The Pressure To Cook Like Paula Deen

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is 2 days away. Once again, it has totally snuck up on me. Last year, I watched the Food Network for weeks beforehand, and added several dishes to my normal Thanksgiving repertoire. The problem with doing that is that now, everyone has high expectations. When I ran through the menu with The Husband, he asked "Where are your fancy dishes?". Big Sister and The Senior asked the same thing. So now, 2 days before, I am forced to scour my recipe books in order to be more creative. Usually, I just buy a ready-made turkey from the local grocer. This year, I decided to give it a go on my own. I told The Husband I would probably cook it the day before to avoid any mishaps. "NO! I don't want any dry turkey! Just get up and stick it in the oven at 3 am on Thanksgiving." Now, this is the funny thing about The Husband. He has never cooked a turkey in his life (and I don't see it happening in the future)...yet he feels the need to tell me how to do it....

We are headed to Grandma's house for the holiday, which makes me extremely happy. The only downside is the transportation of the animals.....the incontinent, 14 yr old doberman...and the 2 car-sick cats. Though the drive to Grandma's is only about 45 minutes, it will not be a pleasant one.
The Husband came through this morning and said I could "'pick out his clothes for Thanksgiving". ....Huh? I think this was some sort of trick offer. I noticed he had thrown several t-shirts and jeans on the bed to bring along. I will make a bet right now that whatever I bring and suggest he wear .....will not be worn.

Ok, that's it for today. Back to scouring cookbooks. I'm bringing the laptop to Grandma's...but it is always questionable as to whether or not I can "log on". So, until tomorrow, when I will hopefully "be on".

On Remembering to be Thankful and Happy

We began the weekend by seeing a terrific movie. "The Blind Side" was both touching and inspiring. The kids loved it, The Husband loved it, the friend who went with us loved it...and so did I. I love a movie that has the kids asking lots of questions about life. I love when they see examples of people being honorable and courageous. And just icing on the cake that it was a true story.



Saturday I headed to Tennessee with a friend. A roadtrip of sorts to do some unfinished business. My mom's house has to be sorted through...there were closets and drawers to rummage though...letters to be read...memories to pack up and store away...and plenty of tears to shed. The first time I tried to do it, I failed. I took a look around and headed back home, not ready for closure. But with the year anniversary of her death just past, it was time. I loaded my car with recipe books, dishes, letters...anything that made me feel good and connected to mom. My happiest moment came when I happened upon a beautiful coat of hers that I hadn't seen in years. I had remembered her wearing it...and I had loved it. An emerald green vintagey coat with jeweled buttons and a fur collar and cuffs. It had disappeared for years...and I'd figured it was long gone. When I opened the hall closet, I spied something in a clothes bag...and sure enough, there is was. I screamed in joy..and scared my friend to death. I took it out of the bag and put it on...and it was a perfect fit...and in perfect condition. I didn't even cry. Just smiled and remembered mom.



After I finished, I stopped by to see an old friend whose husband had just passed away. She was so happy to see me that it made my day. We reminisced about her late husband, who had been very dear to me. And then in walked someone else...a guy I went to college with, who had also been a great friend. After an afternoon full of reminiscing and tears, it was so good to see someone who immediately patted me on the back, made fun of me, and reminded me of that some good people and times have passed...but there are still good ones ahead. By the time I left, I was laughing again.



On my way back home, I stopped to see both of my brothers. As I've written before...and as corny as it sounds...I have the best brothers in the world. Loving, thoughtful, kind....not to mention VERY funny. I cannot be around them for long and stay in a sad mood.



By the time I made it home, Little One had gone off to spend the night with a friend...and The Boy and Husband had exhausted every fast food outlet, and settled in to watch some horrible movie. Home Sweet Home.



So today, on this week of Thanksgiving.. I am thankful for friends...old and new. For family near and far. For memories, good and sad. And for those at home waiting for me...



And today...a Very Happy Birthday to The Senior, who I love and cherish....I hope your classes are quick and easy today....and I hope the coming year is everything you want it to be...



Until tomorrow.....

On Basketball Practice and The Morning Drop-Off

The basketball practice went well last night. It started off a bit rocky, with The Husband giving instructions on picks and screens. I glanced around and saw some blank looks on the faces of our 9 and 10 year old girls. One little girl had tears in her eyes, but I was relieved to find out it was just dust, and not fear. Two of them leaned over and said to me "What is he saying?" I waited for him to finish his talk on the importance of the pivot foot...and then I quietly suggested that he 'dumb it down' a bit. Afterall, it was the 9/10 Pewee League and not the Atlanta Hawks. To his credit, The Husband took a deep, impatient breath, and went through a slow, thorough review. By the end of practice, I saw many smiles on the girl's faces. I think they had fun and learned a little bit, which is what it is all about. Unfortunately for The Husband, our last year's record of 7-1 may be hard to re-achieve....

