Premature Celebration

I know I'm a couple days early, but I'm heading out of town, and out of touch.  I wanted to wish everyone a "Happy New Year!"



Here's hoping 2010 is great for all of us, and includes:

Plenty of naps

Puppy dog kisses

Soft comfy pj pants

Good books, good movies and good dreams

Missouri winning the College World Series

Good health and happiness for all our loved ones

I raise my glass to you my blogging friends, and wish us all the VERY best in 2010!!!

xxx

Next?

Christmas was great, people were happy, gifts were good, crab legs were delicious.  Singing Silent Night with candles always makes me teary.

Okay, all done, now it's on to other things!  And by other things, I mean, it's time for our annual trek to my FAVORITE spot in the world.  On Wednesday, we leave for Eagle's Nest Hideaway.

ENH is a house in the Smoky Mountains.  Steven and I have been going there for years now.  Sometimes we go alone, sometimes with friends.  But, on New Years Eve, we always go with Larry/Mary and Mike/Tracy.  It's tradition. 

It used to be fairly easy, as we and M/T lived in the same city.  L/M live about 90 miles from us, so the trek was fairly uncomplicated.

Over two years ago, the Air Force yanked M/T to Altus, Oklahoma.  (middle of nowhere folks!)   So, they drive 22 hours to spend the holidays with their family here, and then make the drive up the mountain to ring in the new year.

There's loads of food to be eaten.  Beer is the unofficial "official" drink.  We play Scrabble.  We play Dominos.  We nap.  We catch up on the past year's events.  Last year we saw Tom Jones sing.  That man is so hot, even at 68!!

We've had many challenges arise, but we always manage to get there.  We've got the distance factor with M/T.

A couple years ago, Mary was diagnosed with cancer, and had just completed treatment in time for the trip.  A little chemo and radiation didn't keep anyone from the hot tub.

Last year, Mary was really pregant.  Again, that didn't keep us from posing for the camera. 

This year, Tracy is prego.  She has graciously volunteered to be the Beer Wench. 

It's nice that in this very busy world in which we live, that we are able to get to this little slice of heaven every year.  It's my "after Christmas" Christmas present.

And, I can promise you this:  I will NOT be the pregnant one next year!!

And to all a good night

Peace on Earth, good will to man.

Merry Christmas to All.

xxx

Christmas Eve Right Now

Daughter is asleep.

Son is too far away.

Man is going to buy leaf bags.

Dog thinks she's going for a walk.  (she's not)

Cat is looking at me, begging for food.

I'm making Chex Party Mix.

Beverly Hills 90210 is on the television.

Sun is shining, back door is open, and I'm hearing sirens, a lot of them.  I say a quick prayer for all those involved.

Must turn on Christmas Tree lights.

Daughter just got out of bed?

Going to see Marlene's children's choir today.

Christmas Eve drop in tonight.

Wind Chimes ringing, that means Mom is talking to me.

Happy Christmas.

Spit, Cakes, Christmas and M&Ms

Why do boys/men spit all the time? 

I do NOT like that M&M's commercial where they are filming the female green M&M and they're all getting hot and bothered.  (melt anyone?)  I don't like her white high heels and to me, she comes off as a big ol' tease.  I don't like that in women.  Or in M&Ms.

We're eating Snow Crab Legs for Christmas dinner.  Yum.

Is Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) hiding a balding spot by wearing a ballcap all the time?  Bald is so "in."  Mike, take off the hat.

My Secret Santa bought me the coziest blankie; pink and brown.  I'm lying under it right now and I'm thinking of never leaving.

Is it humanly possible to get a bathtub completely clean and shiny? 

Favorite Christmas songs/carols/hymns  (in no particular order):  Lullay Thou Little Tiny Child, Mary, did you know? Lo, how a rose ere blooming, Silent Night.

I'm amazed at some of these gorgeous cakes I'm seeing on TV and the internet of late.  I can't ice a cake and not get part of the cake in the icing!

The Cup Tower in my room currently stands at 7.

One of the few Christmas commercials that doesn't annoy me is the Hershey's Kiss commercial with bells playing, "We wish you a Merry Christmas."  Simple.  Effective.  Short.   Like me.

And to quote my Mary:  "I wish you GOOD DAY!"

Rosie-Susie

It's happened folks.  The day has come, and I have turned into my mother.  Lordy Be.

I can't complete a full sentence anymore.  I get...................oh, my thoughts go off in a different direction.  She used to do this. 

