I knew it was going to be a bad day when I glanced at the microwave clock this A.M. and realized I was already running behind by 10 minutes. It didn't help when I woke up my younger daughter (almost 3yo) who said "Mommy ... I peed. You change me?"

Crap.

It was then that I remembered I had not made her go potty before bed last night. Stupid me. I know better.

I can't really complain about Lauren -- accidents with this child have been few and very far between. She potty trained herself before she was 2 years old. You hear of mother's bragging about their kids potty training themselves and you think "they are SOOO lying." At least, that's what I told all my friends when the subject came up. Then, lo and behold, Lauren comes along & proves me wrong. She was staying dry for hours at a time when she was 18 mos. old. She was wearing underpants (reliably) two weeks before her 2nd birthday. And, I can count on one hand how many accidents she's ever had since then. Most (if not all) of them have happened at night.

So, back to this morning....

It's 7:04 a.m. I'm supposed to be at work at 7:30 a.m. and I've got a sopping wet kid laying in a sopping wet bed sobbing. Ugh!

I stripped the bed & the kid, gave them both a quick clean-up with a soapy washcloth. The kids, the wet bedding and I were in the car en route to Grandma's by 7:12 a.m.

Now, here's the best thing about having a mother who watches my kids -- I dropped the semi-clean kid and the wet bedding off at my mother's and she's going to wash them both.

God, I am so lucky to have her.

Someday I hope to return the favor and clean up my grandaughter's mess so that my dear daughter can get to work on time (OK, OK.... 15 minutes late).

Note to Mommies with kids moving into big-kid beds: As soon as you buy them a new mattess and box springs, go to Wal-Mart or Kmart (or wherever) and buy a couple of waterproof matress covers. Trust me, it's the smartest investment you can make. Two words: Flu season. You don't want to clean THAT out of a mattress -- frankly, I don't even know how you would.

Claytopia -- Erie's only paint-your-own-pottery place -- is offering a cool deal for the summmer.

You can buy a painting pass and paint all you want in June, July and August & pay only for the bisque (pottery). The kids pass is just $20 and the adult pass is $40.

Pottery pieces you can paint include just about everything you can imagine -- from plant pokes to light switches to plates to dog bowls to square tiles and the prices are pretty reasonable.

They're located in the plaza behind Yorktown Giant Eagle (off W. 12th Street) and are open Tues & Thurs. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Unfortunately, they're closed on Mondays -- which is my flex-day off -- the day I have to do fun things with the kiddos.

For more info, visit www.claytopiaerie.com.

I woke up early Sunday morning to drizzling rain and it just got worse from there.

Our 12-year-old yellow lab, Cassie, lay splayed on the sunroom porch floor, breathing funny (labored) and looking at me with her sad, sunken eyes. She'd been losing weight for weeks. We found out later just how much. As we put her on the scale at the Emergency Pet Center, she weighed just 38 lbs. -- half her body weight.

We brought her home on Memorial Day weekend -- just a few months after Dan & I were married. She weighed 5 lbs. and immediately attached herself to my husband. Cassie was his dog -- no doubts about who she prefered and her loyalty was admirable. Like any good lab, she followed her man everywhere he went. Gotta pee? I'll be right outside waiting for you. Sometimes her blind devotion annoyed the hell out of me.

She was a typical obnoxious puppy (good thing she was so darn cute), but she grew into one fine dog. We had invisible fencing, but we haven't put the collar on her in years because she never strayed far from home. And, if Dan was home, she never left his side.

She loved rides in the back of the truck, cleaning up dinner plates, walks around Bull's Dam and long, leisurly afternoons lounging in the grass 5 feet from her man. She hated other dogs, thunder and being splashed by pool water.

When it became clear, several weeks ago, that she was dying, I told Dan I didn't think she'd make it through May. He reached down (because she was, of course, at his feet), patted her bony rump and said, "Nah, she's got a good summer in her. Right, Cassie girl?"

As long as that dog was capable of following him around, I knew he could not put her down. Sunday, she couldn't get up. She was suffering.

The people at the Emergency Pet Center were kind, soft-spoken and appropriately somber at 7:30 a.m. when my husband and I came in, weeping, Dan carrying his Cassie girl. It occured to me that they must see a lot of tears at the pet ER and they've, no doubt, seen more than a few big burly guys giving into grief.

They gave us lots of time to say goodbye and we chose to be with her at the end. Dan wasn't about to leave her side.

Eye to eye, she died gazing into the eyes of the man she loved -- just like all the great love stories end.

Beware ... this is a rant:

I picked the wrong pew and the wrong Sunday to try taking both girls to church by myself. If you read my previous blog, you know that the Cass family was having a rough morning Sunday. I usually only take my older daughter to church with me, but in light of the fact that my husband was home burying the dog, I took both girls with me.

