A New Year's Eve Memory......

We don't have any big plans for New Year's Eve ...
In the past we used to go to Various Parties every year.
When the kids were young I kinda felt bad about bringing in the New Year without them, but it did provide a great opportunity for my mother in law.

For so many years she would watch them on this important night...
An overnight visit to Grandpa and Gramma's was always special... but this night...
This night was even more special..

After having procured the essentials....
Two or three different kinds of Breakfast cereals....
( I mean heaven forbid they didn't have a choice.... Sometimes she would even get the little Cereal assortment packs .... You know... so they could fight over one and leave the other 11 untouched) ...
It meant going to the video store picking out a movie... for each of them....


It meant all kinds of snacks for said movie... little sundae ice cream cups with the wooden spoons, Muncho's, Pop Corn and of course the No Bake cookies had already been made in advance.......

It meant playing board games, coloring, and extra snuggle time after baths and P.J's....

They would get to stay up to watch the ball drop... bang pots and pans, and throw out two or three of that year's penny's .



I missed all that .....

Instead.....I ate a virtual cornucopia of Hors D'oeuvres and guzzled down my share of adult beverages... ( man I sound like a total Lush... it really wasn't that shady I assure you! )
It was a win win situation... I would finally be able to get out and prove to myself and other adults, I could carry on a conversation without sounding like Bert and Ernie or Big Bird...( Although by the end of the night... I probably did sound like Bert and Ernie ... or Big Bird) and they, would get to be spoiled beyond the point of no return...
I also knew that I would not have to worry one iota about their safety or happiness... they would barely want to come home after time spent in Grandma's magic wonderland..


Oh how things have changed...


Not many of the people who hosted parties still have them... and even though we still get invited to go out. Somehow ... home seems so much nicer.. ( And Safer)

Don't get me wrong.. Some of those parties are legendary... and we had a blast... but as we get older, the need to wake up with your bra on backwards or a lampshade on your head is less and less appealing..

Our newer tradition is to order take out Chinese ,watch old movies until close to the countdown... and shrimp cocktails are about the speed as far as cocktails go...
Now that we'd LOVE to be home with our kids on this night... they are long gone.... M2 and M in North Carolina...


Maria... usually has plans / OK.. Maria always has plans!!!

So we bring it in on our own... Me and Mr R... Mamma is usually long gone to bed...( although sometimes she too surprises us with her spunkiness and stays up...)

Yes....It is kind of sad that all those years we didn't bring in the New Year with the kids... but I am also VERY grateful that it turned out the way it did.


My mother in law passed away in 2006, by then the kids were doing their own things, but she had them all those years prior.

They made her feel special... She made them feel irreplaceable... little did we know we would not have her as long as we wanted...

Ultimately ... She was irreplaceable..

She left them with so many little traditions that they still keep going .... as well as some of the most precious memories ever.

Hope you have a great New Year's Eve....


As Maria is fond of saying........ " Make Memories"


Hope that 2009 is the best ever for you !

Wear Your Hat... 1/2 off Drinks !!!!

I had what I believe is the last of gift exchange get togethers....
It was wear your hat day... If you wore your favorite hat, drinks were 1/2 off...
I mean come on... you can't beat that !!!!!

This one was with ( from L to R) Lori.... Chris... and Stella.... pals from Church... We had planned to meet earlier but got waylaid by the " Big Snow Storm" ....

This meeting was even more important to me because Lori was in town from England.... ( doesn't she look lovely in her new hat? .... She got it in London !)

We all headed over to Applebee's to exchange our Christmas gifts and to visit with our Cosmopolitan Euro Buddy..... It was a nice evening out together...

You know.....It is always so good to get together with other women folk, if for nothing else to realize you are not the only one going crazy.... I have been blessed with alot of " Women Folk Friends" and these three are some of my favs...

I am not in this shot ... but somehow, someone got a snapshot of me at this gathering...
Ravishing... I know...
Jealous?

Ladies...Thank You all for a lovely evening... and for the great gifts...

You are my "Soul Sista's"

(Get it... Church ladies... Soul Sista's ?!?!)

Oh never mind... Thank You for everything...You know I love ya more then my luggage!

See Ya next Year !!!!

Marcy ; )

One Ringy Dingy.....

It's a bright and sunny day... a bit nippy but lovely out... We are driving along listening to the music when suddenly..... AHHHHHHH !!!!
I realize I don' t have my cell phone with me.....



Now I don't know if you feel the same way about this or not but..... I have found that I have a brand new phobia to add to my ever increasing list... The H.C.I.D.H.M.C.P
(Holy Crap! I don't have my cell phone )phobia.

What if Mamma needs me!...What if M2 calls the house and can't find me.. he'll try the cell.. and I won't have it!.. What if Maria has a flat and needs me to come and help her!

( OK..... so that one is kinda far fetched... like I am gonna know how to change a tire)

What if I just won a Million dollar jack pot and all I needed to do was answer my cell phone!( Again ... a bit out there...)

I don' t know.. it could be any number of REALLY REALLY important things I could missing out on...

What did I ever do before I had one??? Somehow I survived... Why do I now break out into a cold hard sweat when I realize I don't have it with me ?

It's not natural I tell ya...

I found myself in a complete state of nervousness...

