Birthdays ... and Bats

Recently......
We celebrated my Father in law's 78Th Birthday !!!No Dad... You aren't 771... that is what you do when you have too many #7 candles and not one single solitary# 8 candle.. SO....7 = 70 ... and then you have 7+1 += 8 thus you get 78 ! Somehow in my mind it all works out... Dad : " You gotta be kidding me"

Listen here you Whippersnapper....you never mind.. Just sit there and look pretty while we serenade you with Happy Birthday... Now....Make a wish...Blow out your candles...
Sorry your wish didn't come true.. we're all still standing here.. singing poorly.
I must say.. You make 78 look... Super Great.

(Ironically that was also the theme of my high school graduating class... 78 !!! Super Great !! )
I knew phrase would come in handy one day.)

Happy Birthday Dad.

While we spent the weekend gorging ourselves with an all you can eat buffet.. and singing Happy Birthday to family members.. Today is a new day..

Tuesday in fact..

A Tuesday filled with the constant patter of rain on the roof..followed by a light sprinkle... ending in a smattering of a downpour...

It's cold.. and rainy ..and Grey outside.. perfect day for staying inside.. With this kind of make ya want to stay inside weather.....One would think I could write a half way decent post... however SOMEONE had other ideas (MiMi LITERALLY crashing on my computer)

Who am I kidding even without a sleeping puppy on the keyboard..

(Come to think of it...her Indian name could be just that... Sleeps on keyboard)
The Posts have no guarantee of coming out decent..

This hasn't stopped me from getting some things done around the house...

For one.. I put out some more Fall/ Halloween Decorations..

This year we have a new addition thanks in part to Martin and Melissa.

You see this is what some of their wedding centerpieces looked like when we brought them home..

THIS... is what they look like now....

Pretty Nifty Galifty no?...

A stop off at the local Hobby Lobby for some Tiny Sparkly bats..some double sided tape.. Gingerly placed on the hanging crystals....and Viola..

I plan on milking this sucker for every holiday..Easter Eggs at Easter..Hearts for Valentines.... Tiny Christmas Bulbs for Christmas and Drumsticks for Thanksgiving( I may have to thaw out some of those Wing Dings in the freezer for that one..)

Well as much as I know my day has left you totally riveted to the edge of your seats.. I must now brave the rain and head out for some supplies..Milk ... Bread... A canoe and paddles.

What can I say.. The Glamour of my life just never fades..

Have a great DRY day !!!

Who is that.... behind the Mask?

Don't ask me why... But I have been thinking some odd thoughts lately...

(Ok.. Ok.. I know my thoughts are almost always pretty odd... but let's just say..my odd thoughts have been more so than usual)

I have been thinking how we all wear masks..

Some more so than others.

That's why I am always kind of amused when someone says..

"Oh my life is an open book !"...

Um.. Yeah.. right ....

NOT!

I don't care who you are or what you say... There IS deep down inside us all....

Parts of ourselves that we don't like... parts of ourselves we just don't share...

But what about the parts that are blatantly obvious to everyone around us.. yet we seem to be able ignore (at least to ourselves)

Interestingly enough I recently came across a picture from one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes.

Those of you of a certain age know that I am not talking about Lovestruck Vampires and Werewolves here..

But of the phenomenal science fiction series of the early 1960's written by Rod Serling .

The Twilight Zone ...

Often the stories told were more psychologically scary than say blood and guts scary.. Which in my opinion made them even more frightening..

In Modern day ... think M Night Shyamalan in the Village or The Sixth Sense...

Nothing like scaring the pants off you all the while messing with your mind and really making you think.

Anyway.. the name of the episode I am speaking of was called The Masks written in 1964 .

A wealthy yet cantankerous old man is visited by his money hungry family.

Like sharks circling around their prey they wait for their eccentric patriarch to kick the bucket waiting to inherit their share of his vast fortune.

But Jason Foster is no fool.. he knows what they are all about and tells them so.

