Only 3....

Went and saw Cheaper By the Dozen with my Mom and Grandma yesterday afternoon. The theater was pretty full, lots of kids. It was fun. For me it drew a little tear. There was a point when one of the kids said "If you weren't around, we'd only be...11!" And for me I can relate. Growing up with four of us, we were always four. Our name always blended when one of did something wrong (or all of us.) Paul, Sarah, Laura, Karen! Or as Paul coined 2 days before he died...the girls were collectively "Slaren."

Today would have been Paul's 33rd birthday. And I miss being 4...now we are only 3. It is all very strange. Sitting around the dining room table and there being an extra place. Yes, I know spouses and boyfriends have filled chairs...but it's not the same. We aren't 4 or 6 as a whole, we are missing a very important component. Only 3....

Happy Birthday Paul

Oh, and I know...

Oh and I see that the Daily Dave shows up 2 times in the Cool People section. Yes, he is cool, 2 times cool? I don't know about that...but it seems the old listing I had for him disappeared in the template and I can't find it to delete it. Working on that...

What's Work?

I am about at the point that I can't remember what it is like to work. Well, I have worked at the jewelry store 1 more time than the "real job." I am liking this lifestyle. So now I must figure out how to keep it. Being a woman of lesiure? Could I do that? Wake up about 9:30 everyday...lay around in my bathrobe watching The View...."doing lunch"...seeing a movie in the MIDDLE of the day...mmm...what a life! So I need to win the lotto or get a MUCH better paying job :-)

Vacation continues....

I finally! got to sleep in today. And boy did it ever feel good.

So you like my holiday self portrait? I took it on my dad's new spiffy digital camera...I didn't think that it would show up in other places... ;-)

We are about to go off for some after Christmas shopping (Hallmark, The Dollar Store and Bealls Outlet). Hopefully I can find next years Christmas cards and some wrapping paper at nicely discounted rates..

Ta ta.

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to drop by and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Hubby and I are lazin' around the house until we go off to his mom's for some festive eating (if you have ever eaten a holiday meal at a Hungarian home you would know just how festive).

We had a nice Christmas Eve. Worked and made some money at the store. Came home and had a cat nap because we were tired and I had the wonderful luck of having a Christmas Eve migrain. Then it was off to my parents for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. Pretty traditional. Ham, cranberry's, green beans, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes and the biggest apple pie in existence I think. (It came from Cosco and it was HUGGGEE! - I am NOT exaggerating on this one!) Then we sat around the Christmas tree and exchanges gifts. Hubby and I now have got enough new clothes to take us through next year (THANKS everyone!) and some other fun things. Including receiving one of my fav. Disney movies on DVD Sleeping Beauty. (Favorite part? The fares fighting over Aurora's dress color.."Pink! ... Blue!...Pink....Blue!" Then it was getting all gussied up and off to midnight mass. We had a whole pew for the family. After celebrating mass it was on home for some chatting and some food. Then around 2:30 or so hubby and I plodded home finally and collapsed in bed exhausted. Got up a little before 11 and exchanged gifts. Hubbies favorite gift? A new shredder that makes paper into tiny tiny confetti...(he was excited.)

Well...I better be off. There's lots of Christmas left to enjoy! From me and hubby.. We want to wish all of our family and friends a magical, fun filled, safe and peaceful Christmas. We love you guys!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Just a brief note to make sure I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I have to go and grab my bagel and run to open the store for hopefully a busy day...but I wanted to make sure all my family and friends knew that I was thinking about them today and have high hopes that you holidays are awesome!

How did they do it?

Mother Trib's e-mail has been down since yesterday afternoon. It has been something I, and the rest of the world, have grown very dependant on. I think I am going through withdrawl! Must have e-mail!!

Well, this is my last day of working, here, for the year. Tomorrow I become the jeweler's wife and work with him while the last minute shoppers, hopefully lots, stumble in looking for something. I will be checking in to tell of my vacation. I am hoping to do a little redesign on the site.

Now back to work...I have to get lots done before I can leave this joint tonight.