I am obsessed with my dog in an unhealthy manner.  She loved loved loved our dog, "PJ" to the point of loving her more than anyone else in our house.  (I'm ahead of her, I love myself best!)

She used the wrong words.  She always wanted to see a football game at the "mausoleum"  (Coliseum) and she loved the dogs that were Malibus and Muskies.  (a car and a fish)  And yes, I'm doing that. 

Rosie tended to exaggerate.  A LOT.  I mean, a million gajillion times a day! 

The woman loved red.  (note:  red belt below)  I am currently in my RED phase. 

The woman was culinarily (is that a word??) challenged.  She was a whiz at appetizers, but Lord the woman struggled with day to day meals.  Tonight, I had runny sauce with my Chicken Scallopine.  I am channeling my mother.

She loved to sleep.  That is now my favorite thing on the planet.

My nose will run water.  When I sneeze, I say, "God Bless America."  The skin on my hands looks weird.  I'm always listening to "oldies."  We do have our differences, for example, she was petite, and I am not.  She sported false eyelashes, I can barely manage mascara.  My mother was an unhappy alcoholic.  I am a happy person.

I dreaded this day for most of my years. I didn't want to be like her. I didn't want to be anything like her. She had so many shortcomings. She did so many things wrong. She made so many mistakes. You know, she was human.  But, she loved all of us, in her own way.  I understand that now.  We all love to the best of our abilities.  And, in her life, I don't think she ever called another woman a bitch, or any other name.  It took me way too long to discover that she was a lady and had grace and class; or as she would say, "clace and grass."

On Tuesday, she will have been gone for 14 years.  She's missed so many changes in my life, missed my kid's youth, and missed her golden years.  And, we've missed her presence in our lives.  So, I guess if I have to be Rosie Redux, it aint so bad after all. 

More Vintage Oddities

Well, at least now I know why my Christmas presents always had something wrong with them.... 

Santa, were you drinking a little too much egg nog before you started your deliveries?  Or, did you take a giant misstep and just spill down the side of the mountain in Tommy Brown's sled?  Either way, I'm not impressed with your lack of planning.

Oh, how I love these vintage cards.  Please indulge me (again!!), as we review some from the Christmas section.

Again with the sled!  Is it just me, or do the kids in front all look drugged/constipated or a combination of the two?  And, why in the world would little boy blue be blowing his horn?  Do you think that when they got to the bottom of the hill that the three drugged ones beat the crap out of the horn blower?

I'm not sure I like thinking of Santa with binoculars.  Santa is a perv??

Well, first of all, the birds in my 'hood don't wear clothes; nice or tatty.  And, if I ever see a bird with an eyepatch, I will probably have nightmares for quite awhile.  Little rich bird looks like a bit of a snob.  He probably only eats "imported" bird seed.

Here we have a German Christmas card.  I certainly hope I don't offend any Germans, but is it standard operating procedure to have the devil on greeting cards?  He looks a bit vampire-ish as well, like he's going to devour this fine lady.  And, those chains are a bit disturbing, if not titillating!

Creepy.  Just Creepy.

And finally, there's this little gem.  I have never fully understood the animal on animal race.  (can you see the words?  "a dead heat for the plate")  I see a turkey and two pigs, but for the life of me, I have no idea what that thing with the lemonhead is.  Do you?

Cards these days are SO boring in comparison.  I was definitely born in the wrong era. 

Like, Don't Like

Did you ever notice that if there's something you like in the world, that there's normally something that goes along with it in the category of "don't like?'  For example, I like (LOVE) cream cheese, but I don't like the inches it adds to my hips?  I've been thinking about this all day, and you are the lucky recipient of my thoughts!!

I like garlic.
I don't like the extreme heartburn I get from it.  I won't ever give up the garlic, so I have to take high powered antacids.  (My favorite is the purple pill!!)

I like Grey's Anatomy on Lifetime.
I don't like that it's been taking up three hours of my night for the past few weeks! 

I like the sunroof on my car.
I don't like the mechanism used to close it.  I have to push it three times to get it to close.  Such torture!

I like Book Seven of Harry Potter.
I don't like that the series is now over.

I like Barbara on "One Day at at Time."

I don't like Julie.

I like the fact that I'm not a teenager anymore.

I don't like the fact that my body has decided it's time for adult acne.

I like having extended time off around the holidays.
I don't like trying to get all my work done in less time.

I like that my kids are independent and don't need me.
I don't like that I don't see my kids so much anymore, now that they are independent.

I like Christmas.
I don't like paying for it.