Jason strikes up a seemingly easy task for his money grubbing family to preform... in order to get their hands on the dough.

His Daughter and Son in law Emily and Wilfred as well as his grandchildren Wilfred Jr and Paula end up winners in a losing battle.

The moral of the story and the fate of the people in it is ....That after the spell has been cast, the price they had to pay for their greed, was to wear outwardly visible masks as grotesque as their inward traits..

(To get a more detailed synopsis of the story read The Masks.)

How would we feel if we too looked as ugly on the outside....

As ugly as the feelings we harbor on the inside?

Whether it be from ugly thoughts we have about others.. or.. the ugly thoughts we have about ourselves.

Masks are real.. even if our day to day face seems to look the same.

I guess most of us get to be pretty good at hiding our true thoughts and feelings.

Sometimes this good.

Sometimes this is bad.

Sometimes this is necessary..

Sometimes in spite of not wanting our emotions to obvious.. our thoughts or feelings are simply too transparent and are written virtually all over our face...

We all know people who have had to face some pretty horrible ...difficult ordeals in life.

(Maybe it is us )

Things that are not.... easy....or.... fair.

Unfortunately the passage of time does not always help in the healing of their hearts ... nor

changed their feelings about the events they have had to endure.

Instead of moving on and making peace with their suffering and observing any life lessons that may have been present in the events.

They have (perhaps unconsciously) chosen to continually pick away at the wound again and again.. keeping the pain they feel as fresh and potent as the first time.

As is with all wounds that aren't allowed to properly heal ...constantly aggravating a wound will only allow it to putrefy and fester.

Sickening to the person.. Sicking to all those around them..

Masks are sometimes necessary.. We can't always show what we have inside..it is human to want to keep Some parts of ourselves....to and for ourselves.

We just have to make sure that what we have underneath those mask doesn't contort and shape who we are... How we look at ourselves or others.

And that my friends is just a tiny glimpse at some of the weird and wacky thoughts I have behind my mask.

WeekDAY with Bernie....

Did ya think I'd fallen off the face of the earth?

Did ya think I'd been kidnapped?

Did ya think I got busy babysitting a puppy and trying to clean up a house..

# 3 would be the correct answer by the way...

Actually I had the post on my visit with my childhood friend Bernadine ready...but felt that I should wait for her permission to post our picture.. I got the OK...
I am happy to report my meeting with Bernadine....was SUPERB!

( At least I thought it was.. I can't answer for her...)

I got there first and no sooner turned around and there she was..

BERNIE!!!

She looked EXACTLY the same..exactly. I would have known her anywhere.

Let me tell you... for having had FOUR children.. she looks amazing.

I felt like almost no time had passed..

We sat right down and began to catch up with about 36 years worth life...

It wasn't long before we were both running down memory lane.

She remembered some things I had absolutely no cognitive recollection of.. and I too had many names and memories to share with her.

When all was said and done...

We both came to the conclusion that we had pretty darn good childhoods.

I found out what all of her 9 (Yes you read that right ) siblings were up to.

There were 10 children in this good "Catholic Family"and thankfully both parents are still alive and living in their original home.. ( A true blessing)..

We talked Husbands ( and Ex's) Children.. Jobs.. Travel...Siblings... Childhood Friendships.. Current situations..in the 2 1/2 hours we shared together I think we just about covered it all.

Had I not had a puppy at home to attend to... and she a visit scheduled with one of her many nephews.. I am sure we could have easily spent another 2 1/2 hours there.. or better yet we should have come to my home.. (UGH !!! I don't' know why I didn't think to just have her come over ugh!!) Mamma would have been thrilled

Not only was Bernie one of her favorites because

"She'sa nica girla..froma nica famiglia"

but I do believe my mom thought it was her solemn duty to fatten that child up.

It almost pained her to have Bernie over and not see her eat SOMETHING... ANYTHING..

Bernie remembered too how many a platter ( NOT A PLATE) of pasta would be placed in front of her.. and Mamma cajoling her ...

