"Take that and Rewind it Back..."

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads…” Doc Brown

Yes, a few weeks ago I hopped into my DeLorean, and traveled back in time not once, but twice.  The first trip was back to 1990 for the New Kids on the Block Magic Summer Tour.  My god-mother, Shirley, bought me four tickets to the show at Foxboro Stadium for my 10th birthday!  To say I was excited was an understatement.  I remember doing cartwheels up and down the front yard when I received her birthday card in the mail.  My lucky (poor) mother got to bring my best friend, Erin, my little sister Julie, and me to the show.  Fortunately, one of her girlfriends was taking two of my other friends, so we all got to pregame together.  This consisted of us having pizza and pasta at a local Italian restaurant, and chugging Mountain Dew and Coke - no beer pong, flip cup, or other drinking games.  It was my first concert, and I remember everything.  My friend Erin sticking tissues in her ears because it was too loud, the teenage couple in front of us making out, Marky Mark dancing on stage in his underwear (OMG), Another Bad Creation performing Iesha, and of course being decked out in head to toe NKOTB gear while jamming to all my favorite songs.  I had everything from a giant Jordan Knight button, to a New Kids jean jacket, earrings, scrunchie, tee-shirt, and socks on.  It was insane!  I tried looking for a picture last time I was home, but couldn't find my mom's early 90s albums. 

Fast forward 21 years (jeez I'm old)...this year New Kids on the Block joined up with the Backstreet Boys to form NKOTBSB, and decided to tour.  Of course I had to be there, and luckily for me, so did one of my best friends, Natalie.  Our pregaming for this show consisted of two of our favorite things - wine and sushi at Sei.  After a few glasses of wine, we headed into the crowds at the Verizon Center for a little boy band action.  It was so much fun!  The New Kids played all their hits: Hangin' Tough, The Right Stuff, Covergirl, Please Don't Go Girl, Tonight, etc.  The Backstreet Boys didn't disappoint either.  They performed Larger than Life, Everybody, Quit Playing Games, and I Want It That Way just to name a few.  I was always more of an N'Sync fan (obviously I had / and still have a HUGE crush on Justin Timberlake), but the BSB were quite entertaining.  We had pretty good seats, and at one point they even roped off our section so that AJ and Howie could walk down the aisle to the stage.  Natalie got to touch AJ's arm!!  Ahhhh!   Even though my ears were ringing until the next afternoon (I probably should have followed Erin's lead from 1990 by putting tissues in my ears), it was totally worth it.  Heck, I almost bought tickets to one of the Boston shows.  I apologize now for the crappy pictures.  For some reason I brought the new point and shoot camera to the show instead of my trusty Canon with the super zoom.  So sorry girls, there aren't any good close-ups of your former teen idols.   

 Natalie & me (excuse my fat arm and awkward pose)

 New Kids on the Block :)

 The Backstreet Boys

 Jordan a few rows away...ahhh!

 AJ and Howie are in OUR aisle...

 AJ is saying, "Oh my gosh, Natalie Williamson just touched my arm!!!"

 Joey looking gorgeous as ever and Brian...

 NKOTB representin' Boston <3

Until we meet again boys...

My second trip back in time was the following day, at my little brother's high school graduation.  The day was eerily similar to my high school graduation, which was 13 years before.  As I sat in the bleachers, which I'm pretty sure should be condemned because they are the same set from when I went to school there, I saw the podium where Mr. Deftos spoke, the bridge we crossed when we were handed our diplomas, and rows of green and white graduates resembling my peers and me, sitting on the football field.  I looked to my left at the James G. Anderson field scoreboard, and memories of cheering at all my youth and high school football games popped into my head.  Principal Deftos retired, and was replaced with Mr. Kuether, so there was no "matriculating" going on at this graduation - haha (inside MHS joke)!   It was extremely surreal to be sitting there in the stands watching my little guy graduate.  When I graduated in 1998, he was still in diapers, and now he is leaving Marshfield and heading to George Mason for college.  Where has the time gone???  Here are a few pictures from Anthony's graduation from MHS, along with one from my graduation day.  