I like red shoes.  A LOT.
I don't like that horrible schmaltzy Christmas song about the boy whose mom is dying and he buys here a pair of red shoes. 

I like getting Christmas cards with pictures inside them.
I'm disappointed when there are none.  (and I feel REALLY guilty for not sending pix in mine this year!  If you want, you can check out 2006 RIGHT HERE )

I like most things with a vintage/retro feel.
I don't like that I'm quickly becoming vintage/retro.  Tick Tick Tick Tick.

I like my bed. 
NO DISLIKES HERE, except having to get out of it.  Yawnnnnn.

Some of yours???

Office Christmas Party 2009

Last night, we had our office Christmas Party.  It was held at a lovely little restaurant called, "Cork Neighborhood Bistro.  It is a fairly new place in the Olde Village of North Charleston.  We had the whole place to ourselves, and it was JUST perfect.  This is the 14th Christmas party we've had, and I think it was one of the better ones!  The night was chilly and rainy, but it felt very cozy inside Cork.  We have a smaller office, about 30 employees between both offices, so it just felt intimate and close.    The food was divine, heavy appetizers, cheeses, salami (!!), and a chocolate fountain!  HEAVEN!

The best part?  Nothing was said in advance, but somehow, it turned out to be HAT night!  Check out Mary, I swear this gal looks glamorous in everything.  LOVE you Mary!

This is Annette, owner of the great hat.  It fits her perfectly.  I love this photo, it just sums up her personality!!

Scott is one of our attorneys, and he'll do anything for the cause.

Even my boss was "hatly" festive.  Anjeanette looks so cool in her beret.

Here's my ETSY hat.  Even though Taylor told me I looked like Miss Moppet, I had fun wearing it.  :-)  And, it was a doubly happy day---my friend, Meggan adopted a dog yesterday from the animal shelter!  YAY for Meggan!  YAY for Abby!

I've spent 13 years of my life with these folks, and I love them all like family.  (quirks and all!!) 

Check out the flower on my hat, that was my favorite part!

Another Christmas Party in the books, I sure wish I could have brought home the chocolate fountain...

Right Now at My House

Right now at my house, someone's drawers are sitting in the middle of the hall.  (too small to be mine!)

Right now at my house, someone is raking leaves and looking mighty fine.

Right now at my house, there's a big fat white cat hoping someone will come brush him.

Right now at my house, the tree is hanging upside down and glowing nicely.

Right now at my house, the baby is curled up in a ball and ready for a nap.  Zzzzzzzzz.

Random Wednesday

Let me start off this post by telling you that if you enjoy white wine, this is a lovely light wine.  It is called, "Opala Vinho Verde."  I love love love it.

We went to the Celebrity Chili Cook Off Saturday and had a great time.  To keep with the random theme, I'm going to share pictures of the day.  There were so many dogs there.  The chili was great, the beer was cold, the dogs were adorable, and Steven took tons of pictures for the Charleston Animal Society.

Top Chef Finale is on tonight.  I am pulling for Kevin.  I am not changing my toilet paper prior to the show.  (Remember, I screwed it up for Laura on Top Model) 

Taylor is finishing up her first semester of college already.

I bought the cutest hat off Etsy.  Hats do not look good on me, but tough.  I'm wearing it anway. 

I love the tradition of my Christmas tree, even though it's an extremely "un" traditional tree. 

Is there a store better than Target?  I think not.

I don't really care for "pop-style" Christmas songs.  I'd rather hear choral selections or hymns. 

I burned my finger on a casserole dish today, and WOW it hurt.  As I was running it under the water, I thought about NieNie and the intense pain she must feel on a daily basis.  And, then I felt guilty. 

Our work Christmas party is this weekend.  I'm going to wear my hat that probably doesn't look very good on me.

Lava lamps will never go out of style.

I really need to clean out my junk drawer.

Wow, I guess we didn't know anything about Tiger Woods. 

I still love a Charlie Brown Christmas. 

Kinda sick of Beyonce.

My hormones are out of whack today.  I'm feeling like everything on the earth is my fault today.  (not the good things)

I held a two week old baby yesterday, fed her, and really enjoyed the noises she made as she ate.  I'm not normally a baby person, but I really enjoyed that.

It's been a long time since I've been inside Toys R Us.  I'm okay with that.

The Oompa Loompas scare me.

Juicy Fruit, Doublemint and Spearmint gum always remind me of being a kid. 

I like Johnny Depp, but I'm not sure I agree with People that he was this year's sexiest man alive.

