It feels good to feel sore!

Back in the boat... we'll sort of, simulating rowing in indoor tanks, oars in the water, seats could slide, everything like being in the boat - oh, but you can't tip and it was warm inside!

West Point Academy has an amazing boat house facility, a 2 story building with a floor of ergs, and 2 water tanks, all while facing the Hudson, which is very close to the building and a very narrow part of the river... it was frozen and soooo amazing to see a tug boat drag a huge freight boat down the river and breaking up huge slabs of ice!

So nice to be sore again, blisters on the palms of my hands and rowing with the nicest people... all half my age and younger!!! I'm a winter girl, but today was the first day I truly can say, I'm looking forward to spring and be back on The Hudson! 

 

Mini HS Reunion...(and sort of missing by blog)

It all started with Patty, currently living in Arizona, and letting the FB world of the class of 1975 from IHHS know she was home and "let's get together" ~ Thanks Patty...it made for a very impromptu and casual great night... at the "dive" bar that was so happy to have us... in fact, they even made a back drop for us! I think there were around 20 of us... all different groups of friends, so nice to see barriers broken after so many years...

I have limited memories of the old "Tobo's Bar", my sister reminded me that our mother would not allow us to go there, and what I'm really impressed with is, "we must have listened to her"... I've not been a big fan of overpriced, stuffy reunions, I love seeing old classmates, but as each reunion seems to dwindle in size, doing it at a fun bar certainly works for me... and seemed to be the consensus of the gang!

It's our 35th (OMG) this June... as of now, nothing is planned...if something should happen, I hope it's an informal event... great fun!

 

(and a reason to post on my blog, I'm missing)...

1 Year Later!

Happy 1 year anniversary to my blog... It all started last January 6th... my first blog was on "Little Christmas"... I've really had fun with it this year... met some fun people and it forced me to sometimes "think" and write... But...it's time for a break... maybe it's "blogger's block" - or knowing me, I get bored way too easily and need to move on to my next "thing" - whatever "that" may be!

Maybe I'll be inspired again...but I'm still on facebook and feel very connected through that!

http://susanssunnyside.blogspot.com/

Come back... "food network"....

I'm somewhat obsessed by what I recently can't have...it's the Food Network and HGTV... If you belong to cable via "Cablevision" you can't watch them either... I thought I was hearing things when my friend Jane posted it on "facebook"... WHAT??? They are my most watched channels... So, an agreement - between Scripps Network (owners of both Food Network and HGTV) and Cablevision... way too many details for me to keep track of... I really don't care who owns what, etc. - all I know is I'm in withdrawal! I missed Michelle Obama on Iron Chef America the other night... but, who I really miss are both Giada and Ina... ("Everyday Italian" and "Barefoot Contessa")...

So how long do I wait it out??? My husband and son just "don't get it"... but let me see them not be able to watch football, they'd get it really quickly! When The Yankees went onto some "paid" only network, we bought it the next day... no questions asked!

I'm sure that through someone, and somehow, they will become available, hopefully not at an additional cost... if push comes to shove and this household has to decide between some "elite" channels...

Interfaith Traditions!

Different families...different traditions. It's been like this since I've been with my husband... I'm used to it...it's automatically accepted - how we celebrate holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, funerals, weddings, etc. Our son automatically knows what to expect when it comes to whom we are celebrating with... neither are better than the others, there is no right or wrong - we're accustomed to it, we are in "automatic" gear on what to expect. When my family celebrates birthdays it's always at someone's house, someone makes the cake and hosts the dinner, etc. My husbands family ALWAYS celebrates a birthday in a restaurant, with a bakery cake. Coming from different religions and heritage certainly plays a major part in our background... but it goes beyond that. It's not the religion, it's the custom... Even though our son is being brought up as a Christian with the Catholic Sacraments, he has respect and understanding for other religions and customs ~ I'm grateful to be able to experience both and that our son is exposed to both as well.

Christmas is for kids...

Yes, sharing Christmas with a kid makes it really special.  After a family party, my little 5 year old cousin came back the next morning to make reindeer pancakes together! 

Happy Girl!!!

I'll admit it... I LOVE new handbags! I'll wait to purchase a good one... something about a "knock off" that just does not sit well with me... therefore, I don't have many bags, and I'm NOT big at changing them to match an outfit... they stay with me for a few weeks, at least. A few weeks ago I commented on my cousin's purse... I LOVED it... black tote with red handles - I was trying to see what kind it was... I've been thinking of this purse since that day, it was a new one to me. (I'm also particular, it has to zip on the top, thin straps and be able to go over the shoulder... no compromise)Last night, they walked in with it as a gift, and a beautiful matching wallet - Cleo and Patek. Made if France, bought in NYC, and thrilled to be my new "favorite" bag... Oh, I feel just so lucky!

Surviving New Year's Eve!