I knew it was a mistake as soon as we walked into an almost-full church. Turns out it was reformation sunday, 1st Communion Sunday and there were TWO baptisms and they were also receiving new members. You know what that means....one loooooonnnnnnggggg service. Couldn't they have spread all this activity out over a few weeks???

I chose a fairly-empty pew that had only one older couple sitting in it, figuring the girls would have plenty of room to spread out. I soon found out -- when it was too late to move -- that the nice-looking older couple were obviously of the belief that kids should be seen and not heard and 2-year-olds should sit in a pew with their hands folded for hours on end.

I always let Kelly write her name in the pew book -- old man yanked it out of her hands & told her that she shouldn't be writing in there. Then, at one point, Kelly was rolling around on the floor, being a brat and he actually grabbed her elbow, pulled her up on the pew and told her to stop acting like that, listen to her mommy and sit there and behave.

Whoa. That pissed me off. Don't touch my kid. You don't know me. You don't know her. And you have no right to discipline my child.

I wanted to get up & leave right then & there. But, first I had to pull Lauren out of the center aisle and back into the pew and pick up the crayons they dropped all over the floor and put the hymnal page markers back in the hymnals. So, yes...they were not on their best behavior. They were being bad -- rotten, really. But, they are 2 years old and 4 years old. They do not sit and behave. No kid that age does.

They talk too loud, they sing ABCs during the Psalm, they drop their crayons, they roll around on the floor, they throw their stuffed animals into the air, they fight with each other, they whine, they whimper and they say they want to go home. They're nothing if not entertaining.

I noticed a few older woman (not that old...late 50s ...young enough to have remembered those mothering days themselves) turning around and sucking their teeth at us. And, that was it. I'd had enough. I gathered up our coloring books, crayons and snack bags, grabbed the kids and walked them out the door as everyone was finishing up the Lord's Prayer and sitting back down.

I just wanted out. And, I learned long ago that life is too short to spend 2 minutes doing something I don't want to do. It sucked. I felt judged and I wanted to leave. And I did.

And it will be a long time before I ever take two kids to church again. Truth be told, I don't want to go back at all.

I'm embarrased, yes. But, mostly, I'm angry. I'm angry that those women don't remember what it was like to have two young kids in a hot, stuffed church. I'm angry that the old man thinks it's OK to scare or threaten kids into submission.

But, mostly I'm angry that these good church-going Christians -- these people who never miss a Sunday -- can sit in church and show such a lack of compassion and understanding.

My name is Heather Cass. I'm an imperfect mother. My kids are sometimes brats. Deal with it.

Wheew ... glad I got all that off my chest. I feel better already.

After all the miserable things I've written about this past Sunday, I have to share with you something nice that happened.

Late Sunday evening I decided to go do the grocery shopping after the kids went to bed. I stopped at Country Fair on I-90 near Knowledge Park to get a giant cup of coffee -- it had been a long, tiring day & I needed the jolt.

A guy -- mid to late-30's in age -- rushed in & threw some donuts or something on the counter and asked the cashier to ring up a gallon of milk. She told him she couldn't, that he'd have to go get it so she could scan it.

I was standing behind the guy holding my coffee. He said to me "I'm sorry...now I messed you up" (because she had already rung up the donuts and now we had to wait on him to go get the milk).

I said "No problem." I really meant it. Hey, I was by MYSELF and was looking forward to a leisurely and relaxing trip through the grocery store with my cup-o-caffeine in hand. I really didn't mind waiting two minutes.

He comes up with his milk and apologizes to me again. Another woman had gotten in line between us (I had stepped off to the side to find the money in my purse). He pays and says to me "Is that all you're getting? The coffee? I already paid for it." And, he was out the door.

I looked at the cashier, she smiled and indicated he had paid for it.

That random act of kindness (even if it wasn't quite random) brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to rush after him and tell him about my awful day and how he'd just restored my faith in humanity. But, he was gone and, really, it probably would've freaked him out -- a blubbering 30-ish mommy crying about her dog and the mean people at church and misbehaving kids.

I just enjoyed my coffee. And vowed to do the same if the opportunity presents itself some day.

I did my morning run outside today & was reminded why I love to run -- especially while the rest of the world is still sleeping.

Exercising in the morning is energizing, renewing and peaceful. If you've never been out for a run (or walk) at 6 a.m., you don't know what you're missing.

Dew. Sunrises. Bunnies chewing on clover. Singing birds. Minimal traffic. Cool temps. Roosters crowing (some neighbors on my route keep chickens).

It isn't often I get to do my weekday runs outside. I'm forced to trudge my miles on the treadmill because my husband leaves for work very early (anywhere from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.) and the girls are sleeping upstairs.

