Happy New Year!!

Been busy... been away, but now I'm back...

HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have fun and BE SAFE...PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tag-a-licious

This is a Christmastime assignment from Eccentric Recluse. He tagged me, with the following instructions:

1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123 and go down to the fifth sentence.
3. Post the text of next 3 sentences on your blog.
4. Name the book and the author.
5. Tag some people.

Ok here's mine:

"She wondered if she should call Strathmore; the commander could simply kick Hale out-afterall is was Saturday. Susan knew, however, that if Hale got kicked out, he would immediately becaome suspicious. Once dismissed, he probably would start calling other cryptographers asking what they thought was going on."

Digital Fortress - Dan Brown

I here-by tag:

Jl4
Sean
Julie

It's Cookie Day!

Yes, that wonderful time of year when leelee dons her vintage apron and bakes many varieties of cookies..

Got my ingredients, my tins and doilies and my ipod with 160 songs!!!

My Favorite Holiday Snowglobe

It's a couple of years old...but it still entertains me...for extremely long periods of time...and causes folks to raise quite an eyebrow when they see my utter fascination.. as you know...I AM easily amused

Kitchen Concerts

I know..it's been tooooooooooooooo long since I posted one. But I finally got to it..

Check it out

6 Weird Things About Me

I'd like to thank JL4 for tagging me

This is the deal: "According to the rules, each player of this game starts with the title "Six Weird Things About Me." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own six weird things and state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose six people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says, 'You are tagged!' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"

I can do this so here goes:

1. I really, really enjoy peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches on soft white bread. I don't eat them often because..well they are probably about 1500 calories..but they are so good..hey...you said weird!

2. I can bend the tops of my fingers without bending the remaining joints



3. My daughter says I am weird because I "sing" all the time...I have always made up songs..I sing to her, I sing to the dog, I sing to my husband. "Please someone..please....would you feed the dooooooooooooog" and things like that...

4. I save bags...yes an original bag lady..it's very difficult, I'd say impossible for me to throw out a paper shopping bag.. No matter what the size...I must keep them..this has proven smart in the long run, because i ALWAYS find a use for them..now the jar thing....I need to work on....

5. I cannot stand towels hung sloppily...it drives me crazy! I can't walk by without straightening them...

6. I'm extremely friendly...to most everyone I meet or come in contact with..I always call wait staff and checkout personnel by the names on their tags. "Thank you Doris, you have yourself a nice day" Recently in NJ, I walked up to the gas station attendants and asked them if they were "Gas pump guys" they looked up at me and nodded...I proceeded to commend their good work. " Wow..(I said), you are actually sitting out here in the cold waiting to pump gas for folks....thank you for that...one thing though.....should you be smoking here??????"

NJ is the only state where you are NOT allowed to pump your own gas....cool huh? I have friends who have never in their lives pumped gas...they told me, they wouldn't know how to do it...so funny!

Ok those are just 6 things I could think of off hand that would been seen as somewhat weird..thanks again JL4..for tagging me..and now for my 6:

Paula
Pug
ER
Mayden
Wombat
/t


HAVE FUN!!!

Ridiculously large

That's the size of the new Panasonic flat screen plasma tv we bought on Friday. 50" ....goodness it's so big...

I must admit...it's pretty awesome.. the picture is amazing, the detail, the color, the crispness..it's like looking out a window. We watched a show on the HD channel, a documentary about an African village. It was quite spectacular.

But this morning my husband and I watched The Polar Express. Now I am not a huge cartoon fan, but I do like Shrek and Nemo et al, but this picture was really wonderful. Heart warming and all that jazz. I had watched it at a friend's house last week and it was good then, but I watched it on our gi-normus new TV and it was...spectacular. We were both quite impressed.

I look forward to more great movies and am open to suggestions for anything really eye popping (please no porn titles) that you have seen and can recommend.

Thanks!

AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH!

This is certainly good news!

leelee...then

Ok you asked for it...please be kind in your comments...contrary to the serious face in my yearbook picture..I was a happy kid...NEVER serious...lol ...I think the reason I had that puss on was..I had to take the city bus to the town center in July wearing a turtleneck..I think I was mad about that!

1976..I was trying to go for the Welcome Back Kotter wife look

In the late 70's I was trying to hold on to something like a hippie look....but those GIANT glasses kind of killed that...and what's with the hat?..."Free spirited Lee" it read under my high school picture....I guess so..huh?

I decided to cut my hair in the 80's and try to make it has HIGH as possible...as you can see I was able to achieve VERY LOFTY heights...how funny! (still trying for the hippie look with the tie dyed vest complete with beads...just can't let that go) That's my girlfriends baby on my lap..how cute is he??????

