Holidays again??!!??

Editorial note: I forgot to write about what I am doing tomorrow...wait for it, wait for it...I am going to be a chaperone on a high school field trip tomorrow!! My girl Julie didn't get enough parents to help, so I am going with her and 30 of her art students up to Stanford to visit their art museum. I am not sure what I have gotten myself into, and hopefully you won't see me in the news tomorrow. Full report to come if I get home alive!!!

I can't believe that Christmas and 2010 is right around the corner! Why is it that when you are a child it takes FOREVER for Christmas to get here, but as adults it seems that one Xmas is on top of the other? Just another perk of getting older, I guess. Joy.

Well, I will be heading to Media to be with Felicia for the holiday, and Ak will be heading to FL to be with his mom. I am a little pissed that he will be in the warm sunshine, but I get to meet Scarlett Begonia for the first time, and see the Greek Meatball godson. Cold weather can't come close to dampening my excitement for those 2 things, and it never feels like Christmas out here.

So it's been a while since the last post. One of the reasons is that I actually have to have surgery AGAIN. This time on my right knee. Apparantly, all the walking that I had been doing for my back bit me in the ass, and I tore some cartilidge. The tear is causing joint fluid to leak, and I have a lovely cyst sticking out of my knee. Fortunately, the proceedure is the most minimal and least invasive, and I'll only be on crutches 3-4 days (compared to the 6 weeks back in college). I am really beginning to think that my destiny is to be in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most surgeries in a lifetime - not something that I aspired to, I assure you.

So I've been in a bit of a funk as of late. I considered not telling Axel and the moms and to try and have the surgery done secretly - I've put them through the ringer the last 6 years with my problems, and really didn't think I could face telling them the latest thing that was wrong with me. Of course I told them, and Ak's mom's first response was - "I am 73 and am in better shape than you". Gee, thanks, Barb, just what I needed to hear! Anyway, I will probably be having the porceedure sometime in January or early February.

Enough of that crap, and on to the next subject!

My new favorite show is Dexter - LOVE IT!! I read the books years ago, and Showtime has done a brillant job of converting it to TV. Ak says that this show appeals to my Stephen King side - definately dark. Speaking of the master, I of course had his new book "Dome" on my doorstep the day it went on sale, and as always, King doesn't disappoint. Fantastic read!

Last night we caught Gone With The Wind on TCM. Wow - I forgot how powerful that movie was! Ak had never seen it, so it was fun watching with him. They just don't make them like that anymore. We watched the "Cloudy w/Meatballs" the other day, and it is adorable. I wish I were a cartoon! Both of us came up with the food we would want it to rain. Ak's are: filet, lobster, carpaccio, fresh bread with Danish butter and creme brulee. My tastes are more simple: Twizzlers, chicken fingers and pretzels :)

The Beebe-baby should be making an appearance any day now. In an email he said if the munchin is not out by tomorrow that they may induce labor on/around the 25th. If that isn't the best Christmas present, I don't know what is! Wishing Chuck and especially Meg a nice easy labor. The baby will definately have more hair that Chuck :)

Ok, that's all the news from here. Heading back into my Rita Room to work on more crafts. My new title is "Stay At Home Professional Craft Maker".

Happy Holidays - see some of you soon!

I was going through a ton of pics on Tuesday, and dug out this treat from our Las Vegas trip in May 2004. I love this picture!

SCARLETT SCHMIDT

11-10-09

11-6-09

WELCOME TO THE WORLD, DOLL!
CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!

Hannah & Scarlett Halloween

Hanging by the couch, a dazed Hannah












The Bunny & Cinderella

















Hannah's got Scarlett in the hug/strangle hold

Julie and Gabriel brought the girls by on Saturday night before they went out Trick-or-Treating. They were very excited!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!

Scarlett Schmidt was born at 9:41 pm on Friday, October 23rd.

The baby is doing fine, and Chrissy and Eric are recovering from their HUGE day

becoming PARENTS!

We are just thrilled, and have already hounded mom and dad for

Scarlett's stats and pictures!

So proud of you, Chrissy!

