A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action

We've had a great week here in New Jersey where summer officially set in on my daddy's birthday (Happy Birthday Daddy!). The humidity hangs in the air like a lacy spanish moss draped on a southern oak, sometimes tickled by the breeze...but here to stay. Despite the tropical conditions (regrettably, sans beach and pina colada), I'm proud to say that I've been taking full advantage of the balance that my new profession brings to my life, and have been (slowly but surely) getting back in touch with life...with my life...which I find has changed in magical ways over the past year.

Dominick and I have been hitting the road and spending quality time with our friends and family - a quick dinner here, a weekend there - it never seems like nearly enough time together, but anything is better than nothing. As I learned during my self-imposed winter isolation (what my good friend Peter refers to as "Courtney's morose Irish poet phases"), a quick phone call - however brief - can mend even our most fragile relationships. So with BBQ season in full swing, we've been travelling the circuit and living it up.

With the passing of Ed Budd, Fathers' Day came and went without much heralding. It is so difficult to celebrate even the more innocuous holidays when there is such a hole in our hearts and our lives. The following weekend we went to the country house to celebrate daddy's birthday, and it was more than a little empty without Ed making cosmos and tooling around on the golf cart. There are still moments that we feel robbed, that we feel cheated, that we feel angry....but overall, we feel so blessed to have loved him, to have had him touch our lives with his wisdom and grace.

Tugger took his first boat ride on the pontoon boat (which used to be Ed's), and absolutely loved it! We spent alot of family time together - no entertaining, no company, no neighbor visits. It wasn't that we were being antisocial (I don't think Hogans know how to be) - I think we just craved the time together and knew exactly how we wanted to spend it.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday weekend.

My, My, My It's a Beautiful World

So every few months I go through a period of separation anxiety from my family in California and seek some desparate ways to get a fix. Usually this entails me searching frantically online for some magical $80 flight from Newark to LAX to appear. Of course, even if this airline manna were to exist, it wouldn't be enough. No, it would then have to be followed up with a memo from my boss telling me that it was totally fine for me to take vacation days that I don't have, an email from the dog-sitter that they could squeeze us in at the last minute, and a call from our contractor telling us that they like us SO much that they are replacing our roof for free!

You get the point, no trips to LA on the horizon...

In the grand scheme of things, I suppose we do a pretty good job of covering the coastlines and getting together as often as possible; but in a world that moves ever so quickly, and during a time in our lives where things seem to change and grow by the minute (especially those in diapers!), it takes alot of effort and care.

Luckily, we are all fairly internet savvy and manage to keep one another posted through blogs, emails, and websites. Most recently, Billie and Justin shared these photos of Liam's first trip to the beach. They touched my heart and I wanted everyone to enjoy our growing family. For reference, I've also posted a photo of us from our last trip to Disney, when Jen and Tim were the only married ones, and Billie was the "baby" at 16 - my how things have changed!

Let's Get Loose, Loose, Who Got the Hooch

Dominick and I are proud members of the "bridge and tunnel" club and try to make good use of our proximity to Manhattan. Our trips have taken a steep downturn since buying the house, but we're gearing back up. We are there often enough to be COMPLETELY irritated and dismissive to the very slowly wandering tourists...but not jaded enough to refuse to take photos or even be SEEN with a camera. Perfectly balanced in my mind!

Our most recent visit was centered around going to the theatre and dinner at a wonderful French restaurant (a gift from my generous sister). We have been meaning to try box seats and decided to give them a go at Les Miserables, since we've already seen it a few times. As it turns out, box seats are not all they are cracked up to be, as we missed any of the show located stage right! It was fantastically interesting to have a birdseye view of the orchestra and actors doing their thing - but the partial view of the stage left much to be desired in soaking in the full view and experience of the production. It was neat to go to see the play after having been to Paris, and it was fun to be able to visualize the Rue du Bac and Notre Dame as the characters made reference to them, but I think 4 times is it for us, onto some of the new arrivals (I recommend Mary Poppins to anyone who will listen...absolutely magical).

