Get Out On The Highway

When K became eligible to make her driving test around Thanksgiving, we called and got a date of January 9th. This was no good for K because she wanted her license NOW or at least before Christmas. I'm pretty sure she wanted it so badly so she could drive and get me a special Christmas present all by herself. (Yes, that was sarcasm)

Because K has a very persuasive nature about her, she had me calling all over the state of MA to get her a December appointment. I wound up getting one for last Friday. In Southbridge. 2 1/2 hours away. At 9AM.

We left the house at 6 and got to Southbridge right on time. Nerves were a jangling. We watched some other 16 year olds go out for their tests. One came back sitting in the back seat. We figured something had to have gone very wrong on that drive. It was our turn, the man stood outside and went through all the light checks and hand signals. He, then, asked for K to secure the ebrake and rev the engine to make sure the ebrake worked.

She tried.

And tried.

And tried again and each time the car jumped forward a little. The man said, "I am sorry, I cannot get in the car with you if your ebrake is not working. Call this number and you should get in for next week."

Well, then came the tears and the disbelief. We drove to a parking lot for 20 minutes where it was pretty much my fault that she did not get her license. Then she yanked with 2 hands on the brake and asked (ok, told) me to try it again. I did and the car did not move. We did it 3 more times and the ebrake worked. K decided we were going back and demanding another try. (Side note: confrontation like this makes me want to vomit. I never send food back to the kitchen at a restaurant. I would rather deal with the situation and brush it off rather than try to change it. No, I am not very proud of this trait in me, but it's me and I own it.)

So, we turned around and went back and asked for another try. And the Christmas miracle of it all, was the guy gave it to us because he realized that we had driven a long way to get there. He got in the car and my nervous girl drove around Southbridge with a very patient man going 15 mph.

But she passed! And the world was right again and I even got a big hug (from her, not the man).

Drive safely, baby!

"Cookie"

Today I have a 15 year old whom I still call "cookie".

She swims, she's funny and she's a great friend.

She's smart, she's sarcastic and she's beautiful (on the inside and out).

Her year as a 14 year old was trying (to say the least) because of situations out of her control.

She is one of the strongest people I know.

She has a great laugh.

I am truly blessed to have her as my daughter.

Happy Birthday Cookie!! I love you xoxo

Happy Birthday Dad

I love that Throwback Thursday landed on my Dad's birthday this year! Why? Well, because I have the cutest picture of him, that's why!!!

Here he is on the left with my Uncle Dick on the right.

Couldn't you just squeeze those little cheeks?

Happy Birthday Dad!

I sure am glad!

Let me shoot you a clue,

it's because I love you!!!

Lunch at CBI

The Chatham Bars Inn, one of Cape Cod's most prestigious resorts, welcomed the elementary school to lunch today. Not just any lunch, but a Thanksgiving feast!! They have been doing this for so many years (seriously, it's been more than 10), but I do not know how or when it started exactly. All I know is that my girls loved CBI day,  EXCEPT that they did not have ketchup on the tables. Anyhoo, the kids get all dressed up and it's a big (read BIG deal). So big of a deal, that the teachers make sure everyone feels special and if a parent doesn't have the means of dressing their child up, the teachers have spare "fancy" clothes for all the kids.

K, B and their cousins one Thanksgiving CBI day.

I love this picture so much, it is hanging in my house.

Today was a bright and shiny day. Many parents were there to greet the kids as they got off the buses and to take pictures. The parents are allowed into the main dining room only until the kids get served. I could have sold my roll to any kid at the table for $20. A lot of the kids don't like it when their turkey touches their mashed potatoes and their green beans. They were fascinated by the "balls" of butter and the fancy (linen) napkins.

Toward the end of their meal, as in after everyone eats their ice-cream with rainbow sprinkles, they sing a few Thanksgiving songs to the staff. Adorable.

Hopefully, some day the kids will realize how lucky they are and that is not the norm at most elementary schools.

Thanks CBI!!

Here Comes Turkey Day, Here Comes Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is fast approaching.

This strikes many emotions in people.

Joy being with your family.