One of my "least" favorite holidays is New Year's Eve...always has been, even in my "younger" days... Why... Beware when "non drinkers" decide to drink... one of the other holidays I say that about is "St. Paddy's Day"... having spent many March 17 in the city and seeing kids who drank too much... trust me, not pretty.

New Year's Eve... it's almost depressing to me...it means the "end" to Christmas, the tree is dry and drooping, and it's time for the long winter with the only other holiday lurking around the corner ... St. Valentine's Day (which I do enjoy)...

It's just one of those things... I'm happy to be home, safe and sound with my immediate family - ah hem, who am I kidding - our son is NEVER home on this night, and it's one night I'm not nestled into bed until he is home and safe... (reality, I'm on chauffeur duty... for obvious reasons)! 

I wish EVERYONE a very peaceful and healthy New Year...we all deserve that!

Thankful for great cousins!

My cousin Karin and Caroline

Some of my favorite memories growing up were spending them with cousins...I'm grateful to still be in touch with many of them, on both sides of my family. I spent a lot of time with "The Kish" family, including a summer in London when I was 16... a lot of time in Vermont and many memories of family times together! (I remember our parents ALWAYS laughing and "partying")  Karen is the oldest of 7,  her daughter Caroline is my godchild and was my flower girl when she was 5! It was wonderful to spend a couple of days with them in VA right after Christmas... How I wish they lived closer!

Boxing Day!

Boxing Day... always posted on our calendars, not many know the tradition of "Boxing Day"... celebrated in the British Isles.  In Ireland, December 26th is also St. Stephen's Day. The origin of Boxing Day is the day after Christmas when servants are given off and receive a "Christmas Box" from their master... usually a collection of money for the poor - all domestic help are "off" on this day and a box with gifts is given to them. It's also a day celebrated with guests often popping in for a snack and a quick drink, the food and drink on Boxing Day is more relaxed than Christmas Day. It is a legal holiday.. no one is running to do returns on December 26th, and certainly NEVER working... We need to slow down and celebrate Boxing Day here in the states!

Wishing you a Joyous Christmas!

May his love and presence fill you and bring you a most Joyous Christmas!

May peace be your gift at Christmas.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Mom - dancing at my 50th birthday party!

Today is my Mom's Birthday... Every December 23rd... I think celebrating 2 days before Christmas has to be much better than 2 days after Christmas... we are all in the "Christmas Spirit"... I love celebrating Mom's birthday... she always feels "badly" because it's "on top" of Christmas (I think every birthday cake has pointsetta's on it) ...I refuse to complain.  Mom is 81 today... that's worth celebrating... at 81 my Mom text messages all of her grandchildren (she learned the way they respond)... very proficient on the computer and still as sharp as a tack... may I be as blessed when I'm "close" to that age! Happy Birthday Mom...you deserve ONLY the best... Love you!

Christmas "Book Group"...

A FAVORITE Christmas event is our annual "book group" Christmas Dinner... A wonderful evening of the same 7 women for over 5 years!  Funny thing... we FORGOT to discuss the latest book "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett! 

Traditions...

"A Christmas Story"

One of my favorite things to share and hear are other people's "traditions"... cut and paste and share yours too! 

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Neither (I HATE eggnog and hot chocolate I don't associate with Christmas) - BUT... Mulling spices in cider w/ a tad of something to "spike" it... YUM.
Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? I wrap them all now... but grew up to toys NEVER wrapped.

Colored lights on a tree or white? White. But do love to see other's trees and appreciate them all!


Do you hang mistletoe? Most years... hmmm I actually bought it this year and it must have been thrown out in the bag...(It just occurred to me)!


When do you put your decorations up? Usually the first weekend in December... I start them... I did "less" this year, hand picked what I wanted in the attic and left a few boxes (and NO one misses them, or realized it)!!
What is your favorite holiday dish? Christmas Eve we ALWAYS have stone crabs that were flown in from Naples, Florida...our tradition and we LOVE them... Prime Rib on Christmas Day.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We give our son 1 gift. Phil and I exchange on Christmas Eve...the rest come from Santa on Christmas Morning!


How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Traditional...ANYTHING goes!


Snow: love it or hate it? LOVE IT.


Can you ice skate? NOT WELL... and have not tried it in years!


What is your favorite holiday dessert? Pecan Pie... I'd eat it at EVERY holiday, if I could!

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Getting up EARLY and waiting for Gene, even this year at 21!!! When I was a kid it was going to our stocking and being allowed to eat candy before breakfast!


Candy canes: yum or yuck? Yum.

Favorite Christmas show? "A Christmas Story" but I DO also love "The Grinch"!

Thank You "Preppy Player"... made it an "easy" post!!!

A "first" for me... Emailing my Cards!

