My world....and welcome to it!

The first thought I had when I awoke this morning was, "I love my life!!!" I am so lucky!! I got out of bed and came downstairs to my Christmas tree all lit up and my husband holding my coffee out to me. First he waited til I was settled on my couch and covered with my blankie. Then he handed me my coffee.
Well, just tasting coffee first thing in the morning puts me in a good mood. I love coffee. If someone said to me, "You can only choose one drink to have the rest of your life besides water." It would have to be coffee. Love the stuff.
Then I went upstairs and got in the shower. Another thing I love!!! Shower gels!!! Oh my GAWD!!! They are great! And those big net ball things you wash with. How cool are those?
Then big fluffy towels to dry with!!! Oy! I'm halfway to heaven now...
Then getting dressed for work...in SCRUBS!!! Scrubs are like wearing PAJAMAS to work. No kiddin'. There is nothing more comfortable in the world. So I am thinking how lucky I am to be able to wear cute scrubs ( not just any old plain scrubs ) to go to work in.
OK, am I making everyone sick right now? Doesn't matter....I'm going on....Then I put my "face" on... Bree gave me a lighted make up mirror that she didn't like and I just love it! It is so nice for applying make up. Thank you, Bree. LOVE the make up mirror.
I then come back downstairs and here I am at my computer (which I love because we have FIOS now) So! I am really happy and thankful and grateful and all those wonderful things. I love my life and I am so glad that I have been blessed. I will tip my face to the sunshine today and say Thank You, God, for making me "me." I love it.
Hugs to kisses to all!!!!

What's on the bookshelf

I'm reading the first in the trilogy ...Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. After that I have Almost Moon by Alice Sebold to read. Then The Abduction by Mark Gimenez. That one was recommended to me by Kathryn. What is everyone else reading? Please send me ideas about any good books you've read.
Keep reading and have an amazing day!!!!!

"The Office"

Oh my GAWD!!! Bree and John have been talking about The Office for years. I keep saying to them, "I know, I know..I need to watch it, blah, blah." Then Michael comes home with all 3 seasons on DVD. One day I decide I think I'll watch it from Episode One and see whassup with this show.
Oh my GAWD! I am in love. I'm hooked. I can't wait to come home from work and run to the TV set to watch another episode. I'm halfway through Season 2. I love the characters. Love hating Dwight. One minute I think Michael Scott is just such an asshole and the next minute I am falling in love with him all over again. These characters and this show are fabulous!!
Thank you Bree and John, for turning me on to this show! And thank you, Michael, for bringing the DVD's home!!!
I love The Office and have added it to my list of fave TV shows.

Cathy

The day after Thanksgiving, Archie and I went over to Joann & Steve's house to see Cathy and her husband, Chuck. Cathy and I have been friends since high school and she has lived in Colorado for 20+ years. Cathy and I were inseparable from the time we met in high school until I moved away in 1976 to live with Archie in North Carolina. Cathy is the funniest person I have ever met!!! We used to laugh so hard we would pee our pants!!! Cathy is the first person I ever went camping with. Neither one of us had ever camped before and the first time we camped we went to Estes Park, Colorado. It was the most amazing, fabulous trip!!! We had a little orange pup tent, our cooler filled with Coors beer, and we were set!!! We met so many wonderful people and had so much fun. We still tell the stories of our camping trips. Estes Park was the first of many of our camping trips. After awhile, Cathy and I never even bothered to put up the tent. We just laid our sleeping bags out and slept under the stars.

Cathy and I always talked about our hopes and our dreams and what we wanted out of life. Cathy said the very first time she saw the Rocky Mountains, "I'm going to live out here." And she did. She has lived in Colorado longer than she lived in Fort Wayne. She loves it out there.

She is heading for a new adventure possibly...her husband, Chuck, has been offered a job in Seattle. He has to decide if he is going to take the job in 2 days!!! So Cathy may be moving to Seattle!!!!

Cathy sent me a card years and years ago that I have never thrown away. It has been one my mantras and I have cross-stitched this beautiful poem that was on the card for my Mom. I would like to share it with you now. It sums up my life and all that I feel....

If I could hold a flower

And watch its petals fade

If I could touch the well worn earth on which my children played

If I could hold one moment of the times you've made me smile

Then I can take the bad times

For you've made them all worthwhile

A Thanksgiving to always remember....November 2007

This Thanksgiving was perfect. Every Thanksgiving is absolutely fabulous, but this year seemed like the best one ever!!! I worked until noon the day before Thanksgiving. Got home and cleaned up a few things and baked a couple of pies. The air was filled with anticipation of Bree and John's arrival from Chicago and the fun I knew all of us would have.

