No Excuses

I have no excuse for not blogging.  At least not an exciting one about some wild adventure.  Fact is, I have just been lazy about this one item.

I've been busy with my grandson and baby-proofing my home (that includes an open contemporary stairway), getting the yard ready for winter (the birch tree that got damaged by the ice storm has bit the dust for good), planning my Thanksgiving dinner (menu to follow), running numerous errands, trying to keep up with my favorite TV shows (thank goodness for On Demand viewing), and reading three books at the same time (which one can do during the numerous political ads that ran for the last two weeks).

I've had lots of 'stuff' that I could have written about, but as you can see, I just summed it up in one paragraph.  I decided to sit and write this morning as a result of a phone call I received last night.

It was 9:27 last night to be exact.  I mean, who calls me at that time?  The caller ID said cell phone.  But as much as I hate the robo-callers who hide their true identity, even they do not call that late.

So, out of curiosity, and despite the fact that I was watching the season finale of 'Doctor Who' (see On Demand comment above), I picked up the phone.  A male voice asked if this was Denise.  I asked who was calling.  He gave me his name and I thought maybe it was someone looking for someone I might know.  (Believe it or not, this actually happened to me one time when a bill collector was looking for someone.)

He then explained that he was in my high school class and the light dawned.  Yes, of course I remembered him, but since I had already skipped the reunion (and chided them in my blog that no one would miss me), I couldn't imagine why he was calling.

Well, in a very nice gesture, he was asking if I would like a picture from the 50th reunion.  With names identifying everyone.  Well, I couldn't pass that up and in exchange I sent him a picture from the 30th reunion.

Well, despite my biting remarks in my reunion post last month, there were a few folks in the picture I would have not minded seeing again.  One is a woman who I knew through all twelve years of schooling.  Another is a girl who beat me out for valedictorian (I was studying French and chemistry whilst she was practicing voice and typing).  One is a girl who never actually graduated with our class because she had to drop out due to a pregnancy.  And the girl who was a thorn in my side, egad she drove me crazy.  There were some I have no memory of in our class of about 250 (only 33 at the reunion).  I learned that about 40 classmates have already died, but only know the names of a few.

We had an interesting conversation and he said that there will be a reunion next May of the class along with the 1965 graduates.  I'd planned to be away that weekend, but maybe I'll alter my plans, or not.  Later this afternoon, I plan to go downstairs and dig out my senior yearbook so I can check out who some of these folks are.  Maybe pictures will help me place them.  Plus, I'm curious to see how they have changed.

1964 graduation

2014:  Grand Cascade at the Grand Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

Oh What a Wonderful Time!

If I say so myself, the cocktail party was a huge success. How else to explain that the friends who arrived at 6:30 were still here as the clock approached midnight. All my 'Cinderella' friends packed up and headed off into the fog and rain just before the clock struck 12, hopefully full and happy.

I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard and so much. And I learned so much in one evening!

I did not know that playpens for young children are not used anymore.  Apparently there is some kind of corral system with movable gates, I guess like they use for cattle.  Who knew?  I found this image online and wonder how it is better than what we used 30 years ago.  It is not square?

 
I also learned that young children are no longer covered with blankets or have bumpers on their cribs.  They are placed in sleepers and then enmeshed in some coverall to keep warm.  It is amazing that so many of us baby-boomers are still around.  How come my mother never ground up baby food for me?  Where were my soothing sounds of the ocean to get me to sleep?  And strollers made to fit a child until the age of six?  You got to be kidding me.  If you are going to nursery school and kindergarten, then walk.

I was also introduced to tales of all sorts of reality shows which I never watch.  One about duck calls, folks on the road looking for useful junk, and programs about 'child abuse' called 'Todders and Tiaras' and someone named 'honey boo-boo'.  Then there are the Kardashians and some rapper with eleven kids from eleven different women.  The general consensus was that many of these shows are nothing more than train wrecks.  Well, if I want to see a train wreck in action, I could watch C-Span.

Ever have a doll called 'Poor Pitiful Pearl'?  I never even heard of her.  I must say she provided many of our chuckles.  Only one person had ever seen one; it belonged to her recently-deceased mother-in-law.  The image that someone brought up on their phone made it look like she did not have a mouth.  I guess back in 1958 when she was introduced I was just too busy with my sports activities to think about a doll.  But her back story turned out to be quite interesting, being the creation of William Steig, better known for Shrek.

The talk of Pearl led us to 'Hello Kitty'.  A lack of young girls in my family left me clueless on this one too.  Seems that Hello Kitty really does not have a mouth.  According to what one friend found on the Internet, that is so you can project your own emotion onto the character.  Right.

I had such a good time, it will take me a few days to recover.  But I must say that I have to add a #11 to AARP's tips for better health.  Laugh.  The best medicine there is.

Better Health through Partying

Back in December a couple of my friends and I decided to throw a 'Survivor's Party' after the holidays.  Tomorrow is the big day.

I said that I would host the party at my house and provide the food.  We'll have the usual cheese and fruit tray, crackers, veggies and artichoke dip, baked brie, along with my poached shrimp, ham and cheese in puff pastry and honey-glazed chicken bites.  Pastries and wine will fill the bill.

The only thing I said to hope for was good weather.  Well, today it is 55 degrees and tomorrow it is supposed to hit 60.  The snow is just about gone and the morning fog has finally lifted.

I went out side to get my mail and my AARP newsletter was in the box.  I have been a member of AARP for over 25 years due to the fact that my husband was ten years older than me.  While I don't always agree with positions they take, I find their publications interesting.

It's January, which means everyone is making resolutions about improving their health.  AARP has an article titled "10 Tips for Better Health".

Tip number one is 'Throw a Party'.  Hey, why read any further?  According to a study by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, "social activity may help preserve your ability to perform day-to-day activities as you age".  HMMM.  Some days I do not have much activity besides eating and yoga, but if throwing a party will help, count me in.

I can also go along with 'choose chocolate' (#3).  I made coconut macaroons dipped in dark chocolate and have some dark chocolate caramels.  And of course, we will raise a glass or two of wine (#5) while listening to some favorite music (#7) in the background.

I'll begin my morning with a cup of coffee (#4) and hopefully not have to take a nap (#8) before everyone arrives.

I am feeling so much healthier already, I think I need a cookie.  lol