Girl Cousin Florida Reunion

WE HAD A BALL!!!!!!!!!!! We never shut our mouths except when there was food in it.
We all had a wonderful, fantastic time!!
The fun started Tuesday when we met at Bob Evans. Patty and Jenny picked Marcia and I up and we headed down 69 to Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger Paradise Restaurant. The food was delicious and the frozen margaritas were even better. Our spirits were high! We were so excited about our trip! After eating we headed to our rooms at the hotel near the Indianapolis airport where we would stay the night. Jenny and I shared a room and Patty and Marcia shared a room. Jenny, Patty, and Marcia were teasing me because all I had was one small carry on bag and they had big suitcases. I told them I was going to just use their stuff. Jenny and I had to move rooms because our room stunk of smoke. Yuk! So we moved down the hall.
In the morning we got up bright and early and took the shuttle to the airport where we boarded our non stop flight to Fort Meyers Beach, Florida. Aunt Jane and Aunt Joan picked us up at the airport. There were hugs and kisses all around. Our cousin, Jill, who had flown in from Cincinnati, had to spend the night in the Atlanta airport due to storms. She was already at Aunt Joan's waiting for us.
We got to Aunt Joan's and more hugs and kisses when Jill came outside to meet us. She looked fresh as a daisy. Didn't even look tired after staying all night in an airport!!!
Aunt Joan has a gorgeous home with a lovely lanai. We all got our bedrooms and headed out to lunch at The Fish House. It was wonderful! I had the fish finger basket with hush puppies and cole slaw. We talked and got caught up with one another. Everybody looked wonderful!
Then we went to this jewelry store called "The Best of Everything" which Jill and Jenny said was a must see!!! They weren't kidding! It was a store filled with costume jewelry and purses and hats, scarves, Christmas things, bling and bling everywhere!!! We shopped and then we headed for the grocery store for our booze and snicky snacks.
Then home for cocktail hour. Aunt Jane brought chicken pasta salad over for supper and we just spent the night drinking and talking and laughing and telling stories. It was so great just being together!! We played this card game that Aunt Joan taught us but I can't remember the name. It was fun though.
We all went to bed about midnight and it took quite awhile for us to settle down. Giggling and laughter kept coming from our rooms. It reminded me of when we were little and used to stay all night with each other. Patty and I shared a room, Jenny and Jill shared a room, and Marcia got her own room with the murphy bed.
The next day we got up bright and early, had coffee except for Jenny...she drinks diet pepsi.
Then out to the Bonita Springs Beach for our morning walk. It was sooooo pretty. We walked a long way, then came home and got our suits on and went into Naples for lunch at this Irish place called McCabe's. It was fabulous. I had a reuben. Then we went to the Naples Beach and sat in our chairs and read and relaxed. The gulf was nice and warm and I went in the water. Then we went back into the town of Naples near where we ate and shopped at Fresh Produce. We all bought clothes there. It was great. Then home to cleaned up. Then cocktail hour and out to dinner at The Water Mark. Dinner was superb. I had scallops, baked potato and key lime pie for dessert!! We had a leisurely dinner filled with laughter and great conversation. Then home for more cocktails and stories by Aunt Jane and Aunt Joan of growing up on Barr Street.
We laughed til we cried listening to them!
The next day we were again up bright and early. I went for a quick dip in the pool while the rest of the girls went for an exercise walk. Then off to Fort Meyers Beach for the day. We had lunch on the patio of this cute bar/restaurant that was right on the beach. Then after lunch sat down on the beach and talked, laughed, read, walked, and Marcia, Patty and I got ice cream.
It was wonderful.
We did some shopping at the beach shops. Jill got this cool dress that you can wear all different ways by folding it and Patty and Marcia got cute dresses.
Then home to get cleaned up and cocktails again. We had dinner that night at Flippers. We sat outside and you can see dolphins!! We had a great dinner! I had coconut shrimp. Then back home for more talk. We never ever ran out of things to say. We all got along fabulously!!!!
The last day, Saturday, Aunt Joan and I went shopping at Coconut Pointe. I got 2 outfits and some shoes and a sweater. Then when we got home, Jill and Jenny decided they wanted to go to the outlet mall. Marcia and Patty opted for the pool and a good book, so Aunt Joan, me, Jenny and Jill went to this great big outlet mall. Had a ball shopping. Jill and Jenny got shoes and Aunt Joan and Jill got some outfits.
I got some chocolate which I really was craving as these slim cousins of mine don't eat much junk food at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That night Aunt Joan and Jane fixed us dinner. We ate at Aunt Jane's house and it was delicious!!! We played a game called Catch Phrase and laughed alot. Then we decided to go skinny dipping since it was our last night. We took our clothes off, got wrapped in our beach blankets, and walked to the pool. We got to the pool and jumped in and it felt divine!!!! We laughed and hooted and swam around. It felt so good.
The next day we said our goodbye's to Aunt Jane, Aunt Joan, and Jill. Aunt Joan dropped us off at the airport and we flew back home.
I miss my cousins already!!!
We said on our trip that 5 women (even though we are related) that had never traveled together before just blended PERFECTLY! We were great together. Not a moody one in the bunch. Every morning we would wake up with sleepy smiles and everyone was "go with the flow". It was a great group. I hope we can do this again and next time the rest of the cousins come too!!!
I love these beautiful women so much. Each of them left me with a part of them that I will cherish and hold onto deep in my heart forever. I am proud to know them and happy that we are cousins and friends.
A special thank you to Aunt Jane and Aunt Joan for the wonderful hospitality you showed us. Thank you for driving us around and letting us use your car!!! I love you all.

