Thanksgiving Week - Friday

Friday and the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day of the year! I actually contemplated getting up at the crack of dawn and heading out like I have in the past, but then realized that most of my shopping is done. So what's the point? In years past the day after Thanksgiving was the first day of shopping for my friends and I.

I used to have to depend on a Holiday Club to fund Christmas. I'd save all year so I'd have the money to buy Christmas presents. The day after Thanksgiving was THE shopping day!

My friends and I would meet at a designated "starting" place; make tentative plans for lunch and off we'd go spending the entire day shopping. Sometimes we'd start at one Mall and then move to the next and so on. Fighting the crowds and traffic was stressful but it all just went with the territory!

It truly was more than just a shopping day though. Like men get together for whatever common bonds they share when hunting, we got together with our common bonds and shopped!

Age does bring some perks. Now we all make a much more comfortable living and buy whenever we want. Since I don't have to depend on the Holiday Club anymore I can get my shopping done early. Which is nice and convenient - right?

Something in me misses the old days though. Perhaps I appreciated it more when I had to scrimp and save the money for that one big day. The build up of anticipation and planning that went into it. Meeting in the mornings for coffee and then again at lunch, the shared gift ideas.  It was all so much fun!

Common bonds shared among a small group of friends for so many years that seem now broken.

Thanksgiving Day 2003

My family and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration today.  Everyone gathered at Steve and Danelle's house, and what a feast was had!

I took a few pictures of Madison this evening. 

It's been a long day so I'm signing off for now.

Thanksgiving Week.....Wednesday Morning

I'm up at 6:30am!  I wish I could sleep in, but just can't.  I have a couple of things that are on my mind to do - nothing terribly important though. 

I let the girls out and made coffee, all the while I am making my morning plans.  I'll jump in the shower as soon as I finish my coffee, then stop by the grocery store and buy a few things.  While I'm out I have to stop by Hallmark and pick up Madison's First Thanksgiving card.  I meant to do that over the weekend and mail it to her, but didn't get around to it.  Oh well, I will just have to hand deliver it this year.  Next year it'll be more of a must to mail.  Then I need to stop for wood pellets and rush back home.  I've offered to watch Madison for a while today so Danelle can get started on Thanksgiving preparations.  The festivities will be held at their house this year and I am thrilled that I don't have to cook!  Actually, this will be the 2nd year that I have not had to cook because they wanted to last year too. 

I stopped by Steve and Danelle's (their pics are above-taken at a local eatery) house last Saturday evening after receiving a phone call demanding my appearance immediately.  They had just purchased new furniture for their formal living room and wanted me to see it.  (It is just gorgegous, by the way) 

At some point we were sitting around and talking when Steve reflected on what all had happened in our lives since last year:  My Mom passed away, we found out Danelle was pregnant, Steve and Danelle had Thanksgiving in their cramped little 1 bedroom apartment, they had a new house built, Steve got a new job, Danelle quit her job, I got a new position with the same company, but most importantly Madison was born!  We were all a little quiet and misty eyed recounting Mom's passing and Madison's birth, but all agreed that we have been blessed in so many ways and we have so much more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving than last. 

I just wish that my Mom could see Madison.  She would fall in love all over again.

Later...................

Thanksgiving Week........Tuesday Evening

Today was a relaxing sort of day.  The weather was fairly nice with a sprinkling of intermittent rain and a dappling of welcomed sunlight throughout the day.  

The only thing I had planned was a haircut and eyebrow waxing at 2:30pm.  The rest of the day was mine, which I quickly filled with house cleaning in the morning and watching some daytime TV.  Jerry Springer never fails to amaze me where or how he digs up the dredges of society, and all in the bad taste of entertainment!  What kind of person could sit and watch that show day in and day out without becoming severely depressed is beyond me. 

After my haircut I did some Christmas shopping - I am nearly done!  :)  Then came home, fed the girls, and fixed myself a Weight Watchers TV dinner - I'm being good until Thursday-ha!

Now I am going to curl up on the couch with the girls flanking me on each side, and a read until bedtime.  I got sidetracked after reading "LITTLE ALTARS EVERYWHERE" by Rebecca Wells, and am just now about midway in her 2nd book, "The Devine Secrets of the YA-YA Sisterhood".  I still maintain that these are two of the best books I have ever read!

Well Gang, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite!  

See ya'll tomorrow! 

Monday Evening belongs to an ELF and two Westies....

