Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Now THIS is Christmas!

The "Tree" arrives - thank you, Bobby



The "Tree" is up - thank you, Bobby


The "Tree" is nearly decorated - until Mr. Wonderful eyes something interesting on TV


The "Tree" is complete - thank you, Mr. Wonderful


All we needed was a "Christmas Miracle"

Christmas Eve:
Allison brought my sister to me for Christmas!


Christmas Day:



Congratulations to my Allison - she is now the proud owner of Outback Restaurant in Lindenhurst (9 miles from our house!) She knows how to pull off a surprise!! She told me that she is AMAZING - she said, "I think I am 'Amazing Grace' - How sweet my sound!" - She obviously does not have self-esteem issues!!

As Allison said all day long..... "It's a Christmas Miracle - God Bless us each and everyone!"

Friday, December 10, 2010

To Tree, or Not To Tree?

So last weekend I tell Mr. Wonderful that I do not want to put up a tree this year. He went all "postal" on me giving me 100 reasons why we had to put one up. Seriously, I was not even listening to him, I was just nodding... thinking about the whole shopping experience. Having to go after work one evening... freezing temps... him searching through all the trees to find the BEST tree on the lot... blah, blah blah... I resigned myself to the fact that this was going to happen no matter what.


Despite the rocky beginning, I was bound and determined to enjoy my day. The kids were coming for dinner and we were going to relax and watch some football.

Bobby and Suse came waltzing through the front door and Bobby opens the blinds on the front window. "Come here, Ma. Look, I decorated my car for Christmas!"



Yes, he bought us a tree. He said that he figured we had not shopped for one yet and he thought he would make it a little easier for us.

So, it seems we are moving in slow motion this year.....but at least we are headed in the right direction.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Christmas on the Horizon

So we made it through Thanksgiving. The usual crowd - with one exception. Our nephew from Colorado came out to spend the week with us and bond with his cousins. It was very special to have Jon at our table this year. This is the first time he has ever spent a holiday with us. I think we certainly paved the way for him to come out more often.

As we finish up the last of the leftovers, I am trying to make a mental list of what is next on the agenda:

1. TREE - I'm not gonna lie - I am SO dreading putting up a 7 foot live Christmas Tree with "Brandy" (read that: 75 pound mini-stallion) running through the house.

2. Shopping - SERIOUSLY? hmmmm, Bonds, gift cards, checks - DONE!

3. Baking - This MIGHT happen

4. Decorating Outdoors - I'm thinking a Menorah in the window - really now, who would know the difference?

5. Holly Jolly Attitude - I believe I left it in Key West.

6. Plan the Christmas Dinner - now THIS, I am good at! (Homemade manicotti is on the top of the list!)

7. Clean it all up in anticipation of our Annual January Vacation to a tropical island with cousins and friends.

I think I'll start at the bottom and work my way UP the list!

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

The Cousins



There were 13 First Cousins. Cousin Paulie died in Viet Nam. That left 12.
2 in Florida
1 in California
1 in Illinois
6 in New Jersey
2 on Long Island

Happy to say we came together for a glorious occasion. It is always fun when a "second generation" cousin gets married! There were 6 of us present. Should have taken the picture earlier in the evening when the guys were still "dressed".

Looking forward to the day when the 12 of us can be together.... Hope it is not for a funeral...

Monday, November 01, 2010

OUCH!!!

What a beautiful Fall weekend!! I had a long list of errands/chores to accomplish and I started very early Saturday morning (while Mr. W. slept).

Breakfast with old friend - DONE

Manicure - DONE

Food Shopping - DONE

Time to wake up Sleeping Beauty (aka Mr. W).

Laundry - Started

Wake up Sleeping Beauty again (not so much Mr. W by this time)

Laundry - Finished

And we (Mr. W and I) are off to do some shopping. Having a wonderful time shopping when all of a sudden - my right ankle gives out!! OH NO!! Of course he wants to call an ambulance - of course I am yelling I AM FINE - GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!

So Saturday night and all day Sunday I sat in my recliner, foot elevated and ice pack firmly in place. No, I did not go for an X-Ray. No, I do not think I broke anything. I am SO prone to spraining my ankles that I have an air cast on hand "just in case"!!

So here I am today, in my office, at my desk, foot in an air cast, elevated on the garbage pail. I have taken my share of Advil for the day. It is better today....

I am just wondering how I am going to put on my high heels Friday night.... My little cousin is getting married and I am NOT sitting in a chair for 6 hours... I will be on the dance floor AND icing my ankle from the "inside out".... starting with the cocktail hour!!

Monday, October 25, 2010

The Fake Wake

I have a great Italian Family. We LOVE to laugh. When my grandmother was alive, we all gathered at her Brooklyn house on Sundays to be together. There was no dishwasher or matching plates - there was just plenty of food, drinks and laughter. Us cousins were more like brothers and sisters.

When Grandma died, so did a part of our Sunday tradition. Yes, we saw each other, just not as often. As years went on, it seemed that every year one of us got married - and we all got to see each other again. A couple of us even hosted the family for different occasions. After a while, we started to only see each other at funerals.

Well, we had the opportunity to gather once again a week ago to pay tribute to our dear uncle, Zi Vidooch. He was a favorite uncle to many of us. We all had notice of his impending demise and made a date to meet at a fabulous restaurant in Brooklyn and share some great memories of him. We also learned of some secrets (he had been carrying on an affair with a married woman for years!!!) There were 12 of us who traveled from New Jersey and Eastern Long Island, just to share a meal and loving thoughts. It was so nice to see how everyone did something nice in honor of Zi:

Thank you, Kathy: You brought prayer cards for all of us and helped to eternal-ize his memory.

Thank you, Lou: You brought a treasured photo of all of Zi's sisters in Italy. It was good to see them all.

Thank you, Justina: You took all the photos that night and posted them on facebook as a lasting tribute to Zi.

Thank you, Joan: for "blowing Zi" a final kiss good-by for all of us to witness. (Seriously, Joan? I am not sure how you had the nerve to show up after cheating on Frank all these years with Zi!)

and most of all - THANK YOU, PAUL!! You were so conscientious to send out emails detailing the final days of Zi's life. You made reservations at the perfect restaurant. You brought proof positive of Joan's affair with Zi - as they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words". And most importantly, you brought Zi's ashes so we could all witness Joan's final good-bye to her beloved!

I am so happy to be part of a family who will go to so much trouble as to host a "fake wake" just so we could all be together. I am also thrilled that all of our children are reaching the "marriage" age and we will once again have the opportunity to see eachother for happy occasions.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A tip for mothers

Profound quote from a friend on "mothering":

"You know we give these kids life with the help from God and we want them to be safe. We want to love them and take care of them. When they seem almost impossible, we know that we have to let go again and let God do his work.

Thanks, Joan, for putting it back in perspective.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My Gift from Key West

Allison:
I am not going to tell you what a wonderful time we all had - that's a given!

