Still shot from movie

Mary and I just finished watching Magic Mike. I left feeling like I wanted to start attending church again. A couple of weeks ago, I debated whether I would like to be 1) young and poor or  2) me. After watching this movie, I am definitely voting me. Don’t get me wrong, I am a card-carrying member of the pleasure-seekers club, but at some point you gotta get practical. The buzz does go away. Maybe all that sexual abandon and escapism seems alluring, but not on a regular basis. I know I would get sick of Hot Tamales if I ate them every night (I actually tried this in college). Watching all those gyrating 6-packs was fascinating in the beginning, but then the story became all too familiar and pathetic. Then I started feeling really weird contemplating my own son in this sordid world of lewdness and drugs. Ugghh. I think some kind of baton has just been passed but I am not quite sure what baton it is. Did I like the movie? Yes. Just as I thought it was going to be too long, it stopped. It was very reminiscent of Boogie Nights, Showgirls, and HBO documentaries. I love that someone finally decided to explore the world of male stripping. I would definitely recommend this film. Another plus: you can leave your dollar bills at home ladies.

UPDATES:

CHASE

Camp Kieve

I just found this photo on the camp website. Is it just me? or does Chase look sunburnt to you? I know I must have packed at least 4 different kinds of sunscreen for him! I also don’t understand how he looks like the only sun burned kid and everyone else is blonde! WTH? It is unbelievable that I will be flying up to Maine this Friday evening to see him and bring him back Saturday. I’ve missed him a lot. Judging from the picture, it looks like Chase is having some magical times himself.

HIGH TEA WITH THE GIRLS:

High Tea at the Ritz Carlton

In case you didn’t already know: Girls are different from boys. One of my favorite rituals with Chase is taking him to High Tea at fancy hotels at least once a year. It’s all part of my master plan to create the perfect man. I thought it was something he didn’t care about and just tolerated as one of mom’s weird requests, but before he left for camp, I mentioned to the girls I was planning to do a High Tea with them. A few days later, Chase had the first meltdown in a long time and when I sat with him alone, he eventually blurted out, “I just don’t think the girls are ready for HIGH TEA!!!!” My poor little fox. Despite being an only child, Chase has always been good about sharing things. What I didn’t realize was he wasn’t used to sharing me. After a quiet talk about “enough love to go around” and “you know you’re my favorite” and a back massage, everything got smoothed over.

Until next time…

TIMELINE:

• July 20th Friday Kathryn leaves for Camp Kieve
• July 21st Saturday Parents Day at Camp & return to DC that evening
• August 3rd Friday Visit Beth in Alexandria
• August 12th Return to Tokyo
• August 22nd Wednesday Chase starts 5th Grade