The 90's brought me to a more subtle look...extra thin housewife stage...finally seem to have moved through my flower child phase. As you can see, I enjoy holding other peoples kids...my daughter is in the lower left. I enjoyed holding her too and still do.

the 90's march on...the glasses are getting a tad smaller or I have gotten a tad larger...lol

Millenium leelee

And leelee last spring with her grandkids (I'm a step grandma)

AND FINALLY.......leelee today

So there you have it...more pictures of me then my own family has probably...thanks for asking...

The 30 Year High School Reunion

So.....after a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner for 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I arose early Friday morning to make my flight to NJ for my reunion...happy to report all went smoothly...JETBLUE is the best!!! No hassles, no one in the airports...rental car..no problem and made it to my hotel without a hitch albeit kinda tired. Rested and got ready to go....


Before I left my room...I took my own pic cuz...well I had a good hair day and frankly was pleased with my outfit and wanted to capture the look for posterity...that's ok right???




As I was driving over to the restaurant...I was feeling nervous, I don't know why really...I wasn't going to there impress, I didn't need to prove anything to anyone...all my memories of HS were good ( I guess that's what they call selective memory)......I was meeting girlfriends and was just looking forward to seeing folks I hadn't seen in 30 years...





Well I got my wish alright!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! How strange is it to look into a face, where there is a hint of the 18 year old kid I knew 30 years ago..but now the face is in an adult body...and all that goes with that...and that goes for me too!!!! Although, I really don't look anything like I did in HS.


People kept saying...YES..I remember you...hey what happened to your long blonde hair...I replied...I believe I left it in 1978 somewhere! lol



The evening was a complete success and all of my fears were for naught...after a few minutes and the shock of seeing all of us OLD PEOPLE wore off, we all had ourselves a pretty darn good time. The music was great...the food was delicious (after all it's NJ and the food is great everywhere) and most of all the company was fabulous...lots of laughs and good times shared! GO BENGALS!!





So without further ado..I shall share a few photos of me and old pals..I'm sure they won't mind...( I hope they don't)




Me, Janet & beth, I've known Janet since I was 4...and Beth since I was probably 7. Notice how they stuck our Grad Picture on us...this can be a good thing or a bad thing...depending how the years have treated you....


Me and my Friend Patty...she was in my Homeroom and as a couple of girls from said homeroom were commenting at the bar (in true Jersye style) " We had THE BEST F*#%ING HOMEROOM IN THE SCHOOL" (I swear she said it just like that too.....)



Old friends Rob & Russell on the dance floor...no they're NOT gay (not that there's anything wrong with that)

I kept thinking the whole night that I was partying with my parents friends....it was so "twilight zone..."

leelee & Doodles (and yes we really call each other that)

and finally leelee & Beeeeeeeeeeeeeel, another grammar school chum...

So that's my story....my 30th High School reunion...yikes...can't wait for the 40th!!

Sunday morning..

One other little bonus about being busy with the family last week was...I wasn't able to watch The Show With Zefrank all week....How could that be a bonus you ask? The answer...simple...I watched 5 episodes back to back today....THE BEST JERRY...THE BEST

Greetings to my little group of loyal readers, I see on my site meter that you have been checking up on me periodically and before I lose you altogether I thought I would pop on and give you an update, as it were...

I just finished up a week of playing host to my step daughter and her 6 children!! Can you say exhausted?? Yes.. but pleasantly so. We had a great week. But those days of 7 am - 9 pm with 6 children can be quite tiring. Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go.......

But look how darn cute they are

Ages 7 1/2 months to 10...quite a little group..

Anyway friends, I won't bore you with all the details of the visit....but suffice to say we had a grand time with them (but I am 1/2 glad to see them go..I'm chocolate milked out...I can't answer any more questions...and I need to be someone other than Grandma leelee for a while... )good times, good times.

I've found a quiet moment now to settle in with some tortilla chips and salsa to watch some of the Ohio State - Michigan game...GO BUCKEYES (My mother's alma mater)...the weather is absolutely gorgeous..low 70's dry and sunny...absolutely perfect to be writing here on my patio!

I'm also gearing up for Thanksgiving where we'll be doing a dinner for 13....WOW!!..How does she do it you are asking yourself????

and I am off on Friday to NJ for my 30th (gulp) High School reunion. I'm really looking forward to going.

All of this fun and frivolity has prevented me from posting much, but rest assured, you haven't been forgotten!

