My Blue Jay Getaway

Posted on August 4, 2014March 1, 2015 by Mama

I’m finally back from the Hollow (pronounced holler) after a week away with my family. When I say “away,” that’s exactly what I mean — very little cell service, a land line that doesn’t dial out, no Internet and only three channels on the TV. But of course, who needs all those things when you have dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins. . . and you can drive 20 minutes to town to “borrow” WiFi from Daylight Donuts or Mustang Sally’s.

I didn’t do much “borrowing” during the week, because we managed to fill our days (and nights) with shopping, playing, swimming, visiting, Scrabbling and of course eating. I took my running shoes on the trip, but only managed to squeeze in one run while I was there. I quickly gave up on fitness and decided to see how many tasty things I could stuff into my belly in five days flat.

I could fill your ears with so many wonderful stories of my vacay in Blue Jay Hollow this year; but instead I decided to fill your eyes with sights of the quaint place that is simply called by most of us, “Nannie’s.” After my grandmother, Nannie, passed away, my Mom bought the place and it is still where we all gather for Thanksgivings, Easters, weekend retreats and summer vacations. It may be small on space but it’s big on love and wonderful memories.

I Found a Head of Lettuce on My Kitchen Floor

Posted on December 17, 2013March 11, 2015 by Mama

Okay, so I admit it. December is kicking my tail. It’s not necessarily the Christmas of it all, but the shopping, wrapping, festivefying and merry-making have definitely taken priority over most other daily activities like cleaning, doing laundry and feeding my family. If it weren’t for popcorn chicken in a bag or peanut butter and bread, we would be doing take-out every night of the week.

As for cleaning, my house hasn’t had more than a spot shine here and there since Thanksgiving. In fact, the fall festiveness is still lying atop the basement bar waiting to be stuffed into the appropriate tubs until next year. Today I found a head of lettuce on my kitchen floor. Okay, so it was plastic lettuce from my son’s pint-sized shopping cart, but still it’s place is not under the dishwasher (across from the tomato I sleepily kicked while searching for a morning cup of coffee).

My husband just promised not to reveal that he’s actually doing most of the laundry, and as much as I want to protest I just can’t, especially when he wanders in looking for clean socks or underwear to go to work in the mornings. Gee, he can be so needy. . . But don’t worry, there is usually a forgotten load of whites left in the dryer because I had some sort of gift wrapping going on in another part of the house. Aw, if it all gets too wrinkled, I’ll just throw in a wet towel and push it through another dry cycle — now there’s a good use of the world’s resources. (Who am I kidding. . . I’m prone to do just that on any given day of the year.)

Yes, I distinctly remember mocking the month and explaining that I was planning not to panic, but Plan B is now in place and anything goes. If we have to feast on the Bell four nights a week and eat pot pies the other, I’ll make it to Christmas with merry music blaring, a glazed smile on my face and my undies turned inside out.

photo credit: Muffet via photopin cc

Angie Harmon is My Political Sister

Posted on October 2, 2013February 9, 2015 by Mama

I recently read an article in the September issue of More magazine and just had to share a little bit of Angie Harmon love. While the article was supposed to be about getting what you want at any age, it seemed to be more about the 40-something Rizzoli and Isles star’s stance on family, faith and politics.

And surprisingly enough, it was her position on politics where I felt a little flutter of sisterhood. Towards the very end of the article the topic of Harmon’s Republican roots came to light and she actually labeled herself a ”liberal Republican.” While I consider myself somewhat of the same, I certainly do not think I’m near the liberal she is but it’s a term I’ll go ahead and claim.

Harmon cited an incident a few years ago where she was labeled a gay-hating racist just because she disagreed with the way the president was handling current situations. According to Harmon, nothing is farther from the truth, so shortly there after she went on a campaign to clear up her political position and personal beliefs.

About the situation she said, ”I was devastated. I had one actor friend tell me I was brainwashed and stupid. Here was this brutally intelligent person, and I sat there looking at the limitations of his thoughts. Call it naiveté or stupidity, but I didn’t know that unless you are a Democrat, you aren’t allowed to talk politics in Hollywood.” (Insert city of choice here.)

She then said (and this is where I really connected with her, because I’ve been saying this very thing for years), ”It’s bizarre to me that the so-called tolerant party can be so intolerant.”

Hello, sister! That’s what I’m saying. Not that I’m trying to make a huge political statement here or that I’m lumping every Democrat into the same mold, but I just wish that more people who claim to be ”open-minded” would actually be so.

Page 26 of 29

« 1 … 24 25 26 27 28 29 »