( Yes.....More so then usual)... All I kept thinking was.....

"I gotta get home.. I gotta get home"...

Ironically I had left the house because... I kept thinking.....

"I gotta get outta here... I just gotta get outta here... "

I can't win I tell ya... I just can't win...

Bookaholic.....

I LOVE books !!!!!!!


I think I have posted about this before...


But it bears repeating....
Mr R and I just came back from Boarders....( The day before it was Barnes and Noble) seriously it's like an addiction... but because it can be very expensive as well,I have really made a concerted effort to take books out of the library, scour the used book stores, or borrow. This leaves me alot less storage issues.
I have found that now... when I actually BUY a book.. I know I am going to keep that sucker...

There is something to be said for these new fangled book stores... I find that now that many of them serve the " Mark of the Devil" ....


Kidding...Kidding... Just because once you have one sip of any one of their many varied caffeinated concoctions you are hooked forever... doesn't not make them evil...
No... Not at all......
Twitch ... Twitch....

Books..oh yes where was I?... I find in these new book stores, there is a sense of community... Odd as that may sound.. I mean come on let's face it...
The Coffee, the comfy chairs, the plethora of music subliminally pumped into your cerebral cortex... it's like a home away from home.. only with any book.. on any topic at your disposal .... all at your fingertips... it's kinda like the Internet, with actual human beings present... I'd be willing to bet for some characters it is the most human interaction they get on any given day....
The students hovering over their text books and wireless computers....
The older couple in the corner... silent from the moment they sit down...
(So many years together has stripped them of the need to speak... things become almost telepathic... )
The Parents dragging their 2 year old out of the children's section crying and kicking up the dust...
" Now Dillon....What was our agreement? ... WAAAHHHHHH!!!!!.......If you were a good boy... Mommy and Daddy would get you a chocolate brownie and a Jr Cappuccino! "
Can you say SUGAR BUZZ !!

The handsome 20 something stud reading Maxim... while his lovely fiance combs through stacks of Bride to be... The knot... and Martha Stewart Weddings... every now and again .. pointing to something that makes her eyes dewy with euphoria.
He smiles a bit apathetically..... but her frown makes him think better of his indifference, and he leans forward to give his beloved a kiss...

Who knew, the bookstore could be a virtual human jungle... All part of the Circle of life...

As for me... Even though I am really really trying hard not to overdo the whole Book Store scene... I cannot give it up entirely... I mean not only because of the books... or the Coffee....but....
My gosh look at how many lovely life scenes get played out .... right before my very eyes...



SSSShhhhhhhh !!! Quiet Please !!!!!

Beauty ...... In a bottle ??

One of the gifts I got for Christmas ....


A gift so precious, that it can only be bought on an annual basis.... either as a generous gift at Christmas... or when we get our tax return back, being that it is so blasted expensive, it is....
Dun Dun da Dun !!!!
Philosophy's Make Up optional gift set.

Sweet Saint Estee Lauder!!!!....

(although wait.. this isn't a Estee Lauder item...I think she is just the patron saint of beauty products...)

How I love these little bottles and tubes filled with the elixir of youth and beauty....

Ok... So I don't know that they make me any more youthful or beautiful I just LOVE the way they make my skin feel... for all I know they could be made of Goat placenta and crushed Lady bugs... Well guess what.....

Jimmy cracked corn.. and I DON'T CARE !!!!

I must admit.. I have always felt a little guilty having these dear ones in my possession, even in good times, I would have thoughts like....... I could buy HOW MANY bags of groceries with this money????

Or .... Who do I think I'm trying to be here... Heidi Klum?... Oh wait..you need a hot bod and a beautiful face..... No chance for a mix up here...

No it is just perhaps the fact that I come from VERY down to earth folks who never in a million years would purchase something simply for the Luxuriousness of it... If it didn't have a legitimate, common sense reason for being bought... then by golly it wasn't gonna be bought...

Now buying $200 worth of pork for Salami Day wasn't odd ..... at least not in our circle. It Had a purpose...

The whole thing got me thinking about how much we women fret about our looks...
( Of course it doesn't help that I spent a good portion of my evening gazing at ABSOLUTE beauty that IS... Brad Pitt... and he's a guy !!!! )

Somehow I don't think guys are sitting around plotting how they are going to keep their skin Oh so silky soft....or rushing out to buy that bottle of hair dye to keep that youthful look... heck they're just happy to have hair....

See. how coyly the man in this ad looks at her..... " You're PRETTIER then you think you are!"
and see... all it took ... was a Palmolive bar !!!!

( Wait... isn't that Heidi Klum's Mom? )
besides... he can afford to smirk... he will only get more distinguished looking as he ages....
Yes... for a very long time "Man" has tried to map out what exactly IS beauty...

Woman's "Perfect Features"...

how nice of " Man " to do that....

And so..... We women have shelled it out...on one beauty product after another, in hopes of maintaining our youthful glow... But....Let's face it... We are all in one way or another trying to bitch slap the ageing process.

I will be VERY careful with my new little facial friends... I will Cherish them and Miserly cling to every little drop that is released from their plastic bodies...

After all I am REALLY trying not to look like this...............

Button Button.... I want Benjamin Button.

The review is in on The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons,

And..............

