Birth-DAY

Happy Birthday to Leroy!!  He's finally reached the age of maturity.....oh wait......that's security...social security.  The sad part is after working his entire life....he wouldn't even collect enough (of his own money) to pay his health insurance.  Oh that's right. I forgot. Barack Obama is planning to take care of him......or as Bailee naively calls him, Black Obama ( I love that girl).  We'll believe that when we see it.
Today was a big day for birthdays in our crew.  My Dad would have turned 92 today and my uncle celebrated today as well. Even my brother-in-law's dad had his birthday today.  
Lee's had many "happys" on FaceBook this morning and texts and calls have been rolling in.  Bailee had made him a card before she was off to the Sperm Bank for the week.....and we'll celebrate at supper tonight. Birthdays are pretty special around here although since reaching the 60's, we usually celebrate if we just wake up!!

Busy hands

Week number one of Bailee at her Dad's!  We usually whine about the 2 days week-ends away so the 7 day stints give us pause......and 5.5 year old yearnings!  We've found the best medicine for withdrawals is busy hands.  We had already planned to perform an extreme bedroom makeover during Miss B's absence.  We had made the choices and all our accessories had been delivered.  We hit Lowe's for paint on Friday night and Jess went to work.  What would have been a sheer fiasco for me occurred overnight for Jess.  She painted, removed wallpaper border, repaired the TV stand/bookcase, painted the dresser and washed bedding...Personally, I'd have strung it out throughout the entire week... After all, we have 7 days to fill with busy work and mind clutter.  Jess did this project in 36 hours.  Now what the hell will I do with her for the next 5 days? We did get paint for her bedroom too so maybe she'll delve into extreme bedroom makeover II. 
I have her signed up for a complete expedition detailing this week and maybe a movie.  We can only watch a tidbit of the Olympics and our evenings are way too barren.  We'll see if Magic Mike can take our minds off Boisterous Bailee... at least for a couple of hours.

Vernacular

Huh?  Vernacular is the term used for an old word with a new meaning... Today my word..or words are "Bath Salts!" 
Then:  For years, I was not a shower taker....not that I didn't use water to cleanse myself, I just used to like to take baths.  They were relaxing and beneficial not only to my pores but to my sanity.  I didn't really need bubbles just the semi-oily feeling of sliding into the bath where I could relax and enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet.  Just standing in the shower never gave me the same results... (no wonder kids don't enjoy standing in the corner..same thing...kind of.. minus the water.)  I would lock the door, slither in, close my eyes and enjoy the aroma therapy in solitude...until the water cooled.  Then I might just add more hot H2O or decide my time was up and rinse off and wash my hair under the shower.  Bath salts were never too conducive to washing the tresses.
Now:  The headline in yesterday's newspaper was Be Very Afraid of Bath Salts!   (There goes my aroma-therapy) Bath salts (drugs) are now even prevalent in our area.  Just recently, a man totally nude, ran into a home in Genoa screaming that someone was trying to kill him. He ran into the homeowner's shower. Another woman, naked, tried to kill her toddler and her dog. Another still, held a knife to a toddler's neck. And we thought marijuana was bad!  These drugs are so dangerous that it's too risky for even sensitive K-9 noses to be trained to sniff them out. Law enforcement says the affects of bath salts on individuals is so tenuous that the rule is to attempt to safely subdue them and forget trying to treat them.  Even emergency medical personnel have no way of knowing what drug compound the offender has taken or how....they can be sniffed, injected or swallowed.  Law enforcement, medical facilities and the education system are now concerned that "the bath salts drug epidemic will be rolling into schools this fall!" There have been head shops raids and newly adopted laws attempting to squelch the prevalence of this new, homicidal fad. Overseas markets are now renaming these designer drugs are "fish food." "plant food," and "glass cleaner!"  At a recent drug forum in Onondaga County, a state trooper informed the audience of a website that might enlighten his audience to recognizing a bath salts user. www.erowid.org. Sadly, "It's a drug site for drug users, by drug users!"

As I type, I yearn for the days when I would say, "Calgon, take me away!" and I wouldn't end up in stripes:-(

All better

Ok, I'm all better now...My  whinging (as they call whining in the land of the Olympics) is over for now. Yesterday, Jess and I had a day of retail therapy at the Outlet mall ( and no Casey, I didn't buy any outlets) and the girls are now all set for their sailing adventure.  I even managed to purchase 3 items for me and walk reluctantly right past the chocolate store.  Bailee was at Rec so it was just a mother and daughter excursion.  Jess even admitted she actually "enjoyed spending the day with me!"  Well of course she did!  We have school clothes, cruise attire and shoes in the bag..literally!  We may have to stop feeding Bailee so these new duds will still fit when next spring rolls around... I enjoyed my time at a "31" party last night and ordered a few things that cruisers can't travel without... I was surprised there were a few things left that I didn't already have and, with Christmas being only 5 short months away, a little holiday shopping was in order.  I don't want to hear it! I like Christmas and I shop early so I can enjoy the festivities.... To piggy back Tuesday's blog, I have yet to decide about Christmas cards. I thoroughly enjoy creating them and I love receiving them so I will probably selfishly continue on with that tradition! I always keep the photo cards and Christmas letters we receive.  Often holiday letters are described as boring and the butt of many jokes but I love hearing how friends and family are doing and the fun things they've done throughout the year.
Our predicted nasty weather for today appears to have shifted to the south so it looks like laundry, bookwork and dressing room cleaning are on the menu.  Speaking of menus, maybe some lobster for supper tonight...Bailee's off to her Dad's for a week tomorrow and we will all be lost without her:-( so we'll splurge for supper!!!  I'll try not to whinge too much about her being away:-(

Days of Whine and roses!!

