MIA

So, it appears that the prospect of 'losing' Anthony, so completely debilitated my senses that I totally shut down and have neglected to post here for quite some time!!!

I want to bullet a quick update of the last two months. I will do so as to entertain all three of you who read this ;)

The Top TEN Things that happened while I was on mental vacation-

10. Hurrican Katrina blew down my beloved New Orleans!!! Both Vic and I volunteered to go down there, sharing what little talent we have in the area of reconstruction expertise and cooking/mothering skills. The Red Cross was fulled up and told us they would call us in October. I wait by the phone still.

9. Dad turned 70 and we threw him a surprise birthday party!!! If Mom will send me some pictures I will post them here. The evening was a smashing success and we got to see relatives we haven't seen in over ten/fifteen years! (the kids haven't seen them anyway). Dad really seemed to enjoy himself. He was the 'belle' of the ball. :)

8. Andrew started playing Fall baseball and is loving it! It's good for his soul to do something he loves.

7. Andrew was invited to be in the National Honor Roll publication, due out next summer. We are completing his application now.

6. Andrew finalized his list of colleges for application (this is really an Andrew year). It includes; Boston College, Fordham University, Northeastern University, Providence College, College of the Holy Cross and Marist College.

5. Chelsea was invited to have a 'show' of her phootgraphy at the Tracy Arts Center in town, now if I can just make the phone call to confirm.... details to follow.

4. Vic, Dot and I traveled to Virginia to see the boy during Parents Weekend. It was great fun and Anthony really seemed to enjoy having us there.

3. The kids got to see My Chemical Romance (an Emo band they love) up close and personal. They even got pictures with the band members! Chelsea just about fainted and Andrew was the talk of the town!

2. I had my 25th (yes that is right!) class reunion. The consensus is that the woman all look fabulous and the men look old.

And the number one thing that happened while I was on mental vacation:

ANDREW GOT HIS LICENSE!! Yeah Bean! He beat the evil empire and won the golden ring! So he has been driving EVERYWHERE, all day, all night. Can't keep a good man down. So send congrats to the Bean for not giving up and for getting back on the horse. Good work Bean!

I'm losing the only job I ever really loved......

I feel like Sybil.

....I really love being a mother. Maybe too much. No I mean I REALLY love being a mother.
Anthony leaves in 48 hours. I am excited for him, these are going to be the best times of his life (other than finding his soul mate, getting married and being a father!). He has grown to be a lovely young man- respectful, kind, compassionate, sensitive.... all the things a mother wants in her son. I am so happy and proud and truly thrilled for him, I cant wait to see what happens next!
BUT...
I am greiving. I am in mourning for my little boy. I want him at five again. I want his lispy voice telling me completely boring stories about some lame cartoon character. I want him laughing so hard milk comes out of his nose and runs into his plate, as his father leaps from his chair in outrage. I want him shoving fists full of candy into his mouth at the halloween party and then shaking from the sugar shock. I want him asking why a gazillion times and then two more. I want him humming to himself, tucked safely into his car seat. I want him telling on Andrew once again... "Mommy, baby has a pen"..... I want him showing off his karate skills in the dojo, his chest bursting with pride as he keeps one eye on us and the other on the instructor. I want him prancing around in his ninja turtle outfit. Mostly I want the sweet kodachrome memories to spring to technicolor life. A rewind button is in order here, I think.

XXOO

P.S. Amy, this is KILLING your mother.
P.S.S. Sorry if that was painful but it is true.

Hi I'm Brian Wilson I'm Fine How Are You?

We rocked out at the Brian WIlson concert on Wednesday night at the Oakdale. Fifth row baby! It was actually kind of fun. It's amazing how his music is timeless (which describes his state of mind too).

Music creates such a sense of place. I can still remember the sites and sounds and the smells of where I was with each song he sang.

It was rather eerie at times though, watching him on stage. I wonder if he knew where he was? He would just sit there, sometimes smile at inappropriate times, gesticulate out of synch with the stage members. He did seem to have a keen sense of the order of things though. Twice during the performance, once when the artifical flame did not rise up to his left and then again when his pedestal seat went missing, he seemed to become aware and attached to the present day world, but mostly to try to set the lack of order right.

