Los Padres

Since I never did a mothers day/fathers day post, I thought I would combine the two and just say a few words about my lovely (albeit completely opposite) parental units.

Dad: My dad is the definition of a handy man. He can fix anything, and if he doesn't know the answer to a technical question he quickly figures it out. He also has the most incredible memory out of anyone I know. I loved never having to do any car maintenance with him around, and I also love that since I've moved away he can still diagnose car problems over the phone. He is the go-to guy when we need someone authoritative to make an important phone call, and through his daily experiences working with high-schoolers, he has a hilariously pithy attitude that just adds to his character. He calls me Ricky, the only nickname that has ever stuck, and handles the high levels of estrogen in our household quite well considering the gender ratio. He isn't very mushy, having maintained his manly man persona despite his house full of girls, but he'll always sign off a phone call with "Take care, little buddy" which is dadspeak for "Love ya, kid."

Mom: I have always been really close to my mom, and some my favorite memories growing up involve coming home every Thursday afternoon to her making chocolate chip cookies (which are the best, no exaggeration). From my momma I inherited my sweet tooth, my extreme love of reading, blue eyes, and sense of humor. Especially as I've gotten older I realize how much we are alike and that makes me truly happy - I can't wait to be a mom for that reason. She's thoughtful, go-with-the-flow, and was (almost) always the 'good cop' when she and my dad had to go 'good-cop, bad-cop' on us. The way she and my dad balance each other out makes them an great parenting team. I know I can count on my mom for anything, and I appreciate her support more and more every day. I know she didn't want me to move so far from home, but she recognized that my spirit is on the fierce and somewhat rebellious side, and has unwaveringly been my cheerleader and advice guru as I navigate the grown up world and being independent.

Happy mothers/fathers day to my amazing parents!

Kthanks.

Dear Best Friend,

Thanks for giving up your floor space when I come to visit.
Thanks for making me laugh so hard that we can't breathe.
Thanks for understanding my weirdness and never questioning it.
Thanks for always being up for adventures.
Thnks fr th mmrs (and picking up on my obscure music references).
Thanks for the past 20 years, and pre-thanks for the next 20.

Love,
Lolls

Piers, Pageants, and Parades

What a fun weekend! Recap in reverse: I spent today wandering around the financial district (on the lookout for a sugar daddy of course) and had a lovely afternoon at the South Street Seaport and Pier 17. I also went to Century 21 for the first time, and it has a lot to offer though I will always prefer TJ Maxx for designer discounts. Yesterday I did a plethora of readings related to my directed study that I'm completing over the summer, and meanwhile prepared a lovely little lunch (polenta seared in garlic butter with sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan chicken, and steamed vegetables) for Courtney and myself. We then headed to 'fake' Shakespeare in the Park, which is at Riverside Park on Sundays for those who aren't cool enough to score tickets to the Central Park version. The production was rudimentary, but still a great little dash of culture to our weekend. We then met up with Jim and Rachel to chat over sorbet and watched the final part of the Miss USA Pageant. On Saturday, of course, we were at ... THE MERMAID PARADE. I can only handle Coney Island once a year, and I won't even tell you what was fried in with my Nathan's Hot Dog french fries, but the mermaids that 'washed ashore' ranged from creative to slutty, funny to intense, and there were some people who apparently did not get the mermaid part of the memo and just thought it was a dress-up-like-anything parade.

Merrrmaidssss

Do you know what this weekend is??? If you can't guess... it's the MERMAID PARADE @ Coney Island!! I have the perfect Split swimsuit (I got it for $6 at TJ Maxx... I'm a Maxxonista) and matching e.l.f. eyeshadow. I will post some pictures next week and tell you the 'tail' of our mermaid adventures ;)

Cat Island

Yep. Definitely need to plan a trip here.

Star Child

Shout out to my sister Sophia, aka Star Child, for graduating toady. Highland High School's Valedictorian/National Honor Society President/Varsity and State Swim Team member/Honors at Entrance Scholar/model extraordinaire/etc etc. Plus she is moving up to the University of Utah next week to begin a summer research program before she starts the honors program in the fall. No big deal. Definitely not an overachiever. Love you, Fifilita! Congrats!!