A Thanksgiving to be Thankful For !!!

Hi Ho Folks..

It's been a bit since we last met..

(So to speak)..

To be perfectly honest it's been a busy yet wonderful few days around here...but now I am feeling a bit of the let down of so much excitement..

Plus it's raining (Rain is predicted for the ENTIRE day )

UGH !

I thought I'd stroll down memory lane and give a little recap while I'm at it..
Why not join me?
Martin and Melissa were scheduled to come into town Wednesday sometime around Noon.. So I moved my bunzana's and got my meal started.

I had Lasagna.. Sausage with pepper & onions... roasted red pepper dip... Tomato salad and an antipasto plate for them when they got in..But...

I also wanted to have the full Thanksgiving spread for leftovers.

We were having the actual Thanksgiving feast at my brother and sister in laws .. there is something about having leftovers for this holiday that just makes it the holiday.

So I put the turkey in.. and set about making my stuffing.. mashed potatoes... sweet potatoes.. cranberries and gravy.

Pretty soon I started getting a series of calls from the road.. they had run into a bit of traffic.. running late...

ran into some terrible weather.

running late...

More traffic..

running later.

A trip that should have taken 10-12 hours ended up taking 18 !!!

They were exhausted to say the least..But I fed them the shoe leather ... I mean Lasagna and the rest of the supper that had been warming since noon.

I am just grateful they got in without any major problems..

The next day it was time for the actual Family Thanksgiving gathering..of 25 !!
Wow !! As usual Nancy and Gino did a great job.. and everyone pitched in with a dish but still.. that is an awful lot of people around the table(s)
I cannot begin to explain how wonderful it was to have so many people I love in one room at the same time...I know it meant alot to the kids as well.. They got to reconnect with everyone especially their young cousins...apparently everyone was having a good time since the noise level coming up from the basement was intense.

One of the reason's Nancy decided to take on Thanksgiving ( Besides the love of family and cooking foul) is that 10 years ago on Thanksgiving our Luca was born. She ends up having his birthday on that day as well... She's no dummy she can kill two birds with one stone .... so to speak.

The day together with everyone was Great... We went home happy ... full... yet ready to play a few board games... Talk about Trash talking...It was fun.

Friday we were off to see Ann Arbor ...

Unfortunately it was one of the coldest days we've had yet... which made actually walking around the city more than a bit uncomfortable.... But because we are troopers we did make it to Kerrytown and had lunch at Zingermans...

The place was packed.

Our lunch was great People watching in that town is always fun.

From there a stop at Boarders Coffee at Starbucks... and last but certainly not least the M Den.

Someone wanted to get a new University of Michigan sweatshirt... and let me tell you THAT place is where you'll find it..that AND... that nifty bottle cap opener that plays the U M fight song when you use it... or perhaps you may need to pick up a bandanna for say your cat You know the one with a giant Uof M on it... A must have for any fashion forward feline.

That evening Mike and Maria had invited us over for dinner.. Martin and Melissa not seen their place yet.

They did a great job and presented before us a Mexican feast of Enchiladas..Rice.. Guacamole and beans.. Well done... and Ole !

Again the board game bug bit us ... and we played a few rounds of Tie one on..

( NO it's not a drinking game) although that might have been fun too.
The guys ended up going downstairs ( or should I say to the Game/Arcade Room) to play some virtual reality shoot em up game on the Jumbotron...if you ask me they were Waaaaay too into it.. It was Scary.

We girls stayed upstairs Gabbed and watched a portion of Mike and Maria's wedding video.

It was absolutely WONDERFUL being together with all my kids.. I didn't want the night to end.

But end it did ...

All of us were done in.

Saturday was all planned out too... While Martin and Mr R went over to Grandpa's to watch the game.. I planned a little treat for Melissa at OM Spa.( It's part of her Christmas Present) If you follow along you all KNOW how much I LOVE that place.. I felt she needed a little pampering.. and this was just the way to get it.

