January 13, 2014....Happy Birthday, Susan O.


Golden Globes aftermath...

The day after any major awards show is one of my guilty pleasure days. I love to look at what the "stars" were wearing and read the comments on how "awful" they looked and read the "grades" they received from whoever sets themselves up to judge such things. I have my own opinions, but no one ever asked me to publish, for public consumption, what those opinions are... It might be fun to evaluate these outfits, but I am way too polite to write the comments that I read today. Two women were criticized for wearing shower curtains, one was obviously pregnant and the other just got bad advice, I guess.

I would love to know how the stars selected their outfits. Do they get to choose or do the designers make offers and the stars select a designer? I know how my friends and I select dresses for special occasions and none of my friends would show up in a shower-curtainesque dress. Neither would these stars, if they shopped with me or my friends. The more important the occasion, the more brutally honest we are in the fitting room. "Take it off, now!" would have been the comment for many of these disasters....where were the best friends when they were making these blunders? Two of my nearest and dearest are marrying off daughters this year. One I will shop with, I hope, and the other has already had some of us look at pictures of dresses she likes, asking for opinions. How difficult would this be for those in the industry? Tell me, what possible excuse is there for Heidi Klum to look anything other than fabulous?

So on the occasion of the birthday of my dear, dear friend, Susan, I just want to say: Friends don't let friends shop alone...especially for important occasions!

New Year's Day 2014

We had a stay at home New Year's Eve with Liz and the kids. We played a few rounds of Apples to Apples and then took a walk around the block. Several of the neighbors were shooting fireworks, so that added to the festivities for a short while. We watched all the NYE broadcasts and were well entertained. Around 10:00 pm, Jerry wished us all a Happy New Year and went to bed. Around 10:30, David came home and that made all of us happy...New Year or not. We had sparkling Pomegranate Apple  cider and toasted in 2014 with people we love and care about. Dan called around 12:15 to wish us all a Happy New Year. His crew also stayed home and all made it to midnight...impressive crew aren't we?

Today, I swore I was not going to start a diet...so I ate a broccoli and egg omelet and a clementine because I felt like it...how's that?! It's what you do, not the reason you do it that matters, right?

Bella woke up hungry and wanted "California Eggs". We were out of regular bread so I asked if I could use bagel thins...she agreed and we now have a "fancy" new breakfast...

While Bella was eating, I started going thru my iPhoto pix and bored her out of her mind. Fortunately, Joan Green called to wish us all a Happy New Year, so Bella made her escape. Joan made a kind offer to grocery shop for us before we come home on Tuesday. Joan, that is so sweet and much appreciated. 

I usually hatch a plan for the coming year on New Year's Day...but I have no clue. I have had some thoughts about our plot in the Community Garden, which I shared with Judith and Jen Barone, our fearless leader. Beyond that, I think I will involve myself, in some way, in community theatre this year. I have been a frustrated actress all of my life...not entirely true- in high school and college I did tread the boards. I also plan to be more active in yoga and tai chi classes at the Y. I plan to keep tutoring and working with Hopatcong Municipal Alliance and Mental Health Players. I need to do something to perk up my writing group since we have dwindled down to two.  Oh that's what I need to commit to...to write everyday! Oh, and of course, Saturdays are for Susan! There, now I have officially started the New Year. 2014, I have high hopes for you ;-)

Aging Nicely...merges with whatever this is

Well, no point in overcrowding the site by writing every single thought that comes into your head.

Honestly, I had completely forgotten about this site and now that I am looking for a blog site, why not take this one up again (?).

I have a lot on my mind these days and I wanted someplace to share it. Of course, you have to find it.

I have been retired for 8 years. I always thought that my retirement would be a segue to a new career. I even know what I want to do, but things, or rather people, get in my way. I want to be a life coach or a personal counselor. I have no idea how to begin and I have very mixed feelings about the concept. I know that degreed people who dispense advice, often fall short of what is needed. I believe that at this point in my life and with my years of experience interacting with assorted age groups, I have some advice to offer to those who want it. I am not going to start dispensing unsolicited advice, so my children don't need to start hiding in fear.

I am the the child of "this is none of my business, but...". So I know how well that is received.

My aim is to help those who are specifically seeking my advice, in areas in which I have some experience and knowledge.

I am going to use my time away to get organized and I hope that this blog will offer me a place to do
that.

January 1, 2014...

Obviously, that went well...not! I have long forgotten about this site. I think I do give advice to those who ask. I am way too disorganized to set myself up in business. I do think I would be a good counselor...I can say "how do you feel about that..." just as well as the next guy.

Flexsers and NJ Christianos

The blogs the thing, whence I shall communicate with thee, you and you also.
Now that I got that over with ... I have always wondered what I would blog about, well starting today I will find out.
Things started out slowly today, we brought bagels home from our favorite local bagel shop and ate on the deck, it is one of my favorite things about summer, being able to eat out of doors.

We drove up to Newton to rescue Taya from boredom at a rummage sale her parents were doing at a local church. On the way home, Susan O. called and we agreed to meet for lunch at a pizzeria that we all like. Taya got to entertain new adults, one of her favorite passtimes.

Today was Hopatcong Days, day #1. I must admit, that in 30 years, this is the first time I attended...I don't know if there has been Hopatcong Days for 30 years, but I know it has been going on for years, but this year, I read the website and decided that I would bring Taya and we would check out the festivities.
Number one activity on Taya's to do list was Face Painting. We found the best face painter I have seen, and we have visited some face painting booths in our day. Cait's Paints featured a few samples, all expertly done and she offered to create whatever else the subject wished ...Taya wished to be a Lion and when Cait was done, Taya was thrilled. She purred, growled and claimed to sniff out her parents at dinner later...

The rest of the visit included mini golf, whiffle ball toss, mallet swing, snow cone, cotton candy,
bouncey slide, bouncy run and rock climbing.

We had a great time. Jerry got to hear a talk about and see a python that would grow to 27 feet long . He chatted with a neighbor's son who is a big reptile fan and had gotten some collector cards, which he showed Jerry. There was a guitar player who sang and played some John Denver type songs, which made the atmosphere even more pleasant.

The consensus was that the organizers did an outstanding job of creating a "kid friendly" activity that was blessed by clear skies and cool temperatures.

By the time we were ready to leave, Dan and Stacye were done with the rummage sale and hungry so we met them at Frank's. Then they brought the rummage leftovers to store in my basement until the townwide garage sale in the Fall...I can't wait.