Made Me Laugh

This made me laugh.

Out loud.

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My day today?  Laundry, work, hike, cook a pot roast, sweep the floors, pay the registrations that are due for two cars, and watch silly youtube videos in between all that.

Happy Wednesday!

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Concert Weekend

I'm coming away from this weekend with one main thought:

sleep.

I need more sleep.

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There were basketball games and errands and a house to kinda sorta clean and meals to plan and concerts to attend.  This past weekend was full...and fun.

My cousin and his wife came for the weekend to attend that guy that I like so much's concert.  After, in traditional Busch form, we threw open the doors and welcomed friends in and laughed the night away...and welcomed the wee hours of the morning.

Sleep?  Well...there wasn't a whole lot of it.

And then, just like that, last night was quiet.  I made a big pot of beef stew and after his 2nd concert (3 more next weekend!) that guy that I like so much came home and we celebrated with a bottle of bubbly.  As we were sitting at the table we heard jungle bells and noticed that Santa was walking outside our house, so we ran out to grab a selfie.

I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure this was not the real deal Santa...especially since I was old enough to be his mother.  In fact, Santa's voice had yet to change.

Just sayin'.

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This season?  It's good.  I'm a little anxious, but then I suppose Mary was at this time all those years ago, too.  I'm trying to embrace all that is being put before me...as a whole it looks overwhelming but when taken step by step it is more manageable and feels very doable.  

Fun even.  

One step at a time.

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Finding Contentment

A few weeks ago I had lunch at a girlfriends new house that she and her husband designed and built from the ground up.

All 10,000 square feet of it.

Just a little house.

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Below?  Her front hallway.  No kidding. 

This house is a labor of love for them...they had it all, lost it all and then rebuilt it all.  I love stories like that.  She tells of stories of walking through ruins in Italy, hand picking every roof tile and fireplace (there's 8 of them) and of the wood beams that came from old barns in Wisconsin.

How. Cool. Is. That?

But as we lunched on the most amazing salad I have ever had, she talked of giving it all up for a relationship that she is longing for and it always amazes me that money really does not solve everything.

I always think that if my checking account balance were to hover a little bit over the poverty level that lots would be easier...not that life is hard but seriously, wouldn't a few extra dollars in the bank make it all better?

And then I look...and this is my Advent season right now, to see what I have.  I'm feeling stretched...almost to the breaking point with work and home and sports and worrying for my boy who lives away and for my other boy who is preparing for a big move and the college search (and how to pay for it) for my third boy and stressing about how to maintain relationships and I'm tired.

I'm just tired.

And so, in the rain late last night, that guy that I like so much and I grabbed our umbrellas and our dog and went for a long walk in the moonlight.  We've been doing that a lot lately and that time has become so precious to me...our little house on our little street is always bustling and sometimes the only way to experience quiet is to leave for a bit.

But it gives us a chance to talk and let's face it, I'm a girl and I'm surrounded by boys and I neeeeed to talk.

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We've been talking a lot about feeling content and the talks have come after being with so many others who are searching for that very thing.  Is there such a thing as being truly content?  Is it wrong to always wonder about the next best thing...about moving to a bigger house?  Or buying a new car?  Or traveling to that faraway land?

I don't have the answer but I do know that aside form my checking account balance, I like where we're at.  But I still wonder, too.

Oh yeah...in her underground garage there is a little Ferrari.  

Just a little one.

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A lot of it is just that time of year that it is...the season of giving and buying and spending and having a huge time crunch to get it all done.

So I'm dreaming.  Dreaming of baking cookies on a rainy day in my pj's while a really good movie is on the TV.

I also dream of having someone come and organize my house...of cleaning out my kitchen cabinets and pantry and linen closet.  

Now THAT would be a great gift.

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The rain has ended and boy, do we need more.  I'm sure it will come, but for now I am going to enjoy the sunny skies and get my errands done today because let's face it, a big Costco run in the rain is just not fun.  

There are concerts this weekend and parties and visitors who will want to eat and boys who want to eat and a dog and two cats who want to eat.

The organizing of cupboards and a pantry can wait...my excuse is that the sun is shining.

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Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving in Southern California?

Sunny and fair.  

Gloriously sunny and fair.

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Cooking for a crowd is something I do on a regular basis so this meal is nothing new.  First up was a pot of Italian wedding soup that I left simmering on the back of the stove for whoever needed something to eat throughout the day.

I'd never done that before but it proved to be brilliant...I just kept pointing at the pot and no one went hungry, which meant no one annoyed me with 'when are we eating' questions all day long.  I'm so doing this every holiday from now on.

