A particular scene in a movie, when coupled with the perfect song, can often turn a good movie into a great movie.  Most of my favorite movies have a music scene in them that makes the film more memorable for me, and often the go to scene when recollecting a particular film.

Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies.  This scene and this song are perfect together.  I do have to wonder what happened to Elton John though.  Nothing he did after Madman Across the Water came close to being as good.   

It’s birthday week at the Claiver house. Yesterday was Stephen’s and today is Adam’s.

A very happy birthday to my “behind the scenes” nice guy. Adam is one of the nicest, most giving people you would ever meet, but he loves to keep it on the down low. Heaven forbid anyone ever realize exactly how nice he really is.

Love you, Adam!

Twenty six years ago, at 4:06 p.m. on April 28th, my first child was born. At 10 lbs. 8 ozs and 22 1/2 inches long, two days of induced labor and almost a month after his April 8th due date, Stephen Matthew Brown finally arrived. From the day he was born, he was sweet and smart and incredible. He was talking well before his first birthday, reading books at two and a half, and just continued to amaze me with each new thing he attempted and ultimately accomplished to the highest degree.

It’s hard to believe he is 26 years old today. TWENTY SIX! And even today, he still has the gift where things he wants just seem to fall into place. He’s the kind of guy every mother wishes their son would grow into. He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s kind, he’s a great brother and a wonderful son. And I’m lucky enough that he’s mine.

Happy Birthday, Stephen. I love you!

I’m having an extremely busy evening tonight, and trying to fit a lot of very important stuff into the next hour.

A very important show about carnival food on the Food Network.

Returning a couple of phone calls.

Putting body butter on the sun I got yesterday.

Completing my daily blog post.

Busy, busy, busy!

What better way to spend a day like that than romping through the water with your best friends? Summer is magical. With all that sunshine, sand, water and fun, how could any kid ever get bored?  And although Summer isn’t really here yet, it sure felt like it today.

Today we celebrated Stephen’s 26th Birthday with a family get together at my parents’ house. Yesterday my mom and I spent the day making Dolmathes and a pineapple and strawberry cake that was to die for! Today we made the Avgolemono Sauce, Greek Salad and mini crabcakes. I think Stephen enjoyed his birthday celebration.

His actual birthday is Tuesday, and he’s having a little get together with friends on that day. He lives in Richmond, otherwise I’d be there, but it’s hard to do on a school night.

I’m looking forward to seeing this film.  Yes, it’ll pull more than a few tears from my eyes, but I’m a sucker for a sad movie with a message.  I like the reality of life. .  I’ll watch this one.  I may wait for it to hit DVD, but I will watch it.  I also like the cast.  Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Jason Patric.

Spring pictures came home today. Too bad the photographer didn’t take the time to tell Lil’ Wayne’s sister that her weave was covering her face. The rest of the class looked incredibly cute!

Ethan’s Spring Portrait was ehhh… thank goodness for scanners.  No need to buy more pictures from this year.

“Away, away, from men and towns,
To the wild wood and the downs, –
To the silent wilderness,
Where the soul need not repress
Its music.”

We really are more like chimps than many of us care to admit. A recent study has found wild male chimpanzees exchange meat for sex with females on a long-term basis.

Isn’t that pretty much how it works in the human dating world? Guy takes girl out on a first date to a romantic dinner at an inredible steakhouse with impeccable service, low lights, great wine. She orders the most expensive steak on the menu. He takes her home. She sleeps with him. Would that have happened if he took her to Subway for the Veggie Sub? Doubtful. It wasn’t the ambiance, it was the red meat that got her into bed. Would the girl go out a second time in scenario one? Of course. Scenario two? Doubtful. Would the guy attempt that Veggie Sub on the second date? Doubtful. At least not if he wanted to get her in the sack again.