I try not to be a judgemental person.  But sometimes my mind just goes there, unbeknownst to the rest of me, and suddenly, I'm judging.  It goes something like this:

I am standing at the lunchmeat counter at the grocery store... waiting for my number to be called.  What will it be today?  Roasted peppercorn turkey or roast beef?  Pound or half-pound?  Here comes a girl with a too-short tank top with... wait a second... is that what I think it is... are they... muffin tops?!... yes, her muffin tops are hanging out.  At the grocery store!?  Shame on you.  Cover that up.  We don't want to see that.

Then I correct myself and go about my business.  Shame on you, Bridget.  But like I said, it's unbeknownst to the rest of me!  Give me a break!

And so it goes, and so it goes.  I find that a lot of my judgement goes down at the grocery store.  Mostly after my cart evaluation.  I do a lot of "cart evals".

Beep.  Beep.  Beep, goes the scanner as the person in front of me readies herself to pay.
Soda.  Beep.
Doritos.  Beep.
WONDER BREAD?!?  Beep.
Non-organic beef.  Beep.
Twinkies.  Beep.
Cinnamon rolls.  Beep.
Frozen pizzas.  Beep.

I tap the woman on the shoulder (after already sizing her up and being quite sure that her house is a mess and that her kids must stay home from school sick quite often.  How couldn't they?  Look at this junk!?).

"Excuse me, miss.  But do have you a thing against the periphery of the grocery store?  Did the produce offend?  Do you only peruse the middle aisles?"

Then I hand her the Omnivore's Dilemma and she goes off, thanking me for the enlightenment as my "beep-ing" begins.

Apples.  Beep.
Whole wheat bread.  Beep.
Yogurt.  Beep.
Asparagus.  Beep.
Strawberries.  Beep.
Milk.  Beep.

That's more like it.  Go me!

Shame on you, Bridget!  Pride is the biggest sin of all!

Disclaimer: I reguarly buy Tostitos, ice cream, and cookies.  Sometimes even potato chips - gasp!

Moral of the story: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone... ain't that the truth?!

image

hurrah for the heat!!

this or that?

(and bear with me and my italy questions.

it won't always be like this.

remember the old times?)

i tried reading this three years ago and i just wasn't into it.

i read a few chapters, put it down, and didn't pick it up again.

i think, if i recall correctly, elizabeth gilbert annoyed me.

(don't get me wrong, i am all about eatin', prayin', and lovin').

since the julia roberts is starring in this summer's movie,

i'm thinking maybe i'll try again?

(i really like julia).

and on the topic of travel....

steve and i gots our tickets for italy.

can't wait.

any other tips?

like say, both comfortable and attractive footwear?

a perfect backpack to bring?

the best travel guide to buy?

the cleanest toilets in rome?

the pizza we mustn't miss while there?

the quietest corner in florence where steve and i can make out without being seen?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

GORGEOUS.

My favorites?  

Nearly impossible.  Maybe #1 and #7.

I really think #6 is pretty spectacular too.

And #5?  Please.

Do you have a favorite?

maybe you're grossed out by this?

especially picture three where hubs is really trying to concentrate on a so-far unrequited kiss.

more than you wanted to see?  spectacular?  i'm going with the latter.

well, either way... too late.  here they are.

stolen right out from under her and her fancy blog.

(basically, didn't have time for a post today so stole a bit of ahnika's)

Very Mary-Kate: Paper from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

thank you to laura for showing me these.
"i have elevenyear... so..."

a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do.

Dear Oprah,
You know I always have your back.  Even with this no phone zone thing.  And the dolphins?  I got your back there too.  And girl, the texting, I sooooooooooo get.  Type and drive?  Stupid.  But no talking, not even on a bluetooth??  You might've lost me there.  Fine, all the chit-chat-what'd-you-have-for- dinner-last-night can be put to a stop, but sometimes we need our phones.  Anyway, the real problem is this and correct me if I'm wrong:  But, do you drive yourself everywhere?  I got a sneaking suspicion that you are hopping in the back of a big black Escalade and being dropped off where you need (maybe not all the time)--all the while chatting with Gayle about last night's Met Gala (or other more important things; no judgement, Oprah... I love you).  So, are you signing this pledge for good ol' Mike/Pedro/Randy your driver?  Is he now in the no phone zone?  Could you do me this... stay off the phone whether you're in the front or the back seat?  Cause us common folk would really feel more camaraderie in this whole no phone thing if that were the case.  Ya know, we don't have ourselves any drivers.
And please, if this somehow gets to you, let it not be the reason you finally invite me to the show.  Have you read my love story?  It's much nicer.
Love always,
Bridget

my sister doing her thang in her bradley method class*

gradumucation weekend 2010.

This weekend was so good.  I think this year is the first year ever that I have really appreciated goodness.  That I have really stopped and said, "What a blessed day we're having," or, "Look at this sunshine.  Isn't it nice?"  That sounds terribly cheesy but I'm serious.  I definitely enjoyed life before but I moved with it, quickly, as it so often moves.  But sometimes, only recently, I will stop amidst its moving and think how nice the weather is or how special the time with friends is.  Is that weird?  Is that just growing up?  Can you not answer because you're throwing up a little in your mouth?

Anyway, this weekend was no exception.  It was graduation weekend at the college.  And while I am not a big attendee of graduations that aren't my own (is anyone?), this was a particularly special one.  A good friend was graduating and my husband was finally revealing a book--three years in the making--that is a tribute to a fellow professor who has worked at the school for, I think, 49 years (!!) and who is approaching his 75th birthday.  And while all of that is incredible, perhaps his work in bridging the gap between Jewish and Christian relationships in the U.S. (hear hear!!) and abroad is the most significant.  Needless to say, he is somewhat of a legend at the college... and it doesn't stop there.  So, Steve was finally able to reveal this book which he was both a contributor and editor for after three years of secrecy.  A lot went into this and I am so proud of my husband.

Of course when graduation comes to town, so do friends.  There were some very lovely ladies that I spent the weekend with too.  Hurrah for gradumucation.

steve signs copies; marv signs copies.  you want a signed copy?!

the people who made the book possible

You better believe that when that book is online, I will be linking to it and expecting you all to buy a copy.  Alright, not all of you.  But maybe a few?

life factory glass drinking bottles.  i got me the orange one, steve's got the red.  i LOVE it.  the spout is big enough for a lemon slice or two and it is dishwasher safe.  i did love my sigg for a time, but this one i think is THE one.  

these fruit pillows by jonathan adler.  and pretty much everything else he sells.  like the lacquer cubes?  i'll take those too.

this wedding dessert table shot by the amazing nicole hill.

this amazing stamper!  holy moly!  stamps alive!  spotted here and for purchase here.

and another thing by her because it's so darn pretty.

...now do me a favor and have a lovely weekend.

It's true.  He is a junior in high school now and I can hardly believe it.  When I first came along he was only 12 and so much shorter than me.  As you will soon see, that is no longer the case (I may get teary writing this post).

He has come so far and so have I and even in the last few months our relationship has grown so much.  I just love Nathaniel.  And, while I am biased, he and his date win best-dressed in my book (and, if I'm being unbiased, they still do.  In fact, I might ask if I can borrow her dress for something in the future.  Would that be weird?).

(look at the back of it... beautiful, right?!)

(maybe when the limo came, Steve and I got inside it.)

It was so special watching the whole thing take place.  And it has been really special watching Nathaniel grow into quite the handsome man.  He's really nice too.  Bonus.

(and because it made me miss my own prom days

I thought my prom date could have a little 

cameo of his own.)