Happy Winter Solstice!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Winter Solstice! Today is the first day of Winter, the shorted amount of day light of the year and the official beginning of winter. Although it has been feeling like Winter for a while (even here in Florida!). Visit the web site I have listed above to learn about the ancient festival day. It's really cool.

Just another reason to celebrate!

"God Bless Us One and All"

Finished A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens last Thursday night. What a great book! It took me a little bit to get used to Dickens style, I have been reading easier books recently I guess. But once I got by that, wow! There were many differences between the book and the movies/TV shows I have seen. I recommend that if you get the chance to read it...esp. if it can be around the holidays. It remindes you of what is important in life.

Applause!

I am happy to announce The Daily Dave has re-opened for business! We have missed his humor and creativity. Check it out today!

Moi?

I received an e-mail from Hatch.com, I have a link to them at the left, telling me that they have included Sarah Says in their blog listings. (I wonder if they search first for sights that had them listed and as a courtesy added us.) But reguardless, I am happy that they didn't visit my little site and left thinking, man this site sucks, we would NEVER associate with it.

So for those 20 and 30 somethings visit Hatch.com...it's cool, and it's now a little cooler since I am included. ;-)

Butter Makes Anything Yummy!

Went to my parents house to visit with my Grandma who came in yesterday from Toledo, Ohio. Had a lovely dinner of some yummy vegetable soup. Then me and mom went to work making some Spritz cookies (read butter, butter and MORE butter!) They go through a cookie press and make lots of little shaped cookies that are WONDERFUL! They are so good I left my cookie press there in case we need to make some more.
A good thing to remember, when it comes to baking NEVER substitute butter for anything else!

Quote of the Day

I was having a nice lunch with the recently returned and well Skippy Simanoff today. We were talking about if we were teachers the grades we think we would like to teach. He said he would like to teach kindergartners...and how it is hard to for men to teach this age because of all the PC things and concerns...

This is how he started out by saying...
"If I were a man..."

Relaxing Night...

Spent a quiet night at home last night with my hubby watching a movie. Watched Drum Line which we borrowed from the bro-in-law when we visited Jax. It was fun. Lots of cool music and dancing. Very upbeat and something that required little thinking, which is what I/we needed. It reminded me of my brother. He played in the high school band and loved it. I always was sad that he didn't get to march in college, because at the time USF didn't have one and being an Engineering student would have made it hard. Just the love of it all.

Tomorrow Return of the King premiers (well tonight at midnight I understand.) I really want to see it...but I'll give it a weekend or 2, I'm not one for being the first to see any movie. There's so many I would love to see. Something's Gotta Give, Cold Mountain when it comes out...and that Fish movie sounds interesting...and then Seabiscuit came out today on DVD, I still really want to see that. On top of it I need to see White Christmas for it to feel Christmasey to me...I LOVE that movie! Ok, enough babbling...back to work....with visions of vacation days dancing in my head!

Wow! What a Weekend!

Man, I need to come to work to relax a little.

This weekend was VERY busy. It started out Fri. night at church with dinner and a concert. It was cool. It started with Fr. John playing the drums, Ron the music director on the base guitar, and a lead guitarist and keyboardist playing Christmas favorites such as I'll have a Blue Christmas and Rockin' Around the Christmas tree. Then it was the children's and adult choirs for more Christmas singin'.

Then we find out my Bro-in law is coming for a suprise visit. So we wait to chat with him after the concert. Then off to good friend Aaron's home for watching of Christmas Vacation, a Christmas tradition.

Saturday was long too. Worked at the jewelry store. Then went to a friends home to watch the boat parade in Maderia Beach, which was really cool. Only in Florida would you see boats all lit up with music and dancing and all sorts of fun. It's a great way to celebrate! Then it was off to have drinks with the visiting Bro-in-law and his bro.

Sunday, church, brunch, decorate Christmas tree with Mom, Christmas shopping and eventually eating dinner with some friends. They were at that restaurant because a big wrestling event was on and they wanted to watch that.

Wrestling is an interesting animal. There were people there of all ages. Literally! From grandma's with white hair to kids. And they were all cheering. And everyone KNOWS it's only entertainment (read into this NOT REAL) and they love it the same. I was a good sport, I made it more than 1 hour. (Yes Aaron, I had to mention this :-)

Eventually home and to bed. I did NOT want to get up this morning as you can see why. I am looking forward to a few Silent Nights.