"Bernadina.. EAT...You so skinny !!!"

Poor Bernie would take a few bites out of respect to Mamma but could in no way make her feel that enough sustenance had been had..and so the next visit over.. Mamma would try again .. this time perhaps with some fresh Hot out of the oven home made bread.

I'd be on my second loaf .. and Bernie might still be buttering a small little wedge.

Ahhhh Yes ... Some things never change...

Bernie is still a featherweight... while I on the other hand have eaten my share.. and that of half the pagan babies I have ever sponsored in my life (and let me tell you.... I have sponsored many a pagan baby!)

Meh..

All in all I was SOOO SOOO happy that Bernie made time to come and chat with me.

It touched my heart to hear her refer to me to her children as her childhood best friend.

I too remembered thinking even at that young age...that I had found a kindred spirit.. We were born in the same year.. I on June 2nd.. she on June 10th...

(TWO Gemini's ...OH MY !!) We have shared some of the most life shaping years of our lives....with many of the same memories..

Leading the class in songs during mass..

Making our First Holy Communions together...

Putting on plays... Sleepovers (complete with seances... trying to conjor up Bloody Mary Bloody Mary !!! Than freezing peoples training bras... and of course giggling about boys)

While all of that was fun... Perhaps our crowning achievement was .. The crowning of The Virgin Mary..

This my friends was one of the biggest events of the school year.. well that and helping sister Ludmilla move her geraniums over to the convent..(You know you'd get to see where "THEY" live.. Which by the way Bernie and I also got to help do that too... SCORE!)

This top honor was so coveted that every single girl in eighth grade figuratively and literally held their breath to see who would be chosen ..

There was 1queen (the most coveted position)

and the court.. her two assistants. ( better known as close... but no cigar)

I recalled how absolutely ecstatic I was Bernie's name was pulled out of the hat to be the queen.. Next came Denise S... and as the third and final chance to be on this most extraordinary trio was being determined Bernie and I both crossed our fingers and our toes

( think I might have thrown in a quick Hail Mary for good measure because lets face it... Where there was Bernadine there was Marcella..and .... Where there was Marcella there was Bernadine. )

and people....that's when it happened.. my very first proof that God can and does work miracles....

My name was to be the final attendent !!!!

Call it fate..

Call it destiny

Call it Karma..

Call it dumb luck...

I called it a miracle of biblical proportions.

It's funny how important those things were to us.. What great great memories.

We have both had our share of ups and downs.. but I think Bernie would agree.. we went on to have pretty great lives..

and so....Our time had come to an end.

I asked one of the workers at Panera's if she would mind taking our picture..

( Apparently we HAD to take it outside ... something about the Panera police not allowing shots inside?)
Whatevs..

I was too happy to have spent this afternoon with one of the pivotal people of my childhood..So

Snap away...

Thanks Again Bernie... It really meant alot to me for you to take the time out to visit..

( Especially considering all the family you have who want a piece of you when you get into town!)

My Best to them all...

Peace Out May Queen Crowner : )

From your May Queen Crowner in waiting..

4:59 A.M...... Do you know where my sleep is?

4:59 A.M !!!!
THIS....

Is not me...

I hope I am not going through another one of those ... Up all night ... Can't Sleep...
Perimenopausal ...Zombie like cycles. Because...I really really don't like them at all.

Let's face it....I don't even have a legitimate reason for being up and /or for obsessing
( a.k.a 2 weddings in 3 months)

I am meeting up with an old Elementary School friend later today...One that I haven't seen since 8th Grade!
( Yes together we survived the Catholic School Battlefield ... and will probably exchange "Hey do you remember when..."war wound stories in the process......That is if I can stay awake long enough to make it to our predetermined destination)
Oh and by the way...Thank You Face book..

But....I am not nervous about that at all.. in fact I can't wait to catch up with her and find out what the past couple of decades of her life were like for her..

