At Christmas time I was at my favorite house - besides mine. It's a Star Wars House. It was a Star Wars Christmas. All Star Wars - all the time.
This isn't like the 30 year old Trekkie (Star TREK) living in his parent's basement. Star Wars always was and still is cool.
All of my kids loved Star Wars. Not one of them is living in my basement.
So my younger grandsons have hundreds of star war figures and they know the back story for every one of them.
A couple of years ago I bought them a Star Wars Cookbook. They still use it. Some of the recipes are complicated and some are like "Make a cheese sandwich and stand Han Solo next to it."
My favorite is "Princess Leah Cinnamon Buns."
But back to Han. Following are some of his quotes. I've chosen the ones that will help you in your everyday life. Use them where appropriate.
Never tell me the odds.
Here's where the fun begins.
Great kid. But don't get cocky.
You know sometimes I even amaze myself.
***
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Best Gift
What constitutes the "best" gift? I think it's like "The Gift of the Magi" when people sacrifice in order to give. Remember the old SNL skit when Donald Trump sold his yacht to buy Ivana a jewel encrusted front door for Mar-A-Lago - only to learn that Ivana had sold Mar-A-Lago to buy him some fabulous thing for the yacht?
Like that.
I got some fun gifts for Christmas. But my Boyfriend got the best one from his 16 year old granddaughter. She's one of those kids who is crazy busy with school and sports and LIFE.
That's why it's so touching that she made her grandfather a CD. She downloaded tunes from her Ipod. But not the ones she listens to. She chose songs and artists that he loves. Nora Jones, Fiona Apple and Herbie Hancock.
The CD cover is an old picture of my Boyfriend holding a one year old baby girl.
On the inside all of the song titles and artists' names are hand written.
Last night we arrived home from our eleven state road trip. We have piles of dirty clothes and an avalanche of mail. But it's been a good day partly because we've played the CD so many times.
Like that.
I got some fun gifts for Christmas. But my Boyfriend got the best one from his 16 year old granddaughter. She's one of those kids who is crazy busy with school and sports and LIFE.
That's why it's so touching that she made her grandfather a CD. She downloaded tunes from her Ipod. But not the ones she listens to. She chose songs and artists that he loves. Nora Jones, Fiona Apple and Herbie Hancock.
The CD cover is an old picture of my Boyfriend holding a one year old baby girl.
On the inside all of the song titles and artists' names are hand written.
Last night we arrived home from our eleven state road trip. We have piles of dirty clothes and an avalanche of mail. But it's been a good day partly because we've played the CD so many times.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Walking in a Winter Wonderland Again
This is my last walk in Minnesota. Tomorrow we drive to Milwaukee.
It's misty and cold today. I love it.
It's three miles around the lake. I want to try walking the entire way today but doubt we can make it. We started through the nearby woods but thought better of that because it looked a little treacherous. Falling in the snow is one thing, falling on the ice is another.
So we're on the safe walk. Earmuffs, hat, scarf over my nose and mouth. Gloved hands in my pockets but they're still tingling. I love it! It's so exciting I can hardly stand it.
Can't see to the far side of the lake. Can't even see too far ahead. We're talking about the North pole explorers and how it must have been to see nothing but a sea of white before them.
About 10 feet below us on the lake we see a cross country skier from time to time. Further out on the lake are two men next to a little hole. How can they even think about fishing?
I can't possibly even stand still.
But I love it.
Afterwards hot soup at Turtle Bread.
It's misty and cold today. I love it.
It's three miles around the lake. I want to try walking the entire way today but doubt we can make it. We started through the nearby woods but thought better of that because it looked a little treacherous. Falling in the snow is one thing, falling on the ice is another.
So we're on the safe walk. Earmuffs, hat, scarf over my nose and mouth. Gloved hands in my pockets but they're still tingling. I love it! It's so exciting I can hardly stand it.
Can't see to the far side of the lake. Can't even see too far ahead. We're talking about the North pole explorers and how it must have been to see nothing but a sea of white before them.