But I am happy to report I am not in full swing in the Christmas spirit! Just have a few things left to buy for Christmas...and some cookies to bake...and soon, very soon a week and 1/2 of vacation!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

Elf Name

Update on the Elf names. My sister Karen has been dubbed Coupon because of her def shopping ways. (She doesn't know it yet :-) and Laura Crumbcake, or maybe Fruitcake since I am Sugarplum (a fruit). I think Fruitcake is good thought. What would your elf name be?

Elfen Name

I have been told my Pat Kane that I have been given an elf name, just in time for the holidays. I have been named Sugarplum. I like it. It makes me smile. I'm on my way to being ready for Christmas. Dave Simanoff is Crumpet and Pat is Mixer. Pick an elf name and tell me what it is!

Hate to Admit this, I'm Cranky About Christmas

I was talking to a co-worker and I admitted outloud that I was putting up Christmas decorations last night and I was cranky the whole time. I was doing it to have it done and I wasn't having the best time. I never thought that I would be one of those people who was so tired and cranky at this time of the year. I don't even have kids and other distractions that really make you tired.

I am going to a Christmas concert tonight at Church, maybe it will put me in that holiday spirit...I need some...badly.

Brain..not working...must stop typing!

Sorry for the lack of posts. I have BEEN very busy. With some well deserved time off coming up for the holidays, I have to get those 8 days of work into this, next week and then the following Monday & Tues. Lots to do. At this point my brain is numb. And my fingers, well I don't feel them almost anymore. So bear with me...this will be an interesting week and some for me...and I need to get my Christmas shopping and cards finished...so much caffine will be needed.

Mr. Happy Crack

Ok, I will admit, I didn't find this myself, I stole it from Dave Barry's Blog. But this is one of the funniest things I have seen in a LONG time! Please put your hands together for Mr. Happy Crack!

If you need a laugh, this WILL provide it!

Cool thing...

I had a cool experience last night.

Yesterday was a feast day in the Catholic Church so we go to Mass.
Our church has a Vietnamese mission attached to it and they use our building for a Vietnamese language mass. They are building a facility adjacent to our building where they will have a community center and such. But until then they are sharing our building. They shared mass with us. What was so cool was how it was mixed. The first reading was in English, the second in Vietnamese, two songs were in Vietnamese and two of the alter servers had traditional Vietnamese touches to their robes, beautiful red silken additions.
I thought the whole thing was cool. That the same mass around the world is being said in so many different ways. I addition, that evening we have a section of deaf people using sign language in conjunction. So all these elements are going on.
Thinking back I have been privaleged to meet Catholics from many different lands in the past six months. First their was a young priest from Poland, who just happened to be born in the same city as some of my forefathers, then the young nun who was from Ghana in Africa and then the Vietnamese families and clergy who came last night.
It really gave me pause. All these people around the world celebrating mass in the same way but at the same time using their culture to beautify it and make it their own.
Just really cool and I thought I would share it with you.

Split Pea Ode

My ode to Split Pea Soup.

All fall I have been dreaming
about a lovely soup made of peas.
Made from peas with carrots and ham and spices
it makes me smile everytime I get a bowl.
So I give a big cheer for my Mom because she made me some
and boy was it good I can't wait till the next time.
So here's my song about the soup made from peas
I know it looks kinda gross but boy does it taste good!

Mr. Picassohead

Ok, this is a REALLY fun web site. Thanks to Pat Kane for mentioning it to me. If you fancy yourself an artist and want to design something that looks like a Picasso this is the place for you. (Laura this may not apply to you because you already paint sometimes in this style.) Enjoy! Go visit:

Mr. Picassohead

Fast Company | The Wal-Mart You Don't Know

If you have a few moments, check out this article: Fast Company | The Wal-Mart You Don't Know. It's about Wal-Mart and what it has helped cause in this country. It is fascinating.

Healthy meals from your dishwasher?

