Take me Away...

Aah, the sweet days of strolling Ann Arbor in a halter dress are done and over for another year.  I love AA, a perfect college town with an eclectic mixture of culture and collegiate.  Art, beer, dining and youth make it a favorite place of mine-culture vulture that I am.  I love to pretend I'm a University of Michigan student doing my thing instead of an aging yuppie horning in on all the fun.  Oh well, I can dream can't I?

It's officially fall.  I have the 'yard dudes' coming over tomorrow to help me put my yard to bed.  Today for the first time, I have the fireplace on.  The days are getting so short and I will be happy to 'fall back' when that time comes.  The leaves on our street are slowly getting orange and my planters have officially given up their color.  One lowly white iris stubbornly is blooming.

Of course the two wins the Tigers have had over the Yankees have me jazzed.  We have tickets to tomorrows game and I can't wait.  It's not going to be a tank top and cutoffs night, tho.  I will be digging out the sherpa coat, boots and mittens to cheer our boys on. 

Pretty routine week here at the ranch.  Sometimes I like it that way.  Enjoy your fall and the changes it brings.  xo

Come on, Come on...

So Friday morning finds me wandering out to my mailbox with bleary eyes, bed head hair, Starbucks mug in hand, clad in only a plush leopard print robe.  Truly a sight for sore eyes and morning commuters whizzing by.  Certainly not the vision they needed burned into their brains on this, the beginning of the weekend.  But I digress.  My peripheral vision shows my neighbor-up with the birds, I presume-lugging stuff out of her garage for a sale.  Oh Lord..the utter ambition.

Flashbacks!!!

Until the past few years, when she had nothing else to sell, my Mother held her annual 'G Sale'.  Such sale was a major production involving our whole family with weeks of preparation.  My sister, brother and I would be called upon to sort through clothes that didn't fit and toys that we no longer played with.  My Mom scoured the basement and storage areas of the house for things that did not make the cut for last years sale.  My Dad would move his stuff around the garage to allow space for the set up.  His truck was used to haul tables needed to display the merchandise.  My mom would painstakingly price each and every item, securing a small paper tag with a straight pin.  We then filled the spaces with organization that would rival a Gap store. 

In the preceding week, friends and neighbors would be phoned and invited to the 'pre sale'.  Early sales were necessary to make room for better displaying of the goods.  All week, our hallway and bathroom were busy as the area doubled as a fitting room, one with no limit on the number of garments allowed.  Children were left to their own devices to shop or play with toys.  There was always a 'free box' where they could help themselves to headless Barbie dolls and puzzles with missing pieces.

On Friday morning, my Mom would be up at the crack of dawn setting the dough for her famous cinnamon rolls.  These gooey treats were traditional and fill the house with their lovely cinnamon scent.  The goodies would be ready around eight and my auntie, uncles, grandparents would pour in to grab a mug of coffee and a roll as we waited for our customers.  Usually we just got our signs posted when it was time to open the garage door.  Our sales were legendary and our shoppers did not disappoint.  Sales were brisk until lunch when we would stop for chili and sandwiches.  It was fun to count the money box to see how we were doing.

At six the door would close and we would wrap up the day with pizza.  Saturday was much the same except all items were sold at half price.  Sales were slower but it was important to get rid of the stuff.  Sale goers were encouraged to buy, buy, buy.  At four, we boxed up the remains and prepared to 'curb it' for the garbage man.  Money was counted and recorded and split among us.  The cigar box was put away for another year.  Inevitably we would comment that it was the best sale ever.

Feeling tired and content, we were happy to retire from retail/resale for another year.

Thank you all for your patience in reading what may be my longest blog post ever.  It was simply a story that must be shared.

P.S.- Do you have or go to garage sales? Or do you just call Purple Heart?  Ever find any fabulous finds?  I'd love to hear.. xo

I Wear my Sunglasses at Night...

Check out my girl Kristin and me showing off our new sexy specs! Hers are Chanel! and mine are Brighton, if anyone really gives a rats ass.  Both of us are sun glass crazy and could be seen sporting them around Eastern Market as we tailgated for the Lions game yesterday.  This shot was at one of our favorite watering holes-Vivio's where we talked our way OUT of the five dollar cover charge (the bouncer was an easy target) and enjoyed Bloody Mary's-mine virgin and spice free due to my still spongy stomach.  No matter, they were delicious and sooooo awesome.

