Yesterday, Ali and I attended/hosted our second Alabama Blogger meet-up:

IMG_1199

We had an awesome time visiting with everyone, and Ali had a BLAST playing with and talking to everyone (especially Gina, Lianne, Amy, and Valerie). In fact, she was perfectly happy, until we left:
IMG_1201

No, it wasn’t because the meet-up was over. . . it was because her precious, hand-picked, beloved, purple balloon (that she had received excitedly and lovingly mere seconds before) ended up like this:IMG_1203 Yes, it was her first balloon-popping experience.

She went ballistic.

I’m pretty sure that 36% of her cry was from being scared out of her wits, 48% was from confusion (she kept saying over and over, “Where did it GO??? Where did the purple balloon GO???”, despite my efforts to show her it’s remains), and 16% was over the loss of her balloon.

Knowing how she tends to deeply root aversions to things that scare her (NOT because I’m a doting Mom – I swear!!), I encouraged her to go back inside and get another balloon. I was actually surprised that she WANTED to do that, and so we left with this, much-more-secondary-in-choice-but-appeasing-nonetheless yellow balloon:IMG_1205

When Daddy got home, we went to the park for a bit of playtime. We walked up and immediately knew that it was going to be an interesting visit when we saw this: IMG_1207

AAAAAND this:

IMG_1208

Yes. Some girl in a very 80’s prom-dress-esque get-up was out, with a professional-esque photographer, shooting model shots on the PLAYGROUND.

(You see, today was America’s Next Top Model auditions here in Birmingham, and apparently she didn’t plan ahead too well, so was preparing her last-minute portfolio.)

And – whose bright idea was it to do sexy modeling shots on a PLAYGROUND? It was a bit too Michael-Jackson-freaky for me.

(I know, I know, now that he’s dead, it’s off limits to make fun of him. But I’m having trouble grasping the reasoning behind that – how exactly someone goes from being the butt of every joke to a hero simply by dying – seems a bit odd. So leave nasty comments if you must, but if you could, just pretend you read that in the context of a month ago and you won’t even bat an eyelash.)

But I must say that it was quite amusing to watch her precariously pose for very inappropriate playground poses:

IMG_1206IMG_1212

(Notice the random Dad’s arm in that one – he was trying very hard to look like he was playing with his kids and completely oblivious to the oddity occurring mere feet from him:)

(I really hope that his skinny, bony arm shows up in her “portfolio”.)

She even sat with the same, um, “class and poise”, when reviewing her photos:IMG_1209

Yes, I’m sure she’ll go far on America’s Next Top Model. Except that she didn’t get the memo that you must be completely emaciated to even audition. I mean look: you could actually see CALF CURVATURE as she walked away!!!

IMG_1215

Yes ma’am, I’m sorry, but with those calves. . . .

Anyway, Ali was inspired by pink-prom-dress’ amazing, err…talent for posing, so did a bit of modeling herself:

IMG_1210 IMG_1216 IMG_1231

However, her modeling days quickly ended when she broke the #1 rule of being a supermodelIMG_1227That’s right. She . . . . (gasp). . . . smiled.

You must look COMPLETELY and UTTERLY miserable if you want to be a supermodel.

Fast forward to today: Even though Mom doesn’t get off of her crutches/walker until Monday, she wanted Ali to come spend the day and night.

We very fervently tried to get her to consider her needs (or maybe we just said a half-hearted “are you SURE?”), but she assured us that she missed Ali very much, so Chris and I very happily had an all day date.

Naturally, of course, we had to make a stop in at the mall to check out the auditions:

IMG_1252

(You know, to see if we could spot our new park friend.)

There was QUITE the collection of Freakishly Tall-and-Emaciated-Ladies: IMG_1248 IMG_1250

And a few Not-Quite-as-Tall-or-Emaciated but QUITE jealous passersby:IMG_1247

Yeah. That glare could have easily knocked over that 75 pound body had the information kiosk not been there to hold her up.

Notice the model hopeful was on the phone. Besides the audition tent, there were FTaEL’s ALL over the mall – and ALL on the phone. Most were crying. Most looked upset. Most were seeking consolation. We saw only one FTaEL was happily talking on the phone – and I assure you that it wasn’t our friend from the park.