I am not going to report that this was the best year EVER - we say that every year.

I am not going to say that there is no vacation like a "girls' vacation - if you have never done it, you would not understand; and if you have, you know it is the truth!

I AM going to tell you what I learned on this trip. I learned that my daughter, Allison, is a very special person. She was always wonderful in my eyes, but this trip afforded me the opportunity to see her and get to know her through other people's eyes.

I was coming down to see Allison with friends and family in tow. Yes, she knew all these people - but I know, in my heart, everything she did - she did for me. She worked as many hours as she had to, in order to be able to spend my entire vacation with us. She and her wonderful roommates (Crafty and Chad) went from store to store shopping and preparing before we got there. She and Crafty picked us all up at the airport in grand style and brought us to the house we rented. The house was fully stocked with: prepared food and snacks, assorted cocktail fixings and the A/C running full blast!

During the course of the next few days, we met and socialized with MANY of Allison's friends. These people ran the gamut: men/women, single/married, gay/straight, Americans/Foreigners, and even little children comprised this group. It was the most interesting 5 days of my life! The laughter and camaraderie was overwhelming. They made dinner for us... They baked cookies for us.... They arranged a kayak tour for us... The list goes on and on. My personal favorite was when we went out to breakfast and the cook came out of the kitchen to "Kiss Allison's Momma!"

Every one of these people took me aside to tell me what a wonderful person Allison was and how fortunate they were to have her in their lives. WHAT A GIFT..... TO ME!

It is hard to be a parent. It is VERY hard to be a good parent. Allison is my reward for working so hard...


Crafty and Chad

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Checking on Allison

We leave in 2 days for our annual "girls' trip". When Allison first relocated to the Florida Keys, my sister-in-law and I made a vow to go 'check on her' at least one a year. Each year we make the ultimate sacrifice, leave our spouses behind and go do some serious bonding with Allison.

I am happy to say that we have some wonderful friends and family who have offered to accompany us on this tiresome trek. They have been incredibly supportive throughout the years and we are entirely grateful.

This year, I have asked Michelle to join us. This will be her first trip without her husband, but Michelle would do anything for her sister. She and Allison really need to spend some quality time together.

Allison and I have a little ritual that we do whenever we see eachother. We share a bracelet. Each time we see eachother, we put it on the other's wrist. This visit, the bracelet will go to her. I will miss seeing it on my arm, but when I look down at the empty wrist, I will always know that it is safely with Allison. It is a simple little bracelet, but it holds so much meaning to the two of us.

There will be 7 of us this year and we have rented a little house, with a pool for (cough) water aerobics. We will drink filtered water and green tea, we will eat healthy, organic foods. I am hoping for some quiet chats, some time to read, and the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of life - - - but I am afraid you, my faithful readers, will never know if that happens.... afterall, what happens in Key West, STAYS in Key West!!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Life's Not Fair

I guess this blog post is a LONG time coming. If you are a faithful reader (and I think there are 2 of you out there) you know that my son, Michael, has been battling cancer for the past year and a half. To say that the family has been on an emotional roller coaster would be a gross trivialization of the effects his disease has had on this family.

Michael is extremely intelligent, self-motivated, stubborn, independent, arrogant, kind, generous to a fault, and strong willed. When he was first diagnosed, he kept it to himself - thinking he could make it go away without 'burdening' his family. Once he did tell us, I could tell it was like opening a relief valve for him. FINALLY, he could talk about it.

It was interesting to watch him with his siblings. He was always so guarded around them and warned me "not to tell them everything" as he did not want them to fret about him. He constantly said, "They all have enough on their plate without worrying about me". I remember their first reactions very well: Bobby was somber, Allison did not believe him, and Michelle cried (what a surprise!).

This has been a long year and a half. Michael did chemo and tried radiation. He was WELL READ on the subject and had a clear picture of possible outcomes. Unfortunatley, his stubborness, arrogance and strong will worked against him this time. It was not until this week that he finally came to the realization that HE cannot control this disease. He finally understands that if he does not act quickly now, this DISEASE will control him.

As he readied himself for the inevitable surgery, I watched several things happen within my family:
-----I saw Michael's siblings gather around him like a safety net - and they did it on HIS terms. They did it with texts and phone calls, never invading his privacy. They were relentless when he did not respond. They listened to him. They talked to him. They comforted him. They reassured him. They badgered him. They loved him.
-----I watched as Mr. Wonderful picked up the reins and held up both of us during this trying time. I thanked God for the strength in my marriage. I love how Mr. W. and I always seem stronger and closer as we face adversity.
-----I noticed how extended family and friends walked on egg shells around us - protecting us from daily nonsense and offering support should we need it.

Michael said to me last night, "this is just not fair". I told him it was about time he realized that! Life is not fair... but it is worth it.... so you gotta keep fighting...

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Extended Family

Had a very interesting weekend.

Saturday, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah with our neighbors. They had a lot of family over and they included Mr. Wonderful and I in the celebration. It was wonderful to be a part of the day. Their great-nephew and 3 great-neices were at the house - is there anything better than spending the day with little children (And then kissing them good-bye and going home to a little serenity)? I spent a good portion of the visit snuggling with a beautiful one year old, Annabella. She just warmed my heart as she held on to me while I rocked her. Watching the antics of the 2 yr. olds was so much fun, too. I always say, "you can never love too many children." I think there were some adults in the room also.... but I am not sure.

On Sunday, we spent the day with my son-in-law's family. It was another beautiful day filled with laughter and love. I remember when it was time to leave - you know us Italians, "WE GOTTA KISS EVERYBODY!!!" - and so we went from room to room, kissing and hugging. I made some new friends that day - we are all buddies on "Facebook" now!

Although I missed my Sunday Dinner at home with my kids, I realized something wonderful this weekend. We are truly blessed to have such an extended family that simply enjoys being together.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Some precious moments

Life goes by so fast. When I lay in bed at night, sometimes I watch the video of recent events (always in fast-forward). It is easy to harp on the rotten things that happen in your life - but, seriously, I have found it much more pleasant to reflect on the best things that happen to me.

Just this past weekend:

Bobby and Michael sitting next to each other with their new phones in their hands. One of them is saying, "Yea, but can your phone do this?" And the other one answering, "Oh yea? WATCH THIS!" Seeing them giggle and tease each other like they did when they were 5 and 7 yrs old. - Then watching the two of them run out to do some quick shopping together as I prepared dinner. Hearing them come back into the house, still laughing, conspiring.... HOW WONDERFUL WAS THAT?!?!?!

Brandy (the new puppy) jumping out of the car window on the way to the park. She was so excited to play with her friends that she just could not wait for the car to stop! Yes, it cost an arm and a leg at the vet - but she did not break anything - HOW WONDERFUL WAS THAT!!!

