Pizzas? A Trailer? Who, Me?

Yes!

Date Night.

Big, Juicy Rib-Eyes.  Lovely Wine. Banana Cream Pie!!!

Laughing. 

Lively Conversation.

I Still Like You!

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Interesting exchange during a recent date night:

Him: “How do you feel about trailers?”

Her: “You mean living in one? Not wild about it.”

Him: “No, I mean buying one. A flatbed trailer.”

Her: “What exactly do you mean? Why are you asking?” 

Him: “I saw this thing on the news. In Seattle. These guys had a wood burning pizza oven on a flatbed trailer and went around the city making the most awesome really thin crust pizzas. They sold 250 a day. You know Chicago totally supports street vendors.” 

Her: “Soooo. What does this have to do with us?”

Him: “Well, you know my business has completely changed so I’m thinking about our future. We would just need to make enough from the pizzas to cover our living expenses. We could use your last name.” 

Her: “So you'd use me for my name? That's it?”

Him: “Yeah. It’s Italian; it works. Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t mean we’d be working on the trailer really. We’d hire people eventually.” 

Her: “Let me run this back so I really understand what you’re saying. You want to leave the Stock Exchange and become a street vendor. Sell pizza from a trailer. With me."

Him: “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

Her: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Actually, she doesn't think he was.

Often times, truth is stranger than fiction.

YUM!!!

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[Hour Shower Update:  Gift for 1:00a.m., fine bottle of tequila and shot glasses. (Decided choice belonged in the hands of the one who knew the couple better) Found out 2:00a.m. gift is Advil, a case of water and a 4 pack of DVD Movies. Perfect combination. Best news (to me), we AREN'T attending. Woo Hoo!!!]

Trifecta Writing Challenge

Can Always Count On Friends For Compliments

(Did I mention I'd be writing a lot this week?)

I received some fabulous flattery today…

It was perfect, to me, not only because of what was said but who delivered it. She knows me like the back of her hand and her opinion of me is one of only a handful that truly matters. Everyone else…you know how it is. I am who I am and I don’t plan to changed much at this point in my life. Probably couldn’t even if I tried but there’s really no desire. I’m not terribly offensive anyway, at least a majority of the time.

So when Susie, “my sister from another mister”, paid me this compliment today, on the golf course, no less, I burst into a smile so wide my cheeks hurt. Or maybe it was because of the side splitting laughing fit we just had over something ridiculous, VERY stupid and not at all repeatable. Not everyone appreciates my humor the way she does and likewise.

Susie said, “You’ve raised your level of sassiness lately. I absolutely love it!”

“Thank you! I'm so proud.”

“I mean, you really were before but I don’t know what’s your deal. And I’m not being sassy either. You're kinda crazier."

Ok, I’ll keep it up anything as long as someone is amused.

Attitude, in large doses, has never been an issue for either one of us so I was very appreciative of this acknowledgement and my recent efforts of late. She claims it’s been  since my birthday. Go figure.

I wonder. Who would win a “Sass-Off” between the two of us?

I know she can beat me in arm wrestling but I think I’ve got her here.

Am I the only one who would take this as a compliment?

Right back atcha, Sister!!!

It’s Just “Caddy Shack” To Me

 Decisions. Decisions!

This was my fourth, and possibly last, week smacking that little white sucker all over freaking place, then back again. Plain and simple, I stink at golf. Maybe I’d be a little better if I tried harder, but I don’t believe I have the desire (or the skill?).

Let’s weigh it out, shall we?

Pros:

-       Breathtaking mornings spent outside walking hills

-       3 hours knocking around with two very close friends talking all kinds of crazy s#$t

-       Swearing slides right by

-       Bar Cheese on Ritz Crackers at the Halfway House plus hot coffee ALWAYS equals a breakfast of champions

-       Using my clubs to practice the baton twirling learned at summer camp when young

-       Working on the tan albeit causing strange lines

-       Easy to say, “Hole over! Give me a 10.”

-       Cute caddies

Cons:

-       Don’t really care for the sport

-       Friends give me sad puppy dog eyes when I say “but I just don’t wanna.”

-       Sucks to suck

-       Clothes are not attractive, AND no one looks really good in them except “Cookie” who’s a size 2 and wears short skirts (she looks good)

-       And don’t get me started on the U-G-L-Y SHOES

-       Takes up way too much time

-       Diminishes my math skills. I can subtract 5 from 9 yet “How many more holes?”