We hit LOADS of traffic having not paid any attention to the fact that the Yankees were playing the Mets - this event has absolutely no bearing on my life and 364 days of the year, my complete disinterest in major league baseball bears no real consequences. But on this day in particular, it would have been particularly useful information as I chose to drive in, despite the fact that my airconditioning is broken because (and I quote) "Don't worry Dom: the air flows through the vents and it is comfortable as long as I keep moving".

Argh.

But we kept ourselves entertained - as usual. Much to Dom's delight, I was forced to begin removing articles of clothing as the temperature reached 90 degrees with plenty of city humidity.

Then Dom gave me his best "Joisey" face, and proceeded to completely crack himself up...always his own best audience!

"Married Couple" Story of the Day:

I love fashion and always take advantage of the opportunity to dress up, especially when we go on one of our "date nights". So I recently purchased an adorable pair of capri pants (or so I thought) with two big black buttons on the waistband and decided to wear them to the show. Here's a terrible photo for reference:

Dominick and I were sharing some much-needed together time over a romantic dinner, showing a fantastic bottle of Cotes du Rhone who's boss, and he says "You know what the buttons on your pants remind me of?" To which I replied "Yea, they kinda remind me of sailor pants" and Dominick....my love, my confidante, my soulmate...exclaims "No, they look like Mickey Mouse's pants! I bet I could photoshop them to be red!"
He really knows how to make a girl feel beautiful! But I guess he makes up for it when I'm sitting on the couch in my pajamas with my hair defying gravity and last night's makeup smeared under my eyes and he comes over and plants one on me. Dressed up love is the easy part....but unbrushed-teeth, cranky, haven't-had-my-coffee-yet love....now THAT's the real deal.

For now, I take leave of you as I hear my husband announce that he can make a pizza on the grill (our oven is broken). Must go put my powers of persuasive logic and reasoning to good use.

Open Up Your Heart, and Let the Light Shine In

There are no words, just an aching sadness and peace....and our comfort is in knowing that, in time, only the peace will remain....

Henry Edward "Ed" Budd, 60, of Fredon Township, N.J., died at his home on June 14, 2007. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Newbaker Funeral Home, 200 Route 94, Blairstown. Visitation is on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. American Legion and Masonic services will be held Sunday evening. Interment will be in Yellow Frame Cemetery, Route 94, Fredon Township. For directions, see www.newbaker.com. Born in Newton, N.J., Ed was the son of the late Charles R. and Nellie (Westbrook) Budd of Stillwater, N.J. Mr. Budd lived in Blairstown, N.J., before moving to Fredon several years ago. Ed was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the U.S. Armys 101st Airborne. He was wounded during a patrol in Hue, for which he received the Purple Heart. His other decorations and awards included jump wings, Combat Infantrymans Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge. Ed served as grand marshal of the Blairstown Givens Belet American Legion Post 2007 Memorial Day Parade. Mr. Budd was a member and past commander of the post and also served in the color guard. He also belonged to the Vietnam Veterans Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10600, the Walnut Valley United Methodist Church and the Yellow Frame Cemetery Association. A member and three-time past master of the Blairstown Masonic Lodge, Mr. Budd was a past patron of the Blair Chapter 179 Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Valley of Allentown Scottish Rites, the Salaam Temple Shriners of Livingston and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2117 in Florida. Mr. Budd retired in January 2007 as a customer service manager of Atlas Copco CMT USA, Inc., Clarks Summit, Pa. He previously worked as a service manager for the Ingersoll-Rand Corp., Branchburg. His hobbies and interests included Christmas tree farming, boating on Hunts Pond and collecting antiques. Ed is survived by his wife of 38 years, the former Sara Gouger; two daughters, Christina Liuzza of Fredon and Jennifer Breslin of Blairstown; four grandchildren; two sisters, Ann Bornemann of Newark, Ill., and Aline Hedges of Littlestown, Pa.; a brother, Charles R. Budd of Dundee, N.Y., several cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 669 Littleton Road, Parsippany, N.J. 07054 or Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, N.J. 07860.

