Brighter than the Sun...

Happy Memorial Day! After a long weekend up north getting the beach house and tiki bar opened up, I am finally home and bushed. The weather was pretty co operative and the company was fabulous! The wi fi and air cards-not so much. More than once it was noted that it was almost better when we simply had NO service and lived with it from Friday till Sunday or Monday.

I am just now pausing to remember those who have fought for our country as well as those who simply fight the good fight. My family, friends, bartenders and servers, my pharmacist, and fitness coaches. I love you and thank you all, for making my life more pleasant. Oh, and my lovely lovelies here in the blogosphere. Wether you comment or just read-my thanks to you. xo

Rapture...

Rapture? So what the hell was that all about? I never bother to get too hung up on these 'predictions' such as this or any other possible disaster. I never got hysterical and stocked up on water and provisions in case of Y2K or even a Michigan snowstorm. Seems we are never snowed in more than a day, and even then I can soldier on without milk and bread for a morning or two. Gives me a chance to get creative with some of those mystery packages in my freezer in fervent hope that one of them is my mom's German Apple Coffee cake. My true worries involve having enough vodka and/or wine to get thru the weekend without having to endure Kroger during crush time. So forgive me if my cynical ass found myself not surprised to NOT have had myself saved-along with the rest of the world. I still have bills to pay, weight to lose and flowers to plant. Business as usual. Thank goodness.

After Saturday dawned without incident, and without any eminent danger, I was free to continue with planned events. I headed downtown to a cool watering hole with some faces you may have met if you follow this scribbling I do on Sundays. It was a belated birthday get down for Michelle of Michelle's Spell, and sister Beth-always a delight- was here visiting. Oh, and of course, Baby Grouchy (Michelle's mascot and possible love child) was in attendance and could be found trying to get a buzz through fur absorption. And at our table, He stood a very good chance of this! Jim of J.R's Thumbprint endured my driving lack-of-skill, where we hooked up with Mark of Walking Man fame and professional hugger status, and I got to meet and get to know Erik of Erik's Choice-totally my pleasure. Twas a fun evening that flew by in what seemed like a few minutes.

Sooo, "Rapture" will continue to be the Blondie tune with the crazy lyrics that we used to sing along to in a Debbie Harry monotone voice. And those friends of mine-thanks to you all. I had a blast and hope we can do it again. SOON! xo

Rock and Roll Never Forgets....

Bob Seger is embarking on his farewell tour tour in Detroit this week; and he is now 62 years old. Amazing! In the greater Ossineke and Alpena area where I grew up, Bob is a local legend. His mother lives in Alpena, so he is a semi-regular out and about. He has been quoted as saying he loves the area because he is left alone, mostly. My sister has played golf with him and my brother has shot some nine ball with him at the local watering hole. All of us have our 'Seger' stories-me included.

One cold Northern Michigan night, a girlfriend and I were out trolling at the Alpena Holiday Inn when Bob walked in and caused a mild stir. He looked good, dressed in a wool trench coat and 'piano keys' scarf with snowflakes in his hair and on his eyelashes. My compadre and I played the scene verrry cool. Well now...Didn't Mr. Bob sidle up and buy us chickies a cocktail. The bartender set down our new drinkies and said that this one is from Mr. Seger. We gave him a raised glass 'thank you' nod and got back a reciprocal 'your welcome' from Bob. The DJ respectfully did NOT put on a Seger track that would have surely embarrassed him. After slamming down his drink, our local legend vanished back into the dark, snowy night.

I grew up with and loved his music and most of his songs evoke a fond memory. From skiing to school dances to hot dates, there was a tune for all times. Just reading his current concert play list is still a walk down memory lane. No offensive language in the lyrics for emphasis, just relevant songs sung from the heart.

So as he brings his final swan song to Detroit, I say sing those old songs, dude. And if I see you out again, this time I am buying the cocktails. xoxo

Mamma Mia...

Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms, Grandmas and special friends of children-young and old. We literally would not be here without you and one day is not nearly enough time to express our gratitude for everything you have done for us.

I was in Ossineke this past weekend for my traditional Moms Day visit and had a nice time with my 97 year old Gramma who can remember most every detail of the birth of her two children. Rock on, Grannie! My own Mom, after raising us 3 hooligans is now a proud Gramma of 8. She sacrificed anything and everything for us and I have the fondest childhood memories you can imagine. After school chocolate cake and milk, wonderful holidays, support in my gymnastic and cheerleading efforts, and family vacations, not to mention constant help with the raising of my son. Mom ran crowd control, refereed fights and kept us from killing each other. And nothing will ever compare to those times. After a wonderful breakfast, I brought my Mother back here with me for a few days visit where we will be enjoying some relaxing, fun time. Plan to shop, catch up on family stuff, and drink a little vino. The Red Wings are on tonight and will need our undivided attention and unbridled cheering if they are gonna pull off the miracle we need to win this series. Go Wings!