Jeri, Janae and I went to the movies to see ELF this evening.  I'd rate it 3 stars out of a possible 5.  It's cute and a bit silly.  A good family flick.  There were a couple of good laughs throughout the whole movie, but nothing too funny.  In that respect it was a bit disappointing. 

Since I neglected the girls for a few hours this evening, they are schooling at my feet as I write this for some attention. 

Until tomorrow.......................   

Thanksgiving Week - Monday

This Thanksgiving week is already proving to be a wonderful week. Not only am I on vacation all week, but I was just informed that my journal is being considered for The Editor's Picks list! I am so extremely flattered! What a wonderful experience for me!

There are many things that I have to be thankful for, and I have been reflecting on some of them today.

I am thankful for living in the greatest country on earth. One that allows me the freedom to write my thoughts in a journal for all the world to see, regardless of my political views, and where I will not reap any repercussion in doing so.

I am thankful to have a loving and caring family, whose good health is evident.

I am thankful for having a good paying job that I enjoy going to every day.

I am thankful for the friends in my life, and thankful I am able to share my life with each of them.

I am thankful for little things like owning a microwave oven to heat a TV dinner, to more awe inspiring things like being able to practice the religion of my choice.

On a more personal note, I am thankful to be sharing this Thanksgiving with my one and only grandchild, Madison with whom the sun rises and sets on in my world.

Life is good and I am thankful!

 

Remembering Timi Yuro

Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's was a magical time for me. Those of you who are in your 50's & 60's can probably relate. Life was so different from today. It was so innocent and pure.

One focal point that set the tone was the music. I grew up listening to a variety of music, but my all time favorite was Rock & Roll. There have been all kinds of rock & roll: hard rock, soft rock, bubble gum rock, punk rock and the list goes on and on. But the first rock & roll was Doo-Wop of the 1950's and early 1960's. Sweet and natural, with no reference to violence or dirty words.

One of Doo-Wop's greatest singers was Timi Yuro. Timi's hits "Hurt" released in 1961 and "What's the matter baby (is it hurting you)?" (my personal favorite) were sung with such deep, raw emotion that listening to them now at my age I wonder how this 20 year old young woman had the life experience under her belt to deliver such a performance every time she sang.

I was 10 years old when I first heard "HURT" on my cousin's radio. I can remember that day as if it were just yesterday.  Timi's voice had me riveted to the spot in front of the radio in the dining room. I've been a fan ever since.

Timi appeared on American Bandstand and Ed Sullivan in 1962 & 1963.

Mike Jameson wrote this rave review about Timi and her music. In his review he speculates what happened to her after all these years. And frankly, I wondered the same thing so I started surfing the Internet and found a page, which outlines Timi's career and health situation of the last few years. I decided to write the author of that article Tom Simon, who graciously responded. He suggested that I send a card and/or letter to Timi's agent who will make sure that it finds its way to her.

So last night I sat down and wrote to Ms. Timi Yuro. It's almost a surreal experience to think that she will actually read the letter I wrote! I pray that it brings her happiness and above all finds her recovering completely.

Please feel free to drop a card or letter to her too! Tom says she will appreciate hearing from us all. Her address is:

Timi Yuro, c/o SOUND 2000, Post Office Box 54802, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74155

AWOL MOM

I read an interesting article in The O'Reilly Factor this morning about an AWOL military mom who refuses to return to the Iraqi desert and leave her 7 children stranded in Colorado.

As the article reads the woman, Specialist Simone Holcomb and her husband are both in the military and both have served in Iraq already, and her husband is still there. Simone's mother-in-law was taking care of the children, but had to return home in another state to care for her ailing husband. Ms. Holcomb has asked to be relieved of duty in Iraq and be stationed near her home but the military has refused. She also asked for compassionate discharge and was declined that plea.

What was the military thinking, to begin with, by accepting a husband and wife who are the parents of 7 children? For God's sake I am not a scholar but common sense dictates to me that the children are a priority over a damned stint in the Army, in some hole in the wall place like Iraq! If the parents didn't have the foresight, Army should have. It's not like this is a new institution and this sort of thing hasn't come up many times before.

I say give mom a compassionate discharge and send her home "to be the best she can be", and care for the people who need her help the most - her kids.

A Mother's Love

Yesterday would have been my Mother's 84th birthday. I often said that if there had been an Oscar Award for Moms, she would have won hands down.

