Your Invitation Is In The Mail

I’ve never participated in Stasha's Monday Listicles before but I follow a few people that do and have always been fascinated by these lists. All sorts of crazy lists.

Today, it’s all about whom you would invite to a dinner party.

Dead or Alive.

This is very interesting for me because I love dinner parties AND I happen to have a ton at my house (or just people dropping by at dinnertime?). Often I don’t have sole and discretionary choice of who attends. You know. If you invite Susie then you must invite Carolyn and if Mark comes, then Joe will be offended if not asked…blah, blah, blah. It happens that way over here.

It's my choice today and I’m going with only those who are breathing because I like all my guests breathing AND fun!.  There are soooo many I’d love to cook for so today's list includes those from the entertainment industry because if I’m cooking, the least they can do is keep me laughing and amused, right?

Here it is, in no particular order with the exception of the first two and the guest of honor at the end:

1.    Pink- My girl crush and I do know many girls crush on her because I’ve been to her concert. Attendance is girl heavy (I’ve even seen a girl fight at one). She is an amazing performer and funny and down to earth and I want her to be my friend.

2.     Bob Richie (aka Kid Rock)- He doesn’t know it but he is my guy. I’d kiss him all over if ever given the opportunity (probably not but there’s something about naughty guys that keeps me interested!) I’ve seen him more in concert than any other solo performer. His name tag is to my right.

3.    Keith Richards- Something about him, as part of my all time favorite group, absolutely fascinates me. Could be the bad guy thing or the life he's lead. The bad guy thing again? But he’s all cleaned up!

4.    Ellen Degeneres- To me, she is just about the funniest person alive. I “get” her humor. She makes me laugh. She loves to dance, too. She’s different. Love that!

5.    Sandra Bullock- Sandy’s invited because I think she’s a cool chick. I would be her friend in a minute and I think she’d enjoy me too.  She’s the girl down the street. I’d talk with her about getting together with “oh so HOT” Ryan Reynolds. I’m not sitting her next to my husband, however.

6.    Robert Redford- I know, I know. He’s all wrinkly but I still think he’s gorgeous and smart and talented and this is my list.

7.    David Letterman- Again, the smart (ass) and witty factor plays big here. Love his black and very dry humor. (Remember, it’s all about making me laugh) He would keep all conversation flowing and he more then likely knows them all.

8.    Meryl Streep- She'd be invited because of her general awesomeness! I love her. Love her acting; love her attitude and confidence; love her seemingly normal and out of the spot light approach to life. She can sit next to Scott.

9.    Matt Damon- I’d like to tell him that I will miss him as Jason Bourne. I would, however, refrain from gushing all over how hot I think he is. He wrote “Good Will Hunting” so I know he’s an intelligent dude. I’d tell him how smart I thought he was ;-). He's also a family man. Like that lots!

10.My Guest of Honor, Robert Downey, Jr.- He would be, hands down, my choice and sit immediately to my left but I'd struggle being completely absorbed with him. It would be difficult for me to tear myself away and focus on any other guest but my head would definitely turn when Kid Rock tapped my shoulder for attention (maybe they would fight over me. How awesome!). I love everything about Robert and have for a very long time (warts and all!). I, especially, loved him during his Ally McBeal days. I've seen almost anything he's done.

So I know this list is guy heavy but I couldn’t resist. After all, it is my dinner party! Don't suppose they'd do the dishes? I bet Sandy would!

Timing is Everything

You know that great looking guy in college who ran around with your circle of friends and you hung out together yet never hooked up? Despite playful flirting and a wicked connection, the line was never crossed. I had a boyfriend and he, a girlfriend. We were friends, happy and graduating!

Pursuing dreams, everyone moved to the city. It was like old times again. He lived alone so if we happened by for an after party or a late movie, the girls would crash in his big king size bed. He would sleep on the couch.

This arrangement worked quite well until the first night we found ourselves alone, tipsy. We kissed and so began our smoochy sleepovers. Why so named? Nothing more ever happened. TRUTH!  We danced this two-step, taking the same number of steps forward as back, for five months.

