It’s just a tad bit windy but perfectly nice otherwise at the Lodge today, which is why I was able to capture a teensy video from my poolside perch. Look & listen closely to this clip and you’ll see my favorite Jamaican Jammer playing a funky tune from behind that water umbrella:

Summer just doesn’t get much better than this! Ok minus the wind, of course.

Finally it all made sense. Having a smartphone is an absolute must, especially if you live in tornado alley and find yourself seeking shelter under basement steps during tornado warnings. In fact, earlier this week as the winds kicked in at 90 mph uprooting our deck umbrella from its peaceful slumber and ripping it to shreds before flinging pieces of it out onto the lawn, I found myself tracking wall clouds and storm warnings via weather.com on my sweet little Treo. All this as power outages hit various locations around the city, having no affect whatsoever on our online activity. Oh no. We were good to go with internet access at our fingertips, right down there under the basement steps. Unfettered.

So guess who wouldn’t give this new gadget up for the world after that ordeal?

Today the Catholic Family and I were getting ready to go to mass, and from 2nd floor of the house I hear Catholic Hubs asking, “Does this look ok? I’m feeling a little underdressed.” Taking one look at him in his black polo and jean shorts I respond with, “We’re under a HEAT Advisory right now, so I’m thinking you could just about get away with going to church naked.” Well, why not with 100 degree temps out there… right?

Then Catholic Girlie chimes in saying, “Wouldn’t that be SACRELIGIOUS if Dad went to church naked, Mom?”

*chuckle, snort, laughter eruption*

From the mouths of babes a soon-to-be middle schooler. Now, isn’t that sweet?

For the second weekend in a row, the Catholic family and I ventured out to the zoo to experience the latest local rage: BUDGIES. What are budgies? Well, if you take a look at the video you will see that they are nothing more than colorful little birds, the kind you see in pet stores everywhere. Only here you see that we’re in a tent chalk full of those buggers, armed with birdseed sticks for feeding purposes. Unfortunately, the budgies seemed to be more interested in nibbling on our shoelaces. Huh?