updated bathroom December 19, 2007
Finally, some bathroom pictures from our remodel this weekend. The color didn’t photograph exactly right but it’s a huge improvement. Notes in Flickr.
it’s not the heat, it’s the f-ing humidity December 19, 2007
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had nosebleeds. Mostly when it’s dry, and mostly at night. I’ve learned a lot of little tricks to either prevent them or stop them relatively quickly once they start. As I’ve gotten older, my nosebleeds are less frequent but more severe.
When we moved to our current house in November of 2005, I would wake up in the mornings with my mouth as dry as a cotton ball. Misery. So we bought a cool mist humidifier and stuck that thing right on my nightstand. It helped a little. Once Sherman was born in the spring, I packed it up when we turned on the air conditioner.
The next winter, when he had his first stuffy nose, I put the humidifier in his room and bought us a larger one for our bedroom. This one had a big cotton wick filter. We used it all winter, and when I went to pack it up at the end of the season, I pulled out the nasty wet filter. It was disgusting. I bought a new filter to pack away with the humidifier but I was so grossed out, I didn’t even want to use it anymore.
That humidifier has sat in our closet ever since. Sherman’s humidifier got pulled out a few weeks ago with another runny nose and I plan to keep it going all winter since our house is SO. FREAKING. DRY. Each night before I go to bed lately, I’ve been putting on face and hand lotion, chapstick, plus a squirt of saline up my nose before coating it in vaseline. Folks, I am not a high-maintenance person. You’re lucky if I brush my teeth before I hit the hay. But I was starting to feel like some dessicated specimen being preserved for research.
I’ve resisted buying a new humidifier because (a) they are expensive; (b) the one we have is in working condition; and (c) there is so much conflicting advice about what kind to get. I knew I didn’t want one with a filter. I thought I wanted ultrasonic (I think that’s what Sherman has), but those create white dust if you don’t use distilled water (oops). So maybe I wanted an impeller, which picks up the water and basically blows it into the air with a fan. I was pretty sure I didn’t want the warm-mist…they sound dangerous, and kind of…disgusting. So I pretty much gave up.
Then I had my First Nosebleed Of The 2007 Winter Season a couple of weeks ago, which made me almost an hour late for work. I won’t go into details (I’d love to, but you may be eating your lunch) - it was a run-of-the-mill nosebleed for me, which is to say it was pretty heavy, and was triggered by accidentally brushing my nose while turning off my alarm clock, and ended with me bleaching the bathroom sink.
The next week, I got a Vicks impeller humidifier at Wal-Mart (how can you not trust Vicks?) and it didn’t work for shit. Literally, it wouldn’t turn on. I called the company and they advised me to return it to the store. The second one was almost as bad. It was noisy as hell and the lights were too bright. I’m not a human hygrometer, but it didn’t seem like it had helped and I didn’t sleep well, so I returned it, fed up with the whole humidifier thing and figuring I would just ramp up my nasal hydration routine.
Then this weekend I was up at 6:30 in the morning with another nosebleed. By the time I got that stopped, had gone back to bed, and just begun to fall back asleep, Sherman got up and we began our day. And on Sunday night, when Sherman was up for two hours because he wasn’t sleeping well with his stuffy nose, I had another small nosebleed. Bullshit.
So on Monday I was determined to buy a top-of-the-line, easy to maintain, highly efficient humidifier, no matter the cost. If Train made a comment about the expense, I would give him a bloody nose of his own. Instead of ordering one online as I originally planned, I decided to see if Bed Bath & Beyond had any of the most highly rated models (20% off coupon!) so I didn’t have to wait for shipping.
I decided on a warm mist Enviracaire. Two easy-to-fill tanks, 99.9% germ free (right), and a mineral absorption pad (we have extraordinarily hard water - in my opinion). I tried it last night and I felt moderately better. My skin wasn’t as tight when I woke up. I’m going to give it a couple of days to regulate the humidity level in our room. If this doesn’t work, we’re going to have to put in a tank for me to sleep in.
