Happy Birthday....

My brother Steve, is more than a brother.  I am lucky enough to also call him 'friend.'  At 18 months younger than me, I am his older and wiser(?) big sister.  He was  a 'Birthday Blogstar' a few years ago so I'm not going to repeat how blessed I am again.  Don't want to give him a big (gray) head-he already sports the biggest Tiger hat that they sell at Comerica Park!

Happy Birthday to the best rum drinkin', barbequin', sport fishin',  joke tellin', Ford sellin' freshwater Conch there is!  Looking forward to more smiles with you, my brother!  XO

The Scotsman...

 Who's your Paddy?!

With a bonnie lassie like Shannon O'Sullivan (Adams), the celebration starts very early.  It was the top 'o the morning when I came down the stairs to find an adorable vignette that included all things related to the day such as four leaf clover plant, a rainbow fruit platter, tattoos, pots of gold, as well as some horribly disconcerting leprechauns.  (Shanny did not know of my mortal fear of the damn things!)

Irish coffee was available as we 'lined our pots' with magically delicious reuben's for brunch.   After kilting it up, we packed the boat with fellow revelers, Steve, Frank and Debbie and proceeded to hit up the sandbar as well as numerous watering holes.  Because my kilt was a wee bit shorter than I wish, Debbie was assigned with 'booty duty' to insure no one got their eyes burned with a flash of my shamrock.  With our favorite arrival song-The Scotsman-blasting, I'm quite sure we were a sight to behold.  We were treated to an authentic bagpipe serenade during lunch at the Lorelei that was amazing.

The party progressed with all of our usual 'shannon-igans' (there may or may not have been Irish Car Bombs) and at our last stop of the night, Donnie proposed this awesome and befitting toast:

"There are good ships and wood ships.

That sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, 

May they always be!

Till next year my Dolls......XOXO

Little Queen of Spades...

 The magnet on my fridge says, “It’s good to be the queen.”  

Randy calls me the Queen.   Not A Queen,  or Queen Bee or even Queen B—-h, but THE Queen.   When peeps call him and inquire about the Queen, it’s my well being getting the askance.  Glad we got that straight.....

I like to think I am the ruler of our little monarchy, but Randy and I make all royal palace decisions equally.  I did not inherit the position, but Randy treats me as such.  I have appointed Hazel as my little Princess.  

As a long time royal watcher, I have always been intrigued by all the pomp and privilege involved.  Actually, being that the Queen is more a figurehead, Lady Diana was way more watchable and relatable to me.  She was able to wield her power to help others in a very hands-on way.  I loved her humble, gracious demeanor.  I mourned her death as well her loving influence, and aspire to emulate her in any way that I can.

The royals and I share a love of millenry and I collect and wear hats regularly.  Resemblance to her majesty ends there-pretty quickly.   But I will continue to rule my little kingdom with Princess Hazel but my side.  I will decree 'Happy Hour,' dinner locations as well as possible shopping excursions.

I'll just plop on a hat, grab Hazel and enjoy the royal life that I am fortunate and grateful to have.  happier life and for this I am royally grateful.

It's good to be The Queen!

W.O.M.A.N...

 Today is International Women's Day.  Huh?  Am I the first to hear this?  IWD originated in 1909, but has been unknown to me until today.   Much of this day's origins are politically based, and well, you know I won't be going 'there.'  My blog-my opinion!  I choose a much more literal way to ponder it's (true!) meaning.

In a favorite book series, Clan of the Cave Bear, we learn that women were the ones to first discover and teach men how to make a fire.  Clever thing she was with that flint rock-otherwise those dolts probably would still be rubbing two sticks together.  And her hand sewing up those little fur numbers, kept them warm and their man bits covered as well as safe from a campfire burn emergency. Very valuable stuff there.

And speaking of sewing, how about that Betsey Ross whipping up the flag we fly proudly today?   Betsey killed the game with her stars and stripes design but a man named George Washington stole her thunder.  First president, founding father, blah blah blah.  

It goes unsaid that without women to carry the babies, mankind would not have evolved.  Since nine months of pregnancy, labor and delivery are equal to a man suffering from a common cold, this would not be a good thing.  (And why isn't it called 'Womankind?)

And I am in awe of voices like Karen Carpenter, Stevie Nicks, Whitney Houston, and Carly Simon.  These women sing songs that make me smile every day.  And in the seventies, when Helen Reddy had the nerve to write and sing a song about empowered women, I was all in.  I drove my Dad nuts singing those powerful-and at the time, pretty novel lyrics.

So let's agree that one day is hardly enough to recognize the accomplishments of women.  Not to bash men-cuz I love 'em.  But at my house, without me, who would change the toilet paper roll?

I am woman, hear me roar!  XOXO

 

Two Outta Three Ain't Bad...

 The Urban Dictionary, (you know, the place for all 'real' definitions!) officially defines the word 'Banger' as a party involving three things-lots of alcohol, skanky chicks that leaves the house a total mess.

We threw an old skool  'banger' last Saturday night at the beachhouse that checked two of the three boxes.  Cuz we're cool' like that....

Much revelry happened and Sunday morning found the garbage full of stinky crab leg shells and a bar that was covered in dripped butter.  The bag of empty bottles could fund a full tank fill up on Berry Manilow-my truck if you didn't know.  Giant muddy paw prints from my Neph-dog Quito added a design to my sticky floor along with the random spillage and crumbs.  I found a beer can in my laundry room and two guests left their eye glasses!  There was a definite lack of 'skanky chicks' but Cheryl, Trish and I did our best to be cute while sipping our lemon drop martini's.

So  I greeted Sunday morning with a fuzzy head and lots of coffee.  (Lemon drop martinis have absolutely no effect on me... Cough, cough.) I spent the morning cleaning up the wreckage.  It was a great party with lots of food, friends and laughs.  And vodka.

 Now about those 'skanks'... I'm too O.G. (old gangster) for that shizz!

Have a banger of a week and I'll sea ya next week from the beautiful Keys! xoxo