~HUGS~

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all who have served

I am a grateful American

Click Here

I had no idea my blog was so influential

Apparently the President clicked on the link in the post below...and has made some major changes in his admin...HASTA LA VISTA RUMMY!

This day just keeps getting better...one more to go in Virginia.....OH HAPPY DAY!!

Watch This Video!!

Click on the picture to view the video

Borat

Last night, hubs and I went to see Borat...

I laughed at least THIS HARD

Really, there are a couple of scenes that were so funny that I had tears and I wasn't alone either. The whole theater was cracking up.

Not for the faint of heart, there is some raunchy stuff in this movie..but Sacha Baron Cohen pulls it off so brilliantly, you just have to laugh!

" Crossing America in a repurposed ice cream truck and a shabby gray suit, mustache aquiver for the nuances of life in this grand old "US and A," Borat maneuvers himself into situations with average Americans -- feminists, churchgoers, frat boys, politicians -- and unloads one frag-bomb of political incorrectness after another. All he asks is that we show ourselves to him in our open-hearted, bigoted glory." Ty Burr, Boston Globe

leelee's ( and apparently Ty Burr's) recommendation:

Happy Halloween

Halloween Fun...without the mess!!

The only downside to this is, you don't get the opportunity to roast the pumpkin seeds!!

Carve A Pumpkin

I can do this for hours..but then again, I am easily amused..

WHAT "SORRY" LOOKS LIKE

Seems like good old common sense to me

I ran across this article on the web a couple of days ago..and I thought I would share it.

What if they win? Congress under the Democrats

If Democrats gain a majority in Congress, it won't bring major changes to Washington policy. But here are some areas where a Democratic Congress would hold some sway.

Don't think for a minute that a Democratic Congress would bring major change in Washington policy.

Democrats have no real interest in a wide-scale rollback of tax cuts, in forcing an immediate withdrawal from Iraq or in impeaching the president. Even if they did, they wouldn't have the power.

In both the House and the Senate, there's likely to be an almost even balance of power, whichever party the voters put in formal control. Each will have the ability to block the other's dearest wishes.

Still, if Democrats win the House, as the odds now favor, they will set the agenda, foiling many of President Bush's plans. And they'll exercise much closer oversight over the administration's foreign and domestic policies.

If Democrats also were to manage to take the Senate -- a less likely but growing possibility -- their power would double. With the two parties maneuvering for an edge leading up to the 2008 presidential election, the administration would have no choice but to compromise to get anything done.

Here are some areas where a Democratic Congress would hold some sway:

Taxes. Democrats would block Bush's efforts to make all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent and to fully repeal the estate tax. However, they might agree to extend some of Bush's middle-class tax cuts, such as the higher child care credit. Making college tuition tax deductible would be a fair bet under a Democratic Congress, and if Republicans lose control, oil companies may lose some tax breaks.

Minimum wage. Democrats would likely push through a hike.
Immigration. Ironically, Bush will have a greater chance of getting the guest-worker program he wants with Democrats in control of the House.

Stem cell research. A Congress controlled by Democrats would probably allow federal funding for stem cell research. But another Bush veto would be difficult to override.

Court appointments. The slender margin of power in Congress would force Bush to shun polarizing candidates for the Supreme Court and other federal positions, whether or not Democrats actually controlled the Senate. Nominees deemed too far from center wouldn't be able to win confirmation.
Formal investigations of the administration. Some official probes into charges of mismanagement and corruption are certain. The best bets: investigations of cost overruns and possible fraud in Iraq reconstruction, rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and no-bid homeland security contracts.

Social Security. It's hard to see progress on real reform with both parties so far apart on the basics, though both talk a good game. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who is in line to chair the House Ways and Means Committee, insists that Bush must first abandon the centerpiece of his plan -- individual retirement accounts. That's not going to happen.

In addition, if the Democrats take Congress, count on them to use their newfound authority to schedule hearings and control committee resources to push some of their favorite initiatives, including universal health care, more-generous Medicare benefits and steps to combat global warming. They'll also be more outspoken in pressing for changes in the approach to the war in Iraq. But that'll be tempered by the need to sound tough on national and homeland security.

- By Richard Sammon, Kiplinger.com

Call me a liberal but I see nothing here that isn't a win win for America...unless you're an oil company!!

Weekend Visit

Hubs and I took a 3 hour drive north to visit our daughter over the weekend. The visit was great and we were both struck by how mature our girl is in just 4 weeks of living on her own..there is a serenity and purpose in her we had never seen before. So proud of her..

Oh and she has some really nice new friends that we had the good fortune to meet. Here she is with one of them:

I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you

This is another one of those lyrics, that when I hear it...my heart just swells....heard it on my walk today....it's wonderful.