I didn’t mean to end this with a bad pun December 17, 2007
I had one of those weekends where I did a ton of stuff around the house on Saturday, expecting to have an easy do-nothing Sunday, and ended up working my ass off both days. Plus, all weekend we waited for some severe winter weather that never came, except some hellaciously cold wind Sunday afternoon and evening.
Train gave me an early Christmas gift by repainting our guest bathroom. This room has had its share of drama. My parents offered to paint it this past spring during one of their visits. I knew I wanted purple. I tend to pick dark paint colors, but I am easily swayed into going with a lighter shade. This time, it was my mom who convinced me to switch, and we ended up with a bright purple.
It didn’t turn out as I expected, but hey, anything’s better than white, right? And I didn’t have to paint anything. (I never do, because Train has convinced me that my painting skills, like my kitchen skills, are more beginner than expert.) While the toilet was out so the walls could be painted, Train installed some gray vinyl tile.
My mom also bought us a new medicine cabinet for the bathroom. We replaced this one (white wood framed, clunky, triple door)
with this one (beautiful, shiny, frameless mirror bi-door)
It was so sophisticated, and I loved it.
Until the big mirrored door fell off one day, shattering all over the sink and leaving huge gouges in the vanity, clock, and newly painted wall.
Yikes. We contacted the manufacturer, who sent us a new door to attach. Train put it up, but after a couple of weeks, we noticed the door sliding off again. Rather than risk it (since this is the bathroom where Sherman takes his baths), we took the door off and have just had open shelves there since about September. Normally there wouldn’t be much in the cabinet, but my parents leave all of their toiletries and stuff up here so they don’t have to tote it back and forth, and it was starting to look like a garishly purple CVS in there. I wasn’t sure what else to do, since this style of cabinet was really the only one I liked at Home Depot, and I certainly wasn’t going to buy the same model or brand again (the company did refund us the full purchase price even without a receipt).
In November, Dr. P and I went to Kat’s housewarming party, and her bathroom was the PERFECT shade of purple. I demanded that she give me the name of it (Behr’s Iris Petal). She did as soon as she got back from her Thanksgiving trip.
When Mom and Dad came back for Thanksgiving, Mom and I were able to stop by Lowe’s. I had been meaning to go but never got around to it, and even when Train and I went to Lowe’s I would forget to look at the cabinets. Lo and behold, they had the perfect style in the Kohler brand, with a much better door attachment, so of course I bought it right away.
And it sat in our front hallway for about a month. I wasn’t sure how to tell my parents that we were going to re-paint (I feel bad that they wasted their time), and Train refused to hang the new cabinet if he was just going to have to take it down to re-paint after they left.
This weekend was the first since my parents left that we haven’t had anything planned, so Train agreed to repaint the bathroom and hang the cabinet. And, since he had to take the toilet out again, he said he would replace the toilet as well. EEEEEEE!!! We replaced our master bathroom toilet in October when we painted that room (an American Standard Right Height Elongated Bowl Cadet, thanks for asking) and I love it. But we ended up having to pay our contractor neighbor to install it since the floor flange was broken, so we didn’t replace the guest bathroom toilet then since it had cost more than we expected.
So Friday we went and bought the paint and the toilet. He spent Saturday morning taping and painted in an hour after Sherman’s nap that afternoon. It looks FABULOUS. Absolutely wonderful. While neither one of us use that bathroom much, I am in there a lot for Sherman’s baths, and it is much more grown-up and suitable to my taste (I have brushed silver accents in there - tissue box, toothbrush holder, etc).
On Sunday morning he installed the toilet, which was easy, and then the medicine cabinet, which was a bit more of a pain, but it looks great. I guess nothing is going to be easy with these cabinets. I had forgotten that my original intention was to buy a second Kohler cabinet for our bathroom (we have the same ugly tri-door cabinet as what used to be in the guest bathroom) - Train put the ix-nay on that for now, but I know he’ll come around.