Holding my friend's new baby granddaughter - just 2 weeks old. Cuddling that baby, rocking her in my arms, putting her to sleep. Kissing her head. Feeling my heart swell with love (afterall, can you really ever love too many children?). Then having her mom ask me, "Can Olivia call you Guga, too?".... HOW WONDERFUL WAS THAT?

Looking into another friend's eyes and trying with all my might to give her the right words and strength to deal with her husband's terrible illness. Having her hug me and thank me for helping her.... HOW WONDERFUL WAS THAT??

Making a dinner and birthday cake to celebrate Suse's birthday. Having friends and family all around the table together. Everyone pitching in to make it a stress-fee day. Hearing the noise level just below a roar, but just loud enough to be slighlty annoying to anyone who does not know us. Laughing until our sides hurt. Watching the evening come to a close as Bobby carries out his last load of laundry. Knowing that it takes this family just as long to say good-bye to each other as it does to find a parking spot at Macy's during a one-day sale - (even though we will all see each other next week!) .... HOW WONDDERFUL WAS THAT?

I feel blessed that I can find wonderful moments all the time, in all that we do. I hope my children will always remember to savor the little joys in everyday life.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Summer Wrap-Up

I am considering this Summer one of the best in my life so far.

We started the season with a visit from Allison in May. This, of course, meant we had to have a party!! YAY!!

Shortly thereafter, we heard of the birth of a dozen St. Bernard pups out in Michigan. This was followed by Mr. Wonderful dancing around the house chanting, "I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE!" There were several negotiations, but finally a decision was made and plans were set in place to get a puppy.

An impromptu 4th of July get-away to Florida led to us meeting my new friend, face to face (see previous post).

Then it was off to Michigan. Little Michael and I had a wonderful adventure and made an awesome memory. Bringing Brandy home to Mr. Wonderful was almost as exciting as giving birth to my last child... (in many ways, it was MORE exciting... sorry, Bobby)

Who could forget the 80th Surprise Birthday party for my mom?? (still putting away stuff from that party....)

I entertained classmates from high school - we had not seen eachother in 36 years!!

OFF TO BOSTON!!! Allison and I had the BEST TIME EVER!! We partied hardy and slept little!! When I got off the plane in NY, with my sunglasses and baseball cap and Mr. Wonderful greeted me with the biggest kiss and hug and said, "You look beautiful", I fell in love with him all over again.

KUDOS to Michelle, "Fred", and Allison as they journey through the withdrawal of cigarettes. I am so proud of you all.

We will officially wrap up the Summer with a BBQ at a friend's house this weekend.

All that is left of the Summer is to pick the rest of the tomatoes off the plants, and dry the herbs from my herb garden.... OH YEAH - AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE KEY WEST TRIP AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER!!!!!

As always, there are many tribulations in life... it is the wise person who chooses to focus on the joys and blessings... They say wisdom comes with age. I am looking forward to growing old....

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hey Ma, wanna come?

Each year Outback Restaurant runs a contest, sponsored by Sam Adams. The restaurants compete against each other to see who can sell the most Sam Adams beer in a specified period of time. Happy to say, Allison has won AGAIN. The winner gets an all expense paid trip (for 2) to Boston. Allison told me that she has won the contest so many years in a row that they are thinking of renaming the contest to, "Let's send Allison to Boston again".

When she called to tell me she won, I was as proud as I was when she was 10 and her softball team won first place. Mothers revel in their children's victories. When she continued with her conversation and asked if I would be her guest I was THRILLED beyond belief!!

It is always wonderful when Allison comes home to visit.

I always plan an annual trip with a group of women to go visit Allison and we look forward to the planning and executing of that trip each year, too.

But THIS trip is different. This will just be Allison and me.... no other family, no other friends. We will have some quality time together - and the best thing of all.... it was HER idea....

Monday, August 09, 2010

Catholic School Education

Things I have learned in Catholic School:

God is everywhere and He loves everyone.

You should go to Church every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation.

There are 2 kinds of sins: Venial Sin and Mortal Sin

Sex is for the sole purpose of creating life. The church does not sanction birth control.

There are 7 Sacraments: Baptism, Penance, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Last Rites

GOD is made up of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

There are 10 Commandments and they should be the guideline for how you live your life.

There are Angels and Saints who will help us if we ask.

It is better to give than to receive.

Always bless yourself with Holy Water upon entering and exiting the Church.

No matter how thin you are, you can never look good in a pleated skirt –

I learned that when it seems like you are all alone in the world, God reaches out and holds your heart for you.

I think the most important lesson I learned in Catholic School is to smile and be nice to people. Having hooked up with old classmates through facebook, I have been told over and over that the one thing they remember is me smiling all the time. What a wonderful way to be remembered!!

I guess it WAS worth all that tuition!

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

You are HOW OLD??

I recently hosted a surprise 80th birthday party for my mom. We gave her a surprise 50th and a surprise 75th - I figured we didn't have to do it again until she was 100, but I was out-voted. My mom always thought is best to keep her age a secret (yeah, I know... I don't get it either...)

I have been struggling about how to write about this party. I can choose to recall all the ridiculous effort that went into pulling off the surprise. I can tell about the hard work and $$$ that goes into such an affair. I can even let you all know how we worked at coming up with the guest list.... But I think it is better to remember the sweeter moments...

I loved how the out-of-state guests (Allison and my sister) came a day early so we could start the party the day before the actual event.

I loved how we had a betting pool to see how long it would take my mother to say something stupid about our new puppy. Mr. Wonderful won, he guessed 10 seconds.

I loved how Allison told my mom how nice it was that we finally got a dog (St. Bernard) who can carry her ashes.

I loved how Bobby supplied the Ice Luge so we could all have ice cold Black Cherry Bacardi shots.

I loved how my cousins did not bat an eye when I asked them to travel from Jersey to Long Island on a Saturday in the Summer (God Bless you all for not mentioning the Hampton's Beach Traffic).

I loved how a "second generation cousin" actually WANTED to be there and she came bearing gifts - ASSORTED JELLO SHOTS!!

I loved how my 83 yr. old aunt (mom's sister) smacked me several times for making irreverent statements (WHO, ME? Irreverent??)

I loved how Mr. Wonderful volunteered to drive home some kids so they could continue to party until wee hours of the night.

I loved how "extended family" (read that: "Angela and Linda's friends") were happy to be a part of it all and helped in making the day a success.

I loved when I woke up the next morning, knowing that the house was still overflowing with love from the day before.

Happy Birthday, Mom. Thanks for giving me the excuse to have a party and make so many wonderful memories with my family.


Brother, Sister, Mother, ME!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Taking a Chance

I admit it - I am a Facebook junkie.

I feel like I am a part of my kids' daily lives just by reading and commenting on their daily adventures.

It has been a wonderful forum for me to stay in touch with my cousins - even second generation cousins. Instead of waiting for funerals and weddings, I can always say "Hi" and catch up on the little things that are happening with them. It keeps us close at heart.

I have been fortunate to be able to hook up with old classmates from High School - WOW, what a blast!!

