Listen to your mother

Do you watch the news?

Do you follow politics?

Do you try to keep up with all that is happening in our government?

Does your head ever feel like it might explode?

Good. I'm not the only one.

I listen to the news. I have my favorite station like most people but I change it up now and then. I think it's good to see what different sources are reporting. I feel like that's become especially important in recent years because news has somehow morphed into something subjective.

Remember when we got the news without commentary?

Without eighteen talking heads weighing in on everysinglesolitary word that is uttered in Washington?

Have y'all heard about health care reform?

Calm down. I jest.

You might not know this but I first started toying with the idea of blogging sometime around the last Presidential election cycle. I guess I dished out my own commentary often enough for my husband to repeatedly say I should start a blog.

Did you know I have a lot of opinions?

When I started blogging I figured I'd introduce myself and then I'd talk issues. Somehow though I ended up talking about England. And travel. And the empty nest. And a whole lot of random. And I loved it. It was nice. I like nice. Bringing politics into the 'nice' didn't seem like a fit. So I didn't. And I won't. Occasionally a snarky comment slips thru the editor.

Or my head really does feel like it will explode and all the words must go somewhere.

Hello words.

I'm not going to go into a political rant here.

Well, maybe just a little.

Have you heard about health care reform?

Kidding!

Kind of.

Every now and then I hear something and I think to myself, 'I have an opinion and somebody needs to hear it'. Today is one of those days...

I read alot. ALOT people. I listen. I enjoy learning. I try to keep up with what is going on in the world. I'm not unintelligent. Hey, I work crossword puzzles. But, sometimes I feel like I cannot express my point of view eloquently so I keep quiet. Plus I absolutely detest confrontation. I'm the third born child in my family and I'm pretty sure we're all peacemakers aren't we? Oh I can give my husband an earful. He and I are the same shade of political color though so it's kind of like preaching to the choir.

Today I heard a political figure make a remark which I have heard uttered several times by several different people in the past week or so but for some reason today when I heard it for the umpteenth time I kind of wanted to leap thru the car radio and shake someone. And then I remembered I had a blog and it's the perfect platform for scolding don't you think?

And today it is Party A talking trash but tomorrow it could just as easily be Party B and applies no matter if you are red, white or blue.

Dear Mr. Politician,

You are the latest in a long line of people who have uttered the expression 'Well, the 'other party' did it. And they did it more than once!' when you were questioned about the advisability of using reconciliation. You are not the first to say it and I'm fairly certain you won't be the last.

Do you have children Sir? Because when I heard your excuse answer I immediately thought of a five year old child getting caught in something that as a parent I might consider 'ethically questionable'. And if upon questioning my child responded with, 'Well, Susie did it first' I want you to know I would not reply with, 'well alrighty then...I guess that makes it okay.'

My child would be on the naughty step. Or copying verses in longhand from the book of Proverbs. Or something. They for sure would get a 'talking to' and that talking to would be a gentle reminder of a few truths our family holds dear. So for a minute please just think of me as your mother. Or a member of the voting public.

Just because 'everyone else is doing something' or has done it in the past doesn't make it right.
Do I really need to explain this to a grown man?

Remember who you answer to. My child answers to me, and to the God who made her.
Coincidentally so do you.

Act always with the utmost integrity. Do not be swayed by whichever way the wind blows.

Or the latest Gallup poll.

Take personal responsibility for your actions.
For good or bad, actions have consequences.
Stop placing blame and making excuses.

People respect honesty, even people who disagree.
People respect honesty, even people who disagree.

Really Washington...grow up.

The world and my children are watching.

Whew.

I feel better.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog.

With or Without You....its time for this week's Random Dozen

Top o' the Morning to You! It's Wednesday and since it's also St. Patrick's Day we have a nice little theme happening on this week's Random Dozen....come play along. Answer the questions on your own blog and link your answers here. And be sure to visit our hostess with the mostest Lid (aka Zoe O'Sullivan) over at 2nd Cup of Coffee to see what other blarney random goodness is out there this week.

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

I’m going to say a 1. I don’t think I’m superstitious at all.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

Daughter2 at 18 months of age…

Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration but it sure felt like a battle for control of the universe. Such sweetness coated in a will of iron. Which ran head long into my own will of iron. We forged ahead (pun intended) and oh the joy and laughter this child has brought into my life. She's nearly all grown up now and is still in possession of that strong will which serves her well as a young adult.

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?