I haven’t taken any pictures yet because I’m not sure how to broach this with my parents. I think my mom knows I wasn’t thrilled about the paint color (I actually didn’t realize how much I hated it until it was gone) but still…what a waste of time for them. At first I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn’t notice - but it’s pretty obvious to us, then again we see that room every day. So who knows. I don’t know if I should mention it when we visit (they know we put in the new toilet and cabinet) or just wait and see if they notice when they come in February. And then feel like crap.
a sherman christmas December 12, 2007
For Sherman’s first Christmas, he just got a few things since we figured we could get away with not spending much, for perhaps the only time in his life. Plus, he was still a baby, and doesn’t everyone just BUY BUY BUY when they have an unspoilable infant? I mean, who needed an excuse like Christmas? Not I.
It feels like we haven’t gotten him many things since his first birthday, probably because he got so much at his party (for which we are eternally grateful). Now seems like a good of a time as any to buy things to make traveling more palatable. So here is what will be under the Christmas tree from Mommy and Daddy (not including grandparents, aunts, and uncles).
Portable DVD Player. I’m not sure which one Train ordered, but we are going to “practice” with it before we leave so Sherman is somewhat used to it. And maybe he won’t grab it, push all the buttons, and throw it on the floor.
Portable DVD Player Case. Because I’m anal like that.
Toddler Headphones. I know, who am I kidding? This is also something we’ll “practice” with…but I’m unfortunately forseeing a wasted $16.
My First Touch & Feel Picture Cards: Colors & Shapes. For de plane.
Sticker Activity A B C (First Concepts). For de plane. I’m not sure he’s ever seen a sticker.
Sesame Street - Old School, Vol. 1 (1969-1974). We just started Tivoing Sesame Street a month ago or so. So many toddler shows (not that my kid watches anything besides Sesame Street) are a dinky 20 minutes long (and that’s a generous assessment for you, Yo Gabba Gabba) that Sesame Street feels luxurious. And 20 whole minutes of solely “Elmo’s World”. It’s a blessing if you want to make dinner. I’m hoping these older episodes hold his attention (on de plane) just as well. Some people say Sesame Street isn’t as good as it was when we were kids. I didn’t really watch it until I was older, and the younger neighbor kids watched it. I still enjoy it and don’t mind sitting through an episode (repeatedly) with Sherman. Sometimes I can even get him to count like The Count (”ah! ah! ah!”).
Playhouse Disney 2. Who am I kidding - I need something else to entertain him with besides the television. Playhouse Disney is standard Saturday and Sunday morning fare at our house. And if the channel doesn’t change until Hannah Montana comes on in the afternoon…oops. Oh, would you look at that! High School Musical 2! Damn.
Books: Not a Box, Llama Llama Red Pajama, The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!, Counting Kisses.
Sit N Spin. Train the PE teacher says this is good for balance/equilibrium.
Play Kitchen. Stupid JCPenney took it down (which is probably a good thing, since it was on back order for a while after I ordered it and I was sweating it) so I don’t have a picture. But it has red countertops, which match my red pots and pans/cooking gadgets/toaster/general chili pepper theme, and will fit nicely in the corner of our kitchen. I’m not deluding myself by thinking he will actually play with this instead of my red pots and pans/cooking gadgets/toaster, but maybe we will be pleasantly surprised.
Sherman is too young (I think) to understand Santa (although we haven’t even tried to explain it to him). But I hope this year he will finally get the hang of (and concept of) opening gifts - tearing into the wrapping paper. That would be fun.
Not many toys on this list, but my mom has bought him some things that are already under the tree (tub toys, puzzles, flash cards, See N Say, beach towel) and there will be some toy cars waiting for him at her house (at least). She also sent us the Muppet Show Season 1 and Wiggle Time. Train’s mom might get him a tra.mp01ine.
As for other gifts:
My mom is getting the newest John Grisham book.
My dad is getting a subscription to Mental Floss.