However, not so awesome was our team, the Detroit Lions.  Amidst high hopes for the season, they simply cannot seem to get it together.  That I carefully gather from what others say and the approximately 2 minutes that I actually paid attention.  Sort of.  Oh well, my beloved Detroit Tigers took up all the slack with their fantastic win which puts them even closer to being in the AL Central Pennant race. Just 3 more games left!!! And with our own Miguel Cabrera in the run for the Triple Crown, things are really heating up.  I LOVE baseball and I have explained before, it's in in my D.N.A, as my whole family are rabid fans dating back to my grandpa and probably beyond.  On my Mother's visit, (she left Sunday, boohoo!) she was glued to the Ryder Cup, a big tournament in golf.  I don't much care for golf, but I love her enthusiasm.  Up north, my Dad, Brother, and Sister as well as most of my Uncles were similarly engaged, probably wearing out the 'last' remote button as they flip back and forth not to miss anything!  It's our passion. Yes, you could call us sports nuts.  Or just plain nuts-that works too.

Oct. 01 marks the start of a full month of Breast Cancer Awareness.  Let's be thoughtful of ALL cancer and it's insidious effects on the people and the families suffering from it.  A phone call, card or kind words can go along way.  Hell, I just had a minimally invasive and minor surgery and was totally touched by the outpouring of concern.  It makes me renew my resolve to be a more thoughtful person.

Enjoy this glorious fall week and GO TIGERS!!!! xo

You Give Love a Bad Name....

Good Grief! What's this world coming to when Nordstrom's is pimping t shirts with whitetail deer on them?  The tines on the deer represent the approximate number of holes currently in my abdomen following my recent laproscopic surgery.  Yes, I was a surgery virgin until last Friday altho Mark, (The Walking Man), expert on all thing surgical and beyond, did his best to coach me thru it.  His tips regarding my impending nudity while freezing half to death while 8 people in masks view my 'regions' was very helpful.  My hiatal hernia experience came off without a hitch and I am home happily recovering, not too much worse for the wear.  My Mom is here nursing me along my recovery.  She's fabulously handy at cleaning, making casseroles and even cutting back my irises.  I think I'll stay uncomfortable for just a little while longer than necessary just to keep her here.  And to watch 'Dancing with the Stars' with me.  We both have that guilty (not really so guilty) pleasure and love to critique expertly (of course), while admiring all the hot euro trash in tight pants! Yes,please..

On a much different note, I want to give a jspot kiss and hug to friends Ben (sometimes commenter, BenJammin') and Dave, who's sons are both deer hunting in Youth Season.  And both of the boys are named Zach!  Ben's son, age 9 has already bagged his buck and the other Zach will probably get his very soon.  But the big nod really goes to the Dad's for the lessons they have taught their son's.  Firstly, the support it takes while the boys got their licence to hunt, and then hours while the shot is perfected.  Next comes time waiting in the blind teaching patience, dedication, and perseverence.  And lastly, the respect of mother nature all while bonding over some Father/Son time.  What a beautiful thing. Congrats guys.

 

Oh, just one more thing...How about that women going all 'Goodwill Hunting' and finding that painting for 9.99 at the local thrift store.  And then reselling it at an auction for 37,000.00!  How cool is that?  I love thrift stores and once found a 50 dollar bill in the pocket of a vintage tuxedo jacket that I had purchased. And another friend who happened on a very cool chess set that turned out to be solid ivory which she sold at a very solid profit on Ebay.  Whoo Hoo.  I'll be paying much more attention to the 'art' section of the stores in the future.

 

Any shway..got to get to my recovering..feet up, check.  Phone(s) within reach, check.  Ice water, Lola,  Ipad and blankee, check, check, check and check.  And to all of you Dolls, check ya later! Have a great week. xoxo

Girls, Girls, Girls...

Hello Monday!  After our annual Girl's Weekend, normalcy is looking mighty fine to me. 

Getting together with friends I usually have not seen in a year is always a blast.  Sister in law extraordinaire, Cheryl, does most of the planning and organizing, and no detail goes unchecked.  We have little routines and rituals that she makes sure are carried out-no matter how crazy-it's all part of our sisterhood.  It's the closest thing I'll ever get to a 'sorority'-something I never wanted to have any part of.  But this is different.  No rushing.  No initiation.  No dress up dances.  And most importantly, NO BOYS!!  We catch up on each others lives and laugh ourselves sick.