We filled the day with further fun – a brisk walk/jog to work up our appetites, an aMAZing dinner at The Bright Star, a movie, and then topped off to perfection with Dessert from Chez Lu Lu.

We’re all about making our dates count, you know. If we’re going to allow a crip watch our kid, we better enjoy ourselves!

Anyway, since we were close to some of the awesome overlooks of the city, Chris drove us up to a super-swanky road in Mountain Brook to enjoy this view:IMG_1257

The street was crowded with cars in front of the multi-million dollar mansions.

So of course we were excited – “ooh – a party!! I bet it’s a swanky one!!”

Then we saw the guests leaving. . . in very cheesy, first-grade-craft-project-looking Cowboys and Indians Costumes.

. . . and. . . it didn’t look like there were any Indian PRINCESSES invited, if you catch my drift.

Swankiness these days. It’s just not what it used to be.

17 thoughts on “What do Bloggers, Models, Cowboys and Indians Have in Common? This Post.

  1. Rachel, I enjoyed meeting you and Ali at the Alabama Blogger meet-up. Ali is the cutest child and she knows it. LOL

    Also, that model in the tutu looks like she is trying to go to the restroom. Very Funny!

    I look forward to next month's meet-up.

    Stephen

  2. Oh my gosh! I so wish I had been at the mall to see the "tryouts". Glad you had a great date day with your hubby!

  3. Glad your meet up went so well! Looks like it was fun. Ali is a cutie & at least when she posed, she didn't look like she was trying to use the bathroom!

    Your date sounded amazing, as well.

  4. That freaky 80's prom dress girl has nothing on Ali…toddlers are way cuter than any model I've seen :) I noticed that your mom wasn't in her wheel chair this morning, I bet she was so glad to get rid of that thing! Glad you and Chris had a great date day, what movie did y'all see? I haven't seen a movie since Thanksgiving and I have really been wanting to go see one.

  5. Okay, this commentary is hilarious!

    And the last picture of Ali is too cute.

    I detest balloons for that very reason. When Tyler, my oldest, had his first balloon and it popped ~ oh it was so baaaadddd. I declared then and there "NO MORE BALLOONS!" Of course, my declarations don't mean that much and now James throws a fit when one pops.

    Your date-isn't the Bright Star the best? Mark took me there after James was born and it was so good.

    Top Model-the lady staring at that girl and you saying her stare would knock her down~oh, I wish I had been there!

  6. Haha, I love the model in the park. That's hilarious! I agree about Michael Jackson. He has always creeped me out…big time.

  7. I am with whoever the other day said you needed to be an author, and you could work at home. The pic of Ali and her first ballon made me feel so bad for her, but I am a softy. Don't even know what to think of park girl. LYB

  8. I had a feeling when I saw that balloon pop that I'd be reading about it on here later. Tee hee.

    What mall was that in? We were at the Galleria all afternoon and I didn't see it there. I did, however, personally witness frog-duck-butt on the carousel. My sister-in-laws said that they think it was some sort of weird artist's statement. Did you know that there are 2 of them on there? I didn't realize that until it was pointed out to me.

  9. Also, why is everyone looking at me in that picture? I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything especially interesting.

  10. You are too funny! I agree with everyone else. Ali is much cuter than Miss Inappropriate on the Playground.

  11. I love to watch ANTM…I just cant help it..its my TV Guity Pleasure…well, that and So You think You caN Dance.
    Im glad yall enjoyed Lulus…anytime yall want to double there, let us know!! we eat there at least every other week!

    and poor Ali…I'm still scared of popping balloons! I always HATED the AWANA game where someone had to pop the balloon by sitting on it…arg…gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it! :/

  12. Cute post, Rachel! Sorry I missed the other meet-up, we went out of town. Oh, how funny with the model on the playground pics. Your commentary was hilarious, such a good writer you are.

    That date night sounded perfect. Love the Bright Star.

  13. I had so much fun playing with Ali she is just too cute. Oh and she put that model wannabe to shame!

    Glad you had a great date too.

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *