Pack Rat... and the ... Rat Pack

Rat Pack... In Yesterday's post the word "PACK RAT" came up..

I don't know why.. but I always want to say "RAT PACK.". when I see that word..

For those of you old enough to really remember who the "RAT PACK" was .. you know how different the meanings are...

It was then I remembered an email I received from a friend..(Was it you Stell? ) that showed the main members of the Pack.. Frank Sinatra..Sammy Davis Jr .. and Dean Martin in Veges(Joining them in their number a young Johnny Carson.)

I was very young during the reign of the Rat Pack.. but I knew that they were something special.. .

Being that Two of the main "Rats" were Italian.. (Frank and Dean). I could sense a strange mixed bag of mortification and pride as I overheard the adults talking about their antics.

I sensed that even though the adults didn't always like some of the things they did.. they liked the men themselves.... and if everyone thought of them as "Cool and Hip" well then so be it.

The adults would say things like.. "Deano..has a set of pipes... but he should lay off the booze."

"Sure.... Ava (Gardner) was Gorgeous.. but he (Frank) is married .... WITH KIDS !"

Ultimately....Everyone got over it... the minute they started to entertain.
(They seem like a bunch of teenage boys having a great time...)

So for your viewing pleasure... I give you the RAT PACK...

(Not to be mistaken for a PACK RAT ! )

Enjoy your weekend !!!


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In Lieu of something interesting.... I give you....MY PANTRY !!

Old Mother Hubbard... Went to the the cupboard...

You may remember that old Nursery Rhyme..

Well let me tell you not only did I not know that this simple seemingly innocuous rhyme had a double meaning...

(Click the link for find out the origins )

I found out that at a very basic level I cannot relate.. because

Thank God.. my cupboard is anything but bare.

In light of my recent post about hoarding.. I found out that it is really true...

People who live in glass houses should not cast stones..especially writing a post about how crazy it is to stockpile things and then turn around and see that my own pantry looks like THIS....

I know... I know... I have no room to talk...

Heck.. I have no room for anything !!!

Now let me just say... My father's name in Italian is Giuseppe..

Joseph.

Just like Jesus' Dad.. St Joseph.. patron saint of carpenters. and while my dad was pretty handy with a shovel in the garden.. A carpenter he was not...

But hey..

He did his best.. AND let's face it even though they may not be straight The shelves he built .....HAVE sustained the burden of my buying habits.

THANKS PA.
So in an effort to show there are no hard feelings.. I have displayed my nasty little secret... Not everyone can be extremely neat and organized

For instance...

Here we have my sister in law a few years back.... who on moving day helped organize my kitchen... (The one and ONLY time my spices would be organized alphabetically!!! )

OK... so it's not REALLY my sister in law but let me tell you..in the organizational skills field...

it could be her!

Because when it comes to everything from Abraham's Balm To Zedoary

(Yes actual spices)...

She WOULD have them lined up right.. ( Gotta love her...)But I am woman enough to admit that my house is not the epitome of Martha Stewartness....

I do the best that I can....after all.. Not EVERYONE can have a Dream Pantry !!!!

I know what you're probably thinking... MY GOSH!!!!.. this is all so fascinating... what on earth could she possible have in store for us next???

Well in a sneak peak it could very well be...

MY FREEZER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know.. the thought is CHILLING....

(Hahahahaha... I just crack myself up )

Well... I guess I will leave you now in anxious anticipation.. of what my next post might be...

After all I learned a lesson long long ago that has seen me through life

and because of these sage words of wisdom..

I am rounding the corner to being Yes....

the PERFECT WIFE...

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From Hoarders to Housewives !!!

It's Tuesday!!!!! .. and you know what THAT means...

It's the day after watching HOARDERS.... You may remember I said I was going to write about this show..

I mean how I can I NOT write about this show...

it has become my new obsession..

Well that and Housewives of Orange County( Gotta love that show)

Oh....and

Housewives of New York...New Jersey... Atlanta... You get the idea....
The funny thing is.. I really don't watch much T.V. ... No really...
(I know I hate when people say that too.. but it is true )

In fact during the day it's never on.. at all !

The boob tube is usually fired up after Mr R comes home.

Sometimes with the drone of some Detective show in the backdrop... or more often... the mind numbing sound of some Jock related program.

Basketball.. Baseball... Football.. Underwater Polo.. It doesn't matter it all sounds the same to me.

So....as I read or plop down on the computer... The evening air is often peppered with Screams of Joy .. and or... Screams of expletives .. ( Thank goodness Mamma is a bit hard of hearing.. it would ruin her pristine view of him)

Monday nights he and some of his buddy's' meet up at a local Sports related watering hole.