Train’s mom is getting a photo puzzle of her grandchildren.
Train’s dad is getting some home repairs and assembly by Train.
Sherman’s daycare provider (Alice) is getting Key Lime cookies and movie passes (and another paid week off).
Our niece is getting a subscription to Baby Bug.
Train and I are getting a new iPod nano (black), plus the radio transmitter so we can (hopefully) listen to it in the car.
Ever since I had Sherman, I don’t really have time (or money) to browse and shop like in the good old days. I go a couple of times a year for clothes and that’s it. So obviously around Christmas I really can’t deal with the actual mall and I’ve been doing all of our shopping online where I could. All of Sherman’s gifts came from Amazon. A couple of months ago, we accidentally signed up for Amazon Prime when Train used a free trial to order his fall semester textbooks and we forgot to cancel it. So I’m trying to get my money’s worth by purchasing as many Prime products as possible for free 2-day shipping. It’s not perfect, since Amazon uses several resellers and they don’t all honor the Prime membership, but it’s one of the more helpful ways to waste $75.
your air travel guide December 10, 2007
I may have mentioned that we’re going to South Florida after Christmas. On a plane. As we do every year. Does this sound familiar? I’m starting to feel as if this is the only tradition I have because I am CLINGING to it and also reminding everyone about it any chance I get.
Last year, this trip was Sherman’s first plane trip, and my first trip with an infant (he was 8 months old). This year’s will be his fourth trip on a plane.
Last Christmas (“…I gave you my heart”), we flew all the way into Key West with Sherman. We changed planes in Miami. I remember letting him crawl around on the floor at the Miami airport just to give him some wiggle time. Otherwise, the plane trip wasn’t that bad, at least not that I remember. Holding 20 pounds on your lap in coach is not the most comfortable way to spend a flight, but we weren’t delayed so it could have been worse. On the way home (New Years Day), the flight was fine after an unfortunate incident with the twin toddlers across the aisle whose screaming scared Sherman. Then, instead of Train’s brother picking us up at National, he told us when we landed he didn’t know how to get to the airport, so we had to take the Metro out to meet him, which added about 45 minutes to the trip…with a stroller, car seat, two suitcases, and a very tired toddler who (thankfully) was soothed by the motion of the train.
Train, Sherman, and my dad waiting for our flight out of Key West
In March we went to visit some family in Florida. Sherman still wasn’t walking yet but very wiggly. It was only an hour and a half flight so it wasn’t too difficult to keep him occupied with cheerios or toys. He continued what he had started in December by falling asleep as we landed…almost as soon as the landing gear came down. It’s a little frustrating, but he sleeps through baggage claim.
Then in June we went back to Key West with Ditto, Roadrunner, and Pete. We flew on JetBlue to Fort Lauderdale and rented a minivan to drive the rest of the way. We were across the aisle from them, and it seemed as though we’d get one child calmed down and the other one would crank it up. Sherman was relentlessly wiggly, it was a struggle to keep him from bothering people around us or wanting to get up and walk. Both kids slept through baggage claim so that was a relief. We had two of everything…strollers, high chair covers, diaper bags, car seats, sippy cups, plus we had taken our Pack N Play since my parents only had one at the house. Although I dreaded the flight home, all in all it was a nice trip and we were all speaking at the end, so that was a success. It’s a pain having to coordinate two kids’ nap/eating schedules (Pete was 9 months old so still eating bottles), but it’s also comforting to travel with another family…you’re not quite so self-conscious.
This year (“to save me from tears…”), we’re again flying to Fort Lauderdale. And for the first time, Sherman will have his own seat. We’re taking his Britax car seat (which we need anyway for the rental car) and my hope is that he can/will stay in it the entire time. One of the worst things about the plane is changing a diaper so hopefully we can avoid that. I am looking forward to not having to hold him and constantly switch from Mommy’s lap to Daddy’s and back again. We’re taking a portable DVD player and new books and small (quiet) toys. It will take us longer to drive to Key West from Fort Lauderdale than it will to fly to FLL from Washington, but at least we can go at our own pace and we won’t bother anyone else. I’m optimistic.
