Strollerderby Playdate: Going Retro Edition

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:01:00 GMT

Isn't it funny how something, some little bitty thing, holds the utmost importance today and then weeks or months or years later, we look back and realize how little bitty it really was? Or how we can page through the photo albums housed on our computers in amazement that our big kids were once that tiny, that we got through that tough time or that the world eventually returned to the everydayness of loading the dishwasher and changing more diapers and picking the kids up from soccer practice? It's like listening to an old mix tape and remembering how killer OMD really was and wondering what in the hell the slow jam obsession was all about, all in one 60-minute cassette.

Just for a bit of perspective, let's poke around in the archives of some favorite blogs and see what those folks were up to some July way back when:

Last July, Stephanie was desperately seeking a mean-mommy mask to intimidate the hell out of her kids when she really just wants to laugh at their antics. (If you've found one, Stephanie, call me. No really, I may need to borrow it).

In 2005, our own Sarah was very busy watching a lot of television (isn't that is so old school?), replacing Joey with a little Carnivale.

And about that same time, Jason was diggin' on his rad wife. What's cool is that he's still that kooky-bananas for the lady.

In '04, Jen was going ga-ga (and all bust-ass economic analytical) over THE diaper bag.

In the Year of our Lord 2003, another Strollerderby bad ass, MetroDad, saw blogging and banjos in his future.

Way back in aught-three, Dooce was doing a lot of dry heaving. Good times.

What were you doing -- or more importantly, blogging about -- all those years ago?

Strollerderby Playdate: Memorial Day Weekend Redux

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:02:00 GMT

After a long week in Virginia celebrating a very Southern wedding, I was delighted to get home to y'allses and see the holiday weekend stretch out before me, uncluttered by commitments or schedules or deadlines. It felt like heaven. I unplugged the laptop (*gasp*) and uncorked a bottle of wine (*ahhh*) and we settled in for a few days of hanging out in the sun on the back porch, lazy walks through the neighborhood, napping, and an impromptu BBQ at a neighbor's house with loads of screaming, soaking wet, deliriously happy kids and very relaxed adults hovering by the grill and keg. It was exactly as a holiday weekend should be.

Now that it is all coming to a close, I feel better about plugging back in and, like a nosy neighbor, peeking in to see how my favorite bloggers spent their down time this Memorial Day weekend. Here's the goss from around the blogo-block:

Check out Thingamababy for the report on the Kinetic Grand Championship that took place over the weekend. The crazy pics are hilarious and I was so amped to see racers from Corvallis, Oregon mentioned. I ate many a felafel sandwich on the sidelines of many a kinetic race during my stint in Corvallis years ago. Good times.

Head on over to MUBAR where Jen's had an a-ha moment about why (other) parents ban pinwheels plucked from grocery store holiday displays.

While you're grabbing up BBQ supplies at the store, Becki from Cooking with Whine reminds you to get the fixins for watermelon sorbet that will delight your senses and stir up your total irritation at how lame schools can be for kids (and parents) who just want to get their end-of-year potluck on.

Grab a lawn chair and lemonade at Susiej's, where she's reflecting on her personal connections and political conflicts as soldiers are sent off to war. Sus has a way of giving pause during what could be detached Memorial Day madness.

While you're taking a moment, hang out on the porch with Kristen from Motherhood Uncensored for a bit. She's offering up links and good thoughts for the folks serving our country while we're busy serving up potato salad and fruit kabobs.

[photo credit: Maura McEvoy via Barefoot Contessa]

Strollerderby : mubar

Strollerderby Playdate: Going Retro Edition

Strollerderby Playdate: Memorial Day Weekend Redux