There are rare occasions when he has a meeting at a job site in Erie and doesn't have to leave until after 6 a.m. Today was one of those days and I jumped out of bed at 5 a.m. -- giddy at the thought of running in fresh air.

Thursdays are typically a hard day for me. It's the 3rd day in a row I run (I take Mondays & Fridays off) and my motivation is usually lagging, my legs are sometimes sore and I'm just plain tired. The only thing that gets me on the treadmill on Thursday mornings is knowing that the next day, I don't have to.

Running outside this A.M. put the running fire back in my belly. Much as I wish my kids could stay little forever, there is a tiny part of me (decked out in Saucony's, a sports bra and microfiber shorts) that can't wait for them to be old enough to be home alone so I can run outside every morning.

Better yet, I can't wait for them to join me.

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The new issue of Her Times publishes this Sunday, June 11. Be sure to look for it in your Erie Times-News!

The theme is: Make Yourself Priority No. 1 and we'll be giving you all kinds of ways to (and reasons you should) put yourself first and make time for yourself!

Some of things you'll learn include:
* How to begin training for the Erie Runners Club's Her Times 5K
* What a Vichy shower is and why you should pay $55 for one
* What some local women say are the most important lessons they learned from their dads.
* The No. 1 killer of Erie women
* When to talk some dollars and sense into your kid
* 10 ways to get kids off your back for 30 minutes (or more)
* How to make a really cute (yet elegant) and unique Old Glory for your front door
* The easiest recipe for strawberry jam ever
* Picture perfect picnic packing tips (say that three times fast)
* How 3 local women managed to enjoy life while taking care of a dying loved one

Don't miss it!

And, if you enjoy the magazine, please be sure to patronize and tell the advertisers you saw their ad in Her Times magazine! They are vital to the continuation of the magazine!

Last year, Father's Day snuck up on me and I found myself trying desperately to create gifts from the kids, buy gifts and get it all together the day before.

I won't have this Saturday to run around -- we'll be traveling to Williamsport, Pa. to visit my Grandma Bray who is turning 100 years old (June 21). That's right, 100 years old. And, she's still in good health, can debate politics and cares for herself in her own "apartment" in a retirement community. But, more about grandma in a later blog...

So, Father's Day preparations have begun in earnest here today. We've already cranked out personalized cards/books for both grandpas & my husband. I've already ordered a gift for the husband(hopefully, it will arrive on time) and I know what I'm getting my father. That's just leaves my father-in-law .... ideas, anyone?

After lunch, we're headed to BigLots or maybe the Dollar Tree where the girls will be allowed to pick out special gifts for their Dad & Grandpa. This should be fun. I can't wait to see what they choose.

I was Father's Day shopping at Kmart (hey, only the best for my guys) with the girls yesterday when I got a call on my cell phone from my husband. The girls were arguing in the cart & I had a hard time hearing Dan, but could tell by the tone of his voice that something was seriously wrong.

I only got bits and pieces of what he said -- something like "you're not going to believe this" and "there's been an accident".... I felt my heart beating faster as the adrenaline kicked in. I started to panic and shushed the girls. I thought he was going to tell me that a member of his family (or mine) had been in an accident.

Not quite. It was the Steeler's Big Ben who'd had the accident -- not a parent, not a sibling, not an in-law.

I breathed a sigh of relief and reprimanded the hubby for scaring me for someone who was not related to me by blood or marriage.

Then, it sunk in.

Our quarterback. Our Big Ben. Our high hopes for another SuperBowl Season gone in seconds with the smashing of Ben's helmet-less head.

But, alas, he was one lucky, lucky man. According to the latest reports, the majority of the damage was above the shoulders and they don't believe there was any damage to the brain (must be thanks to that thick skull of his). There are conflicting reports about his knees, but they say his face took the brunt of the collision.

He may have no teeth, a broken jaw and be stitched from ear to ear, but Steelers fans everywhere are rejoicing, that it's not likely to be a season- (or career) ending event for Ben.

Get well soon, Ben.

Then, go buy yourself a nice, big SUV to ride around in.

Or, maybe a Hummer.

I happened to catch the new CBS summer show TUESDAY NIGHT BOOK CLUB at 10 p.m. last night.

If you're unfamiliar with the show, CBS describes the show like this: "TUESDAY NIGHT BOOK CLUB is a one-hour series which follows the lives of a group of real women as they deal with the day-to-day pressures of raising kids, maintaining households, satisfying their husbands and keeping it together on a personal level. The series uncovers surprising elements of life in suburbia, as seen through the eyes of a group of women who get together each Tuesday night to reconnect and discuss everything in their lives, from sex, to spouses, to their inner-most conflicts."

After watching it, I'd describe like this: Disturbing.