I used to be one of those eye-rolling passengers that gave kids ugly looks on the plane. So yes, I deserve every ounce of travel stress and drama that Sherman can dream up. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. In that spirit, I give you these Commandments of Childless Plane Travel.
1. It’s a plane, not a spa. If you’re looking for deep-zen meditation, you haven’t paid enough for your business class seat, sweetie.
2. You have a choice, too. You know there’s a good chance (especially around the holidays) that there will be (gasp!) children on your flight. Some well-behaved, and some maybe not. If it’s that big of a deal-breaker, you could drive to your destination just as easily as we could. I’m not sure where you’re headed, but we’re just trying to get the hell off this plane and get to Grandma’s. I’m sorry if these two hours before you arrive in tropical paradise for a week of vacation aren’t exactly what you expected, but bite me.
3. No matter how badly it sucks for you, it sucks about 100 times more for the parents. It’s easy to assume that parents of loud/active children are oblivious to what their “little angels” are up to, but I find that most parents take every precaution possible in preparation for a smooth flight. Diaper changes, Tylenol dosing, smart selection of travel time (evidence: three million web pages about traveling with a toddler). The bottom line is, when the kid is crying and scared, you get to turn on your iPod and tune it out. That parent has to deal with their child (whom they love, and want to comfort) on top of the ugly looks and muttered comments, and does that sound like a fun way to travel? Especially when she’s paid just as much for her child’s seat as you paid for yours?
4. Just because a child whines or cries, they aren’t necessarily a spoiled brat. Before I had Sherman, I never considered that some children are just too young to even know where they are or what they’re doing. Those are the ones who sometimes handle planes the worst. An infant cries when she’s hungry, wet, scared, tired, etc etc etc. Not deliberately to annoy you. A toddler can’t sit still, and usually doesn’t have to, but you can’t expect a parent to put him in a straightjacket. Yes, an 8-year-old that kicks your seat or screams in your ear is out of control, and you can stew during the entire flight about how terrible his parents are, but you get to get off the plane and go about your business. That child will be a teenager one day, so count your blessings.
5. I didn’t design the plane. Most planes that we fly on have seats in groups of three. So if you have two parents and a lap child, or (horror of horrors) one parent with a child in their own seat, it means a stranger will be sharing intimate space with the little beast. It can’t be helped. That leads us to…
6. If you have a heart in your chest, at least smile at the kid. I was 100% guilty of ignoring children anywhere in my vicinity before Sherman came along. But now, I see my son piling on the charm and cuteness just to be ignored, and it makes me want to punch my seatmate. When a miniature face pops up over the seat in front of you to check out what’s going on, if you make faces or share toys, you will have one grateful parent up there who gets a few seconds of a break. On our first flight with Sherman, the man sitting next to me in our row had a video iPod. He kept leaving it within Sherman’s reach and obviously didn’t want him to touch it (neither did I!). COME ON DUDE, can’t you at least try to get it out of sight so I don’t have to wrestle him away from it every 10 seconds? I’M DOING MY VERY BEST HERE.
7. What goes around comes around. When I was pregnant, I sat next to a woman whose son threw up on her while they were in the cabin bathroom. I was okay until I realized her husband was 5 rows back in the exit row with the extra legroom. Why, exactly, am I sitting here dealing with this? One day, it will be your child or grandchild who loses his shit (literally or figuratively) in the airport or on the plane, and you will be grateful for anyone that either helps you or ignores you, but most of all, refrains from abusing you even more than your child already has.
the best things to do in Key West December 6, 2007
I may have mentioned before that I am sooooooper excited about our annual New Years trip to Key West. I’ve been going down there for holidays to visit my grandparents or parents since I was a kid. To get in the holiday spirit, I decided to make the definitive list of things you (if you want to be my friend) must do in Key West when you visit. Of course we don’t do all (or sometimes any) of these each time we visit, mostly just when we have newbies to show around or if it’s been a while.
