GIVING THANKS

Well, it is the time of the year that you reflect on things that make you thankful. Although, I think we should do this much more than once a year. Maybe we should get up everyday and think about what makes us happy, or at the very least, what makes us smile (nod to my friend Susan who owns Shandell's and makes "things that make you smile").

What I am most thankful for is that my son is home for Thanksgiving. I am so excited about Thanksgiving that I have pushed away thoughts of no Cliff at Christmas. It has been wonderful to have him home. Last night, we hung out and he cooked that nasty but delicious Carrot/Sweet Potatoe Souffle--now he probably understands why I don't want to make it any more. Oh, yeah, the bad part was the clean up and I still had to do that.

I am thankful that I work in a fabulous place, with wonderful people, and that I get in my Prius (that I am also thankful for) and am smiling thinking about another day at work.

I am thankful for the Curmudgeon, his good heart, his weird shoe choices, his strange nature--most of which makes this blog a possibility. There is ALWAYS something to talk, laugh, smile about. Of course, he does make me nutso--but then I am sure that he would say the same about me.

I am thankful that we live by Betsy, Jacob and Julia, and get to see them so much, and, on the flip side, sad that we don't see Jesse and Jordan more. This picture is in the Kitchen at Buca di Beppo on Betsy's birthday doing the "Grandma Goldie". The GG is when you place your hand on one (or both) sides of your face and pull the extra skin back--used mainly in photographs.

We are thankful that Katie, Mark, Seth, and Jack are well--and sad that they are soooooo far away. When Jack gets upset he storms off to his room and all you hear is is violin--you can tell just how upset he is by what he plays (tell me that is not cute, how do you stay mad at something like that???)

And I am thankful for our good friends (and Henry's ex-wife) Judy and Kurt. What is making me smile right now is the ability to put this picture in my blog.

I am thankful that Transporter 3 starts tonight and that Clifford is going to see it with me.

THE RITUAL

We all have rituals. They are what keep order in our lives. Some turn into "issues"--like people who count the paper clips and line them up in their drawers, or re-straighten the fringe on the rug and all of the blinds in the house when arriving home (dound familiar). All of us think that our little rituals are normal. We all think our friends rituals are quirky.

Mine: When I go to bed every night I (in this order) put lotion on my legs. I put Shea it isn't So foot cream on my feet and rotate them into bed (from this point forward I do not leave the bed).
I then put Clinique's Aromatics Elixir on my arms, convinced that this aroma helps me sleep. I put Clairin's Lip Cream on lips. Mentholatum in the nose area (thereby negating the possibility of smelling the Aromatic Elixir. Molton Brown Hand Cream (mmmmm). Sleep.

Henry's ritual involves the Chargers: The day before the game he drives his car down to his very favorite parking place. Then he either: A. takes a bus home, B. gets a ride home, or C. he takes the trolley to Fashion Valley and rides home from work with me. He does this because it is the only way he can get his favorite parking spot.



The day of the game he either:
A. Rides to Quizno's with his friend Ken, eats Q at 8 in the AM and then takes the Trolley to the Q. B. He rides with me to work and takes the trolley. C. He takes a bus to Fashion Valley and then takes the Trolley. D. He talks me into taking him to the game (today).

The best, is that he does all of this so that he does not have to deal with traffic leaving the stadium.

Quirky or Normal---you be the judge! At the very least you could say he minds his P's and Q's.

Henry Ray

I have not had two days off in a row for quite some time. The difference--added time with Henry. Finding out what he is doing while I am off toiling in the coal mines day after day.

Henry's life is full--working, TV, computer games, TV, golf, TV. Yesterday, I came home to find him sitting in front of the TV (shocker) watching Rachel Ray (serious shocker). He is watching her make a 60-minute Thanksgiving dinner.

In the beginning he was focused on whether or not she had "work done". I said for God's sake the girl is mid-30s I doubt it. Then his focus shifted downward--no, not to where you think...to the Turkey.

The next thing I know he is recording it. Then pointing out the errors--a few harsh words to Rachel. "You said skinless, and now you are putting the herbs under the skin. Didn't she? Let me rewind it and you see if she does not say skinless!" (Yes, she did by the way)

Up he leaps in a flash. I asked what he was doing. He was off to the store to get stuff for dinner. He and Rach preparing a meal. "Buckle your seatbelts, it is going to be a bumpy night.

As he returns, I remain seated. "Do you need help?" "NO!" Next all I hear is rustling and shuffling through doors and cabinets. "Do you need help?" "NO!"

Now comes the quiet. I finally turn around and see Henry staring at the blender, he turns to me and says--"It doesn't look the same." I reply, that is because it is the blender and not the food processor.

Rumbling, crashing, ensues. Quiet. "It doesn't work!" Sure it does I say. "It DOESN'T work" he sais, even more frustrated. I get up--each piece of the machine that I add he pushes the button and says "It DOESN'T work" (what is the definition of insanity again??) I put the bowl on (correctly), "It DOESN'T work", the blade in, "It DOESN'T work", the top on, "It DOESN'T work", and finally, the chute in, "IT WORKS!" I advise him it is so he doesn't process his fingers into the mix.

I sat in my chair worrying that he would grate his hand (micro-plane), cut his fingers off (knives)...but you know what...

HE MADE A FABULOUS MEAL!!!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

"Change has come to America."

OZ

Election day is finally here!! I am soooo glad that it will be over by tomorrow--no more ads For/Against Props 2 and 8...much less the rest!

Someone sent me this picture...thought it was too much fun not to share!

CREATIVITY AND CLEANING...

...mutually exclusive???

I used to create...it could happen again. I have included some pictures to remind me of the things that inspired me...Barbara Chapman's fabulous doll, as well as things inspiring around my house. Now I need to create my studio.

There is an infamous room in my house. Quite infamous actually. I have been "working on it" for 8 years. I have finally decided that the only way to work on it is with the help of a dumpster...no make that a group of teamsters.

This is a very large room 17 x 20 I believe. A perfect place for me to have a studio....in that fashion every room in the house will not have to be a "temporary" workspace. That being said, I must sort through to make sure that I throw out nothing important. I have found things that made me cry (photo of Andy, card from Samantha to Clifford), things that made me smile (Susan Schneider lighting the candles with Clifford), and things that take me back to wonderful times (my first collage artwork under the watchful tutelage of Vicki Fish).

That, dear friends and critics, is why it takes me soooo long to accomplish this task that seems so simple to everyone else. Everything I find is a detour through my life.

I feel that once I get this room cleaned out, my creativity will begin again....and make no mistake I miss it!