This was my favorite headline of the day so far. Healthy meals from your dishwasher? What's next? Healthy meals from your cars engine?

The Bible’s Lost Stories

I read this weeks cover story in Newsweek about women in the Bible and how many think their roles have been either misinterpreted or just changed because the male hierarchy of the church didn't want to give true legitimacy to women and the power they could/should be able to hold.The Bibles Lost Stories

This story has come to a head it seems because of the recent best seller called the The Da Vinici Code. Part of it talks about that Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus, was actually much closer to him than a friend, confidant or believer, but his wife. It is very controversial and the Catholic church, which if you don't know, I am Catholic, believes the book to be very anti-Catholic and speculative.

I thought the article was very interesting. Just by reading the bible, I know that Jesus was close to many women and respected them. In fact women are important in the life andgenealogyy of Jesus named, so they weren't unimportant. There are women named throughout his genealogy. And I could believe that Mary (some are saying her name should really be Miriam) was an apostle of Christ or a close follower. Being Jesus was unconventional and all that wouldn'tsurprisee me.) But I am unsure about him being married. Yes it was typical for Jewish men of the time to be married, but there was nothing typical about this man. It seems simplistic to me. And so many of the things in the Da Vinci code seemed to be aimed at conspiracies and tarnishing the church traditions I'm just not there with it. But I would believe that women did have a greater role in the church and I believe we should continue to receive more. I am for tradition, that is one of the great things about belonging to this church, the age-old traditions and not changing something just for the heck of it. But I am for the survival of the church and giving women and girls a true sense that they do have a vital role in the church. Women do so much in most churches. They keep so many programs running but the roles are so limited. Anyways, read the story and see what you think. I am worried that some women will want to change things just to put women in roles so they can be there and not because they historically should be there. We must tread carefully.

Finally..some sense..

I was reading some stories off the web today and I came across a brief about Spike Lee criticising some forms of rap music. I thought it was very interesting. He said:

"I've always felt you can feel the progress of African Americans by listening to their music," Lee said. "Some of this 'gangsta rap" stuff, it's not doing anybody any good. This stuff is really dangerous."
He said some black adults equate education, good grammar and good grades with "being white," but when he was growing up, those things were seen as positive goals.
"You were not ridiculed if you spoke correct English," he said. Lee urged the audience to make their voices heard by not buying or viewing anything that portrays blacks in a negative way.
"We buy all this stuff, not even thinking about what's behind it ... Think about the power that we have," the 46-year-old said. "We can't just sit back and think it doesn't affect us. We have to do something about it. We have to be more choosy about the types of stuff we support."


I had always felt the same way. I never understood why having successful habits were bad and equated with one race or another. It's called being grown up. Why would you call women degrading names and talk about killing people so easily? And to think it doesn't affect your children or the way people see you.

Thank you Spike! Someone in the African American community had to have the guts to stand up and say those things. I'm glad you did it.

At Last...

I got a chance to listen to Cyndi Lauper's new CD At Last while driving to Jacksonville. At first I was disappointed to learn that it was an album of standards, other peoples music. I am one of those people who believe that artists should record new stuff, not something that was already good by someone else. I think it's a cop out.

This CD is an exception. Cyndi Lauper finally is showing the world what her voice is capable of doing. She sings so many different formats and does it well. The duet Makin' Whoopee with Tony Bennett is excellent.

I am looking so forward now for a new album from her of new material. At last Cyndi

I'm Baack

Got it at 4:30 a.m. last night from Jacksonville. We were visiting my sisters and their significant others and went to the Bucs-Jaguars game, which very unfortunately we lost. It was fun though. It was the 10th anniversary for the Jax team so there were cool fireworks and such. But, it was cold in the 30's by the time we left and we still lost. I believe the penalties cost them the game again. Them hubby and I hit the road and were "Crusin' together for the next 4 hours." I guess you could tell it was cold because the coffee machine was empty at both rest stops we stopped at. And we really needed the extra caffine, but we made due with sharing an over-sized Snickers and caffinated Diet Pepsi. I got to sleep in, but Hubby didn't, I'm sure he will be exhausted once his espresso runs low.
Well, lots to do, so type more later.