In spite of being a bit last minute...I was lucky enough to get a spot for her... (Frankly I was hoping for an opening for me too.. but alas.. it was not to be.. Next time.)

From there home.. where Maria and her friend Heather had plans with Melissa as well.. appetizers and a movie.. Not too shabby..

Everyone was home for dinner and again a couple hours with board games... This time Heather joined us for a bit. Seriously I was in Familial Heaven.. Why oh Why can't every weekend be like this?...

Then came Sunday ... ugh

What can I say...

It was a quiet morning.. quiet mostly because we all knew our wonderful time together was coming to an end... I made a nice breakfast as time continued to tick away quicker and quicker ... it wasn't long before the good byes where necessary... I HATE goodbyes.
We wanted them to get back at a decent hour and in light of the kind of trip they had coming it really was time to say goodbye.

The truck drove away... both kids with arms sticking out of the windows waving and honking till they were out of sight... me and Mr R at the end of our drive waving back..

What can I say.. I fought the tears in front of them but once out of sight ...

It wasn't pretty..

Mr R was prepared... he handed me his ( Cloth ) handkerchief... Paper just wouldn't cut this job.

I just love that man..

and I love my kids...
I don't have words to express the gratitude in my heart for this wonderful family.

It was truly a Thanksgiving to be Thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving...

My Son and Daughter in law will be coming into town on Wednesday night!!!!
Which means they will us this Thanksgiving !!!
( and staying till Sunday !)
Yay !!!

Needless to say ...
I have a lot to get done.. which probably means I will not be posting.. So I would like to take the time to say Happy Thanksgiving to you all..
We have so much to be grateful for !!

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Remember.. nothing spells relief like

R O L A I D S!

We all just wanna be Heard.....

It's Sunday Morning..
Everyone is still asleep..What is it about Sunday mornings that just make sleeping in so.. so..wonderful?

I slept in too by my daily standards.... But after a bit simply was unable to STAY in bed any longer.
So with all the quiet... I meandered off to my Lady Den where I was able to catch up on some long ago almost forgotten blogs I used to read.
Most would be probably be categorized as Motivational in nature.

Frankly it left me wondering how and why I stopped reading them.
It had bee so long since I poked my nose into this little folder of sheer gold..but once there...
I reacquainted myself with some really good blogs..
In retrospect I guess I got busy trying to write my own blog....that I didn't make the time to tap into great articles that were/are there for the viewing.

Now I know that my blog in no way can be considered motivational.. instructive.. or noteworthy. But ....
It is what is was meant to be.. A free flowing account of what is going on in my life..shared primarily as a way of staying in touch with family members living far away.. and also as a reminder to myself of what my life has been like to date.
If people plop in from far off ends of the globe simply because they typed in the words "Everyone's Gal Pal " on google and landed here.. It is not my fault...

Let's just call it fate.

I think I know why people blog..even if they are not trying to be motivational.. instructive.. or newsworthy..
I think people blog for the same reason we communicate in general....
It's because we all want to feel like we are being heard.. Like our voice matters.. Like what we have to say means something.
Even if it is just the mundane things happening in our lives..
In the grand scheme of things we aren't here for very long..but... while we are... we want others to know that we exist ... that we have hearts minds and feelings and like every other human being on this marble.. we long to be heard.. we long to feel like we matter.

So powerful is this need to tell our story that even before the written word..Cave Paintings depicted the hunt...as well as the day to day life of those who lived before us..

The Egyptians did as much with their hieroglyphics.. I guess you could say they were some of the first bloggers.

The Greeks on urns.
American Indians with totem poles.
Amber professing her love of Mark in the third stall at Target.

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We all just want to be heard.. We all want to matter. We all have something to say.

I guess that's all I wanted to say with this post.

Having said that..
I will also share with you just a few sites I labeled Inspirational.