Bree and John arrived around 9 or 10 p.m. They came through the door with their backpacks and games and squeels from Bree and lots of hugs and kisses. We were thrilled to see them!!!

I had made macaroni and cheese and barbequed beef sandwiches. Bree was glowing. She looks fantastic....and John as handsome as ever. Gabe Downs, Bree's friend from high school, came over about 20 minutes after Bree and John arrived. It was wonderful to see Gabe. He lives in Iowa now going to school for his PhD. It felt good to hug his neck. He is a great person.

I stayed up about an hour after Gabe got there. It was great laying in bed listening to their laughter. It filled my heart with a warm, content feeling. I woke up about 2 or so to the sound of Michael's voice followed by laughter. The next day Bree told me Gabe didn't leave til 4:00 am!!!!

Thanksgiving Day dawned beautiful and cold. The kids were all sleeping. Archie put the turkey in about 9 and we just relaxed and puttered in the kitchen until it was time to wake everyone up for Thanksgiving dinner. Archie went to pick Mom up. Michael had a cold and wasn't feeling up to par plus he had to work at 4:00. I felt bad that he wasn't feeling well.

We sat down to eat at 1:30 or so. The meal was delicious. Archie does a wonderful job on the turkey. We had a nice meal and good conversation. It was so lovely to have my family all together. After dinner we took pictures and talked. John watched some football on TV, Archie took a nap, Michael went to work. Bree and I went on a nice walk and we even did some running/jogging. Poor Bree was holding back for me!!! She didn't want me to have a heart attack trying to run too much. I'm not as "in shape" as I should be!!!

We came home from our walk and pulled out the desserts and coffee and dug in. Then Bree, John, Mom and I played Taboo. I think Mom really enjoyed it. She is good at Taboo!!!

Then Archie took Mom home and Bree and I got in our jammies. When Archie came home the 4 of us watched Ratatouille!!! Archie and I loved it!!! What an adorable movie!!!!

Needless to say, I, Kelli Anne Bristow, stayed up til 1:00 a.m. which is HIGHLY UNUSUAL for me! Shows what good company I was in and how much fun I was having!!! Bree and John hooked me up to a myspace page and that was fun getting stuff put on that. Bree and I talked til I finally said I had to go to bed. We never run out of things to talk about. She is so fun and interesting to talk to and she is such a good listener. She and I are like two bugs in a rug. We can just look at each other and start laughing.

The next day, Friday, I thank the good Lord, I had taken off from work. Bree and John got up about 10:30. We talked over coffee and tea and then they left about 12:30. I hated to see them go...but I will see them again in 2 weeks. I am heading back to Chicago for a weekend to help Bree with some organizing and re-doing her shelves and cupboards.

It was FANTASTIC. A fabulous, spectacular, Thanksgiving Holiday 2007.

I don't like FORWARDS! And thats that!!!

Ok, is there anyone out there that likes getting a bunch of FORWARDS in their mail? I hate it!!! I log onto my computer and am soooo thrilled to see I have 14 emails!!!! Then I find out that 12 of them are STUPID FORWARDS!!!! No, no, no!!! I don't like forwards! My friend, Karin, always sends me these. She said she doesn't even open them, just sends them to everyone on her buddy list. I tried to give her a hint that I don't like them and I never open them...but she is still sending them. My brother, who is semi-retired, is starting to send them too.
First of all...maybe I'm a humorless person...but I don't have the patience to read the jokes and most of the time I don't think they are that funny.
Second of all...I don't like the political ones. OR the religious ones. OR the "you are my special girlfriend ones." I want my special girlfriends to really write me!!! Not send me a forward that someone else sent them!!!
All this girl wants is a real live email. If you can't send me a real note, then please don't send me your forwards!!!! AND CHAIN LETTERS!!! euww....I thought that was over in the '60's.
So polish off your keyboards and DELETE all those dumb forwards you get and DON'T SEND THEM TO ME!!!

November 15, 2007

29 years ago today I had a beautiful baby girl. My firstborn, Bree Danielle Bristow. Bree weighed 7 pounds 13 oz. She arrived in this world in Fort Wayne, Indiana on a rainy, sleety, cold day, and the minute I saw her --- the very second I saw her --- I fell in love and my life was changed forever.
The nurse laid her next to me and she looked right at me. She wasn't crying or anything. I kissed her forehead and it felt like velvet to my lips. She was the most precious thing I had ever seen!!! What a miracle!!!
From that moment on Bree filled my life and the lives of those in our family with love, laughter, awe, wonder, and any other fantastic adjective I could use!!! This tiny miracle baby grew into the woman who I now call my best friend forever. This day is for you, Bree. I love you so much and I thank the good Lord every day for blessing my life with you. You truly are the sunshine of my life. Thank you, Bree.
Have a wonderful birthday and always know how much your Mom adores you.

