Reflecting on life as I start my 64th year

Obviously I'm not starting my 64th year (that is obvious, right?!), but my mom is as her birthday was last week and this post is from her. 
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In a million years, I never thought---

-I’d wear loose, long, maternity-type tops and let my bra straps show!  Big no-no years ago!

-I'd take (thanks iphone camera) and have (thanks Snapfish) so many pictures! Over 8,300 pictures and over 1,300 videos on my phone mostly of grandchickens that I send to their parents when they are with me and look back at them when the kids are not with me and I miss them!! Also many furry kid pictures, too! I am in the process of sorting pictures for all of our kids and extended families for them or for upcoming events that require picture boards. It takes forever, but #everypicturetellsastory, so it’s nice!

-We’d buy water! We have filtered water in our fridge, but we still buy water. And that so many people and so much money is spent on buying coffee, too!!! Hashtag GOLDMINE

-I would be able to compile my favorite songs and ask Alexa to play them AND request songs on a whim for grandchicken dance parties!!

-I'd have heated seats and push button starts on cars! And Tiles and a phone app to find the key fob when some people lose theirs 50 million times! Also- GPS, DVD players, Apple car play!

-The cell phone and internet - a little computer and camera and KIT-er right in my hand and the internet, social media for letting me communicate with people all over the world and expose injustice!!! The phone apps!! Just amazing!

-I’d feel such absolute joy and love for our four grandchickens - 2 pictured - 2 social media shy. It is, by far, the best and most beautiful love ever! Bonding with them is priceless. Being the oldest of six and I was 13 when my mom had triplets and almost 21 when I had my Stephanie, I have been around and cared for babies forever, it seems, BUT, this love is like no other! I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with my maternal grandparents who thought the sun rose and set on me. I also witnessed my own kids with their grandparents and my Stephanie with her great grandmother was really awesome!!! All you have to do is love them!!!

There is much more, I am sure, but I chose to focus on good stuff! I send healing lights and love and angels to all and may all of our free will choices be for the highest good! Be kind! Be grateful!

Thanks to the universe for our wonderful lives!!!

LOVE.  STEPH'S.  MOMMA!!!

TWTW - the one con los madres

Friday Started with an hour on the beach with the best friend dogs, which is a great way to start any day but especially a Friday. I wasn't sure I'd get to the shore Thursday night - MFD and I planted vegetables when I got home, I dumped my clothes from last week out of my shore bag and added some new, folded sheets, put towels away, packed the car, picked up around the house, and was hemming and hawing about leaving early or after work Friday or just going. I just went right after 9 and I'm glad I did. 

Work work, and errands: Bungalow Bowls and Soma Cafe for food stuff, Hearth & Sole for gifts and the most comfortable shoes ever, returned a book to the library and cushions to Pier 1. After work I alternated between sitting on the porch reading and spray painting a rolly cart that's gotten rusted over the past three and a half years. This was one of the first things I bought for this house. 

Saturday 

Bruce was up at 5 so we were the only assholes at Dog Beach for the entire 45 minutes we were there. When we got back I finished a book and lounged. After finally getting a shower, I ran errands on my bike, including purchasing this year's seasonal beach tags. There was a modern hot rod show on the boardwalk and all the revving engines were startling the seniors and me.  When I got back I spray painted the remote holder, cleaned up, and took the dogs for a long walk. 

MFD was going to come down with Gus & Mae but the weather coming in was shit so I said I'd come home. I left at about 2 and thank God I did because there was a nail in my tire and if I would have come home on Sunday it would've been raining and everything would've been closed and it could have blown out on 95. There was a series of unfortunate events and I will have the head of one gas station owner and a call center worker at Mavis Tire but A.N.A. Towing went way above and beyond to save my ass and I will love them forever. My tow truck driver Brian was totally in that Bruce and Bender had a great adventure in the tow truck. I wish I would have gotten a photo of when we were driving and the tow truck driver was looking in the rearview and laughing so I turned around to look and there was Bruce with his paws on the steering wheel looking like he was driving. I hate car fuckery and I'm grateful nothing bad happened and I made it home thanks to A.N.A. Towing!

I finally got home around 7:30 and wolfed down a great steak dinner a la MFD. I was just a shell of myself and exhausted. I did three loads of laundry, unloaded the dishwasher, and peaced out to bed before 10. 