I took this picture last night from my front door...amazing colors.

You have one new voice message

" Hi Mom, it's me...again....sorry...I don't know....I just wanted to tell you I love you and I miss alot you even though I just talked to you, but...alright so I'll talk to you tonight...sorry, that's really gay but..I don't know...I do....love ya"

I'm a bad blogger...

but what is a bad blogger anyway...shouldn't this be a place to come and go as I please...MUST I have an agenda???????? Of course not...and I am finding myself more and more agenda-less these days. I am officially an empty nester and yes there are moments when I miss the little squirt...but I am enjoying my freedom.

Finally the weather is slightly cooler and I took a nice walk this morning for the first time in a while...I turned on my new birthday ipod and off I went. I long for low humidity days but there is definitely a change in the air, however slight. It felt good to wander around the neighborhood and see what folks have been up to. They've been busy!!

I've had the luxury lately of really listening to my thoughts..I actually have time now to do that. I've been thinking about relationships I have and have had..I'm learning to let go of some and work on others. Being a Libra..I long for balance and when the balance is off I'm uncomfortable and forced to look at what's off kilter.

The good thing is my husband is also a Libra, so we balance each other out very well. But some friendships seem to have run their course..I guess thats just natural..people have busy lives and careers...I just happen to find myself with more time to do as I please. So...I'm learning to let go...

Those are just some of my thoughts and meanderings today..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

It's my birthday today!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

Are you watching this:

The Show With zefrank

If your not...you should be!

This I Believe

I am A proud Liberal, I am a proud American

If by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties ... if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.” – Senator John F. Kennedy 9/14/1960 New York

I heard this quote this morning on The Diane Rehm Show and it struck a chord with me. The gentlemen who used the quote actually substituted the word "Liberal" for the words "Value's Voter". The guests were discussing Christian Voters.

I'm proud to be a LIBERAL and a VALUE'S VOTER...and I have resented somewhat the highjacking of values by the far right. My values are in alignment with most Americans I would have to say. Just read the quote...wouldn't YOU agree with those words? Sounds like just being an American to me...that's how I was raised anyway!

Perhaps what we need to start doing is BEGIN BY or GO BACK to voting with our conscience, instead of rubber stamping our parties choices. My wish is that the good people of this country will actually take the time to really listen to what the cadidates are saying and what they stand for..and leave the strategists and spinners of each side out of their decision..

All I'm asking is that you THINK, THINK, THINK this time around..and may the best man or woman win and work for THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY.

A Good Omen?

As I was driving home from leaving my darling daughter at college, I spotted an amazing rainbow. It stayed with me for miles and miles and I was taken by it's clarity and brightness. I wanted to capture it...but I was driving alone on 95. Well as you can see, I took a chance and aimed my camera phone out the window and shot. I think for doing 75 on a highway in the rain, I did rather well. I like to think it's a positive omen of things to come.

Blondie

I've changed my icon back to BLONDIE as you can see and one of my dear loyal readers Sean recently commented on a post of mine: so what parts of blondie do you closely identify with?

I'd be happy to answer that Sean...I do identify with Blondie because 1. She is blonde (duh) No really...I have been called "blondie" by a friend..I think he was kind of hinting that I may be a TYPICAL blonde...jokingly I hope..although I do have my moments. Not of dumbness really because I do consider myself rather smart..and savvy and clever. But well.. lets just keep it at..."I have my moments" Ok so back to Blondie Bumstead...she is definitely NOT dumb.. 2.she's a loving wife and Mother and 3. now runs her own business..I happen to be all of those things as well ( the business is with MY Dagwood though)

She's a gal who has been able to grow within herslef I suppose...YOU GO GIRL..

Plus she's really cute!

Timely quotes to chew on

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear". Thomas Jefferson

"Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.” Thomas Jefferson

The Circle Game

My 18 year old daughter is leaving home on wednesday. She's going to college in January and wanted to get settled and work full time before she starts. Friday she and I drove 3 hours to find and apartment and a job. We did well and she signed a 12 month lease in some student housing.

Gosh I'm filled with so many emotions. I am so happy and proud of her, but darn it if I won't miss her. Yeah, yeah I know..."she drove you crazy" you're going to say...and yes she did...my god did she ever. But as I said to her moments ago..."why is it when your kid finally becomes someone you like to be with and can actually talk to...they decide it's time to move out!" She laughed and knew what I meant. I cried and hugged her tightly.

She's grown into a lovely young lady and I know she will be successful..I just don't know where the time has gone ~sigh~

New German Pope makes changes...

You knew it was coming...