Christmas Reflections

Challenges.  That is what this last six months has been for me and as I reflect on this Christmas Day. I have had a year that has led me to where I am now which is one with my spirit. I can only be glad yet again that some of the trials and tribulations found me and made me what I am at this moment. The free dictionary defines Trials and Tribulations as a cliché of “problems and tests of one’s courage or perseverance.” I had to check because although I knew what it meant, I just wanted to be sure that my smiling picture was not next to the definition.

Since my last post my world was forever changed and now I have a complete understanding of fearlessness, strength and courage.  It was a hard road filled with fighting, sorrow, sadness and much crying. As I look back at it today, the other side of those many hurdles, I also remember the many joys and giggles I shared with Sweet, Middle Kid and my beautiful GBaby! Oh, but what did I learn? 

  

I learned that Christmas celebrations do not need a recipe and can be celebrated when everyone can be together.

I learned that opening up your home to friends and relatives as a hostel can be just as the pronunciation of that word sounds. Don’t do it.

I learned that your boyfriend’s mother is just that and not all mothers are as understanding in character as I thought they were supposed to be. In fact those motherly types enjoy messing with others for sport while trying to keep their 6 foot 4 male babies to themselves. (Ewww, guess I am not completely over that one).

I learned that some wounds never heal and sometimes it is necessary to just let go and see what happens so maybe, just maybe you won’t have what you thought you were supposed to. You end up with something completely different but the same in spirit.

I learned that I CAN go back to college at my age and do well. 3.77 GPA for first semester… Just sayin’.

 

I learned that a family can consist of two people.

I learned that a relationship doesn’t consist of two people that run when it gets hard. The hard part is the staying and fighting for it.

Lastly, I learned that it is ok to be afraid. It is ok to be who you are, regardless of what they say and most importantly, it is OK for your heart to feel the excitement of fear.

So... On this beautiful, rainy Christmas day, I wish love, blessings, health and happiness to all that need it, want it or have it.
 

Merry Christmas!!

And then his Mother comes...

Sweet and I have been together almost three years now and in all that time, we have actually taken the time to get to know each other. So well in fact, that at this point we can read each others thoughts and we learned how to help each other out with the spectrum of emotions that come with being a human.

Some of these emotions are in large part due to his mother.  I won’t go into his private business about his mother but suffice it to say that according to him she has a few issues.  Who's mother doesn’t right?  I met her previously when we went to Wisconsin a couple of years ago during the second part of a fabulous vacation that Sweet had taken me on where we went to the Harley Museum and then stopped in to see her of course. As soon as I met her she looked me up and down with a few snarky comments, but since I had been armed and forewarned by Sweet, I was ready with a comeback. Startled, she smiled and all was good for the rest of our visit. She was actually very nice for the duration of the stay!

We stayed a couple of days and it just so happened to be some kind of little fair and parade that was the talk of the little town called Prairie Du Sac and she asked us to go to the cow chip throwing events. Hairlarious by the way, but that is another story.

Anyhoo, she has sold the old homestead in Wisconsin and is moving to California.  Now while she is looking, she will be staying with us.  Can anyone hear my whoo hooos?  I am a little trepidatious by her impending arrival because we tried to help her during the month of May to find homes for her and she didn’t want any of them.  So maybe it is the blind shopping via the internet for a house that prevented her from a purchase?  Sweet has flown to Wisconsin and they are going to drive to California to stay with us while she looks for a home. So I guess for now, I will get the house ready and welcome her here with open arms and hope for the best!  So here goes….

Welcome Sweet’s Mother to California and our Home! (frozen smile?)

Happy Memorial Day!!

This month has been a whirlwind of traveling fun and excitement but as anyone who travels knows, it is also great to be home!  This year we stayed at home for this holiday weekend partly due to the fact that we are tired from traveling but also because we have quite a few exciting things going on in the old hometown.

First and foremost to me is Youngest kids birthday that was properly planned and executed by me and a well planned cesarean section, then there is our towns festivities that goes on all week long containing live bands, a carnival and sports such as jalapeno eating, baby crawling, pageants and of course a fabulous small town parade! 

We usually take the Harley out after the parade and a meal at our local mexican restaurant and then of course the BBQ at someone’s house.  So with all the fun that will be had this weekend, please just remember all the men and women that gave their lives since the first war and give them some props!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Vegas Baby!!

Well we just got back from Las Vegas where we had a blast!  But isn’t Vegas always a blast?  I was so excited for the trip that I watched What Happens in Vegas with Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher just to get the Vegas juices flowing and add a bit to the excitement!   You could probably visit that place a million times and have a different experience each and every time! 

