Surviving without Facebook...

Today is day TWO ... I "de-activated" my account... 40 days of will power.  I miss it and find myself automatically wanting to "check in"... that's primarily what I do on facebook, quick check in, check out...
I "think" I'll miss updated photo's the most... but they will be there when I return... and I'm hoping I miss it "less and less" as the days and weeks move on...

Ash Wednesday Gospel

Mass is "not" a holy day of obligation on Ash Wednesday, but working at a Catholic University I tend to celebrate Mass on this first day of Lent... today I was home and started the morning with Mass, and was reminded how this is one of my "favorite" Gospel Readings...

The private, quietness of the real reason "why" we are to do things... a hard message to convey to children, but hopefully they learn from example...



Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.
2 So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward.
3 But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing;
4 your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
5 'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward.
6 But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
16 'When you are fasting, do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they go about looking unsightly to let people know they are fasting. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward.
17 But when you fast, put scent on your head and wash your face,
18 so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

will reflect on this again...

Face it...we're all NOT Saints!

Wouldn't you just LOVE to read an obituary that said something like "...it's about time that SOB is gone... what a creep, won't miss him/her... who cares" Why is it that everyone who dies suddenly becomes in line for sainthood and everyone's comments are just how "GREAT" they were - let's be real!

How about... he divorced wife # 2 because he was cheating on her... she was on probation for larceny... he never went to one of his kids sporting events... she was fired for always being late...

You get my drift?

My "NEW" Welcome... 61

Why do I love this sign so much???

 

Eight years ago my sisters had a hand made sign made for us... we went to the man who took such pride in his work, he hand carved it, painted it and pointed out all the signs he made in the area (Upper Saddle River Library, etc.).  Can you believe someone "stole" it... I assume they lived at a "61" too.  I was devastated!  We made our own version, nothing special... I told this story a few times... once to a dear friend who had another one made for us... she knows I love pineapple's (sign of hospitality)... SO... it went up the day after Christmas... hanging so beautifully - if someone even "THINKS" of taking this one!!!!! 

Anxiously Awaiting......

We can count on it to ALWAYS rain in the summer, spring and fall...

It's just not feeling like winter with out that beautiful fluffy white stuff...

Anxiously awaiting...forever following the weather forecast...
I think Reilly may be missing out on the fun, too!

 AND a random "snow day" is not such a bad thing either...

For now... holding on to lot's of memories!

Let us remember that the Christmas season starts on Christmas Eve, ask many in earlier generations, their Christmas Tree was only decorated on Christmas Eve!  Similar to not having our church decorated until Christmas Eve... sad that the radio stations that play Christmas Music 24/7 stop on Christmas Day... I'm still playing Christmas Music... Remember that the Twelfth Night is followed by the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th!  Keep you music on, keep your tree up... now is the time to celebrate the season!!!

Christmas Traditions...

10 things about me-Christmas version

My blogger buddy "Frau"  did this...

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

"A Christmas Story"

What is your favorite Christmas song?

"Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Do you have a nativity scene?

YES, a few, one was made by my parents

What is your favorite Christmas animation?

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

Going to "the old" Newark Airport every year to pick up my grandmother...she was a character, a lot of fun and every year she told us that the current year it was "the best" Christmas Tree we ever had! 

 

The "old" Newark Airport

What is your most memorable gift?

A doll set that came with a doll and hair dryer AND my Easy Bake Oven...impossible to choose!

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Yes, too many (exhausted every year to be sure I don't change them...as I like to do some new thing's too)... Stone Crabs flown up for Christmas Eve Dinner.  Friends who come every year for Christmas Breakfast.  Christmas Day with my sisters, parents and family.  And Irish Whiskey Cakes that I make dozens of every year as gifts!  And... celebrating my Mom's birthday, Decembe 23! 

"Some of the girls"

Christmas Breakfast

Christmas Eve - Stone Crabs

DOZENS of Irish Whiskey Cakes

Do you have a special Christmas wish this year?

Yes, to NOT over stress and make time to go to a few concerts and events that are NOT commercial and will help "ground" me and keep this holiday in perspective!! 

I do NOT want to feel like this...

Plan to go to concerts!

If you could have anything for Christmas what would it be?

A VERY expensive, best on the market vacuum that picks up golden retriever hair... I just can't let myself spend over $1000. on a vacuum, but I want one SO badly!!! 

"Wish List" that I'd be SO mad if someone spent this much...

If you could spend Christmas anywhere, where would it be?

HOME...or local with family.  The thoughts of waking up anywhere but home is not an option! 

Merry Christmas!!!

If I was to get HIT BY A TRUCK....

I know, it sounds just TERRIBLE, but better than if "I drop dead"... OKAY ~ in all seriousness... I think as I'm getting "ahemmm" past middle age, OR, maybe it's just my standards have lowered. Every January, when putting Christmas "STUFF" back in the attic (carton after carton), I tell myself, "Self, pack it away so if next year it's someone else schlepping this stuff from the attic, they'll think I packed it in an organized and careful manor".  (SO THEY WON'T TALK BADLY ABOUT ME) ~ Well, this past weekend the same "flash" came over me... when putting away some yard and lawn furniture...
"Self, do it so next Spring, it looks organized" ...AND - the same with summer clothes in the attic and sweaters coming out... AND... sort of the same with my check book, keep it balanced... don't worry, I'm careful when driving or crossing a street... but these thoughts "do" flash through my mind...