Early morning.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

One year we neglected to spring the clocks forward and I remember walking into church thinking 'wow, there's an awful lot of activity this morning'. Turns out it was Sunday School breaking up and people making their way into church. We thought we were arriving in time for Sunday School. Oops.

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?



More daylight!

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? 



Of course. Don’t want to get pinched now, do I?

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

Html

My tv remote control

Voting on a bill you haven't read? Approving a bill you haven't voted on?

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

A lion. A cranky lion who has been rousted from a nice long nap and is none too happy about it. We had unbelievable rains over the weekend. I’m in Northern NJ and it was all over the National News. Even today my husband was detoured getting to work due to flooding on one of the roads he takes.

photo credit The Daily Record.com

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

Well I’d like to think it would be something productive but I’d probably be blogging.

Wait, that’s productive right?

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

A house on the water somewhere down South.

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

It’s pretty where I live and I think I appreciate that on an almost daily basis. The beauty of a clear blue sky, sunshine, clean white snow, birds in the bird feeder, deer on the lawn,….I think what I take for granted are more the everyday comforts of home I enjoy …heat when it’s cold outside, air conditioning when its hot, plenty of food in the refrigerator, clean water when I turn on the faucet…it's easy to take these things for granted...to forget that in many parts of the world these are luxuries. And non-existent.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!

Fiona Hennessy.

Now how about something truly Irish to close out this St. Patrick's Day post? A little something from one of my very favorite bands who just happen to be Irish lads....Have a great Day!

George Clooney...Here's the 411

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for.

Okay, maybe not.

But it is the day I’m going to attempt to recap in detail for you,

the night I met George Clooney.

Hey, this blog aims to please.

Let me begin by saying this….you’re gonna want to lower those expectations right down.

That’s better.

Because this little story has taken on a life of its own and I’m pretty sure the actual event is not going to measure up in any way, shape, or form to the discussion preceding the re-telling of the actual event.

It was about 8 years ago. The hubs and I (yeah, he was there too but is just an incidental character to the story) were in NYC for the weekend. We were living in Maryland at the time and were in the city for a weekend with some of his work colleagues…some sort of team meeting that week and then spouses were invited for the weekend events. And no, meeting George Clooney was not part of the planned activities…that was just a little icing on the cake so to speak.

Anyway, we happened to be staying in the same hotel.

And by we I mean George and I.

Oh and my hubs too of course. We didn’t actually find this out until later in the weekend because George was staying in some super secret section of the hotel that we didn’t even know existed. Nevertheless we (that would be George and I and you're going to need to pay attention) were staying in the same hotel this particular weekend.

Friday night hubs and I had gone to dinner and a show with our group...42nd Street, which was fabulous btw. We arrived back to the hotel about midnight and off to the side of the hotel lobby was the hotel bar. A great big bouncer man was standing in the doorway and we chatted for a second while we waited for the elevator. I asked him if anyone famous ever came into the bar and he said, “You just missed George Clooney”. And we all nodded our heads and winked and said ‘sure, sure’ and went on up to our rooms for the night.

Saturday was filled with lots of fun shopping and sightseeing and another nice dinner out. Once again we returned to the hotel and most of us headed straight up to our rooms. One couple, who will from here on out be referred to as J and B, popped into the bar before going upstairs. We got up to our room and I was changing clothes and had my makeup partly removed when the phone rang. It was B telling me I better get downstairs because

GEORGE CLOONEY WAS IN THE BAR!

Yes, she shouted.

She was giddy.

More on that in a moment.

I confess I actually debated about going back downstairs. I mean I had taken off the party clothes, the makeup was already partly removed, blah blah blah. Hubs said I should definitely go because I would be mad at myself the next day if everyone was talking about it and I had missed it.

Yay hubs!

Perhaps he is not an incidental character.

Perhaps he is actually key to the whole thing because without him I very well could have slept thru the big event. (Using the term ‘big event’ loosely, ‘k)

So we (you didn’t think he was going to let me go alone did you?) get back on the elevator and as we descend I am contemplating my approach. I decide to play things oh so coolly, like I meet celebs every day of the week and ho hum, impress me George Clooney.

We step into the bar. I remember it was kind of funky with a lot of pink lighting. It wasn’t very big and the second I stepped into the room I lasered in on George.

Oh my.

Yes, definitely handsome.

Where was I?

Oh yeah… our friends J & B were standing right beside him. I was mostly succeeding at the whole nonchalant thing when our friend B (remember I said she was a little giddy?) lifts her hands over George’s head and starts pointing down at him as she whisper-shouts, “HE’S RIGHT HERE!!!”