We met our friends and the weekends traveling companions, Magda and Jeremy in the parking lot at SFO and hit the shuttle to the airport.  We got through security and made it to our gate.  As you probably already know from other trips, we fly standby and Magda and Jeremy were actually able to come with us standby so as Sweet was getting us all set for the flight, Magda and I went to get some breakfast. My goodness, I think it was the biggest blueberry muffin that I have ever seen, so we shared it.

We boarded the flight and were actually seated in the front row that faces the flight attendants jump seats.  She was such a nice lady and since I am so shy and quiet, I started up a conversation with her.  Cheryl is from New Jersey and has never been to Vegas to play and hopes to get there one day.  I told her that we would party for her and she accepted!  So much so that she gave all of us free Vodka and OJ drinks to our hearts content, not a bad way to start Vegas huh?

The flight was uneventful as we were flying into LAX and renting a car.  We decided to drive due to the fact that flying standby to Vegas on a weekend is nearly impossible so Sweet decided that this was a great idea.  (Cut to Sunday:  We are never doing it again!)  Anyhoo…  We get to LA and the car we are renting turns out to be a brand new Camry with six miles on it.  Love that new car smell!  So we are off on our five hour drive and with a stop at In and Out we finally get there! 

Animal Style

As I have said before, Wyndham is my favorite place to stay and Vegas takes the prize for the best Wyndham experience!  We stayed at the Wyndham Grand Desert and as Sweet is checking us in, a woman comes by with champagne or wine for our libation pleasures and then it was on to our room, which of course was also amazing and the view!  Now it was time to rest and of course more libations to prepare for the night that would take us to a place called fun!

View from our room at Wyndham Grand Desert

Sweet has a friend that lives there so he came by with a Limo and we went to eat at Hugos Cellar in the Four Queens Hotel. Hands down one of the best dining experience I have ever had anywhere, I felt like a princess!  Red roses when we walked in that sat in a vase I the middle of the table. Salads made at the table, martini’s come with a small elegant pitcher sitting in a glass bowl of ice and then a small cone of lemon sorbet to cleanse my palate before dinner.  I had Beef Wellington and Sweet had rack of lamb.  Sooo good!  Then a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries, dried fruit and cookies with whipped cream.  Perfecto!

Now full and happy, we walk over to the Fremont Street experience for the ultimate vintage Vegas experience.  This is something everyone must do!  We walked along the casinos under the Viva Vision Canopy watching the Tribute to Queen music light show and then the brave souls that dare to fly through the air on the indoor zipline.  We stopped for Vodka Redbull yard drinks at an outdoor kiosk!  Live music and the Neon sign graveyard!  You couldn’t ask for a better first night!

Entering the Fremont Street Experience

Neon Sign Graveyard sign

Day 2~   Today we drive out to the Hoover Dam for a little tour and some touristy pics!  We park in the parking garage to stay in a little shade before walking out into the hot Nevada sun.  We took the underground tour that started with a little movie to give us some history, a very interesting show.  The dam was started in 1931 and completed in 1936 under budget and two years ahead of schedule (a feat we probably won’t ever see again) and was originally named Boulder Dam but later named after President Herbert Hoover.  I just wanted to see the state line that was in the movie Fools Rush In, but alas so did every visitor since the movie came out in 1997 so they had to take it out.  Aww..

Lots of pics and the underground tour then a few souvenirs and we were on our way back to Vegas for dinner and some gambling.  It was a great day and so much fun and the night got just a little crazy!  What happens in Vegas….

Day 3~  Time to go home!  We drove back to LA very tired and flew back to the city where we said our goodbyes to our great friends then came home!  It was a great trip and so much fun as is always with my Sweet!  


Thank you again for another fab trip Babe!!

RIP Miss Donna

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Miss Donna Summer, she had had such an impact on me as a child of elementary age and then into Jr. High.  That is where Disco really became the cultured joke that it is today.  The year was 1978 and my friends and I had gone to the movies to see Thank God it’s Friday where we heard her sing Last Dance as a shy up and coming singer in the movie.  Then she was Hot Stuff and finally I learned to play the guitar on MacArthur Park where my little cousin would constantly interrupt me asking why would someone leave a cake out in the rain.  Sidebar:  She is a baker now, a really good one.

So now I am a grown woman with children and GBabies and I still hum a little tune about the cake in the rain.  Rest in Peace Miss Donna, you will be greatly missed.

1948 - 2012