But Then I Turned Around, And I Heard a Sound

And it said I'm gonna catch you, you'd better run. I'm gonna catch you, here I come!

Last week I had another lovely day with my cousin Allison, her children Megan and Ryan, and the Laurie Berkner Band! It is at the same time inspiring and terrifying to see their growth - Ryan already makes my arm ache! And little Miss Megan is just about as brilliant and sassy as they come. Sharing a day with her is so refreshing, she is just a fireball of personality in a diaper.

When Allison and I play with Meg, it brings back so many memories. The more time we spend together, the more surreal it becomes: as we sit and mold playdough it is so easy to let our minds wander back 20 years, and for just a moment we are the long-legged little girls giggling in the playroom while our moms have a visit, until the squeaky voice of her daughter breaks through the quiet and reminds us that we are no longer playing to entertain one another...but to assist Meg in exploring her imagination and creativity. It is such a beautiful experience to sing songs and otherwise entertain this beautiful little girl who is already such a strong individual, a whisper of the phenomenal woman that she will become. Thanks for the great day!

Home, Where My Music's Playing; Home, Where My Love Lies Waiting Silently For Me

We just crossed 9 months in our home and, at times, it seems that we have nothing to show for it. After all, we still have a kitchen without a dishwasher, a basement that gives me the willies, a front door that requires superhuman strength to open on humid days, and a roof that needs replacing.

But in looking through our photos for another reason, I came upon some of the first photos we took of this vacant house with an overgrown lawn and I realize that we've come quite far. I remember moving in and crying because I never thought we would get rid of the creepy "closed up house" smell and that, instead of our things displacing that unpleasant odor, it would get soaked up and live forever in our couches and upholstery.
Well, the odor is gone (save for on rainy days when it seems to haunt us from the basement) and all of the rooms have received a cosmetic facelift using some good old elbow grease and a couple of gallons of Behr's finest.
The mosquito hotel that vaguely resembled a "pond" has also been eliminated, along with a variety of dead plant matter, and the crystal chandeliers have been polished to a shine (something I feel that the visitors were particularly grateful for).


But more important than the rouge and lipstick is the fact that this house...this once unappreciated and unkept blemish of real estate and architecture...is now a home. It is filled - to the brim - with laughter, music, yelling, howling, squeeky toys and books. It already holds cherished memories of our marriage, our family, our friends....of tears over tragedy and celebrations of success.

Perhaps it would be more timely to post this on our 1 year anniversary of being in the house...but I find it more poignant to write when it is top of mind, not to wait for some pseudo-meaningful date. And now that I think about it, we are nearing the 1 year mark of when we discovered this fabulous house and made an offer. Regardless, here are some before and after photos.

We look forward to your next visit to 94 Rodney - you are all welcome!

We're Luxurious Like Egyptian Cotton

This weekend took us on our semi-annual visit to that other college town on the river....you know the one: ivy, lots of orange, a cannon encased in cement soas to deter those scallywags from Rutgers from stealing it again....
In truth, it is always a lovely day spent, and ever interesting to see how the other half lives. The preservation of beautiful architecture on the Princeton campus makes me envious and wonder what, if any, benefits being a state university brings these days - especially in New Jersey. The Princetonians deserve to hold their heads for the community that they created and work so hard to protect.
I never did realize how literally they take the phrase "ivy league", however! Everywhere you look, it weaves among the buildings and courtyards in a kind of protective web that whispers the secrets of the brilliant minds that came before. It is an incredibly romantic and intimate setting...well, for most. For those of us blessed to be married to landscape architects, it invites yet ANOTHER conversation illustrating the invasive properties of ivy and other climbing vines.




We later met up with friends for ice cream and more walking and people watching, a wonderful way to spend a warm evening, heralding the new season that is upon us.

You Ain't Seen the Best of Me Yet

Visual proof of Ginger's wonderful recovery from surgery and her fabulous leg warmer. She's secretly preparing for her role in the Broadway revival of Fame.

