Say hello to Jacob!

We have a new nephew!



Congratulations to Tommy's sister Carrie and her husband Bryan on the birth of their second son! Jacob was born on Sunday evening. We can't wait to meet him at Uncle Mike's wedding in July!!!!!

Happy Bday KW!!!!

For the past 17 of my 24 years, June 23 has been a red letter day in my summer's social calendar. For years Kristin Ward's midsummer Birthday Pool Party was my main social event. We have since changed the location from the Larry Avenue pool to the Catch31 bathroom, but the heightened excitement and squealing remains.

Sadly, my iPhoto archives don't go back to 1st grade, but they do go back to the Summer of 2k7!!! I wonder if Bobbi can hook me up with the old photos... I know I have some new ones of her...

To my dear friend Spencer

This post is for you.

A Twilight Toast

This weekend TBone and I went up to Alexandria to celebrate Noof and Noel's engagement with a night of toasting. It was a fabulous party with beautiful friends, flowers, atmosphere, and all the sweet treats that Tbone could imagine.





And as a very special surprise indeed, Dr. Andrew Badke flew in from Seattle Grace to get the party started. Let's just say that the Big Top was raised once more around the three rings of the Andy Badke Circus.



Too bad my pictures don't capture the lovely details of the party, but I trust you get the point. Congratulations Noof and Noel!

hi dad!

Emmanuel Dunand / AFP - Getty Images

a young summer's tale

Once upon a time there was a man whose only wish was to dress up his tiny puppy in silly costumes. He dreamed of a tiny life jacket with a handle that he could parade his dog around in at pools and laugh and laugh at. Lucky for the man he had a WONDERFUL WIFE who searched high and far for the tiniest life jacket a doggy has ever worn. And she gave it to the man as a surprise.

He was so happy.
























































The puppy was a natural! He swam faster than the man could run in the water. The man was so proud of his puppy that he bragged and bragged and now refers to the dog as his son. The wife was very pleased with herself, and her little family.

songs about bridges

Tommy often asks me why I didn't go with the name he came up with for my blog: "Dollop of Ruthie". He is making fun of me you see, because Tbone completely understands how that horrible "D" word conjures up images of mayonnaise pie and sour cream and all the lovely things that make me wanna vom.

Once upon a time when I use to write poems and hide them, I came home from work overwhelmed by my new vernacular. Ugly words like "termination" and "separation" were now my daily language. While they are very technical and professional words-- they aren't that veiled. "Termination" is a pretty loaded word.

I have a friend who moved to Hong Kong with her family in high school. When I asked her the specifics of her father's job and why it was sending them to Hong Kong, she said very matter of factly, "He is a bridge-builder. Every few years my family moves to follow the bridge building circuit." I never told her this because we aren't that close, but I think that is the most romantic thing I have ever heard.

So back to that poem. I am obsessed with the idea of human (and landmass) separation. I want to build bridges. And besides, I hate mayonaisse.

While I know that words don't make the most sustainable bridges, they are a good start. And I gotta hand it to this guy for the way he uses words:

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

-Barack Obama

from his address in Cairo yesterday

wicked interesting

I read this article today about a Brown University student who was caught off guard when he met his first evangelical Christians during his freshman year of college (love it!). Kevin Roose, who described himself as being the product of the "ultimate, secular, liberal upbringing", transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA in order to fully immerse himself in what might as well have been as foreign to him as any typical study abroad program.

Kevin went undercover and blended into his newfound Christian community. He spoke like his peers, answered test questions like them and lived life like them. He has now written a book describing his experience.

Now, I love this story as it sounds like a plot line from my fav show GREEK. But it does make a me a little nervous as I have tender heart for Fundy Culture, and live a life of constant tension in trying to figure out what to do with the 14 years of my Christian school upbringing. Challenge it! I say from the background, quietly afraid of what will be said.

And that is the best part. I was so convicted by his Liberty friends. His experience was so positive! O' RuthA of little faith, quit worrying about who (on NPR) might make you (the Christian) look bad (besides yourself)!

I will stop babbling so you can just go read the article. Please take his mock Liberty test and see if you can beat my score-- "Champion for Christ" baby!!