Sisters...

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are

between you.

And a girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.

"NO idea who wrote this... but loved it so much and had to share"

The Hunt...

This is my third year I'm on the hunt for a certain boot, I know I've seen them someplace in my travels, I "think" it was at a leather shop in Lake Placid...



Love these, but don't want the brown only on the top

My wish is to find (for under $250.00) a two toned (black/brown) riding boot... with the brown to NOT only be at the top of the boot... Similar to the black/suede boot, but with brown where the suede is... I've seen many like this, but not thrilled with them... AND, since the ONLY thing God created narrow on my are my "heals", I'd love to try them on and not order as boots are hard to fit b/c I feel as though I'm walking out of them... but at this stage, I'll order them and take a chance... NO Zappos, does not have them...

the hunt continues!

LOVE these, if only the suade was brown leather!

Never Too Early...

I checked out my iTunes Chritmas Song list... I have almost 600 Chritmas songs, many are played multiple times by various artists... Do you know how many artists sing "The Holly and the Ivy"... maybe I have so many verions of it becaue it is one of my favorite songs... but then I have SO MANY favorite songs. Do I start to play Christmas music before Thankgiving - YES.
I realized today I'm 4 days late in downloading Michael Bublé - Christmas Album, came out on October 21st! Oh, and Carole King has a new holiday album too!

I also realized my last blog was on September 11th... not sure why? 

This September 11th, take time for "Mychal's Message"

Did you know the first officially recorded fatality following the attack on the World Trade Center was Father Mychal Judge, chaplain to the NYC Fire Department? After administering the sacrament, anointing of the sick to a firefighter, Father Mychal was hit by debris and killed. Father Mychal is known for his work with the homeless, recovering addicts, AIDS patients, and his work as chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. During his life, Father Mychal spent much of his time ministering to the homeless on the Breadline at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. Father Mychals dedication to homeless men, women and children has become a calling to us that manifests itself as Mychal's Message.
http://www.mychalsmessage.org/aboutmm/aboutmm.htm

One More Try... but NO wet pillow!!!

Ten + years ago I convinced myself I "retired" from camping. We camped as a family every year, frequently more than once a year - in a tent, sleeping bags, etc. It always started with such enthusiasm, especially when Gene was young, he LOVED sleeping in-between us... finding kindling wood, the perfect stick to toast marshmallows, helped Phil put up the tent... We camped with friends and nothing beats sitting around an open pit fireplace at night... and having coffee in the morning by the water... and delicious blueberry pancakes... actually, cooking when camping is an adventure and I always loved it, from lobsters in Maine to pancakes in the morning - food tastes amazingly better at a campsite!

I accepted that it took 1 day extra to clean everything for set up, and 1 day extra when home to put it all away... Walking to take a shower never phased me, bug bites, I dealt with them... BUT continuous rain... did me in... we always tried to stick it out, hearing the rain on the tent is somewhat soothing and it helped block out some of Phil's snoring! My last trip was trying to deal with 5 days of continous rain ... when I laid down on a wet pillow - that was it. It was the final straw - Phil did not believe me, thought he'd get me back, NOPE - we could have given every piece of camping gear we owned away and I was fine with it. I don't need a luxury vacation, but a wet pillow was the ice breaker.

Fast forward ten years or more later, I'm considering it - for 1 night. Phil goes almost weekly, wakes up near a river to fly fish and he's as happy as can be - loves to come home and tell me just how GREAT it was... Not sure if I'm crazy - but I may give it another try - just ONE night...

(unfortunately, I have no pictures on line, but plenty in albums... will scan at a later date)...

BONEFISH GRILL!

Phil and I are "generally" not a fan of chain restaurants... too boring. Gene LOVES them, "highway food" - he's thrilled with his traditional at Houlihans... blah...

Tuna Sashimi

Bang Bang Tacos

We went to Bonefish Grill the night before "Irene" ... LOVED it!  Going again with friends tomorrow night, besides very reasonable... so good, fun and lively atmosphere,  fresh fish and the menu seems to have favorites but also seasonal specials... Highly recommended!

COCONUT SHRIMP

CRAB CAKES

http://susanssunnyside.blogspot.com/

All IN THE FAMILY ...

It's that time of year again....

Sarah is transferring to Fordham University (my Dad's alma mater)!

Elana is a Freshman at Towson University University in Maryland!!! 

Freshman Year at College is so exciting - Good luck to you, Elana!

Maggie has started her Freshman Year at Hamilton (her Dad's alma mater) ...
where she'll continue to row on their crew team! 

Gene is starting his first year of Graduate School ~ So proud of you!!! 

(and living back home, not so sure how he is lovin' that)!!! 

ALL GREAT KIDS! 

Blogger's Block...

It's official... facebook has really replaced blogging for me... being able to link articles, videos, pictures etc. - is just so easy... I'm sure I'll be inspired to blog again...  but not as compelled to do so... although I still do love other people's blogs...so please, don't let me be the only one on a hiatus!  I'm calling it "blogger's block" ...