What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{June 3, 2013} Demolition Man

I just watched Demolition Man, probably for the umpteenth time and it never gets old!

It’s funny to watch to see who’s in a movie from “back then” even thought it only came out in 1993, the year I graduated college! Actually, it came out the fall after I graduated! I took my dad to see it! That’s one of the things I love about my dad, we have a lot of the same taste in movies. Since we don’t live near each other, we don’t get to go to the movies together very often, but when we’re in the same city, sometimes we get to go, or we watch them at home together.

Even though we don’t get to go together, we talk about the movies we’ve seen, give each other recommendations. We know what the other will like most of the time and its also nice when we can ward each other off certain movies as well, definitely helps! And most of the time, we are right on the money. I wish we loved closer to see each other more often, but I’m lucky, we talk every day, sometimes for a minute, sometimes for an hour, so even though we’re not next door, we’re only a phone call away.

Ok, I could go on and on about my dad and I will in future posts, but you came here for a movie review!

Looking at the cast, a very young and cherubic, bright eyed Sandra Bullock, a fresh faced Benjamin Bratt, pre Law and Order, I often forget that he and Sandra Bullock were in Miss Congeniality together, both more seasoned professionals. Rob Schneider, looking like a babe, fresh from Saturday Night Live and did you remember that he and Sylvester Stallone were in Judge Dredd? There’s not much to say about Dennis Leary, he was, well, Dennis Leary, I think he’s one actor that has been type cast and he doesn’t seem to mind and he’s good at it, good for you Dennis!

As Wesley Snypes has gotten older, his roles become more serious, great at the action, he had great lines in Demolition Man and I always loved the one blue eye, one brown. But as I mentioned, more serious, the Blade series,which I loved, well, the last one not as much, the bad vampires faces, wicked creepy. Do you remember him in Wildcats? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092214/?ref_=sr_1

Sylvester Stallone, the consummate action hero. In amazing shape, which is something he has always maintained, prime fighting shape. It’s funny, people always tease, because of the Rocky and Rambo movies, he was not well spoken, not the brightest bulb in the pack, so sometimes it gets confused with the actor. Did you know he wrote Rocky? Some would joke, I didn’t know he could read! He’s written quite a few movies, check out imdb.com to check it out!

There were some great one liners, things that make you go…huh? The captain from Lethal Weapon was in the earliest scene, then there was a Lethal Weapon poster in Sandra Bullock’s office. The Schwarzenegger Library? He became governor a full 10 years after Demolition Man came out! Taco Bell is the only restaurant left? Oldies are actually commercials from the 20th century?

It was a fun movie, full of action, laughter, one liners, violence and an all around good time.

Could someone please tell me what the three sea shells are for!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/?ref_=sr_1

{June 3, 2013} Pack, move, throw away, birthday brunch, fly home

What a day!

No chapters today, the telling won’t take as long!

I got up at 7, started moving things downstairs and to the garage, spread out more rubber mulch (looks good!)at 9:45, my good friend, CMD came over and we went over everything that needed to be done: cleaning, moving, etc. I left everything in her capable hands, the house looks great! Thank you! You’re awesome!

Off to brunch with the girls, a surprise for CKM’s birthday, it is the 18th, but I’m here! SDL and hr sister DJL, Miss A, TS and AL. We went to Pastry a Go Go in Decatur, we had a great time talking, catching up, laughing. For dessert, we had to sing happy birthday, so I found a birthday candle app, we sang, took a picture then everyone went on their way.

CKM and I ended up walking across the street to Heliotrope, that store that has all the things you didn’t know you needed until you went to this store! We walked to The Cook’s Warehouse for a few minutes to dream, then I realized what time it was! I had to get to the airport!

I made it to car return, then bag drop with literally 2 minutes to spare! Made it to the gate, flight was delayed 20 minutes. We get on the place, I fell asleep and when I woke up and hour alter, thinking we were well on our way, we were still sitting there we took off eventually and got to Denver about 1.5 hours late. DCM was there at the top of the escalator waiting for me, sigh. He was laughing, apparently I was shaking my head/trying to flip my hair, not possible!

We stopped by the store for sandwich rolls, made some dinner an now we’re watching the end of The Return of the Jedi, what could be better!