I have even become quite proficient at Facebook Stalking... you would be amazed at what some people post about themselves.... but that is a topic for another blog entry.

Included in this "social network" is a very addicting 'game' called Farmville. I accepted an invitation to join about a year ago from one of my "second-generation" cousins. I entered the Farmville Community very slowly and cautiously, still unsure of what I was doing. In a short period of time, I became an addicted player: timing my crops so I could harvest in time, taking care of my animals and trees all the while progressing level by level. Soon, I found myself begging for neighbors so I could expand. I was quite proud of myself. I had over 100 neighbors and only personally knew about half of those people. The rest were suggestions from friends and 'neighbors'.

One evening, while tending to my farm, I see that one of my neighbors (who had a huge, exquisite farm) was asking for trees. I saw her online and simply asked, "What are you going to do with all those trees?". This started a conversation that has lasted for months on end!

At first our conversations were all about our farms. Soon we progressed to talking about ourselves and our families. I was amazed at how our friendship grew. Finally, after several months of talking, I asked where she lived (she was one of the smart ones who did not post her personal information). WOW - she lives about 15 minutes away from my sister!!

Mr. Wonderful and I planned an impromptu trip to see my sister in Florida. We were going for an extended 4th of July visit. My sister suggested we have a dinner party while I was there - JUST SO WE COULD COOK TOGETHER AND NOT HAVE TO EAT IT ALL OURSELVES (maybe I am kidding, maybe I am not!) My sister invited 4 of her closest friends and I invited my "friend from facebook" because I had to meet this person, that I have been talking to forever, face-to-face. We had an incredible evening, full of laughter and sharing. We made an unforgetable memory.

God sends us Guardian Angels all the time. It is up to us to realize that they are here and welcome them into our lives. I am grateful that my "friend from facebook" took the chance to come and meet me face to face. I am grateful that my kids no longer refer to her as "mom's imaginary friend". I am blessed to have a new real friend who is a part of my everyday life.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

No ID?

So Mr. Wonderful and I end up our wonderful impromptu get-away by returning our rental car and getting to the airport in plenty of time. HOORAY for us!

I consider myself a GOOD traveler, always prepared and extremely organized. I even took my license out of my wallet and put it in my pocket prior to leaving for the airport so I would not have to search for it as we entered the "security" passage. How was I to know that there was a possibility of said license falling out of my pocket somewhere between my sister's house and those evil looking security people?

Thankfully, we were greeted by a supervisor who was willing to take all my excess credit cards, insurance cards, Barnes and Noble club member card, expired Dress Barn Coupons AND Mr. Wonderful's word that I was indeed who I claimed to be.

What did I learn from this?
#1. Never take my licesne out of the safety of my wallet.
#2. Security in West Palm Airport leaves much to be desired.
#3. I guess Mr. Wonderful does love me - we had a helluva disafreement today and he could have easily left my ass outside of security disavowing any knowledge of me!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Motivation

As you all know (read) - we thoroughly enjoyed Allison's visit. Equally as enjoyable was looking at the pictures afterward and reliving some of the funnier moments.

THEN REALITY SET IN - Looking at those picture made me realize how much weight I had put on in the past couple years. I was blown away!! SO - I started my diet - a REAL diet. Cereal with low fat milk for breakfast, salad with non-fat dressing for lunch, protein and salad for dinner. Lots of water and lots of fresh strawberries.

I asked Mr. Wonderful for his help and he was willing to do anything I asked. I told him that I had to stop worrying about feeding him and Michael - he was going to have to take over that responsibility. I needed to be just a little selfish right now and take care of me. He was totally supportive and said he would do anything I asked.

I am happy to report that in the 5 weeks since Allison has left, I lost 10 pounds!! Mr.Wonderful has also dropped 10 pounds and he is still eating ice cream and sugar wafers!! He is just not eating my cooking!! Michael eats a lot of take out food and he never complains.

So, I guess it is plain to see, the culprit is my cooking! I am going to continue with this plan for as long as I can, with one little change. I will ALWAYS cook on Sundays when my little chickadees come home to roost.... but the leftovers will go home with Bobby (it's good to be the youngest kid!)

Saturday, June 05, 2010

A New Grandma-To-Be

When you have really good friends, you celebrate life with them. That means you take the bad with the good -

Thankfully, today, we celebrate the "good". I will wait with great anticipation as my good friend becomes a Grandmother for the first time later this Summer.

I usually crochet a blanket for all new babies, but I taught my friend how to make these blankets a while ago. That being said, I needed to come up with another idea for a homemade gift (I think every baby needs something homemade).

Can hardly wait to see Irene's Granddaughter covered up in this:

Friday, June 04, 2010

The "Baby's" Milestone

My "Baby" turned 25 today. I met Bobby for our weekly Friday morning breakfast and just seeing him sit across from me made me realize what a man he has become. He is thoughtful, responsible, caring, sensitive and a wonderful son.

When there is so much to do each day, we often take for granted the little things that make all the hard work worthwhile. I always describe myself as a wife and a mother, in that order. I work hard at my marriage everyday, and I am so grateful to have a good marriage. I also work very hard at being a good mother.

Staring at my youngest this morning was like getting a special present. It was validation of all the hard work that goes into being a good mother. I am so thankful that Mr. Wonderful and I were blessed with all our children....

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

God Bless Alexandra Michelle

To My First Granddaughter, Alexandra Michelle (Ally),
May God Bless you as you make your First Communion.

"I carry your heart with me....I carry it in my heart."




Allison's Visit Part 2

We welcome the newest member to our family. No offense, Sloane, we didn't need another dog, but we are happy you are here.

A Family Gathering in the Bathroom

This is us AFTER we think the camera is off.

My Beautiful Children (are you allowed to say that when they are adults?)-
Michael Jr., Michelle, Allison, Bobby

Monday, May 24, 2010

The Fam


The whole family smiles when Allison comes to town. Her visits are too seldom for me!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I AM!

I am tired.
I am grumpy.
I am on emotional overload.

There, I've said it.

I still don't feel any better... but thanks for listening.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Be Prepared!

1. go to the supermarket
2. go to the liquor store
3. go to the specialty market
4. go to the liquor store
5. go to the bakery
6. go to the liquor store
7. go to the beer distributor
8. go to the liquor store

Allison is coming to town. We will be having a party Sunday. This is an open invitation to anyone who reads it.

we will be prepared

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"Extended Family"

This past weekend we were guests at a Bat Mitzvah. We have watched the twin girls across the street blossom into beautiful young ladies. It was an honor to be guests at this huge celebration.

One of the nicest gestures of all, was to be greeted by all the parents of our granddaughter's friends. It was then that we realized that we do indeed have an impact on other people's lives.....