It was sort of like watching your best friend fight with her husband. It was uncomfortable and weird and I just wanted it to be over. I felt bad for the women on the show. I felt bad that I was watching it. I felt bad that I'd had many of the SAME fights and problems with my husband. I felt bad my husband was watching and was privvy to the insecure, weird -- and often irrational -- thoughts of women. I felt exposed.

And, I ended up hating almost every single character.

Note to producers: If you want us to watch your show, you have to give us characters we care about. There wasn't much to like about any of the women on that show. They were all (with the exception of Chris) pathetic and made us feel bad about ourselves and our gender.

The bottom line, girlfriends: Don't waste your time watching this show, you're probably living it.

Here's hoping CBS closes the book on this sad, unsettling show.

In case you're curious, here's a link to the CBS site -- who, of course, make the show sound fascinating and girlfriend-ly. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/tuesday_night_book_club/

Each year, on the Saturday closest to the summer stolstice, you'll see a pack of people running and walking in the dark in the middle of Reichert Road in McKean wearing glow necklaces around their necks, race numbers on their chest and big grins on their faces.

It's the annual Moonshine Shuffle 5K Run/Walk put on by the folks at the Erie Runners Club and, it's a blast -- for the entire family. This is no serious competitive race (though there are always a few who take it seriously and run it in something ridiculously fast, like 17 minutes). Runners are competitive by nature. Even I have a hard time not racing in a race. We just can't help it. We're like Pavlov's dogs, racing out of the gate when we hear the starting gun (or siren blast).

But most participants do this race for fun. There are LOTS of walkers, lots of little kids, lots of families walking together, lots of people doing the race with a beer or glass of wine in hand. You'll find people of all sizes and ages at this race -- young, old, chubby, thin -- even beer-bellied, bearded men love this race.

Why? Because afterwards, there's beer -- and food -- lots of it. All of it prepared by my good friend, ERC V.P. and gourmet cook, Linda Huegel (with help from her wonderful hubby, John). Nicknamed "The Cheesecake Race" -- the highlight of the Moonshine Shuffle post-race festivities is the cheesecake -- more flavors and varieties than you can imagine and it's all homemade in the Huegel's kitchen. Every race participants gets a slice -- your choice.

There's also a DJ, dancing, games for the kids, popcorn and, of course, liquid refreshments including beer and wine donated by local beer distributors and wineries.

Despite the beer & wine -- it's no drunk-fest -- these are fitness-minded folks at the race and it's a family event. There is even a children's 1/2 mile race at 8:30 a.m. before the 5K kicks off.

The Moonshine Shuffle 5K Run/Walk is presented by the ERC and is held in McKean. Don't worry...it's not as far as it sounds -- it's only a few miles from the Millcreek Mall and I-90. It's not too late to sign up -- in fact, you can sign up that night. See www.erie-runnerclub.org for more details. Click on the button that says "Moonshine Shuffle (The Cheesecake Race)" on the left side of the home page.

It's a perfect way to spend a Saturday night together as a family. Yes, I know...it's late -- the race doesn't even start until 9 p.m., but...c'mon Moms & Dads....schools out for the summer and it's the weekend!

Hope to see you there.

We opened our pool on Sunday (opening was delayed due to a pool-area concrete job that needed to be done first). It's not quite clean yet and is so cold I couldn't even put my legs in. But, last night the girls begged to go swimming and I gave in and dug out the floaties and pool towels.

I sat on the side while they splashed around the shallow end, giggling and shivering, and I thought about my sister-in-law who inspired us to put in the pool.

I think our neighbors probably thought we were crazy when they realized we were putting a 17x34-foot inground swimming pool behind our semi-dumpy, two-bedroom ranch 6 years ago. Since then, that two-bedroom ranch has become a five-bedroom two-story with a great room and three full baths thanks to my oh' so handy & talented hubby, but, I digress....

Some may think that an inground pool is a frivilous luxury in Erie, Pa. where, if we're lucky, we get to use it 14 to 16 weeks out of the year. But, that pool offers much more to me. It's my 10,000 gallon testimony to living in the moment. To living life and enjoying the things we love most (like summer and swimming).

Dan's parents have an inground pool and we always said we'd get one too. We figured it would be later, after we fixed up the house, after we had kids, after we made more more money, after we bought all the other things we needed ...

Then, my sister-in-law got sick.

Grace was the wife of my middle (older) brother and she was just 41 years old and facing stage-3 ovarian cancer. She was the person I was closest to in my family -- the only one I called "just to talk." The diagnosis and the inevitible outcome was life-altering for me. I'll spare you the details -- it was as horrific, tragic and as sad as you can imagine. The entire family rode the cancer roller coaster with Grace for years -- her "counts" are good, her "counts" are bad, one day she'd feel great and be walking around, next day she'd feel like a truck hit her. It seemed you never knew what the next day would bring.