About 10 feet below us on the lake we see a cross country skier from time to time. Further out on the lake are two men next to a little hole. How can they even think about fishing?
I can't possibly even stand still.
But I love it.
Afterwards hot soup at Turtle Bread.
I've Learned My Lesson
About noon I couldn't find my wallet. It was missing from my purse.
Of course I retraced my steps from the last time I'd seen it. We decided that I had to have lost it in the restaurant last night while we were celebrating my birthday with friends. I'd put my purse on the floor under the big round table. The wallet must have fallen out.
Yes, I looked in the car.
My boyfriend called the restaurant. They would make a search but the restaurant was jammed and they couldn't crawl around under the table with eight diners seated there.
How serious was it? Lots of credit cards, money, insurance cards, gift cards, drivers license and I.D. (I have 2 more planes to board.) And here's the worst part. I wasn't carrying my copies of all of these things.
We headed to the car to drive to the restaurant to crawl under the table where the 8 diners were eating to look for the wallet - ourselves!
But when I opened the passenger's side door, out tumbled the wallet.
All of the cards are copied - and life is good again.
**
Of course I retraced my steps from the last time I'd seen it. We decided that I had to have lost it in the restaurant last night while we were celebrating my birthday with friends. I'd put my purse on the floor under the big round table. The wallet must have fallen out.
Yes, I looked in the car.
My boyfriend called the restaurant. They would make a search but the restaurant was jammed and they couldn't crawl around under the table with eight diners seated there.
How serious was it? Lots of credit cards, money, insurance cards, gift cards, drivers license and I.D. (I have 2 more planes to board.) And here's the worst part. I wasn't carrying my copies of all of these things.
We headed to the car to drive to the restaurant to crawl under the table where the 8 diners were eating to look for the wallet - ourselves!
But when I opened the passenger's side door, out tumbled the wallet.
All of the cards are copied - and life is good again.
**
The Nutcracker
To my knowledge, there are no more tall department stores in Florida. Almost all of them are located in malls. Two-stories at the most.
Yesterday we took our walk in downtown Minneapolis. It was cold. Many of the tall buildings disappeared into the midst. We admired the architecture. We toured the new library (designed by Cesar Pelli.) We took the stairs.
Then we walked a few blocks to Macy's. We have Macy's in Florida. They bought out our wonderful Florida department store, Burdines, several years ago. Some of us still affectionately call it "Burdines."
The Macy's in downtown Minneapolis was once Dayton's. They were bought out by Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's. My Boyfriend calls it "Dayton's."
It's one of those wonderful, old 12 story high department stores - with a bargain basement. The 12th floor has a famous restaurant called "The Oak Grill." They're known for their chicken pot pie.
At Christmas time, on the 8th floor, they have a presentation of what we, when I was a child, knew as the "windows." Remember the windows with the animated themes where we pressed our noses against the glass until somebody dragged us away?
But this is much more eleborate. It consists of 16 animated, lavishly decorated ROOMS. They tell a story. (They would make even Disney proud.)
They've done it every year since 1963 so we need to give Macy's props for keeping up the tradition. Last year was my first time. It was "Mary Poppins." Not the movie mind you, but the book.
This year we stood in line with loads of preschoolers to see "The Nutcracker." Well worth the wait.
I only wish my younger grandchildren could have been with us - especially the ones who missed out on seeing "The Nutcracker in Florida this year.
**
Yesterday we took our walk in downtown Minneapolis. It was cold. Many of the tall buildings disappeared into the midst. We admired the architecture. We toured the new library (designed by Cesar Pelli.) We took the stairs.
Then we walked a few blocks to Macy's. We have Macy's in Florida. They bought out our wonderful Florida department store, Burdines, several years ago. Some of us still affectionately call it "Burdines."
The Macy's in downtown Minneapolis was once Dayton's. They were bought out by Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's. My Boyfriend calls it "Dayton's."
It's one of those wonderful, old 12 story high department stores - with a bargain basement. The 12th floor has a famous restaurant called "The Oak Grill." They're known for their chicken pot pie.