 MHS Class of 2011

 Anthony (3rd guy from the front)

 At this point we are all standing in the bleachers, and I'm praying they don't collapse...

 Anthony & his girlfriend, Katie

 Anthony & a few of his friends...

 Awful picture of the Viola kids...even all grown up, we can't look at the camera at the same time!

Gina & I both bought Anthony the same graduation gift...a GMU sweatshirt!

A picture from my graduation...I'm the tall awkward one in back!

Every once in a while, it's fun to hop into my DeLorean and travel back in time - you should, too!  xoxo

A little R & R...

It's been a hectic few weeks for us.  As some of my girlfriends witnessed at book club a few weeks ago, I sort of had a mini meltdown because I was trying to do too much before our trip to Boston.  Picture me frantically running through Tyson's after work one night.  I had an hour to spare before our book club meeting, and I needed to get something to wear to Anthony's graduation, buy a gift for Lea's confirmation, do a return to WHBM, pick something up at Nordstrom, and stop by Papyrus for a bunch of cards.  Let's just say I finished my errands in a little over an hour, and by the time I sat down at dinner, all it took was the diligent Coastal Flats waiter asking me what I'd like to drink, to set me over the edge.  I was flushed, sweating my butt off, and I felt completely overwhelmed - so I started to cry...Totally crazy!!  Why couldn't I give the guy a simple answer?  How hard is it to say "water" or "I'll have a giant glass of wine, please"?  Instead I kind of shooed him away.  The girls probably think I'm INSANE!!! 

Luckily, after a few deep breaths, and a little venting, I was calm again.  Needless to say, it has been a busy few months; it's crazy at work (not complaining because it's better than no work) and crazy at home (I don't think we've had a day to just rest since January)!  So that is why I haven't updated the blog in a few weeks.  This week, life is still hectic, and I should probably be pumping out more estimate data, but I'm taking a quick break for sanity purposes.  Brace yourself for a bunch of blog posts over the next few days...

I'll rewind a few weeks back to Memorial Day weekend.  Craig, Sawyer and I traveled to Lake Anna to spend time with a few friends and Craig's family.  Karl and Peggy just finished a major renovation to the basement of the lake house, and it looks fabulous!  There are two additional bedrooms, a sewing room for Peggy, and the majority of the space is a large entertainment room, which will eventually have a pool table, bar, and entertainment system in it.  We've actually decided to relocate our bedroom to one of the basement rooms because it has a little more space, which means KING SIZE BED!!!  Yippee! :)

We arrived on Saturday afternoon around lunch time, and while we were enjoying burgers on the back porch, a soaking wet Sawyer came running up the stairs.  The poor thing must have fallen off the dock because he was drenched, and literally looked like a wet rat!!  That was when we decided two things: 1) We needed to get him accustomed to the water; 2) We had to cut his hair for the warmer weather. The first objective wasn't that difficult because he loves to follow his "cousins" Charlie and Oscar wherever they go.  So all we had to do was put Charlie in the water, and Sawyer was in.  The puppy can probably swim better than me - I was never taught how to swim, and still struggle in the water today;)  Here are a few pictures of Sawyer enjoying the water at the lake:

 See what I mean about looking like a wet rat?? 

 

Another problem we encounter at the lake is lots of ticks.  After finding a few on him that night, we decided it was best if we let Amy and Peggy give him a haircut (the poor thing was also panting all the time because he was soo hot during the 100 degree weather).  He seriously looks like a completely different dog now.  A huge thanks to Sawyer's stylists, Amy and Peggy!

 Right before he had his haircut...

Look at all that hair...

A clean-shaven Sawyer

While Sawyer practiced his swimming, and played with his cousins, we all relaxed on the dock with our kindles.  We are extremely fortunate to have such a beautiful place to retreat to every once in a while, and of course, to have such loving family and friends to enjoy it with!  Hope you all had a fantastic Memorial Day, too!  xoxo