It was then that I decided I would not ever waste another minute of my life doing something I don't want to do, being with people I don't want to be with or putting off until tomorrow things I really want to do today. Because life is too short and you never know when it's going to end.

That's when I got the idea to put in the pool immediately -- to live in the moment -- to throw caution to the wind and blow our entire saving account on a cement hole in the ground. It didn't take much to talk my husband into it - he's always been a happy, go-lucky, live-in-the-moment kind of guy. We didn't have kids then, we had the money to pay for the pool .... why wait for something we both really wanted?

We called the pool company the very next day and took the plunge.

I thought that one day I might regret the pool, but I can honestly say that even in the lousiest of summers I have never, ever regretted that purchase.

We make the most of our short-lived summer pool season -- impromptu pool parties frequently break out at our house. On any hot, humid day, I'll come home to find family members -- brothers, sister, cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews enjoying the pool. And, the truth is -- I love that. Sure, I get nothing done when I spend all summer entertaining, sitting around the pool and B.S.ing with friends and family, but....I have all winter to work, right?

Gotta live in the moment. Embrace life. You never know when it will end.

Grace never got to see the pool for herself -- by the time construction was completed, she was bed-ridden. She died that summer. We burried her on a hot, sticky August day.

That night, I went out to the pool for a solo swim in the dark and decided it was time to take the other big plunge I'd been putting off -- motherhood.

Kelly Grace was born the following summer; Lauren two years later.

Now, watching my young daughters frolick in the pool, shrieking in delight and shivering under colorful beach towels, I am so thankful I took the plunge.

My only regret is that they'll never know the woman who gently pushed me in.

I'm on vacation this week. And, being the organization freak that I am, I made this GIANT list of stuff I want to do while I'm off. Forget that it's humanly impossible to accomplish all of this and actually sleep, but when you throw in some good (natch...fantastic) warm weather and few cocktails and the kicked-back vacation attitude and well...I don't stand a chance in hell of accomplishing 1/4 of that list. Wishful thinking.

One of the things making me crazy lately is the fact that I have yet to move the winter clothes out of my closets and dressers and the summer tanks & shorts in. It's causing me great stress. But, the nice weather has prevented me from spending any time indoors devoted to cleaning out closets and drawers. When it's 90 degrees outside and I have an inground pool and kids beggin' to swim in it...well, it's easy to put off the big closet switch.

But, this is getting ridiculous. This is the latest I think I've ever done the closet switch -- mid June. Sheesh...by the time I get around to putting my wool suits and snowflake sweaters away, it will be time to haul them out again. I think the stores are already stocking back-to-school stuff, aren't they?

Today - Day No. 1 of summer vacation, started with pouring rain. I secretly hoped it would keep raining because then, I'd be forced to face the closets. But, alas, by the time I took the girls to their EdZoocation class at the Erie Zoo at 10 a.m., the sun came out in full force.

It's all good though, a friend of mine was planning to come over with her son for an afternoon of swimming & so we were able to catch up and gossip while the kids splashed around in the pool.

Now, they've gone home, the girls are watching a "Schoolhouse Rock" video we borrowed from the library &, yes, I could be working on my closets. But, I think we're going to go pick strawberries instead. I've been wanting to make jam & I know they'd get a kick out of picking their own berries.

The clothes can wait until tomorrow...or Wednesday, or thursday or...hell, maybe I should just live out of the "seasonal clothes" Rubbermaid bins in my room. Who really cares anyway? Life is short, right? Live in the moment. I can't waist a sunshine-filled day off in my bedroom packing up turtlenecks.

Nah...a day like today is mean to be wasted in the pool or...in the strawberry fields.

As I child, I desperately wanted cousins my age. I had a few, but they lived in Clearfield -- which is a good three hours from Erie -- so visits with them were few and far between. All of my Erie-area cousins were several years older than me and they, like my older brothers and sister, either bossed me around or tried to "ditch" me.

I was always jealous of my cousin-rich friends -- especially my best friend, Patty Cass who had not only TONS of cousins her age, but also four sisters! Oh' what I wouldn't have given for four sisters in exchange for my three brothers (now, of course, I wouldn't trade any of my brothers. Well... maybe one of them... icon_twisted ).

Patty had cousins in every corner of Harbor Creek High School -- which should suprise no one who lives near Harborcreek -- an area rife with Cass' or Cass kin who were one of the original settlers and farming families in Harborcreek.

It was Patty and her sisters, in fact, who introduced to one of their cousins who later became my husband. It's ironic that I then became a bonafide Cass -- and inherited the legion of cousins and relatives I'd always wanted.

So, why all the cousin talk?

Because tonight I'm hosting the first Cass Cousins sleepover for my daughters, 3 and 5 years old, and my husband's brothers' daughters, 8 and 4 years old. The girls always have a blast together and I like to encourage their closeness. It's not hard -- we live only a mile from one another and my husband's family gets together every Friday night at his parent's for dinner and a bonfire (and a few beers and homemade brandy).