There are only 22 days left in this year.  Excuse my French, but Holy Crap!!

Pete Grimes, Part Two

When we left off  yesterday, it was at the end of my infamous date with Pete Grimes.  The story was too long, so I had to break it into two posts.  So, without further ado, let me continue with the tale...

Date night was February 22, 1980.  (Don't worry, I didn't have that date marked in my brain, I looked it up in Wikipedia!)  I did, indeed, get a kiss good night, and I'm sure it was the best ever.  And, from that moment I was even more smitten than before.  We would talk on the phone  (again, I have no idea what the two of us would discuss)  and chit chat a bit at school.  I was walking on air, let me tell you.  There had never been any discussion of "exclusive" dating, but I was SURE he liked me as much as I liked him.

At Terre Haute South Vigo High School, we had separate proms for juniors and seniors.  So, it was perfectly acceptable for girls to invite boys of a different year.  Since PG was a senior, I asked him to accompany me to my prom.  Imagine my JOY when he said yes.  Yay hooray, I was going to prom with the most glorious flannel-wearing boy!  I bought my white Gunny Sax dress, prepared my baby's breath, and was psyched!!

Prior to the prom, there was this little event called, "The Revue" held at my school.  For lack of a better word, it was a talent show.  I was in a band at the time, and we were slated to perform.  We had a few songs in our repertoire, and would decide nightly which one we were doing.  Since our band wasn't scheduled to perform until the second half of the Revue, I wandered the halls to get a drink.  As I was walking down the hall, who did I see?  Yes, Pete Grimes himself.  Friends, he wasn't alone.  He had a girl on his arm.  He had the cutest most buxom girl on his arm.  (I found out later that she went to another school in town, West)  He introduced me to her, and it was that point I realized this guy wasn't madly in love with me or my flat chest.  He was not my boyfriend.  He was her boyfriend.

Oh, the pain!  Oh, the hurt!  I felt the pain cutting through me like a knife.  (yeah, I was a teenager, that pain was certainly exaggerated!)  I was sure I wouldn't survive.  And, then it came time to sing.  I was wearing my TERRYCLOTH outfit that Julie Ames had made me, complete with flower in my hair and white high heels, and had to go SING knowing Pete Grimes was sitting out there with that really cute girl.  So, I did what any 16 year old girl would have done.  I walked up to the microphone, and said, "I would like to dedicate this song to a friend of mine in the audience, and I think he knows who he is."  We then performed, "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt.

For about three minutes, I felt in total control of the world, and the pain went away.  But, being that emotional pubescent female, it came back full force, and with anger.  So, the next week at school, in an attempt to retain my pride, I told Pete Grimes to "go to H#$@."  (I'm sure he had no idea why I was upset, why I was damning him to hell!)  So much for marrying him and having his babies.  So much for washing those flannel shirts.  So much for PROM.    I did end up going with a friend of mine, and we had a fun time.  But, it wasn't what I had dreamed up in my world of Pete Grimes.

******************

I moved to St. Louis after the school year, and took with me my broken heart.  But funnily enough, after a year or so, I reconnected with ol' Pete Grimes, and we became friends.  I think I had grown up just a tad bit in that time, and could laugh at that rather silly situation.  But, I did get him to talk about that moment of my "dedication," and he admitted to me that when I said what I did, he wished he could crawl out of the auditorium.  (Success??!!!)

So, here I am thirty years later, and it makes me laugh when I share this story.  Perfect proof that time does heal all wounds.  (or most of them anyway...) 

Nowadays, when I hear that song, I can't help but think of the flannel-wearing boy and the girl with the crush.  They're all grown up now with families and teenagers of their own. ( But boy, when I hear that song, I'm wearing the terrycloth all over again!!!)

Pete Grimes, wherever you are, here's to ya!

Pete Grimes, Chevy Novas and High School Crushes

Did you have that one mad crush when you were younger?  I don't mean a tv star, actor, or musician, but the kid in your school that just made you bonkers?

Before my junior year in high school, I was looking through my yearbook with Donita Yates.  She and I were reviewing our sophomore year, and anticipating the year ahead of us.  I was looking at the class ahead of me and stumbled across a picture of a boy named Pete Grimes.  I fell totally, 100% head over heels in love, had to date him, goo goo ga ga with PG right there on that hot August day in Terre Haute, Indiana.  I vowed that I would find a way to meet this wonderful creature. 

