Lillian's Room

Geesh...as I was trying to finally post the "before" and "after" pictures of Lillian's room -- I get an error message from Google. Telling me I have "exceeded my photo capability". So, I just spent two hours of my life (that I will NEVER get back) -- trying to upgrade my Picasa Web Albums.

so far -- no luck. Which is why this post only contains the BEFORE pictures...



AND this may very well be my LAST BLOG EVER...because without pictures, I thik a blog is worthless. Completely, totally worthless.

You'll know soon enough...

Treadmill addiction

In order to DO THE TIME (on the treadmill) -- I play tricks on myself. I listen to books on tape...and I put on my headset and have phone calls with friends...sometimes, I tell myself if I walk one mile, I can take a 'sewing break"...(my sewing machine is next to my treadmill)....before I walk the second mile...of course, there's "counting"...



The other day, trying to get in Mile 2, I called Mary Mulari for a catch-up visit. She is glad I was back on my treadmill. In a moment of reckless optimistic encouragement -- she said, "getting on the treadmill every day can be addictive."

I hit the "stop" button and said, "what are you talking about? I could no more get addicted to walking on this treadmill than I could get addicted to root canal surgery..."

Really. Nobody in the history of the world ever got addicted to the treadmill...

I know you meant well, Mary -- but, honestly -- it would be easier to get addicted to having a dog pee on my carpet.

Rugs & Mugs

You know I love my RUGS & MUGS Christmas decorating...and this year, I seem to have a new category, "Throws & Clothes". I had six or seven of those holiday throws -- I used a couple of them on the bed in Lillian's room...

And SUDDENLY, this year I had more Christmas sweaters than I could even wear....so, I put them away in a big box labeled "Throws & Clothes".

Christmas rugs were EVERYWHERE...at the end of the hall, in front of Lillian's bookcase..

On the vestibule, and inside the kitchen door...six in a row...

A Chrismas Tree throw on John's Lazy boy...with a poinsetta rug

The long train board runner rug...


In our bedroom, the guest room, even the bathrooms...

The one in front of the stove was Lilly's favorite. Every time somebody would stand on it -- she would push them away...
They're all gone now. Vacuumed, rolled up and put away for another year. I miss them. And I wish there was something comparable for OTHER holidays or seasons, y'know??

Oprah vs. Dr.Phil?

First of all -- I watch way more television than you do.

Really. I'm not kidding. I start my day with the TODAY show, never miss the View, move on to soap operas, then Oprah, Dr. Phil, every Real Housewife series, HGTV shows, PBS, the Pickers, American Idol, Dance with the Stars -- well, I'm sure you get my drift...

Oprah changed my life. She changed YOUR life. Thanks to Oprah, we can all be our very best, most authentic selves...and I'm only being a little sarcastic....really. Even though the woman is pretty full of herself -- I have always believed she was sincere. The success of her show has provided her with a huge platform and I think she has been very responsible.

Now that she's created her own planet -- the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) -- in all the commercials, they refer to "the Oprah Affect". Ordinary people call or write to say how Oprah changed their lives...

Great. I get it. Totally. However -- could we talk about her protege -- Dr. Phil?

In his first season, he took on "the Dr. Phil" family. Erin and her husband, Marty, had two daughters. 15-year old Alex was pregnant.

Uh huh. He is going to show them how to get in touch with their feelings. Be better parents. More understanding. Or was it tough love? I got the impression the girls ALL loved the trips to the Dr. Phil show -- the make-up, being the center of attention...

One of the first things he did was send the whole family on a relaxing Florida vacation...

So, every season he does an "update" with his special family. And -- in the five or six years he's been "counseling" this special family....guess what's happened?

Well, Erin and Marty shared the most personal details of their sex life...they are estranged from both their daughters...the youngest, Katherine, was dating somebody in prison...

And the pregnant teenager? Alexandra has now had THREE babies by three different men. She is an uneducated, unemployed homeless drug addict. Her parents are raising the children...and the 5-month old was born addicted.

So -- this is "The Dr. Phil Affect"???

I'm just saying...if you are having any family problems -- do NOT call or write the Dr. Phil show.

Dinner at the Blackhawk

Gheesh...how many pictures did I take at the Blackhawk Hotel??

Here we are -- settling in for our special dinner at the Blackhawk...Kim, Deena, Ronda...


On the other side of the big, luxurious curved booth -- Billie, Jackie & Linda -- who are you talking to on our cellphone, Lin?? TURN IT OFF...

You know how much I love taking pictures into mirrors...here's my crew, waiting for the elevator.

Hey -- I HAD TO GET THE SHOE SHOT...I'm wearing the festive red pants...and that's my trusty wintertime Merrills...

The new swimming pool is STUNNING...it even has a handicap chair lift ...

Birthday girl, Deena -- me and Ronda -- again, in the dining room. Which is called the "Bix Bistro". I think. The service was slow that night -- but, remember -- it was their 'SOFT OPENING"...so they were still trying to figure things out.
And that night was not about the food. We were sooooo overdue for this get-together. There is just something so comfortable about a group of women who grew up together, sitting down to enjoy a nice meal NONE OF US HAD TO COOK...

Hey -- you never know where we'll be NEXT year at this time. Our special girls-only-fancy dinner was something very outside of our usual comfort zone -- and I think every now and then, that's a really GOOD THING! (my comfort zone is just a tad north of a McDonald's Happy meal)...

SNOWMAGEDDON

SNOW DAY!! YES, IT'S A BLIZZARD. My wish for you is that you are inside a nice warm house today. I've decided to spend most of the day reading a good book. And I couldn't be more delighted.

Elliott sent me these pictures -- and I just can't stop smiling...he's taking Lilly outside to play...

Of course -- that's Sophie right in front of her...it's almost like Lilly is turning to look at her Dad -- because she JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT...

This is my favorite picture. Additional scarf...two hats...and her little baby gloves just didn't do the trick. But how would you keep those big gloves to stay on her hands??

OF COURSE....!! DUCT TAPE....

Deena's baby boys

On Christmas Day, Ross & I went visitin' in the afternoon...he likes to catch up with his cousins...In this picture, he's got Mason in his lap -- and my Uncle Melvin is holding Clayton. These are the two little guys with the Thanksgiving birthdays...

My nephew Toby, with Brenda and Clayton...they're expecting again in August.

And my niece, Kelcy, with Mason and Andy...they're expecting again in July...

Kelcy is a wonderful photographer...but there's just the slight chance that THIS is their best Christmas 2010 picture. Altho -- in this second shot -- what did I do wrong, Kelcy? No flash? I can't figure it out...but the lighting is kinda cool...

Clayton and Mason are a couple of little CHARMERS...look at them here...so happy...

They have no idea how much their lives are about to change. Sibling Rivalry...Oh, yeah...I remember it well...