Just in case I hadn’t seen him.

Like that would happen.

And fyi-the whisper shout thing never works because hello, you’re shouting something that should be whispered.

Anyway, we casually walk over and I have the brilliant idea to send the husbands to the bar for something. Anything. I cannot have George Clooney thinking I came all the way downstairs just to see him right?

Pathetic I know. B’s husband J kept piping up every few minutes with this line, “He looks just like my college roommate!” J & B are adorable. They were quite a pair that night.

The husbands finally take the not so subtle hint and leave B and I alone.

With George.

We try very hard not to act like we're in 7th grade.

And so we talked. He was really friendly. Yes he is every bit as handsome in person as he is on the screen. In fact, at one point my friend B said to him, ‘You know, you are even better looking in person than you are on TV.” To which he replied,with a grin (Swoon),

“I’ve been told that before.”

Now not many guys could get away with a line like that one.

George Clooney most definitely can get away with a line like that one.

We talked about a couple of his movies and we told him our favorites. When my friend B said, “I loved The Perfect Storm,” he asked what she loved about it. She replied, “YOU!”

Oh brother.

He laughed.

Did I mention he is extremely handsome?

I’m sure we were only there about 15 minutes but it was fun while it lasted. Next thing we know the bodyguards sweep in out of nowhere and form a human force field. George is escorted into a private booth and our little moment of glory is over. Husbands roll their eyes and are good sports about our ridiculousness in the elevator ride back upstairs.

Which may or may not continue eight years later anytime someone mentions George Clooney in our presence.

And that my blog/facebook friends, concludes the story of the night I met George Clooney.

Did I tell you he was extremely handsome?

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops

No, I did not just quote a Barney song in my post title. We never watched Barney when my girls were little.

Can you tell I'm trying another Not Me Monday post today?

I think they are fun to write although they confuse some of you readers out

there....the idea is to post about something that really happened but write as if it didn't.

Read along and pretend you'll understand.

We did not have a low key weekend here and it certainly has not rained every single solitary second since Friday afternoon. My husband did not go up and down the basement steps at least 847 times to be sure the walls and floor were staying dry.

Speaking of the hubs...he did not arrive home from Belgium on Friday bearing gifts. He knew I would never want a beautiful tapestry to hang on my stairwell.

Or two smaller wall hangings.

And he can never talk anyone into anything so there is no way the sales lady would have just given him two embroidered pillow tops.

And he did not go to Belgium at least once a month for the six years we lived in England yet wait until we lived on this side of the pond to actually buy a tapestry. We always plan ahead and do what is easiest.

My husband knows I don't have a sweet tooth so it would not occur to him to bring home a box of Belgian chocolates.

And of course we would definitely not break into the chocolates over the weekend because we will be with our girls for Easter and naturally they would want us to share.

And we did not once think back to last Easter when we enjoyed a sunny and

wonderful weekend in Brussels, Brugges, and Ghent.

We would never say we wish we were sitting on the square soaking up the

sunshine and a plate of moules -frites in Brussels.

A weekend of torrential rains in NJ is oh so much better.

We for sure did not go out to dinner in the middle of a monsoon Saturday night. Who does that? We did not run into a detour because the road was flooded and I would never have taken us the long way round because I have an excellent sense of direction and never need to rely on my GPS to get us anywhere. And because we've been married for 25 years hubs would not be surprised by this. He would never question my logic in planning a route. He was the driver so of course he would consult the map before we left the house.

We didn't go to a German restaurant and eat some delicious sauerbraten. And I had not been thinking all day about what wonderful German dessert I would order and then be too full to order dessert at all. I did not try pickled herring and I did not love it. And we did not once mention how the restaurant reminded us of a favorite place in Munich.

(Munich, 2004)

You know we never ever talk about life in Europe.

We are so not like a broken record.

On Sunday we did not have to wait around for Loews to deliver some shelves for the basement because the non-stop rain did not motivate us to finally get all the boxes off the floor down there. And you know when I say us I am not talking about me. Seriously.

And I did not wake up to another gray and rainy day today.

And I am not going to feel grateful because the snow piled six feet high on the edge of the driveway is now down to a measly two foot pile.

And all this rain means spring will not be beautiful and green.

And I am not an optimist.

Been to Canaan

Visit Mylestones for more Flashback Friday posts featuring Musical Memories.

When I saw this week's theme for Flashback Friday

a million songs ran through my head.

I love that a song can take you to a place in time so that no matter how many

years go by, whenever that song is played you are there.