Girl Cousin Florida Reunion

This evening I leave for my girl cousin Florida reunion. We will leave to go to Indy tonight and fly out tomorrow morning for Bonita Springs. I can't wait!!!!
I won't be writing in my blog for a few days but when I return I will tell you everything! There is no "what happens in Florida stays in Florida with me." I will SHARE ALL with you!!!
The only sad thing is 3 of my darling, beautiful cousins will not be with us. Shondell, who lives in Michigan, cannot make it. She has 3 busy daughters and a husband and a job as a realtor. She is not able to get away. And my darling cousins Sharon and Shelley, who are sisters, will not be coming either. They will be with us in spirit though and I promise to drink a margarita for each one of them and toast to their Irish heritage and to their love of life and fun and laughter.
Talk to you soon, dear readers.

A Perfect Day

Oh I had soooo much fun yesterday!!! I got up bright and early and drove to Chicago to visit my daughter, Bree. Bree is an amazing person!!! She is fun, funny, smart, a great listener, a wonderful storyteller, and an all around great girl!!!
When I got to Chicago she was still at work so I went to The Gap and bought a really pretty powder blue turtleneck sweater. Then as I was walking to Fox & Obel for coffee, Bree called me on my cell. I said, "Hey girl, I'm just across the street from you!" She said for me to meet her at the restaurant that she works at for brunch. It was wonderful. We sat outside in the warm sunshine and talked our brains out. I met one of her managers (the nice one) and her dear friend, Jen. After we sat and ate and talked we went up to the apartment and she gave me my gifts that she brought me from Prague and Vienna. Bree is so thoughtful and generous. She got me a GORGEOUS garnet pendant Star of David from Prague. I just need to buy a chain for it. I told her I will wear that every day of my life. She also got me chocolates and coffee from Vienna, a magnet from Prague, cookies (the most delicious chocolate wafer cookies I have EVER had in my life) from Vienna. We looked at her pictures on the computer but there were so many we only got through Prague. I have to go back and see her so I can see Vienna. The pictures were beautiful. She loved Prague and Vienna!!!
Then John, Bree and I walked to Dunkin Donuts for a coffee. Bree and I wanted to shop a bit so John went back home and Bree and I hit Loehmann's!!!! Oh my GAWD!!! It just came to Chicago and it was FABULOUS!!! Bargains galore!!! We almost had a seizure we were so excited!
Bree got 2 Free People tops that were like 60% off. It was amazing. The store was completely ransacked. It was the end of the day and everything was a mess. We will go back the next time I come to town and go early before everything gets messed up.
The day went by much to quickly. But being with Bree just for that one day will hold me over for a few more weeks!!! She is such a great person to be with. She's a refreshing breath of fresh air and I am so glad that she is my daughter and BFF!!!!
I love you, Bree....thanks for everything.

I want to be the heroine of my own life...

Where did I hear that? Who said that? I heard it recently and I think it may have been Elizabeth Gilbert when she was on Oprah. I wish I could remember....But what an amazing thing. I want to be the heroine of my own life and write my story the way I want it to be written. I want to be the star of my own show. Who wants a boring old show to watch? yuk. I want to watch a fun, interesting, deep, moving, exciting, colorful show with all kinds of different characters in it.
Like in one of my fave movies, Parenthood, the grandma tells Steve Martin that she always liked the roller coaster. She was talking about how some people like the merry go round as it is the same thing over and over, round and round and no surprises. She said she liked the roller coaster and I always loved that. I have tried on many occasions to remember that line when things were not going my way. I would think of the roller coaster of life and would try to make myself go with the flow of the coaster and things usually (almost always) worked out.
But back to the question of who said "I want to be the heroine of my own life." If anyone remembers let me know because I love that!!! I am going to make that one of my mantras.
Have a fabulous day, everyone!!!!!

Buying new glasses

It is just horrible buying new glasses! For me, anyway! Glasses are such an important part of your face and who you are and everything! I went to the optical place in town which had the largest selection of glasses. I swear to the Lord in himmel, I tried on every pair of glasses. I found my MiuMiu sunglasses right away. (I'll send a pic of me later in my shades) But the regular glasses I only found one stinking pair that I liked. So I got them and that is them on my face in the picture below. I don't seem to like them as well as I thought I did. I don't know why...maybe I'm just not used to them. Maybe that is it.
So dear friends, what do you think? You have to say you LOVE them, because if you don't then I'll be so sad and what can I do about it? I have to live with these glasses for several years to come. These will be the glasses that I see Paris and the Bahamas out of!!! So just give me compliments and tell me they are cute, pretty, adorable, nice, friendly, chic glasses, OK????
I love you all and please keep writing to me.
xxxooo

Across The Universe

I just got back from seeing this movie and I LOVED IT!!! I gave it a double thumbs up! My sister saw it with me and we both loved this movie!!! I highly recommend it especially if you are a Beatles lover! The music was so beautiful and the actors in the film sang so lovely. I think parts of this movie was made when the directors/writers were stoned. Good movie!!!