I also had lunch (4 and a half hours!) with an old and dear friend that is THE ultimate mother. She adopted a family of three children when they were tots and has raised them to be loving, caring and happy adults. How lucky and blessed were they to have found this jackpot in her loving arms! Baby, your the best.

And then there is my buddy who lost his mother this year. May the memories of his MomAngel comfort him today as he surely misses her. Heaven is richer in her warm presence. xo

I hope all of you had a wonderful day however it shook out for you. Celebrate the love for Mom today and everyday. xo

Pink Cashmere...

Crossing Hall road on Saturday, when the waves of nausea hit me, I thought the incessant stop and go traffic of a busy afternoon was causing that feeling in my gut known as 'car sickness'. Somewhere around Pontiac, after walking around a Target parking lot, I decided it really was some kind of fast-hitting flu bug. The fact that I had NO urge to do a 'Target run', clinched the diagnosis. Skipping planned party destination and turning around to head back home was the only 'run' I could get wrapped around. Dry heaving in a parking lot is decidedly NOT glamorous.

Sooo, spent the last two days sleeping and recovering from what turned out to be a 24 hour bug. Watched endless HGTV and read when my eyes could focus. Even treated myself to ice cream without any heed for calories--it really is the only 'flu worthy' food! And finally, at this late hour on Sunday, I am feeling human and even plan to meet Walking Man (Mark) for java and chatties tomorrow. Watch out friends, your ears may be ringing! (Michelle, Jim)

********Just in-Osama Bin Laden is dead! May his evil soul rot in hell.*********

To the rest of you lovelies, Happy May Day. I think spring is finally here! xo

P.S. In lieu of my still wan appearance, I am posting a pic of a mermaid painting I did for dear friends Mark and Marty who accused me of doing a self-portrait. Moi? Silly boys....xo

Alleluia...

My dear old Gramma used to say that on Good Friday it would be dark and gloomy and maybe rain from the hours of 12:00 to 3:00, while our good Lord was suffering on the cross. And this year she was right again.

As kids we observed Lent in all it's formats and never ate meat on Fridays. Lots of creamed tuna on toast with peas, if I recall. We thought long and hard before choosing a sacrifice for the season that would be easy enough to actually do and hard enough to still count. We didn't always make it, but at least we understood the meaning of sacrifice. Good Friday then was a day of reverence and we spent it indoors doing a quiet activity or watching mass on the t.v. Mom would usually be ironing. At promptly 3:00 plus 2 seconds, we were sprung from our vigil and coincidentally, the sun usually broke thru as we busted out the door to play. Another sign that the sacrifice of respect could be over.

Then after the Easter morning hoopla of baskets and eggs, we were spit shined up and hauled off to Mass. For some of those years, women still had to cover their heads, and I loved the spring hats that were on display. In northern Michigan we always pushed the limits considering that the temps were usually quite chilly and possibly snowy. But my Mother always treated Easter as the biggest holiday of all. Even bigger than Christmas-which is, in fact, the Catholic way. We waited impatiently for the hour to pass to go home and get our hands on those chocolate bunnies that were waiting.

I guess looking back, lent and Easter were probably our first lessons in sacrifice and selflessness. Altho I do not officially practice the season in that way, I love the things it taught. These days hold very little sacrifice for me, and being selfless is even harder. Having a wonderful dinner with friends made the day perfect and well, the rest of it I'll just have to work on. I promise.. xo to all of you on this glorious day.

Turn the Page....

Dig this pic of JR and I on our coffee and chat recently at Big Apple Bagels. I was all vacation sloth-like while Jim is as lean as a cat due to loooong, daily runs to the beach. I've heard running can help lift your mood but I prefer food and wine--hence the post vaycay chub!!! So how do you actually help a friend who's low? I hate to see anyone I care about in pain, but what really works in the way of helping to ease it? I've been grouped in a very special category with The Walking Man, as an honorary therapist, but all I've done is slurp coffee-that JR bought--and listen. It's sorta like a funeral where there are no words-available or necessary. Desperately, I sometimes fall back on the old chestnuts, you know, all things for a reason and when one door shuts, one door opens and the such. As inane as they sound, there is a bit of truth to 'em. As humans we just slog along thru the mud-or mud throwing-and eventually things even out and seem better. Or maybe it's just that we finally adjust to our new situations. Changes or shake ups in our routines are scary, especially after a long time of familiarity and comfort. Maybe the change has left us more open to something different-and dare we say better. Who can say? Time doesn't heal all wounds, but it does give us a chance to fill our days with new diversions. So much for all my womanly insights as a gal who's been to more than one rodeo.... The only things I know for sure that it doesn't matter what people think of us. It's not our responsibility to care about what they think. Your friends know the truth without being told. xo P.S. After numerous attempts to create paragraphs-what you see it what you get! Blogger refused to place nice. :( P.P.S.S. Detroit sports are rockin' the D! Tigers and Red Wings and new Pistons owners. Oh my...