Mentally, I know it’s 11:00pm, MT and I want to keep thinking that way, to adjust, but my body knows its almost 1:30 am. So, I bid you a very good good night and keep your fingers crossed Saturday, I get to sleep in!

{June 1, 2013} A day full of surprises, a tradition, silliness, visiting and I’m not done yet!

Ok folks, you may need to take a nap before you read this or during! It has been a very long day and it’s not over!

(I was thinking about chapters for this novella, so here goes!)

Chapter 1
So, another yard sale was planned for this morning, (yes, I have thatmuch stuff left over! The alarm was set for 7, I was having a dream about sleeping and CKM says something about getting up and I realize that the alarm is going off and it’s 8! Oh no! I throw on some close, run downstairs, open the garage and start moving things around.

Two people showed up to look at stuff, just browsing, my new friend TP showed up to talk about some stuff I want to put on eBay and he is the king and enjoys it. I am not and don’t want to do it and I will give good commission! When he showed up, I said, screw it, I do not want to do this and closed the garage door. I’m ok with it, I may try to find someone to do another yard sale for me, or have The Salvation Army pick it all up and have mondo (my sister used to love that word) write offs for my taxes next, that may be worth more, already have made 3 runs there, wedding dress and all!

TP came inside and caught up, so much to talk about since we just met last Saturday, but you know when you meet someone had have that connection? And talked eBay and he was on his way.

I cleaned up and headed out the door.

Chapter 1A
As I was getting dressed, I realized I needed something new to “hold up the girls”, I am excited to say that I am no longer a 40…(none of your business) and now a 38! Wahoo! The girls are sitting pretty and I think I look better!

Chapter 2
I headed out to meet CKM for my traditional biannual (I had to look that word up, it always gets me!) haircut and donation, we’ll talk about that in minute, chapter, whatever. I get in the (rental) car and stop at the entrance of the neighborhood, to get the yard sale sign. I did something I have NEVER done before, I got out of the car, while it was still running and DID NOT roll the drivers side window down, got out to get the sign and…the door locks itself! What?!? So, I proceed to try to find a way in, turns out the trunk was open, how, I don’t know! But I tried, no lucky! You can get out of the trunk by the release,but not back into the car! (Just so you know, every time I try to type car, I keep typing cat!) I call Enterprise, they schedule someone to come out, which will cost me $57 because I didn’t get the roadside assistance, which I have NEVER gotten, because I have never needed it, of course! I asked if there was a remote unlock…nope, in GM, yes, Nissan, nope, go figure!

Sabrina, the nice lady helping me asked if there was anything she could do, yeah, make me feel less stupid! I’m over it!

Meanwhile, so many people stop to ask if I need help, I love is neighborhood! PL, one of my neighbors and his twin brother, didn’t know he was a twin! Stopped to help, even got into the truck themselves, and they’re not little boys! No luck. The said if I wasn’t in by the time they got back from Home Depot, they would find a way in. Luckily, the guy showed up and it took him about 3 minutes to get in to the car, really? He used something to pump the window open, used a snake like thing, and I was in.

The car was like an ice box! I had the AC going and the radio on, I heard the end of Car Talk and the beginning of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me on NPR. If I had child or animal in the car, they would have been fine, scared maybe, but fine. I could see myself trying to talk to the child to get them to open the door!

So, an hour after I was supposed to leave, I was off.

Chapter 3
While as I was waiting, I got a call…KT had her baby at 9:52 am! DCM was a grandfather a second time and that made me a grandmother too! (Two!) JJ was excited! He called me last night that her water broke at 9:30 last night and we were on baby watch! He sent a picture, what a cutie! I of course forwarded that on! AJH, 8 lbs, 3 oz, 20″. How fast do you think it took me to forward that picture and brag! (Kvell is another great Yiddish word, it means swell with pride!)

I sent a message to KT via Facebook and told her I couldn’t wait to meet him! I told DCM I would it go to the hospital later this afternoon and represent.

Chapter 4
After I got back into the ice box, I headed out to meet CKM, my photographer for the event, she was with me the last time, it was a nice tradition. First we met for breakfast at Thumbs Up! in Decatur, the food was good, service left something to be desired, it may have been his first week.