The music was recognizable for the first half. Then upon returning from intermission, Brian and his massive back up 'krew' (at one point the musicians kjoining in numbered more than 15, including Swedish horn and string players!) broke into music from his album "SMILE". This was like a bizarre journey through the mind of Brian Wilson. If I wasnt sitted comfortably in the Oakdale next to my Aunt, I would have been frightened!

Here is a link to a Beach Boys timeline (from 1917 to 2005 if you can beleive it!) http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/1917-60.html

work....aaagghhhh

...women working = supreme madness.......


ugh


xxoo

Chelsea ......Photography 201

She just keeps producing some interesting work!

"hangin wit my hommies....."

...ye-e-e-e-yah, what up dood?!

Okay, so its hard to pull this whole bad-ass thing off when your a 43 year old mother of teens. But we did get to party it up with the somewhat famous and oh-so-rich on Saturday. Vic and I went to the home of an NBA basketball player, as he celebrated the upcoming opening of his new restaurant. At least 500 people at his multi acre, many thousand square foot estate. Lots of food, wine, good beer, music, friends and some famous faces as well. We had a blast!

So pretty much the party of the season. If you can pull it off, its 'da bomb'.

peace out girl scout.

XXOO

PS Amy, come on- get us some A-list friends... I mean you live in Cali right...wtf?!?

Hold Fast the Summer

two short weeks until anthony leaves :(

Sharing this with you, from my loving aunt, friend and mentor....

Hold fast the summer. It is the
beauty of the day and all it
contains.
The laughter and work and
finally the sleep. The quiet.
Oh September, do not put
your weight upon my mind.
For I know he will be gone.
This son of mine who is now
a man- he must go.
Time will lace my thoughts
with joyous years.
The walls will echo his
"Hello". His caring will be
around each corner.
His tears will be tucked into
our memory book.
Life calls him beyond our
reach- to different walls.
New faces, shiny halls, shy
smiles, many places.
Greater learning- he must
go.
But wait.
Before he leaves, be
sure he knows, you love him.
Hide the lump in your throat
as you hug him.
He will soon be home again
- but he will be different.
The little boy will have
disappeared.
How I wished I could take
September and shake it, for it
came too soon.
I must look to the beauty of
each new day, and silently give
thanks.


XXOO

PS Amy- we love you.

Nightmares suck

What are our brains thinking?! Why do we create such awful scenarios in our sleep. Nightmares suck.
Period.

xxoo

S

no comments make us very, very sad!

Where are our comments??? Come on people, this is interactive. Comments needed now! Its like talking to a wall on this site (or my husband).

I'm waiting........


PS Amy, you go first.

swapping spit is not recommended

this is chelsea...
(oh, yeah, and the ex..
...mono man?)

and this is chelseas mononucleosis...

The doctor at the hospital took care of chelsea

Chelsea ate lots and lots of ice cream.

It felt good on her sore throat.

Chelsea had very BIG glands. Chelsea showed everyone her Big Big glands.

Not everyone appreciated this.

Now Chelsea is getting very sleepy.

She is also very sad, because her opportunity to go to Cali is out the window.

Maybe Chelsea needs flowers. And cards. and maybe a balloon.

Then Chelsea might smile again.

Chelsea would also like to leave everyone with this public service announcment:

"Wash your hands after using a public restroom. Do not share your toothbrush with anyone, not even your bestest girlfriend. And swapping spit is not recommended."

That is all.

XXOO

PS A Po-em for A-my.

Amy is a girl who lives in the west

she knows her family only wants her the best

But living out there, her family likes least

they really wish she'd move back east.

:)

wake up and go to sleep!