Sunday 

It was chilly and rainy and a perfect day to sleep in, which I did. Then I went to see Carol for Mother's Day complete with the piece of her gift Bruce tried to eat (he found out he does not like bath bombs). More laundry at home and I started a new book.

MFD headed to the shore to see his mom and stay over to paint the ceiling (tomorrow) and I went to Aubrey's parents' to see my Mom and have a lovely Mother's Day dinner. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is greek yogurt with granola - I am totally into this lately. Lunch tuna salad over spinach, which I haven't made yet since I don't need it until Tuesday. Snacks are mango and pretzels. For Mother's Day I made cheesy sausage dip in the crock (file under: tastes better than it looks) and a pasta salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto. I'm figuring out dinner as we go along this week, I only need three nights.

Show Us Your Books is tomorrow, see you back here for that! 

Wouldn't it be nice

Many of you also get a kick out of my mom's comments that she leaves here. She guest posts from time to time too. Like today. Happy Friday, happy weekend. Enjoy!

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Greetings!

I asked my Stephanie if I could do some guest blogs since so many things pop into my head.

This series is Wouldn’t It Be Nice from a 60-year-old’s personal perspective. I was going to have a theme for each post, but so much more entertaining to go with what pops into my head!

This list written 7-4-2016 morning poolside!

1) If Merle Reagle the crossword guy, could send Sunday crosswords from the other side. He is my favorite and also my mom’s. NY Times is ok, but Merle is the best.

2) If my thighs would never rub together for obvious reasons!

3) If my prescription sunglasses had pop out lenses and different colored frames to match my mood! Before prescriptions, I had a field day with sunglasses from the $ store. I am very careful with the prescription glasses, since they are an arm and a leg! There are always pros and cons to everything.

4) If dog hair and their bodily functions evaporated upon release or if poop at least was fluorescent so I could always find it.

5) If our healing ocean oasis saltwater pool could have a removable glass enclosed heated dome like thing to enjoy all year round!

6) If all of our homes could be solar-powered and if everyone could have a home!  There’s no place like home!

7)  If my hair manes were mass produced and sold in $ stores. Our Debbie said Amazon has them for $15! Ever since my Stephanie threatened to confiscate my hair manes and I hid some and now I cannot find them, I am a bit facakted!

8) If I had a thicker head of hair that grew quickly and I could have a ponytail which would lessen my use of the hair manes. Do not ever complain that your hair is too thick! Never take you hair for granted.

9) If the walls or anything that needed painting would automatically repaint themselves when necessary. 

10)  If flowers bloomed all year round where I live! Especially lily of the valley, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, lilies, hibiscus, roses, etc!

Volume 1 is done and I had fun.

Lights and angels and love from Steph’s Momma  aka Poopsie

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And a very happy birthday to my friend Gena today! Love you long time.

A letter from my mother on her 60th birthday week

Many of you also get a kick out of my mom's comments that she leaves here. She guest posts from time to time too, and today in honor of her birthday coming up on Sunday, she free-styled a little letter. 

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Hello, Everyone!

Guest blogger Steph’s Momma aka Poopsie.

I had a glorious early birthday celebration. I drove myself in our sweet Jetta sportswagen, singing all the way to the cds my Stephanie made me a while ago - prize possessions! Some my requests, but other songs she randomly threw in that are perfect. I am eternally grateful.  

merchandise from Blue Eden in Ocean City

Rich and Sean drove together for uninterrupted man talk and a covert mission to pick up the Stock’s birthday cake. I Instagrammed practically the entire awesome weekend.  A picture scrapbook of my life.  I love Instagram!

 My material for this guest blog was going to be on a different vein, but in light of the largest mass shooting in USA history, other thoughts came to mind. I always say I don’t want much, only for myself and my people to be safe, happy, and healthy. Safe and sound all the way around. Well, it is a lot to ask for - it’s everything that is important! The universe and the angels and all that be have a very difficult job keeping us all safe and sound. Good Goddess! 

I constantly use the angels, lights, and love emojis and surround everyone, everything, everywhere with the lights, especially the white light. The big mother white light!!!  Just do it! It’s free, it’s easy, it becomes automatic. My tweets and instagrams put all of that into the universe every time I use the love and lights and angels emojis. This does not mean nothing “bad” will ever happen, it just puts more good stuff into the universe. Positive instead of negative.