My girls are lucky to have lots of cousins -- a total of 14 in their immediate family (half of which are a few years older or younger than them).

I may be crazy taking on four screeching, squealing girls, but I've got a swimming pool, a roll of cookie dough, a bonfire to light and plans to take them on a creek walk/fossil hunt. Should it rain, I've got a Plan B (c'mon...did you expect any less from me? ).

But, even should all the plans go awry, I know all that really matters -- all they really need to have fun -- is each other.

Call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to the chaos tonight.

Something tells me it will be the first of many Cass Cousin sleepovers for these girls who will one day want to share secrets, tell ghost stories, make their own cookies and will try to ditch me, I'm sure.

Presque Isle's Sunset Music Series kicks off tonight and will take place for six consecutive Wednesdays at Presque Isle State Park's Beach #1 will be the backdrop for these six sensational evenings (yay, no 40-minute parade-speed drive all the way out to Beach 10 this year!).

The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. with kid's activities for for children ages 6-12 which will be guided by a PISP Naturalist. Bring your beach chairs, snacks and blankets, but leave your booze at home (Alcoholic drinks are not permitted at PISP).

Here's a list of performers………

Here's who they've got performing:
Wed., June 21 - Sam Hyman Band
Wed., June 28 - One World Tribe
Wed., July 5 - Bruce Johnstone Trio
Wed., July 12 - Laura Cortese
Wed., July 19 - Duke Sherman Band
Wed., July 26 - Tennessee Back Porch

Go here: http://www.discoverpi.com/content/blogcategory/50/91/ (cut and paste into your browser) for specific information about each of the performers and to find out what type of music they play.

So, grab the kids, pack up (or pick up) some dinner, put on your dancing shoes and get your boogie woogie butts to the beach!

In case you were wondering, the Port Authority's 8 Great Tuesdays Concert Series at Liberty Park kicks off Tues., July 11 with The Gem City All Stars. I'll post the 8 Great Tuesdays schedule closer to beginning of the series -- it can be found here: http://www.porterie.org/events_calendar.html.

They were calling for rain all day today, so I thought I'd take the girls to Splash Lagoon. We've been there before -- when they have had "Mommy & Me" coupons in the paper ($20 for my admission, one kid free) -- and had a wonderful time. The girls LOVE it there -- even though they are only old enough to enjoy three or four of the attractions -- the kiddie pool, the lazy intertube ride and the hot pools.

I have some gift cards to use -- about $60 worth. Sadly, that's not even close to enough to get us in the door. Admission is $26.95 per person! It drops to $21.95 after 3 p.m. on Thursdays And, let's not forget that lockers are $10 (I believe) to rent. That's a $100 afternoon! I think not.

Now, Splash Lagoon is a blast -- it truly is a treasure, but is it worth $100 for a few hours of entertainment? Not with two kids who can't/won't use a 1/3 of the attractions. Why is there not a lower price for children under 6? They sure as heck aren't careening down the big slide -- neither, by the way, is the Mom who is there paying $30 just to follow the kids around the shallow pools.

In comparison, Geaugua Lake -- which is an ENTIRE amusement park (with a nice kid's ride area) and an ENTIRE waterpark -- with all the stuff Splash Lagoon has (only outdoors, of course) -- is $19.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids. That's right...I can take the entire family to Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom for $40 LESS than I can take them to Splash Lagoon. (Oh, sure...add in the gasoline and it's probably a horse a piece, but... there is much more to do at Geauga Lake).

Bottom line. It's a good thing the sun is shining and it's turned out to be a beautiful day because now we can play outside, go to the park and swim in our own pool for free.

Sounds like a bargain to me.

We covered this topic a bit in the last issue of Her Times, but...for those of you who missed it -- or skipped the sunscreen article altogether, I thought I'd pass along these Mom-friendly sunscreen tips for the kids.

First, I have a confession, when it comes to slathering sunscreen on my kids, I admit that I've been a slacker -- I just hate putting that sticky crap all over my fingers and they hated me rubbing it all in and they especially hated it on their face. I put it on them, but I wasn't as vigilant about it as I should've been. And, I never put it on myself (except for my face).

Then, last year, a girlfriend turned me onto continuous spray sunscreen. It's not cheap -- you won't find it for less than $6.88 and, really, it doesn't last all that long, but it is worth every single penny. I'm not talking about the pump sprays -- I've always found those to be a pain...they clog and they spray droplets (which you then have to rub in). The continuous spray suncreens are aerosal and they're wonderful! No jamming, no clogging, no dripping down your arm as you pump or sore finger from pressing the pump -- just a quick, easy way to coat a kid in seconds.