You know.... to scream for joy or swear like Sailors at the jumbo tron like Televisions and do some ....what I can only imagine is male bonding stuff.....

This leaves me and sometimes Maria with the T.V. all to ourselves!
I sit as she shares her love of watching the Bachelor and She puts up with my obsession of watching Hoarders....

What can I say.....It's an acquired taste..

OK.. For those of you who have never watched this show..

OH....

MY....

GOSH !!!

in a Nutshell.. and I do mean NUTshell...

Folks who have an extreme issue with hanging on to EVERYTHING.... are offered help, not only in cleaning up the chaos they have created... but with counseling as well.

Having watched this show for a while now.... and getting over my initial shock .. I have come to understand that it really is a mental issue..

"Compulsive Hoarding is a mental disorder marked by an obsessive need to acquire( and failure to use or discard) a significant amount of possessions, even if the items are worthless, hazardous,or unsanitary. Compulsive Hoarding causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities, including mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering, and sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "Pack Rat". In reference to that animals apparent fondness for material objects."

the hoarding tendencies seem to often start after a traumatic event.. or loss.

So I mean I get it.. It's like

"Oh man.. I've had a BAD day!"...

so I can't say no to JUST ONE Lay's Potato chip..

or

"Oh man... I've had a GREAT day.!"..

so I can't say no to JUST ONE Lay's Potato chip...

or

"Oh man ... I had A day"...

and I can't say no to JUST ONE Lay's Potato chip...

So...I feel their pain..

But ultimately.. I think I have also figured out why I like this show so much..

and the answer is....

When I watch it....I don't feel so bad about myself and Life.

My messes real or imagined ... are nothing when I see the extremes these people live in...

It's the same with the HOUSEWIVES show.. These women lives of extreme of wealth.. and yet are all dysfunctional each in their own way.

So I guess this allows me to sit back and think...

"They have more money glitz and glamour then I could dream of .. and yet their lives are whacked out.... more so than mine. "

See..... Money doesn't buy you Happiness !!

All I know is... I am not in the extreme..

I don't live the life of spoiled pampered coddled housewife ... diverting my attention day to day with Manicures Pedicures.. Shopping sprees or Spa treatments.. looking beautiful on the outside.. and sometimes very Ugly on the inside...

nor do I live in a home of chaos with ... mouse infested furniture... Dead cats under piles of debris.. wearing adult diapers because the bathroom is filled to the rafters with junk making it inaccessible.

No.... I live somewhere very much in the middle... and frankly.. I am OK with that..

but..

For some strange... odd.. twisted reason.. I can't help but watch these shows !

...It's like a train wreck You KNOW... you shouldn't watch.. and yet......you can't take your eyes off. !!

Sometimes you can't believe your eyes !!!

Things aren't always what they seem.....

Exhibit A.

Notice anything with the girl climbing up onto the bunk bed ?

It looks like her butt cheeks are peeking out... right???



Now..... take a closer look at the shoulder of the girl taking the picture... CRAZY !!!!!


Sometimes you CAN'T believe your eyes... literally

See who says you can't learn anything here on my blog???

Found Here:

Little Pick me up for you....( and Me )

Elderly couple Fran and Marlo walked into the lobby of the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and spotted a piano. They've been married for a whopping 62 years, and Marlo turned 90 this year. Watch them play!


OH MY GOSH !!!!! .... I want this to be us at that age !!!!
GREAT !!!!!

Found Here:

My Mind.....Just a Glimpse.....

Sometimes don't you just feel like......

Yeah...

That's how I'm feeling....

But then I remember

" THIS TOO SHALL PASS"

That and......

ZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZ

Good Day folks....
(At least THAT remains to be seen )...

Not much to report
I am off to see the Dr.... The wonderful Dr of OZ....

Actually it is the wonderful Dr of Roids...

Thyroid that is...

Yes.. I am stopping by for my periodical check up of how the old roid is doing.

You know that lovely little muscle that has made it virtually impossible for me to lose weight... and maintain a healthy metabolism...

Meh... It could always be worse.

So No belly aching ...

Two days in a row might set the universe off spinning...

In other riveting news.. I have to run around town....Since I have some errands to take care of.

I plan to stop by the post office and library..

Grab some items from the grocery storeMaybe fix my funky nail that years ago split vertically and will not heal.. ( thus forcing me to have one single acrylic nail put on so that it doesn't catch on everything)

Hey !!!!!!

WAKE UP!!!!!!!

This is important stuff here !!!!!

OK..

I don't blame you... it's lame and I know it...

But ya gotta give a girl credit for trying...

Hope you have fun stuff planned for YOUR day !!!

What's it all about Alfie?

I can't really explain it..

Maybe it's the fact that it is so gloomy outside...