As you know, because I talk about it ad nauseum, we moved back to

the states this past summer after six years in England.

We were actually under the impression we would be moving

back after five years but the date was continually pushed back.

We loved our life there so we weren't unhappy about staying,

just about the uncertainty of when and where we would be going next.

One afternoon, about a year before we moved, hubs and I were out driving in

the little MG...it's red and very cute and we had the top down and were blasting

our music because that's what we like to do.

Just ask our kids.

We listen to all kinds of music in our house but we

especially listen to a lot of 70's music.

Because it's the best.

Just sayin'.

It was one of those picture perfect, crystal clear, blue sky days.

They don't happen all that often in the UK but when

they do everyone does the happy dance.

My hubs worked in Oxford and we loved driving out that way on weekends too.

The drive from our house to Oxford?

It was spectacular.

You knew that word would reappear once I started

talking about England didn't you?

It is possibly my favorite drive anywhere in the world.

The wide open spaces, the green hills, the adorable little lambs,

mile after mile of bright yellow rapeseed in the spring...

and the sky...the sky is just so great big huge there.

Have you ever had a day where you feel like everything

is just right with the world? Where you are almost bursting

from an emotion that you cannot name?

Where contentment washes over you and makes

you feel like the luckiest person in the world?

This was such a day.

We came to our favorite part of the road...the place where you

come over a hill and are face to face with fields of green.

A song began playing.

My husband and I looked at each other and in that instant we knew.

We knew that no matter where in the world we found ourselves,

from that moment on we would

hear that song and think of the English countryside,

and the days and years we spent there,

and how in that place our children grew from child to adult,

and how memories were made every. single. day.

The song 'Been to Canaan' by Carole King

came out in 1972 but its a classic and is still played on the radio

from time to time. We have it in our ipod mix so it

pops up when we're not expecting it.

And when it does we look at each other and smile.

For a moment we're back on that country road

in a place far away,

not only in miles but in days and weeks and soon in years.

When that song plays

we are in the little MG with the top down

and the sun on our faces

and England at our feet.

Make your own free digital slideshow

Heartstrings

Today my mother in law is celebrating her birthday.

Happy birthday mil!

She enjoys reading my blog so I thought I'd write a little something in her honor. Originally I wanted to include a nice poem or quote to kick things off but do you know what? When I searched for something, what I found in the mil department wasn't very nice. I know some people have difficult relationships with their mils but people also have difficult relationships with their mothers and we still manage to balance the good with the bad there.

What is there to love about a mil?

Well, for starters... she raised #1 son.

Only a year old and he already looks like he'll

give her a run for her money doesn't he?

She also raised #2 son.

And #3 son.

And #1 daughter.

I'm pretty sure if you surveyed the family at large they would all agree that #1 son gets the award for 'most challenging' in the growing up years.

Yeah, that's right.

#1 son belongs to me now.

He is still occasionally challenging.

I appreciate the way my mil raised #1 son. He has a strong personality and she navigated the tricky waters of toddlerhood and the teenage years steadily encouraging, disciplining, teaching and loving her son. She managed to direct all his passions and opinions and determination in a positive direction and the strong willed boy became a highly successful man.

With a big heart.

And a love of life.

He got that from his mom.

Let's talk about loving life...

I've written about my hubs several times,

his boundless energy,

his sense of adventure,

his willingness to try something new.

They say the apple does not fall far from the tree.

My mil is always up for trying something new.

Learning something new.

She is a do-er.

I remember leaving her for an afternoon with my children when they were

young and returning home to find they had painted t-shirts, baked cupcakes

and played endless games of 'hairdresser'.

(Sorry Grandpa!).

She had probably vacuumed my house, emptied the dishwasher,

and started dinner too.

Even in retirement she does not sit still.

She goes to the gym, volunteers at the hospital, helps cook and serve the dinner their church provides to the homeless every week, researches family genealogy, babysits for her grandchildren so their parents can travel for work and pleasure, and on it goes. My own kids are long past the age of needing babysitting but I definitely appreciated that when they were young. My husband has always traveled in his job and I've been able to accompany him on some wonderful trips thanks to both sets of grandparents.

I have definitely filed that memory away for the day I'm a grandmother myself.

I love this picture.

This is daughter1 teaching her grandma how to dance like Britney Spears.

This was pre-questionable Brittney.

Grandma looks like she could show Britney a thing or too don't you think?

Here's something else I love about mil...

She is FRIENDLY!

Sorry for the shouting but she is REALLY FRIENDLY!

Like her #1 son, she never met a stranger.