It was so pretty outside and I love any holiday where we can eat in the garden.  

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The food?

All the standards...though I did make the Pioneer Woman's sweet potatoes (with vanilla in them) and they were AMAZING.

The pilgrims and Indians?

(are we allowed to say Indians?)

The usual suspects, minus Matteo and add in Alex's girlfriend Emily.

These two were thankful for Walmart being open on Thanksgiving Day.  Where else do you go when you need a new football?  

We ventured out late morning on Black Friday...shopped a little, had some coffee, window shopped a lot.  

Window shopping was in our price range thanks to an unplanned set of tires on one of the boys cars.

Fun.

Not.

We did break out the holiday decor.  No tree yet...I think that will come next week, but I just love, love, love our little house on our little street all the time, but especially at Christmas time.  The outside looks like a  little gingerbread house...so pretty.

Do you spy our new couch?  

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And then?  A surprise party for our boy in the middle.  Somehow he decided to turn 21 and he hates to be the center of attention, which makes a surprise party all the more fun.

He has good friends.

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This felt like a true weekend...we hung out with our boys and ate good food and played with friends and saw a movie (Mockingjay...soo good!) and went to church all together.  Now the push is on...that guy that I like so much is now working every. single. day until Christmas, but that's nothing new around these parts.

There will be parties and concerts and work and boys and basketball.

Ready or not, it's happening.  And I think we are ready.

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And just like that, the weather has changed.  Today is chilly and rainy and grey...it's Alex's actual birthday and the short ribs are roasting in the oven (his choice, to be turned into stroganoff) making the house smell heavenly.  

The Bronco's are playing and the fireplace is lit and the laundry is laundering and I'm in my pj's.

Nice.

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A Weekend Away

On Friday we hopped a plane and flew half way across the US of A for a long weekend.  It was a secret trip...a party was scheduled for my Uncle's retirement/birthday and since we are never one to miss a good party, we didn't think twice before going.

We packed our bags, somehow bringing more with us than we did for two weeks in Italy.  Seriously.  I brought TWO winter coats for a three day trip because, well, I like them both and winter coats aren't  a normal something I get to wear.  Ever.

We flew in to Wisconsin, rented a car and headed straight away to Illinois.  My cousin lives in the most awesome house...it's old and I am sure it's walls are full of stories and I just love everything about it.  She cooked all day and as soon as we pulled up there was wine and food and SO MUCH laughter...whoever said you can never go home again?

These are my people and they feel like home to me.  

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There are stories to be told but for now...just know that I laughed until no sound came out.  And then laughed some more.

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The next morning that guy that I like so much and I went to my other cousins house for breakfast.  Not just any breakfast but my favorite breakfast...a special coffee cake that you can only get in Chicago.  Close to 30 years ago my aunt and uncle hand carried a few of them all the way to California because I wanted to eat it on my wedding day.

That's love, people.

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These people...these are my people, too.  

I'm blessed in the people department.

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That guy that I like so much and I snuck in a much needed Italian beef at Kojak's.  Yum.  My toes might stay warm year round but Chicago has the best food on the planet.

For reals.

Right near my cousins house there is an old cemetery.  We walked around and it was so very, very quiet...I mean, it should be  but still.  All I could think was 'if only.'  

If only. 

If only we knew their stories.  Most of these people died before 1900 but what were their lives like?  Did their kids give them a struggle, too?  Did they wish they could order pizza for dinner rather than cook?  Did their checking account balance teeter on the low side more often than not?

If only we knew their stories.

If only they blogged.

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And then it was party time.

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The night was perfect.  My Uncle Pauly was so surprised and there were so many people there who love him so much...a true testament to the kind of man he is.  

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The weather was chilly and then the rain came. The sky was gray and it was absolutely perfect.  We had nowhere to be except tucked inside for the rest of the day and all we did was hang out.  And by the time the sun was setting I began to miss my boys and knew, once again, that it was time to head to MY home.

I needed this trip...I always do.  It's always nice to go back to a place where there are people who knew you 'back when'...who watched you grow and mature and learn to fly.  It's especially nice if those places don't change much...if all the same people are there.  I know that times are changing...that we are all aging and that life is frail, so these visits mean more to me each time I go back.

I'm thankful...even if we could only squeeze in 48 hours.

On the way home I was able to get all caught up on my bible study, watch a whole movie, nap for a few minutes and play countless games of solitaire on my phone.  After flying to Europe earlier this year, this 4 hour trip was a breeze.