So.
Vic is up until 3AM last night, grumpy, tossing, turning, can't sleep. So of course I cant sleep. Oh I could sleep...he won't let me.
Then he's up at 7AM for a tee time at Fenwick.
So I am up at 7AM. Why you might ask? Here is our amazing conversation:

7AM
Vic: "Hey"
Me: (sleeping)
Vic: "Hey, Son.."
Me: (still sleeping)
Vic: "Sondra!"
Me: (sitting straight up in bed) "Hmuhh?
Vic: "where are the keys?"
Me: "Huh?"
Vic: "Where did you put the keys"
Me: "To the Infinity?"
Vic: "Yeah, when you picked up Chelsea?"
Me: "Mhh.. Chelsea...needs to be picked up?"
Vic: "No, when you picked her up...I mean dropped her off... last night?"
Me: "mmmm, oh, the keys....uhhh. Did you check the counter?"
Vic: "The counter?"
Vic: "I didn't see them there..."
Vic: "I'll look..."
Me: "hmmmm."(Throwing off the covers and tottering to my feet. Making my way to the bedroom door, where Vic is now standing with his hand on the doorknob.)
Vic: "Son, Dont get up, I'll look for them..."
??!!???!!???!!??
Me: "Uh,.... no....no you won't....if you were going to look for them, you wouldn't have woked...waked...woken...me up."

Ughg.


XXOO


PS Amy is still sleeping in Cali. It is only 4AM there. Sleep, Amy, sleep.

SUN!!!!

...where is it!!!!!......


ugh.

XXOO



PS Amy needs sun too. Come homer.

Chelsea....Photography 101

I thought I'd share some of Chelseas photographs. Her new digital camera is getting good use. She is quite creative.
She is pretty too :)

Go to it

Who can argue with this?
We are NOT afraid.
Go to it

www.werenotafraid.com





picture courtesy of the Hartford Courant
www.courant.com

Drive-bys: Suburban style

Living with three teenagers itself is full of hormonal rushes and dramatic angst. Add in licenses, boyfriends/girlfriends and about twelve of their teenage friends (perpetual guests) and you have yourself a very ripe stew, brewing with noise, music, cell phones tones and IM dings, mixed with anger, tears, frustration, highs and lows and two pre-alcoholic parents.
So it has come to this. We cant go home again! No, seriously, Vic and I have determined that we only add to the disorder, so we leave the brood to themselves and we keep a distant but nurturing eye on the whole mix.
It goes kind of like this: Vic and Sondra leave for a lovely evening out...dinner with friends, some music, a little dancing, a nice scotch or two. Good times, friendship, laughter...ahhhhh, we are whole people again.
Round about midnight (because we are old now) Vic and I turn our car toward home. As we round the corner onto our road, we gaze furtively up the hill to assess the first "is it safe to go home" test: Are ALL the lights on in the house. YES ALL.. including the attic, which I know no child of mine would ever venture into. But heck its a light switch in need of flipping so flip they do.
Seeing all the lights on, our eyes wander down to the long curving driveway. We used to rapidly count the cars, but now we do an average. If the vehicular path snakes past the electric panel post, we might be safe. But if the caravan of vehicles (Thank you Graduated Licensure ruling, now each child drives but one car) heads downward toward the dogwood tree, well that requires a Drive-By. At this point Vic sighs deeply and heads straight past the driveway, into Otter Cove to a midnight tour of the beaches. As we cruise, Vic calls home, gets a head count as to who is sleeping over and then establishes a deadline as to when all others must leave.
We then wait for our negotiated time of reentry.

If this all sounds crazy, the alternative is psychotic, we know-we have tried. Sometimes the best you do is survive! :)


PS Amy- love and kisses XXOOOOO

DMV- the Evil Empire

Well, send condolences, Andrew failed his drivers exam. His heart is breaking and so is mine. The Evil Empire, known as the Connecticut DMV, really out does itself in this one.
First they send the kid into a cubicle, the size of which makes any cubicle found in the movie "Office Space" seem spacious. With just a table, chair and the computer screen, they provide him with last minute pre-flight instructions and close the door.
The screen glows an eerie blue/green and the test begins. The child (in this case the Bean) confidently jumps in and starts to answer the questions. Some of the inquiries stretch the imagination. Other pearls are just too unique to let slide so here is the winner , I think:
Multiple choice- "When (not'if', you will notice but when, as if it is inevitable) When you smoke marijuana, which of the following happens:
A) You go to sleep
B) Your reactions and decision making skills are impaired
C) You loose control of the car

Okay, so how many of you answered B) Your reaction and decision making skills are impaired?

You too will fail the test if you took it today. The correct answer was C) You loose control of the car. Not rational, as it is a result of B), but its the Empires answer all the same.