Really though - kudos to the doctors on giving her such a glammed out cast! Gorg, truly gorg.

Gingy is quickly mending and is even mastering stairs, running, and jumping up. While she is still very tired (she's always been a "napper"), her appetite has increased and she is once again accepting small treats and rawhide bones. She occasionally forgets about her bandaged foot when she gets an itch, which results in her clubbing herself on the head....but she's getting there!
Her back is also shaved from the excision of the second tumor - it is wild to see her ridge hair growing back in the opposite direction from all of the other hair. Meanwhile I can't write my name the same way twice; science is mind blowing.

Speaking of which: we should have the results from the University of Michigan by week's end, so keep your fingers crossed! But if her behavior is any indication we'll expect a good prognosis.


Tug has been a bit lost without his big sister, but it is still too early for them to play. He clearly knew that she was ill before she left (he spent 3 days trailing her backside intently), and with her gone he was a bit more clingy and melancholy than usual. I came home yesterday smelling of my visit with Ginger and Tug curled up on my shirt with a big smile and gave kisses where he smelled her. It was so sweet and, I think, a comfort to him...just before bed I took the shirt out of the laundry basket and put it in his bed where he slept soundly on it for hours.

It is good to have things returning to some sort of normalcy. Today I treated myself to a massage, and my mommy brought me for a mani and pedi. It was wonderful to relax and clear my mind after a hectic few months.

I find it so interesting that despite the proven health rewards, spa treatments are really the last commodity considered a "luxury". I, like most women, hardly ever treat myself to a massage - I only get them when I have gift certificates (this one was courtesy of Dominick for Valentine's Day). Don't get me wrong - I pamper myself PLENTY. I work hard and play hard: but my rewards usually come in a size 10 with a 3" heel (because I'm not tall enough at 5'9"?). And any woman who has braved a full days of meetings in NYC in a fabulous pair of pumps will agree: massages seem a natural partner for this particular indulgence. But I digress....

I've not gotten ANYTHING done that I wanted to this week - and I'm learning that it is okay. I've gotten my car inspected, cleaned our house a bit, got new keys cut, etc. But I'm quickly learning that sometimes - just sometimes - playing fetch with the dog in the yard is more satisfying than mounting those prints we've had leaning against the wall for 9 months, a long walk can provide more peace of mind than reorganizing the linen closet, and leaving the house can be more theraputic than cleaning it. That isn't to say it won't get done...just not today...and tomorrow's not looking good either....

Can You Imagine Us Years From Today, Sharing a Park Bench Quietly

This weekend we celebrated with our dear friends Kristen and Greg as their daughter Devyn turned the big 0-2.
Some would call the photo above amateaur - terrible even - I call it "On the Brink of Year Two - A Watercolor". Seriously, I loved the tenderness of the moment and, even though I failed to capture it, I'd like to think it still comes through in some way. There is no more natural seat for a child than their mother's lap - and that is where Devyn spent most of the afternoon.
Poor Devyn was having a terrible reaction to her MMR vaccinations and was spiking a fever, but she was a great sport despite being tired and a little high on Motrin. Here is our little pumpkin exploring her loot:










Kristen and Greg are two of the best and most natural parents I've ever seen. The evidence is in their (sick) daughter's joyful face. There was a brief tantrum - just to allay any suspicions that she is truly an angel and not just angelic. Our visit was a brief one, just enough time to open presents in between naps and fevers, and then we were home to take care of our little one.

Kris and Greg also happen to be wonderful people and two of our closest friends. We've watched one another grow over the past 7 years and our activities has mirrored the vast changes in our lives. From Karaoke, Jersey Shore bars and cover bands to "game nights", the ocassional movie out, and Dora party hats. We were blessed to have them as witnesses in our wedding party and continue to learn from their examples and teamwork. And now we are all blessed to be able to view life through Devyn's eyes and ears and, while this requires considerable censorship for her mother and I when we really get going, it is a beautiful thing to behold.

On that note: we hope that all of your little ones are safe and sound and enjoying the beginnings of the summer season!