But it's back to reality-thank the good Lord.  I do not want a cocktail for breakfast-even if it's disguised as a healthy thing with tomato juice, celery, or orange juice.  I will happily get my diet on track without yummy dips, too much cheese, and hot dogs on a stick.  I promise to drink 64 ounces of water today to counteract a s'more shot and a Barry White martini.  (the latter was sipped while listening and dancing to his Big Sexiness-all without spilling a drop!)  Makeup will be on my face and the sweats are in the wash. I'm going on a loooong walk in hopes of burning off some of the 7 gajillion calories I ingested with total and utter abandon.  And I will go to bed at a reasonable time instead of bonfireing and stargazing until all hours.  Absentee 'sisters' can sleep peacefully knowing that they will not be 'drunk dialed' to be reminded of all the fun they are missing.

So till next year, my lovelies.  Enjoy your lives and be assured that your honorary therapy weekend will happen again next year-we should be recovered by then!  xo

Try a Little Tenderness...

It is with total frustration that I will try to re-create the blog I posted yesterday and inadvertently erased.  It's, by the grace of God, the first time I've had to do this.

Ummm, yeah, OK.  First I wanted to acknowledge National Suicide Week.  Most everyone has been touched by this senseless and tragic choice. In my experience, there is very little you can do for the person who chooses to take their life.  Providing an ear and shoulder is about the whole of it.  Usually, by the time a person's mind is made up, very little can be done to change it.  But the people left behind in these senseless tragedies really are the ones we can help.  As in any death, there are really no words of comfort except I'm sorry.  It is a wound that I don't think even time can heal, due to residual feelings of culpability and guilt.  I've heard support groups can help.  God save us from having to go thru this, and give us the grace for compassion to those who have suffered it.

Next, I went on about Grandparents Day.  This is the first Grandparents Day that I find myself without any Grandparents.  A sort of Grandparent orphan, if you will.  With the passing of my Gramma this spring, I became nobodies granddaughter.  I was lucky to have them in my life as long as I did.  I miss them and think of them everyday.  Who else will be happy with a short call or visit?  Who will listen with rapt interest while I blab on and on about the details of my life.  Even minutia was important to a grandparent.  I could count on being told I looked good even if I had gained 5 (or 10) pounds.  My Grampa would could me liver and onions with so much love that anyone could have been converted to enjoy this sometimes dubious treat.  My Gramma made Norwegian cookies and made sure that I got my own personal tin every year thus contributing to my weight gain.  I loved my Grandparents and feel deeply the hole they have left in my life.  I pray someday to be able to be the same kind of Gramma to my own grandchild.

Yesterday, when I posted, I was feeling melancholy.  Telling you all what was on my mind helped.  Thank you all for 'listening'.  And for this, I loves ya. xo

P.S. My original post surely was much better than this regurge!!! PPSS-Rosegarden, Charles and Mark all left lovely comments that I am happy to have read before I did the big erase!  Not even sure how I did it! Grrrrr.....

September Morn...

Happy Labor Day!  Hope everyone enjoyed their 3 day weekend.  And what a weekend it was.  Family descended on the beach house and the weather was glorious.  Perfect for B.B.Q., boating, observing the 'blue' moon, bonfires and s'mores.  Niece Nicole 'celebrated' the full moon by losing her bikini bottom while jet skiing.  That girl does know how to get her party on!

But, yay!, now my favorite season is upon us.  Fall, or Autumn as I like to call it, is just around the corner.  The nights are getting cooler, the kids are back in school, and life seems to take on more structure.  As a creature of habit, this all bodes well with me.  As every change of season approaches, I like to treat it as another beginning.  A fresh start.  Time to re-organize my neglected house and recommit to a healthier lifestyle.  Put my yard to bed.  Be home a little more and catch up with correspondence. Cook a bit more.  Try out some new soup recipes. (well, maybe order them while dining out!) Visit my family up north and some friends down south. Watch movies that I've been wanting to see.  Get my hands on some good, crisp Michigan apples-McIntosh being my favorite.  Watch in amazement as Halloween stores pop up everywhere.  Plant some big purple cabbage thingies.  Smell that delicious smell of burning leaves. 

So, after one of the hottest summers on record, are you ready to embrace fall?  Any plans?  I'd love to hear 'em.  xo