When I was a youngster I thought everyone had a Mother like mine. Loving, warm, kind and a woman who would protect her young no differently than a mother bear protects its cubs. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized that everyone did not have a Mother like mine.

I remember planning to spend a Friday night with my girlfriend Colette, during my freshman year of high school. She was an only child and her parents owned a ritzy home not far from where I lived. I was extremely impressed and a bit envious. My folks certainly didn't have a new, up-to-date house like that.

Colette's Mother had agreed to fix waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for dinner, something I was not used to eating. My parents were steak, potatoes and salad people. Nothing as frivolous as strawberry waffles and whipping cream was ever served as "dinner" at our house, or breakfast for that matter. Suddenly these people seemed so much more "up town" than my folks did.

I can't remember exactly how it all started, but there was a confrontation between Colette and her father - a really big one. He started screaming at her and everything escalated so quickly that I'm not sure what all happened. But I do remember her father grabbing a belt and chasing her through that beautiful house and beating her with the belt buckle until her mouth and face was bleeding. This wasn't just a spanking. This was an all out assault that I was witnessing and I was horrified!

All the while her Mother stood by saying nothing. In fact, it was evident to me that this type of behavior went on quite often by her Mothers nonchalant attitude.

I was so afraid that I called my Mom who sent my Dad to pick me up immediately. I was never so thankful to be back at home, safe and sound.

What stands out most when I remember that incident was Colette's Mother and her lack of concern for her daughter. I believe that Colette's Dad could have beaten her to death and her Mother wouldn't have said a word.

On the other hand my Mother did protect me. I was never allowed to go back to that ritzy new home, and I have never liked waffles with strawberries and whipped cream since then.

IN THEIR HONOR

I have never understood why Veteran's Day is celebrated the way that it is. There is no reason for schools to be closed down, after all none of the kids are Vets. And certainly it is ridiculous for government offices to be closed. Very few of them ever saw boot camp.

Even as a kid I saw the hypocrisy of this.  Am I the only one that feels this way?

My son, Steve served in the military during the Desert Storm War.  Like the thousands that went before and since, he has never had the day off in his honor for serving his country.  Somehow that just doesn't seem right. 

The people that deserve to have the day off with pay are the Veterans themselves. It should be a law. If you are a Veteran, regardless if you work in the private sector or not, you should have the day off with pay. I'd be happy to have my tax dollars support it. Those are the men and women that sacrificed for the rest of us, many with their very lives.

The Veterans are the men and women that deserve the day off in their honor for serving the best country in the world.

After pouring billions of dollars into rebuilding other countries, it's the very least WE could do for our own.

Unsettling Comments

Unsettling

I do my duty at the polls every election, but I have never been too keen on politics. However this article in MSNBC has me thinking.

Billionaire, George Soros, is giving away money like we give out Halloween candy. His mission: to unseat George Bush. Well, it's his money and I guess he can waste it any way he wants. But what is unsettling to me is the last paragraph in the article that reads like this:

Asked whether he would trade his $7 billion fortune to unseat Bush, Soros opened his mouth. Then he closed it. The proposal hung in the air: Would he become poor to beat Bush?
He said: "If someone guaranteed it."

That sounds like a serious threat against the President of the United States. $7 billion to "unseat" Bush? This guy sounds like a nut!

Choices

 

I just read an article regarding obesity and whether or not it should be validated as a disease. The Internal Revenue Service ruled last year that, for tax purposes, obesity is a disease. If the medical profession goes along with that assessment millions of people with be able to get help through their health insurance companies for both medical and drug treatment.

I think it's time to take a step back from that SUPER SIZED BIG MAC AND FRIES, and take a look at our society.

When I was a kid the only fat person I knew of was Jackie Gleason. I remember sitting in front of the TV, watching the HONEY MOONERS and being astounded by his size. It was truly an oddity and rare finding. So what has changed in the last 50 years to cause Americans to bulk up?

Literally everywhere you turn in today's society there is a smiling face handing out food.

On your way into work count how many fast food joints you pass. If you take the freeway count the food signs preceding your exit. Surprising isn't it?

The Mall where you and your kids shop undoubtedly has a food court with 9 or 10 different restaurants, and throughout the Mall there are specialty shops selling pretzels, coffee, cookies, ice cream, candy...you get the idea.  