We walked across the street to Super Cuts, signed in, took a few pictures and waited my turn. The woman who cut my hair was very nice, I told her that I was donating my hair and go as short as she needed to. I told her why I had to cut it today.

My mom, EMS passed n June 1, eight years ago, from Multiple Myeloma and every 2 years on June 1st, I cut and donate my hair. There wasn’t quite 10″, what we needed for Locks Of Love, but there are companies out there I can send it to and I will. I love and miss you mommy.

While I was in the chair, CKM snapped photos and she was great to stop when i started tearing up, it always gets me as the first snip goes through my hair. As more and more hair fell away, I saw my mom more and more staring at me, it happens every time, you’d think I would be used to it!

She kept cutting and kept cutting, she even used a trimmer on the back, I la la la LOVE it! My dad said it looked great, my sister said the same, great cut for the summer! CKM too and DCM liked it a lot, those are important opinions to me. I can’t wait to see the reactions on Facebook!

It’s fuzzy in the back! My neighbor, DG, when he cuts his hair, he gets a buzz cut and our tradition is for me to rub his head! The back of my hair is just like his! Tonight, I keep rubbing it, maybe I’m hoping to get a wish!

An emotional, therapeutic, enjoyable experience.

Chapter 5
After the haircut, we went to the Michael C Carlos Museum at Emory, someplace CKM had on her list of things she wanted to do, who am I to deny a birthday list! We and a lot of fun, through the Greek art, Egyptian, African, mummies, jewelry, waaaayyyy too many ear spools! Those are the things that expand your ear holes, no thank you! And a lot of Lime Sticks! Enough said!

Quite enjoyable, but only one floor and one special exhibit up a LONG flight of stairs, slightly misleading.

Chapter 6
We parted ways and I went to Kennestone Hospital to see the new grand baby! The hospital is huge, I had to ask two people how to find maternity! I finally found it, parked and saw HB, KT’s step brother and we went to the room together. Everyone was there! CG, KT’s step mom, the new daddy, J, KT’s boyfriend, DCM’s youngest, DCM (yes I know, you need a chart!) some friends and now me!

We all agreed we couldn’t wait for LB to see her new cousin, she’s been talking to KT’s belly, telling him to come out and play, she can’t wait to meet him!

What a cutie! He has brown hair, blue eyes and really long fingers and fingernails. I was third in line to hold him and how sweet to hold and feel the soft skin and watch him sleep, what a joy! I got someone to take my picture, sent to to DCM and he posted it on Facebook. Of course everyone wanted to know who he was, so I bragged!

The funniest thing, DCM is a Falcons can, KT is not, so he will make it a point to get lots of Falcons stuff for AJH, well, her boyfriend is a DENVER BRONCOS fan, she said, “that’s ok, I’ll talk to JJ” you know it! I’ve got your back, KT! Already taken care of that!

I’m so glad that I was I Atlanta for the birth of KT’s son, it was exciting for me to see them! I know that she wanted her dad here and I know he wanted to be here, but I hope that I represent him well. We’ll be back in July, so it won’t be long before he gets to meet his grandson! And of course, there is Skype and FaceTime!

After about 1.5 hours, I headed home, it was a long drive and I have a lot to do still! I did feel bad and apologized to DCM, I said I would pick up flowers and I couldn’t find a place anywhere near the hospital to buy flowers, I’m sorry (hanging head).

Chapter 7 (you still with me?)

I hit traffic every which way! Took me almost 2 hours to get home. I stopped at Home Depot for more mulch, got there just as the gate was closing, got 10 bags and headed home. On the way, on a side street there was a huge branch in the road, I stopped the car to move it out of the way. It was cool, cars stopped in both directions so I could move the branch.

I stopped by my neighbor’s house, PT and her husband JT, I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye before I left, so I stopped in to catch up, what was supposed to be a quick visit turned into about 1.5 hours, it was wonderful.

We used to get to spend more time together, this past year has been crazy for both of us.Her husband had had some health issues, but he’s making great strides and it was so good to see him and it was fun to banter back and forth with him.

The great thing about Facebook is we can keep up with each other, hope to get a Skype date with her!