I Love..Love... Love... this movie !!!!

I tell you...Brad Pitt warms the cockles of my heart... He warms all kinds of areas, and is a healing salve for the eyes...

The make up in the beginning of the movie is absolutely amazing ... I can not figure out for the life of me how they heck they made him look so old so realistically... as well as so young later in the movie... Sheer beauty

The story line wasn't half bad either...

Although the movie itself was rather long by movie standards.. I could have gone another two hours and forty five minutes longer.. a lovely story of love, life, and how

"We just never know what's gonna come our way"

Things that happen to us... happen for a reason and in the end everything will be OK. We live... We Die and nothing every stays the same.

Each of us has our own course to follow and yet all of it is interwoven.

( Hmmm.... I say that all the time !!!)

An enthusiastic Two thumbs up... go see it !!!!

Mad Dash... or Sit Home and Relax???

The day after Christmas....
Notorious for bargain shoppers everywhere......

I mean a gal could end up finding a really spiffy hat today....

But I ask you....

Is it REALLY worth the hassle ?

I know it's not for me....

So.....

This is likely what I Will look like on the day after...

A good book, some licorice, a board game, laying around, on my bed..... in my P.J's and some beer...A perfect day I would think......

or perhaps.... I will get up enough energy to .......
Go to the movies !!!!!!

If we do, It will probably be ..... The curious case of Benjamin Buttons...Look for the review!!!

After all the smooching........

Let's Hear it for Pork !!!!!!

It's the other white meat......



Well ...
Another Banner Christmas !!!


Brunch well exceedingly well if I do say so myself... but not with out the help of my sister's contribution Sausage & Egg Casserole... and my sister in law N 's Lasagna....Umm Umm Good.


Here is a list of what brunch consisted of

Spiral Ham


Sausage Links


Sausage Patties


(8lbs !) of Maple Bacon


Roasted Potatoes


Scrambled eggs


(L's )Sausage & Egg Casserole


(N's) Lasagna


Pancakes/ w REAL Maple Syrup


Giant Asst Muffins


Mini and reg English Muffins


Croissants


Assorted jams and jelly


Fruit Bowl


Shrimp


Artichoke Dip


Cheese ball/ Crackers


Three different coffee cakes


Cookies


Asst beverages...


Pop/Beer/Wine/Coffee/OJ/Apple juice/Tea


I had three different lunch meats ready, that I never had to open.. everyone was stuffed
When it comes to food...We do not mess around...Nor did we spare the pork products !
We Italians take our food seriously.....

To think.... Mamma was upset that we didn't "Maka da cheesacaka ! "
That my friends ,could very well have put us over the top.


My Father in law and Brother in law were here and at the appointed time,we spoke with Mr R's Sister in England via Internet.... I know it was going to be a rough Christmas for her, being so far from home... I'm glad we had the chance to connect.

M2 & M called and got to talk to everyone... It was good to hear their voices...

Maria's Boyfriend brought over his PlayStation Sing Star... basically a Karaoke type thing that allows you to not only make a fool of yourself singing along with the music.. it also records it for posterity.... GREAT !!!
Now THAT is some hilarious stuff to watch...

The Nieces and Nephews were buried knee deep in their toys and clothes... THEY are the ones that make Christmas so darn fun... the looks on their faces are simply priceless....I could eat them up.

Things have finally started to wind down... Mr R is listening to his new Trisha Yearwood C.D. and reading his Mario Batali Cook book... Mamma is watching her Italian program, and I have finished picking up a bit..... at the ready for my P.J's.....
I know that if your Christmas was even 1/2 as good as mine... Then you too are blessed...
Peace Out Homeys...

I had to do A LOT of wrapping.... Before AND After Christmas !

Merry Christmas !!!!

I will be writing this post on Christmas Eve... and posting it early Christmas day...
As I have said... We are preparing for a very busy day tomorrow.
What I didn't prepare for was how sad Christmas Eve would be..

Maria set out early.... to be with her boyfriend's family for most of the day... I busied myself with setting the table, last minute picking up.. preparing for the early morning onslaught of family.

I was fine until the mail lady came to the door.... she had two packages ... one from a dear friend who lives in Tennessee... ( She is so sweet.. although I am madder then heck at her... we were NOT to exchange gifts !!!! Ugh )
The other package was from my Son and M...

That one... just about killed me.

Inside were gifts for the little ones.. (Their own gift cards... won't they feel like big shots !!!!! ) but there was also another card for us... a Beautiful Christmas card with special window slots for pictures...
The pictures were of M2 and M at a lovely spot they had discovered during the summer.
Some were of M2 fishing and then one, a close up with both of them smiling, A beautiful waterfall in the background.
It was THAT picture that was the Karate chop to my throat... along with the high kick to the gut... I know because it brought tears to my eyes.. It was really true... they were not going to be here... and that realization slapped me hard..
Receiving the beautiful flowers they sent the other day was rough... but paled in comparison to the feelings that welled up in me with these images in front of me...

I closed my eyes TIGHT to stop the on coming deluge of tears... bit my lip and went about looking for something to keep my mind occupied...
I only glanced at the photos now up on the frig about 150 times...