I need a page-a-day calendar to start each new year.  A meaningful page-a-day calendar. I write my daily gratitude list on the back of each day and fold it and put it in a big plastic zip lock. Being grateful, saying affirmations a lot have changed my life for the better. Really, really better. I am not perfect, but now correct myself if I get aggravated and/or complain and immediately concentrate on the positives of the situations. Being angry is bad for your mind, body, and soul. 

So I am eternally grateful for the priceless “things” in my life.  Do not ever take one nanosecond for granted.

As I am typing this, my son calls and said he had a blow out on 95 in Delaware. Ruined tire, but he is safe. My sweet little granddaughter went down easily for her second nap of the day. It’s a beautiful day. Our other car is being serviced and we have the VW “bonus” to cover some of that. Thanks to the universe! Always look on the bright side of life! 

Love, Steph’s Momma

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And a very happy birthday to Michelle today! See you Saturday for breakfast. xoxo

twtw - the one with my mom's 60th celebration

Thursday after a work event I headed to the shore. Lori was already down there, and we decorated for my Mom's 60th weekend.

I biked down to the beach Friday morning to catch the sunrise, then Lori & I walked the dogs, had breakfast at the Beach Club, and went to the grocery and hardware stores.

After we made the outdoor shower safe from peepers and cut up some fruits & veg, the guest of honor arrived. We had lunch and hit the beach with the rest of the family trickling in. We were on the beach late talking and laughing and having some drinks. It was a lovely afternoon. We missed our Lola and her parents this weekend but they had long-standing plans!

Family night on the boards...dinner on Rich at the promenade, then Kate/Dan/Rich/Swan and the kids went down to the rides (hilarious video of Swan and the kids on a ride on my mom's instagram here) and Mom, Lori, Debbie, and I did some shopping. Check out the prank poop! MFD and my dogs arrived after midnight and he was quite pleased to spy on cop action in front of our house immediately upon arrival.

Is there a better way to start a Saturday besides Brown's donuts and dogs? No, there is not. My stepdad went and got them for us and we hung out upstairs on the porch then downstairs on the porch to give the dogs some outside time. I also had the Wire Wiz come in to install ceiling fans, which turned into a production because why wouldn't it? One successfully installed, one being installed this week. The plumber was in Friday too and the screen door was replaced Saturday night. Revolving door of contractors up in this piece.

The girls went shopping on Asbury, and the guys did whatever they did. LOL, I don't even know aside from skee ball. We did run into MFD on the Avenue, biking around like the Mayor and signing up for the gym.

One of our last stops was Drip 'n Scoop, the newest coffee shop in Ocean City. I loved the decor and the cold brew nitro was awesome. Very smooth, very strong, and you don't even need cream.

After a rest with the dogs, another afternoon at the beach. I totally failed on the beach reads this weekend. I was reading a book on my kindle and my polarized sunglasses fuck with the screen. I attempted another book and failed, then read a few pages of Lori's (pictured)before taking a beach rest. We saw a wedding on the beach. Rich and Debbie got up close and personal but did not take seats.

MFD and I biked around by the bay and watched the sunset, then Lori, Mom and I walked up to the boardwalk for a few and we all sang to my Mom but were too full to eat the glorious Stock's cake Rich & Sean picked up on the way down.

Sunday was another glorious sunrise (video here).

Rich came down too and I snapped a shot of him walking off towards the big ball of fire the was about to come up.

After a dog walk back by the bay, we enjoyed coffee and hilarious poop stories on the porch. My mom's new name is  Poopsie because we saw a group with Poopsie's Peeps shirts and decided to adopt it since we are constantly talking about poop. Lori headed out, Kate/Dan/Rich/kids headed to the beach, and Mom/Debbie/me hung out on the porch, watched the world go by, and enjoyed the breeze. My family cleaned up the house and were on the road by two. It was an awesome weekend with my family celebrating my mom's 60th birthday, which is actually next weekend but the season starts next weekend in earnest so we're rented through August.

MFD and I did a few more things in the house, took a bike ride down to the bay, cleaned up the outside area, and prepared the efficiency to rent.  We rode back to the bay again for sunset and up to the boardwalk for pizza and ice cream. I rode my bike in the dark for the first time...I feel like I'm 12. Lol I also graduated to a big girl basket because my crapper basket that came with it was not cutting it and I had bike basket embarrassment. We left for home after 10 and I am worn the hell out in a very happy way.