Chapter 8
I got home, started packing more stuff, the goal is to get everything out of the house that needs to be out of the house, staged and all. I got a phone call and sold a piece of lawn equipment, not a total waste today (yard sale wise)!

I talked to my dear, sweet friend CMD, who is going to come tomorrow to see what needs to be done and get the house sparkly clean to have pictures taken so it can sell, sell, sell!

Now, it’s 12:30 and I decided to sit down and write you a novella before it gets too late! I’m about to get back to it, get everything to the garage, wish me luck!

Hopefully tomorrow’s post will be a lot simpler, especially after you’ve had a nap!
Sweet dreams my friends!

{May 31, 2013} What a wonderful night!

Today started out normal enough, I started work, got some things done around the house, got things mostly ready for tomorrow’s yard sale, fingers crossed! added more mulch to the yard, it’s really starting to come along! If I could only really kill the dandelions, oh my word!

I have to tell you about the mulch I am using, it’s red (surprise) rubber mulch! It is made from recycled tires, if you look closely, you can actually see the tread! It has a guarantee of about 12 years and you don’t have to replace it, just turn it over every now and then. Looks good and I’m helping the environment by recycling, how cool is that! When I first put it down, it was about $7 per bag, today it was $4.97, so if you’re interested, go for it! I comes in red, brown and black.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-8-cu-ft-Rubber-Mulch-in-Red-HDVRDMN8CB/203922303?N=bx4a#.Ual9Pcu9KSM

I finished about 4:45 and went in, got cleaned up and headed out to what I had been looking forward to all week! I have a friend, LK, who I have known since we were kids, our moms worked together way back when. Her dad was my French teacher in middle school, he and his wife laugh because the day he became my teacher, I stopped calling he and his wife by their first names, they became Mr & Mrs B, I haven’t been able to call them anything else! I was almost 30 and they said you know you can call us J and E, nope, can’t, sorry! So, here I am, almost 42, and I am still calling them Mr and Mrs B.

Our families spent holidays together, we loved going to their house to decorate the tree and celebrate Christmas, they would come over and celebrate Chanukah. We traveled together and as we got older, stayed in touch with each other. I went up to NYC when LK married AK at St Patrick’s Cathedral. When you’re catholic, where else do you get married! I got announcements each time her children were born, we stayed in touch.

LK went to grad school in Florida (please correct me if I’m wrong!) and met her husband, AK. They were living in Florida when AK’s work took him to Georgia, about eight years ago, lucky for me! I found out they were moving up here and I couldn’t wait to go and see them! I got to the door and we almost fell on the floor! We both thought our mothers were at the door!

They have three beautiful girls, all amazing athletes. The oldest, KK is 13 and is a fantastic softball player, can perfect almost any sport she plays. When she was younger, there was touch football, the boys didn’t want to play with her until they saw how good she was, then they fought over her to be on their team. When she was younger, she swam competitively, but not anymore, she still enjoys the water, but just for fun. There was lacrosse for a minute and basketball. She also has an amazing head for sports facts, you want to know something, ask her. I actually called her once from a hockey game to ask her what a hat check was!

JK is in the middle and still has the wonderful cherubic face as she did when she was little, great big smile always. She is a demon on the soccer field and is a champion swimmer! I have been at some of her meets and it amazes me every time, she excels at everything she does. She was even on teams with older kids because she is just that good! Tomorrow, there is a swim meet at Georgia Tech and then a soccer match in the afternoon! No wonder she was tired tonight! I remember for her 5th birthday, we had our claws and paws done, her first! And then she, her mom and grandmother, Mrs B for those of you not paying attention! All went out for formal tea with finger sandwiches and costumes!

KK is the youngest, I remember when she was born! Like her sisters, she is a star athlete. She’s tried a lot of different things, cheerleading, dance, but her real skill is swimming! I remember when she was a toddler, we too her to a water park and while the older two took their time getting in the water, she just jumped right in! No fear! I reminded her of the time her mom and I realized it was time to get rid of the crib; we went into her room to check on her and she was standing ON the crib! She has always been strong and fearless, all the while, still sweet, and loves her barbie dolls, I got to meet about 6 tonight! Thank you! She had braided all their hair, so she did mine too!