Several manufacturers make this continuous spray sunscreen now and you can buy one in a 50 spf for kids. It goes on kind of wet...so the kids will need to give it a few seconds to dry and I wouldn't reccomend spraying it in their face (I've got a tip for that, though...keep reading). I love this stuff. Even I have started wearing sunscreen because this is so easy to use. If you're wondering how well it works, well...over Memorial Day weekend -- on one of those really, hot sunny days we enjoyed -- I coated the family with it and then we spent 5 hours in the afternoon sun at Presque Isle, sitting on the beach, splashing in the cold water. None of us got so much as a tan line (and I did not re-apply because I forgot to bring it with us).

OK...now, for the face: This is a tip from my friend, Lisa S., who told me she uses a solid sunscreen stick (they look like big glue sticks) on her daughter's face. She just rubs the stick all over her cheeks, nose, chin, forehead. I bought a stick the next day & darned if it doesn't work perfectly! No fuss, no muss, no drips, no wet spray or cold lotion.

So, there you have it...pick up some continuous spray sunscreen & solid sunscreen stick and your kids will thank you when they have beautiful skin at 40.

I'm one of those people who plan vacations (who plan anything, really) extensively beforehand. A somewhat impromptu trip to Marineland on Saturday reminded me why it pays to do that.

First, I forgot to check the weather for Ontario. All the way there, the sky was dark & threatening. We even drove through some sprinkling rain. Fortunately, it cleared out by the time we got there, but....it could've been a really bad day since I never thought about bringing umbrellas and raincoats (it was nice and sunny here in Erie).

Second, I forgot to check the exchange rate. Typically, a jaunt to Canada is affordable thanks to a healthy exchange rate -- however, right now it's only 5 cents on the dollar. So, we paid a whopping $87 to get into the park (that was just for the husband & I -- the kids were free).

Luckily, we had brought our own lunches & bottled water -- otherwise, I think I'd have had to get a second mortgage to afford lunch there. Later in the day, we stopped in the Hungry Bear cafe for a late-afternoon snack -- two beers (for the husband & I who really, really needed a beer), a fruit juice and two cookies for the kids to share. Total $18.75.

The girls did have fun -- there was a Baby Beluga whale that had been born just hours before our visit and they enjoyed feeding the fish, the bears and the deer. They liked the shows and, of course, loved the kiddie rides.

Forgetting yet another detail -- nap time for Lauren -- proved foolish when we had an overtired, wailing 3-year-old on our hands when she wasn't tall enough to ride the whale cup ride. Time to head for Niagara Falls where we were going to take them to eat at the Rainforest Cafe.

Of course, the 3-year-old was fast asleep &, I feared she'd miss the whole experience. Kelly had been to the Rainforest Cafe before -- it was Lauren I really wanted to take -- I knew she'd get a kick out of it.

So, there I was -- trying to wake up a kid who desperately needed a nap so she wouldn't miss out on any of the fun. I did it as gently and nicely as I could. She, of course, flipped out. But, she calmed down suprisingly quick. And, in the end, I"m glad I woke her up -- she really enjoyed eating in "the jungle" (as she called it).

I knew it was going to cost us big money to eat there -- you're paying for the experience and the environment, afterall. I noticed on the menu that the American prices were a good $4 to $5 less for the entrees & thought..."OK, not so bad." For instance, my chicken wrap was $15.99 Canadian and $11.99 American -- Dan's burger $17.99 Canadian, $14.99 American. AFTER we ordered (like we were going to leave anyway) we found out that the prices on the menu were no good -- that the menus were printed long before the exchange rate dropped. Egads.

Dan had a burger & fries, I had a wrap sandwich, the girls had a hot dog & fries and chicken nuggets and fries and chocolate milk. Dan had two beers and I had a fancy frozen drink (yes...I know alcoholic drinks -- especially my swanky one -- were expensive) -- our total bill (with tip) was three digits. Unreal.

Add in about $7 worth of tolls (both ways) and a tank of gasoline at $43 and, well, that was one EXPENSIVE impromptu day of fun.

The next morning, I sat outside eating breakfast, leafing through the newspaper inserts and saw a Marineland flyer -- with the $3 admission coupon on it.

ARGH!

The moral of the story -- when it comes to vacation, it pays to plan ahead -- and to subscribe to the Erie Times-News.

Today is my first day back in the office after 10 days of vacation (weekends thrown in there too) and much as I was dreading returning and bemoaning the end of my vacation, the truth is...I'm glad to be back.

Things make sense here. There's routine & order here. There's less whining, crying, begging, hair-pulling and pouting here (most of the time anyway). I eat like a normal person here -- as opposed the vacation-mentality gorging that's been going on.

And, it's so quiet.