But in the words of the Great Disco Diva...Donna Summers..... "I will survive"
I am so happy I have a superb sense of humor... otherwise I feel I might just sometime say....
Chuck It....( and I am being polite here )

I think it didn't help that as I was preparing dinner,I looked out the kitchen window and saw the next door neighbor's grown daughter,husband and year old grand baby approaching their porch.. on it my neighbors had set up a virtual wonderland with giant lollipops, a huge Elmo, big boxes covered in paper to look like gifts and even a 8ft inflatable Santa out on the lawn...
Now mind you... normally I would have said... yikes!!! but the look on that little boy's face as they walked up to his grandparents house....was priceless.
My neighbors.... were beaming as they took him from his Mamma's arms, showing him all the splendor that was their porch... next thing you know... I am blowing my nose into a bounty paper towel... ( it's the quicker picker upper..don't cha know! )

I refuse to be a Total Debbie Downer... I am OK now. I have picked my self up by my bootstraps and found things that need to be done.. You know.... important things like shining the butter dish.
Really though........I AM looking forward to the day.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.
I said it before.. but I will say it again....
THANK YOU GOD !!!!
I love my friends... I love my family...
From our house to yours...
Merry Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve.....2008

Tomorrow morning the house will be filled with kids...

Frankly I can't wait... I love having my nieces and nephews over anytime, but Christmas is the best... They make Christmas what it is supposed to be.... FUN.

With the excitement of presents under the tree, or just being with each other. I don't know which makes them happiest.

They are all still young enough to believe in the magic of Santa..and ...... I LOVE IT !!!!!!

The house will be left a disaster and I will sit back and smile through it all... It won't bother me in the least..... I know all too well how fast they grow up...

Maria (My Baby !!!) will be here with her boyfriend!

I mean... it wasn't that long ago she was waking up Christmas morning ... and ripping through all her gifts dolls, typewriter, complete Kitchen Set with appliances and utensils... Sooner or later, she will be looking for a real baby doll... and her own kitchen ...

Jeez... she already works with the computer...

See how fast they grow up !

M2 and his girlfriend M, will not be with us this Christmas...

This makes me unimaginably sad... Being the new man on the job he will not be able to take time off at the holidays... How can this be?.... My son will not be here with his family....

Ugh.... Don't get me going...

I understand though..and am grateful he has a job AND insurance.

It makes me sad not only for me... but for him... I know how much family means to him... and when we call Christmas morning, and he hears all the noise in the background and talks to each one of his family members... it will tug at his heart not to be here with all of us...

I am grateful that he will have M ( she too will be missing her family..)... It makes me feel a little better knowing they will have each other.

To makes things even brighter...( sarcasm added)

Mr R's sister will ALSO not be here....

*Shaking fist in air.... Damn you Britain !!!!

My sister in law is living and working in London... another face that should be here... that will not be.. again. I choose to be grateful that she is working, is healthy and seems happy... what more could I want for her at Christmas?

( It doesn't mean we won't miss her....)

This time of year.. also brings to mind those loved ones who have passed on... Their presence is missed always .... but more so at the holidays... Since my Dad and my Mother in law have passed... I can honestly say... the holidays have never been the same.... NOTHING has been the same.
But I try not to dwell on it too much...because if I do.. I will fail to be grateful for those that are still here...besides, in my heart I know that they ARE still with us...
I tell ya. sometimes it's like I can hear my Dad's laugh... or See my Mother in law's smile... and I remember how indescribably lucky I am to have had them in my life...

I really am blessed...

I can't wait to see those beautiful little faces tomorrow.. the Little ones... the not so little ones.. the older ones... the new one... and will think of the ones that are too far away for me to see. I will think of all the faces that are not related to me, by blood.. but are every bit my family...and I will say......

Thank You God

Happy Holidays to all of you...

those I know.. and those I don't...

God Bless You..

Holiday Spirits.....

Needless to say....

I have alot of last minute things to take care of.... I hope all YOUR last minute details fall into place... (With or without alcohol ! )

Being that this post is called "Holiday Spirits"... Somehow...
Someway... this video has lifted mine.

It is kinda like watching a accident scene... You know you shouldn't but somehow... you are mysteriously drawn.

You learn your lesson, and walk away a better person.

Me and Santa Baby.... At the movies !!!!

Ha.... Santa wishes...

I don't know why I just love these old fashion pics.. especially with those cut out words on top... you know ... the ones with hidden... and some NOT so hidden meanings.

(Too bad they often end up looking like randsom notes...)

I think the vintage pictures are so much more interesting then their modern counterparts...

Sometimes I think I was born too late, or that maybe I lived during a earlier era,with the way I am drawn to these seasoned images. ( But alas Catholicism does not allow me to dabble in the thought of reincarnation...too bad it would answer so much...)

Or perhaps after my last post about not venturing anywhere near Santa in my youth.. I am just making up for lost time. Who knows...

In other riveting news....

Mr R and I went to see the movie... Seven Pounds... It was very good... A bit of a tear jerker, and over all a well done movie..Maria had already seen it and filled me in on some things she noticed.. there was definitely a Vegan theme going on... if you go to see it.. see if you pick up on several of the references given.Another movie I am looking forward to seeing ( probably after Christmas) is Benjamin Buttons.