A movie I saw and what's on the bookshelf

Yesterday I went to the movies and saw Dan In Real Life. Bree had seen it and liked it, Michael had seen parts of it and did not care for it. I was disappointed in the movie. I did not like the character Steve Carell played. He was, to put it bluntly, a real prick. I love Juliet Binoche...she is one of my favorite actresses and she played a darling part. The actors all did very nice jobs but I did not have any warm, fuzzy feelings for the Steve Carell character at all. Anyone who has seen this movie, please feel free to share!!
I read the Nicholas Spark's novel, The Choice. It was very good. I hope it is made into a movie one day! Now I am reading "Anything for Jane" by Cheryl Mendelson. I have alot of books from the library that are waiting to be read. I'm also on reserve for more books at the library.
It is rainy and drizzly and dark and gloomy outside. Just my kind of evening to snuggle up with a good book, my crossword puzzle, a sharp pencil, my cat, and the TV.
Everyone have a great, cozy evening.

YEEEHAAA! I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!!!

Ok, I'm excited! I just booked our yearly trip to Fort Walton Beach, Florida!!! Is this not the coolest thing this side of KENTUCKY? Am I not a first rate traveling hussie or what??? Ok, here is the travel run-down....first in January I have BAHAMAS with my fave girlfriend in the world, Miss Bree. Then Feb 23 I have a one week vacation in Fort Walton Beach with Archie. We have gone every year (except we missed one year because his Mom died) and it is pure bliss. THEN in May I have my trip to PARIS AND AMSTERDAM with Bree and John. In the Fall of 2008 a tentative plan is set for a trip to Washington D.C. with Archie. So all my vacation time is already planned for 2008!!! I love it!!!!
Let me tell you about our little piece of heaven on Fort Walton Beach.....I found the condo in FWB on the internet probably 7 or 8 years ago and we went for the first time and totally fell in love with it and have returned every year. FWB (short for Fort Walton Beach) is on Okaloosa Island right next to Destin, Florida. White sand beach, beautiful gulf water, tons of fabulous restaurants and the best shopping you can imagine!!!! When we go in February there is nobody down there but the old people. That suits us just fine.
All I do the whole week is read, walk the beach, eat, meditate, walk, and do tai chi. And of course, shop.
It is perfect and I feel so lucky that we can go again this year. Archie loves it too. We just get down there and fall into this lazy way of living for a whole week. Anything goes....you can have or do anything you want. Every year is such a treasure and special gift. It is my week to rejuvinate, restore, catch my breath, thank the Lord, exfolliate my skin, buy shoes, whatever!!!!
I don't think I can stand all this excitement and thinking about all my fun stuff! Oh....I can too....

Looks like November to me....

This morning I woke up and there was a light dusting of snow mixed with sleet. I wanted to stay cuddled up in bed! It looks like November outside. Yesterday while I was at work it was so dark and drizzly outside. Leaves falling off trees like crazy. I thought to myself, "It finally looks like November!" Now I am getting into the swing of preparing for Thanksgiving. Tonight after work Janet and I are meeting at the mall. I'm going to buy some presents for Bree's birthday. Janet and I need to catch up too. I need to hug her neck! She joined Jenny Craig and has lost 14 lbs!!! I am so proud of her!!! Maybe she'll let me take her picture tonight and I'll put it on my blog.
Here is my Thanksgiving Day menu...FIRST I will begin with Day Before Thanksgiving....Bree and John should arrive Weds afternoon. (the sooner the better, I hope!)
Weds supper: Chili and apple pie ala mode
Thanksgiving morning: juice, coffee, tea, caramel pecan coffee cake, toast, cereal, etc...
Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, ham, potatoes and gravy, dressing, rolls, sweet potato casserole, corn, broccoli/cauliflower salad, cranberries. For dessert: lemon meringue pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie (provided by Grandma) and leftover apple pie. John's favorite is apple pie!
There is a pie I ate a couple of months ago called a Buttermilk Pie and it was TO DIE FOR! Sounds awful, buy oy...was it ever delicious! I would like to make that too...I found a recipe for it on the computer.
I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I think of my family around my dining room table on Thanksgiving Day. They are all special and beautiful people and I am so darn lucky to be a part of their lives.
Like the poster in my bedroom when I was a teenager....it read, "I am so glad that you are here..........you make me realize how beautiful my world is." I have never forgotten that. It has to be one of the most tender and beautiful phrases I have ever heard of. And how true it is.
Love and peace to all of you today. Be special!