Fast forward to the beginning of the school year,  and picture me at my locker.  GUESS who had a locker near mine?  YES, glorious Pete Grimes.  For most of my junior year, I would stare at him, drool over him and plot ways to speak to him.  And, of course, I never did speak to him.  This is the boy whose clothes I would chart on my calendar.  (flannel shirt/jeans EVERY day)    I would sweat profusely between classes, at the thought of seeing him!!

Then, one day in March, all my books dropped out of my locker.  My savior that day was glorious PG.  He helped me pick them up, I smiled awkwardly, and after that, we started wonderful teenage conversations.  "Hey."  or, "Hi."    If I was feeling really loquacious, there would be a "How are ya?"  CLASSY stuff.  And, then one day, as we walked down the hall, he asked me what my plans were for the upcoming weekend.  Being the naive gal that I was/am, I had no idea he was asking me on a date.  So, I responded, "oh, I'll be working on the play."  (Oklahoma!)  So, poor PG had to be more succinct and ask me if I'd like to do something over the weekend.

PLEASE IMAGINE MY ABSOLUTE SWOON AT THIS POINT. 

Of course, I said yes, and then planned, replanned, changed, and changed again, the date oufit.  Back in those days, boys and girls talked on the phone,and we did that.  (I have no idea what we would have discussed!  But, I'm sure I thought he was sooooooooo smart.)  The lead-up to the date was so nerve wracking, and yet so thrilling.

And then it was time.  I wore my blue jeans, some kind of heel (ha!), a white blouse and a wrap around belt.  This all went with my BROWN hair, no chest, no hips physique.  I open the front door, and PG is wearing NOT a flannel shirt, but a blue Izod shirt with dark jeans.  Be still my beating heart!  We start our date by going to see "Kramer v. Kramer."  Wow, was that ever depressing.  But, did I care?  No.  I was at the Honey Creek Square Mall Theatre with Pete Grimes!   Too bad for you Meryl Streep, I know you are sad, but I am sitting next to Pete Grimes!!!

After the movie, we did what all kids that age did, we tried to find something to do.  After driving around and finding nothing, we settled on listening to this little hockey game, USA v. USSR in the 1980 Olympics.  That's right sports fans, I listened to the greatest hockey game with PETE GRIMES.  Granted, we were sitting next to a garbage dumpster, and granted, it was freezing cold, but lordy lordy, it was a historic evening.  I was sitting with Pete Grimes in his 4 door brown Nova, listening to history.  To this day, I can't see highlights of that game without thinking of my highschool crush.  Sigh.  Miracle On Ice.  Miracle Date.  Miracle that this boy asked me out.

You can see that this date had a HUGE impact on me, right?  I mean, it's almost 30 years later, and I can still recall the most minute details.  Looking at his yearbook picture, I still think he's cute!  So, what happened between me and Pete?  Was there a kiss goodnight?  Did we spend our life together?  Did I drop my books again?  Did I do anything stupid to screw up this thing?

Well folks...this blog is too long already.  You'll have to come back tomorrow for Part 2!!

Briefly...

Seriously.  My jeans are strangling me today.

  Wish I were wearing one of these.

Thunder in December, and more weirdness

Yeah, I'm sitting here and I hear thunder and rain.  It's December 2nd, and we're under a tornado watch and there's thunder.  Huh.

I'm now into my third evening of watching reruns of Grey's Anatomy.  Right now, I'm in my 7th hour.  Why am I doing this?  Last night, I ended up sobbing when George's dad died.  Huh.

I don't think Charlie (my big fat white cat) has moved from our bed for three days.  Steven says he has, but I haven't seen it.  Huh.

Lotion makes me sweat.  Huh.

Avocado is awesome.  Pizza is awesome.  But, avocado on pizza isn't so awesome.  It was good, it just wasn't awesome.  I think the flavor got lost.  Please don't be mad at me Mr. Avocado.  I still love you best.  Huh.

Wasn't I just in Portugal?  Huh.

Why do men grow facial hair?  Vanity?  Laziness?  Huh.

When I was a kid, I was a door slammer.  The doors in my house aren't very good for that nowadays.  (with the exception of the front door)  That's probably a good thing.  Huh.

I can never find the right pillow.  Huh.

Have you seen the WalMart commercial where the little boy wishes for something for his dad from Santa?  It tugs at my heart strings when Dad gets snow in the middle of the desert.    I am NOT a fan of WalMart, and actually boycott them, but I do love that commercial.  Huh.

I think I'd be happy to wear a scarf every day for the rest of my life.  Huh.

Some blogs come together well, some don't.  I think this is a don't.  Huh.