It's Christmas Time in Hollis Queens

Actually, it's Christmas time in Loudonville, deep in the burbs.. I am making cookie dough for cookies to be baked for next week. S is in NYC for work, so I am on my own. So I thought, why not put on some some Christmas tunes while making the dough? And that I did.

My choice tonight is "A Very Special Christmas", the original 1987 offering. And it got me to remembering, as tunes usually do. The first time I heard this album was senior year of high school. Yes, I'm THAT old..heh..Anyhow, my high school had an annual semi formal dance for the holidays called the "Holly Ball" and yes, the above photo is of me ready to go with big hair and cheesy 17 year old smile..As this event neared, the buzz in the halls was that noone was throwing an after party...And I got to thinking......I was fortunate to have a mom who was cool enough (and she still is) to allow me to throw a party without her being home. Big Sister was put in charge.

My friends and I bought all the necessary snacks and beverages (yes, even THOSE kind) and we were ready to go. It was planned that only juniors and seniors were allowed to attend, as I was afraid of younger kids drinking too much and getting sick all over the gold plush carpet in the living room. My friend J and I had dates who were big dumb football players so we put them at the door as bouncers. Big Sister was the "key master" and took everyone's keys, tho most of the kids arrived in limos..

So there we were, in all of our teen-aged coolness with cheap beer, big hair and cocktail dresses having a ball. I start to hear the same music being played over and over again. So I walked to the turntable (yikes!) and saw this album spinning. It had JUST come out and Big Sister had brought it home from college where she worked at the radio station.

This album had all of the popular artists at the time (Bon Jovi, Pointer Sisters, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Run DMC) doing their versions of popular age old Christmas songs. We listened to that album what seemed like a million times that night and loved every minute of it!

Now, I have the album on cd and break it out every year and reminisce about being a high school senior with big hair and an attitude. Life in 1987 was SO much different on so many levels. I still giggle when i think of my post-Holly Ball bash that night - what a blast!

Do you remember where you were when you first heard this album? I hope you were having as much fun as I was.
xo

Christmas Time is Here

Yes, unless you have been living under a rock - you have experienced the lights, the music, the ads and the traffic..As it is a hectic time of year - I have promised myself to stay low key and low stress - which worked out perfect as a bit of a minor health issue has kept me wayyyyyy low key (no pilates!!!!) for the past week or so..

So, despite the fact that I am keeping everything small this year - it does not mean that I don't enjoy the season. To show y'all this - I am re-posting a post from last year - re-writing the 12 days of Christmas - hope you like it..:)

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming, (yikes - that is so loud! why not 12 pianists softly piano-ing?)
Eleven pipers piping, (again, could be loud - but nice, I'm sure...maybe 11 sets of earplugs)
Ten lords a-leaping, (leaping? as in jumping? They might get hurt, better make them tiptoe)
Nine ladies dancing, (OK - something I can relate to - I hope they are my friends tho, would hate to get 9 random ladies dancing...and am I allowed to join them? SO maybe there should only be 8)
Eight maids a-milking, (maids? milking what? OK, how about pouring milk? Maybe some soymilk into my coffee? Why 8 - I don't know)
Seven swans a-swimming, (In this weather? How about seals? They do well in the cold and they are cute too)
Six geese a-laying, (Hmm, I hope they are laying eggs, Cause geese poo is impossible to get out of your shoe!)
Five golden rings, (OK, something else I can relate too, might they be encrusted with jewels too?)
Four calling birds, (Who are they calling? Don't they tweet? or sing? How about 4 tweeting birds)
Three French hens, (Whats wrong with American hens? This song is un-American - clearly written by a hater of freedom)
Two turtledoves, (No more birds! Ill take 2 turtle necks in this weather!)
And a partridge in a pear tree!( Hmmm...Well, I used to have a pear tree in the yard until it was struck by lightning - and I did used to LOVE going to the Partridge Pub..So, I will take this homage to my past from my true love....)

Do you have any additions to this merriment?

Snoopy V. The Red Baron

Happy Friday y'all!
I dare you - just TRY to watch this video and not grin, smile, tap your feet or get the warm fuzzies...

Superlatives

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of superlative is; of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others.

Over the years, different superlatives have been in use, sometimes overused. I just over heard someone say:
"That was mad funny" the word mad was SO overused at one point - I thought it had disappeared - hoped is more like it.

It got me to thinking, what other superlatives have come and gone? And why isn't the word "really" enough anymore?

For example....
"Wicked" as in how my former brother in law from Boston would say "That was wicked cool!"
"Totally" as in "I am totally stoked."
"Tres" as in those trying to sound like they are smart and know French "That party was tres boring"
"Amazingly" as in "The eggs were amazingly runny"

What do you have to add to the list? What do you hear all the time that makes you want to poke out the eye of the person speaking?

Just some food for thought on the first day of December..

Here We Go Again...

Happy sunny Sunday y'all! Its great to have the front door open to let the sunshine in...

So, it seems as tho another holiday season is upon us..I survived Thanksgiving, I am bloated and tired, but I had fun. It was alot of prep - many lists made and shopping trips - scheduling and cooking/baking..Outside of a trip to the E.R. on Wednesday night (I will NEVER again try to do my own roots) - everything went well. The food was yummy, family were all is good spirits and the martinis were plentiful....

I can finally breathe just a little from the stresses of the past month or so - and I am thankful for that. The holiday season is long and can be difficult, but going into it with a level head and the idea of pairing it down, I think it should be fun. I have decided this year I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to make everything perfect. I just want to have fun..Honestly, I just want to get thru the next month or so without a complete meltdown....

So, lets all go down to the basement and pull out a few decorations!!!! Happy holidays. :)
xo

Not Much To Say..

So, I have not been here in a bit - apologies to anyone who is out there looking for new blog entries [taps on the computer screen] hellllllooooo? anyone there?

Anyhow, the truth is - I have not had alot of downtime to visit..Now, I have always hated those "I'm too busy" people" - you know the ones - they take weeks to call you back, are impossible to get together with, and all they ever talk about is how SO busy they are..I aways thought this to be an ego thing - the more busy one appears,, the more important they must be..ick - so annoying..

BUT, what I have discovered is, it is not at all about ego..it is about life throwing so much stuff at you all at once, you feel like you are playing dodge ball in gym class (and not the kind with any rules). The past month or so have been like that for me. Many situations, concerns and downright sh*t has been flung at me..Yes, I am good at dodging and when unable to dodge, I face said situation, concern, sh*t - very well I would like to think. Doing this everyday is tiring..both mentally and physically. As I'm sure y'all can relate to - after A DAY, any free time you might squeeze out is preferred to be spent having a cocktail with your SO, or maybe quietly staring at the wall for a bit..Putting witty thoughtful well, thoughts, together seems quite impossible..

So there it is, life has been quite the roller coaster for a bit of a while, thus preventing me from having much to say here in my little space in the blog-o-sphere. Writing to me has always been an escape from times like this, but right now, my go to escape isn't even helping. I am left to trying to remember to breathe and stay positive that every day will be better than the one before and my life's out of control spin cycle will end, or at least slow down - cause I miss my little blog!

So, I pose this question - what is the best way to regain control when you feel like it is slipping away? I found that deep breathing and maintaining my pilates workouts has been enough to keep me sane - but what else is out there to help?

Bad 70's Music Warning

I can't help it - I LOVE the Captain and Tenille - these are the sounds of hot summer days and swimming at Lincoln Pool....I hope it makes you giggle and not embarrassed for actually knowing the words! :)