Yesterday I had lunch with my 'morning crew". This is one guy and one girl who also participate in the tedious ritual of morning drop-off line at school. The guy has been doing this for 8 years, I think...and the girl for 7. I am the 'baby' of the group, having only been at it for 3 years. Last year, the 3 of us participated in what could only be described as the "Amazing Race". It was a cut-throat daily race to see who could get there first and drop off the kids. As the year progressed, so did the danger of the driving practices. I almost found myself reaching for a helmet and driving gloves after being cut off and "put in the wall" several mornings. Of course I would never do this, but some participants may have actually shoved their young daughters out the door in an effort to win. The guy in the group changed the rules near the end of the year, as men sometimes do when they cannot win. He decreed that it was the first car to LEAVE that was the winner...not the first car there. Well, the danger factor that was involved with this became too much...and the 'Race' had to come to an end before someone was injured...

So this year, morning drop-off is more about discussing what was on TV last night or the latest gossip. The problem is, you start a conversation...then the line moves...and you are forced to dive back into your car, or else be run over. So it was nice yesterday to sit down and chat with the group and finish some conversations. When you have to deal with tired, grumpy kids on a daily basis, it is nice to be able to share a few laughs over it....

And finally, thanks to The Husband for watching the season of Project Runway with me...and with very few smart alec remarks. Last night was the season finale....the final 3 girls put together a runway show and competed for the prize. The husband demanded that I pick a winner...and he did the same. He did this because he knew who I liked...and he thought she wasn't going to win...but she did. I was very gracious in my "winners' speech....

So that's it for the week. We're doing a family movie tonight...and then I am off on a road trip of sorts this weekend...more on that next week....

On Agassi and The Pewee League

I've been engrossed for 2 days reading the Andre Agassi autobiography. I wrote about it a few weeks ago after reading an exerpt about his crystal- meth use. I was disgusted at the time because I thought, here we go again...another athlete/celebrity that feels the need to reveal that they used drugs. But once again, the real lesson learned here is to withhold judgement until you get the real story. Doesn't that seem to be the case more and more as you get older? It's so easy to jump to quick conclusions about people or situations, but the real truth is never that easy.


A friend e-mailed me the other day and said that she had literally not been able to put it down for a week. She warned me not to start it if I had a busy week...but I was intrigued, so I ignored her warning and picked it up. Well, she was right. From page one, it is very "intense". The guy you thought you knew as this brash, showy tennis player has led a very interesting, though sometimes troubled life. The drug use reference is one brief chapter, though the consequences last for several chapters. Without giving anything away, his life has been nothing like any pre-concieved notions that you might have had about it. I'm not sure that there are any lessons to be learned from it, but it is very compelling. And so that is the book review for the week...

Little One has basketball practice tonight. The Husband is the coach and I am the assistant coach. Though the titles were reversed last year, the results were pretty much the same. The Husband's role is much like it is at home...lead and order. My role is much the same as it is at home too....support and explain. Drafting the team took place a few weeks ago. The Husband took on this job with total seriousness. He researched players, made notes and watched try-outs. In the end, he drafted what he felt like was a pretty good team. So....you can imagine the reaction when the league informed him that he was "losing a player and gaining another due to un-foreseen circumstances." The Husband was suspicious right off the bat. He doesn't really believe in "unforeseen circumstances." Now evidently, one of the girls on the team had a sister, and their mom wanted them to play on the same team. As a mom, I totally understand this from a logistics standpoint. But The Husband wasn't having any of it. He immediately wanted to know the differences between the girl that he was giving up, and the girl that he was gaining. Unfortunately, he was losing height and age...This did not go over well with The Husband. Thus began a series of contentious e-mails between he and the rec league...."discussing" the fairness of the whole situation. The Husband insisted that he had been given a "crappy trade"...and the league insisted that...well, basically, this is rec ball, and you take what you get. After a couple of days and a practice, The Husband calmed down and decided that he would just have to do the best he could with what he had.......until he got another call telling him that another girl had been added to the roster. Then it started all over again.

So tonight, as we head to practice, I will be wearing dark glasses and a wig as we sail into practice past the rec staff. The Husband insists that they know his remarks are "all in good humor". I am not so sure...

Agassi's book is entitled "Open"...I highly recommend it. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of writing one about The Husband entitled "Screwed By The Pee Wee League...A Coach's Story"...

Until tomorrow...