This is a "first" for me... (I sent this via email)... if I received this from someone (years ago)... I'd have something to say, I'm sure... after all, how impersonal can you get???  Well, I hope no one was offended...but the fact is...I'm running out of time and something has to "give"... I actually enjoyed creating this original card of family photo's this past year... I'll send cards next year... I don't want to loose touch with too many special people who I ONLY hear from once a year... (and many are not checking their emails)... I love Christmas...and one of my favorite traditions is to open up cards... especially when there is a "personal" note, not a typed letter to the world bragging about how "great" everyone is in the family... (those I save for a family dinner and we all "crack" up over them...so I do hope we receive a few...it is rather amusing for us). 
Count down...less than a week before Christmas!  The week leading up to Christmas is my favorite week of the entire year... the anticipation, having everyone home or arriving! 

Annual Department Christmas Party...

One of the "BEST" things about the working world is the annual Christmas Party... I've been to many and it's just great when everyone is in good form and there to have fun!

Sister at the gift exchange...

1 Week Till Stone Crabs!!!

One week from tonight (Christmas Eve) we will be eating our FAVORITE traditional meal... stone crabs. It all started when we were first married and I ordered them as a "surprise" for Phil on Christmas Eve... it's been our family tradition every Christmas Eve since then! We order them (religiously) from Capri Fisheries in Naples Florida... they are Prohibitive ... but once a year... we splurge. We have creamed spinach and onion rings as well... it's easy...but oh so good and it's all about tradition!

We highly recommend Capri... delivered overnight to your door (Well, Fed Ex has kept us on our toes many years...but they always arrive on time)!  Harvesting is accomplished by removing one or both claws from the live animal and returning it to the ocean where it can regrow the lost limb(s).
 
Check out Capri Fisheries ~ http://caprifisheries.com/

NYC at Christmas!!!

A perfect day in the city... It felt so good because I did something I wanted to do... part of me thought I "should" finish my shopping, write my cards (oh wait, I'm not doing them this year), bake my whiskey cakes (I'm not doing them either)... but I blew off my "to do" list and spent a perfect day in the city.
It started with my little cousin's Holiday Concert at her Montessori School on the Upper West Side... what better way than to hear little voices singing 9 songs...

I met a great friend for lunch, and we managed to do some shopping... (where else, Williams Sonoma) - we had so much fun....Cindy left with bags that were filled! 

I made it a point to see "the tree", I heard it was beautiful this year, I thought - ah,  it looks the same every year.... but, it was beautiful this year... So were the Christmas windows at Saks...

Popped into Henri Bendel - great 'frivolous" shopping - a store I can't EVER imagine my husband tolerating!

And ended with special people at a great NYC watering hole...
Pig n Whistle Irish Pub!!! 

This Christmas...

No Cards... No Baking. A VERY different turn for me... I'm "shocking" people I'm not sending cards... Maybe if I had a nice family picture I'd buckle and do a card... but it never happened this year and sending pre-ordered picture cards with signature is SO EASY... I can't sign 100 cards (and for me it's an all or nothing task). NO baking? I don't think so, if everything else gets done and time allots, maybe I'll do a few specialities... (maybe)  It's the year of change for me... Our family all discussed scaling back - especially between the adults, after all, we ALL NEED NOTHING. When I hear on the news that shopping is down from other years, I feel great that I'm contributing to that status. For some reason... I don't think the 3 wise men who brought the birth of Jesus each a gift ever thought Christmas would come to what it has!
What I'm happy to still be doing is emphasizing what we all have, keeping the traditions that are important to our family...some outreach to many less fortunate and reminding myself to be grateful for what we are blessed with! 

Have you tried it?

Last night...after ringing up my "upteenhundreth" tin of Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark... a customer said to me... This is like crack in my house... once we open the pound tin, we can't stop until it's all gone! I truly "laughed out loud"... I've NEVER seen anything like it. Have you tried it? At $26.50 for a 1 lb tin... it flies off the shelves! Personally, I'm not a fan of it at all... but I don't share that while I'm ringing it up!

Oh, and to make it a fun December, one of the managers (favorite) and I have a contest... can we go the entire month of December without sampling 1 piece of any candy... to date, we're both in the running (unless she's cheating)... but knowing Lisa, I don't think so!!!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Is your Christmas Tree up yet? The more people I talk to, the more I feel like the minority... nor have we bought it yet. As a kid, our tree NEVER went up before the Sunday before Christmas...I remember it well, it was a family event, everyone was home and participated! The flip side is everyone wants to take their tree down on the 26th, Boxing Day... and as a kid our tree stayed up until "Little Christmas", the Epiphany - January 6th. (The 12 days of Christmas, Twelfth Night)...Maybe the merchants who have Christmas STUFF out in September have made us feel the pressure of getting it up sooner??? Anyway - ours is not up and maybe this weekend coming up, and maybe the following weekend - after all, that is still 1 week before Christmas!