I got to the house and was greater by the dogs letting everyone know I was there! Divit came to the family a few years after they had moved here and after Jazz, LK’s sweet black lab passed, they added two sisters, Twinkie and Yoohoo, yes, you read that right! I also met their three hermit crabs, (I only remember Shaniqua and Lucy, sorry K!), with bright painted shells! They will never be homeless!

When I came in the door, I got the biggest hugs from the, even what was almost a hug from the oldest, KK. I have to kind of force her to hug me, sort of, pull her arms around my waist. I always told her its just easier to hug me than fight it! (I always feel like my mom when I say that!) I think it’s just our thing, the whole time she’s saying “I don’t hug” and I told her I didn’t care!

The hugs were great, from the girls and from LK and AK. It is always so warm and loving at their house. It was like a security blanket for me during some very rough times. My favorite thing all night, well, there are so many…hearing my name, Aunt J, look at this, Aunt J, check this out. I love those girls, I always have and always will refer to them as…my girls.

When the girls were little, I would see the family at least once a month, if not more, but it’s been hard these last two years for us to get together, either I’m on the road for work or they are on the road for a traveling team tournament, but one thing is, we are never far from each others thoughts and hearts. We see each other on Facebook and chat on the phone, very rarely lately, but we still chat and catch up. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing them on my doorstep in Colorado and I am hoping to see them whenever I visit Atlanta, it’s always fun to visit family!

Tonight was as if no time had passed, I showed up for dinner, they fed me. I did bring dessert, Dutch apple pie and Breyer’s vanilla ice cream! We caught up, we laughed, we joked, we hugged, we reminisced and we loved, it really felt like home and I know it always will.

It was tough to say goodbye, but we got a great picture and I will see them again and I have a feeling, I’m going to have one or two or all of the girls visit me, maybe their mommy will make a girls weekend with me! I got a bunch of goodbye hugs and kisses, my favorite!
Hey LK, lets FaceTime!

As I drove home, I had a smile on my face and it will stay there for a while. Thank you.

{May 30, 2013} An artichoke bigger than your head!

First, if you remember, I said how it was surreal with no cats around me? Well, I’ve heard one, twice! Kind of freaked me out, but I’m ok now. And tonight,I got to eat with no one wanting to smell my food!

Second, I ate an artichoke that was bigger than your head! It took me about 1.5 hours to eat it, but I ate it!

Remember how I packed everything to move? Well, as I was coming back to Atlanta last night, I started to wonder how I was gong to cook this bad boy! I found one pot in the cabinet, more of a teensy tiny pot that holds maybe 4 cups, max…this was not going to work! I did remember that I ran the dishwasher before we left and I had clean cutlery. My one sharp knife in the house, a Quikcut Paring Knife from Pampered Chef, a really small knife, but sharp enough to cut the end and the leaves.

I went online and found a recipe/instructions on how to cook it in the microwave and let me tell you, Y U M! I didn’t have any plastic wrap, so I followed the instructions, cut the tips, rinsed the artichoke, sprinkled with lemon juice (helps cut down the bitterness) rinsed again (not a fan of lemon anything)
double wrapped in wet paper towels and a microwave safe bowl. Cooked for 7 minutes, that wasn’t quite enough, added 5 more minutes and it was done!

I like to melt some butter, add fresh garlic and sometime either bread crumbs or Parmesan cheese for dipping. It was terrific! When i normally cook them on the stovetop, it takes 30, 35, sometimes 40 minutes to cook. This was so easy, I’m definitely going to have to it again!

I bought the artichoke at the Walmart near the apartment. Sometimes they have really good produce, and sometimes, they will carry what the supermarket doesn’t.

It was funny, on the shuttle to the airport yesterday, aside from finding out way more than I wanted to know about some people, when I showed them the artichoke, we started talking about genetically modified fruit an the controversy. I said, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs, so, if I’m going to go due to genetically modified vegetables, I’m ok with that!

I attached the web page where I got the microwave recipe.
http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-cook-artichokes-in-microwave.html

Happy cooking!

{May 27, 2013} And we’re off…

So, I have to tell you about the rest of Saturday, packing, loading the truck and driving out to Colorado.

