In a random myspace message, a young man writes: "Your a milf eh? Don't try to deny it now." Um, thanks. I guess that's flattering, but I don't have to deny it, sir, because I can't even fit into that category. The kid in the pictures with me is, as the many captions note, my nephew. If anything, I'm an ailf. Get it right. Another nice person I don't know writes: "Your blog is strictly hilarious, and interesting, and entertaining." Now this is, naturally, the kind of compliment I will cling to for years. When feeling low, I will remember it and say, "Well, at least this one guy on myspace thinks my blog is funny. So there!" It's sad but true. Clearly he is very smart with a great sense of humor. Thank you very much.

I get to see my nephew, Trav, in about week when I go to Maui for his first birthday! My mom, stepdad and aunt are going too, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and celebrating together. It's hard to believe a year has already gone by since that long, trying, and amazing day. It's also hard for me to grasp the idea that this will be my last time on the island for a long while, since both Mols (and fam) and Bryn will most likely move back to the mainland this winter. I'm so used to making multiple trips a year, and I won't have an excuse to do that, or be able to afford it, without the girls there. So long, paradise! No more free hotel rooms, comped activities, or cars to use. The little tiny selfish part of me is a bit sad about that. Of course, I will be so thrilled to have both of my sisters and nephew nearby (probably Tahoe for Mols) that I will gladly trade in the sun, beautiful beaches and fruity cocktails to spend much more time with them.

Bumbershoot was so much fun! I loved it. Em and I spent two very full days there, and the time just zipped by. I had heard so many conflicting reports about what it's like from so many different people that I just didn't know what to expect. Saturday started off on a particularly silly note before we even left Em's neighborhood. As we pulled up to the end of her street at 10:30am, a little old man wearing a sombrero cruised right down the middle of the road in front of us on one of those scooters. Em stopped the car and we stared in surprise. Then giggled. She was irked that I didn't think to take a picture with my phone. Must remember camera phone next time we encounter a little old man in a sombrero riding a scooter in Fremont. Anyway, Saturday we saw The Gossip, Blondie, Rogue Wave, and Of Montreal. We also spent time at the booths and rock poster exhibits. Sunday we saw Mon Frere, a comedy show, Spoon, Jeremy Enigk, Mates of State, and a tiny bit of Jose Gonzalez's performance.

My favorites were Blondie, Spoon, and Mates of State. I was so excited to see Blondie, since "The Tide is High" was my first favorite song (that I can remember). It takes me back to going with my dad to run errands, like dropping the garbage off at the dump, in his Bronco when I was really little and still living in small town Nebraska. He would buy me a can of Orange Crush while we were out and about, and I can remember sipping on it while sitting in the passenger seat, hoping the song would come on the radio. I think I was in to the part about being #1. Deborah Harry was really great. She is an energetic performer with fun dance moves. Her voice is still gorgeous, and she was so edgy and cute in her all fluorescent green outfit, including a wide-brimmed hat. At one point, she sang a line about giving a jerky guy the shake and then shouted "Cruise on, motherfucker!" It was fantastic.