So here is poor Beaner, scared to wits about the driving portion (we practiced backing into parking spaces for an hour in the parking lot of DMV the night before) but feeling confident about the written exam. He's gliding along on this blue/green screen, answering one question and hitting submit. Answering the next question and tapping submit. Answering the third and the fourth and so on. When all of a sudden- WHAM- the screen lights up and large DOOMED letters march across the computer "PLEASE SEE YOUR MODERATOR"......

Wait! What?!? Bean looks around this empty utility closet spaced room. Is this a joke? What does this mean? He slowly opens the door and steps out.... "What happened?" asks the moderator.... as if Bean should know??
"It stopped" Bean answers.
"Well you failed the test" the moderator replies "Did you study?"
On the verge of tears now, Bean answers "Yes, I did all the tests on your website online."
"Oh," bellows the comrade of the Evil Empire "Those are geared toward your learners permit, not for this test."
Wait, What? Bean thinks, they did not say that online.....

Long story short, the evil one escorts Andrew to his father, where he promptly bursts into tears (Andrew, not the moderator) and through gritted teeth begs to go home. Dad sends him out to the car, confers with the wicked witch of the DMV and schedules the next available appointment time- October. An eternity for a teenage boy.

When the dust settles, we realize
A) The Evil Empire will try to steer you wrong.... do not stare into their eyes, block your ears, its all lies. Simply STUDY THE BOOK and all will be well
B) Passing the drivers test has NOTHING to do with learning how to drive. Its all about memorizing THE book.
C) Be thankful you dont have to be tested every year. We ALL would fail.

XXOO


PS: We must stop Amy from staying in CA. Will you help us kidnap her?

One in 65 years!

Parties are madness- yes they are! Here is the Queen of all party people- Mom on her 65th birthday. Yes we surprised her- almost. I learned three things attempting this party: Lyin to Mom is as hard as it ever was; Mom is a saint (Dad); Chinese food is yummy.
Okay well I knew the last one. We ordered dinner from Brother of Empire. Nice people, awesome food, and fortune cookies. Yeah!

Here are some pics from the night. Thank you Dot and Joe for aiding and abetting this crime...and for drinking the afternoon away at Penny Lane Pub- Joe, way to take one for the team!

XXOO

PS Amy come home. Right now, poopface.

PARTIES ARE INSANE!!!

Random picture of Levi


So, adding up for this year (not counting the first few months) , we will have parties for: a confirmation, 2 graduation events, a 65TH BIRTHDAY!, a 70th birthday, Chelseas birthday Lobster bash, a summer fling in Milford, Thanksgiving and a blow out Christmas party!! Yahooo, parties are HOT!

So, in my next life I want to be a guest. Really simple. I come, I smile, I drink and eat and then I wave goodbye. Ahhhhhhh. The Bliss.

I will get pics and some video of Moms 65th here for everyone to see and share. :)
Thank you all for making it special- Dad, Dot and Joe, my partners in crime. Brothers Empire for the awesome food. Eric for bringing the lasagna (George could eat). Laura- those desserts! and the kids for ....well....for... the kids.

Love you all

PS Miss U Amy

Virginia is for Lovers

Here are some pics of Deet's college taken by Mom and Grandma last spring during our visit.








Countdown is on- 59 more days until we drive Anthony down to his "Blue Ridge Mountain"- home of the Roanoke College Maroons, were he will spend the next 210 days (approximately) being himself.... no one to tell him when to do his homework, how to spend his money or what to eat for dinner.

Here is his mailing address and his email at school:
Anthony Dellaripa
Roanoke College
Campus Box 582
221 College Lane
Salem, VA. 24153
addellaripa@roanoke.edu
His cell will remain the same: 860-575-4833

School website can be found at www.roanoke.edu

Where the crazy people meet.....

This site is dedicated to all ramblings, rantings and visual affects that are the Lintelmann/Dellaripa lair.......


So post your pics/comments and craziness here, so we can keep in touch! Bookmark for easy access.

I will try to post a Blog everyday. Or at least five times a week, so we can be active. Cause I always need one more thing in my life...........

XXOO Sondra