Cheers! Here's to 2010

Happy New Year!!!!!!!
So hard to believe a year has just come and gone. We spent a quiet evening with our neighbors, the Flamingo's. They invited us over for some Chili at 6 pm. When Hunky J told me the time I began to worry b/c our neighbor Mr. Flamingo can barely last until 10pm. I asked him if he was sure we were suppose to be there that early and if he was sure they were going to make it to midnight to ring in the New Year. He said, yes. He said he had his own doubts about the whole thing and verified it and even double verified it with Mrs. neighbor. We were scared we would be ringing in the New Year solo and I guess for Hunky J that is a complete no no. Any who, we had a few other invites but being across from the neighbors meant I was close to La Princessa in case she needed me, puffy cheeks and all. Also it meant we were off the road which is a great relief for me since I'm always the designated driver and who wants to be the designated driver on New Year's Eve.
We played games, quite a few. Let's see we played Uno Spin, for some reason that always turns out to be such a long game with the Flamingos. Then we played Pictionary, boys versus girls. We played two games with two sets of rules. The second set of rules, I don't know who came up with these allowed the first team, us girls to continue until we missed a word. Well, it turned out to be a long and boring game with Hunky J, Mr. Flamigo and his son were fading fast b/c us girls were totally awesome. haha
Then we played Fact or Crap, that was a pretty entertaining game and then we moved on to the final game of Uno Attack. I would have to say Pictionary(first version of rules) and Uno Attack ended up being my favorite. I kept telling Hunky J we should of bought Guesstures and the reply was never with any words but a look with the hairy eyeball. Which means quit finding ways of spending money. Budget is on our list of New Year's resolutions.
Any who, we made it. After one bottle of champagne, I like champagne, and 3 cups of coffee and baileys for me, I was wide awake in welcoming in the New Year.
The Flamingos said they were prepared with oodles of champagne. The word they used were gallons. That comment kind of scared me b/c last I knew I hadn't seen a gallon jug of champagne anywhere. I soon found out that they like to save their champagne from years past. We all had the same questionthat night, does champagne go bad? I now have an answer for any of you wondering. Before I answer this experience is based on Korbel Brut. I'm sure there are champagnes that can be saved for years and years and be good. I'm not a champagne connoiseur but as far as Korbel Brut that answer is, Yes, it does! We weren't brave enough to open the most vintage bottle from 1997 but we went with a 2000 bottle of Korbel Brut. The color-a little darker than usual. The taste-Yuck!!!!! Thank goodness I didn't taste it, Mrs. Flamingo was the taste tester and the look on her face said it all. We then progressed with last years bottle of champagne as the time was ticking closer and closer to midnight. I kept asking, are you sure this will be O.K. I can run like the wind back to my house b/c I do not want to ring in the new year without champagne. Everyone, including my husband, reassured that this bottle was a lot better b/c it had better color and it did taste better according to the tiny sample sip from Mrs. Flamingo.
I gave in, took a deep breath, and we all gathered to watch the countdown. I had my glass in hand, my husband to the right and my daughter to the left. I can toast to the New Year and I now have two people to kiss at the stroke of midnight. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!! CHEERS!!!!!! As I hear the Flamingos kissing behind me, I'm waiting for my New Year's kiss. I'm waiting, I'm sending the hairy eyeball to my husband hoping he will feel my stare. I finally had to smack my husband b/c he was swaying back in forth in never, never land. He even looked at me and asked what? What?! Where is my kiss? Good Lord, that is when you know the romance is gone. Then I turned to my daughter and gave her a big smack and she responded with an ouch and quick pull away from me b/c I hurt her puffy cheek. Geez!!!!!
Even though the response wasn't what I was looking for from either one of these two, I wouldn't of wanted to spend it with anyone else.
And just in case your wondering about the champagne, last year version wasn't good either. Mrs. Flamingo, Mr. Flamingo and myself managed to say cheers and take a couple of sips and then all three of us walked to the sink and poured our glasses out one by one. As for my husband, who was completed toasted, he commented that it wasn't that bad and drank it down. I really think he has a stomach of steal. LOL
Happy New Year everyone. May you and your family have a wonderful and prosperous New Year. I'm off to cook some cabbage and black eyed peas.

Mario Brother or Bust! Game On!!!!!!!