Today I whine! If you don't want to hear it, click the big X in the corner!  For those of you curious folks that are still here, I'm calling a moratorium on greeting cards and the trimmings!  I try very hard NOT to forget birthdays and anniversaries.  Not because I want a pat on the back but there are things that should be celebrated. Usually I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.  I had a relative who once told me the only reason I remembered everyone's everything, was because I didn't work and didn't have anything else to do... Well, that'll get you a card for sure!  For one thing I keep a calendar and special occasions are noted.  The beginning of each month, I make my trek to Kinney's to boost my stock in Hallmark.  I don't grab the first card I see.  I usually read several before choosing one that connects me to the person or occasion in some silly or sentimental way.  I'm the one you hear laughing in the card aisle or dabbing my eyes with a tissue.  So shoot me! I like cards and I like to remember my friends and family... well most of my family..some I've already forgotten! When somebody gets a card from me (us)..OK me....they know for at least a few minutes I was thinking about them... when I bought the card, when I signed it and when I mailed it!  Where is all this ranting coming from you ask?..............or maybe you didn't............. Last Thursday Lee and I have been legally betrothed for 37 consecutive years (connected for 45 intermittently).  That's a record for the Wendell Hatfield clan and we hold it proudly!  We received exactly, now let me count for a second...time's up...0 cards from family.  I didn't expect any from the Hewitt branch as they sit pretty high up (as one friend termed it recently) and it's hard to get to the post office but I thought our longevity might be remembered by some. We received 2 beautiful cards from our dear friends the Don Nyes and the Ray Dyers... they never forget♥ 
Now while I'm on my high horse....thank you notes... I know it may be a forgotten tradition but if you can't spare to thank me, I can no longer spare to gift you!  I don't always expect a written note although it wouldn't hurt anyone to practice their penman(woman)ship, learn how to spell and put grammar to good use!  You don't even have to mail it... I'll accept texts and emails just don't expect me to keep giving without them!
I know, I'm getting old and sore bones, wrinkling skin, a weak bladder and poor eyesight don't usually help put a smile on my face or a twinkle in my eye.  What they do do is make all sorts of things come out of my mouth...(other than drool) when I would have normally kept it shut.

I just happened to peruse the Hallmark website this morning and I'm just following their advice.

I feel better already!

All's well

My chicks are close to the nest and all's well.  Not the feathered ones mind you, but the human adult ones and the mini chick).  We had a fun, anniversary dinner at Outback last night and this morning, we  (well those very same human adult ones) readied the pontoon boat for Sunday's Poker Run on the lake. A little bonding for Jeff and Lee in the shooting and golfing department today and tomorrow and  maybe a bonfire one of these nights.  I'm sure a chuck roast, mashed potato, sweet corn feast will be a menu request one night as well... (Bailee and Uncle Jeff's favorite..... although anything he does, says or eats is her favorite).. So far we won't let her chew tobacco or imbibe in a little 3 Olives cherry vodka!
We only get these "whole family" mini reunions a few times a year so we're soaking it all in and smiling a lot!  Jeff's loving the 30 degree drop in temperatures and we're loving having him home.
Hoping everyone enjoys their week-end too!!

WOW

What a difference 37 years makes...  Long hair, strange attire, semi smile... and that's just ME. I remember the day well.  We'd have remembered it even better if Lee had had his way... He wanted to get married on his birthday (so he'd remember) but we just didn't think a wedding on a Thursday would work!!!  We had the simple ceremony on the point at Overbrook. Our attendants were Lee's brother Jon, his cousin Don, Don's wife Dawn and my sister (hey, we all make poor choices) and our two adorable flower girls, Jill and Mary Beth! The weather turned to a perfect 75 degrees with a slight breeze... That was a very good thing because rehearsal was never rehearsed inside!!  Dad had nearly run the well dry watering for a green lawn and we were going to be outside come hell or high Owasco!! Everyone enjoyed the shortness of our vows...especially the pontoon boat that had come in closely to spy and had lost power and drifted to shore. Hey, the more the merrier!! It was the very first marriage performed by newly ordained Reverend David Borthwick.  He had written a marriage ceremony for his thesis ( if that's what they write in minister school) and graciously allowed us to use it.  Other than "I will" (versus "I do"), that's all I remember. I'm sure there was something in there about rich and poor, long hair and short but I can't remember for sure and David can't put his hands on the paper.  No worries... we still vow to each other daily...."I promise if you fart once more, I'm moving you to another room" and "can you really find anything else to bitch about?"  Someone asked me this morning how many years?  I quickly replied, "21 wonderfully happy years...... the other 16..not so much). fortunately neither time frame was consecutive♥  After the ceremony at the lake, we partied at the club house at Fillmore Golf course.  During the festivities, I was summoned out the back door and kidnapped by the Nye boys and a few others. Next stop....Glenview Inn... a lovely spot for a reception.  Lee, too, had been abducted by the gals!  I did coerce my nappers to stop at my Grandpa's in Locke. He hadn't felt up to joining us..... When we arrived...in separate cars, he said, "I told your father it wouldn't last!"   Well Gramps, the joke's on you!