Monday, April 12, 2010

Greetings from Beyond

It has been a while since I posted - but with good reason. My Mah-Jongg group went on a field trip of sorts. We went to our favorite restaurant where a famous psychic (Robert Hansen)was going to do some 'readings'. Let me preface this by saying I am a true skeptic of such nonsense, but I am a team player and I was going along with the gang.

After a lovely dinner, Robert Hansen came into the restaurant and introduced himself. He told us a little about his life and tried to explain what was going to happen that evening. He said that the "spirits" would talk to him and they would guide him to people in the room - that we could not approach him.

He stopped for a moment. Closed his eyes. Opened his eyes and made a bee line for ME. He asked me, "Does the Coast Guard mean anything to you?" As you all know, my dad died 2 years ago and he belonged to the Coast Guard in his younger years.

Mr. Hansen closed his eyes once again, then he began to talk to me again. He said, "Your Dad wants you to know that he understands that you could not be with him when he died. He understands that if you could have been there, you would have been there." Again, those of you who know me, know that I did not get down to Florida until after he died.

Mr. Hansen said, "Your Dad tells me there was someone there telling him it was ok to let go. He is grateful that this person did that for him. He says he is happy to be out of that body and he is happy now". - My sister sat with him and talked to him and told him what a good father he was and that it was ok for him to go now.

Mr. Hansen asked me if I go to the cemetery. I told him I did not. He was quiet for a moment, then said, "Are you sure you haven't been to the cemetery?" - I reassured him that I had not. Then he said, "In the Jewish religion, when people visit the cemetery, it is customary for them to put rocks on the headstones. Your father is telling me that you TOOK stones from his cemetery, is that true?"

The tears just ran down my face. No one knew this, but I wanted to take something back to NY with me. On the day my father was laid to rest, I reached down and picked up several small stones close to my father's grave site and put them in my pocket.

This is just a glimpse of what happened that night. He spoke to me for over a half hour. Someone at our table had the foresight to bring a tape recorder and my son made me a CD of the transaction.

Towards the end of the evening, Mr. Hansen passed my table and said, "Your father said he got the pack of cigarettes you guys put in his coffin and he thanks you for that!" Yes, my kids put a pack of cigarettes in there, AND a lighter, and lots of other things that I am glad he did not mention in front of that crowd!

There is no possible way Mr. Hansen could have known the things he mentioned to me. NO ONE knew about the stones in my pocket. Am I believer? Let's just say I am a lot less skeptical now.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Top o' the mornin' to ye!

We celebrated St. Patty's Day early this year. Had the whole crew over for the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner.

My favorite part of the day is sitting at the table AFTER we've eaten and catching up with everyone (as if we didn't all talk on a regular basis anyway). There is something special about sitting together, digesting, having someone crack the nuts for us all to share (I think this is an Italian thing).

Funny, I don't remember any of the specifics about what we all talked about yesterday. The only thing I can recall is everyone had a full belly and a nice warm feeling all day long.

THIS, my friends, is what it is all about.....

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Hello...Spring... are you there??

Ok, I am officially ready for Spring to begin. I am so done with snow, winter coats, boots, etc. I am ready for Spring and all the things that come with it - the promise of new life, hope, and warm weather!

I am stressing the "Hope" this year. I always thought I had strong faith, but not until now did I realize the real meaning of faith. When I was little, I had a charm bracelet. There was a particular charm that I will always remember (and for those of you who had religious education, you will understand the significance). It was a trio that contained a cross, a heart and an anchor. This Spring, I need them all...

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Be is ever so humble...

We had a wonderful time in Atlantic City. This weekend I learned that there is a difference between, "doing nothing" and "having nothing to do". I am NOT good at doing nothing - I am VERY good at "having nothing to do"!!

On the ride down, I learned that one of my favorite authors had released the second book in her newest trilogy. I was thrilled!! I told Mr. W. that we would go to the mall on the Boardwalk and pick up the new book!! We checked into our room, made our deposit in the casino and freshened up for dinner. After dinner, we proceeded to the mall to shop for my book - THERE IS NO BOOKSTORE IN THE MALL!!! No worries, I checked my Barnes and Noble app on my iphone to see where the nearest store was - IT WAS 45 MILES AWAY!$#^&*! Needless to say, I had to wait to come home to get my book.

Day 2 - I was the dutiful wife and stood by my man as we toured the entire classic car show. No complaints from me!! Afterwards, we had to do some shopping. Mr. W. forgot to pack underwear for himself! Thank goodness this man is the CLEANEST man I have ever met and he was more obsessed with shopping for new underwear than he was at ogling at those cars for another 3 hours!

We did enjoy the rest of our little get-away. It was so nice just being together without the interruption of daily life.

Thank you to Little Michael who had dinner ready for us when we came home (or should I say - had dinner delivered just as we came home!)

I know I say it everytime, but, it is good to go away, it is better to come home!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

not so much news

After being chided for not posting often enough, here I am attempting to have an interesting, yet not pointless, post.

I am taking Mr. Wonderful away for the weekend. We are going to the Annual Car Show in Atlantic City. I am a good wife. I will walk beside him and "ooo" and "ahhh" at all the appropriate times. I will pretend to understand (read that "care about") what he is talking about. Cars are his passion. I don't get it. This, I will do for him.

Little Michael's construction will begin this week. Hopefully, the mess will be gone by the time we get home. I am happy he is finally moving forward on this project.

That's all I've got.... kinda boring... I guess the boring stuff sure beats having to report all kinds of bad news......

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

more renovations!

Bobby moved out.

Michael moved in.

Michael NEEDS to re-do Bobby's old room.

!!!Glory Be!!!! - Michael is paying for his own renovations.


Note to self: take a "before" picture, because you just know the "after" picture is going to be incredible

Look for updates!

Thursday, February 04, 2010

My Angels




Ally - 8 Yrs.
Ava - 3 1/2 Yrs.
"Always on my mind. Always in my heart"

Saturday, January 30, 2010

HB, LM

"Little Michael" has just turned 27. I wonder if we will EVER stop referring to him as "Little Michael"?

Our usual Sunday dinner will have a few more mouths to feed this week as we actually have a reason to celebrate something. Menu planning was very difficult, as I feel like I have made all possible foods within the last month and a half!! We are doing a casual family gathering - I am making a big pot of minestrone. Michelle is making a BIG salad. AND I will have all the makings for homemade pizzas available for all of us. This will be a "hands-on" fun day. Kind of like a "kiddie party" for adults. I plan on opening more than a couple bottles of wine tomorrow, too.

"Happy Birthday, Little Michael, and best wishes for many, many more...."

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Nice Memories

We are back from vacation. We vacation well. We know how to relax. Who wouldn't be able to relax while looking at this beautiful scene for a week?



We did have one funny moment. We all met up for dinner each night. My cousin (aka The Matriarch) and I showed up dressed like this!

Keep in mind, not only did we BRING the same shirt, we both chose to wear it on the same night!! I guess great minds DO think alike!!

So, cuz, where we going next year??