I think the premise is very interesting.. and let's face it.. Brad isn't so hard on the eyes.. with or without special effects makeup.

Continuing on our sudden Film viewing thesis... I can suggest a couple of other older films that are probably available to rent ... or for sure on Netflix..

One is Lars and the real girl...suffice to say although a bit quirky... the overall heartwarming plot is so touching... it takes you to a place where "Plastic" become "Real"... that's all I will say about that... cute cute cute.

My other suggestion...although perhaps not for the faint or puritanical of heart...is

Surf Wise. a documentary about the renowned Paskowitz surfing family... This movie could have been about 10 different topics... Surfing being only one of them... again keeping in mind the R rating... it is not going to be for everyone.. I liked it if for nothing else it made me laugh... it made me cry, but most importantly ... it made me think... I found myself at one point admiring the father in the story for his Bohemian ways... and later thinking he was a selfish jackass... only to find that ultimatly,family... is family... warts and all.. A worthwhile rent.

Well.....

I had no idea this was going to turn into a night at the movies review..... but hey.. I always appreciate when someone fills me in on anything great... be it a book, movie... or nasal spray...

( random I know....)

Anyway.. the countdown is almost on for Christmas..... I will post when I can...excuse me Santa is calling...

Ho Ho Ho..... No ! No! No!

I have a little confession to make...

There are no pictures of me on Santa's lap.... why?because I am a great big baby... that's why.

That's right... among the Hodge Podge of worn out family photos, you WILL find a few pictures of my younger brother and sister sitting on Santa's lap.... even if they do have the most god awful terrified looks on their faces... at least they did it... they sat on the old boy's lap and braved it all with out peeing their pants.

Not me...I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot North pole. I think I have finally figured it out too... my theory is...

He looks too much like God...

I know it sounds stupid, but don't laugh....in my childhood years God was described as Old man with a long white beard, who IF you were good... would give you what you wanted... If you were bad... could at the very least turn you into a pillar of salt.

Like God... Santa knows when you are sleeping... he knows when you're awake... Cripes he even know if you've been bad or good... and you want me to sit there? for goodness sake?

So you see... in my little peanut mind I think I had equated God and Santa as one... Santa merely was God dressed up, like for Halloween.

If he knows everything about me.... surly he must know what I want as well... right?

I mean it makes perfect sense.

Maybe in my blossoming childhood psychosis I thought I was bad... and didn't want to get called out on it. I could see it now... as the standby teenage elf gingerly places me on Old St Nick's lap ( See another religious reference.. if this guy wasn't God ... he was at the very least a Saint!!!! )

Anyway.. I could just imagine him looking into my eyes and that moment of realization of who it was sitting there.... and in one fell swoop toss me off his lap .... voice booming...

"This is the bad little girl who teases her brother & sister!!!! ... who tells them scary ghost stories and makes them cry!!who tricks them out of their share of candy! "

That had to be it.....or ...

maybe I was just a big chicken... either way I wasn't gonna take the Chance of going up there getting called out...I was scared ... not stupid.

So there you have it.. my inner most psycho analytical reasoning of why I have deprived my mother of the photographic memories of me and God...I mean Santa Clause.....

I especially like this photo I found on the Internet... it kinda looks like me at that age... so maybe I will just frame it and tell everyone camera's didn't exist yet.. Do you think they'll buy it?

Welcome to the "Frozen Tundra"

Another Wintery blast is supposed to come through here today...

I think we will all be staying in, as it is going to be below zero. While it IS very beautiful to look at... Not being able to really get out and about because of the cold ( Not to mention all the last minute shoppers is well.... not fun I tell ya.

I will probably do a little light cleaning. As well as making SURE everything is ready for Christmas.

Even though I know that everything is ready, there always seems to be one or two Last Minute things that need taking care of...

I have enough food to feed an army... But I find myself putting one or two more items on the list.It is the build up itself that is so rattling ( at least for me)

This year I am doing a Christmas morning brunch,and every form of ediable pork product has been bought, eggs aplenty, I have everything from pasteries to pancakes... even some lasagna (from my sister in law) so yes the food is ready...

The gifts have been bought and wrapped.

Like I said one last swirl to pick up the house... and I THINK .. we are ready to sit back .....
Now if I could not be such a freak about everything, it would give me ....... (Don't you love how she has full make up on to go to sleep!?)

Night on the town !

Just a few hours prior..... I was scrubbing toilets..

Yes Mr R did it again.

He managed to surprise me with a lovely evening out, plans....secretly made in advance.

He came home from work early for the holiday break, and found me looking decidedly Unglamorous.He nearly tripped over the vacuum cords on the way in and met me in the kitchen..

.. As I said.. it snowed ALOT today... and My wonderful neighbor plowed us out .. so I didn't really have reason to get out or get gussied up.. So Here's the visual for you...

Me in my comfy relaxing pants... T shirt, Hair pulled back with a cloth headband, glasses, NO MAKE UP , rubber gloves on each hand and a very surprised look on my face ...I mean I do try to look presentable when he gets home, but he was home early....I think this was a bit of a shock for him...

He snapped out of it quick enough and said with a big grin on his face...

" Ummm I think you may want to get cleaned up ... I made plans for tonight...."

I stood there dumbfounded.