1. First things first. Once you drop your stuff and get settled in, you’ve got to do the Conch Train tour. It’s the best way to really get a feel for Key West and understand the culture (if such a thing were possible). It also helps you see a little of everything so you can decide how to spend the rest of your trip (besides what I’ve told you to do).
Train is a huge fan of the “World-Infamous” Conch Train, ever since I made him spend $40 in beer money so we could ride during one of our college spring breaks
2. The next thing you’ve got to do is watch sunset at Mallory Dock. Every night, 365 days a year, street performers and vendors set up here to entertain you and get your money. Get a Key Lime colada to enjoy. Watch sunset and possibly some cruise ships arriving or leaving.
Dr. P gave this little girl a dollar to give to the “statue”, December 2006
3. Get up and have breakfast at Blue Heaven. This isn’t my favorite place to eat, but it’s a Key West institution, and you can eat your omelette and watch wild chickens run around your table. My parents love it, and my mom insists on eating there on her birthday.
4. Go rent some bikes. It’s the best way to get around the island because it’s not too difficult to find somewhere to park, and you can burn off some of those alcohol calories. Just please be careful on the road (I’m not a big fan of mopeds, since they are hard to operate if you’re not used to them and can be very dangerous in traffic). Another great option (especially if you have a group of 4) is an electric car.
Sherman on my dad’s bike, 8 months old
5. Tour Ernest Hemingway’s house, where you can see the island’s first swimming pool. To Have and Have Not is based on Key West during the Depression. Most days there is a wedding taking place in the yard.
6. In honor of Papa, have lunch and a cocktail at his friend’s bar, Sloppy Joes.
7. Go back and rest for a while, then spend the evening on the beach at Fort Taylor. Key West has no natural beaches; they’re all man-made because the island is surrounded by reef on three sides and there are no waves. The sand is brought in from the Bahamas. The Gulf side is usually very grassy, while the Atlantic side beaches are very rocky. Often some or all of the beaches are closed due to elevated bacteria. Yuck.
My point is, Key West is not the place to go if you’re looking for a beach vacation. But my family (not big beach fans) likes Fort Taylor the best, especially later in the day. There are nice, shaded picnic areas with grills; a snack bar; good snorkeling; and the park is on a point of the island right next to the dredged channel where the cruise ships come in…they pass so closely it seems like you could reach out and touch them.
Dad, Train, and Ditto at Fort Taylor, June 2007
(The other great beach is about an hour’s drive up the Keys, at Bahia Honda State Park.)
8. Eat a Cuban sandwich. If you want some more Cuban food, have dinner at El Siboney (which isn’t open year-round). This restaurant is within walking distance of my parents’, which is a good thing because (a) there’s almost no parking and (b) they have really good sangria.
9. Take a jet ski tour around (literally) the island. Train and I did this once, with my parents, in July, and we did the sunset tour. It was a lot of fun and a great way to break the heat (there are several stops along the route for “play time”, so Train would dump me in the ocean and goof off with the jet ski for a while). You also get to see the submarine flats that were built but never used during WWII.
July 2004
10. Have dinner at Raw Bar…this isn’t necessarily a Key West “must-do” but it is for me, because I love the atmosphere and the food here. And no…I don’t eat anything raw!
11. Take a half-day catamaran snorkeling trip out to Sand Key Light. You get to see a ton of sea life and usually you get a free drink (or six). Just don’t go on a windy day when the sand is all stirred up and the water isn’t as clear. Wear your sunscreen!
12. Time to shop!! I love wandering around Mallory Square looking at all the tourist tchockes. Mom and I usually have the most luck at the Conch Train Station Gift Shop. And I always have to stop at Key West Aloe for Key Lime lotion and Fresh Banana hair conditioner. My grandmother only used their products and they make great souvenirs.