I have all the bills paid or in Que to be paid.. ( Thank you 3:30 A.M. online banking)

Laundry is done (Thank You Tide Clean Breeze)

So yeah.. I don't really have anything pressing upon my Psyche that I should be up at this ungodly hour perusing the Internet... wasting time but not really finding anything of riveting interest.. Well other than gems like THIS...
Wow.. How scary is it that the predictions would be so frighteningly accurate..
It's like Nostradamus all over again !

No I have run the gamut of sites I want to look at...
Leafed through some old magazines..
and though I have thought about running the vacuum.. ( mainly because that always seems to cheer me up)
I AM sane and awake enough to realize that the other two members of the household may not appreciate my nocturnal shenanigans.. ( in all fairness though... Let's face it... Mamma without her hearing aids in..wouldn't hear the 2nd coming )
It is merely as a marital courtesy that I stick it out at least until Mr R wakes.

In the meantime.. I can only wish for

The good thing is... I don't think it's true that women necessarily need 8 hours of sleep... to look her best...

I mean this was me just last week..


Pray for me !!!

Amen....

And Goodnight...

The First Step is Admitting you have a Problem....

Hey !!!!

It' me !!!!!

I know ... I know..
I have been pretty darn sporadic in my posting... I keep telling myself that alot of it had to do with all the wedding plans..

Being Summer...

The Moon being in the seventh house.....

Jupiter aligning with Mars...

But if I am being brutally honest here... (and I am) I have been lacking inspiration.

(I have heard of opening a can of Whip A_ _ but never a can of inspiration.

Oh how I wish it were true!!!)

Let's face it ..... I have been sorta busy

After all.....little mutts require alot of work...

Bathing them...

Walking them... or Carrying them as it were...Playing with them...And OTHER things..The really really scary part... at least for me is.... before you know it... You end up REALLY REALLY liking them... UGH... ( Just like kids! )

You don't mean for it to happen.... It just does...Till one day you become... THIS woman... And start doing degrading things like dressing your dog. I don't' want to be that woman...

I think I may need an intervention soon...

Till than I will simply

Just wanted to share some of the things I AM getting done around here...
I know... T.M.I !!!!

At last we meet...

Needless to say Lina and the girls were
"Chomping " at the bit so to speak.. to meet MiMi.. and MiMi also got to meet the predominately female portion of the family...

From the looks of it Everyone got along exceedingly well.. Love at first sight...I mean you'd love people who immediately start rubbing your belly tooYes... on this day.. it was all about the Mimster...Jenna even let MiMi try on the wrist band that Martin and Melissa gave her from their Honeymoon ...as a collar .....
Jamaica Mon..MiMi returned the favor by sharing her "Domicile"Mimi Casa es su Casa...In the end.. all sorts of bridges had been made..Yes it was a love fest...OK...Now out of left field..

The other night was the finally of True Blood ( a HBO Show).. I don't really watch it.. but am familiar with some of the characters and the basic storyline (Vampires) ...

I know how original.. and.. because it's HBO.. Sexually fueled Vampires !

Even though I am not a True Blood affectinato.. I did agree to attend a True Blood Finally Party that Mike and Maria hosted...

I knew that Maria was going to serve some vampiry snacks ( Cupcakes with all the characters' names...and "Blood" fruit punch.. ) Jenn brought her famous Guacamole which I guess could be renamed Exorcist Vomit ( Her's complete with corn) sorry...

So what in the heck could I bring that was Vampiry...
I was at a complete loss .. when suddenly it came to me !

Vampire Repellent... a.k.a. Roasted Red Peppers with TONS of garlic..
Great stuff but seriously ..with all this garlic a body would be safe for a long time. And....Lady Fingers...

Get it... LADY FINGERS...
Lady Finger cookies.. and sliced strawberries .

A dab of cream cheese secured the "Nails" making them essentially edible press on 's... Not too shabby for last minute idea..
This reminds me.. I need a manicure..



Enjoy the day !!!