I have always dreaded the Wednesday night of  Aquatennial and try to get out of work as early as possible.  You see, that is the night that the clowns congregate in the Star Tribune parking lot before the annual Aquatennial Torchlight Parade. 

They descend upon the main  parking lot around 5:00-5:30 and ride around in their little clown cars. Up and down and up the aisles practicing figure 8’s and circles and beeping their little clown horns. 

A few years ago I almost backed over one as he zipped by.  All I saw in my rearview mirror was the top of his curly red hair and heard the little honk of his little clown horn.

My boss had a frightening moment when she was backing out. All of a sudden (cue Psycho music) a clown appeared in her drivers side window pounding on it saying “Hey -don’t hit my clown car!!!” Horrifying! I would’ve burned rubber outta there.  Screeeeech ….

So if you haven’t already gathered - clowns creep me out. I blame the clown in Poltergeist for scarring me for life, or maybe it was John Wayne Gacy. These days I’m sure images of Heath Ledger’s “Joker” are making an impression on an entirely new generation - creating a whole new batch of coulrophobes . (yes - those with fear of clowns)

I worked late yesterday, walked out to the parking lot and saw a handful of clowns conversing near my car.  I faced my fears, took a deep breath and marched right on over to them for my very own brand of immersion therapy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hey all - just a reminder we are having our first Cribsheet get-together at Sovereign Grounds in South Mpls this Saturday morning from 9:30-11:30.

May & I are looking forward to meeting you in person! We want to give the owner a heads up on turnout. If you are planning to swing by raise your hand. (or just do a quickie comment below).

We’re hoping you lurker/non-commenters show up too - (we know you’re out there) we’re all part of the Cribsheet community.

Sovereign Grounds is located just off of Chicago Ave S and 46th St. For more information click here.

From Cribsheet’s inbox….

Hi Kay and May,

I love the blog - thanks for all the great postings! I’ve got kind of a heavy question for the Cribsheet Crowd…

My husband and I went through two years of infertility treatment and finally had a beautiful little boy, who is now 3 years old. We’ve been trying for 18 months to have a second child with no luck, and the emotional stress is really getting to us.

We really want more children, though, so we’ve been talking about adoption. I’ve seen some adoptions that turned out beautifully, but I’ve also seen some adoption “horror stories” from families who have had trouble adjusting. I feel deep compassion for the kids out there who need homes, but I really want to make sure it’s the right choice for my family.

Do any Cribsheeters have advice or adoption stories? I’m especially interested in how to best bond biological children with adopted children, and whether people chose domestic or international adoption and why. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

- Jen from St. Paul

It’s started already.

Me: What did you do at school today, Zoe?

Zoe: (Long pause) Nuzzing.

Four years old and already she sounds like a sullen teenager at dinner.

But we shall persevere. Especially with this new research coming out of the U of M today about how adolescent girls who eat regular family meals are much less likely five years out to  drink, smoke or use marijuana.

The study didn’t find the same effect for boys though and researchers are at a loss to explain why. Click here for the story.

Forty.  I entered this new decade at 7 am this morning.

So far, so good. (aside from Vivian’s diaper blowout in the exersaucer - Happy Birthday mom!)

I am now officially in the demographic of “More”  magazine. 10 years away from AARP membership. A new number to type into the computer when the treadmill asks me “Age?” A new box to check on surveys.  And I already find myself borrowing my co-workers “cheaters” to read reports at work.

Got an opportunity to channel the twenty year old me again on Saturday night. We had an 80’s themed 40th party @ Park Tavern. It was easy to revert back to. My haircut is pretty much the same, sans Sun-In  - just add some Sebastian Freeze shaper spray, slather on some “Zinc Pink” lipgloss , some leggings and I was good to go.

(I have a pic of May & I  in our 80’s duds- but my camera  is acting up -will post later)

The parents showed up at the party first - all with the same story -”You should have seen the babysitter’s face when I came to the door dressed like this.” Peter started talking to our babysitter about his thoughts of sporting the Don Johnson “Miami Vice” look. She just looked at him with a blank stare. I was like, “Honey, stop. She doesn’t know what you’re talking about, she wasn’t even born yet. ”

I usually want birthdays to slip under the radar - but when   birthday’s with a zero in them roll around it’s nice to be surrounded by friends. Turning 40 isn’t so bad, it’s just that the 30’s were so good and so life changing. It’s tough to let go. I went from single to married with 2 kids, a dog and a lot of fun memories in the past decade.

I know there are other Cribsheeters who’ve let me know I’m not alone in turning 40 this year.  Here’s some other people who have or will join us in the big 4-0.

Will Smith, Owen Wilson, Rachel Ray, Scully (Gillian Anderson), Ashely Judd, Gary Coleman, Hugh Jackman, Celine Dion -(wait I thought she was a long time ago?) uh, Vanilla Ice, Anthony Michael Hall (Sixteen Candles) and the Blonde Bond - Daniel Craig.

The best is yet to come.

Now, off to the zoo. We have a date with some swimming Grizzly bears.