"We are going out for dinner and then to the Masonic to see Mannheim Steamroller!"

Without saying a word to me about it... he had arranged for us to have dinner with very dear friends of ours G, P&D and J&S. Then to see the show afterwards...

I tell ya... I don't know how he does it.. not only the part about keeping this kind of stuff under wraps.. but just the thoughtfulness of wanting to have a nice night out with our friends...

and we did ....

Dinner was at Roma Cafe in Detroit.. I had never been there and to my surprise, it was situated right in the middle of Eastern Market...( There I had been alot !) The food was very good ... and the company even better. After dinner we jumped on a shuttle for the short drive over to the Masonic Temple... On the way there many of our fellow passengers ( also from the restaurant) were showing there holiday cheer by bursting into Christmas Carols... There really is something to be said for a bus load of full grown slightly inebriated strangers all joining together to sing Christmas favorites.... Although it sounds kinda hokey... it really was such a sweet thing.. I will probably remember it always... Once at our destination we were placed in front of the Masonic Temple... One of the most beautiful architectural buildings in Detroit. As beautiful as is now... it must have really been something in it's hey day...
The concert was really wonderful. We had seen them a few years back at the Palace of Auburn Hills. but the acoustics's in this venue were just unreal... they put on a great show.

Back on our little shuttle we chatted with our friends... trying to cover as much ground as we could for the duration of the short ride..

I love the look of the city at Christmas... even though this town is going through some really tough times, somehow people manged to smile and wish each other a Merry Christmas. or Happy Holidays.

The food was good... the show very good. but the best part was being with our friends... Most of these folks we have known well over 30 years (J and I lived on the same street since I moved there in the 2nd grade!)
We are so fortunate to have these folks in our lives... They are the kind of people who you may only see socially in spurts but who would be there for you in an instant if you needed them .

If I didn't get anything else for Christmas this year... I would still be one of God's most favorites... I was plopped down into a wonderful family... I have married a man beyond my dreams.. I have been blessed with two wonderful healthy/happy children, AND... to top it off.. have a jewelry box full of gems...

Not diamonds or pearls...

they are called friends...

Thanks for helping us make such great memories.

Women... We are really great.

I don't know what's with getting so many great videos lately... but I am sure glad you have shared them with me....

This video really touched home, because I have been blessed with so many wonderful women friends...There is just something so special about how woman will band together in good times and more importantly .... in bad. To all my wonderful women friends out there...THANK YOU...

This gem was sent to me from Stella...

Thank You, it made me cry.... It made my day.

The weather outside is frightful...

IT IS SNOWING.......

Man if that isn't the understatement of the year I don't know what is...

It started here around 5:30 a.m. and has been constantly falling since... I would venture to say that it is already around 6 inches if not more.. and the weatherman/ person says it isn't going to stop until late this afternoon. Ugh..

It has ruined my plans for a morning get together with some gal pals and put me in a tailspin of concern for Mr R and Maria. They made it in to work ok.. but the drive home is going to be just as dicey.. ( Say a quick prayer for them ... if you are a believer .. would ya?)

So for the rest of the day... I will clean the house, and eventually get out there and start to shovel. ( Our pitiful little snow blower ... is exactly that... instead of moving the snow.. it just blows at it) It would be funny if it weren't so sad...

Maybe I will get lucky and one of my wonderful neighbors who own MAC DADDY versions of snow blowers will take pity on me and shovel me out... A girl can hope.

What I really want to do instead of cleaning or shoveling ,is curl up and watch an old time movie... you know in black and white.No lights on except the tree...house nice an quiet..

alas... a girl can dream.

The reality will probably be.... Me sweating like a hog scrubbing bathrooms,floors,counter tops,rugs... throwing in some wash.... bundling up and shoveling for a bit... come back in warm up.. change some sheets,find all utensils for Christmas brunch, make some lunch.. back outside to shovel again... back in... make some dinner, put away clothes,shovel ... I know I know.. My life ....it's all about the glamore, what can I say....

I hope that where ever you are... you are safe and warm, that loved ones make it home ok... and that if you are experiencing this storm... you have a MAC DADDY snow blower or really really nice neighbors.

P.S.

Since I posted twice in one day.. You may not have seen the earlier post...make you sure check out the video..... It is so touching.

P.S.S. UPDATE !!!!

You know how the big guys says....

"Love Thy Neighbor"

I officially love my neighbor... he plowed me out !!!!!

Get Back Up......

Picture: joybergmann.wordpress.com/


Friday 2:55 am... That's right 2:55 A.M. I went to bed at 8:30 p.m completely exhausted and after sleeping about 6 hours I cannot sleep at all.Perhaps it is because we are expecting one of the greatest snowfalls this part of the State has ever seen...(Not a snow flake in sight YET) or more likely because I am off kilter in my sleeping habits lately..Christmas is only 5 days away.... and I have been ready for quite a while... well ready except for one LITTLE thing...We "Adults" draw names every year.. and this year Mr R pulled my brother in law's name... It's all good... he is easy to please, as is Mr R... the problem is.... They have not given each other their lists... Normally this would be no big deal, but being the control freak that I AM...I must admit it has me twitching a bit...After talking to my sister about it.. she doesn't seem to be as perturbed about it.. ( Hmmm maybe the fact that she has two small children and about 1,000000.00 other things to think about might be why this little matter is not her top priority) and she is right.. they are big boys, they will either find a way to communicate what they would like.. and find the time to get said item... or.... they will be exchanging checks. ( kinda anticlimactic though)I am trying hard not to let it bug me...Twitch Twitch.Now for your reading pleasure....