Zen Habits

The Happiness Project

Dumb Little Man
Lastly Life Remix..

which is basically a website that includes many of the sights listed as well as a few others with recaps of what those bloggers have posted.

Life Remix

Have at it !

Not to change the subject....

Since we are on the subject of antique artifacts.. I would also like to take this opportunity to say Happy 50 Th Birthday to my "Old" friend Lori..

Hope your day is GREAT !!!

I fought the Law... or... Hi Ho Speedometer Away !!!

I know that some of you have been sitting on pins and needles ...
Waiting with bated breath ...
Losing all kinds of sleep over how it went with my traffic ticket.. and my subsequent day at court.

After filling out some paperwork.. and going through the metal detector (Twice... I forgot to take my camera out of my purse)
I was told to sit in a small waiting room.
But it was OK because I had some fine young men in there with me for company and conversation.

After a bit a nice young lady came in the room snapping her gum.... nearly blinding us with the glow of her platinum blond hair.... 6 inch long fingernails and a skin tight red dress..
I thought for sure she was going to sit down next me and my fellow scoff law compatriots... instead she sat behind the desk.. next to the judge's
Hmm.. Go figure.. I guess you really can't judge a book by it's cover..
She announced that the court was now in session.

I was up first....
(Ironically.. my judge looked alot like this one.. only not as cheery...)I explained to the judge that although I did not think I was going as fast as the officer said I was.... I would plead guilty with an explanation. I asked for consideration of my spotless driving record.. that I had not had an infraction since my late teens and that I would like to avoid sullying (NO I did not use that particular word) my record ...nor did I want the points.

I swore to be more careful in my driving habits.. and contribute to the local policeman's ball.

He never once looked at me.. ( NOT ONCE)
I guess I truly was a number... But in this case that number was 0... as in 0 points nothing on your record.. Whoo Hoo !!!!
Oh and by the way... in spite of clearing up this little issue.. that $130 fee will now be $160.
After all this causes additional paper work... umm....Yeah.

I didn't care... I was so happy to be getting out of there..
I pumped my fist in the air as a sign to my new friends ...wishing them good luck on those misdemeanor charges.
I beelined it to the cashier's window paid my dues and was outta there !

From there I rode off into the sunset... Hi Ho Speedometer... away !

*
On a side note..
THIS was my horoscope for today..Ironic No?

"You don't usually need to be told to communicate, but on a day like today, you may feel a bit intimidated. Shake it off and speak up! Your voice needs to be heard, and that can only happen if you push yourself."

Dr's Visit... or....Going where the sun don't shine.

So as I have mentioned I've been feeling kinda punk lately..My visit to the Doctor's office was to say the very least... Productive.
I was already scheduled for a routine physical..which by the way is always "Super Fun"
coupled with my asthma Can't breath .. Constant Cough ... Almost pee myself situation.
Let's just say ...
It made for an interesting exam..
Not only did I get bawled out for not coming in sooner..I was given a flu shot for good measure.... and a breast exam Which normally would seem to be a fun thing... but at my age when the girls sit on either side of you on the exam table ... not so much.

But wait... it only gets better... Dr L says to me ...

" You know Marcy.. Now that you've reached that magic number (50 ) it's time to start thinking about the big C! "

Whatever could he mean?...
Cancun?... Cashmere?...Crispy Bacon?...
Oh... you mean COLONOSCOPY !

Oh.... My..... Gosh !!!

Why don't we just schedule a root canal while we're at it.... UGH !

I haven't made the appointment yet... but I sure have been thinking about it alot.. and I finally asked myself... Self....I'll tell you what I'm afraid of.. I am afraid of the prep... I am afraid of being put under... I am afraid of someone sticking a garden hose where the sun don't shine.Then I pull myself together and say...Many who have been through this wonderful rite of passage (No Pun intended) say it's not so bad...However.... I think I'll be the judge of that...

It's a bugger getting old.. that's all I can say...

He even gave me my first EKG !!!