Closing my eyes, I can recall the last one with vivid detail...

I reached up for his face looking into blue eyes. He gently grabbed my wrists saying, “This is it unless...” My first ultimatum and I balked. 

He took my hand and walked me home. From my window, I saw him standing there, hands in his pockets gazing down at the sidewalk. Could six years of friendship suddenly be over? Should we be together? It hurt badly.

Months later, arriving late to his Halloween party ridiculously dressed as a map of the city (he was a shower), my eyes almost pop out of my head when I see him. Who’s the cute girl he’s with? More importantly, why is he smiling that smile I knew so well? The picture became crystal clear. Devastated, I disappeared. I didn’t understand at the time, SHE was his future.

Suddenly its summertime in Chicago and, as a single chick, there was nothing more fun on a Saturday than riding bikes up to Wrigley Field and sitting in the bleachers. Bleacher seats were general admission so we selected our seats wisely, right next to a fine looking group of guys.  Without realizing, two fates would be sealed on that June day. 

We laughed until we cried all day long.

My eyes kept catching those of the really funny, athletic, dark haired guy. He was pretty drunk. Saying our goodbyes, “my type” asked for my number. Having an outstanding memory myself, I presented a challenged. If he remembered my number the next day, I would accept a date. We went over it several times to make sure.

The phone rang two days later. My smirking roommate turned, “It’s for you”. And so my love affair began.

It took just six months for my “friend” to come looking for me.

Throwing a NYE party at our place, we decided to mix our newest friends with some of our old buddies. Shake things up a bit. And HE came, too. Rumor said he was confused about his feelings. I imagine his stomach bottomed out, the way mine did, when he saw my arms wound tightly around my future. I saw it in his eyes.

We had a past full of memories but could never, at the same time, find a present or future including the other. I think we were both very surprised.

 ********************************************************************

Author’s note: We each married our “future” the very next year. Both politely declined invitations to each other's wedding but sent gifts.

I didn’t sleep well last night thinking this through and had to shake my head a few times, while writing, to clear my brain because it has been a long, long time since this was at the forefront of my mind.

RemembeRED: The Past, Present and Future
This week we asked you to write about a moment when your past, your present, and/or your future clashed and the results. You were asked to bring us into the moment and let us experience it with you.

My Friend Jen Gave Me An Award And I'm Giving One to You!

I have a brand new friend from the blogging world. Her name is Jen and she writes one of my favorite blogs called We're Living a Full Life. What I like about Jen’s blog is that it is always fresh and creative. She has a very talented eye for photography. To me, her pictures are simple yet stunning! I love her blog so please go see her, as I’m always excited when her new posts appear in my Reader List.

I am so honored that she has included me, a brand spankin’ new blogger, in her Versatile Blogger Award. 

So, thank you Jen from the bottom of my heart!!! Of course, I accept, I accept, I accept!

There are some things I’m supposed to do to accept this awesome award:

The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.

4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

Okay…Here we go! Seven things about me:

1.   I’m the worst sailor in my family and I’m not bad. My daughter and her father bicker between them about who is better. She, “Woman Captain of the Year” for a 21 boat E-Scow Racing Fleet at the lake or him, the old “salty dog”.

2.    I have a memory like an elephant. Never tell me anything you have a problem with me remembering for life. Also, numbers are my thing. This is a blessing and a curse at times.

3.   I am an awesome trip planner and I have never had anyone, who I’ve asked, decline joining me on a trip I’ve put together. Not bragging, just good at it!

4.   My kids both go to the same University and it’s where their father went as well. IMO, it’s the prettiest Big Ten campus out there.

5.   I don’t panic…ever. Maybe I should at times but mostly it comes in handy.

6.   I exercise a lot but have to in order to fight the downward trend happening over here.

7.   Due to a sales job oh so long ago, I have visited all but 7 of our grand states.

Since I am such a newbie, only two months into this, I would like to pass this award on to two blogs I have really enjoyed over the past two months.

Domestic Mischief

What Now and Why?

Thanks ladies for being two of my very favorite reads. I would send it right back to Jen too but I'm not sure if that's what we do!