I am just starting to feel better after a Hormonal Headache from hell..
( I apologize to any males out there reading this Who could not possibly relate... you may stop reading now if you like...)
You ladies out there will know what I am talking about...
My Friend Lori ( Lori who is living in England) is back in town for the Holidays...... Yay!!!!!
Mamma had a Doctor's appointment earlier in the day and we had just come in from doing some grocery shopping.. I saw the flashing light and heard ....
"Hi. I am in Plymouth.. and have some time .. I was hoping I could stop by if you were home.. I will try later... "
Dropping the 10lb bag of hash browns and commercial drum of 1% milk from Sam's Club.. I quickly called her and said ... Come over.. I am putting away some groceries, but the coffee will be ready by the time you get here... and it was..
I managed to put away the perishables.. and she and I sat down next to the tree just gabbing away , Coffee and cookies in hand.....Flitting from one subject to the next.... trying to fit in as much as we could before she had to pick up her son..
As we leap frogged from one subject to the next.. I could feel the slight beginnings of the freight train coming... I even got up and took something for it right away.. hoping to stave off the impending implosion...
but to no avail.. By the time Lori left.. I was in an all out battle.
Mr R was had a late business meeting and was not going to be home for dinner... ( Thank You Jesus) and Maria had her last final to take, so that meant that Mamma and I were on our own for dinner.. which really meant that Mamma, was on her own for dinner.. I managed to eat a can of tuna and prayed that it would stay down.
These headaches are UNREAL...
I don't know how anyone who suffers with them regularly manages to have a normal life..
Awful..
I lay down on the couch... I wanted to be as alert as possible to hear Mr R and Maria come in...
I was finally able to get into bed by 9:30 to try to sleep off the pain.
I feel so much better Thank Goodness...
Isn't it funny how much we take for granted, how we just don't even think about the ease with which we go about doing our daily routine,doing whatever it is we do..
Not until we don't feel well, do we realize that even the most insignificant things we have to get done become mountains we can't possibly scale.
So Lori... it was the Hormones not the company that gave me that killer headache.
Hormones... You gotta love em...

You know how sometimes you just want to feel sorry for yourself......After watching this video... You may want to rethink that.....
I know I did....

Thank You Lucia... this really made my day....

Nothing said loving... like Goodies from my ovan....

I used to bake..... ALOT...

No really.... ALOT..

But epically at Christmas.. oh good lord... I had at least 10-12 different kinds of cookies that I would make 7-8 doz batches at a time.... I am talking cookies coming out the wazoo...

I would box them up and give them out to family, friends, neighbors, mailmen/women Tom, Dick and Harry... of course kept a hefty stash here at home..

That... was the problem.

When they were here... they would be eaten..

Oh sure at first you don't really notice how low the GINORMOUS tub of cookies is getting &

Before you could say Martha Stewart...

They'd be gone.. all gone..

(Mostly on our hips and thighs. So.....Not a good thing.)

Our holidays are cookie-less, and Mr R misses them immensely, But Neither of us need the extra calories.

Back in the day... I would make bread once a week, Pies, Cakes (Not just regular cakes... Fancy cakes) and other assorted confections.. I loved doing it..

I loved sharing these homemade goodies.

I gardened, and planted a little bit of just about anything you could grow... One year I had regular and mini pumpkins coming out my ears... Tomatoes that would not stop producing and even Corn. Peppers of many varieties, Swiss chard, potatoes.. you named it I probably grew it .. or tried to.
I had quite a nice variety of cutting flowers as well...

Just before my Dad passed away, I was already starting to wind down in the Happy Homemaker Department.. The kids were growing up so fast... and my energy was sliding down just as fast.

I had made it my business to be EXTRA productive at home.

I was not bringing in a paycheck, so I felt it was my duty, to at the very least keep myself busy with all kinds of projects,and of course to have the house as neat as a pin.

(There's that good ol F.I.C. guilt for ya)

Now that the kids are grown... I seem to have made taking care of Mamma my personal mission... which is good... Thank goodness in spite of all her health concerns... She does remarkably well... But frequent visits to Physicians keep me from fully venturing out into other avenues to perhaps bring in a little green....

Yes the past six years here have changed many things in my life...

Christmas cookies is just one of them.... Maybe some day I will hop back on the baking train... but for now. I will busy my self with other important issues ...like..

Charmin

or Angel Soft.

Everyone needs a "Pleasure Tree"

Although THIS is how I am feeling about everything......

I could probably use a "Pleasure Tree" right about now.

I think even Santa understands how I feel.....

Mother..... [video]

Ok.. I just have to share this with you... You will probably not find the humor it at all.. but to me it was so funny I had to have Maria reenact and post it.. if not for your pleasure... then for mine.

OK..

Here is the set up....Maria wanted to bring in some cookies to work... and with her dramatic flair.( I tell ya I don't know where she get that).. she waved her hand in front of my face said...