I mean what's next ?

Zumba fur Altere? I'll say this much... I am grateful to have these meds coursing through my veins..
I hope to be feeling much better... sooner rather than later...

in the mean time... I plan on getting stuff done on my list..

Basically rest and relaxation..


Oh.. by the way ... If I feel up to it I plan on taking care of my ticket tomorrow... I am practicing wailing and gnashing of my teeth tonight when I beg the judge to remove the points and just "Let" me pay the fine..

Merry Christmas!

Wish me luck..

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Teachers

Well Said
Nothing like a good Teacher.

Cough ... Cold... Clocked.

It's been one of those days....

I am still trying to get over some kind of upper respiratory thing.

I have a previously scheduled appointment with my Dr.. on Tuesday morning so I am hoping to get SOMETHING to help get rid of this nagging cough.

It seems to be exacerbated by my exercised induced asthma. ( No really it's a real thing and not a lame excuse to not exercise..Cold Air can effect it too!)

I wasn't going to let a little thing like breathing stop me from going to Zumba.

Or
The fact that I was already running late.

So...I jumped in the car and headed off in search of the pulsating sounds of salsa music You know....so I could work my obliques or some other muscle group people are always talking about.

Merrily I roll along.... minding my own business when suddenly as I came over the high end of the overpass... There he was... The man with a badge (and apparently a radar gun. )

All he did was point at me.. and I obediently pulled over.

Ugh

I was running late
I looked like CaCa

I had to get my license from my purse ( In the trunk) which I am sure made him nervous.

After all I was quite a sight.

Wacky clothing..

Hair sticking up all over (Bedhead....I figured I was going to be a sweaty mess anyway why bother to fix it) thus the Hoodie...

and Sunglasses ( to hide the dark circles)

I looked like a wandering vagrant who happened to find a car and decided to go for a joy ride.

I gave him my drivers license and fumbled around for my proof of insurance.. once I found it I walked it over to his vehicle..

He told me it would take a few minutes to check out my( once spotless ) record.

As I walked back to my car very dejected.. I looked over my shoulder at him and said..

" So whadya say ....Can you go easy on an old lady just trying to get to an exercise class?"

He didn't see the humor and merely smirked.....

Not five minutes later I was handed a lovely sunshine colored ticket for $ 130 and 2 points.

Ugh !

I will say this... I still went to Zumba.... I managed to work off much of my anger and aggression.... lets just say that some of the fist punches used in the dance were directed at a phantasmal face. Not saying who's face it was..but I am sure you can imagine.

I am thinking about throwing myself down at the mercy of the court... I'm just not so sure I'd be able to get up again..

ErrrrrRRRrrr.

Just one of those days ...

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I Feel Pretty... Oh so Pretty... or...Poor Poor Pitiful Me...

I haven't shared an update lately on my little " Grand dog"
MiMi

I have to say...she is changing so much lately...

Today she had a vet appointment .. so we decided she should probably "Freshen Up"

She looked like a drown rat.. Albeit a cute drowned rat.
Is there anything more pitiful than the look on a dogs face after a bath?"Get me outta here !!!!!"On to the carpet to take her frustrations out on an empty paper towel tube.Stopping long enough to rub herself dry. "Oh Yeah?... Bath time... Schmath time !"One of the most noticeable ways she is changing is her coat.. The grey that is typical in Yorkies is starting to really show through.

( Wow !!!! Her grey is coming through fast and furious... I guess we have more in common than one would think)

She is really turning out to be a beautyAnd such a good girl too..The Vet told Maria she has one of the best demeanor's for a puppy that she has seen in a long time..

She's put on some weight as well.... she is now a staggering 3.2 lbs !!

Yes....Our little girl is really growing up Let's face it...It's been a long hard day.. with baths and all..

Time for a nap..Yes.. it IS the end of the world... I continue to blog about a puppy..

Oh Crap....!!!!

I think I am in love !