Maybe it's because I am tired

Maybe it's because I have so much to think about

or maybe it's because the moon is in the 7Th house or just in URANUS

Sorry... I am a little grouchy this morning...

Hmmmm...

Maybe THAT is what it is... MAYBE just maybe I'm constipated.. and that's why all the negativity.
Anyway... I don't really have anything new or especially interesting to write about....

(Assuming ANYTHING I write about is ever New or Interesting )

Waking up to mornings like this....is why I find myself pondering what this whole blog thing is about... No really what is it ?....this act of writing down the mundane day to day stuff that goes on... I mean who really cares?

My initial reason for starting this thing was to annoy family and friends out of state with the mundane...

My intent was never to annoy any poor schmuck that fell upon this page...

And then it happened... I found the TRUE meaning of what blogs are all about....

So wait no longer.... As you sit there with bated breath... wondering what this deep mystical truth is... I present to you it's meaning.......

And THAT folks is the real meaning of blogs.. ( mine and all others...)

Aren't you glad I woke up in such a great mood ????

Get out there and TRY to make it a good day....

: }

Weekend in Review

Hey all...

Thank you to those of you who came out of hiding on Delurking Day.... The regulars... and those who commented on Face Book and Email..
We had a very busy weekend... and this is going to be a VERY LONG post....

So lets get started on the highlights.. Shall we???

First off..

Maria and the girls went to pick up the Jr Bridesmaid's dress...

and ...

measure the Flower Girl....
Here we have a "Training session " going on...

(Get it.??. holding the train... Never mind)

Mirror Mirror I can see..

Before you know it.. the Bride will be me !!

Mom and Dad save your dough... cause with your luck....

We too will marry in the same year... two in a row !!Forget that noise... Not a chance...

We can barely afford to send you to dance...

I guess it's just natural..... every girl wants to feel like a bride....

Even us old Married Ladies

Till then.... Keep the dream alive !!!

On to home renovating news...

We got new outdoor lights !! ( OK so it's not a Home Makeover ) but hey.. every little bit helps..

Our lights were out completely...so it was time.

Thank Goodness my brother is an electrician.

He sent over his long time friend and all around good guy Kevin

He had all three new lights up and working in no time at all...So... goodbye to the old...
Hello to the new... In the meantime.. Mamma was inside.....calling her baby boy to wish him a Happy Birthday..
and

Thanking him for lighting up our lives... inside... and ... out.

Some of you may remember Saturday was our little Pizza get together night....

A few friends came by ...
This guy just showed up... and....I don't even know who he is... Oh wait... I guess I DO know him... but I still kept my eye on him...

He looked like he was up to no good.

It's always fun to catch up on everyone 's news... Our newlyweds bought a new house in Ohio..!!!

(It's OK... we won't hold that against them...)

Folks were just chill- axing
Making themselves comfy...
When the belly's were full......We brought out "The Book of Questions"

Now.....THAT got conversations going...

While SOMEONE wanted to be Molly Maid...
(Get outta there woman...)

It was a fun ... Low key night.

Thanks Guys Hope you all had as much fun as we did.

Sunday we celebrated my brother and sisters' birthdays...

(They are 2 years and 5 days apart)

Lunch at Outback Steakhouse ( YUM)... cake and ice cream to follow at My brother's house...

You can see how THAT panned out....
I swear it was like something out of the wizard of OZ....Magic sleeping dust sprinkled in amongst the Poppy's
Evidently ... it only works on men
The Ladies were virtually unaffected..
Ok.. maybe someone was a little zoned out

( Hey.. cut a girl some slack.. she's got alot on her mind lately!!! )But for the most part... Ladies were yammering away like alwaysWhilst a fun fest took place in the basement...
Guys... Guys... Give Peace a chance.Before you know it ... it was time for some BLURRY Birthday Cake...and the singing of HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!
Oh my goodness....BLURRY BIRTHDAY CAKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was enough to wake the boys...

Gee.. and they have the nerve to tell me... I'm the crazy one... Ha !!!

My YOUNGer siblings... 44 and 42 !!!!! Man ...that doesn't seem possible
It's seems like just last year they were 43 an 41 !

They were convinced that my sister in law had put trick candles on the cake...

after they blew them out... they seriously stood there for a few minutes waiting for them to relight..
SUCKERS !!!
CAKE...ICE CREAM... and CARDS...
I think it all went well....
What do you think??

Thanks again for your comments

Thanks G for illuminating us

Thanks Guys for the fun Pizza Night

Thanks Gino and Lina for being born

Thanks Nancy and Pete for assuming all responsibility for them now

Thanks God for plopping me into such a great family

and giving me such good friends...

Over and Out !!