Friday, January 08, 2010

Thank You, Mr. Wonderful

On Christmas Eve, I noticed that I lost a bracelet. It was white gold with diamonds and it was a gift from my husband on our 25th wedding anniversary. I was terribly distraught at first, but then I remembered that I had worn that bracelet everyday for the last 7 years. I enjoyed that bracelet.

When Mr. Wonderful returned from some errands, I proceeded to tell him the following, "I have some news".

"That does not sound good" he said.

"It's not 'end of the world news', it's just news. I lost my bracelet, and I don't know where or when."

He replied, "That's not bad news! Now we can go get you a new one for your birthday!!"

I not only love my new bracelet, I love all the events that led up to me getting it. He really is a special man.

I love you, Mr. Wonderful.

Monday, January 04, 2010

A New Year, A New Checklist

Christmas tree down - check

Youngest child packed and ready to go - check

Take out the bathingsuits for our vacation - check

Envision sitting on the beach with a book in one hand and a cocktail in the other - check

9 days and counting....

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Roots and Wings

I am so proud to say that yesterday, Bobby closed on his first "home". He bought a co-op about 15 minutes away from us. I am grinning from ear to ear as I watch him take this giant step. I will miss him. Mr. Wonderful will miss him. But he will be home for Sunday dinners.

I have had all the other children move out, but this one is different. This is truly the event that says we have given them ALL roots and wings.

I am proud of us. We did a good job.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Making a list....

Today is food shopping day. I know I will do the homemade manicotti (a Christmas tradition)- but everything else depends on what the market has to offer. Hoping for some gorgeous artichokes and mushrooms...

I wrapped and sorted all the gifts last night, so I seem to be right on track. Working abbreviated days today and tomorrow and off on Thursday and Friday. It's almost like being on vacation!!!

Hard to believe we are winding down another year. I remember being a child and wondering if the year 2000 would ever come, and now I am knocking on the door of 2010!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Not a creature was stirring...



Looking at this scene, it is hard to imagine nearly 2 feet of snow falling outside!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

No Long Lines for me!

As Christmas Day approaches, I am amused at the hustle and bustle of families trying to get their shopping complete. I remember doing that. I remember wrapping and hiding gifts only to scavenge around on Christmas Eve to load them under the tree. I remember Mr. W. waiting for me to fall asleep so he could fill my stocking and put my gifts under the tree - (and, yes, he still does that!) I remember waiting to hear the squeals on Christmas morning as the kids discovered all their goodies.

Things are different now. With the kids grown, Christmas takes on a different flavor. I hang stockings for all the kids and give them all instructions to put something in each other's stocking. Then I fill them up. There are always envelopes stuck in the tree - their "Big" gifts. We wait until the extended family leaves on Christmas and we gather as an intimate group and open gifts. They all know they are getting their envelopes, but they still giggle as they unwrap the treasures found in their stockings. I love to watch them revert to being my "babies" once again...

Each year, someone proclaims, "This was the best Christmas ever!" I am looking forward to keeping THAT tradition going...

Monday, December 14, 2009

Highlights..

Highlights of the weekend:

Tree went up on Saturday.

Tree was decorated by everyone after a Sunday family dinner.

All the former Boy Scouts competed to make a roaring fire that generated enough heat to warm all of Long Island.

#2 Son threatened to Shrink Wrap #1 Son to see if he can slip him under a door.

What nice Christmastime memories.....

Monday, December 07, 2009

18 days to go...

I tried my best to muster up some Christmas spirit this weekend. It wasn't easy!

#1 Son moved in on Saturday. For a guy who rented a furnished apartment for a year - he certainly had a lot of crap to bring over! He is a good sharer, though. He brought 2 big flat screen TV's - one of which he is generously giving his brother for his new place. He also brought his Keurig Coffe Maker and planted it on my kitchen counter. This thing is AWESOME!!! I guess I will close my eyes to the two shedding pugs that are now roaming around the house, too.

Well, at least the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Now, if I can wrestle one of the boys to help me go buy a tree.... I would ask Mr. Wonderful to help, but he is too busy trying to train one of those shedding pugs!!!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

I Did, I Do, I Will Do

Today, we celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary. Although we've come a long way in 32 years, I am pleased to say that some things still remain the same.

I am still an early bird, he likes to sleep late. I fret about everything, he takes everything in stride. I am a realist, he is a dreamer. I am ALWAYS on time, he is ALWAYS late. I still think he is blonde, he still thinks I am beautiful.

Happy Anniversay, Mr. Wonderful. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for us...

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

The Menu(s)

I know it is WAY after the fact - but here is the Thanksgiving Menu. The reason I am posting it is so that I can get suggestions on what to put on my Christmas menu!

Appetizers:
Assorted Olives
Homemade Crostini
Assorted Cheeses
Imported Sun Dried tomatoes

Dinner:
Turkey
Southern Cornbread Stuffing
Grandma's Italian Meat Stuffing
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Carmelized Leeks and Asiago Cheese
Sweet Potato Casserole with orange zest and mini marshmallows
Broccoli Casserole
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower Au Gratin
Roasted Butternut squash with blue cheese crumbles and candied pecans
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Corn

Desserts:
Cookies
Blueberry Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Fresh Fruit Platter

What the hell am I going to make for Christmas??????

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Giving Thanks

Time to menu-ize for Thanksgiving. After careful thought and consideration, we are going with the same menu as last year. As my son said, "Ma, it's been a year since you used that menu. It's okay to repeat it." Nicely stated. So, we are doing a re-run. Happy Thanksgiving.

Also giving thanks for all the prayers that I have asked for recently. I am a strong believer in the power of prayer. We've had some good outcomes lately. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Waiting to give thanks to the Great Mortgage Broker in the Sky for granting my son a mortgage - Hopefully, we will hear some good news in the next couple weeks.

Thanks to my Mr. Wonderful. You are my love, my strength, and my best friend.

Giving thanks for all that we have - none of which I take for granted.

All that being said, I wonder if I still have to cook that awful American meal....

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Empty Nest?

The "baby" signed a contract on his new living quarters yesterday. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all things go smoothly for him. He will be moving to a co-op in a nearby town. I am so proud of him. He was the only one who stayed home and saved his money so he could buy something instead of renting.

Some people fear an empty nest. Not Mr. W and I - we welcome it. Well, that's what we say now. We are so confident because "empty nest" is not iminent... Number 1 Son will be moving in as soon as the little guy moves out!!! He, too, is looking for the opportunity to save some money!!

Who says there isn't a revolving door on our house???

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Big Apple(s)

Went to the city last weekend with my SIL. We love to go in, just the two of us, for lunch and a matinee. This trip we were treated with a matinee BEFORE the matinee!




Yes, Virginia, there is a "Naked Cowboy" walking the streets of Manhattan!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Too Pretty

My father loved to take pictures of food. When there was a holiday, he always had his camera in hand - not to capture some amazing family moments - TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE FOOD ON THE TABLE!!! He appreciated good food - not that he was a big eater - he just liked the looks of good food!!