Remember me telling you CKM came to help with the yard sale, it was double help, she came to help load the truck, awesomeness! She is really good at keeping me motivated and giving me that look that says, “really?” And commiserating with DCM about all the stuff I have! She was a serious trooper, she stayed until about 12:45, thank you, thank you, thank you! She was also able to get her photo of the day, my sweet girl Peanut, awe.

TS sent me a text telling me she was hoping to come over, I was excited to see her before we left. She was awesome, she brought us food for our trip! There were sandwiches, hummus, drinks, chips and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, how fantastic was that? She hung for as long as she could, until her cat allergies got the best of her and she had to go. Thank you, it was terrific!

We kept working until about two am and fell into a coma like sleep at 3, we didn’t set any alarms, we needed as much rest as we could get. Of course, my body decided to wake me about 7am, so I got started on getting things ready to, last minute food stuff, the plants, I put them in individual bins so they would be safe, they were going in my car, the truck was loaded and locked, or should that be locked and loaded? The cats would be the last to get prepped to go.

I do need to tell you that we didn’t finish the house. The person who was supposed to finish the floors hasn’t and I need to find someone to finish, there really isn’t much left to do on the floors, but I don’t know how or I would do it myself. So somewhere about 11, we decided to stop stressing and I would go back to Atlanta next weekend to finish what needed to be done. I also talked to a friend of mine, CMD, who cleans houses and she agreed to clean my house, make it sparkle for anyone who comes to look at it. I’ll finish the floors, the yard and maybe ever have another yard sale,this time, in the garage and whatever doesn’t get sold…hello goodwill! I also plan on seeing some people who i didn’t get to see before I left, but don’t forget, I am coming back bunch this year!

So, DCM got up about 9, we loaded the car, got it on the trailer, couldn’t figure out how to open the door, so I climbed out the window and we left the window down. Wait until later, you’re going to laugh! We got the cats in the car, I hated tricking them with treats to get them in their carriers, but what else was I going to do? By 11:10 we were off, stopped at the gas station to fill up the haul and away we went, we were on the road by 11:24 and poor DCM, I was asleep before we got to 75!

I wanted to stay awake, but I reverted to the way I was as a little kid, I dozed off as someone else drove. DCM did ALL the driving! I offered and offered and offered, but he drove, said it was like driving a tank, but not as much fun, no live artillery aboard! I would doze and the pop awake for about an hour, if I was lucky, then doze again. DCM didn’t mind he had his book to listen to, which suited him fine since he doesn’t get to listen during his commute to work since its so short. He used to listen when he game to see me. 1.5 hours is great for an audio book!

I tried to get pictures of the state welcome signs, but the reaction time on my phone is awful! I’d wake up, we were in Tennessee, I had some fun, saw the sign for Clarksville, asked if he knew when the last train was, I made him laugh and groan a bunch, it was fun. Kansas was a very, very very long state to cross! Every time I’d wake up, I’d ask fi were still in Kansas…there’s no place like home, but not Kansas for me!

Here’s where you get to laugh…At some point, it started to downpour so we pulled off because e had to put the window up. No dice, there was no way to get to the window, close it and get out, so I turned the car on, climbed out the window and DCM closed the window. Today, he finally noticed the tabs sticking out and then figured it was a fender release so you can still open the car door. Well, great! Guess what died because the ignition was on all night!

About 3am eastern, DCM had had enough driving but we didn’t stay at a hotel because it was going to be a few hits, so we stopped at rest area with the big rigs and tried to sleep. The cats were a little crazy and finally settled down so we could be some sleep! Lets just say, sleeping sitting up leaning against the door with cats running all over the place, not so restful. The alarm went off at 7, I was already up, mostly. We hit the road.

Speaking of the cats, they cried, as you figured they would for about an hour, then they were m
Ok. I finally let them out and they settled down, yeah, on my lap. Better than could be expected. Whenever we got to rest stop or stopped for gas and got out of the cab, they ran and hid!

Back on the road, I didn’t think Kansas would ever end and when we first got to Kansas City, it was cool, a real city! So not Dorothy’s Kansas, then as we kept driving, we found it! Wide open and boring, to me that is! We stayed on that road for what seemed like days and then we were in Colorado!

We stopped at a diner for lunch, the I70 diner, they had a campaign to be on Diners, Drive-Inns and Dives, the food was alright, the staff pleasant, it was cute, but all Pepsi products! What?