While watching TV the endless stream of commercials selling food is inescapable. Newspapers and magazines are loaded with ads and coupons: buy one dinner at the regular price and get the second for half price, $3 off regularly prices meals, buy a large pizza for the medium price, and the list goes on and on.

My point is, you just don't have to go very far to run into someone, somewhere trying to shove something to eat down your throat or conning you into "super sizing" that fast food meal. Even the espresso coffee chains had to jump onto the bandwagon and move from the 'Grande' size to the 'Venti' or 'Enorme' sizes. Big is better, right?

Is obesity really a disease? Perhaps in rare cases, but I suggest that instead it is because we overindulge ourselves to the point it is killing us.  If you think your health insurance premiums are high now, wait until obesity is declared a disease.

THE END OF A GOOD THING?

I just got through watching the Barbara Walters interview with Martha Stewart, who has been charged with obstructing justice, making false statements and securities fraud in conjunction with her investments in the biotech firm ImClone Systems Inc.

Whether or not she is guilty only she knows, and I suppose time will tell.

But I like Martha Stewart and I like what she stands for.  I guess I kind of idolize her, but if truth were told what American woman doesn't? She has been extremely successful in her career which has ranged from being an astute student, beautiful model, successful Wall Street Trader, married a Harvard law student, had a 27 year marriage and then launched an unprecedented corporate career where she became a self made billionaire. It can't get much better than that.

Barbara Walters asked Ms. Stewart point blank why she thinks people hate her.  Martha, in short, felt it was human nature.  In part I think she is right.  But what is it about successful people that we both idolize and despise?  

I think the root of the problem is that people are either jealous or intimidated by wealthy and powerful people.  As simplistic as that may sound I know from experience that women can be very jealous, and men intimidated by a woman in control.  Especially a wealthy one. 

I believe they see Martha Stewart as a woman who is strong and successful. A woman who admittedly strives for perfection in everything she does. A woman who was the CEO of her own company. Someone who was focused and knew what she wanted and expected people around her to do the same.

My Mom always said. "Where there is smoke there is fire."  I hope that isn't the case here.  I hope Martha Stewart is telling the truth and she is absolved from all charges, and I hope that she and her family survive this fiasco.  

Unfortunately for Martha, this is not a good thing. 

 

 

What A Deal!

Are you a small business owner and planning to buy a new car? Check out this article I found on MSNBC.  It appears a select few (which include doctors and lawyers-go figure!) are afforded the benefit of a write-off up to $100,000 on a new vehicle, provided the vehicle is used in their business. What a deal! Apparently the law was originally written to enable small businesses an opportunity to buy 'equipment' and reap a tax break. Of course some yahoo somewhere had to push the envelope and now everybody and their dog is jumping on board. Understandably car manufacturers and dealerships are advertising this to boost their sales.

But buyer beware!  Personal auto insurance contracts EXCLUDE coverage on business vehicles. 

Give Me A Break!

This story about illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. to make more than 10 times the wage they made in their country, and then complaining about the long hours and brutal conditions they were forced to work under has me rolling on the floor!

Why WalMart is being targeted is beyond me. It sounds like it's the greed factor. WalMart is the big fish and somebody, someplace thinks they are entitled to some and want to cash in.

There has to be a lawyer (or group thereof) behind this............

Perhaps the illegals have forgotten where they came from. I know the poverty they have had to live in and the long hours of work they have to endure in their own countries. Countries that do not offer breaks, workman's comp, health benefits and no laws governing how long an employer can work an employee. Countries where there is no minimum wage law, and safety/health organizations to oversee safe working conditions. That's not to mention the various organizations that will help feed and clothe their families for free like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, to name only two. Last I heard they don't care if you have a green card or not.

I normally don't get too worked up over things like this, but I am sick of hearing people complaining when they don't have a leg to stand on.  They are in this country illegally, for God's sake!  We should be complaining that they broke our laws by entering illegally!  This reminds me of the burglar who breaks his leg while robbing someone's home and then turns around and sues the homeowner.  Kind of ironic, huh? 

How would any of us be treated if we entered their countries illegally?  I think we all know the answer to that.  

Perhaps those that finds it distasteful working and living here under conditions that are unsatisfactory should just leave. They came on their own free will (illegally) and certainly they may leave that way too.  It is a free county, afterall.  

Heels and Soles

Yesterday morning I was getting dressed for work and noticed that my penny loafers are on their last leg, no pun intended. That means that sooner than later I will have to go shopping for another pair, and I hate shopping for shoes. I am not hard on shoes so they last forever, I'm talking years here, which is probably the reason I hate shopping for them.