Fun and more fun in the Windy City

Oy!!! I spent last weekend in Chicago with Bree. We had sooooo much fun!!!! It was a beautiful weekend. Perfect Fall weather. Sunshine, blue skies, nice and chilly. We needed jackets. I got into the city about 10:00 and called Bree at work. We decided to meet at Loehmann's, our new favorite haunt. I picked out a darling white 3/4 length sleeve cotton sweater to take to Paris with me. And Bree ended up BUYING it for me!!! She just insisted!!! Oh I was thrilled to death to have my first Paris purchase. Bree said it would be perfect to take to Paris. Then I got a COAT!!! It is sooo cute!!! Pink tweed with a little faux fur collar and like a patchwork design on the front with tiny sequins. Verrry cute.
We were so happy to see each other. We kept giving each other big hugs right in the middle of Loehmann's.
Then we went to a new place for lunch. It was very good and we highly recommend it. It is called The State Street Bread Company. I got a delicious ham sandwich and a big chocolate fudge brownie to share. Bree got a really great looking salad. She said it was delicious but had too much dressing on it. Then we got coffee and the man brought it to us with our own carafe and said we didn't have to pay for it!!!! We couldn't believe it!!!! He probably saw Bree --- and she is so pretty, that is why he gave us the freebie!!!
We visited for a long time in the cafe and had the best time laughing and being silly. Then we walked to Posh --- one of my very favorite shops in Chicago. It is a little French gift shop on Rush Street. I didn't get anything.
I know I will go crazy nuts in Paris in all the cute boutiques. I'm so excited!!!!
We hit Pottery Barn, Banana, and Borders. Then came back to the apartment and drank tea with half & half in it. A first for me! Delicious!!! One of my new hot drinks.
We talked and laughed and visited with John and took pictures.
Then John, Bree and I went to Ditka's for dinner. Oh, it was wonderful. Had such a lovely time. We talked and ate and laughed and told stories. It was a perfect evening. Then we walked home. When we got home we looked at the Vienna pictures which are just beautiful!!! Such a gorgeous, old, historical city!
Then I passed out. I was so tired. I slept til almost 8:00 am Sunday. I never sleep that late!!!
After Bree got off work Kathryn came up and we went to brunch at Bucco di Beppo. (I don't know if I am spelling that right, but you know what I mean)
Had a delicious lunch. Bree, John, and Kathryn got spinach salads and cheese manicotti. I got a cheese pizza and they ate some of my pizza. It was soooo good! Then Bree and I shared a brownie with chocolate sauce and ice cream with chocolate and caramel sauce. It wasn't worth all the calories...we both had eaten better...but it was still good while it was going down.
We had this darling waiter who looked Italian and had an accent. I asked him where he was from and he said Mexico. He didn't look Mexican. Then I asked how old he was and he said 35. I thought he was about 35. Kathryn thought in his 20's and I said "No Way!!" Then I asked him if he was married and he said No. I told him he was just adorable and did he have a girlfriend? He said, "I'm gay." I asked him if he had any brothers and he said yes, but they are married. Oh well.... He was very good looking.
Then Kathryn and John went to McCook and Bree and I went to the Body Shop and Nordstrom. Then time for me to go home. I hated leaving her. She is such fun and the best person in the world!
But we will be together soon at Thanksgiving. It was a fantastic, fun filled weekend. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

HAPPY NOVEMBER 1ST

It is November 1 today!! For many of us, this marks the BEGINNING of the holidays. November 1 has always sort of been my "countdown" to Christmas. Usually by this time of year I have almost all of my Christmas shopping done. But this year we had such a great, warm Fall and my trip to Florida .... I didn't even THINK about Christmas shopping!!! Bree's birthday is November 15 and I usually don't buy anything for her until after her birthday...I usually wait and see what she gets for her birthday and go from there.
November is an exciting month for me....Bree's birthday, Thanksgiving (a holiday that I enjoy so very much!!) I am starting my month off right by a trip to Chicago this weekend to see Bree and John and hopefully buy some Christmas gifts. Bree and I want to hit Loehmann's again and thoroughly explore the store.
Then getting ready for Bree's 29th birthday and then the kids will be home for the Thanksgiving Holiday!!! I need to keep my energy level up, keep myself healthy this month, and take time to breathe deeply and smell the fabulous smells of November!!! Also, we must decide on our Thanksgiving holiday movie. So many good ones are out and more to come!!!! Any suggestions please pass my way.
So happy November, everyone, and remember!!! Swish your feet through the leaves (crispy, dry leaves are the best) eat caramel apples, drink pumpkin spice lattes, sit in front of a lovely fire, and most of all...tip your face to the sunshine and thank the good Lord in himmel for another fantastic day!!!!