Ok friends, I will continue this saga tomorrow! I am wiped out! Going to crash now!
Have a great night!

{May 24, 2013} So long and thanks for all the potatoes

Another long day, started with a conference call at 8:30 am, not easy getting a lot of people together for a call when you’re spread out all over the globe.

Picked up the UHaul, started loading it, then started loading it, i realized i have way too much stuff!!! I knew, but to see it in the back of a UHaul, kind if puts in perspective. I have been in this house more than ten years, i think you can cut me a little slack.

Then off to meet CKM, to paint some pottery, we decided to paying something that will make us think about each other. CKM, being the fabulous photog that she its, she made me a picture frame, we have lots of pictures to choose from.

I did a tea for one pot and i painted it like my car! It even has me driving and CKM taking a picture.

Then it was of to dinner at the vortex in little 5 points, we were meeting with JCT. She meet us on her way home from the airport.

Its been a while since any of us had been to the Vortex, as evident by the huge menu change, all things i really liked were gone! Our waitress was great and we had a blast!

So while we are sitting there catching up, our food comes and there are four different types of potatoes on our plates: sweet potato waffle fries, regular fries, Tater tots and potato salad. So there we are, the food has arrived, we’re eating and talking about!

As we are talking about potatoes, i proclaim..that’s when i announce, potatoes…that’s what i will blog about!

Dinner was great! Thanks to JCT for treating! It was good to catch up and say goodbye and see you later!

{May 23, 2013} Dinner with the fam(ily)

Isn’t it nice when one thing can cancel something else out?

There was something work related that started last night that had me a little stressed out, which weighed on my kind and carried over to today. Then something not fun, related to that happened this morning, making it more..not fun.

Even CKM wanted to know who she had to beat up, who was making me sound upset and flustered. I have awesome friends!

Kids seem to make things “all better”, doesn’t matter what size, but the wee ones seem to work best. Tonight, DCM and I went to dinner with most of his kids and his grand daughter, LB.

KAT, who is about to bring DCM’s first grandson into the family! CS, LB’s momma, who it’s giving LB a baby sister in the fall! (we are about to be covered up in grand babies!) HB, or Uncle Bubba as LB likes to call him, the first name she called anyone! And last, but never least, DCM, his youngest, also known as Pow Pow, KAT is better known as KK. AT unfortunately had to work.

When LB was starting to call people by name, DCM wanted to give her something to call me and followed the pattern that was set, Pow Pow, KK, and I’m JJ, i love it, because whenever DCM talks to LB, she asks for JJ!

Tonight made me feel good because LB was exited to see me and wanted me to hold her while we were in line, sit in between myself and DCM at dinner, then share my dinner, apparently what i had just looked better.

Dessert started looking better and better to Miss LB and it was time for
chocolate, it’s for eating as well as wearing, don’t you know, perfect photo ops! What a cutie!

After dinner, went outside, chatted, took a few pictures, then she made her gampa’s night…she wanted to go home with us! Nothing like it!

After lots of hugs and kisses, we parted company to go home. I dropped the top, on the car, and we were off. Thank you to the kids, all ages, who made what started as a blechy day, better!

{May 19, 2013} Dance Recitals

Another full day at my sister and brother-in-law’s house.

I slept in, 9am, hold yourself back! MG was at her first swim lesson, yesterday was EJ’s lesson. Then it was a mad dash to put a picnic together and out the door. The picnic was at Camp Grossman, to celebrate the end of Mayim, the K-5 grade Sunday school class at the family’s synagogue. There was singing, thanking, playing (daddy pushing my sister and I on the swings, how long had it been? Dad said about 35 years! lots of laughing!) fellowship, cookie decorating,
and food, what could be better?

Then home for a bit of rest, what’s that? Then it was time to go to EJ’s dance recital! The KM Dance Center presented their 28th annual show, this year was Aladdin. As you may have guessed, the show was themed around the Disney musical Aladdin, there were dance numbers in Arabian themed costumes and in between numbers they would act out scenes from the movie.

EJ was part of the group that danced in the middle, the number was called Loopty Loo and had nothing to do with the theme of the show, just really cute costumes, ala Jasmine, coins that jingled, blue eyeshadow and red lips you can see from the back of the theater, and ballet slippers.