Anxiety being with your family.

And, yes, every emotion in between.

I love my family and am lucky enough to live near many of them. Actually right across the street from my sister, brother in law and niece.

My brother sent me the funniest Thanksgiving link I have seen in awhile. I do not condone drinking this much, but some of the reasons for drinking are pretty funny. So, have a sip of soda or water if you do not like to drink. Or have another piece of pie. Just realize that probably more than half of these things happen at your dinner.

#13 and #14 are the funniest and the main reason why I wear yoga pants to Thanksgiving dinner.

Sick, But Still Learning

I have been home sick today. It's more of an overwhelming feeling of malaise so I have no energy whatsoever. If you know me, this is not a common feeling for me. I am doing stuff all the time. The most I have done today is sleep and lay on the couch and stare at the computer. All the while thinking of the things I should be doing with a rare day at home by myself. I am pretty sure God is giving me a message to slow the heck down and take a day for myself.

So, not to have nothing to show for my day, I learned a few things while watching TV. I watched a lot of news and some talk shows and the Millionaire show.

*I learned that koalas have chlamydia. What? Seriously the question on the Millionaire show was something along the lines of "What animal did One Direction recently come in contact with that they wished they didn't once they found out that most of this population has chlamydia?" I guess those cute little eucalyptus crunching fur balls really get around.



*I learned that Americans buy around 60 million boxes of stuffing around Thanksgiving time. The Chew filled me in on this while making 3 or 4 different kinds of their own.

It's no secret; I don't like stuffing.

*The last thing I learned was there is a newish type of massage in the Asian world.

Snake massages.

No, that does not mean you massage a snake. It means that the masseuse drapes snakes (like boa constrictors) on top of your naked body. I will be having nightmares about this. I can not even imagine spending money to have snakes draped on me. They keep 1 or 2 people in the room to make sure the snakes do not strangle you. That's encouraging, right? And relaxing. If you really want to see what a snake massage looks like go here. But be warned. Ick.

I think the creators of Indiana Jones could have changed the story line and had the chick enjoy being in a pyramid or cave (seriously, it's been awhile) with all those snakes. America could have been first with snake massages. There's something we could be proud of....not.

Frag'n Friday

Another edition of emtying my brain out...

*I failed NaBloPoMa. I tried. I really really tried, but I missed posting yesterday. Yeah, it had something to do with wine, tears and brain overload. Not necessarily in that particular order. I am still going to try to post every day for the rest of November, though.

*It feels good to get back to writing. I even started writing my Christmas letter the other day. Don't let me put you all to shame....

*There were some fabulous news stories I found on FB tonight.

-One was about the SF batkid. Make A Wish is the best non-profit. My nephew was able to take a cruise through Alaska with them and our good friend Brad was able to go to Normandy last fall.

-Also, the Tufts lacrosse team signed a 7 year old who is battling cancer to their team this year. Such a cute story and so glad that many college teams are "adopting" these kids.

-I love the MBTA tweets of the week. The MBTA is Boston's t system. It's funny what people tweet about and BostInno puts together the best top 10 MBTA tweets of the week on Friday.

*Of course I have a Kindergarten comment. Today, my little buddy J was talking about Toys R'Us. He calls it, "Toys and Us".

*I have taken a few senior pictures this fall, but nothing compares to taking them today. I took a friend of mine's son. He has some special needs and was adorable. I think I got a few that do him justice. All I know is he kept wondering why K wasn't there with me. (She is best friends with his sister).

*K is in a play this weekend at her High School. The play is a reading type play about how women have affected and fought for peace since 1916. It was fascinating to go back in history and learn of these brave and powerful women.

*K has to do a report for History class and she drew Black Friday as a topic. We both thought it had to do with the day after Thanksgiving shopping which we both love. Hmmm, we were very wrong.

*It seems weird to not include a picture in my Friday Fragments (or any post for that matter). Just for you I have included one of B and my snap chats. I much prefer texting my friends because I don't necessarily like looking at pictures of myself 100 times a day, but I like being included in hers.

Yes, she is much better at it than I am :)

*Happy Weekend!!