I have friends who own, at any given time, more shoes than I have had in my entire lifetime. I just don't understand the sense in owning so many pair of shoes. I mean, you can only wear one pair at a time. It seems like a waste of money to me.

In my opinion a person only needs about 5 pair of shoes at any given time: a pair of loafers to wear with slacks; a pair of heels for suits and dresses; tennis shoes for whatever, a pair of sandals for summer, and last but most important a good pair of house slippers.

To be fair I must admit that I have a lot more than 5 pair of shoes. I bought them over the years and for one reason or another they didn't fall into my favorite category, so was discarded to the back of the closet where they remain today. Some are brand new and never worn - still in the box! What sense is there in that? I am a hypocrite in my own philosophy, for God's sake!

I guess it's always easier to give advice than take it - even if it is your own.

A Labor of Love For Madison

Sunday I made grape juice for Madison.  I have a huge grape arbor that host both concord and seedless green grapes.  The mixture of grapes is heavenly for juice and jelly, but since I work full time and have to keep a house and yard up, I just don't have the time to cook it up and put it in pretty little ribboned jars.  Martha Stewart I'm not!  Besides, she has a staff of hundreds (if not thousands) to help her get all of her cutsey suggestions and tips done.  Not to mention the help she has with her house and yard work.  Right?  But we all know that regardless of her busy schedule, Martha would find the time somehow.

I have picked and given away baskets upon baskets of grapes this year, but the arbor is still laden heavily with loads more.  The folks that were the recipients of the grapes were thrilled to have them.  They were making jelly and juice after work for themselves and their,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, grandchildren! 

 That was the wrong thing for me to hear because I have a granddaughter now too, and   she'd probably love some grape juice, I thought guiltily. How selfish am I?  What kind of grandma would turn down making juice for her little granddaughter?  A bad Grandma, that's who! 

In the last week the weather has changed from near 80 degree days to freezing literally overnight.  Our first light frost was last Thursday evening and we have had one in every night since.  But I was on a mission and therefore would not be thwarted!  So, Sunday  morning found me hiking out to my grape arbor in near freezing temperatures where I picked a  basket full of mostly concord grapes (as the green seedless are nearly gone now).  I trucked them into the house where I cleaned and washed each grape with love.  To make a long and boring story short, that basket of grapes made more than 2 gallons of wonderful, sweet juice for Maddie!  Hey, Welch's doesn't have anything on me!  What a good grandmother!

Perhaps I'll make more juice if the grapes are patient and continue to hold onto the vines, but then again I am going to be pretty busy this week.  If I can just find the time......................

Memories

Kim and I met with a real estate agent today to discuss a dreaded subject: selling our mom's house.

Selling the homestead is a difficult decision and one we have put off making for a year now. Eddy, Kim and I grew up in that house. I was 5 years old when my folks bought the Cape Cod style home in 1956, and for nearly 50 years it has been in our family.

My mother could never part with it. Even when she became older and we'd suggest that she sale it and buy something a bit smaller, she'd get misty-eyed and say that there were just too many memories there to leave. So she stayed there until she died.

There are many happy memories and fun times associated with it. I remember my mom in shorts and a tank top tending to her flower beds and vegetable garden; us kids playing hide and go seek at twilight with neighbor kids; riding my bike as fast as I could down our street listening to the sound of the cards that I'd clothes pinned onto the spokes click out their own rhythm; Eddy's tadpole "farm" in a big galvanized tub which he sat in the backyard one summer; my cousin and I dancing to Little Eva's hit "Locomotion"; lying in the cool grass on a hot summer's day eating concord grapes, apples, pears and plums grown in our yard; playing in the swimming pool; running through the sprinklers while dad watered the lawn; placing our footprints in the cold wet cement of the new patio dad built (which are still there today); choosing up teams and playing baseball, and last but not least all the holidays and birthdays that were celebrated there. These are just a few of the wonderful memories I have associated with that home.

The home comes with enough property that if split up could provide two additional lots besides the one the house sits on. It could turn out to be a tidy little profit for my siblings and myself, but it seems somehow sacrilegious to do that. It's a decision that we'll have to think about and talk through with Eddy.

I would much prefer that another nice family move in and have the opportunity to make their own memories there as we did.

There isn't enough money to buy the ones we share.