It is with great enthusiasm and loving pride that I introduce my granddaughters, Alexandra Michelle (Ally) and Ava Brooke.

Watch Out New York

I am pleased to announce that yet another offspring has scheduled a visit home. My daughter, Allison, is due to arrive Monday, July 3. It is a mere coincidence that Independence Day falls in conjunction with Allison's visit. EVERY VISIT WITH ALLISON INVOLVES FIREWORKS! This kid is a party waiting to happen. I have vague recollections of her last visit - a house full of people and my sister in law and I in the hot tub until our butts were shriveled masses... it wasn't pretty, but it sure was fun.

Allison is good for me, she makes me laugh. She looks at life through rose colored glasses and lives life to the fullest. She is the perfect remedy for my moody blues. It is kinda sad that my granddaughters will have to share her with me. (Note to self: keep pretending that Allison is coming to NY to see me...)

The Longest Good-Bye

My Dad has Alzheimer's. To anyone who has experienced the horrors of the disease firsthand, I will pray for you and you pray for me. To everyone else, suffice it to say this is the cruelest of all diseases.

My Dad lives in Florida and I don't see him often enough. He is at my house now for a brief visit, a reality check. Our brief phone conversations easily hide the fact that he has continued to slip away. Seeing him in person hides nothing. I am just so sad...

Nancy Reagan said it best, "Alzheimer's is the longest good-bye".

Rain, Rain , GO AWAY!!

Please don't blame us for the rain. I know it is all our fault... or do you think it is a coincidence that the rain has not stopped since my Mr. Wonderful finally turned on the automatic sprinklers??

Life Stops for a Minute

There are 5 offspring - 2 of whom still live in New York (one still at home). When one of the kids comes to visit, life ceases to exist as we know it.

I recevied a phone call 7:00am this morning that my oldest son is coming for a visit. He will arrive Saturday (tomorrow) morning and depart Sunday afternoon. Just so everyone knows - THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT GOING ON THIS WEEKEND THAN SEEING MY CHILD. There, I've said it. So what if he is coming to see his newborn niece and re-establish his relationship with his 4 yr. old niece. I can make believe he is coming to see me, can't I??

Good Advice

Best Marital Advice - Never argue when you are angry.
Best Parental Advice - Love your spouse with all your heart. It's the best gift you can give your child.

Mah Jongg, anyone?

I am a multi-faceted Guga. This past year I have learned how to play Mah Jongg and I have a weekly game - at my house (because I live in the middle). To any of you who snicker and sneer and think this is a game for old Jewish women, I dare you to try your hand at it. It is quite stimulating and thought provoking - not to mention the competitiveness of it, too! My Mah Jongg group consists of 5 women - all ages (and Nationalities) - with one thing in common - the need to do something just for ourselves! Thank goodness my Mr. Wonderful does not have the need to socialize with this crowd! He uses these weekly meetings as an excuse to go shopping - never to come home without a gift for me! I do love that guy - and it only took me 30 years, but he is nearly perfect!

Father At His Best

So, yesterday was Father's Day and you would think my husband was the only man to ever father a child (or 5)! We had quite a crowd at the house, all making a fuss over HIM. Mind you, I think he is pretty wonderful, but I hate it when others tell him so! What the heck, it was only one day - I will let him revel in all his glory. After all, when they all go home, he has to live with me, "The Queen". Things will be back to normal soon enough, just wait and see!@#

Guga at work

To those of you who do not know me too well, my newest (and proudest) name is Guga (Gu as in good, GA as in ga) . My first granddaughter, Ally, gave me that name - I think because I always referred to her as "Grandma's Good Girl" - I like Guga, it is unique. Even my son-in-law calls me Guga now.

I am now a Guga for a second time. Ally has to share me with her baby sister, Ava. When my daughter was pregnant with Ally, none of us knew if she was having a boy or girl. When she got pregnant with Ava - we all knew baby girl right from the start. This prompted a nursery right out of Hollywood (with Guga doing all the work, of course). I was only too happy to do it - EXCEPT, my daughter could not decide on the pattern for the material until 2 days before she went into the hospital - AND IT ALL HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED!! Needless to say, Ava is safe at home, and Trish is back to her old self (mind you she was back in people clothes less than a week after giving birth - BOO, HISS!) - If I hear one more time, "When will the curtain, bumpers, dust ruffle be done???" Does this girl know that I work full time, then go to her house EVERYDAY after work to help out with feedings and bathtimes? Does she know that I have fed her father nothing but balogna sandwiches and pizza for 2 weeks now?? - I guess Guga's are supposed to get it all done, no matter what. I guess that insomnia thing can come in handy after all...

Thanks for listening - no one here cares!

How come no one tells you?

When one hears the word "Menopause", the first thing that comes to mind is "HOT FLASH". Yes, hot flashes are one of the outward signs of menopause - but you can turn that negative into a positive very easily. Hot Flashes are a welcome relief in the Winter. They reduce your need for blush. And my personal favorite, a good sweat MAY indicate that you have been working out! The real horror of menopause is INSOMNIA!! Now that there are no middle-of-the-night feedings, no sick toddler to tend to, no teenagers to wait up for - now that there is every possibility that I can have 8 straight hours of uninterrupted sleep - I CAN'T SLEEP!!!
Thank goodness for Direct TV and 600 channels - not that there is anything to watch, but at least I have a lot of channels to look through - and my index finger is looking mighty slim from pushing that button on that remote all night!

Another first...

Here I am, nearly 50 (did I say that out loud?) and I am daring to enter the world of "blogging". It is good to know that I am still not paying attention to the "rules" - that I am still doing things that I am not supposed to do! I would like to thank Angela #2 for introducing me to this wonderful forum. Honorable mention goes out to Lauren and Heidi, also. I am looking forward to sharing my humble happenings as a wife, mother, and grandmother!