-       Makes people crabby and whine or maybe just me

-       IT IS NOT EXERCISE

-       Elicits an unfocused feeling when in reality focus is just fine

-       Not a beach but too much water and sand

-       Balls act as water seeking missiles, see above

Did I already mention I totally suck?

And if you love this sport, more power to you. I do not share your view.

My Technique for Improving A Melancholy Monday

I’m not a fan of "Mundane" Mondays.

I love my weekends. Doesn’t everyone?

Monday mornings, we all go back to our daily routines and grind out another week until…YIPPEE…it’s Friday again.

There are three things capable of providing me with an attitude adjustment for days like "Monday". One actually has science behind it and the others…I’m calling some sort of science behind them, too.

Exercise, Treats, and A Lovely Chat.

Exercise and Chat. Check and Check!

Now for the treat. My usual “go to” for these days is a cupcake. But today, I felt like a major shift was needed so I headed to The Standard Market, my local place. I knew exactly the case I would beeline for, the frozen one.

Here it is! It makes me happy just looking at it!

ICE CREAM!!!

These are some of the flavors I’ve tried:

Askinoisie Dark Milk Chocolate

Roxbury Road

Queen City Cayenne

Pistachio and Honey

Backyard Mint

Hummingbird Cake

Brown Butter Almond Brittle

Blueberry Crisp

Salty Caramel

Dark Chocolate

The Milkiest Chocolate In The World

Ugandan Vanilla Bean

I chose two and served up a BIG bowl for lunch.

Guilty pleasure.

Hit the spot.

Changed the direction of my day!

Simple things.

Which flavor(s) would you pick?

*This ice cream is made by Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Ice Cream. If you ever come across it at your market, get after it!!!

YIPPEE and 10 Things About Me!

A friend of mine, a.eye, from the blog Shouldn't Life Be More Than This?, gave me a really, really cool award. I am honored that she feels this way and always enjoy her visits to my crazy world.

We share a love for writing and both are trying to write daily (she’s doing much better than me). Writing, for me, takes practice to be better, more creative and, hopefully, make the process more free flowing (that means easier to me).

I am challenged to come up with 10 things you may not know about me (somebody, somewhere out there will surely find some of these repetitive but, oh well, 10’s a lot). Also list blogs to pay this award forward so that they can do the same (if they so choose and I may not have six, sorry!)

ALSO, no judging me, okay???

1.    If I was on a deserted island and could only have one thing to eat for the rest of my life (while sunbathing and swimming for the rest of my life, too)…hands down, in the whole wideness of this great big world it would be PIZZA. I would prefer to enjoy it in Italia (more later) but I will have it anywhere, anytime. Even for breakfast if I am fortunate enough to have some in the frig. Cold is fine too.

2.    My second great food love is PEANUT BUTTER. It actually sits next to me at the computer. I probably go through a 28 oz. jar a week. I will and have put it on just about everything because everything tastes better with peanut butter. The tippy top best way is to dip Hersey Kisses. Love it!!!

3.    If I could sell my house and live anywhere in the entire world, I would live in ROME, ITALY. I’d love a little apartment there that would be all mine and really cozy. Friends and family could come and visit whenever they wanted. I would summer in Positano on the Amalfi Coast and take the ferry to Capri once a week.

4.    I got out of a SPEEDING TICKET today. My odds are about 2 in 10 when stopped by the “Heat” (love fast cars or maybe just driving that way). Apparently, I was moving a bit fast in the parking lot of “The Stairs”. I actually forgot I had ear buds in and thought that was the reason the police car just about “T” boned me to stop. He was scary so I smiled. He said slow down and I said absolutely, so sorry.

5. I am OFTEN mistaken for SOMEONE ELSE. Who do I look like? I have no idea but apparently like many other people. Women only, however, and thank God for that. I really do get stopped, a lot, and asked, "Are you...?" Nope, I'm not! This phenomenon started when I was in my early 20's on the streets of Chicago. It has moved forward with me to this day. I wish I knew who everyone thinks I am and I hope who they think is someone at least nice.

6.    I don’t make MY BED. Bad habit, I know. I get out of it and never look back until its time to get back in. Actually, I get it all nice and tidy right before I hop in. I wish someone would make it for me because it would look nice and pretty and inviting. I don't live at a hotel. Rats.

7.    I took a “Could You Be A Serial Killer?” quiz today. My results: Not to worry -- you're not a threat to society. Although a few quirks in your personality may present some challenges in life, those same idiosyncrasies may very well explain the reason your name continues to appear on "A" party lists. Somebody, invite me to a party. I’m really fun, I promise!!!

