Harvest Time

Fresh home-grown carrots, anyone?

A True Capitalist's Perspective on the Economy

And she's actually seen the market crash of 1929.

Hold Me

Lately, everyone has been talking about Michael Jackson this and Michael Jackson that and how he died and all. Did you know that? Michael Jackson? He died. I only know this because it has been headline news for the past WEEK. Which begs the question: How long can the death of one man continue to dominate the news? I'm waiting for the headline tomorrow to read, "MICHAEL JACKSON; STILL DEAD."

There has been lots of discussions about 'which Michael Jackson you liked better"- The Jackson 5 cute boy with an afro, The Thriller Michael Jackson, the Strange and Odd Michael Jackson who had plastic surgery and became white, or the alleged child molester Michael Jackson. Personally, I prefer the Free Willy Michael Jackson.

If you were a child of the 90s, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Free Willy is the 1993 movie masterpiece, wherein a young boy befriends a Whale and then decides to sets him free into the wild. The Michael Jackson video "Will You Be There" was recorded on the VHS tape before the actual movie. It features Michael Jackson performing in a white shirt, black pants, and his backup crew of strangely dressed gospel choir singers/dancers. Are they supposed to be whales? I'm still not sure.

This is the Michael Jackson I remember. This Michael Jackson is the one who presented many questions for impressionable young Heather. Questions such as: Is that a man, or a woman? Why does he keep grabbing the microphone? Where is this blissful euphoric look on his face coming from? Surely the words "Hold me like the river Jordan/and I will say to thee/you are my friend" aren't doing it to him. What's with the archaic language? And why Jordan?

Alas, many of these questions have gone unanswered. Unless they are revealed in Michael Jackson's will, which, I'm sure that I will be made aware of, because the headline news will inform me.

Photo via Sound News

Top 10 Things I am Loving Right Now

1) My tan from last week's beach trip

2) My thriving garden

3) The pillows I just bought at World Market

4) The weekend

5) Seasons 2 and 3 of The Office

6) Eating summer fruit like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and watermelon.

7) Having things to look forward to (Like my friend Becky coming to visit next week, going to Charleston for our Anniversary in July, and visiting my parents on their North Carolina beach vacation in August)

8) Finally feeling settled on a Church, and feeling very happy with our decision

9) Radio stations are playing Michael Jackson marathons (even if that is a little morbid)

10) Planning and scheming for the near and distant future.

Nothing in Life is Free...Or Is It?

Adam and I made a quick trip to Food Lion the other day to get a carton of eggs and a box of fruit snacks because I was having a serious craving for some chewy corn syrup (No, I'm not pregnant, but thanks for asking, Jackie!). While Food Lion isn't normally my grocery store of choice, it's the closest store to our house that sells generic food snacks (don't ask me how I know this).

We cruised through the self check out and when we got our receipt, the machine printed out a coupon for a free 5-pound bag of sugar- no purchase necessary. I don't normally get free stuff, so I was naturally excited. "Let's go get our free bag of sugar!" I exclaimed, suddenly glad we had gone to Food Lion.

When we had procured the sugar and found a check out line, the coupon rang up the sugar as free, but the computer told the cashier that it owed us 45 cents. The cashier called the manager over, and he approved the transaction, without even thinking twice.

In other words, we got 45 cents back on a purchase we didn't even make. Food Lion was not only handing out free sugar, but also FREE MONEY!

Amazing

Did he just forget his daughter's name? Or is it just me?

Innovative!

My Baby's All Grown Up

Life has been so hectic lately and we've been doing a lot of traveling, not enough sleeping and way too much eating. I may or may not have gained 60 pounds in the last three weeks. I say that I may not have simply because I don't want you to think less of me if you happen to see me in real life and wonder what happened to my svelte figure. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

We started off the summer with a visit to New England to see family and friends, but specifically to seem my little sister graduate from college. It is always amazing to spend time with my sister because It's so hard to keep in touch with her. My sister hates talking on the phone and rarely sends me emails, never texts and doesn't tweet. We're fortunate that I have a blog, because at least I can communicate in a medium that she appreciates- the written word. Did I mention she was an English major?

Here I am in a hilarious picture where I am totally endowing my sister with enormous volumes of wisdom on the eve of her graduation. Either that, or I'm employing my "big sister finger point." That will teach her to cross me!

The night before she graduated, we all went out to eat. Casa de Luca was packed and our reservation had been lost by the unsympathetic Italian hostess, so we had to wait nearly an hour to eat. We passed the time munching on breadsticks and chugging water in the small, cramped bar. Here I am with my Aunt (pronounced ahhhnt, in case you were wondering).

When we were finally sat, I sat next to my grandmother, who after 98 years, is a little hard of hearing, but is a great story teller. She made a not-so subtle hint about needing great-grandchildren, and sympathized that "these things can take time." I chuckled, happy to let her think whatever she wanted about her great-grandchild prospects.

When my (decidedly non-personal) 14" pizza arrived, I was more than ready to eat. As I moved the tip of the triangle slice into my mouth, and tasted the cheese melting into the marinara, I remembered why people love and crave Italian food. Maybe it was that I was starving, or maybe the South just doesn't have enough good Italian places- either way I could have eaten that pizza for breakfast lunch and dinner. If you ever find yourself in Beverly, Massachusetts, you should probably go to Casa de Luca.

The next morning, we all went to the graduation to see my sister in her silly hat and black muumuu.

She didn't trip or fall or anything!

Being around family is so nice, especially when you live so far away.

The one surprise of the day was that I found out I had a long lost brother.

Uncanny, isn't it? My cousin Ben showed up, which was awesome, but not as awesome as his rainbow striped jacket. Some of my best childhood memories are of playing with Ben and my sister at my grandparent's house in Connecticut.

Now that she's all grown up and gradumacated, she gets to spend the summer in a 700 square foot non-insulated shack with three other girls. I am totally not kidding. Welcome to the real world, kid.

Pile of

Me: I have so much to get done this weekend!

Adam: Like what?

Me: Like the laundry, vacuuming, dusting, washing the floors...

Adam: I can help with the laundry.

Me: Adam, your idea of "helping with the laundry" means putting a load in the wash and then forgetting about it.

Adam: No! But that may have happened before... Once or twice.