Paintings and Pictures

The painting is well under way. I have already moved though several stages...the normal ones I go through in the painting process. Immediately after I get the sketch on the canvas, I love it. I stare at it for several days and compliment myself many times over. I fantasize about how this will be my best painting ever. But I don't begin, thus putting off the inevitable dive in confidence that comes when I actually put brush to canvas. No matter how good the sketch is, the first few days of painting are difficult. Mixing the colors on a palette is one thing, but actually seeing them on the canvas is another. There will always be colors that are incorrect. And once the color goes on, any imperfections in the sketch that didn't show, all of a sudden GLARE. The first few days on this painting were no different. The Boy said "Her face looks weird...wrong color." Little one said "Her eyes look funny." The Husband, who stands in front of it while eating his dinner, said "I'm not sure about the lips. are those right?" WELL NO. THEY ARE NOT! No matter how many times I explain that the the first strokes will always have to be corrected....my lovely family always has to let me know that ....so far......not so good.

Then things shift. A couple of days into it, the colors and shapes begin to take shape. All 3 of my critics run by the painting, and then stop and stare. They then look at me and smile and nod. This is when I know I'm on the right track....So that is where I am this morning. It's moving in the right direction. I'm anxious to get started...so very quickly...

Saturday, I took Little One and headed to grandma's house to meet Big Sis and her friend Lindsey. As I said yesterday, Lindsey is a great photographer, and we had arranged a little photo shoot. I needed some "edgy" photos for a project that I am not ready to discuss. (Wow, isn't that a great tease?) Anyway, I gathered together a group of clothes that are much more...let's say fashion forward...than my everyday school drop-off clothing. My friend and stylist Elizabeth met me at the house, and I thought she was going to cry when she saw the clothes. (it has evidently been awhile since I have dressed in the chic manner which she likes.) I walked out in a mini-dress, boots and leather jacket. Elizabeth literally jumped up and down. Little One stared at me like I was from another planet. Then she smiled. "Ok, let me choose your next outfit."

So for 2 hours and 10 outfits, the 4 of us played dress up and model. It was so much fun watching Lindsey at work. Big Sis was her mouthpiece, stylist and prop-girl, switching out jewelry, makeup and props whenever necessary. I morphed from go-go boots mom, to evening gown diva, to jeans and boots farm girl. Little one was her usual vocal self, exclaiming from time-to-time "Mom! Stop Posing. Look Natural!!! No. Not that smile. Relax!!" If only I would have had her direction back in my modeling days....

Big Sis has just e-mailed the pictures to me this morning. I haven't looked at them yet, but regardless of the outcome, it was a successful day. What can go wrong when you have 5 girls, beautiful clothes and a lovely setting?

So until tomorrow, when the picture on the canvas will hopefully look good, and so will the pictures from the shoot...

Don't Throw it So Hard...

Last Thursday night, The Boy challenged The Husband and Little One to a basketball game. I thought this was a great idea until I realized that I was part of the mix. Evidently, in order to make things fair, I would be on The Boy's team. ("Mom, dad and I would clean your plow.) Now I tried to avoid the game, as I was tired and ready to read my new book. But as he often does, The Boy begged and begged until it was either give in or explode. We were winning handily (no thanks to me) halfway through the game, when OUCH...The Boy threw a bounce pass that took a bad bounce and hit me in the mouth. Having just recovered from the head butt incident on dance night, when his buddy decided to throw his head up while I was putting on his makeup, my lip once again blew up. This time though, I was worried that a tooth might have been jarred loose....but I lucked out. All teeth were in tact. The Boy apologized profusely, and The Husband, ever-mindful of me-instructed him to "throw soft passes to your mom...she's a lightweight." We went on to win the game...and I went on in to find an ice pack.



The next night, The Boy was once again lobbying for a game. My lip was back to normal, and hey, it was Friday night. So I agreed. Once again, The Boy and I were winning, and this time, I was actually scoring some points. Feeling confident, I ran to guard The Husband as he dribbled around. Suddenly...and without warning...he decided to channel Michael Jordan and try a behind-the-back pass to Little One. There were two problems with this. 1) He didn't look where he was throwing it. 2) He fired it as hard as he could. Now, thankfully, it did not get to Little One, because it would have knocked her over. Unfortunately, it hit me square on the face. I think I may have blacked-out for a second, awaking to hear The Husband laughing and saying "Oops...sorry. Why didn't you move?". Now The Boy rushed to my side to make sure I was ok. Little One ran over and kicked The Husband in the shins, shaming him for "hurting mom". Finally, The husband strolled over and patted me on the back. "Sorry hon. Didn't see you there."