"Mother... "Do.... you think Aldi's will have oatmeal?"

As I write this it just doesn't seem as funny.. But I tell you... the Aristocratic British accent.. along with the swish of the hand were just too much...

I guess you had to be there...

The kid just cracks me up.

Sending some good wishes & Keepin it real Yo !

The other day....
Maria and I ventured into downtown Ann Arbor. Our destination was the Urban Outfitters store. We really enjoy the town. Although I don't know if I could take a steady diet of it. It's just that you have such a conglomeration of so many people. Many who are shall we say, a bit eccentric.
I find it fun... You never know who you will be interacting with. Stereotypical studious oriental students discussing analytical equations,Children of wealthy suburbanites, laughing about last nights' crazy party,a walking talking pin cushion of piercings hippy type, or stuffy yet bohemian professor ( who would have probably in his day been the pin cushion).

It's all good... Ann Arbor's canvas is like a Jackson Pollock Painting, compared to the rather dull eggshell hues of suburbia.

We like to get out there every now and again for shits and giggles.
I have become quite adept at navigating in and out of a town notorious for it's rather confusing one way streets.

As we approached a stop... We both noticed a female student, laden with heavy backpack and gear, rounding the corner. The spot was icy from a recent layer of snow and ice and she almost fell.

I heard Maria... very faintly under her breath say... " Be Careful"...

I don't know why, but it really really touched me... I thought it such a nice heartfelt gesture from one human being to another... they did not even make eye contact...but just being a fellow human being... and knowing the feeling of almost falling down, was enough for her to wish her safety. I am sure she wasn't even aware that she had said it loud enough to be heard...

But I did hear it, and told her how cool I thought it was...that from somewhere deep down.. she had wished that person well. A perfect stranger.

I could wax poetic about how we could and should all do the same... Go out there and say a silent prayer for health and happiness to all those unsuspecting souls.. The irony that it happened in Ann Arbor where a great number of pseudo-intellectuals would argue there is no God.. and we are all just a giant petri dish of life forms, makes me giggle even more.. to think that an atheist might secretly be prayed for and wished well.. Kinda just makes my day.

But of course.. I didn't say that to her... We just kinda made light of it.. and laughingly almost under our breath , kept saying to unsuspecting AnnArborites....... " BE CAREFUL"

While spoofing the entire thing... I like to think that maybe our little wishes really did do some Karmic good.

Once in Urban Outfitters... I believe I got my signs... although the store basically sells clothing, it also has a vast array of kitchy off the wall stuff.. and the first thing that I was drawn to was....

A.

Christmas cards with Jesus on them, two fingers in the air,hand on heart,and the card said...

"Christmas.... Keep it real Yo"

B.

Christmas Card Jesus sitting with children all around him everyone seemingly in song, and the card said...

"Happy Birthday to Me !"

C.

Hope on a Rope... Jesus soap on a rope.... kinda like those glow in the dark dashboard figures.. on the box...

"Hope on a rope... wash all your sins away."

I know some may find all this a bit sacrilegious.. but I couldn't help but laugh...

It was a sign I tell ya !!!!

P.S. Be Careful

A Very " Marcy Christmas"

Like most of you ...
I am running around in a bit of a frenzy, in my attempt to have everything bought and wrapped. ( Hopefully ahead of schedule)
In a way.. it is kind of funny what we all do, in order to get through the holidays..
GET TROUGH....
As if you were getting your teeth pulled or having a rectal exam.
Something unpleasant that we must survive...
I don't like to think of it that way ... but I am afraid, that is sometimes how it feels.
I remember younger days, where Christmas seemed to take forever to get here.
Endless days playing in the snow, Sledding, building snowmen,watching our favorite animated shows.
Now I break into a cold clammy sweat. Father Christmas hunting me down, his cold wintry breath on my neck. ( or maybe I just didn't wear my scarf while shopping...) either way, it is a very uncomfortable feeling.
We woman I am afraid, take on the burden of trying to create a Martha Stewart Holiday... only we forget she has a staff of hundreds at her disposal.
In our mad dash to find the perfect gift, We drain ourselves dry of an already arid well of energy. Not to mention, the ever decreasing state of our wallets.
Most of us are people pleasers, and find it hard to say NO, even when we know we should.
Even Mamma, at her advanced age, could not bring herself not to send cards out this year, even though she swore that last year's batch was the last.
I want to finish early this year...
I have this hopeful notion that if I do.... I will then, take the time to enjoy all the things that I really do love about the season.
So I will do my best to get it put together,(early) but I refuse to chastise myself if I don't.
I have to remind myself ..... It's Marcy.... Not Martha...

Bad Santa......

I seem to have a little Theme going here...
For your enjoyment ( And Mine) I give you Santa... smoking and coking

"Wow.. I am so tired from all this Naughty and Nice Stuff I need a coke."

"Holy Moly... All this flying around ... Up and Down chimneys....Got to stop for a cig."

I've been giving gifts to everyone... I need to give my self the gift for thirst!"

" Who am I kidding.. this job is driving me nuts... I need a cigarette so bad.. I can taste it!!! "

"AHHHHH.... Smooth...."

Yep... nothing like the gift of carcinogens, for Christmas...