Of course, here they frown on the bathing suit-and-cutoff attire I wore all last week. And, here I cannot enjoy an afternoon kids-are-down-for-a-nap cocktail while I kick back & watch the Oprah show. Here, I have to work on more cerebral things than picking up the pool toys and mediating sister fights.

It may have just been a little too much together time for me & the girls. We spent every single one of those 10 days together -- sometimes doing fun things, sometimes doing things they DON'T find fun -- like grocery shopping and organizing the kitchen pantry.

Yesterday, even THEY wanted me to go back to work. We were at Wal-Mart when I chastised Daughter #1 for doing something (slap, kick, bite, grab...who knows?) to make Daughter #2 cry and she said "You need to go back to work. I want to go to Grandma's house. I don't like you anymore."

I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn't offended. I sort of felt the same way. And, DD #1 (who's almost 5) is just learning the power of words (like telling people she doesn't like them or doesn't want to be their friend or that they're NOT nice).

Ask me in a week and I'll tell you how much I can't wait to go on vacation and get away from this place.

But, for now, I'll enjoy the quiet office environment.

There's an interesting article on the op-ed page in the newspaper today about friendship -- or rather about Americans' lack there of. The article, by the Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby is on 11A and carries the headline "Americans neglect friendships and lose important soul mates."

It caught my eye because we're planning to theme a future Her Times issue (Oct. 29) on Friendship and the important role friends play (or should play) in our lives.

The article addresses the new loneliness numbers which appeared Friday in the American Sociological Review which show that Americans who reported an average of nearly hree close friends in 1985, now report an average of just over two. In addition, one in four say they have nobody with whom to discuss personal issues.

The article goes on to say: "This is the age of Oprah and MySpace, of public emoting on television and the Web. Apparently, people watch 'Friends' but don't actually have any."

Mallaby says it's the American way of life -- our modern society that creates the tools that extend your casual networks -- like this blog -- while doing nothing to remove the basic need for soul mates.

Something tells me that Mallaby is a glass-is-half-empty person.

I think it's remarkable that Americans -- despite our demanding jobs, our long commutes, our children's umpteen thousand activities and the mammoth homes we build and must then care for -- have found a way to connect with each other and establish "friendships" in ways that work with our current lifestyle.

Personally, e-mail has allowed me to reconnect with at least five friends that I maintain friendships with purely through e-mail. I'd never have kept a friendship with these women were it not for our cyber-chatting. We report on daily life events, ask each other for advice, we gossip -- all via the Web. I have dozens of e-mail girlfriends. Some live across town -- some live across the country. I've even converted casual work contacts into bona fide girlfriends through e-mail exchanges.

Does that fact that we rarely meet face-to-face make us any less friends? Does the fact that we "bond" over a keyboard make our relationship any less important to our lives?

I think not.

My cyber girlfriends serve a vital purpose in my life. As does this blog and the chance to connect with our readers on a daily basis. I want to know you. I want you to know me. That's the most basic of human needs -- to know each other and to form relationships (to connect).

Who's to say that one way is more effective or fullfilling than another? If, in our hurried-up, overbooked, rush-rush world, this is the best we can do -- I'll take it. At least I have some way to maintain contact with my old friends and to make new ones.

Gott run -- my in-box is half-full.

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If you've spent any time in downtown Erie or the area book stores or coffee shops, you've no doubt seen them -- the two guys dressed flamboyantly (and exactly) alike tooling around on their tandem bike with the giant orange flag sticking up the back. And, surely, you've thought "what the hell?"

Admit it -- you've wondered who they are, what they do, why they dress alike and where they're always riding to, haven't you?

Now you can find out in the latest issue of tangent -- a free distribution magazine found in all the coolest Erie-area bars, restaurants and stores. Or, you can read about the tandem twins at http://www.tangenterie.com/

What's tangent?

It's a niche publication that's distributed free through various Erie-area outlets. It is geared toward young adults (ages 18-25, I think), but there is plenty worth reading in it for us 30-somethings (like me) who remember or wish to recapture the days when they were 20-something and spent every weekend going to the bars, taking road trips with friends and seeing live bands that didn't include a big red car and four dancing Australians.

If you've tried to read this blog in the last day or so, you probably received a message tell you that you were "forbidden from reading this blog on your server."

Before you get paranoid, like I did, and think maybe they "shut me down" because I used some questionable language, rest assured -- it was just a technical problem.

All of the Erie Times-News' blogs were inaccessible from about 3 p.m. Wednesday until about 2 p.m. today. Not sure why...gremlins in the server or something.

So, don't contact your adminstrator or clean out your cookies or become convinced the company is spying on your lunchtime surfing habits -- you are not forbidden from reading my daily ramblings.

AND, by the way... feel free to respond. You can post comments at any time. When it asks you for a "verification code" it just means that you need to type in the jumbled-up looking word in the box above it (it's a spam filter).