I got the Wii two years ago. Every Christmas I try and add a game. Last year I didn't at least I don't think I did. There I go, I'm having a touch of the sometimers. Sometime I remember and sometime I don't. Eek! Any who, we played Willifur's Rockband last year. Nothing like having your daughter borrow the Christmas present she gave her boyfriend. This year I bought the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. We played almost all Christmas day. Opposite Boy called and didn't really say anything about missing us until he asked what we were doing and I said we were playing the new Mario brothers. Then he said he missed us. Oh the love.
I think the best part of this whole game is watching La Princessa and Hunky J try to one up on each other. I had to keep reminding them that they were a team not a one man show. I basically suck so I just float around in a bubble and then pop and stay in one spot until they need me to pop their bubble. Long story but a fun game. We are already on level 7. I'm not sure how many levels there are. La Princessa handed me the box to read last night and I couldn't read and she told me, "Come on, you can read it, your not that old." In which I replied, "I guess I am old b/c I can't read it." I couldn't even squint hard enough to make out the letters. Time for some reading glasses. I would just like to mention that me needing reading glasses isn't b/c I am getting old, it is b/c I am on the computer too much. I will blame that on work and not my time on Facebook. LOL

Sweet stuff from Santy Claus and his little Helper

I got some sweeeeeeeeeettt stuff for Christmas. Good thing I believe in Santy Claus. I didn't even send a letter to the North Pole this year. His little Helper was all ears. hehe
Here is the Betsey Johnson jewelry I hinted for to the little Helper. Santy Claus remembered I had inquired about a Kindle from Amazon. He found something that is suppose to be better than the Kindle and that is the Barnes and Noble Nook. I can't wait until I get it. I will be waiting a while, delivery date is February 1st. Talk about anticipation. That gives me plenty of time to get myself organized so I can then kick back,relax and read. Something I haven't been able to do for a long time.
I got a lot of other sweet stuff from family like a Starbucks gift card, can't lose with Starbucks. An AMC movie cards, Snowman with a faux fur stole looking quite fashionable, a super soft blanket that is for the family but I have taken it as my own. La Princessa bought Hunky J and I a Kona Grill gift card for $50.00 so we can enjoy date night. A Nordy's gift card, homemade jams and nuts.
Here is a pic of my jewelry along with a picture of what the Nook will look like.
Thanks Santy Claus and his Little Helper and my family for some sweeeeetttt gifts. I looovvvvveeee you. :)

One Christmas Tree, Two Christmas Trees, Three Christmas Trees, O.K. I'm done.

I started out good this year. I began setting up my trees the weekend before Thanksgiving. I just wanted to get ahead of the ballgame but my plan slowly fell apart. My plan was to do the setup the weekend before and have everything decorated by Thanksgiving weekend. Well, that didn't happen and I can't even blame it on Black Friday. I think what took up the majority of my time this year was the 9 foot tree. I think this puppy will make it out into the yard sale in the new year. See I've become spoiled with prelit trees. This is our first tree that we bought in Arizona. I remember we bought this back in 2002 and Hunky J and I stayed up until 2:30 am hanging little red balls all over it on Christmas morning. We both had been working long hours and neither of us had had the time to put it up. We couldn't have Christmas without a Christmas tree and how sad would it be not to even be decorated. Not that little shiny red balls was a big thing but at least it wasn't bare.
If setup wasn't bad enough I'm dreading when I take this sucker down b/c I geniusly wrapped and wound the lights through out each branch. As you can see in this picture I didn't even have time to put a tree skirt around it this year. Hence the picture not showing the bottom of the tree. And please don't pay attention to the ugly treadmill displayed right next to it. We had to find some place to put it so why not next to the tree that was the biggest pain in the arse. Tis the season to be jolly.

What would you have done?