Minutes later, after I was again conscious, and we had resumed the game, Little One burst into laughter. "What's so funny?" I asked. "Sorry mommy, but it really was funny when you got smacked with the ball." ......Aren't kids sweet?

Sunday was the big wedding anniversary, but The Husband and I decided to celebrate Saturday night. After a last minute change of venue, due to an in-town football game, we had a lovely dinner at an out-of -town 'bistro'...perfect, because I got a bit of 'fru-fru' food that I like...and he got to keep an eye on the games. All in all, a great compromise....just like our marriage. And so I have to be very serious for a moment and thank The Husband for being himself for all of these years. It's not always easy...but it's always interesting with him by my side. What he may lack in compassion and sensitivity...he makes up for with humor and action. So between the two of us, hopefully, we've got "it" covered.....If he's read this far into the blog this morning (doubtful), I'll remind him that he said that Paris was in the thought-process for future anniversaries.....

And lastly, one of the high points of the weekend was a fabulous photo shoot with Lindsey McDowell.. Lindsey is a close friend of Big Sister's, and a terrific photographer. I needed some 'edgy' photos taken...and I needed to have fun doing it. So until tomorrow, when we will discuss the photo shoot...and I will avoid any further basketball games....

So Much To Celebrate

Well, I am just so happy this morning. For the first time in a week, I am not at logged on at the library or on borrowed time on The Boy's or Husband's laptop. I am on my own, new, fabulous laptop. I can't decide if it feels like I just bought a new car...or the first day of school. Either way, it feels very exciting.
After throwing a bit of a tantrum...and then pouting whenever The Husband pulled out his laptop...it was finally agreed upon that I would research and pick out my own. I haven't felt this independent since I bought my first car. These are the types of decisions that I rarely get to make in this household. My set of decisions involve what kind of cereal to buy or what day Little One needs to go to the dentist. So yesterday, as I went from place to place, researching and trying out different types, I was filled with the joy that only comes from knowing that The Husband did not get to tell me what to do....

Since I had driven an hour to shop for the laptop, I decided not to waste the mall time, as I rarely get a chance to shop on my own. Bouyed by the fact that I would soon be writing to my heart's content, I was suddenly filled with energy...so I did some Christmas shopping. Can I just say that there is nothing better than Christmas shopping early in the morning when nobody is at the mall but you and the mall-walkers...with a cup of Starbuck's non-fat latte in your hand? Ok, let me ammend that...The only thing better is when you know you are going to lunch at your best friend's house...and she is THE best cook in the world....and she has promised to make her famous quiche and creme-brulee. Just the anticipation alone was enough to make my day.

On a side note, I would like the Niece to know that, yes, of course, I perused J Crew. I had carefully studied my catalogue, so that I knew what items to check out...and yes, since I did have a reward card...purchases were made. The cropped khaki pants with the black stripe down the side were even better in person....the lavender ruffle blouse was lovely...and there were a whole new set of perfectly cute t's....but enough of that....

Lunch with the BFF was perfect on so many levels.The afore-mentioned quiche was delicious...the salad, the bread...and oh my gosh...the creme-brulee. But all of that paled in comparison to the conversation, because the BFF is what I imagine having a sister to be like. We covered every subject from kids to Paris to global warming. It was Heaven. Many thanks to her for her friendship...and the creme-brulee.

Last night, as I proceeded to set up my OWN computer...oh the joy of saying that....The Husband suggested that I decide on a place to eat for our upcoming anniversary. I threw out a few places...but he told me to choose..as it is "mostly for me." Just for fun, I checked out what was playing at the foreign-film theater downtown. This quaint little theater shows eclectic films...and you can also eat at the nearby fru-fru bistro. Well...I couldn't believe it.....They were showing Audrey Tatou in 'Coco...before Channel"......and in FRENCH!! ...with subtitles of course....Well, I asked The Husband if he would be up for that night of perfection...and he stared at me with the look that only The Husband can give...which if I translate it, says "You mean you just got a new laptop and you are now asking for me to attend a film with subtitles?"....Now he did not actually say this...he just said "Uh, no". But you know what? ...that is ok. I do not mind going to that lovely little film all by myself . Because you know what, an anniversary is suppose to be a shared thing, right? A celebration of putting up with each other for all of these years....

So today, I'm basking in the glow of typing on a new computer...filled with new ideas.....I feel as if I can now write the great American novel....and if not, I can at least write a riveting article on which produce is on sale at the local grocery store.....................The painting is finally under way, and the weekend is upon us.......And until next week, when I will have celebrated another anniversary.....and I will have this nifty laptop to write about it......