Musical Interlude

Harry's downstairs doing something on the computer and singing (repeatedly) at the top of his lungs in good old opera style:

Life is like a love song
If you know what I mean

His sister is upstairs saying "I don't know what you mean."

Tuesday's Proverb

On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom, (but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence). (Proverbs 10:13)

Dream Planning

And I don't mean like your goals and aspirations. I mean dreams. You know those crazy picture shows in your head at night.

Ever since I was little I've determined that if you think of something while falling asleep you will dream about it.

I've used this time to plan the perfect bedroom for myself as a teen (I remember lots of blue, steps, a loft, a private bathroom and a balcony), to imagine TV shows with me as an added character (I had lots of great Charlie's Angels plots where I could play the role of Sabrina's [made up] younger sister Jamie) and of course to figure out story ideas.

Story ideas are the things I've stuck with the most. After awhile it gets boring to plan a room you'll never actually have - and I grew out of the idea of wanting to be on Charlie's Angels, but I still need to plan out stories.

Before I fall asleep I'll let a troublesome scene run itself over in my mind. I can get great dialogue this way - the key is to remember it in the morning.

Now - the big question: does thinking about something before you fall asleep make you dream it. It hasn't worked for me yet.

And last night I dreamt that a Revolutionary War battle was going to be fought outside our house and we were watching through the windows waiting for people to arrive. When the soldiers in their red and blue coats showed up we went into town to get out of the way. The whole time I was very concerned about backing up my computer. And when we got back, and the soldiers were gone, I was mighty upset they had put holes in our new screen door.

Yeah - I didn't think about any of that before falling asleep.

Okay then...

I told my son to get in the shower.

He told me he wanted to finish reading the Declaration of Independence first.

Who am I to say no to that?

Tuesday's Proverb

Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12)

Poetry Friday

I've decided to post the poem for Poetry Friday over at my writing blog, Simply Put. Go check it out for a wonderful new poem by Pippi.

Shopping Lists...

...are apparently just suggestions to me.

I put five things on a shopping list today.

Five.

While at the store I took the list out of my pocket to make sure I didn't forget anything. I got a few things that were on the list and a few things that weren't.

I double checked the list and made note of the things I hadn't picked up yet.

I finished my shopping, came home, put the things away.

And then a few hours later I opened the bathroom cupboard and remembered I needed Dixie cups. And they were on my list. And I didn't buy them.

Sigh.

Tuesday's Proverb

A fountain of life is the mouth of the just, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:11)

Finished

Now I can get on with the rest of my life.

*and it doesn't usually take me this long to finish a puzzle, but I wasn't able to work on it last week.

She Has a New Book Boyfriend

It took less than one chapter for Pippi to fall in love with Edward Cullen in Twilight.

Her friends have been bugging her to read Twilight for over a year now. She resisted, saying that vampire love stories weren't really her thing.

Then she made a deal with one of her friends. If N would read the Percy Jackson series, then Pippi would read Twilight.

She came home from school on Thursday and said she was going to read Twilight, because N had gotten the first Percy Jackson book out of the library.

So the next day, while doing some birthday shopping for Pippi, I picked up Twilight (our first stop would normally be the library, but with renewed interest from the movie, the books were all out with waiting lists. I gave her the book on Friday (early for her birthday, but figured she could read it over the weekend.)

And by the time she had finished the first chapter she told me she had a new book boyfriend.

She plans to finish the book today (she would have finished it already if we hadn't had a baby shower to go yesterday, and a school dance Friday night.)

I guess I better finally read this book and see who exactly it is my daughter has fallen in love with.

Tuesday's Proverb

He who winks at a fault causes trouble, but he who frankly reproves promotes peace. (Proverbs 10:10)

Puzzle Progress

Blogging has been light - as well as everything else I probably should be doing - because what I've been working on is the puzzle that Pippi gave me for Christmas. Making progress. But I still have a way to go. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry. If you want to see what it is supposed to look like when it's done- go here.

Brew Masters

While Pippi and I were out attending a baby shower, my guys were home with their brewing kits. Mr. Beer and Mr. Root Beer. Looks like we have some good drinking ahead of us - for everyone!

New Year's Traditions

Or - of radishes and bananas

Once upon a time our family moved away from some dear friends. Several months later, one of the friends invited us back for dinner on New Year's Day. The other family was there as well.

Every year since the three families have gotten together for dinner on New Year's Day (or reasonably close to it).

That first year was 1976.

Not everyone can be there every year. But every year each family is represented by at least one member.

And we give gifts. This started naturally enough, because we were good friends getting together shortly after Christmas. The gifts are simple things - but there s always something else.

It's hard to explain exactly how it all started (and it's been tried: each time someone marries into one of the families and wonders why everyone is so excited about radishes and bananas)

I believe my father complained there weren't enough radishes in the salad that first year and every year since he has been presented with radishes as a gift. Sometimes they are artfully arranged, as in the time they were made into "Radish Man", other times, it's simply a bag of radishes.

Rocky gets hot peppers every year - and I'm honestly not sure why - I'm sure someone knows.

My mother always gives the two other families something to do with bananas. And this stems from a trip to Long Beach Island many years ago - when we were all together and my mother spent the time trying to get someone to eat bananas - since she had them and didn't want them to go bad. We started calling her a banana pusher. She took the calling seriously and every year bananas are part of the gift.

Salt is also a traditional gift. Since Dad and Ray love their boats - they're just a couple of 'old salts'.

So every year the New Year is celebrated with good friends and radishes, bananas, peppers and salt. Could you ask for anything more?

Oh yes - this year the boys sang some karaoke as well!

Happy New Year

Here's wishing a wonderful 2009 to one and all.

Last night we had a fun-filled New Year's Eve at home. For dinner we used the fondue pot and got to cook our own dinners - chicken, hot dogs, broccoli, carrots and cheese, dipped in a tempura batter and deep-fried.

Then we had a rousing game of Apples to Apples (best family game ever).

Followed by watching Heidi on DVD.

The movie wasn't quite over yet at midnight, so we switched to regular TV for a couple of minutes to watch the ball drop in Times Square, wished each other a happy new year, watched the rest of the movie and off to bed.

Today we're off to our traditional New Year's Gathering with family and friends.

More about that later (and if you're good I'll explain the odd tradition we have involving radishes, bananas, hot peppers and salt - I know you're dying to know)

Happy New Year everyone!