13. Get some true Key West entertainment at the Crystal Room at La Te Da, where the beautiful drag queens put on their own productions of The Sound of Music and Chicago. Try to get tickets in advance. Showtime is 9pm, and luckily there’s a two drink minimum!
Dr. P and I after a La Te Da show, December 2006
14. Spend an afternoon at Schooner’s Wharf Bar listening to Michael McCloud. This is my mom’s favorite bar (when she retired from her job in North Carolina, her going-away gift was a gift certificate so Schooner’s).
Train, when we left him under the care of the Schooner’s waitress one afternoon…a few hours later, we found him outside the VFW two blocks away
15. After dinner, it’s time for a banana split at Mathieson’s 4th of July - we always say it’s big enough for 6 people (see proof below) but unfortunately this summer Ditto and I finished one all by ourselves…
With my mom, uncle, aunt, and cousin (Dad took the picture), December 2005 while I was pregnant with Sherman
16. Go visit the Little White House, where Harry Truman spent his Presidential vacations. My grandfather was a civilian electrician whose office was located directly behind the house, and he used to have coffee with President Truman. He installed the aperture light above Truman’s poker table. When the house was shut down (prior to the opening of the museum), everyone began grabbing souvenirs. My grandfather was one of the last, so he ended up with only a showerhead. But it was the best damn showerhead I’ve ever seen, and my grandparents used it for years.
The Little White House is located in Truman Annex, which used to be part of the Navy base and is where the officers’ family homes were. Now they are privately owned and they are the prettiest houses on the island. We love riding our bikes through there.
17. Finally, have a drink at the Casa Marina, the hotel built by Henry Flagler so that the passengers on his Overseas Railroad had somewhere grand to stay. My grandparents always went to fancy dinner dances at this hotel and it is so glamorous.
Sherman and I at the Casa Marina, December 2006
So there you go. That’s what I would make you do if you went to Key West with me.
As far as getting there, Train and I used to fly all the way into Key West International (one gate in, and one gate out, and only recently was it air-conditioned), but it’s sometimes hard to get tickets and it’s expensive (also requires a plane change somewhere in South Florida or Atlanta). My parents’ method of choice is to fly to/from Fort Lauderdale airport (which is only a little ways north of Miami but outside of the traffic). It’s smaller than MIA and easier to get in and out of. The other option is to take a fast ferry from Tampa or Miami, which is quicker than driving.
See you there!
just put your pickle on everybody’s plate, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me December 3, 2007
For those of us born just before and during the early 80s, there’s no question of the significance of Dirty Dancing. While it was originally released in 1987 (when I was in 1st grade), I remember watching it endlessly on video with my friends in 3rd or 4th grade. I had (and still have!) a home-recorded videotape of it, probably off of HBO by a friend of my mom’s. My friends and I reenacted the scenes over and over and over. The lift in the lake. Mickey & Sylvia. Dancing up the stairs. De Todo Un Poco. Boogie on the log. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. It was re-released in theatres in 1997 and in 2007 for the 20th anniversary. Now that’s an iconic film. (And what a coincidence…the choreographer also directed High School Musical.)
Re-watching the movie in college, when Train gave it to me on DVD for Christmas, I was scandalized that my parents had let me watch this movie at such a young age. This PG-13 movie that miraculously never actually says the word “abortion” out loud. The 17-year-old sleeping with the hot, dangerous, older dance instructor (although we never actually see it). The daddy issues. Then I remembered that all of my friends’ parents were okay with it too. I asked my mom and she said that they knew we didn’t/wouldn’t understand the subtext, and they were right. We just loved the dancing, and the romance, and Johnny taking off Baby’s shirt while they were alone in his cabin!! GASP!!
So if this movie was as big a deal to you as it was to my friends and I, give me your favorite quote(s) from the movie and/or favorite song lyric(s). No fair cheating with “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Some people who have never seen the movie have been known to use that line on their dogs, so it doesn’t count.
There’s no contest or prize…just trying to prove a point about HOW. IMPORTANT. THIS. MOVIE. IS.