She likes to talk. I like to talk. We have some nice talks.

Mil has mad photography skilz.

Just take a look at this picture she snapped on Easter, 1996.

My hubs with daughter2.

Well actually its the drapes in her living room and sorta the tops of their heads.

"Let me try again after church.''

Much better.

Okay, so I kid.

The good news is she can laugh at herself.

Mil is actually good at lots of things
just not photography

She sews and cooks and knits and crafts.

She can go somewhere one time and fifteen years later still

remember how to get there.

She reads a lot.

She has a green thumb.

My in laws have been married for over 50 years now.

I think a long marriage should be celebrated more.

I appreciate the example set...

keeping vows, for better or worse, in sickness and in health.

Still married.

Perhaps the thing I most appreciate about mil is this-

she is our biggest cheerleader.

Everyone should have someone in their life who

thinks they are completely wonderful.

Someone who is always telling you how happy they

are that you are a part of their life.

Someone who you know will support you when you reach for a dream.

My hubs grew up in a small town and has essentially lived a fair

distance from his parents since graduating from college.

I'm a mother...I understand how it hurts your heart to live

far away from your children.

When we told her we were moving overseas she never wobbled.

Fabulous! Wonderful! Fantastic opportunity!

Sometimes I think if we told her we were booked on the next space shuttle to

the moon she'd say...'Great! Won't that be amazing?'

I file this quality away too, for when I am a mil myself.

Happy Birthday mil!

And thank you for making the heartstrings that hold a family close

even when they are on two continents and spread across five

states on your special day.

with love from your #1 dil

There's only so many ways to say random

I'm answering this week's Random Dozen and watching American

Idol at the same time. I'm such a multi-tasker.

Actually I have to say the girls are just eh for me at the moment.

I keep leaving the room mid-song which can't be good.

Sometimes I don't even wait until they're mid-song.

And is it just me or were there a lot of downers in the playlist tonite?

Siobhan sang House of the Rising Sun (isn't that meant for a guy?) and

all I could think about was my brother learning to play the guitar

back in 1969. Wow, he liked to play that song.

And I wouldn't characterize it as exactly 'sunny'.

I still like Crystal Bowersox but tonite I liked Didi too.

She sang Rhiannon which I love.

If I were in charge of things Paige would be going home this week.

Did you want to know all this?

Hey, it is the weekly RANDOM....here are my answers to this week's questions.

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?

Maybe five years old? I just had two pair of boots re-heeled and they are like new again. If I love a shoe I take it to the cobbler.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

Funny you should ask. I bought two boxes today (Tuesday)-one Samoa and one Tag Along. I’m going to put them in my girls Easter Baskets because conveniently one loves Samoas and one loves Tag Alongs.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?

No and no.

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

I love that every single week in the random dozen there is one question where I get to reaffirm in some way the fact that I was and still am a rule follower. I was a (mostly) responsible teenager.

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?

I saw Julie and Julia (best actress nominee) and Crazy Heart, which won in the Best Actor category.

We saw two in the Best Picture Category-

The Blind Side- I’m a fan of Sandra Bullock and SEC football and I absolutely loved the story portrayed in this film. Bring your kleenex. We also saw Up in The Air. George Clooney is in it so what’s not to love? I met him once and somehow this piece of trivia keeps coming up on my facebook page so I think I’m going to tell the story on my blog at some point.

There is all kinds of stuff going on in my post today isn’t there?

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

Well, I guess it depends on the procedure but I’m not really squeamish when it comes to having my own blood drawn. I could watch them draw yours without fainting too so I’m happy to hold a hand if needed.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

I know this is ridiculous logic (oxymoron?) but I love Thursdays…I think it is the anticipation of the weekend. Once the weekend actually hits I start looking toward the new week. Thursdays are still full of the promise of the weekend.

8. Do you miss anyone right now?

Sigh.

My daughters who are in college several states away.

My husband who is traveling.

My extended family living in various places around the US

My friends in the UK

My friends scattered far and wide around the world.

Um, I guess my answer would be a firm yes.

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?

Am I there visiting a new born baby? No

Am I there for surgery? Perhaps.

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.

A toss up between Ann Taylor and Nordstroms. I might not even need to leave the shoe department.

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?

For the most part, yes.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

Are we breaking up or saying I love you?

You knew I would complicate this right?

If it’s all good then I don’t find either one uncomfortable. It it’s bad then I find looking into someone’s eyes when I’m expressing the feeling to be more difficult. There would probably be some fidgeting involved too.