She was right on point (pun intended? You decide!), she was great and had her cartwheel down pat, turned and twirled with the best of them, ok, I’m a little proud! They were so cute!

After the show, on the way to dinner, I asked if she was going to do this again, “No I already did it.” Fair enough.

So, that means we do not have to do this again, unless MG decides she wants to do it, thank goodness! This does not mean there will not be another recital, just not another dance recital. I’ve been lucky enough to be at a swim lesson, soccer game, gymnastics exhibition (she was terrific at her birthday party last year) and her dance party this year, I haven’t seen her ski yet, but I will! She and her sister have not lacked in any experience, my sister and brother-in-law has given them every opportunity to try new things and find what they love to do.

This is where I need to give my parents and all parents a great big THANK YOU for sitting through our dance, piano, whatever recitals, shows and exhibitions! Parents put up with so much for their kids, sitting thorough number after number after number of dance, cheers, meets, everything just to see their kids perform for five minutes.

I had my first dance recital, tap from Ms Rosemary’s, when I was four and I am sure my parents suffered through it, before and after my number. Although, I don’t know if it was as stifling hot as it was in the auditorium today!

I don’t think I really appreciated what my parents did until I had to sit through my first cheerleading camp exhibition for my daughter, 2,000, ok, it was just 30, but it felt like 2,000 squads doing the exact same cheer, oh my word! Then today, I was doing it for my niece, watching my sister and brother-in-law experience it for the first time, sitting next to my dad, who was old hat at this.

They drive us to rehearsal, sit there or maybe go home and pick us up later, listen to the songs over and over, the crying when we don’t want to go or we’re too tired, buy our costumes, do our makeup, do our hair, buy us flowers and sit in the auditorium and wait and wait and wait until its our turn and then have to sit there and wait to watch every other group perform because we want to watch our friends shine for their parents.

To the kids, I say, “Thank you” for giving us the opportunity to watch you grow and shine and brag about you and all you accomplish and to know we supported and loved you with all that we are and would never change a thing.

For all the parents who sit there hour after hour, cheer and encourage, on behalf of all the kids out there on stage, I say “Thank you”, you’ll never know how much we appreciate you. And please know, we’ll never understand what you go through for us until it is our turn to be in the crowd cheering our own kids on.

{May 18, 2013} Can we fit any more in today?

Today was MG’s birthday party, she turned three on Thursday and of course we need to celebrate!

The day started with the pitter patter of little feet, which, apparently when you are six and three, sounds like thunder! As you read in my post from last night, I was up until about 2:30/3:00 and those footsteps came sometime before 8, there is no such thing as sleeping in around this house! Am I complaining, nope, not a bit!

So, up and at ’em! Quick shower, then on to cleaning and setting up for the party, we were expecting about 50, par for the course with this bunch. There are families that come for the entire time, some that come in and go out. There are kids, kids, kids.

EJ decided she wanted to sell lemonade and give the money she made to “people who don’t have any”, so thought much discussion, she finally decided to give the money to Birthday Wishes, a great organization that “brings birthday parties to homeless children.” I told her that whatever she made, I would match. I’m waiting to find out what I will be donating. (Thanks to CWB, her daughter S and her brother B for the inspiration)
http://www.birthday wishes.org/

What a party, it’s always a lot of love and laughter and good times at a party at this house, no me goes away unhappy. We had a bouncy house, lots of food, cake, splinters, new babies to play with, all in all, a great party!

The party was called for 10-2, everyone finally cleared out by 3, I then reminded GES about wanting to get a manicure before the fundraiser tonight, so she and I walked to the nail salon to get pampered. She got a mani, I got a mani-pedi, ahhh. I sat int the chair and got all done up, Kelly green on my feet and electric/midnight blue on my fingers. GES got a really fun red, closer to a magenta/purple, felt good and looks great!

We got home, had a snack and all of a sudden I had an allergic reaction, so GES gave me some kids Benadryl and it knocked me in my butt. I dozed off on the couch, missed my sister and brother and law when they left.

Then it was feed the kids dinner, bedtime stories and lights out.

Is it my turn?

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What was I thinking?