I'd Like to Thank My Mom...

It was sunny and 87 until about 15 minutes ago when the sky turned an inky pea-black. I'm going to shut down as the thunder and lightening are rather formidable. Be back in a few.

Well that was scary! Simultaneous lightning and thunder -- the kind you can feel in your tooth fillings!

Thank you to Cheryl, Brad, and Jay and the many others two of you who sent birthday wishes. It's really, really hard for me to believe I am 58 years old as I still feel like I'm in my 30's -- which actually are a complete blur because I was up to my schnutz in diapers and little ones, and fearful I'd 'lose myself' in being a stay at home mom. I didn't. The kids reassure me that I was a good mom, and they're happy grown ups, so I must have done something right. But again, I really don't feel 58. (This is where you're all supposed to say, "Well you don't look a day over 45!!!). So LIE!!
Two thirds of them are coming over tonight for some pizza and chocolate cake -- the one I bought at Costco and almost ate in the car. Here it is...

As good as it looks, it looks even better in person. Wish I could serve each of you a piece tonight. My brother, Jay, called from Atlanta to ask if I'd gotten a license from Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to light the candles on my cake. He said he had been getting calls about what everyone thought was a nuclear disaster. He said it was the smoke from the candles. He's dead meat, by the way, and had better start sleeping with one eye open.

I had a hair appointment with Cheryl - hair stylist extraordinaire (she did the best she could with what she had to work with)- this morning and then lunch at Nordstrom's Cafe with a good friend -- a young man I had mentored when he began teaching. Not only was he a wonderful teacher, he is now a fantastic administrator, an assistant principal who no doubt will have his own school in a very short time. I love retirement, but I really miss my colleagues. Damn we had fun! And when things got tough (and believe me, things often got tough (I got pretty good at breaking up fights (and these were among the teachers))) we also got the job done.

It's been a nice birthday. Thanks, Mom!

Rain, Babies, Birthdays, Leaving, and Somebody Grab the Maytag Blue

It is "Raining like a Monday" as the song says. At least everything is greening up. The large maple outside my window already has leaves and the dark pink blooms on the Kwanzon cherry tree are about to burst. Today's raw 45-degree temperature presents a startling contrast to the almost 80 degree Saturday and 68-degree Sunday we enjoyed. I noticed on the seven-day forecast that 80 degree temps are again in our near future. I can't wait.

This weekend we celebrated our grand daughter's first birthday. George and Judy, her paternal grandparents, kindly hosted the party at their home. Babies and kids (it actually looked like a public service ad for birth control) of varying ages ran around, played in the yard, whacked a pinata, and feasted on chocolate covered strawberries, Chic-Fil-A nuggets, spanokopita, pizza, veggies, and a yummy, no scrumptious, birthday cake from Costco. And our grand baby -- she was happy to walk around and clap -- oblivious to the party around her!

On Sunday (yesterday), we hosted a good-bye party for our best friends and frequent travel buddies of 34 years. Within three weeks, Margie and Dave will be moving to sunny San Diego to join their kids and as of Monday, their twin grand babies who weighed in at 8lbs 12 oz, and 7 lbs 13 oz, respectively -- that's just shy 17 lbs. of baby!!! We're happy for them, but will miss them dearly. I think this will affect my husband, Richard, even more. An only child, he considers David his brother.

I did most of the cooking on Saturday night and I did cheat a little by purchasing the chicken satay; vegetable spring rolls; Italian cookies from our favorite bakery, Vaccaro's; and cream puffs. I did prepare a cold fondue with cukes, carrots, and bread for dipping; a marinated cherry tomato, basil, artichoke heart, black olive, and fresh mozzarella salad; sesame noodles; cheesy shrimp and grits, and a raspberry-strawberry-banana trifle.

I worried the shrimp and grits would be too 'different', but everyone seemed overjoyed to see them and not a morsel remained. I had every intention of taking photos of the food so I could post them, but by the time I remembered to take the pictures the meal was just a memory. We had a good time -- lots of laughing and surprisingly no tears -- at least yet. I suspect these will come soon, though. David and I are the emotional ones: our spouses, more reserved, tolerate us and have more than once hurriedly left us behind to break into song or 'laugh until we cry' about something that is funny just to us. And then there was the time that David attempted to roll the cheese tray from a favorite restaurant of ours out the door. They didn't have to be that cordial as they escorted us out. Of course, Margie and Richard were already in the car...