At Christmas time, on the 8th floor, they have a presentation of what we, when I was a child, knew as the "windows." Remember the windows with the animated themes where we pressed our noses against the glass until somebody dragged us away?
But this is much more eleborate. It consists of 16 animated, lavishly decorated ROOMS. They tell a story. (They would make even Disney proud.)
They've done it every year since 1963 so we need to give Macy's props for keeping up the tradition. Last year was my first time. It was "Mary Poppins." Not the movie mind you, but the book.
This year we stood in line with loads of preschoolers to see "The Nutcracker." Well worth the wait.
I only wish my younger grandchildren could have been with us - especially the ones who missed out on seeing "The Nutcracker in Florida this year.
**
Monday, December 17, 2007
Concept vs. Reality
I know many children and adults who've never seen snow. Of course they know what it is. They've seen it on the news. But
they've never experienced it. It's a concept to them.
I've lived in Florida for 45 years. Twice it's "officially" snowed but it wasn't anything to write home about. Over the years I've visited snowy places - but haven't really had the time or the inclination to play.
Snow is more like a concept to me. Something I experienced as a child.
This morning I woke up in Minnesota. Snow is everywhere. My Boyfriend's back yard, the creek, other yards, are all one big snow covered wonderland.
We had a hearty breakfast, bundled up and drove to a close by park. We walked for miles. When we got home we played in the back yard. I've been excited all day.
Just like a little kid. I kept putting off going to the bathroom because I had on many, many layers of clothes.
For those of you who were impressed with my one little suitcase packing, it's mostly because I wore half my clothes up here on the plane.
Playing in the snow is one of the things I used to know in concept but now have experienced as reality.
they've never experienced it. It's a concept to them.
I've lived in Florida for 45 years. Twice it's "officially" snowed but it wasn't anything to write home about. Over the years I've visited snowy places - but haven't really had the time or the inclination to play.
Snow is more like a concept to me. Something I experienced as a child.
This morning I woke up in Minnesota. Snow is everywhere. My Boyfriend's back yard, the creek, other yards, are all one big snow covered wonderland.
We had a hearty breakfast, bundled up and drove to a close by park. We walked for miles. When we got home we played in the back yard. I've been excited all day.
Just like a little kid. I kept putting off going to the bathroom because I had on many, many layers of clothes.
For those of you who were impressed with my one little suitcase packing, it's mostly because I wore half my clothes up here on the plane.
Playing in the snow is one of the things I used to know in concept but now have experienced as reality.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Gifts
I've already received several Christmas gifts. Nothing big and fancy or expensive. Just loving.
Last night the husband of one of my Power Rangers threw her a surprise birthday party. It's hard to believe but she was truly surprised! Of course the logistics of getting her out of the house and others into the house - and then getting her back into the house - were daunting.
My take on it is that this was as much a gift for her friends as it was for her. Being in her home, surrounded by people I love was a wonderful birthday gift for ME. This is good because my birthday is coming right up.
There are lots of December babies. I don't know why.
My best gift so far is a card. I had my usual breakfast with my OLD friends yesterday. He's 87 years old, she's 88. They gave me a card. I waited until I got home to open it.
It's home made. They made it themselves. My picture is in the middle, surounded by felt poinsettias and angel stickers.
Gifts don't get much better than this.
**
Last night the husband of one of my Power Rangers threw her a surprise birthday party. It's hard to believe but she was truly surprised! Of course the logistics of getting her out of the house and others into the house - and then getting her back into the house - were daunting.
My take on it is that this was as much a gift for her friends as it was for her. Being in her home, surrounded by people I love was a wonderful birthday gift for ME. This is good because my birthday is coming right up.
There are lots of December babies. I don't know why.
My best gift so far is a card. I had my usual breakfast with my OLD friends yesterday. He's 87 years old, she's 88. They gave me a card. I waited until I got home to open it.
It's home made. They made it themselves. My picture is in the middle, surounded by felt poinsettias and angel stickers.
Gifts don't get much better than this.
**
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