My buns were thankful for the shortness of it.

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While we were in the air?  The snow dumped down.  We got out in the nick of time but I'm still bummed that we missed it.

I wanted to build a snowman and make a snow angel.

Next time.

I'm home now and there's much to be done this week...shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, laundry, a car that needs an alignment and an oil change.  We landed, drove home and went straight to Brian's basketball game and then that guy that I like so much headed in to work for a late night rehearsal.  

As for me...well, I have yet to move off the couch.  I should unpack.  I should clean.  I should, I should, I should.

And I will.  Tomorrow.

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A Quick Hello

The other night called for the breaking open of a brand new box of See's candy.  Nothing better in my opinion and it's so hard to choose only one...but I really do try to.  Dark chocolate truffles for that guy that I like so much; a mix for me but usually something involving a cherry.

Usually, but not always, if the candy comes out then we are sitting for a long time at the table catching up on stuff.  In this case it was a few phone updates that I believe whole heartedly were put on this earth to ruin my whole life (or at least my day) and I was not happy...but candy did help.

So did talking about it for hours.

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Boy #2, who has a BIG birthday approaching, has yet to make it through a year without some big illness or injury.  However, his 21st year is THE year for a new trend to begin...but he's ending his 20th year with a jacked up knee.  

Ah well.

Nothing that can't be fixed.

So Cal weather has us still in flip flops.

No complaints from me.

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I began the week on top of things but now feel behind.  Again.  It's only Tuesday, but work has been a tad bit trying lately.  But...for a few hours this morning, I will forget all that.  Bible study today and then lunch at a girlfriends house where I will happily turn off my phone for a few short hours.

Bliss.

Supper tonight?  I'm not sure yet.  I'll head to the market and pick up something that sounds good.  

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A True Weekend

This past weekend was what I think weekends were invented for.  There were pj's until noon, coffee with (sugar free) peppermint mocha creamer and a roasted broccoli frittata with pancakes on the side, Hallmark movies, laundry, house cleaning, a little shopping and a whole lot of cooking.

It was EXACTLY what God meant when he created the sabbath and bonus; we got two whole days of it.  

I feel rested...and rested is a really good way to feel.

Friday night found that guy that I like so much and I without any sort of parental responsibilities...well, we handed a boy $20 and told him to have fun,  which is how we ended up with no parental responsibilities on a Friday night.

And no, he didn't deserve it.  He didn't work for it.  He is just a 16 year old kid who wanted to hang out on a Friday night and I am a 40 somethin' year old mother who wanted to hang out on a Friday night and while we both love spending time together, we both had something else in mind.  Well worth the loss of a crisp, fresh from the ATM $20 bill.  

So that guy that I like so much and I ventured to Maggiano's and ate a divine meal (veal porterhouse for him, beef medallions for me and BONUS...we brought our own bottle of wine) and then hit up the massive Levi's sale at Sears.

Hooray for date nights.

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 Saturday involved some garden clean up...both in the small garden and the big garden, which has yet to be planted for Fall.  I'm still toying with what to grow but am leaning towards broccoli, cauliflower, and then some sort of lettuces and yeah, I know I'm behind the 8 ball on this one.

That's what Monday's are for.

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Saturday night we rolled out some fresh pasta and hung it from wire hangers all around the kitchen to dry a bit before turning it into a rather fabulous béchamel lasagne.

There was music playing, wine was poured, a cat pee'd on Alex's bed and the dog ate a granola bar (in the wrapper) to round out the evening in the most lovely way.  

That pasta though?

Perfect.  

In the end we all gathered around our table and devoured this pan of deliciousness.  I've never met a lasagne I haven't liked and it's got to be one of my very favorite foods...one I could eat day in and day out.  

Yum.

I'm ready for the week to begin.  There is all the regular stuff to be done but somehow, after a true sabbath, the stuff doesn't feel overwhelming or are like it's a burden.  My goal this week is to find joy.  To spread joy.  To radiate joy.  It's been so easy to radiate frustration...at things and at people and I just don't like the way it makes me feel.  

So joy it is.  

And yes, there will be Christmas music happening, too.  I normally do a self imposed 'wait until after Thanksgiving' ban on Christmas music but I'm jumping off the wagon and diving in.  I just love it so much and it feels right to turn it on early this year.  And nope..haven't started my shopping yet either.  Big kids are easier to shop for (cash brings more joy than anything else...) so this year is actually a bit easier than ever.  So far.

I'll worry about that later.

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