We are still in a bit of shock that you are a MOMMY now!

Love you, sister!

!!!! BABY WATCH !!!!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of _______ _______ Schmidt, AKA the baby that will not leave the womb.

Axel is convinced that Chrissy and Eric are having a boy. His reasoning is that girls are always ready to go, and would fly out of their mommies if they could; where as boys are a little slower and lazier, content to drift in fluid forever.

Chrissy has been at Riddle since Wednesday, on drips and drops to get the birth going. Original due date was Monday the 19th, but he/she is not ready to make their debut yet.

Chrissy is hilarious - I've been able to talk to her everyday, making normal conversation, like she's not about to push out a human being or anything :) That's my girl!

She is fine and the baby is fine.

We just have to wait, and patience is not my forte.

Stay tuned for news......

For My Godmother

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always use
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household world that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

My godmother, Athena, passed away on Friday, October 16th.
She had the best laugh that I think I've tried to duplicate my whole life!
My godparents were a constant presence in my life, and never forgot to send me $5 for Easter candles every year. I am blessed to have all of the memories.

May her memory be eternal, and may she rest in peace.
I love you Nouna, and will miss you terribly.

Shower Appearance!

One thing I could not miss was Chrissy's baby shower. Timing was perfect to attend, and since I was already in NC, the trip up to Media was short and sweet. I also got to spend a week with my mom, and help her with her kitchen remodel, too.

Obviously, I kept this secret from Chrissy, and only told the shower hosts & my two Kellys. Everyone in NC could see how excited I was to get to this shower....I was literally giddy and giggly from the time I left NC until I walked up the Heddy's back door to announce my arrival. I entered the shower saying "I heard someone was pregnant here", and then I was hugging Chrissy and her adorable belly. Tears were flowing....I was hoping the surprise would make her have the baby right then and there!

Chrissy looks amazing! Also, depending on your angle, she actually doesn't look pregnant! There is definately a glow around her and Eric. It was wonderful to see Boots and Bill at the shower, and they are so proud of Chrissy. I also got to meet Eric's mom, a sister-in-law, and Heddy's parents, as well seeing all of my girls. There were times during the day when I just looked around and couldn't believe how fortunate I was to be around so many of my gals! Why the hell do I live in CA??!!?? Anyway, I was at the shower from 1pm to 7pm.....lots of fun, chit-chatting, laughing, eating and of course, drinking. I admit I was hammered on the way home.


Eric, Kelly & Chrissy






















Kim, Kelly, Elan, Susan & Greta












Chris with the Jojo LAX blanket




















Greta, Missy, Kelly, me, Kelly, Chrissy & Kim

Kudos to Heddy, Kate and Kimmy Cupcakes for throwing the world's best baby shower!

I rode the shower high all week while with mom. We really worked hard on the kitchen, and ran around every day running errands. The weather in PA was perfect...I felt bad as Axel & Barb were just soaking in NC the whole time.

The Thursday night before I left, Chrissy, both Kelly's, and Missy met up in Media at Stephen's for a few drinks before I left the next day. Media was hopping! We sat outside, listened to the band playing.....the next thing you know, we were singing with the band, dancing with homeless people, and shaking it in the middle of State St. I love my girlfriends!

Special thanks for their special appearances: Chuck & Cheryl....so good to see you both!!!

Missy, Kelly & Cheryl with unkown Media man

Chrissy & Chuck

Missy & the homeless guy



















Jojo, Kelly & Chrissy















Missy, Media man & Cheryl

Sapphire, NC

We travelled to see Barbara in Sapphire in mid-September to celebrate her birthday with her. The weather was fine when we got there, but then the rain started and didn't stop! It was the same rains that messed up Atlanta so badly. We were ok as Sapphire is up pretty high, but some of the NC towns at the bottom of the mountain did get flooding.

Despite the wet weather, we kicked it up and celebrated in grand style! Barbara has really good buddies there, and one of the couples had a dinner party on her special day. It was a blast!















Shopping in Highlands, NC.
















View from the Country Club dining room.




Pete & yours truly.











Barbara & Dave





















Bobbie, Ulla & AK