I love Matthew

I love Matthew. He, of the quiet sense of humor. The sarcastic yet sweet man who comes out of his shell at rock concerts...Yes, rock concerts. So, don't tell, but we went to a rock concert in Syracuse, NY yesterday. Yes, it was Sunday, but it was Bob. You know, Bob Dylan! Also Willie Nelson (an hour of my life I'll never get back.) John Mellancamp was pretty awesome though. He even sang his song, "I'm Fightin' 40..." for Matthew. Bob rocked as usual, however he was definitely more...sedate than usual. He even sang a song from his religious period. We were glad as we were feeling a little guilty about our Sunday Cultural adventure. Okay, "we" meaning "me"--Matthew was having a spiritual experience. He dances! He sings! He notes which songs I like to put on my IPod. He chats up the guy next to him. (Not the girls though. I'd get grumpy.) He moves me out of the way of the brawls (only 2) and the puking people (only 2)...and he holds my hand. I love Matthew.

ArtPark

I LOVE ARTPARK. So, for those of you who aren't in the know about ArtPark, it is this WAY COOL place in Lewiston, NY where every Saturday in July, every child's art fantasy comes true. They put out the paint. They put out the FACE paint. They put out the glue, tape, scissors, craft-you-name-it and then put out a zillion smiley people to help you make cool crafts. One of the workers there told me, "You can tell who are the regulars by the clothes the kids are wearing. If they come up over the hill and look like they've already lost a war with a paint can, they are definitely regulars. The ones in white or photo-clothes, we urge to go home and change and come back..."

Did I mention ArtPark is FREE! Definitely in my summer budget, so we went today, and Cutty Tapey (Otherwise known as Orion) came home covered in homemade tattoos (take rubber stamps, apply ink, stamp on body, color in with markers...EVERYWHERE! Yes, even the forehead.) Xavier made a cool fish hangy-thing and they all got to paint. As in, paper attached to the wall of a big old shed with clothespins and huge pots of paints in a rainbow of color sitting on a bench for use by all. No dropcloth. No "ooh, be careful." No "here put on a smock." Just "here, have a paintbrush and a piece of paper." The best part: I didn't have to clean up. We got there a little late, but still had a ball. I know where I'm going next Saturday. Want to come? I overheard this comment: "I love it here, Mom. I know Honey. I love to draw on myself. I know Honey. Wait, where else do I let you draw on yourself? Only here, Mommy. That's why I love it here." I LOVE ARTPARK.

Little Italy

While driving into Niagara Falls the other day, we passed under the "Little Italy" sign that marks entrance to a small downtown section filled with shops with names like "Spallino" and "Giorgio" and "Bellini". Xavier says, "Are we in Italy, Dad?" Matthew explains that no, this is just an area where there were lots of Italian settlers and that they called the area "Little Italy" to honor them. "Oh," says Xavier, "well, why aren't there any Olive Gardens then?" My son. He knows his Italian food.