The older I get, the more I appreciate good looking food. I never serve anything out of a pot. Everything is always put on a pretty platter. We always drink wine out of the "good" glasses - who the hell I am saving them for??? We should enjoy these things. Should things get broken, at least we would have had used them! I remember when my mom moved (after 40 years), she carefully wrapped and boxed all her fine crystal and china. She fretted when she unpacked that certain pieces were broken. All I could think was, WE NEVER USED THIS STUFF AND NOW IT'S BROKEN!!

Enough of my ramblings. Below is a picture of a roast I made Saturday evening for dinner:

This is what it looked like just before I took it out of the oven.


This is what was leftover AFTER I filled the beautiful platter !!

For those inquiring minds: This is a boneless pork loin that I stuffed with bacon, spinach and carmelized onions. mmmmm - what a beautiful picture!

Friday, October 02, 2009

Formal Top Banana

Allison is the manager of the Outback Steak House in Key West. Each year, Outback takes their managers away for a weekend. This year it was a cruise.

Below is a picture of Allison on her cruise, during "formal" night. No worries, she had on a bow tie and cuff links!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Great Weekend

We had an awesome weekend.

Friday night we went out to dinner with good friends. It was just such a relaxing evening. Good food, good talk, and plain old comfort in the air!

On Saturday, we had a special dinner with more friends. They brought the Pasta directly from an old pasta factory in Italy. They also supplied the anitpasto. I made the "gravy" (with meatballs) and dessert. A wonderful collaborative effort!

Sunday was quietly filled with sleeping in, watching football and wearing sweatpants!! A PERFECT combination.

Each night I plug in my iphone. Once a week I plug in the laptop. This weekend, I re-charged MY battery!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Update

I figured all my avid readers (all 2 of you!) would like an update after my hypnosis session. Well, there is not really much to report. I can say that I am very conscious about what I am eating and I have noticed the ability to make better choices. I will stay off the scale for at least another week....baby steps.

#1 Son is still sucking the life out of us - one breath at a time. I pray that he will find the strength to make the best possible decisions.

#2 Son is working hard and diligently saving money for a house. We will miss his dog when he moves out. His wonderful girlfriend still spreads sunshine every time we see her.

#1 Daughter is busy raising my beautiful granddaughters. I hope they always remember their recent trip to Paris and England.

#2 Daughter is also working hard and saving money for a house.

#3 Daughter is still pondering going to Europe for a year to work.

WHAT, I HAVE STRESS???? HA HA HA HA!!!

I need to go back for another hypnosis session - it was the best rest I've had in a LONG time!!

Friday, September 18, 2009

You're getting sleeeeepy....

I went to a seminar last night. It was a hypnosis session for weight loss. Hey, I am desperate, I will try anything short of getting my jaw wired.

I did hypnosis once before - 26 years ago - to quit smoking. I walked out of that one session completely smoke free. Of course, I was so motivated to quit that I think if a stranger on the street came up to me and said, "STOP SMOKING", I would have!

I am no less motivated this time. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to diet for quite a while now. The only thing I have succeeded in doing is gaining a few more pounds. Granted, there is extra stress in my life right now and I could blame that - but anyone who has kids knows - THERE IS ALWAYS STRESS!! It is time to get a grip!

The seminar was free. They charge you for the hypnotic session and follow up materials. All follow up seesions are free, also. Not a bad deal, so I paid and sat through the group hypnosis.

It is going to work? I'll let you know.... I want it to work, and I think that is half the battle. The other half is trying to keep my hands from shoving food into my mouth... baby steps....

Monday, September 14, 2009

Jersey is not THAT far, is it?

Saw the extended family this weekend. The family will be growing again - it was a baby shower. So nice to get together for happy occasions. I must love my cousin a lot - did I mention it was in South Jersey??? When I got the invitation, I simply responded, "Yes". There is nothing I wouldn't do for my cousin, "The Matriarch".

Trying to remember some of the highlights of the day.... Was it when Mr. W. touched something on the GPS and had us going around in circles? How about when we were making the punch and I decided to sample it, with an extra shot of Vodka (hell, it was 12:30 already, certainly time for a cocktail). Smelling the 5 different chocolate candies that were melted into baby diapers? Watching Jen open gifts? The hugs... I love hugging... it was good to hug everyone.

Yes, those were memorable moments - but for me, it was the 'visiting' that was the most fun... seeing my cousins, huddling in a corner, catching up in quiet conversations - THIS is what it was all about.

Thanks, Jen, for giving us a reason to all be together. Thanks, Angela #2 for hosting it at your beautiful house where we could all mull around and visit with each other. Thanks, Matriarch, for pulling the family together for this happy occasion. Thanks, "Accidental Mother", for showing up and proving to me that you are a real person and not just an avatar! And, a special thanks to Mr. Wonderful for never blinking when I said, "We have to leave at 9:30 tomorrow morning to go to a baby shower."

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Bedroom Humor

The picture below is what is on the wall over our headboard:





The last time all the kids were together, they decided to surprise us with an addition:



Ah, they know us so well....

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Labor Day Weekend

This is the first Labor Day Weekend that I have NOT been in Key West with Allison and "the girls" in 4 years!! We have decided to postpone the trip until after Michael allows us all to breathe normally once again! (This kid always was a pain in the ass!!)

We had a wonderful weekend - the boys spent the weekend with us. Spent a quiet Saturday evening together and got up early to do some marathon shopping at the outlets on Sunday. LOVE shopping at the outlets on the Sunday of a holiday weekend. There was no traffic and HUGE sales! We decided to come home when there was no more room in the car for packages.

After the shopping trip, we did take-out on Sunday night and went to bed early. Monday we held a contest to see who could spend the most time in their pajamas without showering. Michael won (or was it Joe??) - I totally lost (I was in the supermarket by 8:00am). BTW - a BIG thank-you to Joe for cleaning the downstairs - the bar looks absolutley amazing,!!

Michael has another stressful session this week - send the prayers, please.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Ice Luge

Just in case you were wondering what an "Ice Luge" looks like. The birthday boy is pouring a shot down the luge, while Bobby waits for the iced delight at the end! It is so refreshing to see all the kids play so nicely together!

This is what the yard looked like the morning AFTER the party. You would think I would have a picture or 2 of the yard DURING the party, but then again, I was not in charge of photos...

Thursday, August 27, 2009

CELEBRATE!!

It has been a while since I updated - but there was much to do and little time to get it all accomplished.

We hosted a birthday party for my son-in-law as he was reaching his 40th milestone. Allison flew up for the occasion - as no party is complete without her. As usual, the party began the moment Allison's feet hit the tarmac!