Sometimes things happen and you don't have much time to think about them when they do. I was at the Fry's grocery store the other day searching for my mega winning lottery ticket so I could cash it in and get my mega winnings of 6 bucks. While I was searching in my bottomless pit of a purse there was this old lady standing next to this elderly man, basically standing on top of this old man. I would say she was maybe in her mid 60's but it was so hard to tell b/c her voice sounded old but her body didn't look that old. She had her hair in a bandana so you couldn't see how long her hair was and she had a visor on top of it. She wore those big sunglasses that you get when have your eyes dialated at the eye doctor. I don't know why people wear those after that because if you ask me they are a big fashion faux pas. Any who, she then took a few steps back and asked an employee who was standing there if she could give her a ride to Tumbleweed park. The employee told her no, mainly b/c she was working, and then the lady saw the next victim, me. I have always told my daughter never to pick up hitchhikers and I had never picked up a hitchhiker in my life. So what do I do? I've never even thought of a situation like this. I mean here is an elderly woman who is saying she is stranded and she just needs a ride to Tumbleweed park which was about 4 miles down the road. As soon as I said O.K. I knew I was in trouble. She was instantaniously glued to my side. I could tell the elderly gentleman that was waiting to cash in his winning ticket was probably the one who gave her the money to catch the bus. I wasn't aware of the whole story until she asked him again where she needed to go to catch the bus. He pointed north and gave her this get away from me look. As soon as she got the directions she was now right on top of me. I mean she made me so uncomfortable. She got right up into my personal space that I had to tell her to wait over by the door while I checked out. I felt like she was doing a complete inventory of what I had in my cart and what I had in my purse. My stomach started to churn as I am telling myself everything will be O.K. I paid for my groceries and the minute I got to the door she was attached to my hip again. We got to the car and I unloaded my groceries and we headed toward the direction of the park. She then pulled out the change and five dollar bill that she had and told me she wished that she had enough money to pay me for my kindness. I told her no need that it was fine. Then she began to ask me if this was enough money to get her to Mesa, which is the next town north of me. I told her yes. Then she asked me if I would mind giving her a ride to her home in Phoenix. I told her unfortunately I couldn't b/c I had groceries in the car and who knows where in Phoenix this woman needed to go. She then proceeded to talk about random things. She asked me if I used an electric razor to shave my legs or a regular razor. She wanted to know where I lived, if I lived in a big house, a small house, a trailer, etc. She then told me that she is a bum and that she doesn't like doing it but she had no choice. She usually gets rides from business men b/c they don't seem to mind giving her a ride. I asked her how she ended up in Chandler if she lived in Phoenix. Chandler is about 22 plus miles south of Phoenix. She told me that she had never been to Fry's in Chandler that is why she was there. She said she was hitching a ride and needed to go to the bathroom and the people who were giving her a ride took her to Fry's so she could use the bathroom and when she came back out they were gone. Red flags started going up and I thought, oh no, what have I gotten myself into.
We pulled into Tumbleweed park where I had no idea of where I was going. The elderly man said there was a park and ride. I pulled up to the Recreational center and told the woman that she was at Tumbleweed park and she should go in and ask where the bus picked up. She didn't want to get out of my car. She told me that this didn't look like the place and asked me again if I could take her to Mesa. I told her unfortunately I had groceries and I couldn't do that. She then saw a lady that was walking into the Center and asked her if this was where the bus picked up. The lady said no, that this was the Rec Center. She then proceeded to ask that lady if she would give her a ride to Mesa and showed her the money she had in her hand. The lady told her no, she was going into the Rec Center. I told hitchhiking lady she needed to get out of my car and go ask someone at the front desk of the Rec Center where she needed to go b/c she was at said destination. She didn't want to get out of my car unless she was guaranteed that there was a way for her to get to Mesa. The passerby lady saw the panic on my face and reassured hitchhiking lady that someone at the front desk could assist her. She told her that they would call someone to pick her up. The hitchhiking lady finally decided to get out of my car and thus attached herself to the passerby lady whom I mouthed three Thank You's to. She gave me a knod and said she would take care of getting her inside and helping her find her way home, where ever that was because I couldn't figure out if it was Mesa or Phoenix. Hitchhiking lady kept asking her over and over if she would mind giving her a ride to Mesa. I just wondered if once she found someone to give her a ride to Mesa if that would turn into getting her a ride to Prescott and then to Nevada or California, and so on and so on. Maybe that is why the people who originally gave her a ride, thanked the Lord when she had to relieve herself thus giving them an opportunity to press the pedal to the metal and get the heck out of dodge before their perma passenger got back into the car.
All I can say is after she got out of my car and I let out a big sigh of relief I realized that this lady was really in good shape and she had the most flawless, beautiful, wrinkle free,golden skin, at least what I could see of it under those gi-normous glasses she was wearing. She was in excellent shape as far as physical appearance but her voice sounded like an elderly woman's voice. She had no groceries in her reusable grocery bag just clothes that she said she was originally wearing but someone gave her the skirt she was wearing b/c it was too hot to walk in.
I then thought to myself. What would my daughter do in this situation because I never thought I would find myself in this situation. I called her up and asked her. If she was in a grocery store and there was an elderly woman stranded and she needed a ride about 4 miles away would you give her a ride. She said, "yes". I told her that was the wrong answer and then began telling my story. I told her the only way that she should say yes is if the woman has groceries, thus a reason for being at the grocery store, and she has a walker or cane. I hope I never find myself in that predicament again.

No Hitchhiking signs provided off of Wikimedia.

This LOL Cat Pic Speaks to Me

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I have been such a slacker lately. I can't seem to get caught up on anything that I am trying to do. I have no excuses really other than I get distracted very easily. I picked this LOL Cat pick of the week because it reminded me of my kiddos when they were younger. The one with the halo over her head would be La Princesa. The one saying, "Sheesh!", would be my son, Opposite Boy. Oh, this so reminds me of when they were little and La Princesa would start screaming that Opposite Boy did something to her. Well, one day the cat got let out of the bag. I had expected it for sometime. I'm sure there were true times when her brother was driving her bonkers because isn't that what brothers do.
She was in her bedroom, I was in the kitchen and Opposite Boy was in the living room where I could see him. She came running out screaming that Opposite Boy had done something to her. I stopped her dead in her tracks letting her know that I knew what she was up to because I could see that Opposite Boy didn't do anything to her. Busted! She had no words to say and if you know La Princesa that is almost impossible.