On the bookshelf

I am reading Jesus Land by Julia Scheerer now. Excellent book. It is a memoir and I can't put it down!!!
On the shelf waiting to be read is ............

"Trespass"by Valerie Martin and
"Songs Without Words" by Ann Packer. Ann Packer wrote the book "The Dive From Clausen's Pier" which was made into a TV movie. Don't you wish there were an extra 6 hours in the day devoted just to reading?
I am open to ANY book suggestions as I LOVE to read and would love to hear of any good books that you have read.

"To Sir, With Love"

Oh my GAWD! I'm sitting here at my computer and "To Sir With Love" comes on the radio!!!
"...if you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters...." How I adored that movie!!!
Bought the album and knew every word of To Sir With Love by heart.
I remember seeing that movie and sitting spellbound in the theatre. I remember crying my eyes out and then turning around the next day and seeing it again. I got my hair cut like Lulu and wore a thin velveteen ribbon in my hair. That was such a wonderful movie and if you have not seen it yet, please get the video and watch it. Every teenager should have a "Sir" in their life...if you didn't have one in your life (like I didn't) then Sidney P will do the job just fine.
Here's to you, Lulu ..... thank you for the wonderful Saturday morning memory.

How much happiness can a heart hold?

I asked Bree that question once....How much beauty and happiness and love can a heart hold? Sometimes I feel like my heart will just explode. I remember going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY with Bree in January and being so overcome and overwhelmed with beauty that I cried. Bree put her arms around me and I remember she said to me, "Oh Mom, wait til you see the Louvre!"
Yesterday morning I was sitting in Starbucks drinking my pumpkin spice low fat latte and looking out the window. It was still dark and it was drizzling rain. My book was on the table with my coffee. As I watched the rivulets of rain come down the window and I heard the cheerful voices of the Starbucks crew, I had that feeling of my heart just bursting with love and happiness. The smell of coffee, the taste of the pumpkin spice latte, the rain, the beauty of the morning and the hopes of a wonderful, new day just melted my heart with joy and love. I thought to myself that morning...yes, I want to travel the world and do so many things....but I'm OK just being here in Starbucks too. I can feel good and warm and wonderful right here in my own back yard. As I walked out of Starbucks to my car, I tipped my face to the warm, drizzly rain and I thanked the Lord for the day.

BAHAMAS HERE WE COME!!!!

Well, it's booked. Bree "booked it, Danno" and we are on for Nassau, Bahamas!!!! yeeehaaa!!
We will be gone in January from Weds to Sunday staying at an oceanfront resort/hotel. We have a direct flight from Chicago to Nassau. So very excited!!! My first time out of the country except for going to Canada. I'm so happy. This is just the beginning of my overseas adventures and I can't wait!!
Bree and I will have a ball. I'm so glad that I will be seeing the Bahamas for the first time with Bree. She has never been to the Bahamas either.
Well, better get packing! Only 3 months until I leave!!!

The Jane Austen Book Club

Oh my GAWD! I just saw the most wonderful movie, The Jane Austen Book Club. It was fabulous!!! I went with Karin and we both LOVED this movie! It is my new favorite movie and the BEST movie I have seen in a long time. The characters are so wonderful and the story is perfect. I loved it. This movie did author Karen Joy Fowler proud. There is so much violence, sadness, hate and anger in the world....what a treat to see a movie that captured my heart. I felt so good during and after this movie and I highly recommend it!!!!! (especially my fellow book lovers out there!!)

My malted milk balls

I love double dipped malted milk balls more than anything this side of the world! Yesterday I was coming home from the hospital and I stopped at Fresh Market where I always buy my balls. I was so excited because I was going to a movie on Saturday to see The Jane Austen Book Club and I always take my malted milk balls to movies. Accidentally, I left the malted milk balls in my CAR when I got to the office! It got up in the 90's yesterday and my malted milk balls were completely melted! I was sick!!! I put them in the freezer but now they are just a block of frozen malt ball. I would go back to Fresh Market but its clear across town. Oh well....I can't take the frozen block of malt ball to the movie and just gnaw on it. That would be disgusting. I'll just have to eat my popcorn. I'll let you know how I liked the movie though!!!!

MY FIRST "COMMENT"

Oh my GAWD! I am sooooo excited!!! John just made a comment on my blog from Vienna!!! My first person to read and COMMENT !!! I am excited as can be. Bree emailed me this morning and she read my blog too and said she loved it and I was a good blogger. I am beyond happiness.
This is huge for me because I value Bree and John's opinion so much and I just love it that they like my blog. Blogs are very personal and it is such a compliment. So thank you for commenting on my blog, John, and keep doing it.