Weekly food prep

Breakfast is breakfast burritos from the freezer. Snacks are bananas and celery until I can get to the grocery store. I only need three days of lunches because Monday I have a staff meeting and Tuesday I have lunch with Tara. Dinners are going to be on the fly...I think I'll start with turkey burgers and veggies.  

Today: Monday is a cruel mistress. And I exited the elevator to this. I'm sick of reading about fear and watching people rip each other over events like this because everyone knows everything about everything. Guess what? All mass shootings are terrorist events. I'm pissed off. If you don't like gay people because they're gay, I don't like you. We'd do well to stop living these things out on social media and actually change the way we act and think and what we say. More positive action, less talk. 

Tomorrow: favorite day! Show Us Your Books with Jana and me. 

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending &

Slowing our fat rolls - It's All Greek to Me Salad

Here we sit, poised on the precipice of a big weekend of shoving our faces. I'm already gleefully thinking of succulent turkey and pie pie pie. I figured a salad recipe might be good for today since we might collectively need to slow our rolls after this weekend. So my Mom is here today with this recipe for her It's All Greek to Me Salad.

It's All Greek to Me Salad
We had this salad at a friend's house and I made a few tweaks and made up the name, because of the Feta cheese. It is a salty/sweet combo.You can add chicken, too, if you choose to make it a main course.

Ingredients
Baby Greens (I get these from Sam's Club)
Craisins
Pecans (could use walnuts)
Sunflower seeds
Feta Cheese
EVOO
Balsamic Vinegar
Sea Salt in a grinder - I love this salt. It tastes great & does not bloat me up like a balloon! A miracle.

Directions
The base is baby greens- using the entire container pictured would serve 6 good sized side salads.

I then add the craisins, the nuts and seeds, the feta (use the amounts you desire) and then the EVOO and Balsamic and the salt as desired.

I only use a tiny bit (maybe 3-4 shakes) of the Balsamic and I have my EVOO in a dispenser and use 5-6 drops of EVOO.

I am now toasting my nuts and sunflower seeds in a little saute pan with a few drops of EVOO, since it really brings out the flavor of the nuts.

I used to say now I "toss the salad" but Steph told me never to say that again and then told me why- who makes up this stuff? So "mix" the salad  and enjoy!

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Haikuesday

Terminology...

Please don't make me explain it.

Google carefully.

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Thanks to my mom for the recipe - how do you slow your holiday eating roll between Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Mother's Day Musings with the Dalai Momma

Happy Mother's Day to you human and fur moms, step-moms, and moms-to-be. 

Big hugs to those of you missing your Moms and to you moms who lost their babies too soon. 

Today my Mom is taking over my blog to share Mother's Day Musings. 

Take it away, Dalai Momma. 

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Happy Mother's Day!

I feel like I have been a mother forever.

When I was 13, my mom had triplets. I was really pissed. We already had money issues that wreaked havoc with our household. Being the oldest, I was well aware of that. When I married in 1976 and moved maybe 5 miles away, I vividly remember crying and the triplets crying that I was moving. So much for being pissed!!

At almost 21, I had my Stephanie. I then learned the meaning of true love. Being one of the very few women who returned to the workforce (at that time) because I never wanted money to be such an issue, it was difficult, but the best option. In 1983, my Stephen was born. My only planned pregnancy! Finally, in 1994, my Sean was born. So I birthed 3 kids in 3 different decades, working full-time for 35 years!

Each of my 3 loved it in the womb. Steph was due 2-21, born 3-15 9 lbs even; Stephen was due 5-21, born 6-4 9 lbs 4 oz.; and Sean was due 9-9, born 9-19, 9 lbs 14 oz. JMJ! All very healthy, thank God! Today, moms-to-be seem to think they should birth their babies EARLY!

I am so very blessed with these 3! A bonus daughter and 2 little grandchildren round that out! Watching our children grow into wonderful adults, good citizens, etc. is such a privilege that I am grateful for every nanosecond.

And my other 2 babies, the furry kind, Sasha and Yogi Bear are such supreme joys! No getting them drivers licenses or sending to college, weddings, etc! LOL!

My very favorite thing is the gift of having all my chickens in my nest for get togethers on special days like this! I would not change my life for anything. I wish for all of you to feel the same. #CONTENT

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