinosity, this cozy wine bar near my apartment, but after that, the night sort of fell into a delightful kind of chaos. i felt like we were a band of roaming gypsies, but with better hygiene (and no child stealing, even though i was tempted a couple times).

after trudy’s proved to be too crowded for a late night meal (10:30) we drove to south congress to grab some pizza at home slice.

there’s a lot going on in that picture, and I LIKE IT.

here’s matt again, looking remarkably like paul mccartney, which i have never noticed until now.

matt was feeling overwhelmed because we had unwittingly walked into a major, MAJOR hot rod festival. or party. or show. i don’t really know what they’re called, but it involves lots of hot rods tooling down the street while rockabilly people hoot, holler and drink beer five feet away from the cops.

in short, it’s AWESOME!

seriously, where can i sign up to join the rat rodz? anyone? anyone?

hmm. maybe i’ll just start my own hot rod gang! i’ll totally trick out thomas and get “poshdeluxe” airbrushed on the back window and my group will be called Cruisin’ Pants or something.

a hot rod show is totally the type of thing i would never plan on attending but LOVE accidentally discovering. plus it was hilarious to watch regular drivers suddenly find themselves in the middle of a road rally.

i liked this car the best, mostly cos of the skull and crossbones (which i think is covering up a dent? nice work, hot rodder).

i think amber has a future as a car show model, yeah? SHOW ME THAT ENGINE, GIRLIE!

it was the kind of night that produces a LOT of goofy pictures. for example, here’s amber and matt, AT PROM HAVING THE BEST NIGHT OF THEIR LIFE ZOMGGG.

and here’s matt (we moved on to the san jose), displaying his Camera Ready Smile.

you may recognize that smile from his famous “blue dragon” picture as well as his “artist portrait” that i took on his birthday.

here’s matt’s friend dave, who just moved to austin and will serve as matt’s replacement, except with less of a fake british accent (ok, ok, matt can never really be replaced. but still). dave has already been inducted into pants world based on his incredible goofy picture skills as well as his commission of a napoleon-like portrait (ask him about this. seriously).

this is how amber feels about matt’s departure. so, you know, don’t bring it up if she’s around.

erin’s face is a pretty typical response to matt. obviously she is full of love and adoration for him (note: we are now at rio rita. like i said, gypsies!).

matt couldn’t leave us without a final act of crayness, so he decided to… put a rubber band in his hair.

matt, thanks for giving me a lasting image of yr face to cling to until the next time you come to austin.

i’ll miss you, my dear!

so that was friday night.

saturday, i went to selina’s bridal shower at her sister nasrine’s house. here’s selina, holding the bridal glass that nas insisted she use throughout the shower.

yep, her glass has boobs. AWESOME. oh what a world it would be, if every glass had boobs! it’s like, a truck stop dream.

here’s selina with the aformentioned nas (nasrine) and her other sister, tanya.

in addition to glasses with boobs, nas also has a thing for HILARIOUS centerpieces. i found this little treasure in the middle of the cookies (where i just *happened* to be hanging out).

GET IT? she’s dragging him down the aisle! HAR HAR HAR HAR

selina’s sisters hosted this lovely soiree along with the charming and fabulous erica.

i want to take this moment to publicly thank all three hostesses for providing me with this AMAZING SPREAD OF FOOD.

i wish i could reach into that picture right now and steal some cheese!! NOM NOM NOM.

oh and it gets better. check out the CAKE:

ok, not only is the cake pretty on its own, but it also features the SAME DESIGN FROM THE INVITATION.

but could you expect anything less from the woman who gave her daughters the pinkest, most princessy bedroom ever?

that’s alison, who will soon realize that even her cup matches the room. seriously, though, WHEN CAN I MOVE IN? this house even features THE KITCHEN OF MY DREAMS!!!!!!!

i know i love real food (obvs), but come on. cooking plastic food is SO MUCH FUNNER.

after exploring the house, we played some games which i’m relieved to report did NOT include making a dress out of toilet paper. thank you, erica. we did, however, get to look at old pictures of selina and try to guess her age.

my favorite was her senior portrait, which you can totally identify, even from far away, by the Signature Senior Pose.

presents at bridal showers sort of make me feel like i’m back in the 50s, cos the packages are always full of kitchen stuff. then again, I REALLY WANT A KITCHEN AIDE MIXER. betty friedan, is that wrong?

of course i had to throw a bit of sass into my bed, bath & beyond gift (where, by the way, “gift wrap” means massive deforestation), so i gave selina a little bubble bath cupcake!

happy bridal pants, selina!

after the shower, i picked up dessiree for her first ever meeting with my parents! even better, we were gonna have a slumber party at their house!!! did someone say FROZEN UNDERWEAR? i wasn’t sure if round rock could handle so much awesomeness…

my parents are the nicest, warmest people in the world, so dessiree felt at home in no time. after dinner, we played this domino game called mexican train… i don’t know about the mexico part, but it does involve a train. and you get to press the button on the train if you are about to win, which is REALLY FUN!

at least, for the first few times. and then the train kind of gets annoying and you don’t press it anymore, you just say “choo choo!” which is really more fun.

here’s dessiree, giving me a typical look while my mom helps her strategize. usually, when dessiree looks at me like this, she means, “please stop embarrassing me” and/or “why are you so white?” I LOVE TEENAGERS.

once she got the hang of it, dessiree was an UNSTOPPABLE DOMINO FORCE. here she is, rejoicing over the impending destruction of her opponents.

after dominoes, dessiree and i watched “clueless” on TV, which is definitely a top pick for slumber parties. i told her that the movie came out when i was in high school, and then she looked at me like i was OLD. which, you know, i am. but i swear, we didn’t all dress like alicia silverstone… although i really, really wanted to.

the next morning, mom made baked oatmeal (so freaking tasty) and dad made my favorite item from Dad’s Cooking Specialties, beer biscuits!

i have so, so many fond memories of watching my dad carefully roll and cut the dough (with that same yellow cookie cutter)… the smell of beer biscuits and newsprint (from parade and the comics, obvs) is definitely one of my favorite childhood scents.

after breakfast, mom and dad took dessiree and me on a tour of the Sights of Round Rock! which boils down “downtown” (one city block), parks (which are actually amazing) and the FAMOUS ROUND ROCK that gave the town its name!

BEHOLD THE ROUND ROCK

yeah, i know. dessiree wasn’t impressed either.

so, like i said. i am totally an honors student when it comes to weekends.

ACED!!

as if i needed more reasons to love austin