8.    Shoot, three more!!! Ummmm…I can't SING, really. But I think I can and I will! I will belt it out in the car like nobody's business and even with the windows down. Don't care. Stare if you want. It's not going to change what I do. Love my music too much. Sorry if it bothers your ears because I know it.

9.    My obsession with TRAVEL leads to what my dream job would be. I want to be Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel (but she’s too goodie two shoes) with the almost as sassy and slightly off color nature of Anthony Bourdain. I think I’d be good at it. Would you watch me?

10.  I don’t consider myself terribly vain but I hate having to wear glasses to see anything within 18” of my face so I got contacts recently. Lasik corrected my distance vision many moons ago but I can’t see “shinola” up close. My kids both have had contacts since 6^th grade (bad vision is hereditary). How do they get these things in their eyes? Takes me forever and I never know if they are inside out or not!

There you have it.

Blogs I really love and will award The Kreative Blogger to are:

About Last Weekend

Not Just Another Mother Blogger

What Now And Why?

Inspired Mrs. Stevens

We're Living A Full Life

They are all fun and funny, one is a great design blog and Jen's pictures are fantastic. Check them out!!!

A Misplaced Book Means Trouble For This Girl!

Woo Hoo!!! Third post in one day and I have reasons!!!

Blog, get used to being run over like a MAC Truck this week because I am stuck. Stuck here. Stuck at home. Stuck. Anyone who knows me, knows I despise being stuck…. but I have a good reason and will gladly be so stuck but I’ll be looking for things to do!

Thou shall not be bored!

Sunday evening dilemma and to me it’s a biggie! Lots of exclamation points tonight apparently!

I misplaced my book today. I misplace many things. They eventually turn up usually sooner rather than later.

But not my book and I am BUMMED!  Helen Keller. Where are you? I have retraced my steps five times. There are only so many places it could be in this house and I have searched. I even screamed once. That’s how badly I wanted to find it. Sorry ‘bout the screaming roomie!!! You didn’t move it did you? ‘Cause you move stuff.

I don’t have much left to read, possibly 100 pages and I need to know how this is going to wrap up but I think I can figure it out myself. Don’t want to, however.

What’s a girl to do? Download one that caught my eye today. Forget about the stacks.

Tonight I start a book titled Ménage. It’s not what you think based on the title; at least I don’t think so. I guess I’ll see, won’t I.

Never leave a girl in a bind without a good book. It just means trouble! Trouble for you and trouble for her!

Third Times The Charm?

I wasn’t going to participate in this weekend's Trifecta challenge. But then, I had some thoughts about this picture prompt. *

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Him:

She’s crying.

I can hear her, behind me, struggling to pull the one suitcase I couldn’t manage.  Crying.

To hear her just rips my insides apart. This is equally excruciating for me. I want to cry all the time too but not in front of her. It would send her to the dark spot and far, far away. We need to go back, back to “our” world and not empty handed.

This third try. This third city. This third trip. This has to be the one because it’s simply brutal.

I can’t do this again and I won’t. The toll on us has been unbearable. Emotionally and physically. I can’t see her, heart shattered and crumbled in a ball. Not one more time.

This is the last airport I carry this.

We’re losing “us”. Hanging together by a thread.

Her:

I’m trying to get a grip. I’ve pushed hard for this, I know. And I keep pushing still. But I’m feeling out of control. 

You are so gentle, so sweet.

I love you more than the world. Don’t you know that? Can’t you feel that? Yet I feel this space between us.

It’s just… I want more. Something more for us. Something to add to “us”.

Hoping is hard and we’ve given up on it before, too many times.

The heart wrenching change of minds, the devastating disappointment and the loss.

Maybe this third time will be the charm. Maybe this will be our last airport . Maybe this random Russian city holds the answer. Maybe this third baby is the one meant to be ours. Maybe this will be the last time we return home with our car seat empty with longing.

Let’s hope one last time. Please?

I promise not to cry anymore unless it’s tears of joy but I shouldn’t promise anything. I’m not good with them.

You’ve carried the weight and the entire burden these last ten years. I can promise this; I’ll be your rock this time.

We are stronger together, aren’t we?

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*Today is my parents’ gazillionth wedding anniversary. 54 years! My dad says, “It takes a whole lot of work but I love her. Always have and always will.”

Adoption was the only option they had early on in their marriage. While they were fully engaged in the process with Catholic Adoption Agencies in the city, I became, somehow, more than just a “twinkle” in their eyes and was a complete surprise. 

Trifecta Writing Challenge