Allison arrived on Wednesday night and left the following Tuesday morning. In that short period we broke all land speed records in completing the following tasks:
a visit to Grandma who is still in rehab nursing those ankles, food and booze shopping for Sunday's festivities, food and booze shopping for "other than Sunday's activities", setting up the yard (per Allison, "I am glad I come up once a year to scrub your lawn furniture!"), intimate gathering of the kids on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, Cooking fest on Saturday, HUGE (40 people) party on Sunday, sleepovers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the last gathering of the kids on Monday (who all took off work except for Michael - he came by after work).

These kids clung to each other and laughed together for days. It was the sweetest time I can remember. The party on Sunday was just an excuse for them to get a "Vodka Ice Luge" to enhance their fun! I swear I had a permanent smile plastered on my face for days. Mr. Wonderful was just beaming. All those years of carpools, runny noses, sibling rivalry, cutting coupons, etc - it all paid off. THIS WAS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Relaxing at Mom and Dad's

This is the Michael that goes to work each day.



And this is the Michael we get on the weekends!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Words of Wisdom

Had another noteworthy weekend - noteworthy in that we had an uneventful, restful weekend with the boys.

Michael left our house around 8:00pm last night. The traffic heading towards the city was just horrendous. It took over an hour and a half for him to get home!! He called when he arrived home - so excited that he got such a great parking spot.... only to realize that his house keys were still at my house!!!

Mr. W promptly offered to drive to Brooklyn with the keys - but I offered a (more sensible) different suggestion. We met him half way!!

When we were safely tucked into our beds, I said to my Mr. Wonderful - "We had such a nice weekend, too bad it had to end like this." - and he responded, in his catch-all phrase that will live on through eternity, "It is, what it is". The man is just, ummm, "wise" - yeah, that's it, "WISE".

My sister has deemed Mr. W to be one of the world's greatest philosophers. She has nicknamed him, "Ari-Storch-Aclese"

Monday, August 03, 2009

Happy Birthday, Mr. W.

Sunday we celebrated Mr. Wonderful's birthday. He was treated like a King!!

Let me back things up by first stating that this man went to the rehab center on Friday to visit his Mother-in-Law (broken ankle lady). He brought her lunch, reading material and a month's supply of candy - AND HE STAYED FOR 4 HOURS!!! The man deserved to be treated like a King on Sunday!

I spent Saturday morning shopping like Grandma would have - this store for the meat, that store for the bread, etc. Then I came home and cooked for hours.

All the kids gathered - and there was even a special guest apprearance - My brother actually showed up!! (he heard I was cooking!). We did appetizers gathered in the kitchen - assorted imported cheeses and olives, homemade Tuscan bean spread and artichoke pesto to be smeared on homemade crostini. This was followed by dinner served in the diningroom: Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce, Sausage and Peppers, Eggplant Parmagiana, Salad (with homegrown lettuce - from Suse's mother's garden), and Ciabatta bread hot from the oven.

The kids did all the clean-up - then we sang to the man and cut into his homemade birthday cake (when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he requested jelly-donuts instead) - It was a 4 layered sponge cake filled with seedless raspberry jam, slathered in vanilla icing.

We had lot of laughs - and Michelle was there so we had some tears too!! We made a wonderful memory.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Wonderful. You are still the light of my life...

Monday, July 27, 2009

A proper close to a great meal

QUESTION:
What do you have at the end of a great meal?

ANSWER:
Some homemade limoncello in sugar-rimmed, iced glasses, of course!!



After we researched the best recipe, Mr. Wonderful bought the Meyer Lemons on line. Then he, Bobby and I proceeded to make the most fantastic limoncello ever!

Time to think about making more - there are only 3 bottles left!!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Urban Living

We celebrated the Fourth of July at Michael's apartment.


Here we are cooking up a feast:



"The Livingroom"



These are taken from the third floor looking down:



Notice the precision on this bookcase.
Obviously, this is a skill he picked up AFTER moving away from home!!


The view from his rooftop patio:


A Brooklyn Sunset:


"Happy Birthday, America"


Thursday, July 16, 2009

You did WHAT??

This is what 2 broken ankles looks like. Yes, my mom broke BOTH her ankles.

I've been falling all my life, haven't broken a bone yet - I guess instead of making fun of me all these years, she should have been paying attention to HOW TO FALL CORRECTLY!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Old Friends


Here is a picture of my "oldest" friends - We've been friends for over 30 years. The best part about having friends this long, is that it is natural for us to "feel" eachother's joy and pain.

Here we are at one of their son's wedding. We were all together last year at my daughter's wedding - and we will do it again at the end of this year for the daughter of the "third musketeer".

It is a privelege to grow old with these women.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Guga's new car

I cannot believe 3 years have passed since I got my little red car. Had to find a new one...



I pick it up tonight.

This is is just full of "toys"!! YIPPEE!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

307

Mr. W. and I went for our annual physicals this week. Yes, we do that together, always have, always will. We've been seeing the same family doctor for over 20 years!! There is something comforting about growing old with your doctor!! He still does things the old fashioned way. He examines us both in the same room, at the same time - a real family outing!!

Well, after the EKG's, the breathing tests, urine tests and blood work-ups, I am happy to say we are fine except for one minor glitch. MY FREAKIN' CHOLESTEROL HAS JUMPED TO 307!!! Mr. W. eats the same things I do (and he supplements his diet with vanilla ice cream and sugar wafers on a daily basis!!)

Damn, those Para-martyrs - they've slipped those bad cholesterol genes to me while my back was turned!!!

I had oatmeal for dinner last night. Mr. Wonderful had fried chicken cutlets and fried mozzarella... (misery loves company).

Monday, June 08, 2009

Not a Baby Anymore

It has been a while since I posted, I know. But if I have nothing good to say, why put it in print, right?

Yeterday, we celebrated the Baby's birthday. The "baby" being my youngest born. Bobby is 24 years old now. We had a quiet celebration, just a regular Sunday dinner (only 6 of us). He wanted an "intimate affair". Mr. W. asked if we could eat informally in the livingroom and watch the ballgame during dinner. Why not, after all, it was the "baby's" birthday!!

I made all of Bobby's favorites yesterday - JUST FRY ANYTHING AND PUT CHEESE ON IT!! Follow up with a homemade cheesecake! Happy Birthday, Bobby.

PS - I figure he is not a baby anymore when he brought his own beer to the party!!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Key West Friends

Say Hi to Allison's new friends from Key West!! (Allison is the one in the pink shirt)





Can't wait to meet them all in person!!

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Comfort

Had the opportunity to visit with some cousins this past weekend. Don't see them often enough... It didn't seem to matter. I guess when you share the same roots, the time between visits vanishes.

It was so nice to watch the next generation as they reached another milestone in their lives - reminiscent of our own "firsts".

It was comforting to be with people who share my history (and gene pool!). There were no airs - just good food, drink, and laughs. Hmmm, that sounds familiar... I was hoping to pass this on to my kids... I think I did!!

Monday, April 27, 2009

A Picture is worth...

Again, I say, "there are no words"...


You can't fake these emotions!